Biological Control of Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria spp. in Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) under Two Fertilization Regimes

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of integrating resistant genotypes of Jerusalem artichoke with Trichoderma harzianum isolate T9 to control Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria spp. under two fertilization regimes and to determine whether T9 application induced chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activity in Jerusalem artichoke leaves. Six Jerusalem artichoke varieties (resistant varieties JA15, JA86, and JA116 and susceptible varieties HEL246, HEL293, and JA109) and three disease control methods (a non-inoculated control, application of T. harzianum T9, and fungicide sprays (propiconazole at a rate of 30 mL/20 L of water, 375 ppm)) was conducted in two separate trials (different fertilization regimes) at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Resistant genotypes controlled Alternaria leaf spot effectively. Application of Trichoderma showed low efficacy to control Alternaria leaf spot, but in specific susceptible genotypes—HEL246 and HEL293—the application of Trichoderma could reduce disease severity up to 10%. The application of Trichoderma was associated with a rise in production of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase in HEL246 seedlings. The number of Trichoderma propagules in soil, as well as the extent of colonization of roots and leaves, were monitored. The results indicated that application of Trichoderma had higher propagules than non-inoculated control. Neither varietal resistance nor the disease control methods used in this study impacted the yield or yield components of Jerusalem artichoke.