Alternaria leaf spot is an emerging disease of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) in tropical regions. The lack of known resistant germplasm sources is an important constraint to development of Jerusalem artichoke varieties with resistance to Alternaria leaf spot. The objectives of this study were to identify variability of Jerusalem artichoke genotypes for resistance to Alternaria leaf spot under field conditions and to investigate the relationships among resistance characters, yield, and yield components for selection of resistant varieties. Ninety six accessions of Jerusalem artichoke were evaluated in replicated trials under field conditions in early rainy and late rainy seasons in Khon Kaen, Thailand during 2014. Parameters evaluated included disease incidence, disease score, disease severity index, area under disease progress curve of disease incidence, area under disease progress curve of disease severity index, number of tubers/plants, tuber size, and fresh tuber yield. The genotypes HEL 335, HEL 256, HEL 317, HEL 308, and JA 86 were identified as sources of leaf spot resistance in both seasons. These genotypes can be used as sources of leaf spot resistance for Jerusalem artichoke breeding programs. HEL 293 and HEL 246 showed susceptibility to leaf spot disease in both seasons and should be used as standard susceptible checks.

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.

Stem rot is a serious disease in Jerusalem artichoke (JA). To reduce the impact of this disease on yield and quality farmers often use fungicides, but this control method can be expensive and leave chemical residues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two biological control agents, Trichoderma harzianum T9 and Bacillus firmus BSR032 for control of Sclerotium rolfsii under field conditions. Four accessions of JA (HEL246, HEL65, JA47, and JA12) were treated or notreated with T. harzianum T9 and B. firmus BSR032 in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment in two fields (environments), one unfertilized and one fertilized. Plants were inoculated with S. rolfsii and disease was evaluated at 3-day intervals for 46 days. T. harzianum T9 and B. firmus BSR032 reduced disease incidence by 48% and 49%, respectively, whereas T. harzianum T9 + B. firmus BSR032 reduced disease incidence by 37%. The efficacy of T. harzianum T9 and B. firmus BSR032 for control of S. rolfsii was dependent on environments and genotypes. The expression of host plant resistance also depended on the environment. However, HEL246 showed consistently low disease incidence and severity index in both environments (fertilized and unfertilized). Individually, T. harzianum T9, B. firmus BSR032, or host plant resistance control stem rot caused by S. rolfsii in JA. However, no combination of these treatments provided more effective control than each alone.

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Bacterial blight (BB) disease, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is one of the most devastating diseases of rice worldwide. Breeding for BB resistance has been utilized to overcome this constraint of rice production; however, limited genetic resources of BB resistance or non-desirable genetic linkage between BB disease resistance and agronomic traits have become major obstacles. Interestingly, indigenous upland rice cultivars cultivated across Thailand are considered to be novel genetic resources of BB resistance for rice cultivar improvement through breeding programs. In this study, we screened for BB disease resistance among 256 indigenous upland rice cultivars using individual inoculation of two virulent Xoo isolates; NY1-1 and MS1-2, under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that 19 indigenous rice cultivars demonstrated BB disease resistance abilities after inoculation. These 19 upland rice cultivars were further examined for broad-spectrum resistance (BSR) performance through five individual Xoo isolate inoculations, under greenhouse conditions. Moreover, a mixed five Xoo isolate inoculation, including NB7-8, CM3-1, CN2-1, MS1-2, and NY1-1, was conducted to assess the BSR for BB resistance of those 19 cultivars under field conditions. Simultaneously, independent plants of the 19 varieties were grown without inoculation in the field to observe the disease reactions from the natural infection caused by local Xoo isolates. The results of the three experiments herein showed that five indigenous upland rice cultivars—ULR024, ULR029, ULR172, ULR207, and ULR356—consistently expressed 100% BSR to BB disease, as well as the resistance check varieties, IRBB5. This further illustrated that ULR024, ULR029, ULR172, ULR207, and ULR356 upland rice cultivars were phenotypically resistant to five Xoo isolates, within those (a) inoculated with five individual isolates under greenhouse conditions or (b) inoculation with five mixed isolates under field conditions. Moreover, the ULR024, ULR029, ULR172, ULR207, and ULR356 revealed BB disease-resistance abilities to natural infection. These results present novel genetic resources from indigenous upland rice cultivars in further breeding program of BB resistance in varied rice cultivars.

Host plant resistance has proven to be effective for controlling Alternaria leaf spot on Jerusalem artichoke (JA), but efficient screening techniques have not been developed yet. The objective of this study is to estimate the relationship between disease resistance parameters of JA as a function of plant age. Six JA varieties and three plant ages at the time of inoculation (20, 40 and 60 days after transplanting) (DAT) are evaluated in a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Disease incidence (DI) and severity (DS) are estimated, from which area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated. Disease parameters are positively and significantly correlated for plant ages of 40 and 60 DAT. Based on our results, screening of JA at 40 DAT for resistance to Alternaria leaf spot is recommended. Knowledge of the impact of plant age on resistance to key diseases can help breeders to accelerate breeding programs so superior genotypes can be identified before reproductive growth stages.