Induced systemic resistance of Chinese cabbage to bacterial leaf spot and Alternaria leaf spot by the root endophytic fungus, Heteroconium chaetospira

 The root endophytic fungus Heteroconium chaetospira isolate OGR-3 was tested for its ability to induce systemic resistance in Chinese cabbage against bacterial leaf spot caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola and Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicae of the foliar diseases. Chinese cabbage seedlings planted in soil infested with an isolate of H. chaetospira were incubated in a growth chamber for 32 days. The first to fourth true leaves of the seedlings were challenge-inoculated with P. syringae pv. maculicola or A. brassicae. Chinese cabbage planted in soil infested with H. chaetospira showed significant decreases in the number of lesions of bacterial leaf spot or Alternaria leaf spot when compared to the control plants not treated with H. chaetospira. The results indicated that colonization of roots by H. chaetospira could induce systemic resistance in Chinese cabbage and reduce the incidence of bacterial leaf spot and Alternaria leaf spot. Received: April 24, 2002 / Accepted: August 9, 2002