The comparative effect of the Trichoderma atroviride and biopesticide Biocont in suppressing date palm leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Plant Protection Department, Agriculture College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

2 Date Palm Research Center, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.

10.22103/jab.2025.25280.1715

Abstract

Objective
Biological control of phytopathogenic fungi is a hopeful plan, exclusively applying high-potency bioagents. This investigation aimed to compare the effectiveness of Trichoderma atroviride and the biopesticide Biocont in preventing the growth of Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of leaf spot disease in date palms, with Trichoderma harzianum as a comparative bioagent.

Materials and Methods
The pathogenicity of A. alternata was evaluated on leaves of three date palm cultivars (Barhi, Halawi, Sayer). The antagonistic effects of T. atroviride and T. harzianum against A. alternata were experimented at different temperatures applying the dual culture method. The percentage of growth prevention was calculated for the biological agents and the pathogenic fungus after 7 days of co-inoculation. The impression of temperature on the antagonistic interactions was evaluated, calculating the radial growth of A. alternata at 20°C and 30°C.

Results
A. alternata created leaf spot disease, with symptoms described by blackish-gray spots spreading across the leaf surface. The highest reduction in A. alternata growth was observed at 30°C, where T. atroviride restricted pathogen growth to 1.23 cm. The lowest reduction occurred at 20°C with T. harzianum, where A. alternata growth reached 3.03 cm. The highest prevention rate of A. alternata (81.31%) was achieved at 30°C in the presence of T. atroviride, while the lowest prevention rate (39.33%) was document at 20°C with T. harzianum. This investigation affirmed that Trichoderma species generate secondary metabolites with antagonistic effects against plant pathogens. Additionally, these metabolites can activate resistance mechanisms in plants, enhancing protection against diseases.

Conclusions
The results demonstrate that Trichoderma species synthesize diverse secondary metabolites effective in suppressing plant pathogens. T. atroviride exhibited superior prevention of A. alternata at 30°C compared to T. harzianum, which showed the lowest prevention at 20°C. These results support the selection of T. atroviride as an effective biological control agent for reducing date palm leaf spot disease. The investigation suggests potential for developing T. atroviride-based biocontrol agents tailored to the environmental situations of date palm cultivation.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 17, Issue 3
August 2025
Pages 135-152

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