Nova técnica para isolar Cercospora coffeicola Berkeley & Cooke, agente etiológico da cercosporiose do cafeeiro

The stain brown eye is an endemic disease in Brazil. There are few published studies on this disease because of the difficulty of isolation and production of the fungus Cercospora coffeicola. This work aims to publicize this isolation technique developed and used in UFLA called Pipette Technique. Through this already over 70 isolates were obtained for future studies of the etiologic agent of this important disease.A Mancha do olho pardo é uma doença endêmica no Brasil. Poucos são os trabalhos publicados sobre esta doença devido à dificuldade de isolamento e de produção de inóculo do fungo Cercospora coffeicola. Diante disto este trabalho visa divulgar a técnica de isolamento desenvolvida e utilizada na Universidade Federal de Lavras, denominada Técnica da Pipeta. Através desta mais de 100 isolados já foram obtidos para estudos futuros do agente etiológico desta importante doença

Aspectos anatômicos e fisiológicos de mudas de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) com cercosporiose (Cercospora coffeicola Berk. & Cook.) adubadas com ácido silícico

Our objective was to verify how silicic acid can influence physiological and anatomical characteristics of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seedlings inoculated with Cercospora coffeicola Berk. & Cook.. The treatments were six silicic acid doses amended to the soil (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g kg –1 of soil) using a complete randomized block experimental design with four replicates. The experimental unit was composed of 12 coffee seedlings from the cultivar Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99. We evaluated the leaves by their chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and lignin content as well as by the presence of epicuticular wax. The photosynthetic potential was evaluated in seedling with and without  symptoms of brown eye spot in the highest silicic acid dose (6.0 g kg-1) and control. Transversal stem cuts were performed for measurements of the epidermal, cambium, xylem, phloem and spongy parenchyma thickness. The content of leaf pigments and lignin as well as the stem’s anatomical characteristics were not influenced by the increasing silicic acid amendment. The presence of epicuticular wax was observed in leaves of plants grown in the 2g and 6g silicic acid. The highest silicic acid dose showed the lowest photosynthetic potential capacity in seedlings without symptoms of brown eye spot.  Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o efeito do ácido silícico em características fisiológicas e anatômicas de mudas de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) inoculadas com Cercospora coffeicola Berk. & Cook.. Os tratamentos consistiram de seis doses de ácido silícico no solo (0, 0,5; 1; 2; 4 e 6 g kg –1), em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. A parcela experimental foi constituída por 12 mudas de cafeeiro cultivar Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99. Nas folhas, foram avaliados os conteúdos de clorofila a, clorofila b e de carotenoides, acúmulo de lignina e presença de cera epicuticular. A fotossíntese potencial foi medida em plantas com e sem sintomas visuais da cercosporiose, na maior dose de ácido silícico (6,0 g. kg-1 de solo) e na testemunha. Cortes transversais foram feitos no caule das mudas de cafeeiro para avaliar a espessura da epiderme, do câmbio vascular, do xilema, do floema e do parênquima esponjoso. Os conteúdos de clorofila a, b, carotenoides e lignina, bem como as características anatômicas do caule, não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos. Observou-se maior presença de cera epicuticular nas folhas de mudas cultivadas nos tratamentos 2 g e 6 g de ácido silícico. A maior dose de ácido silícico (6 g kg-1 de solo) proporcionou a menor fotossíntese potencial em folhas de plantas sem sintomas de cercosporiose

Diferença entre isolados de lesões mancha de olho pardo e cercospora negra em cafeeiro

The objective of this work was to evaluate the difference between the isolates from two cercospora leaf spot symptoms (brown eye spot and black spot) in relation to conidial morphology, mycelial growth, cercosporin production, and reproduction of symptoms in coffee leaves collected in three municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. There was a difference between the isolates for the studied variables, but without any relation to the type of symptom. The differences found were not associated with the origin of the isolates. The symptoms characterized as black spot were associated with different host conditions during the infection process.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diferença entre isolados de dois tipos de sintomas de cercosporiose do cafeeiro (mancha de olho pardo e cercospora negra) em relação à morfologia conidial, ao crescimento micelial,  à produção de cercosporina e à reprodutibilidade dos sintomas em folhas de cafeeiro coletadas em três municípios de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Observou-se diferença entre os isolados para as variáveis estudadas, mas sem relação com o tipo de sintoma. As diferença encontradas não foram associadas à origem do isolado. Os sintomas caracterizados como cercospora negra foram associados a diferentes condições do hospedeiro durante o processo de infecção

Silicon in plant disease control

All essential nutrients can affect the incidence and severity of plant diseases. Although silicon (Si) is not considered as an essential nutrient for plants, it stands out for its potential to decrease disease intensity in many crops. The mechanism of Si action in plant resistance is still unclear. Si deposition in plant cell walls raised the hypothesis of a possible physical barrier to pathogen penetration. However, the increased activity of phenolic compounds, polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases in plants treated with Si demonstrates the involvement of this element in the induction of plant defense responses. The studies examined in this review address the role of Si in disease control and the possible mechanisms involved in the mode of Si action in disease resistance in plants

Imobilização de fungos filamentosos com potencial para uso agroindustrial

A imobilização celular representa uma alternativa para a condução de bioprocessos. As células ficam retidas em matrizes e podem ser utilizadas por longos períodos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar uma nova metodologia de imobilização de fungos com custo reduzido, avaliar a viabilidade e segurança dos fungos submetidos ao novo método de encapsulamento e determinar a temperatura ideal para armazenar os fungos imobilizados. Os micélios dos fungos Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioidese Penicillium solitum foram misturados com 15 g de arroz triturado e 3 g de alginato de sódio, que gotejava em uma solução de cloreto de cálcio a 0,25 M para a formação dos grânulos. Após a secagem em estufa a 26ºC, os grânulos foram armazenados em temperaturas ambiente, geladeira e freezer. Os plaqueamentos foram realizados a cada 15 dias em meio de cultura. As avaliações do tamanho das colônias e esporulação foram realizadas 7, 14 e 21 dias após o plaqueamento, durante 195 dias para A. niger, 225 dias para C. cladosporioides e 210 dias para P. solitum. A temperatura de armazenamento não afetou o desenvolvimento micelial de A. nigere P. solitum. Porém, a esporulação foi reduzida para os grânulos armazenados no freezer. O desenvolvimento micelial de C. cladosporioides foi influenciado pela temperatura. Os grânulos conservados em temperatura ambiente tiveram menor viabilidade. Na análise de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, observou-se que a imobilização é um método seguro no qual o micélio fúngico permanece no interior do grânulo, facilitando o transporte, o armazenamento e a aplicação de micro-organismos

Thyme Essential Oil Reduces Disease Severity and Induces Resistance against Alternaria linariae in Tomato Plants

Currently, the use of alternative tools for chemical control has become one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly options for crop protection against phytopathogens. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effect of essential oils (EOs) on the control of tomato early blight (EB), a highly destructive disease of this crop. The antifungal activity and ability to induce resistance induction of the EOs of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) were tested for control of A. linariae in tomato plants. In vitro, mycelial growth and conidial germination were strongly inhibited when thyme EO (TEO; 2000 ppm) and lemongrass (LGEO; 2000 ppm) were applied. The infected leaf area and final disease index were decreased by 47.78% and 39.00%, respectively, compared to the water treatment. Foliar spraying with TEO increased the activity of the defense-related enzymes peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and β-1,3-glucanase. Furthermore, callose deposition and phenolic compound accumulation in tissues infected by A. linariae improved after TEO application. In conclusion, TEO stimulated the defense system of tomato plants infected by A. linariae, which was associated with a reduced severity of EB. These results indicate that TEO is a potential tool in tomato EB disease management

Heritability of aggressiveness components in Cercospora coffeicola isolates

Brown eye spot (BES) disease caused by the fungus Cercospora coffeicola is present in all coffeeproducing regions of the world. Heritability has been estimated in studies of Cercospora leaf spot disease resistance in several crops, but there are few studies characterizing the genetic heritability of the phenotypic characteristics of the fungus. Therefore, this study aims to verify the existence of heritability of the aggressiveness components (disease severity, sporulation and cercosporin production) in C. coffeicola isolates. Additionally, we estimate the effect of the municipalities (geographic origin) to check their influence on the fungus aggressiveness components. Variation in heritability was observed for each of the three aggressiveness components evaluated. Cluster analysis showed the genetic variability of C. coffeicola isolates, however there was no grouping of C. coffeicola isolates according to their geographic origin. Based on the results obtained, a group of C. coffeicola isolates with high severity and heritability values were selected with the potential to be used in the development and screening of resistant coffee cultivars.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical Composition, Production of Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity in Coffee Cultivars Susceptible and Partially Resistant to Bacterial Halo Blight

Coffee production is one of the main agricultural activities in Brazil, and several coffee cultivars with disease resistance have already been developed. The secondary metabolites produced by plants are closely associated with defense strategies, and the resistance of coffee cultivars to bacterial halo blight (BHB) can be related to these compounds. Therefore, this study aims to compare a partially resistant coffee cultivar (Iapar-59) and a susceptible cultivar (Mundo Novo 376/4) to BHB (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) in relation to the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts. In addition, this study determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and phenolic profiles of the Iapar-59 leaf extracts of plants inoculated with P. syringae pv. garcae. The Iapar-59 extract showed a higher content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids than the Mundo Novo 376/4 extract. Both cultivars contained gallic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids; however, the highest contents were quantified in the Iapar-59 cultivar. The leaf extracts from the Iapar-59 cultivar exhibited higher antioxidant activity. Higher concentrations of gallic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids and the presence of vanillin were detected in the extract of cultivar Iapar-59 inoculated with P. syringae pv. garcae