In vivo antifungal activity of neem oil and aqueous extracts against leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora abelmoschii on okra

The cercospora leaf spot, caused by Cercospora abelmoschi Ellis and Everhart, is quite common in okra  culture. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of aqueous extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis L.), ecolife®, A. indica oil and fungicide cercobin 700 PM® in control of cercospora leaf spot on okra in greenhouse. The extracts and neem oil were tested in concentration 10%, the fungicide cercobin 700PM® in dose 2.5 g.l-1, applied 10 days after pathogen inoculation by leaf spray and the citric biomass extract ecolife® in concentration 5.0 ml.l-1, applied 10 days before pathogen inoculation. All treatments, except ecolife®, were effective in controlling cercospora leaf spot and may be recommended as alternatives in agroecological systems. © JASEMKeywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, aqueous extracts, Cercospora abelmoschi, fungicide cercobin andgreenhouse

Morphological aspects and effect of carbon sources in the physiology of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and physiological characteristics of F. oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae. Isolates were obtained from yellow passion fruit plants with fusariosis symptoms grown in four production poles. The pathogenicity test was carried out on seedlings of this crop, under greenhouse conditions. The morphological characters evaluated were the size of macroconidia and microconidia in single conidiophores or in false heads; number of septa, presence of basal cell in the macroconidia and chlamydospores, and the aspects of the colonies of the isolates cultivated in potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium for aerial mycelium formation and colony coloration. The carbon sources: starch, lactose, maltose and sucrose were tested for the three most virulent isolates obtained in the pathogenicity test. The mycelial growth was obtained through readings every 24 hours of the diameter of the colony in two diametrically opposite directions. Sporulation determination was performed by counting spores in a Neubauer chamber. The isolate Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae 4 (FOP 4) was the most virulent. There was variation in the morphological characteristics of all the isolates. The starch provided the highest mycelial growth and the isolates showed preferences for a particular carbon source in the sporulation test

Detecção de vírus da videira por RT-PCR em tempo real e por extensão de primers alelo-específicos e caracterização molecular de isolados do Nordeste Brasileiro

A videira (Vitis spp.) pertence à família Vitaceae, sendo as espécies botânicas V. vinifera L. e V. labrusca L. cultivadas em maior escala devido seus produtos, consumidos na forma de frutos in natura, geleias, sucos e vinhos. Apesar da grande importância econômica, vários fatores podem comprometer a produção desta cultura, incluindo as doenças causadas por vírus. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos verificar a incidência de vírus presentes em vinhedos comerciais de duas áreas produtoras do Nordeste do Brasil e avaliar a eficiência de alguns métodos moleculares para detecção e identificação de espécies virais associadas à videira. Amostras, apresentando ou não sintomas, foram coletados de genótipos de videira em propriedades situadas em Pernambuco, Paraíba, Bahia e Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, e em Locorotondo, Província de Bari, Região da Puglia, Itália. A primeira parte do trabalho foi conduzida no Laboratório de Virologia da Embrapa Uva e Vinho, RS, Brasil. Visando a identificação dos agentes virais, nas amostras coletadas no Brasil, foram realizadas as extrações do RNA total, obtidos os cDNAs e testados por PCR em Tempo Real, empregando-se primers e sondas, específicos para os seguintes vírus: Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), Grapevine virus A (GVA), Grapevine virus B (GVB), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2, 3 e 4 (GLRaV-2, -3 e -4), Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), Grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus (GRVFV) e Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV). Fragmentos de DNA, produtos da RTq-PCR, correspondentes ao gene da CP de cada vírus foram eluídos, ligados ao vetor pGEM-T Easy (Promega) e utilizados na transformação de bactéria. Foi extraído o DNA plasmidial das colônias bacterianas transformadas, confirmando-se a presença dos fragmentos clonados, os quais foram sequenciados. A segunda parte, realizada com o material coletado em Locorotondo, foi processada no Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (CNR-IPSP) e no Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi “Aldo Moro”. Foram utilizadas, a partir de cDNAs obtidos, técnicas de amplificação baseadas na Allele Specific Primer Extension (ASPE), visando detectar em teste multiplex os vírus mais relevantes envolvidos na etiologia da degenerescência e nos complexos do enrolamento das folhas e do lenho rugoso da videira. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as técnicas agregam algumas vantagens, como a redução no tempo e relativa simplicidade de execução, eliminando completamente o uso de reagentes tóxicos, a exemplo do brometo de etídeo. O uso de multiplex facilita a amplificação de múltiplos alvos em uma única reação, reduzindo o tempo e o custo das análises.The grapevine (Vitis spp.) belongs to the family of Vitaceae, being the botanical species V. vinifera L. and V. labrusca L. the most and widely cultivated, due to their products consumed as fresh fruits, jam, juices and wines. Despite the high economical importance, several factors may severely affect this crop, including the diseases caused by viruses. This study aimed to verify the incidence of virus present in commercial vineyards of two producing areas in Northeastern Brazil and evaluate the efficiency of some molecular methods for detecting and identifying viral species associated with grapevine. Materials showing or not symptoms were collected from grapevine genotypes in vineyards of Pernambuco, Paraiba, Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and Locorotondo, Province of Bari, of the Puglia Region, Italy. The first part of the work was conducted at the Virology Laboratory of the Embrapa Uva e Vinho, RS, Brazil. For the identification of viral agents in the samples collected in Brazil, the extraction of total RNA was performed, cDNAs were obtained and tested by real time RT-PCR, using primers and probes specific for the following viruses: Grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), Grapevine virus A (GVA), Grapevine virus B (GVB), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2, 3 e 4 (GLRaV-2, -3 e -4), Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), Grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus (GRVFV) and Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV). DNA fragments, products of the RT-qPCR, corresponding to the CP gene of each virus were eluted, linked to pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega) and used to transform bacteria. The plasmid DNA was extracted from transformed bacterial colonies, confirming the presence of the cloned fragments, which were sequenced. The grapevine material collected in Locorotondo was processed at the Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (CNR-IPSP) and at the Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi “Aldo Moro”. In order to detect in multiplex test the most relevant viruses involved in the aetiology of fanleaf degeneration and the complexes of leafroll and rugose wood of grapevine, amplification techniques based on Allele Specific Primer Extension (ASPE) were tested by using the obtained cDNAs. The results showed that the techniques aggregate some advantages, such as reduction in time and relative simplicity of implementation, completely eliminating the use of toxic reagents, such as the ethidium bromide. The use of multiplex facilitates amplification of multiple targets in a single reaction, reducing the time and cost of the analyzes

Screening of chilli pepper genotypes against anthracnose (Colletotrichum brevisporum)

Anthracnose is the most important disease of chili pepper pimenta-de-cheiro (Capsicum chinense Jacq.). This species is widely cultivated in dryland areas in the Amazon, presenting high genetic diversity. Therefore, it presents a high potential for use in breeding. The objective of this study was to select pepper genotypes with potential resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum brevisporum). For this purpose, ripe fruits of pepper were acquired from the producing farms in the municipalities of Iranduba, Manacapuru, Rio Preto da Eva and Presidente Figueiredo. The experiments were conducted in seedlings (Phase I) and in mature and immature fruits (Phase II). The evaluation of the disease severity was performed using a scale of scores. The morphoagronomic characterization of the genotypes considered the fruits in the immature and mature stages and plant growth habit. The injured areas in the immature fruits ranged from 0.3 to 9.7 cm2 and in the mature areas, it ranged from 0.2 to 9.9 cm2. The genotypes RPE41 and MPU29 indicated resistance to anthracnose in both stages. The morphoagronomic characterization of the fruits revealed variability for mass (5.58 to 13.74 g), length [C] (4.08 to 8.16 cm), diameter [D] (1.74 to 2.54 cm), L/D ratio (1.88 to 4.70) and color of the fruit. © 2019 United Arab Emirates University

Efeito da fertilização de silício e microbiolização de sementes sobre a severidade de doenças e desempenho agronômico de arroz de sequeiro

Rice is one of the world’s most consumed cereals, however, its production is affected by fungal diseases. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the severity of diseases and grain yield potential of upland rice with silicon fertilization combined with seed microbiolization with Bacillus methylotrophicus isolates. Two experiments were conducted, one in Igarapé do Meio, Maranhão (MA), Brazil, with rice seeds of the variety Palha-Murcha and one in São Bento MA with rice seeds of the variety BRS-Primavera. A randomized block experimental design in a split-plot arrangement with five replications were used in both experiments, with agro-silicon rates (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 Mg ha-1) in the plots and microbiolized and non-microbiolized rice seeds with B. Methylotrophicus at concentration of 108 CFU ml-1 in the subplots. The seedling emergence, grain yield, number of panicles, plant height, plant dry weight and severity of brown leafspot, leaf scald and grain spot were evaluated. Soil fertilization with agro-silicon affected positively the plant height of the variety Palha-Murcha and the number of panicles, plant dry weight and grain yield of the variety BRS-Primavera, and negatively the germination of the variety BRS-Primavera. Leaf scald severity in the variety BRS-Primavera reduced with microbiolized seeds with B. methylotropicus. Microbiolization with B. methylotropicus had no effect on severity of brown leafspot and grain spot in the varieties evaluated. © 2018, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arid. All rights reserved

SILICON FERTILIZATION AND SEED MICROBIOLIZATION ON DISEASE SEVERITY AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF UPLAND RICE

<div><p>ABSTRACT Rice is one of the world’s most consumed cereals, however, its production is affected by fungal diseases. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the severity of diseases and grain yield potential of upland rice with silicon fertilization combined with seed microbiolization with Bacillus methylotrophicus isolates. Two experiments were conducted, one in Igarapé do Meio, Maranhão (MA), Brazil, with rice seeds of the variety Palha-Murcha and one in São Bento MA with rice seeds of the variety BRS-Primavera. A randomized block experimental design in a split-plot arrangement with five replications were used in both experiments, with agro-silicon rates (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 Mg ha-1) in the plots and microbiolized and non-microbiolized rice seeds with B. Methylotrophicus at concentration of 108 CFU ml-1 in the subplots. The seedling emergence, grain yield, number of panicles, plant height, plant dry weight and severity of brown leafspot, leaf scald and grain spot were evaluated. Soil fertilization with agro-silicon affected positively the plant height of the variety Palha-Murcha and the number of panicles, plant dry weight and grain yield of the variety BRS-Primavera, and negatively the germination of the variety BRS-Primavera. Leaf scald severity in the variety BRS-Primavera reduced with microbiolized seeds with B. methylotropicus. Microbiolization with B. methylotropicus had no effect on severity of brown leafspot and grain spot in the varieties evaluated.</p></div