In a previous study, substances with nematicidal properties were detected in the bark of Cryptocarya aschersoniana. Continuing such study, the methanol extract from this plant underwent fractionation guided by in vitro assays with the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne exigua. Two active compounds were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods as (E)-6-styrylpyran-2-one and (R)-goniothalamin. The latter compound was also active againstMeloidogyne incognita. In silico studies carried out with (R)-goniothalamin and the enzyme fumarate hydratase, which was extracted from the genome of Meloidogyne hapla and modeled using computational methods, suggested that this substance acts against nematodes by binding to a cavity close to the active site of the enzyme.

O progresso temporal da severidade da ferrugem polisora causada por Puccinia polysora do milho (Zea mays) foi quantificado em plantios seqüenciais de outubro a maio em diferentes áreas no Brasil durante dois anos (1995-1996 e 1996-1997). O modelo logístico ajustou-se melhor aos dados que o modelo de Gompertz. Quatro componentes da curva de progresso da doença (severidade máxima da doença; área sob a curva de progresso da doença, AUDPC; área sob a curva de progresso da doença ao redor do ponto de inflexão, AUDPCi; e taxa epidêmica) foram usados para comparar as epidemias nas diferentes áreas e nas diferentes épocas de plantio. A AUDPC, a AUDPCi e a taxa epidêmica foram analisadas em relação a variáveis climáticas (temperatura, umidade relativa, horas de umidade relativa >90% e precipitação) medidas durante os ensaios. A severidade da doença atingiu níveis maiores que 30% em Piracicaba e Guaíra nos plantios de dezembro e janeiro. Valores mais baixos de AUDPC ocorreram nos plantios tardios em ambos os locais. A taxa epidêmica correlacionou-se positivamente (P < 0,05) com as temperaturas diárias e negativamente com horas de umidade relativa >90%. A AUDPC não se correlacionou com nenhuma variável climática. A AUDPCi correlacionou-se negativamente com ambas as variáveis ligadas à umidade, mas não se correlacionou com a precipitação. Períodos longos (>13 h por dia) de umidade relativa >90% (que correspondem ao molhamento foliar) ocorreram em Castro. A severidade da doença foi sempre baixa em Castro, o que explica as correlações negativas entre doença e as duas variáveis relacionadas com a umidade.

The progress of the severity of southern rust in maize (Zea mays) caused by Puccinia polysora was quantified in staggered plantings in different geographical areas in Brazil, from October to May, over two years (1995-1996 and 1996-1997). The logistic model, fitted to the data, better described the disease progress curves than the Gompertz model. Four components of the disease progress curves (maximum disease severity; area under the disease progress curve, AUDPC; area under the disease progress curve around the inflection point, AUDPCi; and epidemic rate) were used to compare the epidemics in different areas and at different times of planting. The AUDPC, AUDPCi, and the epidemic rate were analyzed in relation to the weather (temperature, relative humidity, hours of relative humidity >90%, and rainfall) and recorded during the trials. Disease severity reached levels greater than 30% in Piracicaba and Guaíra in the plantings between December and January. Lower values of AUDPC occurred in later plantings at both locations. The epidemic rate was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the mean daily temperatures and negatively correlated with hours of relative humidity >90%. The AUDPC was not correlated with any weather variable. The AUDPCi was negatively related to both variables connected to humidity, but not to rain. Long periods (mostly >13 h day-1) of relative humidity >90% (that corresponded to leaf wetness) occurred in Castro. Severity of southern rust in maize has always been low in Castro, thus the negative correlations between disease and the two humidity variables.