The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antifungal activity of Aloe vera gel on mycelial growth of Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Poisoning technique was used in PDA growth medium to for determine antifungal activity of gel. The design used was completely random, with seven treatments and three repetitions. In treatments, it was used a commercial fungicide (propiconazole), 250 ppm and 500 ppm; a commercial biofungicide (Trichoderma sp.) at 500 ppm and 1000 ppm; both products were used as chemical and biological control, respectively; Aloe vera gel 500 ppm and 1000 ppm; and an absolute control. significant differences were detected in treatments (ANOVA), Tukey test showed that all treatments registered significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) with respect to absolute control. Propiconazole had the highest inhibition Percentage of mycelium (73.10%), The Tukey test and inhibition percentage of mycelium demonstrated similar values in the control of the fungus growth in the 30 days of the inoculation, in the Aloe vera gel treatments and the T6 Trichoderma sp. The results suggest that Aloe vera could be a suitable biofungicide to control Mycosphaerella fijiensis, causative agent of black Sigatoka.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar a nivel in vitro la actividad antifúngica del gel de Aloe vera sobre el crecimiento micelial de Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Se utilizó la técnica de envenenamiento en el medio de cultivo PDA para determinar la actividad antifúngica del gel. El diseño utilizado fue completamente al azar, con siete tratamientos y tres repeticiones. En los tratamientos se utilizó un fungicida químico comercial (propiconazol), a 250 ppm y 500 ppm; un biofungicida comercial (Trichoderma sp.) a 500 ppm y 1000 ppm; ambos productos se usaron como testigo químico y biológico, respectivamente; el gel de Aloe vera a 500 ppm y 1000 ppm; y un testigo absoluto. Se determinó diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos (ANOVA), El test de Tukey demostró que todos los tratamientos registraron diferencia significativa (p ≤ 0,05) con respecto al testigo absoluto. El propiconazol presentó el mayor porcentaje de inhibición del micelio (73,10%); el test de Tukey y el porcentaje de inhibición del micelio presentaron valores similares en el control del crecimiento del hongo a los 30 días de inoculación, en los tratamientos gel de Aloe vera y el T6 de Trichoderma sp. Los resultados sugieren que el Aloe vera podría ser un adecuado biofungicida para el control de Mycosphaerella fijiensis, agente causal de la Sigatoka negra.

Objective: To analyze the recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions in a sample of outpatients with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Forty-four outpatients with diagnosis of BD and 48 matched control subjects were selected. Both groups were assessed with tests for recognition (Emotion Recognition-40 - ER40), identification (Facial Emotion Identification Test - FEIT), and discrimination (Facial Emotion Discrimination Test - FEDT) of facial emotions, as well as a theory of mind (ToM) verbal test (Hinting Task). Differences between groups were analyzed, controlling the influence of mild depressive and manic symptoms. Results: Patients with BD scored significantly lower than controls on recognition (ER40), identification (FEIT), and discrimination (FEDT) of emotions. Regarding the verbal measure of ToM, a lower score was also observed in patients compared to controls. Patients with mild syndromal depressive symptoms obtained outcomes similar to patients in euthymia. A significant correlation between FEDT scores and global functioning (measured by the Functioning Assessment Short Test, FAST) was found. Conclusions: These results suggest that, even in euthymia, patients with BD experience deficits in recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions, with potential functional implications.