ABSTRACT Leaf-cutting ants are the main pests in forest plantations. The most commonly used chemical control for the ants is toxic bait. However, the active ingredients in these baits have been restricted by forest certification organizations, justifying the search for new active compounds to control these insects. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the formicidal activity of alkaloid fractions from the roots, stems, branches and leaves of Psychotria hastisepala and Psychotria leiocarpa (Rubiaceae) against Atta sexdens Forel, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The alkaloid fractions were obtained from the crude methanolic extracts of P. hastisepala and P. leiocarpa by the acid-base extraction method employing liquid-liquid partitions. The fractions, previously solubilized in propanone, were applied topically to the pronotum of worker ants. Bioassays were conducted in a completely randomized design, with six replicates of each treatment and 10 ants per replicate. Insect survival was assessed daily for 21 days. The median lethal time was estimated by Weibull models. The root fractions from P. hastisepala presented the highest toxicity, followed by those from the branches, stems and leaves. Among fractions from P. hastisepala roots, the most toxic were a fraction that apparently is rich in lipophilic compounds and nonbasic alkaloids and a fraction that is likely rich in quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids, protopine alkaloids and tertiary bases. Psychotria leiocarpa fractions were not toxic to this insect. Psychotria hastisepala is potentially useful for the development of new products for A. sexdens control.

Estudou-se a influência de extratos vegetais no crescimento, in vitro, de plântulas de Rosa x hybrida, objetivando o desenvolvimento de novos reguladores vegetais para a propagação dessa planta ornamental. Extratos metanólicos de Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. (folhas), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (folhas) e Bougainvillea spectabilis Wild. (folhas e flores) foram obtidos nas concentrações de 150 e 300 mg.L-1. Na ocasião de preparo do extrato todas as plantas se encontravam no período de floração. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições. Dois desses tratamentos foram utilizados como controle: meio de cultura com e sem BAP (6-benzilaminopurina). As variáveis analisadas foram: número e comprimento de brotos, número e comprimento de raízes, e número de folhas por broto. Quanto à variável número de brotos, todos os extratos testados se comportaram como o controle sem o BAP. No que diz respeito ao número e comprimento de raízes, apenas o extrato das folhas de H. rosa-sinensis na concentração de 300 mg.L-1 se mostrou diferente do controle sem o BAP, com valores estatisticamente iguais ao do controle com BAP. Excetuando-se o extrato de H. rosa-sinensis, todos reduziram o número de folhas por broto. Embora os efeitos observados não tenham sido tão pronunciados quanto os causados pelo BAP, os resultados indicam a presença de fitormônios nos extratos estudados.

This work aimed to study the influence of plant extracts on the in vitro growth of Rosa x hybrida plantlets, to contribute to the development of new plant growth regulators to propagate such ornamental plant. Methanolic extracts of Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. (leaves), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (leaves) and Bougainvillea spectabilis Wild. (leaves and flowers) were employed at 150 and 300 mg.L-1. Flowering plants were used to obtain the extracts. The experiment was carried out in a randomized design, with ten treatments and four repetitions. Culture medium with and without BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) were used as controls. The analyzed variables were shoot number and length, root number and length, and leaves per shoot. Regarding shoot number, all extracts were statistically identical to the control without BAP. When root number and length were taken into account, only the extract of H. rosa-sinensis leaves at 300 mg.L-1 differed from the control without BAP, with values statistically identical to the control with BAP. Except for the H. rosa-sinensis extract, all the others reduced the number of leaves per shoot. Although the observed effects were not as pronounced as those obtained with BAP, these results indicate the presence of plant growth regulators in the studied extracts.

Em trabalho preliminar foram obtidos 24 isolados fúngicos com propriedades antagônicas a nematóides parasitas de plantas segundo experimentos realizados em laboratório. Para dar continuidade a tal trabalho, tornou-se desejável dispor de metodologia simples e de baixo custo para selecionar aqueles sem capacidade de produção de substâncias fitotóxicas, para serem empregados em experimentos em casa-de-vegetação com fitonematóides. Conseqüentemente, cultivaram-se os fungos em meio líquido e, após filtração, as fases líquidas foram liofilizadas e extraídas com acetato de etila/metanol. Os extratos foram concentrados sob vácuo e dissolvidos em água e solução de sacarose para serem submetidos a testes in vitro com sementes de alface (Lactuca sativa L.) e com coleóptilos de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), respectivamente. Vinte e três isolados pertencentes aos gêneros Arthrobotrys, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Cunninghamella, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Mortierella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Sclerotinia, Trichoderma e Verticillium, apresentaram atividade tóxica contra os coleóptilos de trigo. Apenas os isolados de Cylindrocarpon magnusianum (Sacc.) Wollenw., Fusarium moniliforme Shelden, Mortierella sp., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson e Penicillium sp. apresentaram atividade fitotóxica no teste com sementes de alface. Somente um isolado de F. moniliforme se mostrou inativo em ambos os testes, o que sugere que não seja produtor de fitotoxinas.

In a previous work 24 fungi cultures were selected due to their antagonic properties to phytonematodes in laboratory experiments. To proceed to further studies, it became desirable to use a simple and inexpensive methodology to identify those fungi able to produce phytotoxic substances, so that only the non phytotoxin producers could be used in green-house experiments with plant parasite nematodes. Thus, fungi were grown in liquid medium and the resulting mixtures were submitted to filtration. The liquid phases were freeze-dried and extracted with ethyl acetate/methanol. After extracts concentration under vacuum, the remaining substances were dissolved in water and aqueous saccharose solution to be submitted to in vitro assays with lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) and wheat coleoptile (Triticum aestivum L.), respectively. Twenty three isolates from genera Arthrobotrys, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Cunninghamella, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Mortierella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Sclerotinia, Trichoderma and Verticillium, presented toxic activity against wheat coleoptile, though only isolates of Cylindrocarpon magnusianum (Sacc.) Wollenw., Fusarium moniliforme Shelden, Mortierella sp., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samson and Penicillium sp., presented phytotoxic effects in the lettuce seeds assay. Only one isolate of F. moniliforme was inactive in both assays, what suggests that this fungus is not able to produce phytotoxins.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de filtrados derivados de culturas de rizobactérias na inibição da germinação de esporos de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides e confirmar sua ação antifúngica em relação à mancha manteigosa em mudas de cafeeiro. Foram conduzidos ensaios in vitro para testar 42 filtrados, identificando-se os de maior capacidade de inibir a germinação de esporos do fungo. Plântulas de café foram submetidas à inoculação com Colletotrichum e pulverização com quatro dos filtrados mais promissores. Os tratamentos constituíram um fatorial 4x4+2, combinando a aplicação de quatro filtrados com quatro modos de inoculação do fungo (ausência de inoculação e inoculação dois dias antes, junto, ou dois dias depois da aplicação dos filtrados). Uma testemunha absoluta e outra que recebeu somente o inóculo do fungo constituíram tratamentos adicionais. Após 35 dias, foram avaliados o crescimento do cafeeiro e a severidade da mancha manteigosa. Os filtrados apresentaram ampla variação quanto à atividade antifúngica in vitro e cinco deles inibiram completamente a germinação dos esporos. No experimento com planta, os filtrados tiveram eficácia similar contra a mancha manteigosa, com controle parcial da doença (35%). A aplicação dos filtrados teve efeito depressivo ao crescimento do cafeeiro, proporcionando menor produção de matéria seca em relação à testemunha absoluta.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rhizobacteria metabolites on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides spores germination and to confirm their antifungic activity against the buttery spot disease in coffee seedlings. In vitro bioassays, carried out with 42 rhizobacteria filtrates, allowed the identification of filtrates able to completely inhibit the spore germination. Coffee seedlings were inoculated with Colletotrichum and sprayed with four of the most promising filtrates. The treatments were organized in a 4x4+2 factorial scheme, combining the application of the four filtrates with four procedures of Colletotrichum inoculation (inoculation absence, inoculation two days before, together, or two days after the filtrates application). A check treatment (1) without filtrate or pathogen and other check (2) that received only the pathogen inoculation constituted the additional treatments. After 35 days, the vegetative growth of the seedlings and the severity of the buttery spot were assessed. All four filtrates showed similar effectiveness in the control of the buttery spot. The disease control was partial (35%). The filtrates application was harmful to coffee growth, providing less dry matter production in relation to the check treatment (1).

Com este trabalho, visou-se a identificar, por meio de bioensaio, o efeito dos extratos de caruru (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), capim-marmelada (Brachiaria plantaginea (Link.) Hitchc.), mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides L.) e de três cultivares de milho (AG1051, C333 e C435) sobre a germinação e crescimento de alface (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Marisa AG216). Os extratos metanólicos foram concentrados sob vácuo e solubilizados em surfactante Tween 80 a 1% (v/v) em água. A seguir, aplicaram-se as soluções obtidas em papel de filtro sobre placa de Petri, onde foi semeada alface. Utilizaram-se água destilada como testemunha e surfactante Tween 80 a 1% como tratamento branco. O extrato de mentrasto, o de caruru e da cultivar de milho AG1051 promoveram redução no índice de velocidade de germinação em relação à testemunha com água destilada. O percentual de germinação foi afetado apenas pelo extrato de mentrasto (82,5% de redução). Todos os extratos e o surfactante Tween 80 provocaram inibição do crescimento de radículas de plântulas de alface, com redução de comprimento de raiz entre 9,53 e 14,83 mm, e de hipocótilo, entre 21,6 a 30,95 mm.

This work aimed at identifying, through bioassay, the effect of organic extracts of pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), signal grass (Brachiaria plantaginea (Link.) Hitchc.), ageratum (Ageratum conyzoides L.) and three corn cultivars (AG1051, C333 and C435) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Marisa AG216) germination and seedling. Thus, the methanolic extracts of their straws were concentrated under vacuum and dissolved in 1% (v/v) aqueous surfactant Tween 80. Then, the resulting solutions were applied to filter papers contained in Petri dishes, where lettuce was sowed. Distilled water and 1% Tween 80 were used as controls treatment. The corn cultivar extracts AG1051, pigweed and ageratum promoted reduction of the germination index in relation to the control with distilled water. The germination percentage was affected by ageratum extract (82.5% less than the control). All extracts and the surfactant Tween 80 promoted inhibition lettuce seedling growth with reduction of root length between 9.53 and 14.83 mm and hypocotyls between 21.64 to 30.95 mm.