ABSTRACT White mold caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the most yield-limiting disease of common bean in Brazil. To date, there has been no commercial cultivar resistant to this disease. In a greenhouse we evaluated white mold resistance sources (Cornell 605, A195 and G122) against eight isolates of S. sclerotiorum from five Brazilian states. A Brazilian cultivar (BRSMG Madrepérola) and a susceptible check (Beryl) were used as control. Treatments were arranged in factorial combinations (5 × 8) in a completely random design with four replicates. Disease severity was assessed on a rating scale of 1-to-9 together with lesion length, which was used to determine an area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Polymorphisms detected in ten microsatellite loci were used to assess variability between the isolates. Each isolate was a distinct haplotype; they formed a genetic tree with two clusters. One cluster was formed by three isolates collected from the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo (southeastern); the others, by isolates from Paraná, Santa Catarina (southern), Goiás (Mid-western), and again, Minas Gerais. Genotype × isolate interaction was significant. In general, Beryl was more susceptible than BRSMG Madrepérola. Considering the AUDPC and/or the white mold reaction score, Cornell 605 exhibited more physiological resistance than BRSMG Madrepérola to seven isolates, A195 to five isolates, and G122 to two isolates. Our results suggest that Cornell 605 is the best source of resistance to white mold for the southern region, whereas Cornell 605 and A195 are somewhat superior to G122 for the southeastern and mid-western regions.

Com o objetivo de aprimorar a tecnologia de produção de sementes ricas em molibdênio (Mo), foram avaliados os efeitos da aplicação foliar de 600 g ha-1 de Mo na qualidade fisiológica da semente de feijão. Em campo, essa dose de Mo foi aplicada na fase V4 (terceira folha trifoliolada), ou parcelada de duas a quatro vezes e aplicada em V4, R6 (floração), R7 e, ou, R8 (enchimento de vagens). A aplicação de 300 g ha-1 de Mo em R6 não influenciou a qualidade da semente, em comparação com a do controle (90 g ha-1 de Mo aplicado em V4). Dos três tratamentos em que 200, 255 ou 300 g ha-1 de Mo foram aplicados em R7, apenas com 255 g ha-1 o Mo reduziu a germinação e vigor das sementes, em comparação com as do controle. Quando 200, 255 ou 300 g ha-1 de Mo foram aplicados em R8 (cinco tratamentos), geralmente o Mo reduziu a germinação e, em dois casos, também o vigor das sementes, em comparação com os do controle. Concluiu-se que 255 g ha-1 de Mo aplicado em R7 e, sobretudo, doses iguais ou mais altas que 200 g ha-1 de Mo aplicadas em R8 podem reduzir a qualidade fisiológica da semente de feijão.

Aiming to improve the technology of producing seed with high Mo content, the effects of 600 g ha-1 of foliar-applied Mo on common bean seed quality were evaluated. In the field, this Mo rate was applied at the V4 growth stage (third trifoliolate leave) or divided into two or four rates applied at V4, R6 (flowering), R7 and/or R8 (pod filling). Mo (300 g ha-1) applied at R6 did not affect seed quality relative to control (90 g ha-1 of Mo applied at V4). In the three treatments in which 200, 255 or 300 g ha-1 of Mo were applied at R7, only in one (255 g ha-1) Mo decreased seed germination and vigor relative to control. When 200, 255 or 300 g ha-1 of Mo were applied at R8 (five treatments), in general, Mo decreased seed germination and, in two cases, also seed vigor relative to control. It was concluded that 255 g ha-1 of Mo applied at R7 and, especially, doses of 200 g ha-1 of Mo or higher applied at R8 can reduce common bean seed quality.