The fungal Hemileia vastatrix is the causal agent of coffee leaf rust, one of the worst and devastating disease in coffee cultures worldwide. As a result of our research on natural products for the development of novel agrochemicals, we found that the hexane extract from leaves of the Brazilian medicinal plant Garcinia gardneriana, at 500 μg mL-1, inhibited in 98% the germination of H. vastatrix urediniospores. This extract showed no phytotoxicity when tested for seed germination and seedling growth inhibitory activity using sensible plant species. Also, the hexane extract from leaves was tested for anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, which constitutes a mechanism of action of major commercial insecticides used in agriculture, and showed low activity even at concentrations about two times higher than the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) found in the antifungal assays. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the hexane extract is constituted mainly by the pentacyclic triterpene lupeol, together with a series of sesquiterpenes as minor components. This is the first report on the investigation of antifungal, phytotoxic and acetylcholinesterase activities of extracts from leaves of G. gardneriana. These findings indicate that G. gardneriana may constitute a promising source of natural products for controlling the coffee leaf rust fungus.

Classical biological control has been used extensively for the management of exotic weeds and agricultural pests, but never for alien insect vectors of medical importance. This simple but elegant control strategy involves the introduction of coevolved natural enemies from the centre of origin of the target alien species. Aedes aegypti - the primary vector of the dengue, yellow fever and Zika flaviviruses - is just such an invasive alien in the Americas where it arrived accidentally from its West African home during the slave trade. Here, we introduce the concept of exploiting entomopathogenic fungi from Africa for the classical biological control of Ae. aegypti in the Americas. Fungal pathogens attacking arthropods are ubiquitous in tropical forests and are important components in the natural balance of arthropod populations. They can produce a range of specialised spore forms, as well as inducing a variety of bizarre behaviours in their hosts, in order to maximise infection. The fungal groups recorded as specialised pathogens of mosquito hosts worldwide are described and discussed. We opine that similar fungal pathogens will be found attacking and manipulating Ae. aegypti in African forests and that these could be employed for an economic, environmentally-safe and long-term solution to the flavivirus pandemics in the Americas.

Sagitaria montevidensis (sagitária ou aguapé-flecha) é uma das plantas invasoras mais nocivas na cultura do arroz irrigado. O controle desta invasora tem se tornado difícil devido ao surgimento de populações desta espécie resistentes a herbicidas. O uso de micoherbicidas pode vir a ser uma alternativa para contornar este problema. Na Austrália o fungo Plectosporium alismatis já foi detalhadamente investigado como potencial micoherbicida para Damansonium minus e outras espécies da família Alismataceae, entretanto os isolados australianos deste patógeno não eram infectivos a S. montevidensis. Isolados deste fungo obtidos no Brasil foram promissores no controle de S. montevidensis. O presente estudo investigou o efeito de diferentes densidades de inóculo de P. alismatis para o controle de S. montevidensis. Densidades de 2 x 10(6) e 2 x 10(7) conídios.mL-1 causaram em media 86 e 93 % de queima foliar seguido de paralisação do crescimento e morte das plantas. Concluiu-se que uma densidade de inóculo de 2 x 10(6) conídios.mL-1 seria suficiente para o controle de S. montevidensis e que esta densidade deveria ser adotada como padrão em futuros experimentos.

Sagitaria montevidensis (arrowhead) is one of the worst weeds of irrigated rice. Control of this weed by means of chemical herbicides has become increasingly difficult on account of herbicide resistance in populations of S. montevidensis. Mycoherbicides are recognized as potential alternative tools against S. montevidensis. In Australia, the fungus Plectosporium alismatis was reported as a possible mycoherbicide for Damansonium minus and other alismataceous weeds, but Australian isolates of the pathogen did not infect S. montevidensis. In contrast, Brazilian isolates of P. alismatis obtained from S. montevidensis have shown promise in controlling the weed. The present study investigated effects of different inoculum densities of a selected strain of P. alismatis on S. montevidensis. Respective densities of 2 x 10(6) and 2 x 10(7) conidia.mL-1 caused an average of 86 and 93 % leaf blight followed by growth cessation and death of the plants. It was concluded that a density of 2 x 10(6) conidia.mL-1 was sufficient to control S. montevidensis and that this density should be adopted as standard in future experiments.

Uma nova espécie de fungo, Pseudocercospora clerodendricola é descrita em associação com Clerodendrum x speciosum (coração sangrento). Ela teve sua patogenicidade demonstrada pela inoculação de folhas sadias com discos de micélio. Manchas foliares equivalentes às observadas no campo foram produzidas 30 dias após a inoculação das plantas com discos de cultura.

Pseudocercospora clerodendricola sp. nov. is described herein. The fungus was found causing leaf spots in Clerodendrum x speciosum (bleeding heart) and its pathogenicity was demonstrated. Inoculation with culture discs placed on healthy leaves resulted in typical leaf spots appearing 30 days after inoculation.

A ocorrência de teliósporos de Hemileia vastatrix no Brasil é confirmada e, pela primeira vez, claramente registrada sob microscopia de luz e MEV. Além disto, amostras representativas de folhas de cafeeiro apresentando soros contendo teliósporos germinados e não germinados foram depositadas em herbário (Herbário VIC). A publicação anterior onde a ocorrência de teliósporos de H. vastatrix no Brasil é supostamente reportada pela primeira vez não incluiu um registro fotográfico adequado ou a indicação do depósito de um espécime representativo. Observações efetuadas no ano de 2006 na Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil, revelaram a presença de teliósporos durante os meses de inverno (julho-setembro). Sua formação foi provavelmente desencadeada pela diminuição da temperatura e pluviosidade baixa antes e durante este período. Uma proporção significativa dos teliósporos exibiu uma germinação anormal: o número de células do promicélio variou de três a sete e a produção de esterigmas era variável ou mesmo ausente. Basidiósporos variaram em forma e tamanho, possivelmente indicando uma instabilidade genética e isso é discutido em relação ao ciclo de vida da ferrugem do cafeeiro.

The occurrence of teliospores of Hemileia vastatrix in Brazilis confirmed for the first time and clearly documented under light microscopy and SEM. Additionally, voucher specimens of leaves containing sori with germinated and non-germinated teliospores were deposited in a local herbarium (Herbário VIC). The previous publication claiming to provide an account of the occurrence of teliospores of H. vastatrix in Brazil did not include appropriate images or an indication of voucher specimens. Observations during 2006, at a site in the Zona da Mata coffee-growing region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, revealed the presence of teliospores during the winter months (July-September), probably triggered by the fall in temperature and decreasing rainfall immediately prior to and during this period. A significant proportion of these teliospores exhibited abnormal germination: the number of promycelial cells varying from three to seven, with or without the production of sterigmata. Basidiospores were variable in size and shape, possibly indicating genetic instability, and this is discussed in relation to the life-cycle of coffee leaf rust.

Bellulicauda dialii é relatado pela primeira vez em folhas de Dialium guianense. Trata-se do segundo registro dessa espécie fúngica, anteriormente conhecida apenas do Continente Africano (Serra Leoa).

This is the first report of Bellulicauda dialii on Dialium guianense leaves, and the second record of this fungus, previously known only from Africa (Sierra Leone).

Este trabalho objetivou estudar o efeito da temperatura e do molhamento foliar no desenvolvimento da ferrugem e da mancha angular do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris). Foram conduzidos ensaios em condições de campo durante os plantios das águas (outubro a dezembro), de inverno (maio a agosto) e da seca (fevereiro a maio). Os ensaios foram instalados em blocos casualizados com três repetições e dois tratamentos. Os tratamentos consistiram de: 1) inoculação com Uromyces appendiculatus e 2) inoculação com Phaeoisariopsis griseola. No inverno, a ferrugem ocorreu com maior intensidade, atingindo um valor máximo de severidade (Ymax) igual a 1,3 e as maiores taxas de crescimento (0,09, 0,04 e 0,07 aos 34, 55 e 62 dias, respectivamente), devido à predominância, nessa época, de temperaturas inferiores a 21,1 °C, e de maior número de horas diárias com temperaturas menores ou iguais a 16 °C, quando ocorreu molhamento foliar. Nos plantios das águas e da seca, a mancha angular ocorreu com maior intensidade, atingindo Ymax iguais a 2,6 e 3,5, respectivamente e as maiores taxas de crescimento (0,06, 0,02 e 0,15 aos 46, 60 e 67 dias, respectivamente, no plantio das águas, e 0,13 e 0,38 aos 51 e 58 dias, respectivamente, no plantio da seca), devido à predominância, nessa época, de temperaturas superiores a 21,1 °C, quando ocorreu molhamento foliar e não ocorrência de temperaturas menores ou iguais a 16 °C. Com esse estudo pôde-se caracterizar, em função das condições climáticas, o plantio de inverno como favorável à ocorrência da ferrugem e os plantios da água e da seca como favorável à ocorrência da mancha angular.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of temperature and foliage wetness on the development of rust and angular leaf spot on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Three field experiments were performed during three different growing seasons: from October to December 1998 (spring); May to August 1999 (winter) and from February to May (autumn). All trials were set in completely randomized block designs with three replicates and two treatments. The treatments were: 1) Inoculation with Uromyces appendiculatus and 2) Inoculation with Phaeoisariopsis griseola. the weather conditions prevalent in each of the seasons determined the maximum disease levels of each disease. Temperatures around 16 °C that prevailed during the winter favored foliage wetness and was beneficial for rust occurrence leading to higher values of maximum rust severity (Ymax=1.3) and growth rates (0.09, 0.04 and 0.07 on 34, 55 and 62 days, respectively). During spring and autumn conditions angular leaf spot was more intense and the values of maximum rust severity were equal to 2.6 and 3.5, respectively. Spring growth rates were 0.06, 0.02 and 0.15 on 46, 60 and 67 days, respectively, while autumn conditions led to growth rates of 0.13 and 0.38 on 51 and 58 days, respectively. Based on these results it can be concluded that winter conditions were more favorable for rust epidemics, while spring and autumn conditions were more favorable for angular leaf spot epidemics.

Mycovellosiella robsii, uma nova espécie de fungo hifomiceto cercosporóide, é descrita em associação com manchas foliares em Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, o sabiá ou sansão do campo (uma espécie de grande importância utilizada na formação de cercas vivas e para muitos outros usos no Brasil). Esta nova espécie foi comparada a outras espécies de hifomicetos cercosporóides associadas a plantas do gênero Mimosa e outras espécies de Mycovellosiella descritas em leguminosas e reconhecida como um taxon distinto. Foram seguidos os passos dos postulados de Koch e reproduziu-se a doença após a inoculação de suspensão micelial e deposição de discos de culturas de M. robbsii sobre folhas de plantas sadias, comprovando-se a patogenicidade do fungo. Esta é a primeira doença fúngica a ser descrita neste hospedeiro.

This is a description of the new species Mycovellosiella robsii, a cercosporoidal hyphomycete, associated with leaf spots on Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, an important hedge plant with multiple uses in Brazil. The new species was compared to other cercosporoid species associated with plants of the genus Mimosa and other species of the genus Mycovellosiella described on legumes, and is recognized as a distinct taxon. Koch's postulates were carried out and the disease was reproduced by inoculating healthy plants with mycelial suspension or disk, confirming the pathogenicity. This is the first report of a fungal disease on this host.