Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare two irrigation techniques and four devices for endodontic sealer placement into the dentinal tubules. Ninety-nine single-rooted human teeth were instrumented and allocated to either the control (CO) (n=11) or experimental groups according to the irrigation method: syringe and NaveTip needle (NT) (n=44), and EndoActivator (EA) (n=44). These groups were subdivided according to sealer placement into K-File (KF), lentulo spiral (LS), Easy Clean (EC), and EndoActivator (EA) subgroups. Moreover, the distances of 5 mm and 2 mm from the apex were analyzed. The teeth were obturated with AH Plus and GuttaCore X3. Analyses were performed by scanning electron microscopy associated to cathodoluminescence. The percentage and maximum depth of sealer penetration were measured. Data were evaluated by three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Games-Howell test (p<0.05). EA was superior to NT in percentage of sealer penetration. EC was significantly superior to EA (subgroup) for sealer penetration, and both improved the percentage of sealer penetration when compared to LS. Better sealer penetration was observed at the distance of 5 mm from the apex. Sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules was significantly improved by sonic irrigant activation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of essential oils from "hortelã do campo" (Hyptis marrubioides), "alfazema-do-Brasil" (Aloysia gratissima) and "erva-baleeira" (Cordia verbenacea) and their efficacy in the treatment of soybean seeds infected with Colletotrichum truncatum. In vitro assays were performed to evaluate the effects of the oils on spore germination, mycelial growth, and the production and viability of C. truncatum conidia. Soybean seeds inoculated with C. truncatum were treated with essential oils at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2% and grown under greenhouse conditions. Seed health and germination percentages were evaluated according to standard protocols. Seedling emergence, stand establishment and the percentages of dead seedlings were determined, together with the emergence speed index, plantlet height and dry weight of aerial biomass. The oils from H. marrubioides, C. verbenacea and A. gratissima inhibited the germination and production of conidia as well as the growth of C. truncatum. At concentrations ≥ 1%, the effectiveness of the oils against soybean anthracnose was superior to, or at least comparable with, that of the fungicide carbendazim. The viability of conidia and the germination of soybean seeds were not affected by any of the treatments with essential oils. It is concluded that essential oils from H. marrubioides, A. gratissima and C. verbenacea have potential as alternatives to synthetic fungicides in the control of anthracnose in soybean seeds.

Blister spot (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is now widespread in most coffee producing states of Brazil, becoming a limiting factor for production. The lack of data relating to the reproduction of typical symptoms (light green, oily patches) leaves a gap within the pathosystem, forcing the search for new methodologies for monitoring the disease. Monitoring of genetically modified organisms has proven to be an effective tool in understanding the host x pathogen interactions. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of two systems of genetic transformation in obtaining mutants using the gfp reporter gene. Using the two transformation systems (PEG and electroporation) revealed the efficiency of both, confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin-B, when incorporated into the culture medium. The fungus maintained its cultural and morphological characteristics when compared to wild strains. When inoculated on coffee seedlings, it was found that the pathogenicity of the processed isolates had not changed.