The effect of the presence of organic amendment on the activity of two selected strains of Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata (Kamyschko ex Barron and Onions) Zare & Gams on Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang & Eisenback was evaluated. The fungal strains studied were IMID SD 187 from Cuba and CG1006 from Brazil. The experiment was carried out in Embrapa-Cenargen, Brasilia-DF (Brazil), under greenhouse conditions during February-April, 2011. An agricultural soil (sterilized and not sterilized) was used and combined with the presence-absence of organic amendment (Bioplant) (1:1 v/v). Four treatments were prepared inoculating polyethylene bags with 4kg of substrate with 5000 chlamydopores.g-1 of substrate of each of the strains, leaving non-inoculated bags as controls. Then, a chicory plant was transplanted into each bag, and 5000 juveniles/eggs of M. enterolobii were added. Colonization of both strains of P. chlamydosporia var. catenulata was in the order of 10³-10(4) UFC,g-1 in the soil and roots. The percentages of egg mass colonization and egg parasitism of the strain CG1006 were higher, between 77-92% and 71-78%, than those of IMI SD 187, which were 58-89% and 37-74%, respectively. Although the galling index of M. enterolobii was not reduced by the effect of none of the fungi, the number of healthy egg was reduced compared with the control. The results indicated that the presence of organic amendment did not influence the activity of the native strain significantly, but it did influence that of the foreign strain (IMI SD 187), fundamentally in natural soil. Therefore, the pertinence of studies in non- sterilized soils was ratified for offering more reliable information for the selection of promising strains as biological control agents of nematodes and their use within nematode management strategies.

Se evaluó el efecto de la presencia de abono orgánico sobre la actividad de dos cepas seleccionadas de Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata (Kamyschko ex Barron y Onions) Zare y Gams (IMI SD 187 y CG1006) de Cuba y Brasil, respectivamente, frente a Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang y Eisenback. El experimento se realizó en Embrapa-Cenargen, Brasilia-DF (Brasil) y se mantuvo en casa de vegetación durante los meses de febrero-abril de 2011. Se utilizó un suelo agrícola y se combinó la presencia-ausencia de abono orgánico (Bioplant) (1:1 v/v) con suelo natural (no esterilizado y esterilizado). Se prepararon cuatro tratamientos con cada cepa donde se inocularon 5000 clamidosporas.g-1 de sustrato y cuatro grupos controles (sin Pochonia), en bolsas de polietileno con 4kg de sustrato, donde se trasplantó una postura de achicoria y se añadieron 5000 juveniles/huevos de M. enterolobii. Se comprobó que el desarrollo saprofítico de ambas cepas de P. chlamydosporia var. catenulata estuvo en el orden de 10³-10(4) UFC.g-1 en el suelo y las raíces. El porcentaje de colonización de masas de huevos y el parasitismo de huevos de la cepa CG1006 fue superior, con valores entre 77-92% y 71-83%, comparado a la IMI SD 187 que logró 58-89 y 37-74%, respectivamente. Aun cuando ambos hongos no redujeron el índice de agallas de M. enterolobii, disminuyó el número de huevos sanos, respecto al control. Los resultados indicaron que la presencia de abono orgánico no influyó significativamente en la actividad de la cepa nativa, pero sí de la cepa foránea (IMI SD 187) fundamentalmente en el suelo natural. Se ratifica la pertinencia de estudios en suelos no esterilizados, al ofrecer información más confiable en la selección de cepas promisorias como agentes de control biológico de nematodos y su empleo dentro de estrategias de manejo.

La perla de tierra Eurhizococcus brasiliensis es el insecto plaga más importante en las uvas de Brasil. La presencia natural y actividad biológica de hongos entomopatógenos (HE) contra esta plaga son poco conocidas. En este estudio se evaluó la presencia de E. brasiliensis asociada a HE en suelos y la virulencia de una cepa de Isaria fumosorosea proveniente de la perla de la tierra contra quistes bajo condiciones de laboratorio. No se logró identificar ningún HE en los quistes durante una evaluación inicial conducida en un área de producción de uva al sur de Brasil. Sin embargo, el 6% de las hembras móviles que emergieron de los quistes estaban infectadas con Metarhizium brunneum, el cual es el primer reporte del aislamiento de este patógeno sobre perlas de la tierra en Brasil. Los quistes sin su capa de cera protectora fueron inoculados por inmersión a una suspensión de conidios de I. fumosorosea. Se describieron los síntomas y signos de la infección. Los quistes infectados tenían un color amarillo oscuro y una consistencia de "huevo cocido" cuando rotos, en contraste a un color amarillo claro y una consistencia de "huevo crudo" de los quistes vivos. Las células fúngicas vegetativas se encontraron dentro de los quistes sintomáticos, y más tarde se hizo visible la conidiación en la parte externa. La CL25 para los quistes protegidos por su capa de cera e inoculados por inmersión fue de 1,31 x 10(7) conidios.mL-1. Sin embargo, la presencia de estructuras del hongo no se observó en los individuos sintomáticos. Teniendo en cuenta la inmovilidad de los quistes y la ausencia de signos patológicos para la evaluación de mortalidad, los síntomas descritos pueden ayudar en estudios futuros sobre el control de E. brasiliensis utilizando I. fumosorosea.

The Brazilian ground pearl Eurhizococcus brasiliensis is the most prevalent insect pest of grapes in Brazil. The natural occurrence and biological activity of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) against this pest are poorly known. In this study, we evaluate the presence of E. brasiliensis-associated EF in soil and the virulence of a ground pearl-derived strain of Isaria fumosorosea against cysts under laboratory conditions. EF were not identified on cysts in an initial survey performed in a grape-producing area in southern Brazil. However, 6% of mobile females that had emerged from cysts were infected by Metarhizium brunneum, which was the first report of this insect pathogen on ground pearls in Brazil. Cysts without the protective wax layer were inoculated with I. fumosorosea conidia suspension by immersion. The symptoms and the signs of the disease were described. Infected cysts had a yellow-ochre color and "hard-boiled egg" consistency when broken, in contrast to the intense bright yellow color and "raw egg" consistency of living cysts. Vegetative fungal cells were present inside symptomatic cysts, and later, outside conidiation was visible. The LC25 for the cysts protected with the wax layer and also inoculated by immersion was 1.31 x 10(7) conidia·mL-1. However, the presence of fungal structures was not observed on symptomatic individuals. Considering the motionlessness of cysts and the absence of disease signs for mortality assessment, the symptoms described may be helpful for further studies on E. brasiliensis control using I. fumosorosea.

Recently, Pochonia chlamydosporia (Goddard) Zare y Gams was isolated from parasitized eggs of Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang y Eisenback (syn. jun. Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah y Hirschmann) in guava (Psidium guajava L.) plantations, at the northeast of Brazil. Due to the potential danger of this pest for a large group of crops, including vegetable crops, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with two repetitions in time. The aim was to evaluate the saprophytic and parasitic activities of three brazilian strains (CG1003, CG1006 and CG1041) and the cuban strain (IMI SD 187) of P. chlamydosporia against M. enterolobii in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)- lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) crop sequence. At the end of the cultivation, 6 month after the application, colonization of P. chlamydosporia was in the order of 10(4) CFU.g-1 of soil and 10³ CFU.g-1 of root, with exception of the strain CG1041 (10² CFU.g-1 of root). Egg mass percentage was higher than 60% in all treatments, while parasitized egg percentage was between 45-55%. These results validated the cuban strain against a nematode target under different conditions from those it originally came from; the brazilian strain potential as biocontroler of M. enterolobii was also demonstred. Future investigation perspectives with those fungi are opened for their use as biological control agents for nematode pest management strategies.

Recientemente se informaron aislamientos de Pochonia chlamydosporia (Goddard) Zare y Gams parasitando huevos de Meloidogyne enterolobii Yang y Eisenback (syn. jun. Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah y Hirschmann) en plantaciones de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.), al nordeste de Brasil. Teniendo en cuenta el peligro potencial de esta plaga para numerosos cultivos incluyendo las hortalizas, se realizó un experimento en casa de vegetación con dos repeticiones en el tiempo. El objetivo fue evaluar las actividades saprofítica y patogénica de tres cepas brasileñas (CG1003, CG1006 y CG1041) y una cubana (IMI SD 187) de P. chlamydosporia frente a M. enterolobii, en una sucesión de cultivos tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.)- lechuga (Lactuca sativa L.). Al finalizar el ciclo de los cultivos, 6 meses después de la aplicación, se comprobó que la colonización de P. chlamydosporia se mantuvo en el orden de 10(4) UFC.g-1 de suelo y mayor de 10³ UFC.g-1 en las raíces, excepto para la cepa CG1041 (10² UFC.g-1 de raíz). El porcentaje de colonización de estos hongos sobre las masas de huevos fue superior al 60% en todos los tratamientos, mientras que los porcentajes de parasitismo de huevos estuvieron entre 45 y 55%. Estos resultados validaron la cepa cubana frente a una diana y en condiciones diferentes a las que es originaria y se demostró que las cepas brasileñas son potenciales biocontroladores de M. enterolobii, abriéndose así futuras perspectivas de investigación como agentes de control biológico integrados para el manejo de este nematodo.

O nematóide das galhas, Meloidogyne mayaguensis, causa sérias perdas econômicas em plantações de goiaba no Brasil. Fungos parasitas de ovos de M. mayaguensis ainda não foram estudados no Brasil, mas essas informações podem servir de base para estudos futuros de controle biológico em campo. Os fungos parasitas de ovos, Pochonia chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia, P.chlamydosporia var. catenulata e Lecanicillium psalliotae foram isolados em ovos de M. mayaguensis e analisados quanto às suas características morfológicas e culturais. Para os isolados de P. chlamydosporia a melhor temperatura para crescimento e esporulação variou entre 24 e 28 ºC. Para o isolado de L. psalliotae, a melhor temperatura para crescimento foi 30 ºC. Em estado sólido, os isolados de P. chlamydosporia produziram entre 3,5 e 5,2 x 10(6) chlamidosporos por g de substrato colonizado, enquanto que o isolado de L. psalliotae produziu 8,5 x 10(8) conídios por g de substrato colonizado. Há necessidade de estudos futuros para mostrar o potencial desses fungos como agentes de controle biológico de M. mayaguensis.

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne mayaguensis, causes serious economic loss to guava plantation in Brazil. Fungi associated with eggs of M. mayaguensis in Brazilian soil have not been studied yet, but this knowledge could form the basis for future field studies on biological control of this nematode. The egg parasitic fungi, Pochonia chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia, P.chlamydosporia var. catenulata and Lecanicillium psalliotae, were isolated from M. mayaguensis eggs and analyzed based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. The optimum temperature for growth and spore production ranged between 24 and 28ºC for P. chlamydosporia isolates. For the isolate of L. psalliotae, the best growth was at 30ºC. In solid state fermentation, P. chlamydosporia isolates produced between 3.5 and 5.2 x 10(6) chlamydospores per g of colonized substrate, whereas L. psalliotae isolate produced 8.5 x 10(8) conidia per g of colonized substrate. Future studies are required to clarify the potential of these fungi as biological control agents of M. mayaguensis.

A phylogenetic analysis of the 5.8S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) sequences from some entomogenous Paecilomyces species supports the polyphyly of the genus and showed the existence of cryptic species. In the Eurotiales, anamorphs Paecilomyces variotii and Paecilomyces leycettanus were related to the teleomorphs Talaromyces and Thermoascus. In the Hypocreales, three major ITS subgroups were found, one of which included Paecilomyces viridis, Paecilomyces penicillatus, Paecilomyces carneus and isolates identified as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Paecilomyces marquandii. However, the majority of the P. lilacinus and P. marquandii isolates formed a distinct and distantly related subgroup, while the other major subgroup contained Paecilomyces farinosus, Paecilomyces amoeneroseus, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Paecilomyces tenuipes.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to investigate polymorphism among 43 Hirsutella thompsonii isolates (33 from Thailand) obtained from various mite species. The outgroups were an unidentified Hirsutella isolate along with Hirsutella nodulosa and Hirsutella kirchneri. Phylogenetic analyses of the AFLP data showed significant variation among isolates and the existence of three H. thompsonii clades. We also investigated the isolates using PCR with specific primers for the Hirsutella exotoxin gene Hirsutelin A (HtA) and 18 of these isolates were used for sequencing of the partial beta-tubulin gene. Phylogenetic analyses of beta-tubulin sequences showed two distinct H. thompsonii clades, one of which included AFLP clades I and II. For both markers grouping of the H. thompsonii isolates was not related to either host mite species or geographical origin, although for the HtA gene one clade contained only isolates with no detectable HtA band. These results confirm the high intraspecific polymorphism of H. thompsonii, and maximum likelihood analysis showed no monophyletic group within this species. To refine the taxonomy of this genus other studies should be undertaken using additional molecular markers and several other Hirsutella isolates.

Quarenta e nove isolados brasileiros de Dicyma pulvinata foram analisados quanto a características morfológicas, análises de RFLP, RAPD e AFLP. Este fungo é um micoparasita do Microcyclus ulei, o agente causal da mais importante doença da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis), o mal-das-folhas. Estes isolados foram comparados com isolados indianos obtidos a partir de lesões de Cercosporidium sp., com um isolado proveniente da França obtido a partir de lesões de Cladosporium fulvum e com um isolado de D. ampullifera proveniente de Papua-Nova Guiné. A análise de parâmetros morfológicos confirmou a identificação dos isolados brasileiros. As representações gráficas das matrizes de distância de cada marcador molecular mostraram resultados semelhantes. Os isolados de D. pulvinata obtidos de M. ulei mostraram-se intimamente relacionados. Por outro lado, os isolados - referência, incluídos nestes estudos, mostraram-se bastante dispersos. De acordo com a análise de variância molecular, considerando todos os marcadores, os isolados de D. pulvinata obtidos de M. ulei, apresentaram diferença significativa entre isolados procedentes de áreas de cultivo de seringueira favoráveis à ocorrência do mal-das-folhas (regiões norte e nordeste do Brasil) e aqueles de áreas de escape da doença (Mato Grosso).

Forty-nine Brazilian Dicyma pulvinata isolates were examined by morphological traits and RFLP, RAPD and AFLP analyses. This fungus is a mycoparasite of Microcyclus ulei, the causal agent of the most devastating rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) disease, known as "South American Leaf Blight" (SALB). These isolates were compared with an Indian isolate from Cercosporidium sp., and a French isolate from Cladosporium fulvum. They were also compared with Dicyma ampullifera from Papua New Guinea. The morphological parameters analyzed confirmed the identification of the Brazilian isolates. The graphic representations of the distance matrices of each molecular marker showed similar results. Dicyma pulvinata isolates from M. ulei were closely related, whereas the reference isolates examined were dispersed. Among the D. pulvinata isolates obtained from M. ulei, a significant pairwise distance was obtained, for all the molecular markers, between the isolates from the areas favorable to the occurrence of SALB (North and Northeast of Brazil) and the region of escape for the disease (Mato Grosso State).

Field tests were carried out during the rainy season of 2001/2002 in São Luís de Montes Belos, Goiás, Brazil, to evaluate the potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, against peridomestic Triatoma sordida. An oil-water formulation of the isolate CG 14 (Embrapa) was applied in triatomine infested hen houses of four farms at a final concentration of 10(6) conidia/cm². Numbers of T. sordida decreased over the next 25 days, after application of the fungus, and B. bassiana developed on dead insects in one hen house. A high number of B. bassiana colonies was detected in substrates collected in treated hen houses 24 h after application of CG 14. In the following three months the presenceof B. bassiana declined to values found before treatment.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o isolado peruano de Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, CG 863, obtido do gafanhoto Schistocerca interrita, praga prejudicial a muitas culturas no Peru. A caracterização foi realizada pela comparação com dois outros isolados de M. anisopliae var. acridum, do Brasil e da Austrália, e com um isolado de M. anisopliae var. anisopliae. Os três isolados de M. anisopliae var. acridum mostraram padrões de crescimento semelhantes em placas de ágar a 25°C e 37°C, e semelhantes padrões de RAPD obtidos com a análise de três primers. Entretanto, com relação a estes parâmetros e tamanho de conídios, esses isolados diferiram do isolado de M. anisopliae var. anisopliae. Bioensaios indicaram que o isolado peruano é tão patogênico a Rhammatocerus schistocercoides quanto o isolado brasileiro.

The objective of this study was to characterize the Peruvian isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, CG 863, obtained from the grasshopper Schistocerca interrita, a crop pest in Peru. The characterization was done by comparing this isolate with two other ones of M. anisopliae var. acridum, from Brazil and Australia, and with an isolate of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae. The three M. anisopliae var. acridum isolates had similar growth profiles in agar plates at 25°C and 37°C, and similar RAPD patterns according to the analysis of three primers. However, regarding these parameters and conidial size, these isolates were very distinct when compared to M. anisopliae var. anisopliae isolate. Bioassays indicated that the Peruvian isolate is as pathogenic as the Brazilian isolate against nymphs of Rhammatocerus schistocercoides.

A variabilidade genética entre 22 isolados dos fungos Alternaria alternata e A. Cassiae, obtidos de Senna obtusifolia, foi estudada através da análise de RAPD. No total, 491 bandas foram selecionadas com o uso de 28 primers. O agrupamento baseado em similaridades computadas dos marcadores mostrou dois distintos grupos de isolados relacionados às espécies. A análise de RAPD provou ser um método eficiente para detecção da variabilidade genética entre isolados de A. alternata e A. cassiae ocorrendo em S. obtusifolia, e também para distinguir as espécies de Alternaria.

The genetic variability of 22 isolates of the fungi Alternaria alternata and A. cassiae, obtained from Senna obtusifolia, was studied by RAPD analysis. A total of 491 scorable bands were produced with the use of 28 primers. Cluster analysis based on similarities computed from RAPD markers showed two distinct genetic groups of isolates related to both species. RAPD analysis proved to be an efficient method for detecting genetic variability of A. cassiae and A. alternata isolates occurring in S. obtusifolia, and also for distinguishing Alternaria species.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a variabilidade genética do gafanhoto Rhammatocerus schistocercoides (Orthoptera: Acrididae) por meio da análise de RAPD entre indivíduos de três populações, uma da Colômbia e duas do Brasil (Goiás e Mato Grosso). Noventa marcadores binários foram selecionados através de análise de polimorfismo com o uso de 11 oligonucleotídeos. A maior parte do polimorfismo observado foi atribuída a 42 marcadores com freqüência variável entre as diferentes populações. Apesar da existência de diferença significativa interpopulacional (P<0,0001), grande proporção da variabilidade genética foi detectada dentro das populações (87,7% da variação total). As distâncias entre as populações colombianas e brasileiras foram 0,12 (P<0,0001) e 0,18 (P<0,0001) para Goiás e Mato Grosso, respectivamente. A distância obtida entre Goiás e Mato Grosso foi 0,06 (P<0,0001). Estes dados indicam que as diferenças fenotípicas entre populações estão associadas principalmente às distâncias geográficas entre as populações do Brasil e a da Colômbia.

The objective of this work was to study the genetic variability of the grasshopper Rhammatocerus schistocercoides (Orthoptera: Acrididae) using RAPD analysis among individuals from three populations, one from Colombia and two from Brazil (Goiás and Mato Grosso States). Ninety scorable binary markers were obtained by fingerprinting with 11 oligonucleotide primers. Most of the polymorphism was attributed to 42 markers with variable frequency among the different populations. Although the existence of significant difference among populations (P<0.0001), most of the genetic variability was found within populations (87.7% of total variation). Pairwise distances between Colombian and Brazilian populations were 0.12 (P<0.0001) and 0.18 (P<0.0001) for Goiás and Mato Grosso, respectively. The pairwise distance between Goiás and Mato Grosso populations was 0.06 (P<0.0001). These data indicated that the phenotypic differences among populations are associated mainly with the geographical distances between the Brazilian and Colombian populations.

O fungo entomopatogênico Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson produz epizootias em populações de lagarta da soja, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Huebner), controlando naturalmente a praga em determinadas condições. No entanto, a epizootia nem sempre ocorre a tempo de evitar que as populações desta praga causem dano econômico à cultura. Foi criado um modelo matemático para simular a ocorrência de N. rileyi em populações de A. gemmatalis nas lavouras de soja da Flórida, EUA. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um sistema que integrasse esse modelo a outros modelos (fenologia da soja e da praga, interações inseto-planta e dinâmica populacional da praga), a fim de gerar simulações mais precisas no manejo da praga. Estes modelos foram construídos a partir de estudos ecológicos dos organismos envolvidos, conduzidos nas áreas de soja no Brasil. O sistema integrado foi desenvolvido com base em equações de diferenças que são processadas pelo programa STELLA, versão 5.0 Research. A avaliação do modelo em Planaltina, DF, e Londrina, PR, demonstraram que o sistema é capaz de simular a ocorrência de epizootias ou explosões populacionais da lagarta da soja.

The entomopathogen fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson may produce epizooties in populations of velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Huebner) under specific conditions. However, sometimes the epizooty does not occur in time to avoid that populations of the pest reach economic threshold level in the soybean crop. A mathematical model was created to simulate occurrence of N. rileyi on populations of A. gemmatalis in soybean crops of Florida, USA. The objective of this work was to develop a system to integrate this original model with several other models (phenology of pest and crop, insect plant interactions, and population dynamics of the pest), in order to generate more accurate simulations on the pest management. These models were developed from ecological studies involving organisms in soybean fields of Brazil. The integrated system was proposed based on equations of differences that are processed as differential equations through the software STELLA, version 5.0 Research. The evaluation of the system using data from soybean fields from Planaltina, DF, and Londrina, PR, showed that the model was able to simulate occurrence of epizooties or pest outbreaks in field conditions.

O fungo entomopatogênico Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson pode produzir epizootias em populações de lagarta-da-soja, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, controlando essa praga naturalmente. No entanto, o fenômeno nem sempre ocorre a tempo de evitar que populações de A. gemmatalis atinjam o nível de dano econômico na cultura. Observações sobre a produção de conídios em cadáveres de A. gemmatalis em condições de campo mostraram que alta umidade relativa e precipitação são fatores determinantes na cinética da esporulação do fungo in vivo. O início da esporulação foi retardado e a produção de conídios diminuída quando cadáveres de A. gemmatalis infectados com N. rileyi foram submetidos a períodos longos de estresse hídrico (umidade relativa de 25-30%). Observações no campo também demonstraram que a viabilidade de conídios de N. rileyi pode permanecer elevada (>75% germinação) por períodos de até 10 dias na superfície de cadáveres, servindo como fonte de inóculo durante esse período.

The entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson produces epizootics on populations of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, resulting in its natural control. However, sometimes this phenomenon does not occur soon enough to prevent pest population outbreaks and damage to the crop. Observations of N. rileyi conidial production on the surface of A. gemmatalis cadavers in the field showed that high relative humidity and precipitation determine the sporulation dynamics. In fact, initiation of sporulation is delayed and conidia production is reduced when A. gemmatalis cadavers infected with N. rileyi are exposed to water stress (relative humidity 25-30%) in the laboratory. Field observations also demonstrated that N. rileyi conidial viability remain high (>75% germination) until 10 days on A. gemmatalis cadaver surface, acting as an inoculum source for this period.

Isolados de Alternaria spp. patogênicos ao fedegoso (Senna obtusifolia) foram estudados quanto aos aspectos morfológicos e padrões isoenzimáticos, em gel de poliacrilamida. Com base nas características culturais, morfologia de colônias e morfometria de conídios, verificou-se que 11 dos 13 isolados pertenciam à espécie A. cassiae e os outros dois à A. alternata. Os resultados da análise eletroforética corroboraram as informações obtidas por meio de critérios morfológicos. Portanto, esta técnica tem potencial para ser usada na separação destas espécies de Alternaria. A ocorrência de mais de uma espécie deste gênero fúngico em S. obtusifolia foi constatada, ampliando o número de patógenos a serem avaliados no programa de desenvolvimento de um bioherbicida para esta espécie de planta daninha.

Alternaria spp. isolates pathogenic to sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) were characterized based on morphological characteristics and isozyme patterns. Colonial morphology and conidial shape showed that 11 of the 13 isolates belong to A. cassiae. The other two isolates were identified as A. alternata. Isoenzyme patterns confirmed the results of morphological criteria. The occurrence of more than one species of this fungus infecting S. obtusifolia was found, widening the range of suitable pathogens to be evaluated in bioherbicide programs for sicklepod control.