ABSTRACT This study aimed to find sources of resistance to damping-off and to determine the inheritance of resistance in watermelon. Firstly, 72 watermelon accessions were inoculated with CMM 1053 isolate of Rhizoctonia solani. Only two accessions (BGH 29 and BGH 76) were considered moderately resistant to the disease. The inoculated plants without symptoms from accession BGH-29 identified as resistant were self-fertilized and the inbred line S1 was used for the crosses. The reaction to R. solani after inoculation of the segregating populations of the cross and backcrosses between susceptible cultivar Crimson Sweet and the inbred line BGH-29 was evaluated. In other experiment eight S1 lines of watermelon were inoculated with six different isolates of R. solani and the reaction was evaluated by partial diallel analysis using the Griffing’s method IV to obtain estimates of general resistance ability (GRA), general aggressiveness ability (GAA), and specific interaction ability (SIA). According to ratings of the susceptible and resistant parents, generations F1, F2, BC1 (F1 × P1) and BC2 (F1 × P2), resistance to damping-off was conferred by at least nine genes with additive effect and low heritability which indicates polygenic inheritance. The results of the diallel analysis corroborate with the analysis of segregating population, indicating inheritance of resistance was horizontal, since 46.1% of the total sum of squares of the variation observed in the crosses was due to GRA, while the SIA corresponded to only 20.39% of variation. This is the first report about inheritance of resistance to damping-off caused by R. solani in watermelon.

RESUMO: Neste estudo validamos um coletor solar para desinfestar solo com Meloidogyne enterolobii para a produção de mudas de tomateiro em condições semiáridas. Um experimento no delineamento em blocos casualizados foi conduzido com seis tempos de exposição de solo peneirado em um coletor solar de tubos de zinco. Estes consistiram de 0 (controle), 6, 12, 24, 30 e 36h de exposição, com cinco repetições cada. Após 12h de exposição do solo ao calor no coletor solar, nenhuma galha foi observada em raízes de tomateiro, assim como ovos ou juvenis de segundo estágio de M. enterolobii não foram observados no solo. Dessa maneira, o uso do coletor solar foi eficiente na desinfecção de solo infestado por M. enterolobii visando a produção de mudas de tomateiro em condições semiáridas.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we validated a solar collector for disinfest soil infested by Meloidogyne enterolobii for tomato seedlings production in semiarid conditions. An experiment using a randomized block design was conducted with six exposure times of the sieved substrate in the solar collector of zinc tubes. The treatments consisted of 0 (control), 6, 12, 24, 30 and 36 hours of exposure, with five replicates. After 12 hours of soil exposure in the solar collector, no galls were observed in the tomato roots, neither were eggs and second stage juveniles of M. enterolobii were observed in the soil. Based in the results obtained in this study, the solar collector was efficient in the disinfest of soil infested by M. enterolobii aiming production of tomato seedlings in semiarid conditions.

ABSTRACT The São Francisco Sub medium Valley is a great mango exporter in Brazil. In this semiarid region, diseases such as dieback and mango malformation have reduced the production of this crop. In this work the effectiveness of different active ingredients (flutriafol, methyl-thiophanate, copper hydroxide and fluxapyroxad mixed with pyraclostrobin) was assessed for the control of these diseases in a mango orchard. Monthly assessments of disease incidence were carried out. There was a difference among treatments for the two diseases studied, with flutriafol as the most effective fungicide against dieback and, for the malformation, the mixture of fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin and methyl-thiophanate showed the best results. Brazil region crop flutriafol, (flutriafol methylthiophanate, methylthiophanate methyl thiophanate, thiophanate orchard out studied results

RESUMO: O fungo Macrophomina phaseolina é o agente etiológico da podridão cinzenta do caule, uma das mais importantes doenças na cultura do feijão caupi em regiões semiáridas, podendo ocasionar perdas de 100%. A busca por genótipos resistentes exige uma fenotipagem eficiente. Além disso tem o problema da grande variação na agressividade entre isolados. Este trabalho teve como objetivos 1) testar três metodologias de inoculação em condições semiáridas, e 2) avaliar a agressividade de isolados de M. phaseolina. No primeiro experimento, conduzido em ambiente protegido, avaliou-se metodologias de inoculação em duas linhagens de caupi, por três métodos de inoculação e três isolados do patógeno. No segundo experimento, 15 isolados de M. phaseolina foram inoculados em uma cultivar de caupi para avaliar a agressividade do patógeno. Pela avaliação do comprimento das lesões e da severidade da doença por meio de um índice, identificamos o método de inoculação por palito de dente mais eficiente pois permitiu discriminar os genótipos estudados e a agressividade do patógeno.

ABSTRACT: The fungi Macrophomina phaseolina is the charcoal rot causal agent, one of the most important cowpea crop disease in semiarid regions can causes 100% yield losses. The search for resistant genotypes requires efficient phenotyping. In addition, there is the problem of great variation in aggressiveness between isolates. This study aimed to 1) test three methods of inoculation in semiarid conditions, and 2) to evaluate the aggressiveness of isolates of M. phaseolina. In the first experiment carried out in greenhouse, the inoculations methods were evaluated, using two cowpea lines, three inoculation methods and three pathogen isolates. On the second experiment, fifteen M. phaseolina isolates were inoculated in one cultivar to evaluate their aggressiveness. By assessing the length of the lesions and the severity of the disease using an index, we identified the toothpick inoculation method as the most efficient. Toothpick method allowed to discriminate the genotypes and the aggressiveness of the pathogen.

RESUMO No Brasil, as aceroleiras, quando infectadas por Meloidogyne enterolobii, apresentam redução na produtividade e na qualidade dos frutos. Uma das alternativas para solucionar este problema é a utilização de porta-enxerto resistente a esse patógeno. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a reação de 22 acessos de aceroleira a M. enterolobii, visando identificar, pelo menos, um porta-enxerto resistente. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, com 10 repetições, sendo cada parcela formada por 10 plantas. Cada planta foi inoculada com 350 ovos mais juvenis de segundo estádio de M. enterolobii e, após 90 dias, foram determinados o índice de galhas (IG) e o fator de reprodução (FR). As variáveis foram analisadas pela metodologia de modelos mistos (REML/BLUP). Com base nas duas variáveis avaliadas, destacaram-se os acessos, ACO-13, ACO-14, ACO-18 e BRS Apodi com quatro a seis plantas com reação de resistência ao nematoide-das-galhas, mas a avaliação dos acessos deve ser feita sob maiores doses de inóculo e por tempo mais longo.

ABSTRACT In Brazil, acerola trees infested by Meloidogyne enterolobii present lower yield and fruit quality. The use of rootstocks resistant to this pathogen is one of the alternatives to overcome this problem. This study aimed to assess the reaction of 22 acerola accessions to M. enterolobii, aiming to identify at least one resistant rootstock. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with 10 replications and each plot consisting of 10 plants. Each plant was inoculated with 350 eggs and second-stage juveniles of M. enterolobii, with the gall index (GI) and reproduction factor (RF) being determined after 90 days. The variables were analyzed using the mixed model methodology (REML/BLUP). The accessions ACO-13, ACO-14, ACO-18, and BRS Apodi stood out with four to six plants showing resistance reaction to the root-knot nematode, but the assessment of accessions should be performed under a higher density inoculum and longer time.

RESUMO: Neste estudo foi proposto o desenvolvimento e validação de uma escala diagramática (ED) para avaliar a severidade do oídio (Podosphaera xanthii) em folhas de melancia (Citrullus lanatus). A ED proposta possui 12 níveis de severidade, variando de 0,07 a 100%. A ED foi validada por 16 avaliadores inexperientes em avaliação de severidade de doenças de plantas. Inicialmente, as estimativas de severidade foram realizadas sem o uso da ED em folhas com diferentes níveis de severidade. No segundo momento, os mesmos avaliadores estimaram a severidade da doença usando a ED proposta. Pela análise da correlação concordante de Lin, houve melhoria na precisão (coeficiente de correlação, r = 0,787 e r = 0,959, sem e com o uso da ED, respectivamente) e acurácia (fator de correção do desvio, Cb = 0,830 e 0,982, sem e com o uso da ED, respectivamente) usando a ED quando comparado ao não uso da ED. O coeficiente de correlação concordante de Lin, ρc = 0,734 e 0,952 sem e com o uso da ED, respectivamente) também melhorou com o uso da ED. As estimativas de severidade tiveram melhoria na reprodutibilidade quando a ED foi usada (coeficiente de determinação, R2=0,681 e R2 = 0,864 sem e com o uso da ED, respectivamente; coeficiente de correlação intra-classe, ρ = 0,759 e ρ = 0,928, sem e com o uso da ED, respectivamente). Portanto, a ED melhorou a precisão, acurácia e reprodutibilidade das estimativas de severidade do oídio em folhas de melancia.

ABSTRACT: The development and validation of a standard area diagram set (SADs) was proposed in this study to assess the severity of powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) leaves. The SADs proposed has twelve levels of severity, varying from 0.07 to 100%. The SADs were validated by 16 raters who had no previous experience in evaluating plant disease severity. Initially, the estimation of severity was performed without the use of the SADs in leaves with different levels of severity. In a second moment, the same raters estimated the disease severity using the SADs proposed. By Lin’s concordance correlation analysis, there was an improvement in precision (coefficient of correlation, r = 0.878 and r = 0.959, without and with SADs, respectively) and accuracy (bias correction factor, Cb = 0.830 and 0.982, without and with SADs, respectively) using SADs when compared to the non-use of SADs. The agreement (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient, ρc = 0.734 and 0.952 without and with SADs, respectively) also improved using SADs. Severity estimates inter-rater were more reliable when using SADs (coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.681 without and R2 = 0.864 with SADs; Intra-class correlation coefficient, ρ = 0.759 and ρ = 0.928, without and with SADs, respectively). Therefore, SADs improved precision, accuracy and reliability of powdery mildew severity on watermelon leaves.

RESUMO Este trabalho objetivou o desenvolvimento de uma escala para estimar a severidade da seca-de-ponteiros do eucalipto causada por Erwinia psidii. Para isso, uma escala de oito níveis foi desenvolvida e validada por dez avaliadores inexperientes. A acurácia e precisão das estimativas de cada avaliador, com e sem a escala, foram determinadas baseadas no coeficiente de correlação concordante de Lin. A escala proposta melhorou a acurácia e a precisão das estimativas. A escala estudada se mostrou uma ferramenta útil na avaliação da seca-de-ponteiros do eucalipto para estudos epidemiológicos e em programas de melhoramento.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop and validate a standard area diagram (SAD) set to estimate the severity of bacterial blight of eucalyptus caused by Erwinia psidii. For this purpose, an eight-level SAD was developed and validated by ten inexperienced raters. Accuracy and precision of the estimates by each rater, with and without the SAD, were determined based on Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient. The proposed SAD improved the accuracy and precision of the estimates. The SAD set studied here is a useful tool in assessments of bacterial blight of eucalyptus for epidemiological research and breeding programs.

In order to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate spray on the control of coffee leaf rust and coffee yield, an experiment was conducted during the 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 growing seasons on Coffea arabica cv. Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144, in a location situated at an elevation of 850 m in Coimbra, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The treatments consisted of: 1 - potassium silicate; 2 - potassium silicate + copper hydroxide; 3 - copper hydroxide; 4 - epoxiconazole formulated with pyraclostrobin and 5 - control treatment. Six applications of potassium silicate and copper hydroxide were made twice per month from December to March of each year. Two applications of the systemic fungicide were done in December and March of each year. Potassium silicate alone or in combination with copper hydroxide was not efficient in reducing coffee leaf rust incidence and increasing yield under high incidence of coffee leaf rust.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a herança da resistência do Híbrido de Timor UFV 443-03 à ferrugem-do-cafeeiro (Hemileia vastatrix). Para isso, a raça II e o patótipo 001 de ferrugem foram inoculados em 246 plantas da população F2, 115 plantas do retrocruzamento suscetível (RC S) e 87 plantas do retrocruzamento resistente (RC R), originadas do cruzamento entre o genótipo suscetível cv. Catuaí Amarelo IAC 64 e a fonte de resistência Híbrido de Timor UFV 443-03. Para ambos os inóculos, a cv. Catuaí Amarelo IAC 64 foi suscetível, enquanto o Híbrido de Timor UFV 443-03, a planta representante da geração F1 e as plantas do RC R foram resistentes. As plantas F2, quando inoculadas com a raça II, apresentaram dois padrões de segregação significativos: 15:1 e 61:3. A herança da resistência foi confirmada pela inoculação das plantas do RC S, que segregaram na proporção de 3:1, padrão esperado para herança condicionada por dois genes. A hipótese de segregação 7:1 para três genes foi rejeitada. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para o patótipo 001. Dois genes dominantes e independentes conferem a resistência genética do Híbrido de Timor UFV 443-03 à raça II e ao patótipo 001 de H. vastatrix.

The aim of this work was to characterize the resistance inheritance of the Timor Hybrid UFV 443-03 to coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix). For this, the race II and pathotype 001 of coffee leaf rust were inoculated in 246 F2 plants, 115 susceptible backcrossing (BCS) plants, and 87 resistant backcrossing (BC R) plants, derived from the crossing between the susceptible genotype 'Catuaí Amarelo' IAC 64 and the resistance source Timor Hybrid UFV 443-03. For both inoculums, the 'Catuaí Amarelo' IAC 64 was susceptible, while the Timor Hybrid, the plant representing F1 generation, and the BC R plants were resistant. The F2 plants inoculated with race II presented two significant segregation ratios: 15:1 and 61:3. The resistance inheritance was verified by the inoculation of the BCS plants, which segregated at a 3:1 ratio, an expected pattern for the inheritance controlled by two genes, whereas the segregation hypothesis of 7:1 for three genes was rejected. Two independent and dominant genes confer the genetic resistance of Timor Hybrid UFV 443-03 to race II and pathotype 001 of H. vastatrix.