ABSTRACT. This study aimed to investigate the potential of rhizobacteria isolated from tomato plants to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and induce the activity of pathogenesis-related enzymes in Micro-Tom tomato plants. Three rhizobacterial isolates were evaluated to determine the most efficient antagonist agent, which was later identified by gene sequencing as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PKM16. The antagonistic effects of B. amyloliquefaciens against S. sclerotiorum were assessed in vivo and in vitro using live and autoclaved cultures at concentrations of 0% (control), 20%, 30%, and 40% (v/v). The residual effects of four treatments (20% live culture, 20% autoclaved culture, a Bacillus subtilis-based commercial product, and autoclaved distilled water) on tomato plants inoculated with S. sclerotiorum were determined. The same treatments were also used to assess the myceliogenic germination of sclerotia and induction of plant defense enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and β-1,3-glucanase) in tomato plants. The live culture had a residual effect for 4 days and inhibited sclerotial germination by approximately 30%. Furthermore, live and autoclaved bacterial growth cultures stimulated enzyme activity. Therefore, B. amyloliquefaciens PKM16 was antagonistic to S. sclerotiorum, effectively inhibiting mycelial growth and activating defense mechanisms in Micro-Tom tomato plants. ABSTRACT pathogenesisrelated pathogenesis related MicroTom Micro Tom agent PKM B S 0 control, , (control) 20 30 30% 40 v/v. vv v/v . v (v/v) (20 subtilisbased subtilis based product water determined peroxidase, peroxidase (peroxidase catalase oxidase ammonialyase, ammonialyase ammonia lyase, lyase ammonia-lyase β1,3glucanase β13glucanase βglucanase β 1,3 glucanase 1 3 β-1,3-glucanase Furthermore Therefore PKM1 (control 2 (v/v (2 β1 3glucanase 13 1, (

RESUMO O oídio é uma doença importante do tomateiro, o que demanda tecnologias para seu controle. A homeopatia é uma ciência que vem ganhando espaço como uma alternativa fitossanitária na agropecuária. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o medicamento homeopático Ferrum sulphuricum nas dinamizações 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 e 96CH para controle de oídio. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, em delineamento de parcelas sub-sub-divididas e os resultados comparados com controles etanol 30% e água destilada. O experimento foi conduzido no período de Maio a Junho de 2013. Foram avaliados área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD), índice relativo de clorofila (SPAD), influência no crescimento das plantas pelo volume e massa do sistema radicular, massas de frutos e parte aérea e ainda a esporulação do patógeno nas folhas. Para AACPD, todas as dinamizações reduziram a doença. O genótipo Santa Clara apresentou até 41% menos e Cedro 31% menos doença comparados com o controle etanol, no terço superior da planta. Para o índice SPAD, houve incremento de até 322% no terço médio da planta tratada com a dinamização 24CH. Para as variáveis de crescimento, todas as dinamizações incrementaram em até 197% o volume de raiz e a massa do sistema radicular para ambos genótipos. As dinamizações 6, 12, 24, 72 e 96CH reduziram o número de esporos em folhas de tomateiro Santa Clara em até 40%. Os dados indicam que o medicamento Ferrum sulphuricum pode controlar o oídio em tomateiro, incrementar o crescimento das plantas e que existe diferença de acordo com o genótipo trabalhado.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew is an important disease in tomato, which requires technologies for its control. Homeopathy is a science that has been improved as an alternative method in agriculture. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the homeopathic medicine Ferrum sulphuricum in 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96CH dynamizations on powdery mildew control. The experiment was conducted from May to June 2013 in a greenhouse, in split-split- plot design, and the results were compared with the controls 30% ethanol and distilled water. We evaluated the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), relative chlorophyll index (SPAD), influence on plant growth by volume and mass of roots, and mass of fruits and shoots and even the pathogen sporulation on leaves. For the AUDPC, all the dynamizations reduced the disease. The Santa Clara genotype showed up to 41% less and Cedro 31% less disease compared with the control ethanol, in the upper third of the plant. For the SPAD index, there was an increase of up to 322% in the middle third of the plant treated with 24CH dynamization. For the growth variables, all the dynamizations increased up to 197% the volume and weight of roots for Cedro and Santa Clara. The 6, 12, 24, 72 and 96CH dynamizations reduced the pathogen sporulation on Santa Clara tomato leaves by up to 40%. The data indicate that the medicine Ferrum sulphuricum can control powdery mildew on tomato, increase the growth of plants and that there is a differential response according to the host genotype.

Abstract The induction of resistance (IR) in plants by natural products has been the subject of several studies, these being activated by eliciting molecules of biotic or abiotic origin. Elicitors activate resistance mechanisms such as pathogenesis-related proteins (PRP’s), which act to protect plants by preventing pathogen development. The present study aims to verify the activation of PRP's (peroxidase, catalase, polyphenoloxidase and β-glucanase) in pyre corn plants (Zea mays) treated with different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 3% and 5%) of the commercial biofertilizer Microgeo®. Analyzing the PRP’s enzymes, it was observed that the Microgeo® activated and increased the activity of these enzymes and that this induction is more related to the activation time, but not to the concentration used.

Resumen La inducción de resistencia (IR) en plantas por productos naturales ha sido objeto de varios estudios, siendo estas activadas por moléculas elicitoras de origen biótica o abiótica. Los elicitores activan mecanismos de resistencia como las proteínas relacionadas a patogénesis (PRP’s), que actúan en la protección de plantas impidiendo el desarrollo del patógeno. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo verificar la activación de PRP’s (peroxidasa, catalasa, polifenoloxidasa e β-glucanasa) en plantas de maíz pira (Zea mays) tratadas con diferentes concentraciones (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 3% y 5%) del biofertilizante comercial Microgeo®. Analizando las enzimas PRP’s se observó que el Microgeo® activó e incrementó la actividad de estas enzimas y que está inducción está más relacionada al tiempo de activación, pero no a la concentración utilizada.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o progresso temporal das doenças ferrugem polisora (Puccinia polysora), cercospora (Cercospora zeae-maydis), mancha branca (Pantoea ananatis) e helmintosporiose (Exserohilum turcicum) no milho, bem como sua correlação com as variáveis climáticas. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos com tratamentos ao acaso. O modelo monomolecular foi o que melhor se ajustou às epidemias. Com os dados de severidade de cada doença, foram elaboradas correlações com as variáveis climáticas (DFtemp-dias favoráveis com temperatura entre 18-28ºC; DFumid-dias favoráveis com umidade relativa>60%; PrecAcc-precipitação acumulada; PrecDia- precipitação/dia e Prec10-precipitação>10mm) observadas durante o período de avaliação. Após as análises pôde-se inferir que a variável precipitação acumulada foi determinante para a ocorrência de epidemias das doenças estudadas.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to evaluate the temporal progress of the diseases southern rust (Puccinia hpspolysorahps), Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora hpszeaehpsatn-atnmaydis), white spot (Pantoea hpsananatishps) and spot blotch (Exserohilum hpsturcicumhps) in corn, as well as their correlation with climate variables. Experimental design was in complete blocks with random treatments. The monomolecular model best fit to the epidemics. Using the severity data from each disease, correlations were established with the climate variables (DFtemp-favorable days with temperatures between 18-28 ºC; DFumid-favorable days with relative humidity>60%; PrecAcc-cumulative rainfall; PrecDia-precipitation/day, and Prec10- precipitation>10 mm) observed during the evaluation period. After analyses, it was possible to infer that the variable cumulative precipitation was determinant for the occurrence of epidemics of the studied diseases.

RESUMO O crambe pode ser uma alternativa viável no controle de fitonematoides. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar qual o melhor método de aplicação do extrato de Crambe abyssinica no controle de Meloidogyne incognita. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial (3x4+1) em casa de vegetação, com três vias de aplicação do extrato (foliar; solo; foliar+solo), em quatro épocas de aplicação (antes da inoculação; na inoculação; após a inoculação; e semanalmente até 45 dias após a inoculação), e com um tratamento adicional (testemunha). No segundo experimento, o esquema fatorial foi (3x2+1), com três vias de aplicação como citado anteriormente, e duas épocas (após a inoculação e semanalmente). A via foliar após a inoculação e a via solo semanalmente reduziram 23,50% e 30,77% a massa de ovos em comparação à testemunha, respectivamente. A redução do número de galhas com aplicações semanais tanto via solo como via solo+folha foi de 49,27% em comparação à testemunha. No segundo experimento, menos massa de ovos e galhas totais foram verificadas em aplicações via solo semanalmente. A redução de juvenis de segundo estádio (J2) e ovos por grama de raiz foi observada após a inoculação pela via solo+folha, e semanalmente via solo e via solo+folha, com valores 55,24%, 61,57% e 60% inferior à testemunha, respectivamente. O extrato de crambe aplicado via solo semanalmente foi promissor para o manejo de M. incognita na cultura do tomateiro.

ABSTRACT Crambe may be a viable alternative in the control of plant nematodes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the best method for applying Crambe abyssinica extract to control Meloidogyne incognita. The first experiment was conducted in a (3x4+1) factorial design in a greenhouse, using three modes of extract application (leaf; soil; leaf + soil), in four times of application (before inoculation; during inoculation; after inoculation; and weekly until 45 days after inoculation), with an additional treatment (control). In the second experiment, factorial design was (3x2+1), with three application modes, as mentioned above, and two times of application (after inoculation and weekly). Application on the leaf after inoculation and weekly application on the soil reduced egg mass by 23.50% and 30.77%, respectively, compared to control. The reduction in the number of root-knots with weekly applications both on the soil and on the soil + leaf was 49.27%, compared to control. In the second experiment, less egg mass and total root-knots were verified with weekly applications. Second-stage juveniles (J2) and eggs per gram of root reduced after inoculation via soil + leaf and weekly inoculation via soil and via soil + leaf, showing values 55.24%, 61.57% and 60% lower than those of control, respectively. Crambe extract weekly applied on the soil showed promising for the management of M. incognita in tomato plants.

ABSTRACT Nitrogen fertilization is essential to raise sugarcane yield in soils deficient in N. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen application in production and borer attack on sugarcane. The experiment was conducted at Escobar District, State of Paraguarí, Paraguay. Three sugarcane growing seasons were evaluated during 2011-2013. The experimental design was randomized blocks with seven treatments and three repetitions, with annual application of increasing of nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg ha-1). At 360 days of each crop cycle, harvest was performed with the following assessments: industrial plant height, number of internodes per plant, infestation intensity index and yield. The nitrogen rate of maximum technical efficiency and maximum economic efficiency was determined. Statistical analysis of variance, means comparison and regression were performed. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect plant height and number of internodes, but increased yield and borer attack. For every kg ha-1 of nitrogen applied 0.25 t ha-1 of yield is added, and 0.27 % of infestation intensity index increase is obtained. The rate of maximum technical efficiency was 157,4 kg N ha-1 for a yield of 73,6 t ha-1, and the rate of maximum economic efficiency was 136.5 kg N ha-1 for a yield of 88,2 t ha-1

RESUMEN La fertilización nitrogenada es fundamental para elevar los rendimientos de caña de azúcar en suelos deficientes en nitrógeno. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de nitrógeno en el rendimiento y en el ataque del borer en la caña de azúcar. El experimento se realizó en el Distrito de Escobar, Departamento de Paraguarí, Paraguay. Fueron conducidas tres zafras de caña de azúcar durante el periodo 2011-2013. Se utilizó un delineamiento experimental de bloques al azar con siete tratamientos y tres repeticiones, con aplicación anual de dosis crecientes de N (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 y 180 kg ha-1). A los 360 días de cada ciclo del cultivo fue cosechada la caña de azúcar realizando las siguientes evaluaciones: altura industrial de plantas, número de entrenudos por planta, índice de intensidad de infestación, rendimiento. Fue determinada la dosis de máxima eficiencia técnica y de máxima eficiencia económica de N. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos de variancia, comparación de medias y regresión. La fertilización nitrogenada no influyó en la altura de las plantas y el número de nudos, pero incrementó el rendimiento y el ataque del borer. Por cada kg ha-1 de N se obtiene un aumento de 0,25 t ha-1 de rendimiento y 0,27 % de índice de intensidad de infestación. La dosis de máxima eficiencia técnica fue 157,4 kg ha-1 de N para rendimiento de 73,6 t ha-1, y la dosis de máxima eficiencia económica de 136,5 kg ha-1 de N para 88,2 t ha-1