ABSTRACT White mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one the most devastating disease on soybean worldwide. Considering the potential of phosphites to protect plants against different diseases, this study investigated the possibility of using potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and zinc (Zn) phosphites for white mold control in soybean. The contact effect of the phosphites on fungal mycelial growth was evaluated in vitro. In the greenhouse study, plants were inoculated with S. sclerotiorum at 48 h after being sprayed with water (control), K, Ca, and Zn phosphites by using an agar plug (0.8 cm2) containing fungal mycelia. Lesion area of white mold and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters were evaluated on the leaflets of plants at 96 h after inoculation. The Chl a parameters were also evaluated in noninoculated leaflets at the same time. Fungal mycelial growth was abundant in the absence of phosphites, but inhibited in the presence of the three phosphites indicating their direct effect. The lesion area in the leaflets of plants sprayed with K, Ca, and Zn phosphites were 90, 98, and 68% lower, respectively, compared to plants sprayed with water. The functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus was more preserved on the leaflets of plants sprayed with phosphites due to the lower lesions size, especially for the Ca phosphite. In conclusion, the K, Ca, and Zn phosphites were effective in reducing white mold symptoms mainly through a contact effect on the fungal mycelial growth.

AbstractTomato bacterial spot on tomato may be caused by four species of Xanthomonas and among them X. gardneri(Xg) is the most destructive one, especially in areas irrigated using a center pivot system in Minas Gerais state and the midwest region of Brazil. Due to the ineffectiveness of chemical control and the lack of cultivars with high levels of genetic resistance, this study investigated the potential of three antagonists (Streptomyces setonii (UFV618), Bacillus cereus (UFV592) and Serratia marcescens (UFV252)), and the hormone jasmonic acid (JA) as a positive control, to reduce bacterial spot symptoms and to potentiate defense enzymes in the leaves of tomato plants infected by Xg. Tomato seeds were microbiolized with each antagonist, and the soil was drenched with these bacteria. The plants were sprayed with JA 48 h before Xginoculation. The final average severity on the tomato plants was reduced by 29.44, 59.26 and 61.33% in the UFV592, UFV618 and JA treatments, respectively. The UFV618 antagonist was as effective as JA in reducing bacterial spot symptoms on tomatoes, which can be explained by the greater activities of defense enzymes that are commonly involved in host resistance against bacterial diseases. These results suggest that JA and the UFV618 antagonist can be used in the integrated management of bacterial spot on tomatoes.

A murcha-de-fusário, causada por Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), é uma das mais importantes doenças que afetam a produção de tomate no mundo. Este estudo investigou o potencial de três antagonistas, Streptomyces setonii (UFV 618), Bacillus cereus (UFV 592) e Serratia marcescens (UFV 252), e como controle positivo foi utilizado o hormônio ácido jasmônico (AJ), na redução dos sintomas da murcha-de-fusário e potencialização das enzimas de defesa nos tecidos do caule de plantas de tomateiro infectadas por Fol. Sementes foram microbiolizadas com cada antagonista e o solo também foi encharcado com eles. As plantas foram pulverizadas com AJ 48 horas antes da inoculação Fol. A área abaixo da curva do progresso do índice da murcha-de-fusário (AACPIMF) foi reduzida em 54%, 48%, 47% e 45% para os tratamentos UFV 618, AJ, UFV 592 e UFV 252, respectivamente. Os três antagonistas, e até mesmo a pulverização AJ, foram eficientes na redução dos sintomas da murcha-de-fusário em caules de tomateiro, o que pode ser explicado pela menor concentração de aldeído malônico (uma indicação de danos oxidativos em lípideos nas membranas plasmáticas) e maior atividade de peroxidases, polifenoloxidases, glucanases, quitinases, fenilalanina amônia liases e lipoxigenases, comumente envolvidas na resistência do hospedeiro a doenças fúngicas. Esses resultados apresentam uma nova alternativa que pode ser usada no manejo integrado da murcha-de-fusário em tomateiro.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), is one of the most important diseases that affect tomato yield worldwide. This study investigated the potential of three antagonists, Streptomyces setonii (UFV 618), Bacillus cereus (UFV 592) and Serratia marcescens (UFV 252), and as positive control the hormone jasmonic acid (JA), to reduce Fusarium wilt symptoms and to potentiate the defense enzymes in the stem tissues of tomato plants infected by Fol. The seeds were microbiolized with each antagonist, and the soil was also drenched with them. The plants were sprayed with JA 48 h before Fol inoculation. The area under the Fusarium wilt index progress curve was reduced by 54, 48, 47 and 45% for the UFV 618, JA, UFV 592 and UFV 252 treatments, respectively. The three antagonists, and even the JA spray, efficiently reduced the Fusarium wilt symptoms on the tomato plant stems, which can be explained by the lower malondialdehyde concentration (an indication of oxidative damage to lipids in the plasma membranes) and the greater activities of peroxidases, polyphenoloxidases, glucanases, chitinases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyases and lipoxygenases, which are commonly involved in host resistance against fungal diseases. These results present a novel alternative that can be used in the integrated management of Fusarium wilt on tomatoes.