Abstract: Sugarcane cultivar RB961552 was developed by the Sugarcane Breeding Program of the Federal University of Alagoas, a member university of RIDESA. It was selected for being highly productive, responsive to fertigation and for the high leaf biomass and excellent inter-row closure. It is resistant to brown and orange rust and moderately resistant to leaf scald and smut diseases.

Abstract Sugarcane cultivar RB0442 has a high yield, late maturation and good drought tolerance. It is recommended for planting in restrictive environments, mainly with water-deficient soils, and is resistant to the major sugarcane diseases of the Northeastern region of Brazil.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento de espécies de Meloidogyne e de Pratylenchus existentes em áreas de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar, no estado de Alagoas. Vinte amostras de solo e raízes foram processadas para a extração e quantificação, sendo a identificação das espécies de Meloidogyne realizada em 12 amostras. Detectou-se a presença de Pratylenchus spp. em níveis populacionais médios de 68-1556 espécimes 50g-1 de raízes e 2-298 100cm-3 de solo, em todas as amostras. Para Meloidogyne spp., esses valores foram de 12-487 50g-1 de raízes e 0-140 100cm-3 de solo. Com base na eletroforese da isoenzima esterase, M. incognita foi a espécie mais frequente, seguida por M. javanica e M. arenaria . As espécies de Pratylenchus identificadas pelas características morfológicas e morfométricas, foram P. zeae e P. brachyurus , com predomínio da primeira espécie. Não houve correlações significativas (P≤0,05) entre as populações de nematoides e as características dos sistemas de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to accomplish a survey on populations of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus species in sugarcane farming areas in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Twenty samples of soil and roots were processed to extract and quantify nematodes; however, the identification of Meloidogyne species was performed using only 12 samples. Pratylenchus spp. were reported at moderate population levels of 68-1556 specimens 50g-1 of roots and 2-298 specimens 100cm-3 of soil in twenty analyzed samples. For Meloidogyne spp., these values were of 12-487 specimens 50g-1 of roots and 0-140 specimens 100cm-3 of soil. Based on electrophoresis of esterase isozymes, M. incognita was reported to be the most frequent species, followed by M. javanica and M. arenaria. Pratylenchus species identified through morphometrical and morphological characteristics were P. zeae and P. brachyurus , with predominance for the first species. No significant correlation (P≤0.05) were reported between nematode populations and sugarcane cropping systems.

RB99395 cultivar was developed by the Sugarcane Breeding Program at the Federal University of Alagoas, which is part of RIDESA. In 1999, seeds were obtained from crosses between RB867515 cultivar and pollen from an unknown genotype in "Serra do Ouro" Crossing Station. The process of selection and experimentation was carried out in three Research Stations of Alagoas. RB99395 cultivar was released in Alagoas in May 2010, and has a high content of sucrose throughout the harvest period. Planting is recommended in fertile soils and in environments with no water deficiency, a condition which results in high agricultural yields. It is tolerant most diseases that occur in Northeast, Brazil.

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de conhecer como o nematóide Bursaphelenchus cocophilus tende a se distribuir no interior das plantas de coqueiros em estágios avançados da doença anel-vermelho. Nas amostras de raízes coletadas junto à base da estipe de coqueiros doentes, o número de nematóides foi consideravelmente maior que encontrado em raízes situadas entre um e três metros de distância da estipe. Observou-se que, à medida que se afasta da estipe, a possibilidade de encontrar nematóides na raiz é mínima, de forma que as chances de transmissão da doença, de uma planta para outra, através das raízes, devem ser muito pequenas. Na região do palmito, onde o tecido é mais tenro, é possível encontrar o nematóide tanto nas áreas avermelhadas quanto nas áreas aparentemente sadias. Nos tecidos do pecíolo, foram encontrados nematóides em pequena quantidade. Portanto, práticas profiláticas, visando à desinfecção do facão utilizado na colheita e despalma, devem ser realizadas com a finalidade de eliminar a transmissão da doença. Nenhuma das amostras obtidas dos tecidos da ráquis e dos folíolos estava contaminada. A população de nematóide é mais alta nos excrementos de túneis larvais das regiões apicais do coqueiro, o que confere maior chance de serem transportados para outras plantas, aderidos ao corpo do seu principal vetor, os adultos de Rhynchophorus palmarum.

The aim of this work was to investigate how the nematode Bursaphelenchus cocophilus tends to distribute itself inside the coconut palm trees in advanced stages of the red ring disease. In the samples of the roots collected at the base of the stem of sick trees, the number of nematodes was considerably higher when compared to the number found in the roots situated between one and three meters away from the stem. It was observed that, as it stands back of the sick plant, the possibility to find nematodes in the root is remote, so that the chances of transmission of the disease, from one plant to another, by means of the roots are minimal. At the top part of the stem, where the tissue is softer, it is possible to find the nematode both in the discolored areas and in the adjacent tissues, apparently healthy. In the tissues of the petioles, nematodes were found in small amounts. Therefore, the practice of the scythe disinfections used in the harvesting and leaf pruning should be recommended with the purpose of decreasing the possibility of transmission of the disease. None of the obtained samples from tissues of the rachis and leaves were contaminated. The population of nematode is higher in the excrements of larval tunnels of the apical parts of the plant, which provide higher chances of being transported, from one plant to another, stuck on to the body of its main vector, the coconut palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum.