The optimisation of spore production by the potential fungal biological control agent for aphids, Erynia neoaphidis Remaudiere and Hennebert (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae) was studied. The fungus was able to grow in semi-defined Frynia medium (SDEM) containing glucose, yeast extract, mycological peptone, and 0.02% oleic acid buffered to a pH 6. Oleic acid was fungicidal at 0.1 % (v/v) while 0.02% (v/v) oleic acid was the optimum for radial grovvth. Plugs cut 5-10 mm from the margin ofa colony produced more conidia than plugs cut 13-20 mm from the colony margin. Renewed grovvth continued through two subcultures on solid SDEM lacking yeast extract (SDEML YE), and SDEM lacking mycological peptone (SDEMLMP). The continued growth was attributed to the carry over of nutrient in the inoculum. Growth was supported on SDEMNH4S04 when ammonium sulphate was used as the nitrogen source instead of mycological peptone suggesting that the fungus could obtain the growth factors it required from yeast extract. When chitin was added to SDEM in insoluble powder form instead ofglucose (SDEMC 1 & SDEMC2), the absence of a clearing zone around the developing colony suggested that chitin was not metabolised by E. neoaphidis. Biomass grown on SEMA and on SDEMDG (containing double the original concentration ofglucose 3 2grl), resulted in production of fewer conidia oflarger volume compared to SDEMDMP containing double and half the original concentration of mycological peptone (SDEMHP), SDEM containing halfthe original concentration ofglucose (SDEMHG). Increasing the glucose to double the original concentration resulted to an increase in biomass. Erynia neoaphidis grown on aphid cadavers produced many, smaller conidia. Mycelial mats harvested from biomass grown in fed-batch liquid fermenter culture in SDEMDG at the end ofthe exponential phase and placed on water agar discharged conidia at a rate of 6,700 conidia mm -2 h-1which persisted for approximately 3 days. When E. neoaphidis was subcultured onto SDEM from SEMA medium, the colony growth rate increased on the second subculture on SDEM where more lipases and aminopeptidases were detected at higher concentrations using the API ZYM system. This shows that attenuation might have taken place by either a phenotypic or genotypic (eg mutation) change or both when E. neoaphidis was grown on SDEM from SEMA medium. Growth in GASP medium resulted in the production of more biomass and a delay in the onset of decline phase compared to cultures grown in SDEM. Fewer enzymes were detected at a lower concentration in cultures grown in GASP compared to cultures grown in SDEM, this difference might be more likely to relate to the balance of nutrients and the fact that GASP medium is more similar in composition to the nutrients found in the haemocoel of an aphid. Based on this research. It is recommend that E. neoaphidis be grown in SDEM liquid cultures containing 32 grl glucose instead of 16 grl glucose. Biomass for field applications should be harvested at the end ofthe exponential growth and mycelial mats made. The mycelial mats should be maintained at high relative humidity and can be expected to discharge conidia for 3 days.

Temperature effects on the biology of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and Typhlodromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) were studied in the laboratory. Temperature had a definite effect on the developmental time, longevity and survival of adult females, and duration and rate of oviposition in both T. occidentalis and T. cinnabarinus. Increases in temperature significantly decrease developmental time, pre-oviposition periods, oviposition duration and rate, and the longevity and survival rates of both adult females. However, the daily consumption rate of T. occidentalis protonymph, deutonymph and adult gravid female increased significantly with an increase in temperature. Mean generation times decreased for both mites with an increase in temperature. The intrinsic rate of natural increase rose with each temperature increase. However, the r(m) of T. occidentalis was less than that for T. cinnabarinus at all temperature regimes, and it decreased from the 26.6° C regime to the 30.5° C regime. Of the three temperatures studied, 22.7°, 26.6°, and 3.5° C, 22.7° C proved to be the optimum for the predator to maintain control over the prey.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to assess the adoption response of cotton growers to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, identify the extension strategies used to promote IPM, and provide descriptive comparison of IPM programs between the foremost eleven cotton-producing states in the United States. Integrated pest management is presented as an alternative agricultural production strategy referred to as sustainable agriculture. IPM programs for cotton were evaluated by use of a survey instrument and telephone interviews with the IPM coordinators for the eleven cotton-producing states. The most significant findings were that programs vary considerably between states; the most widely employed IPM techniques were selective use of chemicals, use of economic thresholds and sampling for pests; the Cooperative Extension Service worked closely with private consultants and grower associations; and adoption of a wide variety of IPM techniques has been extensive for cotton producers in the eleven foremost cotton-producing states.

Orientador: Dagoberto Martins / Banca: Maria Renata Rocha Pereira / Banca: Robinson Luiz de Campos Machado Pitelli / Banca: Eduardo Custodio Gasparino / Banca: Lucas Perim / Resumo: A ação de herbicidas sobre plantas daninhas que se desenvolvem sob déficit hídrico pode ser comprometida, pois as rotas de penetração de herbicidas como o glyphosate são reduzidas em razão da menor hidratação da cutícula nessas plantas. Avaliou-se nesse estudo a eficiência de controle do herbicida glyphosate em quatro espécies de plantas da família Poaceae quando submetidas a distintos déficits hídricos. Os estudos foram conduzidos em casa-de-vegetação sendo que as espécies estudadas foram: capim-colonião (Megathyrsus maximum), capim-colchão (Digitaria nuda), capim-massambará (Sorghum halepense) e capim-braquiária (Urochloa ruziziensis). As plantas foram submetidas a três condições hídricas do solo [sem restrição hídrica (-0,03 MPa), déficit hídrico intermediário (-0,07 MPa) e alta restrição hídrica (-1,5 MPa)], aplicou-se três doses do herbicida glyphosate (0,0; 270,0 e 540,0 g e.a. ha-1) e em dois estádios fenológicos de desenvolvimento da planta (4-6 folhas e 1-3 perfilhos). O manejo hídrico teve início quando as plantas apresentaram duas folhas desenvolvidas. Foram realizadas avaliações visuais de controle aos 7, 14, 21 e 35 dias após a aplicação do herbicida; analisou-se ainda os parâmetros morfofisiológicos área foliar específica, condutância estomática e a diferença de temperatura do ambiente com a temperatura foliar no dia da aplicação do herbicida, bem como a matéria seca da parte aérea e da raiz ao final do estudo. Os resultados obtidos de controle e matéria seca fo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The action of herbicides on weeds that develop under water deficit can be compromised, the penetration routes of glyphosate herbicide are reduced due to the less hydration of the cuticle in these plants. The control efficiency of glyphosate herbicide in four species of plants of the Poaceae when submitted to different water deficits was evaluated in this study. The studies were carried out in a greenhouse and the species studied were: guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximum), naked crabgrass (Digitaria nuda), johngrass (Sorghum halepense) and congograss (Urochloa ruziziensis). In the treatments, the plants were submitted to three soil water conditions (no water deficit (-0.03 MPa), intermediate water deficit (-0.07 MPa) and high water restriction (-1.5 MPa)), three doses of glyphosate herbicide, (0.0, 270.0 and 540.0 g e.a. ha-1) and two phenological stages of plant development (4-6 leaves and 1-3 tillers). Water management started when the plants had two leaves developed. Visual evaluations were carried out at 7, 14, 21 and 35 days after application of the herbicide; the specific leaf area, stomatal conductance and the temperature difference of the environment with the leaf temperature on the day of application of the herbicide, as well as the dry matter of the aerial part and of the root were analyzed at the end of the study. The results of control and dry matter were submitted to analysis of variance by the "F" test and the means were compared by the Student "t" test (p> 0.05). T... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Daniel Júnior de Andrade / Banca: Odimar Zanuzo Zanardi / Banca: Raphael de Campos Castilho / Resumo: No Brasil, diversos ácaros-praga podem atacar a cultura do amendoim (Arachis hypogaea), sendo responsáveis por significativas perdas na produtividade. Na tentativa de avaliar as estratégias de controle biológico conservativo dessas pragas, foi realizado uma caracterizção do sistema de cultivo de amendoim em sucessão com cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum), cana-soca e cana-planta, em uma área comercial, e uma comparação entre dois sistemas de plantios, um consorciado com sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) e girassol (Helianthus annuus) e o outro convencional, em parcelas experimentais, ambos no município de Jaboticabal-SP, Brasil. O levantamento e coleta das espécimes de artrópodes na cultura do amendoim foi realizado por meio de observações a campo e instalação de armadilhas entomológicas. Além disso, foram avaliadas as doenças fúngicas e plantas espontâneas na cultura, por sua incidência direta na produtividade. Também se avaliaram culturas como o feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris) e a soja (Glycine max), comuns na região, assim como cercas vivas de sansão-do-campo (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia). Quanto à análise entomofaunística das áreas, os dados foram processados com o programa AnaFau e as análises de variância com STATISTICA, versão 6. O sistema consorciado apresentou menor ocorrência de artrópodes-pragas do amendoim. Embora os valores da diversidade de espécies em ambos os plantios foram próximos, o consorciado teve maior riqueza de espécies, incluindo inimigos naturais. Destes últimos, ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In Brazil, many pest mites can attack crops of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), being responsible for significative losses in productivity. To evaluate the strategies of conservative biological control of these pests, a characterization of the sowing system of peanuts in rotation with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), in ratoon cycle and plant cane, in a commercial area, and a comparative between two sowing systems, one intercropped with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and sunflower (Helianthus annus) and other conventional, in experimental plots, were performed in the municipality of Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil. The survey and sampling of arthropod species in the peanut crop was performed through field observations and entomologic traps in the field. Furthermore, the ocurrence fungic diseases and weeds were evaluated in the crop, due to their direct impact on productivity. Crops as bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max), commons in the region, as the hedge plant sansão-do-campo (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) were also evaluated. For the faunistic analysis, the data was processed using the Software Anafau and the variance analysis using the software STATISTICA, version 6. The intercropping system presented the lower occurrence of pest arthropods in the peanut crop. Although the diversity values of diversity in both sowing system were near, the intercropping system presented higher species richness, including natural enemies. Among those, it was shown that Zelus illotus, in the stage... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Luciana Rossini Pinto / Coorientador: Mauro Alexandre Xavier / Banca: Antonio de Goes / Banca: Ivan Antonio dos Anjos / Resumo: É sabido que a utilização de marcadores moleculares em programas de melhoramento constitui uma ferramenta importante, pois permite identificar indivíduos superiores em fases juvenis, acelerando o processo de desenvolvimento de cultivares. A ferrugem marrom é uma doença causada pelo fungo Puccinia melancephala responsável por grandes prejuízos no setor canavieiro. Recentemente foram desenvolvidos marcadores moleculares, 9020-F4 e R12H16, os quais flanqueiam o maior gene de resistência à ferrugem marrom, conhecido como Bru1. O presente trabalho objetivou determinar a frequência do gene Bru1 em acessos exóticos de cana-de-açúcar, cultivares brasileiras e clones do Programa IAC bem como avaliar a sua eficiência na identificação de genótipos resistentes. Através da reação de PCR utilizando os marcadores, foi possível inferir a frequência do gene Bru1, e comparar esses resultados com a classificação fenotípica das cultivares brasileiras e clones IAC (IAC, CTC, SP e RB), quanto à suscetibilidade a doença. Além disso, foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação, utilizando acessos de Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum sinense e Saccharum robustum, os quais foram inoculados artificialmente com o fungo Puccinia melanocephala e avaliados semanalmente visando determinar o grau de suscetibilidade à ferrugem marrom. Posteriormente, os resultados obtidos foram comparados com a presença ou ausência do gene Bru1. Nas cultivares brasileiras a frequência do gene Bru1 foi alta, 75,21%, porém nos acessos exóticos foi de apenas 18 %. Verificou-se que grande parte das cultivares que possuem o gene Bru1 é classificada como resistente. Nos acessos exóticos inoculados artificialmente, a correlação entre a presença dos marcadores indicativos do gene Bru1 com as notas de severidade foi baixa e não significativa, provavelmente devido à presença de outra fonte de resistência... / Abstract: It is known that the use of molecular markers is an important tool which allows the identification of superior individuals in juvenile stages speeding up the cultivar development process. Sugarcane brown rust caused by the fungus Puccinia melanocephala is among the most important sugarcane diseases. Recently, two diagnostic molecular markers (R12H16, 9O20-F4) flanking the Bru1 gene, which is pointed as the major gene conferring brown rust resistance reported for sugarcane today were publish in the literature. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of the Bru1 gene in sugarcane exotic accessions, Brazilian varieties and elite clones from IAC program as well as to evaluate the efficiency of these markers to identify resistant genotypes. By using the Bru1 markers, it was possible to infer the frequency of Bru1 gene, and compare the results with the phenotypic classification of sugarcane Brazilian varieties and IAC clones (IAC, CTC, SP and RB) for susceptibility to the disease. Moreover, S. spontaneum, S. sinense and S. robustum accessions were artificially inoculated with the fungus P. melanocephala and weekly evaluated in greenhouse conditions. The degree of brown rust susceptibility of the accessions was compared with the presence or absence of Bru1 gene markers. The frequency of the Bru1 gene in the Brazilian varieties was high (75.21%) while only 18% of the sugarcane exotic accessions showed the Bru1 gene. Most of the varieties that presented the gene were classified as resistant. Low marker-phenotypic correlation was observed for the artificially inoculated sugarcane exotic accessions, probably due to the presence of other sources of resistance or failure of the sequence complementarity of the primers in the genome of these accesses. Generally these markers proved to be efficient in the selection of genotypes resistant to brown-rust / Mestre

Orientador: Sandra Helena Unêda Trevisoli / Coorientador: Antonio Orlando Di Mauro / Coorientador: Rita de Cássia Panizzi / Banca: Adriana Zanin Kronka / Banca: Everlon Cid Rigobelo / Banca: Viviane Formice Vianna / Banca: Walter Maldonado Junior / Resumo: A podridão de carvão, causada pelo fungo Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid, tem sido uma doença de crescente importância na cultura da soja. Essa doença ocorre principalmente em regiões tropicais e subtropicais e sabe-se que sua maior incidência e severidade são observadas principalmente quando há estresse hídrico e altas temperaturas. Na tentativa de compreender o comportamento da resistência desse patógeno, objetivou-se o estudo da herança genética por meio de uma abordagem quantitativa, sendo utilizada uma análise de componentes de médias e variâncias. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no delineamento inteiramente casualizado utilizando as seis gerações de estudo (P1, P2, F1, F2, RCr e RCs). As populações foram inoculadas com o fungo Macrophomina phaseolina por meio de sementes de sorgo infectadas. Após o estádio R8, as plantas foram avaliadas utilizando como critério a Severidade em Raiz e Caule (SRC). Foram estimados componentes de média (por meio do método dos mínimos quadrados ponderados), além das variâncias e parâmetros genéticos associados. Foi confirmado o caráter quantitativo da herança da resistência, com estimativa de 5,62 genes envolvidos na resistência. O modelo aditivo-dominante foi adequado, assim como a estimativa de parâmetros genéticos, havendo predominância de efeitos gênicos aditivos, tanto nos modelos de médias como nos de variância. / Abstract: Charcoal rot disease, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is a disease of significant economic importance in the soybean crop. This disease occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions and it is known that the incidence and severity occur mainly when there is stress of water and heat. The evaluation of this pathogen is difficult due to the lack of reliable and efficient methods for the evaluation of soybean genotypes. The present work had the objective of evaluating different methods of inoculation and evaluation in ten soybean genotypes, besides discovering the degree of resistance of the genotypes studied. Infected sorghum seeds, pre-germinated seed in culture medium and infected toothpick test were the tested methods. Colony forming units and root and stem severity were evaluated. There was good correlation between evaluations of colony forming units and root and stem severity (0.87). The infected sorghum seed method was the most efficient for inoculating the pathogen in soybean genotypes. Genotype PI594302 presented higher resistance in the two evaluated parameters, being indicated its introduction in programs of genetic improvement aiming the resistance to the charcoal rot in soybean. / Doutor

Orientador: Leila Trevisan Braz / Coorientador: Rita de Cássia Panizzi / Banca: Letícia Akemi Ito Pontes / Banca: Antonio de Góes / Resumo: O crestamento gomoso do caule, causado pelo fungo Didymella bryoniae, é uma das mais relevantes doenças que acometem a cultura do meloeiro no mundo. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a reação de genótipos de meloeiro de diferentes bancos de germoplasma à D. bryoniae e propor ajustes na escala de notas e nas classes de reação de resistência. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em blocos casualizados, com três repetições e oito plantas por parcela. Os sintomas causados pelo fungo foram avaliados por meio de escala de notas, adotando-se a nota média da última avaliação para determinar as classes de reação de resistência. Foram avaliados 28 genótipos no Experimento I, dos quais três foram selecionados como altamente resistentes (CNPH 05.1020, CNPH 11.1075 e CNPH 11.1063), sendo novamente avaliados no Experimento II, juntamente com testemunhas de resistência e suscetibilidade. Em ambos os experimentos, foram detectadas diferenças entre os genótipos (p < 0,05), revelando a existência de variabilidade genética para a reação ao crestamento gomoso do caule. O genótipo CNPH 11.1075 mostrou-se resistente à D. bryoniae em ambos os experimentos e pode ser incorporado em programas de melhoramento de meloeiro que visem à transferência da resistência para linhagens elites ou cultivares. Os ajustes nas metodologias para a avaliação de experimentos conduzidos em bandejas, com plantas na fase de mudas, permitem diferenciação adequada entre genótipos suscetíveis e resistentes. / Abstract: The gummy stem blight, caused by fungus Didymella bryoniae, is one of the relevant diseases that occurs in melon worldwide. The goals this study were evaluated the reaction of melon genotype of different germplasm banks to D. bryoniae and propose adjustments in the grades scale and resistance reaction class. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with three replicates and eight plants per plot. The symptoms caused by fungus were evaluate through scale of grades, adopting the average grade of the last evaluation to determine the classes of resistance reaction. Were evaluated 28 genotypes in the Experiment I, of which three were selected as highly resistant (CNPH 05.1020, CNPH 11.1075 e CNPH 11.1063), being again evaluated in Experiment II together with resistance and susceptibility patterns. In both experiments, differences were detected between the genotypes (p < 0.05), indicating the existence of genetic variability for the reaction to gummy stem blight. The genotype CNPH 11.1075 was resistant to D. bryoniae in both experiments and can be incorporate in breeding programs that aim at the transference of resistance into elite lines or cultivars. The adjustments in the methodologies for the evaluation of the experiments conducted in trays, with plants in the seedling stage, allow the adequate differentiation among resistant and susceptible genotypes. / Mestre

Orientador: Antonio Batista Filho / Banca: Lucas Detogni Simi / Banca: Dinalva Alves Mochi / Banca: Regiane Cristina Oliveira de Freitas Bueno / Banca: Edson Luiz Lopes Baldin / Resumo: Em 2004 foi relatada, nos pomares cítricos do estado de São Paulo, a presença do Huanglongbing. No Brasil, esta doença é causada pelas bactérias Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus e Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, que são transmitidas pelo psílideo-dos-citros Diaphorina citri. A principal forma de controlar a doença é através do controle do inseto vetor, atualmente realizada com o uso de produtos fitossanitários. A mortalidade de adultos do psilídeo por fungos entomopatogênicos tem sido observada em campo, e alguns estudos estão sendo desenvolvidos, há pouca informação na literatura sobre o 2 efeito desses patógenos no controle microbiano do inseto vetor. Dessa forma, o presente estudo avaliou a patogenicidade de 20 isolados de fungos entomopatogênicos sobre adultos e ninfas de D. citri em condições de laboratório e semi-campo, bem como a sua compatibilidade com produtos fitossanitários, de diferentes grupos, utilizados na citricultura. Ninfas e adultos de D. citri, provenientes de criação em laboratório, foram expostas à uma concentração de 6,7x107 conídios/mL, avaliando a mortalidade desses insetos. Através dessa mortalidade foi determinado o tempo letal médio para 8 isolados, com maior porcentagem de mortalidade confirmada. A compatibilidade em laboratório foi observada adicionando os produtos químicos ao meio de cultura BDA, foi inoculado com o fungo em três pontos equidistantes da placa de Petri, a qual foi mantida em câmara climatizada tipo BOD por u... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In 2004 it has been reported the presence of HLB, also known as "greening", in citrus orchards at São Paulo state. In Brazil, this disease is caused by bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Candidatus Liberibacter americanus, which are transmitted by the psyllid-of-citrus Diaphorina citri. The main way to control the disease is through the control of the insect vector, which is currently carried out using chemicals. The mortality of psyllid adults by entomopathogenic fungi have been observed in the field and studies are being developed, but little is known about the effect of these pathogens in the insect vector control. Thus, we performed a study to determine the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi on adults and nymphs of D. citri in laboratory and semi-field as well as its compatibility with pesticides used in citriculture. Laboratory created nymphs and adults of D. citri were exposed to a constant concentration of the pathogen 6,7x107 conidia/ml and it was observed the mortality of these insects. Through this mortality it was determined the median lethal time for 8 isolates, confirmed with the best mortality percentage. Laboratory compatibility was observed by incorporating chemicals to PDA culture medium which, after solidification, were inoculated with the fungus at three equidistant points of the Petri dish, which was kept in BOD chamber for a period of seven days. After this period, its vegetative growth, sporulation, viability of the pathogen has been eva... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor