The Four O'clock Family (Nyctaginaceae) has a number of genera with unusual morphological and ecological characters, several of which appear to have a "tendency" to evolve repeatedly in Nyctaginaceae. I present a molecular phylogeny for the Nyctaginaceae, consider taxonomic implications, biogeographic patterns, and the evolution of cleistogamy and gypsophily. These characters have each evolved multiple times in the xeric-adapted genera of the family. Further progress towards understanding these phenomena requires specific investigation of the ecology of pollination and gypsum tolerance. In the genus Boerhavia, an intensively sampled phylogeny based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nitrate reductase (NIA) sequences provides new insights into relationships among species in the genus, and identifies a clade of annual species centered in the Sonoran Desert. Phylogeographic patterns are present in the genus that may reflect both relatively ancient vicariant events as well as the post-Pleistocene expansion of the Sonoran Desert. Many species in this group are found to be genetically cohesive, however two annual species complexes are found which species were nonmonophyletic. Since several mechanisms can potentially lead to the finding of nonmonophyletic species, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to examine the structure of genetic variation in the two complexes. These data show that in these two groups, different evolutionary mechanisms are needed to explain the distribution of genetic diversity within and among populations. A complex comprised of Boerhavia spicata and B. xanti shows little evidence of genetic divergence between the species in Sonora, a pattern which may indicate recent contact between two very closely related forms. In contrast, high genetic structure between populations is found in the other complex, which contains the species with umbellate inflorescences. This complex includes several nominal species with highly restricted distributions, whose evolution may have been facilitated by low gene flow among populations. Little evidence was found for associations of inbreeding within populations, and floral traits which might be expected to influence outcrossing rates. / Dissertation

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-07T14:28:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPMSR_TESE.pdf: 1182891 bytes, checksum: f8db5a56f1abbb70cdedff609b97723b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-18T15:05:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPMSR_TESE.pdf: 1182891 bytes, checksum: f8db5a56f1abbb70cdedff609b97723b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-18T15:05:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaPMSR_TESE.pdf: 1182891 bytes, checksum: f8db5a56f1abbb70cdedff609b97723b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Brazilian Northeast stands out in the national scenario, with the melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivation as one of the activities of greater social and economic expression of region. Among the main problems faced by the producers are the diseases, among them, the melon collapse caused by Monosporascus cannonballus. Despite the importance of the disease, little is known about the variability of this pathogen. Aiming to investigate variability in M. cannonballus isolates from weeds in areas that produce melon, in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. The research was divided into two stages: analysis of bredo and pinto-pinto isolates. Eighteen of Bredo (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) and pega-pinto (Boerhavia diffusa L.) isolates were evaluated for mycelial growth rate (MGR), number of perithecia (NP) and number of ascospores (NA) in different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35 ° C), salinity levels (0, 1, 4 and 8%), and pH levels (5.5, 6.0 and 8.0), as well as inhibition of mycelial growth to the fungicide fluazinam (IMGF), and to the serverity index of the disease to melon and watermelon (SID).. For the study of the bredo isolates, it was verified that the temperature of 30 ºC presented the highest values of MGR, whereas the one of 20 ºC the smaller ones. The highest values of NP were recorded in the temperature of 30ºC while that of 25ºC was the only one where there was ascospore production. The levels of 0 of 1% of salinity registered the highest values of MGR, and 8% of the lowest. NP values were only observed in the 0 and 1% salinity levels, with the highest values being 0%. Ascospores were only found at the 0% level. Levels of pH 5.5 and 6.0 provided the highest values of MGR, while 8.0 had the lowest values. Perithecias were observed at all pH levels, with level 6.0 giving the highest value. There was no ascospore production at any pH level. All isolates presented low sensitivity to fluazinam, with a mean of 15.53% IMGF. All isolates were pathogenic to melon and watermelon with mean SID of 56.25 and 70.13%, respectively. In multivariate analysis it was verified the formation of 4 similarity groups. For the study of pinto-pinto isolates, temperatures of 30 and 35 ºC showed the highest MGR values, while the lowest were at 20 ºC. The highest values of NP were recorded at temperatures of 30 and 35ºC while those at 25 and 30ºC were the only ones that presented ascospores. The salinity levels of 0 and 1% had the highest MGR values, while the lowest were at 8%. NP and NA values were observed only at the 0 and 1% salinity levels. Levels of pH 5.5 and 6.0 provided the highest values of MGR, while 8.0 had the lowest values. Perithecias were observed at all pH levels, with 6.0 being the highest value. Ascospores were observed at the levels of 5.5 and 6, 10 with 6 being the highest values. All isolates were sensitive to the fungicide fluazinam, with a mean of 19.76% IMGF. All isolates were pathogenic to melon and watermelon, except for MCp-09 that was not melon, with an average SID of 56.25 and 70.13%, respectively. In multivariate analysis it was verified the formation of 5 similarity groups. Isolates from the same area were distributed in different similarity groups, indicating high variability among the isolates. The occurrence of this high variability should be considered in melon breeding programs, avoiding that susceptible genotypes are considered resistant / O Nordeste brasileiro se destaca no cenário nacional, tendo o cultivo do melão (Cucumis melo L.) como uma das atividades de maior expressão social e econômica da região. Dentre os principais problemas enfrentados pelos produtores, destacam-se as doenças, dentre elas, o colapso do meloeiro causado por Monosporascus cannonballus. Apesar da importância da doença, pouco se conhece sobre a variabilidade desse patógeno. Visando investigar a variabilidade em isolados de M. cannonballus oriundos de plantas daninhas em áreas produtoras de melão nos estados do Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas: análise dos isolados de bredo e análise dos isolados de pega pinto. Dezoito isolados de pega-pinto (Boerhavia diffusa L.) e dezoito isolados de bredo (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) foram avaliados quanto à taxa de crescimento micelial (TCM), número de peritécios (NP) e número de ascósporos (NA), nas diferentes temperaturas, (20, 25, 30 e 35 ºC), níveis de salinidade, (0, 1, 4 e 8%), e níveis de pH, (5,5, 6,0 e 8,0), bem como a inibição do crescimento micelial ao fungicida fluazinam (ICMF), e ao índice de serveridade da doença a melão e melancia (ISD). Para o estudo dos isolados de bredo verificou-se que a temperatura de 30 ºC apresentou os maiores valores de TCM, enquanto a de 20 ºC os menores. Os maiores valores de NP foram registrados na temperatura de 30 ºC enquanto a de 25 ºC foi a única onde houve produção de ascósporos. Os níveis de 0 de 1% de salinidade registraram os maiores valores de TCM, e o de 8% os menores. Valores de NP foram observados apenas nos níveis de 0 e 1% de salinidade, sendo no de 0% registrados os maiores valores. Foi verificado ascósporos apenas no nível de 0%. Os níveis de pH 5,5 e 6,0 proporcionaram os maiores valores de TCM, enquanto o de 8,0 os menores. Peritécios foram observados em todos os níveis de pH, sendo o nível 6,0 o que proporcionou maior valor. Não houve produção de ascósporos em nenhum nível de pH. Todos os isolados apresentaram baixa sensibilidade ao fluazinam, com média de 15,53% ICMF. Todos os isolados foram patogênicos a melão e melancia com ISD médio de 56,25 e 70,13 % respectivamente. Na análise multivariada foi verificada a formação de 4 grupos de similaridade. Para o estudo dos isolados de pega-pinto, constatou-se que as temperaturas de 30 e 35 ºC apresentaram os maiores valores de TCM, enquanto a de 20 ºC os menores. Os maiores valores de NP foram registrados nas temperaturas de 30 e 35 ºC enquanto as de 25 e 30 ºC foram as 8 únicas que apresentaram ascósporos. Os níveis de 0 e 1% de salinidade registraram os maiores valores de TCM, e o de 8% os menores. Valores de NP e NA foram observados apenas nos níveis de 0 e 1% de salinidade. Os níveis de pH 5,5 e 6,0 proporcionaram os maiores valores de TCM, enquanto o de 8,0 os menores. Peritécios foram observados em todos os níveis de pH, sendo o de 6,0 o que proporcionou maior valor. Ascósporos foram observados nos níveis de 5,5 e 6, sendo o de 6 com maiores valores. Todos os isolados foram sensíveis ao fungicida fluazinam, com média de 19,76 % ICMF. Todos os isolados foram patogênicos a melão e melancia, com exceção do MCp-09 que não foi a melão, com um ISD médio de 56,25 e 70,13 % respectivamente. Na análise multivariada foi verificada a formação de 5 grupos de similaridade. Isolados de uma mesma área foram distribuídos em diferentes grupos de similaridade, indicando alta variabilidade entres os isolados. A ocorrência desta alta variabilidade deve ser considerada nos programas de melhoramento de melão, evitando que genótipos suscetíveis sejam considerados resistentes / 2017-07-07

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:10:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BrunoMSW_DISSERT.pdf: 2493064 bytes, checksum: 67d2a8f0addf9c48ec5976ed766a8e15 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-15 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Malaria is a disease of global distribution, recognized by governments around the world as a serious public health problem, affecting more than 109 countries and territories and endangering more than 3.3 billion people. The economic costs of this disease are also relevant: the African continent itself has malaria-related costs of about $ 12 billion annually. Nowadays, in addition to chloroquine, Plasmodium falciparum is resistant to many drugs used in the treatment of malaria, such as amodiaquine, mefloquine, quinine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; resistance of Plasmodium vivax to treatments, although less studied, is also reported. Nature, in general, is responsible for the production of most known organic substances, and the plant kingdom is responsible for the most of the chemical diversity known and reported in the literature. Most medicinal plants commercialized in Brazil, however, are of exotic origin, which makes the search for endemic medicinal plants, besides a patent necessity, a fascinating subject of academic research and development. This study aimed to: (i) verify the antimalarial activity of ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Boerhavia paniculata Rich. And acetonic extract of Clethra scabra Pers. in Swiss albino mice infected by Plasmodium berghei NK65, (ii) observe possible combined effects between the course of infection by P. berghei NK65 and administration of these extracts in Swiss albino mice, and (iii) conduct a preliminary study of the acute toxicity of these extracts in Swiss albino mice. All extracts notable pharmacological activities - with parasite infections inhibitions ranging from 22% to 54%.These characteristics suggest that the activities are relevant, although comparatively lower than the activity displayed by the positive control group (always above 90%). The general framework of survival analysis demonstrates an overall reduction in survival times for all groups. Necroscopy has not pointed no change in color, shape, size and/or consistency in the evaluated organs - the only exception was the livers of rats submitted to treatment to hydroalcoholic extracts: these organs have been presented in a slightly congestive aspect with mass increasing roughly 28% higher than the other two groups and a p-value of 0.0365. The 250 mg/Kg ethanolic group has been pointed out by the Dunn s post test, as the only class with simultaneous inequalities (p<0.05) between positive and negative control groups. The extracts, notably ethanol extract, have, in fact, a vestigial antimalarial activity, although well below from the ones perceived to chloroquine-treated groups; nevertheless, the survival times of the animals fed with the extracts do not rise by presence of such therapy. Both the toxicopharmacological studies of the synergism between the clinical course of malaria and administration of extracts and the isolated evaluation of toxicity allow us to affirm the absence of toxicity of the extracts at the level of CNS and ANS, as well as their non-influence on food and water consumption patterns, until dosages of 500 mg/Kg. Necroscopic analysis leads us to deduct a possible hepatotoxic effect of hydroalcoholic extract at dosages of 500 mg/Kg, and an innocuous tissue activity of the ethanol extract, in the same dosage. We propose a continuation of the studies of these extracts, with protocol modifications capable of addressing more clearly and objectively their pharmacological and toxicological aspects / A mal?ria ? uma doen?a de distribui??o global, reconhecida por governos de todo o mundo como grave problema de sa?de p?blica, ocorrendo em mais de 109 pa?ses e territ?rios e pondo em risco mais de 3,3 bilh?es de pessoas. Os custos econ?micos da doen?a s?o tamb?m relevantes: apenas o continente africano tem um ?nus de cerca de US$12 bilh?es anuais. Hodiernamente, al?m da cloroquina, o Plasmodium falciparum apresenta resist?ncia aos diversos medicamentos usados na rotina, como amodiaquina, mefloquina, quinina e sulfadoxina-pirimetamina; a resist?ncia de Plasmodium vivax, apesar de menos estudada, tamb?m ? relatada. A natureza, de um modo geral, ? a respons?vel pela produ??o da maioria das subst?ncias org?nicas conhecidas, sendo o reino vegetal respons?vel pela maior parcela da diversidade qu?mica conhecida e registrada na literatura. A maioria das plantas medicinais comercializadas no Brasil, contudo, ? de origem ex?tica, o que torna a busca por plantas medicinais end?micas, al?m de uma patente necessidade, um fascinante assunto de pesquisa acad?mica e de desenvolvimento. Este trabalho teve por objetivo: (i) verificar a atividade antimal?rica dos extratos etan?lico e hidroalco?lico de Boerhavia paniculata Rich. e acet?nico de Clethra scabra Pers. em camundongos albinos Swiss infectados por Plasmodium berghei NK65; (ii) observar poss?veis efeitos combinados entre o curso da infec??o por P. berghei NK65 e a administra??o destes extratos em camundongos albinos Swiss; e (iii) realizar um estudo da toxicidade aguda destes extratos em camundongos albinos Swiss. Notam-se, em todos os extratos, atividades farmacol?gicas not?rias com inibi??es da parasitemia variando de 22% a 54% - caracter?sticas estas que sugerem atividades relevantes, apesar de comparativamente inferior ? atividade apresentada pelo grupo controle positivo (sempre superior a 90%). O quadro geral da an?lise de sobreviv?ncia demonstra uma redu??o global dos tempos de sobrevida para todos os grupos testados. A necroscopia n?o apontou, em um quadro geral, qualquer altera??o de cor, forma, tamanho e/ou consist?ncia nos ?rg?os avaliados nos estudos a ?nica exce??o recaiu sobre os f?gados dos animais submetidos ao extrato hidroalco?lico: estes se apresentaram sob um aspecto levemente congestivo, com aumento de massa cerca de 28% superior aos outros dois grupos e um p-valor de 0,0365. O grupo etan?lico 250 mg/Kg foi apontado, pelo p?s-teste de Dunn, como a ?nica classe com desigualdades simult?neas (p< 0,05) entre os grupos controles positivo e negativo. Os extratos analisados, notadamente o extrato etan?lico, apresentam, de fato, uma atividade antiplasm?dica resquicial, embora muito abaixo da percebida para grupos tratados com cloroquina; n?o obstante, os tempos de sobrevida dos animais submetidos aos tratamentos com os extratos n?o se elevam mediante a presen?a de tal terap?utica. Tanto o estudo t?xico-farmacol?gico do sinergismo entre a evolu??o cl?nica da mal?ria e a administra??o dos extratos quanto a avalia??o isolada de toxicidade nos permitem afirmar a aus?ncia de toxicidade dos extratos em n?vel de SNC e SNA, bem como a n?o influ?ncia destes nos padr?es de consumo h?drico e alimentar, at? as doses de 500 mg/Kg. A an?lise necrosc?pica nos leva ? dedu??o de um poss?vel efeito hepatot?xico do extrato hidroalco?lico, em doses de 500 mg/Kg, e uma atividade tecidual in?cua do extrato etan?lico, em mesma dosagem. Propomos uma continua??o dos estudos destes extratos, com modifica??es protocolares capazes de abordar, de forma mais clara e objetiva, seus aspectos farmacol?gicos e toxicol?gicos

The Nyctaginaceae Juss. is a small flowering plant family of about 30 genera and 400 species mainly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the New World. In Africa, six genera and 49 species occur, and in southern Africa, five genera and 19 species. Boerhavia L. and Commicarpus Standl. are the most species rich genera in southern Africa, with seven and eight species respectively. These species have not previously been studied taxonomically nor phylogenetically, and the objective of this study was to provide a systematic and phylogenetic treatment of these groups for southern Africa. Plant material was collected from the diversity centres of Boerhavia and Commicarpus in southern Africa. Leaves, flowers and anthocarps stored in ethanol were measured and examined with a stereomicroscope and surface studies conducted with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Material fixed in paraformaldehyde was embedded, sectioned, stained and examined with a light microscope. Pollen samples were acetolized before examination with a SEM. Sequencing analyses were done with a DNA Sequencer and neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood trees drawn. Distribution and habitat information were obtained from voucher specimens from various herbaria. The pollen grains are uniform in shape and sculpture and provide no diagnostic characters with which to distinguish between species. They do, however, provide broad characters to distinguish between the genera. Morphological, anatomical and molecular investigations, however, provided a series of characters to distinctly discern between Boerhavia and Commicarpus. Morphologically, Boerhavia and Commicarpus differ in growth form, inflorescence type, shape and indumentum of the upper and lower part of the flower, and shape and indumentum of the anthocarp. Anatomically, Boerhavia can be distinguished from Commicarpus by the Kranz anatomy around the minor veins of the leaves (which is absent in Commicarpus) and the sclerenchyma bundles which are present within the rib and inter-rib areas of the anthocarp (sclerenchyma bundles are only present in the rib area in Commicarpus). Molecular analyses group Boerhavia and Commicarpus as distinct clades with high bootstrap support. The differentiation is such in southern Africa, that Mirabilis and Acleisanthes, two non-African genera, are even placed intermediately between the two. The different species of Boerhavia and Commicarpus can be distinguished by the lower, coriaceous part of the flower and the anthocarp, as the arrangement of the glands, ribs and trichomes on these structures is species specific. The anatomy of the stems, leaves and anthocarps of the different species is uniform and uninformative and cannot be used to distinguish between the species. Molecular analyses support the distinction of the different species as defined by the morphology, and group the morphologically similar C. fruticosus and C. squarrosus in close relation. The aliens, Boerhavia cordobensis, B. diffusa var. diffusa and B. erecta, group together and the indigenous B. coccinea var. coccinea, B. deserticola, B. hereroensis and B. repens subsp. repens group together. The widely distributed C. plumbagineus and C. helenae var. helenae are closely related to each other, as are C. pentandrus and C. decipiens which are limited in theitr distribution to the African. This systematic study has shown that Boerhavia and Commicarpus are two distinct genera in southern Africa with well-defined species. This provides a workable classification system for southern Africa. This classification requires to be further refined by combining the morphology, anatomy, palynology and phylogenetics of the southern African Boerhavia and Commicarpus species into a single phylogeny. The phylogenetic investigations are, however, incomplete as the molecular analyses still need refinement and incorporation of more genes and taxa. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

The Nyctaginaceae Juss. is a small flowering plant family of about 30 genera and 400 species mainly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the New World. In Africa, six genera and 49 species occur, and in southern Africa, five genera and 19 species. Boerhavia L. and Commicarpus Standl. are the most species rich genera in southern Africa, with seven and eight species respectively. These species have not previously been studied taxonomically nor phylogenetically, and the objective of this study was to provide a systematic and phylogenetic treatment of these groups for southern Africa. Plant material was collected from the diversity centres of Boerhavia and Commicarpus in southern Africa. Leaves, flowers and anthocarps stored in ethanol were measured and examined with a stereomicroscope and surface studies conducted with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Material fixed in paraformaldehyde was embedded, sectioned, stained and examined with a light microscope. Pollen samples were acetolized before examination with a SEM. Sequencing analyses were done with a DNA Sequencer and neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood trees drawn. Distribution and habitat information were obtained from voucher specimens from various herbaria. The pollen grains are uniform in shape and sculpture and provide no diagnostic characters with which to distinguish between species. They do, however, provide broad characters to distinguish between the genera. Morphological, anatomical and molecular investigations, however, provided a series of characters to distinctly discern between Boerhavia and Commicarpus. Morphologically, Boerhavia and Commicarpus differ in growth form, inflorescence type, shape and indumentum of the upper and lower part of the flower, and shape and indumentum of the anthocarp. Anatomically, Boerhavia can be distinguished from Commicarpus by the Kranz anatomy around the minor veins of the leaves (which is absent in Commicarpus) and the sclerenchyma bundles which are present within the rib and inter-rib areas of the anthocarp (sclerenchyma bundles are only present in the rib area in Commicarpus). Molecular analyses group Boerhavia and Commicarpus as distinct clades with high bootstrap support. The differentiation is such in southern Africa, that Mirabilis and Acleisanthes, two non-African genera, are even placed intermediately between the two. The different species of Boerhavia and Commicarpus can be distinguished by the lower, coriaceous part of the flower and the anthocarp, as the arrangement of the glands, ribs and trichomes on these structures is species specific. The anatomy of the stems, leaves and anthocarps of the different species is uniform and uninformative and cannot be used to distinguish between the species. Molecular analyses support the distinction of the different species as defined by the morphology, and group the morphologically similar C. fruticosus and C. squarrosus in close relation. The aliens, Boerhavia cordobensis, B. diffusa var. diffusa and B. erecta, group together and the indigenous B. coccinea var. coccinea, B. deserticola, B. hereroensis and B. repens subsp. repens group together. The widely distributed C. plumbagineus and C. helenae var. helenae are closely related to each other, as are C. pentandrus and C. decipiens which are limited in theitr distribution to the African. This systematic study has shown that Boerhavia and Commicarpus are two distinct genera in southern Africa with well-defined species. This provides a workable classification system for southern Africa. This classification requires to be further refined by combining the morphology, anatomy, palynology and phylogenetics of the southern African Boerhavia and Commicarpus species into a single phylogeny. The phylogenetic investigations are, however, incomplete as the molecular analyses still need refinement and incorporation of more genes and taxa. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-12-21T14:52:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoNSN_DISSERT.pdf: 517385 bytes, checksum: 2cd80874c311dec2c7e627a39c2b9f2e (MD5) / Rejected by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br), reason: corrigir referencia on 2017-12-22T13:44:44Z (GMT) / Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-12-22T13:45:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoNSN_DISSERT.pdf: 517385 bytes, checksum: 2cd80874c311dec2c7e627a39c2b9f2e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:29:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoNSN_DISSERT.pdf: 517385 bytes, checksum: 2cd80874c311dec2c7e627a39c2b9f2e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:32:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoNSN_DISSERT.pdf: 517385 bytes, checksum: 2cd80874c311dec2c7e627a39c2b9f2e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-20T14:32:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoNSN_DISSERT.pdf: 517385 bytes, checksum: 2cd80874c311dec2c7e627a39c2b9f2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-12 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina is a polyphagous phytopathogen, which attacks more than 600 species of plants, including weeds that can host it. Pega-pinto (Boerhavia diffusa L.) and bredo (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) are common weeds that occur in areas of feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L.), in Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. When infected by M. phaseolina, this culture causes gray stem rot, drastically reducing yield. Therefore, the present work aimed to verify the virulence of Macrophomina spp. obtained from pega-pinto and bredo. The experiments were conducted in Vegetation House of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), in Mossoró-RN. Two trials were carried out to evaluate the severity of 100 isolates of Macrophomina, not first to posteriori 50 isolates in the pega-pinto roots and, in the second, 50 isolates from roots of bredo. In both assays, a Macrophomina Feijão-caupi isolate was used. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replicates. All 50 isolates of Macrophomina spp. caused gray stem rot symptoms in caupi and 64% these isolate showed a similar severity to the caupi isolate. In the bredo, 90% of the isolates caused the disease, however none of them presented severity equal to the caused by caupi isolates / O fungo Macrophomina phaseolina é um fitopatógeno polífago que ataca mais de 600 espécies de plantas, incluindo espécies daninhas que podem ser suas hospedeiras. Pega-pinto (Boerhavia difusa L.) e bredo (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) são espécies daninhas que ocorrem com frequência em áreas de produção do feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L.), no Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Quando infectada por M. phaseolina, esta cultura causa a podridão cinzenta do caule, reduzindo drasticamente a produção. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a severidade de isolados de Macrophomina spp. obtidos de pega-pinto e bredo. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em Casa de Vegetação da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), no município de Mossoró-RN. Foram realizados dois ensaios para avaliar a severidade de 100 isolados de Macrophomina. No primeiro, foram avaliados 50 isolados provenientes das raízes de pega-pinto e, no segundo, 50 isolados oriundos de raízes de bredo. Em ambos os ensaios, utilizou-se um isolado de Macrophomina de feijão-caupi. O delineamento utilizado nos experimentos foi o inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. Todos os 50 isolados de Macrophomina spp. oriundos de pega-pinto causaram sintomas de podridão cinzenta do caule nas plantas de feijão-caupi e 64% destes isolados apresentaram incidência igual ao isolado oriundo de caupi, entretanto apenas um isolado apresentou severidade igual ao isolado do caupi. Para o bredo, 90% dos isolados causaram a doença, porém, nenhum deles tendo apresentado severidade igual à ocasionada pelo isolado de feijão-caupi / 2017-12-19