Sour rot of tomatoes, caused by Geotrichum candidum, occurs in the field and postharvest settings regularly, although postharvest losses are severe only in some years on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESV) and other tomato production regions. Fungicide products and cultural control methods are tested for efficacy utilizing a traditional wounding technique that does not properly reflect natural sour rot infections. A new inoculation technique was optimized for G. candidum using negative pressure to infiltrate the tomato stem scar with pathogenic spores. This new method creates consistently high rates of infection and more successfully creates infections in mature green and breaker fruit. The population of G. candidum on the Eastern Shore of VA (ESV) was characterized using multilocus sequencing technique. The resulting phylogenetic tree defines four distinct groups, including two with uncommon loci that distinguish them from the majority of the population. Thirty-seven G. candidum isolates were inoculated to media amended with ten fungicides and antimicrobial compounds commonly used in tomato production and postharvest treatments. Propiconazole and tebuconazole completely inhibited growth of all colonies. Cultivar trials were conducted to determine if resistance or tolerance to G. candidum occurs. Ten commonly grown round and Roma cultivars on the ESV were similarly susceptible to G. candidum, even at low inoculum levels. Field and postharvest surveys of sour rot on tomato fruit attempted to correlate disease incidence with weather conditions in order to better understand the cause of sporadic infection. Few patterns were seen consistently throughout harvest periods and years. Rainfall was positively correlated with disease 2-3 days before surveys and temperature was negatively correlated with disease 5-7 days before surveys. No in-field weather conditions were correlated with postharvest disease incidence. Greenhouse trials were conducted to assess the influence of water congested tomato fruit on susceptibility to sour rot. Tomato plants were exposed to water inundation to mimic rainfall and varying levels of irrigation, both in order to congest tomato fruit. Though water congestion was achieved, tomato fruit were equally susceptible to sour rot infections. / Ph. D.

In the realm of tree fruit cultivation, the management of various diseases affecting pome fruits like apples and pears is crucial for sustaining production. This study amalgamates findings from three distinct disease investigations to propose an integrated approach to their management. Firstly, in pursuit of mitigating shoot blight severity caused by Erwinia amylovora and preventing fire blight cankers on pear trees, a two-year evaluation was conducted. The study assessed the efficacy of preventive treatments, including foliar spray and trunk injection applications of Giant Knotweed Extract (RSE) alongside antibiotics. Results highlighted the effectiveness of RSE in controlling both shoot blight severity and canker incidence, offering a sustainable alternative to antibiotics. Secondly, in addressing the bitter rot of apples caused by Colletotrichum spp., eighteen fungicide treatments were evaluated over two years, focusing on newer fungicide options to mitigate fungicide resistance development. Fungicides such as Omega, Aprovia, Ferbam, Captan, Ziram, and Cabrio were proven reliable management tools, complementing the existing effective fungicides that growers heavily depend on. Lastly, the emergence of European canker (Neonectria ditissima) on cider apple cultivars was investigated. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of N. ditissima as the causal agent, posing a significant threat to cider apple production. Koch's postulates were fulfilled through various tests, proving the pathogenicity of N. ditissima. Further research avenues, including genome sequencing were conducted to enhance understanding and control of a devastating pathogen like N. ditissima. Integrating findings from these studies proposes a comprehensive management strategy incorporating preventive spray programs, alternative fungicides, and pathogen identification to combat these diseases effectively, ensuring sustainable production of apples and pears in orchards. This holistic approach offers growers a multifaceted toolkit to manage diseases effectively, safeguarding apple and pear orchards' productivity and economic viability. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / In the world of growing apples and pears, keeping diseases under control is crucial for keeping orchards thriving and productive. We conducted studies on three endemic and emerging diseases aiming to create a well-rounded approach to managing them. First, we looked into ways to reduce the impact of shoot blight and fire blight cankers on pear trees caused by a devastating bacterium Erwinia amylovora. We tested the efficacy of preventive spray applications of plant extract of giant knotweed alongside antibiotics and found more sustainable alternatives to antibiotics that effectively control this disease. Next, we studied bitter rot disease in apples caused by many different species of fungi in Colletotrichum genus. We determined the efficacy of eighteen different biorational and synthetic fungicide spray programs over two years to find new options that can help prevent fungicide resistance development against currently available fungicides in the market. Several fungicides showed promise in managing this disease including Omega, Aprovia, Ferbam, Captan, Ziram and Cabrio, adding to the effective materials that growers already rely on. Lastly, we investigated the emergence of European canker on cider apple trees. This disease, caused by a fungus Neonectria ditissima, poses a serious threat to cider production. We confirmed the pathogen's identity and its capability of causing the disease in controlled experiments. We propose a comprehensive strategy for managing these diseases by including preventive spray applications of alternative materials and classic fungicides, combined with accurately identifying the pathogens. Our holistic approach provides growers with a range of tools to effectively protect their orchards, ensuring sustainable production of both apples and pears.

No description available.

Methamphetamine (MA) is a well-known, easily accessible and powerful psychostimulant, and its abuse has become a global problem. MA abuse affects millions of people worldwide and places an enormous burden on public healthcare resources. Documented consequences of MA abuse include cardiotoxic, neurotoxic and teratogenic effects, as well as long-term consequences of chronic abuse including affective disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD is a highly prevalent mood disorder in both adults and children, documented to contribute to approximately 850 000 suicides annually. This disorder is projected to become the 2nd leading disease of global burden by 2020, preceded only by ischemic heart disease. Depressive-like behaviour is documented as a symptom of chronic MA abuse and particularly during extensive MA withdrawal. Also, MA abuse during pregnancy is documented to cause neurodevelopmental changes that persist into later life. However, current understanding thereof is limited and warrants further investigation of the effects of early-life exposure to MA on outcome in adulthood, particularly in terms of mood disorders. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of chronic exposure to MA on the depressive-like behaviour later in life in stress-sensitive (Flinders Sensitive Line) and control (Flinders Resistant Line) rats. Rats were exposed during one of the following natal day (ND) age groups: prenatal (ND-13 to ND+02), postnatal (ND+03 to ND+18), prepuberty (ND+19 to ND+34) or puberty (ND+35 to ND+50). These age groups represent different stages in neurodevelopment, as also seen in humans. For prenatal exposure, pregnant dams received 5 mg/kg daily subcutaneously (s.c.), and pups from postnatal, prepuberty and puberty age groups received an escalating dose regimen to simulate “binge-dosing” commonly seen in humans abusing MA. After MA exposure, rats were housed normally until behavioural testing on postnatal day 60 (ND+60), which included the novel object recognition test (NOR), open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST), measuring cognitive function, locomotor activity and depressive-like behaviour respectively. The FST data showed increased immobility behaviour of saline-treated FSL rats relative to that of FRL rats, in line with previous data validating FSL rats as a genetic rodent model of depression. Practically significant MA-induced increases in immobility behaviour were observed in all FSL and FRL treatment groups in the FST, reaching statistical significance in prenatally treated FRL rats, and in postnatally, prepuberty and puberty treated FSL rats. The data suggest that early-life MA exposure may alter neurodevelopment to predispose the rats to display depressive-like behaviour in early adulthood, and suggests that this detrimental effect of MA may be more expressed in stress-sensitive rats. Furthermore, all FSL groups plus prenatally and puberty treated FRL rats revealed practically and statistically significant decreases in swimming behaviour in the FST, whereas decreases in swimming behaviour in prepuberty treated FRL rats were practically significant but did not reach statistical significance. These data suggest that MA-induced depressive-like behaviour in FSL rats may be related to impaired serotonergic neurotransmission, and that this appears to be more robust in FSL rats. Climbing behaviour in the FST was generally not altered by early-life MA exposure, with a notable exception being a practically and statistically significant increase in puberty treated FRL rats. These data suggest that in general early-life MA exposure does not affect noradrenergic neurotransmission in early adulthood, except when normal rats were treated at puberty. The reason for the latter observation is not clear. The data from the NOR test revealed no discernible trends of MA-induced effects on memory and cognition, except for a small albeit practically significant increase in exploration time in prepuberty treated FRL rats and a practically and statistically significant decrease in exploration time in puberty-treated FRL rats. Lastly, locomotor activity in the OFT was mostly unaffected by MA treatments, except for practically significant decreases in locomotor activity in postnatally-and prepuberty-treated FRL rats and practically and statistically significant decreases in locomotor activity of prepuberty treated FSL rats. Altered locomotor activity is therefore not expected to explain any of the immobility results of the FST. In final conclusion, the study confirms that early-life MA exposure results in a depressogenic effect later in life in stress-sensitive (FSL) and control (FRL) rats, but appears to be more robust in stress-sensitive animals. Furthermore the data suggest that long-lasting MA-induced depressogenic effects may relate to impaired serotonergic neurotransmission. / MSc (Pharmacology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Methamphetamine (MA) is a well-known, easily accessible and powerful psychostimulant, and its abuse has become a global problem. MA abuse affects millions of people worldwide and places an enormous burden on public healthcare resources. Documented consequences of MA abuse include cardiotoxic, neurotoxic and teratogenic effects, as well as long-term consequences of chronic abuse including affective disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD is a highly prevalent mood disorder in both adults and children, documented to contribute to approximately 850 000 suicides annually. This disorder is projected to become the 2nd leading disease of global burden by 2020, preceded only by ischemic heart disease. Depressive-like behaviour is documented as a symptom of chronic MA abuse and particularly during extensive MA withdrawal. Also, MA abuse during pregnancy is documented to cause neurodevelopmental changes that persist into later life. However, current understanding thereof is limited and warrants further investigation of the effects of early-life exposure to MA on outcome in adulthood, particularly in terms of mood disorders. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of chronic exposure to MA on the depressive-like behaviour later in life in stress-sensitive (Flinders Sensitive Line) and control (Flinders Resistant Line) rats. Rats were exposed during one of the following natal day (ND) age groups: prenatal (ND-13 to ND+02), postnatal (ND+03 to ND+18), prepuberty (ND+19 to ND+34) or puberty (ND+35 to ND+50). These age groups represent different stages in neurodevelopment, as also seen in humans. For prenatal exposure, pregnant dams received 5 mg/kg daily subcutaneously (s.c.), and pups from postnatal, prepuberty and puberty age groups received an escalating dose regimen to simulate “binge-dosing” commonly seen in humans abusing MA. After MA exposure, rats were housed normally until behavioural testing on postnatal day 60 (ND+60), which included the novel object recognition test (NOR), open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST), measuring cognitive function, locomotor activity and depressive-like behaviour respectively. The FST data showed increased immobility behaviour of saline-treated FSL rats relative to that of FRL rats, in line with previous data validating FSL rats as a genetic rodent model of depression. Practically significant MA-induced increases in immobility behaviour were observed in all FSL and FRL treatment groups in the FST, reaching statistical significance in prenatally treated FRL rats, and in postnatally, prepuberty and puberty treated FSL rats. The data suggest that early-life MA exposure may alter neurodevelopment to predispose the rats to display depressive-like behaviour in early adulthood, and suggests that this detrimental effect of MA may be more expressed in stress-sensitive rats. Furthermore, all FSL groups plus prenatally and puberty treated FRL rats revealed practically and statistically significant decreases in swimming behaviour in the FST, whereas decreases in swimming behaviour in prepuberty treated FRL rats were practically significant but did not reach statistical significance. These data suggest that MA-induced depressive-like behaviour in FSL rats may be related to impaired serotonergic neurotransmission, and that this appears to be more robust in FSL rats. Climbing behaviour in the FST was generally not altered by early-life MA exposure, with a notable exception being a practically and statistically significant increase in puberty treated FRL rats. These data suggest that in general early-life MA exposure does not affect noradrenergic neurotransmission in early adulthood, except when normal rats were treated at puberty. The reason for the latter observation is not clear. The data from the NOR test revealed no discernible trends of MA-induced effects on memory and cognition, except for a small albeit practically significant increase in exploration time in prepuberty treated FRL rats and a practically and statistically significant decrease in exploration time in puberty-treated FRL rats. Lastly, locomotor activity in the OFT was mostly unaffected by MA treatments, except for practically significant decreases in locomotor activity in postnatally-and prepuberty-treated FRL rats and practically and statistically significant decreases in locomotor activity of prepuberty treated FSL rats. Altered locomotor activity is therefore not expected to explain any of the immobility results of the FST. In final conclusion, the study confirms that early-life MA exposure results in a depressogenic effect later in life in stress-sensitive (FSL) and control (FRL) rats, but appears to be more robust in stress-sensitive animals. Furthermore the data suggest that long-lasting MA-induced depressogenic effects may relate to impaired serotonergic neurotransmission. / MSc (Pharmacology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Agricultores e técnicos envolvidos na citricultura orgânica procuram desenvolver sistemas de produção com maior atividade microbiana no solo. Dessa maneira, esperam obter benefícios dos processos que ocorrem no solo, entre eles, o controle natural de pragas e doenças. Porém, são poucos os estudos sobre a influência desse tipo de manejo sobre a microbiota do solo, em especial sobre os fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) e o patógeno Phytophthora parasitica. Os objetivos dessa tese foram: avaliar a colonização micorrízica e conhecer a diversidade de FMAs nos sistemas de produção convencional e orgânico de citros; avaliar a aplicação de benomyl e da radiação γ na obtenção de testemunhas não micorrizadas para estudo de interação de comunidade de FMAs nativos e P. parasitica; verificar a capacidade indutora de resistência local e sistêmica dos FMAs nativos a P. parasitica; estudar atividade da quitinase no sistema radicular de limão 'Cravo' colonizado por fungos micorrízicos nativos. Foram realizadas amostragens em dois sistemas de produção de citros em São Paulo, um convencional e um orgânico. A riqueza e a diversidade de espécies de FMAs foram maiores no manejo orgânico. No entanto, a porcentagem de colonização micorrízica nas plantas no campo não variou com o tipo de manejo. Em casa de vegetação, experimentos com plantas de limão 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia) mostraram que a radiação γ foi mais adequada que a aplicação de benomyl na obtenção de testemunhas não micorrizadas para estudo de interação P. parasitica- FMAs nativos de agroecossistemas de produção de laranja. Também em casa de vegetação, foi realizado um experimento com raiz dividida de plantas de limão 'Cravo'. Não foi possível avaliar a capacidade indutora de resistência dos fungos micorrízicos arbusculares nativos porque não houve desenvolvimento da podridão de raízes nas plantas de limão 'Cravo' após a infestação com P. parasitica. Discute-se a interação de patógenos de raiz do solo natural e os FMAs nativos porque o solo natural dos sistemas de produção convencional e orgânico promoveram diferentes respostas de crescimento local e sistêmico das raízes das plantas micorrizadas. A atividade de quitinase foi igual nas raízes de plantas micorrizadas e não micorrrizadas cultivadas em solos dos sistemas de produção convencional e orgânico. Porém, a associação micorrízica aumentou localmente a proteína total nas raízes das plantas. / Farmers and technicians involved with organic citriculture try to develop systems with high microbial activity in soil. In this way, they expect to obtain benefits from processes that occur in soil, as natural control of pests and diseases. However, there are few studies about the influence of this type of management on soil microbiota, specially on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the pathogen Phytophthora parasitica. The objectives of this thesis were: to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization and diversity of AMF in citrus conventional and organic farming; to evaluate benomyl application and γ radiation to obtain non-mycorrhizal controls for study of interaction between indigenous AMF and P. parasitica; to verify local and systemic capacity of indigenous AMF to induce resistance against P. parasitica; to study chitinase activity in roots of 'Rangpur' lime colonized by indigenous AMF. Samplings were carried out in two citrus systems in São Paulo, one conventional and one organic farming. The richness and the diversity of AMF species were higher in the organic farming. In greenhouse, experiments with 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia) showed that γ radiation was better than benomyl to obtain non-mycorrhizal control for studies of interaction between P. parasitica-indigenous AMF from orange agroecosystems. In greenhouse also, a split root experiment with 'Rangpur' lime was carried out. It was not possible to evaluate the indigenous AMF capacity to induce resistance because no root rot developed in 'Rangpur' lime plants after inoculation with P. parasitica. We discuss the interaction between root pathogens in natural soil and indigenous AMF because natural soil from conventional e organic farming promoted different local and systemic root growth responses in mycorrhizal plants. Chitinase activity was similar in roots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants grown in conventional and organic farming soils. However, mycorhizal association increased local protein content in roots.

A partir da década de 1990, em função da valorização da fruta no mercado interno e do aumento das exportações da fruta in natura, observou-se aumento da importância da lima ácida Tahiti (Citrus latifolia (Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka) sob os aspectos econômico e social no agronegócio brasileiro. A diversidade genética da espécie é pequena e os cultivos comerciais são baseados, predominantemente, nos clones IAC 5 e Quebra-galho. Atualmente, existem novos clones para a diversificação de copas. Entretanto, a baixa disponibilidade de informações sobre os mesmos dificulta a diversificação dos pomares. Além da baixa diversificação de copas, grande parte dos pomares utilizam o limão Cravo (Citrus limonia Osbeck) como porta-enxerto, por induzir maior produtividade e tolerância à deficiência hídrica. Por outro lado, a combinação dos clones IAC 5 e Quebra-galho com o limoeiro Cravo tem levado à produção de plantas de porte elevado e baixa longevidade devido às elevadas taxas de mortalidade causadas por gomose de Phytophthora (Phytophthora spp.) e à presença de estirpes severas do vírus da tristeza dos citros e do viróide da exocorte. Dessa forma, este trabalho avaliou o desempenho horticultural de clones de limeira ácida Tahiti enxertados em citrumelo Swingle [Citrus paradisi Macfad. cv. Duncan x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] em Bebedouro, SP. Tendo em vista as restrições do uso comercial do citrumelo Swingle em ambientes que apresentam deficiência hídrica prolongada, os clones foram avaliados em duas áreas distintas, diferenciadas pelo uso da irrigação. Foram avaliados os clones IAC 5, IAC 5-1, CNPMF/EECB, CNPMF 2000 e CNPMF 2001. O experimento foi instalado em março de 2005 e as avaliações foram realizadas entre 2007 e 2011. Foram avaliados o crescimento vegetativo, produção, eficiência produtiva, qualidade dos frutos, fotossíntese e potencial da água na folha em ambas as áreas. Adicionalmente, na área não irrigada, a tolerância à deficiência hídrica, condutância estomática e transpiração foram avaliados visando à seleção de clones mais adequados para cultivos não irrigados. A análise de variância dos dados obtidos na área irrigada e não irrigada foi realizada conjuntamente e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Duncan (P<0,05). O clone CNPMF/EECB apresentou maior produção acumulada de frutos e maior eficiência produtiva, independentemente da condição de cultivo. Sob cultivo irrigado, o clone CNPMF/EECB apresentou maior produção de frutos na entressafra. Os clones IAC 5-1, CNPMF/EECB, CNPMF 2000 e CNPMF 2001 apresentaram maior crescimento vegetativo em relação ao clone IAC 5, independentemente da condição de cultivo. O clone IAC 5-1 induziu maior porcentagem de frutos adequados à exportação, maior tolerância à deficiência hídrica e maior suscetibilidade à podridão floral dos citros. A irrigação induziu maior crescimento vegetativo, maior precocidade de produção, maior produção de frutos na safra e entressafra, maior eficiência produtiva, maior rendimento de suco, maior acidez e maior porcentagem de frutos exportáveis. / Since the 90s, Tahiti lime (Citrus latifolia (Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka) has increased its importance in the Brazilian agribusiness with economic and social impacts, due to higher fruit value recorded both on domestic and international markets. Genetic diversity of this species is restricted, and in Brazil, most of the commercial orchards are predominantly based on IAC 5 and Quebra-galho selections. Currently, new selections are available for scion diversification. Nonetheless, technical information about these materials is very limited, thus restricting the studies on scion diversification. Besides the low diversification of scions, most of the orchards are established onto the Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck), because of higher yield and tolerance to water deficit induced by this rootstock. IAC 5 and Quebra-galho selections grafted onto the Rangpur lime result in large-sized plants of low longevity, because of their high susceptibility to Phytophthora gummosis (Phytophthora spp.), and the endemic presence of severe Citrus Tristeza Virus strains and the Exocortis Citrus Viroid. Restricted scion and rootstocks diversification increase the risks associated with outbreaks of new and more severe diseases and pests that threaten the whole Tahiti lime production chain. This study evaluated the horticultural performance of five Tahiti\' lime selections grafted on Swingle citrumelo [Citrus paradisi Macfad. cv. Duncan x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], in Bebedouro, São Paulo State, Brazil. Due to constraints for the commercial use of Swingle citrumelo as rootstock in environments under prolonged water deficit conditions, two trials were conducted for evaluation of Tahiti lime selections under irrigated and non irrigated conditions. The following Tahiti lime selections were studied: IAC 5, IAC 5-1, CNPMF/EECB, CNPMF 2000 and CNPMF 2001. The experiment was installed in March 2005 and the evaluations were performed between 2007 and 2011, involving the following variables: plant growth, yield, yield efficiency, fruit quality, photosynthesis rate and leaf water potential in both irrigated and non-irrigated trials. In addition, plant water deficit tolerance, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and water use efficiency were evaluated in the non-irrigated trial for selecting suitable selections for non-irrigated plantings. Data obtained in the irrigated and non-irrigated trials were submitted to individual and joint analyses of variance, and the comparisons among means were performed by Duncan test (P<0.05). The CNPMF/EECB selection had larger cumulative fruit yield and yield efficiency both in the irrigated and non-irrigated plantings. In the irrigated trial, the CNPMF/EECB selection presented larger offseason fruit yield. The IAC 5-1, CNPMF/EECB, CNPMF 2000 and CNPMF 2001 selections had larger tree size than the IAC 5 selection, both in the irrigated and non-irrigated plantings. The IAC 5-1 selection induced larger percentage of fresh fruit for export under irrigated and non-irrigated plantings, conferring higher water deficit tolerance and lower tolerance to postbloom fruit drop. Irrigation increased plant growth, early bearing, main-season and off-season fruit production, yield efficiency, juice percentage, juice acidity and the percentage of fresh fruit classified for export.

A alface é a principal hortaliça folhosa do Brasil. A podridão negra das raízes causada pelo fungo Thielaviopsis basicola vem limitando o cultivo da alface americana ´Lucy Brown`. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram: determinar a reação das cultivares comerciais de alface à T. basicola; elucidar a herança da resistência de alface ao patógeno e selecionar alface americana resistente ao patógeno a partir de variantes da ‘Lucy Brown`. Inocularam-se 37 cultivares de alface usando o isolado patogênico L1 de T. basicola, na fase juvenil. Para todos os ensaios a avaliação foi feita na fase juvenil através de uma escala de notas de acordo com a severidade da doença de 1 (ausência de sintomas) a 5 (mais de 90% das raízes severamente afetadas). A seleção de progênies resistentes ao patógeno foi feita a partir de variantes da ´Lucy Brown` pelo método genealógico usando um critério qualitativo para uniformidade, qualidade da cabeça e adaptação para o cultivo nas condições de verão. As cultivares do tipo crespa e batávia foram resistentes ao patógeno. As do tipo lisa e americana apresentaram variação inter-varietal quanto à reação a T. basicola. A herança da reação de alface a T. basicola foi devido a um gene dominante, designado de Tb. As progênies elites S4 derivadas da alface ´Lucy Brown` foram resistentes ao patógeno, uniformes e estáveis para o mérito hortícola no cultivo de verão. / Lettuce is the major leafy crop in Brazil. Lettuce black root rot (LBRR) caused by Thielaviopsis basicola is one the most limiting disease for the crisphead lettuce cv. Lucy Brown. Research focuses were: cultivars reaction to the pathogen; resistance inheritance elucidation and selections of LBRR resistant variants from cv. Lucy Brown. About 37 cultivars were screened using L1 pathogenic strain of T. basicola at juvenile stage. The reaction reading was made for all trials at juvenile stage using a severity disease scale from 1 (absence of symptoms) to 5 (with more than 90% of root rots). Selection of LBRR variants derived from Lucy Brown was made by pedigree selection and using selective criteria of line uniformity, heading qualities and adaptation for summer season slotting planting. Leaf lettuce Grand Rapids and Batavia types were resistant. There was inter-varietal occurrence of crisphead and butterhead resistance and other susceptible to LBRR. The inheritance to LBRR resistance in lettuce was due to a dominant gene designated as Tb. Elite LBRR resistant S4 lines derived from the crisphead cv. Lucy Brown were identified by their uniformity and stability for summer crop adaptation.

O Brasil é o maior produtor de laranja do mundo e, embora o cultivo ocorra em todos os estados brasileiros, o Estado de São Paulo é o maior produtor, responsável por 80% da produção nacional. Dentre as doenças que podem limitar a produção dos citros encontra-se a podridão floral do citros (PFC), causada pelo fungo Colletotrichum acutatum J. H. Simmonds. Os sintomas desta doença são caracterizados pela presença de lesões necróticas marrons ou alaranjadas nas pétalas e queda dos frutos recém formados, os cálices e os pedúnculos permanecem retidos nos ramos. Em citros, C. acutatum pode sobreviver aderido à superfície das folhas, na forma de apressório quiescente, por pelo menos um mês. As plantas daninhas podem atuar como hospedeiras alternativas de diversos patógenos, servindo como fontes de inóculo e desempenhando um importante papel na epidemiologia das doenças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se plantas daninhas, comuns em pomares de citros no Estado de São Paulo, podem servir como fonte de inóculo de C. acutatum para esta cultura. Sete espécies de plantas daninhas foram inoculadas com uma suspensão de conídios de C. acutatum, calibrada a 105 conídios/mL. Após a inoculação, estas foram mantidas em câmara úmida por 36 horas e, em seguida, amostras de todas as plantas foram coletadas e observadas em microscópio óptico para verificar a germinação dos conídios. Trinta, sessenta e noventa dias após as inoculações realizou-se o isolamento de C. acutatum das folhas inoculadas. Para isso, amostras de folhas de cada espécie de planta daninha foram coletadas, desinfestadas superficialmente e transferidas para placas de Petri, onde receberam 70 L de extrato floral de citros sobre o local da inoculação, para estimular a germinação dos apressórios ali presentes. As folhas permaneceram incubadas por 24 horas a 23°C, com fotoperíodo de 12 h. Após esse período, as áreas inoculadas das folhas foram cortadas e transferidas para placas de poliestireno contendo meio de Martin. Após o surgimento das primeiras colônias de C. acutatum, discos de quatro milímetros de diâmetro foram transferidos para meio BDA, para a obtenção de colônias puras. Em seguida foi realizado um teste de patogenicidade em flores de laranja doce de três anos de idade. Os dados de porcentagem de isolamento foram analisados análise de variância e testes não paramétricos. Foram observadas a germinação e a formação de apressórios de C. acutatum na superfície de todas as folhas inoculadas, após 36 horas de câmara úmida. Não houve diferença estatística na sobrevivência de C. acutatum ao longo dos 30, 60 e 90 dias e não foi observado nenhum tipo de sintoma nas folhas inoculadas. C. acutatum foi isolado de todas as plantas daninhas analisadas, embora o tempo de sobrevivência tenha variado em função da espécie de daninha. Todos os isolados obtidos das plantas daninhas apresentaram sintomas típicos de PFC em todas as flores inoculadas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que as plantas daninhas avaliadas podem servir como hospedeiras alternativas de C. acutatum, resultando em fonte de inóculo primário e secundário deste patógeno para a cultura do citros. / Brazil is the major orange producer in the world, and although the cropping occurs all over the Brazilian States, the São Paulo State is the major producer, responsible for 80% of the national production. Postbloom fruit drop (PFD), caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum J. H. Simmonds is an important disease that can cause yield reduction. The symptoms of this disease are characterized by the presence of brown or orange necrotic lesions in the petals and the drop of young fruits; the calyces and peduncles remain in the branches after fruit drop. In citrus, C. acutatum can adhered to the surface of the leaves, in the form of quiescent appressoria, for at least one month. The weeds can act as alternative hosts of diverse pathogens, serving as inoculum sources and playing an important role in the disease epidemiology. The purpose of this research was to verify if weeds, commons in citrus orchards in São Paulo State, may serve as inoculum source of C. acutatum for this crop. Seven weed species were inoculated with a conidial suspension of C. acutatum, calibrated with 105 conidia/mL. After the inoculation, the weeds were kept in humidity chamber for 36 hours. Samples of all weeds were collected and observed in optical microscope to verify the conidia germination. Thirty, sixty and ninety days after inoculation, C. acutatum was isolated from the inoculated leaves. For this purpose, leaves of each weed species were collected, superficially disinfested and transferred to Petri dishes. The leaves received 70 L of citrus flower extract over the inoculation area to stimulate the appressoria germination. The leaves were incubated for 24 hours at 23°C, with 12 hours of photoperiod. After this period, the inoculated areas were cut and transferred to polystyrene dishes with Martin medium. After the appearance of the first colonies of C. acutatum, discs of four millimeters of diameter were transferred to PDA medium to obtain pure colonies. A pathogenicity test was carried out in three years old sweet orange flowers. The percentage of pathogen isolation was analyzed by variance analysis or non-parametric analysis. Conidia germination and appressoria formation of C. acutatum in all inoculated leaves were observed, after 36 hours of humidity chamber. There was no statistical difference in the C. acutatum survival during 30, 60 e 90 days and no type of symptom was observed in the inoculated leaves. C. acutatum was isolated from every weed analyzed, although the survival period varied among the weed species. Every isolated obtained from the weeds presented typical PFD symptoms in every inoculated flowers. The results showed that weeds can serve as alternative hosts of C. acutatum, contributing in primary and secondary inoculum source of this pathogen to the citrus crop.

Apesar das excelentes condições edafoclimáticas para a produção de abacates no Brasil, a cultura encontra limitações relacionadas à baixa produtividade e suscetibilidade à podridão da raiz causada por Phytophthora cinnamomi, a principal doença da cultura nas distintas regiões produtoras. A aplicação de coberturas naturais ao solo é uma das estratégias que visa o controle desta doença, e entre seus benefícios estão a maior disponibilidade de água e nutrientes, menor competição das plantas daninhas, melhoria da estrutura, porosidade e fertilidade do solo e melhor aspecto sanitário das plantas, por favorecer a formação de um ambiente supressivo ao desenvolvimento do patógeno, pelo aumento do sistema radicular e da população de microorganismos antagônicos. Todos estes benefícios das coberturas naturais, junto ao aporte de nutrientes após sua incorporação, favorecem indiretamente a produção e o crescimento dos frutos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar distintos manejos da vegetação intercalar em abacateiros \'Hass\' visando à obtenção de coberturas naturais que, aplicadas ao solo, permitam minimizar a incidência da podridão radicular, promovendo melhorias no estado sanitário das plantas e na produção. Entre 2011 e 2013 foram avaliados cinco tratamentos: T1: ausência de vegetação intercalar, sem aplicação de cobertura morta sob a copa das plantas; T2: ausência de vegetação intercalar e duas aplicações externas de cobertura morta sob a copa; T3: duas deposições de cobertura morta sob a copa, obtida pelo corte da vegetação intercalar com roçadeira enleiradora lateral (REL); T4: três deposições de cobertura morta sob a copa, obtida pelo corte da vegetação intercalar com REL, e T5: manutenção da vegetação intercalar com três cortes anuais utilizando roçadeira convencional, sem deposição de cobertura morta sob a copa. O delineamento estatístico foi em blocos aleatorizados, com 6 repetições e 3 plantas úteis por parcela, nas quais foram avaliados: os teores de macronutrientes e micronutrientes em folhas e no solo; desenvolvimento vegetativo e radicular, produção de frutos, aspecto visual das plantas, massa seca da vegetação intercalar, espessura da cobertura morta e características químicas e microbiológicas do solo. A aplicação de coberturas vegetais resultou em um maior crescimento das plantas e maior tamanho dos frutos, sem efeito significativo sobre a produção. A deposição de cobertura morta obtida com REL favoreceu o desenvolvimento das raízes na camada superficial do solo. No entanto, os tratamentos não influenciaram significativamente o aspecto visual sanitário das plantas, nem os teores de macronutrientes e micronutrientes nas folhas e no solo. O manejo da vegetação intercalar com roçadeira convencional resultou em maior volume de massa seca, já o manejo desta com dois ou três cortes anuais utilizando REL depositou uma quantidade similar de cobertura morta sob a copa, que foi inferior à depositada pela aplicação externa de cobertura (T2). Todos os tratamentos com deposição de cobertura vegetal suprimiram o desenvolvimento de plantas daninhas sob a copa. No tratamento sem aplicação de cobertura morta e sem vegetação intercalar, houve aumento na população de P. cinnamomi no solo. Comparativamente, no período de dois anos, não foram observadas diferenças na população de actinomicetos no solo dos distintos tratamentos. / Despite the excellent soil and climatic conditions for avocado production in Brazil, the culture has limitations related to low productivity and susceptibility to avocado root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, the main crop disease in all producing areas. Mulching is one of the strategies utilized for controlling this disease, with several benefits such as an improved soil water and nutrients availability for roots, reduced weed competition, improved soil structure, porosity and fertility and enhanced plant health condition, due to the creation of a suppressive environment for the development of the pathogen, by increasing root density and the population of antagonistic microorganisms. All these benefits of natural mulches, together with the supply of nutrients and assimilates after their incorporation to the soil, indirectly enhance fruit yield and size. The aim of this work was to evaluate different managements of inter-row vegetation in an adult \'Hass\' avocado orchard in order to obtain mulches which, after being applied to the soil, will allow reducing root rot incidence, thus promoting improvement of plant sanitary condition, with positive effects on fruit yield. From 2011 through 2013, five treatments were evaluated: T1: absence of inter-row vegetation, without mulch application under the canopy; T2: absence of inter-row vegetation and two applications of external mulch under the canopy: T3: two mulch depositions under the canopy obtained after cutting off the inter-row vegetation with a lateral alignment mower (LAM); T4: three mulch depositions under the canopy obtained after cutting off the inter-row vegetation with a LAM, and T5: maintenance of natural inter-row vegetation with three annual cuttings using a conventional mower, without mulch deposition under the canopy. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, with 6 repetitions and 3 plants per plot, on which the following variables were measured: levels of macro and micronutrients in leaves and soil; root and plant size development; fruit yield and size; plant sanitary condition visually assessed with a 10-note scale; biomass of inter-row vegetation; mulch thickness and chemical and microbiological soil characteristics. Mulching resulted in larger plant growth and fruit size, with no significant effects on fruit yield. Application of mulch obtained with a LAM enhanced root growth in the surface soil layer. Nonetheless, the treatments did not significantly affect nor the plant sanitary aspect, neither the leaf or soil levels of macro and micronutrients. Management of inter-row vegetation with a conventional mower resulted in larger biomass development, while managing inter-row vegetation with two or three cuttings with LAM per year resulted in similar amounts of mulch laid down under the canopy, yet less than with the application of external mulch (T2). All the treatments with mulch deposition suppressed weed growth under the canopy. In the treatment with no mulch and no inter-row cropping, a larger population of P. cinnamomi was recorded. There were no differences in the Actinomycetes soil population among treatments.