Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Tomato is second most cultivated crop globally and in South Africa it is planted by both commercial and smallholder farmers. However, the crop is susceptible to a number of diseases including those caused by fungal pathogens. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and seedling damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani, are known to cause serious yield loss in tomato production. Their management is mainly based on the application of synthetic fungicides and cultural practices. However, both methods have limitations which result in their inefficiency. Synthetic fungicides also have negative impact on the environment and human health. The ability of fungal pathogens to develop resistance to fungicides has also resulted in their reduced application. These challenges have led to a need to identify novel methods using plant extracts and biological control agents which can be used to manage these diseases. The objectives of this study were therefore to, firstly determine the efficacy of both plant extracts on mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and R. solani under laboratory conditions and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of both plant extracts as well as antagonistic fungi Trichoderma harzianum against Fusarium wilt and damping-off of tomato under greenhouse conditions. Food poisoning assay was used to investigate the efficacy of M. burkeana and M. oleifera extracts in vitro. Six (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 g/ml) treatments were arranged in a completely randomised design and replicated four times. After 7 days of incubation at 25 °C, radial growth colony was measured. For the greenhouse xp im nt, Fusa ium wilt was t st d on cv. ‘HTX14’ as th most susc ptibl cultiva whilst seedling damping-off was t st d on cv. ‘Mon y-make ’. Aqu ous xt acts were prepared by decocting different concentrations of M. burkeana (4, 6, 8 g/ml) xiv and M. oleifera (2, 4 and 6 g/ml) in 100 ml of distilled water at 100 °C for 15 minutes then left to cool before filtering and applying as a treatment. Trichoderma harzianum as a treatment was applied 7 days after inoculating the soil-borne pathogens. In-vitro M. burkeana treatments concentrations had the highest mycelia growth suppression against both F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici at 10 g/ml (76 %) whilst suppression on R. solani was at 8 g/ml (71 %) relative to control. Moringa oleifera xt acts’ highest pathogen suppression for both F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and R. solani were respectively 35 % and 60 % relative to control at concentration 6 g/ml. Under greenhouse conditions shoot disease severity had highest suppression at 0.6 g/ml of M. burkeana and 0.4 g/ml of M. oleifera treatment concentrations resulting to 32 and 49 % relative to control. Whereas, treatment 0.8 g/ml of M. burkeana and 0.4 g/ml of M. oleifera suppressed stem and root discoloration by 39 and 54 % respectively. Trichoderma harzianum significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced shoot severity and root and stem discolouration contributing the highest suppression of 49 % relative to control. In damping-off treatments, both plant extracts and T. harzianum also significantly duc d (P ≤ 0.05) pre- and post-emergence damping-off incidence with M.burkeana recording the highest suppression at 78 % followed by M. oleifera at 64 %. Trichoderma harzianum reduced incidence of damping-off by 60 % relative to untreated control on both M. burkeana and M. oleifera experiments. The results of this study showed that M. burkeana, M. oleifera extracts and T. harzianum can be highly suppressive to both tested plant diseases. However, further studies should be conducted to determine their mode of action, application method and their effect on other soil microorganisms. Keywords: Damping-off, Fusarium wilt, Plant extracts, T. harzianum, Tomato plant

The damping-off and stem rot disease syndrome is harmful to many cultivated crops. Damping-off and stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. on cowpea results in yield losses with serious socio-economic implications. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the occurrence of the diseases in Benin, study etiology and factors influencing the diseases, and develop strategies for the control of the diseases in the field. Results showed that the diseases are distributed countrywide. Sclerotium rolfsii was the main causal agent but minor pathogens, namely Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia solani Kühn and Phoma pomorum Thüm were also recorded. In the Ouémé valley, the diseases were favoured by soil moisture and S. rolfsii initial inoculum that were higher closer to the river. Sclerotium rolfsii isolates collected in the valley showed genetic diversity in terms of pathogenicity, mycelial compatibility groups and ITS rDNA sequences. A paper-based screening method was found to be a rapid laboratory method for screening for resistance in cowpea cultivars. Furtheremore, Moringa oleifera L. leaf extracts, Trichoderma Kd 63 and Trichoderma IITA 508 significantly reduced the disease incidence. The best disease control was recorded in the field when M. oleifera seed treatment was integrated with a soil sprinkle of Trichoderma. The present work provides information on damping-off and stem rot of cowpea in Benin and control strategies for ecologically sustainable cowpea production. / Thesis (DPhil (Microbiology and Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-25T19:30:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nathaly Les.pdf: 1337962 bytes, checksum: 9d17bfec361a7df2173d76e06ebeb918 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Among the diseases found in soybeans and beans, those of particular note are fungi found in the soil, of which the most important are Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani. Controlling these diseases is difficult; the use of fungicides applied to the aerial parts is ineffective and treating seeds with fungicides is the most widely used method. However, in order to reduce the environmental impact alternative disease control measures have been sought such as the use of biological products. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different biological products in the control of soil fungi (F. solani and R. solani) in relation to plant vigor, germination and growth promotion in bean and soybean crops. The experiments were conducted in duplicate in the Applied Plant Pathology Group laboratories and in the greenhouse of the State University of Ponta Grossa (UEPG) in 2015. The experimental design was entirely randomized blocks with 10 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments were as follows: 1 - control without inoculation;control with inoculation; 3 - Trichoderma asperellum (Quality); 4 - Trichoderma harzianum (Trichodermil); 5 - Trichoderma harzianum (Ecotrich); 6 - Coniothyrium minitans (Coniothyrium); 7 - Bacillus subtilis (Serenade); 8 - Bacillus pumilus (Sonata); 9 – thiophanate-methyl + fluazinam (Certeza); 10 - fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M (Maxim XL). The blotter test and tests of plant vigor and germination were performed in the laboratory. The following were evaluated in the greenhouse:the initial and final emergence of seedlings; pre and post-emergence damping-off; the lengths of roots and aerial parts; fresh and dry weight; and the incidence and severity of both fungi. It was concluded that the best treatment for all the evaluated parameters was fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M. Apart from this treatment, for some parameters as root length and shoot and reduction in the incidence and severity of diseases the treatments with thiophanate-methyl + fluazinam, and the biological products based on Bacillus were also found to be efficient. The treatments based on T. harzianum and C. minitans were inefficient in the tested conditions. / Dentre as doenças que incidem na cultura da soja e do feijão, se destacam as causadas por fungos do solo, sendo os principais deles Fusarium solani e Rhizoctonia solani. O controle dessas doenças é difícil, o uso de fungicidas aplicados na parte aérea é ineficaz, sendo o tratamento de sementes com fungicidas o método mais utilizado. Entretanto, com o intuito de diminuir o impacto ambiental, busca-se medidas alternativas de controle de doenças, como por exemplo, o uso de produtos biológicos. Com base nisso, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de diferentes produtos biológicos no controle dos fungos de solo (F. solani e R.solani), no vigor, germinação e na promoção de crescimento nas culturas do feijão e da soja. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em duplicatas nos laboratórios do grupo de fitopatologia aplicada e na casa de vegetação da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), no ano de 2015. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos inteiramente aleatorizados, com 10 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos foram: 1- testemunha sem inoculação; 2- testemunha com inoculação; 3 – Trichoderma asperellum (Quality); 4 – Trichoderma harzianum (Trichodermil); 5 – Trichoderma harzianum (Ecotrich) ; 6 – Coniothyrium minitans (Coniothyrium); 7 – Bacillus subtilis (Serenade ); 8 – Bacillus pumilus (Sonata); 9 – tiofanato metílico + fluazinam (Certeza); 10 – fludioxonil + metalaxil-M (Maxim XL). No laboratório foram realizados o Blotter test e os testes de vigor de plântulas e germinação. Na casa de vegetação foram avaliadas a emergência inicial e final das plântulas, tombamento em pré e pós-emergência, comprimento da raiz e da parte aérea, massa fresca e seca e a incidência e severidade dos fungos. Concluiu-se que o melhor tratamento para todos os parâmetros avaliados foi o fludioxonil + metalaxil-M, e para alguns parâmetros como comprimento da raiz e parte aérea e redução na incidência e severidade das doenças, além desse, os tratamentos com tiofanato metílico + fluazinam e os produtos biológicos a base de Bacillus também se mostraram eficientes. Os tratamentos a base de T. harzianum e C. minitans foram ineficientes nas condições em que foram testados.

Inoculation with free-living diazotrophic bacteria is well documented to enhance vegetative growth and yield increases of various crops coupled with suppression of sublethal pathogens. The use of microbial inoculants has been identified as an alternative or supplement to use of nitrogenous fertilizers and agrochemicals for sustainable agriculture. The search for effective free-living diazotrophic bacterial strains for formulation as biofertilizers has been on going since the 1970’s and a number of inoculant biofertilizers have been developed and are commercially available. In the current study, 250 free-living diazotrophic bacteria were isolated from soils collected from the rhizosphere and leaves of different crops in different areas within KwaZulu-Natal, province, Republic of South Africa. These were evaluated for plant growth-promotion and biological control of damping-off fungi initially by in vitro screening. The growth promotion traits tested included, phosphate-solubilization, production of indole-3-acetic acid, production of ammonia and acetylene reduction. Biocontrol traits evaluated included siderophore-production, antibiosis, and production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Biochemical and molecular bioassay tests were conducted to identify the twenty most promising isolates selected in the in vitro study. The twenty isolates were further tested in combination with various levels of nitrogenous fertilizer for growth-promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under greenhouse conditions. The five most promising isolates identified for growth promotion under greenhouse conditions for each crop were assessed for their effects on the germination of maize in vitro and growth and yields of two maize and two wheat cultivars, when combined with a low dose of nitrogenous fertilizer in field trials. The five Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn isolates that suppressed the growth of a wide range of pathogenic fungi in vitro were tested for their efficacy against damping-off of wheat caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn in the greenhouse. These isolates were further studied for their modes of action against R. solani in vitro. The modes of action tested included antibiosis, production of siderophores, extracellular enzymes, production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and antibiotic resistance. The twenty most promising bacterial isolates identified from the in vitro screening reduced acetylene to ethylene, produced indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores, one isolate solubilized phosphate, and 9 inhibited the growth of R. solani. These twenty isolates enhanced growth of maize and wheat above the Uninoculated Control under greenhouse conditions. The growth enhancements varied with bacterial isolate x crop species interactions, which identified five different isolates for each of the two crops. Relative to the Uninoculated Control, the best five isolates significantly (P = 0.001) enhanced the growth of maize and wheat at all fertilizer levels for a number of growth parameters: increased chlorophyll levels and heights of maize, shoot dry biomass of maize and wheat, and enhanced root development of maize in the greenhouse. Inoculation of maize and wheat with the two most promising isolates identified from the field trial for each crop, in combination with 65% and 50% of the recommended amount of nitrogenous fertilizer for maize and wheat, respectively, caused the same increases in shoot biomass as the Fully Fertilized Control. Application of a combination of the best bacterial isolates and 35% nitrogenous fertilizer resulted in the same or greater shoot dry biomass and yields of both maize and wheat under field conditions. Shoot dry biomass of wheat increased by 75% above the Uninoculated Control and 30% above the Fully Fertilized Control. The wheat yield increased by 95% above the Uninoculated Control and 43% above the Fully Fertilized Control. Seed inoculation with the best isolates combined with 35% N increased yields of maize by 41% above the Uninoculated Control and 15% above the Fully Fertilized Control. The best isolates significantly (P < 0.001) increased plant height, chlorophyll levels and shoot biomass of maize relative to the Uninoculated Control. There was a positive correlation between chlorophyll level and yield, chlorophyll level and shoot dry biomass, height and shoot dry biomass and height and yield of maize at P = 0.01 with r values of 0.87, 0.77, 0.92 and 0.81, respectively. The isolates that exhibited multiple plant-growth promoting traits in vitro, increased shoot biomass of both maize and wheat in the greenhouse and field, and caused yield increases in the two crops under field conditions. Five B. subtilis isolates inhibited the growth of some of the pathogenic fungi tested in vitro up to 95%. Seed inoculation with the same isolates significantly (P = 0.001) suppressed R. solani damping-off of wheat under greenhouse conditions and exhibited multiple mechanisms of disease control in vitro. The use of microbial inoculants in combination with low doses of nitrogenous fertilizers can enhance crop production without compromising the yields. The B. subtilis isolates obtained in this study can effectively control R. solani damping-off of wheat, fix nitrogen and enhance plant growth. The use of microbial inoculants can contribute to the integrated production of cereal crops with reduced nitrogenous fertilizer inputs, as a key component of sustainable agriculture. Key words: Free-living bacteria; plant growth-promotion; diazotrophs; biological nitrogen fixation; phosphate-solubilization; siderophores; indole-3-acetic acid; biocontrol; damping-off / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Cordia americana (L.) Gottschling & J.S.Mill. (guajuvira) is a forest species widely distributed in Brazil with importance in its economics and environment. Therefore, there is a great demand of research in seed technology for this species, as for the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds and, mainly, for the association of Fusarium spp. The objectives of this study were to determine the physiological maturity and seed collecting system to be more favorable to sanitary and physiological quality of the C. americana seeds and evaluate the pathogenicity of Fusarium sp. associated with them, morphological and molecularly characterizing the pathogen on the species level. The phenology of this species was closely observed during the development stages and, after the maturation onset of its fruits, they were collected in the plant and its soil. After the picking, it was determined the moisture content of the seeds, the period of maximum dry weight mass accumulation, maximum germination and vigor, besides, sanitary quality ratings. Through the transmission tests, it was found to occur Fusarium spp. causing disease symptoms in seedlings. After obtaining four isolates of the fungus, they were inoculated in seeds to prove its pathogenicity. The morphological characterization was performed using an identification key for the genus Fusarium and, for the molecular identification, genomic regions ITS were sequenced with its elongation factor 1-α. The results may conclude that physiological maturation in C. americana seeds occurs at 52 days after anthesis and the species F. acuminatum and F. verticillioides were pathogenic to species, causing damping-off in pre and post emergence. / Cordia americana (L.) Gottschling & J. S. Mill. (guajuvira) é uma espécie florestal amplamente distribuída no território brasileiro e que apresenta importância econômica e ambiental. Portanto, existe uma grande demanda por pesquisas na área de tecnologia de sementes para essa espécie, quanto à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de suas sementes e, principalmente pela associação de Fusarium spp. Os objetivos do presente trabalho consistiram em determinar o ponto de maturação fisiológica e o sistema de coleta de sementes mais favorável à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de C. americana, além de avaliar a patogenicidade de Fusarium sp. associado a sementes, caracterizando de forma morfológica e molecular o patógeno em nível de espécie. A fenologia da espécie foi acompanhada durante os estágios de desenvolvimento e, após o início da maturação dos frutos, foram realizadas coletas desses diretamente na planta e no solo. Após as coletas, foi determinado o teor de umidade das sementes, o período de máximo acúmulo de matéria seca, máxima germinação e vigor, além de avaliações da qualidade sanitária. Através dos testes de transmissão, foi verificada a ocorrência de Fusarium spp., causando sintomas de doença nas plântulas. Foram obtidos quatro isolados do fungo que foram inoculados nas sementes para provar a sua patogenicidade. A caracterização morfológica foi realizada através de uma chave de identificação para o gênero Fusarium e, para a identificação molecular, foram sequenciadas as regiões genômicas ITS e fator de elongação 1- α. Os resultados obtidos permitem inferir que o ponto de maturidade fisiológica nas sementes de C. americana ocorre aos 52 dias após antese e que as espécies F. acuminatum e F. verticillioides foram patogênicas a espécie, causando tombamento em pré e pós-emergência.

Algumas actinobactérias habitantes da rizosfera são produtoras de substâncias capazes de combater micro-organismos patogênicos às plantas, o que as torna potenciais agentes de controle biológico, passíveis de serem utilizadas como princípio ativo de inoculantes de sementes e mudas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo isolar e avaliar o potencial de isolados de actinobactérias no controle de doenças causadas por fungos nas espécies arbóreas Araucaria angustifolia (Araucária) e Pinus elliottii (Pinus). Além disso, foi iniciado o estudo do processo de elaboração de inoculante a base de actinobactérias antagônicas. Foram isoladas 215 estirpes de actinobactérias do rizoplano da Araucária, das quais 13 apresentaram, em testes in vitro, potencial como antagonistas contra os fungos fitopatogênicos Fusarium oxysporum, Cylindrocladium candelabrum, C. pteridis e Armillaria sp., e apenas os isolados Ac136 e Ac202 apresentaram os maiores valores de inibição nos testes com os quatro patógenos. Na avaliação de produção de algumas substâncias antimicrobianas, apenas celulases, quitinases e sideróforos foram produzidas pelos isolados, sendo este último o mais frequente. Nos testes de interação com organismos foi verificado que, embora os isolados de actinobactéria tenham inibido a germinação de esporos do fungo micorrízico arbuscular (FMA) Gigaspora rosea em teste in vitro, no experimento in vivo, em que foi utilizado o milho como planta hospedeira para inoculação com o FMA e os isolados A43, Ac136 e Ac202, os isolados Ac136 e Ac202 estimularam a colonização das raízes pelo FMA. Estes mesmos isolados também estimularam a germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de Pinus, porém prejudicaram a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de Araucária. Estes mesmos isolados foram capazes de reduzir a mortalidade de plântulas de Pinus em cerca de 25%, e esta diminuição foi atribuída à inibição de Fusarium sp.. No teste de viabilidade dos isolados em diferentes veículos o isolado que mostrou maior sobrevivência foi o Ac202, mantendo um número de propágulos viáveis correspondente a 5,48 log UFC mL-1, enquanto que o veículo mais apropriado para a elaboração de inoculante com actinobactérias foi a glicerina. A análise molecular mostrou que os isolados mais promissores apresentaram maior similaridade com S. kasugaensis. Dentre todos isolados Ac202 (S. kasugaensis) foi o mais promissor obtido neste trabalho para o uso como agente de biocontrole de doenças causadas por fungos, apresentando forte antagonismo contra os quatro patógenos testados, promovendo a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de Pinus e aumentando a sobrevivência de plântulas contaminadas com fungos fitopatogênicos. / Some actinobacteria that inhabits the rhizosphere are producers of substances that are capable of combating plant-pathogenic microorganisms, what makes them potential biological control agents, which can be used as the active ingredient of seeds and seedlings inoculants. This study aimed to isolate and evaluate the potential of actinobacteria isolates in controlling diseases caused by fungi in Araucaria angustifolia and Pinus elliottii. In addition, the study initiated the process of elaboration of an actinobacteria-based inoculant. 215 actinobacterial strains were isolated from the Araucarias rhizoplane, and 13 of them showed potential as antagonists against the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Cylindrocladium candelabrum, C. pteridis and Armillaria sp. in in vitro tests, and only the Ac136 and Ac202 strains showed the highest inhibition in the tests against the four pathogens. Among the antimicrobial substances tested, only cellulases, chitinases and siderophores were produced, with the latter being the most frequent. In the interaction tests with other organisms it was found that although the actinobacterial strains have inhibited the germination of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Gigaspora rosea spores on the in vitro test, the in vivo experiment, with maize as host plant, inoculated with the AMF and A43, Ac136 and Ac202 actinobacterial strains, Ac136 and Ac202 stimulated root colonization by AMF. These strains also stimulated Pinus seed germination and seedling early development, but hindered the germination and early development of Araucaria. In addition, the same strains were able to reduce the mortality of pine seedlings by about 25%, and this decrease was attributed to the inhibition of Fusarium sp.. In the viability test of the strains in different vehicles the strain that showed the greatest shelf-life was Ac202, with 5.48 log CFU mL-1, and the most appropriate vehicle for the actinobacteriabased inoculant development was glycerin. Molecular analysis showed that the most promising isolates showed the greatest similarity with S. kasugaensis. Among all strains Ac202 (S. kasugaensis) was the most promising one for the use as biocontrol agent of fungal diseases, exhibiting a strong antagonism against the four pathogens tested, promoting germination and early development of Pinus and increasing survival of seedlings infected with pathogenic fungi.

Algumas actinobactérias habitantes da rizosfera são produtoras de substâncias capazes de combater micro-organismos patogênicos às plantas, o que as torna potenciais agentes de controle biológico, passíveis de serem utilizadas como princípio ativo de inoculantes de sementes e mudas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo isolar e avaliar o potencial de isolados de actinobactérias no controle de doenças causadas por fungos nas espécies arbóreas Araucaria angustifolia (Araucária) e Pinus elliottii (Pinus). Além disso, foi iniciado o estudo do processo de elaboração de inoculante a base de actinobactérias antagônicas. Foram isoladas 215 estirpes de actinobactérias do rizoplano da Araucária, das quais 13 apresentaram, em testes in vitro, potencial como antagonistas contra os fungos fitopatogênicos Fusarium oxysporum, Cylindrocladium candelabrum, C. pteridis e Armillaria sp., e apenas os isolados Ac136 e Ac202 apresentaram os maiores valores de inibição nos testes com os quatro patógenos. Na avaliação de produção de algumas substâncias antimicrobianas, apenas celulases, quitinases e sideróforos foram produzidas pelos isolados, sendo este último o mais frequente. Nos testes de interação com organismos foi verificado que, embora os isolados de actinobactéria tenham inibido a germinação de esporos do fungo micorrízico arbuscular (FMA) Gigaspora rosea em teste in vitro, no experimento in vivo, em que foi utilizado o milho como planta hospedeira para inoculação com o FMA e os isolados A43, Ac136 e Ac202, os isolados Ac136 e Ac202 estimularam a colonização das raízes pelo FMA. Estes mesmos isolados também estimularam a germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de Pinus, porém prejudicaram a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de Araucária. Estes mesmos isolados foram capazes de reduzir a mortalidade de plântulas de Pinus em cerca de 25%, e esta diminuição foi atribuída à inibição de Fusarium sp.. No teste de viabilidade dos isolados em diferentes veículos o isolado que mostrou maior sobrevivência foi o Ac202, mantendo um número de propágulos viáveis correspondente a 5,48 log UFC mL-1, enquanto que o veículo mais apropriado para a elaboração de inoculante com actinobactérias foi a glicerina. A análise molecular mostrou que os isolados mais promissores apresentaram maior similaridade com S. kasugaensis. Dentre todos isolados Ac202 (S. kasugaensis) foi o mais promissor obtido neste trabalho para o uso como agente de biocontrole de doenças causadas por fungos, apresentando forte antagonismo contra os quatro patógenos testados, promovendo a germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de Pinus e aumentando a sobrevivência de plântulas contaminadas com fungos fitopatogênicos. / Some actinobacteria that inhabits the rhizosphere are producers of substances that are capable of combating plant-pathogenic microorganisms, what makes them potential biological control agents, which can be used as the active ingredient of seeds and seedlings inoculants. This study aimed to isolate and evaluate the potential of actinobacteria isolates in controlling diseases caused by fungi in Araucaria angustifolia and Pinus elliottii. In addition, the study initiated the process of elaboration of an actinobacteria-based inoculant. 215 actinobacterial strains were isolated from the Araucarias rhizoplane, and 13 of them showed potential as antagonists against the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Cylindrocladium candelabrum, C. pteridis and Armillaria sp. in in vitro tests, and only the Ac136 and Ac202 strains showed the highest inhibition in the tests against the four pathogens. Among the antimicrobial substances tested, only cellulases, chitinases and siderophores were produced, with the latter being the most frequent. In the interaction tests with other organisms it was found that although the actinobacterial strains have inhibited the germination of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Gigaspora rosea spores on the in vitro test, the in vivo experiment, with maize as host plant, inoculated with the AMF and A43, Ac136 and Ac202 actinobacterial strains, Ac136 and Ac202 stimulated root colonization by AMF. These strains also stimulated Pinus seed germination and seedling early development, but hindered the germination and early development of Araucaria. In addition, the same strains were able to reduce the mortality of pine seedlings by about 25%, and this decrease was attributed to the inhibition of Fusarium sp.. In the viability test of the strains in different vehicles the strain that showed the greatest shelf-life was Ac202, with 5.48 log CFU mL-1, and the most appropriate vehicle for the actinobacteriabased inoculant development was glycerin. Molecular analysis showed that the most promising isolates showed the greatest similarity with S. kasugaensis. Among all strains Ac202 (S. kasugaensis) was the most promising one for the use as biocontrol agent of fungal diseases, exhibiting a strong antagonism against the four pathogens tested, promoting germination and early development of Pinus and increasing survival of seedlings infected with pathogenic fungi.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar métodos de inoculação de Nectria haematococca e Phytophthora parasitica e idades de Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa suscetíveis à infecção; avaliar a ocorrência de damping-off e podridão de colo do maracujazeiro em solo infestado; avaliar o comportamento de diferentes Passsifloraceas e genótipos de maracujazeiro amarelo aos respectivos patógenos; realizar testes de controle químico in vitro, tratamento químico erradicante em solo infestado e tratamento químico curativo em P. edulis f. flavicarpa para os respectivos patógenos. Inoculações no colo das plantas de P. edulis f. flavicarpa proporcionaram maiores níveis de doença comparadas às inoculações no sistema radicular, previamente ferido. Os resultados sugerem que N. haematococca seja um patógeno que penetra através de ferimentos. A mortalidade foi maior quando a inoculação foi realizada em plantas mais jovens e quando os patógenos N. haematococca e P. parasitica estavam em associação. Dentre as 17 espécies de Passiflora avaliadas para resistência aos patógenos, as espécies P. nitida, P. laurifolia e P. alata apresentaram as menores médias de lesões de N. haematococca, enquanto que para P. parasitica foram as espécies P. suberosa, P. foetida e P. morifolia as menos afetadas. Passiflora sidaefolia, P. edulis f. flavicarpa e P. edulis f. edulis foram as mais suscetíveis a ambos os patógenos, com sintomas que culminaram com a morte de plantas. Os genótipos de P. edulis f. flavicarpa mais resistentes a N. haematococca foram os procedentes de Morretes (PR) e a variedade Maguari e de Sapucaí (SP), enquanto que para P. parasitica foram os genótipos de Morretes (PR), Jaboticabal (SP) e LE13P2 (IAC) os menos afetados. A variedade Sul-Brasil e o genótipo de Livramento (BA) foram altamente suscetíveis a ambos os patógenos, com sintomas que culminaram com a morte de plantas. No teste de fungitoxidade in vitro avaliou-se a eficiência dos fungicidas na inibição do crescimento micelial de N. haematococca e P. parasitica. Na dose 100 ppm somente prochloraz inibiu totalmente o crescimento micelial de N. haematococca e nenhum produto inibiu acima de 82 % o crescimento de P. parasitica. Os fungicidas prochloraz, thiabendazole, thiram+thiabendazole, carbendazim, triflumizole e captan exerceram controle erradicante em solo infestado com N. haematococca, inibindo a incidência da doença em plantas com seis semanas pós-germinação. O mesmo foi observado com os produtos kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, mancozeb, cymoxanil+maneb e oxicloreto de cobre para P. parasitica. Os fungicidas testados em tratamento curativo inibiram o desenvolvimento da doença com melhores resultados quando aplicados dois dias após a inoculação, comparado a sete dias. Os fungicidas prochloraz e carbendazim destacaram-se por evitar a morte de plantas inoculadas com N. haematococca e os fungicidas kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb e cymoxanil+maneb apresentaram eficiência semelhante entre si e superior a fosetyl- Al no controle de P. parasitica. / The objectives of the present work were to evaluate methods of inoculation of Nectria haematococca and Phytophthora parasitica and ages of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa which are susceptible to infection; to evaluate the damping-off and collar rot of passion fruit plant in infested soil; to evaluate the behavior of different Passsifloraceas and yellow genotypes of passion fruit to the respective pathogens; to carry out tests of chemical control in vitro, eradicative chemical treatment in infested soil and curative chemical treatment in P. edulis f. flavicarpa for the respective pathogens. Inoculations in the collar zone of P. edulis f. flavicarpa plants provided higher levels of disease when compared to the inoculations in the radicular system previously wounded. The results suggest that N. haematococca is a pathogen that penetrates through wounds. Mortality was higher when the inoculation was carried out in younger plants and when both pathogens were together. Amongst the 17 species of Passiflora tested for resistance to the pathogens, P. nitida, P. laurifolia, and P. alata showed the lowest average of N. haematococca lesions, while P. suberosa, P. morifolia, and P. foetida were the least affected species by P. parasitica. Passiflora sidaefolia, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, and P. edulis f. edulis were the most susceptible to both pathogens, showing symptoms that culminated with the death of the plants. The most resistant genotypes of P. edulis f. flavicarpa to N. haematococca were those from Morretes (PR), Maguari variety, and those from Sapucaí (SP); with respect to P. parasitica, the genotypes from Morretes (PR), Jaboticabal (SP), and LE13P2 (IAC) were the least affected. The Sul- Brasil variety and the genotype from Livramento (BA) had been highly susceptible to both pathogens, having symptoms that culminated with the death of plants. The in vitro efficiency of the fungicides in the inhibition of the mycelial growth of N. haematococca and P. parasitica was evaluated. At 100 ppm, only prochloraz inhibited totally the mycelial growth of N. haematococca and no product inhibited over 82 % the growth of P. parasitica. Prochloraz, thiabendazole, thiram+thiabendazole, carbendazim, triflumizole, and captan controlled eradicatively the soil infested by N. haematococca, inhibiting the incidence of the disease in plants which were six weeks old. The same was observed for the products kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, mancozeb, cymoxanil+maneb, and copper oxychloride for P. parasitica. The tested fungicides in curative treatment inhibited the development of the disease with better results when applied two days after the inoculation, compared to seven days. Prochloraz and carbendazim were outstanding for preventing the death of plants inoculated with N. haematococca. Kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, and cymoxanil+maneb showed similar efficiency and were superior to fosetyl-Al in the control of P. parasitica.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar métodos de inoculação de Nectria haematococca e Phytophthora parasitica e idades de Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa suscetíveis à infecção; avaliar a ocorrência de damping-off e podridão de colo do maracujazeiro em solo infestado; avaliar o comportamento de diferentes Passsifloraceas e genótipos de maracujazeiro amarelo aos respectivos patógenos; realizar testes de controle químico in vitro, tratamento químico erradicante em solo infestado e tratamento químico curativo em P. edulis f. flavicarpa para os respectivos patógenos. Inoculações no colo das plantas de P. edulis f. flavicarpa proporcionaram maiores níveis de doença comparadas às inoculações no sistema radicular, previamente ferido. Os resultados sugerem que N. haematococca seja um patógeno que penetra através de ferimentos. A mortalidade foi maior quando a inoculação foi realizada em plantas mais jovens e quando os patógenos N. haematococca e P. parasitica estavam em associação. Dentre as 17 espécies de Passiflora avaliadas para resistência aos patógenos, as espécies P. nitida, P. laurifolia e P. alata apresentaram as menores médias de lesões de N. haematococca, enquanto que para P. parasitica foram as espécies P. suberosa, P. foetida e P. morifolia as menos afetadas. Passiflora sidaefolia, P. edulis f. flavicarpa e P. edulis f. edulis foram as mais suscetíveis a ambos os patógenos, com sintomas que culminaram com a morte de plantas. Os genótipos de P. edulis f. flavicarpa mais resistentes a N. haematococca foram os procedentes de Morretes (PR) e a variedade Maguari e de Sapucaí (SP), enquanto que para P. parasitica foram os genótipos de Morretes (PR), Jaboticabal (SP) e LE13P2 (IAC) os menos afetados. A variedade Sul-Brasil e o genótipo de Livramento (BA) foram altamente suscetíveis a ambos os patógenos, com sintomas que culminaram com a morte de plantas. No teste de fungitoxidade in vitro avaliou-se a eficiência dos fungicidas na inibição do crescimento micelial de N. haematococca e P. parasitica. Na dose 100 ppm somente prochloraz inibiu totalmente o crescimento micelial de N. haematococca e nenhum produto inibiu acima de 82 % o crescimento de P. parasitica. Os fungicidas prochloraz, thiabendazole, thiram+thiabendazole, carbendazim, triflumizole e captan exerceram controle erradicante em solo infestado com N. haematococca, inibindo a incidência da doença em plantas com seis semanas pós-germinação. O mesmo foi observado com os produtos kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, mancozeb, cymoxanil+maneb e oxicloreto de cobre para P. parasitica. Os fungicidas testados em tratamento curativo inibiram o desenvolvimento da doença com melhores resultados quando aplicados dois dias após a inoculação, comparado a sete dias. Os fungicidas prochloraz e carbendazim destacaram-se por evitar a morte de plantas inoculadas com N. haematococca e os fungicidas kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb e cymoxanil+maneb apresentaram eficiência semelhante entre si e superior a fosetyl- Al no controle de P. parasitica. / The objectives of the present work were to evaluate methods of inoculation of Nectria haematococca and Phytophthora parasitica and ages of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa which are susceptible to infection; to evaluate the damping-off and collar rot of passion fruit plant in infested soil; to evaluate the behavior of different Passsifloraceas and yellow genotypes of passion fruit to the respective pathogens; to carry out tests of chemical control in vitro, eradicative chemical treatment in infested soil and curative chemical treatment in P. edulis f. flavicarpa for the respective pathogens. Inoculations in the collar zone of P. edulis f. flavicarpa plants provided higher levels of disease when compared to the inoculations in the radicular system previously wounded. The results suggest that N. haematococca is a pathogen that penetrates through wounds. Mortality was higher when the inoculation was carried out in younger plants and when both pathogens were together. Amongst the 17 species of Passiflora tested for resistance to the pathogens, P. nitida, P. laurifolia, and P. alata showed the lowest average of N. haematococca lesions, while P. suberosa, P. morifolia, and P. foetida were the least affected species by P. parasitica. Passiflora sidaefolia, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, and P. edulis f. edulis were the most susceptible to both pathogens, showing symptoms that culminated with the death of the plants. The most resistant genotypes of P. edulis f. flavicarpa to N. haematococca were those from Morretes (PR), Maguari variety, and those from Sapucaí (SP); with respect to P. parasitica, the genotypes from Morretes (PR), Jaboticabal (SP), and LE13P2 (IAC) were the least affected. The Sul- Brasil variety and the genotype from Livramento (BA) had been highly susceptible to both pathogens, having symptoms that culminated with the death of plants. The in vitro efficiency of the fungicides in the inhibition of the mycelial growth of N. haematococca and P. parasitica was evaluated. At 100 ppm, only prochloraz inhibited totally the mycelial growth of N. haematococca and no product inhibited over 82 % the growth of P. parasitica. Prochloraz, thiabendazole, thiram+thiabendazole, carbendazim, triflumizole, and captan controlled eradicatively the soil infested by N. haematococca, inhibiting the incidence of the disease in plants which were six weeks old. The same was observed for the products kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, mancozeb, cymoxanil+maneb, and copper oxychloride for P. parasitica. The tested fungicides in curative treatment inhibited the development of the disease with better results when applied two days after the inoculation, compared to seven days. Prochloraz and carbendazim were outstanding for preventing the death of plants inoculated with N. haematococca. Kif, dimethomorph, metalaxyl+mancozeb, and cymoxanil+maneb showed similar efficiency and were superior to fosetyl-Al in the control of P. parasitica.