In a minimal medium supplemented with glucose and yeast extract, the optimum pH for the growth of C. poinsettias was found to be 7.5. The organism requires thiamine, biotin, and pantothenic acid for growth. No absolute requirement was found for any amino acid, purine or pyrimidine although an amino acid mixture was stimulatory. Casamino acids could be substituted for the synthetic amino acid mixture. Yeast extract provided an additional factor(s) necessary for maximal growth. The results suggest that the unknown factor found in yeast extract might be purified by a combination of solvent extraction, and adsorption and elution from charcoal.

Submitted by Michele Mologni (mologni@unoeste.br) on 2018-07-27T14:02:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Tavares de Almeida.pdf: 648777 bytes, checksum: 415a188441b2acf7c0cb46fd1aeeac2b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-27T14:02:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Tavares de Almeida.pdf: 648777 bytes, checksum: 415a188441b2acf7c0cb46fd1aeeac2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-30 / The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a polyphagous species which attacks many economically important crops in several countries. This insect is an important pest of corn, and currently the most widely used control method is chemical. In order to minimize environmental impacts, other forms of control have been tried, and accordingly, the investigation of plants with insecticidal effects becomes relevant. Thus the present study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of the ethanolic extract of Euphorbia pulcherrima leaves (poinsettia) in fall armyworm biology. Extracts were prepared from leaves of the plant E. pulcherrima collected at different phenological stages (vegetative and reproductive), oven dried, crushed and then solubilized in ethanol, yielding the ethanol extract. The extracts were set aside in 0.5% and 1.0% concentrations for each phenological stage of the plant, incorporated into an artificial diet and offered to the larvae of S. frugiperda. The extract of vegetative and reproductive phase of E. pulcherrima leaves in concentrations of 0.5% and 1%, has showed effects on larvae of S. frugiperda affecting mortality, increasing the larval period and reducing the weight of larvae. The extract of the reproductive phase in two concentrations (0.5% and 1%) reduced the pupal weight and feces excreted by the caterpillars. The highest concentration of the ethanolic extract from the reproductive stage of the leaves reduced the viability of the eggs. It can be concluded that the ethanolic extract of E. pulcherrima leaves in the reproductive phase of the plant is effective to reduce the S. frugiperda population. / A lagarta-do-cartucho (Spodoptera frugiperda) é uma espécie polífaga que ataca diversas culturas economicamente importantes em vários países. Esse inseto é uma importante praga do milho, e atualmente a forma mais utilizada de controle é o químico. No intuito de minimizar impactos ambientais, outras formas de controle têm sido experimentadas, e nesse sentido, a investigação de plantas com ação inseticida torna-se relevante. Diante disso o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a ação do extrato etanólico de folhas de Euphorbia pulcherrima (Bico-de-Papagaio) na biologia da Lagarta-do-cartucho. Foram elaborados extratos a partir de folhas da planta E. pulcherrima coletadas em diferentes fases fenológicas (vegetativa e reprodutiva), secas em estufa, trituradas e então solubilizadas em etanol, obtendo-se o extrato etanólico bruto. Os extratos obtidos foram reservados nas concentrações 0,5% e 1,0% para cada fase fenológica da planta, incorporados em dieta artificial e oferecidos para as lagartas de S. frugiperda. O extrato de folhas de E. pulcherrima da fase vegetativa e reprodutiva nas concentrações de 0,5% e 1%, apresentaram efeitos sobre as lagartas de S. frugiperda, afetando a mortalidade, prolongando o período larval e reduzindo o peso das lagartas. O extrato da fase reprodutiva nas duas concentrações (0,5 % e 1 %) reduziu o peso de pupas e das fezes excretadas pelas lagartas. A maior concentração do extrato etanólico de folhas da fase reprodutiva reduziu a viabilidade dos ovos. Conclui-se que o extrato de folhas de E. pulcherrima da fase reprodutiva é eficiente para a redução de população de S. frugiperda.

The primary objectives of this research are to determine effective biological and alternative control strategies of insect and disease pests in order to reduce harsh chemical use during greenhouse crop production and transport s. This research includes two separate studies: 1) testing the practical viability of rearing and storing four species of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis indica; and, 2) the efficacy of UV-C radiation applied, pre-transport, as a preventative disease control strategy against Botrytis cinerea. A study was conducted testing EPN infectious juvenile (IJ) rearing production counts and IJ viability after a six-day storage period. When all four species are compared, S. feltiae had a greater number of infectious juveniles emerge from the wax moth cadavers and S. carpocasae had the least. All four species survived the six day storage period but EPN infectious juvenile counts were significantly different among species. Our second study tested the efficacy of UV-C radiation as an alternative control to traditional fungicides to deactivate B. cinerea in vitro and to determine plant tolerance to UV-C. The crops tested were poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) and primula (Primula vulgaris). All the UV-C doses, 1.0, 2.8, 3.7 or 4 W/m2, significantly decreased B. cinerea conidial germination in vitro and resulted in zero percent damage on poinsettia bracts. However, all UV-C doses during both replications caused minor damage, 15% or less, to primula flowers. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) shows promise in being non-chemical and environmentally friendly solution for greenhouse pest and disease control. These can also be referred to as Biological Controls (Biocontrols). Entomopathogenic nematodes are used widely to control multiple greenhouse plant pests which include both Lycoriella spp., Fungus Gnats, and Frankliniella spp., Western Flower Thrips. However, there are challenges with EPN viability and storage from the manufacture to the greenhouse producer. We studied four EPN species, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis indica, which were reared and stored to determine differences in production viability between species. Results show that the EPN species do not respond the same to storage and produce different amounts of infectious juveniles during rearing when conditions are the same. Separate from, but just as concerning as greenhouses plant pests are plant diseases. Ultraviolet radiation in the C spectra is known to be germicidal due to its narrow wavelengths. Because of this, UV-C has been shown to deactivate many different plant pathogens on contact and is being considered as a possible Biocontrol alternative to harsh traditional fungicides and bactericides. One disease that is known to contribute to the highest volume of annual crop losses is Botrytis cinerea. Botrytis cinerea is a plant disease that impacts floricultural crops to vegetables during propagation through the production supply chain to shipping and storage. We evaluated UV-C radiation at different doses, to determine if it could be used to replace a traditional fungicide before plants are shipped to reduce B. cinerea infection during transport. We found that UV-C successfully deactivated B. cinerea in vitro, but the viability of the application to plant tissue before transport has yet to be proven successful as a practical method of reducing B. cinerea during transport.

Aufgrund seines Nährstoffaneignungsvermögens und Stimulierung des Pflanzenmetabolismus kann der Arbuskuläre Mykorrhiza (AM) Pilz im Gartenbau nutzbringend eingesetzt werden. Der Fokus der Arbeit liegt auf den Möglichkeiten des AM Pilzes a) pflanzenernährerische Probleme zu lösen, b) die Blütenbildung bei Zierpflanzen zu steigern und c) das Gesundheitspotential von Gemüse für den Menschen zu erhöhen (sekundäre Pflanzenmetaboliten). Zur Lösung pflanzenernährerischer Probleme wurden Porree, Pelargonie und Poinsettie auf Torf-Substraten mit 20% und 40% Kompostzusatz untersucht. Ferner wurde Salat auf Torf-Substrat mit drei P Behandlungen getestet: substrateigenes P, Rohphosphat und lösliches P. Frühlingszwiebeln und Schnittknoblauch wurden in Nährlösungen auf Perlit mit niedrigem, mittlerem und hohem NH4+/NO3- Verhältnis ernährt. Gemessen wurde die AM Kolonisation, die Trockenmasse und die N, P, K, S, NO3-, Mg und Zn Konzentrationen im Spross. Die Blütenbildung von Pelargonien und Poinsettien wurde auf Torf-Kompost-Substraten untersucht. Der Einfluss auf die sekundäre Metaboliten von Frühlingszwiebeln und Schnittknoblauch wurde zusammen mit drei NH4+/NO3- Verhältnissen geprüft (s.o.). Untersucht wurden Glukose, Fruktose, Saccharose, lösliche Feststoffe und organische Schwefelverbindungen (gemessen als Pyruvat). Eine AM Kolonisation konnte die Nährstoffversorgung der Pflanze verbessern und die Blütenbildung erhöhen. Jedoch profitierten die Pflanzen unter den beschriebenen experimentellen Bedingungen nicht durchgängig in ihrem Wachstum und Metaboliten vom AM Pilz. Die Zugaben von Kompost ermöglichte die Verbesserung der Substratqualität für die Nährstoffversorgung und das Pflanzenwachstum unter ökologischen Gartenbaubedingungen. Der Ertrag von gesundheitsfördernden organischen Schwefelverbindungen konnte in Abhängigkeit von der jeweiligen Allium Spezies, durch eine Variation des Ammonium/Nitrat Verhältnissen und/oder durch einen AM Effekt auf das Wachstum gesteigert werden. / Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can be beneficial for horticultural crops due to their nutrient acquisition properties and stimulation of the plant metabolism. The present work focuses on the prospects of AM fungi a) to solve plant nutritional problems, b) to induce flower development of ornamental plants, and c) to improve the health potential of crop plants for humans. Contribution of AM fungi to plant nutritional problems were investigated with leek, pelargonium and poinsettia plants on peat-based substrates with 20% and 40% compost additions. Moreover, lettuce plants were supplied on peat-based substrates with substrate own P, rock phosphate, or highly soluble P. Bunching onion and chinese chive were propagated on perlite in nutrient solution with low, medium and high NH4+:NO3- ratios. Mycorrhizal colonization, dry weight, and N, P, K, S, NO3-, Mg and Zn concentrations in plants were measured. Mycorrhizal effects on bud and flower development of pelargonium and poinsettia plants were investigated on peat-based compost substrates. Treatment effects on secondary metabolites in bunching onion and chinese chive were determined by exposing mycorrhizal and non mycorrhizal plants to three NH4+:NO3- supply ratios. The metabolites measured were glucose, fructose, and sucrose, total soluble solids, and organosulfur compounds (measured as pyruvic acid). Colonization improved plant nutrient status and flower development. Under the described experimental conditions, however, plants did not consistently benefit in growth or plant composition from the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Additions of compost were a means of improving the substrate quality for an increased plant nutrient acquisition and plant growth in organic horticulture. The plant quality of Allium species in respect to organosulfur compounds was increased by taking the individual Allium species into consideration, their specific requirements for an optimal NH4+:NO3- supply ratio, and a possible AM effect on plant growth.