Explore the vast range of titles available.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of extracts of 10 plant species used in traditional Uruguayan medicine against the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria spp. The plants were selected on the basis of their reported ethnobotanical uses. Aqueous, saline buffer and acid extracts of different plant species were screened in vitro for their antifungal activity against Alternaria spp. For the antifungal evaluation we used a microspectrophotometric assay. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extracts were determined. Three solvents were assayed on different tissues of the plants and among the 29 evaluated extracts, 31% of the extracts inhibited growth, similar to the effects of a chemical fungicide. Acid extracts of the plants were more effective than the aqueous or buffer extracts against Alternaria spp. The MIC values of the extracts were determined ranging between 1.25 and 25 µg mL-1. The MFC values of the extracts ranged between 1.25 µg mL-1 ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and 10 µg mL-1 ( Cynara scolymus L.). MICs and MFCs values obtained from leaves ( Salvia officinalis L. and R. officinalis) and seeds extracts ( Salvia sclarea L.) were quite comparable to values obtained with the conventional fungicide captan (2.5 µg mL-1). The extracts of Salvia sclarea, S. officinalis and R. officinalis could be considered as potential sources of antifungal compounds for treating diseases in plants. These extracts showed maximum activity, even at very low concentrations, and the same fungicide effects as chemical fungicide. We conclude from this that these extracts exhibit amazing fungicidal properties that support their traditional use as antiseptics. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la actividad antifúngica de extractos vegetales de 10 especies utilizadas en la medicina tradicional uruguaya contra el hongo fitopatógeno Alternaria spp. Las plantasfueron seleccionadas en base a usos etnobotánicos reportados. Se evaluó in vitro la actividad antifúngica de tres tipos de extractos, acuoso, tampón salino deextracción y ácido, de las diferentes especies vegetales. Para la evaluación de la actividad antifúngica se usó un ensayo microespectrofotométrico. Para los extractos se determinaron los parámetros de mínima concentración inhibitoria (MIC) y mínima concentración fungicida (MFC). Los tres solventes utilizados fueron ensayados en diferentes órganos vegetales; de los 29 extractos evaluados, el 31% presentó una inhibición del crecimiento en Alternaria spp. similar a la de un fungicida químico. Los extractos ácidos fueron los más efectivos. Los valores de MIC obtenidos variaron entre 1,25 y 25,0 µg mL-1. Para MFC se observaron valores en el rango de 1,25 µg mL-1 ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) y 10,0 µg mL-1 ( Cynara scolymus L.). Los valores de MIC y MFC de extractosobtenidos de hojas ( Salvia officinalis L. y R. officinalis)y semillas ( Salvia sclarea L.) fueron comparables a los valores obtenidos con el fungicida convencional captan (2,5 µg mL-1). Los extractos de S. sclarea, S. officinalis y R. officinalis pueden ser fuentes potenciales de compuestos antifúngicos para el tratamiento de enfermedades en plantas. Estos extractos mostraron máxima actividad inhibitoria a bajas concentraciones, teniendo un comportamiento similar a la del fungicida químico. Estos resultados permiten concluir que estos extractos presentan sorprendentes propiedades fungicidas, fundamentando su uso tradicional como antisépticos.

ABSTRACT The peach brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, is the main disease of the crop, causing significant losses during preharvest and postharvest. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of preharvest fungicide application on brown rot control and verify the role of latent infection and external contamination in postharvest disease. An experiment was carried out in the years 2014 and 2015 in order to evaluate the performance of six active ingredients (captan, iprodione, iminoctadine, tebuconazole, difenoconazole and azoxystrobin) during preharvest on brown rot control and the effect on latent infection. A second experiment was carried out to monitor the latent infection during growth and ripening of the fruit and in order to correlate it with the postharvest disease incidence. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (Anova) and the means were grouped by the Scott-Knott test (p < 0.05), using statistical software Sisvar. The active ingredients iprodione, tebuconazole and difenoconazole were the most efficient in controlling brown rot on the field, while iminoctadine has higher efficiency during postharvest control, acting on latent infections. The incidence of latent infections during fruit growth and ripening has a positive correlation with brown rot incidence at postharvest. The highest disease incidence after storage is due to the latent infections manifestation. Effective chemical control in the field, throughout the growing and ripening of fruit, is an important approach to postharvest brown rot control, even after cold storage and during shelf life at 20 °C. RESUMO A podridão parda do pessegueiro, causada pelo fungo Monilinia fructicola, é a principal doença da cultura, causando danos significativos tanto em pré-colheita como pós-colheita. O estudo objetivou avaliar a aplicação pré-colheita de fungicidas, no controle da podridão parda e verificar o papel da infecção latente e contaminação externa na incidência da doença em pós-colheita. Foi conduzido um experimento nos anos de 2014 e 2015 para avaliar o desempenho de seis ingredientes ativos em pré-colheita (captana, iprodiona, iminoctadina, tebuconazol, difenoconazol e azoxistrobina) no controle da podridão parda e o efeito sobre infecções latentes. Um segundo experimento objetivou monitorar a infecção latente durante o crescimento e maturação dos frutos, correlacionando-a com a incidência da doença em pós-colheita. Os dados formam submetidos a análise de variância (Anova) e as médias agrupadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott (p < 0,05) com o software estatístico Sisvar. Os produtos iprodione, tebuconazol e difenoconazol foram os mais eficientes no controle da podridão parda a campo, enquanto o iminoctadine possui maior eficiência em pós-colheita, agindo inclusive sobre as infecções latentes. A incidência de infecções latentes tanto na fase de crescimento quanto maturação tem correlação positiva com a podridão parda em pós-colheita. A maior incidência da doença após o armazenamento foi em decorrência da manifestação de infecções latentes. O eficiente controle químico no campo, durante toda a fase de crescimento e maturação dos frutos é uma importante estratégia para o controle pós-colheita, inclusive após o armazenamento refrigerado e durante a vida de prateleira sob 20 oC.

The objective was to assess the early treatment effect of soybean seeds and pre-sowing with different combinations of chemicals on the establishment of plants and crop yield performance. The design was in randomized blocks in a 2x7 factorial arrangement, with two times for seed treatment and seven treatments (six chemical treatments and an untreated control). The treatments were: 1) fipronil + pyraclostrobin + thiophanate methyl; 2) imidacloprid + thiodicarb + carbendazin + thiram; 3) abamectin + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + mefenoxam + thiabendazole; 4) carbendazin + thiram; 5) fludioxonil + mefenoxam + thiabendazole; 6) carboxin + thiram; and 7) untreated control (water only). The assessments were: seedling emergence, final stand, plant height and insertion of first pod, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod and per plant, thousand-seed weight and grain yield. Early treatment of soybean seeds (240 days prior to sowing) hinders the establishment of the crop, the thousand-seed weight and grain yield in relation to the pre-sowing treatment. Chemical treatments tested containing fungicides and insecticides associated favor the establishment of the crop, but do not alter the soybean yield performance.

The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been implicated in the decline and extinction of amphibian populations worldwide, but management options are limited. Recent studies show that sodium chloride (NaCl) has fungicidal properties that reduce the mortality rates of infected hosts in captivity. We investigated whether similar results can be obtained by adding salt to water bodies in the field. We increased the salinity of 8 water bodies to 2 or 4 ppt and left an additional 4 water bodies with close to 0 ppt and monitored salinity for 18 months. Captively bred tadpoles of green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) were released into each water body and their development, levels of B. dendrobatidis infection, and survival were monitored at 1, 4, and 12 months. The effect of salt on the abundance of nontarget organisms was also investigated in before and after style analyses. Salinities remained constant over time with little intervention. Hosts in water bodies with 4 ppt salt had a significantly lower prevalence of chytrid infection and higher survival, following metamorphosis, than hosts in 0 ppt salt. Tadpoles in the 4 ppt group were smaller in length after 1 month in the release site than those in the 0 and 2 ppt groups, but after metamorphosis body size in all water bodies was similar . In water bodies with 4 ppt salt, the abundance of dwarf tree frogs (Litoria fallax), dragonfly larvae, and damselfly larvae was lower than in water bodies with 0 and 2 ppt salt, which could have knock‐on effects for community structure. Based on our results, salt may be an effective field‐based B. dendrobatidis mitigation tool for lentic amphibians that could contribute to the conservation of numerous susceptible species. However, as in all conservation efforts, these benefits need to be weighed against negative effects on both target and nontarget organisms.

Damping off is a nursery disease of great economic importance in papaya and seed treatment may be an effective measure to control. The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of papaya seeds treated with fungicides and stored under two environmental and packaging conditions. Additionally, the efficiency of fungicide treatments in the control of damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani was evaluated. Papaya seeds were treated with the fungicides Captan, Tolylfluanid and the mixture Tolylfluanid + Captan (all commercial wettable powder formulations). Seeds of the control group were not treated. The seeds were stored for nine months in two conditions: packed in aluminum coated paper and kept at 7 ± 1ºC and in permeable kraft paper and kept in non-controlled environment. At the beginning of the storage and every three months the seed quality (germination and vigor tests), emergence rate index, height, dry mass and damping of plants in pre and post-emergence (in contaminated substrate and mycelia-free substrate) were analyzed. Both storage conditions as well as the fungicide treatments preserved the germination and seed vigor. In the infested substrate, seedling emergence was favored by fungicides, but in post-emergence, fungicides alone did not control the damping off caused by R. solani. Symptoms of damping off were not observed in the clean substrate. The results showed that the fungicide treatments may be used to pretreat papaya seed for long-term storage and commercialization.

Asian soybean rust is an important disease that has deeply troubled farmers and researchers since it was first reported. The causal agent, biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & P. Sydow, has found extremely favorable conditions for its dissemination in Brazil. The most characteristic symptom of infection appears in the leaves, initially on the adaxial leaf surface, as small angular points less than 1mm in diameter, together with gray-colored uredospores (spores). Management involves a set of practices that guarantee coexistence between the plant and the pathogen without significant damage to the crop. The objective of this research was to evaluate tolerance to Asian rust by estimating losses caused by natural infection in the field. Experiments with generation F4 (2014/15) plants were established in a randomized blocks design with four replicates, with two types of genotypes (crosses and parents) and two schemes for disease management using fungicides. For analysis of the data, a test was applied on two dependent samples to verify the significance of the estimate of the rust effect. With regard to grain yield and tolerance, the most outstanding crosses were 104 (USP14-01-20 × EMGOPA313) and 149 (USP93-05.552 × EMGOPA313). Crosses 147 (USP93-05552 × PI153.282) and 137 (USP70.108 × PI153.282) were graded as tolerant in the evaluation of both yield reduction and seed size. We found evidence of tolerance to Asian rust in both crosses and parents. The statistical test revealed the significance of the rust effect estimates in soybean. RESUMO: A ferrugem asiática da soja é a doença que mais tem preocupado os produtores e pesquisadores desde sua primeira evidência. Ela é causada pelo fungo biotrófico Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & P. Sydow que encontrou condições extremamente favoráveis para a sua disseminação no Brasil. O sintoma mais característico apresenta-se nas folhas, inicialmente na face adaxial, como pequenos pontos angulares com menos de um milímetro de diâmetro, juntamente com os uredósporos (esporos) de coloração acinzentada. O manejo se dá por meio de um conjunto de práticas que garanta a boa convivência entre a planta e o patógeno e sem que ocorra danos significativos à lavoura. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a tolerância à ferrugem asiática estimando as perdas causadas pela infestação natural a campo. Os experimentos com a geração F4 (2014/15) foram delineados em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Foram realizadas categorias de experimentos, envolvendo dois tipos de genótipos (cruzamentos e genitores) e dois tipos de manejos de doenças com fungicidas. Para a análise dos dados foi aplicado um teste, para duas amostras dependentes, a fim de verificar a significância da estimativa do efeito ferrugem. Considerando a produtividade e a tolerância, os cruzamentos mais importantes foram 104 (USP 14-01-20 x EMGOPA 313) e 149 (USP 93-05.552 x EMGOPA 313). Os cruzamentos 147 (USP 93-05.552 x PI 153.282) e 137 (USP 70.108 x PI 153.282) foram tolerantes tanto na avaliação de redução da produtividade e do tamanho de semente. Houveram evidências de tolerância à ferrugem asiática nos cruzamentos e nos genitores. O teste estatístico revelou a significância das estimativas de efeito ferrugem em soja.

Repellents and feeding deterrents are underutilized tactics for plant pest damage suppression. Here I report on laboratory and screenhouse studies that assessed a copper hydroxide-based fungicide as a chemical barrier to prevent the Cuban brown snail, Zachrysia provisoria (Pfeiffer, 1858) (Gastropoda: Pleurodontidae) from accessing plants and from feeding on foliage. This snail species is considered to be one of the most important molluscs affecting plants in Florida. Studies were conducted as a follow-up to previous research with different molluscs that demonstrated the potential usefulness of copper hydroxide formulated in a commercial fungicide as a repellent. Although the residue of copper hydroxide displayed repellency to Z. provisoria in laboratory studies, it did not effectively prevent snails from climbing the sides of pots to access plants in screenhouses. Addition of 2 spreader-stickers, Bonide Turbo® and Southern Ag®, to the copper hydroxide to enhance retention of the fungicide did not improve performance. However, when copper hydroxide was applied to pots and foliage, feeding on vegetation was significantly suppressed under screenhouse conditions. I attribute these results to better fungicide residue persistence on foliage than on plastic pots.

For a crop protection product to achieve its goal, the product must be applied and remain on the leaves until it is absorbed. This situation may be compromised due to rainfall after spraying, thus necessitating reapplication which increase the overall cost. Application technology research has focused on alternatives and solutions to mitigate this effect through the use of adjuvants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the deposit of spraying liquid on citrus seedlings using the products spirodiclofen, propargite, imidacloprid, lambda cyhalothrin, copper oxychloride, and copper hydroxide with water mixed with the adjuvants polydimethylsiloxane and phosphatidylcholine. Seedlings were subjected to simulated rains of 10mm at intervals of 1, 6, 12 and 24h after spraying, and the remaining deposits of spraying liquid per leaf area were analyzed by spectrophotometry by assessing a metallic marker previously added in the spraying liquids. Variables were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P<0.05). The rains that occurred soon after spraying resulted in decreased spraying liquids deposits on citrus leaves. Adjuvant phosphatidylcholine promoted the greatest retention of spraying liquid on citrus leaves after rainfall. RESUMO: A aplicação de um produto fitossanitário deve assegurar que ocorra sua chegada e permanência das gotas sobre folhas até que sejam absorvidos para manifestação do efeito biológico. Essa situação pode ser comprometida pela ocorrência de chuvas após a pulverização, necessitando de reaplicações que elevam os custos. A tecnologia de aplicação busca alternativas e soluções para amenizar esse efeito, como o uso de adjuvantes. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar o depósito de caldas fitossanitárias pulverizadas sobre mudas de citros, com os produtos espirodiclofeno, propargite, imidacloprido, lambida cialotrina, oxicloreto de cobre e hidróxido de cobre apenas com água e em mistura com os adjuvantes polidimetilsiloxano e fosfatidilcoline antes e após chuvas artificais de 10mm, com intervalos de 1, 6, 12 e 24 horas após a pulverização. Os depósitos de caldas remanescentes por área foliar foram analisados por espectrofotometria, considerando um marcador metálico previamente adicionado nas caldas. As variáveis foram submetidas à análise de variância e ao teste de Tukey (P<0,05). As chuvas ocorridas mais próximas do momento das pulverizações resultaram em menores depósitos de calda sobre as folhas de citros. O adjuvante fosfatidilcoline manteve a maior quantidade das caldas sobre folhas de citros, quando da ocorrência de chuvas após a pulverização.

Biocontrol involves harnessing disease-suppressive microorganisms to improve plant health. Disease suppression by biocontrol agents is the sustained manifestation of interactions among the plant, the pathogen, the biocontrol agent, the microbial community on and around the plant, and the physical environment. Even in model laboratory systems, the study of biocontrol involves interactions among a minimum of three organisms. Therefore, despite its potential in agricultural applications, biocontrol is one of the most poorly understood areas of plant-microbe interactions. The complexity of these systems has influenced the acceptance of biocontrol as a means of controlling plant diseases in two ways. First, practical results with biocontrol have been variable. Thus, despite some stunning successes with biocontrol agents in agriculture, there remains a general skepticism born of past failures (Cook and Baker, 1983; Weller, 1988). Second, progress in understanding an entire system has been slow. Recently, however, substantial progress has been made in a number of biocontrol systems through the application of genetic and mathematical approaches that accommodate the complexity. Biocontrol of soilborne diseases is particularly complex because these diseases occur in the dynamic environment at the interface of root and soil known as the rhizosphere, which is defined as the region surrounding a root that is affected by it. The rhizosphere is typified by rapid change, intense microbial activity, and high populations of bacteria compared with non-rhizosphere soil. Plants release metabolically active cells from their roots and deposit as much as 20% of the carbon allocated to roots in the rhizosphere, suggesting a highly evolved relationship between the plant and rhizosphere microorganisms. The rhizosphere is subject to dramatic changes on a short temporal scale-rain events and daytime drought can result in fluctuations in salt concentration, pH, osmotic potential, water potential, and soil particle structure. Over longer temporal scales, the rhizosphere can change due to root growth, interactions with other soil biota, and weathering processes. It is the dynamic nature of the rhizosphere that makes it an interesting setting for the interactions that lead to disease and biocontrol of disease (Rovira, 1965, 1969, 1991; Hawes, 1991; Waisel et al., 1991). The complexity of the root-soil interface must be accommodated in the study of biocontrol, which must involve whole organisms and ultimately entire communities, if we are to understand the essential interactions in soil in the field. The challenge in elucidating mechanisms of biocontrol is in reducing the complexity to address tractable scientific questions. One of the most effective approaches toward the identification of critical variables in a complex system has been genetics. The study of mutants can be conducted in simplified laboratory systems or in the field, thus making accessible the examination of particular genetic changes and the associated biochemical characteristics in the real world. This review presents recent advances in our understanding of the biocontrol of root diseases. We emphasize research aimed at enhancing our understanding of the biology of the interactions that result in disease suppression. It is this understanding that will make possible the practical use of microorganisms in the management of plant disease in agroecosystems. Numerous recent reviews present comprehensively the variety of microbial biocontrol agents (Chet, 1987; Weller, 1988; Whipps and Lumsden, 1991; O'Sullivan and O'Gara, 1992; Cook, 1993; Goldman et al., 1994; Cook et al., 1995; Lumsden et al., 1995). In this discussion of current and future directions in biocontrol, our goal is to present key themes in the discipline, drawing on the bacteria Pseudomonas and Bacillus and the fungi Trichoderma and Gliocladium as examples representing a range of life strategies and mechanisms of disease suppression. We address the principles of interactions of the biocontrol agent with the pathogen, the host plant, and the microbial community, illustrating each principle with some well-studied examples of successful biocontrol agents (DBO).

Biological collections in natural history museums serve important purposes to the scientific community and the general public, however, their value and utility might be diminished by biodeterioration. We studied a biological collection that represents more than sixty years of avifauna sampling of Colombia, the country with the highest bird diversity. An initial inspection of the collection showed that the general appearance of some specimens was compromised by mold-like growth on their surfaces. We aimed at (i) identifying the taxonomic affiliation of these fungi, (ii) evaluating their cellulolytic activity, and (iii) probing chemical agents that could be utilized to control their growth. The most common fungi genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, and Trichophyton, most of which can degrade cellulose. Zinc chloride and salicylic acid showed to be effective fungicides. Based on this, we propose some actions to control the fungi-pest in this biological collection of birds.