Selection, isolation, and identification of fungi for bioherbicide production

Abstract Production of a bioherbicide for biological control of weeds requires a series of steps, from selection of a suitable microbial strain to final formulation. Thus, this study aimed to select fungi for production of secondary metabolites with herbicidal activity using biological resources of the Brazilian Pampa biome. Phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from infected tissues of weeds in the Pampa biome. A liquid synthetic culture medium was used for production of metabolites. The phytotoxicity of fungal metabolites was assessed via biological tests using the plant Cucumis sativus L., and the most promising strain was identified by molecular analysis. Thirty-nine fungi were isolated, and 28 presented some phytotoxic symptoms against the target plant. Fungus VP51 belonging to the genus Diaporthe showed the most pronounced herbicidal activity. The Brazilian Pampa biome is a potential resource for the development of new and sustainable chemical compounds for modern agriculture.

Consumo hídrico e desempenho de Kalanchoe cultivado em substratos alternativos / Water absorption and performance of the Kalanchoe grown in alternative substrates

Com o crescente consumo de flores e plantas ornamentais de vaso, a busca por elementos alternativos para substratos torna-se necessária, a fim de reduzir os custos da produção. Além disso, é importante quantificar as características físico-hídricas de forma a estabelecer o calendário de irrigações com base nesses materiais. A partir disso, este trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar o desempenho e o consumo de água de Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln, cultivar 'Gold Jewel', em 10 substratos alternativos, e definir os mais indicados para a produção comercial nas condições ambientais da região centro-oeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram testados substratos compostos por diferentes proporções de casca de arroz carbonizada, cinzas de casca de arroz, matéria orgânica doméstica decomposta, esterco bovino e esterco de aves. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. No final do ciclo, foram avaliados: altura, número de folhas, número de inflorescências, número de flores e diâmetro da copa das plantas nos diferentes tratamentos. Por meio dos resultados, pode-se concluir que, para produção de plantas, os substratos mais indicados são 100 por cento em volume de matéria orgânica e 50 por cento em volume de matéria orgânica +50 por cento em volume de esterco bovino.

With the increase in the flowers and ornamental crops consumption, the search for alternative elements to the substrates, became to necessary reduce spends the production. Besides, it's important to quantify the physics - hydric characteristics and the manner to establish the calendar of the irrigations using these materials. Based in this, this research had as the mainly purpose to evaluate the performance and the water consumption of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln, cv. Gold Jewel in ten alternative substrates and to define the most indicated to the commercial production in environmental conditions of the west- central of the Rio Grande do Sul State. It was tested substrates composed by different proportions of rice shell, ash of rice shell, decomposed organic substance, cattle and poultry manure. The research was accomplished in greenhouse, in a complete randomized experiment, with four replications. In the end of the period it was evaluated: the height, the number of leaves, the number of inflorescence, the number of flowers in each inflorescence and the plants' canopy diameter, in the different treatments. By the results it can be concluded that, to the production of the plants substrates more indicated are 100 percent in organic substance volume and 50 percent in organic substance volume + 50 percent in cattle manure.