Diagrammatic scale for assessment of anthracnose severity in feijoa fruit / Escala diagramática para avaliação da severidade de Antracnose em frutos de feijoa

ABSTRACT: A diagrammatic scale of anthracnose in feijoa fruit was elaborated and validated in order to standardize disease severity assessments. The proposed scale showed six disease severity levels: 2, 10, 20, 40, 70 and 100% of the injured fruit surface. The scale took into account the minimum and maximum limits of disease severity observed in the field and the intermediate values followed logarithmic increments according to the Weber-Fechner stimulus-response law. Eight inexperienced raters validated the scale by quantifying the disease severity (using/not using the scale) of 50 feijoas with anthracnose symptoms. In conclusion, the scale improved the assessment of anthracnose in feijoa. Eight genotypes from different crosses were tolerant to anthracnose.

RESUMO: Com o objetivo de padronizar avaliações da severidade da antracnose em frutos de feijoa elaborou-se e validou-se uma escala diagramática com os seguintes níveis de severidade: 2, 10, 20, 40, 70 e 100% de área superficial do fruto com lesão. A escala considerou os limites de severidade mínima e máxima da doença observados em campo e os níveis intermediários seguiram incrementos logarítmicos, obedecendo-se a "Lei do estímulo de Weber-Fechner". A severidade foi estimada, por oito avaliadores sem experiência, em 50 frutos sem e com o auxílio da escala proposta. Em conclusão, a escala melhorou a avaliação da antracnose na feijoa. Oito genótipos de diferentes cruzamentos foram tolerantes à antracnose.

Systematic Analysis of the Anticancer Agent Taxol-Producing Capacity in Colletotrichum Species and Use of the Species for Taxol Production

Paclitaxel (taxol) has long been used as a potent anticancer agent for the treatment of many cancers. Ever since the fungal species Taxomyces andreanae was first shown to produce taxol in 1993, many endophytic fungal species have been recognized as taxol accumulators. In this study, we analyzed the taxol-producing capacity of different Colletotrichum spp. to determine the distribution of a taxol biosynthetic gene within this genus. Distribution of the taxadiene synthase (TS) gene, which cyclizes geranylgeranyl diphosphate to produce taxadiene, was analyzed in 12 Colletotrichum spp., of which 8 were found to contain the unique skeletal core structure of paclitaxel. However, distribution of the gene was not limited to closely related species. The production of taxol by Colletotrichum dematium, which causes pepper anthracnose, depended on the method in which the fungus was stored, with the highest production being in samples stored under mineral oil. Based on its distribution among Colletotrichum spp., the TS gene was either integrated into or deleted from the bacterial genome in a species-specific manner. In addition to their taxol-producing capacity, the simple genome structure and easy gene manipulation of these endophytic fungal species make them valuable resources for identifying genes in the taxol biosynthetic pathway.

Glomerella leaf spot in apple: validation of proposed diagrammatic scale and efficiency of fungicides / Mancha de Glomerella em macieira: validação de escala diagramática proposta e eficiência de fungicidas

A diagrammatic scale to assess Glomerella leaf spot severity (Colletotrichum spp) was developed and validated during the tryout of a fungicide efficiency experiment in the field. Apple leaves were collected for determination of minimum and maximum severity limits; intermediate levels were obtained according to "Weber-Fechner's stimulus-response law". Scale validation was performed by four raters, which estimated the severity in 100 leaves; with and without the use of the scale. An experiment was carried out in a commercial orchard in randomized blocks with 10 plants. The treatments and dosages (g 100 L-1 of water) used were: cyprodinil (15); pyrimethanil (30, 37.5, 45); propineb (140) e mancozeb (160) + tebuconazole (12.50), and a control (no spray). The incidence and severity in leaves; number of fruits, weight and incidence in fruit (harvest) and defoliation (after harvest) were evaluated. The proposed scale showed the levels of 0.08; 0.28; 0.99; 3.45; 11.23 and 30.93 percent. The scale was adequate for severity assessment; R2 changed from 0.68 to 0.96 with the use of the scale. Pyrimethanil treatments did not control the disease. The incidence on fruit was 30 and on leaves 63 percent. The incidence was reduced in 35.6 percent (propineb) and 33.7 percent (mancozeb + tebuconazole) related to the control, these treatments were efficient to control the disease. The defoliation was 44 percent in the control against 9.6 and 2.5 percent to propineb and mancozeb + tebuconazole.

Neste estudo, foi desenvolvida uma escala diagramática para avaliação da mancha das folhas da macieira (Colletotrichum spp) e testada em experimento de controle químico. Folhas de macieira com diferentes níveis de severidade foram coletadas (Campo Largo-PR) para determinação dos limites mínimos e máximos. Os níveis intermediários foram obtidos pela "lei do estímulo visual de Weber-Fechner". A escala foi validada por quatro avaliadores, estimando a severidade em 100 folhas, com e sem uso da escala. Os tratamentos e as dosagens (g 100 L-1 de água) utilizados foram: ciprodinil (15); pirimetanil (30); (37,5); (45); propinebe (140) e mancozebe (160) + tebuconazole (12,5) em quatro blocos ao acaso contendo 10 plantas. Foram avaliadas a incidência e severidade em folhas, a desfolha em pós-colheita e o número de frutos, o peso e a incidência da doença em frutos (colheita). A escala proposta apresentou os níveis de 0,08; 0,28; 0,99; 3,45; 11,23 e 30,93 por cento, sendo adequada para avaliar severidade. O coeficiente de determinação foi de 0,68 e 0,96, com e sem o uso da escala. Pirimetanil não controlou a doença. A incidência em frutos foi de 30 e 63 por cento nas folhas. Foi observada redução da incidência de 63,7 para 35,6 (propinebe) e 33,7 por cento (mancozebe + tebuconazole), em comparação com o tratamento sem pulverização, sendo os dois referidos produtos eficientes no controle da doença. A desfolha foi de 44 por cento na testemunha contra 9,6 e 2,5 por cento para propinebe e mancozebe + tebuconazole.

Resistência parcial à necrose dos frutos em genótipos de café arábica / Partial resistance to fruit necrosis in arabic coffee genotypes

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se identificar em genótipos de café arábica (Coffea arabica L.) fontes de resistência à necrose de frutos em condições de campo. As variáveis resistência à necrose de frutos ("NF"), quantidade média de frutos por nó produtivo ("FN") e índice de luminosidade dentro da copa da planta ("LUM") foram avaliadas em ensaio de campo no IAPAR (Londrina), em dezembro de 2004, em cafeeiros com três anos de idade. Foi avaliada a variável "NF", atribuindo notas de 1 a 5 sendo 1 para plantas com 0 por cento a 5 por cento de frutos necrosados. "FN" foi avaliada seguindo uma escala de notas de 1 a 5, onde 1 representa plantas com 0 a 3 frutos/ nó e nota 5 com mais do que 15 frutos/ nó. A avaliação da variável "LUM" foi visual e seguiu as notas de 1 a 5, onde 1 representa plantas com pouca luminosidade dentro da copa da planta. Dos 19 genótipos avaliados, 2 apresentaram moderada resistência, 7 moderada suscetibilidade, 5 suscetíveis e 5 altamente suscetíveis. As cultivares Obatã IAC 1669-20 e Catucaí Vermelho 4-79 apresentaram o melhor nível de resistência parcial de campo, ou seja, com moderada resistência à necrose de frutos associada ao Colletotrichum spp.

The aim of this research was to identify in Coffea arabica L. coffee genotypes resistance sources to fruit necrosis in field conditions. The variables fruit necrosis ("NF"), fruits per productive nodes average ("FN") and luminosity index inside of the plant canopy ("LUM") were evaluated in field assay at IAPAR (Londrina), in December 2004 on three years old coffee trees. The "NF" variable were evaluated attributing scores from 1 to 5, where score 1 represented plants with 0 to 5 percent of necrosed fruits. "FN" were evaluated following a score scale from 1 to 5, where score 1 represented plants with 0 to 3 fruits/ node and score 5 with more than 15 fruits/ node. The evaluation of the variable "LUM" was visual and followed the scores from 1 to 5, where score 1 represented plants with low luminosity inside the canopy. Out of the 19 evaluated coffee genotypes, 2 presented moderate resistance, 7 moderate susceptibility, 5 susceptibility and 5 high susceptibility. The cultivars Obatã IAC 1669-20 and Catucaí Vermelho 4-79 presented the best level of partial field resistance, or either, with moderate resistance to fruit necrosis associated to Colletotrichum spp.