Hyperspectral imaging to characterize plant-plant communication in response to insect herbivory.

BACKGROUND: In studies of plant stress signaling, a major challenge is the lack of non-invasive methods to detect physiological plant responses and to characterize plant-plant communication over time and space. RESULTS: We acquired time series of phytocompound and hyperspectral imaging data from maize plants from the following treatments: (1) individual non-infested plants, (2) individual plants experimentally subjected to herbivory by green belly stink bug (no visible symptoms of insect herbivory), (3) one plant subjected to insect herbivory and one control plant in a separate pot but inside the same cage, and (4) one plant subjected to insect herbivory and one control plant together in the same pot. Individual phytocompounds (except indole-3acetic acid) or spectral bands were not reliable indicators of neither insect herbivory nor plant-plant communication. However, using a linear discrimination classification method based on combinations of either phytocompounds or spectral bands, we found clear evidence of maize plant responses. CONCLUSIONS: We have provided initial evidence of how hyperspectral imaging may be considered a powerful non-invasive method to increase our current understanding of both direct plant responses to biotic stressors but also to the multiple ways plant communities are able to communicate. We are unaware of any published studies, in which comprehensive phytocompound data have been shown to correlate with leaf reflectance. In addition, we are unaware of published studies, in which plant-plant communication was studied based on leaf reflectance.

Leaf Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence in Maize Leaves Infected with Stenocarpella macrospora.

This study investigated the effect of macrospora leaf spot (MLS), caused by Stenocarpella macrospora, on photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters determined in leaves of plants from two maize cultivars ('ECVSCS155' and 'HIB 32R48H') susceptible and highly susceptible, respectively, to S. macrospora. MLS severity was significantly lower in the leaves of plants from ECVSCS155 relative to the leaves of plants from HIB 32R48H. In both cultivars, net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate significantly decreased, while the internal to ambient CO2 concentration ratio increased in inoculated plants relative to noninoculated plants. The initial fluorescence and nonphotochemical quenching significantly increased in inoculated plants of ECVSCS155 and HIB 32R48H, respectively, relative to noninoculated plants. The maximum fluorescence, maximum PSII quantum efficiency, coefficient for photochemical quenching, and electron transport rate significantly decreased in inoculated plants relative to noninoculated plants. For both cultivars, concentrations of total chlorophyll (Chl) (a+b) and carotenoids and the Chl a/b ratio significantly decreased in inoculated plants relative to noninoculated plants. In conclusion, the results from the present study demonstrate, for the first time, that photosynthesis in the leaves of maize plants is dramatically affected during the infection process of S. macrospora, and impacts are primarily associated with limitations of a diffusive and biochemical nature.

Rooting and acclimatization of micropropagated marubakaido apple rootstock using Adesmia latifolia rhizobia.

In vitro rooting and the acclimatization of micropropagated rootstocks of apple trees is essential for plant development in the field. The aim of this work was to assess the use of rhizobia of Adesmia latifolia to promote rooting and acclimatization in micropropagated Marubakaido apple rootstock. An experiment involving in vitro rooting and acclimatization was performed with four strains of rhizobium and two controls, one with and the other without the addition of synthetic indoleacetic acid. The inoculated treatments involved the use of sterile inoculum and inoculum containing live rhizobia. The most significant effects on the rooting rate, primary-root length, number of roots, root length, fresh-shoot biomass, and fresh-root biomass were obtained by inoculation with strain EEL16010B and with synthetic indole acetic acid. However, there was no difference in the growth of apple explants in the acclimatization experiments. Strain EEL16010B can be used to induce in vitro rooting of the Marubakaido rootstock and can replace the use of synthetic indoleacetic acid in the rooting of this cultivar.

Sensibilidade de Stenocarpella macrospora a fungicidas / Sensibility of Stenocarpella macrospora to fungicide

A aplicação de fungicidas nos órgãos aéreos é estratégia de controle para mancha-de-macrospora causada pelo fungo Stenocarpella macrospora. O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a sensibilidade de S. macrospora a fungicidas pela inibição do crescimento do micélio (CM) e germinação de conídios (GC). Foram avaliados 12 fungicidas pertencentes aos grupos químicos dos benzimidazóis, estrobilurinas e triazóis, seis concentrações e dois isolados do fungo (SC e MT). Os fungicidas foram diluídos em água destilada e esterilizada e adicionados ao meio de cultura de batata-dextrose-ágar (micélio) e ágar-água (conídios) após a esterilização. A porcentagem de inibição do CM e GC foi calculada em relação à testemunha, estimando-se valores de concentração inibitória de 50% (CI50). Constatou-se que os fungicidas testados foram altamente fungitóxicos na inibição do CM, sendo que a CI50 foi menor que 1 ppm para todos os fungicidas, não havendo diferença entre isolados. Na inibição da GC, as estrobilurinas apresentaram maior fungitoxicidade, pois a CI50 ficou entre 0,0035 e 0,03 ppm, sendo o isolado SC mais sensível aos fungicidas. Os valores de CI50 para os diferentes fungicidas específicos para S. macrospora são úteis no monitoramento da sensibilidade do fungo em regiões com demanda intensa de fungicidas no milho.

The application of fungicides in the aerial organs is control strategy to macrospora spot caused by fungus Stenocarpella macrospora. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of S. macrospora to fungicides by inhibition of mycelial growth (MG) and conidial germination (CG). It was evaluated 12 fungicides belonging to the chemical groups of the benzimidazoles, triazoles and strobilurins, six concentrations and two isolates of the fungus (SC and MT). The fungicides were diluted in sterile distilled water and added to the culture medium of potato dextrose agar (mycelium) and water-agar (spore) after sterilization. The percentage of inhibition of MC and CG was calculed in comparison with control, estimating of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). The fungicides tested were effective in inhibiting the MC. The IC50 was less than 1 ppm for all fungicides. There was no difference between isolates. The inhibition of CG had higher fungitoxicity strobilurins, and the IC50 was between 0.0035 and 0.03 ppm, and the isolated SC showed the higher sensitivity to the fungicides. The IC50 values obtained for fungicides and specific S.

Sistema de cultivo e doses de nitrogênio na sanidade e no rendimento do milho / Cropping systens and nitrogen levels in the maize plant health and yield

As podridões da base do colmo (PBC) e grãos ardidos (GA) ocorrem em lavouras de milho, causando prejuízos aos produtores e contaminando os grãos com micotoxinas. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar os efeitos do monocultivo de milho, da rotação de culturas com feijoeiro e da adubação nitrogenada na incidência de PBC e GA, nos teores de fumonisinas, peso de mil sementes (PMS) e no rendimento de grãos de milho. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições por tratamento. Na parcela principal, foram testados três híbridos de milho: P30F36, AS 1575 e Maximus. Nas subparcelas, foi avaliada a resposta dos híbridos a cinco doses de nitrogênio (N), equivalentes a 0; 75; 140; 215 e 290kg de N ha-1, em ambos os sistemas de cultivo. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para os valores médios de PBC, fumonisina e rendimento de grãos nos dois sistemas de cultivo avaliados. Para os valores médios de GA e PMS, ocorreram diferenças entre híbridos somente quando cultivados em rotação de cultura. A incidência dos parâmetros PBC e GA, quando em monocultura, foi superior aos encontrados quando cultivado em rotação de culturas. As variações médias do PMS e rendimento de grãos foram superiores quando em rotação, comparativamente ao sistema de cultivo em monocultura. As diferentes doses de N explicaram apenas parcialmente as variações observadas em todas as variáveis analisadas.

The stalk rot (SR) and grain rot (GR) occur in crops as corn, causing losses to farmers and contaminating the grain with mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of corn monoculture, crop rotation with common bean, and nitrogen fertilization on the incidence of SR, GR, fumonisin levels, weight of thousand seeds (WTS) and grain yield. The experiment was randomized blocks with split plot and four replicates per treatment. In the main plot were tested three maize hybrids: P30F36, AS 1575 and Maximus. In the sub-plots, each of the hybrids was evaluated in five levels of nitrogen (N), equivalent to 0; 75; 140; 215 and 290kg of N ha-1 in both cropping systems. There were no significant differences for mean values of SR, Fumonisin and grain yield in both cropping systems evaluated. For GR and WTS average values had differences between hybrids only when corn was grown in crop rotation with common bean. The annual growth rate of SR and GR parameters in corn monoculture ranged from 44.8 to 172.4 %, above the rate found on corn when grown in crop rotation. In turn, mean changes of WTS and grain yield was 1.2 to 17.6 % higher when in rotation compared to monoculture cropping system. The differences found in nitrogen rates partly explained the changes observed in all variables.

Rizobactérias no crescimento e na produtividade da cebola / Rhizobacteria on the production and yield of onion

A associação de plantas com rizobactérias pode promover o crescimento vegetal, reduzindo custos de produção. As rizobactérias benéficas podem ser uma alternativa para a produção de cebola. Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o efeito da aplicação de rizobactérias no crescimento e na produtividade da cebola da cultivar 'Bola Precoce'. A aplicação foi realizada na Estação Experimental da Epagri, em Ituporanga, Santa Catarina (SC), no ano de 2008. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições, sendo utilizadas as rizobactérias Pseudomonas spp. W6, Bacillus megaterium W19 e Bacillus cereus UFV40, microbiolizadas isoladamente nas sementes ou em mistura, juntamente com uma testemunha não tratada. Os tratamentos com aplicação de rizobactérias proporcionaram maior altura, diâmetro de pseudocaule e número de folhas nas plantas avaliadas aos 90 dias após o transplante. Plantas que receberam os tratamentos com rizobactérias apresentaram maior rendimento de bulbos em relação à testemunha. A massa dos bulbos foi afetada positivamente pelos tratamentos, com destaque para Bacillus megaterium W19.

The association of plants with rhizobacteria can enhance plant growth, reducing production costs. Benefic rhizobacteria can stimulate plant growth being an alternative for production of onions. This research assesses the impact of applying rhizobacteria in the growth and productivity of cv. Bola Precoce onions. The study was conducted in the Experimental Station of Epagri, Ituporanga, SC, Brazil in 2008. The experimental design was in random blocks with five repetitions using Pseudomonas spp. W6, B Bacillus megaterium W19 e Bacillus cereus UFV40 rhizobacteria, microbiolized singly in seeds or in a formula together with non-treated control. The treatments involving rhizobacteria application yielded higher heights, diameter of pseudo-trunk and number of leaves in the plants assessed at 90 days after transplant. All the plants which received treatments with rhizobacteria presented better results considering the fresh weight and yield of bulb in relation to the control. The mass of bulbs were positively affected by the treatments, especially for Bacillus megaterium W19.

Tratamento de sementes com rizobactérias na produção de cebola / Seed treatment with rhizobacteria the onion production

A associação de plantas com rizobactérias benéficas pode promover o crescimento vegetal e o biocontrole de doenças, reduzindo custos de produção e diminuindo o impacto dos agrotóxicos no meio ambiente. Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de rizobactérias aplicadas às sementes de cebola 'Bola Precoce' no desenvolvimento de plantas e na produção de bulbos, foi conduzido um estudo na Estação Experimental da Epagri de Ituporanga, Santa Catarina, em 2007. Foram avaliadas as rizobactérias Pseudomonas spp. (W1, W2, W5, W6), Bacillus megaterium (W7, W19), Pseudomonas alcaligenes (W15), Paenibacillus polymyxa (W18), Bacillus cereus (UFV 040) e Pseudomonas putida (UFV 043), juntamente com uma testemunha não microbiolizada. Verificou-se que existe influência das rizobactérias testadas no desenvolvimento da cebola. Os isolados que apresentaram melhor rendimento de bulbos foram Pseudomonas spp. W6 e Bacillus cereus UFV40. Os aumentos de rendimento de bulbos em razão das rizobactérias variaram entre 3 por cento e 48 por cento. Essas bactérias promotoras de crescimento apresentam-se promissoras como bioinoculantes para serem utilizados na produção de cebola.

Plant association with benefic rhizobacteria can enhance plant growth and diseases biocontrol, reducing production costs and environment pesticides impact. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Epagri, Ituporanga, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil in 2007 to evaluate the effect of microbiolization with rhizobacteria on onion seed 'Bola Precoce' in plants development and bulb yield. The rhizobacteria Pseudomonas spp. (W1, W2, W5, W6), Bacillus megaterium (W7, W19), Pseudomonas alcaligenes (W15), Paenibacillus polymyxa (W18), Bacillus cereus (UFV 040), Pseudomonas putida (UFV 043), were used as inoculants and compared with non treated check. There was influence of rhizobacteria tested on the onion development. The treatment with Pseudomonas spp. (W6) and Bacillus cereus (UFV40) showed significantly increased bulb yield. Yield increases by the rhizobacteria varied from 3 percent to 48 percent. Rhizobacteria are promising as bioinoculant, for use in onion production.