Biological control agents are alternatives to chemical pesticides in the management of plant diseases. Currently, hundreds of bioproducts are commercially available in international market varying mainly in antagonistic microorganisms and formulation. We screened four Trichoderma-based products as to their efficacy in controlling Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) under protected and field environments and their effect on soybean seeds' sanity and physiological qualities. We also tested application technologies through seed microbiolization and foliar spraying to deliver the microorganisms, and their compatibility with chemical fungicides. In vitro assays showed that all Trichoderma strains were antagonistic to S. sclerotiorum evidencing hyperparasitic activity. Moreover, the bioproducts reduced fungi incidence on soybean seeds, promoted faster seedling emergence and did not hamper seeds' vigor. Increases of 14 and 37% were registered for root length and shoot fresh weight over that of the untreated control indicating potential application of the bioproducts as soybean growth promoters. Thiophanate-methyl and procymidone were the most compatible, without drastically affecting spore germination or mycelium growth. Under field conditions, all Trichoderma strains reduced SSR incidence and increased soybean grain yield. Formulation interferes on bioproducts' viability and efficacy deserving special attention upon development.

Application technology is a major factor for the success of crops beca u se it determines the correct a pplica tion of pesticides. T he experiment wa s ca rried ou t in Ma nda gu a ri Fa rm (India nópolis Municipa lity, Mina s Gerais State, Brazil). The experimenta l design wa s in ra ndomized block s, with 1 3 trea tments a nd 4 replica tes. Trea tments consisted of 4 nozzles (TT, AD / D, ADIA / D, empty cone) and 3 spray mix volumes (100, 150 and 200 L ha -1 ), besides control. T he a im of this work was to study nozzles and to set the su ita ble volu me of fu ngicide a pplica tion for the ra tiona l disea se management in maize crop. Disease severity, drops cm -2 , green area percentage, 1000-grain weight, and yield were evaluated; an economic Juliatti, F.C.; Nascimento, C.; Rezende, A.A.. Evaluation of different nozzles and volumes in fungicide application on maIze crop. Summa Phytopathologica, v.36, n.3, p.216-221, 2010. RESUMOA tecnologia de a plica ção é u m dos principa is fa tores pa ra o su cesso da s la vou ra s, pois dela depende a a plica çã o correta dos defensivos qu ímicos. O experimento foi rea liza do na Fa zenda Mandaguari (Indianópolis-MG). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados com 13 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos u tiliza dos fora m 4 ponta s (T T, AD/D, ADIA/D, Cone Va zio) e 3 volu mes de calda (1 00 , 150 e 2 00 L ha -1 ) além da testemunha . O objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver o estudo de pontas de aplicação e volume adequado para o controle racional das doenças na cultura do milho. Avaliou-se a severidade das doenças, gotas cm -2 , %área verde, massa de 1000 grãos e produtividade, sendo realizada nesta uma análise Juliatti, F.C.; Nascimento, C.; Rezende, A.A.. Avaliação de diferentes pontas e volumes de pulverização na aplicação de fungicida na cultura do milho. Summa Phytopathologica, v.36, n.3, p.216-221, 2010. analysis was done for the latter. As regards leaf spot caused by fungi of the genus Stenocarpella, all treatments were superior to the control. The nozzle ADIA received the smallest quantity of drops cm -2 in the pla nt bottom. All treatments were superior to the control regarding green a rea percentage.All trea tments led to increased 1 00 0 -gra in weight rela tive to control showing the direct rela tionship between disease control and grain filling. The highest yield was obtained when 100 L ha -1 was used in all evaluated nozzles. The economic analysis demonstra ted the fea sibility of fu ngicide a pplica tion to ensu re sustainability in maize production.A cultura do milho, no Brasil, está sujeita à ocorrência de várias doenças, que sob condições favoráveis, podem comprometer seriamente a qualidade e a produção de sementes e grãos. A incidência e a severidade dessas doenças têm aumentado muito, em decorrência, principalmente, de modificações no sistema de cultivo e na época de plantio do milho, bem como da expansão da área cultivada (23).A busca por maior eficiência e redução no custo das atividades onde o uso de defensivos agríc...