In the harvest year of 2004, a random sample of seed lots (n=165) from six rice-growing regions of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil, were examined under seed health blotter test. Fungi growth resembling Bipolaris or Drechslera spp. was isolated and identified at the species level. Observations on the anamorphic structures (conidiophores and conidia) allowed separation of isolates into three groups. Pseudothecia, asci and ascospores from sexual crosses between isolates from a same anamorphic group but originated from different regions showed the typical characteristics of three recognized species (anamorph/teleomorph): Bipolaris cynodontis (Cochliobolus cynodontis); B. curvispora (C. melinidis) and B. oryzae (C. miyabeanus). All species were widely distributed across the rice-growing regions. Overall, the most prevalent species were B. oryzae (44.6%) and B. curvispora (42,9%) followed by B. cynodontis (24,1%). This is the first report of B. cynodontis associated with rice seeds in Brazil and the preliminary identification of B. curvispora in rice by the observation of the teleomorph phase was confirmed. The regional occurrence of a complex of pathogenic Bipolaris species related to brown spot epidemics in other countries, may have epidemiological consequences in the region which deserve further investigation.

The effect of increasing seed borne incidence levels (0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 %) of Bipolaris oryzae on brown spot epidemics and crop performance was studied in eleven field trials. These trials were conducted at two sites (Bagé-BA and Cachoeirinha-CA) in the major rice-growing region of Brazil over three seasons (2008 to 2010). Disease variables assessed over time were disease incidence (INC, %) on leaves prior to flowering, and disease severity (SEV, %) on flag leaves after flowering. Kernel infection (KI, %) by B. oryzae was assessed after harvest. Crop-related variables such as plant population density (PD) and yield (YLD) were also assessed. In only three trials, all in the 2009/10 season, which had well above-normal rainfall in the early season, was the disease found at vegetative stages. In those same trials, a significant effect of seed borne inoculum was found for the area under the disease progress curve of INC and SEV. Overall mean SEV at CA (1.67 %) was higher than at BA (0.22 %). Seed borne inoculum levels did not affect final SEV and KI, which was not correlated between each other. PD was significantly reduced with the increase of seed borne inoculum levels in seven out of eight trials and at levels as high as 48 % (2009/10 season). The seed borne inoculum levels did not affect YLD, although significantly reducing PD, which may be due to the rice having a low population compensated through tillering. The risk of yield loss by sowing B. oryzae-infected seeds seems to be low and the early onset of the disease caused by increased levels of seed borne inoculum was dependent on seasonal weather conditions.

RESUMO -Uma das principais causas da baixa produtividade de milho é a qualidade da semente, que afeta o estande inicial, o vigor das plantas e, conseqüentemente, a produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito da germinação, um dos principais componentes da qualidade da semente e a densidade de semeadura no estabelecimento da cultura e na produtividade de milho. Quatro lotes de sementes de milho híbrido BRS 201, com germinação de 95%, 90%, 85% e 75%, foram semeados em três densidades de semeadura: 50, 60 e 70 mil sementes/ha na Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas. MG, em 1996/97 e 1997/98. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: emergência de plântulas 10 dias após a semeadura, índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), número de espigas/ha, número de plantas/ha, produção de espigas/ha e produção de grãos/ha. A utilização de sementes com germinação inferior a 90% provocou reduções acentuadas na emergência de plântulas em campo, no número de plantas e consequentemente, na produtividade do milho BRS 201. O aumento da densidade de 50 para 70 mil sementes/ha na semeadura não compensou a redução da qualidade de semente. Para o acréscimo de 15% na germinação, foi observado, em média, um ganho de produtividade de 30%. Com base nos resultados deste trabalho, recomendase aos produtores de milho, a utilização de lotes de semente com germinação superior a 90% e densidade de semeadura entre 50 e 60 mil sementes/ha.Termos para indexação: Zea mays, germinação, emergência de plântulas, população de plantas. THE EFFECT OF SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDING RATE ON CORN STAND ESTABLISHMENT AND YIELDABSTRACT -One of the main causes of low corn yield in Brazil is low seed quality that affects stand establishment and yield. The main goals of this research were to determine the effect of seed quality and seeding rate on corn stand establishment and yield. Four seed lots of hybrid corn BRS 201, with initial germination of 95%, 90%, 85% and 75% were sown at three seeding rates: 50, 60 and 70 thousand seeds/ha at Embrapa Milho and Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, MG, in 1996/97 and 1997/98. The parameters evaluated were: field emergence at 10 days after sowing, rate of emergence, ear number/ha, plant population/ha, ear production/ha and kernel yield/ha. Low seed vigor markedly reduced field emergence, plant vigor, number of plants, and yield. Increasing seeding rate did not overcome seed quality. There was a yield gain of 30% for seed quality improvement of 15%. Based on the results of this trial, we recommend that corn growers use seed lots with germination over 90% and seeding rate between 50 and 60.000 seeds/ha.Index terms: Zea mays, vigor, germination, emergence, seeding rate, plant population. INTRODUÇÃOO Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de milho; entretanto, ainda são observadas produtividade relativamente baixas. Uma das principais causas dessa baixa produtividade é a qualidade da semente que, conseqüentemente,

RESUMOA inoculação de fungos fitopatogênicos em sementes pela técnica da restrição hídrica é relativamente recente. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de potenciais osmóticos (-0.4, -0,6 e -0.8) do substrato BDA, modificado por adição de sacarose, em interação com o tempo de exposição (46, 72 e 96 h), na infeção de sementes de trigo por Bipolaris sorokiniana. Foram analisadas a eficiência da infecção e a inibição da germinação durante e após a aplicação dos tratamentos. De acordo com os resultados, períodos de tempo superiores a 48 horas de exposição à colônia fúngica não foram inibitórios a germinação completa das sementes, a qual incrementou linearmente com o aumento do tempo de contato com o inóculo fúngico. A eficiência de infecção não diferiu para os potenciais osmóticos e tempo de exposição, variando de 0,53 a 0,92. No entanto, a capacidade germinativa das sementes após os tratamentos foi significativamente reduzida após o período de 48 horas de exposição das sementes ao substrato modificado contendo a cultura fúngica. Palavras-chave: potencial osmótico, sanidade de sementes, inoculação artificial. ABSTRACT Infection of wheat seeds by Bipolaris sorokoniana using a water restriction techniqueSeed inoculation with pathogenic fungi using the water restriction technique is relatively recent. This study aimed to verify the effect of osmotic potentials (-0.4, -0.6 and -0.8 MPa) of PDA substrate modified by the amendment of sucrose in interaction with the period of exposure (48, 72 and 96 h) of wheat seeds to colonies of Bipolaris sorokiniana. Infection efficiency and inhibition of seed germination during and after treatment were the variables analyzed. The results of this study show that an exposure period longer than 48 hours to the fungal colonies did not inhibit full germination of the seeds. The germination rate increased linearly as the exposure period to the fungal colony was increased. Infection efficiency was not affected by osmotic potential and exposure time, varying from 0.53 to 0.92. However, seed germination was significantly reduced after 48 hours of exposure to the fungal colonies.

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A total of 722 rice seed lots were collected at six production regions of Rio Grande do Sul state during three consecutive seasons (2009/10 to 2011/12). For each seed lot, 200 seeds were assessed for the presence of Bipolaris spp. using a standard seed health blotter test. Results showed that B. oryzae and B. cynodontis were found in 62.5% and 10.4% of the seed lots, respectively. Overall mean incidence of B. oryzae and B. cynodontis were 0.5% and 0.06%, respectively. For the two most sampled varieties (75% of the seed lots), IRGA 424 and Puitá INTA CL, mean incidence levels were highest and lowest, respectively. Among regions, infection risk was highest in the southeastern and lowest in the western regions of the state, especially the Fronteira Oeste. The prevalence and the incidence levels of Bipolaris oryzae reported in this study were lower than previous reports in the same region -eighty percent of the seed lots showed incidence levels below the recommended 5% inoculum threshold. In conclusion, rice seeds produced by IRGA-certified growers showed an overall good health quality with regards to B. oryzae infection, which is the main Bipolaris species associated with rice seeds in southern Brazil.

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RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar, em nível de espécie, fungos emboloradores em madeira não tratada de Pinus spp. estocada em ambiente de laboratório, em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Para tanto, 10 amostras de madeira de pinus atacadas por fungos de bolor foram selecionadas para identificação das estruturas fúngicas por meio de identificação morfológica de esporos e, posteriormente, esses foram isolados e enviados para sequenciamento do fator de elongação 1-alpha (EF-1α), para sua identificação molecular. Foram obtidos cinco isolados do gênero Trichoderma e um isolado do gênero Fusarium. Esses foram identificados por meio de análise molecular como pertencentes às espécies T. atroviride e F. solani, respectivamente.