Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causal agent of white mould, is the most destructive and widely distributed soilborne pathogen of common bean during the autumn–winter season in Brazil. Nevertheless, little is known about the genetic structure of the pathogen population. Microsatellite (SSR) markers and mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) were used to characterize 118 isolates collected from 20 bean fields located in the most important growing regions of Minas Gerais State (MG). Additionally, the genetic variability among 10 isolates obtained from a single sclerotium was investigated in 10 different sclerotia. Seventy SSR haplotypes and 14 MCGs were identified among the 118 isolates. The genetic differences within bean growing areas accounted for most of the genetic variation (72%). Despite the relatively high genotypic diversity, the SSR loci were at linkage disequilibrium. Moreover, 70% of the isolates were assigned to only two MCGs, and haplotypes of a given MCG were closely related. The discriminant analysis of principal components revealed five groups. There was strong genetic differentiation between isolates collected in one municipality in southern MG when compared to other regions. Common bean resistance to white mould should be assessed with representative isolates of the five genetic groups and, if possible, of the different MCGs detected in the present study. One to five haplotypes were detected among the 10 isolates obtained from a single sclerotium. Therefore, in order to ensure genetic identity of an isolate, hyphal tip or monoascosporic isolates should be used.

No abstract

White mold of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a major yield-limiting disease during the fall-winter season in Brazil. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of decreasing within-row densities for an indeterminate growth habit (type IIIa) cultivar, keeping constant the between-row spacing of 0.5 m, to manage the disease. A modification of within-row plant distributions was also attempted in order to reduce white mold intensity. The study was conducted with sprinkler irrigation in two growing seasons (2000 and 2001) in Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in an area naturally infested with sclerotia. In 2000, treatments were arranged as 3 × 2 × 2 factorial combination of within-row densities (15, 7.5, or 5 plants/m), within-row plant distributions (single and equidistant plants or equidistant groups of three plants), and fluazinam treatments (with or without). In 2001, 16, 12, 8, or 4 plants/m were combined with fluazinam treatments. Fluazinam was applied at both flowering onset and 10 or 13 days later. Average incidence was 92.6% in 2000 and 77.8% in 2001; severity index was 69.8% in 2000 and 40.2% in 2001; and yield was 1,656 kg/ha in 2000 and 2,542 kg/ha in 2001. White mold decreased and yield increased as within-row densities were reduced, regardless of fluazinam treatments. A distribution of equidistant groups of three plants was ineffective in reducing disease. The use of 4 equidistant plants/m in infested irrigated areas was an effective strategy in white mold management.

-The cultivar BRSMG Madrepérola, recommended for cultivation in Minas Gerais, has the feature of maintaining a light grain color for a longer period than other Carioca grain cultivars. The yield potential is high and the resistance level good to the major anthracnose races in the region.

Fusarium root rot (FRR) is a distributed disease of common beans in Brazil. Our main aim was to verify if there are genotypes, mainly advanced lines from the common bean breeding program with levels of resistance to FRR similar to those of the line A-300. We also compared three developmental stages for FRR assessment. Genotypes of six classes were evaluated in greenhouse and field experiments. In greenhouse, substrate was infested with chlamydospores. In field, genotypes were screened in area infested with Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli. Plants were rated for disease at V3, R5 and R7 stages. Correlation among area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) in greenhouse and in the field experiments was significant. Genotypes were ranked into four groups based on AUDPC. Sixteen advanced lines were as resistant to FRR as A-300. Correlation between the disease rating at R5 stages and AUDPC was higher than those among AUDPC and either disease rating at V3 or R7 in all experiments. Our results indicate that there are advanced lines with levels of FRR resistance similar to those of A-300 and that the FRR assessment at the R5 stage is more appropriated than at either V3 or R7.

Common bean breeding programs for white mold (WM) resistance are in their initial stages in Brazil. Sources of partial resistance to WM are available abroad but their performance in Brazil is unknown. In two greenhouse (straw test) and three field experiments conducted in three districts in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, we evaluated a total of 23 lines with putative WM resistance with the objective to select lines with resistance to WM and other diseases associated with high yield potential. Two field-resistant local lines, two susceptible local cultivars, and two susceptible international lines were also included in the study. In the greenhouse, Cornell 605, A 195, and G122 were among the lines with the highest partial resistance to WM. In the field, these three lines were highly resistant to WM and had intermediate resistance or were resistant to anthracnose, angular leaf spot, rust, and Fusarium wilt. Cornell 605 and A 195 had high-yield potential but G122 yielded 47% less than the local lines under WM pressure. Our results suggest that Cornell 605 and A 195 are the most useful sources of resistance to WM for use in common bean breeding programs in Brazil.

RESUMO -Acremonium strictum é patogênico ao milho e a outras culturas, podendo causar podridão de sementes, podridão de colmos e a morte de plântulas. Trata-se de um fungo que pode interferir no vigor, estande e produtividade final das plantas. Além disso, pode ser disseminado e transmitido à progênie via sementes, ainda que não sejam conhecidas as proporções reais em que isso ocorre. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o efeito de A. strictum nas qualidades fisiológica e sanitá-ria de sementes e plântulas, no crescimento vegetativo e na sanidade (taxas de infecção e de transmissão) de plantas de milho em seu estádio inicial de desenvolvimento. As taxas de infecção e de transmissão do fungo foram avaliadas usando-se a técnica da restrição hídri-ca, previamente desenvolvida para infectar as sementes. O meio MA (extrato de malte-ágar), suplementado com manitol para obter o potencial de água de -1,4 MPa, foi o substrato utilizado na inoculação das sementes. Observouse que a germinação das sementes de milho foi reduzida por A. strictum em períodos de contato com a colônia fún-gica acima de 72 horas. O vigor e a viabilidade potenciais das sementes de milho não foram afetados pela presença de A. strictum. Após 28 dias da semeadura, a incidência de A. strictum reduziu o crescimento vegetativo de plantas de milho. O fungo A. strictum, oriundo de sementes inoculadas, foi transmitido às plantas jovens de milho. TERMOS PARA INDEXAÇÃO:Fungo, patologia de sementes, infecção, restrição hídrica. TRANSMISSIBILITY AND EFFECT OF Acremonium strictum IN MAIZE SEEDSABSTRACT -Acremonium strictum is pathogenic to seeds, stalk and seedlings of maize. It is a fungus that can interfere in the vigor, stand and final productivity of plants. In addition, it can be disseminated and transmitted through seeds to the progeny, although the real proportions of that are not well known. This study reports the effects of A. strictum on maize seeds and seedlings quality (germination, vigor, healthness), some vegetative growth parameters and also sanity (infection and transmission rates) of young maize plants. The transmission rate of the fungus was evaluated using the water restriction technique. The fungus formulation was cultivated on malt extract agar medium amended with mannitol to a water potential of -1,4 MPa. The maize seeds germination was reduced by seeds exposition to A. strictum for periods longer than 72 hours. The potentials vigor and viability were not affected by A. strictum. The incidence of this fungus reduced the vegetative growth of maize plants measured 28 days after sowing. The fungus originating from inoculated seeds was transmitted to young maize plants. INDEX TERMS:Fungus, seed pathology, infection, water restriction. INTRODUÇÃOA condição sanitária de lotes de sementes de milho (Zea mays L.), a exemplo de outras espécies propagadas por sementes verdadeiras, é reconhecida em todo o mundo como um dos principais fatores determinantes do volume e qualidade da produção nessa cultura.A presença de patógenos em sementes relaciona-se diretamen...

Brown eye spot (BES), caused by Cercospora coffeicola, is an important coffee disease in Brazil. Losses related to this disease have increased over the last few years. Because the factors associated with the disease dynamics are not fully understood, it is important to gather information about this in different cropping systems. BES epidemics were compared from three production systems: organic (OS), organic under shade (OSS) and conventional under full sun (CS). This study was conducted in Ervália‐MG, Brazil, from November 2004 to October 2008. Disease progress was modelled with all 4 years of data in a time series analysis. Disease intensity (severity (SEV) and incidence (INC)), leaf setting (LS) and leaf fall (LF) were assessed on a monthly basis. The highest values for SEV, INC, LF, LS, as well as a larger area under the disease progress curve and maximum disease occurred in CS and in the upper branches, whereas the lowest values for all variables occurred in OSS and in the lower branches. The highest values occurred for SEV and INC from May to July, for LF from July to September, and for LS from October to January. The disease progress was successfully modelled via a time series analysis. The seasonal behaviour of disease progress for all years and production systems was modelled with a nonlinear sinusoidal model with autoregressive moving average (ARMA) errors. Estimated parameters were generated which could be useful for comparative epidemiology, and it was shown that shade could be used in the field for BES management.