Mango wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is one of the most important diseases affecting mango yields in Brazil. Information regarding the infection process of C. fimbriata in the stem tissues of mango from different cultivars and the basis of host resistance to the pathogen is rare in the literature. Thus, the objective of the study was to investigate how infection by two isolates of C. fimbriata can be affected by mango cultivar-specific mechanisms of resistance. Disease progress on the inoculated stem tissues of the mango cultivars was evaluated and stem sections were obtained from the site of inoculation and prepared for histopathological observations using light microscopy. The factors mango cultivars and C. fimbriata isolates and their interaction were significant for all measures of disease development. Plants from the cultivars Espada, Haden and Palmer inoculated with isolates of C. fimbriata were more susceptible, whereas plants from the cultivars Tommy and Ub a were moderately resistant and resistant, respectively. Histopathologically, fungal isolates apparently massively colonized the stem tissues of plants from the susceptible cultivars Espada, Haden and Palmer, starting from the collenchyma and moving in the direction of the cortical parenchyma, xylem vessels and pith parenchyma. By contrast, on stem tissues of plants from the resistant cultivars Tommy Atkins and Ub a, most of the cells reacted to C. fimbriata infection by accumulating amorphous material. The results from the present study strongly indicated the importance of phenolic compounds for mango cultivar resistance against infection by Brazilian C. fimbriata isolates.

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, has become a significant disease threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate at the histochemical level if silicon (Si) could enhance the production of flavonoids in the leaves of wheat plants in response to P. oryzae infection. Plants from the Aliança cultivar, which are susceptible to blast, were grown in hydroponic cultures containing 0 (-Si) or 2 mM of Si (+Si) and inoculated by spraying a conidial suspension of P. oryzae (1 × 10 5 conidia mL ). This increased Si concentration was correlated with reduced fungal growth inside the epidermal cells and the development of blast symptoms on leaves. Strong fluorescence, which is an indication of the presence of flavonoids, was detected in the leaf cells of +Si plants usingNeu's and Wilson's reagents. A novel item of evidence is that, at the histochemical level, Si is involved in the potentiation of the biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids that increases wheat resistance to blast.

RESUMO A brusone do trigo, causada pelo fungo Pyricularia grisea foi relatada pela primeira vez no Brasil, no estado do Paraná, em 1985. Desde então, busca-se, dentre o germoplasma disponível no País, cultivares resistentes à doença. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o grau de resistência parcial de genótipos de trigo comum e de trigo sintético nos estádios de planta jovem e de planta adulta. Para a avaliação na fase de planta jovem foram escolhidos 70 genótipos de trigo, os quais foram submetidos à inoculação com 18 isolados de P. grisea. Dos 70 genótipos, 12 foram selecionados para a avaliação em planta adulta. Entre os genótipos resistentes em planta jovem

The objective of this study was to understand the infection process of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli (Fop) in bean cultivars classified as resistant (Manteigão Fosco 11), intermediate (VP8) and susceptible (Meia Noite). Plants of the three cultivars were inoculated at 10 days after emergence with a suspension of 1×10 6 conidia of Fop per mL. At 43 days after the inoculation, stem segments were observed with a scanner electronic microscope. The cultivars Manteigão Fosco 11 and VP8 presented an occluding material in the xylem vessels, which may have restricted tissue colonization by Fop. The resistance of bean cultivars to Fop seemed also to be explained by structural differences in the xylem tissue. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, Fusarium wilt, host defense.The fungus Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. phaseoli Kendrick & Snyder (Fop) is the causal agent of the Fusarium wilt on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and is present in all the regions that produce beans in the world (Alves-Santos et al., 2002;Abawi & Pastor-Corrales, 1990;Schwartz & McMillan, 1989;Buruchara & Camacho, 2000). The inadequate rotation of cultures, especially in areas irrigated with central pivot, the lack of preventive measures of control of the pathogen dissemination and the increase of soil compaction made the Fusarium wilt one of the most important bean diseases in Brazil (Paula Júnior et al., 2006).The dark, thick-walled chlamydospores are the longterm survival structures in soil (Abawi & Pastor-Corrales, 1990). Management practices alone may not be enough to keep the disease in low levels of intensity. Thus, the most efficient and viable alternative for the control of this disease is the use of resistant cultivars (Abawi, 1989;Abawi & Pastor-Corrales, 1990;Paula Júnior et al., 2006).The pathogen is capable of penetrating intact root tissue, although penetration of older parts of root and hypocotyl tissue also occurs, usually through wounds or natural openings (Abawi, 1989;Dongo & Müller, 1969;Duque & Müller, 1969). After penetration, hyphae of Fop move inter-and intracellularly and invade the xylem vessels (Mace et al., 1981). The fungus is confined to xylem vessels until the later stages of disease development, although limited invasion of the adjacent tissues may occur; growth of hyphae and transportation of microconidia in the xylem vessels are observed in susceptible cultivars (Abawi, 1989). On the other hand, in resistant plants the colonization between adjacent xylem vessels is restricted, probably as a result of chemical and structural alterations (Mace et al., 1981), including vascular occlusion by the formation of gel plugs, tyloses, deposition of additional wall layers and infusion of these structures with phenols and other metabolites (Mace et al., 1981).Although there are some reports about the differences in the histopathology of stem tissues from resistant and susceptible bean cultivars infected by Fop, detailed studies that approach the infectious process in plant tissues are scarce, especially compari...

This study aimed to determine the effect of jasmonic acid (JA), Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM) and calcium silicate (a source of soluble silicon, Si), on the potentiation of soybean resistance to Asian soybean rust (ASR). The ASR severity was significantly reduced on plants sprayed with ASM or supplied with Si in comparison to plants sprayed with JA or deionized water. For chitinases (CHI), significant differences in activity between non-inoculated and inoculated plants sprayed with deionized water or with ASM occurred at 72 hours after inoculation (hai), at 24 and 72 hai when sprayed with JA and at 141 hai when supplied with Si. For β-1,3-glucanases (GLU), significant differences in activity between non-inoculated and inoculated plants sprayed with deionized water occurred at 24, 48 and 141 hai, but not until 72 for plants sprayed with ASM. For phenylalanine ammonia-lyases (PAL), significant differences in activity between non-inoculated and inoculated plants occurred only for plants sprayed with ASM at 72 and 141 hai. In conclusion, the ASR symptoms can be mild on plants sprayed with ASM or supplied with Si and that this amelioration likely involved the defense enzymes.Key words: Glycine max, Asian soybean rust, induction of resistance, mechanisms of host defense.Indutores de resistência e silício na atividade de enzimas de defesa na interação soja-Phakopsora pachyrhizi ResumoEste estudo objetivou determinar o efeito do ácido jasmônico (AJ), do Acibenzolar-S-Metil (ASM) e do silicato de cálcio (fonte de silício solúvel, Si) na potencialização da resistência da soja à ferrugem asiática (FA). A severidade da FA foi significativamente reduzida nas plantas pulverizadas com ASM ou supridas com Si em comparação com as plantas pulverizadas com água deionizada ou AJ. Para a atividade das quitinases (QUI), diferenças significativas entre plantas não inoculadas e inoculadas que foram pulverizadas com água destilada ou ASM ocorreram às 72 horas após a inoculação (hai); às 24 e 72 hai para plantas pulverizadas com AJ e às 141 hai quando supridas com Si. Para β-1,3-glucanases (GLU), diferenças significativas entre plantas inoculadas e não inoculadas que foram pulverizadas com água deionizada ocorreram às 24, 48 e 141 hai, mas não ocorreram até as 72 hai para plantas pulverizadas com ASM. Para fenilalanina amônia-liases (PAL), houve diferença significativa na atividade entre plantas inoculadas e não inoculadas somente para aquelas pulverizadas com ASM as 72 e 141 hai. Em conclusão, os sintomas da FA podem ser reduzidos em plantas pulverizadas com ASM ou em plantas supridas com Si, em parte, pela participação das enzimas de defesa estudadas.Palavras-chave: Glycine max, ferrugem asiática, indução de resistência, mecanismos de defesa do hospedeiro.

RESUMO O uso de ferramentas moleculares e avaliações da virulência de Pyricularia grisea, agente causal da brusone do arroz e do trigo, têm permitido identificar variantes do patógeno, especialmente aqueles que ocorrem na cultura do arroz. Nesse sentido, os marcadores microssatélites já demonstraram que são eficientes para classificar isolados de P. grisea em grupos geneticamente relacionados. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar a diversidade genética de 18 isolados de P. grisea do trigo com o auxílio de oito primers de microssatélites e relacionar os dados da análise molecular com os dados do espectro de virulência desses isolados, inoculados em plantas jovens de 70 genótipos de trigo. Dos 8 loci analisados, o primer mais informativo foi PG 5, que apresentou 4 alelos. Além disso, os primers MG 21 e PG 12 permitiram separar os isolados Py 5020 e Py 5038 em um grupo bastante distinto, com menos de 50% de similaridade em relação aos demais isolados. A maioria dos isolados (16) apresentou mais de 75% de similaridade entre si. Na análise de virulência, 15 dos 18 isolados testados apresentaram mais de 85% de similaridade entre si. Com exceção do isolado Py 5002, o agrupamento dos isolados de acordo com o grau de similaridade que os mesmos apresentaram entre si foi muito semelhante nos dois critérios utilizados nesta pesquisa. O fato de não ter sido encontrado um genótipo que fosse resistente a todos os isolados confirma a necessidade de se buscar novas fontes ou melhores combinações genética de genótipos de trigo mais resistentes à doença.

Two experiments were carried out to assess the changes associated with photoassimilate production and partitioning in the source-sink relationship of flag leaves and spikes of wheat plants infected with Pyricularia oryzae, the causal agent of blast. Flag leaves and spikes were inoculated at 10 and 20 days after anthesis (daa) with a conidial suspension of P. oryzae. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence using maximal photosystem II quantum efficiency (F v ⁄F m ), fraction of energy absorbed that is used in photochemistry (YII), quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation (Y(NO)) and quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (Y(NPQ)), showed an impairment of the photosynthetic performance in both infected flag leaves and spikes, coupled with reduced concentrations of chlorophyll a + b and carotenoids. Compared to non-inoculated controls, there was lower capacity for CO 2 fixation by RuBisCO in the infected flag leaves. Similarly, in the infected flag leaves and grains (obtained from infected spikes), there were lower concentrations of soluble sugars, while the hexoses-to-sucrose ratio increased in infected flag leaves. Compared to non-inoculated controls, infected flag leaves showed lower sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity and lower expression of the sucrose synthesis (SuSy) gene, while higher expression and activity of acid invertases also occurred. At the advanced stages of fungal infection, the concentration of starch in grains decreased but remained high for the infected flag leaves. There were reductions in ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase activity and the expression of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase genes and a down-regulation of band a-amylase expression at the advanced stages of fungal infection on flag leaves and spikes. In conclusion, the effect of blast on both grain quality and yield can be associated with alterations in both production and partitioning of carbohydrates during the grain filling process.

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most important diseases on soybean. At the moment, ASR is managed mainly with fungicides due to the absence of commercial cultivars with resistance to this disease. This study evaluated the effects of acibenzolar-Smethyl (ASM), jasmonic acid (JA), potassium silicate (PS) and calcium silicate (CS) on soybean resistance to ASR. The ASM, JA and PS were sprayed to leaves 24 h prior to inoculation with P. pachyrhizi. The CS was amended to the soil. The incubation period (time from the inoculation until symptoms development) was longer for plants growing in soil amended with CS or sprayed with ASM in comparison with plants sprayed with water (control). Plants sprayed with ASM had longer latent period (time from the inoculation until signs appearance) in comparison with the control plants. Plants sprayed with PS showed fewer uredia per cm² of leaf in relation to the control plants. The ASM and PS were the most effective treatments in reducing the ASR symptoms in contrast to the JA and CS treatments. The JA served as an inducer of susceptibility to ASR.