Beech seedlings were infected with the root rot pathogen Phytophthora citricola to study its impact on leaf physiology and water status. Net photosynthesis rate decreased two days after inoculation in infected seedlings. In contrast, electron quantum yield of photosystem II, leaf water potential, and total water consumption were only slightly impaired until 6 dpi. At the same time, wilt symptoms occurred on leaves. These results indicate the involvement of a mobile signal triggering the early changes in leaf physiology by root infection. As the elicitin gene of P. citricola was induced during root infection, we purified and characterised the elicitin protein and tested its ability to change leaf physiological parameters of beech and tobacco plants. P. citricola produced a single acidic elicitin (citricolin), which caused necrosis and decreased gas exchange of tobacco leaves. Furthermore, it induced an oxidative burst in tobacco cell suspension culture. However, none of these effects were observed in beech.

The aim of the work was to shed light into histological, physiological and molecular changes of Fagus sylvatica seedlings infected with the root pathogen Phytophthora citricola with the final goal to distinguish between local and systemic responses. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis proved that P. citricola was able to grow from infected roots into hypocotyl and epicotyl tissue of F. sylvatica seedlings. Light microscopy showed many collapsed parenchyma cells of the cortex without being penetrated by the pathogen. Hyphae were mainly growing intracellular in parenchyma and xylem tissue. Transmission electron microscopy displayed disintegration of xylem vessels and of parenchyma cells. Inhibition of water uptake of infected beech seedlings was positively correlated with the concentration of zoospores used in the experiment. In addition, a split root experiment indicated that invertases were possibly involved locally and systemically in the conversion of sucrose of P. citricola infected roots. During the growth of the pathogen in roots, a transient expression of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-oxidase gene was quantified in leaves which was detected in parallel with the first peak of a biphasic ethylene outburst. Additionally a systemic upregulation of aquaporin transcripts was mainly detected in leaves of beech seedlings infected with P. citricola.

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RESUMO Extratos vegetais podem induzir mecanismos de resistência de plantas em função da presença de compostos com características eliciadoras. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do extrato bruto de alecrim nas concentrações 0%; 1%; 2,5% e 5% sobre a atividade de peroxidase, polifenoloxidase e fenilalanina amônia-liase (FAL) em soja inoculada com Macrophomina phaseolina. Foram retiradas amostras nos tempos 0, 36, 72, 120, 168, 216 e 264 h após o tratamento. Nas amostras retiradas do colo das plantas, para peroxidase, as concentrações mais elevadas do extrato proporcionaram dois picos de indução. Houve constante incremento na atividade de polifenoloxidase desde 36 até 120 h após o tratamento para a concentração 5%. Para FAL apenas a concentração 5% promoveu incremento 83% e 130% maior nos tempos 168 e 216 h após o tratamento, respectivamente. Para as atividades na raiz, peroxidase novamente apresentou dois picos de incremento para concentração 5%, a polifenoloxidase foi 426% maior na concentração 5% às 216 h após o tratamento e a atividade de FAL apresentou incremento de 340% no tempo 216 h após o tratamento com 5% do extrato. Estes resultados indicam o potencial do extrato de alecrim em induzir a atividade de enzimas de defesa em colo e raiz de soja.

Control of phytonematodes is very hard and requires a combination of techniques to succeed. Alternative control through plant extracts may result in the discovery of nematicide substances. Research aimed at evaluating the effect of 33 plants submitted to aqueous extraction against Panagrellus redivivus in vitro. Concentrations were prepared at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20%. Monitoring happened at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 30 hours after preparation. Counting considered dead nematodes subtracted from alive ones. Juveniles were also counted, and extract efficiency was expressed in percentage of control or stimuli. Data were submitted to variance analysis. Significant results got with the Scott-Knott test (5%), and multiple linear regression analysis. Extracts were observed acting as controllers, but also as stimulators to nematode reproduction. The best controlling performance was set by Carica papaya (-66% at 20%; -33.7% at 10%), Euphorbia milii (-37% at 20%), Psychotria carthagenensis (-25.5% at 2.5%), Clusia variegate (-22% at 20%), and Zamioculcas zamiifolia (-21.5% at 20%). Stimulator extracts were Mentha villosa at 10% (+148%) and 2.5% (+131.5%), followed by Aloe vera (+123% at 5%), Schinus molle (+112.5% at 10%), Schefflera arboricola (+93.5% at 5%), C. variegate (+89% at 5%), and S. molle (+88% at 5%). Some extracts kept population stable throughout the experiment, presenting lower control indexes. Besides an additive effect, there was an individual influence of concentration or time on control.

Biological control is a method of controlling pests through the use of other living organisms. The purposes of this study were to test Hohenbuehelia species as biological control agents against Panagrellus redivivus in vitro, evaluating nematodes influence on mycelia growth; establishing daily indexes for predation and growth and setting predation percentage. Five species previously identified as 436-Hohenbuehelia mastrucata (Nematoctonus hamatus), 528-H. bullulifera (not described so far), 581-H. paraguayensis (N. sp.), 582-H. sp. (N. sp.) and 631-H. portegna (N. campylosporus) were submitted to anamorphic purification directly from basidioma. Afterwards, 100 nematodes were added to each pure colony for predation test. Evaluation started right after 24 hours of nematode-fungus interaction. Immobilized and/or penetrated nematodes were counted and mycelia growth was measured. Results were subjected to variance analyses. Hohenbuehelia mastrucata had the best performance in growth speed, followed by H. portegna and H. paraguayensis; Nematodes multiplyied much but none specie grew more as an influence of their movement under mycelium, however all species formed trap devices and some of them produced adhesive or repelent substances. Trap devices were formed in control plates also. The plates of H. paraguayensis without nematodes grew more than treatments. Cumulative predation of H. portegna was the highest at 24 (195.5%) and 48 hours (235%). At the last evaluation day, H. paraguayensis preyed the same amount (185.75%) than H. portegna, followed by H. mastrucata (109.51%). Resulst of predation daily indexes displayed chronological activity for each isolate, where H. portegna was very reactive at first 24 hours, H. mastrucata raised its predacious activity in 48 hours being constant from this time on and H. paraguayensis pointed out itself at 72 hours. Other species presented low predation and growth indexes throughout experiment.

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a diagrammatic scale to evaluate the severity of spots on maize leaves caused by the fungus Diplodia macrospora. Severity ranged between the minimal (0.5%) and maximal (55%) limits of disease severity, and intermediate severity levels were defined according to the "Weber-Fechner stimulus response law". The proposed scale describes six levels of severity based on how much of the leaf is affected: 0.5%, 3%, 8%, 23%, 36%, and 55%. Validation was carried out by eight evaluators, four inexperienced and four experienced. They estimated the severity of disease in 60 maize leaves, with and without the proposed diagrammatic scale. A relationship was shown by regression analysis between estimated and actual severity, with and without the use of the scale. When both inexperienced and experienced evaluators used the scale, they were able to estimate disease severity more accurately and precisely.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the fungitoxic effect of the aqueous extracts of Baccharis trimera on the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum 89 race, as well as its effect on the accumulation of phaseolin in hypocotyls of different cultivars and common bean varieties. It was obtained 20% aqueous extract from plants collected in municipalities of the Western Region of Paraná. Blocks containing C. lindemuthianum mycelium were transferred to Petri dishes containing medium with the different extracts and incubated at 25 °C. The colonies diameter was measured until the 12th day. Effects of aqueous extracts on phaseolin production was evaluated in hypocotyls of Carioca, Cnpf 8104, Soberana, Tibatã, Uirapurú cultivars, as well as Rosinha and Vermelho varieties. Each one cultivar and variety hypocotyl was transferred separately to test tubes containing 500 μL of 20% aqueous extracts. Sterile water, Bion®, and UV was used as controls. The phaseolin production was measured in spectrophotometer [280 nm]. Results of the evaluation of the antifungal activity of aqueous extracts of Baccharis sp. specimens collected indicate that approximately 50% of the samples presented capacity to reduce between 74 and 92% of C. lindemuthianum growth. Cultivar Tibatã and Vermelho variety showed greater sensitivity over the applied HIGHLIGHTS  Baccharis trimera aqueous extracts can inhibit Colletotrichum lindemuthianun 89 race growth.  C. lindemuthianum filtrate can be used as a phaseolin inductor on common bean.  There is no evidence of phaseolin induction through application of aqueous extracts of B. trimera in common bean hypocotyls.