This study aimed to evaluate the performance of fungicides against wheat head blast (WHB) under various environments and to determine scenarios best suited for fungicide applications. Field experiments were conducted at 23 environments in Brazil and Bolivia from 2012 to 2015. Data from all trials within the same country were combined for estimating mean WHB control efficacy and yield benefits from using a set of fungicides. Experiments were classified, based on disease index in the check treatment, as having low (CDI = 10), moderate (CDI = 40), and high (CDI = 70) disease pressure and this variable was tested as a covariate in the model. In Brazil, greater disease reduction and yield increase, in trials with moderate to high disease pressure, were obtained when using mancozeb-based fungicides, but with yield gains below 1276 kg/ha. In Bolivia, all fungicides reduced the disease at moderate to high disease pressure, but specific QoI + DMI premixes led to higher yield gains averaging 1834 kg/ha. Based on the evidence provided, we concluded that current WHB chemical strategies could have radically different results depending on country and disease pressure. Although WHB chemical control can be effective even under environmental conditions that favor the disease, integrated management strategies should be explored. Our results are useful for aiding decisions on fungicide application and identifying priorities for future research.

Wheat blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae Triticum (PoT) lineage, is a major constraint to wheat production, mainly in the tropics of Brazil where severe epidemics are more frequent. We analyzed disease and wheat yield data from 42 uniform field trials conducted during nine years (2012 to 2020) in order to assess whether the percent control and yield response were influenced by fungicide type, region (tropical or subtropical), and year. Six treatments were selected, all evaluated in at least 19 trials. Two fungicides were applied as solo active ingredients: MANCozeb, and TEBUconazole, and four were premixes: AZOXystrobin + TEBU, TriFLoXystrobin + PROThioconazole, TFLX + TEBU, and PYRAclostrobin + EPOXiconazole. Percent control, calculated from back-transforming estimates by a meta-analysis network model fitted to the log of the means, ranged from 43% to 58%, with all but PYRA + EPOX showing efficacy greater than 52% on average, not differing among them. The variation in both efficacy and yield response was explained by region and all but TEBU performed better in the subtropics than in the tropics. Yield response from using three sequential sprays was around two times greater in the subtropics (319 to 532 kg/ha) than in the tropics (149 to 241.3 kg/ha). No significant decline in fungicide efficacy or yield response was observed in nine years of study for any of the fungicides. Our results reinforce the need to improve control by adopting an integrated management approach in the tropics given the poorer performance and lower profitability, especially for the premixes, than in the subtropics.

Phytophthora root and stem rot is one of the most aggressive diseases in soybean crop. The use of resistant cultivars is the main strategy to reduce losses caused by the pathogen. This study aims to identify SNP markers associated with genes or QTLs that provide soybean with partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae. A total of 169 soybean cultivars were inoculated with Phytophthora sojae and genotyped with 3,807 SNP markers. Genome-wide association analysis was carried out via multiple linear models, followed by multiple linear regression and linkage disequilibrium analysis. Four QTLs associated with the characteristic were identified: two on chromosome 3 and two on chromosome 15. The regions containing these QTLs contain genes already annotated as providers of resistance to pathogens, in plants. The use of those markers in the selection of resistant plants can increase the efficiency of breeding programs in the development of soybean varieties resistant to P. sojae.

This work aimed to develop and validate individual SNP molecular markers previously identified in a genetic association study of resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in soybean using a microarray panel. The markers identified in the array were converted in single TaqMan® markers. The single markers were used to create an SNP genotyping protocol and establish a marker-assisted selection (MAS) routine associated with resistance to M. incognita in soybean. Out of the eight TaqMan® assays tested, three were validated for use in MAS. The MAS protocol developed in this study uses sequential selection. Initially, molecular markers are used to identify susceptible plants; subsequently, the phenotypic evaluation of plants expressing resistance genotype for the markers is carried out, resulting in the accurate identification of resistant plants. The accuracy of this approach for MAS sequential for M. incognita varied from 94 to 96%.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar 19 marcadores microssatélites para resistência do trigo à giberela, em uma população não estruturada. Foram utilizados marcadores moleculares descritos na literatura como flanqueando QTLs de resistência à giberela em trigo, nos cromossomos 3B, 5A e 6B. Foram avaliadas 96 linhagens e cultivares de trigo quanto à severidade da infecção por giberela, em dois anos de avaliação. As linhagens e as cultivares foram genotipadas com 19 marcadores microssatélites. Os dados obtidos foram analisados pelo teste de Tukey e pelas análises de correlação, regressão linear simples e regressão múltipla; também foi estimada a eficiência de seleção dos marcadores moleculares. A severidade da doença variou de 1,95 a 41,3%, na média dos dois anos. Foram validados os QTLs nos três cromossomos avaliados. Os marcadores Xgwm389, Xgwm533, Xbarc180, Xbarc24, Wmc397, Xbarc101 e Wmc398 foram associados significativamente à resistência do trigo à giberela, tendo sido identificados alelos de resistência e de suscetibilidade. Os marcadores Wmc397, Xbarc101 (cromossomo 6B) e Xbarc180 (cromossomo 5A) têm potencial para uso na seleção assistida por marcadores moleculares, para resistência do trigo à giberela.Termos para indexação: Fusarium graminearum, Triticum aestivum, seleção assistida por marcadores moleculares, SAM. Validation of molecular markers for wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight in Brazilian wheat genotypesAbstract -The objective of this work was to validate 19 microsatellite markers for wheat resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), in an unstructured population. Molecular markers described in the literature as flanking QTLs of FHB resistance in wheat on chromosomes 3B, 5A, and 6B were used. Ninety six wheat lines and cultivars were evaluated for severity of FHB infection in two evaluation years. The lines and cultivars were genotyped with 19 microsatellite markers. The obtained data were analyzed by Tukey's test, and by correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple regression analyses; the efficiency of selection with molecular markers was also estimated. Disease severity ranged from 1.95 to 41.3% in the mean of the two years. QTLs in the three evaluated chromosomes were validated. The markers Xgwm389, Xgwm533, Xbarc180, Xbarc24, Wmc397, Xbarc101, and Wmc398 were significantly associated with FHB resistance in wheat, and alleles for susceptibility and resistance were identified. The markers Wmc397, Xbarc101 (chromosome 6B), and Xbarc180 (chromosome 5A) have potential for use in marker-assisted selection for resistance to FHB in wheat.Index terms: Fusarium graminearum, Triticum aestivum, marker-assisted selection, MAS. IntroduçãoA giberela ou a fusariose é uma das principais doenças do trigo (Triticum aestivum L.). É causada, principalmente, pelo fungo Fusarium graminearum Schwabe e ocorre em regiões onde o clima é quente e úmido (Casa et al., 2004). Além de reduzir a produtividade do trigo, o fungo produz a micotoxina deoxinivalenol (DON), que é prejudicial tanto para a saúde ...

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CD 1705 is a cultivar indicated for the wheat-producing regions 1, 2 and 3 of the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná. It is appropriate for biscuit manufacturing, has good plant health and high production potential (mean yield of 4308 kg ha-1).

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