Cecilia Armesto

Diversity of Trichoderma species isolated from dead branches and sapwood of Theobroma cacao trees

The diversity of Trichoderma species associated with cacao trees in Bahia state, Brazil, was investigated. A total of 100 isolates, 76 from sapwood and 24 from dead branches, were characterized by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA and the translation elongation factor (tef1) of the RNA polymerase. Sixteen known and five putative new species were identified among the isolates used in this study. Trichoderma lentiforme was the most abundant species and exclusively found in cacao sapwood while T. parareesei was the most abundant and exclusively isolated from dead branches. The knowledge on the diversity of these fungi may contribute to their future exploitation in biotechnological applications and biological control of plant diseases.

GFP-fluorescent protein on the study of blister spot in coffee plants

In Brazil, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is associated with a complex of symptoms in coffee culture. Although this pathogen had its pathogenesis observed and identified, its importance has still been questioned due to its several endophytic forms, raising doubts as to the real importance of the pathosystem. The aim of this study was to demonstrate, by using an isolate transformed with the gene gfp, the infection and colonization capability of C. gloeosporioides in coffee seedlings. After the fourth day of inoculation, manifestation of symptoms as punctual necrosis could be observed, which progressed during the evaluation period, culminating in the death of seedlings. Epifluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of the pathogen in the seedlings, as well as the visualization of internal colonization of tissues, acervulus formation and conidium production, confirming that it was responsible for the observed symptoms.

Extratos de plantas de cobertura no desenvolvimento de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Plant extracts may interfere with the life cycle of pathogens by promoting or inhibiting development. Based on this property, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts of the COVER plants crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), brachiaria (Brachiaria ruziziensis), panicum maximum grass (Panicum maximum cv. mombaca), millet (Pennisetum glaucum), pigeon pea dwarf bean (Cajanus cajan.) and stylosanthes (Stylosanthes macrocephala x Stylosanthes capitata) on the mycelial growth, mycelial and carpogenic germination of sclerotia, and ascospore germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The stages of the experiment were carried out in a greenhouse, growth chambers and laboratory. The concentrations of the extracts used were 1%, 5%, 10% and 25%. To assess the influence of extracts on the mycelial and carpogenic germination of the sclerotia only the concentration of 25% was used. The results on the mycelial growth showed that the Stylosanthes sp. plant extract was effective for inhibiting the pathogen only at concentration of 25%. For mycelial germination of sclerotia, it was found that with the exception of Stylosanthes sp. the extracts induced germination 12 hours after the experiment. In regard to the germination of ascospores, only the extract from Stylosanthes sp. successfully prevented germination.