Jonas Alberto Rios

Limitations to Photosynthesis in Leaves of Wheat Plants Infected by Pyricularia oryzae

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, has become an economically important disease in wheat in Brazil, but little effort has been devoted to understanding the wheat-P. oryzae interaction. This study was intended to determine the effects of P. oryzae infection on the photosynthetic process in wheat plants using a susceptible (BR 18) and a partially resistant cultivar (BRS 229). It was found that the net carbon assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate were dramatically reduced in both cultivars due to P. oryzae infection but to a lesser degree in BRS 229. Photosynthesis was impaired in asymptomatic leaf tissues, indicating that blast severity is not an acceptable indicator for predicting P. oryzae-induced reductions in A. The proportionally larger decreases in A than in gs, in parallel with increases in internal CO2 concentration (Ci), suggest that the lower influx of CO2 into the diseased leaves caused by stomatal closure was not a prominent factor associated with the reduction in A. Additional support for this conclusion comes from the nonsignificant correlation between A and gs, the negative correlation between A and Ci and the positive correlation between blast severity and Ci. Both the maximum rate of carboxylation and the maximum rate of electron transport were dramatically depressed at advanced stages of P. oryzae infection, mainly in BR 18, although the reduction in A was not closely related to the decrease in the electron transport rate. In conclusion, biochemical limitations likely related to the reduced activity of Rubisco, rather than diffusive limitations, were the main factor associated with decreases in A during the infection process of P. oryzae on wheat leaves.

Induction of resistance to Pyricularia oryzae in wheat by acibenzolar-S-methyl, ethylene and jasmonic acid

This study investigated the effects of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) on the resistance of two wheat cultivars (BRS-229 and BR-18) to infection by Pyricularia oryzae. The treatments included spraying plants with ASM (300 mg L-1), ET (0.5 mM), JA (0.1 mM) and distilled water (control) 48 h before inoculation with P. oryzae. Malondialdehyde concentration, an indicative of oxidative damage to the lipids in the leaf cells, was significantly higher for plants sprayed with ASM compared to plants sprayed with JA and ET. Plants sprayed with JA and ET showed reduced values for the number of lesions per cm2 of leaf area and area under blast progress curve, but these hormones had no effect on the incubation period and lesion size (in mm). Plants sprayed with JA and ET showed reduce blast symptoms in comparison to plants sprayed with ASM due to greater peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities.

Efeito do silicato de potássio isoladamente ou em mistura com fungicida no controle da requeima da batateira

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da aplicacao foliar de silicato de potassio, isoladamente ou em mistura com diferentes doses do fungicida, no controle da requeima, causada por Phytophthora infestans, da batateira. O experimento foi conduzido em condicoes de campo utilizando-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com 8 tratamentos e 4 repeticoes. A cultivar de batata usada foi a Asterix. Foi utilizado o fungicida Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (60 + 700 g/Kg i.a.) e silicato de potassio na dose de 60 g/L (pH = 5,5). Os tratamentos (T) utilizados foram: T1 - Testemunha; T2 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (2,0 Kg/ha); T3 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (2,5 Kg/ha); T4 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (2,0 Kg/ha) + silicato de potassio; T5 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (2,5 Kg/ha) + silicato de potassio; T6 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (3,0 Kg/ha) + silicato de potassio; T7 - silicato de potassio e T8 - Cimoxanil + Mancozeb (3,0 Kg/ha). As pulverizacoes foram realizadas semanalmente. A severidade da requeima foi avaliada utilizando-se uma escala descritiva com notas de 0 a 100%. Os resultados da severidade foram utilizados para calcular a area abaixo da curva do progresso da requeima (AACPR). A AACPR foi de 72,5; 23,8; 18,3; 29,5; 19,7; 17,9; 68,3 e 16,3, respectivamente, nos tratamentos T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 e T8. Os tratamentos 3, 5, 6 e 8 foram os mais eficientes (menores AACPRs e maiores rendimentos) no controle da requeima. O silicato de potassio nao foi eficiente e nao apresentou nenhum efeito aditivo quando misturado ao fungicida no controle da requeima.

Alkaloids and phenolics biosynthesis increases mango resistance to infection by Ceratocystis fimbriata

Mango wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is one of the most important diseases affecting mango yields in Brazil. Information regarding the biochemical mechanisms involved in mango resistance against C. fimbriata is absent in the literature. Thus, the present study determined and quantified alkaloids and phenolics in the stem tissue of mango plants from Palmer (susceptible) and Uba (resistant) cultivars. Furthermore, it was examined the effect of these secondary metabolites against C. fimbriata growth in vitro. The high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that the concentration of two alkaloids (theobromine and 7-methylxanthine) and six phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin and epicatechin) in the inoculated plants from cv. Uba was higher in comparison with inoculated plants from cv. Palmer. The concentration of the secondary metabolites was higher in the non-inoculated plants from cv. Palmer than in the inoculated ones, while the opposite was observed for plants of cv. Uba. Peaks in the concentrations of secondary metabolites in the inoculated plants from both cultivars occurred at 7 and 14 days after inoculation. The different concentrations (10 to 30 mg∙mL−1) of secondary metabolites added to the Petri dishes greatly inhibited C. fimbriata growth over time. These results suggest that secondary metabolites played an important role in the resistance of mango plants against C. fimbriata infection.

Magnesium-induced alterations in the photosynthetic performance and resistance of rice plants infected with Bipolaris oryzae

Brown spot (BS), caused by the fungus Bipolaris oryzae, is one of the most important diseases contracted by rice. We investigated the effect of magnesium (Mg) on the development of BS, caused by Bipolaris oryzae, and the effects of disease development on the photosynthetic performance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants (cv. Metica-1) grown in nutrient solutions containing 0.25 or 4.0 mM of Mg. Assessments of BS severity, leaf Mg and pigment concentrations (total chlorophylls and carotenoids), were carried out at 120 h after inoculation, in addition to gas exchange parameters,. Higher leaf concentration of Mg was observed in plants supplied with 4.0 mM Mg than in those supplied with 0.25 mM. The increase in leaf Mg was accompanied by a decrease in BS severity, higher concentration of total chlorophyll and better photosynthetic performance. Plants supplied with 4.0 mM Mg had higher average values for carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance and internal leaf CO2 concentration when compared with plants supplied with 0.25 mM Mg. Conversely, the concentration of carotenoids was lower in plants supplied with the higher Mg rate. These results suggest that Mg suppresses disease severity and preserves photosynthetic performance by allowing for better stomatal conductance and, consequently, greater availability of CO2 at the carboxylation sites.

Microscopic aspects of the colonization of Pyricularia oryzae on the rachis of wheat plants supplied with silicon

Considering the importance of blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, to reduce wheat yield, this study investigate how silicon (Si) could reduce the wheat blast symptoms in the rachis tissues using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Wheat plants (cv. BR 18) were grown in hydroponic culture with either 0 (–Si) or 2 mM (+Si) of Si. Blast symptoms were very well developed on the spikes of the –Si plants, which showed intense discoloration in contrast with the spikes of the +Si plants. At 72 hours after inoculation (hai), fungal hyphae extensively colonized the epidermis and the collenchyma tissue in the radial direction in the rachis of the –Si plants. In the +Si plants, fungal hyphae colonized the epidermis and the collenchyma cells to a lesser extent than in the –Si plants. At 96 hai, fungal hyphae were observed in the epidermis, vascular bundles and cortical tissue in the rachis node of the -Si plants. In the +Si plants, a phenolic-like material was detected in the parenchyma with lower fungal colonization in comparison with the –Si plants. In scanning electron microscopy, fungal hyphae were scarcely observed in the upper epidermal, collenchyma and parenchyma cells in the rachis tissue of the +Si plants, whereas in the rachis tissue of the –Si plants, fungal hyphae extensively colonized the epidermis, collenchyma, parenchyma and vascular bundles.

Wheat Blast: Past, Present, and Future

The devastating wheat blast disease first emerged in Brazil in 1985. The disease was restricted to South America until 2016, when a series of grain imports from Brazil led to a wheat blast outbreak in Bangladesh. Wheat blast is caused by Pyricularia graminis-tritici ( Pygt), a species genetically distinct from the Pyricularia oryzae species that causes rice blast. Pygt has high genetic and phenotypic diversity and a broad host range that enables it to move back and forth between wheat and other grass hosts. Recombination is thought to occur mainly on the other grass hosts, giving rise to the highly diverse Pygt population observed in wheat fields. This review brings together past and current knowledge about the history, etiology, epidemiology, physiology, and genetics of wheat blast and discusses the future need for integrated management strategies. The most urgent current need is to strengthen quarantine and biosafety regulations to avoid additional spread of the pathogen to disease-free countries. International breeding efforts will be needed to develop wheat varieties with more durable resistance.

Pyricularia oryzae -wheat interaction: physiological changes and disease management using mineral nutrition and fungicides

This review aims to summarize our major findings on the host physiology affected by wheat blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae and disease management with emphasis on mineral nutrition and fungicides. Infected plants show reduced values of the leaf gas exchange parameters net carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate and greater values of internal CO2 concentration. Indeed, the photosynthetic machinery is damaged as suggested by reductions in the maximum quantum quenching, photochemical quenching coefficient and electron transport rate. A decrease in the concentration of photosynthetic pigments also occurs. Wheat resistance to blast is intrinsically associated with an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which favors host defense mechanisms against P. oryzae infection. In fact, a more efficient antioxidative system that removes the excess of ROS generated during the infection process of P. oryzae prevents the cellular damage caused by the fungus. As to mineral nutrition, plants supplied with high silicon and low magnesium rate exhibited reduced concentrations of ROS and a more efficient antioxidant system, thus preserving the photosynthetic performance. The expression levels of the defense-related genes pathogenesis-related 1, chitinase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were from 2- to 3-fold higher in silicon-amended plants, which showed leaf and rachis lesser colonized by the fungus. Wheat cultivars able to activate defense mechanisms against P. oryzae infection, thus possessing a more efficient antioxidant system, are recommended. However, fungicides applied during flowering time, in addition to host resistance, are necessary to achieve better control of head blast and reduce yield loss under conditions favorable for the disease.

Indutores de resistência no controle da pinta bacteriana do tomateiro e na atividade de enzimas de defesa

Three experiments were performed aimed to evaluate the effect of jasmonic acid (JA), ethephon (ET) and acibenzolar-S-methyl (Bion®) (ASM) sprayed at 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM and 0.3 g L-1, respectively, on the components of resistance of tomato plants (cv. Santa Clara) to bacterial speck caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato as well as on the activity of peroxidases (POX), polyphenoloxidases (PPO), β-1,3-glucanases (GLU) and lypoxigenases (LOX). Only for experiment 3, the incubation period significantly increased by one day for plants sprayed with ASM compared to plants sprayed with water (control). For all experiments, the number of lesions per plant was significantly reduced by JA, ET and ASM in comparison to the control. For some evaluation times, POX, PPO and GLU activities were higher for JA; PFO, GLU and LOX for ASM; and GLU and LOX for ET in comparison to the control. In conclusion, in the presence of AJ, ET and ASM, bacterial speck symptoms were reduced and the activity of the enzymes POX, PFO, GLU and LOX increased.