Providing inoculum for Didymella bryoniae studies: the effect of light spectrum and storing at low temperature

The in vitro sporulation of Didymella bryoniae is of great importance for studies that require pure inoculum and in large quantities. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify the best condition for D. bryoniae sporulation combining different light spectra (UV-A or UV-B light, white light, and continuous dark), with distinct culture media (PDA, V8, ML, and PDAB) and, to evaluate fungus’ survivability stored at -20°C over time. The fungus samples were only able to sporulate when subjected to the UV-B light treatment, regardless of the culture medium. The highest appearance of spores conidium type was observed in the PDAB medium, and the lowest production occurred in the ML medium. Reproductive structures, such as perithecia and pycnidia, were observed in all culture media. However, there was considerable variation in the amount of each structure between the different culture media. The ML and V8 media showed a greater number of perithecia and the PDA and PDAB media presented a greater proportion of pycnidia compared to perithecia. The storage duration at -20°C did not affect mycelial growth or mycelial growth rate. In conclusion, the UV-B light is essential for D. bryoniae in vitro sporulation. Moreover, the culture medium composition influences the type of fungal structure produced, as well as spores’ size and quantity. Freezing at -20°C is an efficient technique that can be used to store D. bryoniae for at least five months without loss of viability.

Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungi Associated with Leaf Spot of Muskmelon in Eastern Shandong Province, China

Leaf spot is a serious disease in the growth and development of muskmelon, which can affect its quality and yield. In recent years, Malianzhuang Muskmelon Base, the main muskmelon producing area in Shandong Province, China, has been seriously affected by leaf spot. Since 2018, symptomatic leaves were collected from eleven production areas of this base to determine the pathogens of muskmelon foliar diseases. 200 fungal strains were isolated and 10 genera and 17 species were identified based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, GADPH, RPB2, HIS3, EF-1α, and LSU). The most frequently isolated species from each sampling area was Alternaria tenuissima with 77 strains, followed by A. alternata. Pathogenicity experiments showed that A. alternata, A. tenuissima, Fusarium neocosmosporiellum (formerly Neocosmospora vasinfecta), F. acuminatum, Exserohilum rostratum, Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (formerly Didymella bryoniae) could cause symptoms highly similar to those of infected leaves observed under natural conditions in the field. Therefore, these fungal isolates are considered to be the primary pathogens causing muskmelon leaf spot, and A. tenuissima and A. alternata were the most common and virulent pathogens in this study. In addition, this is the first study of F. neocosmosporiellum, F. acuminatum, E. rostratum, and B. sorokiniana as pathogens associated to muskmelon leaf spot in China as well as the world.

ASPECTOS BIOMÉTRICOS, GRAU DE UMIDADE EM SEMENTES DE SUCUPIRA E DETERMINAÇÃO DO EFEITO FUNGITÓXICO DO SEU ÓLEO ESSENCIAL

A busca por métodos naturais que viabilizam a eficiência da atividade biológica sobre vários microrganismos vem sendo destaque no cenário atual. A exploração da atividade biológica de compostos secundários presentes no extrato bruto ou óleos essenciais de plantas pode constituir, ao lado da indução da resistência, em uma forma efetiva de controle de doenças em plantas cultivadas. Diante disso, o presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do óleo essencial de sucupira em suas propriedades de rendimento, bem como sua atividade biológica antifúngica sobre determinados patógenos que afetam culturas promissoras no Estado do Tocantins. Instalou-se o experimento no Campus de Ciências Agrárias da Faculdade Católica do Tocantins no laboratório de Bromatologia e Fitopatologia, para extração do óleo essência, avaliação do grau de umidade e biometria de sementes, obtenção dos fitopatógenos e avaliação dos efeitos fungitóxicos do óleo essencial. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos, adicionados ao meio de cultura, após a autoclavagem e o resfriamento, foram as seguintes: sucupira (BDA + 25% de extrato de sucupira + 0,016% de polissorbato), sucupira (BDA + 50% de extrato de sucupira + 0,016% de polissorbato), sucupira (BDA + 75% de extrato de sucupira + 0,016% de polissorbato), sucupira (BDA + 100% de extrato de sucupira + 0,016% de polissorbato) e testemunha (BDA). Os resultados foram submetidos ao teste Tukey (5%) de probabilidade. O óleo essencial de sucupira inibiu o desenvolvimento micelial de Fusarium subglutinans, Sclerotinia sclerotiurum, Didymella bryoniae, Pyricularia oryzae.

Selection of melon genotypes with resistance to Didymella bryoniae using a diallel approach

The development of melon lines resistant to gummy stem blight (GSB) is an important strategy for decreasing losses caused by this disease. Thus, selecting the best parents for such a goal is essential. We evaluated the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities of lines and accessions to guide the selection of the most promising parents to develop GSB-resistant lines. Six genotypes representing two groups (group I - susceptible: group II - resistant) were crossed in a partial diallel mating design. The genotypes were evaluated for disease expression using a rating scale from 0 (resistant) to 4 (susceptible). Estimates of GCA were negative and significant for the accessions PI 420145 and PI 482398, which can be suggested for crosses aimed at obtaining melon lines resistant to GSB. There is a reciprocal effect for the resistance of melon genotypes to Didymella bryoniae, especially when PI 482398, PI 420145, and PI 140471 are crossed with JAB-20. Such results indicate that maternal effects may be involved in the resistance to gummy stem blight.