Soil loss is one of the main causes of pauperization and alteration of agricultural soil properties. Various empirical models (e.g., USLE) are used to predict soil losses from climate variables which in general have to be derived from spatial interpolation of point measurements. Alternatively, Artificial Neural Networks may be used as a powerful option to obtain site-specific climate data from independent factors. This study aimed to develop an artificial neural network to estimate rainfall erosivity in the Ribeira Valley and Coastal region of the State of São Paulo. In the development of the Artificial Neural Networks the input variables were latitude, longitude, and annual rainfall and a mathematical equation of the activation function for use in the study area as the output variable. It was found among other things that the Artificial Neural Networks can be used in the interpolation of rainfall erosivity values for the Ribeira Valley and Coastal region of the State of São Paulo to a satisfactory degree of precision in the estimation of erosion. The equation performance has been demonstrated by comparison with the mathematical equation of the activation function adjusted to the specific conditions of the study area.

Phytopathogenic fungi during the penetration and colonization process are capable of secreting several enzymes, which enable infection of the host live tissue, acting on the degradation of wax, cuticle and cell walls. The ability of a pathogenic agent to produce enzymes or not can determine the severity degree of a disease. In this study, 33 isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides related to anthracnose and blister spot on coffee trees were evaluated for their ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease, laccase, pectinase and cellulase) and specific cell wall degrading enzymes “CWDEs” (polygalacturonase, polymethylgalacturonase and pectin-lyase), as well as their relationship with the pathogenicity/aggressiveness of isolates. For all isolates of C. gloeosporioides, extracellular enzymes could be detected, except cellulases. Isolates I-9 and I-24 produced the highest levels of extracellular enzymes, as well as CWDEs. They also had the highest disease intensity indexes, suggesting a relationship between enzymes and aggressiveness of the isolates.

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.

Blister spot (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is now widespread in most coffee producing states of Brazil, becoming a limiting factor for production. The lack of data relating to the reproduction of typical symptoms (light green, oily patches) leaves a gap within the pathosystem, forcing the search for new methodologies for monitoring the disease. Monitoring of genetically modified organisms has proven to be an effective tool in understanding the host x pathogen interactions. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of two systems of genetic transformation in obtaining mutants using the gfp reporter gene.Using the two transformation systems (PEG and electroporation) revealed the efficiency of both, confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin-B, when incorporated into the culture medium. The fungus maintained its cultural and morphological characteristics when compared to wild strains. When inoculated on coffee seedlings, it was found that the pathogenicity of the processed isolates had not changed.

RESUMOExtratos vegetais podem interferir no ciclo de vida dos fitopatógenos por promover ou inibir o desenvolvimento. Com base nessa propriedade, este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar o efeito dos extratos aquosos das plantas de cobertura crotalária (Crotalaria juncea), braquiária (Brachiaria ruziziensis), capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum cv. mombaça), milheto (Pennisetum glaucum), feijão-guandu-anão (Cajanus cajan) e estilosantes (Stylosanthes capitata x Stylosanthes macrocephala) sobre o crescimento micelial, germinação carpogênica e micelial dos escleródios e germinação dos ascósporos do fungo Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. As etapas do experimento foram desenvolvidas em casa de vegetação, câmaras de crescimento e laboratório. As concentrações dos extratos utilizadas foram de 1%, 5%, 10% e 25%. Para verificar a influência dos extratos sobre a germinação micelial e carpogênica dos escleródios, foi utilizada somente a concentração de 25%. Os resultados sobre o crescimento micelial mostraram que o extrato da planta de Stylosanthes sp. inibiu o desenvolvimento do patógeno apenas na concentração de 25%. Para a germinação micelial dos escleródios, verificou-se que os extratos induziram a germinação 12 horas após a instalação do experimento, exceto o Stylosanthes sp. Na germinação dos ascósporos, apenas o extrato de Stylosanthes sp. impediu a germinação. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Mofo branco, manejo cultural, ascósporos, escleródios, apotécios. ABSTRACT PLANT EXTRACTS OF COVER CROPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 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. mombaça), 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.KEY WORDS: White mold, cultural management, ascospores, sclerotia, apothecium.2 Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Fitotecnia, Bom Jesus, PI, Brasil. INTRODUÇÃONos últimos ano...