ResumoA resistência genética constitui-se em alternativa sustentável para o controle de doenças em culturas agrícolas, sendo esta, no entanto, dependente da avaliação de populações naturais ou tradicionais visando à ampliação da base genética. Este trabalho relata a avaliação fenotípica de 24 progênies de mamoeiro, oriundas de genótipos crioulos, cultivados por pequenos agricultores no sul do Estado do Espírito Santo. Avaliaram-se características associadas à resistência à pinta-preta, importante doença desta cultura, causada pelo fungo Asperisporium caricae. Para fins comparativos, foram incluídas uma variedade resistente ('Maradol') e uma suscetível ('Golden') à pinta-preta. Pelos parâmetros genéticos estimados, concluiu-se que na população estudada há variabilidade genética quanto à resistência à pinta-preta suficiente para indicar a seleção recorrente como método de melhoramento.Palavras-chave: Asperisporium caricae, Carica papaya, herdabilidade, resistência genética, variabilidade genética. Pathometry, genetic parameters and papaya progenies reaction to black-spot disease AbstractGenetic resistance is a sustainable alternative to control diseases in crops, being indispensable the enlargement of the genetic base to introduce new resistance genes on developing cultivars. This study reports the phenotypic evaluation of 24 papaya progenies, originated of landraces cultivated for small farmers in south of the Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Characteristics related to the resistance to black-spot disease, induced by the fungi Asperisporium caricae were evaluated. For comparison one genotype resistant ('Maradol') and one susceptible ('Golden') to black-spot disease were included on the study. Based on the genetic parameters estimated, the studied population has genetic variability for resistance to black spot diseases appropriates for use of recurrent selection as crop breeding method.

In Brazil, Meloidogyne mayaguensis has become a threat to guava production. Approximately a third of the cultivated area is infested, leading almost inevitably to the decimation of the orchards. Because parasitized trees develop rotten roots as the disease progresses, the possibility that a soil‐borne pathogen could be involved was investigated. From several nematode‐free or nematode‐infested orchards, nearly 2000 root fragments were tested for bacteria and fungi. Positive isolations were obtained from nematode‐infested areas only and were predominantly identified as Fusarium sp. In a 5‐month microplot experiment, guava seedlings were uninoculated (control) or were inoculated with M. mayaguensis only or with this nematode and 21 days later with one of 11 Fusarium sp. isolates. A Scott–Knot analysis of several vegetative variables and of the extent of root rot allowed the generation of a dissimilarity dendrogram that indicated that four Fusarium sp. isolates were particularly associated with damage to the seedlings. Upon identification of these isolates as Fusarium solani, a 6‐month microplot experiment was set up, in which guava seedlings were uninoculated or were inoculated with one of the following: (i) M. mayaguensis only, (ii) four F. solani isolates, separately, (iii) four F. solani isolates separately, combined with physical injury of the roots with a knife, (iv) M. mayaguensis, and 21 days later with four F. solani isolates, separately. No root rot and virtually no effect on all variables were observed in the seedlings inoculated with the fungus isolates, with or without physical injury. Major root rot and a negative effect on all variables were observed in the seedlings inoculated with M. mayaguensis and all four F. solani isolates. This characterizes guava decline as a complex disease caused by the synergistic effect of these organisms, in which parasitism by the nematode predisposes the plants to root decay caused by the fungus.

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Mango branch blight disease, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is endemic to the municipality of São Fidelis in northern Rio de Janeiro State. In addition to mango, C. fimbriata was found associated with sugar apple trees (Annona squamosa) showing symptoms of branch blight in São Fidelis. Sugar apple and mango isolates from the same region had the same morphology and showed similar ITS-rDNA sequences. These sequences were also similar to other Brazilian isolates of C. fimbriata sensu stricto. Cross inoculation of such isolates obtained from diseased sugar apple and mango resulted in diseased symptoms on both plant species. This is the first record of A. squamosa as a host for C. fimbriata.

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