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Abstract Soybean is the main oilseed cultivated worldwide. Even though Brazil is the world’s largest producer and exporter of soybean, its production is severely limited by biotic factors. Soil borne diseases are the most damaging biotic stressors since they significantly reduce yield and are challenging to manage. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of a bacterial strain (Ag109) as a biocontrol agent for different soil pathogens (nematodes and fungi) of soybean. In addition, the genome of Ag109 was wholly sequenced and genes related to secondary metabolite production and plant growth promotion were mined. Ag109 showed nematode control in soybean and controlled 69 and 45% of the populations of Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus brachyurus, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, these strains showed activity against Macrophomia phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. For S. sclerotiorum, this strain increased the number of healthy plants and root dry mass compared to the control (with inoculation). Based on the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization, this strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis. Diverse clusters of specific genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis and root growth promotion were identified, highlighting the potential of this strain to be used as a multifunctional microbial inoculant that acts as a biological control agent while promoting plant growth in soybean.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are considered a limiting factor for tomato production, causing substantial economic losses. Several control measures have been used to control RKNs in infested areas, such as crop rotation or succession with non-host species, using resistant cultivars, and applying chemical and biological nematicides. Here, we examined the control effect of six microbiological products (Ag109 - Bacillus velezensis, Votivo Prime - B. firmus, Quartzo - B. subtilis and B. licheniformis, Veraneio - B. amyloliquefaciens, Nemat - Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Rizotec - Pochonia chlamydosporia) against different species of Meloidogyne in tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse and evaluated these products under field conditions to verify their impact on root-associated nematode populations and agronomic and physicochemical traits of fruits from grafted and non-grafted tomato plants. For the greenhouse studies, higher pathogenicity was observed for tomato with M. javanica and M. enterolobii compared to M. incognita. The microbiological nematicides were more effective in controlling M. javanica and M. enterolobii, while for M. incognita, the evaluated products were ineffective. Regarding the field studies, most of the microbiological nematicides evaluated effectively increased production per plant. However, when analyzing the Meloidogyne population in the field, applying microbiological nematicides showed no nematode control in plants without rootstock. On the other hand, in the grafted plants, the Ag109, Veraneio, Rizotec, and Nemat treatments boosted the reduction in the Meloidogyne population in the roots, with average reductions of 68.47, 57.97, 77.29, and 56.70%, respectively. These results indicate the effectiveness of integrated management of microbiological nematicides and resistant rootstock in tomato. Furthermore, combining these two control measures resulted in no change in the nutritional quality of tomato fruits.

ABSTRACT: Meloidogyne species are widely distributed in coffee growing areas in Brazil, where M. paranaensis is responsible to significant losses to the crop. One of the main management strategies is the use of resistant cultivars, such as Apoatã rootstock and cultivars IPR 100 and IPR 106. However, the parasitic relationship between coffee and M. paranaensis in cultivars carrying resistance genes has been poorly understood. The objective of this paper was to characterize the resistance response of Coffea arabica cv. IPR 106 to M. paranaensis. For this, penetration and histopathological studies were carried out using root tissues parasitized by the nematode. ‘IPR 106’ and ‘Mundo Novo’ (susceptible cultivar) seedlings were inoculated with 4,000 eggs of M. paranaensis and, 15 days after inoculation (DAI), roots were stained with fuchsine to verify the penetration rates of the nematode. Histopathological studies were conducted at 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAI and nematode reproduction was calculated at 120 DAI. ‘IPR 106’ did not avoid completely nematode penetration at 15 DAI, although the number of nematodes was 50 % lower than in Mundo Novo, disregarding the hypothesis of a pre-infectional mechanism of resistance that could prevent nematode penetration completely. However, giant cells and collapsed nematodes were observed in ‘IPR 106’ at 30 DAI, suggesting that the resistance mechanism to M. paranaensis in ‘IPR 106’ involves a post-infectional response and could be mediated by a hypersensitive reaction.

Root-knot nematodes cause damage to several crops and the importance of each species can vary according with the crop and the agricultural region. In Brazil, Meloidogyne javanica is one of the most important nematode species parasitizing mulberry. To define management strategies, it is important to know if the crop species is damaged by the parasitism of the nematode and the best choices for control, as the use of nematicides. Biological nematicides have been extensively used in Brazil, but no information regarding its efficiency to control M. javanica in mulberry is available. Besides, it is not known if biological nematicides could improve the quality of leaves or if they alter the nutrient composition of leaves, which could interfere in the development of the silkworms that are feed with these leaves or in the quality of the silk produced. With the aim to address these questions, we propose a study that will start in the phenotyping of the main Brazilian mulberry cultivars to Meloidogyne species, passing through the test of efficiency of biological nematicides in the control of M. javanica in mulberry cultivar Miura, evaluation of the amount and quality of leaves produced and, using these leaves to feed silkworms, in the analyzes of the impact of these diet in the health of silkworms, and in the production and quality of the silk.

ABSTRACT The analysis of nematode communities allows inferring consequences of management practices on the soil food web. We studied the taxonomic structure of nematode communities in preserved areas of the Atlantic forest (native forest = NF) in Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, Brazil, and in three different agroecosystems in neighboring areas to assess the effect of agricultural land use on nematode assemblages. Agroecosystems were located in a red latosol cropped during 30 years under conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), and minimal tillage (MT). We collected ten composite soil samples in each area in the summer. Nematodes were extracted by Baermann funnel and fixed with formalin. Subsequently, individuals were classified into taxonomic groups and counted on a Peters slide to determine densities of each taxon. Plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes were classified at the genus level. Data were analyzed with the parameters abundance, Bray & Curtis, Shannon-Weaver, and Simpson indexes. We recorded 35 genera and abundance of nematodes in MT and NT areas was more similar. Higher richness was observed in NF in relation to cropped areas, especially under NT and CT. The PCA and clustering analyses from both nematode communities and soil chemical characteristics showed that MT and CT were more similar and NT was clustered near NF. The replacement of native vegetation by cropping systems caused a reduction of nematode diversity, demonstrating the influence of agricultural practices on nematode communities.

‘IPR 100’ was derived from a crossing between “Catuaí” and a hybrid (“Catuaí” x BA-10 coffee). ‘IPR 100’ is a medium size dwarf cultivar with high rusticity, with late ripening cycle, and with resistance to Meloidogyne paranaensis and to some M. incognita populations.

Nematode diseases have a worldwide importance for several economic agricultural crops, such as soybean. Frequently, new or secondary pathogens arise as emergent diseases due to the intensified use of agricultural lands, causing extensive yield losses. Helicotylenchus dihystera (Hd) and Scutellonema brachyurus (Sb) appear as potential pathogens for soybean in Brazil, since their spread and population densities have been increased on soybean growing areas. Aiming to evaluate the quantitative distribution of Hd and Sb in soybean fields in South Brazil, a survey was conducted during the growing seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 in which 1,088 soil samples and 1,043 root samples were analyzed. Besides, two greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the pathogenicity of both nematodes to soybean plants, in comparison with P. brachyurus (Pb), a known pathogen of the crop. The survey demonstrated that Pb, Hd and Sb are widely distributed in the States of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul. Besides, we proved that Hd and Sb multiply and cause root lesions in soybean cv. Potência, since they were found inside roots, and can be considered as potential pathogens for soybean plants.

The oat cultivar IPR Afrodite, resulting from a cross between CFT 2 and the inbred line ER 88144-1, is high-yielding, has grain quality traits that are relevant for food processing and industry, and is resistant to the root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. paranaensis and M. enterolobii.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to accomplish a survey on populations of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus species in sugarcane farming areas in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Twenty samples of soil and roots were processed to extract and quantify nematodes; however, the identification of Meloidogyne species was performed using only 12 samples. Pratylenchus spp. were reported at moderate population levels of 68-1556 specimens 50g-1 of roots and 2-298 specimens 100cm-3 of soil in twenty analyzed samples. For Meloidogyne spp., these values were of 12-487 specimens 50g-1 of roots and 0-140 specimens 100cm-3 of soil. Based on electrophoresis of esterase isozymes, M. incognita was reported to be the most frequent species, followed by M. javanica and M. arenaria. Pratylenchus species identified through morphometrical and morphological characteristics were P. zeae and P. brachyurus , with predominance for the first species. No significant correlation (P≤0.05) were reported between nematode populations and sugarcane cropping systems.

ABSTRACT: The potential of silicon (Si) to control nematodes is often reported in association with the resistance induction mechanism. The objective of this work was to evaluate the hypothesis of resistance induction in plants against nematodes through the application of Si. In vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of Si and potassium chloride (KCl) on the hatching and mortality of Meloidogyne paranaensis juveniles. For the purpose of a greenhouse experiment, tomato plants were used as a model for bifurcated roots, using the respective control treatments, KCl and distilled water. Ten days after treatment, 2,000 eggs of M. paranaensis were inoculated. At 55 days post-inoculation, the reproduction factor and number of nematodes per gram of root were evaluated. Additionally, the tissue nutrient concentration and gas exchange variables were analyzed. Silicon reduces nematode viability, when in direct contact with the nematode in in vitro experiments and in bifurcated plants. When plants were treated with Si on one side of the root, no nematode control was observed on the opposite corresponding side. Results suggested that Si has a positive effect on the reduction of M. paranaensis population, but probably induced resistance to nematode only through direct action.