Genetic diversity among alfalfa genotypes (Medicago sativa L.) of non-dormant cultivars using SSR markers and agronomic traits

The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity among 40 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes of different non-dormant (FD=8) cultivars. Biomass yield, regrowth speed and reaction to spring black stem, lepto leaf spot, and rust were evaluated. Analyses of variances were performed using a mixed model to examine the agronomic variation among individuals. A principal component analysis on standardized agronomic data was performed. Agronomic data were also used to calculate Gower's distance and UPGMA algorithm. For the molecular analysis, six SSR markers were evaluated and 84 alleles were identified. The genetic distance was estimated using standard Nei's distance. Average standard genetic diversity was 0.843, indicating a high degree of variability among genotypes. Finally, a generalized procrustes analysis was performed to calculate the correlation between molecular and agronomic distance, indicating a 65.4% of consensus. This value is likely related to the low number of individuals included in the study, which might have underestimated the real phenotypic variability among genotypes. Despite the low number of individuals and SSR markers analyzed, this study provides a baseline for future diversity studies to identify genetically distant alfalfa individuals or cultivars.

Impacto de mancha ojo de rana (Cercospora sojina k. Hara) sobre rendimiento y componentes industriales del grano de soja: aceite y proteína

La mezcla de fungicidas estrobilurina y triazol (E+T) se aplicó a 2 cultivares contrastantes en susceptibilidad a mancha ojo de rana (MOR) (DM3700 y DM3810) en los estadíos R3 o R3+R5; se incluyeron además 2 controles: enfermo y sano. Se avaluó incidencia y severidad de MOR, rendimiento, número de granos (NG), peso de granos (PG), aceite y proteína del grano. Se observaron distintos niveles de severidad entre tratamientos de DM3700 y ausencia de MOR en los tratamientos de DM3810. Se encontró correlación negativa entre severidad y rendimiento. En DM3700 los valores más elevados de severidad se correspondieron con rendimientos más bajos (2117 kg/ha). DM3810 exhibió rendimientos elevados y sin diferencias estadísticas entre tratamientos (3478 kg/ha). Aunque NG y PG disminuyeron en el testigo enfermo DM3700, las reducciones del NG fueron más pronunciadas. No hubo incrementos de rendimiento, NG y/o PG atribuidos a E+T en DM3810. La severidad máxima en el cultivar más susceptible no fue suficiente para disminuir significativamente aceite y proteína. MOR pudo ser controlada en el cultivar susceptible con una única aplicación de E+T en R3. El uso del cultivar resistente a MOR resultó efectivo para controlar la enfermedad y no manifestó beneficios adicionales en rendimiento debido a la aplicación de fungicidas. En este trabajo se concluyó que MOR no afectó la calidad industrial del grano.

Egg parasitism of Piezodorus guildinii and Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean, alfalfa and red clover

Piezodorus guildinii Westwood and Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are important soybean pests. P. guildinii causes more injury and is less susceptible to insecticides compared to N. viridula. N. viridula egg parasitoids are well studied; however, little is known about parasitoids of P. guildinii. Alfalfa, soybean and red clover were sampled during several seasons to characterize the abundance of both stink bugs, to determine their egg parasitoids, and to estimate parasitoids impact. In the field, Telenomus podisi (Ashmead),Trissolcus urichi (Crawford) and Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) emerged from P. guildinii, while only T. basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) emerged from N. viridula. The proportions of parasitized eggs (i. e., the parasitoid impact) and egg masses, as well as the number of parasitized eggs/total number of eggs of the parasitized egg masses, were similar for alfalfa and soybean. Parasitism was not observed in red pclover. Parasitoid impact was lower during the dry growing seasons. Although P. guildinii field parasitism by T. urichi was less significant, laboratory experiments from the bibliography indicate that this wasp species performs well on this host. Trissolcus urichi would be an important biological control agent against P. guildinii, principally when the stink bug is more abundant.