Attractiveness of Different Citrus Pulps to the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The most common control method Uses toxic baits consisted of dehydrated citrus pulp as carrier and attractant. However, the portion of the citrus fruit that is attractive to ants is still Unknown, despite its importance in chemical control. This study compared the attractiveness of different fruit parts of citrus pulps to Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers. Three treatments: pellets of industrial citrus pulp, albedo (mesocarp), and whole citrus pulp were offered randomly to ants and the removal of these substrates by workers was observed. Tie three pulps Were equally attractive to this species (F = 0.8033; p = 0.4633). Although the whole pulp included the epicarp, it was as attractive as the other treatments, possibly because, the material was heated during processing, eliminating any volatile substance that could repel ants.

Extrações de óleos de sementes de citros e suas atividades sobre a formiga cortadeira Atta sexdens e seu fungo simbionte

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Low glyphosate rates do not affect Citrus limonia (L.) Osbeck seedlings

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Xylella fastidiosa: An in vivo system to study possible survival strategies within citrus xylem vessels based on global gene expression analysis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

EFEITO do ÁCIDO GIBERÉLICO (AG3) NA FLORAÇÃO E PRODUÇÃO da LIMA ÁCIDA 'TAHITI' (Citrus latifolia Tan.)

A floração nos citros, assim como em outras fruteiras, é um dos fatores determinantes para a produção. A possibilidade de inibição ou redução da florada normal e alteração da época de produção para a lima 'Tahiti' é fator primordial para determinar sua rentabilidade econômica. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do ácido giberélico sobre a florada, número de flores formadas, da lima ácida 'Tahiti', nas condições do Estado de São Paulo durante dois anos, buscando inibir a florada normal e observar o efeito desta inibição sobre produções temporãs. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados (5 blocos) com 3 plantas por tratamento. Foi utilizada uma planta como bordadura entre os tratamentos e uma linha de plantas entre os blocos. Os tratamentos foram: testemunha, 20, 40 e 80 mg/L de ácido giberélico (AG3) + 10 ml/L de espalhante adesivo, e o pH da água utilizada foi 6,2. As plantas foram tratadas com ácido giberélico durante o inverno (estação seca) após 50 dias sem irrigação no primeiro ano e 60 dias no segundo. O ácido giberélico reduziu o número de flores formadas (-81%) e aumentou a produção de frutos temporões (+59,77% ou +16,04 kg/pl).

Desbaste da limeira-ácida-'Tahiti' (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) com TPA e efeitos na produção

Foram avaliadas concentrações de 0; 10; 20; 40 e 80 mg/L do 3,5,6-TPA (Ácid 3,5,6-tricloro-2-piridil- oxiacético), em sua formulação éster, para desbaste de frutos novos da limeira-ácida-'Tahiti' (Citrus latifolia Tanaka), nas condições ecológicas do Estado de São Paulo. O 3,5,6-TPA, na concentração 10mg/L, foi o tratamento mais eficaz para uso na cultura. Concentrações maiores causaram severos danos às plantas. Essa concentração, aplicada logo após a florada de outubro, reduziu em 65% a produção do mês de fevereiro seguinte. Todavia, as produções dos meses subseqüentes não diferiram entre si. A concentração de 10mg/L causou alongamento dos frutos, aumento da espessura da casca e redução do Brix, na época da colheita.

Some stigmaeid and eupalopsellid mites from citrus orchards in Brazil (Acari : Stigmaeidae and Eupalopsellidae)

Two new citrus-inhabiting species in the family Stigmaeidae, Agistemus brasiliensis n. sp. and Zetzellia malvinae n. sp., are described from citrus plants in São Paulo State, Brazil. Also, Agistemus floridanus Gonzalez is redescribed. Keys to genera of the Stigmaeidae and Eupalosellidae are provided along with a key to all species of these families associated with citrus.

Susceptibility of citrus species to Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of the Alternaria brown spot

Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of Alternaria brown spot (ABS), causes necrosis on leaves, twigs, and fruit, reducing the productivity and quality of fruits. Tangerines and their hybrids are highly susceptible to the disease. Species, hybrids, and cultivars of Citrus from the germplasm bank of the Estacao Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro, São Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated in 2004 and 2005 with respect to their resistance to A. alternata, both through natural infection and by inoculation. Detached leaves were also used to demonstrate susceptibility or resistance to the disease. Ten cultivars of Satsumas (Citrus unshiu), and 14 cultivars of Clementine mandarin (C. clementina) did not show any symptoms of the disease in their leaves, either through natural infection or when inoculated in the field. The Burguess SRA-412, Wallent SRA-438, Carvalhais, Ampefy SRA-459, Ananas SRA, and Macaque SRA-426 mandarin hybrids (C. reticulata) did not show symptoms of the disease under natural or artificial infection in the field. Some cultivars of C. deliciosa, C. tangerina, C. erythrosa, and C. temple showed symptoms of the disease, even though no previous record of their susceptibility to Alternaria brown spot had been previously reported. The hybrids Fairchild, Nova, Page, Fortune, and Sunburst were susceptible to the disease. However, Fremont mandarin (a crossing between C. clementina and C. reticulata), Encore (C. nobilis x C. deliciosa), and Fallglo (C. reticulata x C. paradisi) did not show symptoms in field, and few symptoms were verified in detached leaves. These materials are promising for the cultivation of tangerines, and will enable genetic improvement for the development of cultivars resistant to Alternaria brown spot. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biofertilizer for control of Guignardia citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot

Biofertilizers generated from the anaerobic and aerobic digestion of cattle manure, known as Bio1 and Bio2, respectively, were studied with regard to their microbial composition and effect on the mycelial growth of Phyllosticta citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot (CBS). Two field experiments were conducted to determine the biofertilizer's potential (Bio1) in controlling CBS (2001/2002 and 2002/2003 crops). It was observed that the greatest number of microorganisms was found in the aerobically produced biofertilizer. Bio2 did not inhibit the mycelial growth of P. citricarpa. Mycelial growth of P. citricarpa was inversely proportional to the Bio1 biofertilizer concentration. In the 2001/2002 cropping season, the Biol effect in controlling CBS was directly proportional to its concentration, at the rate of 0 (healthy fruit), with R-2 = 0.88. Biol had a significant effect in controlling CBS, at a concentration of 10%, during the 2001/2002 cropping season, with DI values of 0.246 and 0.229 for the. 10 and 20% doses, respectively, compared to DI of 0.329 for the control. A directly proportional effect of the biofertilizer concentration on the percentage of fruits with a rating of zero was. also observed in the 2002/2003 cropping season, with R-2 = 0.48. However, even at doses higher than in the preceding cropping season, the biofertilizer was less effective, possibly due to a higher occurrence of the disease. Copper oxychloride and combined applications of copper oxychloride and carbendazim plus mancozeb controlled the disease. The possibility of using the biofertilizer as a protective biofungicide to replace copper oxychloride, especially in organic agriculture, should be explored. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Caracterização de Diaporthe citri em diferentes meios de cultura, condições de temperatura e luminosidade

Estudou-se o crescimento micelial de dez isolados de Diaporthe citri, utilizando-se seis meios de cultura (aveia-ágar, maltose-peptona-ágar, batata-dextrose-ágar, folha de laranja-dextrose-ágar, folha de limão-dextrose-ágar, milho-ágar) à temperatura de 22 ± 2 °C e fotoperíodo de 12 h claro/12 h escuro. O cultivo em meio de batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA) foi conduzido em cinco temperaturas diferentes (10, 15, 20, 25 e 30 °C). Três diferentes regimes de luminosidade (12 h claro/12 h escuro, claro contínuo, escuro contínuo) foram utilizados para verificar o crescimento do fungo. Foram observadas variações na produção de picnídios e de massa micelial nos diferentes meios de cultura, temperaturas e regimes de luminosidade testados, sendo que, para a maioria dos isolados, o meio de cultura de aveia-ágar, a faixa de 20 a 25 °C e o regime de claro contínuo induziram maior crescimento micelial. A produção de picnídios foi maior para o regime de luz contínua. O teste de patogenicidade foi feito por inoculação de discos de micélio de 5 mm de diâmetro em ferimentos em ramos e caule de limão 'Feminelo' (Citrus limon) enxertado em citrumelo 'Swingle'(Poncirus trifoliolata x Citrus paradisi) e plantas de limão 'Cravo' (C. limonia) enxertados com laranja 'Valência' (C. sinensis). Após sete dias, houve o aparecimento de exsudação de goma nas plantas inoculadas com os isolados, mas não na testemunha. Todos os isolados mostraram-se patogênicos, sendo os isolados PC2 e PC5, os que causaram comprimento de lesão maior nas plantas.

Postharvest harpin or Bacillus thuringiensis treatments suppress citrus black spot in 'Valencia' oranges

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Acceleration of the decomposition of Sicilian lemon leaves as an auxiliary measure in the control of citrus black spot

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic Diversity and Population Differentiation of the Causal Agent of Citrus Black Spot in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A simple and non-destructive model for individual leaf area estimation in citrus

Introduction. Leaf area is often related to plant growth, development, physiology and yield. Many non-destructive models have been proposed for leaf area estimation of several plant genotypes, demonstrating that leaf length, leaf width and leaf area are closely correlated. Thus, the objective of our study was to develop a reliable model for leaf area estimation from linear measurements of leaf dimensions for citrus genotypes. Materials and methods. Leaves of citrus genotypes were harvested, and their dimensions (length, width and area) were measured. Values of leaf area were regressed against length, width, the square of length, the square of width and the product (length x width). The most accurate equations, either linear or second-order polynomial, were regressed again with a new data set; then the most reliable equation was defined. Results and discussion. The first analysis showed that the variables length, width and the square of length gave better results in second-order polynomial equations, while the linear equations were more suitable and accurate when the width and the product (length x width) were used. When these equations were regressed with the new data set, the coefficient of determination (R(2)) and the agreement index 'd' were higher for the one that used the variable product (length x width), while the Mean Absolute Percentage Error was lower. Conclusion. The product of the simple leaf dimensions (length x width) can provide a reliable and simple non-destructive model for leaf area estimation across citrus genotypes.

Availability of soil water under tillage systems, mulch management and citrus rootstocks

The increased availability of soil water is important for the management of non-irrigated orange orchards. The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of soil water in a Haplorthox (Rhodic Ferralsol) under different tillage systems used for orchard plantation, mulch management and rootstocks in a "Pera" orange orchard in northwest Parana, Brazil. An experiment in a split-split-plot design was established in 2002, in an area cultivated with Brachiaria brizantha grass in which three tillage systems (no tillage, conventional tillage and strip-tillage) were used for orchard plantation. This grass was mowed twice a year between the rows, representing two mulch managements in the split plots (no mulching and mulching in the plant rows). The split-split-plots were represented by two rootstocks ("Rangpur" lime and "Cleopatra" mandarin). The soil water content in the plant rows was evaluated in the 0-20 cm layer in 2007 and at 0-20 and 20-40 cm in 2008-2009. The effect of soil tillage systems prior to implantation of orange orchards on soil water availability was less pronounced than mulching and the rootstocks. The soil water availability was lower when "Pera" orange trees were grafted on "Cleopatra" mandarin than on "Rangpur" lime rootstocks. Mulching had a positive influence on soil water availability in the sandy surface layer (020 cm) and sandy clay loam subsurface (20-40 cm) of the soil in the spring. The production of B. brizantha between the rows and residue disposal in the plant rows as mulch increased water availability to the "Pera" orange trees.