Physiological characteristics of citrus plants infested with citrus blackfly

Abstract Aleurocanthus woglumi (Ashby, 1915) is an important agricultural pest that causes yield losses of 20-80% in citrus plants by removing plant nutrients while feeding and allowing the formation of sooty mold. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological changes in citrus plants in response to A. woglumi infestation under field conditions. The experiment was conducted in a citrus orchard in Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão, Brazil. Thirty-two citrus plants were used, including eight of each of the following varieties: Tahiti lime, Tanjaroa tangerine, Nissey tangerine, and Ponkan tangerine. Four random plants with A. woglumi infestation and four plants free from this pest were selected from each variety. The physiological parameters evaluated were photochemical efficiency and gas exchange. Regarding photochemical efficiency, infested plants presented photoinhibition damage, with a performance index of 4.22. The gas exchange parameters of infested plants changed, with reductions in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation of 69.7% (Tahiti), 64% (Tanjaroa), 68.8% (Nissey) and 63.3% (Ponkan). Plants infested with A. woglumi also presented physiological changes; their photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, instantaneous transpiration, and performance indexes were affected. The infested citrus plants showed photoinhibition of photosystem II. The photosynthetic CO2 assimilation decreased approximately 70% in Tahiti lime, Tanjaroa tangerine, Nissey tangerine, and Ponkan tangerine plants infested with A. woglumi.

Controle alternativo da microflora de sementes de Pseudobombax marginatum com oléo essêncial de copaíba (Copaifera sp. ) / Alternative control of microflora on Pseudobombax marginatum seeds with essential copaiba oil (Copaifera sp. )

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência de óleo de copaíba na redução da incidência de fungos em sementes de Pseudobombax marginatum e a interferência deste na qualidade fisiológica das sementes. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos constituídos por óleo de copaíba em diferentes concentrações (0%; 0,5%; 1,0%; 1,5% e 2,0%) além do tratamento com fungicida Captana. As sementes foram imersas nos tratamentos por um período de 5 minutos. O teste de sanidade das sementes foi realizado pelo método Blotter test, sendo avaliada a incidência de patógenos sete dias após a incubação. A observação das estruturas fúngicas foi realizada mediante observação em microscópio ótico e estereoscópico. A avaliação da qualidade fisiológica das sementes foi realizada através da semeadura em caixas tipo Gerbox, contendo substrato vermiculita. As variáveis analisadas foram: germinação (G), primeira contagem da germinação, massa seca de plântulas (MSP), massa seca de raiz, e índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG). O óleo de copaíba na concentração de 1% foi eficiente no controle de Aspergillus sp. e nas concentrações 1 e 1,5% para Chaetomium sp e Curvularia sp., em sementes de P. marginatum. Os tratamentos com óleo de copaíba nas concentrações 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0% não interferiram negativamente na qualidade fisiológica das sementes.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of copaiba oil in reducing the fungi incidence on seeds of Pseudobombax marginatum and interference on physiological quality. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments consisting of copaiba oil at different levels (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) behind seeds treated with fungicide Captana. The seeds were immersed in treatments for 5 minutes. The seeds sanity was performed by Blotter test being evaluated pathogens incidence seven days after incubation. Observation of fungal structures was performed by observation in stereoscopic and optical microscopes. The evaluation of physiological seeds quality was performed by sowing boxes type Gerbox® containing vermiculite. The variables analyzed were germination (G), first count, seedling dry weight (MSP), root dry weight and, germination speed index (GSI). Copaiba oil at a concentration of 1% was effective against Aspergillus sp. and at concentrations of 1 and 1.5% against Chaetomium sp. and Curvularia sp., seeds of P. marginatum. Os treatment with copaiba oil at levels of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% did not affect negatively in the physiological quality of seeds.

Development of a new method to prepare nano-/microparticles loaded with extracts of Azadirachta indica, their characterization and use in controlling Plutella xylostella.

Biodegradable nanoparticles have been widely explored as carriers for controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules; however, studies describing the development of nanoparticles as carriers for biopesticide products are few. In this work, a new method to prepare nanoparticles loaded with neem (Azadirachta indica) extracts is presented. In this study, nanoparticles were formulated as colloidal suspension and (spray-dried) powder and characterized by evaluating pH, particle size, zeta potential, morphology, absolute recovery, and entrapment efficiency. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used for nanoparticle characterization. The best formulations presented absolute recovery and entrapment efficiencies of approximately 100% and a release profile based on swelling and relaxation of the polymer or polymer erosion. The biological data of the formulated products against Plutella xylostella showed 100% larval mortality. The nanoparticle information improved the stability of neem products against ultraviolet radiation and increased their dispersion in the aqueous phase.