ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome is associated with various physical, cognitive, social, economic, and environmental factors. Although frailty syndrome occurs progressively with age, prevention and treatment are possible. Reducing or eliminating risks and increasing protective factors may be potential strategies for reducing the prevalence of injuries related to frailty. One of the most effective actions is to decrease the time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) by increasing regular physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothetical effect of substitution of the time spent in sleep or SB with an equivalent time spent performing moderate or vigorous PA on frailty syndrome in the older population. DESIGN AND SETTING: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted using exploratory methods of survey, carried out in Alcobaça city, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 456 older adults of both sexes, aged ≥ 60 years, participated in this study. Frailty syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. PA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The effects of time substitution on these behaviors were verified using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The replacement of 60 min/day of SB (prevalence ratio, PR = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.28–0.96) or sleep (PR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27–0.98) with 60 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) was associated with a 48% reduction in the prevalence of frailty syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the time spent sitting or sleeping with the same amount of MPA time may reduce frailty; the longer the duration of time spent in the substitution of sleep or SB with MPA, the greater the benefits.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was evaluating the nitrogen fertilization splitting on the performance of green corn, grown in rainfed system. The experiment was carried out in Forquilha, Ceará state. Two varieties of corn (Sweet and Gorutuba) were used in the experiment, grown in five types of nitrogen fertilization in the crop cycle (one; three; six; nine and twelve applications). The variables evaluated were: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves of the plant, plant fresh mass, plant dry mass, ear mass plant-1, marketable ear mass plant-1, marketable husked ear mass plant-1, marketable unhusked ear mass plant-1, number of ear plant-1, number of marketable ear plant-1, length of husked marketable ear, length of marketable unhusked ear, diameter of marketable husked ear, diameter of marketable unhooked ear, number of rows marketable ear-1 and number of grains row-1 of marketable ear. The data were subjected to analysis of variance by the F test (P < 0.05) and the treatment means were compared by the test of Tukey (P < 0.05) and subjected to regression analysis. It was observed that the split of nitrogen fertilization promoted the development of the two varieties of corn studied. It was found that the split, performed in six applications, provided greater vegetative and reproductive development of the corn varieties.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

RESUMO A resinose é uma das principais doenças do cajueiro no semiárido nordestino e caracteriza-se pelo declínio das plantas e redução do estande. Lasiodiplodia theobromae, agente causal, é um fungo endofítico que, eventualmente, assume o caráter patogênico, entretanto, as condições de ambiente que provocam esta mudança de comportamento ainda são desconhecidas. Presume-se que estresses no hospedeiro provocados por mudanças ambientais estimulam a patogenicidade. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer relações entre fatores climáticos e geográficos com a ocorrência da resinose. Foram comparados os dados de precipitação pluviométrica, temperaturas máxima e mínima, amplitude térmica e altitude de 14 microrregiões nordestinas classificadas em cinco frequências de ocorrência da doença: 0 (sem ocorrência), 1 (ocorrência rara), 2 (ocorrência frequente) e 3 (ocorrência generalizada) 4 (ocorrência generaliza em alta severidade). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de normalidade multivariada pelo teste de Doornik e Hansen e a análise dos componentes principais foi realizada por meio da matriz de correlação das variáveis climáticas, geográficas e da ocorrência da doença. As áreas de severidade da doença foram correlacionadas (Correlação de Pearson). Somente, a amplitude térmica, altitude e latitude foram associadas às diferentes áreas de ocorrência da resinose. Os municípios Buíque, em Pernambuco, São Raimundo Nonato, Canto do Buriti e Pio IX, no Piauí, em que ocorre a maior incidência da doença apresentaram os maiores valores de amplitude térmica, altitude e latitude. Enquanto que, os municípios Pacajus e Beberibe tiverem menores ocorrências da resinose e apresentaram os menores valores de amplitude térmica, altitude e latitude.

ABSTRACT Cashew gummosis is one of the main diseases of the cashew in the semi-arid region of the northeast and is characterised by a decline in the plants and a reduction in stand. Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the causal agent, is an endophytic fungus that eventually takes on pathogenic characteristics; however, the environmental conditions that cause this change in behaviour are still unknown. It is assumed that stress in the host caused by environmental changes stimulate pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to define the relationship between climate and geographical factors and the occurrence of gummosis. Rainfall data, maximum and minimum temperature, thermal amplitude, and the altitude of 14 micro-regions in the northeast were compared and classified into five frequencies of disease occurrence: 0 (no occurrence), 1 (rare occurrence), 2 (frequent occurrence), 3 ( generalised occurrence) and 4 (generalised high-severity occurrence). The data were submitted to the Doornik-Hansen test for multivariate normality, and principal component analysis was carried out using the correlation matrix between the climate and geographical variables and occurrence of the disease. Areas of disease severity were correlated (Pearson’s correlation). Only thermal amplitude, altitude and latitude were associated with the different areas of gummosis occurrence. The districts of Buíque, in the state of Pernambuco, and São Raimundo Nonato, Canto do Buriti and Pio IX, in Piauí, with the highest incidence of the disease, had the highest values for thermal amplitude, altitude and latitude. Whereas the districts of Pacajus and Beberibe had a lower occurrence of gummosis, with lower values for thermal amplitude, altitude and latitude.

O oídio causado pelo fungo Pseudoidium anacardii é atualmente a doença mais importante do cajueiro no Brasil e na África Oriental. Os sintomas ocorrem em tecidos jovens das folhas, flores e frutos. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos diferentes níveis de severidade do oídio na germinação de castanhas e no desenvolvimento das plantas seminais (seedlings) dos clones de cajueiro-anão ‘CCP 06’ e ‘BRS 189’. As castanhas foram separadas em níveis de severidade da doença variando de “0” a “5”. Avaliaram-se as características morfométricas das castanhas e das amêndoas, germinação das castanhas e o desenvolvimento das plantas até 65 dias após a sementeira. Os maiores níveis de severidade de oídio influenciaram negativamente a massa, o comprimento e a largura das castanhas, com consequente aumento na espessura, alterando o formato natural reniforme para o formato redondo. As amêndoas das castanhas do ‘CCP 06’ foram afetadas pela doença, apresentando redução na massa, no comprimento e na largura quando nos maiores níveis de severidade. A germinação das castanhas e as características biométricas das plantas de ambos os clones não foram prejudicadas pelo oídio, mesmo em níveis elevados de severidade nas castanhas.

The powdery mildew caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii is currently the most important cashew disease in Brazil and east Africa. Symptoms occur in sprouts, peduncles, and cashew nuts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of powdery mildew on cashew nut germination and seedlings development. The cashew nuts from 'CCP 06' and 'BRS 189' dwarf cashew clones infected by powdery mildew were used and classified into disease severity levels ranging from "0" to "5". The morphometric characteristics of cashew nuts and kernels, cashew nuts germination and seedlings development were evaluated up to 65 days after sowing. The higher levels of powdery mildew provided negative influence on cashew nuts mass, length and width, with consequent increase in thickness, changing the natural reniform format to the round shape. Cashew kernels of ‘CCP 06’ were affected by the disease, with reduction in mass, length and width when at the highest levels of disease severity. In both clones, the cashew nuts germination and the seedlings biometric characteristics were not affected by the powdery mildew, even at high levels of disease severity.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii, is currently the most important cashew disease, affecting leaves, inflorescences, and fruits. However, there is a lack of detailed reports associating the effects of P. anacardii to cashew yield. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the damage caused by powdery mildew to BRS 189 cashew clone nut, kernel, and peduncles. One experiment was conducted at the Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical Experimental Field in Pacajus, state of Ceará, Brazil, from July to December 2014, with BRS 189 cashew clone, with eight sulfur doses needed for achieving a disease gradient, distributed in a randomized block with four replications. The incidence (%) and severity of powdery mildew in cashew plants were estimated in a scale ranging from 0 to 4, and then correlated with plant yield and biometric characteristics of cashew nuts, kernels, and peduncles. The results showed that powdery mildew did not reduce productivity of nuts on this clone, although it caused a reduction in the mass and size of the kernels. On the other hand, powdery mildew affected mass, size, and quality of cashew peduncles at the lack of control.

RESUMO O oídio, causado pelo fungo Pseudoidium anacardii é atualmente a principal doença do cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale). Devido à importância dessa fitomoléstia e à ausência de métodos padronizados para a sua quantificação, uma escala diagramática descritiva com os níveis 0 (Nota 0), 5 (Nota 1), 17,5 (Nota 2), 37,5 (Nota 3), 62,5 (Nota 4) e 87,5% de área superficial lesionada (Nota 5) foi proposta, elaborada e testada para a acurácia, precisão e reprodutibilidade das estimativas de severidade do ataque do fungo em castanhas de cajueiro. A escala foi testada por vinte pessoas (dez com experiência e dez sem experiência) que utilizaram cinquenta castanhas com diferentes níveis de severidade, previamente mensuradas com auxílio do programa Assess®, para serem avaliadas sem e com o uso da escala diagramática descritiva proposta. Regressões lineares simples entre a severidade real (mensurada eletronicamente) e a severidade estimada por cada avaliador foram utilizadas para a determinação da acurácia e precisão. A reprodutibilidade foi obtida por regressões lineares entre as severidades estimadas da mesma unidade amostral por diferentes avaliadores, combinados em pares, com e sem o uso da escala. O emprego da escala diagramática descritiva para avaliação da severidade do oídio em castanhas de cajueiro mostrou ser de fácil utilização e melhorou os níveis de acurácia, precisão e reprodutibilidade das estimativas, independente da experiência do avaliador. Com o seu uso em levantamento de campo, estudos epidemiológicos, resistência e estudos de medidas de controle do oídio, será possível obter informações mais precisas sobre a intensidade da doença nesse importante patossistema, podendo ser usada por estudantes, técnicos, pesquisadores e produtores para quantificar sintomas do oídio em plantas de cajueiro.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii, is currently the main disease of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale). In view of the importance of such plant disease and the absence of standardized methods for its quantification, a descriptive diagrammatic scale was proposed with levels 0 (Score 0), 5 (Score 1), 17.5 (Score 2), 37.5 (Score 3), 62.5 (Score 4) and 87.5% injured superficial area (Score 5), and was elaborated and tested for accuracy, precision and reproducibility of severity estimates of fungal attack on cashew nuts. The scale was tested by twenty people (ten experienced and ten inexperienced people) who used fifty nuts showing different severity levels, previously measured with the Assess® program, to be evaluated without and with the proposed descriptive diagrammatic scale. Simple linear regressions between the actual severity (measured electronically) and the severity estimated by each evaluator were used to determine accuracy and precision. Reproducibility was obtained based on linear regressions between severities of the same sampling unit estimated by different raters, combined in pairs, with and without the scale. The descriptive diagrammatic scale to assess powdery mildew severity in cashew nuts was easy to use and improved the levels of accuracy, precision and reproducibility of the estimates, regardless of the evaluator’s experience. Using the scale in field surveys and epidemiological, resistance and powdery mildew control measures studies will provide more precise information on the disease intensity in such an important pathosystem, besides allowing its use by students, technicians, researchers and farmers to quantify powdery mildew symptoms in cashew plants.

RESUMO O oídio (Pseudoidium anacardii) reduz quantitativa e qualitativamente a produção do cajueiro em diferentes regiões do Brasil. Severas epidemias ocorrem com frequência, iniciando-se durante a floração e se estendendo até o final do ciclo de produção da planta. O progresso da doença está relacionado à densidade de inóculo na área com cajueiros, aos fatores ambientais e à suscetibilidade dos órgãos para a infecção. Face a inexistência de informações sobre a epidemiologia dessa doença, objetivou-se caracterizar o progresso do oídio do cajueiro-anão em função da fenologia da planta. Foram aplicados seis tratamentos correspondentes aos períodos de proteção fenológica, com a aplicação de fungicida à base de enxofre, para quantificar a severidade do oídio nas panículas em duas floradas sucessivas. A partir dos dados coletados, foram geradas curvas de progresso da doença ajustadas a modelos lineares. O modelo Monomolecular foi o que melhor se ajustou às curvas de progresso do oídio nas panículas nas épocas I e II na ausência de proteção com enxofre. No modelo Monomolecular as taxas de progresso do oídio foram maiores na época I em relação à época II. Por outro lado, o modelo Logístico apresentou o melhor ajuste quando se introduziu o enxofre para proteger as panículas e reduzir a epidemia. Para maiores períodos de proteção, não foi possível ajustes de modelos em função da baixa severidade do oídio. É possível utilizar o modelo Monomolecular para estimar a taxa de doença e, o atraso do início da epidemia está diretamente relacionado ao aumento da proteção das panículas.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew (Pseudoidium anacardii) quantitatively and qualitatively decreases cashew production in different regions of Brazil. Severe epidemics are frequent, starting during flowering and extending to the end of the plant production cycle. The disease progress is related to the inoculum density in the area with cashew trees, to the environmental factors and to the susceptibility of the plant organs to infection. Given the lack of information on the epidemiology of this disease, the present study aimed to characterize powdery mildew progress in dwarf cashew trees according the plant phenology. Six treatments corresponding to the phenological protection periods were used, including the application of sulfur fungicide to quantify powdery mildew severity in two successive flowering stages. The collected data were used to generate disease progress curves adjusted to linear models. The Monomolecular model best fit to the powdery mildew progress curves for the panicles in periods I and II in the absence of protection with sulfur. According to the Monomolecular model, powdery mildew progress rates were greater in period I compared to period II. On the other hand, the Logistic model showed the best fit when sulfur was introduced to protect the panicles and reduce the epidemics. For longer periods of protection, the models could not be fit due to the low severity of powdery mildew. The Monomolecular model can be used to estimate the disease progress rate, and the delay in the beginning of the epidemics is directly related to the increase in the protection of panicles.

RESUMO A ocorrência do oídio (Pseudoidium anacardii) está correlacionada com a brotação nova do cajueiro e à infecção que se processa em botões, flores e maturis jovens. Tecidos maduros tornam-se naturalmente resistentes ao fungo e, para o controle da doença, é necessária a proteção preventiva com fungicida à base de enxofre. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar as épocas de floração e os períodos de proteção fenológica do cajueiro-anão BRS 189 à infecção de P. anacardii. O experimento foi realizado em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, em que as parcelas foram duas épocas de floração e, as subparcelas, os seis períodos de proteção fenológica. Foram avaliados os graus de severidade do oídio na panícula, no pedúnculo e na castanha e a produção de cajus, durante as duas épocas do fluxo de florações. Verificou-se que as épocas e os períodos de proteção fenológica influenciaram no grau de severidade da doença e na produção de cajus. Para as variáveis de doença, observaram-se menores graus de severidade do oídio para os maiores períodos de proteção fenológica na panícula, no pedúnculo e na castanha. Não houve diferença significativa entre as épocas, quando se avaliaram os períodos de proteção fenológica, em relação ao peso total e pedúnculo, ao passo que, em ambas as épocas, o período de proteção (T6) foi diferente dos demais. Porém, não houve diferença entre épocas e período de proteção fenológica em relação ao peso das castanhas. Os resultados indicam que as épocas do fluxo de florações e os períodos de proteção fenológica interferem na severidade da doença e na produção de cajus do clone BRS 189.

ABSTRACT The occurrence of powdery mildew, Pseudoidium anacardii, is conditioned by new sprouting of the cashew tree and the infection that occurs in buds, flowers, and young maturis (green cashew nuts). Mature tissues naturally become resistant to fungus and, for the control of the disease, preventive protection with a sulfur-based fungicide is necessary. The objective was to verify the flowering time and phenological protection periods in the dwarf cashew BRS 189 against P. anacardii infection. The experimental design was randomized blocks in split-plot scheme with four replications. The main plots were flowering time (time I and II) and split plots were six phenological protection periods. The severity of powdery mildew in the panicle, peduncle, and cashew nuts and cashew production was evaluated. It was verified that the flowering times and the phenological protection periods influenced the severity of the disease and cashew production. For disease variables, lower severities of powdery mildew were observed for the greater phenological protection periods in panicle, peduncle, and chestnuts. There was no significant difference between the flowering times when the phenological protection periods were analyzed for total weight and peduncle. In both flowering times the protection period (T6) was different from the others. However, there was no difference between flowering times and phenological protection periods in relation to the weight of the nuts. The results indicate that flowering times and phenological protection periods interfere with the severity of the disease and cashew production (peduncle) of the BRS 189.

RESUMO Pseudoidium anacardii tem surgido como uma séria ameaça à cultura do caju no Brasil, onde um declínio substancial na produção tem sido atribuído a esse patógeno. Esse trabalho descreve a infecção de folhas e flores de distintos clones de cajueiro atacados pelo fungo e demonstra diferenças relacionadas à severidade da doença e ao tipo de clone. Plantas sintomáticas e assintomáticas de seis tipos diferentes de clones de cajueiro tiveram folhas ou flores coletadas e processadas para microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Um denso agregado de conidióforos dispostos lado a lado ou inseridos entre os pêlos das sépalas foi detectado em todos os clones, exceto o clone ‘BRS 253’. Nas folhas, uma extensa rede micelial recobrindo a superfície foliar foi observada e os apressórios mostraram-se bem desenvolvidos, multilobados, opostos em pares ou sozinhos, penetrando a epiderme das folhas. Folhas assintomáticas do clone ‘BRS 189’ mostraram-se cobertas por micélio e conidióforos. Esse dado é uma importante informação na detecção precoce da doença, especialmente em monitoramentos do progresso da doença. Os clones ‘CCP 76 e ‘BRS 189’ apresentaram folhas e flores infectadas, enquanto outros tiveram apenas as inflorescências atacadas. Sugere-se que a anatomia de órgãos da planta seja variável de acordo com o clone investigado, e que essas diferenças possam estar envolvidas em mecanismos de defesa da planta e que essas informações possam ser utilizadas em Programas de Melhoramento do Caju.

ABSTRACT Pseudoidium anacardii has emerged as a serious threat to cashew crops in Brazil, where a considerable decrease in production has been attributed to this fungus. This work describes the morphology of the fungus involved in the infection process of Brazilian cashew cultivars to establish differences related to the severity of the disease. Symptomatic and asymptomatic plants of six different cashew cultivars had their leaves or flowers collected and processed for scanning electron microscopy. For the flowers, massive aggregates of erect conidiophores were observed growing side by side on the petals or inserted among the sepal hairs for all cultivars, except cultivar ‘BRS 253’. For the leaves, mycelia covered their entire surface, and appressoria were well developed, multilobed, opposite in pairs or single, and deeply penetrated the epidermis. The asymptomatic leaves of the cultivar ‘BRS 189’ were fully covered by mycelium and conidiophores. These findings provide important information for the early detection of a fungal disease epidemic, which is important for monitoring its spread. The cultivars ‘CCP 76’ and ‘BRS 189’ presented infected flowers and leaves, but only the inflorescences were attacked in other genotypes. We suggest that variability in the anatomy of the cashew plant organs may be involved in plant mechanisms of defence, and this information can be employed in a cashew breeding programme.

RESUMO Espécies de Botryosphaeriaceae são importantes patógenos em diversas plantas lenhosas e não lenhosas, causando diferentes tipos de sintomas. Espécies desta família são usualmente consideradas patógenos fracos, causando doenças apenas quando estas plantas se encontram sob algum tipo de estresse como seca, temperaturas baixas ou elevadas, deficiência nutricional e danos causados por outros patógenos ou pragas. No entanto, pouco se conhece sobre a ocorrência e diversidade de espécies de Botryosphaeriaceae em plantas nativas do bioma Caatinga, localizado no Semiárido, e sobre a presença de fungos endofíticos nessas espécies, e muito menos sobre a sua importância como patógenos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a patogenicidade de 74 isolados representando as espécies Botryosphaeria mamane, Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae, P. stromaticum, o complexo Neofusicoccum parvum/ribis, Lasiodiplodia gonubiensis e L. theobromae, identificados pela primeira vez como endofíticos em plantas típicas do bioma Caatinga. Testes de patogenicidade conduzidos em frutos de mangueira e ramos de plantas adultas de Spondias sp., revelaram que todas as espécies de Botryosphaeriaceae desse estudo foram patogênicas, sendo L. theobromae e o complexo N. parvum/ribis as mais agressivas. Este é o primeiro relato sobre fungos endofiticos em plantas do bioma Caatinga cearense, bem como a confirmação de que estas espécies podem atuar como fonte de inóculo para espécies de frutíferas comerciais da região do Semiárido brasileiro.

ABSTRACT Species of the Botryosphaeriaceae are important pathogens in several woody and non-woody plants, causing different types of symptoms. Species of this family are usually regarded as weak pathogens, only causing diseases when plants are under some type of stress such as drought, hot or cold weather, poor nutrition and damage caused by other pathogens or pests. However, little is known about the occurrence and diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae species in native plants of the biome Caatinga, located in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region, and about the presence of endophytic fungi in these species; even less is known about their importance as pathogens. The aim of the present study was to assess the pathogenicity of 74 isolates representing the species Botyosphaeria mamane, Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae, P. stromaticum, the complex Neofusicoccum parvum/ribis, Lasiodiplodia gonubiensis and L.theobromae, identified for the first time as endophytic in plants typical of the biome Caatinga. Pathogenicity tests conducted in mango fruits and branches of adult plants of Spondias sp. revealed that all Botryosphaeriaceous species of this study were pathogenic, and L. theobromae and the complex N.parvum/ribis were the most aggressive ones. This is the first report of such endophytic fungi in plants of the biome Caatinga in Ceará State, as well as the confirmation that these species can act as a source of inoculum for commercial fruit species of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region.

A tangerineira é uma das espécies de Citrus mais importantes, comercialmente. No entanto, é elevada a quantidade de patógenos que afetam a cultura, destacando-se o fungo Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causador da antracnose. A antracnose pode resultar em grandes prejuízos econômicos, ocasionando perdas de produção e qualidade dos frutos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência de cultivares de tangerineira à antracnose em diferentes sistemas de irrigação. Foi estudada a incidência da antracnose em três cultivares de tangerineira, sob três sistemas de cultivo. Utilizaram-se as cultivares 'Murcote', 'Ponkan' e 'Cravo', enxertadas sobre porta-enxerto de limão Cravo e os sistemas de irrigação por microaspersão e por gotejamento. Uma testemunha de sequeiro foi incluída. Os resultados mostraram que as plantas cultivadas sob irrigação são mais resistentes à antracnose que aquelas sob regime de sequeiro, sendo que a cultivar Ponkan apresentou maior resistência genética á antracnose. Verificou-se também que existe correlação positiva entre a incidência baseada no percentual de plantas afetadas e a incidência com base no número de ramos afetados por planta.

The mandarin is one of the most commercially important Citrus species. However, a large number of pathogens have affected this crop, specially the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which causes anthracnose. The latter may lead to significant economic damage, causing both yield and fruit quality losses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of mandarin cultivars to anthracnose under different irrigation systems. The incidence of anthracnose was studied by using three cultivars under three cultivation systems. The cultivars were 'Murcott', 'Ponkan' and 'Cravo', grafted onto Rangpur lime rootstock, while the irrigation systems were micro-sprinkler and drip irrigation. A rainfed control was included. Results showed that plants grown under irrigation are more resistant to anthracnose than those under rainfed conditions, and the cultivar 'Ponkan' had greater genetic resistance to anthracnose. There was also a positive correlation between the incidence based on the percentage of affected plants and the incidence based on the number of affected branches per plant.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases on genetic material and antioxidant status in professionals during their medical residency.METHODS: The study group consisted of 15 medical residents from Anesthesiology and Surgery areas, of both genders, mainly exposed to isoflurane and to a lesser degree to sevoflurane and nitrous oxide; the control group consisted of 15 young adults not exposed to anesthetics. Blood samples were drawn from professionals during medical residency (eight, 16 and 22 months of exposure to waste anesthetic gases). DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay, and antioxidant defense was assessed by total thiols and the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT).RESULTS: When comparing the two groups, DNA damage was significantly increased at all time points evaluated in the exposed group; plasma thiols increased at 22 months of exposure and GPX was higher at 16 and 22 months of exposure.CONCLUSION: Young professionals exposed to waste anesthetic gases in operating rooms without adequate scavenging system have increased DNA damage and changes in redox status during medical residency. There is a need to minimize exposure to inhalation anesthetics and to provide better work conditions.