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Reaction of popcorn lines (s7) cultivated in distinct phosphorus levels to Bipolaris maydis infection

ABSTRACT

Popcorn culture is highly susceptible to helminthosporiosis (Bipolaris maydis) (h-Bm). The genetic breeding of this culture should prioritize resistance to h-Bm and develop cultivars that offer greater crop sustainability, especially in soils with phosphorus (P) scarcity. P-mineral is usually supplied to maize culture by the application of phosphate fertilizers, which are produced from mineral sources rich in P, the natural reserves of which will be depleted in the medium term. With the aim of selecting popcorn genotypes resistant to h-Bm and with higher P utilization capacity, the present study evaluated h-Bm incidence and severity for 25 popcorn lines (S7) cultivated under high and low phosphorus conditions. There was a significant interaction between genotype (lines) and P fertilization for h-Bm resistance, expressed as disease severity values in the first ear leaf. There was genetic variability for disease resistance. The incidence analysis identifies the lines L-65 L-69, L-70 and L-76 as potentially resistant genotypes, presenting low mean values of h-Bm. The severity analysis, however, presents L-69, L-76, P-3 and P-7 genotypes as potentially resistant in environments with fertilization and without fertilization. The obtained data show that the lines L-69 and L-76 had the best resistance performance in both environments. The genetic resistance to h-Bm can somehow correlate with the response to P fertilization at planting in soils with low natural fertility.

Keywords
Zea mays; Genetic resistance; Phosphate fertilizers

RESUMO

O milho-pipoca apresenta alta suscetibilidade a helmintosporiose (Bipolaris maydis) (h-Bm). O melhoramento genético desta cultura deve priorizar a resistência a h-Bm e desenvolver cultivares que ofereçam maior sustentabilidade ao cultivo, principalmente em solos com escassez de fósforo (P). O P-mineral normalmente é suprido à cultura do milho pela aplicação de adubos fosfatados, produzidos a partir de fontes de minério rico em P, cujas reservas naturais se esgotarão a médio prazo. Com o objetivo de selecionar genótipos de milho-pipoca resistentes a h-Bm e com maior capacidade de aproveitamento de fósforo (P), este trabalho avaliou a incidência e a severidade a h-Bm de 25 linhagens (S7) de milho-pipoca, cultivadas em ambientes de alto e baixo fósforo. Houve interação significativa entre genótipo (linhagem) e adubação de P para resistência a h-Bm, expressa pelos valores de severidade da doença na folha da primeira espiga. Observou-se variabilidade genética quanto à resistência a doença. A análise de incidência identifica as Linhagens L-65 L-69, L-70 e L-76 como genótipos potencialmente resistentes, apresentando baixos valores médios de h-Bm. A avaliação de severidade, no entanto, apresenta como potencialmente resistentes, as linhagens L-69, L-76, P-3 e P-7 tanto em ambiente com adubação de P quanto em ambiente sem a adubação. A união das informações obtidas mostra que as linhagens L-69, L-76 foram as que tiveram melhor desempenho quanto a resistência em ambos os ambientes. Conclui-se que a resistência genética a h-Bm pode, de algum modo, correlacionar-se com a resposta a adubação de P no plantio, em solos de baixa fertilidade natural.

Palavras-chave
Zea mays; Resistencia genética; Fertilizantes fosfatados

The agriculture practiced in the tropics is highly dependent on chemical defense and fertilizer application (1313 Roel, A.R. A agricultura orgânica ou ecológica e a sustentabilidade da agricultura. Revista Internacional de Desenvolvimento Local, Campo Grande, v.3, n.4, p.57-62, 2002.). In Brazil, such dependence on fertilization to increase agricultural production is aggravated by the low natural nutrient content, the high acidity and the high phosphorus adsorption capacity of most agricultural and arable lands (77 Hopkins, B.; Ellsworth, J. Phosphorus availability with alkaline/calcareous soil. In: Western Nutrient Management Conference, Proceedings. Salt Lake City UT, 2005. Vol 6, p.88-93. Disponivel em: <http://isnap.oregonstate.edu/WERA_103/2005_Proccedings/Hopkins%20Phosphorus% 20pg88.pdf>. Acesso em: 26 set. 2016.
http://isnap.oregonstate.edu/WERA_103/20...
). The natural phosphates used in the composition of fertilizers are produced from non-renewable sources, and P-mineral deposits are expected to be depleted in the next 50 years (99 Malavolta, E. Manual de nutrição mineral de plantas. São Paulo: Editora Agronomica Ceres, 2006. 638p.). Thus, plant-breeding programs have prioritized the development of superior genotypes capable of more efficiently using the applied phosphorus through mineral fertilization, besides generating plants that are adapted to soils with low natural fertility and that are resistant to the main diseases, with the aim of guaranteeing sustainability in agriculture in the medium and long term.

Table 1
Soil chemistry and particle size analysis of samples from Campos dos Goytacazes.

In Brazil, corn is the most cultivated cereal; in 2016, it was planted in approximately 16,000 hectares, and 83,000 tons of grains were harvested (33 Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento - CONAB. Levantamento da produtividade de milho 2016. Brasília, 2016: Disponível em https://www.conab.gov.br/info-agro/safras/graos/boletim-da-safra-de-graos/item/download/1309_e50ecf243ee7243e60da214f4fdefed3>. Acesso em: 26 set. 2016.
https://www.conab.gov.br/info-agro/safra...
). Among “special corns”, “popcorn” maize has guaranteed high economic gains in the most diverse branches of the popcorn production chain (1515 Rangel, R.M.; Amaral Júnior, A.T.; Viana, A.P.; Freitas Júnior, S.P.; Pereira, M.G. Prediction of popcorn hybrid and composites means. Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology, Viçosa, v.7, n.3, p.287-295, 2007.). Popcorn differs from common corn because it has smaller grains, less vigor, greater prolificacy and greater susceptibility to diseases and pests. These latter agents seriously impair popcorn yield and quality (2121 Zinsly, J.R.; Machado, J.A. Milho-pipoca. In: Paterniani, E.; Viégas, G.P. Melhoramento e produção do milho. 2.ed. Campinas: Fundação Cargill, 1987. p.413-421., 1616 Sawazaki, E. A cultura do milho pipoca no Brasil. O Agronômico, Campinas, v.53, n.2, p.11-13, 2001., 2020 Vieira, R.A; Tessmann, D.J.; Hata, F.T.; Souto, E.R.; Mesquini, R.M. Resistência de híbridos de milho-pipoca a Exserohilum turcicum, agente causal da Helmintosporiose Do Milho. Scientia Agraria, Curitiba, v.10, n.5, p.391-395, 2009.).

Considering diseases, popcorn is particularly susceptible to helminthosporiosis (h-Bm), caused by the fungus Bipolaris maydis (Nisik.) Shoemaker (syn. Helminthosporium maydis) Nisik. & Myiake. Such diseases have a severe impact on popcorn crops under different management systems and according to the weather conditions (1414 Reis, E.M.; Casa, T.; Bresolin, A.R. Manual de diagnose e controle de doenças do milho. Passo Fundo, 2004. 141p.). For popcorn breeding, similarly to common corn, self-fertilized lineages that advance generations with high genetic depression due to inbreeding are normally used. Popcorn self-fertilized lineages (endogamic) are highly susceptible to h-Bm. In addition, popcorn synthetic varieties are naturally less resistant to h-Bm and a larger number of diseases affect popcorn, compared to common maize varieties (1212 Oliveira, E.; Fernandes, F.T.; Casela, C.R.; Pinto, N.F.J.A.; Ferreira, A.S. Diagnose e controle de doenças na cultura do milho. In: Galvão, J.C.C.; Miranda, G.V. Tecnologias de produção do milho: economia, cultivares, biotecnologia, safrinha, adubação, quimigação, doenças, plantas daninhas e pragas. Viçosa: Editora UFV, 2004. p.227-268.).

The main purpose of popcorn breeding programs is to develop lines resistant to foliar diseases (1818 Silveira, F.T.; Junqueira, B.G.; Silva, P.C.; Moro, J.R. Comportamento de linhagens elites de milho para resistência aos enfezamentos. Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, v.5, p.431-442, 2006.), which should be combined with the search for materials tolerant to phosphorus scarcity, the condition of most Brazilian soils (55 Durães, F.O.M.; Santos, M.X.; Gama, E.E.G; Magalhães, P.C.; Albuquerque, P. E.P.; Guimarães, C.T. Fenotipagem associada a tolerância a seca em milho para uso em melhoramento, estudos genômicos e seleção assistida por marcadores. Sete Lagoas MG: Embrapa, 2004. (Circular Técnica, 39).). Mineral nutrients play specific roles in plant metabolism, affecting their growth and production, as well as the reaction of plants to infectious agents, due to anatomical and biochemical changes (pre and post-formed physical and biochemical barriers) (1111 Marschner, H. Mineral nutrition of higher plants. 2nd ed. New York: Academic, 1995. 889p.). Phosphorus is a macronutrient involved in the constitution of macromolecules and in the activity associated with the plant energy balance (ATP, NADP-H, etc.). The supply of this element guarantees the plant development and directly and indirectly affects the plant nutrition and health. However, for the resistance to the disease, P-mineral is considered to be less expressive than other mineral elements, such as nitrogen, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium (1111 Marschner, H. Mineral nutrition of higher plants. 2nd ed. New York: Academic, 1995. 889p.).

The search for plants more efficient in phosphorus conversion and utilization is of fundamental importance for the development of more productive and resistant cultivars, as well as for plants more tolerant to diseases, reducing the expenses with chemical defense and fertilizers. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence and the severity of helminthosporiosis in leaves of 25 popcorn maize lines grown under high and low phosphorus conditions, in order to obtain a higher level of resistance to B. maydis in environments with P scarcity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two experiments were carried out at “Colégio Agrícola Estadual Antônio Sarlo”, located in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, where geographical coordinates are as follows: 21º42’48’’S, 41º20’38’’W, and 14 m altitude. The climate that characterizes Campos dos Goytacazes Municipality is classified as tropical (Aw), showing hot summers, mild winters and rainfall that tends to be concentrated in the summer months.

Before the experiment was performed, the soil chemistry had been analyzed to characterize the phosphorus availability in the soil environments using samples collected at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm for characterization of two environments, with high and low phosphorus availability (Table 1). The low phosphorus area was considered that with low phosphorus levels, showing values lower than 10 g.dm-3 soil (Table 1), according to Sousa and Lobato (1919 Sousa, D.M.G.; Lobato, E. Adubação com nitrogênio. In: Sousa, D.M.G.; Lobato, E. Cerrado: correção do solo e adubação. Planaltina: Embrapa Cerrados, 2004. p.129-144.).

Twenty-five popcorn lines (S7) from UENF gene bank were evaluated in two contrasting environments considering phosphorus availability: one with low phosphorus availability and the other one with optimal phosphorus availability. Four of these lines were from ‘Viçosa’ population, four were from ‘Beija-Flor’ population, seven from ‘BRS-Ângela’ population, and 10 populations were part of ‘UENF’ program (Table 2).

Table 2
S7 popcorn lines, their respective genealogies, and climate adaptation.

Experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replicates. Sowing was performed in conventional tillage. Each plot consisted of a 5m line, spaced 0.2 m between plants, and 0.9 m between rows, totaling 25 plants per plot.

Fertilization for optimal phosphorus availability consisted of 30 kg/ha N, 70 kg/ha P2O5, and 40 kg/ha K2O. In the environment with low phosphorus availability, fertilization consisted only of 30 kg/ha N and 40 kg/ha K2O. Topdressing was performed in both environments at a dose of 100 kg/ha N, when the plants reached the V6 stage.

Table 3
Joint variance analysis for h-Bm incidence and severity in popcorn lines under high and low phosphorus levels.

Supplementation of primary macronutrients was obtained based on the fertilization recommendation for popcorn culture in both environments, considering a number of nutrients in the soil at the 0-20cm layer according to chemical analysis. The low phosphorus environment received no supplementation. Other cultural practices were performed in accordance with the recommendations for this culture in the region. Experiments received supplemental irrigation where necessary to prevent water stress.

The incidence and the severity of h-Bm symptoms were estimated and two methods were adopted: i) assessment of the incidence of the disease symptoms for the whole plant, expressed as percentage, o; and ii) quantification of the severity of symptoms for the whole leaf immediately below the first spike, expressed as percentage. Foliar diseases manifest through natural infection by causal agents in the field. Evaluations were performed by taking six competitive plants per plot at every 7 days from flowering to senescence.

The incidence of h-Bm symptoms on the plants was estimated with a diagrammatic scale, as adopted by Agroceres (11 Agroceres. Guia Agroceres de sanidade. São Paulo: Sementes Agroceres, 1996. 72p.). The scale ranges from 1 to 9, wherein 1 = 0% incidence; 2 = 0.5% incidence; 3 = 10% incidence; 4 = 30% incidence; 5 = 50% incidence; 6 = 70% incidence; 7 = 80% incidence; 8 = 90% incidence; and 9 = 100% incidence. To evaluate the severity of h-Bm on the leaf, we used a diagrammatic scale proposed by James (88 James, W.C. A manual of assessment keys for plant diseases. St. Paul: The American Phytopathologycal Society, 1971. 66p.), containing the severity ranges in percentage, corresponding to 0, 1, 5, 25 and 100% injured leaf area.

Individual and joint variance analysis for environments with high and low phosphorus levels was performed for the two variables, incidence and severity. When the mean effect was significant, average cluster test (Scott-Knott) was performed at 5% probability (1717 Scott, A.; Knott, M. Cluster-analysis method for grouping means in analysis of variance. Biometrics, Washington, DC, v.30, n.3, p.507-512, 1974.). All statistical procedures were performed by using the GENES Program (44 Cruz, C.D. GENES - a software package for analysis in experimental statistics and quantitative genetics. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, Maringá, v.35, p.271-276, 2013.).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Joint variance analysis for h-Bm incidence showed a significant difference only for the source of variation “line”. For environment and line versus environment interaction, no significant difference was observed at 1% probability level, according to F test (Table 3). Therefore, for the disease incidence in leaves, averages were compared considering the average data for environments under high and low phosphorus conditions; since fertilization did not modify the performance of lines for h-Bm resistance, no variation observed in the means can be affirmed to be genetic.

Table 4
Analysis of variance and estimated genetic parameters for Bipolaris maydis incidence and severity in popcorn lines under high and low phosphorus levels.

The h-Bm severity analysis indicated significant differences (p<0.01) for lines, environment and lines versus environment interaction (Table 3). Thus, comparisons of averages occurred within each growing environment, since P-mineral availability in the soil influenced the performance of lines for disease resistance.

Considering the results obtained for h-Bm incidence and severity, and the need to compare means in each environment alone and jointly, analysis of individual variance was carried out, considering the average of the two environments, as well as each environment separately. Significant effects on the lines were observed, in both environments, which shows that genetic control is apparently differentiated in both situations (Table 4).

Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 15.98 to 20.15 for the incidence and from 44.98 to 59.41 for the severity of B. maydis (Tables 3 and 4). These data were in agreement with those reported by Arnhold (2), who observed coefficients of variation of 17.8% for h-Bm incidence, considering an average value for field experimentation which, according to Ferreira (66 Ferreira, P.V. Estatística experimental aplicada à agronomia. Maceió: EDUFAL, 1991.), demonstrates good data accuracy, since CV values are between 15 and 20%.

Based on the estimates of genetic parameters, much of the phenotypic variance observed in the studied lines is genetically controlled, not by chance heritability magnitudes were higher than 70% (Table 4). For the leaf disease incidence estimated based on the average of the two environments (non-significant lines versus environment interaction), heritability was 90.36%. For h-Bm severity, the lines versus environments interaction was significant; higher heritability (92.42) was observed in the environment with P-mineral fertilization (Table 4), while in the environment without P-mineral fertilization heritability was 73.35%. Arnhold (22 Arnhold, E. Seleção para resistência a doenças foliares em famílias S1 de milho-pipoca. Revista Ceres, Viçosa, v.55, n.2, p.89-93, 2008.) evaluated B. maydis in S1 popcorn families and obtained heritability of 0.5, while Marcos et al. (1010 Marcos, M.F.; Jank, L.; Fernandes, C.D.; Verzignassi, J.R.; Mallmann, G.; Queiroz, C.A.; Batista, M.V. Reação à Bipolaris maydis, agente causal da mancha foliar, em híbridos apomíticos de Panicum maximum. Summa Phytopathologica, Botucatu, v.41, n.3, p.197-201, 2015. DOI: doi.org/10.1590/0100-5405/2078
https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-5405/2078...
) evaluated h-Bm in Panicum maximum hybrids and obtained values of 87.19% and 83.89%. These values indicate that the selection process of these materials will be efficient, and the adopted scales are effective for the most favorable genotypes to reduce the incidence and the severity values.

Four groups were formed for B. maydis incidence according to the cluster test (Scott-Knott), independent of fertilization (Table 5). The group that presented the lowest incidence value contained only one line, L-65, with values of 30.21, considered resistant when compared to the other lines. For group C, L-69, L-70 and L-76 were considered moderately resistant, showing incidence values of 47.08, 52.04 and 58.89, respectively.

Table 5
Averages of incidence of Bipolaris maydis symptoms and disease severity based on the leaf below the first ear, evaluated in popcorn lines grown under high and low phosphorus levels.

Considering the severity of h-Bm symptoms, four groups were formed in the environment with P-mineral fertilization and two groups were formed in the environment without fertilization (Table 5). The lines L-69, L-76, P-3 and P-7 showed lower h-Bm severity averages in both environments. The lines L-69 and L-76 were distinguished from the others because they presented low severity levels in both environments and there were lines resistant to the disease incidence and severity.

The lines L-69 and L-76 are promising for h-Bm resistance in both environments. Additional studies in natural soil with low fertility and under low P-mineral conditions have demonstrated the great need to obtain productive and resistant lines, given the large number of areas with low phosphorus in the country. In addition, considering that L-69 was originated from BRS Ângela and L-76 from Viçosa, these crossbreeding lines can generate promising hybrids since they are lines of distinct origins and populations that suffer from a strong endogamy effect.

P-mineral availability in the soil influenced the performance of lines for h-Bm resistance. Thus, there is the possibility of selecting materials in different environments.

The evaluated variables, severity and incidence, indicated that the most resistant lines to h-Bm, considering both environments under the experimental conditions of the present study, are L-69 and L-76.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Agroceres. Guia Agroceres de sanidade São Paulo: Sementes Agroceres, 1996. 72p.
  • 2
    Arnhold, E. Seleção para resistência a doenças foliares em famílias S1 de milho-pipoca. Revista Ceres, Viçosa, v.55, n.2, p.89-93, 2008.
  • 3
    Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento - CONAB. Levantamento da produtividade de milho 2016 Brasília, 2016: Disponível em https://www.conab.gov.br/info-agro/safras/graos/boletim-da-safra-de-graos/item/download/1309_e50ecf243ee7243e60da214f4fdefed3> Acesso em: 26 set. 2016.
    » https://www.conab.gov.br/info-agro/safras/graos/boletim-da-safra-de-graos/item/download/1309_e50ecf243ee7243e60da214f4fdefed3>
  • 4
    Cruz, C.D. GENES - a software package for analysis in experimental statistics and quantitative genetics. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, Maringá, v.35, p.271-276, 2013.
  • 5
    Durães, F.O.M.; Santos, M.X.; Gama, E.E.G; Magalhães, P.C.; Albuquerque, P. E.P.; Guimarães, C.T. Fenotipagem associada a tolerância a seca em milho para uso em melhoramento, estudos genômicos e seleção assistida por marcadores Sete Lagoas MG: Embrapa, 2004. (Circular Técnica, 39).
  • 6
    Ferreira, P.V. Estatística experimental aplicada à agronomia Maceió: EDUFAL, 1991.
  • 7
    Hopkins, B.; Ellsworth, J. Phosphorus availability with alkaline/calcareous soil. In: Western Nutrient Management Conference, Proceedings Salt Lake City UT, 2005. Vol 6, p.88-93. Disponivel em: <http://isnap.oregonstate.edu/WERA_103/2005_Proccedings/Hopkins%20Phosphorus% 20pg88.pdf>. Acesso em: 26 set. 2016.
    » http://isnap.oregonstate.edu/WERA_103/2005_Proccedings/Hopkins%20Phosphorus% 20pg88.pdf
  • 8
    James, W.C. A manual of assessment keys for plant diseases St. Paul: The American Phytopathologycal Society, 1971. 66p.
  • 9
    Malavolta, E. Manual de nutrição mineral de plantas São Paulo: Editora Agronomica Ceres, 2006. 638p.
  • 10
    Marcos, M.F.; Jank, L.; Fernandes, C.D.; Verzignassi, J.R.; Mallmann, G.; Queiroz, C.A.; Batista, M.V. Reação à Bipolaris maydis, agente causal da mancha foliar, em híbridos apomíticos de Panicum maximum Summa Phytopathologica, Botucatu, v.41, n.3, p.197-201, 2015. DOI: doi.org/10.1590/0100-5405/2078
    » https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-5405/2078
  • 11
    Marschner, H. Mineral nutrition of higher plants 2nd ed. New York: Academic, 1995. 889p.
  • 12
    Oliveira, E.; Fernandes, F.T.; Casela, C.R.; Pinto, N.F.J.A.; Ferreira, A.S. Diagnose e controle de doenças na cultura do milho. In: Galvão, J.C.C.; Miranda, G.V. Tecnologias de produção do milho: economia, cultivares, biotecnologia, safrinha, adubação, quimigação, doenças, plantas daninhas e pragas. Viçosa: Editora UFV, 2004. p.227-268.
  • 13
    Roel, A.R. A agricultura orgânica ou ecológica e a sustentabilidade da agricultura. Revista Internacional de Desenvolvimento Local, Campo Grande, v.3, n.4, p.57-62, 2002.
  • 14
    Reis, E.M.; Casa, T.; Bresolin, A.R. Manual de diagnose e controle de doenças do milho Passo Fundo, 2004. 141p.
  • 15
    Rangel, R.M.; Amaral Júnior, A.T.; Viana, A.P.; Freitas Júnior, S.P.; Pereira, M.G. Prediction of popcorn hybrid and composites means. Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology, Viçosa, v.7, n.3, p.287-295, 2007.
  • 16
    Sawazaki, E. A cultura do milho pipoca no Brasil. O Agronômico, Campinas, v.53, n.2, p.11-13, 2001.
  • 17
    Scott, A.; Knott, M. Cluster-analysis method for grouping means in analysis of variance. Biometrics, Washington, DC, v.30, n.3, p.507-512, 1974.
  • 18
    Silveira, F.T.; Junqueira, B.G.; Silva, P.C.; Moro, J.R. Comportamento de linhagens elites de milho para resistência aos enfezamentos. Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, v.5, p.431-442, 2006.
  • 19
    Sousa, D.M.G.; Lobato, E. Adubação com nitrogênio. In: Sousa, D.M.G.; Lobato, E. Cerrado: correção do solo e adubação. Planaltina: Embrapa Cerrados, 2004. p.129-144.
  • 20
    Vieira, R.A; Tessmann, D.J.; Hata, F.T.; Souto, E.R.; Mesquini, R.M. Resistência de híbridos de milho-pipoca a Exserohilum turcicum, agente causal da Helmintosporiose Do Milho. Scientia Agraria, Curitiba, v.10, n.5, p.391-395, 2009.
  • 21
    Zinsly, J.R.; Machado, J.A. Milho-pipoca. In: Paterniani, E.; Viégas, G.P. Melhoramento e produção do milho 2.ed. Campinas: Fundação Cargill, 1987. p.413-421.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Jan-Mar 2019

History

  • Received
    10 Mar 2017
  • Accepted
    12 Apr 2018
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