Reducing the Severity of Fusarium Wilt in Common Beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by Coinoculation of Rhizobium tropici and Azospirillum brasilense

The use of biochar as a means of mitigating climate change and improving soil physical and chemical characteristics has been extensively studied over the last two decades. However, the effects of biochar on the soil microbiota and plant diseases, especially those caused by soilborne plant pathogens, have received little attention and are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of biochar at different concentrations incorporated into two soils on the control of Fusarium wilt, tomato development and soil microbial activity. The severity of Fusarium wilt and microbial activities (microbial biomass nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase) were inversely proportional to the concentrations (0 to 5%, v/v) of biochar incorporated into the soil. The fresh root and dry shoot masses and stem diameter measures increased with the increase in biochar concentration. Biochar aqueous extract did not affect Fusarium mycelial growth, but microconidial germination was reduced with the increase in the concentration of biochar aqueous extract. The biochar used in the present study has the potential to increase soil microbial biomass, promote plant growth and reduce the severity of tomato Fusarium wilt.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a source of proteins for about one billion people worldwide. In Brazil, 'BRS Sublime', 'BRS Vereda', 'BRS Esteio', and 'BRS Estilo' cultivars were developed by Embrapa to offer high yield to farmers and excellent quality to final consumers. In this work, grain proteomes of these common bean cultivars were compared based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to compare 349 matched spots in these cultivars proteomes, and all cultivars were clearly separated in PCA plot. Thirty-two differentially accumulated proteins were identified by MS. Storage proteins such as phaseolins, legumins, and lectins were the most abundant, and novel proteins were also identified. We have built a useful platform that could be used to analyze other Brazilian cultivars and genotypes of common beans.

A wide array of molecular markers has been used to investigate the genetic diversity among common bean species. However, the best combination of markers for studying such diversity among common bean cultivars has yet to be determined. Few reports have examined the genetic diversity of the carioca bean, commercially one of the most important common beans in Brazil. In this study, we examined the usefulness of two molecular marker systems (simple sequence repeats – SSRs and amplified fragment length polymorphisms – AFLPs) for assessing the genetic diversity of carioca beans. The amount of information provided by Roger’s modified genetic distance was used to analyze SSR data and Jaccards similarity coefficient was used for AFLP data. Seventy SSRs were polymorphic and 20 AFLP primer combinations produced 635 polymorphic bands. Molecular analysis showed that carioca genotypes were quite diverse. AFLPs revealed greater genetic differentiation and variation within the carioca genotypes (Gst = 98% and Fst = 0.83, respectively) than SSRs and provided better resolution for clustering the carioca genotypes. SSRs and AFLPs were both suitable for assessing the genetic diversity of Brazilian carioca genotypes since the number of markers used in each system provided a low coefficient of variation. However, fingerprint profiles were generated faster with AFLPs, making them a better choice for assessing genetic diversity in the carioca germplasm.

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is one of the most important berry crops worldwide. Fusarium wilt poses a serious threat to commercial strawberry production worldwide and causes severe economic losses. Our previous surveys suggested that soil pH, soil amendment with organic matter and/or crop rotation could offer opportunities for improved management of strawberry disease. Studies were conducted for the first time to determine the effects of soil pH, soil amendments with manure compost and crop residue, and crop rotation on the severity and impact of Fusarium wilt on strawberry. At soil pH 6.7, plants showed the least severe disease and the lowest reductions in shoot and root dry weight (DW) of plants from disease, significantly lower than those of plants in acidic soil at pH 5.2 or 5.8. In soil amendment with manure compost at 5.0 %, plants showed the least severe disease and the lowest reductions in shoot and root DW of plants from disease, significantly lower than those of plants in the other three levels of manure compost. In soil amendment with crop residue at 2.5 % or 5.0 %, shoot and root disease of plants and reductions in shoot and root DW of plants from disease were significantly lower than those of plants in soil without crop residue or excessive crop residue amendment at 10.0 %. Plants in soil rotated with tomato not only showed the least severe disease but also showed the lowest reductions in shoot and root DW of plants from disease, significantly lower than those of plants in soil continuously planted with strawberry without rotation or rotated with capsicum. Soil pH, soil amendment with manure compost or crop residue, and crop rotation, all significantly reduced the severity and impact of Fusarium wilt on strawberry. There is great potential for manipulating soil pH, adding soil organic amendments and utilizing crop rotation, not only to successfully manage Fusarium wilt on strawberry, but to do so in a sustainable way without current reliance upon chemical fumigants.

A crop rotation system can reduce phytopathogen inoculum, and consequently reduce the incidence and severity of disease. Bean bacterial wilt is an important disease and several crops can act as inoculum sources for Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff). The aim was to evaluate the influence of crop rotation systems on 10 common bean cultivars against bacterial wilt. Experiments were located in two different areas in Brazil (2012), cultivated under a no-tillage system and with a history of the disease. The evaluated rotation systems were black oat, wheat and fallow followed by common bean. After harvest, 10 dry bean cultivars were sown, together with a fallow area. Disease incidence and severity were assessed at 45, 60 and 80 days after sowing. Also evaluated were four agronomical parameters: pod numbers, grain numbers, total weight of grains per plant and weight of 100 grains. Epiphytic and endophytic colonization by Cff was evaluated in black oat and wheat, and in crop debris. The rotation systems significantly influenced the incidence and severity of bacterial wilt in common bean cultivars in both areas and negatively affected the four agronomic parameters. The cultivars BRS Campeiro, BRS Estilo, IPR Tuiuiu, IPR Tangara and IPR Campos Gerais presented low severity and incidence of the disease and higher productivity. Cff strains were recovered from black oat, wheat and crop debris. Our results reinforce the importance of planting non-Cff host crops in rotation systems with common bean, as well as planting cultivars with a level of resistance to bacterial wilt.

This study aimed to determine the dual crop coefficient of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Tangará da Serra-MT, Brazil. The study used the FAO-56 dual kc method, dividing the kc into soil evaporation coefficient (ke), determined in microlysimeters, and basal crop coefficient (kcb), determined in weighing lysimeters. The study was conducted from July 10 (sowing) to October 6, 2014 (harvest), using the common bean cultivar 'BRS Estilo' and a sprinkler irrigation system with a coefficient of uniformity greater than 80%. The total rainfall and irrigation during the crop cycle (84 days) was 524.8 mm; the potential evapotranspiration (ETo) estimated for the period was 327.9 mm, whereas the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) accumulated during the cycle, determined in lysimeters, was equal to 477.5 mm. The kcb values determined for the initial, full development and final stages were 0.32, 1.10 and 0.81, respectively, while for ke, the respective values were 0.85, 0.40 and 0.53.

Chitosan is a biodegradable natural compound that has a great potentiality in agriculture for controlling plant diseases. An attempt was made to control Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae under inoculated field condition and increase the growth and yield of brinjal by chitosan. Before setting the experiments in the field, preliminary laboratory experiments were carried out to select virulent isolate and effective dose of chitosan against the mycelial growth of the selected pathogen. F. oxysporum f. sp. melongenae isolate F-1 was found to be the most virulent on brinjal in pathogenicity test. Chitosan @ 1.0% concentration was appeared to be the highest inhibitory to the test pathogen at in vitro condition. Additionally, seed treatment with 1.0% chitosan for 12 hrs resulted in the highest increased in germination and seedling growth of brinjal. The field experiment was conducted following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments. No treatment was given in T1, the pathogen was inoculated in T2 and seed treatment and soil amendment with 1.0% chitosan was done in T3 and T4, respectively, in test pathogen inoculated condition. Application of 1.0% chitosan as a seed treatment (T3) or soil amendment (T4) significantly reduced pre- and post-emergence seedling mortality, incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt as well as enhanced germination percentage, plant growth and yield of brinjal. On the contrary, pre-emergence and post-emergence seedling mortality, disease incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt were highest in treatment T2 where the soil was inoculated with pathogen without chitosan. Therefore, chitosan could be used against this vascular disease as an alternative to inorganic fungicides and augment yield.

Macrophomina phaseolina is a soilborne pathogen with a wide range of hosts and its control through agricultural practices is difficult. The aim of this study was to quantify the severity of root rot (SRR) caused by M. phaseolina in common bean cultivars and its impact on yield components. The experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions with the common bean cultivars ‘ANFC-9 Agro Norte’, ‘BRS Esteio’, ‘BRS Estilo’, ‘BRS Pérola’, ‘FTS Soberano’, ‘IPR Campos Gerais’, ‘IPR Tangará’, ‘IPR Tuiuiú’, ‘IPR Uirapurú’ and ‘TAA Dama’. Three isolates of M. phaseolina obtained from infected plants of common bean, soybeans and maize were inoculated in the common bean cultivars. In the phenological stage R9 of grain harvest maturity, the SRR and the yield components of root dry mass (RDM), number of pods per plant (NPP), number of grains per plant (NGP) and grain mass per plant (GMP) were assessed. All common bean cultivars were susceptible to M. phaseolina, showing a reduction in NPP, NGP and GMP. SPR was greater than 75%, regardless of the origin of isolates. Considering the average of cultivars, there was a significant decrease of 54.3% in RDM, compared to control treatments. The cultivars ‘IPR Tangará’, ‘ANFC-9 Agro Norte’, ‘BRS Esteio’, ‘BRS Pérola’ and ‘FTS Soberano’ had a decrease in at least one yield component, while a reduction occurred in all components for cultivar ‘IPR Tangará’. There was an average decrease in NPP, NGP and GMP of 7.9%, 7.6% and 7.2%; 13.4%, 12.8% and 6.7%; and 14.2%, 12.9% and 10.1%, considering the isolates obtained from beans, soybeans and maize, respectively.

Common bean and its importance for the brazilian population. Golden mosaic of common beans (Bean golden mosaic virus). The BGMV whitefly vector: Bemisia tabaci. Breeding for BGMV resistant varieties. The development of a BGMV-Resistant common bean transgenic event. Other whitefly-transmitted viruses reported on common beans in Brazil. Whitefly-borne disease and insect management. Future perspectives.

Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most required by common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and the rational management of this element in the crop is very important for increasing the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance, qualitative performance and the response and efficiency of N use by 16 common bean cultivars with the commercial grain type “Carioca” in the autumn-winter season under irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (Oxisol) under conventional tillage. A randomized block design was used in split plots with four replicates. The plots were consisted of the common bean cultivars: ANFc 9, BRS Ametista, BRS Estilo, BRSMG Madrepérola, Pérola, IAC Alvorada, IAC Imperador, IAC Milênio, IAC Sintonia, IPR Andorinha, IPR Campos Gerais, IPR Tangará, IPR 139 (Juriti Claro), TAA Bola Cheia, TAA Dama and TAA Gol. The subplots comprised the absence and presence of nitrogen (0 and 100 kg ha−1 of N). The agronomic performance of common bean is affected by top-dressing N application, and the cultivars IPR Campos Gerais and IPR Tangará stood out under N application. The common bean cultivars BRS Estilo, IAC Imperador and IPR Campos Gerais are responsive and efficient in the use of N. The qualitative performance of common bean grains is influenced by the top-dressing N application, and the cultivar IAC Alvorada showed the best results. Top-dressing N application increases the protein content and decreases the cooking time of common bean grains.

One of the many aspects related to intercropping and practically not studied is the fertilization of the crops involved. The nutritional requirement of the species can be modified as a result of the interaction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutrition of common bean and castor bean subjected to different forms of the split of nitrogen (N) rate in coverage. Two experiments were carried out in the summer harvests of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, using a randomized block design, in a 2 × 2 × 6 + 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments were composed of two common bean cultivars and two castor bean cultivars in intercropping system, combined with six forms of split of nitrogen fertilization coverage. The four additional treatments were composed of the two common bean and castor bean cultivars in monoculture, using the 40 kg ha−1 of N in coverage. For common beans, the split of 30:70 kg ha−1 of N increased the concentration of P (32.3%), K (6.0%), Ca (12.1%), Mg (78.5%), S (180.0%), B (17.9%), Cu (35.5%), Fe (3.1%), Mn (9.2%) and Zn (47.9%) in relation to control treatment. For castor beans, the same split increased the concentration of P (43.5%), K (9.4%), Mg (130.7%), S (3.2%), B (15.8%), Cu (28.4%), Fe (37.6%), Mn (40.5%) and Zn (70.2%). Pérola and Energia cultivars obtained higher values of leaf nutrients for common bean and castor bean, respectively. Leaf nutrient concentrations were higher in the monoculture when compared to intercropping for both crops.

In irrigated production systems, the common bean grain yield must reach high levels to maintain economic viability. In this context, management, like the selection of the most adapted cultivars, may be effective in obtaining high yields. Through a three-year experiment, it was aimed to select the common bean cultivars with the highest agronomic and technological performance in an irrigated production system and to determine the yield component that most interfered with common bean yield. The treatments consisted of eight common bean cultivars with indeterminate growth habit and from the pinto bean variety (carioca): ANFc 9, BRS Estilo, BRSMG Madrepérola, Pérola, IAC Alvorada, IAC Milênio, TAA Bola Cheia, and TAA Dama. IAC Milênio and IAC Alvorada had the highest agronomic performance for irrigated production systems, with grain yields up to 17% higher than other cultivars. The cultivars show little variation in the grain technological quality, meeting the culinary and nutritional qualities recommended for common bean. The ANFc 9 cultivar showed the highest crude protein content in grains (19%). The number of pods per plant is the yield component that most interferes with common bean grain yield, generating 86 kg ha-1 increments for each unitary increase. Therefore, the common bean cultivars selection in the irrigated production system is an effective management practice to increase common bean agronomic and quality performance.

Six different common bean cultivars (BRS Embaixador, BRS Pitanga, BRS Estilo, Pérola, BRS Campeiro and BRS Esplendor) were characterized aiming to determine possible uses for them in various food products. The samples were analysed to determine their chemical composition, weight per hundred beans, pH, water and oil absorption capacities (WAC and OAC, respectively), foaming at pH 2.5, 5.6 and 8.0 and emulsifying properties. The relationship between the physicochemical and functional properties was described using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results of the chemical composition, weight per hundred beans, WAC and OAC showed differences even between cultivars of the same commercial group. Foaming also varied between the cultivars and foaming capacity and stability were greatest at pH 5.6 and 8.0. The emulsifying capacity proved quite high for all cultivars, as well as the stability of the emulsion. According to these properties, with the contribution of the PCA, each different bean cultivar can be destined to specific applications according to its physicochemical properties.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to conduct a temporal evaluation of incidence of rot base and sanitary severity, and to relate the impact on the seed pathology of common bean cultivars. In the 2015-2016 harvest, in the city of Ipameri, Goiás, ten cultivars of common bean were evaluated (BRS Estilo©, BRS Pérola©, IPR Tangará©, IPR Tuiuiú©, IPR Uirapuru©, IAC Milênio©, Imperador©, IAC F3 R2©, IAC OTG© and IPR Campos Gerais©) and distributed into five blocks, totaling 40 experimental units. The incidence of wilt and base rot and sanitary severity were analyzed by taking ten random samples per block at 21, 28, 56, 63 and 69 days after planting. At the end of 120 days, a total of 20 plants were harvested per cultivar, and 250 seeds were harvested for application of the Blotter Test method. From 21 to 69 days after planting, the cultivars BRS Pérola© and IPR Campos Gerais© deserve to be highlighted for presenting the lowest incidence of wilt in the reproductive and vegetative cycles. The cultivar BRS Pérola© showed the lowest incidence of wilt and sanitary severity. In the analysis of harvested seeds, the cultivar BRS Pérola© presented high physiological quality for all evaluated parameters. On the other hand, Cramberry (OTG)© showed low physiological potential in germination and vigor tests.

Nitrogen fertilizers are widely used on the cultivation of common bean in Brazil, affecting the production cost and the environment. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) can reduce the negative impacts related to N supply. This work aimed to evaluate the agroeconomic response of the inoculated common to N-fertilizer topdressing at different phenological phases of the common bean. N-fertilizer in a total of 90 kg ha−1 was applied in the form of urea at 3 phases: planting (P), phenological phase V4 (V4), and phenological phase R5 (R5) of the common bean, in two field experiments. The used treatments were P0V40R50, P0V445R545, P0V490R50, P0V40R590, P30V430R530, P30V460R50, P30V40R560, P60V430R50, P60V40R530, and P90V40R50. All treatments were inoculated with peat inoculum containing the commercial strain SEMIA 4077 (Rhizobium tropici). The number of nodules (NN), nodule dry mass (NDM), leaf area index (LAI), root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), grain yield (GY), production cost (PC), gross revenue (GR), net revenue (NR), and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were determined. N-fertilizer splitting at any dose and phenological phase decreased NN and NDM. N-fertilizer treatments provided higher LAI and SDM compared with the inoculated treatment (P0V40R50). Inoculated treatment presented higher GY and lower PC, resulting in greater NR and BCR. Inoculation with Rhizobium tropici provided high nodulation to the common bean and increased its GY in 10.2% as compared with N-fertilization, which allowed a 15.8% and 7.8% higher NR and BCR, respectively, than the N-fertilized treatment.