​40th São Paulo Phytopathology Congress will be held at IAC, in Campinas, SP

The 40th São Paulo Phytopathology Congress will be promoted by the Agronomic Institute (IAC), and held at its headquarters in Campinas, from the 7th to the 9th of February 2017. It is an event held annually by the São Paulo Phytopathology Association since 1978, with the aim of publicizing technologies for solving problems caused by phytopathogens in crops, in different production environments. The Congress will bring together phytopathologists from teaching and research areas, rural extension technicians, undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as companies operating in the area.

The lectures will be presented by researchers from IAC, the São Paulo Agency for Agribusiness Technologies (APTA), the Biological Institute, Embrapa, Unesp Botucatu and Esalq/USP, as well as professionals from companies linked to the phytopathology of different crops. The inaugural conference will address Phytopathology in sustainable agribusiness. On the first day of the event there will also be a lecture on biological control of plant diseases and another on the challenges in fungicide application technology, considering quality and environmental safety.

On the second day of the event, three major topics will be discussed in round tables: vector-borne viruses, phytosanitary defense in Brazil and disease and nematode management in organic systems.

IAC researcher Carlos Eduardo Rossi will speak on “The science of nematode management in organic systems”. In his presentation, the impacts of nematodes on crops, their effects on organic agriculture and methods to reduce damage will be addressed, including green manure, bionematicides, soil practices and scientific explanations of how management occurs. “Phytoparasitic nematodes are microscopic animals that survive exclusively from the parasitism of host plant cells, mainly the roots, which in high populations and in favorable conditions, cause damage and economic losses”, explains Rossi.

According to the IAC researcher, this pest can cause damage during the transition period from the conventional to the organic system, which is why integrated management is recommended. “In agribusiness, they are considered pests when crop production decreases. In agroecology, pests are not causes of low productivity, as they only become limiting when the agroecosystem is in imbalance”, says the IAC researcher.

Another recommendation is to prevent the entry of nematodes by cleaning tools and machinery and plant debris, such as roots. Rossi also indicates the crop rotation system, however it is necessary to carry out nematological analyzes to know the species of nematodes that occur in the area and select the crops to be programmed. “It is possible to choose crops that contain resistant cultivars, such as lettuce, tomatoes and peppers,” he says.

IAC researcher, Christina Dudienas, will speak about the IAC's quarantine actions in Brazil's phytosanitary defense. The Agronomic Institute has one of two Brazilian quarantines and is tasked with analyzing the phytosanitary quality of plant materials imported for research purposes. These materials can be quarantined for months to years, depending on the plant species and country of origin.

Among the users of the IAC Quarantine are companies — such as Basf, Bayer, Ceres, Limagrain, Monsanto, Monsoy, Nunhems - universities, such as Unesp and Unicamp, as well as research institutes. The IAC Unit has already received materials from 40 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain, France, India, the Netherlands, South Africa, Japan and China.

On the 9th, the round tables will address disease management in sugarcane cultivation, genetic resistance in disease control and diagnosis and monitoring of phytopathogens in agribusiness. IAC researcher, Maria Elisa Ayres Guidetti Zagatto Paterniani, will speak about genetic improvement to control diseases in corn crops. According to the researcher, there are disease control methods such as crop rotation, soil and crop management, including planting time and sowing density, but the most efficient measure is the use of disease-resistant cultivars. The lecture will address conventional breeding methods and strategies for maintaining long-lasting resistance in corn breeding programs with selection for disease resistance, under field conditions.

According to Maria Elisa, corn crops are exposed to a large number of adverse biotic and abiotic factors. In the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in the level of diseases, mainly foliar diseases: leaf spot Phaeosphaeria, burning of turcicum, common rust, polyssora and tropical, in addition to stem and ear rot. This growth results from the increase in the area cultivated with corn and the expansion of off-season corn, mainly in the Center-West of the country. “Greater maintenance of pathogens, causal agents of diseases, has been facilitated by the constant presence of the crop in the field, the great flexibility of planting times and the poor use of technologies”, he explains.

For the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, Arnaldo Jardim, the Congress brings together knowledge and technologies from São Paulo institutions, which collaborate with national agriculture. “Our Institutes are committed to transferring and sharing the solutions generated to increase agricultural productivity and food health, as recommended by Governor Geraldo Alckmin”, he says.

The IAC post-doctoral fellow, Gabriela Teresani, will present the lecture “Diagnosis techniques used for prospecting Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum in vegetable crops in Brazil”. Currently, she is developing risk assessment research on the bacteria'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' in potato, carrot, tomato and pepper crops, in addition to analyzing the risks of cross-transmission of bacteria 'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp., which are associated with huanglongbing in citriculture, move to vegetable crops. The research is conducted under the guidance of IAC researcher, José Alberto Caram Souza Dias. The bacteria'Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum', causes internal spots on potato tubers and reduces commercial acceptance, potentially causing losses of up to 100% of production.

During the Congress, other IAC researchers will give lectures: Margarida F. Ito, on “Genetic variability in phytopathogens”, Alisson Fernando Chiorato, on “Genetic method for controlling diseases in beans”, Ivan Antonio dos Anjos, on “Genetic improvement of sugarcane for resistance to pathogens”, José Alberto Caram Souza Dias on “Contributions of Bio-Imuno Diagnose in the Monitoring of Viruses in Solanaceas: auxiliary potential in seed and seedling production and certification systems” and Hamilton Humberto Ramos on “Phytopathology in precision agriculture”.

At the end of the Congress, the following prizes will be awarded: São Paulo Phytopathology Award, given to the professional who has contributed significantly to the development of phytopathology; the Summa Phytopathologica, awarded to the best scientific work published in the Revista de Fitopathologia in 2016; the “Victória Rossetti” award, given to the best work presented at the São Paulo Phytopathology Congress; the “Ferdinando Galli” award, for the best Scientific Initiation work presented at the São Paulo Phytopathology Congress; and the “Hiroshi Kimati” award, awarded to the undergraduate and postgraduate student who has the best performance in the Image Diagnosis Competition (Phytopathology Clinic), held during the São Paulo Phytopathology Congress.

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40th São Paulo Phytopathology Congress

Date: February 7th to 9th, 2017

Location: Avenida Barão de Itapura, 1481, Campinas

Phone Number: (19) 3243-0396