IB maintains the largest collection of fungi and oomycetes in Brazil in the area of ​​citrus diseases

Do you know what a mycoteca is and what it has to do with your orange juice? Did you know that the Biological Institute (IB-APTA), of the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, maintains the largest and most important collection of fungi and oomycetes that cause diseases in citrus in Brazil, one of the main crops in terms of production value? in Sao Paulo?

Mycoteca are collections of fungal cultures. According to IB researcher Eduardo Feichtenberger, they are fundamental for the development of scientific research in various areas, such as agriculture. Using fungi isolated and maintained in these locations, it is possible to reduce the time required for research carried out with these organisms, such as in the development or selection of plants resistant to the diseases they cause, for example in citrus farming, of plants more tolerant to Phytophthora gummosis diseases. , black spot and brown Alternaria spot.

The fungi kept in these collections can also be used in studies to improve knowledge of the diseases they cause and their control, with the evaluation of the effectiveness of new agricultural pesticides and their application methodologies, biological control with the selection of the best antagonists or enemies natural resources and the modalities of their use, in addition to other strategies for controlling these diseases.

Cultures from the Instituto Biológico collection, located at the Sorocaba Unit, have already been used to carry out research that resulted in the publication of more than 130 works, including scientific articles, doctoral theses and master's dissertations. This important collection is shared with several research institutions in the country and abroad, which contributes to expanding the scientific development of phytopathology and the entire Brazilian agribusiness production sector.

"The mycotheque "Dr. Victoria Rossetti" from IB presents collections of cultures not only of fungi, but also of oomycetes, mainly those of the genus Phytophthora. microorganisms very similar to fungi and which also cause diseases in several plants of economic interest, including citrus. Many specimens of mycoteca have already been used to conduct research projects that contributed to solving important phytosanitary problems in São Paulo and Brazilian agriculture", explains the researcher.

Before the inclusion of fungi and oomycetes in the collections and their preservation in controlled environments in the mycotheque, IB researchers carry out extensive work to obtain, identify, genetically characterize and evaluate the pathogenicity of these organisms to know their origin and degree of severity, for example. This information helps researchers when developing their studies, making research faster. "When a researcher requests a culture from the collection, he or she receives all the information available about that fungus or oomycete, which will allow him to skip this initial stage of his research project, and can now use that organism, for example, in the plants that are being evaluated. ", says Feichtenberger.

The researcher explains that specimens from the mycoteca are being used in several ongoing research projects, involving IB collaborations with other research institutions in the country such as the Agronomic Institute (IAC), the "Luiz de Queiroz" Higher School of Agriculture (Esalq- USP), Fundecitrus and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

In a project in collaboration with Fundecitrus and Embrapa, Phytophthora isolates from the IB mycoteca are being used to evaluate citrus rootstocks, aiming to select plants that are more resistant or tolerant to Phytophthora gummosis disease. "Being resistant or tolerant to a disease is important, as this will also impact the lower use of agricultural pesticides, helping to make production more sustainable from an environmental point of view", explains the researcher.

In another research project in collaboration with the IAC's "Sylvio Moreira" Citriculture Center, Phytophthora isolates from the IB collection have been used in studies aimed at managing this same disease. In research in collaboration with Esalq, isolates from the mycotheca were included to select avocado plants that were more tolerant to gummosis and root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, the main avocado disease in the country.

IB maintains Brazil's most important collection of fungi and oomycetes (Phytophthora) that cause diseases in citrus

The IB researcher explains that the mycoteca was started in 1987 and its name was given in honor of Dr. Victoria Rossetti, an eminent researcher at the Institute, who greatly contributed to the development of citrus pathology in the country and abroad. "Although the name mycotheca is given to collections of fungal cultures, the IB also houses oomycetes of the genus Phytophthora. These microorganisms are similar to fungi and cause diseases in many plants. When the IB mycotheca was created, they were considered to be fungi, but were later moved to another taxonomic group called Oomycota", explains Feichtenberger.

Despite its strong presence in the citrus area, the IB's "Victoria Rossetti" mycotheque also maintains Phytophthora cultures from other hosts, mainly fruit plants such as avocado and papaya, as well as some ornamental plants. The collection today consists of more than two thousand pure cultures of fungi and oomycetes, of which more than 1.600 were obtained from citrus plants and more than 390 Phytophthora cultures obtained from other hosts, mainly fruit and ornamental plants.

The preservation of the organisms in the collection is done through storage on dry and frozen filter paper in freezers, in the case of fungi, and in deionized distilled water at low temperature, in the case of Phytophthora cultures.