Supressividade natural de solos do Nordeste brasileiro à murcha-de-fusário e rizoctoniose do caupi

Abstract

The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is one of the main crops in the Northeast of Brazil especially for the small farmers. The Fusarium wilt and Rhizoctonia canker caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tracheiphilum and Rhizoctonia solani, respectively are the cowpea diseases showing more frequency and intensity in the Northeast of Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the natural suppressiveness of 66 soils of this region to the Fusarium wilt and Rhizoctonia canker, and to analyze the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of this soils associated with disease suppressiveness or conducivity. The evaluated soils were grouped from highly suppressive to highly conducive in relation to Fusarium wilt and Rhizoctonia canker severities. The main variables involved in Fusarium wilt suppressiveness were high levels of phosphorus and potassium, basal respiration (CO2 evolution) and indexes of microbial diversity and equitability. For Rhizoctonia canker important correlations were determined with levels of phosphorus, potassium and sodium, basal respiration and enzymatic activity of fluorescein diacetate. There was no correlation between physical factors and suppressiveness to Fusarium wilt, but it was possible to correlate the levels of sand, clay and silt with suppressiveness and/or conducivity of Rhizoctonia canker. Three soils previously classified as highly supressive to Rhizoctonia canker were evaluated in relation to eight strains and three inoculum densities of R. solani. There was significant difference among soils and strains in relation to levels of disease severity. In the three soils the severity levels induced by the strain CMM-1053 were similar to those observed in former studies. Most of the strains showed different behavior in relation to soils, except for CMM-1064 and CMM-1066. There was significant difference among disease severity levels and different inoculum densities. The three soils presented good stability in relation to the different R. solani strains, but the inoculum density may be a limiting factor in the implementation of the natural soil suppressiveness or the supressivity induction in conducive soils.