Ficus damage caused by multiple infections of Cerotelium fici

• Grant number: 25/10416-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Amorim
• Grantee: Yan Correia de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/13191-5 - Epidemiological components, damage characterization and control of tropical and temperate rusts at a global climate change scenario, AP.TEM

Abstract

The 'Roxo de Valinhos' cultivar is the main fig variety grown in Brazil. Despite this cultivar's good adaptation to climate variations in different regions of the country, it is highly susceptible to fig rust, caused by Cerotelium fici. Although fig rust is considered the most important disease affecting fig crops, there is little quantitative data on the damage it causes. The objective of this project is to quantify the damage caused by fig rust through successive inoculations of the causal agent in potted fig trees. The pathogen inoculum is being maintained in plants under controlled conditions for future molecular characterization. Successive inoculations will occur at 14-day intervals. Throughout the experiment, plant leaf area, disease severity, and leaf gas exchange will be evaluated. At the end of the experiment, the shoot system of the plants will be separated from the root system, and the dry mass will be quantified. In addition, the relationship between disease severity and the reduction of net CO¿ assimilation will be quantified in an independent experiment. In this case, fig trees will be inoculated with increasing concentrations of inoculum, and net CO¿ assimilation will be measured using an infrared gas analyzer. A negative exponential model will be fitted to the data from this relationship. This study aims to promote a better understanding of the damage caused by fig rust. (AU)