Comparação morfofisiológica de mudas de Hevea brasiliensis, submetidas a regimes hídricos, inoculadas com Meloidogyne exigua

Abstract

Brazil was the main producer of rubber, from Hevea brasiliensis, of world. Nowadays, the Brazilian production is about only 1,5%. Among other reasons, plant pathogens are limiting factors for the formation of rubber tree orchards. Among these pathogens, the nematodes are aggressive and cause significant losses. Water availability influences both plants and nematode development, since the infective stage needs water to move to the roots. In this study, the morphology and physiology of rubber tree seedlings inoculated with Melodogyne exigua race 3, under two different water regimes, was compared. Four treatments were established: Healthy + Stressed; Inoculated + Stressed; Healthy + Water, and Inoculated + Stressed. The experimental design was completely randomized, as a 2x2 factorial. The seedlings subjected to stress received water at 50% of field capacity of the pot, while the irrigated ones received 100% of the field capacity of the pot. It was concluded that seedlings colonized with M. exigua have a compromised morphophysiological development and the water further compromises the development of rubber tree seedlings.