Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Phytopathogenic Fungi as Biological Control Agents for Goosegrass ( Eleusine indica )

Claudia Fabbris, Monara Nogueira Silva, Leticia Alves da Silva, Victor Humberto Ribeiro de Oliveira, Marcia Ferreira Queiroz, Eliane Mayumi Inokuti, Bruno Sérgio Vieira () and André Luiz Firmino
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Claudia Fabbris: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Monara Nogueira Silva: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Leticia Alves da Silva: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Victor Humberto Ribeiro de Oliveira: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Marcia Ferreira Queiroz: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Eliane Mayumi Inokuti: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
Bruno Sérgio Vieira: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil
André Luiz Firmino: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, Brazil

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: This study investigated the diversity and distribution of phytopathogenic fungi associated with goosegrass ( Eleusine indica ), an aggressive weed in agriculture, and bioprospected fungi isolates with potential for biological control of this species. Samples showing disease symptoms were collected from Goias, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo (Brazilian states), resulting in 88 isolates, of which 50 were phytopathogenic to E. indica . A total of 26 isolates were considered more aggressive based on visual analysis and were preliminarily identified at the genus level, with an emphasis on Bipolaris , Fusarium , Curvularia, Exserohilum , and Alternaria . The influence of climatic factors, such as sunny days (UV radiation), temperature, and precipitation on fungal occurrence was analyzed. These climatic factors are critical to the presence of fungi, providing insights into their potential as biological control agents and guiding future surveys of specific genera. The number of sunny days during surveys influenced the occurrence of fungi associated with E. indica , depending on the genera of the fungi. In addition, precipitation was also a determining factor for a higher incidence of fungal isolates during periods of increased rainfall, suggesting a positive relationship between relative humidity and the dispersal or infection of phytopathogenic fungi. New tests will be conducted to confirm the potential of the identified plant phytopathogenic fungi as biological control agents against E. indica .

Keywords: biological control; bioprospecting; mapping; pathogenicity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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