Reaction of citrus hybrids to inoculation with Alternaria alternata

ABSTRACT Alternaria brown spot (ABS), caused by Alternaria alternata, which produces a host-specific toxin (HST), is a very important disease in mandarin orchards worldwide. This disease affects mandarin, their hybrids and grapefruits. The main varieties cultivated in Brazil, Ponkan mandarin and Murcott tangor, are highly susceptible to the fungus, which is also an alternative saprophyte that reproduces in the orchards and has its spores easily spread by the wind. For this study, citrus hybrids obtained from directed crossing were selected for their agronomic traits, which make them potential new varieties of sweet orange and mandarins both for industrial citriculture and for fresh fruit market. These hybrids were evaluated for their response to ABS by means of A. alternata inoculation in vitro and in vivo, an indispensible step for the release of new varieties. More than 30 genotypes that were resistant or had few symptoms of the disease were selected. Selection of varieties resistant to the disease is of great economic importance, since it reduces the production costs, rather increased due to chemical control, and also contributes to the inoculum decrease in the field.