ABSTRACT Macrophomina pseudophaseolina has recently been reported in association with weeds in melon producing areas in Northeastern Brazil. Species from this genus are the causal agents of root rot and vine decline (RRVD) in melon, reducing its productivity. It is needed to know the genetic variability of the pathogen to develop effective control methods. Thus, this work aimed to assess the genetic diversity among M. pseudophaseolina isolates collected from the weeds Trianthema portulacastrum L. and Boerhavia diffusa L. using ISSR and RAPD markers. For this, 41 M. pseudophaseolina isolates were submitted to amplification with five ISSR and ten RAPD primers. Genetic similarity was analyzed using the Jaccard’s coefficient and cluster analysis was performed by the UPGMA method. Combining data from both markers, the 41 isolates were separated into eight groups. Most groups were not arranged according to geographical origin and host of the pathogen. The genetic similarity among isolates ranged from 0.15 to 0.87. On the other hand, the highest genetic dissimilarity (85%) was observed between the isolate MpBr11, collected from T. portulacastrum in Icapuí (CE), and MpBr65, collected from B. diffusa in Assú (RN). Results obtained herein can assist breeding programs for the selection of resistance sources and the development of effective control methods against RRVD in melon. | RESUMO Macrophomina pseudophaseolina foi recentemente relatada em áreas produtoras de melão em associação com plantas daninhas na região Nordeste. Espécies do gênero são agentes da podridão radicular e declínio das ramas (PRDR) do meloeiro, doença que reduz sua produtividade. O conhecimento da diversidade genética do patógeno é importante no desenvolvimento de métodos de controle eficientes. Nesse contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a variabilidade genética de isolados de M. pseudophaseolina coletados das plantas daninhas Trianthema portulacastrum L. e Boerhavia diffusa L. por meio dos marcadores moleculares ISSR e RAPD. Para isto, 41 isolados de M. pseudophaseolina foram submetidos à amplificação com cinco iniciadores ISSR e dez RAPD. A similaridade genética foi analisada através do coeficiente de Jaccard e o agrupamento obtido com o método UPGMA. Com a combinação dos dados dos marcadores os 41 isolados foram agrupados em 8 grupos principais. Não foi observado, para grande maioria dos grupos gerados, a relação do agrupamento de acordo com hospedeiro ou local de coleta. A similaridade genética entre os isolados variou de 0,15 a 0,87. A maior dissimilaridade genética (85%) foi observada entre o isolado MpBr11, coletado de T. portulacastrum no município de Icapuí/CE, do isolado MpBr65, coletado de B. diffusa em Assú/RN. Estas informações podem ser úteis para auxiliar programas de melhoramento genético na seleção de fontes de resistência e/ou em testes de métodos de controle contra PRDR do melão.

ABSTRACT Previous investigations showed that diverse varieties of melon may have different attractiveness for bees. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, frequency and behavior of flower visitors of some melon (Cucumis melo) cultivars (Amarelo, Pele de Sapo, Cantaloupe, Gália) in different conditions (conventional and organic farming, dry and rainy seasons, with and without mulching and introduction or not of honey bee hives) in the main production poles in the Brazilian Northeast (Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA, Pacajus-CE and Mossoro-RN). Observations and collections of flower visitors occurred from 5p.m. to 6p.m, in non-consecutive days. We recorded 12 species of insects, mostly bees. The most frequent was Apis mellifera (99.68%), but other species appeared sporadically (less than 0.5%): Xylocopa grisescens, Trigona spinipes, Plebeia sp., Melipona mandacaia, Frieseomelitta doedereleini, Halicitidae. Apis mellifera was present in all studied cultivars and sites. Xylocopa grisescens appeared in two poles, but not in Pacajus-CE, Amarelo cultivar. In addition, Trigona spinipes, although present in the three poles, was not recorded on Pele de Sapo. The Amarelo cultivar, under organic farming, without the use of mulching, and presence of honey bee hives, in the Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA pole, in the dry season, was the combination of factors showing the largest number of Apis mellifera as the main visitor of melon flowers.