Protocol for selection of teak seedlings resistant to Ceratocystis wilt

Tectona grandis is a species of economic importance to Brazilian silviculture and, recently, it has been affected by the disease known as "Ceratocystis wilt". This disease prevents the production of the species, justifying the conduction of studies to obtain resistant cultivars. To contribute to teak breeding programs, the objective of this study was to establish a C. fimbriata inoculation protocol, aiming at the discrimination of teak genotypes resistant and susceptible to Ceratocystis wilt. Two trials were carried out separately, in the first trial a DBC was installed in a 2x3x5 factorial scheme; different inoculation methods and disease evaluation period were studied in resistant and susceptible genotypes, in the second trial a DBC was established in a 2x3 factorial scheme to study the effect of inoculation on plants at different ages after transplanting. Although no external symptoms of the disease were observed, all inoculation methods were efficient and it was possible to discriminate between resistant and susceptible genotypes. Spore suspension methods were more effective. The evaluation periods and the age of the evaluated plants were not significant. Through the results it was possible to establish an inoculation protocol and reduce the experimental period found in the literature for the study of this disease.