Agesilau Antonio Bitancourt, Brazilian plant pathologist and mycologist (Manaus 06 June 1899 – São Paulo 17 June 1987)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Authored nearly 300 works
Proposed an equation for anthill growth
Expressão matemática do crescimento de formigueiros de Atta sexdens rubropilosa representada pelo aumento do número de olheiros. Arq. Inst. Biol. 12:229-36, 1941
Authored a formula
Theoretical distribution of lesions on leaves or fruits caused by insects and other animals or by infectious agents transmitted by vectors. Arq. Inst. Biol. 24(17):243-52, 1943
Described Citrus false exantema
With J.P. da Fonseca & M. Autuori. Manual de Citricultura (2nd part) 1933
Described zonate chlorosis in citrus
With H.S.V. Grillo. A chlorose zonada. Uma nova doença dos citrus. Arqu. Inst. Biol., 1934
With H.S. Fawcett suggested that citrus tristeza was a virus disease (1936)
Developed Bitancourt method for treatment of citrus tristeza
Developed starch test, the first index for citrus tristeza, an iodine test for starch accumulation above bud union and starch depletion below the bud union
Um teste para a identificação precoce da tristeza dos citrus. O Biológico 10(6):169-175, 1944.
Discovered coffee ringspot disease
A mancha anular, uma nova doença do cafeeiro. O Biológico 4:404-5, 1938.
Identified citrus leprosis as a virus disease (1940s) and suggested its transmission by mites (Brevipalpus phoenicis)
Described a new root disease of citrus
A doença do citrus no vale do Paraiba. O Biológico 6:268-9, 1940
First to isolate Phytophthora cinnamoni from citrus in the world
With H.S. Fawcett. Occurrence, pathogenicity, and temperature relations of Phytophthora species on Citrus in Brazil and other South American countries. Arch. Inst. Biol. 11:107-18, 1946
Described or co-described 112 new Fungi species
DESCRIBED PLANT DISEASES CAUSATIVE AGENT
Elsinoe arrudai with Jenkins
Elsinoe australis 1936 with Jenkins (Sweet Orange scab)
Elsinoe bertholetiae 1945
Elsinoe blechni 1955 with Jenkins
Elsinoe bochneri with Jenkins
Elsinoe brasiliensis 1940 with Jenkins (Superelongation disease of cassava)
Elsinoe caleae with Jenkins
Elsinoe caroli with Jenkins
Elsinoe chilensis 1945
Elsinoe costai with Jenkins
Elsinoe cryptostegiae 1941 with Jenkins
Elsinoe deslandesii
Elsinoe fawcetti 1936 with Jenkins (Sour Orange Scab)
Elsinoe heveae 1942 with Jenkins (Spotted Anthracnose of Hevea)
Elsinoe krameriii with Jenkins
Elsinoe lepagei 1941 with Jenkins
Elsinoe leucospila with Jenkins
Elsinoe mangiferae 1946 with Jenkins (Mango Scab)
Elsinoe pitangae (anthracnose of Eugenia pitanga)
Elsinoe ractii with Jenkins
Elsinoe rochalimai with Jenkins
Elsinoe theae 1939 (Foliar scab of tea)
Elsinoe uruguayensis 1945
Elsinoe venezuelensis 1945
Elsinoe verbenae with Jenkins
Sphaceloma psidii 1949 with Jenkins (Guava Spotted Anthracnose)
Sphaceloma papayae 1955 with Jenkins (Papaw scab)
Sphaceloma arachidis 1940 with Jenkins (Peanut Scab)
Sphaceloma spondialis 1942 with Jenkins (Ciriguela Scab)
Stomiopeltis citrii 1934 (Sooty blotch of citrus)
Setophoma sacchari 1938 ( a leaf spot of sugar cane)
Sphaceloma bidentis 1950 (spot anthracnose)
Sphaceloma erythrinae 1950 (spot anthracnose of Erythrina crista-galli)
Sphaceloma hoveniae 1950 with Jenkins (spot anthracnose of Hovenia dulcis)
Sphaceloma terminaliae
Proposed storing specimens in herbaria with their distinctive patterns first keeping them in Drummond’s solution and then drying them
Showed that indole acetic acid (IAA) must be oxidized and converted to a dimer named deuterauxin in order to be active
Deuterauxin, an active oxidation product of indolyl-3-acetic acid and its possible role in the mechanism of plant cell wall elongation. Nature (London) 200:548-52, 1963
Performed important studies about IAA, its metabolism and biosynthesis, physiological implications and involvement to plant cancer (1954-78)
With E.J. Hambleton discovered an efficient process in order to control of pink bollworm
Invented a special process to improve flavor of the coffee beverage
Papers in renowned reviews
With K. Schwarz. Paper chromatography of unstable substances. Science 126:607-8, 1955
Other Studies
Efeitos da faísca electrica sobre cafeeiros. O Biológico 17(3):41-9, 1959
OTHERS
Vice-president, First International Congress of Plant Pathology, London (1968)
Honorary Vice-president, International Congress of Botany, Edinburgh (1964) and Seattle (1969)
Member, International Committee on Virus Nomenclature
Invited to write the preface of 1978 Annual Review of Phytopathology, a honor reserved to leading authorities in the area
A sportsman he was Brazilian national diving champion