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Mapping quantitative trait loci through the use of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in populations of unrelated individuals provides a valuable approach for dissecting the genetic basis of complex traits in soybean (Glycine max). The haplotype-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) has now been proposed as a complementary approach to intensify benefits from LD, which enable to assess the genetic determinants of agronomic traits. In this study a GWAS was undertaken to identify genomic regions that control 100-seed weight (SW), plant height (PH) and seed yield (SY) in a soybean association mapping panel using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and haplotype information. The soybean cultivars (N = 169) were field-evaluated across four locations of southern Brazil. The genome-wide haplotype association analysis (941 haplotypes) identified eleven, seventeen and fifty-nine SNP-based haplotypes significantly associated with SY, SW and PH, respectively. Although most marker-trait associations were environment and trait specific, stable haplotype associations were identified for SY and SW across environments (i.e., haplotypes Gm12_Hap12). The haplotype block 42 on Chr19 (Gm19_Hap42) was confirmed to be associated with PH in two environments. These findings enable us to refine the breeding strategy for tropical soybean, which confirm that haplotype-based GWAS can provide new insights on the genetic determinants that are not captured by the single-marker approach.

The fungitoxicity of crude extracts and essential oils of Achillea millefolium, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus citriodora and Ageratum conyzoides on the fungus Didymella bryoniae was verified in vitro by means of germination of spores and mycelial growth. In addition, some observations were made using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to detect possible alterations on the hyphae of Didymella bryoniae. The results revealed that crude extracts of E. citriodora and A. conyzoides were more effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of D. bryoniae whereas in the germination of spores A. conyzoides and A. millefolium were responsible for most of the inhibition, namely, 52 and 46%, respectively. The essential oils of C. citratus, A. conyzoides and E. citriodora provided 100% inhibition of the mycelial growth and germination of spores of D. bryoniae. SEM observations revealed alterations in the growth pattern of hyphae of D. bryoniae when the essential oil of A. millefolium was present.

Assessment of the stability and adaptability of a genotype to different environments is useful for recommending cultivars for known conditions of cultivation and should be a requirement in breeding programs. Twenty maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars were tested at eight locations in Minas Gerais by the National Center for Maize and Sorghum Research (CNPMS) of the Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA) for two years. The experiments involved a randomized complete block design in which three procedures were used to analyze cultivar stability and adaptability. The level of association among the parameters obtained by the three methods was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. Hybrids 'DINA 170', 'G-96C', 'C 505', 'DINA 70' and 'C 435' had a mean yield greater than 6,000 kg/ha. Eberhart and Russell's regression coefficient (betai) was negative and correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with Lin and Binn's superiority index (Pi), indicating that the most responsive cultivars tended to have smaller Pi. Pi did not correlate with Huehn's nonparametric measurements Si(2) and Si(3) nor with Eberhart and Russell's sigmadi² (P > or = 0.05), but correlated positively with Si(1) (P < 0.05), indicating that superior genotypes (with lower Pi) could also be stable, a finding not commonly reported in the literature. The stability parameters, Si(1), Si(2), Si(3) and sigmadi², correlated positively among each other (P < 0.01), indicating that the stability estimates of the Huehn's nonparametric model did not add important information to those obtained by the Eberhart and Russell's method. Estimates from the Huehn's method, however, showed that stability estimates from nonparametric models are useful alternatives to parametric models. 'DINA 170', which had a greater general mean, was characterized as a cultivar adapted to favorable environments, and was among the most productive in the different environments assessed. The cultivar 'G-96C' showed medium adaptation to all environments (ideal cultivar) and had good stability. Cultivars 'C 505' and 'C435' were alternatives for 'G-96C'. 'DINA 70' showed good adaptability but had low stability.
O conhecimento sobre a estabilidade e adaptabilidade de comportamento de genótipos contém informações muito úteis para a recomendação de cultivares para condições de cultivo conhecidas a priori, de modo que a avaliação da resposta dos genótipos às variações ambientais deve ser etapa obrigatória em programas de melhoramento. Para caracterizar 20 cultivares de milho, foram realizados dez ensaios (oito localidades do Estado de Minas Gerais, em dois anos) no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, pelo Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Milho e Sorgo (CNPMS) da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa). Três procedimentos estatísticos foram adotados para a análise da estabilidade e adaptabilidade dos cultivares e avaliou-se o grau de associação entre os parâmetros dos três métodos por meio da correlação classificatória de Spearman. 'DINA 170', 'G-96C', 'C 505', 'DINA 70' e 'C 435' de...

ABSTRACT. Using only one type of marker to quantify genetic diversity generates results that have been questioned in terms of reliability, when compared to the combined use of different markers. To compare the efficiency of the use of single versus multiple markers, we quantified genetic diversity among 10 S 7 inbred popcorn lines using both RAPD and SSR markers, and we evaluated how well these two types of markers discriminated the popcorn genotypes. These popcorn genotypes: "Yellow Pearl Popcorn" (P1-1 and P1-5), "Zélia" (P1-2 and P1-4), "Curagua" (P1-3), "IAC 112" (P9-1 and P9-2), "Avati Pichinga" (P9-3 and P9-5), and "Pisankalla" (P9-4) have different soil and climate adaptations. Using RAPD marker analysis, each primer yielded bands of variable intensities that were easily detected, as well as non-specific bands, which were discarded from the analysis. The nine primers used yielded 126 bands, of which 104 were classified as polymorphic, giving an average of 11.6 polymorphisms per primer. Using SSR procedures, the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to five, giving a total of 47 alleles for the 14 SSR loci. When comparing the groups formed using SSR and RAPD markers, there were similarities in the combinations of genotypes from the same genealogy. Correlation between genetic distances obtained through RAPD and SSR markers was relatively high (0.5453), indicating that both techniques are efficient for evaluating genetic diversity in the genotypes of popcorn that we evaluated, though RAPDs yielded more polymorphisms.

Popcorn breeding programs in Brazil have emerged but despite some advances there is still a lack of material performance studies specially regard to seed quality, in different agricultural seasons. This research was carried out to estimate the popcorn combining ability from biparental crosses between eight tropical and one temperate lines in two agricultural seasons (2008 and 2009) with regard to eight traits related to seed quality, in addition to three agronomic traits related to popping expansion. Method 4, proposed by Griffing (Model 1), was used to verifying the importance of the dominance effect in the genetic control of the seed quality traits, favouring the identification of superior hybrids through seed tests in the laboratory with low cost. The lines from Zélia and CMS42 were promising in obtaining hybrids with superior seed quality and greater popping expansion. The hybrids Zélia 9 IAC-112, CMS42 9 UEM M2-1, CMS43-1 9 IAC-112 and UEM M2-2 9 Zaeli expressed superior SCA for grain yield, popping expansion and at least two seed quality traits. These hybrids are materials of interest for cultivation in different planting seasons.

RESUMOO comportamento físico e hídrico do solo fundamenta as práticas de seu uso e manejo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as inter-relações entre as propriedades físicas e os coeficientes da curva de retenção de água de um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico sob diferentes sistemas de uso. Em 2004, foram selecionadas três áreas contíguas utilizadas por mais de vinte anos com mata (nativa), pousio (Brachiaria decumbens) e cultivo (culturas anuais). Foram coletadas 25 amostras de solo com estrutura não deformada na camada de 0-0,15 m de profundidade, que foram utilizadas para determinação das curvas de retenção de água do solo. As curvas de retenção de água foram ajustadas pela equação de van Genuchten, obtendo-se os coeficientes θ θ θ θ θs, θ θ θ θ θr, α α α α α e n. Também foram mensuradas as variáveis densidade do solo, teor de C orgânico e teor de argila do solo (grupo I). Essas variáveis e os coeficientes das curvas de retenção do solo (grupo II) foram submetidos às análises de correlações canônicas. Verificou-se que a intensificação do uso do solo (mata, pousio e cultivo) resultou em maiores valores de densidade do solo e na redução dos teores de C orgânico e argila. O primeiro par das variáveis canônicas indicou dependência de θ θ θ θ θs em relação a densidade, e o segundo par distinguiu os sistemas de uso do solo verificado pela dependência de θ θ θ θ θr em relação aos teores de argila e de C orgânico. As modificações dos teores de C orgânico e da densidade do solo sugerem a degradação da qualidade física e hídrica do solo.Termos de indexação: densidade do solo, C orgânico do solo, correlações canônicas, manejo do solo, qualidade do solo.

RESUMO -O trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de avaliar a qualidade das sementes de quatro cultivares de soja (BRS 133, BRS 206, BRS 239 e CD 202), colhidas em quatro épocas (Estádio R 7 e 7, 14 e 21 dias após a primeira época) e produzidas em dois locais do Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul (Sidrolândia e Dourados), nos anos agrícolas de 2004/05 e 2005/06. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados com três repetições e tratamentos arranjados no esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas foram constituídas pelas cultivares de soja e as subparcelas pelas épocas de colheita. A germinação foi avaliada pelo teste de germinação; teste de envelhecimento acelerado e o vigor pelo teste de frio sem solo, teste de emergência das plântulas em substrato de areia e teste de sanidade. Os dados coletados nos diferentes locais foram submetidos à análise de variância conjunta de parcelas subdivididas e, na presença de interação significativa, foram realizados os desdobramentos necessários para os dois anos agrícolas, separadamente. No ano agrícola 2004/05, as cultivares BRS 239 e CD 202 apresentaram-se com elevada porcentagem de germinação para a produção de sementes na região de Dourados. No ano agrícola 2005/06, a cultivar BRS 239 foi a que apresentou melhor germinação e vigor. A cultivar BRS 239 apresenta menor índice de infecção de microrganismos em relação a cultivar BRS 206. Melhor qualidade de sementes é obtida das sementes colhidas aos sete dias após o estádio R 7 . Em relação à qualidade sanitária das sementes, à medida que se retarda a época de colheita, a porcentagem total de microrganismos aumenta linearmente para todas as cultivares.Termos para indexação: Glycine max, germinação, vigor, retardamento da colheita. SEED QUALITY OF FOUR SOYBEAN CULTIVARS, HARVESTED IN TWO LOCATIONS OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL STATEABSTRACT -The object of this study was to evaluate the seed quality of four soybean cultivars (BRS 133, BRS 206, BRS 239 and CD 202)