No abstract

RESUMOA utilização de bioestimulantes proporciona incrementos no desenvolvimento vegetal embora poucos estudos tenham abordado aspectos fisiológicos da soja relacionados à aplicação destes produtos. Um experimento com a cultura da soja foi instalado com o objetivo de avaliar o uso de um bioestimulante composto por citocinina, ácido indolbutírico e ácido giberélico via sementes ou via foliar em diferentes estádios fenológicos de duas cultivares, sendo uma cultivar convencional (Conquista) e outra geneticamente modificada (Valiosa RR). Os tratamentos foram constituídos de cultivares, aplicações do produto via sementes na dose de 6 mL do produto comercial por quilo de sementes, via foliar na dose de 0,25 L do produto comercial por hectare, nos estádios V 5 , R 1 e R 5 , e a combinação desses fatores no total de 30 tratamentos para avaliar a altura de plantas, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, número de ramos por planta, de vagens por planta e de grãos por vagem. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. A cultivar convencional proporcionou maior produção de grãos do que a cultivar transgênica. A utilização do bioestimulante incrementou o número de vagens por planta e a produtividade de grãos, e os resultados para aplicação via sementes e via foliar não diferiram entre si. Na produtividade de grãos, o tratamento com bioestimulante proporcionou aumento de 37% em relação à testemunha. O bioestimulante aumenta o número de vagens por planta e produtividade de grãos tanto em aplicação via sementes quanto via foliar, confirmando a hipótese deste estudo. Todavia, a maior produtividade não está relacionada ao maior crescimento da parte aérea, considerando-se a altura das plantas, ramos por planta, altura de inserção da primeira vagem. Em relação ao aumento da produtividade, o bioestimulante é mais efetivo quando aplicado na fase reprodutiva.Palavras-chave: fitorreguladores, fenologia, transgênica, Glycine max (L.) Merrill.

Selenium (Se) is considered a beneficial element for plants; however, in high concentrations, it causes negative effects on plant physiology and development. This study reports the first physiological, nutritional, and ultrastructural description of Se toxicity in cowpea growing under field conditions. Selenium was supplied as a foliar application of sodium selenite at varying concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 g ha −1). An increased yield was observed with the application of 50 g ha −1 Se. Application of concentrations higher than 50 g ha −1 caused leaf toxicity. Increased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide concentration and reduced total sugars, sucrose, and carotenoid concentration were observed at highest doses tested (1200 and 1600 g ha −1). Applications of more than 50 g ha −1 Se reduced the phloem diameter, caused chlorosis of the leaf blade with a coalescence of lesions, and caused pink salt deposits to appear. Lesions were observed mainly near the trichomes on the adaxial surface of the leaf blade. An analysis of the element distribution with microprobe Xray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-XRF) revealed accumulation of Se, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) near the primary vein and in the necrotic brown areas of the leaf lesions. In contrast, Na was homogeneously distributed in the leaf tissue.

RESUMOO nitrogênio é o elemento mais utilizado pela cultura do café e seu manejo é extremamente importante devido às perdas especialmente em épocas chuvosas. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em Argissolo VermelhoAmarelo, na região de Sud Mennucci (SP), e teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio sobre o teor de clorofila e de N nas folhas do cafeeiro, e calcular correlações com a produtividade. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos obedeceram o esquema fatorial 5 x 3, constituído pela combinação de cinco doses de N (0, 50, 150, 250 e 350 kg ha -1 ) aplicados na forma de uréia em três épocas de aplicação (aplicação única em dezembro; duas aplicações: parceladas em novembro e janeiro e três aplicações: parceladas em novembro, dezembro e janeiro). Avaliaramse os teores de clorofila e nitrogênio das folhas durante a frutificação e a colheita. A concentração de clorofila correlacionou-se positivamente com o teor de nitrogênio nas folhas e a produção de grãos se ajustou a uma função quadrática com as doses de N aplicadas, na qual a dose 210 kg ha -1 promoveu a máxima produção; a estimativa do teor de clorofila foi promissora para detecção de possíveis deficiências de nitrogênio. Palavras-chave:Coffea arabica, Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo, uréia, SPAD. DIAGNOSIS OF N REQUIREMENTS FOR COFFEE PLANT USING A PORTABLE CHLOROPHYLLMETER ABSTRACTNitrogen is the most required nutrient by coffee crop and its management is very important. The losses of the nutrient are very important specially during rainy season. The study was developed in Sud Mennucci county (northwest of São Paulo State -Brazil) in an Alfisol in order to evaluate the effect of different rates and application times of nitrogen on the chlorophyll and nitrogen content in coffee leaves, and to establish correlations with the productivity. The experimental design was a complete randomized, in a factorial outline 5 x 3, constituted by combination of 5 rates (0, 50, 150, 250 and 350 kg ha -1 ) of nitrogen (urea) in three application times (a single application in December; two applications: splitted in November and January and three applications: splitted in November, December and January). The leaf chlorophyll content and nitrogen leaf content were evaluated during frutification and harvest. The chlorophyll concentration was positively correlated with the leaf nitrogen content and production of grains adjusted to a quadratic function to rates of applied N, in which the rate of 210 kg ha -1 of nitrogen promoted the greater productivity. The estimative of the chlorophyll content seemed to be a prospective means for detection of N deficiencies in coffee crop.

No abstract

The present paper deals with estimation of variance components, prediction of breeding values and selection in a population of rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell.-Arg.] from Rio Branco, State of Acre, Brazil. The REML/BLUP (restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction) procedure was applied. For this purpose, 37 rubber tree families were obtained and assessed in a randomized complete block design, with three unbalanced replications. The field trial was carried out at the Experimental Station of UNESP, located in Selvíria, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The quantitative traits evaluated were: girth (G), bark thickness (BT), number of latex vessel rings (NR), and plant height (PH). Given the unbalanced condition of the progeny test, the REML/BLUP procedure was used for estimation. The narrow-sense individual heritability estimates were 0.43 for G, 0.18 for BT, 0.01 for NR, and 0.51 for PH. Two selection strategies were adopted: one short-term (ST -selection intensity of 8.85%) and the other long-term (LT -selection intensity of 26.56%). For G, the estimated genetic gains in relation to the population average were 26.80% and 17.94%, respectively, according to the ST and LT strategies. The effective population sizes were 22.35 and 46.03, respectively. The LT and ST strategies maintained 45.80% and 28.24%, respectively, of the original genetic diversity represented in the progeny test. So, it can be inferred that this population has potential for both breeding and ex situ genetic conservation as a supplier of genetic material for advanced rubber tree breeding programs.

No abstract

Nickel (Ni) toxicity has been reported to decrease productivity in soybean (Glycine max L.). However, soybean responses to Ni toxicity are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to describe Ni toxicity in soybean plants through physiological, nutritional, and ultrastructural analyses. Plants were grown in nutrient solution containing increasing Ni concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 10, and 20 μmol L −1), and nutritional, anatomical, physiological and biochemical features were determined. The results revealed previously unreported detrimental effects of Ni toxicity on soybean plants. CO 2 assimilation rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration decreased, resulting in lower biomass in soybean plants exposed to the highest Ni levels. Nitrate reductase activity increased with up to 0.05 μmol L −1 Ni and then decreased, indicating halted N-metabolism. Urease activity increased with increasing Ni availability in the nutrient solution, and peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in plants grown at higher Ni levels. Leaf epidermal thickness (abaxial and adaxial), as well as root xylem and phloem diameter, decreased starting at 0.1 μmol L −1 Ni. Mean Ni concentrations varied from 77.5 to 17,797.4 mg kg −1 in roots and 2.3 to 16,774.5 mg kg −1 in shoots. Soybean plants exhibited symptoms of Ni toxicity starting at 0.1 μmol L −1 Ni, presenting mean shoot Ni concentration of 28.9 mg kg −1 , along with leaf water loss until complete drying. The results contribute to our understanding of several physiological, biochemical and histological mechanisms of Ni toxicity in soybean, which is still poorly understood.