Brazil has increased its melon (Cucumis melo) production and exports in the last two decades. The export of this fruit was 65,005 t

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is of great importance for human consumption due to its high nutritional value. The crop is grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world; however, grain productivity is severely affected by water restriction imposed by long periods of drought in semiarid regions. We compared two contrasting cowpea genotypes for drought tolerance through proteomic analyses by identifying differentially expressed proteins responsive to water deficit and associating them with physiological responses. Water stress-tolerant (Pingo de Ouro 1,2) and sensitive (Santo Inácio) cowpea genotypes were submitted to moderate (pd =-1.0 MPa) and severe (pd =-1.5 MPa) water deficit conditions, re-irrigation after severe water deficit, and a full irrigation regime as a control. Physiological responses and expressed proteins in response to water stress were assessed. Pingo de Ouro 1,2 showed drought tolerance by delaying dehydration, being efficient in stomatal control, increasing photosynthesis and reducing transpiration rates. Based on proteomic analysis, 108 differentially expressed proteins were identified that may be associated with drought response in both tolerant and sensitive genotypes. Drought stress-response peptides, including glutamine synthetase, CPN60-2 chaperonin, malate dehydrogenase, heat-shock proteins, and rubisco were expressed differentially in both genotypes. The changes in the proteome in cowpea ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 18 (4): gmr18396 E.N. Lima et al. 2 leaves in response to drought can help us understand the mechanisms and specific metabolic pathways involved in drought tolerant and drought sensitive cowpea genotypes.

Uma horta constitui uma área, geralmente de pequena extensão, onde pode ser realizada a atividade de cultivo das mais diversas culturas agrícolas, como legumes ou hortaliças, submetidas a um manejo intensivo de produção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a implantação e o desenvolvimento de hortas orgânicas em distintos usos didáticos, frente a diferentes níveis de ensino: educação básica e educação superior. Em ambos os locais de implantação das hortas foi realizada a aplicação de questionários e após tabulação desses dados foi possível concluir que, na educação básica, a horta teve como efeito a sensibilização e a educação ambiental. Já para a educação superior serviu como treinamento técnico profissional para os futuros agroecólogos em formação. Portanto, a implantação de hortas é uma metodologia ativa de ensino que pode ser usada em diferentes níveis de ensino e com diferentes objetivos.

A adubação orgânica proporciona melhor aproveitamento do solo e menos impacto ambiental. Estudos relacionados com constituintes orgânicos ricos em potássio sobre cultivares de girassol se fazem necessários, pois o potássio é um nutriente que tem grande influência sobre a produção de aquênios. Dessa forma, a pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar as características fisiológicas e bioquímicas de dois cultivares de girassol submetidos à adubação com resíduo orgânico de elevado teor potássico. O experimento empregado foi de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 + 2 sendo dois cultivares de girassol (BRS 122 e BRS 323), quatro doses do resíduo orgânico (0, 40, 80 e 120 Kg ha-1) mais o cloreto de potássio na dosagem de 60 Kg.ha -1. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância, com o teste de Tukey a 5 % de probabilidade para comparação de médias e análise de regressão. Realizou-se medições da temperatura foliar e das taxas de fotossíntese, transpiração, condutância estomática, concentração interna de CO2 e a relação entre a concentração interna e externa de CO2, também se determinou a concentração dos N-aminosolúveis, das proteínas e dos carboidratos solúveis. Os resultados evidenciaram que não houve diferença significativa quanto aos tratamentos (resíduo orgânico e o cloreto de potássio), ou seja, o resíduo orgânico não influenciou na fisiologia dos cultivares de girassol, pode ser utilizado como fonte de potássio nessa cultura.Palavras-chave: Helianthus annuus L.; potássio; trocas gasosas; solutos orgânicos. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES OF SUNFLOWER CULTIVARS SUBMITTED THE FERTILIZATION WITH ORGANIC RESIDUE  ABSTRACT:The organic fertilizer has provided best soil use and less environmental impact, studies related to organic constituents rich in potassium on sunflower cultivars is necessary, because potassium is a nutrient that has great influence on the production of achenes. Thus, the research aimed to evaluate the physiological and biochemical characteristics of two sunflower cultivars submitted to fertilization with organic residue of high potassium content. The experiment was a randomized block in factorial scheme 2 x 4 + 2 with two sunflower cultivars (BRS 122 e BRS 323), four doses of organic residue (0, 40, 80 e 120 Kg ha-1) more potassium chloride at a dose of 60 kg. ha -1 for both cultivars. The data were submitted to analysis of variance with Tukey test at 5% probability to compare averages and regression analysis. Measurements was performed in the leaf temperature and of the photosynthetic rates, transpiration, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration and internal and external ratio of carbon, also determined the concentration of N-aminosolúveis, protein and soluble carbohydrate. The results showed that there was no significant difference between treatments (organic residue and potassium chloride), that is, the organic residue does not influence the physiology of sunflower cultivars, can be used as a potassium source in this culture.Keywords: Helianthus annuus L.; potassium; gas exchange; organic solutes.

Objetivou-se com esse trabalho identificar genótipos de feijão-caupi tolerantes e suscetíveis ao déficit hídrico, utilizando-se duas metodologias, estresse hídrico simulado com o uso de PEG6000 (Polietilenoglicol) e Screening Box. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação no delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três repetições. Para a metodologia com PEG6000 foram utilizados 15 genótipos e duas testemunhas, com três repetições, totalizando 90 amostras. Foram selecionadas seis plântulas por genótipo, utilizaram-se três caixas contendo apenas água destilada e outras três com nível de potencial osmótico de - 0,2 MPa de PEG6000. A avaliação foi feita até atingir o ponto máximo de crescimento das raízes. Para a metodologia de Screening Box foram utilizados 15 genótipos, onde estes foram avaliados quanto à tolerância ao déficit hídrico no estádio de plântula. As duas metodologias mostraram-se eficientes na seleção de genótipos de feijão-caupi, os genótipos Santo Inácio Vermelho e BRS Tumucumaque, foram os mais sensíveis à seca, em ambas as metodologias.Palavras-chave: Vigna unguiculata, seca, plântulas. COWPEA GENOTYPES TOLERANT AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER DEFICIT ABSTRACT: Objective to identify tolerant and susceptible cowpeas genotypes to water deficiency at the seedlings stage of growth, using two methodologies such as (a) water stress with the use of PEG6000 (Polyethylene glycol) and the Screening Box were used in the present research. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse environments using a completely randomized design with three replications. For the PEG6000 approach, 15 genotypes and two controls treatments were used in three replications in a total of 90 samples. Six seedlings were selected per genotype by using three boxes containing only distilled water. In the other treatment, three level of osmotic potential of -0.2 MPa of PEG6000. The evaluations of the trials were done until the Screening Box approach, 15 genotypes were used and were evaluated for tolerance to water deficit at the seedling stage of growth. The two methodologies were efficient in the selection of cowpea genotypes, the genotypes Santo InácioVermelho and BRS Tumucumaque were the most sensitive to drought in both methodologies.Keywords: drought, Vigna unguiculata, seedlings.

Plant breeding programs have been investing in the development of high commercial standard onions; thus, they depend on the genetic resources available for obtaining commercial hybrids. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic parameters and diversity, and phenotypic and genotypic correlations of characters related to onion production. The experiment was conducted in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fifty-three onion strains were evaluated, and a randomized block design was used. The number of plant and bulb characteristics evaluated was 13. The statistical analyses were performed using Genes and R software. A genetic variability among the genotypes was found for most of the characters at 1% level of significance in the F test. The heritability of most characters presented moderate to high values (≥ 70%) and high CVg/CVe ratio (≥ 1). The UPGMA method separated the genotypes into 20 groups, while the Tocher method separated them into 19 groups. The groups that stood out were V, XIV, XV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, and XX. The results of t-test showed six significant phenotypic correlations with low to moderate degree of association, and the genotypic correlations, in most cases, were higher than the phenotypic ones and showed the same sign. From the genetic parameters studied, the possibility of gains in the selection is high. The separation of groups of divergent genitors was possible due to the wide genetic variability for the studied characters. Moreover, the phenotypic and genotypic correlations showed that indirect selection is not feasible.

Background and Aims: Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a native Brazilian tree, cultivated in various warm climates across the world. The cashew kernels production has been an important economic activity for many tropical countries, providing a variety of food with great nutrition value. The genetic diversity among the early dwarf cultivars used to production is poorly understood, as is the nutritional composition among nuts from those plants. This work aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of cashew kernels and to study genetic diversity among twelve cultivars to indicate superior genotypes for future breeding programs. Methods: Cashew kernels from twelve cultivars were evaluated for pH, titratable acidity, moisture, ash, lipids and proteins. The genetic variability was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. Data from molecular and physicochemical analyses were used to estimate the genetic distances and Mantel test approach was applied to calculate Pearson’s correlation between the data.Key results: A high genetic variability was found among the cultivars. BRS 274 and BRS 275 were the closest genetically, while CCP 09 and BRS 189 were the most distant ones. On the other hand, EMBRAPA 51 and BRS 226 showed cashew kernels with more similar physicochemical characteristics, while BRS 189 and BRS 253 had the more different ones. Moreover, no correlation was found between the physicochemical and molecular results. Cashew kernels had pH close to neutrality, low acidity, considerable moisture content, and high lipid and protein contents. Conclusions: The cashew kernels from the cultivars studied here had low acidity and pH, considerable moisture and ash contents, and high protein and lipid contents. BRS 189, BRS 253, and CCP 1001 showed the best values for proteins, lipids, acidity, and pH. In addition, those cultivars have maximum distance genetic among them, which can be used as parents in future gene combinations in breeding programs.

O consumo de produtos de natureza agroecológica traz benefícios para a saúde humana, ambiental e gera renda aos pequenos produtores rurais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a dinâmica da implantação de uma feira agroecológica nas dependências do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Ipanguaçu possibilitando aos estudantes o contato direto com produtores e geração de renda para produtores da agricultura familiar da região. Para a realização da feira foram utilizadas barracas do tipo tenda, mesas de plástico e ornamentação com faixas contendo frases com motivos agroecológicos e com o logotipo da feira. Foi possível comprovar uma demanda do púbico da instituição, a partir de um formulário digital aplicado a estudantes, servidores, terceirizados e técnicos administrativos. A relação de oferta e demanda se deu de uma forma satisfatória obtendo 73,7% das vendas.