Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as consequências da redução no espaçamento entre linhas e entre plantas na linha de plantio sobre o crescimento, a produtividade e a bienalidade de produção do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 4x3. Foram utilizadas quatro distâncias entre as linhas (2,0, 2,5 3,0 e 3,5 m) e três distâncias entre as plantas na linha de plantio (0,50, 0,75 e 1,00 m), o que totalizou 12 tratamentos. A produtividade e a produção por planta foram avaliadas anualmente entre 1994 e 2001, e o crescimento foi avaliado em 2002. A redução no espaçamento entre as linhas e entre as plantas na linha de plantio aumenta a produtividade da lavoura cafeeira. Os espaçamentos entre as linhas e entre as plantas influenciam o crescimento e a arquitetura dos cafeeiros.Termos para indexação: Coffea arabica, adensamento, manejo, fenologia. Growth, productivity and bienniality of coffee plants according to cultivation spacingAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the consequences of spacing reduction between rows and between plants in the planting row on growth, productivity and bienniality of coffee plants (Coffea arábica). The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with three replicates, in a 4x3 factorial arrangement. Four distances between rows (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 m) and three distances between plants in the planting rows (0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 m) were used, which totalized 12 treatments. The productivity and the production per plant were assessed annually between 1994 and 2001, and the growth was evaluated in 2002. The reduction of spacing between rows and between plants in the planting row increases the productivity of coffee plants. The spacing between the rows and plants influences the growth and architecture of the coffee plant.

The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) methodology, which is widely used in animal and forestry genetic evaluation, can also be applied to annual crop breeding. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and efficiency of among-and within-half-sib family selection through the use of single-and multi-trait BLUP, and BLUE/ANOVA methods. Expansion volume and yield data from two recurrent selection cycles of a popcorn population were analyzed. Progeny tests were designed as a lattice. To maximize accuracy of the prediction of breeding values, the BLUP analyses included phenotypic values of the two cycles. All BLUP analyses were performed using the ASReml software. The multi-trait BLUP method demonstrated greater accuracy and efficiency in family selection. In the case of within-family selection, both accuracy and efficiency of multi-and single-trait BLUP methods were equivalent. The selection efficiency of the multi-trait BLUP was dependent on the estimated genetic parameters, particularly the difference between the genetic and environmental correlations of the traits.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o parcelamento e a dose de nitrogênio e potássio mais adequados para o primeiro e segundo anos de formação do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica) fertirrigado por gotejamento, no sul de Minas Gerais. Dois experimentos foram instalados simultaneamente com plantio adensado (6.666 plantas ha -1 ): em um, a adubação foi realizada em quatro aplicações ao ano e, no outro, em 12 aplicações. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições em ambos os experimentos. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por doses, aplicadas via fertirrigação, equivalentes a 70, 100, 130, 160 e 190% da recomendada para N e K 2 O, para o cultivo em sequeiro. Foi realizado tratamento controle com cultivo em sequeiro e adubação com a dose padrão: 100% da recomendada. No primeiro e segundo anos, em ambos os tipos de parcelamento, não houve diferença significativa entre as doses, quanto ao crescimento do cafeeiro. O parcelamento em 12 aplicações é mais adequado para adubação de primeiro e segundo anos pós-plantio. Cafeeiros em formação fertirrigados por gotejamento apresentam maior crescimento e menor demanda por adubação com N e K do que os cultivados em sequeiro.Termos para indexação: Coffea arabica, demanda nutricional, irrigação por gotejamento, parcelamento da adubação, sequeiro. Nitrogen and potassium fertigation in coffee at the formation phase, with high plant densityAbstract -The objective of this study was to evaluate the most adequate parceling and dose of nitrogen and potassium for the first and second years of coffee shrub (Coffea arabica) formation, under a drip fertigation system, in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two experiments with high plant density (6.666 plants ha -1 ) were carried out simultaneously: in one of them, the fertilization was done in 4 applications yearly, and in the other one, in 12 applications. A randomized block design was used with five treatments and four replicates in both experiments. Treatments consisted of N and K 2 O doses applied via fertigation: 70, 100, 130, 160 and 190% from the N and K 2 O recommended doses for the rainfed cropping. A control treatment was carried out in rainfed conditions and fertilized with the standard dose (100%). In the first and second years, in both parceling types, there were no significant differences among doses regarding coffee shrub vegetative growth. Parceling into 12 applications is more suitable for fertilization at both first and second years after planting. Fertigated coffee shrubs at the formation phase have higher growth and demand less nitrogen and potassium fertilization than the ones in rainfed conditions.

The production of specialty coffees is the main criterion to add value to the product. However, there is a lack of information regarding genetic variability of C. arabica for quality improvement. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic divergence among Coffee arabica genotypes regarding the potential cup quality, possible limitations and their potential use in breeding programs to improve quality. We evaluated 101 coffee genotypes from the Germplasm Active Bank of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais, covering different groups of genealogical origin. A randomized block design was used with two replications. Sensory analysis of the beverage was performed by two tasters per sample (repetition), using the Cup of Excellence methodology enhanced by the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association. The attributes assessed were clean cup, sweetness, acidity, body, flavor, aftertaste, balance, overall and final score. K-means and Ward clustering methods were used to study the genotypes divergence. Based on sensory scores, the formed clusters differed with regards to all sensory characteristics (P ≤ 0.01). Three K-means clusters were formed among 40, 45 and 16 genotypes, with final average scores of 80.11, 83.17 and 87.56 points, respectively. Ninety percent of the genotypes evaluated have the genetic potential to produce specialty coffees. The observed divergence indicates the potential of genetic gains for quality and the Híbrido de Timor germplasm can be used for this purpose.

Genetic parameters, dissimilarity and performance of pumpkin accessionsPumpkin is very important in human and animal food, especially concerning family farms. The germplasm bank of vegetables of Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Federal University of Viçosa, UFV-BGH), Brazil, has several pumpkin accessions with wide genetic variability. All this genetic variability is of great importance for plant breeding. However, little is known about the true potential of BGH-UFV, because there are few scientific papers published with information on these accessions. The objective was to obtain information on genetic parameters, dissimilarity and performance of BGH-UFV pumpkin accessions. We evaluated 11 morphological descriptors of 55 accessions and three cultivars. The genetic parameters, expected gain with selection, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations were estimated. For the dissimilarity study, the Tocher test was carried out and graphic dispersion of the canonical variables was evaluated. There was genetic variability among accessions, with a predominance of genetic effects over the environment. Higher gain selection for mass per fruit, plant appearance and location of the first male flower node are expected. The commercial cultivars Butternut and Tetsukabuto have excelled due to the lower mass per fruit and precocity of flowering, but they had the worst results in terms of phytosanitary aspect. There are negative correlation estimates between the phytosanitary aspect and growth habit, length and growth rate of the main stem, indicating that compact plants may have greater phytossanitary problems. Crossing accession BGH-7003 or cultivar Butternut with accessions BGH-1946 or BGH-7765 can generate progenies with potential for breeding.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência da seleção recorrente recíproca em produzir híbridos de milho-pipoca (Zea mays) de progênies endógamas superiores, com famílias de irmãos-completos. O programa de seleção recorrente recíproca envolveu as populações de milho-pipoca 'Viçosa' e 'Beija-Flor'. Os testes dos híbridos S 0 xS 0 e S 1 xS 1 foram conduzidos em delineamento látice, nos anos agrícolas de 2002/2003 e 2004/2005. Os dois ensaios incluíram testemunhas comerciais comuns, que permitiram a comparação do desempenho dos híbridos. Analisaram-se a produtividade e a capacidade de expansão. Foram preditos ganhos direto e indireto com a seleção em capacidade de expansão, avaliada em pipoqueira de ar quente e na pipocadora "Metric Weight Volume Tester". Os ganhos observados foram calculados para avaliar a eficiência da seleção recorrente recíproca. As análises de covariância mostraram variabilidade genotípica nas populações. Em relação às testemunhas comerciais, os híbridos S 0 xS 0 foram inferiores em qualidade e equivalentes em produtividade, e os híbridos S 1 xS 1 foram equivalentes nas duas características. O ganho observado na capacidade de expansão foi substancial, cerca de 4 mL g -1 , superior ao ganho predito (2,8 mL g -1 ). A redução observada na produtividade não foi relevante. Verificou-se redução na variabilidade genotípica quanto à capacidade de expansão. O método de seleção recorrente recíproca foi eficiente em produzir híbridos S 1 xS 1 superiores aos S 0 xS 0 .Termos para indexação: Zea mays, famílias de irmãos-completos interpopulacionais, ganho genético, método dos híbridos crípticos. Reciprocal recurrent selection to obtain interpopulation hybrids of popcornAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of reciprocal recurrent selection in producing hybrids of popcorn (Zea mays) from superior endogamous progenies, with full-sibling families. The reciprocal recurrent selection program involved the 'Viçosa' and 'Beija-Flor' popcorn populations. Tests of the hybrids S 0 xS 0 and S 1 xS 1 were carried out in lattice design, in the agricultural years 2002/2003 and 2004/2005. The two assays included common commercial controls, allowing for the comparison of the hybrids performance. Productivity and expansion capacity were evaluated. Direct and indirect gains with selection were predicted on expansion capacity assessed in hot air and Metric Weight Volume Tester popcorn makers. The gains observed were calculated to evaluate the efficiency of the reciprocal recurrent selection. The covariance analyses showed genotypic variability in the populations. When compared to the commercial controls, the S 0 xS 0 hybrids were inferior in quality and equivalent in productivity; and the S 1 xS 1 hybrids were equivalent in both traits. The observed gain in expansion capacity was substantial (around 4 mL g -1 ) and higher than the predicted gain (2.8 mL g -1 ). The reduction observed in productivity was not relevant. Reduction in the genotypic variability was verified for expansi...

ABSTRACT. The present study was developed to respond to the need for an increase in crop yield in the mountain region of Caparaó (southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil), an area of traditional coffee production. This study aimed to analyze the diversity and characterize the crop yield of genotypes of Coffea arabica L. with potential for cultivation in high plant density systems. In addition, it also aimed to quantify the expression of agronomic traits in this cultivation system and provide information on the genotypes with the highest cultivation potential in the studied region. The experiment followed a randomized block design with 16 genotypes, four repetitions, and six plants per experimental plot. Plant spacing was 2.00 x 0.60 m, with a total of 8333 plants per hectare, representing a high-density cultivation system. Coffee plants were cultivated until the start of their reproductive phenological cycles and were evaluated along four complete reproductive cycles. Genotypes with high crop yield and beverage quality, short canopy, and rust resistance were selected. C. arabica genotypes showed variability in almost all characteristics. It was possible to identify different responses among genotypes grown in a high plant density cultivation system. Although the chlorophyll a content was similar among genotypes, the genotypes Acauã, Araponga MG1, Sacramento MG1, Tupi, and Catuaí IAC 44 showed a higher chlorophyll b content than the other genotypes. Among these, Sacramento MG1 also showed high leafiness and growth of vegetative structures, whereas Araponga MG1, Pau-Brasil MG1, and Tupi showed high fruit production. In addition, Araponga MG1 had also a higher and more stable crop yield over the years.

RESUMOFrutos no estádio vermelho maduro de trinta e três acessos de tomate do banco de germoplasma do CCA-UFES, sendo 15 do "tipo Cereja" e 18 do "tipo Salada", foram caracterizados com base nos seguintes descritores morfoagronômicos: peso médio do fruto; comprimento médio do fruto; diâmetro médio do fruto; diâmetro da cicatriz peduncular; espessura do mesocarpo do fruto; teor de sólidos solúveis e pH do fruto. Com base nas variáveis teor de sólidos solúveis (TSS) e pH do fruto, calculou-se a variável sabor, por meio da relação TSS/pH 2 . Foram realizadas análises de variâncias e análises de correlações simples e parciais, determinando a distribuição dos acessos quanto às classes de sabor. Com base nas distribuições de frequências, formaram-se quatro classes para essa variável, sendo que, a maior parcela (33%) dos acessos "tipo Salada" alocaram-se na classe mais baixa (0,05-0,12 ºBrix.pH -2 ), correspondendo a frutos de sabor menos desejável, enquanto a maior parcela (30%) dos acessos "tipo Cereja", alocaram-se em classe imediatamente superior (0,13-0,20 ºBrix.pH -2 ). Os dados demonstram a possibilidade de se obter ganhos genéticos para sabor concomitantemente ao peso, comprimento e espessura do mesocarpo dos frutos. Termos para indexação:Lycopersicon esculentum, ganho genético, sólidos solúveis, germoplasma. ABSTRACTFruits in the ripe red stage of thirty three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) accessions from CCA-UFES germplasm collection, being 15 "Cherry type" and 18 "Salad type", were characterized based on the following morphooagronomic descriptors: average fruit weight; average fruit length; average fruit diameter; peduncle scar diameter; fruit mesocarp thickness; soluble solids and fruit pH. Based on the data from the soluble solids and fruit pH, the flavor variable was calculated by the ratio TSS/pH². Variance analysis and simple and partial correlations were calculated, and the accessions were clustered in flavor classes. Based on the statistical model of distribution of frequencies, four classes were formed for flavor variable. The largest portion (33%) of the accessions of salad type were located in the lowest class (0.05-0.12 ºBrix.pH -2 ), corresponding to the accessions with not so desirable a flavor, while the largest portion (30%) of the accessions of the "cherry" type were clustered in the next class above (0.13-0.20 ºBrix.pH -2 ). The possibility of concomitantly obtaining genetic gains for flavor, weight, length and mesocarp thickness of the fruits was demonstrated.