Zinnias have good potential to be used as flowering, potted plants, being a quick source of novelty for the floriculture industry with the aid of growth retardants. This study evaluated the effect of growth retardants on development and production of short, compact and attractive plants of potted 'Lilliput' Zinnia elegans, a highly ornamental zinnia with low cost seeds. Trials were set up in randomized blocks, with ten treatments (control and three treatments of each retardant: daminozide, paclobutrazol and chlormequat) and four replications (two pots per experimental unit, with one plant per 0.6-L pot). Paclobutrazol (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg a.i. per pot) and chlormequat (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g L -1 ) were applied as a single drench (40 mL per pot), and daminozide (2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 g L -1 ) as a single foliar spray to runoff (10 mL per pot), at apical flower bud stage. Daminozide (2.5 and 3.75 g L -1 ), paclobutrazol (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg a.i. per pot) and chlormequat at 1.0 g L -1 significantly reduced plant height and side branches length, without affecting flower diameter, delaying production cycle and causing phytotoxicity symptoms. However, plants were not short and compact enough to meet market quality demand. Chlormequat (2.0 and 3.0 g L -1 ) caused phytotoxicity symptoms and daminozide (5.0 g L -1 ) delayed production cycle. Key words: floriculture, daminozide, paclobutrazol, chlormequat, flowering RETARDADORES DE CRESCIMENTO NO DESENVOLVIMENTOE NA QUALIDADE ORNAMENTAL DE Zinnia elegans JACQ. 'LILLIPUT' ENVASADA RESUMO: As zínias têm grande potencial como plantas floríferas envasadas e representam rápida fonte de novidade para a floricultura com o auxílio de retardadores de crescimento. Avaliaram-se os efeitos de retardadores de crescimento no desenvolvimento e na produção de plantas envasadas de porte baixo, compactas e atrativas de 'Lilliput' Zinnia elegans, cultivar altamente ornamental, com sementes de baixo custo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com dez tratamentos (controle e três concentrações de cada retardador: daminozide, paclobutrazol e chlormequat) e quatro repetições (dois vasos por unidade experimental, com uma planta por vaso de 0,6 L). Paclobutrazol (0,5; 0,75 e 1,0 mg i.a. por vaso) e chlormequat (1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 g L -1 ) foram aplicados ao substrato (40 mL por vaso), enquanto o daminozide (2,5; 3,75 e 5,0 g L -1 ) foi aplicado através de pulverização foliar (10 mL por vaso), no estádio de gema floral apical visível. Daminozide (2,5 e 3,75 g L -1 ), paclobutrazol (0,5; 0,75 e 1,0 mg i.a. por vaso) e 1,0 g L -1 de chlormequat reduziram significativamente a altura das plantas e o comprimento dos ramos laterais, sem afetar o diâmetro dos capítulos, atrasar o ciclo de produção e causar fitotoxicidade. Entretanto, as plantas não se apresentaram suficientemente baixas e compactas para atender às exigências de qualidade do mercado. Chlormequat (2,0 e 3,0 g L -1 ) causou fitotoxicidade e daminozide (5,0 g L -1 ) aumentou o ciclo de produção.

Growth, productivity and quality of radish roots cultivated under different sources and doses of organic fertilizers This experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, between August and September 2002, to evaluate the effect of different vermicompost doses and cattle manure on growth, yield and quality of radish roots (Raphanus sativus L.), cultivar Crimson Giant. Direct sowing of the radish was followed by thinning nine days after, adjusting the spacing to 0.20 x 0.08 m. A randomized blocks experimental design was used, with seven treatments (15; 30 and 45 t ha-1 of earthworm humus or cattle manure, and a control without fertilizer addition), in three replications. There was higher dry mass accumulation in the leaves than in other organs, with continuous accumulation until 13 days after sowing, with further reduction, when the root development occurred. Doses and sources of organic fertilization slightly influenced growth, total productivity and quality of commercial roots. Earthworm humus reduced the percentage of cracked and spongeous roots in the doses of 9.2 and 20.4 t ha-1 , respectively. Doses of 21.3 t ha-1 of cattle manure promoted the highest percentage of cracked roots, while the dose of 45 t ha-1 reduced this percentage, when compared to the use of 15 t ha-1 .

Leaf area measurements are of value in physiological and agronomic studies. The use of prediction models to estimate leaf area is a simple, accurate and nondestructive method. The present work suggests leaf area prediction models for Zinnia elegans ('Liliput' and 'Thumbelina'), Z. haageana ('Carpet Persa') and Z. elegans x Z. angustifolia ('Profusion Cherry'), potential flower potplant cultivars. At the stages of visible apical flower bud and flowering, 250 and 300 leaves were collected from greenhouse grown plants, respectively, at each season (fall, winter, spring and summer), totaling 1,000 and 1,200 leaves, for each developmental stage. The maximum length (L), maximum width (W) and real leaf area (RLA) were measured with a Digital Image Analysis System - Delta T Devices. The relation between RLA and the product of length by width (LW), was studied through linear models, for each cultivar, at each developmental stage. The models for the flower bud stage were: RLA = 0.0009 + 0.7765 LW ('Profusion Cherry'), RLA = 0.0021 + 0.8156 LW ('Thumbelina'), RLA = 0.0031 + 0.8003 LW ('Liliput'), RLA = 0.0036 + 0.7719 LW ('Carpet Persa'), and for flowering stage: RLA = 0.0029 + 0.7899 LW ('Profusion Cherry'), RLA = 0.8318 LW ('Thumbelina'), RLA = 0.001 + 0.8417 LW ('Liliput'), RLA = 0.0042 + 0.723 LW ('Carpet Persa'). Models were considered adequate to estimate leaf area.

RESUMO -A floração nos citros, assim como em outras fruteiras, é um dos fatores determinantes para a produção. A possibilidade de inibição ou redução da florada normal e alteração da época de produção para a lima 'Tahiti' é fator primordial para determinar sua rentabilidade econômica. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do ácido giberélico sobre a florada, número de flores formadas, da lima ácida 'Tahiti', nas condições do Estado de São Paulo durante dois anos, buscando inibir a florada normal e observar o efeito desta inibição sobre produções temporãs. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados (5 blocos) com 3 plantas por tratamento. Foi utilizada uma planta como bordadura entre os tratamentos e uma linha de plantas entre os blocos. Os tratamentos foram: testemunha, 20, 40 e 80 mg/L de ácido giberélico (AG 3 ) + 10 ml/L de espalhante adesivo, e o pH da água utilizada foi 6,2. As plantas foram tratadas com ácido giberélico durante o inverno (estação seca) após 50 dias sem irrigação no primeiro ano e 60 dias no segundo. O ácido giberélico reduziu o número de flores formadas (-81%) e aumentou a produção de frutos temporões (+59,77% ou +16,04 kg/pl).Termos para Indexação: citros, florescimento, GA 3 , entressafra, Taiti. THE EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIC ACID (GA 3 ) ON BLOOMING AND PRODUCTIONOF THE 'TAHITI' ACID LIME (Citrus latifolia Tan.)ABSTRACT -The flowering in citrus trees, as well as in other fruit trees, is one of the decisive factors for the production. The inhibition possibility or reduction of the normal flowering and alteration of the production season for the 'Tahiti' acid lime is a primordial factor to determine it economical profitability. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of gibberellic acid on blooming, number of formed flowers of the 'Tahiti ' acid lime in the conditions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil looking for to inhibit its normal blooming and to quantify the effect of this inhibition on the out-of-season production. The experimental design was of random blocks (5 blocks) with three plants for each treatment. One plant was used as margin between the treatments and a row of plants among the blocks. The treatments consisted of control, 20, 40 and 80 mg/L of gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) + 10 ml/L of adhesive sulfactant and the pH of the used water was 6,2. The plants were treated with gibberellic acid during the winter (dry season) after 50 days without irrigation in the first year and after 60 days in the second year.. The gibberellic acid reduced the number of formed flowers (-81%) and increased the production of out-of-season fruits (+59,77% or +16,04 kg/pl).