The stay-green trait is responsible for the preservation of green coloration in the stem and leaf, during physiological maturity. It has also been shown to play an important role in the increase of grain size. The knowledge of the inheritance of this trait can constitute valuable information to plant breeders in the developing new wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. This study was conducted in two environments, during the years of 1997 and 1998, to verify the genetic basis of the stay-green trait among crosses of four different genotypes in the Simone Alves Silva is a graduate student in Plant Breeding at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas
SUMMARYThe decomposition of plant residues is a biological process mediated by soil fauna, but few studies have been done evaluating its dynamics in time during the process of disappearance of straw. This study was carried out in Chapecó, in southern Brazil, with the objective of monitoring modifications in soil fauna populations and the C content in the soil microbial biomass (C SMB ) during the decomposition of winter cover crop residues in a no-till system. The following treatments were tested: 1) Black oat straw (Avena strigosa Schreb.); 2) Rye straw (Secale cereale L.); 3) Common vetch straw (Vicia sativa L.). The cover crops were grown until full flowering and then cut mechanically with a rolling stalk chopper. The soil fauna and C content in soil microbial biomass (C SMB ) were assessed during the period of straw decomposition, from October 2006 to February 2007. To evaluate C SMB by the irradiation-extraction method, soil samples from the 0-10 cm layer were used, collected on eight dates, from before until 100 days after residue chopping. The soil fauna was collected with pitfall traps on seven dates up to 85 days after residue chopping. The phytomass decomposition of common vetch was faster than of black oat and rye residues. The C SMB decreased during the process of straw decomposition, fastest in the treatment with common vetch. In the common vetch treatment, the diversity of the soil fauna was reduced at the end of the decomposition process.Index terms: microbial carbon, straw decomposition, soil microorganisms, plant residues.(
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