Sugarcane (Saccharum sp, Poaceae) is native to Southeast Asia, and due to growing demand as raw material, its cultivation recently expanded to new frontiers. The genetic diversity analysis is essential for targeting strategies in the formation and maintenance of a germplasm. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of 26 accessions of sugarcane from the Active Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Coastal Tablelands, using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Sixteen primers were used, resulting in 87 fragments with 91.13% of polymorphism. The similarity of the individuals ranged between 0.22 and 0.87. Individuals RB867515 and RB92579 were closer genetically, and the most distant ones were PI240785 and NSL 291970. Four distinct clusters were formed, using UPGMA. This information can be used to prioritize the selection of accessions for the conduction of hybridization in breeding and germplasm exchange actions.

Jenipapo (Genipa americana L. Rubiaceae) is a native species not endemic to Brazil and found in several biomes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the emergence and growth of seedlings cultivated in different substrates. Treatments were made of: T1 (fertilized soil), T2 (fertilized soil + coconut fiber), T3 (fertilized soil + sand), T4 (sand + coconut fiber), T5 (bovine manure + coconut fiber), and T6 (bovine manure + sand). The experiment consisted of a completely randomized design, with six treatments (substrates) and four replications of 25 seeds. The following variables were evaluated: first emergence count, percentage of emergence, emergence speed index, seedling height, root length, stem diameter, number of leaves, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area, root dry matter, and shoot dry matter. The substrates T1 (fertilized soil), T2 (fertilized soil + coconut fiber), T3 (fertilized soil + sand) and T6 (bovine manure + sand) were more efficient for jenipapo seedlings production.

Drought is the most limiting environmental factor to crop productivity and presents a great variability in the degree of tolerance among and within species, among varieties. The aim of this study was to characterize sugarcane accessions regarding tolerance to water stress during in vitro cultivation based on changes in biometric, physiological and biochemical characteristics, within species and among species, to support future breeding programs. Adventitious shoots of five sugarcane accessions: Saccharum robustum, Saccharum spontaneum and Saccharum officinarum species, cultivated in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and 4 g/l Phytagel were used in five water potentials, 0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, -1.2 MPa, induced by mannitol. Survival, length of shoots and roots, number of shoots and roots, biomass, proline content in leaves and activity of antioxidant enzymes were analyzed. There is difference among species, and also, within the same sugarcane species when submitted to in vitro drought stress, and S. officinarum was shown to be the most tolerant. Proline can be used as a biochemical indicator of response to drought in sugarcane accessions and its accumulation was intensified in S. robustum and S. spontaneum accessions. Catalase activity remained unchanged with increased drought in sugarcane accessions evaluated.

The mangaba, Hancornia speciosa, (Apocynaceae) is a fruit tree native to Brazil with predominantly extractivist production. The fruit can be consumed in natura; however, it is widely consumed as frozen pulp and ice cream produced by agroindustry companies. We evaluated the genetic diversity of 213 individuals that make up the mangaba GeneBank of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, using nine microsatellite markers (SSR). A total of 147 alleles were identified, with a mean of 16 alleles per locus; 100% polymorphism was observed among accessions. Reliability of the result was verified based on stress (0.042) and correlation (0.988) values. The alleles presented a high frequency of heterozygosity (He > Ho). The F st (0.22) and f (0.07) values indicated moderate population structure, with great diversity within accessions. Bayesian analysis indicated the most adequate grouping with k = 2. The Unweighted Pair Group Method analysis showed three distinct groups according to similarity. The BI accession had the best genetic structure. The PM5/GX2, CN1/CN9, G18/PA1, JA14/JA15, and OI8/OI9 pairs of individuals are the closest genetically. We conclude ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 18 (1): gmr18108 A.V.C. Silva et al. 2 that the Mangaba GeneBank has high diversity; this knowledge is relevant to develop strategies for the management of these genetic resources.

Genipap (Genipa americana-Rubiaceae) is native to tropical America, occurring in Brazil in practically all biomes, except in the Pampas. It has socioeconomic importance, mainly due to the use of fruits in the manufacture of sweets and juices besides the medicinal properties of its leaves. We evaluated the genetic diversity of 73 individuals from 15 natural populations in the state of Sergipe using ISSR markers. The choice of areas was made randomly and genetic material was extracted from young leaves. PCR analysis using nine markers generated 113 fragments, which were used to estimate genetic diversity. The Shannon index was 0.36 and the similarity of individuals varied between 0.11 and 0.81. The individuals Salgado 3 (SAL3) and Salgado 4 (SAL4) were the most similar (0.81) and seven pairs had low similarity (0.11). The genetic distance the UPGMA analysis, which divided individuals into two distinct groups. The level of genetic variability found allows differentiation between genotypes that can be used to enrich the Genipap Active GermPlasm Bank in Sergipe, and the information generated will be useful for the conservation of these genetic resources and in future breeding programs for this species.

Azadirachta indica A. Juss, popularly known as neem, is a species native to India, belonging to family Meliaceae, considered the most important plant species with insecticidal action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of growth regulators on induction and growth of neem callus and to observe their viability for embryogenesis through morpho-histological characteristics. In vitro germinated plants were used for excision of nodal explants. These segments were inoculated in Murashige and Skoog culture medium containing 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic) combined with BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) at the following concentrations: 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l (T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively), for callus induction. At 0 (mass of nodal segments without callus), 20, 40 and 60 days of culture, the percentage of callus formation was observed and the callus weight was measured for each treatment and at the end of the 60 days, consistency, color, and cell histology were evaluated. There was callus formation in all treatments tested. The highest induction of Azadirachta indica A. Juss callus is observed in the presence of 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D + 2.0 mg/l BAP, with callus showing light brown color, friable consistency and rounded cells with intense cell division, typical of cells with potential embryogenic capacity.

No abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the proline synthesis and physiological response of cassava genotypes which were micro propagated and induced to salinity stress in vitro. Micro cuttings of approximately 1.0cm long with a single bud of genotypes TBRS Tapioqueira, BRS Verdinha and Lagoão which were previously established in vitro were inoculated in a MS medium containing different concentrations of NaCl (0; 25; 50; 75; 100mM) and were analyzed after 90th day for: number of roots, number of leaves and shoot dry mass. The proline content of BRS Tapioqueira and Lagoão was assessed at 30th, 60th and 90th day. There was no analysis of proline of the variety Verdinha because of the contamination of the explants. The experimental design was completely randomized in double factorial scheme (3 genotypes x 5 salt treatments), with seven repetitions for growth variables. For comparing proline content, completely randomized design was used in a plot subdivided in time, with genotype and NaCl factors in plot and time in subplot, with two repetitions. For r time and genotypes Tukey test (P<0,05) was used and for NaCl levels regression test (P<0,05). Salinity affected the growth of all varieties; although, BRS Tapioqueira and BRS Verdinha were less affected by induced salt stress. There was an increase in the accumulation of proline from the salt increment, this synthesis of proline being a biochemical indicator of salt stress in cassava plants cultivated in vitro.