Bermuda grass are the most widely used today in high performance sports fields, the cultivar “Tifton 419” is widely indicated for installation in these areas, however, there is no official a recommendation in the literature of the best substrate for the implantation of this species, and research is needed to meet this demand. In this way, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of substrates in the development of the “Tifton 419” sporting lawn. The experiment was conducted in field with grass carpets implanted in black plastic containers (volume 8.46 L), in a completely randomized design with five substrates and 12 replicates, with treatments: soil (100%), medium sand (100%), soil (50%) + medium sand (50%), soil (33%) + medium sand (33%) + organic compost (33%) and medium sand (50%) + organic compost (50%). Macro and microporosity, total porosity, density, chlorophyll content (a + b) and fresh and dry leaf mass were evaluated. The results showed that there was influence of the substrate on the development of the turfgrass, with the medium sand (50%) + organic compost (50%) presenting greater increases of fresh and dry mass (1.09 and 0.44 kg m-2), which may lead to higher maintenance costs of the cut, and soil (33%) + medium sand (33%) + organic compost (33%) presented good results of the analyzes performed, being the one recommended for the development of the cultivar “Tifton 419” in sports fields.

Os gramados são de grande importância para o meio ambiente, podendo ser utilizados para diversos fins, contudo, para que apresentem visual agradável é necessário que sejam muito bem cuidados tanto no momento da implantação como depois, na manutenção. Sendo assim, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o estado nutricional de gramados ornamentais, analisando, em laboratório, as quantidades de macro e micronutrientes no solo e nas folhas da grama esmeralda (Zoysia japonica Steud.). O estudo foi conduzido na cidade de Ilha Solteira – SP, no mês de maio de 2016, em três lugares, sendo duas residências e uma instituição de ensino particular. Foram avaliados a necessidade de adubação, bem como o índice de conteúdo de clorofila (ICC) com um clorofilômetro manual e sua relação com os macro e micronutrientes foliares. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que os gramados avaliados apresentaram boas condições nutricionais. Nestes, a adubação de manutenção nem sempre é necessária, caso os restos provenientes do corte da grama esmeralda não sejam retirados. O clorofilômetro pôde indicar, de forma mais rápida e prática, a necessidade de fertilização, podendo ser utilizado por empresas de manutenção paisagística para saber a hora certa de adubação.

Seaweed extracts are employed as biostimulants due to their beneficial effects on crop growth and yield. Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract aid to improve seedling growth and development, and decrease seedlings production costs; however, the correct concentration must be used in order to maximize the biostimulant effects. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze the effects of different concentrations of a seaweed-based (Ascophyllum nodosum) biostimulant on ornamental sunflower seed germination and seedling growth. Seeds of ornamental sunflower cv. “Sol Pleno” were sown in polyethylene trays containing commercial substrate. The treatments consisted of dairy spraying 60 mL of the solutions 0 (control), 5, 10 or 15 mL L-1 biostimulant on substrate. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 treatments (concentrations of biostimulant) and 4 replicates (10 seeds replicate-1). The evaluated variables were percentage, index and time averages of germination, seedling height, fresh and dry mass of shoot and roots, and root system morphology (WinRhizo). The increase of the biostimulant concentration enhances seed germination and seedlings development. The concentration 15 mL L-1 biostimulant showed the best results for percentage and index of germination and the lowest mean germination time and increase plant height and fresh and dry mass of shoots in relation to the control treatment. Accordingly, 15 mL L-1 biostimulant (Ascophyllum nodosum) is recommended for ornamental sunflower “Sol Pleno” seed germination and seedlings growth.

During February 2004, diseased double impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) plants were received from a commercial grower in southern California. The upper surfaces of symptomatic leaves were pale yellow with no distinct lesions. Diseased leaves later wilted, and severely affected leaves abscised from the stem. At the nursery, only double impatiens plants in the Fiesta series were infected, and some cultivars were more heavily infected than others. Disease incidence in cv. Sparkler Hot pink was nearly 100%. The interior of infected leaves was colonized by coenocytic mycelium. A conspicuous white growth was observed only on the underside of leaves. Sporangiophores were hyaline, thin walled, emergent from stomata, and had slightly swollen bases. Sporangiophore branching was distinctly monopodial. Smaller sporangiophore branches were arranged at right angles to the supporting branches, and tips of branches measured 8 to 14 μm long. Sporangia were ovoid and hyaline with a single pore on the distal ends. Distal ends of sporangia were predominantly flat but occasionally had a slight papilla. Short pedicels were present on the attached ends. Sporangia measured 19.4 to 22.2 (-25.0) μm × 13.9 to 16.7 (-19.4) μm. Oospores were not observed in leaf tissue. On the basis of symptoms and morphology of the organism, the pathogen was identified as Plasmopara obducens J. Schröt. Pathogenicity tests were done on double type cvs. Fiesta, Tioga Red, and Tioga Cherry Red and on single type cvs. Cajun Watermelon and Accent Lilac. Plants were spray inoculated with sporangiospore suspensions (1 × 104 sporangiospores per milliliter), incubated for 24 h in a dew chamber (18 to 20°C), and then maintained in a greenhouse (22 to 24°C). Symptoms and signs of downy mildew developed after 12 days only on inoculated cv. Fiesta plants, and the pathogen morphology matched that of the originally observed pathogen. Nontreated control plants did not develop downy mildew. To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew on impatiens in California. P. obducens is one of two causal agents of downy mildew of impatiens (2,4). The other pathogen, Bremiella sphaerosperma, has dichotomous sporangiophore branching and causes lesions with well-defined margins (2,4). In the United States, the disease has been recorded in the eastern and northeastern states and in Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, and Wisconsin (3). In Canada, the disease has been recorded in Manitoba and Quebec (1). References: (1) I. L. Conners. An Annotated Index of Plant Diseases in Canada and Fungi Recorded on Plants in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Publication 1251, 1967. (2) O. Constantinescu. Mycologia 83:473, 1991. (3) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, 1989. (4) G. W. Wilson. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34:387, 1907.

A grama esmeralda necessita de todos os macro e micronutrientes essenciais para seu bom desenvolvimento, contudo não existem recomendações oficiais de adubação para a espécie e ainda, para melhor aproveitamento dos mesmos, ela deve ser instalada em substratos adequados. Assim o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a resposta da grama esmeralda em função de diferentes fertilizantes e substratos. O experimento foi desenvolvido na UNESP-Ilha Solteira/SP, sendo utilizados cinco substratos: S1- solo; S2- solo + areia (2:1); S3- solo + composto orgânico (1:1); S4- solo + composto orgânico + areia (2:1:1); S5- composto orgânico + areia (3:1), instalados em contêineres de 8,46 L, e posteriormente implantada a grama esmeralda sobre cada substrato. As adubações realizadas foram: 60 g m-2 de NPK (10-10-10) e 125 g m-2 de Forth Jardim®, sendo mantido um tratamento sem adubação (testemunha). Realizou-se análises do teor de clorofila das folhas, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. Foi observado que houve resposta da grama esmeralda em função dos fertilizantes e substratos, sendo que S5 adubado com NPK apresentou maiores valores de clorofila (20,81 CCI), e quando adubado com Forth Jardim® constatou maior massa fresca e seca (1,47 e 0,74 kg m-2 respectivamente), contudo, maior massa produzida implica em maiores gastos de corte de manutenção do gramado. Conclui-se ainda que as adubações realizadas com NPK e Forth Jardim® proporcionaram resultados superiores a testemunha, mostrando a importância da adubação para manutenção para a estética da grama esmeralda.

Ornamental lawns, such as Emerald grass (Zoysia japonica), require adequate fertilization management for their development, as well as the substrate used as a base in cultivation is of great importance to improve the aesthetic quality of the species. These two factors together, can provide a better acceptance of the turfgrass, through sensory analysis. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the aesthetic and sensory quality of the Emerald grass, as a function of cultivation on substrates and mineral fertilization. The work was carried out from September to December 2012, in a 5x3 factorial scheme [5 substrates x (2 fertilizers + control)], with 3 repetitions. Emerald grass mats were implanted in 8.5 L containers, filled with 5 substrates: S1 = soil, S2 = soil + sand (2:1), S3 = soil + organic compost (1:1), S4 = soil + compost organic + sand (2:1:1) and S5 = compost + sand (3:1). And the fertilizers used were based on a NPK formulation (10-10-10) applying 60 g m-2, and 125 g m-2 of a commercial product. Were evaluated: lawn height, relative chlorophyll index, dark green color index, and sensory analysis for appearance and color attributes and acceptability index. It was observed that the substrates based on organic compost presented the best results for the evaluated parameters, and the fertilizations carried out with the commercial product and the formulated NPK, presented similar results in the grass development evaluations, while the sensorial analysis is an important tool for accepting the aesthetics of a lawn.

Eucalyptus cultivation has expanded considerably in Brazil, especially in regions where soils have low fertility, as in the Brazilian Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah). In order to achieve high yield, it is necessary to know the appropriate time and place to perform the soil management, and to assist in this decision-making process, mathematical and computational models has been used and are a promising alternative. The objective of this study was to model the influence of plant and soil physical-chemical attributes on Eucalyptus camaldulensis cultivation in an Oxisol (Latossolo Vermelho distrófico), with clayey texture with the purpose of demonstrating specific management areas closely associated with eucalyptus development. An experimental grid of approximately 2 hectares (ha) containing 40 sampling points were installed and later soil and plant attributes were collected for the determination of physical and chemical attributes in the 0-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m layers in Selvíria, MS, Brazil. The results were analyzed using classical and geostatistical statistics. The spatial dependence varied according to the physical attribute evaluated and the depth of sampling. In addition to the vertical variability, there was also horizontal variability between depths, since for the same attribute the range was different between the sampled layers.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has diverse uses in the world, including ornamental and landscape characteristics, but there is a great disparity of germination during the time of seedlings production, being this factor attributed to the position of the seeds in fruits. This study aimed to evaluate some germinative aspects and concentration of reserve proteins in C. pulcherrima seeds in the function of its position in fruits. The work was carried out in greenhouse, in a completely random experimental design, with five seed position in the pod, based on the distance from seed to the peduncle (P1 - distal, P2 - distal/median, P3 - median, P4 -proximal/ median, P5 - proximal). Eight replicates with eight seeds each, were sowed to germinate for 21 days in expanded polystyrene trays filled with substrate. The percentage, speed index, average germination time and 50% germination time of the plantlets were evaluated. The reserve proteins (albumin, globulin, prolamin and glutelin) contents were also determined. There was influence of the position of the seed in the fruit on germination and reserve proteins contents. The proximal/median position showed excellent results, having correlations of albumin, globulin and glutelin concentrations with some germinative parameters. Therefore, the use of proximal/median position of the seeds is recommended for C. pulcherrima propagation.