Jarina is a palm tree from the western Amazon region, whose seeds have characteristics like those of animal ivory, used for making handicrafts. The aim of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability of jarina palm progenies, from seed morphophysiological characteristics, germination and seedling stages. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with 15 treatments (progenies), 3 repetitions, and 15 seeds per experimental unit. Thirty-one morphophysiological characteristics of the seed and seedling were used. With the characteristics that had significant variability, the progenies were grouped using the UPGMA method. The results showed genetic variability among progenies for 24 traits. Considering 50% of dissimilarity, four groups were identified: Group 1 - P05; Group 2 - P04, P11 and P12; Group 3 - P06, P10, P08, P14, P15, P07, P09, P02 and P13; and Group 4 - P01 and P03. Morphophysiological traits of the seed, germination and seedling are useful to detect genetic variability among jarina palm progenies. Three progenies (P04, P11 and P12) stood out for having the highest percentage of germination and the different seedling stages, as well as the highest speed indices and shortest times, in relation to germination and seedling stages.
Bioethanol production based on sugarcane juice fermentation yields vinasse, a dark, dense liquid waste high in potassium. In Brazil, one of the world’s biggest bioethanol producer, vinasse is used for fertirrigation of the sugar-cane fields, replacing mineral soil amendments. Nevertheless, the production largely exceeds this application, prompting exacerbated usage, unduly long-term storage and even illegal dumping. Vinasse thus progressively became an environmental hazard, damaging soils and superficial and ground waters, adding a negative burden to a supposedly green-fuel industry. The solution resides in decreasing production yields and/or using it for yet other economically interesting applications. This work focuses on the latter. Vinasses from three bioethanol plants from Brazil were tested for their ability to contain the proliferation of Moniliophthora perniciosa, the aggressive filamentous fungus responsible for cacao Witches’ Broom Disease (WBD). This disease caused a severe economic fall-out in South American cacao producing regions, particularly seriously in Brazil. Immersing or spraying the mycelium with vinasse either kills the fungus or impedes its proliferation at varying time/dosage. Identically testing another genetically unrelated phytopathogen, showed this effect is not that of a generalized biocide/fungicide. Results suggest that vinasse could be used to contain/revert the prevalence of cacao’s WBD to manageable levels. Vinasse would thus shift from industrial waste with disposal-associated costs, to being a tool for the agronomic sustainability and revival of the South American regional cacao-dependent socio-economies.
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