Lima bean is a source of income for the rural population of Northeast Brazil because people purchase and consume the imature and mature beans. In this region, all of the germplasms used by farmers come from their own crops or they trade between rural communities. Understanding the genetic diversity of the lima bean germplasm provides important information for both managing germplasm banks and genetic conservation. In this study, we aimed to estimate the genetic diversity between 24 lima bean accessions from the Active GermplasmBank (AGB) at the Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI) based on morphoagronomic descriptors. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in lattice design with four replications and ten plants per plot, from February to August 2009. Seven qualitative and six quantitative descriptors were used. Four groups were created for quantitative traits using the Tocher and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) methods, while qualitative traits were divided into three groups using the Tocher method and into six groups using UPGMA. The trait that contributed the most to genetic diversity (35.23%) was pod width. UFPI-220 produced a large number of pods per plant, an important trait for identifying potentially productive accessions. We expect that beneficial combinations can be made between UFPI-220 x UFPI-468 due to both the high level of dissimilarity and the average performance of these accessions. Key words: Morphoagronomic characterization, descriptors, parental selection ResumoO feijão-fava é uma alternativa de renda para a população rural do Nordeste do Brasil, que consome seus grãos verdes ou maduros. Nessa região, todo germoplasma utilizado pelos agricultores é originário de seus próprios cultivos havendo intercâmbio de sementes entre comunidades rurais. O conhecimento sobre a diversidade genética tem proporcionado importantes contribuições no gerenciamento de bancos de germoplasmas e na conservação de recursos genéticos. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se estimar a diversidade genética entre vinte quatro acessos de feijão-fava do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (BAG) da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), com base em descritores morfoagronômicos. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo, em látice com quatro repetições e dez plantas por parcela, no período de fevereiro a agosto de 2009, sendo utilizados sete descritores qualitativos e seis quantitativos. Para os caracteres quantitativos foram formados quatro grupos pelos métodos de Tocher e UPGMA, enquanto que para os qualitativos formaram-se três grupos pelo método de Tocher e seis pelo UPGMA. O caráter que mais contribuiu para divergência genética (35,23%) foi largura da vagem. UFPI-220 produziu grande número de vagens por planta, característica importante na identificação de acessos potencialmente produtivos. Há expectativa de combinação promissora entre UFPI-220 x UFPI-468, em virtude da maior dissimilaridade observada e do melhor desempenho médio desses acessos.

Estimating pollen viability is important for analyzing genetic flow, evaluating the masculine reproduction potential of a species, and for genetic improvement programs. In order to gather more information about different pepper accessions (Capsicum sp) held in the Active Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Piauí (BAG-UFPI), Brazil, we analyzed the pollen viability of eight pepper accessions using four colorimetric methods: 2% acetic carmine; 2% acetic orcein; fuchsin; and Lugol's iodine. Pre-anthesis floral buds were collected and fixed in ethanol:acetic acid (3:1) for 24 hours and subsequently held in 70% ethanol under refrigeration until the slides were prepared using the squashing technique. An entirely randomized methodology was used, and the data compared using the Scott-Knott test at a 5% probability level. The four colorimetric methods were found to be efficient for estimating pollen viability in the different plant accessions, with all of them demonstrating high pollen viability (above 70%)-an important index for studies of genetic improvement.

Comparação de protocolos de extração de DNA genômico de Capsicum spp. Comparison of genomic DNA extraction protocols of Capsicum spp.

Background Copernicia prunifera belongs to the Arecaceae family, and its production chain includes a set of economic activities based on the use of the stipe, petiole, fiber, fruits, roots, and leaves from which carnaúba wax is extracted, an economically valuable resource in the region. This study aimed to evaluate the uses, management, and perception of the species by local extractors. Methods Two communities were studied, Bem Quer, where 15 extractors of carnaúba leaves were interviewed, and Cana, where 21 extractors considered specialists were interviewed, totaling a sample of 36 interviewees. Interviewees were asked questions about uses, ways of handling, and perception of morphological variation in the carnaúba leaves. The number of leaves extracted and the income obtained from the sale of leaves were estimated from interviews and notes that each leader of extractors held during the year of the research and previous years, as well as direct observations made by researchers in the communities which recollection area of straw hold about 80 thousand individuals of C. prunifera. A regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between social variables (age, time in extractive activity, and income obtained from extraction) with the number of leaves exploited. Results The leaf was indicated as the most used part, from which an important powder is extracted for the production of wax. In addition, the leaf was also indicated to be used for fertilization and construction. The relationship between the socioeconomic variables, income from extraction, and the number of leaves extracted (in thousands) was significant (R2 = 0.73 and p < 0.001). However, the other variables analyzed in this study, such as the time spent extracting leaves and the years of residence in the community (R2 = 0.03 and p > 0.05); the number of leaves extracted and interviewee age (R2= 0.05 and p > 0.05); and the number of leaves extracted and extraction time (R2 = 0.04 and p > 0.05) did not indicate a relationship. Conclusion Local extractors observed that new leaves have the highest sales value, as they have the highest production of powder. In addition, economic factor is the preponderant force that directs the management strategies of native species. For this species, however, morphological and genetic studies are needed for further clarification.

O mercado brasileiro de pimentas ornamentais tem apresentado expressivo crescimento, exigindo o conhecimento de características relacionadas a essa finalidade. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a diversidade genética em pimentas Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae) utilizando-se de características qualitativas e quantitativas para a seleção de genótipos promissores para uso ornamental. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 11 genótipos e três repetições. Foram empregadas 20 características qualitativas e nove quantitativas. Utilizou-se análise multivariada e os dados qualitativos e quantitativos foram submetidos a agrupamentos hierárquicos pelo Método Ward e UPGMA, respectivamente. A análise conjunta das variáveis foi obtida com base no Algoritmo de Gower. No agrupamento com os dados qualitativos obtiveram-se seis grupos e para os dados quantitativos houve a formação de cinco grupos, sendo indicativo de diversidade genética entre os genótipos estudados. Na análise conjunta, foram formados cinco grupos possibilitando a recomendação dos genótipos GEN40, GEN57, GEN75, GEN77, GEN80 e GEN85 como os mais promissores para fins ornamentais por reunirem atributos de relevante valor estético.

Objetivou-se identificar genótipos de pimenteiras com potencial ornamental e avaliar seus desempenhos em diferentes tipos de substratos e volumes de vaso. A caracterização morfológica foi realizada utilizando 10 genótipos de pimenteiras com base em seis descritores qualitativos e nove descritores quantitativos, para fins de seleção. Uma vez identificados os mais promissores para ornamentação, estes foram avaliados utilizando delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 3 x 3 x 4 (três genótipos, três tipos de substratos, quatro volumes de vaso), com duas repetições. Para avaliação de desempenho, foram utilizados quatro caracteres quantitativos. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo evidenciam os genótipos GEN38, GEN40 e GEN75 como os mais promissores a serem utilizados para fins ornamentais. Na avaliação de desempenho de pimentas com potencial ornamental, foi possível verificar diferenças significativas entre os fatores estudados isoladamente e suas interações. Recomenda-se o cultivo dos genótipos GEN38 e GEN75 em vaso V2 (680 mL). Já o GEN40 pode ser produzido utilizando-se o recipiente V4 (2.600 mL). Dentre os substratos utilizados, recomenda-se o de menor custo, composto por esterco caprino, esterco bovino, palha de arroz e areia.

Peppers and bell peppers (Capsicum spp.) are vegetables that have wide genetic variability, as well as a wide range of applications. Studies on genetic diversity help to understand the existing variability and the conservation of genetic resources, allowing breeders to select superior genotypes that meet the needs of breeding programmes. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity among 15 Capsicum genotypes based on morpho-agronomic descriptors and through the Ward-MLM (Modified Location Model) procedure, as well as to indicate the most promising genotypes for breeding programmes. The research was conducted in an experimental area using a randomized block design, with three replications, using nine qualitative descriptors and ten quantitative descriptors. Analysis of variance was performed, and means were subsequently grouped by Scott-Knott’s method. There was a significant difference between genotypes for all traits evaluated, making it possible to select promising genotypes. According to the Scott-Knott grouping test, the number of seeds per fruit had the largest number of groups, with eight distinct groups, while plant height had only two groups. The genotypes GEN18 and GEN21 had the highest average values for fruit wall thickness and thus are indicated for the preparation of sauces. The genotypes GEN14 and GEN16 were the most promising for use for ornamental purposes. The Ward-MLM method made it possible to differentiate C. annuum L., C. baccatum L., C. chinense Jacq., and C. frutescens L. into different groups, and is thus a useful tool to detect genetic divergence.

This study aimed to validate the artificial hybridization without emasculation in lima beans, identifying F1 generation using microsatellite markers (SSR). We used four accessions from the Active Germplasm Bank of Phaseolus, Universidade Federal do Piauí (BGP-UFPI), with contrasting growth habits and days-to-maturity traits. The 241 crosses performed had a percentage of hybrid pods of 5.8%, obtaining 42 seeds in F1. Artificial cross-fertilization was confirmed by microsatellite markers (BM 211, BM 141, BM 154, and GAT 591), and four plants were identified as hybrids. Thus, the proposed method is effective in performing artificial crosses for lima beans.