The Brazilian flora has a large number of species with ornamental potential. These species are poorly recognized or even completely unexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of four accessions belonging to the species of Anthurium plowmanii, A. raimundii, A. bonplandii and A. Affine for cutting foliage. The accessions from Embrapa Germplasm Bank of Tropical flowers were evaluated for 21 morphological and phenological characteristics and post-harvest longevity. The ornamental characterization was based on the evaluation of this data and florist acceptance as well. The accessions presented differences in almost all the characteristics related to the morphology of the inflorescence and the leaf. Some characteristics such: fruit color, petiole, spadix, and spathe length, are highly variable within the species and depend on the developmental stage. Some characters like petiole length and inflorescence position are particularly important as indicators for the use as cut foliage. The plants have slow development as typical from members of this family and and the production of leaves per year ranged between 6.6 (A. plowmanii) to 10.5 (A. bonplandii), which might be increased with the improvement of cultivation aspects, with an emphasis on spacing, plant management and fertilization. The leaves of Anthurium plowmanii, A. raimundii, A. bonplandii and A. affine present high postharvest durability and great potential as cut foliage, possessing florist acceptance as well. Keywords: cut foliage, germplasm bank, floral arrangement, and postharvest durability. RESUMO Avaliação do Potencial de uso de espécies nativas de Anthurium para folhagemA flora brasileira tem um grande número de espécies com potencial ornamental, muitas dessas são pouco reconhecidas ou inexploradas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso potencial de quatro acessos pertencentes às espécies de Anthurium plowmanii, A. raimundii, A. bonplandii e A. Affine para produção de folhagem de corte. Os acessos pertencentes ao Banco de Germoplasma de flores tropicais da Embrapa foram avaliados quanto a 21 características morfológicos e fenológicos, bem como a longevidade pós-colheita e potencial ornamental, baseado na aceitação de floristas. Os acessos apresentaram diferenças significativas em quase todas as características relacionadas com a morfologia da inflorescência e da folha. Algumas características tais: cor de fruta, pecíolo, espádice e comprimento espata, são altamente variáveis entre e dentro dos acessos e dependem do estágio de desenvolvimento. As caracteristicas comprimento do pecíolo e longevidade pós-colheita são particularmente importantes como indicadores para a utilização como folhagem de corte. As plantas têm desenvolvimento lento como típico de membros desta família, e a produção de folhas medio por ano variou entre 6,6 (A. plomanii) a 10,5 (A. bonplandii), o que talvez possa ser incrementado com o aprimoramento dos aspectos de cultivo, com ênfase no espaçamento, manejo da planta e adubação. As folhas de ...

Synchronizing the timing of fertilizer applications with plant nutrient demand increases the nutritional efficiency and decrease the cost of production. The objective of this study was to determine the growth and the nutrient uptake and export by heliconia 'Red Opal'. The experiment was carried out in a shade house and Heliconia psittacorum 'Red Opal' rhizomes were planted in soil classified as Arenic Kandinstults. The experimental design was completely randomized with nine plant sampling (zero; 30; 90; 150; 210; 270; 330; 390 and 450 days after planting) and five replicates. Leaves, sheathing leaf bases, flower stem, rhizomes and roots were collected every sampling and dry mass and nutrients accumulation were determined. Heliconia plants showed slow initial development but from the 210 days of planting, which corresponds with the beginning of the flower stem harvest there is a marked increase in dry mass accumulation. Nutrient accumulation followed the decreasing order: K > N = Ca > P = Mg > S > Fe = Mn > Zn > Cu = B. Potassium and calcium were the most exported macronutrients by heliconia flower stem and among the micronutrients, manganese was the most exported. Keywords: Heliconia psittacorum 'Red Opal', nutrient cycling, tropical floriculture. RESUMOCrescimento, acúmulo e exportação de nutrientes pela helicônia 'Red Opal' A sincronização da aplicação dos fertilizantes com a época de demanda de nutrientes aumenta a eficiência nutricional da planta e diminui os custos de produção. Objetivou-se com o trabalho determinar o desenvolvimento e a marcha de absorção de nutrientes pela helicônia 'Red Opal'. O experimento foi conduzido em telado e rizomas de Heliconia psittacorum 'Red Opal' foram plantados em Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com nove épocas de amostragem (zero; 30; 90; 150; 210; 270; 330; 390 e 450 dias após o plantio) e cinco repetições. Folhas, bainhas, hastes, rizomas e raízes foram coletadas a cada época de amostragem e a massa seca e o acúmulo de nutrientes foram determinados. As plantas de helicônia apresentaram desenvolvimento lento, mas a partir dos 210 dias do plantio, época que corresponde ao início da colheita das hastes, houve aumento acentuado no acúmulo de massa seca da planta. O acúmulo de nutrientes seguiu a ordem decrescente: K > N = Ca > P = Mg > S > Fe = Mn > Zn > Cu = B. O potássio e o cálcio foram os macronutrientes mais exportados pelas hastes de helicônia e dentre os micronutrientes, o manganês foi o mais exportado. Palavras-chave: Heliconia psittacorum 'Red Opal', ciclagem de nutrientes, floricultura tropical.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and energy value of passion fruit seed cake (PFSC) and to evaluate the inclusion of different levels of PFSC in the diets for quails on growth performance, carcass quality, litter quality, lipid stability of the meat, and economic viability. In the metabolism assay, 108 European quails of 21 days of age were used, being distributed in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments (one reference ration and two test rations with substitution of 20% and 40% of the reference ration by PFSC) and 6 replications of 6 birds each. It was observed that the apparent metabolizable energy corrected by the nitrogen balance (AMEn) determined in the ration with 20% PFSC (3876.17 kcal/kg DM) was higher than in the 40% (3469.00 kcal/kg DM). In the performance assay, 432 European quails from 7 to 42 days of age were used, being distributed in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments, consisting of a control diet and the others with increasing levels of inclusion of passion fruit seed (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%), and 6 replications of 12 birds. It was observed that the inclusion of PFSC starting from 10% promoted increase FI and FC values, and increasing linear effect of these variables starting from 5% of inclusion. The PFSC did not affect the carcass characteristics and lipid oxidation of the meat. Regarding the litter quality, there was a linear increase in the pH values and worse economic indexes starting from the inclusion of 10% of PFSC. In conclusion, PFSC can be used up to the level of 5% in diets for meat quails from 7 to 42 days of age.

The objective of this study was to evaluate growth regulators with purpose of reducing the size of heliconia ‘Red Opal’ potted plants. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with five treatments (trinexapac-ethyl and paclobutrazol at rates of 37.5 and 75.0 mg of active ingredient per pot and control without growth regulator) and five replicates. The treatments were applied 40 days after planting the rhizomes in pots filled with soil. Thirty and 150 days after the growth regulator application, plant height, number of leaves and shoots, petioles length and leaf area were evaluated. One year after planting the rhizomes in pots the number of inflorescence and leaves (leaves, sheathing leaf bases and inflorescences) and rhizomes (rhizomes and roots) dry mass were determined. Trinexapac-ethyl had no differences compared to the control in any of the variables evaluated. Paclobutrazol proved effective in reducing plant height, leaf area and petiole length and increase in number of leaves and shoots but the effect was temporary. Also, it did not affect the inflorescences production and leaves and rhizomes dry mass. Paclobutrazol is efficient to promote height reduction and to increase the number of shoots in heliconia ‘Red Opal’ potted plants without affect the inflorescence formation but its effects is temporary.