Storage temperature affects the rate and extent of wound-healing in a number of root and tuber crops. The effect of storage temperature on wound-healing in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots, however, is largely unknown. Wound-healing of sugarbeet roots was investigated using surface-abraded roots stored at 6 and 12°C for 28 days. Surface abrasions are common injuries of stored roots, and the storage temperatures used are typical of freshly harvested or rapidly cooled roots. Transpiration rate from the wounded surface and root weight loss were used to quantify wound healing. At 12°C, transpiration rate from the wounded surface declined within 14 days and wounded roots lost weight at a rate similar to unwounded controls. At 6°C, transpiration rate from the wounded surface did not decline in the 28 days after injury, and wounded roots lost 44% more weight than controls after 28 days storage. Melanin formation, lignification, and suberization occurred more rapidly at 12°C than at 6°C, and a continuous layer of lignified and suberized cells developed at 12°C, but not at 6°C. Examination of enzyme activities involved in melanin, lignin, and suberin formation indicated that differences in melanin formation at 6 and 12°C were related to differences in polyphenol oxidase activity, although no relationships between suberin or lignin formation and phenylalanine ammonia lyase or peroxidase activity were evident. Wound-induced respiration was initially greater at 12°C than at 6°C. However, with continued storage, respiration rate of wounded roots declined more rapidly at 12°C, and over 28 days, the increase in respiration due to injury was 52% greater in roots stored at 6°C than in roots stored at 12°C. The data indicate that storage at 6°C severely slowed and impaired wound-healing of surface-abraded sugarbeet roots relative to roots stored at 12°C and suggest that postharvest losses may be accelerated if freshly harvested roots are cooled too quickly.

Species from Capsicum genus are used for different purposes and in more recent years as ornamental potted plant. Despite the increased commercial importance, there are only a few studies on the environmental factors affecting the post-production shelf life of these ornamental plants. The presence of ethylene induces various responses on potted peppers, reducing the shelf life of sensitive cultivars. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ethylene and the inhibitors of ethylene action, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and silver thiosulfate (STS) on the shelf life of potted 'Calypso' and 'MG 302' peppers. Cultivar 'MG 302' showed intermediate sensitivity to ethylene action, while the cultivar 'Calypso' showed complete abscission of leaves when exposed to ethylene. In both cultivars, treatment with STS + Ethylene presented symptoms of phytotoxicity in plants, while treatment with 1-MCP + Ethylene was effective in delaying senescence and abscission for the cultivar 'MG 302', while cultivar 'Calypso' showed abscission similar to control plants. Plants treated with STS showed the longest durability when compared to the other treatments, about six days for 'Calypso' and 18 days for 'MG 302'. Nevertheless, plants treated with 1-MCP also exhibited good shelf life, about six days for 'Calypso' and nine days for the 'MG 302'. Although the treatment with STS was more efficient on the plants shelf life, did not completely block the action of ethylene and exhibited some phytotoxicity, while the treatment with 1-MCP had good efficiency without inducing any toxicity.

Pasture implantation fragments and reduces the Amazonian forest area. The objective was to quantify landscape changes in 1985, 2000 and 2015 in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study was carried out in three scenes obtained by the LANDSAT satellite of a microbasin (2742.33 ha) in the municipality of Alta Floresta. Forest, water bodies, pasture and exposed soil were the thematic classes determined to e mapping the land use evolution. The edge, density and shape indexes of the fragments were measured. Normalized vegetation difference (NDVI) values were high in 1985. Land use and occupation over 15 years (1985–2000) reduced forest cover by 69.8%, but it increased by 1.7% over the next 15 years (2000–2015). The number of exposed soil patches increased between the periods, but the total area and number of the patches of the forest fragments decreased. The high values of NDVI in 1985 showed vegetated areas with high density. Reducing forest cover decreases the size of the fragments, increases the isolation and the number of soil patches exposed. The mapping of land use showed a reduction of the Amazon forest in the microbasin in the north of Mato Grosso, in the years 2000 and 2015 compared to 1985.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the action of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on the growth and ornamental value of two pepper accessions and two commercial cultivars of ornamental pepper - Biquinho Vermelha and Bode Amarela. A PBZ aqueous solution (250 mL) was used to soak the substrate at 0, 20, 40, and 60 mg L-1 a.i. concentrations when the plants had 12 cm height. At the end of plant growth, the follwoing parameters were evaluated: plant height, chlorophyll content in leaves, number of fruit and leaves, and canopy compactness at the time the plants reached maturity to be marketed, with 30% of ripe fruit. Irrespective of the applied PBZ concentration, plant height diminished, and chlorophyll content increased. PBZ did not improve the ornamental characteristics of the genotypes 'Biquinho Vermelha' and 2334PB, which resulted in unsuitable plants for market requirements. For the genotypes 2345PB and 'Bode Amarela', the application of 20 mg L-1 of PBZ is the most indicated, and it results in plants with adequate ornamental characteristics required by the national market of flowers and ornamental plants.

Nineteen cowpea genotypes from the Germplasm Bank of the Genetic Improvement Program of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco, Brazil (IPA) were evaluated in three locations in Northeast of Brazil, featuring edaphoclimatic characteristics of Tropical Savanna (Cerrado) and Caatinga (Semiarid) biomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate genotypes with production potential for these regions. An experimental design of randomised blocks was used, with 19 treatments (genotypes) and four replications. Six characteristics relating to yield components were studied. There was no significant difference in yield between the genotypes under evaluation for the region of Pesqueira, PE or Lajedo, PE, both in Caatinga biome. However, the studied genotypes displayed variations in yield for Balsas, MA, Cerrado region, demonstrating that this growth environment was suitable for the expression of production potential in the genotypes. The differences presented by genotypes for the characteristics under stu dy favour their recommendation, and demonstrate the possibility of their selection for genetic improvement of the species. The average yield of 840.8 kg ha -1 indicates good adaptation by the genotypes for cultivation in tropical savanna region.

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The effects of three paclobutrazol (PBZ) application methods on ornamental characteristics of two pepper cultivars (‘Biquinho Vermelha’ and ‘Bode Amarela’) were evaluated. Plant growth regulator at 10 μM PBZ was added at transplanting by drenching 250 mL PBZ solution on the pot substrate, foliar spray of 10 mL PBZ solution or by submerging seedlings root + substrate for 10 seconds in the PBZ solution. Control plants were treated with tap water applied directly on the substrate. Plant height, canopy compactness, fruits and leaves number, and leaf chlorophyll content were evaluated when 50% of the plants had approximately 30% of mature fruits (commercial maturity). PBZ applied by drenching influenced positively the ornamental characteristics of ‘Bode Amarela’. Otherwise, the best PBZ application method for ‘Biquinho Vermelha’ was not established. The results suggest that search for suitable PBZ application method that no affects the pepper ornamental characteristics must be done specifically for each pepper cultivar.

The longevity of cut flowers is limited by their ephemeral nature and by multiple stresses. Impairment in water uptake, depletion of stored carbohydrates, increases in both respiratory activity and ethylene production are signatures of flower senescence. A wide range of techniques is available to extend flower preservation, including the use of flower preservative solutions, ethylene action inhibitors, growth regulators, and control of temperature and flower dehydration. The use of sucrose in pulsing solution, or as a component of vase solution, extends the vase life of flowers by either improving water balance and energy or delaying the senescence via reductions in ethylene biosynthesis. Inhibitors of ethylene production and action affect the longevity by extending the vase life of some ethylene-sensitive flowers. Flowers have intense respiratory activity, which may deplete the limited reserves of carbohydrates in the tissues. Lower temperatures markedly reduce both carbon dioxide concentration and ethylene production as well as its action. However, chilling-sensitive flowers, such as bird-of-paradise, heliconia, orchid, and ginger, cannot be stored below 10 to 13°C due to the intense development of tissue discoloration.