bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co2 and irrigation in relation to yield and water use of the bell pepper crop
Authors: Rezende Fátima Conceição , Frizzone José Antonio , Oliveira Ricardo Ferraz de , Pereira Anderson Soares
Published: September 2007

Greenhouse production of vegetables is widely used throughout the world. Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in these closed environments can increase net photosynthesis and yield. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment and water supply on the growth of potted bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants, cultivated under controlled environmental conditions. CO2 was applied daily, and its distribution was monitored above plant rows through micro pipes located at 3.0 m height. A drip irrigation system with one dripper per plant was used to irrigate the plants. Different volumes of irrigation water, representing fractions of the water volume (Vet) consumed by pot plants growing under no water stress conditions (0.5Vet, 0.65Vet, 1.0Vet, and 1.35Vet) with four replications, were evaluated under four different CO2 levels (atmospheric concentration of 367, 600, 800, and 1000 mumol mol-1). Total fresh fruit mass, average number of fruits, and water use efficiency were recorded. For the water deficit treatments, the greatest fresh fruit mass was obtained for the highest CO2 level environment. However, for treatments that received water volumes equal or greater than the evapotranspiration rate, the greatest total fresh fruit mass was observed at the 600 mumol mol-1 of CO2 environment. The yield increase due to CO2 was represented by increase in fruit weight and not in fruit number. Water use efficiency increased in relation to the amount of water applied and it was highest at 600 mumol mol-1 CO2 concentration.
Ecological aspects of Bacillus thuringiensis in an Oxisol
Authors: Ferreira Lessandra Heck Paes Leme , Suzuki Marise Tanaka , Itano Eiko Nakagawa , Ono Mário Augusto , Arantes Olívia Márcia Nagy
Published: September 2007

Bacillus thuringiensis is a Gram positive, sporangial bacterium, known for its insecticidal habilities. Survival and conjugation ability of B. thuringiensis strains were investigated; vegetative cells were evaluated in non-sterile soil. Vegetative cells decreased rapidly in number, and after 48 hours the population was predominantly spores. No plasmid transfer was observed in non-sterile soil, probably because the cells died and the remaining cells sporulated quickly. Soil is not a favorable environment for B. thuringiensis multiplication and conjugation. The fate of purified B. thuringiensis toxin was analyzed by extractable toxin quantification using ELISA. The extractable toxin probably declined due to binding on surface-active particles in the soil.
Growth of citrus rootstocks under aluminium stress in hydroponics
Authors: Pereira Walter Esfrain , Siqueira Dalmo Lopes de , Puiatti Mario , Martínez Carlos Alberto , Salomão Luiz Carlos Chamhum , Cecon Paulo Roberto
Published: September 2007

Plants present different degrees of adaptation to aluminium (Al) concentrations in the soil, and the understanding of this characteristic can lead to a viable option for the utilization of acid soils. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of five Al concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mumol L-1) on the growth of 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) and 'Volkamer' lemon (Citrus volkameriana Hort. ex Tan.), and tangerine rootstocks 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan) and 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tan.), in hydroponic culture. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications. For all rootstocks, the relative growth rate in terms of plant total fresh matter increased under low and, decreased under large Al concentrations. Growth of the shoot, leaf area ratio and leaf weight ratio decreased for all rootstocks in the presence of Al. The 'Rangpur' lime had a decrease of the root system growth, starting from 23 mumol L-1 of Al. For the remaining rootstocks, this growth reached maximum values at 91 to 117 mumol L-1 of Al, respectively. Considering all the evaluated characteristics of plant growth, the 'Rangpur' lime was the most susceptible to Al.
Waxes and plastic film in relation to the shelf life of yellow passion fruit
Authors: Mota Wagner Ferreira da , Salomão Luiz Carlos Chamhum , Cecon Paulo Roberto , Finger Fernando Luiz
Published: September 2007

The high perishability of the yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) reduces its postharvest conservation and availability, mainly for in natura consumption. These losses of quality and commercial value occur due to the high respiration and loss of water. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of a modified atmosphere - wax emulsions and plastic film - on the shelf life of the yellow passion fruit. Plastic film (Cryovac D-955, 15 mum thickness) reduced fresh weight loss and fruit wilting, kept higher fruit and rind weight and higher pulp osmotic potential over the storage period. However, it was not efficient in the control of rottenness. Sparcitrus wax (22-23% polyethylene/maleyc resin) caused injury to the fruit, high fruit weight losses and wilting and resulted in lower pulp osmotic potential; this wax lead to a higher concentration of acid and a lower relation of soluble solids/acidity. Among the tested waxes, Fruit Wax (18-21% carnauba wax) was the best, promoting reduced weight loss, wilting and rottenness.
Accelerated aging of melon seeds
Authors: Torres Salvador Barros , Marcos Filho Julio
Published: September 2007

Accelerated aging is one of the most useful tests used for the evaluation of seed vigor but it is seldomly used to test melon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds. The objective this research was to compare different procedures of the accelerated aging test to evaluate the physiological quality of melon seeds and the efficiency of using saturated salt solution for the control of water uptake by seeds. Five seed lots each of the hybrids AF-646 and AF-682 were tested for germination, seedling emergence, traditional accelerated aging (periods 0f 48, 72 and 96 hours, at 38 or 41°C) and salt saturated accelerated aging. The accelerated aging test (traditional procedure and with salt solution) for 72h and 96h, at 38 or 41°C was sensitive to detect differences in the physiological quality of the seeds. It was also observed that the seed water content after salt saturated accelerated aging was lower and more uniform, thus presenting advantagens in relation to the traditional procedure.
Combining ability of inbred lines of maize and stability of their respective single-crosses
Authors: Aguiar Aurélio Mendes , Carlini-Garcia Luciana Aparecida , Silva Adelmo Resende da , Santos Mateus Figueiredo , Garcia Antonio Augusto Franco , Souza Jr. Cláudio Lopes de
Published: September 2007

The utilization of diallel crosses for identification of superior combinations is a common practice in maize (Zea mays L.) breeding programs. This methodology allows the estimation of the combining ability of genotypes being evaluated. In this work, five inbred lines were evaluated as to their general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities, by using a complete diallel scheme. The single-crosses produced between these inbred lines were evaluated in seven environments, along with two checks, by using a randomized complete block design. Traits analized were: grain yield, plant height, ear height, ear placement, and prolificacy. A diallel analysis was carried out, following an adaptation of Griffing's method IV, in addition to hybrid stability and adaptability analyses. Significant differences were detected for entries and environments for all traits. The interaction genotype vs. environment was significant for all traits. GCA's were significant for all traits, while SCA's were non-significant only for ear placement. For grain yield, both additive (GCA) and non-additive (SCA) effects were important, while for the remaining traits additive effects were more important. The high yielding single-cross was obtained from the cross of lines L-08-05F and L-38-05D. Those inbred lines showed higher GCA's and their cross also had high SCA; also, it is responsive to environment improvements and reasonably stable. The second in rank high yielding single-cross, L-46-10D x L-08-05F, showed wide adaptability and stability.
Variance additivity of genetic populational parameter estimates obtained through bootstrapping
Authors: Carlini-Garcia Luciana Aparecida , Vencovsky Roland , Coelho Alexandre Siqueira Guedes
Published: September 2007

Studying the genetic structure of natural populations is very important for conservation and use of the genetic variability available in nature. This research is related to genetic population structure analysis using real and simulated molecular data. To obtain variance estimates of pertinent parameters, the bootstrap resampling procedure was applied over different sampling units, namely: individuals within populations (I), populations (P), and individuals and populations simultaneously (I, P). The considered parameters were: the total fixation index (F or F IT), the fixation index within populations (f or F IS) and the divergence among populations or intrapopulation coancestry (theta or F ST). The aim of this research was to verify if the variance estimates of , and , found through the resampling over individuals and populations simultaneously (I, P), correspond to the sum of the respective variance estimates obtained from separated resampling over individuals and populations (I+P). This equivalence was verified in all cases, showing that the total variance estimate of , and can be obtained summing up the variances estimated for each source of variation separately. Results also showed that this facilitates the use of the bootstrap method on data with hierarchical structure and opens the possibility of obtaining the relative contribution of each source of variation to the total variation of estimated parameters.
Genetic divergence among hybrids of 'Cravo' mandarin with 'Pêra' sweet orange
Authors: Oliveira Roberto Pedroso de , Aguilar-Vildoso Carlos Ivan , Machado Marcos Antônio
Published: September 2007

Molecular markers have been used as tools in breading programs of sexual hybridation, allowing the genetic characterization of a large number of genotypes. The RADP markers are the most used since the employed techniques are simple and of low cost. To evaluate the genetic divergence among F1 hybrids of 'Cravo' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and 'Pêra' sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck), this study analyses the variability and similarity of the hybrids among themselves and with their parents. Random Amplified Polimorfic DNA marker analysis, with 102 primers, were applied to a population composed of 94 hybrids and their parents. Multivariate genetic divergence analysis of the principal components and Tocher grouping were carried out only considering the polymorphic fragments. Genetic distances were calculated by the arithmetic complement of the Jaccard index. Bidimensional dispersion graphs among hybrid and parent distances and of the divergence analysis by principal components were constructed. High genetic similarity among Cravo and Pêra varieties and their hybrids was verified, showing a casual distribution from the hybrids in relation to the parents, but in intermediary positions. The principal component analysis showed little applicability in the study of hybrid genetic divergence. The hybrids and parents were classified in groups based on the genetic similarity, using the Tocher optimization method.
Perennial herbaceous legumes as live soil mulches and their effects on C, N and P of the microbial biomass
Authors: Duda Gustavo Pereira , Guerra José Guilherme Marinho , Monteiro Marcela Teixeira , De-Polli Helvécio , Teixeira Marcelo Grandi
Published: September 2007

The use of living mulch with legumes is increasing but the impact of this management technique on the soil microbial pool is not well known. In this work, the effect of different live mulches was evaluated in relation to the C, N and P pools of the microbial biomass, in a Typic Alfisol of Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. The field experiment was divided in two parts: the first, consisted of treatments set in a 2 x 2 x 4 factorial combination of the following factors: live mulch species (Arachis pintoi and Macroptilium atropurpureum), vegetation management after cutting (leaving residue as a mulch or residue remotion from the plots) and four soil depths. The second part had treatments set in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial combination of the following factors: absence of live mulch, A. pintoi, Pueraria phaseoloides, and M. atropurpureum, P levels (0 and 88 kg ha-1) and vegetation management after cutting. Variation of microbial C was not observed in relation to soil depth. However, the amount of microbial P and N, water soluble C, available C, and mineralizable C decreased with soil depth. Among the tested legumes, Arachis pintoi promoted an increase of microbial C and available C content of the soil, when compared to the other legume species (Pueraria phaseoloides and Macroptilium atropurpureum). Keeping the shoot as a mulch promoted an increase on soil content of microbial C and N, total organic C and N, and organic C fractions, indicating the importance of this practice to improve soil fertility.
Mineral and organomineral fertirrigation in relation to quality of greenhouse cultivated melon
Authors: Fernandes André Luís Teixeira , Rodrigues Guilherme Pádua , Testezlaf Roberto
Published: September 2007

Fertirrigation of melon still presents problems in relation to the type of the fertilizer used, mainly the biofertilizers. This experiment, installed in Uberaba, MG, Brazil, in a plastic module greenhouse of 768 m², tested treatments consisting of the conventional mineral fertirrigation and the organic fertirrigation, using two frequencies: daily and weekly. The best yields were obtained with daily fertilizer application, with superiority in relation to biofertilizers, with yield of 45.5 t ha-1 of fruit. This value was higher as compared to chemical products, that lead to a yield of 42.4 t ha-1. The weekly fertigation had lower productivities, and in this case, the biofertilizers also overcame the mineral, on the average 2.0 t ha-1. The best melon soluble solids values were obtained for the daily application of fertilizers, and the best treatment (P < 0.05) was the organic daily fertigation, with values of soluble solids content of 13.60° brix, followed by the daily chemical fertigation, with values of 12.52°. On the average, the amounts of soluble solids in melon were superior to the average found for Brazilian melons. Differences were not verified among the treatments for the variables pulp thickness and fruits pH. Regarding the peel thickness, the application of organic fertilizer sources presented a slight superiority in relation to chemical fertilizer treatments. No differences were verified among treatments in relation to the amount of fruits protein.
Nutrient content of biomass components of Hamlin sweet orange trees
Authors: Mattos Jr. Dirceu , Quaggio José Antônio , Cantarella Heitor , Alva Ashok Kumar
Published: September 2007

The knowledge of the nutrient distribution in trees is important to establish sound nutrient management programs for citrus production. Six-year-old Hamlin orange trees [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.] on Swingle citrumelo [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. x Citrus paradisi Macfad.] rootstock, grown on a sandy Entisol in Florida were harvested to investigate the macro and micronutrient distributions of biomass components. The biomass of aboveground components of the tree represented the largest proportion of the total. The distribution of the total tree dry weight was: fruit = 30.3%, leaf = 9.7%, twig = 26.1%, trunk = 6.3%, and root = 27.8%. Nutrient concentrations of recent mature leaves were in the adequate to optimal range as suggested by interpretation of leaf analysis in Florida. Concentrations of Ca in older leaves and woody tissues were much greater than those in the other parts of the tree. Concentrations of micronutrients were markedly greater in fibrous root as compared to woody roots. Calcium made up the greatest amount of nutrient in the citrus tree (273.8 g per tree), followed by N and K (234.7 and 181.5 g per tree, respectively). Other macronutrients comprised about 11% of the total nutrient content of trees. The contents of various nutrients in fruits were: N = 1.20, K = 1.54, P = 0.18, Ca = 0.57, Mg = 0.12, S = 0.09, B = 1.63 x 10-3, Cu = 0.39 x 10-3, Fe = 2.1 x 10-3, Mn = 0.38 10-3, and Zn = 0.40 10-3 (kg ton-1). Total contents of N, K, and P in the orchard corresponded to 66.5, 52.0, and 8.3 kg ha-1, respectively, which were equivalent to the amounts applied annually by fertilization.
Copper availability as related to soil copper fractions in oxisols under liming
Authors: Nascimento Clístenes Williams Araújo do , Fontes Renildes Lúcio Ferreira , Melicio Adilson César Fortes Dias
Published: September 2007

The knowledge of the chemical forms of copper in soils and the relationships of these forms with soil copper availability are important for predicting the copper behavior in the soil-plant system. The present work studies the influence of liming on the available contents of copper as well as on the forms of copper fractions in six types of Oxisols. Soil samples, with and without liming, received copper at rates of 0.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mg dm-3 and remained incubated for 30 days. Then, available copper was extracted with Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, DTPA and EDTA solutions, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Additionally, soil samples were extracted in a sequential procedure to determine Cu in fractions of soil, as follows: exchangeable-Cu fraction, organic matter-Cu fraction, Mn oxide-Cu fraction, amorphous Fe oxide-Cu fraction, crystalline Fe oxide-Cu fraction, residual-Cu fraction, and the total Cu content in the soil. Soil samples to which Cu was added presented higher Cu retention in the organic matter fraction with a small percentage retained in the exchangeable-Cu fraction. Liming resulted in a decrease of Cu in the exchangeable and organic matter fractions and an increase in the Fe and Mn oxide fractions and in the residual fraction. Without liming, the organic matter fraction presented the highest contribution to Cu content found in the soil extracts obtained with all extractors, except EDTA. For treatments with liming, Cu contents in the organic matter fraction were better correlated to Cu contents in extracts obtained with DTPA and Mehlich-3.
Glyphosate sorption and desorption in soils with distinct phosphorus levels
Authors: Prata Fábio , Cardinali Vanessa Camponez do Brasil , Lavorenti Arquimedes , Tornisielo Valdemar Luiz , Regitano Jussara Borges
Published: September 2007

The sorption of glyphosate by soils occurs due to the inner sphere complex formation with metals of soil oxides, which are related to the soil phosphate adsorption capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing rates of phosphorus on sorption and desorption of glyphosate in three soils with different mineralogical attributes. Soils were a Rhodic Kandiudalf, an Anionic Acrudox and a Typic Humaquept. Soil samples were amended with KH2PO4 at equivalent rates of 0; 1,000; 5,000; 20,000 and 50,000 kg ha-1 of P2O5, which are high from the agricultural point of view, but necessary in order to perform sorption and desorption studies. The experimental design consisted of a completely randomized factorial: 2 soils x 5 phosphorus rates and 3 replicates. For the sorption experiments, five glyphosate solutions were employed (0.42; 0.84; 1.68; 3.36 and 6.72 mg L-1), with a 14C radioactivity of 0.233 kBq mL-1. Four steps of the desorption procedure with CaCl2 0.01 mol L-1 and one extraction with Mehlich 3 were performed only at one concentration (0.84 mol L-1). Soil samples were afterwards biologically oxidized to establish the radioactive balance. Glyphosate competes with phosphorus for specific sorption sites, but this competition becomes important when phosphorus is present at rates higher than 1,000 mg dm-3. Moreover, a small amount of applied glyphosate was extracted (<10%), and the extraction increased with increasing soil phosphorus content.
Mathematical tool to size rural digesters
Authors: Florentino Helenice de Oliveira
Published: September 2007

Anaerobic digesters have been highlighted due to the current energy crisis and its consequent search for alternative energy sources, allied to the intense process of livestock farming and agriculture modernization, which besides demanding a lot of energy, produces a great amount of crop and animal residues, most of the times generating sanitary problems. The aim of this work is to provide a mathematical tool to establish parameters for projects of construction of rural digesters, considering the response to energy demand, the suitability of the dimensions of the systems, yield factors and the guarantee of functionality. Non-linear optimization models, of easy resolution, for the three main types of rural digesters were formulated in this way. With the resolution of these models one can determine the height and the diameter that lead to a minimum volume for each type, so reducing the necessary amount of masonry and, consequently, diminishing the cost.
Mineral supplementation and productivity of the Shiitake mushroom on eucalyptus logs
Authors: Queiroz Elvio Cardoso , Marino Regina Helena , Eira Augusto Ferreira da
Published: September 2007

Brazilian reports on Shiitake mushroom [Lentinula edodes (Berkeley) Pegler] productivity grown on Eucalyptus saligna (Sm.) logs are optimistic. The current production on this kind of wood is, however, low and variable. Aiming at increasing Shiitake mushroom productivity, the present work studied interactions among three concentrations of mineral supplement and three Shiitake strains (Le 95/01, 96/17 and 96/18) grown on seventh cut eucalyptus logs. Mineral fertilization was carried out when the logs were submerged in water to induce fruiting bodies, using the following saline concentrations: zero (no fertilizers added), 0.05% (equivalent to 0.35 g L-1 of ammonium sulfate with 18% nitrogen and 0.15 g L-1 of superphosphate with 34% phosphorus) and 0.50%. Fertilization of the Le 95/01 strain increased productivity, but logs inoculated with the Le 96/17 strain were more productive only at 0.05% concentration while in the Le 96/18 strain, mineral supplementation decreased in productivity. The radial growth of these Shiitake strains (in sawdust-agar medium and with the same saline concentrations used in the log experiment) showed that all strains reacted positively to fertilization and that positive results for the Le 95/01 strain and negative results for Le 96/18 on eucalyptus logs are due to the natural higher competitiveness of the first Le 95/01 in relation to the latter Le 96/18 strain. Mineral fertilization increases the productivity provided that the logs are well colonized by Shiitake mushrooms.
Tiller emission and dry mass accumulation of wheat cultivars under stress
Authors: Almeida Milton Luiz de , Sangoi Luís , Merotto Jr. Aldo , Alves Antônio Carlos , Nava Itamar Cristiano , Knopp Armando Cristiano
Published: September 2007

Tillers are important structures for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) because they contribute to increase the number of spikes per area, enhancing grain yield. Stresses during plants early growth have a sizable effect on tiller production. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of stresses induced by unevenness in sowing depth, defoliation and differences in soil pH on tiller emission and dry mass accumulation of wheat cultivars. The experiments were carried out in Lages, Southern Brazil, during the winter growing seasons of 2000 and 2001. They were performed in square boxes, under natural conditions of radiation and irrigation. In the first experiment, five types of sowing depths were tested to simulate different systems of unevenness in plant emergence of cultivar Embrapa 16. In the second experiment, two wheat cultivars (BRS 177 and BRS 179) were submitted to four types of main stem defoliation. The third experiment assessed the effects of three levels of soil acidity correction on the tillering pattern of Fundacep 29. Unevenness in sowing depth, alternating pairs of seeds at 3 cm and 5 cm deep, reduced tiller emission and dry mass accumulation. The removal of the first and second main stem leaves reduced significantly BRS 179 tiller dry mass and number and did not affect the tillering pattern of BRS 177. The lack of liming restricted tiller emission and reduced plant dry mass accumulation.
Selection of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae isolates for the control of Blissus antillus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)
Authors: Samuels Richard Ian , Coracini Déborah Lucienne Araújo
Published: September 2007

Chinch bugs of the genus Blissus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) are serious pests of maize, wheat, sorghum and various grasses. This study is the first to screen isolates of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against 4th instar and adult Blissus antillus aiming to develop a biological control program for this important pasture pest. Ten fungal isolates were initially screened and three isolates were chosen for further investigation. To determine virulence, insects were inoculated by immersion in concentrations of 5 ´ 10(8) conidia mL-1. Mortality was evaluated for 10 days. B. bassiana ARSEF 792 was the most virulent isolate to both nymphs and adults, causing 53 and 78% infection, respectively, and values for LT50 of 7.8 and 5.0 days, respectively. Germination studies were carried out to confirm viability and determine speed of germination as a pathogenicity factor. The production of conidia on the cadavers of insects infected with the three selected isolates was determined. The production of conidia on rice media was also evaluated. B. bassiana CG 24 produced the highest number of conidia on insects cadavers (14.9 ´ 10(7) conidia per insect) and also on rice media (10.6 ´ 10(9) conidia per g).
Chilling effect on soluble sugars, respiration rate, total phenolics, peroxidase activity and dormancy of onion bulbs
Authors: Benkeblia Noureddine , Shiomi Norio
Published: September 2007

Besides onions being one of the most cultivated and consumed vegetables, during storage onion bulbs are still affected by many physiological, biochemical and technological factors which can influence their quality. Respiration rate (RR O2), soluble sugars (SS), total phenolics (TP), and peroxidase (POD) activity were measured in inner bud tissues during a dormancy break of onion bulbs treated four weeks at 0ºC and stored in the dark at 20ºC. Control bulbs were stored simultaneously in the same condition. Breakage of dormancy was checked by the appearance of first green internal leaves by cutting longitudinally 30 bulbs. After eight weeks, RR O2 of sprouted onions was 52% higher than that of freshly harvested and dormant bulbs. One week after cooling SS decreased from 15 to 9 mg g-1 fresh weight, and then peaked from 9 to 19 mg g-1 after three weeks. For control bulbs, a similar peak was observed after six weeks. For inner buds of cold-treated onions, a slight increase of TP (from 0.17 to 0.2 mg g-1; fresh weight) was observed during the first two weeks of cooling, and then a decrease to 0.11 mg g-1 was observed after eight weeks. For inner buds of control bulbs, TP also increased slightly from 0.17 to 0.2 mg g-1 after five weeks, and decreased to 0.15 mg g-1 after seven weeks when bulbs began to sprout. POD activity showed a similar pattern in relation to TP. For cold-treated bulbs, POD activity increased to 1.7 U g-1 fresh weight after two weeks, and decreased to 1.1 U g-1 during the last four weeks. For control samples, POD activity was stable during 4 weeks and decreased progressively by 29% during the last four weeks. This decrease in POD activity coincided with the decrease in TP, and coincided with onset of sprouting. With cold treatment, first sprouts were observed during the third week, while total sprouting was observed after eight weeks. In comparison, only 20% of the control bulbs sprouted after the period of 8 weeks.
Negative H2S character and flocculation as yeast strain markers for inoculum recovery
Authors: Ribeiro Carlos Alberto França , Horii Jorge
Published: September 2007

Routine identification of yeast behavior is essential to measure the control of the alcohol production process and to maintain product quality standards. This work utilized the non-hydrogen sulfide production and flocculation traits as characteristic strain markers for the evaluation of cell recycling during the alcoholic fermentation process for production of sugarcane alcohol. This study evaluated the behavior of a recombinant yeast bank made by protoplast fusion, for strain screening purposes; strain fermentative kinetics in comparison to commercial baker yeast; viability and recovery of the selected strain on differential media, after five consecutive fermentation batches; and the recovery of the selected strain from fermentation with mixed strain cultures. The strain selected for the H2S negative character kept its viability during successive recyclings, with contamination levels not detected by the method of analysis. It also presented a kinetic behavior similar to that of baker yeast, either in single or mixed culture fermentations, opening new possibilities for further work on quality control of cell recycling in the alcoholic fermentation process.
Ambient pH-regulated enzime secretion in endophytic and pathogenic isolates of the fungal genus Colletotrichum
Authors: Maccheroni Jr. Walter , Araújo Welington Luiz , Azevedo João Lúcio
Published: September 2007

In fungi a genetic system ensures that enzymes are secreted mainly at ambient pH values corresponding to their optima of activity. Although a great deal of information has been obtained concerning this environmental response, there is a lack of studies involving phytopathogenic, endophytic and entomopathogenic fungi as well as different aspects of fungus-host interactions. This study compares in a plate-clearing assays, the effect of ambient pH in the secretion of amylase, cellulase, lipase, pectinase and protease by endophytic, phytopathogenic, and entomopathogenic isolates belonging to several species of Colletotrichum. All enzymes were secreted in a pH-dependent manner by all isolates. Endophytes and pathogens showed distinct patterns of protease secretion, with optima at alkaline and acid growth conditions, respectively. In liquid medium, a Pi-repressible acid phosphatase of an endophytic isolate responded to ambient pH, having a 14-fold increase in secreted specific activity at acid pH, as compared to alkaline pH. Furthermore, part of a Colletotrichum pacC homologue gene, coding for a transcriptional factor responsible for pH-regulated gene expression, was cloned. Ambient pH seems to be a general factor controlling enzyme secretion in fungus-host interactions through a conserved genetic circuit.
Soil attributes and efficiency of sulfentrazone on control of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.)
Authors: Alves Pedro Luís da Costa Aguiar , Marques Júnior José , Ferraudo Antonio Sergio
Published: September 2007

In the soil, herbicides are submitted to absorption, leaching and degradation by physical, chemical and biological processes or absorbed by plants. All these processes are dependent on soil class and weather conditions and affect the product efficiency on weed control. The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of soil attributes on sulfentrazone efficiency for controlling purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L. ). Soil samples from LVAd (Typic Haplustox), LVd, LVdf and LVef (Typic Haplustox and Typic Eutrustox), NVe (Rhodic Kandiustalf), and LVd (Typic Haplustox) were collected under two crop conditions aiming to have different clay, Fe oxides, and organic matter contents. The soil samples were submitted to granulometric, chemical and mineralogical characterization. A bioassay was used to evaluate the efficacy of sulfentrazone (1.6 L c.p. ha-1) to control purple nutsedge on pre-emergence. The sulfentrazone behaved differently among the studied soil classes. The product efficiency decreased when the soil Fe oxide content increased, following the order: LVAd, LVd, NVe, LVef and LVdf. Clay content, ranging from 240 to 640 g kg-1, and organic matter content, ranging from 12 to 78 g kg-1, did not influence sulfentrazone efficiency.
Growth and survival of pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis) postlarve in cages and pen enclosures
Authors: Vaz Luciano Jensen , Wasielesky Jr. Wilson , Cavalli Ronaldo Olivera , Peixoto Silvio , Santos Marcos Henrique Silva , Ballester Eduardo
Published: September 2007

Technology for the culture of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis in low-cost cages and pen enclosures was developed together with artisanal fishermen of the Patos Lagoon estuary, southern Brazil. Although the production of postlarvae (PL) under laboratory conditions is well documented, survival and growth during the nursery phase cages and pen enclosures in the nature has not yet been analyzed. Therefore, the present study compared survival and growth of F. paulensis postlarvae reared either in cages or pens. Six cages (2.0 ´ 2.0 ´ 1.4 m) of PVC-coated polyester with a mesh size of 1.5 mm were stocked with 800 PL26 each. To assess the effect of the substrate, a 10 cm layer of sand was added to three of these cages to simulate a pen enclosure. No difference in the mean survival rate between cages (92.2%) and pens (88.7%) was found (P > 0.05). However, final weight of shrimp reared in pens (1.05 ± 0.05 g) was higher than those kept in cages (0.88 ± 0.12 g). The nursery phase of F. paulensis in cages and pens did not affect survival. Nevertheless, because of the higher growth rate of shrimp grown in pen enclosures, this kind of structure should be preferentially used in nursery rearing of this species.
Identification of geneticaly modified soybean seeds resistant to glyphosate
Authors: Tillmann Maria Ângela André , West Shirlie
Published: September 2007

Advances in genetic engineering permit the modification of plants to be tolerant to certain herbicides that are usually not selective. For practical and commercial purposes, it is important to be able to detect the presence or absence of these traits in genotypes. The objective of this research was to develop a procedure for identifying genetically modified soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) with resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. Two studies were conducted based on germination test. In the first study, soybean seeds were pre-imbibed in paper towel with the herbicide solutions, then transferred to moist paper towel for the germination test. In the second study, seeds were placed directly in herbicide solutions in plastic cups and tested for germination using the paper towel method. Eight soybean genotypes were compared: four Roundup Ready, that contained the gene resistant to the herbicide (G99-G725, Prichard RR, G99-G6682, and H7242 RR) and four non-transgenic parental cultivars (Boggs, Haskell, Benning, and Prichard). In the first study, the seeds were imbibed for 16 hours at 25°C in herbicide concentrations between 0.0 and 1.5% of the glyphosate active ingredient. In the second, seeds were subjected to concentrations between 0.0 and 0.48%, for one hour, at 30°C. The evaluation parameters were: germination, hypocotyl length, root length and total length of the seedlings. Both methods are efficient in identifying glyphosate-resistant soybean genotypes. It is possible to identify the genetically modified soybean genotypes after three days, by imbibing the seed in 0.12% herbicide solution, and after six days if the substrate is pre-imbibed in a 0.6% herbicide solution. The resistance trait was identified in all cultivars, independent of the initial physiological quality of the seed.
Spectral variables, growth analysis and yield of sugarcane
Authors: Simões Maurício dos Santos , Rocha Jansle Vieira , Lamparelli Rubens Augusto Camargo
Published: September 2007

Spectral information is well related with agronomic variables and can be used in crop monitoring and yield forecasting. This paper describes a multitemporal research with the sugarcane variety SP80-1842, studying its spectral behavior using field spectroscopy and its relationship with agronomic parameters such as leaf area index (LAI), number of stalks per meter (NPM), yield (TSS) and total biomass (BMT). A commercial sugarcane field in Araras/SP/Brazil was monitored for two seasons. Radiometric data and agronomic characterization were gathered in 9 field campaigns. Spectral vegetation indices had similar patterns in both seasons and adjusted to agronomic parameters. Band 4 (B4), Simple Ratio (SR), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) increased their values until the end of the vegetative stage, around 240 days after harvest (DAC). After that stage, B4 reflectance and NDVI values began to stabilize and decrease because the crop reached ripening and senescence stages. Band 3 (B3) and RVI presented decreased values since the beginning of the cycle, followed by a stabilization stage. Later these values had a slight increase caused by the lower amount of green vegetation. Spectral variables B3, RVI, NDVI, and SAVI were highly correlated (above 0.79) with LAI, TSS, and BMT, and about 0.50 with NPM. The best regression models were verified for RVI, LAI, and NPM, which explained 0.97 of TSS variation and 0.99 of BMT variation.
Droplet deposition during spray and leaf pH in aquatic weed control
Authors: Costa Neumárcio Vilanova da , Martins Dagoberto , Rodella Roberto Antonio , Costa Lívia Duarte Neves de Camargo da
Published: September 2007

The morphological diversity of leaf surface and structures such as trichomes, stomata, cuticle, and waxes that exists among plant species can have great influence on the adherence and deposition of spray droplets, as well as on herbicide absorption. The aim of this research was to study leaf pH and to evaluate wetting areas after applications of solution surfactants on the following aquatic weeds: Enhydra anagallis, Eichhornia crassipes, Heteranthera reniformis, and Typha subulata. The aquatic weeds were grown in reservoirs containing water under open air conditions and their leaf tissues were collected when the plants reached full development (before flowering). The mean leaf pH varied between 5.50 and 7.50; E. anagallis should be pointed out for presenting the highest pH values, of 6.68 and 7.02 on the upper and lower leaf surfaces, respectively. Surface tension reduction for glyphosate alone (5.0% v v-1), glyphosate + Aterbane BR (5.0% + 0.5% v v-1), glyphosate + Silwet L-77 (5.0% + 0.05% v v-1), and surfactants alone, Aterbane BR (0.5% v v-1), and Silwet L-77 (0.05% v v-1), were, respectively: 72.1; 28.7; 23.3; 37.3, and 22.1 mN m-1.T. subulata was the aquatic species with the highest upper and lower leaf surface wetting area.
Proteolysis of prato type cheese produced using ultrafiltration
Authors: Spadoti Leila Maria , Dornellas José Raimundo Ferreira , Roig Salvador Massaguer
Published: September 2007

The application of milk ultrafiltration technology for cheese manufacture presents several advantages. However, it also influences proteolysis and, consequently, cheese ripening. The effects of five different processing methods for Prato cheese were evaluated with respect to the time evolution of the extent and depth of proteolysis indexes (EPI and DPI). The following treatments (T) for cheese production were studied: T1 - without ultrafiltration (standard); T2, T3, T4 and T5 - using milk concentrated by ultrafiltration (UFCM) and respectively: T2 - without pre-fermentation of the UFCM; T3 - pre-fermentation of 10% of the UFCM; T4 - pre-fermentation of 20% of the UFCM, and T5 - pre-fermentation of 20% of the UFCM plus indirect heating. Treatments affected the EPI and DPI of the cheeses (T1 lower values for EPI and DPI and T4 higher values for EPI and DPI). The time influenced the extent and depth of proteolysis indexes.
Field determintation of young acid lime plants transpiration by the stem heat balance method
Authors: Coelho Filho Maurício Antonio , Angelocci Luiz Roberto , Campeche Luís Fernando de Souza Magno , Folegatti Marcos Vinícius , Bernardes Marcos Silveira
Published: September 2007

The stem heat balance method (HBM) measures sap flow (SF) in plants, and can be used to estimate daily transpiration flow. It is a powerful technique for water relations and irrigation field studies, but it has to be tested in species of particular interest. This paper discusses effectiveness of the HBM to estimate transpiration of young acid lime plants (Citrus latifolia Tan. cv. Tahiti), grafted on citrumelo cv. Swingle (Poncirus trifoliata Raf. x C. paradisi Macf.), in the field using commercial gauges (model SAG10-ws, Dynamax Inc., Huston), in Piracicaba, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. SF was correlated to transpiration determined by weighing lysimeters and by a steady-state null-balance porometer. The mean ratio between daily values of SF and lysimetric measurements was practically unitary, showing a mean difference of only 0.05%, being the comparisons of values in periods shorter than 24 hours impaired by effect of wind turbulence on lysimeters. The same occurred (mean difference of 0.38%) when SF and canopy transpiration estimated from porometer measurements were compared in 20-min periods, but transpiration tended to exceed SF in periods of higher transpiration and data dispersion was high (r² = 0.48). An analysis of the sources errors of the techniques was done, including the comparison of the daily course of SF and net radiation. Despite of the dispersion of the comparative data between the HBM and the other two techniques, HBM had a good performance, permitting to recommend its use in studies of water relations in young citrus plants under field conditions.
Origin of microaggregates in soils with ferralic horizons
Authors: Cooper Miguel , Vidal-Torrado Pablo , Chaplot Vincent
Published: September 2007

Microaggregates that characterize ferralic soils have been hypothesized to have physical, geochemical and/or biological origins. Despite of many studies, the hierarchy between these processes that form microaggregates has seldom been reported. The objective of this work was to study the genesis of microaggregates in a sequence of Ferralic Nitisols developed on Quaternary red clayey sediments and diabase in Piracicaba (SP), Brazil. This issue was tackled by combining optical microscopy, image analysis, scanning electron microscopy and elemental iron quantifications by X-ray fluorescence. Micromorphological investigations showed three different types of microaggregates: (i) oval microaggregates with well sorted quartz grains in their interior; (ii) oval microaggregates without or with poorly sorted quartz grains in their interior; and (iii) dense polyedric microaggregates. These morphological evidences, together with the elemental iron determinations and scanning electron microscopy, revealed the contribution of more than one process for microaggregate formation: (i) the mechanical action of the mesofauna would form the first type of microaggregates (ii) geochemical and biological processes would form the second type and (iii) the fissuration of the soil matrix by expansion and compression processes would form the third type.
Comparative morphological analysis of cherry tomato fruits from three cropping systems
Authors: Stertz Sônia Cachoeira , Espírito Santo Ana Paula do , Bona Cleusa , Freitas Renato João Sossela de
Published: September 2007

Attempts to meet produces market demand are not always followed by research reports showing the impact of novel, intensive cropping systems on the environment, human and animal health, and eventual chemical and structural changes of plants. This work carries a comparative evaluation of the morphology and anatomy of cherry tomato fruits obtained from organic, conventional and hydroponic cropping systems. Fruits were collected at the free market in the greater Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. For each culture method, 50 fruits their weight, diameter and volume measured. For the anatomical analysis, samples of the pericarp of ten fruits were excised and embedded in glycol methacrylate; 6-mm cuts were then obtained, stained with toluidine blue, and mounted on permanent glass slides. The anatomical analysis and illustrations were performed in Olympus and Zeiss photonic microscope. Samples obtained from the organic cropping system presented the highest mass, diameter, volume and density. The pericarp of fruits, obtained from the conventional cropping system presented larger but less abundant cells in comparison to the pericarp of the hydroponic and organic-produced fruits.
Testing and validation of methods for the diagnosis and recomendation integrated system for Signal grass
Authors: Silveira Cristiane Prezotto , Nachtigall Gilmar Ribeiro , Monteiro Francisco Antonio
Published: September 2007

The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) allows the interpretation of results of leaf analysis through relationships among nutrients, instead of the absolute and isolated concentration of each one, as it is used by the criterion of sufficiency range. The objective was to evaluate three procedures of calculation of DRIS indices, and to verify the efficiency of DRIS as interpretation method for the results of Brachiaria decumbens (Signal grass). The study was developed with the results of six experiments carried out in a greenhouse at Piracicaba, SP, with nutrient solution. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were used in the samples of recently expanded leaf laminae of the grass. The validation of the DRIS method used results from an experiment with nitrogen and sulfur rates applied to the same grass from the Mundo Novo farm, Brotas, SP. DRIS indices were calculated according to two criteria to choose the ratio order of nutrients (F value and R value) and three ways to calculate the nutrient functions (methods of Beaufils, Jones, and Elwali & Gascho). Nutritional Balance Index (NBI), calculated according to the generated norms, presented negative and significant correlation coefficients with the productivity in the combinations of methods tested and DRIS methods proposed by Beaufils, Jones and Elwali & Gascho were efficient in detecting concentrations that show nutrients deficiency or excess.
Infestation of froghopper nymphs changes the amounts of total phenolics in sugarcane
Authors: Silva Rafael José Navas da , Guimarães Eduardo Rossini , Garcia José Francisco , Botelho Paulo Sérgio Machado , Ferro Maria Inês Tiraboschi , Mutton Miguel Angelo , Mutton Márcia Justino Rossini
Published: September 2007

The increased rate of sugarcane harvest without previous burn has provided a very favorable environment to the froghopper Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal, 1854), with high moisture and low temperature variation. Few works have studied the response of sugarcane to this pest, so little is known about resistant cultivars. Plant phenolics are widely studied compounds because of their known antiherbivore effect. This research aims to determine if the attack of M. fimbriolata nymphs stimulates the accumulation of total phenolics in sugarcane. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse and arranged in completely randomized design, in a 3 X 2 X 4 factorial with three replications. Second instar nymphs of M. fimbriolata were infested at the following rates: control, 2-4 and 4-8 nymphs per pot (first-second infestations, respectively). Pots were covered with nylon net and monitored daily to isolate the effect of leaf sucking adults. Leaf and root samples were collected and kept frozen in liquid nitrogen until analyses. Infested plants showed higher levels of phenolics in both root and leaf tissues. In roots, the cultivar SP80-1816 accumulated more phenolic compounds in response to the infestation of M. fimbriolata. On the other hand, higher levels were found in leaves and roots of control plants of SP86-42, which might be an indication of a non-preference mechanism. The increase of total phenolics in sugarcane infested with root-sucking froghopper nymphs does not seem to be useful to detect the resistance to this pest.