Studies on pollen viability are useful for breeding Crotalaria juncea L. since they provide information that will increase the chance of successful intraspecific crossing. The aim of this study was to evaluate pollen viability in C. juncea accessions cultivated in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Inflorescences of 10 accessions of C. juncea were collected, fixed in absolute ethanol: glacial acetic acid (3:1) for 72 h at room temperature and placed in 70 % ethanol. Analysis of pollen viability was performed with slides of anthers using the squashing technique and staining with acetic orcein 2 % and Alexanders stain. Means were compared using the Tukey test (p≤0.05). Pollen viability was high and significantly different among the accessions; the highest value was 99.67 % and the lowest 45.34 %. However, unviable pollen grains were also observed in all accessions.

Los estudios de la viabilidad del polen son útiles para el mejoramiento genético de Crotalaria juncea L., porque proveen información que aumentará la oportunidad de cruces intraespecíficos exitosos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la viabilidad del polen de accesiones de C. juncea cultivadas en Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Las inflorescencias de 10 accesiones de C. juncea fueron recolectadas, fijadas en etanol absoluto: ácido acético glacial (3:1) por 72 h a temperatura ambiente, y colocadas en etanol al 70 %. El análisis de viabilidad del polen se realizó en rebanadas de anteros mediante la técnica de aplastado y teñidas con orceina acética al 2 % y tinción de Alexander. Las medias se compararon con la prueba de Tukey (p≤ 0.05). La viabilidad del polen fue alta con diferencias significativas entre las accesiones; el valor más alto fue 99.67 % y el menor 45.34 %. Sin embargo, en todas las accesiones se observaron granos de polen no viable.

Avaliou-se o efeito antiproliferativo de infusões de Pluchea sagittalis usando o teste de Allium cepa. Foram usadas infusões em três concentrações (2,5, 5 e 25g dm-3) de folhas cultivadas em três ambientes (in vitro, sala de crescimento climatizada e em campo). Foram usados seis grupos de bulbos para cada um dos 8 tratamentos e o os índices mitóticos foram obtidos a partir de 6000 células por tratamento. Concluiu-se que a infusão de folhas de P. sagittalis cultivadas em campo possui grande atividade antiproliferativa, bem como o sistema de cultivo de plantas influencia o potencial antiproliferativo.

We evaluated the antiproliferative effect of infusions from Pluchea sagittalis using the Allium cepa test. Infusions in three concentrations (2.5, 5, and 25 g dm-3) of leaves cultivated in three environments (in vitro, acclimatized growth chamber, and field) were used. Six onion bulbs were used for each of the eight treatments, and the mitotic index was obtained from 6000 cells per treatment. In conclusion, leaf infusions of P. sagittalis cultivated in the field have a high antiproliferative activity, as well as the cultivation system influences the antiproliferative potential.