ABSTRACT. Multi-trait multi-environment (MTME) models were fitted to eucalyptus breeding trials data to assess residual variance structure, genetic stability and adaptability. To do so, 215 eucalyptus clones were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 30 replicates and one plant per plot in four environments. At 36 months of age, tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and pilodyn penetration (PP) were measured. Two MTME models were fitted, for which residuals were considered homoscedastic and heteroscedastic, with the best MTME model selected using Bayesian information criterion. The harmonic mean of the relative performance of the genotypic values (HMRPGV) was used to determine stability and adaptability. Of the two models, the heteroscedastic MTME model had better fit and provided greater accuracy. In addition, genotype-by-environment interaction was complex, and there was low genetic correlation between DBH and PP. Rank correlation between the clones selected by the MTME models was high for DBH but low for PP. The HMRPGV facilitated clone selection through simultaneous evaluation of stability, adaptability, and productivity. Thus, our results suggest that heteroscedastic MTME model / HMRPGV can be efficiently applied in the genetic evaluation and selection of eucalyptus clones.

Abstract The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters and to evaluate the genotypic diversity of 12 'Tahiti' acid lime (Citrus latifolia) genotypes grafted onto two rootstocks. The experiment was carried out from July 2017 to January 2019, in the municipality of São Mateus, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Vegetative (stem diameter, canopy projection diameter, and plant height), productive (yield and fruit number), and fruit quality (fruit diameter, soluble solids content, and juice yield) traits were determined. A mixed model was used to estimate heritability and repeatability coefficients, as well as to predict clonal values. Scion diversity was determined through the standardized mean difference of Euclidean distances, and genotypes were clustered by modified Tocher. Clustering quality and trait importance were evaluated using the principal component analysis (PCA). Genotypic variance was observed, which is indicative of the possibility of selection of superior genotypes. The Tocher method showed the presence of three clusters, which is in alignment with the PCA results. The multivariate analyses allows of the selection and the recommendation of superior 'Tahiti' acid lime genotypes.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os parâmetros genéticos e avaliar a diversidade genética de 12 genótipos de lima ácida 'Tahiti' (Citrus latifolia) enxertados em dois porta-enxertos. O experimento foi conduzido de julho de 2017 a janeiro de 2019, no município de São Mateus, no estado de Espírito Santo, Brasil. Foram mensuradas características vegetativas (diâmetro de caule, diâmetro de projeção de copa e altura de planta), produtivas (rendimento e número de frutos) e de qualidade de frutos (diâmetros de fruto, teor de sólidos solúveis e rendimento de suco). Utilizou-se modelo misto para estimar os coeficientes de herdabilidade e repetibilidade, bem como predizer os valores genéticos. A diversidade entre os enxertos foi obtida por meio da diferença da distância euclidiana média padronizada, e os genótipos foram agrupados pelo método de Tocher modificado. A qualidade do agrupamento e a importância dos caracteres foi avaliada pela análise de componentes principais (ACP). Observou-se variabilidade genética, o que indica a possibilidade de seleção de genótipos superiores. O método de Tocher mostrou a presença de três grupos de genótipos, o que foi congruente com os resultados da ACP. O uso de técnicas multivariadas permite a seleção e a recomendação de genótipos superiores de lima ácida 'Tahiti'.

ABSTRACT Forest plantations are strong allies in preserving natural resources, providing social and economic benefits. The plantations carried out in the coming years will be vital to meet the growing demand for forest products. To ensure the continuity of genetic progress and the good results achieved with the improvement of forest species, statistical methods that accurately selects superior genotypes are desirable. Multi-trait multi-environment trials are preferred over single-trait single-environment trials, since they can exploit the covariance between traits and environments, increasing the analysis’s prediction power. The Bayesian multi-trait multi-environments approach (BMTME) combines the cited advantages with the parsimony of Bayesian statistics promoting a more informative data analysis. Thus, the aims of this study were to estimate genetic parameters, evaluate genetic variability, and select eucalyptus clones through BMTME models. To this end, a data set with 215 eucalyptus clones evaluated in four environments for diameter at breast height and Pilodyn penetration was used. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm was applied to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters and to predict the genotypic values. The Smith-Hazel index was used to simultaneously achieve gains with selection for both traits. The BMTME approach provided high accuracies, being a good strategy to the evaluation of multiple environmental trials of Eucalyptus for breeding purposes.

ABSTRACT Tree breeders are prioritizing the increase of the interspecific diversity in the breeding programs due to the pronounced environmental changes, and expansion of the forest frontier to less productive areas. In this scenario, there is a growing interest for species of the genus Corymbia due to their good growth, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, and industrial properties. Also, Corymbia spp. can cross with each other, generating interspecific hybrids. However, there are great difficulties on defining the best crosses. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic variability of 64 progenies of Corymbia maculata and 64 progenies of Corymbia torelliana and to use the GGE biplot method to point the most appropriated crosses to broad and specific environments in order to generate stable and productive interspecific hybrids of C. maculata and C. torelliana. The GGE biplot was an efficient method for evaluating the genetic variability between progenies, for visualizing the genotype by environment interaction pattern and for identifying the best crosses in order to generate interspecific hybrids of the species. By adopting a selection intensity of 10%, the recommended progenies to generate interspecific hybrids for the Aracruz municipality (ARA) were 10, 40, 49, 64, 20, 9 and 47 of C. maculata and 24, 56, 41, 64, 43, 31 and 12 of C. torelliana. For Três Lagoas municipality (TLA), the recommended progenies were 11, 17, 1, 48, 7, 63 and 21 of C. maculata and 42, 46, 61, 44, 10, 63 and 28 of C. torelliana.

ABSTRACT This study has estimated the risk of Leishmania transmission via blood transfusion in one of the largest blood banks in Northeastern Brazil, where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. Five hundred blood samples from donors were tested for circulating Leishmania spp. DNA by real-time PCR. Positive samples were tested by a species-specific conventional PCR targeting Leishmania infantum . Overall, 6.2% (95% CI: 4.1–8.3%) of the samples carried Leishmania DNA and in one sample the species was confirmed as L. infantum . No statistically significant differences were found in relation to gender, sex, education level, incomeas well as the place of residence between positive and negative blood donors. Our results confirm the presence of asymptomatic Leishmania carriers among blood donors in a large blood bank in Northeastern Brazil. Considering the studied population, we estimate that for every 1,000 blood donors screened, 41 to 83 will be positive for Leishmania DNA. This finding reinforces the urgent need for elaborating specific Blood bank guidelines to allow the early detection of asymptomatic Leishmania carriers among blood donors before their blood products are transfused to uninfected individuals.

RESUMO Considerando o potencial produtivo da macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), sua importância como alternativa na diversificação da produção agrícola, e tendo como hipótese uma positiva contribuição nos processos hidrológicos de uma bacia hidrográfica, este estudo teve por objetivo conhecer a influência do número de folhas da planta na correlação entre o escoamento pelo tronco (Et) e a precipitação em aberto (PA). Foram instalados três pluviômetros para o monitoramento da precipitação em aberto e coletores de escoamento pelo tronco no caule de oito plantas de macaúba com 10, 13, 18 e 22 folhas. Foram obtidas equações de regressão que permitem estimar a partir de qual volume de chuva o escoamento pelo tronco se torna presente. Foi observada forte correlação linear positiva entre a precipitação em aberto (PA) e o escoamento pelo tronco (Et), independente do número de folhas por planta. A macaúba, por suas características morfológicas, favorece a captação da água de chuva, apresentando volume relativamente elevado de escoamento pelo tronco (Et) em plantas ainda jovens. Pode-se, também, afirmar que sua copa em formato de funil conduz maior volume de água para o caule, iniciando o escoamento pelo tronco a partir de pequenos eventos de chuva.

ABSTRACT The macaúba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) has a great production potential of oil and is an important alternative to diversify agricultural production. In view of the hypothesis that the species may provide a positive contribution to the hydrological processes in a watershed, we aimed to assess the influence of the number of leaves per macaúba plant on the correlation between stemflow and gross precipitation. We installed three rain gauges to monitor gross precipitation in an experimental area, and stemflow collectors on the stem of eight macaúba plants therein having 10, 13, 18, and 22 leaves. Linear regression equations were obtained, which enabled us to estimate the minimum rainfall volume required for the occurrence of stemflow. A strong positive linear correlation was observed between stemflow and gross precipitation, regardless of the number of leaves per plant. The morphological characteristics of the macaúba palm favor rainfall interception, relatively high stemflow values being shown even in young plants. The funnel-shaped crown enabled the conduction of large rainfall volumes to the stem, thus resulting in the occurrence of stemflow even with light precipitations.