ABSTRACT Tomatoes are the most important and grown vegetable crop in the world. The salicylic acid (SA) application could improve crop yields due the positive physiological effects of this plant growth regulator. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of SA application on leaf regarding the intensification of antioxidant enzymes activities, chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange, and tomato production against environmental stress. This experiment was conducted by the use of Colossal tomato hybrid in a protected environment between July and December 2019. Therefore, a randomized block design with five SA doses was used, as follows: 0; 0.5; 1; 1.5, and 2 mM. Then, applications were performed weekly from 15 to 60 days after transplantation (DAT). At the 45th and the 60th DAT, the enzymes activities were analysed, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), lipid peroxidation, proline content, chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange, and plant height. At the end of the experiment, fruit weight, total and commercial production were also evaluated. Results indicated that foliar application of SA reduced the environmental stress in plants through the intensification of antioxidant system that reduced lipid peroxidation and qNP and increased the efficiency of photosystem II and ETR. Furthermore, gas exchange was also influenced by the action of SA in gs, favouring A and A/Ci. The SA dose between 0.5 and 0.8 mM positively enabled the total and commercial production of tomatoes. Therefore, foliar application of SA reduced oxidative damage, and increased photosynthetic efficiency and fruit production.

ABSTRACT The maturation process of Sesbania virgata seeds was investigated through fruits and seeds at different maturation stages, where they were described morphologically. For the seeds, fresh and dry mass and moisture were determined and structural analysis of the tegument under a light microscope was performed. Germination tests in the presence and absence of drying and the electrophoretic profile of heat resistant proteins were also performed. The results showed that the seeds reached physiological maturity at 44 days after anthesis (DAA), evidencing a secondary cell wall. The acquisition of desiccation tolerance was observed at 44 DAA, with the seeds responding to the drying treatment. Protein bands were observed from 32 DAA, which remained constant until the end of maturation. These results allowed the characterization of the development and acquisition of desiccation tolerance in S. virgata seeds.