Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability and performance of the agronomic traits of wheat cultivars in the southern region of Minas Gerais for the purpose of choosing parents for a rainfed wheat breeding program. We evaluated 78 wheat cultivars in two locations in Minas Gerais regarding different agronomic traits. The statistical analyses were carried out using Henderson’s mixed-model approach. The genetic values of the cultivars were predicted, and the heritabilities and accuracies were estimated for selection of cultivars. The cultivar × location interaction was decomposed into its simple and complex fractions. The genetic and environmental correlations between the traits were estimated, and selection was made for multiple traits using the sum of the standardized variables (Z-index). The genetic variance was significant for all the traits, and the cultivar × location interaction was significant. By the Z-index, 15 wheat cultivars more adapted were identified.

ABSTRACT. The BRSMG Uai common bean cultivar (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) unites traits required by producers, such as high yield and upright stands, the latter of which is considerably improved in relation to previously released cultivars such as BRSMG Madrepérola and Pérola. However, the potential of the cultivar to form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia to fix N2 has not yet been assessed. Here, field experiments were conducted to assess the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in the cultivar, and to compare this to the efficiencies of other genetic materials widely grown throughout Brazil (BRSMG Madrepérola and Pérola). Experiments were conducted on two Oxisols in Minas Gerais State, Brazil (one during the dry season in the south, and the other during the winter season in the Alto-Paranaíba region), under a no-tillage system over maize stover. A randomized block experimental design was implemented in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with four replicates. Individual and combined Analysis of Variance were performed and the data were normalized. Homogeneity of the residual mean squares was observed. Significant effects of factors were identified by Scott-Knott tests and F tests. The BRSMG Uai cultivar responded to inoculation with the rhizobial strain CIAT 899, with yields similar to those achieved upon fertilization with 80 kg ha-1 of N-urea and to the yields of the BRSMG Madrepérola and Pérola cultivars inoculated with the same rhizobial strain. In terms of commercial use, this cultivar may be successful under either of the management practices adopted for N supply, and from the perspective of plant breeding, it has potential for inclusion in breeding programs directed toward improving BNF.

RESUMO As atuais recomendações de doses de nitrogênio (N) podem não contemplar a dinâmica complexa do N no solo, o que pode implicar em insuficiência à demanda da cultura. Objetivou-se avaliar o uso de dois medidores portáteis de clorofila (Minolta SPAD 502 e ClorofiLOG modelo CFL 1030), após a definição do índice de suficiência de nitrogênio (ISN), para estimar o fator de adubação nitrogenada em genótipos modernos de feijão. Utilizou-se delineamento em blocos, com 4 repetições. Cada experimento foi composto por quatro tratamentos, com doses de 0; 5; 10; e 20 kg ha-1 de N para cada 1 % considerado abaixo do ISN definido como adequado para cada cultivar. Ao final do ciclo, foram avaliados os componentes de produção e a produtividade. Não foi possível a obtenção de ajustes precisos na metodologia para a cultivar TAA Gol. O fator de adubação de 12,5 kg ha-1 de N a cada 1 % abaixo do ISN de 90 % mostrou-se eficiente para a cultivar Pérola, quando utilizado o clorofilômetro SPAD-502. Em genótipos com características de porte e ciclo semelhantes às da cultivar BRSMG Uai e linhagem VR 20, com a utilização de fator de adubação entre 14 e 16 kg ha-1 de N, o ISN de 95 % deve ser reduzido, visando aumentar a eficiência da adubação nitrogenada.

ABSTRACT The current recommendations for nitrogen (N) doses may not contemplate the complex dynamics of N in the soil, what may imply in insufficiency to the crop demand. This study aimed to evaluate the use of two portable chlorophyll meters (Minolta SPAD 502 and ClorofiLOG model CFL 1030), after defining the nitrogen sufficiency index (NSI), to estimate the nitrogen fertilization factor in modern bean genotypes. A block design was used, with four replications. Each experiment consisted of four treatments, with doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20 kg ha-1 of N for each 1 % considered below the NSI defined as adequate for each cultivar. At the end of the cycle, the production components and yield were evaluated. It was not possible to obtain precise adjustments in the methodology for the TAA Gol cultivar. The fertilization factor of 12.5 kg ha-1 of N for each 1 % below the NSI of 90 % proved to be efficient for the Pérola cultivar, when the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter was used. In genotypes with size and cycle characteristics similar to those of the BRSMG Uai cultivar and the VR 20 strain, using a fertilization factor between 14 and 16 kg ha-1 of N, the NSI of 95 % must be reduced, in order to increase the efficiency of the nitrogen fertilization.

RESUMO Clorofilômetros portáteis podem ser utilizados para melhorar a previsão de doses de nitrogênio (N) em feijoeiro. Objetivou-se avaliar dois clorofilômetros (Minolta SPAD-502 e ClorofiLOG CFL 1030) para predizer doses de N em cobertura para as cultivares Pérola, TAA Gol, BRSMG Uai e para a linhagem VR 20. Oito experimentos de campo (quatro genótipos e dois dispositivos) foram conduzidos em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, cujos tratamentos consistiram na aplicação de N em cobertura correspondendo a quatro índices de suficiência de nitrogênio. Houve discrepâncias entre os índices obtidos pelos diferentes dispositivos para o mesmo genótipo, bem como entre os obtidos com o mesmo dispositivo para os diferentes genótipos estudados. Assim, quando o índice é utilizado para definir as doses de N, deve-se considerar o genótipo e o clorofilômetro utilizado. Além disso, o índice recomendado de 95 % não deve ser generalizado para todas as cultivares e deve ser reduzido.

ABSTRACT Portable chlorophyll meters can be used to improve the prediction of nitrogen (N) doses for common bean. This study aimed to evaluate two chlorophyll meters (Minolta SPAD-502 and ClorofiLOG CFL 1030) to predict topdressing N doses for the Pérola, TAA Gol and BRSMG Uai cultivars and for the VR 20 line. Eight field experiments (four genotypes and two devices) were carried out in a randomized blocks design, with four replicates, being the treatments topdressing N applications corresponding to four nitrogen sufficiency indices. There were discrepancies between the indices obtained by the different devices for the same genotype, as well as among those obtained with the same device for the different genotypes studied. Thus, when the index is used to define the N doses, the genotype and the chlorophyll meter used must be considered. In addition, the recommended index of 95 % should not be generalized to all the cultivars and should be reduced.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade da inoculação líquida de Rhizobium etli no sulco de semeadura e certificar a eficiência da estirpe UFLA 02-100 como inoculante potencial para o feijoeiro-comum (Phaseolus vulgaris). Os tratamentos consistiram de três doses do inoculante líquido aplicadas aos sulcos e uma dose aplicada às sementes de feijão-comum, além de dois controles sem inoculação. O inoculante continha 109células de Rhizobium etli mL-1. Independentemente do método de aplicação, a produtividade obtida com a inoculação foi equivalente à da aplicação de N da ureia, mas a aplicação ao sulco, com 0,6 L ha-1, é mais vantajosa pela praticidade operacional e redução de custos.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the viability of liquid medium inoculation of Rhizobium etli in the planting furrow and to certify the efficiency of its strain UFLA 02-100 as a potential inoculant for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The treatments consisted of three application rates of liquid inoculant applied in the planting furrows or in common bean seed, besides two controls without inoculation. The inoculant contained 109 cells of Rhizobium etli mL-1. Regardless of the application method, the yield obtained with the inoculation was equivalent to that of N from urea; however, the application in the furrows, at 0.6 L ha-1, is more advantageous due to the operational practicality and reduced costs.

Symbiosis of common bean with nitrogen-fixing bacteria can lead to a reduction in production costs and in environmental impacts. Considering the diversity of soils and climates, it is important to validate bacterial strains under different conditions to consolidate their recommendation as inoculants. Studies concerning the economic viability of Rhizobium inoculation in common bean are few, but they could assist in choosing the strain to be adopted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Rhizobium strains isolated from acid soils from the Amazon inoculated in seeds of the BRSMG Madrepérola cultivar and to evaluate the economic viability of their use in the field. Four field experiments were conducted in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A randomized block experimental design was used with four replications and seven treatments: inoculation with the strains CIAT 899 (Rhizobium tropici), UFLA 02-100 (R. etli), UFLA 02-68 (R. etli bv. mimosae), UFLA 02-127 (R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli), and UFLA 04-173 (R. miluonense),plus two controls, one without inoculation + mineral nitrogen (N-urea) at a rate of 80 kg N ha-1 and another without inoculation and without mineral N. The strain CIAT 899 is already recommended for the manufacture of a commercial inoculant, and the others, collected in the Amazon Forest, have proven to be highly effective in biological nitrogen fixation. Symbiosis of common bean with all the strains evaluated leads to satisfactory yields, with reduction in the application rate of mineral nitrogen and in environmental impacts and, consequently, reduction in economic costs, with higher profitability.

ABSTRACT Management of biological nitrogen fixation in common bean still requires improvement. The objective of this study was to verify the compatibility of nitrogen fertilization with biological N2 fixation to increase common bean yield and profitability. Four field experiments were performed in four municipalities of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the 2009 and 2010 winter crop season. The 2009 crop experiments were set up under a no-till system and the 2010 crop was conducted using conventional tillage. A randomized block experimental design was used with four replications and seven treatments combining application rates of mineral N (at sowing and/or topdressing) and seed inoculation with Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899. Inoculation with 20 kg ha-1 N-urea at sowing and seed inoculation does not interfere with nodule dry matter and promotes yield comparable to that observed with 80 kg ha-1 N-urea with economic profitability in both no-till and conventional tillage systems. These results show the possibility of economic savings with respect to N fertilizers, but also a significant ecological contribution by avoiding problems associated with misuse of these fertilizers, such as eutrophication of waterways and denitrification.

The common bean cultivar "BRSMG Realce", recommended for the state of Minas Gerais, has high yield potential and resistance to powdery mildew, bacterial wilt and to anthracnose pathotypes 65, 73, 77, 81, 91, 475 and 479. The plants and pods are high, resulting in lower loss during mechanical harvest.

The bean cultivar BRSMG União as a new option of a bean cultivar with jalo grains for the state of Minas Gerais. The cultivar BRSMG União had an average grain yield of 9.8% above the mean of the controls (Jalo EEP 558 and BRS Radiante) and was resistant to powdery-mildew.

The cultivar BRSMG Madrepérola, recommended for cultivation in Minas Gerais, has the feature of maintaining a light grain color for a longer period than other Carioca grain cultivars. The yield potential is high and the resistance level good to the major anthracnose races in the region.

A aplicação do medidor indireto de clorofila SPAD-502 tem sido estudada para diversas culturas e com resultados satisfatórios, para predição do estado nutricional de nitrogênio. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o emprego do SPAD-502 na avaliação dos teores foliares de clorofila, N, S, Fe e Mn, em algodão herbáceo, cultivado em casa de vegetação. Foram instalados quatro experimentos, e foram estudadas doses de N (1,5, 7,5, 15 e 22,5 mM L-1), S (0,2, 1, 2 e 3 mM L-1), Fe (10, 50, 100 e 150 µmol L-1) e Mn (10, 50, 100 e 150 µmol L-1), equivalentes em todos os casos a 0,1, 0,5, 1,0 e 1,5 vez a concentração normal da solução Hoagland & Arnon, respectivamente. A clorofila a se relaciona mais fortemente com as leituras SPAD do que as clorofilas b. As leituras SPAD correlacionaram-se, positivamente, com os teores foliares de N e negativamente com os de S. Os teores foliares de Fe e Mn não apresentaram correlação com as leituras SPAD.

The application of indirect meter of chlorophyll SPAD-502 has been studied for several cultures and with satisfactory results in evaluation of the nutritional state of nitrogen. This work aimed at evaluating the employment of SPAD-502 in the leaf content analysis of chlorophyll, N, S, Fe and Mn in herbaceous cotton under greenhouse conditions. Four experiments were installed to study doses of N (1.5, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 mM L-1), S (0.2, 1, 2 and 3 mM L-1), Fe (10, 50, 100 and 150 µmol L-1) and Mn (10, 50, 100 and 150 µmol L-1), equivalent in all cases to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 times the normal concentration of the solution Hoagland & Arnon, respectively. The SPAD index had a better correlation with chlorophyll a than with clorophyll b. The SPAD indexes were positively correlated to N leaf content and negatively correlated to S. Leaf contents of Fe and Mn did not correlate to SPAD index.