ABSTRACT Identifying Coffea arabica cultivars that are more efficient in the use of nitrogen is an important strategy and a necessity in the context of environmental and economic impacts attributed to excessive nitrogen fertilization. Although Coffea arabica breeding data have a multi-trait structure, they are often analyzed under a single trait structure. Thus, the objectives of this study were to use a Bayesian multitrait model, to estimate heritability in the broad sense, and to select arabica coffee cultivars with better genetic potential (desirable agronomic traits) in nitrogen-restricted cultivation. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with 20 arabica coffee cultivars grown in a nutrient solution with low-nitrogen content (1.5 mM). The experimental design used was in randomized blocks with three replications. Six agromorphological traits of the arabica coffee breeding program and five nutritional efficiency indices were used. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm was used to estimate genetic parameters and genetic values. The agromorphological traits were considered highly heritable, with a credibility interval (95% probability): H2 = 0.9538 – 5.89E-01. The Bayesian multitrait model presents an adequate strategy for the genetic improvement of arabica coffee grown in low-nitrogen concentrations. Coffee arabica cultivars Icatu Precoce 3282, Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, Acaiá Cerrado MG 1474, Tupi IAC 1669-33, Catucaí 785/15, Caturra Vermelho and Obatã IAC 1669/20 demonstrated greater potential for cultivation in low-nitrogen concentration.

Abstract This study aimed to identify promising arabica coffee genotypes for organic systems. The experiments were arranged in a randomized block design, with 30 genotypes and three replications. The adaptability and stability analysis was carried out using the modified centroid method, considering the mean yield of two biennia (2005/2006 and 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009) in three municipalities (Araponga, Espera Feliz, and Tombos), totaling six environments. Significant genotype x environment interaction was observed for yield, and the municipality of Espera Feliz was the only favorable environment. Genotypes were classified into four of the seven groups proposed by the modified centroid method: maximum general adaptability (I), minimum adaptability (IV), mean general adaptability (V), and mean specific adaptability to favorable environments (VI). Cultivars IBC Palma 1, CatucaíAmarelo24/137, Sabiá 708, and H 518 are widely adapted, stable, productive and suitable for organic farming.

ABSTRACT Green manures are an alternative for substituting or supplementing mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The aim of this study was to quantify biological N fixation (BNF) and the N contribution derived from BNF (N-BNF) to N levels in leaves of coffee intercropped with legumes grown on four family farms located in the mountainous region of the Atlantic Forest Biome in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The following green manures were evaluated: pinto peanuts (Arachis pintoi), calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides), crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis), Brazilian stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lablab beans (Dolichos lablab), and velvet beans (Stizolobium deeringianum), and spontaneous plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks with a 4 × 8 factorial arrangement (four agricultural properties and eight green manures), and four replications. One hundred grams of fresh matter of each green manure plant were dried in an oven to obtain the dry matter. We then performed chemical and biochemical characterizations and determined the levels of 15N and 14N, which were used to quantify BNF through the 15N (δ15N) natural abundance technique. The legumes C. mucunoides, S. guianensis, C. cajan, and D. lablab had the highest rates of BNF, at 46.1, 45.9, 44.4, and 42.9 %, respectively. C. cajan was the legume that contributed the largest amount of N (44.42 kg ha-1) via BNF.C. cajan, C. spectabilis, and C. mucunoides transferred 55.8, 48.8, and 48.1 %, respectively, of the N from biological fixation to the coffee plants. The use of legumes intercropped with coffee plants is important in supplying N, as well as in transferring N derived from BNF to nutrition of the coffee plants.

O potássio constitui uma fonte de recurso natural não renovável, e é utilizado em grandes quantidades nas adubações cafeeiras, por meio de formulações, basicamente, importadas na forma de cloreto de potássio. Uma alternativa para tornar os sistemas de produção mais sustentáveis seria a obtenção de cultivares mais eficientes no uso desse nutriente. Assim, neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a divergência genética entre 20 cultivares de café, em condições de baixa disponibilidade de potássio, visando a identificar as melhores combinações para compor futuras populações a serem utilizadas em programas de melhoramento genético. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados, com três repetições em solução nutritiva. Foram avaliadas características morfoagronômicas e as eficiências de enraizamento, de absorção, de translocação, de produção de biomassa e de utilização de potássio. Como estratégias de agrupamentos foram empregados o método hierárquico unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPMGA) e a análise de variáveis canônicas. Observou-se variabilidade para a maioria das características avaliadas. Os procedimentos multivariados apresentaram resultados análogos na discriminação de genótipos com a formação de cinco grupos. As hibridações entre as cultivares Icatu Precoce IAC 3283 com as cultivares Catuaí Amarelo IAC 62, Araponga MG1, Caturra Vermelho IAC 477, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15, Rubi MG1192 e Catucaí 785/15, e entre a cultivar Tupi IAC 1669-33 com as cultivares Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, Acaiá Cerrado MG 1474 e Oeiras MG 6851 são consideradas as mais promissoras na obtenção de populações segregantes ou híbridos heteróticos para maior eficiência no uso de potássio.

Potassium is a source of non-renewable natural resource, and is used in large quantities in coffee fertilization through basically imported formulations in the form of potassium chloride. An alternative to make production systems more sustainable would be obtaining cultivars more efficient in the use of this nutrient. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity among 20 cultivars of coffee, in conditions of low availability of potassium to identify the best combinations for composing future populations to be used in breeding programs. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications of nutrient solution. Agronomic characteristics and efficiencies of rooting, absorption, translocation, biomass production and potassium utilization were evaluated. The clustering analysis was based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean clustering algorithm (UPGMA) and canonical variables. Variability was observed for most treatments. The multivariate procedures produced similar discrimination of genotypes, with the formation of five groups. Hybridizations between the cultivar Icatu Precoce IAC 3283 with cultivars Catuaí Amarelo IAC 62, Araponga MG1, Caturra Vermelho IAC 477, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15, Rubi MG 1192 and Catucaí 785/15, and between the cultivar Tupi IAC 1669-33 with cultivars Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, Acaiá Cerrado MG 1474 and Oeiras MG 6851 are the most promising for obtaining segregating populations or heterotic hybrids in breeding programs aiming more efficiency in potassium utilization.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a adaptabilidade e estabilidade de cultivares de café quanto à média de produtividade anual e de biênios, pelo método de EBERHART & RUSSEL (1996), e selecionar cultivares de café para o cultivo orgânico em Minas Gerais. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em três locais, em delineamento de blocos casualizados com trinta genótipos e três repetições. Uma análise se baseou na produtividade média anual de quatro colheitas (2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008 e 2008/2009) com o total de doze ambientes. A outra análise considerou a média de dois biênios (2005/2006 e 2006/2007; 2007/2008 e 2008/2009) com o total de seis ambientes. A análise em que se considerou a média da produtividade do biênio apresentou redução expressiva do coeficiente de variação ambiental. Por isso, foi possível identificar mais cultivares com adaptabilidade e estabilidade para o cultivo orgânico. Conclui-se que a análise de adaptabilidade e estabilidade com base na produtividade de biênio é mais segura para a seleção de cultivares. Considerando essa premissa, as cultivares 'Catucaí Vermelho 36/6', 'Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15' e 'Siriema 842' são indicadas somente para os ambientes favoráveis. As cultivares 'Sabiá 708', 'IBC Palma 1', 'Catucaí Amarelo 24/137', 'Oeiras MG 6851' e as linhagens H518 e H514 são indicadas para o cultivo orgânico em locais com ambientes similares aos avaliados em Minas Gerais.

The aim of this research was to compare the stability and adaptability of coffee cultivars in relation to the average annual yield and to the biannual yield by the method of EBERHART & RUSSELL (1996), and select coffee cultivars for organic cultivation in Minas Gerais. The experiments were conducted at three sites in randomized block design with thirty genotypes and three replications. An analysis was based on the annual average yield of four crops (2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009) resulting in twelve environments. The other analysis considered the average of two biannual (2005/2006 and 2006/2007; 2007/2008 and 2008/2009) with a total of six environments. The analysis in which was considered that average biannual yield enabled a significant reduction in the coefficient of environmental variation. Thus, it was possible to identify cultivars with more adaptability and stability to organic cultivation. It was concluded that the analysis of stability and adaptability based on the biannual yield is more precise for selecting cultivars. Considering this premise the cultivars 'Catucaí Vermelho 36/6', 'Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15' and 'Siriema 842' are promising only for favorable environments. The cultivars 'Sabia 708', 'IBC Palma 1', 'Catucaí Amarelo 24/137', 'Oeiras MG 6851' and the lines H518 and H514, stood out in organic farming in similar environments like the locations evaluated in Minas Gerais.

Avaliaram-se 10 linhagens de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.) quanto à eficiência nutricional em relação ao P, bem como a dose de P mais adequada para estudos genéticos, e o caráter que mais contribuiu para a divergência genética. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em solo, na Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 10 x 5 x 4, constituídos de 10 linhagens, cinco doses de P (0, 250, 500, 750 e 1.000 mg de P/kg de solo) e quatro repetições, em delineamento de blocos casualizados. Em cada dose de P aplicada ao solo foi realizada uma análise multivariada. Constatou-se variabilidade genética entre as linhagens estudadas em todas as doses de P adicionadas ao solo, sendo a dose 250 mg de P/kg de solo a que melhor discriminou as linhagens; portanto, a mais indicada para estudos genéticos. Com essa dosagem, constatou-se que a produção de matéria seca da parte aérea foi o caráter que mais contribuiu para a divergência genética entre as linhagens, podendo ser um parâmetro adequado para seleção em estudos genéticos.

Ten sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) lines were screened for P nutritional efficiency, as well as for the most adequate P dose for genetic studies and the character that most contributed for genetic divergence. An experiment was conducted in soil sack, in a greenhouse at Universidade Federal de Viçosa, UFV, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a factorial layout (10 x 5) x 4, comprising ten lines, five doses of P (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mg P/kg of soil) and four replicates, in a randomized block design. A multivariate analysis was performed for each dose of P applied in the soil. There was genetic divergence among lines in every dose of P studied. The dose 250 mg P/kg of soil was considered as the best to rank the lines, therefore, it is indicated for genetic studies. With this dose, shoot dry matter was the trait that contributed most for genetic divergence among lines, and it should be an adequate parameter for screening for P efficiency in genetic studies.