Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Based on the temperature and humidity index, for quails from the 3rd to the 5th week of life, in the dry period in Paraíba state, Brazil, the objective was to carry out a bioclimatic zoning, identifying as regions suitable for the reproduction of quails and, when necessary, mitigating measures for greater animal comfort. The bioclimatic zoning was carried out for the mesoregions of the state, the climatic data used are from meteorological stations in the period from 1961 - 2015, from them maps were elaborated with the spatial distribution of the index, identifying as regions with ideal thermal comfort conditions for the animals. For quails in the third week, the Agreste mesoregion presents the best situation in the dry season, not requiring corrective measures to maintain the comfort of these animals. In the fourth week of life of the quails, the mesoregions that would provide THI values ​​within the ZCT in the dry period would be the Zona da Mata paraibana and Sertão, while the ZCT for quails in the fifth week of life, could be found throughout the state of Paraíba.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Blueberry farming can be considered an excellent alternative to diversify the family income. In addition, the fruits have several health benefits thanks to the presence of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins, however blueberries chemical composition is affected by edaphoclimatic conditions and bud position within the shoot. Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the bud position on the total phenolic content, anthocyanins, antioxidant capacity, and other quality parameters of blueberry fruits of three cultivars (Climax, Bluegem, and Powderblue) grown in the mesoregion of Pelotas, Brazil. Fruits of these cultivars were harvested from three shoot position. The fruits were evaluated for their total soluble solids content, pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids/total titratable acidity ratio, fruit color, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant potential against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical. The bud position in the shoots influenced the physicochemical parameters of the blueberry fruits of all cultivars. Fruits harvested from apical levels had higher content of soluble solids, pH, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant potential, demonstrating that studies aiming at evaluating fruits from different shoot levels are important, as they directly impact the quality of the fruits as well as their biological potentials.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Ocimum basilicum L. (basil) is an annual herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family that has economic importance for many regions around the world. Thus, ecophysiological studies are needed to assess this species growth and dispersal. This work aimed to obtain equations from regression models that meaningfully estimate the leaf area of ​​basil cultivars using linear dimensions of leaves. For this purpose, 300 leaves from 'Italiano Roxo' and 500 leaves from 'Folha Fina' cultivar were collected from plants cultivated in a greenhouse. Then, the length, width, and leaf area of each leaf were measured, and product of length by width were calculated. The equations were adjusted using the simple linear, linear without intercept, quadratic, cubic, power, and exponential regression models. Criteria for selecting the best equations were highest determination coefficient and Willmott's agreement index, lowest Akaike information criterion and root mean square error, and BIAS index closest to zero. All the equations fitted using the product of length by width (L.W) can estimate the leaf area of basil cultivars. Thus, basil leaf area can be estimated through a non-destructive method using linear dimensions of leaves. However, the equation ŷ = 0.8175*LW0.9307 is the most suitable for 'Italiano Roxo' and ŷ = 0.6335*LW for 'Folha Fina'.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT An experiment was carried out in a randomized blocks design, aiming at evaluation of the cultivation of coriander intercropped with rocket subjected to saline and thermal stresses in the root-zone. Six treatments were evaluated, as follows: four treatments consisted of the combinations of two levels of electrical conductivity of water (ECw 0.3 and 6.5 dS m-1) with two root-zone temperatures - RZT (ambient: < 25 °C and constant at 30 °C). The respective waters were used to prepare the nutrient solution and to replenish the water consumed. In the other two treatments the cultivation was performed at ambient RZT, one with 0.3 dS m-1 level used to prepare the solution and 6.5 dS m-1 level to replenish the consumption, and other with 6.5 dS m-1 level used to prepare the solution and 0.3 dS m-1 level to replenish the water consumed. Plant height, stem diameter, water content in shoot, fresh and dry matter of shoot, and tolerance index of saline and thermal stresses were evaluated. The coriander was more tolerant to combined stresses than the rocket. For the isolated stresses, there was a greater reduction in the production of both crops as a function of salinity than by thermal stress.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The forestry production sector uses several strategies to minimize post-planting seedling losses. Some practices can modulate characteristics of interest for plant growth and defense, including changes in the light exposure, reduced watering, fertilization, and chemical or mechanical stimulus. This work quantified morphophysiological changes on Schinus terebinthifolius and Cedrela fissilis seedlings resulting from the application of salicylic acid for eight weeks. The experimental design was completely randomized, composed of four treatments (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg L-1 of salicylic acid). The quantified variables included height, diameter, and dry matter mass of the root and aerial parts. Additionally, leaf area, root-cell electrolyte loss, lignin content in roots, and stem plus phenolic compounds were quantified. On aroeira seedlings, the height, aerial, and radicular dry matter masses and leaf area were reduced while the diameter and the lignin content increased directly as a function of salicylic acid doses. In cedro seedlings the dose of 100 mg L-1, however, resulted in a better balance of plant biomass and would, therefore, be the most indicated dose for the species. The application of salicylic acid for 8 weeks on seedlings of both species resulted in the most relevant morphophysiological modifications correlated with quality characteristics of seedlings of woody species.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Mandarins commercialization at international market requires seedless fruit production in addition to its ideal organoleptic and visual quality. The objective of the work was to evaluate the efficiency of applications of gibberellic acid and of copper sulfate during anthesis in reducing the number of seeds and in the productive behavior of the 'Nadorcott' mandarin in the conditions of the southern Brazil. The experiment was performed in an orchard of 'Nadorcott' mandarin trees grafted on Poncirus trifoliata. Two applications were conducted at anthesis with different levels and combinations of gibberellic acid and copper sulfate. Also, net was used as one of the treatments to prevent pollination. Net treatment provided a high frequency of seedless fruits, with greater skin color, however with less production. Gibberellic acid applications increased linearly the frequency of seedless fruits and with a maximum of two seeds. Copper sulphate applications did not affect any evaluated characteristics. Sprays of gibberellic acid of 100 mg L-1 concentration reduce the number of seeds per fruit and increase parthenocarpy, without effect on fruit size and peel color.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The high production of jamelão (Syzygium cumini) during harvest and the lack of information about it emphasize the development of new processing technologies for this fruit since it has been proven that its different parts have functional properties. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics and to determine the content of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity present in the pulp and peel of the jamelão in order to assess which one has the greatest industrial potential. For this, the fruit was pulped and separated into peel and pulp. The peel was subsequently dehydrated, resulting in three samples: pulp, fresh peel, and dried peel. It was observed that drying the peel provided an increase in the values of ash, lipids, acidity, and soluble solids to a higher or equal level to those of the pulp. In addition, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total monomeric anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity of the fresh peel were found to be ten times higher than those of the pulp. Thus, the peel, a by-product of jamelão, has great potential to be used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Among the less exploited Brazilian native fruit trees, the Spondias dulcis (cajá-manga) has many uses, being their fruits appreciated in fresh consumption and its pulp used in popsicles, ice-creams, and jellies production. However, there is a lack of research on this species, being necessary more studies. This work aimed to characterize the physical and chemical quality and the genetic diversity of Spondias dulcis fruits harvested in different accessions in the municipality of Jataí - GO. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with six treatments (accessions), ten replications with ten fruits per plot, totaling a sample of 600 fruits. The fruits were evaluated for pulp and peel color, pulp yield, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio, and vitamin C content. The fruits from accessions M4 and M5 presented physical and chemical characteristics higher than the other plants. The evaluated accessions presented genetic variability, being the methodology employed efficiently to indicate this variability, in which the accession M2 was the most divergent.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The germplasm characterization and the analysis of genetic divergence are fundamental requirements to determine the genetic diversity available and peppers have considerable variability not most explored and quantified. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize morphological and agronomically pepper accessions and their genetic divergence. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse of the Department of Agronomy of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, between the months of December 2014 to June 2015. Thirteen pepper accessions in pots were sown, the experimental design was a randomized block with six replications, and the experimental unit consisted of three pots. Seedling, leaves, plant and fruit characteristics were evaluated. For the analysis of genetic divergence, the Mahalanobis distance and the UPGMA method were used. It was observed the formation of three distinct groups, being fruit width the trait that most contributed to the genetic discrimination of the accessions. Group I presented larger fruits, Group II showed heavier and wider fruits and Group III had mostly smaller, lighter and thinner fruits. There were differences for most of the evaluated characteristics, showing great morphological and agronomic variability among the accessions. The peppers have a high potential to be exploited in breeding.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Capsicum peppers originate from the American continent. Their culinary and medicinal potential, first exploited by indigenous peoples over 7000 years ago is vast, however more studies are needed. Despite the existence of germplasm banks that house hundreds of accessions of the genus, only a little of this diversity is seen in large markets. In this respect, the morpho-agronomic characterization of the accessions allows not only the identification of the existing variability, but also the agronomic and commercial potential of the genotypes. Therefore, this study proposes to characterize and estimate genetic divergence between accessions of the Capsicum germplasm collection at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) based on multicategorical traits. The species were identified and 29 accessions were characterized in a greenhouse, based on 31 multicategorical descriptors of the crop. The collected data were subjected to the Cole-Rodgers dissimilarity index and to hierarchical clustering (Nearest Neighbor) and optimization (Tocher’s) methods. Tocher's method was considered the most suitable to group the accessions of the germplasm bank. Results indicate that the multicategorical descriptors properly assess the diversity in the chosen method and display the existence of high variability in the collection, which can be used in Capsicum spp. breeding programs.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The presence of volunteer corn plants among soybeans, both resistant to glyphosate, has increased in recent years in Brazil. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact on the agronomic performance in RR soybeans by the presence of volunteer RR corn in field conditions. The experiment was conducted in Tiradentes do Sul (RS), 2018/19 harvest. The experimental design used in the experiment was randomized blocks with four replications: control in the clean (only soybean) and eight densities of volunteer corn in soybean crop with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 corn plants m-2. In the physiological maturation of soybean, plant height, number of lateral branches, stem diameter, height of insertion of the first pod, number of pods plant-1 and grain yield were evaluated. All variables analyzed were negatively affected by the increase in the density of volunteer corn infestation, where the variables grain yield and number of pods plant-1 were the most affected, 63% and 81%, respectively. The presence of volunteer corn has a high capacity to reduce the yield of soybeans in the proportion of 500 kg ha-1 plant-1 of corn m-2, and even at low densities, it needs control.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Iodine is essential to human metabolism, being fundamental in the production of the thyroid hormones. The consumption of biofortified foods can contribute to the increase of its intake. The objective of this study was to increase the iodine concentration in lettuce, also evaluating its effects on plant growth and production. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a hydroponic system of aerated static solution. A completely randomized design was used, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme (variety x iodine dose), with three repetitions. Two lettuce varieties were used, the iceberg lettuce and the crispy leaf lettuce, submitted to five doses of iodine (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 µmol L-1), having as source potassium iodide. At 40 days after transplantation, both cultivars were collected and evaluated for the weight of fresh and dry matter, iodine content and levels in the leaves and the root volume. With increased doses, the plants showed symptoms of phytotoxicity, resulting in lower productivity. However, all doses promoted elevations in the total iodine levels of plants. Therefore, it is possible to increase the iodine content in lettuce leaves, being necessary to adjust the doses to be used.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Water stress is intrinsically related to soil water availability which is determinant in gas exchanges, as well as soil compaction in soybean growth and development. This study aimed to evaluate the leaf gas exchange, water stress index, and dry mass accumulation of soybean cultivated in different daily irrigation depths and bulk density. The treatments were distributed in pots subdivided in a 4×4 factorial scheme: four levels of bulk density of the soil (1.0, 1.15, 1.30 and 1.45 g cm-3) and four daily irrigation depths (4.0, 5.0, 6.0- and 7.0-mm day-1), with three replications. Physiological and morphological variables were analyzed. There were low transpiration rates due to water deficit in the 4 mm daily irrigation depth that resulted in stomatal closure and impaired the performance of the photosynthetic process in soybean. The increase in soil density provided gains in shoot and dry root mass in the layer above the compacted one. Low availability of water in the soil reduces the photosynthesis and growth of soybean plants. Increase in bulk density of the soil promotes greater root development, with the layer above the compacted being the one that concentrates most of the roots.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the management of nitrogen fertilization in grains of sorghum inoculated or not with Azospirillum brasilense in single crop or intercropped with Urochloa brizantha (cv. Paiaguás) in the off-season. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with four replications, in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial scheme, with sorghum in single-cropped system or intercropped with grass; sorghum seeds inoculated or not with A. brasilense; and N management (application of 100% of the dose at sowing or only in topdressing or split - 30% at sowing and 70% in topdressing) at a dose of 120 kg ha-1 N. Morphological components and sorghum grain yield and productivity of dry matter of the aerial part of the grass and the sorghum were evaluated. The splitting of nitrogen fertilization did not interfere in the yield of sorghum grain straw intercropped with U. brizantha. The intercropping with U. brizantha did not reduce sorghum grain yield. In dry climate conditions in the off-season, inoculation of sorghum seeds cv. Ranchero with A. brasilense increases grain yield.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Tomatoes are a highlight in the organic vegetables production, but in order to cultivate them, there is a lack of information on cultivars adapted to the organic system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and to characterize the quality attributed to tomato fruits under the organic production system. The experiment was conducted in field, on an agroecological farm , in the municipality of Verê, Paraná State - Brazil. The experiment consisted on fourteen tomato cultivars, under a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The evaluated traits were the total and commercial fruit production, total and commercial number of fruits, mass and average diameter of commercial fruits and physicochemical quality traits (firmness, pH, color (L*, C and h°), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and the ratio of SS/TA). Considering together production traits and fruit quality aspects, the cultivars Netuno, Aguamiel, and Cordilheira can be considered the best choices, having potential to be recommended for organic production system.