ABSTRACT Aroeira-do-sertão is a Brazilian native species that has been widely explored. Thus, the population of this species has been reduced and techniques for its preservation are essential, such as the conservation of seeds in liquid nitrogen (LN). The objective of this work was to evaluate different cryoprotectant solutions for cryopreservation of aroeira-do-sertão seeds in LN (-196 °C). The treatments used were: control (7.5±1.5 °C); LN without cryoprotectant; sucrose 0.4 mol L-1; sucrose 0.8 mol L-1; glycerol 1 mol L-1; glycerol 2 mol L-1; PVS1 (plant vitrification solution); PVS2; PVS2 + 1% phloroglucinol; and PVS3. The seeds remained frozen for 120 days. The seeds were evaluated for germination and water content before cryopreservation. Several germination parameters were evaluated on the seventh day and plant growth variables were evaluated after 150 days. The seeds presented 9.2% water content and 74% germination before cryopreservation. The germination in the control treatment was 55%, whereas it varied from 61% to 69% under cryopreservation, denoting the positive effect of cryopreservation, even without cryoprotectants (69%). The seeds presented a triphasic water absorption model; the LN accelerated the germination, which started within 56 hours, whereas the germination in the control treatment started after 66 hours. The plant parts presented satisfactory development after 150 days, as shown by the Dickson quality index. The use of cryoprotectants did not affect seed germination and initial growth of seedlings. Aroeira-do-sertão seeds with 9.2% water content can be cryopreserved in LN without cryoprotectants.

ABSTRACT Forage cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) is an important forage resource in the Northeast region of Brazil due to its adaptation to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region, mainly to the drought periods. The objective of this work was to assess the effects of diets with forage cactus combined with different sources of fibers on dry matter and water intakes, digestibility, microbial protein production, balance of nitrogen compounds, and performance of Red Sindhi cows in the Semiarid region of Brazil. The silages used were prepared from plants of Atriplex nummularia Lindi., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp., and Manihot pseudoglaziovii Pax & K. Hoffm. They were included in forage cactus-based diets at a roughage to concentrate ratio of 58:42. The cows were distributed in a 4×4 double Latin square design with 12 days for each period. Water intake presented differences (p<0.05) when using the diet with A. nummularia silage (19.42 L d-1). The diet with S. bicolor silage resulted in lower (p<0.05) coefficient of digestibility of dry matter (48.71%) than the diet with A. nummularia silage (68.46%). The diet with A. nummularia silage resulted in higher (p<0.05) microbial synthesis than that with G. sepium silage, 115.01 and 80.07 g CPmic kg-1 TDN, respectively. The silages evaluated, combined with forage cactus, can be used as diets for lactating Red Sindhi cows without affecting the daily dry matter intake, milk production, fat content, microbial protein synthesis, and balance of nitrogen compounds.

ABSTRACT Quantifying soil gas emissions is costly, since it requires specific methodologies and equipment. The objective of this study was to evaluate modeling by nonlinear regression and artificial neural networks (ANN) to estimate CO2 emissions caused by soil managements. CO2 emissions were evaluated in two different soil management systems: no-tillage and minimum tillage. Readings of CO2 flow were carried out by an automated closed system chamber; soil temperature, water content, density, and total organic carbon were also determined. The regression model and the ANN models were adjusted based on the correlation of the variables measured in the areas where the soil was managed with no-tillage and minimum tillage with data of CO2 emission. Artificial neural networks are more accurate to determine correlations between CO2 emissions and soil temperature, water content, density, and organic carbon content than linear regression.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to compare three methods of estimating the optimal plot size to evaluate the fresh matter in black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L.) intercropping. Six uniformity trials with black oat, common vetch and forage turnip intercropping were carried out. Three trials were evaluated at 84 days after sowing and the other three trials at 119 days after sowing. The fresh matter was evaluated in 216 basic experimental units (36 per trial) of 1 m × 1 m. The optimal plot size was determined using the methods of modified maximum curvature, linear response and plateau model and quadratic response and plateau model. The optimal plot size differs between the methods and decreases in the following order: quadratic response and plateau model (15.13 m2), linear response and plateau model (8.24 m2) and modified maximum curvature (5.62 m2). The optimal plot size for assessing the fresh matter of black oat, common vetch and forage turnip, grown in intercropping, is 15.13 m2. This size can be used as a reference for future experiments.

ABSTRACT The biological control, thinking about the integrated management, has been inserted with other management techniques to disease control, such as soybean anthracnose. The aims of this work were to verify the action of Trichoderma and Bacillus isolates in the induction of soybean resistance mechanisms to anthracnose as a function of seed treatment. The statistical design was entirely randomised, in a 5 x 2 (agent species x sampling times) factorial scheme with five replicates. Soybean seeds were treated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BV03, B. subtilis BV02, Trichoderma asperellum BV10, Carbendazim + Thiram and distilled water (control). Seven days after seedling emergence, 2 μL of 1 x 10−4 Colletotrichum truncatum spores were inoculated on the cotyledons. Catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and glyceollin (GLY) activities before and after pathogen inoculation, as well as the diameter of the anthracnose lesion on the cotyledons, were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and, when significant, the mean values were compared by Fisher’s test (p < 0.05). The treatments did not influence the first sampling time before inoculation. Trichoderma asperellum BV10 increased POX and PAL activities up to 173%, while B. amyloliquefaciens BV03 increased POX activity. Glyceollin was not influenced by the treatments. The T. asperellum BV10 reduces the diameter of the anthracnose lesion by up to 61%. Thus, T. asperellum BV10 has the potential to control soybean anthracnose, improved the response defense against C. truncatum, when performed on seed treatment.

ABSTRACT The use of intercropping system allows crops to better utilize inputs supplied and the productive capacity of the area, which can be advantageous to the farmer. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production performance of eggplant and industrial tomato intercropped as a function of the date of eggplant transplantation compared with tomato transplantation, in two seasons. Ten dates of eggplant transplantation were evaluated (-30, -25, -20, -15, -10, -5, 0, + 5, +10 and +15 days compared with tomato transplantation), with the first season from February to September 2009 and the second from August 2009 to February 2010. The number of commercial fruits per plant, commercial yield per plant and commercial yield of eggplant and tomato were influenced by the date of transplanting of eggplant. Highest eggplant yields were obtained in the second season, due to the more favorable weather conditions for the development of this crop. Late eggplant transplants resulted in yield losses due to tomato interference. For tomatoes, the later the eggplant was transplanted, the higher the yield. Therefore, it is concluded that the species have a high degree of interference with each other and the variation in the time of eggplant transplantation influenced the production characters of both crops. In terms of production, the intercropping of these species may not be economically viable for the farmer due to negative influences on the growth, development and production of these crops.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the assimilated contents of mineral elements, yield characteristics and fruit quality of ‘Goldex’ yellow melon fertigated with different doses of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in two years of cultivation in the region of Apodi Plateau-CE. The design was randomized blocks in a 4x3 factorial scheme with four N doses (0%, 50%, 100%, 150% of the recommended dose) and three K doses (0%, 100%, 150% of the recommended dose). In the shoots of the melon plant, the highest levels of N (N Fert.) and K (K Fert.) fertilization promoted an increase in the assimilated N content up to 48 DAT and a reduction in the assimilated K content at the end of the cycle (62 DAT). The maximum shoot dry mass production was 3.23 t ha−1 with a fertilization of 150 and 100 kg ha−1 of N and K, respectively. The average marketable fruit yield obtained in the two years of cultivation was 34.68 t ha−1, reaching a maximum value of 40.28 t ha−1 under 150 kg ha−1 N and K fertilization. Total soluble solids increased as a function of the increase in N Fert. and K Fert., with a maximum value of 8.07 °Brix. The models indicated that the K Fert. factor was decisive in the increase of this variable. In future studies it is necessary to increase the concentrations of the two factors in order to optimize the maximum viability of yield and °Brix.

ABSTRACT Specific cultivars for production of green corn, more productive and adapted to the conditions of each region, combined with adequate population density, can increase the yield of the crop. This work aimed to identify, under different plant densities, the cultivars with agronomic characteristics for the production of green corn. The experiment was conducted from March to June 2018, in the experimental area of the Technical College of Teresina, at the Federal University of Piauí. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme, with three plant densities (40,000, 50,000 and 60,000 plants ha−1) and two corn cultivars (AG 1051 and BRS 3046). The variables evaluated were the diameter and length of the commercial green ear, the yield, the percentage of commercial green ear and the length of the period between the emergence (VE) and the flowering stage (VT) of the cultivars in relation to the accumulated number of degree-days (ADD). In terms of cycle (period between VE and VT), the hybrid AG 1051 was later, with 47 days after emergence (DAE) and 823.23 ADD, than the BRS 3046 (44 DAE and 773.32 ADD); however, there was an acceleration of the period of vegetative development in the hybrids, which ranged from 43 (773.32 ADD) to 47 (828.23 ADD) days, respectively, so that there was male flowering. With the increase in densities, there was decrease in the values of production. The highest yield of commercial ears (15.45 Mg ha-1) was obtained at a density of 50,000 plants ha−1.

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper was to study nectar in male and female flowers of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) accessions, aiming at evaluating the species potential as a melliferous plant. Two experiments were conducted in an experimental area of the State University of Bahia, at the Department of Technology and Social Sciences, in Juazeiro-BA, in the period from January to December 2017. Nectar volume, soluble solids, and pH were evaluated in the two floral types using 32 accessions and Tetsukabuto hybrid, which was used as check. Using a sample of accessions, the types of sugar present in the nectar were studied. Male flowers did not have significant differences in nectar traits; however, there was significant variation in female flowers in the first experiment and in both floral types in the second experiment. In male flowers in both experiments, the maximum volume of nectar was 310 μL and in female flowers it was 803 μL. The sugar concentration was around 24 °Brix. Sucrose was similar in both floral types and was higher than glucose and fructose contents, showing mean values of 1,306.13, 357.14 and 351.88 g.mL−1, respectively. Obtaining progeny with contrasting characters in the accessions will be important for species improvement. These results indicate that pumpkin might be considered as a melliferous plant with great potential.

ABSTRACT Sour passion fruit is a fruit crop widely cultivated throughout Brazil, due to its adaptation to the tropical climate. However, in semi-arid regions its development is limited by the high concentration of soluble salts in the waters commonly used in irrigation. In this context, exogenous application of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can attenuate the damage caused by salt stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic pigments and photochemical efficiency in sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado under irrigation with saline waters and foliar application of hydrogen peroxide. A completely randomized design was used, with treatments arranged in split plots, corresponding to five levels of irrigation water salinity - ECw (0.6; 1.2; 1.8; 2.4 and 3.0 dS m−1) and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0; 15; 30 and 45 μM of H2O2) in plots and subplots, respectively. Irrigation with saline water reduced chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents of sour passion fruit plants cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado, at 240 days after transplanting. Hydrogen peroxide at concentration of 15 μM stimulated chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll biosynthesis and, at 45 μM, relieved the effect of 3.0 dS m−1 water salinity on electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade of sour passion fruit. Salt stress did not affect the initial, maximum, variable fluorescence and quantum efficiency of photosystem II of sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado.