ABSTRACT The common bean exhibits wide genetic variability for technological quality traits, mineral concentrations, and bioactive compounds. For this reason, investigating the correlations between those traits in common bean lines of different gene pools contributes to the progress of biofortification programs. In the present study, two recombinant inbred line populations of Mesoamerican and Andean common bean were evaluated at the F5:7 generation. Technological quality was evaluated based on mass of 100 grains and seed coat color, which was determined using a colorimeter that analyzed the L* (white to black), a* (green to red) and b* (blue to yellow) values. The concentration of six minerals and bioactive compounds (phytates and phenolic compounds) was evaluated and used to characterize the nutritional composition of the lines. The evaluated common bean lines differed (p ≤ 0.05) for all technological quality traits, mineral concentrations, and bioactive compounds, except for the zinc concentration in Andean beans. Seed coat color (L*, a*, and b* values) was highly correlated with most of the evaluated minerals and with the phytates in Mesoamerican beans. In Andean beans, seed coat color (L*, a*, and b* values) was correlated with the concentrations of potassium, magnesium, iron, and phenolic compounds. The nutritional composition of common bean lines of different classes is variable: black beans have higher concentrations of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and phytates; carioca beans stand out with high magnesium concentration; and cranberry beans have higher concentrations of potassium, magnesium, and iron.

ABSTRACT Commercial exploitation of the coffee crop is one of the most important activities in the world’s agricultural sector. One of the main phytosanitary problems affecting the crop is the presence of Meloidogyne incognita. Several measures have been tested for the management of this pathogen, albeit with low efficiency. The objective of this work was to quantify the damage and losses and to manage M. incognita race 1 with Pochonia chlamydosporia and Trichoderma harzianum biological nematicides, comparing them to a chemical nematicide. The experiment was carried out in a commercial area naturally infested by the nematode and cultivated with the conilon coffee variety ‘Vitória INCAPER 8142’, clone V02. The treatments were tested with Carbofuran nematicide and with biological nematicides composed of P. chlamydosporia Pc-10 and T. harzianum ESALQ 1306. The biological products were applied alone or in combination. The lowest NPF (final nematode population) occurred in plants treated with P. chlamydosporia and Carbofuran. P. chlamydosporia was the most effective biological agent in the management of M. incognita. There was a reduction in production with an increase in the nematode population. The highest application costs of management methods for M. incognita race 1 per hectare were for three and two applications of Carbofuran and three applications of P. chlamydosporia + T. harzianum. The treatments with lowest application costs were one application of T. harzianum and one application of P. chlamydosporia. It was concluded that all treatments were efficient for the management of M. incognita race 1, causing a decrease in the roots and soil population.

ABSTRACT The objectives of the tests were to evaluate concentrations of indolebutyric acid (IBA) combined with different types of cuttings and grafting methods on the vegetative propagation of cajazeira-dejabuti (S. testudinis). The experiment with stem cuttings was conducted in a greenhouse with an intermittent misting system. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 x 6 factorial arrangement consisting of five cutting types: apical, medial, basal, stratified, and tanchan, and six IBA concentrations: 0, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 mg kg-1, with four replications of ten cuttings. The experiment with the root cuttings followed a randomized block design composed of six IBA concentrations (0, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 mg kg-1) with four replications, evaluating after 120 days the percentages of live, sprouted, rooted, and calloused cuttings, and the number and dry mass of roots and sprouts. Five grafting methods (chip budding, shield budding, cleft grafting, wedge grafting, and splice grafting) were tested by evaluating the graft success and sprouting percentages at 30 and 60 days after grafting, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test. The IBA concentrations of 0, 2,000, 3,000, and 5,000 mg kg-1 increased the number of sprouts in tanchan cuttings. The tanchan cuttings showed the highest survival and percentage of sprouts regardless of the IBA concentration. The IBA concentration of 2,200 mg kg-1 promotes higher rooting rates in root cuttings. Splice grafting provides higher graft success and sprouting rates.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to characterize the commercial quantitative standards of floral stems of gladiolus plants grown under minimum tillage and conventional systems in two harvest seasons in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Experiments were conducted in locations with subtropical climate using soils classified as Typic Dystrudept (Cambissolo) and Typic Hapludox (Nitossolo). Gladiolus plants were grown in beds with intensive soil turning, and under minimum tillage system, in which soil turning was done only in the planting rows. Plants of the cultivars Red Beauty and White Goddess were evaluated in two harvest seasons, Mothers' Day, and Valentine's Day. A completely randomized experimental design with 12 replications was used; the treatments consisted of two harvest seasons and two soil management systems. The flower stem and inflorescence lengths, stem thickness, and number of florets were measured when the plants were at the harvest point to characterize their commercial quantitative standards. These data were used to distribute the stems into four classes (75, 90, 110 and non-marketable). The stem standard of gladiolus plants grown under minimum tillage system and the edaphoclimatic conditions of the state of Santa Catarina in the Mother's Day harvest met the flower market requirements, with most stems classified into the classes 90 and 110. Therefore, gladiolus plants can be grown under minimum tillage system without affecting the flower stem development. This work is the first step to promote the growth of flowers under a conservationist perspective, focused on a more sustainable agriculture.

ABSTRACT Plants synthesize specialized metabolites to defend themselves against pathogens. These active compounds, when isolated and identified, can be used as template for fungicide development. Based on field observations, Heteranthera reniformis (kidney leaf mudplantain) could potentially synthesize compounds with antifungal activity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the fungicidal activity of H. reniformis leaf extracts on Bipolaris oryzae development. The activities of hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of H. reniformis leaves were tested on mycelial growth, sporulation, and colony morphology. Due to the highest inhibition of B. oryzae sporulation, methanol extract was chosen for concentration tests. The effect of methanol extract on B. oryzae spore length and germination was also evaluated. Methanolic extract was the most active in inhibiting B. oryzae sporulation. The morphology of the colonies is altered when the fungus grows in medium containing H. reniformis leaf extracts. Higher concentration of methanol extract stimulates mycelial growth and suppresses B. oryzae sporulation. There are reductions in length and number of germinated B. oryzae spores caused by methanol extract of H. reniformis leaves. Methanolic extract has compounds with antifungal activity and should be subjected to bioassay-guided isolation for purification and identification of these active compounds.

ABSTRACT Gypsum is widely used in agriculture to supply nutrients to the soil-plant system. However, the excessive use of gypsum may lead to a reduction of cationic soil nutrients such as potassium in the most superficial soil layer. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using gypsum and potassium for cauliflower crop nutritional status and commercial production. The experiment was conducted in 5×5 factorial scheme, corresponding to five K doses (0, 100, 180, 240, 360 kg ha−1 of K2O) and five gypsum doses (0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 kg ha−1) in dystrophic Red Latosol. Leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn contents, commercial head mass, diameter and height and peduncle diameter were evaluated. The application of 360 kg ha−1 of K2O resulted in 29.69% more K in cauliflower leaf and 18.94% more commercial head mass compared to the non-application of K. The application of 4000 kg ha−1 of gypsum resulted in reductions of leaf S and Mn and increase in leaf Cu. Based on the results observed, 4000 kg ha−1 of gypsum and 360 kg ha−1 K2O could be required for high cauliflower production.

ABSTRACT Studies that allow the estimation of evaporation in reservoirs represent an important action for the adequate management of water resources. Thus, this study aimed at estimating evaporation in the tropical reservoir Gavião, located in the municipality of Pacatuba, Ceará, Brazil, and to verify the effect of these estimates on the water availability of the reservoir using the VYELAS model. The results of Penman's methods and the Water Balance were compared with the values obtained from the hydrostatic pressure sensor, the most accurate. It was possible to verify that, in relation to the pressure difference method, all the conventional methods overestimate the evaporation in the reservoir. The method that presented estimates closer to those obtained by the pressure difference sensor was that of Penman, based on data from an onboard station in the lake, with a deviation of only 12%. The method of water balance also presented reliable results for monthly average. The two methods usually accepted in the evaporation calculation (water balance ignoring the infiltration; and Penman's method for meteorological station data on land distant from the lake) presented the most disturbing evaporation values significantly altering the water availability. The results of the VYELAS model showed that evaporated flows, estimated by several methods, exceeded the reference flow by up to 83%. The results demonstrate the great sensitivity of the estimate of water availability in relation to the evaporation rate in the lake.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the physical, chemical, and sensory attributes of mango varieties grown under the organic farming. Fruits from ten varieties of mango grown under the organic system in the Chapada Diamantina region, BA, Brazil, were assessed. The following physical and chemical characteristics were assessed: fruit mass, pulp yield, pulp color (L*, C*, and h*), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), total carotenoids, and ascorbic acid. The sensory acceptance test was performed with 50 consumers using the nine-point structured hedonic scale and the attributes acidity, sweetness, and firmness of the pulp were assessed using the just-about-right scale. Differences among the varieties of mango grown under the organic production system were observed for physical, chemical and sensory attributes. The varieties showed a percentage of pulp equal or above 60%, which makes them more suitable for processing. According to the PCA analysis, the characteristics soluble solids, total carotenoids, fruit mass, titratable acidity, h* and L* were considered the most important to differentiate the mango varieties evaluated. Ubá and Beta varieties had the highest levels of SS, while Favo de Mel was characterized by the highest values of TA and L*. The varieties Favo de Mel, Palmer, Surpresa, Juazeiro 2, Imperial and Joa had fruits with higher mass and h* values and the varieties Amrapali and Roxa Embrapa 141 had the highest levels of total carotenoids. Imperial, Palmer, Beta and Joa varieties were the most accepted for all sensory attributes.

ABSTRACT Pasta products are generally formulated based on wheat flour, and the insertion of other vegetable raw materials, such as pequi fruit, can provide increased nutritional value, along with differentiated technological and sensory characteristics. Thus, the aim of this study was to produce pasta with different levels of substitution of wheat flour with pequi pulp flour, to determine its proximate composition and to evaluate its technological and sensory properties. Pastas were produced with 5%, 10% and 15% of wheat flour being substituted by pequi pulp flour, and there was also a control group. Technological analyses (cooking time, volume expansion, water absorption, cooking loss, color difference and chromaticity), chemical analyses (moisture, ash, lipids, proteins and total carbohydrates) and sensory tests (acceptance and intention consumption) were carried out. The main results showed that pequi flour promoted an expansion in volume and water absorption in the product; raw and cooked pasta had more intense colors; moisture, ash and lipid content was increased by using pequi flour; and the sensory test scores for the samples with pequi were high in relation to the control samples, with the formulations with the highest content of pequi flour being the best evaluated. It is concluded that the pastas with pequi flour are promising products for the food industry.

ABSTRACT Morpho-agronomic characterization studies aiming at the discrimination and classification of lima bean accessions in relation to the centers of domestication and biological status have been of great importance for conserving the biodiversity of this species. For this purpose, researchers have widely used the multivariate analysis called discriminant analysis, which is not always capable of producing satisfactory results. Computational intelligence-based classifiers are additional tools for understanding complex classification problems. In this study, the objective was to test the use of the decision tree in the classification of lima bean according to the centers of domestication and biological status (cultivated and wild), based on eight phenotypic traits of the seed. Sixty accessions of lima bean from the Phaseolus Germplasm Bank of Universidade Federal do Piauí (BGP / UFPI) were evaluated, and classification was performed using two approaches: conventional statistics with discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and computational intelligence through decision tree (DT). The results showed that the use of DT was efficient to identify patterns in the classification of lima bean accessions, due to its comprehensibility. Seed weight was one of the main descriptors used to explain the origin and diversity of the species. The results found will be useful for studies that involve the conservation of genetic resources, mainly for the maintenance of germplasm banks and in breeding programs. In addition, it is recommended to integrate machine learning algorithms in studies aimed at classifying lima bean.