RESUMO A seleção genômica ampla (Genome Wide Selection - GWS) utiliza simultaneamente o efeito de milhares de marcadores cobrindo todo o genoma para predizer o valor genético genômico dos indivíduos no processo de seleção. Os possíveis benefícios de seu uso são a redução do ciclo de melhoramento, propiciando maior ganho por unidade de tempo e diminuição de custos. O sucesso da GWS está atrelado a escolha do método de predição dos efeitos dos marcadores. Assim, neste trabalho, visou-se aplicar as redes neurais artificiais (Artificial Neural Networks - ANNs), com a finalidade de predizer os valores genéticos genômicos (Genomic Breeding Values - GEBVs) baseado na estimação dos efeitos dos marcadores comparados a regressão de cumeeira - melhor preditor não viesado/seleção genômica ampla (Ridge Regression - Best Linear Unbiased Predictor/Genome Wide Selection - RR-BLUP/GWS). Foram efetuadas simulações por meio do software R, fornecendo as correlações referentes às ANNs e a RR-BLUP/GWS. Os métodos de predição foram avaliados utilizando correlações entre o valor fenotípico e valor genotípico com o valor genético genômico predito. Os resultados demonstraram superioridade das ANNs na predição dos GEBVs nos cenários com maior e menor densidade de marcadores, paralelo a níveis mais altos de desequilíbrio de ligação e maior herdabilidade. | ABSTRACT Genome-wide selection (GWS) uses simultaneously the effect of the thousands markers covering the entire genome to predict genomic breeding values for individuals under selection. The possible benefits of GWS are the reduction of the breeding cycle, increase in gains per unit of time, and decrease of costs. However, the success of the GWS is dependent on the choice of the method to predict the effects of markers. Thus, the objective of this work was to predict genomic breeding values (GEBV) through artificial neural networks (ANN), based on the estimation of the effect of the markers, compared to the Ridge Regression-Best Linear Unbiased Predictor/Genome Wide Selection (RR-BLUP/GWS). Simulations were performed by software R to provide correlations concerning ANN and RR-BLUP/GWS. The prediction methods were evaluated using correlations between phenotypic and genotypic values and predicted GEBV. The results showed the superiority of the ANN in predicting GEBV in simulations with higher and lower marker densities, with higher levels of linkage disequilibrium and heritability.

ABSTRACT Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a nutritionally demanding crop, and phosphorus (P) is a nutrient that exerts a large effect on tuber yield. However, as the availability of P is influenced by soil texture, there are doubts about how P supplementation affects the growth and yield of potato plants in different soil textures. Thus, here we aimed to evaluate the effect of P fertilization and soil texture on the nutrition, growth, tuber yield, and P use efficiency (PUE) of potato plants. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in a randomized block design with a 4×2 factorial scheme and five replications. The treatments were represented by four P rates (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg dm-3 P) and two soil textures (clayey and sandy). The concentrations of P, Ca, and Mg in the leaves were higher in sandy soil, and P rates increased the concentrations of N, P, and Ca in the leaves of potato plants. Phosphorus fertilization increased plant growth, the amount of P accumulated in the shoot, and tuber yield in both soils; this trend was stronger in the potato cultivated in the clayey soil than in the sandy soil. The applied-PUE was not affected by soil texture. In the potato cultivated in the sandy soil, the taken up-PUE was reduced due to the decrease in dry matter production and an increase in P concentration in the organs of the plant with higher P fertilizer rates. | RESUMO A batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) é uma cultura nutricionalmente exigente e o fósforo (P) é um dos nutrientes que exerce grande efeito sobre a produtividade de tubérculos. Porém, como a disponibilidade de P é influenciada pela textura do solo, existem dúvidas de como o fornecimento de P afeta o crescimento e a produtividade das plantas de batata em solos de texturas diferentes. Assim, objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar o efeito da adubação fosfatada e da textura do solo na nutrição, crescimento, produtividade e eficiência de uso (EU) do P das plantas de batata. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no delineamento de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 4×2, com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram representados por quatro doses de P (10, 50, 100 e 200 mg dm-3 P) e duas texturas de solo (argiloso e arenoso). Os teores foliares de P, Ca e Mg foram maiores no solo arenoso e as doses de P aumentaram os teores de N, P e Ca nas folhas. A adubação fosfatada aumentou o crescimento das plantas, a quantidade de P acumulada na parte aérea e a produtividade de tubérculos em ambos os solos, porém, de forma mais expressiva e até maiores doses na batata cultivada no solo argiloso. A EU do P aplicado não foi afetada pela textura do solo. Na batata cultivada no solo arenoso, a EU do P absorvido foi reduzida em função da diminuição na produção de MS e aumento nos teores de P nos órgãos da planta com fornecimento de altas doses de P.

The aim of this study was to assess the productive performance of cowpea cultivars with different growth habits as a function of population density in the MATOPIBA region, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in Magalhães de Almeida, MA in the agricultural season 2014/2015. The cultivars BRS Itaim, BRS Tumucumaque, and BRS Pajeú, which present an erect, semi-erect, and semi-prostrate growth habits, respectively, were assessed. For the erect and semi-erect cultivars, a total of 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 plants m−2 were used whereas for the semi-prostrate cultivar, a total of 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 plants m−2 were used. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications and treatments composed of plant densities. Grain yield and number of pods per area presented a quadratic response to the increased plant density whereas a decreasing linear response was observed for the number of pods per plant. The maximum grain yield of erect, semi-erect, and semi-prostrate cultivars were 1,076 kg ha−1 (19.5 plants m−2), 1,252 kg ha−1 (18.7 plants m−2), and 755 kg ha−1 (14.5 plants m−2), respectively. The number of pods per area was the character that most correlated (P<0.01) with grain yield, regardless of the plant growth habit.

The tall coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) has great socioeconomic importance in Brazil and was first introduced on the coast of the north-eastern region, where it has been exploited in a semi-extractivist manner. The goal of this study was to quantify the genetic divergence between accessions introduced and preserved at the International Coconut Genebank for Latin America and the Caribbean, estimate the efficiency of descriptors used in the discrimination of the accessions, and indicate the essential descriptors for the activities of characterisation and evaluation. The accessions used were: Polynesia Tall; Tonga Tall; West African Tall; Rennel Tall; Rotuma Tall; Vanuatu Tall; Malayan Tall and Brazilian Tall Praia-do-Forte. Thirty-five quantitative descriptors recommended for the species were used. Genetic divergence was estimated by the Mahalanobis’s generalised distance and the cluster analysis was performed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The relative importance of the descriptors was measured according to Singh and Jolliffe’s methods, and the variables were selected taking into consideration the matching information in the two methods, eliminating those that were discarded in the two procedures. The agronomic characteristics indicated that the first canonical variable explained 90.25% of total variance. The most efficient descriptors for detecting the genetic divergence were: fruit equatorial circumference; nut polar and equatorial circumference; quantity of liquid endosperm; total fruit weight; nut weight; stem height; girth of stem at 1,5m height; number of leaflets; and number of bunches. The most dissimilar accessions according to the agronomic characteristics were Rotuma Tall and West African Tall, which can be primarily indicated as genitors for the formation of segregating populations in breeding programmes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of parts of leguminous trees on the growth and nutrition of maize (Zea mays L.), as well as on the chemical attributes of a degraded soil, 65 days after applying the residues. The experiment was conducted in pots, in a randomized block design with ten treatments and four replicates. The evaluated treatments were: T1 - No residues of leguminous trees, T2 - Leaves of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T3 - Branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T4 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T5 - Leaves of Mimosa hostilis, T6 - Branches of Mimosa hostilis, T7 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa hostilis, T8 - Leaves of Gliricidia sepium, T9 - Branches of Gliricidia sepium and T10 - Leaves + branches of Gliricidia sepium. Pots were filled with soil from a degraded area and residues were added in the form of green mass after sowing the maize. Residues of leguminous trees positively influenced maize growth at 65 days after application and favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the shoots. Green fertilizers improved soil chemical attributes at 65 days after application, especially nitrate-N (NO3 --N), ammonium-N (NH4 +-N), total inorganic N (NO3 --N + NH4 +-N) and K, demonstrating that these species are good options for recovering degraded areas in the semi-arid region of Ceará.

The Brazilian bocachico, Prochilodus brevis, is a rheophilic fish. Although there is evidence that this species shows reproductive seasonality in the wild, in captivity hormonal induction techniques allow semen sampling in different seasons. This study aimed to compare the kinetics, morphology and biochemical composition of the semen of Brazilian bocachico in captivity when hormonally induced to breed in the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons. During sampling spermiation was hormonally induced in breeders. The concentrations of total protein, glucose, fructose, triglyceride, calcium and chloride were evaluated with biochemical kits. The pH data (6.5 to 8.5) suggest semen requires alkaline conditions, as expected for freshwater fish. Seminal plasma contained more protein (1.51 ± 0.06 dL g-1), glucose (79.44 ± 1.88 mg dL-1) and triglycerides (61.59 ± 8.10 mg dL-1) in the non-reproductive than the reproductive season, but calcium ions (15.98 ± 1.02 mg dL-1) showed the opposite pattern. There was a significant seasonal difference in sperm morphology, with a higher percentage of normal sperm in the reproductive season. From these data it can be concluded that the physical, kinetic, morphological and biochemical characteristics of semen of captive Prochilodus brevis are influenced by reproductive season.

Soil physical and chemical analyses are relatively high-cost and time-consuming procedures. In the search for alternatives to predict these properties from a reduced number of soil samples, the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has been pointed out as a great computational technique to solve this problem by means of experience. This tool also has the ability to acquire knowledge and then apply it. This study aimed at using ANNs to estimate the physical and chemical properties of soil. The data came from the physical and chemical analysis of 120 sampling points, which were submitted to descriptive analysis, geostatistical analysis, and ANNs training and analysis. In the geostatistical analysis, the semivariogram model that best fitted the experimental variogram was verified for each soil property, and the ordinary kriging was used as an interpolation method. The ANNs were trained and selected based on their assertiveness in the mapping of considered standards, and then used to estimate all soil properties. The mean errors of ordinary kriging estimates were compared to those of ANNs and then compared to the original values using Student's t-Test. The results showed that the ANN had an assertiveness compatible with ordinary kriging. Therefore, such technique is a promising tool to estimate soil properties using a reduced number of soil samples.

Considering the relevance of the reduction or replacement of fresh water supplies for irrigation, to mitigate the use of agricultural fertilizers and to improve sustainability, this study aimed to evaluate water and nutritional efficiency of treated sewage in cowpea plots. The experiment was conducted in the city of Tianguá-CE, on land belonging to the Water and Sewage Treatment Company of Ceará. It used a randomized block design for the arrangement of split plots. The plots contained two water sources (treated sewage and well water). The subplots contained four irrigation levels based on potential evapotranspiration (50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of ETc) and the sub-subplots contained four nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) levels (0%, 33%, 66%, and 99% of the nutritional recommendations for cowpea cultivation). The yield variables, number of pods per plant, bean numbers per pod, and bean production, were improved with increased irrigation, regardless of the water source. Examining NPK levels in particular, yields differed depending on the water source. The use of treated domestic wastewater for bean irrigation can replace up to 100% of commercial fertilizers.

Sweet corn is an important crop because of its seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents. As common corn, this group requires an adequate amount of nitrogen to reach high yields. However, the studies on nitrogen and sweet corn are performed for ear yield instead of seed yield. As seeds are the main propagation method for this species, we proposed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates as side-dressing at different plant stages of a sweet corn seed production. Sweet corn seeds (variety BR 400) were sown in Latosol (Oxisol), and a 3×2+1 factorial scheme was designed with three nitrogen rates (40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1) at two plant stages (V6 and R1) plus the control (no nitrogen side-dressing). The evaluated variables were seed yield, protein content, P and Zn contents, germination, and vigor rates. We concluded that nitrogen applied at a rate of 120 kg ha-1 at V6 increases seed yield and maintains unaltered the protein content in seeds of sweet corn (BR 400 variety). Neither germination nor seed vigor increases when nitrogen rates are increased or administered at different stages of plant development. We also noted a slight decrease in P content or an increase in Zn content of seeds at low nitrogen rates; however, they are insufficient to promote changes in the physiological potential of sweet corn seeds.

One way to prevent soil degradation is to monitor its structural quality through physical attributes and indicators. Thus, the objective of this work was to identify parameters that can be used together with the S-index to assess the soil structural quality of Latosols-Distrophic Red Latosol (DRL) and Eutroferric Red Latosol (ERL)-cultivated with maize after traffic-induced compaction by agricultural machinery. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in split-plots, with five treatments and four replications for each soil class. The treatments were: T0 = conventional tillage without additional compaction; T1, T2 and T3 = one pass of a 4, 7 and 10-Mg tractor, respectively; T4 = three passes of a 10-Mg tractor. The water retention curve, density, porosity and S-index of the soil layers 0-0.1, 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.3 m were evaluated. The DRL presented similar S-index (0.035 to 0.037) in the T0, T1 and T2, and these S-index were connected to soil macroporosity. Most S-index of the ERL were above 0.035, except for T4 due to its higher soil density. The S-index can be used as a complementary parameter for maize height and soil macroporosity to evaluate the structural quality of DRL.