The accelerated aging test consists of evaluating the vigor of the seeds under conditions of high temperature and humidity, with the purpose of identifying the physiological quality of lots with similar germination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the accelerated aging test for classifying seed lots of P. moniliformis at different levels of vigor. Initially, the seed lots were assessed by means of seedling emergence, life velocity index, shoot length and root length, total dry mass of seedlings and determination of water content, before and after each period of aging. The experimental design for the whole world was based on a 3 × 4 factorial scheme (three seed lots and four periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h duration), with separate evaluations at temperatures of 38 °C and 41 °C. The accelerated aging test conducted at a temperature of 41 °C for 24 h was a more suitable combination for separating batches of P. moniliformis according to different levels of vigour, and made it possible to obtain results similar to the classification of lots in relation to the initial quality.

No-tillage cotton systems require soil coverage with cover crop residue for a longer time due to the late cycle of cotton. However, decomposition rates may vary between cover crops, and the adjustment of models to describe it is critical to no-tillage cotton management. Two non-linear regression models, exponential (EM) and Michaelis-Menten (MM), were adjusted to dry matter decomposition of cover crops in a cotton no-tillage system, in Brazil. Three field trials were performed in 2012 for the cover crops Urochloa ruziziensis (brachiaria), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), and Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea). Samples of cover crop were collected at 20, 50, 70, 110, 140, and 170 days after sowing upland cotton to measure dry matter decomposition. MM showed better adjustment than EM for all cover crops. The estimations of half-life parameters were different between the cover crops, suggesting that each cover crop has its own rate of decomposition. For pearl millet, brachiaria, and pigeon pea, the half-life estimation by exponential model was over the MM in 9, 12, and 12 days.

The development of common bean cultivars with early cycle, upright plant architecture, and high grain yield represents marketing advantages to bean farmers. This study aimed to evaluate whether common bean inbred lines differ for phenological, plant architecture, and grain yield traits; analyze the correlations between these traits; and select early and upright common bean lines with high grain yield. To this end, 14 common bean inbred lines were evaluated in two growing seasons in Santa Maria - RS, Brazil. Common bean inbred lines showed significant differences for all traits, except for insertion of the first pod and length of the fourth and fifth internodes. The four superior common bean lines selected by the multiplicative index were CNFP 10794, CNFC 10762, DF 06-09, and BRS Valente. CNFP 10794 presents earliness (flowering and cycle), upright plant architecture (lower values of general adaptation score, lodging, and stay-green phenotype) and high grain yield (higher values of number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant, mass of 100 grains, and grain yield). Mass of 100 grains showed a positive correlation with grain yield (r= 0.68). The indirect selection using mass of 100 grains is of intermediate efficiency to increase grain yield in common bean. CNFP 10794 presents earliness, upright plant architecture, and high grain yield and will be selected for the breeding program.

Soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is an important tool for water management in irrigated agriculture. However, factors such as texture and structure of soils influence SWCC behavior. According to the literature, wetting and drying cycles alter SWCC. A similar process of re-saturation and drying occurs during SWCC obtainment under laboratory conditions. Based on the hypothesis that re-saturation process alters SWCC due to clay loss in the sample, this study aimed to obtain the SWCC, S index, and pore size distribution from samples submitted to re-saturation cycles, as well as from not re-saturated samples but under higher matric potentials (-2, -4, -6, -8, and -10 kPa). For this, disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, collected from the A (sandy texture) and Btg (sandy clay loam texture) horizons of a Argissolo Acizentado, were used. After obtaining SWCC, each air-dried soil sample was submitted to particle size and clay dispersed in water analyses to verify whether the soil lost clay. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with two methods of SWCC constructing (with and without re-saturation) and eight replications. The re-saturation process generates a loss of clay in the sample, not causing significant changes in SWCC considering the assessed textural soil classes. In addition, sandy soil samples are more sensitive to changes in pore size distribution when submitted to re-saturation.

Sesame is a plant with high morphological and physiological complexity, with great variability in growth habit. Quantitative growth analysis is an accessible and accurate tool for evaluating plant development and the contribution of different physiological processes to plant performance. In view of this, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth of sesame cultivars in two cropping seasons in the conditions of Mossoró-RN. Two experiments were conducted in Horta Didactics of UFERSA. The experimental delineation in each time was a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split plots where each experimental plot contained different sesame cultivars, CNPA G2, CNPA G3 and CNPA G4, and the subplots represented seven collection times, 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91 and 105 days after sowing (DAS). The growth of the sesame cultivars was slow at the beginning of the crop cycle, intensifying at the beginning of flowering (after 35 DAS). Among the physiological indexes studied, CNPA G4 cultivar was more efficient in relation to growth and varied depending on the cropping season.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar os parâmetros fitomorfológicos da cultura da soja em um sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária e inoculados com Azospirillum brasilense. O experimento foi conduzido em Santa Maria, em dois agrícolas (2012/2013 e 2013/2014), num delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com três repetições. No período de inverno a pastagem de aveia preta e azevém foi manejada com ovinos em diferentes sistemas de pastejo: (I) - pastejo convencional (PC), onde os animais permaneciam na pastagem por todo o período experimental sem um controle da altura da pastagem, (II,III e IV) - altura da pastagem na saída dos animais de 10, 20 e 30 cm e uma testemunha sem pastejo (SP), três doses de nitrogênio (0, 50 e 100 kg ha-1) e com ou sem inoculação (Azospirillum brasilense). A semeadura da soja foi realizada em semeadura direta em 16 de novembro de 2012 e 01 de dezembro de 2013, utilizando-se a cultivar BMX Potência RR. Em cada parcela, se utilizou sete fileiras de plantas com espaçamento de 0,45 m, sendo que em quatro fileiras as sementes foram inoculadas com a bactéria Azospirillum brasilense. Foram avaliadas variáveis fitomorfológicas e a produtividade de grãos. Em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária a cultura da soja possui melhores produtividades quando estabelecida sobre pastagem de aveia preta e azevém manejadas com alturas de pastejo entre 20 e 30 cm. As áreas sob pastejo convencional no inverno proporcionam plantas de soja menores, com menores inserções de primeira e última vagem. A inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense não deve ser usada isoladamente na cultura da soja. | ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytomorphological parameters of soybean in a crop-livestock system inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense. The experiment was conducted in Santa Maria, Brazil, for two agricultural years (2 Paper extracted from the doctoral thesis of the first author. 012/2013 and 2013/2014) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the winter, the black oat and ryegrass pasture was managed with sheep under different grazing systems: (I) - a conventional grazing (CG) system, where the animals remained in the pasture throughout the experimental period without any pasture height control; (II, III, and IV) - systems with post-grazing pasture heights of 10, 20, and 30 cm, respectively; and (NG) - one control without grazing. All treatments received two nitrogen doses (50 and 100 kg ha-1) and inoculation or no inoculation (A. brasilense). The soybean cultivar BMX Potência RR was sown using no-tillage on 16 November 2012 and 1 December 2013. In each plot, seven rows of plants with spacing of 0.45 m were used, and in four rows, the seeds were inoculated with the bacterium A. brasilense. The phytomorphological variables and grain productivity were evaluated. In a croplivestock system, soybean has better productivity when established on black oat and ryegrass pasture managed with post-grazing pasture heights of between 20 and 30 cm. Areas under conventional grazing in the winter led to smaller soybean plants with lower first and last pod heights. Inoculation with A. brasilense should not be used alone in soybean cultivation.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic divergence among cowpea genotypes and to select parents for crosses aimed at the fresh pod and grain market. Two experiments were carried out during 2014, corresponding to two sowing times, in the municipality of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte. Twenty-three cowpea genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Fifteen descriptors were used to quantify divergence, using the Mahalanobis distance as a measure of dissimilarity, obtained from the genotypic mean predicted by the Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (REML/BLUP) method. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) hierarchical method was used to group genotypes and the Singh criterion to quantify the contribution of traits to genetic divergence. The genotype × environment interaction (G × E) influenced divergence, both in the contribution of traits and in the grouping of genotypes. In the experiment 1, the genotypes were distributed among four groups. In the experiment 2, less discrimination occurred and the genotypes were represented by only two groups. When joint analysis of two evaluations was carried out based on two sowing times, genotypes were represented by six groups. The G × E interaction influences the contribution of traits and the grouping of cowpea genotypes in the study of divergence. The genetic divergence of the set of cowpea genotypes evaluated is mainly due to green grain and pod yield. BRS Aracê and BRS Xiquexique cultivars are the most divergent among the genotypes studied, representing 75% of the recommended crosses. | RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a divergência genética entre genótipos de feijão-caupi e selecionar genitores para cruzamentos visando o mercado de vagens e grãos verdes. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, correspondendo a duas épocas de semeadura, no município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, ano 2014. Foram avaliados 23 genótipos de feijão-caupi em delineamento de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Foram utilizados 15 descritores para quantificar a divergência, utilizando como medida de dissimilaridade a distância de Mahalanobis, obtida a partir da média genotípica predita pelo método REML/BLUP. Utilizou-se o método hierárquico UPGMA para agrupar os genótipos e o critério de Singh para quantificar a contribuição dos caracteres para a divergência genética. A interação genótipos x ambientes influenciou a divergência, tanto na contribuição dos caracteres quanto no agrupamento dos genótipos. Na primeira época de cultivo os genótipos foram distribuídos em quatro grupos. Na segunda época ocorreu menor discriminação, sendo que os genótipos formaram apenas dois grupos. Ao realizar-se o agrupamento com base na análise conjunta das duas avaliações, realizadas nas duas épocas de semeadura os genótipos foram agrupados em seis grupos. A interação genótipos x ambientes influencia a contribuição das características e o agrupamento dos genótipos de feijão-caupi no estudo de divergência. A divergência genética do conjunto de genótipos de feijão-caupi avaliados é devida principalmente a produtividades de grãos verdes e de vagens verdes. As cultivares BRS Aracê e BRS Xiquexique foram os genótipos mais divergentes entre os estudados, fazendo parte de 75% dos cruzamentos recomendados.

ABSTRACT Cowpea bean is a socioeconomically important legume that contribute to generate employment and income. This species presents great grain variability, and the commercial subclass black eye stands out as a very appreciated grain in Brazil and abroad, thus requiring the development of new cultivars. The objective of this work was to evaluate and select lineages of commercial black eye cowpea, based on simultaneous, and direct selection. First, 105 progenies and four controls were evaluated using the Federer's augmented block design. Seventy-seven progenies, selected from this evaluation-first selection cycle-and four controls were evaluated in three environments, using a simple 9×9 lattice design. Based on this evaluation, the second selection cycle was possible, resulting in 24 progenies. The gain by direct selection was lower than the predicted gain for grain yield in the first cycle, indicating that the selection was not effective. This result was probably due to the reduced genetic variability caused by the selection pressure. In the second cycle, the predicted and observed gains were similar, indicating that much of the expected gain was observed. The predicted and observed gains, with simultaneous selection based on the rank sum selection index, were similar in the first and second cycle. The simultaneous and direct selections resulted in genetic gains for grain yield in the two selection cycles, making it possible the selection of high grain yield lineages. | RESUMO O feijão-caupi é uma leguminosa socioeconomicamente importante, contribuindo com a geração de emprego e renda. É uma espécie que apresenta grande variabilidade para o tipo de grão, sendo a subclasse comercial fradinho a que se destaca por ser um grão muito apreciado no Brasil e no exterior, demandando o desenvolvimento de novas cultivares. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar e selecionar linhagens de feijão-caupi tipo comercial fradinho, baseada na seleção simultânea e seleção direta. Inicialmente foram avaliadas 105 progênies e quatro testemunhas, utilizando o delineamento Blocos Aumentados de Federer. A partir desta avaliação foram selecionadas 77 progênies (primeiro ciclo de seleção), e quatro testemunhas que foram avaliadas em três ambientes, utilizando o delineamento látice simples 9x9. Fundamentado nessa avaliação, foi possível realizar o segundo ciclo de seleção, resultando em 24 progênies. Pela seleção direta, o ganho realizado foi inferior ao ganho predito para produtividade no primeiro ciclo, indicando que a seleção não foi efetiva, provavelmente devido à redução da variabilidade genética ocasionada pela pressão de seleção. No segundo ciclo, os ganhos realizado e predito foram bem próximos, indicando que grande parte do ganho esperado foi concretizado. Para os ganhos com a seleção simultânea baseados no Índice de Soma de Ranks, os valores de ganho predito e realizado foram semelhantes no primeiro e segundo ciclo. As seleções, simultânea e direta, possibilitaram a obtenção de ganhos genéticos para produtividade nos dois ciclos de seleção, possibilitando a seleção de linhagens de alta produtividade.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de linhagens elite de feijão-caupi de porte ereto e semiereto em ambientes de Mato Grosso e Minas Gerais. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em Jaíba, Janaúba e Sete Lagoas em Minas Gerais, e em Primavera do Leste e Nova Ubiratã em Mato Grosso. Foram avaliados 20 genótipos de feijão-caupi. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análises de variância individuais e conjunta e as médias agrupadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott (P<0,05). Foram avaliados os caracteres porte da planta, acamamento, valor de cultivo, comprimento de vagem e rendimento de grãos. Nos ambientes do Mato Grosso, destacaram-se as linhagens MNC04-768F-21 e MNC04F-795F-168 como as mais produtivas e com características de porte da planta, acamamento e valor de cultivo semelhantes às da cultivar BRS Guariba. Nos ambientes de Minas Gerais, especialmente na região Norte do Estado, representada pelos ambientes de Jaíba e Janaúba, destacaram-se como mais produtivas as linhagens MNC04-769F-30, MNC05-795F-154, MNC04-769F-49 e a cultivar BRS Tumucumaque. Entretanto, as cultivares BRS Guariba, BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Novaera, BRS Itaim e BRS Cauamé, e as linhagens MNC04-792F-143 e MNC04-792F-144 apresentam produtividades satisfatórias e boas características de porte, acamamento e valor de cultivo, representando boas alternativas para recomendação de cultivo nesta região. | ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance of erect and semi-erect cowpea elite lines grown in the States of Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiments were conducted in Jaíba, Janaúba, Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais), Primavera do Leste and Nova Ubiratã (Mato Grosso), with 20 genotypes of cowpea, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The data were subjected to individual and joint analyses of variance and means grouped by the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05). The plant growth habit, lodging, cultivation value, pod length and bean yield were evaluated. The lines MNC04-768F-21 and MNC04F-795F-168 had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Mato Grosso, and their growth habit, lodging and cultivation value were similar to those of the cultivar BRS-Guariba. The lines MNC04-769F-30, MNC05-795F-154 and MNC04-769F-49 and the cultivar BRS-Tumucumaque had the highest bean yield in the experiments conducted in Minas Gerais. However, the cultivars BRS-Guariba, BRS-Tumucumaque, BRS-Novaera, BRS-Itaim and BRS-Cauamé and the lines MNC04-792F-143 and MNC04-792F-144 showed satisfactory bean yield and good growth habit, plant lodging and cultivation value in the State of Minas Gerais, especially in the northern region of the state (Jaíba and Janaúba), representing good alternatives for the genotypes recommended for this region.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the use of Curcuma longa (Linnaeus) extract in the in vitro control of Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) and to characterize the effect of this extract on rice seed germination. A completely randomized arranged in a factorial experimental design was used: three isolates of B. oryzae from rice seed from different rice-growing regions of Rio Grande do Sul (Fronteira Oeste, Campanha, and Sul) were tested with three concentrations (20, 40, and 80 mg/mL) of C. longa plus a control treatment (0 mg/mL). Each reaction was repeated in quadruplicate. The effect of the extract upon the disease development was evaluated based on mycelial growth (PMG) and spore production; rice seed germination was evaluated using a germination test (Germitest®). The PMG results demonstrate that the treatments were effective in reducing PMG, with a stronger response observed as the concentration of the extract increased. An average inhibition of 84% of sporulation was observed for the tested strains compared with the control treatment. There were, however, no significant differences in terms of seed germination test with the different C. longa concentrations. Therefore, treatment of rice seeds with C. longa extract does not affect seed germination but positively inhibits mycelial growth and sporulation, affecting the in vitro sporulation of the different isolates of B. oryzae. | RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar o uso do extrato de Curcuma longa (Linnaeus) no controle de Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) in vitro, bem como conhecer o seu efeito sobre a germinação de sementes de arroz. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado arranjado em um sistema fatorial: três isolados de B. oryzae de sementes de arroz, oriundas de três regiões orizícolas do Rio Grande do Sul (fronteira oeste; campanha e sul) x três concentrações (20; 40 e 80 mg/mL) de C. longa, mais um tratamento controle (0 mg/mL), com quatro repetições. O efeito do extrato sobre o desenvolvimento do patógeno foi avaliado a partir do crescimento micelial (CMC) e produção de esporos, para a germinação das sementes de arroz foi avaliado através do teste de germinação em papel toalha (Germitest®). Os resultados para o CMC demonstram que os tratamentos foram efetivos, reduzindo o CMC conforme aumentava-se as concentrações do extrato. Em relação a esporulação, ocorreu a inibição média de 84% para os isolados testados, quando comparado ao tratamento controle. Já para o teste de germinação de sementes, não houve diferença significativa entre as diferentes concentrações. Dessa forma, conclui-se que o extrato de C. longa quando em contato com a semente de arroz, não interfere na sua germinação e que age positivamente inibindo o crescimento micelial e afetando a esporulação dos diferentes isolados de B. oryzae in vitro.