The northern region of Piauí state is an important center of irrigated organic fruit farming, wherein sandy soils with low organic matter content are predominant, besides climate with high temperatures, long periods of water deficit and constant wind. Given this situation, it becomes necessary to investigate alternative management options able to meet the challenges of agricultural productivity. In this context, green manuring becomes an important practice, mainly when using fast - growing species and with great potential for biomass production. Thus, a study was carried out at Embrapa Meio - Norte to measure Crotalaria juncea biomass yield after thinning and at various sowing densities. The evaluated parameters were plant height, stem diameter, number of branches per plant, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. The results showed that sowing density had no influence on plant height; however, unthinned plants reached greater heights, which might have been due to reduced competition for light. Thinning had no effect on diameters of plant stem base; on the other hand, lower planting densities promoted larger diameters also due to less competition. Likewise, the number of branches per plant was not affected by thinning, being greater at lower planting densities on account of less competition. Thinned plants achieved higher averages of fresh shoot weight. Nevertheless, shoot dry biomass was greater at higher planting densities. Furthermore, both fresh and dry weight of roots were not influenced by any of the adopted treatments.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of progenies from Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (cultivated watermelons) when crossed with progenies from C. lanatus var. citroides (fodder watermelon with a historic of resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii). The parents and their F1s were evaluated for resistance to this nematode. In the initial stages of eleven treatments, watermelon seedlings plantlets were transplanted to plastic bags of six kilograms once the first leaves developed. Ten inoculated plants with 5,200 eggs in the soil near the stem of the plant and four non-inoculated ones were used in each treatment, in a complete block design. Sixty-two days after sowing, the following characteristics were evaluated: the length of the aerial part of the plant (LAP, in m), fresh mass of the aerial part (FMAP, in g), root fresh mass (RFM, in g), egg number (EN) and reproduction factor (RF). A comparison between the averages of inoculated and non-inoculated plants was performed using Scott-Knott test at 5% and the diallelic analysis was performed using the GENES program. The morphological characteristics did not allow for the identification of the parent plants or the F1s with respect to nematode resistance, but the variables EN and RF were useful for such identification. The analyses of the general and specific combining abilities indicate highly significant effects with respect to this resistance, showing additive gene effects as well as dominance and epistatic gene effects, allowing for identification of parents and F1s that can be used in watermelon breeding programs to improve resistance to the M. enterolobii.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphological and productive characteristics of five genotypes of Desmanthus spp. submitted to two cutting intensities (20 and 40 cm), in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco. Of the genotypes studied, three were derived from ecotypes collected in municipalities of Pernambuco (7G, 31D and 50J) and two were from the state of Sergipe, coming from Australia (10AU and 13AU). Four cuttings were made with a frequency of 60 days. The treatments were randomized in blocks, with split plots and three replications. The variables studied were plant height, stem diameter, canopy diameter, the number of leaves per branch, LAI, leaf yield, stem yield, pod yield and forage yield, and leaf stem-1 ratio and pod stem-1 ratio. Genotypes 7G and 31D had higher forage yield and a larger number of leaves per branch. Forage yield was higher in the intensity of 20 cm. The cuttings reduced the total yield, stem yield, pods yield and forage yield, of the different genotypes studied. For leaf stem-1 ratio, the genotype 13AU was higher than genotypes 7G and 50J in the cutting intensity of 40 cm. Genotype 10AU had the highest pod stem-1 ratios in the three cuttings. The differences shown between genotypes of Desmanthus spp., especially 7G and 31D, in the intensity of 20 cm, indicate the possibility of selecting promising materials for cultivation in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, with desirable morphological and productive characteristics to the forage plants.

The amount of fungicide that adheres to the leaf during spraying and the amount that remain on the leaf after weathering are the main factors that defines the amount of active residue on the leaf surface to effectively control plant pathogens. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the tenacity and persistence of copper in citrus seedling leaves under simulated rainfall in Jaboticabal, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The evaluated variables were copper content, solution retention, surface tension and drop spectrum. A significant and inversely proportional linear relationship to drops <100 μm was found. The percentage of copper retained in leaves of citrus seedlings with copper fungicides of suspension concentrate (SC) formulations after simulated rainfall was greater than 80%. Copper fungicides of SC formulations presented the lowest surface tension, allowing greater tenacity and persistence of copper on seedlings of citrus leaves after simulated rainfall and increased contact between the drops and leaf surface.

Psidium guineense Sw , popularly known as araçá, is a fruit tree there is widely distributed in Brazil and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. In northeastern Brazil, araçá occurs along coast and in the Zona da Mata; its fruit looks like guava but is more acidic and has a stronger smell. There is a little information about this species, which increases the difficulty of conserving its genetic resources and exploiting araçá as an economic resource. The objective of this research was the evaluation of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of P. guineense from Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata. One hundred and fourteen individuals and 18 isozyme loci were evaluated, showing 28 alleles. The percentage of polymorphic loci ( ) and the average number of alleles per locus ( ) were 0.5 and 1.5, respectively, in this population. The expected heterozygosity , which corresponds to the genetic diversity, ranged from 0.22 to 0.23, a high value when considering that isozymes mark access from the functional genome. The differentiation index among the population was ( ) = 0.015; therefore, the populations were not different among the sampled places. The inbreeding values ( ) ranged from - 0.549 to - 0.794, indicating an absence of inbreeding and a greater - than - expected heterozygosity in all the studied populations. The estimated gene flow ( N m ) for a pair of this population ranged from 3.23 to 20.77, sufficient to avoid genetic differentiation among the population and in accordance with the values of genetic divergence found in this study.

Tomatoes are an important component of the human diet because they are rich in minerals and antioxidants that sequester free radicals in cells, preventing various disorders that affect human health. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen sources and concentrations on antioxidant capacity and physical and chemical quality of tomato fruit. The experiment was conducted in Vitória da Conquista, state of Bahia, Brazil, in the experimental field of Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia. The experimental setup included a randomized block design with four replicates in a factorial layout of 3 × 3 + 1 (control), for a total of 40 plots. The three treatments comprised different nitrogen sources (calcium nitrate, urea, and ammonium sulfate), applied in three doses (140, 280, and 420 kg ha - 1 ). We evaluated firmness, pH, titratable acidity - TA, soluble solid - SS, SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and DPPH inhibition, were evaluated after samples were harvested. However, increasing concentrations of N adversely affected the acidity and led to an increase in the SS/TA ratio. Increasing the N concentration also reduced the content of bioactive compounds. excluding carotenoids, which consequently impaired antioxidant activity.

This work studied the physical, chemical and bio chemical alterations in minimally processed yam stored at two different temperatures, as well a s the incidence of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas . The experimental design was completely randomised in a 2x8 factorial design, with two storage temperature s (5 and 10°C) and eight storage times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 1 0, 12 and 14 days). Experiments were in triplicate. Yam was selected, peeled and cut into slices of approximate ly 3 cm thickness. The slices were rinsed with wate r, sanitised and then drained in kitchen strainers. Ap proximately 300 g of the processed product were pac ked in nylon multilayers 15 μ m thick, 15 cm wide and 20 cm long. The packs were sealed, weighed and kept at 5 and 10 ± 2°C for 14 days. Fresh weight loss, baking tim e, enzymatic activity of polyphenol oxidases, perox idases and catalases, total soluble phenol content, and an tioxidant capacity were evaluated, as well as visua l analysis and incidence of Pseudomonas sp. Means of temperatures were compared by Tukey ́s test at 5% significance. Yam storage at 5°C reduced weight loss and kept vis ual quality for longer; it also reduced cooking tim e and the activity of the enzymes polyphenol oxidase and pero xidase. In contrast, it promoted higher content of total soluble phenols, as well as a higher catalase activ ity and antioxidant capacity. During the storage ti me, there was no incidence of Pseudomonas sp. Minimally processed yam stored at 10°C may be sold for up to six days, and yam stored at 5ºC for up to 14 days.

This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of methanol extract and fractions of leaves of Randia nitida (Kunth) DC on Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) Andrus & Moore, Rhizoctonia solani Kühn and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary and perform chemical and antioxidant activity tests. Crude methanol extract (EBM) and fractions (hexane = FHX, dichloromethane = FDM and ethyl acetate = FAE) underwent classical phytochemical analysis and determination of total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. Samples were individually incorporated into PDA culture mediums (potato-dextrose-agar) at concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 μg mL - 1 of extract or fraction. Mycelial growth was evaluated when control reached the edge of the plate. Phytochemical results indicated that flavonoids, steroids and triterpenoids are the major chemical constituents in both EBM and fractions. Total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity were higher for FAE and EBM, followed by FDM and FHX; however, the latter showed higher content of steroids and triterpenoids compared to the other fractions. For C. truncatum , R. solani and S. sclerotiorum , the most efficient fractions were respectively FAE, FDM and FHX, all of them in the highest concentration (160 μg mL - 1 ). The highest inhibition rate was observed against S. sclerotiorum , reaching 93.75%. We concluded that all fractions have antifungal activity on the plant pathogens, being FHX the most active against S. sclerotiorum , which might have been due to the presence of steroids and triterpenes.

ABSTRAT: Psidium guineense Sw, popularly known as araçá, is a fruit tree there is widely distributed in Brazil and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. In northeastern Brazil, araçá occurs along coast and in the Zona da Mata; its fruit looks like guava but is more acidic and has a stronger smell. There is a little information about this species, which increases the difficulty of conserving its genetic resources and exploiting araçá as an economic resource. The objective of this research was the evaluation of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of P. guineense from Pernambuco's Zona da Mata. One hundred and fourteen individuals and 18 isozyme loci were evaluated, showing 28 alleles. The percentage of polymorphic loci () and the average number of alleles per locus () were 0.5 and 1.5, respectively, in this population. The expected heterozygosity, which corresponds to the genetic diversity, ranged from 0.22 to 0.23, a high value when considering that isozymes mark access from the functional genome. The differentiation index among the population was () = 0.015; therefore, the populations were not different among the sampled places. The inbreeding values () ranged from -0.549 to -0.794, indicating an absence of inbreeding and a greater-than-expected heterozygosity in all the studied populations. The estimated gene flow (Nm) for a pair of this population ranged from 3.23 to 20.77, sufficient to avoid genetic differentiation among the population and in accordance with the values of genetic divergence found in this study. | RESUMO: Psidium guineense Sw., conhecida popularmente como araçá, é uma fruteira pertencente à família Myrtaceae que tem ampla distribuição geográfica. Nos Estados do Nordeste Brasileiro ela ocorre principalmente na faixa litorânea e Zona da Mata. O fruto do araçazeiro tem sabor que lembra o da goiaba, ligeiramente mais ácido e de perfume mais acentuado, e sua exploração é feita de modo extrativista. As informações sobre esta espécie são escassas, o que dificulta a conservação dos recursos genéticos e sua exploração econômica. Neste trabalho foram estudadas a diversidade e estrutura genética de quatro populações de araçá, tendo sido avaliados um total de 114 indivíduos por meio de 18 loci isoenzimáticos que revelaram 28 alelos. A porcentagem de locipolimórficos () e o número médio de alelos por loco () nas populações foram 0,5 e 1,5, respectivamente. A heterozigosidade esperada (), que corresponde à diversidade gênica, variou entre 0,22 e 0,23, valores altos, principalmenteconsiderando-se que isoenzimas acessam a porção funcional do genoma. O índice médio de diferenciação () entre as populações foi de 0,015, portanto, as populações basicamente não diferem entre os locais amostrados. O índice de fixação () variou de -0,549 a -0,794 indicando ausência de endogamia e excesso de heterozigosidade nas populações. O fluxo gênico (Nm) estimado para os pares de populações variou de 3,23 a 20,77, valores que corroboram com a ausência de diferenciação observada entre estas.

RESUMO: A grande diversidade de plantas do Semiárido representa um recurso natural vital para as populações humanas dessa região. Muitas dessas plantas são exploradas de forma extrativista e entre elas, as espécies do gênero Stylosanthes, que são nativas tem grande potencial, porém, os trabalhos realizados têm sido modestos e pouco se conhece a respeito da variabilidade existente nessas plantas. Por isso, esforços devem ser priorizados no sentido de estudá-las, o que certamente poderá ajudar a criar formas para o desenvolvimento de cultivares e, assim, amenizar a escassez de forragem nessa região. Entretanto, para iniciar trabalhos de melhoramento, primeiro deve-se buscar variabilidade genética. Assim, este trabalho avaliou 25 acessos de Stylosanthes spp., a fim de identificar os melhores para serem genitores no programa de melhoramento genético para o Semiárido baiano. Para isso, foram conduzidos dois experimentos em diferentes locais no delineamento blocos casualizados completos com quatro repetições num espaçamento 3,0 × 0,8 m. Foi constatada grande diversidade genética entre os acessos, sendo que os genótipos BGF 08-007, BGF 08-016, BGF 08-015 e BGF 08-021, mostraram-se como os mais divergentes na avaliação geral. Para a formação de populações segregantes, recomenda-se combinar os genótipos BGF 08-016, BGF 08-015, BGF 08-007 e BGF 08-006, e para cruzamentos interespecíficos recomenda-se hibridar o acesso BGF-024 com os acessos BGF 08-016 e BGF 08-015, possibilitando o surgimento de indivíduos superiores para os descritores de massa, os mais importantes para o melhoramento visando alimentação animal. | ABSTRACT: The great diversity of plants in the Brazilian Semiarid environment represents a vital natural resource for the human populations of these areas. Many of these plants have been subject to extractivism and among these, the species of the genus Stylosanthes, which have occurrence in this region, show great potential, however, studies on this topic are limited, and little is known about the existing variability among these plants. Therefore, further study is necessary, to facilitate the development of cultivars. This might reduce the scarcity of fodder supply in this region, but to commence a plant breeding programme, it is essential to identify genetic variability. Therefore, this study evaluated 25 accessions of Stylosanthes spp., to identify the most suitable candidates to be parents in a plant breeding programme for the semiarid region of the state of Bahia. Two experiments were carried out in different sites in an experimental design of randomized blocks with four replicates, with a spacing of 3.0 × 8.0 m. A large amount of genetic diversity was observed among accessions and the genotypes BGF 08-007, BGF 08-016, BGF 08-015 and BGF 08-021 were the most divergent in the overall evaluation. For the structuring of segregating populations, it is recommended to combine the genotypes BGF 08-016, BGF 08-015, BGF 08-007 and BGF 08-006, and for the interspecific crosses, a hybrid from the accession BGF-024 with the accessions BGF 08-016 or BGF 08-015. This might generate superior individuals for mass descriptors, which are the most important for animal forage breeding.