The root protrusion test is a vigor test based on the principle that seeds with high vigor emit the primary root faster than less vigorous ones. Chia is a plant propagated by seeds and it is studied owing to its health benefits, but there is little technical information known about its culture. The objective of this work was to adapt the methodology of the root protrusion test to determine the vigor of chia seed lots. Five chia seed lots were submitted to an initial quality evaluation using germination and vigor tests (first germination, emergence, and emergence speed index). The root protrusion test was performed at temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 °C and evaluated every 2 h up to 42 h. During the test, protrusion stability was assessed and the criterion of 2 mm primary root count was used. The root protrusion test at 20 °C did not distinguish the lots in the same way as emergence. At 25 °C it was possible to classify lots after 30 h similarly to emergence. At 30 °C, root protrusion and the separation of seed lots was accelerated. Thus, the root protrusion test conducted for 30 h at 25 °C has sufficient sensitivity to detect differences in vigor between chia seed lots.

Intercropping is a management strategy for the sustainability of agricultural systems, and is suitable for the production of vegetables. Kale is predominantly grown singly, but field observations have indicated that this crop has satisfactory productive potential when grown in intercrops with other vegetables. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance and biological efficiency of kale plants intercropped with spice species. The experiment was carried out at the Didactic Horta of the Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five replications. The treatments consisted of kale grown singly and intercropped with spice species (chives, coriander, basil, and parsley) and these spice species grown singly. The fresh and dry weights of the kale leaves, and the shoot of the spice species were evaluated. The biological efficiency was evaluated by the land use efficiency index (LUE), relative contribution of the kale crop to the LUE, area time equivalent ratio, and system productivity index. The intercropping of kale with parsley resulted in the highest fresh, and dry weights of kale leaves, showing the highest agronomic efficiency.

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum age at last weighing and compare the goodness of fit of nonlinear models used to fit longitudinal weight-age data to describe the growth pattern of Anglo-Nubian does. Weights of 104 animals from birth to 60 months of age were grouped into 10 age groups at six-month intervals. In each age group, parameters A (asymptotic weight), B (integration constant), and K (maturity index) were estimated using the Brody, Gompertz, logistic, and von Bertalanffy models. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance in a factorial design (10 age groups × 4 nonlinear models). The age group × model interaction was not significant. Mean estimates of A, B, and K were significantly different between age groups up to 30 months (p < 0.05), indicating that the estimated curve is affected by weights taken before this age independent of the model. The values of mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute deviation (MAD), coefficient of determination (R2) and Rate of convergence (RC) at each age group up to 30 months were compared to determine the goodness of fit of nonlinear models. The ranking of fit was logistic, Brody, von Bertalanffy, and Gompertz. The logistic and Brody models respectively estimated the smallest and largest asymptotic weight. Longitudinal weight records taken until 30 months of age are most appropriate for estimating the growth of Anglo-Nubian does using nonlinear models.

Several oilseed plants have been researched for biodiesel production in Brazil, and Crambe abyssinica Hochst is one of the most promising species. The effect of the phytonematodes M. incognita race 3 and Meloidogyne javanica on C. abyssinica plants was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. A randomized block design with five nematode inoculum levels (350, 700, 1400, 2800, and 5600 eggs) and ten replications was used. C. abyssinica plants without inoculation were used as controls, and the viability of the nematodes used was tested in tomato plants inoculated with 2000 eggs. The plots consisted of pots containing one plant. The number of root knots (NG), number of egg masses (NEM), and number of eggs + second-stage juveniles (NEJ2) per root system, number of J2 per 200 cm3 of soil (NJ2), and shoot dry weight (SDW) of the inoculated C. abyssinica plants were evaluated at 45 days after inoculation. The reproduction factor (RF) of the nematodes was also evaluated. The resistance of the plants to the phytonematodes was classified using the RF criterion. Crambe abyssinica plants are susceptible to the different inoculum levels of Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita used, and the data of all nematode variables (NG, NEM, NEJ2, NJ2, and RF) were fitted by linear models.

Salinity is prejudicial to plant development, causing different types of damage to species, or even between genotypes of the same species, with the effects being aggravated when combined with other types of stress, such as heat stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of cowpea genotypes (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) to salt stress at different temperatures. Seeds of the Pujante, Epace 10 and Marataoã genotypes were placed on paper rolls (Germitest®) moistened with different salt concentrations of 0.0 (control), 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1, and placed in a germination chamber (BOD) at temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomised design, in a 3 × 4 × 5 scheme of subdivided plots, with four replications per treatment. The variables under analysis were germination percentage, first germination count, shoot and root length, and total seedling dry weight. At temperatures of 30 and 35°C, increases in the salt concentration were more damaging to germination in the Epace 10 and Pujante genotypes, while for the Marataoã genotype, damage occurred at the temperature of 20°C. At 25°C, germination and vigour in the genotypes were higher, with the Pujante genotype proving to be more tolerant to salt stress, whereas Epace 10 and Marataoã were more tolerant to high temperatures. Germination in the cowpea genotypes was more sensitive to salt stress when subjected to heat stress caused by the low temperature of 20°C or high temperature of 35°C.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and growth promoting bacteria in plants (PGPBs) benefit the survival and development of plantlets; such benefits are attributed to the increased absorption of nutrients, increased photosynthetic rate and tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the co-inoculation PGPBs and the AMF, Glomus clarum, improves the growth of micropropagated Manihot esculenta Crantz. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse. The PGPBs used were Azospirillum amazonense (BR 11140), Herbaspirillum seropedicae (BR 11175), Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (BR 11284) and Streptomyces sp. (S 30) and mixtures with double inoculation (Streptomyces sp + A. amazonense, Streptomyces sp + H. seropedicae, Streptomyces sp + G. diazotrophicus, A. amazonense + H. seropedicae, A. amazonense + G. diazotrophicus, and H. seropedicae + G. diazotrophicus). Strains of PGPBs inoculated in cassava cv. "BRA Pretinha III" influenced mycorrhizal colonization and the number of glomerospores, and synergistic effects occurred between Glomus clarum and PGPBs. The crude protein content revealed the contribution of PGPBs to nitrogen nutrition in cassava where the inoculated plants assimilated N in equal proportion with those that received mineral nitrogen. The combined inoculation of PGPBs in the presence of Glomus clarum was significant in cassava and fostered better performance in plant growth over time, similar to all the variables studied. Co-inoculation of PGPBs and AMF can meet the N need of cassava, with implications for the reduced use of N fertilizer.

The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate ratio of methionine plus cystine to lysine in rations for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) juveniles, with initial weights of 0.28 ± 0.08 g and 0.94 ± 0.33 g. A randomized block design consisting of six treatments, five replicates in two blocks, and 20 fish per replicate was implemented. Six isolisinic (1.45%), isoenergetic, isophosphoric, and isocalcic diets, containing different ratios of methionine plus cystine to digestible lysine (50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, and 75%) were used. Performance and feed efficiency variables, including body composition (moisture, protein, and fat), daily protein deposition rate, daily fat deposition rate, and nitrogen retention efficiency, were evaluated. The specific growth rate and feed conversion presented quadratic effects, with maximum effects from the digestible methionine plus cystine to lysine ratio of 64.4% and 64.8%, respectively. The increase in digestible methionine plus cystine intake resulted in a linear reduction in body fat content with the elevation of the digestible methionine plus cystine to lysine ratio. The digestible methionine plus cystine to lysine ratio recommended in rations for tambaqui fingerlings is 64.8%.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different storage conditions on the physiological and sanitary quality and oil content of castor bean (Ricinus communis) seeds. Seeds of castor bean plants of the Guarani, and IAC-80 cultivars were stored in two environments (cold room, and room conditions), using three package types (multifoliate Kraft paper bag, and polyethylene bag, and polyethylene bag with vacuum at 1 atm). In addition, another storage condition was evaluated: cryopreservation (-196 °C) in foil paper bags. Seed quality was evaluated before storage and at 4, 8, and 12 months after storage by testing their 7-day and 14-day germination, emergence, health, water content, and oil content. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with 7×4 factorial arrangement consisting of seven storage conditions and four evaluation times. Cryopreservation is the ideal condition for maintaining the seed physiological quality of the Ricinus communis cultivars used throughout storage. The oil content of the R. communis seeds decreases, and the incidence of Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. fungi increases throughout storage, regardless of the storage conditions.

The efficiency of biological products combined with biological fertilization for controlling Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybean crops, and effects of these treatments on soybean crops were evaluate. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Mato Grosso State University, in Brazil, using a randomized block design with a 10×2 factorial arrangement, and four replications. The treatments consisted of Trichoderma asperellum, B. subtilis, Purpureocillium lilacinum, B. subtilis + T. asperellum, B. subtilis + P. lilacinum, T. asperellum + P. lilacinum, B. subtilis + T. asperellum + P. lilacinum and abamectin, and Controls with, and without nematodes. Nematode population, plant height, stem base diameter, and soil microbiological characteristics (at 60 and 120 days after sowing - DAS), shoot dry weight (60 DAS), and number of pods per plant, and grain yield (120 DAS) were evaluated. The treatments were efficient for the control of phytonematodes at 60 DAS; the efficiency of treatments with biological products increased when combined with biological fertilization. The biological products were more efficient for controlling the nematodes than abamectin at 120 DAS; and the percentage of control were higher when they were combined with biological fertilization, in both growing periods. The biological treatments resulted in better agronomic characteristics, and higher number of pods per plant, and grain yield, affecting the plants in the first growing period, and significant interaction with the biological fertilizer for these variables in the second growing period. The interaction between treatments and biological fertilization was significant for soil microbiological characteristics in the second growing period.

Evaluating spatial variability of hydraulic properties and salinity of soils is important for an adequate agricultural management of alluvial soils, and protection of riparian vegetation. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of geophysical techniques for indirect measurements of apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), using an electromagnetic induction equipment (EM38®), and soil physical hydraulic parameters and their spatial interrelations. The study was carried out at the Advanced Research Unit of the UFRPE, in the Brígida River Basin, in Panamirim, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, in the second half of 2016. This river had a 100 m wide riparian forest strip transversely to the river bank on both sides of the river. A regular 20×10 m grid with 80 points was used to evaluate the soil hydraulic conductivity and ECa. The geostatistics showed the spatial dependence and the dependence of the soil attributes, their spatialization, and precise mapping through indirect readings. Most of the variability (86%) in soil electrical conductivity was explained by indirect readings using the EM38®. Ranges of 80 m, 380 m, and 134 m were found for soil moisture, ECa, and hydraulic conductivity, respectively, presenting strong spatial dependence. The results showed the importance of riparian forests to the maintenance of soil moisture and porosity to the improvement of soil water infiltration capacity even under severe water deficit conditions and soil subsurface layers.