ABSTRACT Information on nutritional management of pitaya crops are scarce. However, understanding the growth and nutrient accumulation in these plants at different developmental stages can assist in the development of rational soil fertilizer application programs for pitaya crops and decrease production costs. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and nutrient accumulation in pitaya plants throughout the crop cycle. Cladodes of pitaya plants of the Hylocereus setaceus species were grown in polyethylene pots containing a Typic Hapludult (Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo Eutrófico) under full sun. The treatments consisted of six sampling times: 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after planting (DAP). A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used. Four plants were sampled and evaluated for growth and nutrient accumulation at each sampling time. The pitaya plants presented an exponential growth up to 360 DAP and high nutrient absorption between 300 and 360 DAP. The nutrient and Na accumulations in the cladodes, in decreasing order, were: 3.91 (K), 2.56 (Ca), 1.95 (N), 1.24 (P), 0.45 (Mg), 0.30 (S), and 0.06 (Na) g plant-1, and 14.86 (Zn), 12.72 (Fe), 12.37 (Mn), 5.37 (B), and 1.04 (Cu) mg plant-1. The highest relative growth rate and relative nutrient absorption rate were found between 60 and 120 DAP.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of galactomannan from Caesalpinia pulcherrima as a binding agent for the restructuring of fishes. The effect of a frozen (-18 °C) storage of 120 days on the physical-chemical and mechanical properties of fishes was evaluated, restructured fish products with transglutaminase were used as a control. Two fish restructuring formulations were developed: Galactomannan, with 0.2% galactomannan and 1.8% refined salt; and Control, with 0.5% transglutaminase. The analyses were carried out after 24 hours of refrigerated storage (4 °C), corresponding to time zero, and after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of frozen (-18 °C) storage. The use of galactomannan resulted in a higher pH, and lower total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), with no differences from zero to 120-day storage times for the L*, a*, and b* coordinates. Galactomannan easily bounds to hydrogen, enabling the obtaining restructured fish products with lower expressible water content and less weight losses by cooking, important characteristics for the acceptance of products that denote softness and succulence. Contrastingly, this easy bound to water molecules resulted in a lower hardness, cohesiveness, and elasticity, and higher adhesivity when compared to the control. The results showed the viability of using galactomannan to restructure fishes during frozen storage.

ABSTRACT To evaluate seed vigor, electrical conductivity and ethanol tests are fast and efficient methodologies. They have the potential to be used in several species, such as red rice. However, there are no protocols or information about their efficiency. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency, and define parameters of execution for electrical conductivity and ethanol tests, to evaluate the vigor of red rice seeds. The study was conducted using four lots of ‘BRS 901’ red rice, which was subjected to a germination test, as well as first count, accelerated aging, and field seedling emergence tests. The electrical conductivity test was performed with 25, 50, and 100 seeds soaked in 50 mL and 75 mL of water, at 25 °C and 30 °C, for 3, 6, 20, and 24 hours, respectively. The ethanol test was performed with 50 and 100 seeds soaked in a volume of water equivalent to 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0× the mass of the seed sample. To assess the vigor of red rice seeds, the electrical conductivity test is an efficient method when conducted with 50 seeds soaked in 50 mL of water at 25 °C for 20 hours. Meanwhile, the ethanol test is most effective when performed with 50 seeds, in a volume of water that is 2.5× the mass of the sample, at 40 °C for 24 hours.

ABSTRACT Pest monitoring is a practice that enables the estimation of populational density of insect-pests in crops. However, it requires the use of attractors and traps that present high efficiency. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of food attractors using different trap models for the capture of spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) insects, and the capture selectivity of these models in vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon. The experiment was conducted in the 2018-2019 crop season, in São Joaquim, SC, Brazil. A randomized block design was used, in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement consisted of two types of traps (PET bottle and plastic container), three attractors (SuzukiTrap®, Droskidrink, and Yeast), and distilled water as a control. The traps were distributed in a minimum distance of 15 m and fixed in the middle third of the plants. The collections and replacing of attractors were done with 21-day intervals. The data were analyzed through generalized linear models, using the Poisson distribution or Poisson with a dispersion parameter. All attractors tested captured adult D. suzukii insects. No significant differences were found between the trap types used. The findings of the present work showed that the trap plastic container with the Droskidrink attractor is the most suitable capture method to be used in monitoring programs for D. suzukii insects in commercial vineyards.

ABSTRACT Fig (Ficus carica L.) is widely accepted due to its organoleptic and pharmacological properties. Search for innovations to improve the crop management has increased to reduce environmental impacts and improve the organoleptic quality and food safety of the fruits. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of fertilization methods and plant training systems on the production and physicochemical traits of fig. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, with three blocks and three plants per plot. The factors corresponded to five fertilizers (chemical, cattle manure, sheep manure, poultry litter, and organic compost) and four training systems (two branches, three branches, four branches, and espalier). Results showed that, when using chemical fertilizer and poultry litter, plants showed similar productivity and number of fruits, which had similar firmness, length, and peel color (L and °h). The highest production and number of immature fruits were obtained using cattle manure. Soluble solids content and soluble solids content/ titratable acidity ratio were higher in fruits from plants fertilized with cattle manure, sheep manure, and organic compost. On the other hand, plants trained with three and four branches or in espalier produced fruits with the highest soluble solids content and weight. Also, heavier fruits were obtained using chemical fertilization and conducting plants with two, three, and four branches.

ABSTRACT Northern leaf blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum is an important disease of maize (Zea mays L.), and its severity depends more closely on growth lesions than on spot number. Here, we characterized the infection sites of E. turcicum on resistant and susceptible maize genotypes by analyzing the histology of lesions as well as the structural and biochemical mechanisms of infection. Maize leaves were inoculated with the pathogen at specific points and incubated in a microhumidity chamber. Samples were obtained to follow fungal development and host tissue lignification using light and electron microscopy, and the activity and electrophoretic patterns of peroxidases were determined. The time course of spore germination and appressorium formation was essentially the same for both genotypes; however, a delay of 12 h in fungal penetration, accompanied by host tissue lignification, was noted in the resistant genotype, as opposed to that in the susceptible one. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fungal mycelium in the xylem vessels of both genotypes; however, in the resistant genotype, pathogen colonization was restricted to mesophyll cells around the penetration point, where chlorotic flecks were produced. Meanwhile, in the susceptible genotype, following penetration and chlorotic fleck formation, the pathogen continued to grow inside the xylem vessels and profusely colonized mesophyll tissue distant from the penetration point, resulting necrotic lesion development. Electrophoretic patterns of peroxidases were similar between the two genotypes, with three isoenzymes present in all tissues. In addition, two novel isoenzymes were detected in chlorotic flecks, necrotic lesions, and green tissue around the lesions.

ABSTRACT The response of shallot plants to potassium differs substantially depending on the cultivar, organic matter, soil conditions, and weather in the cultivation area. This research aimed to determine some of the growth characteristics of a Tinombo variety of shallot following treatment with an organic fertilizer comprising manure and potassium in the area of Palu, Central Sulawesi. This research took the form of a greenhouse experiment with planting in pots arranged in a completely randomized factorial pattern. The first factor was the application of chicken manure at 0 and 10 tons.ha-1, while the second factor was the dose of KCl fertilizer: 0 kg.ha-1; 30 kg.ha-1; 60 kg.ha-1 and 90 kg K2O.ha-1. Each treatment was replicated three times. The application of potassium and manure significantly affected the accumulation of dry matter and the linear growth rate of shallot var. Tinombo. Manure applied at 10 tons.ha-1 increased the leaf area index when combined with 0 to 60 kg K2O.ha-1. However, the addition of manure increased the net assimilation rate at all doses of potassium fertilizer. The number of bulbs and harvest index were affected by the amount of manure and potassium fertilizer applied, but there was no significant interaction between these two factors. Applying manure and K2O fertilizer resulted in a significantly higher number of bulbs and a better harvest index than in those cases where the two types of fertilizer were not applied.

ABSTRACT Cactus seeds in seasonal dry tropical forests are subject to several stressors, such as salt stress which limits imbibition and therefore germination. Thus, this study aimed to compare germination performance of Cereus jamacaru subsp. jamacaru and Pilosocereus pachycladus subsp. pernambucoensis seeds under salinity conditions. To this end, NaCl and KCl solutions were used in the following osmotic potentials: 0.0 (control),-0.2,-0.4,-0.6,-0.8,-1.0, and-1.2 MPa. Seeds were placed to germinate at 25 °C and 12-hour photoperiod. The number of germinated seeds was counted daily for 21 days after root protrusion. The variables analyzed were: water content, germination, normal seedlings, germination speed index, and average germination time. The experimental design was completely randomized, following a 2 × 7 factorial scheme (species × osmotic potential) for each saline source. Water restriction and ionic effect caused by salts favored seed germination and vigor in both species at-0.2 and-0.4 MPa. However, from-0.8 MPa onwards, germination decreased significantly for both salts. Seeds of C. jamacaru subsp. jamacaru and P. pachycladus subsp. pernambucoensis were tolerant to salt stress since they germinated up to-0.8 MPa (NaCl) and-1.2 MPa (KCl). The latter occurred only for P. pachycladus subsp. pernambucoensis.

ABSTRACT Developing fast-cooking, mineral-biofortified common bean lines represents an important innovation for breeding programs. Thus, this study was conducted to determine whether elite Mesoamerican common bean lines differ for cooking time and mineral concentration and to select fast-cooking, mineral- biofortified lines. The experiments were carried out in two growing seasons, in which 16 common bean genotypes were evaluated. Cooking time was determined using a Mattson cooker, and the minerals were analyzed by acid digestion. The resulting data were subjected to individual analysis of variance, combined analysis of variance, clustering by the Scott-Knott test, and selection index (multiplicative). There was a significant genotype × environment interaction effect for cooking time and the concentrations of potassium, iron, zinc and copper. Only the phosphorus concentration showed no genetic variability between the common bean lines. The ranking of the best common bean lines differed for all traits examined in the different environments, according to the Scott-Knott test. The use of the multiplicative selection index allows selecting superior common bean lines for all traits, namely, DF 07-11, DF 08-21, DF 08-20 and DF 08-28. These lines exhibit a very short cooking time (up to 15 min), high potassium concentration (> 12.00 g kg-1 of dry matter) and the highest mean values of micromineral concentration, and will thus be selected by the breeding program.

ABSTRACT Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is the second most important socioeconomic species of the genus, consisting of a food alternative as green or mature beans. It is an income option for family farmers and the lack of superior varieties makes its recommendation difficult, considering the peculiar lima bean variability. Thus, aimed to select landraces of lima beans based on desirable agronomic traits, enabling their use in breeding programs and later recommendations to family farmers. Evaluation trials were carried out with 14 landraces of lima beans in the municipalities of São Domingos do Maranhão - MA, Teresina - PI, Bom Jesus - PI, and Tianguá - CE. The agronomic traits were evaluated: number of days until flowering, number of days until pod maturation, pod length, pod width, pod thickness, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, and grain yield. The data were initially subjected to univariate analysis of variance to determine the genetic variability in different environments and, subsequently, to multivariate and cluster analyses. The evaluated landraces showed genetic divergence, not being grouped according to geographic origin, demonstrating the existence of similarity between germplasms of rural communities in neighboring states. The varieties Boca de Moça, Raio de Sol, and Fava Branca CE are the earliest; Boca de Moça, Rajada, and Raio de Sol presented the longest pods and largest seeds; and Boca de Moça, Rajada, and Mulatinha are the most productive. Therefore, it qualifies them for recommendation to family farmers and/or incorporation in lima bean breeding programs.