ABSTRACT Peppers belong to the family Solanaceae and can be used for several different purposes. The use of morphological descriptors associated with multivariate techniques allows identifying pepper progenies that can be recommended for ornamental purposes. This study aimed to select segregating Capsicum annum progenies based on multivariate analyses. The study was conducted in a plant nursery at the Biotechnology and Plant Breeding Sector of the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba (CCA/UFPB). Twenty F3 progenies of ornamental peppers were used, namely: UFPB 5, 8, 10, 15, 18, 22, 25, 32, 33, 36, 40, 42, 49, 56, 60, 62, 64, 69, 75, and 77, plus four additional controls consisting of the parents UFPB 77.3 and UFPB137 and two commercial cultivars, Etna and Pirâmide. Seventeen plant and fruit traits were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized. The data were subjected to a multivariate analysis of variance. All analyses were performed with the software R, version 3.0.3. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance highlighted significant differences between the populations of ornamental peppers. Singh’s (1981) method made it possible to determine that eleven of the seventeen traits studied contributed with 73.7% of the genetic divergence, whereas six traits contributed with only 21.2%. There is genetic diversity among the evaluated progenies. Progenies 5, 10, 22, 33, 49, and 69 are recommended for selection for having ornamental traits for in-pot cultivation. Selection within these progenies is recommended to continue the breeding program of ornamental peppers for in-pot cultivation.

ABSTRACT Garlic is a vegetable that has a high economic importance for Brazil. However, despite increases in garlic bulb production in the last years, Brazil is still dependent on imported garlic to meet the national demand. Thus, proper management practices and the use of virus-free clove-seeds are promising alternatives to ensure a high productivity and profitability. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate production characteristics and profitability of conventional and virus-free garlic crops as a function of different clove-seed sizes and plant spacings. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously, using virus-free and conventional garlic plants in Portalegre, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in a randomized block experimental design, with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split-plot, with the clove-seed size (large and small) in the plots, and the spacing between plants (7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 15.0 cm) in the subplots. The combination between the use of virus-free clove-seeds, large clove-seed size, and spacing of 12.5 cm between plants resulted in the highest commercial bulb yield and net income, R$ (BRL) 85,151.00 ha-1. The use of large clove-seeds and spacing of 7.5 cm between plants are recommended for conventional garlic crops.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the physiological and biochemical changes resulting from controlled deterioration in different lots of sunflower seeds. Two sunflower seed lots of the cultivar Hélio 253 were subjected to simulated deterioration, using the accelerated aging test methodology (41 °C and 100% RH) for 0, 48, 72, and 96 h. Then, the seeds were subjected to the tests of germination, first germination count, seedling length and dry matter, emergence, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, and total seedling length. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POX) at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days after sowing. Deterioration caused a reduction in the germination and vigor of the seeds, mainly in the lot with lower initial vigor and for the longest exposure times (72 and 96 h). For both lots, reductions in SOD activity and increases in POX and APX were observed during seed germination, mainly after 48 h of exposure to aging deterioration. Peroxidase enzymes are activated in deteriorated and non-deteriorated sunflower seeds, mainly after two days of germination.

ABSTRACT The germination process of the Annona sylvatica A.St.-Hil becomes difficult because the seeds have physical and physiological numbness. Although, the objective was to evaluate the effect the gibberellic acid can have in overcoming this physiological process. So that, aimed to evaluate the effect of the gibberellic acid in the overcoming dormancy of araticum seeds. Two different projects were developed simultaneously (plants germination in the laboratory and emergence of seedlings in seed). At the laboratory, the experimental design used was completely casualized in factorial scheme 4 x 4. Evaluating the physiological aspect of the germination and vigor. The germination of the seeds presented superior performance when they were immersed in 1200 mg.L-1 of GA3, in 24 h of imbibition, reaching 67% of germination. In the emergence of seedlings in seed, the experimental design used was to randomize blocks in factorial scheme 4 x 5 (four accesses x five periods of immersion). After 110 days, evaluating physiological aspects of emergence and vigor. The emergence varied between 32 to 45% (accesses A1 and A3) in a period of 15 to 24 h (accesses A1 and A3 or A4). High concentration and longer period of soaking in gibberellic acid promote a bigger germination of the araticum seeds. There is a difference between the accesses of the species, necessary to evaluate before being collected, and in the present study the accesses A3 is promising for harvest.

ABSTRACT Water scarcity is one of the main problems in the Semiarid region of Brazil, which can be mitigated by water resource management strategies. The objective of this work was to classify waters of a watershed in the Semiarid region of Brazil and select the water attributes that most affect the quality of waters used for irrigation (QWI), using multivariate statistics. The study area was the Riacho da Bica watershed, which is between the municipalities of Portalegre and Viçosa, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The QWI was determined using water samples from 15 collections carried out from 2016 to 2018, in five specific points of the watershed, starting in the spring and following the water course. The water attributes evaluated were: electrical conductivity (EC), potential hydrogen (pH), and sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), carbonate (CO32-), chloride (Cl-), and bicarbonate (HCO3-) contents. The water quality data were subjected to multivariate statistics through factorial analysis (FA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The application of multivariate statistics through FA-PCA generated four principal components. The attributes that most explained the QWI variation were potassium, calcium, and pH for Factor 01, and sodium and RAS for Factor 02. The watershed waters were classified as low risk of salinity and medium risk of sodicity (C1S2) for irrigation purposes.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the quantum yield, photosynthetic pigments and biomass accumulation of mini watermelon cv. Sugar Baby, under strategies of irrigation with saline water and potassium fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a 8 × 3 factorial scheme, with three replicates, corresponding to eight strategies of irrigation with saline water applied at different phenological stages of the crop (control - irrigation with low-salinity water throughout the crop cycle, and salt stress in the vegetative, vegetative/flowering, flowering, flowering/fruiting, fruiting, fruiting/ fruit maturation and fruit maturation stage) and three potassium doses (50, 100 and 150% of the recommendation). The dose of 100% corresponded to 150 mg of K2O kg-1 of soil. Two levels of electrical conductivity of water were used: 0.8 and 4.0 dS m-1. Irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 continuously in the vegetative and flowering stages increased the initial fluorescence and decreased the quantum efficiency of photosystem II of mini watermelon fertilized with 100 and 150% of K recommendation. Fertilization with 50% recommendation did not interfere in the fluorescence parameters of the mini watermelon, regardless of the irrigation management strategy. Chlorophyll a synthesis is inhibited by salt stress in the vegetative/flowering, flowering, flowering/fruiting, fruiting/maturation stages, as well as for total chlorophyll, except for the flowering stage. Application of 4.0 dS m-1 water in the flowering, fruiting/maturation and maturation stages promoted greater biomass accumulation in mini watermelon.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate mango hybrids obtained by open pollination based on the physical and chemical traits of the fruit, and to analyze the genetic diversity among these hybrids to find plants that produce quality fruit both for direct consumption and for industrial processing. The hybrids under study were generated from seeds produced from crosses with unknown genotypes as a result of open pollination. The unknown genotypes were randomly scattered in areas dedicated to growing a Tommy Atkins variety, and plants were obtained from mango seeds generated through sexual propagation. To assess genetic diversity, cluster analysis was carried out, as well as principal component analysis. Two hybrids were most prominent in terms of fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, pulp weight, and pulp yield, with mean values greater than 245 g for pulp weight and 70% for pulp yield. Regarding fiber content in the pulp, six hybrids had a score of "2", that is, moderately fibrous fruit. For acidity and soluble solids content, the hybrids exhibited variations from 0.19 to 1.06% of citric acid and from 13.1 to 20.6 ºBrix, respectively. For peel color, tones ranging from reddish orange to yellow and green were observed. As for pulp color, there was variation from orange to light yellow tones. There was variability among the mango hybrids regarding the fruit traits analyzed, and hybrids that produce fruit that combine traits of economic interest were identified.

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 Maize is widely cultivated in Brazil, and nitrogen is a major nutrient for its yield. Azospirillum brasiliense bacteria help in plant nutrient supply; however, maize-Azospirillum symbiosis is not very efficient and requires selection of genotypes with a more efficient association. Multivariate indexes facilitate selection using a single value, and GGE-biplot analysis enables the visualization of the genotype-environment interaction from this value. The present study aimed to select progenies that effectively associate with the bacteria and study the efficiency of progeny selection using a multivariate index observed in the GGE-biplot method. The experiments were conducted in two cities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In a simple 16 × 16 lattice, 256 genotypes were evaluated in the presence and absence of diazotrophic bacteria. PH, SL, SD, FI, HGM, SS, and GY were measured for the construction of a selection index. Genotypes exhibited significant genotype–environment interactions for all evaluated traits, allowing their use in the selection index. High-yield genotypes were not those with the highest selection index values. The traits GY, SD, HGM, SS, SL, and PH contributed the most to the construction of the index. The no-till system may have contributed to the weaker response of maize inoculated with Azospirillum brasiliense. Genotype 96 had the highest values of the characteristics used to calculate the GISI, along with the stability between environments.