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 Alternative management measures have been used to reduce nematode population levels in affected areas. In this perspective, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency of nematicides based on fungus and bacterium, associated with poultry litter applied via ground in the management of Pratylenchus brachyurus and Heterodera glycines in soybean and corn crops in succession. The experiment was conducted in the 2018/19 growing season in the municipality of Ipameri– GO (-17°34’55.58”S−48°12’02.35”O) in naturally infested field, arranged in a randomized block design, with 10 treatments and 4 replicates, being: T1- Witness/ control, T2- Poultry litter, T3- P. lilacinum + T. harzianum, T4- B. subtilis + B. licheniformis, T5- P. chlamydosporia, T6- Abamectina, T7- P. lilacinum + T. harzianum + Poultry litter, T8- B. subtilis + B. licheniformis + Poultry litter, T9- P. chlamydosporia + Poultry litter, T10- Abamectina + Poultry litter. The poultry litter was added in the soil 10 days before planting. The plots were composed of 6 lines of 6 m, with a spacing of 0.5 m. In the soybean crop at 45 and 90 days after sowing (DAS), the fresh weight of the roots (MFR), nematological variables and productivity were evaluated. In corn, only nematological variables were evaluated at 60 DAS. The treatments using P. lilacinum + T. harzianum and B. subtillis + B. licheniformes increased the MFR and reduced the number of P. brachyurus and H. glycines at the root. P. chlamydosporia associated with poultry litter increased in productivity in soybean plants.

ABSTRACT Melon is a vegetable of great socioeconomic importance, and its cultivation is carried out under different production systems. The protected cultivation of melon can be carried out in coconut shell fiber, which is a substrate widely used in olericulture, but little information is available regarding its continuous use in more than one cultivation cycle. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of muskmelon hybrids as a function of the reuse of coconut shell fiber with fertigation in a protected environment. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse from March to July 2008 and designed in randomized blocks in a 2×3 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The factors consisted of two hybrids (‘Bonus 2’ and ‘Fantasy’) and three types of substrate (S1: new coconut shell fiber; S2: coconut shell fiber reused once in sweet pepper cultivation; and S3: coconut shell fiber reused twice, i.e., first in sweet pepper cultivation and then in melon cultivation). Transverse and longitudinal fruit diameter, fruit shape index, transverse and longitudinal locule diameter, locule shape index, peduncle insertion diameter, mesocarp thickness, firmness, skin netting, fresh mass, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, and yield were evaluated after harvest. Reusing twice the coconut shell fiber as a substrate did not affect the agronomic and physicochemical characteristics of the hybrids Bonus 2 and Fantasy.

ABSTRACT The interaction between Meloidogyne and Fusarium can alter the resistance behavior of passion fruit genotypes. The study was aimed to evaluate the reaction of genotypes of Passiflora spp. to Meloidogyne incognita race 3 (Mi)-Fusarium solani (Fs) complex. The assay was carried using RBD in the factorial arrangement: 10 genotypes (BRS-SC, M-19-UFV, P. alata, P. nitida, P. giberti, P.setacea, P. mucronata, P. murifolia, P. cincinnata, P. ligularis) x 3 treatments (Mi, Mi+Fs, Fs). After 180 days of planting the reaction to Mi was determined by RF (Pi/Pf) and to Fs by lesions size in roots and stems. According to the criteria of Oostenbrink and Moura and Regis, BRS-SC, M-19-UFV. P. alata and P. cincinnata behaved as resistant and P. giberti as susceptible. According to the Taylor and Sasser, BRS-SC, M-19-UFV, P. alata, P. cincinnata and P. giberti behaved as resistant, moderately resistant, moderately suscetible and susceptible, respectively. Lower percentage of plants with symtoms of Fs was found in P. mucronata, P. nitida, P. setacea, P. cincinnata and M-19-UFV In the presence of both pathogens, M-19-UFV, P. alata and P. nitida were those with larger lesion. In the presence de Fs, BRS-SC, P. alata, P. cincinnata and P. ligularis showed the largest lesions.

ABSTRACT The rational use of water while considering the increases in food production is a great challenge for agriculture currently. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the soil properties of rice paddy areas under different water management systems. For this, the rice cultivars BRS Tropical and IRGA 424 were grown under the following treatments: M1: Intermittent flooding; M2: Intermittent flooding, followed by continuous flooding; M3: Continuous flooding, followed by intermittent flooding; and M4: Continuous flooding for the entire plant cycle. As a control, a non-cultivated area, adjacent to the experimental plots was also evaluated. The variables analyzed were P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Al3+ contents, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) Carbon Stock (C-Stock), nitrogen stock (N-Stock), Cation-exchange capacity (CEC), C/N ratio; CO2 emission, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB), metabolic coefficient (qMic) and acid phosphatase and urease activities. There was not difference among the different water management systems for P, K+, Mg2+, CEC and C/N ratio. The SMB and the acid phosphatase and urease activities were lower under the different treatments when compared to the control. The CO2 emission under rice paddy system was influenced by the phenological phase of the crop. The variables SOC, C-Stock, SMB, C/N ratio, K+, acid phosphatase and usease activities are those most sensitive attributes observed in the soil under different water management systems during rice cultivation. Water management in the rice paddy system influenced soil by changing its quality.

ABSTRACT Coconut meal can be an affordable low-cost alternative to noble ingredients such as corn and soybean meal in sheep diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of coconut meal inclusions, when used as a corn and soybean meal replacement, on the intake, digestibility, and nitrogen balance of sheep diets. Twenty-four male Santa Inês lambs with body weights (BW) of 26.6 ± 3.2 kg were used in the study. The animals were housed in metabolic cages and distributed in a completely randomized block design, with three treatments and eight replications. The animals received a total mixed ratio of 30% roughage (elephant grass) and 70% concentrate. The animals were fed on two experimental diets with 11% and 22% coconut meal inclusion and a control diet (without coconut meal). Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) intake as a percentage of BW were negatively influenced by the inclusion of coconut meal. The ether extract (EE) intake increased but did not differ between the 11% and 22% coconut meal diets. Furthermore, the digestibility of DM, CP, EE, and ADF did not differ between the two evaluated diets. The inclusion of coconut meal reduced NDF digestibility and increased that of NFC. The level of inclusion of coconut meal in the diet must be based on the EE content in the meal; keeping the EE intake below 0.16% of the BW helped to avoid limited intake of feed.

ABSTRACT Mastitis is an important infirmity that affects dairy goats and sheep flocks. Antimicrobials are widely used in mastitis therapy; however, the phenomenon of bacterial resistance has sparked interest in therapeutic alternatives, especially the research on essential oils from several plant species. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils against pathogens of importance in caprine and ovine mastitis. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests were performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils (EO) of four plants. Fifteen bacterial isolates, previously identified as Staphylococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, were used. The following plant species were used against the 15 bacterial isolates: Lippia origanoides “alecrim pimenta,” Lippia alba “erva cidreira,” Cymbopogon citratus “capim-santo,” and Ocimum basilicum “manjericão.” The first three essential oils presented antimicrobial activity against 100% of the isolates (15/15), with MICs of 560 µg mL-1, 1,173 µg mL-1, and 1,280 µg mL-1, and MBCs of 613 µg mL-1, 1,226 µg mL-1, and 1,333 µg mL-1, respectively. Nevertheless, the essential oil of O. basilicum, which was also tested, exerted no activity against any of the isolates. Carvacrol, citral, geraniol, and estragole were some of the major compounds found. These results can aid other studies that aim to use these essential oils as potential products for subsequent use in the treatment of mastitis in small ruminants.

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 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.