In Brazil, infestations of crop areas with glyphosate-resistant (GR) sourgrass (Digitaria insularis (L.) Fedde) biotypes has risen significantly, increasing crop production costs. Glyphosate efficacy on three biotypes (GO, BA and MT) of sourgrass with suspected resistance was evaluated. A susceptible biotype (MG) was used as the control. The results confirmed that the MG and GO biotypes were susceptible to glyphosate (control > 90%). The MG biotype exhibited growth reduction and mortality by 50% (GR50 and LD50, respectively) with mean glyphosate doses of 243.7 and 431.6 g ae ha-1. The resistance index of the biotypes with suspected resistance ranged from 2.8 to 6.1 in relation to GR50 and between 1.4 to 26.7 in relation to LD50. The glyphosate susceptibility ranking of the sourgrass biotypes was MG < GO < MT < BA. The MT and BA biotypes demonstrated high glyphosate resistance levels, and the GO biotype had a high potential to develop resistance. Farmers should avoid the application of glyphosate overdoses to minimize the selection pressure on weeds. | No Brasil, as infestações de áreas agrícolas com biótipos de capim-amargoso resistentes ao glyphosate, resultam em aumento significativo nos custos de produção das culturas. Avaliou-se a eficácia do glyphosate em três biótipos de capim-amargoso com indício de resistência (GO, BA e MT) a este herbicida. Um biótipo suscetível (MG) foi utilizado como controle. Constatou-se que os biótipos MG e GO foram suscetíveis ao herbicida (controle > 90%). O biótipo MG apresentou redução do crescimento e mortalidade em 50% (GR 50 e C 50 , respectivamente) nas doses de glyphosate de 243,7 e 431,6 g ha -1 . Os fatores de resistência dos biótipos com indício de resistência oscilaram entre 2,8 a 6,1 em relação ao GR 50 ; e entre 1,4 e ≥ 26,7 em relação ao C 50 . A ordem de susceptibilidade dos biótipos de capim-amargoso foi MG < GO < MT < BA. Estes últimos apresentaram elevado nível de resistência ao glyphosate, e o biótipo GO têm potencial para desenvolvê-la. Portanto, os agricultores devem evitar a aplicação de superdose de glyphosate a fim de reduzir a pressão de seleção das plantas daninhas.

The objective of the present work was to investigate the antioxidant enzyme activities and the occurrence of lipid peroxidation during storage of J. curcas seeds obtained from fruits at different maturity stages. Seeds extracted from fruits collected at three stages of maturity were used, i.e., yellow, brownish-yellow, and brown (dry fruits). The seeds were subsequently stored for 18 months in Kraft paper bags in a laboratory environment. Initially as well as every three months, the seeds were evaluated for germination and electrical conductivity, and the seed embryos were evaluated for lipid peroxidation; protein content; and superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activity at the same time points. In general, the seeds from the three stages of fruit maturity did not differ regarding germination throughout the entire period of storage, although a reduction in viability was observed after nine months of storage. The electrical conductivity increased during storage and was greater for the seeds obtained from brown fruits. There was a reduction in protein content and in enzyme activities in the seed embryo, except for superoxide dismutase. No relationship was observed between reduction in seed viability and lipid peroxidation. Thus, J. curcas seeds with high initial quality can be stored under environmental conditions for up to 9, 15 and 15 months for brown (dry), yellow and brownish-yellow fruits, respectively, without a significant reduction in germination but with a reduction in seed vigour. | O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a atividade de enzimas antioxidativas e a peroxidação de lipídios durante o armazenamento de sementes de J. curcas em diferentes estádios de maturação. Foram utilizadas sementes extraídas de frutos colhidos com coloração externa da casca amarela, amarela-marrom e marrom (frutos secos). As sementes foram armazenadas por 18 meses, em embalagem de papel Kraft em ambiente de laboratório. Inicialmente e a cada três meses, as sementes foram avaliadas quanto à germinação e condutividade elétrica, e os embriões das sementes foram avaliados quanto a peroxidação de lipídios, conteúdo de proteínas e atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase, peroxidases e peroxidase do ascorbato. Em geral, as sementes dos três estádios de maturação dos frutos não diferiram quanto à germinação durante todo o período de armazenamento, embora tenha sido observada uma redução da germinação a partir de nove meses de armazenamento. Houve redução no conteúdo de proteína e na atividade das enzimas antioxidantes no embrião das sementes dos três estádios de maturação, com exceção da superóxido dismutase. Não foi observada relação entre a redução da viabilidade das sementes e a peroxidação de lipídios. Sementes de J. curcas com elevada qualidade inicial podem ser armazenadas sob condições ambientais por até 9, 15 e 15 meses, para os estádios de coloração dos frutos marrom (frutos secos), amarelo-marrom e amarelo, respectivamente, sem redução significativa da germinação, mas com redução no vigor das sementes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between excess manganese and waterlogging tolerance in 18th selection cycle Zea mays L. cv. Saracura plants. Maize plants were transferred to plastic receptacles containing solutions with different concentrations of manganese. Leaves and roots were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and after 7, 14, and 21 days for chlorophyll content, biomass production and antioxidant metabolism. Mn was strongly translocated from the roots to the leaves, triggering a decrease in chlorophyll content. Excess Mn promoted an increase in reactive oxygen species that was accompanied by higher levels of antioxidative enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation. Zea mays L. cv. Saracura efficiently sequestered relatively large amounts of Mn in the leaves, with a significant impact on metabolism; however, we did not observe visual symptoms or a large decrease in biomass production.

In this experiment, we assessed the germination and vigor of quinoa seeds packed in paper bags and stored at room temperature for 36, 85, 119, 146, 177 and 270 days. The seeds were harvested under experimental conditions in Marechal Candido Rondon, Paraná, during the 2012/13 growing seasons. Four replicates of 100 seeds each were established for each storage time, and the seeds were evaluated, on paper, based on the BOD under the following experimental temperature conditions: alternating temperatures of 20 and 30°C and a constant temperature of 25°C. The seeds from both treatments were subject to seven-hour photoperiods and 25°C under continuous darkness. The germinated seeds were counted daily for eight days after sowing, and we evaluated the percentages of normal and abnormal seedlings and the germination index. The experimental design was completely randomized using a split-plot design. Increasing the storage time decreased the percentage of germinated seeds and seed vigor due to the increased number of abnormal seedlings. Over the 430-day study period, quinoa seed germination completely declined under the experimental conditions. The final number of germinating seeds should be evaluated 7 days after the beginning of the germination test.

Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller, 1848) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) is an insect pest of 60 economically important crops, including sugarcane, wheat, soybean, rice, beans, sorghum, peanuts, and cotton. The aim of this work was to select and characterize Bacillus thuringiensis isolates with insecticidal activity against E. Lignosellus that could be used as an alternative method of control. Selective bioassays were done to evaluate the toxicity of 47 isolates against first instar larvae of E. lignosellus. For the most toxic bacterial strains, the lethal concentration (LC50) was estimated and morphological, biochemical and molecular methods were used to characterize the isolates. Among the 47 isolates tested, 12 caused mortality above 85% and showed LC50 values from 0.038E+8 to 0.855E+8 spores mL-1. Isolates BR83, BR145, BR09, BR78, S1534, and S1302 had the lowest LC50 values and did not differ from the standard HD-1 strain; the exception was BR83.The protein profiles produced bands with molecular masses of 60-130 kDa. The genes cry1, cry2, cry3, and cry11 were identified in the molecular characterization. The morphological analysis identified three different crystal inclusions: bipyramidal, spherical and cuboidal. Among the tested isolates, 12 isolates have potential for biotechnological control of E. Lignosellus by development of new biopesticides or genetically modified plants.

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of ash (40, 80, and 120 g per plant), castor cake (140 and 280 g per plant) and water depth (135, 165, 191, and 213 mm) on the growth and production of organic tomato cultivated in pots in a greenhouse. The experimental design was randomized blocks, and the irrigation was managed using an automatic irrigation device. The following variables were evaluated: plant heights, numbers of leaves, bunches, flowers and fruits, total mass of fruits, mass of marketable fruits, mass of fruits with blossom-end rot, total diameter of fruits, and diameter of marketable fruits. Most of the growth variables showed gains with the application of 140 g of ash and 280 g of cake. The dose of 280 g of castor cake was responsible for the greatest mass of marketable fruits (1.78 kg per plant), regardless of the ash dose. The water deficit reduced values of most of the variables of growth and production. The irrigation depth of 213 mm was responsible for the greatest mass of marketable fruits (4.04 kg per plant). The highest water use efficiencies, 37.00 and 37.93 kg m-3, were observed at irrigation depths of 191 and 213 mm, respectively.

Weed management plays a key role in the minimization of soil physical degradation processes such as compaction and hydric erosion. Different weed control managements can induce distinct changes in soil structure. One important soil physical attribute used for the analysis of modifications in soil structure is the soil water retention curve (SWRC). The objective of this work was to verify the use of physico-hydrical attributes to understand the effect of weed control managements on soil structure. Two soil layers (0–0.05 and 0.10–0.15 m) and six weed control managements divided into two groups were analyzed: I. no soil disturbance and ground cover (no weed control, post-emergence herbicide, mechanical mower); and II. soil disturbance and no ground cover (hand-hoe weeding, rotary tiller, pre-emergence herbicide). An area of native forest was used as reference. The results showed that the volumetric water capacity derived from the SWRC can be an interesting tool to evaluate the impact of weed control managements on soil structure. Evaluations of the air-filled porosity variation for different pressure heads also presented interesting findings. Distinct results of the weed control managements were found for the different depths analyzed in relation to the forest.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nut shell liquid (CNSL) has been successfully used in trials as an Aedes aegypti larvicide, but little is known about its environmental effects. In this study, the potential effects of CNSL and a CNSL-based phyto-product formulation on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) and Senna obtusifolia (coffee senna) were assessed. The pH of CNSL and the formulation were 6.4 and 6.8, respectively; the electrical conductivities were 2.89 μS cm-1 (CNSL) and 2.21 μS cm-1 (formulation), respectively, and both contained anacardic acid (53.2%) and degradation products. In bioassays for germination and growth, CNSL (25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg mL-1), the formulation (100 mg mL-1) and the control were used in a completely randomized design. The results demonstrated the chemical effects of CNSL, which negatively affected the germination and vigor of lettuce and tomato and the vigor of coffee senna; for growth, it negatively influenced both the root and aerial parts of lettuce and tomato, but only the roots of coffee senna. The formulation had negative effects on the vigor of coffee senna and the growth of tomato and lettuce seedlings (roots and aerial parts). The results indicate the phytotoxicity of CNSL and the formulation for the plant species tested.

This study aimed to determine and evaluate the thermodynamic properties of crambe fruit at different equilibrium moisture contents. The dynamic-gravimetric method was used to collect experimental data. Crambe fruits with an initial moisture content of approximately 26% db (dry basis) were used. The thin-layer desorption of the product was conducted at different controlled temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40, and 45°C) and at water activity levels ranging from 0.10 to 0.89 until the product reached the equilibrium moisture content at the specified air condition. In conclusion, the thermodynamic properties of crambe fruit are affected by temperature and moisture content. The isokinetic theory is valid for the desorption process, which is controlled by enthalpy, and the Gibbs free energy is positive at all of the tested temperatures, which indicates that water desorption is not a spontaneous process.

Micropropagation is an important tool for the multiplication of native Cerrado species. However, understanding the responses of these species under in vitro culture conditions is still incomplete. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the growth, anatomical behavior and physiology of Pouteria gardneriana cultivated in vitro under photoautotrophic conditions. Nodal segments were cultured at photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 75, 100 and 150 µmol m-2 s-1 in culture medium MS 50% solidified with 3.5 g L-1 of agar and 2.0 g L-1 of activated charcoal, in the absence and presence of 30 g L-1 of sucrose. After 60 days of in vitro culture, the P. gardneriana plantlets only regenerated when sucrose was present in the culture medium. Higher fresh and dry weights, higher palisade parenchyma thickness and larger stomatal polar and equatorial diameters were observed in the plantlets cultured at PPFD 150 µmol m-2 s-1. The PPFD difference used in the present study was sufficient to provide additional understanding of the behavior of this species in vitro.