Selection in energy cane families

The objective of this study was to identify superior parents for crosses and the best families to breed new clones of energy cane. The best-performing parents were RB867515, RB93509, KRAKATAU, IM76-228, IM76-229, and US85-1008. The heritability (0.59 – 0.85)and accuracy values (0.76 – 0.92) for the traits tons of cane per hectare, fiber, and sucrose content indicate high correlation between the predicted genotypic means and observed values, enabling efficient selection of the best cane energy families. The extensive genetic variation detected and the presence of promising seedlings in the selected segregating population indicate the possibility of using new crosses in some clones and even in future commercial plantings. It was possible to identify the best parents involved in the evaluated crosses, and to select, in the best families, seedlings with a high fiber and good sucrose content, seedlings with high fiber and low sugar content, as well as seedlings with the same fiber and sucrose contents as the current cultivars

Contributions of plant breeding in Brazil: progress and perspectives

Agribusiness is fundamental for the Brazilian economy. This has become possible due to the use of science and technology in agriculture in the last 35 years. Among the technologies, the use of improved cultivars stands out. This article presents the situation of the species grown in the country in recent years and the contribution of genetic plant breeding to the performance of these species. Challenges multiplied because of populational growth associated with the ever-growing concern of society with the environment. Breeders of the present and future must base plant selection in the field on new technologies so that it is possible to meet demand

Scientific production on workplace bullying/harassment in dissertations and theses in the Brazilian scenario

OBJECTIVE To analyze scientific production about workplace bullying and harassment in dissertations and theses in Brazil, with emphasis on the year of publication; educational institution; area of knowledge; professional and academic background of the authors; keywords used; and concept map organization. METHOD Bibliometric study with a quantitative approach with a sample consisting of 57 papers, 5 theses and 52 dissertations, published between 2002 and 2012. RESULTS It was found that 2012 was the year with the highest number of publications in this topic area. The region that stood out was the Southeast. The institution with the highest number of publications was the Federal University of Santa Catarina. There was a predominance of dissertations and most publications were produced by researchers focused on a multidisciplinary perspective. CONCLUSION Expanding the views regarding bullying in order to disseminate scientific production was proposed, promoting further advancement of debates and raising pertinent questions

Contribution of the universities to the development of field crop cultivars

Public and private research institutions employ their best efforts to produce new cultivars, which are intended to ensure productivity, reduce ecological footprint and present characteristics that meet consumer expectations. Some Brazilian universities, which are usually originated from schools of higher education in agriculture, have contributed to the breeding of some crops. These universities also aimed to solve the problems of the Brazilian agricultural sector, and became essential tool to make Brazil an important player in the agribusiness world. In the last decades, regarding the five species presented here, the universities have developed 35 oat cultivars and made the country self-sufficient in this grain; they have also developed cultivars of common beans (27), sugarcane (59), soybean (62), and wheat (03), besides countless corn hybrids, since works in this species date before the establishment of the national cultivar registration system.Inúmeras instituições, públicas e privadas, empregam seus melhores esforços para produzir novas cultivares, as quais têm por objetivo garantir a produtividade, reduzir insumos e apresentar características que atendam às expectativas dos consumidores. Algumas universidades brasileiras, em geral originadas de escolas de ensino superior de agricultura, têm contribuído para o melhoramento genético de algumas culturas. Essas universidades também visavam resolver os problemas do setor agropecuário brasileiro, e se tornaram instrumento fundamental para alçar o Brasil como um respeitável ator do agronegócio mundial. Nas últimas décadas, considerando as cinco espécies aqui apresentadas, as Universidades desenvolveram 35 cultivares de aveia branca e tornaram o país autossuficiente nesse grão; desenvolveram 27 cultivares de feijoeiro, 59 de cana-de-açúcar, 62 de soja, 03 de trigo, além de inúmeras e incontáveis cultivares de milho, pois os trabalhos nesta espécie datam muito antes dos registros nacionais de cultivares