Gene expression profile during coffee fruit development and identification of candidate markers for phenological stages

The objective of this work was to identify genes that could be used as suitable markers for molecular recognition of phenological stages during coffee (Coffea arabica) fruit development. Four cultivars were evaluated as to their differential expression of genes associated to fruit development and maturation processes. Gene expression was characterized by both semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR, in fruit harvested at seven different developmental stages, during three different seasons. No size polymorphisms or differential expression were observed among the cultivars for the evaluated genes; however, distinct expression profiles along fruit development were determined for each gene. Four out of the 28 evaluated genes exhibited a regular expression profile in all cultivars and harvest seasons, and, therefore, they were validated as candidate phenological markers of coffee fruit. The gene α-galactosidase can be used as a marker of green stage, caffeine synthase as a marker of transition to green and yellowish-green stages, and isocitrate lyase and ethylene receptor 3 as markers of late maturation

Morphometry and carcass characteristics of goats submitted to grazing in the Caatinga

The objective of this study was to evaluate morphometric measures, carcass yields, absolute weights and yields of commercial cuts of carcass of kids with no defined breed. Eighteen castrated male goats, with average weight of 15 kg were used. The experimental period lasted 105 days. The experimental design was completely randomized; animals were allocated to three treatments: free grazing without supplementation; restricted grazing without supplementation and free grazing with supplementation. Animals were supplemented (1% of body weight) with forage cactus (Opuntia ficus - indica, Mill) and soybean meal (Glycine max). The feeding consisted of continuous grazing on caatinga. Supplemented animals had higher live slaughter weight and body score, and consequently higher morphometric measures in vivo and in carcasses. The supplementation provided carcasses with higher body weight and body score. For yields of carcass, there was no difference between treatments restricted grazing and grazing with supplementation; supplementation provided carcasses with higher yields. Supplemented animals had higher absolute weights for commercial cuts. Supplementation of grazing goats raised in the caatinga provides animals with higher body weight at slaughter, greater morphometric measures in vivo and in carcass and better body conformation. Therefore, for supplementation, the level used in this experiment is a good alternative in the creation of small ruminants during the dry period in the semi-arid region

Crescimento de Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. e Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Leguminosae) sob diferentes níveis de sombreamento Growth of Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. e Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Leguminosae) under different shading levels

Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. é uma espécie clímax tolerante a sombra, ao passo que Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. é uma espécie pioneira. O desenvolvimento destas espécies pode refletir a habilidade de adaptação aos diferentes fatores ambientais (luz, água e temperatura) no local em que estão crescendo. O suprimento inadequado de um desses fatores pode reduzir o vigor da planta e limitar seu desenvolvimento. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do nível de sombreamento no crescimento e a concentração de pigmentos fotossintéticos em duas espécies de leguminosas arbóreas, Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. e Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. O experimento foi conduzido no Setor de Olericultura do Centro Universitário Luterano de Ji-Paraná (CEULJI/ULBRA)/Rondônia. Durante a formação das mudas, ambas as espécies foram expostas a quatro tratamentos de sombra: 0 % (controle - sol pleno); 30 %; 50 % e 80 %. Cada tratamento foi constituído com três repetições de cada espécie; o delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado. Quatro meses após a semeadura, as seguintes análises foram realizadas: número de folhas, altura da planta, comprimento do sistema radicular, massa seca total e concentração de pigmentos fotossintéticos. O tratamento sob sol pleno afetou negativamente o crescimento de ambas as espécies. As mudas crescidas sob 50% e 80% apresentaram melhor desenvolvimento. Conforme o aumento do sombreamento houve um decréscimo na razão clorofila a/b e um aumento nas concentrações de clorofila total e carotenóides totais.<br>Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. is a clímax shadow tolerant specie and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong., by the other hand, is considered as a pioneer specie. The development of these species may reflect its adaptation ability to different environmental elements (light, water and temperature) at its growth site. An inadequate supply of some of these elements may reduce plant vigor and limit its development. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of shade intensity on the growth and photosynthetic pigment concentration of two arboreal legumes that are typical to northern Brazil, namely, the Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. and the Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. The experiment was carried out at the Centro Universitário Luterano de Ji-Paraná (CEULJ/ULBRA)/Rondônia. During the formation of the seedlings, both species were exposed to four treatments of shade: 0 % (control - without shade); 30 %; 50 % e 80 %. Each treatment was carried out with three replications for each species; the experimental design was completely randomized. Four month after sowing, the following analyses were carried out: number of leaves, plant height, roots length, dry mass and photosynthetic pigment concentration. The treatment under 0% shade impaired the seedling growth of both species. The most favorable treatments were 50 % and 80 % shade. According to the shade intensity, the chlorophyll a/b ratio decreased and the chlorophyll and carotenoids increased