Performance of the root system of tomato plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and submitted to the grafting technique

Information about the combined use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in grafted horticultural crops are scarce, as is the case of tomato. Therefore, we investigated if the association between AMF and the grafting technique modifies the performance of the root system of tomato plants grown on substrate. The treatments, outlined in a two-factorial scheme, were absence of inoculation and two inoculants of AMF (Rhizophagus clarus and mycorrhizal community) inserted in grafted and non-grafted tomato plants. The experiment was designed entirely at random, with five replications. The evaluations in the root system of the plants were carried out at 30 and 120 days after transplantation (DAT). Grafted plants evaluated at 30 DAT showed greater mycorrhizal colonization when cultivated with R. clarus. However, in the 120 DAT evaluation, the greatest mycorrhizal colonization was observed in non-grafted plants produced with the mycorrhizal community. At 120 DAT, the plants produced with the mycorrhizal community showed a more developed root system in relation to non-mycorrhized plants. The root system of plants non-grafted at 120 DAT was more robust when compared to grafted plants. In conclusion, the AMF-grafting interface interferes in the mycorrhizal colonization of the root system of tomato plants. The grafting technique does not improve the development of the root system. The inoculation of tomato plants with the mycorrhizal community enhances the development of roots at 120 DAT.Information about the combined use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in grafted horticultural crops are scarce, as is the case of tomato. Therefore, we investigated if the association between AMF and the grafting technique modifies the performance of the root system of tomato plants grown on substrate. The treatments, outlined in a two-factorial scheme, were absence of inoculation and two inoculants of AMF (Rhizophagus clarus and mycorrhizal community) inserted in grafted and non-grafted tomato plants. The experiment was designed entirely at random, with five replications. The evaluations in the root system of the plants were carried out at 30 and 120 days after transplantation (DAT). Grafted plants evaluated at 30 DAT showed greater mycorrhizal colonization when cultivated with R. clarus. However, in the 120 DAT evaluation, the greatest mycorrhizal colonization was observed in non-grafted plants produced with the mycorrhizal community. At 120 DAT, the plants produced with the mycorrhizal community showed a more developed root system in relation to non-mycorrhized plants. The root system of plants non-grafted at 120 DAT was more robust when compared to grafted plants. In conclusion, the AMF-grafting interface interferes in the mycorrhizal colonization of the root system of tomato plants. The grafting technique does not improve the development of the root system. The inoculation of tomato plants with the mycorrhizal community enhances the development of roots at 120 DAT

Anti HSV-1 activity of five strawberry cultivars

Five strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivars harvested in Passo Fundo (State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) were quantified for their total flavonoids (TF) and total anthocyanins contents (TA) and the extracts were evaluated for their in vitro antiherpes (anti-HSV-1, KOS strain) activity. The cultivars Camarosa and Aromas presented the highest TF (149.1 and 129.4 mg RE/100g FF), respectively; and TA (92.8 and 84.4 mg CGE/100 g FF), respectively. On the other hand, Camino Real cultivar showed the lowest TF (69.9 mg RE/100 g FF) and TA (46.2 mg CGE/100 g FF). With regard to the antiherpes activity, Camarosa and Aromas cultivars also displayed the highest activity detected (IC50 = 1.68 mg/mL and 1.80 mg/mL, respectively) and Camino Real the lowest (IC50 = 2.69 mg/mL). A relationship between the presence of flavonoids and anthocyanins and the detected anti-HSV-1 activity might be suggested for the strawberry cultivars studied.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Water retention of substrates potentiates the quality of lettuce seedlings

A difficulty in the production of lettuce seedlings in containers is to assure the production of shoot biomass with limited portion of roots, restricted to a small volume of substrate. Therefore, we investigate if substrates associated to lettuce cultivars interfere in the seedling quality. The treatments, outlined in a two-factorial scheme, were two cultivars of lettuce and four substrates, arranged in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The results showed that seedlings produced in the substrate with higher water retention capacity had higher performance in relation to shoot morphology and root system morphology. In conclusion, the data show that the seedlings quality of lettuce cultivars associate with the types of substrates studied and that seedlings produced in substrate with higher water retention have better quality

Phyllochron, and root system development of six strawberry cultivars with different photoperiodic flowering responses

Bare-root strawberry plants produced in Patagonia accumulate more reserves in the main crown, which allows their immediate development after transplantation. Due to the dependence on these bare-root plants, Brazilian producers use early cultivars, which start the leaves emission and the flower buds differentiation in advance, since these bare-root plants do not always arrive within the estimated time for planting in southern Brazil. The objective of the work was to investigate whether six strawberry cultivars, produced in a greenhouse, differ in their phyllochron, and root system development. Six cultivars were tested, arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications. Bare-root plants were cultivated in soil in a greenhouse. The phyllochron was evaluated by counting the number of leaves, weekly, from the beginning of leaf emission (from the main crown) until the appearance of the first fruit. The roots were digitized by a scanner and the images analyzed by the WinRHIZO® software. ‘Camarosa’ cultivar was considered the earliest to start fruiting, as it had the lowest phyllochron value (69.93ºC day-1 leaf-1), while the cultivar ‘San Andreas’ was the latest (166.67ºC day-1 leaf-1). ‘Albion’ and ‘Aromas’ presented the highest total root length in relation to the other cultivars. In conclusion, the six strawberry cultivars analyzed in this study, with different photoperiodic classifications regarding flowering, differ in relation to their morphophenological performance. In the growing conditions of southern Brazil, phyllochron study indicates that ‘Camarosa’ cultivar is the earliest and ‘San Andreas’ cultivar is the latest. ‘Albion’ and ‘Aromas’ cultivars are more compact plants, with greater potential for the development of the root system

Micorrhizal biotechnology as an alternative to potentialize the strawberry quality

The need to develop and use biotechnology tools to improve management and nutritional techniques in strawberry cultivation are increasing. Based on this, the objective of this study was to test if the mycorrhizal inoculation changes the agronomic and qualitative performance of strawberry fruits. The strawberry daughters plants used were of the cultivar Camarosa. The study was carried out in an agricultural greenhouse, Horticulture Sector of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV) of UPF, in the city of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The experiment was developed and maintained from June to December 2015. The treatments consisted of five inoculum: T1 = no inoculum (control); T2 = Acaulospora morrowiae; T3 = Rhizophagus clarus; T4 = mycorrhizal community; T5 = Claroideoglomus etunicatum. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replicates. Each plot consisted of a bag containing 6 plants spaced 0.15 mx 0.15 m. In the pits of the plants, it was applied, with the aid of syringe and water, about 70 infective propagules of the tested inocula. During the conduction of the experiment the temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) were monitored in the culture environment. It was evaluated the agronomic and qualitative performance of the fruits and the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization of the plants roots. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the differences between means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% of probability error. The cultivar Camarosa produced more fruits in October. In September, the month before the one with the best agronomic performance, the mean temperature was 17.7 ºC. The mean PAR recorded in the growing environment was low in relation to crop requirements, throughout the growing period. Fruits produced by plants inoculated with A. morrowiae presented higher values of TSS/TTA ratio in September and October. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization varied from 26.2% for A. morrowiae to 46.2% for R. clarus. The inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi does not alter the production of strawberry fruits. However, when the plants are inoculated with A. morrowiae there is an improvement in the fruit flavor

Superação da dormência de cultivares de mirtileiro em ambiente protegido com cianamida hidrogenada e óleo mineral

O mirtileiro é uma frutífera de clima temperado que necessita de frio no outono/inverno. A insuficiência de frio pode provocar deficiente e desuniforme brotação e floração, com reflexos na produção. A pesquisa realizada na Universidade de Passo Fundo-RS, teve por objetivo estudar a superação da dormência de cultivares de mirtileiro (Georgiagem, Climax e Aliceblue) em ambiente protegido, tratadas em 25-07-2007 com cianamida hidrogenada (CH), nas doses de 0,52% e 1,04% (1% e 2% do produto comercial Dormex®), com a adição de 0,5% de óleo mineral (OM), comparando com plantas sem tratamento. As plantas encontravam-se no terceiro ciclo vegetativo e no primeiro de produção. O plantio foi realizado em 2005, no espaçamento de 0,7 m x 2,0 m, com irrigação por gotejamento. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a aplicação no final de julho de CH + OM concentrou e uniformizou a floração e antecipou a brotação das cvs. Georgiagem e Clímax. A cianamida hidrogenada, nas concentrações de 0,52% e 1,04% (1% e 2% de Dormex®), combinado com 0,5% de óleo mineral, não teve efeito na porcentagem de brotação, mas reduziu a produção, evidenciando efeitos fitotóxicos