Tolerance to hydric stress on cultivars of silicon-fertilized corn crops: absorption and water-use efficiency

Silicon (Si) has several specific functions and is considered a beneficial element, attributing high accumulation in the tissues of the plant. The accumulation of silica in the cell wall reduces the loss of water by transpiration, and may be an adaptation factor to water stress. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of different maize crops using calcium silicate as hydric stress reducer. The experiment was organized in factorial scheme completely randomized with 2 doses of calcium silicate (0 and 100 % of calcium silicate indicated to liming of the soil) with two irrigation depth: (30 and 100 % of necessary water reposition in this soil) e two cultivars seeds of Zea mays L. (cv. BRS-1010) considered sensitive and (cv. DKB-390) well as tolerant to hydric stress, the study composed by four repetitions. During the research, we studied the production of dry matter on the leaves and stem, the weight of 1000 seeds and the yield. Regarding gas exchange, we measured. Lastly, water use efficiency was quantified to compare the different treatments. Based on the data obtained retrieved by this research, the results in terms of stem and leaves dry matter, and yield, were better in both cultivars when using calcium silicate, regardless of irrigation depth. This research also got us to the conclusion that both corn cultivars cv. BRS-1010, sensible to hydric stress, and cv. DKB-390, tolerant to hydric stress had the biggest yield in the presence of calcium silicate, when applied the smallest. The best water use efficiency was obtained in the treatment with calcium silicate; applying 30% irrigation depth cv. DKB 390 was the most productive one, with bigger tolerance to water deprivation

Software for Calculation of Nutrient Solution for Fruits and Leafy Vegetables in NFT Hydroponic System

Information technology is present in virtually all areas of science as a productivity tool, assisting professionals in these areas in their daily work. In this sense, the objective of the research was the development of a free software for use over the Internet, with a friendly interface and intuitive navigation, for calculation of nutrient solution for fruit vegetables and leaves in hydroponic NFT system. To develop the software, we used the technologies PHP5 (Programming Language), MYSQL (Database), CSS5 (Style Language), HTML5 (Markup Language) and CodeIgniter (Framework). The software has among its functions the user registration, calculation of the nutrient solution and the issuance of reports in PDF format. Calculation of the nutrient solution is available for various crops. The calculation proposes the quantity of different fertilizers needed to prepare the nutrient solution for the chosen hydroponic crops. Two software known as Hidrosolun and Hidrosical (registration number BR 51201400613–1 and BR 51201400614–0) were created and registered at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), a federal agency responsible for the registration of intellectual property rights for the industry. The software developed is easy to use, without the need to install hardware with high configurations

Potassium Fertilization in the Production of Vegetables and Fruits

Consumption of vegetables worldwide has increased, not only by population growth but also by the trend of changes in consumers’ eating habits, making it inevitable to increase production. The consumer of vegetables has become more demanding, having to produce them in quantity and quality, as well as maintaining their supply throughout the year. Hydroponics is an alternative technique of cultivation in a protected environment, in which the nutritious solution is replaced by the nutrient solution. Among the essential mineral nutrients for plants, K stands out for its influence on quality attributes that affect the concentration of phytonutrients critical for human health. It acts as the determinants in the commercialization of vegetables, and can be found in various foods such as vegetables, and fruits. Adequate levels of this nutrient will benefit the consumer’s health and also prevent disease. Among the essential plant nutrients, K stands out for its influence on quality attributes that affect the concentration of phytonutrients critical to human health. The horticulturist should prioritize the use of potassic fertilizers with lower salt content, if possible free of chlorine and containing magnesium and sulfur. However, it is essential to remember that the high potassium content in plants can induce deficiency of calcium and magnesium

Comparison between non-parametric indexes in the selection of biofortified curly lettuce

Selection indexes can be applied to simultaneous analysis of traits, increasing the efficiency of breeding in choosing the genotypes that meet the needs of both the market and the consumer. While it is a technic applied to several cultures, there are few studies about it in lettuce lines. For this reason, the aim of this study was to comparate assess the efficiency of different selection indexes for selecting biofortifiedleaf lettuce lines with good agronomic traits. The experiment was carried out at the Estação Experimental de Hortaliças of Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), campus Monte Carmelo, in 2018. The experiment was designed in full randomized blocks of 3 repetitions with 25 leaf lettuce genotypes (22 lines from cultivars Pira 72 versus Uberlândia 10000 and 3 commercial cultivars – cv. Grand Rapids, UFU-Biofort and Uberlândia 10000). The lines are part of the UFU biofortified lettuce breeding program and were assessed for the total green mass (g), the stem diameter (cm), commercial leaves count, plant diameter (cm), foliar temperature (°C), SPAD index, anthocyanin content (mg 100g-1 sample), and bolting (days after sowing). To estimate selection gains, 10 genotypes were selected using both direct and indirect selection, as well as the traditional index, the sum of ranks index, Willians base index, and the multiplicative index. Mulamba and Mock sum of ranks index and Subandi multiplicative index provided the biggest total gains for the traits assessed in biofortified leaf lettuce. Both indexes were similar in selecting genotypes.Selection indexes can be applied to simultaneous analysis of traits, increasing the efficiency of breeding in choosing the genotypes that meet the needs of both the market and the consumer. While it is a technic applied to several cultures, there are few studies about it in lettuce lines. For this reason, the aim of this study was to comparate assess the efficiency of different selection indexes for selecting biofortifiedleaf lettuce lines with good agronomic traits. The experiment was carried out at the Estação Experimental de Hortaliças of Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), campus Monte Carmelo, in 2018. The experiment was designed in full randomized blocks of 3 repetitions with 25 leaf lettuce genotypes (22 lines from cultivars Pira 72 versus Uberlândia 10000 and 3 commercial cultivars – cv. Grand Rapids, UFU-Biofort and Uberlândia 10000). The lines are part of the UFU biofortified lettuce breeding program and were assessed for the total green mass (g), the stem diameter (cm), commercial leaves count, plant diameter (cm), foliar temperature (°C), SPAD index, anthocyanin content (mg 100g-1 sample), and bolting (days after sowing). To estimate selection gains, 10 genotypes were selected using both direct and indirect selection, as well as the traditional index, the sum of ranks index, Willians base index, and the multiplicative index. Mulamba and Mock sum of ranks index and Subandi multiplicative index provided the biggest total gains for the traits assessed in biofortified leaf lettuce. Both indexes were similar in selecting genotypes

Cowpea Breeding for Drought Tolerance — From Brazil to World

The aims of this chapter are to (i) present the importance of the cowpea crop, (ii) demonstrate problems related to drought, (iii) describe aspects related to flower structure and hybridization, and (iv) reveal how the genotype selection with tolerance to water deficit will promote increase of the yield in this culture. This chapter describes that Nigeria, Niger, and Brazil are the leading producers of cowpea crop worldwide, and this crop has a large influence on the economy of these countries. However, the drought problem can be frequently observed in areas with agricultural potential, with negative effects on production components and a consequent decrease of the yield in this culture. Breeding programs aimed at drought tolerance using selection strategies linked to genetic, biochemical, physiological, nutritional, and agronomic characteristics can help increase the yield and reduce losses promoted by the drought. In addition, flower structure and hybridization technique used in Núcleo de Pesquisa Vegetal Básica e Aplicada (NPVBA/UFRA) are presented, as well as populations are evaluated and plant management are explained in detail. This chapter describes the results obtained in other breeding programs aimed at drought tolerance and also explains the potential uses to increase the crop yield

Tolerance of Plants to Toxicity Induced by Micronutrients

Micronutrient elements such as zinc, boron copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and chlorine are frequently responsible by the regulatory activity of the cell organelles, being nutrients that are absorbed and found in lower concentrations in plant tissues, they also contribute to supply the nutritional exigency of the plant. Study with Zea mays plants exposed to Zn toxicity + Si presented significant increases in stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency, respectively, in comparison with treatment only with Zn. In relation to chlorophylls a, b and total and carotenoids presented non-significant increases, when compared to plants exposed to Zn toxicity. This study revealed the positive contribution of the Si on gas exchange and reduction of the negative effects provoked on chlorophylls and carotenoids in maize plants under Zn toxicity. Other results described that prolonged exposure to excessive Cu resulted in serious toxic effects on the rice seedlings. In contrast, Tre pretreatment has been shown to be beneficial in alleviating Cu toxicity, which was mainly attributed to the ability of Tre to restrict Cu uptake and accumulation to maintain Cu homeostasis, and to induce production of antioxidant and Gly enzymes to alleviate excessive Cu-triggered oxidative stress. Stress caused by the excessive supply of micronutrients to plants frequently promotes repercussions on oxidant system, inducing the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. The oxidative damage is a situation characterized by the large ROS accumulation and insufficient detoxification promoted by antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the tolerance of plants to toxicity induced by micronutrients, as uses of other elements and substances, in which it can positively act with specific transporters, metal ion homeostasis and compartmentalization of micronutrients into the vacuole

Consequences of Water Deficit on Metabolism of Legumes

The aim of this chapter is (i) to define water deficit and its consequences on growth and development of higher plants; (ii) to present the interferences induced on metabolism, including gas exchange, biochemical compounds, and osmotic substances; and (iii) to explain how these alterations will affect the growth, development, and production of leguminous plants. This chapter reports that the performance in leguminous is affected by water deficiency, which can cause lower growth and development. For gas exchange, leaf relative water content, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate suffered decrease when cultivated under water deficit. Biochemical compounds, such as soluble amino acids, soluble proteins, proline, and abscisic acid (ABA), are intensively modified after a period under water restriction. The results prove that ABA mediates actively and significantly the proline accumulation and consequent osmotic adjustment in Vigna unguiculata leaves that were induced to water deficit and rehydration

Water Replenishment in Agricultural Soils: Dissemination of the IrrigaPot Technology

The challenge confronted by farmers during prolonged periods of soil water stress is to guarantee the restoration of water and maintain the productivity of agricultural crops. Even in regions such as Amazon, the variability in the precipitation regime should be considered in agricultural planning. There are regions in which 80% of annual rainfall is concentrated between December and June. It is exactly during this period of low rainfall that small-scale family-based farmers need technological assistance to guarantee that their crops remain irrigated in order to maintain their income in this rural environment. The IrrigaPot arises as an alternative that is able to access rainfall that has been stored since the rainy season and provide it to plants when the soil is dry. The pots are maintained full with 20 liters of water, and through capillary action the soil maintains them constantly humid. This technology does not require specific knowledge with respect to irrigation regimes and is necessary for the farmer to dedicate his time to replacing water. The technology is totally automated through a simple system using a float, tubes, and connectors that connect a rubber hose to the lids of the pots buried in the soil

Technology almost 4.0 application in developing a conveyor belt with low-cost, reused and accessible materials for bagging grains

With the technological development of a new class of wastes, the technological ones were created. Many times, this waste is not processed correctly, having its hazardous disposal. Thus, recycling these materials is an alternative to end specific equipment. This work used this approach to develop a low-cost, affordable second-row conveyor belt. The conveyor belt was designed to bag, weigh, and monitor different volumes in a grain silo. Such equipment is of interest to smallholder applications as well as the integration between different areas of the Biosystems engineering course