Adaptation of CIMMYT's High Protein Quality Corn Varieties to Puerto Rico

Six modified endosperm opaque-2 corn varieties from CIMMYT were evaluated at Lajas and Isabela, Puerto Rico in 1983. Two Puerto Rican varieites, Mayorbela and Diente de Caballo, were used as checks. Opaque-2 (o2) corn normally has soft endospoerms, while modified varieties approach the appearance of normal corn. The subplors of each variety were a check, benomyl treatment, and Fusarium moniliforme silk inoculation. Traits measured included incidence of seedborne fungi, plant and ear heights, visual ear infection, ear lengths and diameter, yield and 500 kernel weight, and modification. Yields and modification of the CIMMYT varieties were similar to that of the traditional (non o2) varieties. F. moniliforme was found to be the most important seedborne fungus. The inoculation technique was found to increase incidence of F. monoliforme and should be useful for evaluating large numbers of families in a selection program. Improvement of yield and adaptability of CIMMYT's materials is needed for viable commercial production of these varieties. On the basis of this evaluation, S1 recurrent selection has begun in two modified o2 varieties

Germinação de sementes armazenadas de guandu

O guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) é uma leguminosa arbustiva utilizada para adubação verde e como forrageira; seus grãos ricos em proteína servem de alimento animal e humano. No presente experimento objetivou-se estudar o comportamento da germinação de sementes de guandu de dois cultivares (um com e outro sem sementes duras) durante o armazenamento. As sementes recém-colhidas foram embaladas em sacos de papel e armazenadas durante seis anos em condições ambientais de laboratório, sem controle de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar. Logo após a colheita e depois anualmente, foi determinado o teor de água das sementes e realizado o teste de germinação. Os dados de germinação foram submetidos à análise estatística, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, considerando as sete avaliações durante o armazenamento como tratamentos, com quatro repetições. As análises de variância foram realizadas separadamente para cada cultivar e a seguir feita análise conjunta. Equações de regressão foram calculadas, escolhendo-se aquelas com melhor ajuste e maior coeficiente de determinação (R²). As sementes das duas cultivares se mantiveram viáveis durante três anos de armazenamento com germinação acima de 70%, seguido de queda, para no sexto ano estar próxima a 10%. A presença de sementes duras ocasiona diferença na germinação dos cultivares no transcorrer do período de armazenamento.The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) is a shrubby leguminous plant cropped for green manure and forage; its protein-rich grains are used as animal and human food. The objective of the present experiment was to study the germination behavior during the storage of pigeon pea seeds of two cultivars (one with and the other without hard seeds). The newly harvested seeds were packed in paper bags and stored for six years in a laboratory with natural environment without control of air temperature and relative humidity. Soon after harvest and then yearly, seed moisture was evaluated and the seed germination was tested. Germination dates were submitted to statistical analysis, in a randomized complete design, considering as treatments the seven evaluation times during storage, with four replications. Analysis of variance was performed for each cultivar separately and then analyzed as series of similar experiments. Regression equations were calculated, choosing the ones with better fit and higher coefficient of determination. Seeds of both cultivars maintained germination above 70% during three years of storage, followed by decrease and presented nearly 10% in the sixth year. The presence of hard seeds caused differences in germination between cultivars during the storage period.UNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Departamento de Produção VegetalUNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Departamento de Produção Vegeta