Use of Plant Regulators in the Off-Season Flower Induction of ‘Tahiti’ Acid Lime and ‘Ponkan’ Mandarin

Brazil is one of the world’s largest citrus producers. To maintain the uniformity of annual production during seasonality, there is a need to apply new technologies in agriculture to enhance plant productivity. Applications of plant regulators in fruit trees are part of methods to standardize production. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of plant growth regulators Paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Ethephon, associated with potassium sulfate and calcium nitrate foliar fertilizers, in the off-season flower induction in ‘Tahiti’ acid lime and ‘Ponkan’ mandarin crops, for off-season production. The experiment was carried out in properties located in the municipality of Aparecida do Taboado/MS, with randomized blocks design, containing 2 treatments (without/with application of plant growth regulators), 4 blocks with 50 replicates, with each plant evaluated being considered an experimental unit. At 150 days after the application of products, number of flowers per square meter of plant canopy and fruit set in both crops were evaluated, in addition to their diameter. ‘Tahiti’ acid lime plants treated with PBZ obtained average of 77.24 fruits per m²/plant canopy, while controls had 16.08 fruits m²/plant canopy. In ‘Ponkan’ mandarin, treated plants obtained 87.49 fruits per m²/plant canopy, while controls had 30.94 fruits m²/ plant canopy. The execution schedule and products used as plant regulators, especially Paclobutrazol, applied to ‘Tahiti’ acid lime and ‘Ponkan’ mandarin plants allowed significant increase in the amounts of flowers and fruits, making it possible to plan the staggering of flowering induction and production of these cultivars

Water content of pomegranate seeds subjected to storage and packaging periods

The worldwide demand for unconventional fruits, such as pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), has been growing due to their nutraceutical characteristics. Given the social and industrial importance of the crop, information about the seed storage conditions should be elucidated to technify its cultivation. The objective of this work was to evaluate, by determining the water content, the behavior of pomegranate seeds when stored in different periods and packages. The seeds were separated into 2 lots: seeds with sarcotesta and for another lot, seeds without sarcotesta. The storage periods used were: 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days, in 3 types of packaging (polyethylene, paper bags and glass bottles), which were stored in BOD at 5±0.2ºC and relative humidity 35±2%. After storage periods, the seed water content was evaluated. Throughout storage periods, polyethylene containers reduced the water content of seeds with and without sarcotesta. Paper bags did not preserve the water content of both types of pomegranate seeds. The water content of pomegranate seeds with and without sarcotesta was better conserved when glass containers were used for storage.The worldwide demand for unconventional fruits, such as pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), has been growing due to their nutraceutical characteristics. Given the social and industrial importance of the crop, information about the seed storage conditions should be elucidated to technify its cultivation. The objective of this work was to evaluate, by determining the water content, the behavior of pomegranate seeds when stored in different periods and packages. The seeds were separated into 2 lots: seeds with sarcotesta and for another lot, seeds without sarcotesta. The storage periods used were: 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days, in 3 types of packaging (polyethylene, paper bags and glass bottles), which were stored in BOD at 5±0.2ºC and relative humidity 35±2%. After storage periods, the seed water content was evaluated. Throughout storage periods, polyethylene containers reduced the water content of seeds with and without sarcotesta. Paper bags did not preserve the water content of both types of pomegranate seeds. The water content of pomegranate seeds with and without sarcotesta was better conserved when glass containers were used for storage

Fig clones selection of cv. roxo de Valinhos obtained by irradiated buds

A figueira (Ficus carica L.), pertencente à família das Moráceas, constitui-se numa das mais importantes frutíferas cultivadas, elevando o Brasil à condição de décimo maior produtor e exportador de figos do mundo. Porém, a ficicultura apresenta alguns problemas fitossanitários, além de, no Brasil, estar toda implantada com uma única cultivar, a Roxo de Valinhos, que produz frutos sem sementes, inviabilizando o melhoramento convencional. Nesse sentido, o melhoramento genético, com o uso de mutagênicos, passa a ser uma linha de pesquisa altamente importante, podendo contribuir enormemente para o desenvolvimento da cultura. Diante disto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi selecionar mutantes em plantas de figueira formadas por estacas irradiadas com raios gama, a fim de aumentar sua variabilidade genética com relação ao desenvolvimento vegetativo e reprodutivo. Utilizaram-se plantas formadas por estacas originadas de gemas da cultivar Roxo de Valinhos irradiadas com raios gama, no irradiador tipo Gamma a 0,10 m do ápice, na dose de Gy com taxa de dose de 238 Gy/h. O experimento constou de 450 tratamentos, sendo cada planta formada considerada um tratamento, numerando-as sequencialmente de 1 a 450 e cultivadas em espaçamento de 2,5 x 1,5 m.. As avaliações foram realizadas a partir das características tanto das folhas quanto dos frutos, bem como da incidência das principais pragas e doenças da cultura nestas plantas. Da análise dos dados, conclui-se que há variabilidade genética entre os tratamentos e que algumas plantas são prováveis mutantes, mostrando-se assim com potencial para posteriores estudos, devendo ser testadas em plantios comerciais

Detection of differentially methylated regions of irradiated fig tree selections

Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) breeding programs using conventional methods, such as directed crosses, to obtain new cultivars, are unworkable in many countries, including Brazil. Consequently, genetic breeding through mutagenesis has emerged as an important line of research that can improve this crop, and be a significant source of information about this species and assist in the implementation of propagation projects and appropriate management. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of epigenetic variability attributable to DNA methylation in irradiated fig selections when compared both to each other and to the main commercial cultivar, “Roxo-de-Valinhos”, which had previously used methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and DNA sequencing to detect the position of polymorphic regions, analyzable by bioinformatic tools. The sequencing of DNA, isolated from the differentially methylated sites, makes it possible to observe different patterns of methylation by sequencing the treated DNA with sodium bisulfite in the coding regions of regulatory genes active in the development, and fruit ripening stages. Furthermore, they have been found in the mitochondrial DNA of treatments which regulate the supply of energy in Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) form in plants. Closely related to their development, they justify the different phenotypes found in both fruit and plant growth that have suffered stress due to exposure to gamma radiation. Thus, future studies on gene expression in treatments have emerged as an extremely important strategy for understanding these complex regulatory systems, which may lead to the identification of genes of agricultural interest for the fig tree crop, and allow for manipulation and subsequent propagation of improved crops for commercial purposes

Influencia de la escarificación y el ácido giberélico en la dormancia y germinación de semillas de granada

Contextualization: Due to the importance of pomegranate among fruit species, studies on the physiology of its seeds and the production of seedlings are essential for the expansion of commercial orchards. Knowledge gap: With the portrayed importance of this crop and its use in various sectors, such as agro-industrial and pharmaceutical products, the development of continuous and straightforward propagation techniques that provide a uniform seedling development will provide favorable conditions for the cultivation and exploitation of the species, improving its use and boosting new research.  Purpose: To evaluate the effect of scarification and immersion in gibberellic acid on the dormancy of pomegranate seeds, aiming at accelerating the emergence and improving the initial growth of seedlings. Methodology: The sarcotesta was removed and the seeds were scarified. The treatments consisted of a scarified control, a non-scarified control (seeds with and without scarification), and seeds subjected to the concentrations of 500 mg L-1, 1,000 mg L-1, and 1,500 mg L-1 of GA3. The following variables were evaluated: initial emergence, emergence percentage, mean emergence time, leaf number, stem diameter, shoot length, root length, and total dry matter. Results and conclusions: The pomegranate cv. Valencian seeds do not have tegument-related dormancy. In order to favor the emergence percentage and the initial growth of pomegranate seedlings, mechanical scarification and immersion of the seeds in GA3 are dispensed. Scarification and immersion of pomegranate seeds in 500 mg L-1 of GA3 are recommended to produce seedlings in a shorter time.Contextualización: debido a la importancia de la granada en los árboles frutales, los estudios sobre la fisiología de las semillas y la producción de plántulas son esenciales para la expansión de los huertos comerciales. Vacío de conocimiento: considerando la importancia de este cultivo y su uso en diversos sectores, como el agroindustrial y el farmacéutico, el uso de técnicas de propagación simples y continuas que permiten un desarrollo uniforme de las plántulas proporcionará las condiciones favorables para el cultivo y la explotación de la especie, mejorar su uso e impulsar nuevas investigaciones.  Propósito del estudio: evaluar el efecto de la escarificación y la inmersión en ácido giberélico en la fase de latencia de las semillas de granada, a fin de acelerar la aparición y mejorar el crecimiento inicial de las plántulas. Metodología: se retiró la sarcotesta y se escarificaron las semillas. Los tratamientos consistieron en testigo y control (semillas con y sin escarificación) y concentraciones, 500 mg L-1, 1000 mg L-1 y 1500 mg L-1 de GA3. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: la emergencia inicial, el porcentaje de emergencia, el tiempo medio de emergencia, el número de hojas, el diámetro del tallo, la longitud del brote, la longitud de la raíz y la materia seca total. Resultados y conclusiones: las semillas de granada cv. valenciana no tienen dormancia relacionada con el tegumento. Para favorecer el porcentaje de emergencia y el crecimiento inicial de las plántulas de granada, se prescinde de la escarificación mecánica y de la inmersión de las semillas en GA3. Se recomienda la escarificación y la inmersión de las semillas de granada en 500 mg L-1 de GA3 para obtener las plántulas en menos tiempo

Nodal segments and zygotic embryos in culture media for the in vitro propagation of tamarind

There has been a lack of research on the propagation methods of tamarind, hindering the availability and supply of its products. Considering the nutraceutical potential of tamarind and the long-time required to initiate production, this study aimed to evaluate the establishment of nodal segments and the germination of in vitro zygotic embryos of tamarind plants in culture media, salt concentrations, and activated charcoal, aiming at the establishment of an in vitro propagation protocol. For this purpose, MS and WPM media with 25, 50, 75 and 100% salt concentrations were used both with and without activated charcoal (2 g L-1) for the inoculation of nodal segments and zygotic embryos of tamarind. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design, in a 2 x 4 x 2 factorial scheme (culture media x salt concentrations x activated charcoal) with 20 replications. It was observed that the in vitro establishment of tamarind nodal segments is viable when using the MS medium with 75% of salts plus 2 g L-1 of activated charcoal and that for the germination of zygotic embryos there was no influence of the treatments. It was also observed that in order to increase the length of the formed plantlets, the MS and WPM media can be employed with 75% of salts.There has been a lack of research on the propagation methods of tamarind, hindering the availability and supply of its products. Considering the nutraceutical potential of tamarind and the long-time required to initiate production, this study aimed to evaluate the establishment of nodal segments and the germination of in vitro zygotic embryos of tamarind plants in culture media, salt concentrations, and activated charcoal, aiming at the establishment of an in vitro propagation protocol. For this purpose, MS and WPM media with 25, 50, 75 and 100% salt concentrations were used both with and without activated charcoal (2 g L-1) for the inoculation of nodal segments and zygotic embryos of tamarind. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design, in a 2 x 4 x 2 factorial scheme (culture media x salt concentrations x activated charcoal) with 20 replications. It was observed that the in vitro establishment of tamarind nodal segments is viable when using the MS medium with 75% of salts plus 2 g L-1 of activated charcoal and that for the germination of zygotic embryos there was no influence of the treatments. It was also observed that in order to increase the length of the formed plantlets, the MS and WPM media can be employed with 75% of salts

Characterization of Highly Weathered Soils

Os solos brasileiros são classificados em 13 ordens, com base em suas características definidoras. Os latissolos e os ultissolos predominam, compreendendo mais de 50% de todo o território. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os principais atributos físicos do solo e o conteúdo de matéria orgânica para avaliar as atribuições e limitações de dois tipos de solos altamente intemperizados no extremo oeste de São Paulo. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, composto por dois tratamentos diferentes: Latossolo e Ultisol em três faixas de profundidade: 0,00-0,10, 0,10-0,20, 0,20-0,40 m, com 10 repetições. As análises foram realizadas em triplicado. Os seguintes atributos do solo foram avaliados: textura do solo, conteúdo de matéria orgânica, umidade volumétrica e gravimétrica, infiltração de água no solo, densidade do solo, porosidade do solo, distribuição e estabilidade dos agregados, resistência à penetração e umidade do solo. Os dados foram analisados ​​quanto à variância com o teste F, a p ≤ 0,05. Quando significativos, os parâmetros foram submetidos ao teste de Tukey (p <0,05). As propriedades físicas do solo mostram que os solos estudados estão em boas condições e dentro dos limites médios recomendados pela literatura estabelecida. Todos os atributos estudados estão relacionados à granulometria do solo e sua distribuição no perfil do solo

Identification and characterization of coleoptera‑specific vip and cry genes in Bacillus thuringiensis isolates

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e caracterizar os genes cry3, vip1, vip2 e vip1/vip2 em uma coleção de 1.078 isolados de Bacillus thuringiensis potencialmente tóxicos para larvas de coleópteros. Foram utilizados pares de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores gerais obtidos a partir de regiões conservadas dos genes e do alinhamento de sequências consenso. Posteriormente, os isolados positivos foram caracterizados por meio da técnica de PCR‑RFLP, tendo‑se utilizado enzimas de restrição específicas, para identificar novas subclasses de genes nos isolados. Cento e cinquenta e um isolados foram positivos para os genes avaliados, com maior frequência para o gene vip1/vip2 (139 isolados). Pela técnica de PCR-RFLP, foram observados 14 perfis polimórficos, o que indica a presença de diferentes alelos e, consequentemente, de distintas subclasses desses genes.The objective of this work was to identify and characterize cry3, vip1, vip2 and vip1/vip2 genes in a collection of 1,078 Bacillus thuringiensis isolates potentially toxic against Coleoptera larvae. Pairs of primers derived from conserved regions of genes and from sequence alignment consensus were used. Subsequently, positive isolates were characterized by PCR‑RFLP, using specific restriction enzymes to identify new subclasses of genes in the isolates. One hundred and fifty‑one isolates were positive for the evaluated genes, with higher frequency for the vip1/vip2 gene (139  isolates). By PCR‑RFLP,  14  polymorphic profiles were  observed, indicating the presence of different alleles, and, therefore, of distinct subclasses of these genes