Cold treatment breaks dormancy but jeopardizes flower quality in Camellia japonica L.

Camellia japonica L. is an evergreen shrub whose cultivars are of great ornamental value. In autumn, after flower bud differentiation, dormancy is initiated. As in many other spring flowering woody ornamentals, winter low temperatures promote dormancy release of both flower and vegetative buds. However, warm spells during late autumn and winter can lead to unfulfilled chilling requirements leading to erratic and delayed flowering. We hypothesized that storing plants at no light and low temperature could favor dormancy breaking and lead to early and synchronized flowering in response to forcing conditions in C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’. Plants with fully developed floral primordia were stored at dark, 7∘C, and RH > 90% for up to 8 weeks. To monitor endodormancy release during the storage, we evaluated the content of abscisic acid (ABA) in flower buds and the expression profiles of five putative genes related to dormancy and cold acclimation metabolism in leaves and flower buds. In addition, the expression of four anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes was profiled in flower buds to assess the effect of the treatment on flower pigment biosynthesis. At 0, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of cold treatment, 10 plants were transferred to the greenhouse and forced to flower. Forced plant flower qualities and growth were observed. The ABA content and the expression profiles of two dormancy-related genes (CjARP and CjDEH) suggested that dormancy breaking occurred after 6–8 weeks of cold treatment. Overall, plants treated for 6–8 weeks showed earlier vegetative sprouting, enhanced, and homogeneous flowering with reduced forcing time. Prolonged cold treatments also reduced flower size and longevity, anthocyanin content, and pigment biosynthesis-related gene transcripts. In conclusion, the cold treatment had a promotive effect on dormancy breaking but caused severe drawbacks on flower quality

The Contribution of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Emitted by Petals and Pollen to the Scent of Garden Roses

Flower scent is an important trait of ornamental roses and has been an important character in the selection processes. In the present study, the composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by both petals and pollen of 21 garden roses (Chinensis, Climber, English rose, Floribunda, Hybrid Tea, Multiflora, Damascena, Musk rose, Polyantha, Rugosa and Shrub) was investigated through the GC-MS Static Headspace method. A total of 19 different VOCs were detected, and for each identified compound, an odorant description was included. In petals, the most common VOCs were 2-phenylethanol, methyl eugenol, and hexanal, present in 95%, 86% and 86% of garden roses, respectively. While, in pollen were methyl eugenol, methyl-1-butanol, and hexanal (present in 100%, 95%, and 90% of the genotypes, respectively), even if in lower content. The comparison between the petals and pollen profile shown that, even with less quantity, the main compounds characterizing the scent of the studied roses are present both in the petals and in the pollen (19 and 17 compounds, respectively), with different magnitude. Overall, the content of VOCs emitted by petals was more than five times higher than that produced by pollen. Different and characteristic VOCs profiles were emitted by petals and pollen of the studied garden roses

Mulheres catadoras de materais recicláveis de Santana do Livramento/RS: Trajetórias de luta em busca de emancipaçâo

Este estudo buscou conhecer a trajetória de vida de mulheres catadoras de materiais recicláveis da Associação de Catadores Novo Horizonte, em Santana do Livramento-RS. Direcionamos o olhar às dificuldades enfrentadas, aos sonhos e à ausência de sonhos, à forma como se veem e se organizam, bem como às perspectivas que têm para o futuro na associação. Recorremos ao Método de História de Vida, realizando cinco entrevistas, com auxílio de um roteiro de questões semiestruturadas. En-tendemos que esta pesquisa contribui para a afirmação das vivências das mulheres pesquisadas que, ao ouvirem suas próprias vozes, tiveram a possibilidade de valorizarem suas trajetórias, percebendo-se capazes de experienciarem novos caminhos, como o associativo, em busca da emancipação socialEste estudio ha buscado conocer la trayectoria de vida de las mujeres recolectoras de materiales reciclables de la “Associa-ção de Catadores Novo Horizonte”, en Santana do Livramento-RS. Dirigimos la mirada a las dificultades enfrentadas, los sue-ños y la ausencia de sueños, a la forma como se ven y se organizan, así como las perspectivas que tienen para el futuro en la asociación. Hemos recurrido al Método de Historias de vida, realizando cinco entrevistas, con el auxilio de un guión de cuestiones semi-estructuradas. Entendemos que esta investigación ha contribuido para la afirmación de las experiencias vividas por las mujeres investigadas que, al escuchar sus propias voces, han tenido la posibilidad de valorar sus trayectorias, percibiéndose capaces de experimentar nuevos caminos, como el asociativo, en búsqueda de la emancipación socia

Crescimento e reprodução da palmeira de sub-bosque Geonoma schottiana Mart. em mata de galeria no Brasil Central

To understand the growth and reproduction of the palm Geonoma schottiana in the gallery forest of Central Brazil, two hypotheses were raised: (i) production of leaves and reproductive structures are concentrated in the period of the year with high light availability; (ii) leaf production and reproductive activity are related to plant length. However, it is expected that senility effects will cause fast reduction in growth and reproduction activities in higher plants. Growth and reproduction were concentrated in the dry season, when insolation is higher than in the wet season, suggesting that leaf and inflorescence production on G. schottiana in the gallery forest understory is more limited by light than by soil humidity. As the individual grows, leaf number and blade area increase, but reproduction activity is independent of plant length. Resources stored in the stem are important to growth, but exogenous factors, as canopy openness, should be more important to reproduction. Plant senescence seems to have a lesser effect on the production of vegetative and reproductive structures in G. schottiana than has been detected in congeneric species with greater clonal activity.Para compreender os fatores que influenciam o crescimento e a reprodução de Geonoma schottiana em mata de galeria no Brasil Central, foram levantadas duas hipóteses: (i) a produção de folhas e de estruturas reprodutivas está concentrada no período do ano de maior insolação; (ii) a produção de folhas e a atividade reprodutiva estão relacionadas ao comprimento do indivíduo. Entretanto, espera-se encontrar uma redução brusca nas atividades de crescimento e reprodução em indivíduos mais altos devido aos efeitos da senilidade. O crescimento e a reprodução ocorreram concentrados na estação seca, quando a insolação é maior do que na estação úmida. Assim, a produção de folhas e inflorescências de G. schottiana no sub-bosque de matas de galeria pode ser mais limitada pela luminosidade do que pela umidade do solo. Conforme o indivíduo cresce, o número de folhas e a área foliar aumentam, mas a atividade reprodutiva foi independente do comprimento do indivíduo. Os recursos armazenados no estipe são importantes para o crescimento, embora os fatores exógenos, como a abertura do dossel, possam ser mais importantes para a reprodução do que os carboidratos armazenados. A senilidade dos indivíduos parece ter um efeito menor na produção de estruturas vegetativas e reprodutivas ao contrário do que o tem sido detectado em espécies co-genéricas com maior atividade clonal.433442Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES