Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT To ensure the sustainability of agriculture and the production of safe food, supplementary irrigation is required for crops that are primarily rainfed, particularly in arid conditions. This study aimed to determine the water stress response of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under limited water conditions and to establish the crop water stress index (CWSI) as a basis for crop-based irrigation scheduling. Irrigation applications were conducted using the line-source sprinkler irrigation method to create three constraints (35, 75, and 100 % of the water requirement) and a rainfed condition (control plot) under different crop growth periods. The main plots consisted of three growth periods of safflower and only one supplementary irrigation during the vegetative, flowering, and ripening periods. The highest yield was obtained at 3.06 and 3.42 t ha–1 for 2019 and 2021, respectively, in the plot that was irrigated in each period during the growing season. The irrigation water (I) and water use efficiency (WUE) were 0.42 and 0.51 kg m–3 in the first year, and 0.47 and 0.59 kg m–3 in the second year, respectively, for the subject fully irrigated throughout the season. The upper base value, which can be utilized in calculations of the CWSI, was determined to be approximately 14.50. The lower base equation was obtained as Y = −4.9428 (VPD) + 19.121 at a statistical significance level of 1 % where Y is yield and VPD is vapor pressure deficit. The CWSI values calculated for each treatment ranged between −0.25 and 1.45. The threshold value at which irrigation should commence was determined to be 0.63, and it will serve as a valuable reference data source for irrigation scheduling.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the granular properties of organomineral fertilizers produced from charcoal fines (biochar) and natural phosphate with three distinct binders: cassava wastewater (CW), pyroligneous extract (PE), and bio-oil (BO). The objective was to ascertain the potential of these fertilizers to increase common bean production. To form the granules, a 3:1 ratio of biochar to natural phosphate was employed, along with five binder doses (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 % of the biochar-phosphate mixture weight). The granules were evaluated based on their crushing strength, water absorption ratio (WAR), granule density, impact resistance index (IRI), salinity index (SI), and pH. The most optimal granules were selected for the experiment with the common bean, using a completely randomized design in a 3 × 4 + 4 factorial scheme with three replications. The treatments comprised three binders (CW, PE, and BO), four binder doses (75, 100, 125, and 150 %), and four controls: unfertilized soil (NS), natural phosphate (NP), biochar mixed with natural phosphate (B + NP), and biochar (B). Compared to the CW or PE granules, the BO granules exhibited superior crushing resistance, density, and IRI, accompanied by a reduced WAR. The PE granules exhibited a higher SI and a lower pH. The application of CW, PE, or BO granules resulted in a significant increase in shoot dry matter (SDM), with values of 98.31, 123.73, and 47.46 %, respectively, compared to the NS. Similarly, root dry matter (RDM) notably increased, with values of 331.03, 755.17 and 141.38 %, respectively. The physicochemical properties of organomineral fertilizers are influenced by the type of binder used, affecting common bean production. Further research is needed to ascertain the long-term effects of these slow-release fertilizers.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: Crop rotation significantly influences agricultural sustainability through long-term effects on soil attributes, including the soil microbial communities. This study compared soil microbial communities within soil aggregates (SA) in a 26-year-old experiment with four randomized blocks involving two cropping systems: (1) succession, which consists of soybean-wheat-soybean, and (2) rotation, which consists of vetch-maize-oat-soybean-wheat-soybean. The objective was to validate the role of crop rotation in enhancing soil conditions for plant growth and mitigating the adverse effects of intensive agricultural practices. The soil samples were fractionated into macroaggregates (MACRO, > 0.25 mm mesh) and microaggregates (micro, < 0.25 mm mesh) using field-moist soil (5 - 10 cm trenches). The fractioned samples were subjected to a series of analyses, including biological assessments such as phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles of bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as well as protozoa counting. Additionally, they underwent physical analysis, including texture assessment, and chemical analyses, including pH, total organic carbon, potential acidity, and sum of bases. In crop succession, MACRO (likely aerophilic) exhibited a larger number of amoebae, a smaller number of flagellate protozoa, as well as higher levels of gram-positive bacteria and actinobacteria and lower levels of gram-negative bacterial PLFA profiles in comparison to micro (likely anaerobic). In crop rotation, MACRO showed lower values of AMF and gran-positive bacteria, higher values of gran-negative bacteria PLFA profiles, and a reduction in the number of amoebae compared to their microaggregate counterparts. This suggests that the conditions of micro were enhanced to facilitate more aerobic growth. Crop rotation modifies the soil microaggregate environment, favoring aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms and inducing shifts in the microbial community structure, which may enhance biogeochemical cycling and agricultural sustainability.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Quantifying the impact of driving factors on crop water productivity (WP) is essential for efficient agricultural water use. To date, few studies have investigated the influence of management and environmental factors on sugarcane WP at the mill scale. This study aimed to assess the contributions of management practice factors, weather variables, and soil management zones (SMZs) on on-farm sugarcane WP in a single mill in the southern region of Brazil. An extensive on-farm database of commercial sugarcane field plots was used with a weather database to estimate evapotranspiration and water-limited potential yield (Yw). This was achieved by employing a crop sugarcane model to calculate actual water productivity (WPa) and attainable water productivity (WPw). The results demonstrated an inverse relationship between management practices and WPa, while harvest date and vinasse positively impacted on WPa. The Yw, actual yield (Ya), actual evapotranspiration (ETa) or crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and WPa varied according to the SMZ. The lowest WPa values were observed in the worst soils. The analysis revealed that weather variables collectively accounted for 46.2 % of WPa variability, management practice factors accounted for 40.5 %, and SMZs contributed 13.3 % of WPa variability. Despite weather variables being the primary source of WPa variability, management practice factors still played a key role in WPa variability.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Maize production in Brazil is notable for its high potential for agricultural expansion and extensive cropland areas. This study evaluated the current yield gap (Yg) in Brazilian maize production and investigated the potential impact of irrigation on closing this gap. Field experiments were conducted in three key maize-producing regions in Brazil to calibrate a crop model and obtain reliable data on yield potential (Yp) and water-limited yield potential (Yw) across different environments. Data on river basin flows were employed to ensure that irrigation would not result in the depletion of water resources for other uses. Our findings suggest that Brazil’s average actual yield (Ya) is 55.4 % below the Yp. It was determined that increasing irrigation levels is a viable method for achieving the potential maize yield without compromising available water resources. The average Yg is approximately 5.2 Mg ha–1, indicating a potential production increase of 41.9 % without expanding cropland areas. Strategic planning is essential to balance increased production and expanded irrigation, particularly to avoid impacting regions with water scarcity. It is underscored that the focus should be on areas with sufficient water resources to close Brazil’s current maize Yg. The results from this study offer valuable data for decision-makers and policymakers to enhance maize production sustainably.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Ruminants in late gestation and lactation have high energy requirements, which can be effectively met with diets that include chromium and protected fat. This study aimed to compare the effects of chromium propionate and rumen-protected fat supplementation in the diet of ewes in late gestation and lactation and to evaluate their impact on the performance, metabolism, carcass, and meat quality of the offspring. The study population consisted of 25 mixed-breed ewes, aged 3 ± 1 years, with a body weight (BW) of 57 ± 10 kg, and a single gestation. All ewes in the study gave birth to males. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three dietary treatments: a control diet (CTL; n = 8) consisting of corn as the primary energy source; a chromium propionate treatment (CRPR; n = 9) consisting of the CTL diet plus 0.5 mg of chromium propionate per kg of dry matter (DM); and a calcium-salts from palm oil treatment (FAT; n = 8) - CTL diet plus calcium salts from palm oil. The ewes were fed the diets for 50 days of gestation and 70 days of lactation. Following weaning, the lambs were confined for of 60 days and subsequently slaughtered. The means were compared using Tukey’s test with a statistical probability of 5 %. The maternal diets of CRPR and FAT resulted in lambs with higher BW at weaning and slaughter, greater chest and leg width, and higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and insulin values, as well as lower cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. The FAT treatment reduced cooking losses and alterations in lambs’ sarcomere length (SL) and muscle fiber area. It can be concluded that the inclusion of CRPR and FAT in the diet of pregnant and lactating ewes has beneficial effects on the offspring.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The primary concern in corn silage is aerobic deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of essential oil (EO) blends extracted from copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) (Co) and Eucalyptus staigeriana Branch (ES) on the fermentation parameters and losses, nutritional value, microbial counts, and aerobic stability of corn silage. A completely randomized design was employed with four treatments and four replicates. The following treatments were employed: control (CON) – corn ensiled without EO; blend 50:50 (50 % ES plus 50 % Co); blend 75:25 (75 % ES plus 25 % Co); blend 25:75 (25 % ES plus 75 % Co). The dose was administered at a rate of 500 mg kg–1 of ensiled mass (as-fed basis). The chemical composition, in vitro degradability, NH3-N, pH, acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, aerobic stability, and microbial counts of silages were evaluated. The 75:25 blend reduced (p < 0.038) crude protein (CP) by 7.96 % compared to the 25:75 blend. However, the 50:50 blend reduced (p < 0.03) the hemicellulose (HEM) content of the silage in comparison to the other treatments. The blends were observed to increase (p = 0.046) the concentration of acetic acid. The propionic acid concentration was reduced by 88.13 % with the 25:75 blend compared to the 50:50 blend. The blends increased (p = 0.003) gas losses. The fungal population was drastically reduced (p = 0.048) by the 25:75 blend compared to the other treatments. It can be concluded that the 50:50 blend resulted in high concentrations of acetic and propionic acids, thereby improving the aerobic stability of corn silage.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of live yeast (LY) associated with starch levels (SL) on the in vitro kinetic parameters of the gas production (GP), in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD), volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane (CH4) production of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu grass harvested in both the rainy and dry seasons. The study was conducted in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, whereby LY supplementation (with and without LY) was associated with 0, 10, and 20 % of starch supplementation. The variables were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS (Statistical Analysis System, version 9.3). LY and SL had no interaction effects on any of the variables tested. LY supplementation increased total GP at 72 h of incubation in both forage seasons by approximately 25 %. Additionally, LY supplementation decreased lag time; however, the GP rate was unaffected. The LY also caused a slight drop in IVNDFD at 48 h in both forage seasons. LY supplementation decreased total VFA production by 25.96 % for the rainy season and 11.32 % for the dry season and caused a 40 and 46 % drop in CH4 for the rainy and dry season forage, respectively. The assumption that combining LY and starch would enhance LY activity was not confirmed in this study, as most analyzed variables showed no interaction between the two factors. Consequently, no beneficial effects on increased SL could be attributed to LY supplementation.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine the optimal methionine:cystine (Met:Cys) ratio in diets with reduced crude protein (CP). Two trials were carried throughout14 to 28 days. In trial 1, 1200 broiler chicks were distributed under a random design of ten treatments in a 2 × 5 factors of variability arrangement with two protein levels (21.5 and 19.5 % CP) and five digestible Met:Cys ratios (42:58, 46:54, 50:50, 54:46, and 58:42). Each treatment consisted of six replicates each, with 20 birds per experimental unit. In trial 2, 36 birds were selected and randomly allocated in six treatments with three replications each to carry out a nitrogen (N) balance study. The treatments were designed in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two levels of protein (21.5 and 19.5 % CP) and three Met:Cys ratios (42:58, 50:50, and 58:42). Statistical analyses were performed as two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with interactions and main effects compared by Tukey's test. All statistical procedures were performed using the PROC GLM, and PROC NLIN was used to fit the quadratic broken line. No interaction was observed for weight gain, but there was a significant effect of the Met:Cys p < 0.05. There was a significant interaction between Met:Cys and CP level for feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate p < 0.05. The CP level did not affect N retention (NR) p > 0.05 but significantly affected N intake (Nin), excretion (Nexc), and utilization (kN) efficiency. Therefore, an average Met:Cys ratio of 52:48 promoted a better performance response, improved in kN, and even CP reduction.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) is essential to the fertilization of coffee. The fertilizer most used to meet this demand is urea, although it has high rates of N loss due mainly to ammonia volatilization. To reduce this loss, fertilizers with increased efficiency have emerged. Thus, the aim was to select the most appropriate nonlinear regression model to describe N loss attributable to ammonia volatilization in slow- and controlled-release fertilizers applied to coffee plants and to compare the different fertilizers based on the parameters of the selected model. The data studied are controlled-release fertilizers: urea + sulfur + polymer (U+S+P), urea + plastic resin (U+PR), urea + polymer insoluble in water (U+PIW) and slow-release fertilizer: urea formaldehyde (UF) applied to coffee. The Gompertz, Brody, and von Bertalanffy Logistics models were fit by the least squares method. The goodness of fit was assessed using the adjusted coefficient of determination, mean absolute deviation, and Akaike's information criterion. The von Bertalanffy model was the most appropriate for describing the data in most cases. After selecting the best model for the means, the parameters of the von Bertalanffy model were estimated again for each repetition of treatments. With the repetitions of the parameter estimates of these models, the F test of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were applied. In the F test, p < 0.05 for all parameters. In the Tukey's test, the UF fertilizer reached the asymptote more quickly and presented a lower accumulated loss of N in the coffee tree. The fertilizers U+S+P and U+PIW have later inflection points (IP).

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Safflower is a crop with seeds containing high amounts of oleic and linoleic acids, which have applications in cosmetics, food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. Safflower seeds are generally reported to undergo after-ripening and to have physiological dormancy. This study comprehensively analyzed the physical changes and the induction of dormancy and germinability in developing seeds to determine whether the safflower population is adequately developed during seed dispersal. From the 80th day after flowering (DAF), seeds were collected separately from plants on a weekly basis until 131 DAF, resulting in seven sampling dates. The changes in length, diameter, thickness, water content, and fresh and dry weight during seed development were measured. Simultaneously, the effects of dark and light, temperature, and gibberellic acid (GA3) (0, 50, and 100 µM) on seed germination, dormancy and germination characteristics of safflower seeds were investigated. The seeds ceased to increase in length, width and thickness, reaching a mature appearance at 131 DAF, with a dry mass per seed of 0.0443 g. The water content decreased between 117 and 124 DAF, indicating an obvious process of desiccation during the final stage of seed maturation. Germination capacity is acquired at 117 DAF, as evidenced by an increase in germination and a reduction in dormant seeds, particularly at low temperatures (10°C) and with GA3 supplementation. At 131 DAF, seeds exhibited 7.9 % water content, and there was an increase in seed germination and a decrease in seed dormancy status, regardless of GA3 supplementation and temperature.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Among the tests available for seed vigor assessment, the primary root emergence (RE) test has gained prominence as a provider of valuable information regarding the seed performance of different species on account of its efficiency, sensitivity and rapidity. Furthermore, the use of computational resources to identify the RE can be very useful for refining the information provided. This research study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of RE, compared to recommended tests assessing the seed vigor of soybean seeds, and verify whether specific parameters, as measured by the ImageJ® software to identify RE, are effective in estimating soybean seed vigor. Nine seed lots with similar germination but differences in vigor were used. Germination and vigor (germination first count, electrical conductivity, accelerated aging, tetrazolium, RE, and field seedling emergence tests were performed); RE was evaluated after germination under four temperature/period combinations. After the RE test, seedling images were captured and analyzed by ImageJ® software and data from the perimeter, area, circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, and solidity were obtained. Information provided by the RE test was similar to those from the accepted vigor tests, indicating the possibility of including this test in soybean seed quality control programs. Parameter circularity, aspect ratio, roundness and solidity provided consistent data for detecting the RE from soybean seeds germinated at 30 °C for 24 h, with a primary root length of at least 1.0 mm. These parameters provide a rapid and objective evaluation of soybean seed vigor.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Using managed pollinators to supplement the contributions of wild pollinators is a promising means to increase crop production and rural livelihoods sustainably. However, evidence of the efficacy of managed pollinators must be provided for many crops, especially in tropical regions. Herein, we introduced managed colonies, including Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) and native stingless bees (Scaptotrigona spp.), in 23 coffee fields across a gradient of native forest cover in southeastern Brazil. We found coffee yield per bush increased by 16 % in coffee fields near managed colonies compared to more distant control fields. We detected positive effects for both managed bee species, though with higher variability for the native bee species due to low replication. Our study provides robust evidence that supplementing coffee farms with managed bee colonies can increase coffee yields and should stimulate further research and investment in bee supplementation.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Coffee is a beverage that is widely consumed throughout the world, especially in Brazil. Its high market value makes it a prime target for fraud. To combat this fraud, different methods have been developed and improved over the years to detect potential adulterants in coffee and guarantee its authenticity. Nevertheless, these methods still pose a challenge. Therefore, this work aimed to identify adulteration markers in roasted and ground Arabica coffee using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the flavonoid and phenolic acid profile. Samples of Arabica coffee beans and defective coffee beans were adulterated with coffee husks by preparing mixtures in different proportions (97:3, 90:10, 80:20 % w/w), which were then subjected to chromatographic and chemometric analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Using the phenolic compounds associated with chemometric methods, protocatechuic acid was identified as a marker of adulteration in roasted and ground coffee with Arabica coffee husks, even at low adulterant concentrations (3 %).

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Despite the significant socioeconomic impact of yam cultivation in developing countries, this field needs more scientific studies and incentives. In Brazil, the absence of a developed processing chain has resulted in a considerable production loss due to the predominant form of commercialization (in natura). This study aimed was to examine the physicochemical and technological composition of yams of the species Dioscorea trifida L., including both white and purple varieties. The aim was to contribute to an increase in food utilization and technological potential. The proximate composition of the flours indicated that the yam species investigated have the potential for human consumption and are good sources of energy (1,489 and 1,527 kJ), with considerable levels of total fiber (8.18 and 6.69 g 100 g–1), potassium (1,325 and 981 mg 100 g–1), and phenolic compounds (133 and 110 mg 100 g–1) for white and purple yams, respectively. Additionally, the yams demonstrated distinct properties in water and oil, indicating their potential for use in breading applications. The viscoamylographic profiles of purple yam flour and yam starches were found suitable for use in quick-cooking foods that reach high viscosity when heated, whereas white yam flour was identified as a suitable thickening agent. The yams yielded flours and starches with favorable characteristics as food ingredients, offering greater added value and enhanced stability compared to the original raw materials. They present a sustainable alternative for reducing post-harvest losses and, as they are gluten-free, they cater to the celiac population.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plays a vital role in global agriculture and is a model organism in genetic studies. Visual classification of tomatoes for genetic improvement programs faces challenges due to variety diversity, uneven ripening, external damages, and evaluator subjectivity. Recent advances in the field of computational resources, such as image phenotyping have enabled pre- and post-harvest assessments that are both fast and precise. This study aimed to classify tomato fruits based on shape, group, color, and defects using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The performance of five architectures - VGG16, InceptionV3, ResNet50, EfficientNetB3, and InceptionResNetV2 was evaluated to identify and determine the most efficient one for this classification. The research considered ten hybrids and their five parental lines. The experiment was conducted in the field, and images of ripe fruits were acquired using a portable mini studio. The ExpImage package in R software was used for fruit individualization by image and to aid in creating a synthetic database for network training. Images were grouped according to their classifications in terms of shape, color, groups, and defects. The InceptionResNetV2 architecture was the most efficient, achieving metrics such as precision and recall exceeding 93 % for most analyzed variables, and shorter classification times. This study advances the understanding of CNN applications in agriculture and research and provides valuable guidelines for optimizing classification tasks in distinct types of fruits.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The ERECTA family of receptors (ERfs), encoding leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs), can regulate multiple aspects of plant development and abiotic stress responses. The rice (Oryza sativa) genome contains three ERfs, namely ERECTA 1 (OsER1), ERECTA 2 (OsER2), and ERECTA-LIKE (OsERL). However, there is limited information currently available on their expression pattern during the plant developmental stages. The expression pattern of OsERfs genes at reproductive stages from the booting (R2) to milk (R6) stage in Nipponbare cultivar and the transgenic plants expressing a truncated Arabidopsis ERECTA (ER) lacking the kinase domain (∆Kinase) were studied. The ∆Kinase functions as a dominant-negative receptor and presumably disrupts ER signaling in rice. The highest level of rice ERfs (OsERfs) expression was observed at the heading (R3) and flowering (R4) stages. ∆Kinase expression induced the compensation effect and increased the expression of endogenous OsERfs genes, possibly due to the suppression of ER signaling. The response to heat stress was evaluated at the reproductive stages to test the functional effect of the upregulated OsERfs on transgenic plants. Although transgenic plants exhibited enhanced growth during the vegetative stages, they succumbed to heat stress during the grain filling stages. Overall, the ∆Kinase plants generated in this research serve as essential resources to study the role of OsERfs in the response of plants to developmental and environmental stress.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Guava, prized for its economic potential, is grown across Brazil. Addressing the challenge of limited cultivars, the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF) launched a program to select promising genotypes, aiming to introduce new high-quality cultivars in the north and northwest Rio de Janeiro state. This study uses microsatellite markers to identify divergent genotypes for future crosses to assess the genetic diversity of guava genotypes from the first and second self-fertilization (S1 and S2) populations. From S1, 94 genotypes, and S2, 98 genotypes were selected across ten inbred lines based on morpho-agronomic traits. The molecular characterization utilized 21 polymorphic microsatellite markers to assess genetic parameters, calculate distances, analyze clustering, and determine the structure of each population. In S1, the average number of alleles (NA) per locus was 2.57, with higher expected heterozygosity (He) than observed heterozygosity (Ho), indicating more homozygous alleles. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) clustering formed five distinct groups, with Bayesian analysis identifying two groups. S2 had 2.23 alleles per locus, with lower genetic variability and four UPGMA groups. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers effectively discriminate genetic variability, which promotes guava breeding. Bayesian inference delineated clear genotype structures in both populations, highlighting potential advancements in breeding these inbred lines.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This work aims to characterize and estimate soybean genotypes’ productive potential and industrial quality, understand the associations between traits and identify genotypes for a breeding program. Four collections totaling 301 genotypes were used, and ten quantitative characteristics were analyzed, including the mass of one hundred seeds (100 SW, where SW stands for seed weight), protein content (PC), oil content (OIL), fiber (FIB), ash content (ASH), palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), linolenic acid (LNA). Descriptive analysis, Tukey's test, Lilliefors statistics, and Pearson correlation were applied. The Euclidean distance matrix generated a network of correlations, and Venn Diagrams analyzed the most promising genotypes. The analyses showed that 100 SW, an average of 15.66 %, was low. Among the seed constituents, only PC was less, with an average of 33.40 % associated with a variability of 2.02. PC and OIL presented possible polygenic control of an additive nature. The strongest correlation was between PC and OIL, with a value of −0.7. The 100 SW correlated positively with PC but negatively with FIB, indicating negligible and weak correlations, with values of 0.18 and 0.31, respectively. Collections 3 and 4 individually presented the lowest and the highest number of high-intensity interactions, respectively. The diagrams underscored the difficulty of simultaneously highlighting genotypes with superior performance considering multiple characteristics. It is concluded that except for collection 3, the genotypes presented low PC and low variability requiring the inclusion of favorable allelic forms, and genotypes with superior performance were identified on account of the characteristics 100 SW and PC or 100 SW and OIL.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to apply the envirotyping methodology to delineate macroenvironments (MEs) in the Brazilian Northeast. Multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between genotype × environment interaction (G × E), stability, and the average performance of maize genotypes, to enhance corn adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. Twenty corn hybrids were cultivated across ten environments over two harvest seasons, with the following characteristics assessed in each environment: grain yield (GY), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), plant density (PD), and number of ears (NE). The target regions were characterized based on 19 environmental covariates (ECs) and a 23-year climatological series (2001-2023), which resulted in the identification of four MEs with similar climatic features. The interaction between genotype × macroenvironment × year significantly influenced the evaluated traits. The top five genotypes for each ME were identified using the multi-trait mean performance and stability index (MTMPS) which demonstrated favorable average performance and stability across multiple years seasons. The hybrids G03 and G04 were selected in three out of four MEs, indicating their stability and adaptability as hybrids. Envirotyping revealed a robust correlation between environments, enhancing the precision with which cultivars can be recommended for various locations within the same ME. The multivariate approach utilizing MTMPS proved effectively identified productive and stable genotypes tailored to each ME.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In the present study, the species diversity of Fusarium graminearum species complex was investigated based on morphological, pathogenic, toxicological and genetic characteristics. Fifty-two isolates, derived from small grains from 20 different locations in Serbia, were studied. The phylogenetic analysis of seven selected sequences of three gene regions, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α), histone H3, and β-tubulin, revealed that six isolates were identified as F. graminearum sensu stricto and one as Fusarium vorosii. The TEF-1α and histone H3 genes were found to be sufficiently informative to distinguish the species F. vorosii. These species are of particular concern due to their ability to synthesize mycotoxins that affect both human and animal health. In this study, it was confirmed that all isolates tested belong to the 15ADON chemotype. Since previous investigations have shown that climate change is the leading cause of the appearance of new, potentially more toxic species, future research must pay special attention to changes in the population of this complex. Given that there is little information in the literature about the damage of the F. vorosii species in the production of small grains, this work aimed to examine its aggressiveness and toxicity and thus determine the potential danger of its spreading. Results of the present study showed that the genetic diversity of isolates of F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) in Serbia, as well as their potential for toxin production and aggressiveness, indicate that continuous study of this species is necessary, both in Serbia and the world outside.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT An isolate of the tobamovirus tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV), Tobamovirus mititessellati, was found naturally infecting petunia (Petunia × hybrida) cv. Pinstripe, causing reduced leaf size, mottling, and color breaking of flowers, in an experimental field at Piracicaba, São Paulo state, Brazil. TMGMV was identified by virion morphology, cytopathology, transmission experiments, and molecular assays. The entire nucleotide sequence of this petunia isolate of TMGMV (TMGMV-Pet) was obtained and demonstrated, in essence, to be similar to previously analyzed isolates. One hundred and twenty plant species were assayed by mechanical transmission, and 35 of them from nine families, both previously reported and unreported species, were shown to be experimentally susceptible to TMGMV-Pet. On the other hand, certain species, among 85 unsusceptible hosts for TMGMV-Pet, known to be susceptible to TMGMV, failed to be infected. Cytopathological studies on naturally and experimentally infected host plants revealed that virions of TMGMV-Pet produced para-crystalline aggregates, but not angular arrays, which are considered characteristic of TMGMV. As previously described, thin sections revealed the presence of pseudo-virions in the stroma of chloroplasts in TMGMV-Pet-infected tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and, additionally, in other hosts such as N. clevelandii, N. megalosyphon, and petunia indicating that this process is not restricted to tobacco.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The expansion of apple cultivation into subtropical climates has necessitated effective strategies to ensure high and consistent productivity. Adapting apple trees to mild winter regions involves challenges in lateral sprouting, which is partly related to the accumulation of chill. This study aimed to investigate the budding patterns of different apple tree cultivars in two sites with contrasting environmental cultivation. The study was conducted in two orchards in a mild winter region of Brazil: Horizonte orchard (ideal cultivation environment) and Lovo orchard (marginal cultivation environment). The selected apple cultivars included ‘Eva’, ‘Fuji Suprema’, and ‘Galaxy’. The experimental design involved marking five one-year-old shoots on five plants at each site and cultivar during the winter for two consecutive years. At the onset of the subsequent autumn, the marked branches were collected to assess the development of lateral shoots. In addition, the total number of spurs and shoots was counted in each orchard. The ‘Gala’ cultivar exhibited consistent spurs per plant across both sites. However, the ‘Fuji’ cultivar demonstrated a substantial increase in total spurs per plant in the low chill environment, with no discernible change in the development of lateral spurs, suggesting a high bourse-over-bourse formation. In orchards with higher chill accumulation, both cultivars necessitated high pruning due to excessive long shoots, underscoring the importance of adapted training systems and cultural practices to each growing region. Further research must enhance our understanding of plant architecture in mild winter regions.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The development or blending of new products represents a common practice of improvement for the efficiency of existing commercialized fertilizers. The physicochemical characteristics of new formulations differ from those of raw materials. These characteristics directly influence the quality of the fertilizer, as they can alter the storage and application requirements. It is hypothesized that molybdenum (Mo) can be added to urea without affecting urea characteristics and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) efficacy. The objective of this study was to characterize the addition of Mo sources and rates to urea treated or not with NBPT at 530 mg per kg of urea. A total of 30 fertilizers were formulated by combining three factors: three types of urea (untreated urea, NBPT-coated urea, and NBPT-incorporated urea), two sources of Mo (ammonium molybdate and Mo trioxide), and five rates of Mo (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 12.0 g kg–1 N). Unless the degradation rate of NBPT was not measured, the granules were evaluated in terms of nutrient content salinity, hardness, hygroscopicity, and angle of repose. The physical quality of the fertilizer was affected at Mo rates exceeding 6 g kg–1 N, particularly with soluble Mo sources, resulting in the formation granules with lower hardness and higher hygroscopicity. The addition of ammonium molybdate (Am) was observed to exert a lesser impact on the characteristics of the granules, particularly at Mo rates below 6 g kg–1 N. The interaction between Mo and NBPT remains unclear, and further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanism and the stability of the inhibitor.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: In the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, the production of conilon coffee plays a pivotal role in the economy, accounting for 75 % of national production. However, the growth of coffee roots is impeded by physical limitations in subsurface soil, primarily due to natural compaction, which restricts access to nutrients and water. To address these challenges, the implementation of deep soil tillage, along with mineral and organic fertilizers have been proposed as potential solution. These practices aim to alleviate or eliminate the constraints on root growth in deeper soil layers. The present study to assessed the effects of deep soil tillage and mineral and organic fertilization on coffee productivity and quality. The experiment was conducted in São Gabriel da Palha, Espírito Santo state, Brazil, following a simple arrangement of five treatments, employing a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were as follows: t1 = soil tillage at 60 cm depth and standard fertilization; t2 = soil tillage at 60 cm depth, mineral fertilizer, chicken manure, and biochar; t3 = deep soil tillage at 150 cm depth and mineral fertilization; t4 = deep soil tillage at 150 cm depth, mineral fertilizer, and chicken manure; t5 = deep soil tillage at 150 cm depth, mineral fertilizer, chicken manure, and biochar. The outcomes of this study revealed that deep soil tillage, in conjunction with mineral and organic fertilization, significantly improved the chemical properties throughout the soil profile. This combination of practices increased accumulated productivity of up to 30 % following five consecutive coffee harvests. These findings underscore the importance of reducing or eliminating chemical constraints in cohesive soils as a pivotal practice for enhancing coffee yields.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In January 2022 and April 2024, plants of Handroanthus heptaphyllus, designated HP22 and HP24, respectively, exhibiing symptoms of mosaic, leaf blistering, and ring spots were observed in the municipality of Piracicaba, São Paulo state, Brazil. Molecular analysis of plant HP22 revealed the presence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus), and phylogenetic analysis classified it into subgroup IA. Additionally, CMV was identified using a plate-trapped antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PTA-ELISA) in both plants (HP22 and HP24). The virus of HP22 plant was mechanically transmitted to Handroanthus albus, H. heptaphyllus, H. impetiginosus, Tabebuia heptaphylla, and T. roseoalba plants, a transmission that PTA-ELISA confirmed. Furthermore, transmission was observed from Aphis gossypii to H. heptaphyllus and T. heptaphylla plants. Despite the absence of discernible symptoms, the presence of CMV was confirmed through PTA-ELISA. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report on the occurrence of CMV in H. heptaphyllus worldwide.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This research study endeavored to examine the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) on the texture and color of post-rigor mortis beef, explicitly focusing on the Longissimus dorsi muscle obtained from the crossbred F1 Senepol/Nelore breed of cattle. Pressure levels ranging from 100 to 400 MPa were exerted at varying processing times on beef sourced from animals of both genders (males and females). Subsequently, the samples were assessed for tenderness, cooking loss, and color. HPP at 100 and 200 MPa promoted significant increases (p < 0.05) in tenderness regardless of sex, based on decreases in shear force in instrumental texture analyses. A significant increase in cooking loss was detected at higher pressures (more than 300 MPa). HPP made a statistically significant impact (p < 0.05) on specific color parameters, and overall, the treatment at 200 MPa resulted in more positive effects.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT A bibliometric study was undertaken to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of works related to managing boron (B) in Eucalyptus spp. from 1970 to 2022. This analysis was based on the Web of Science and Scopus databases, and 121 documents were retrieved. The eight main aspects analyzed were (1) annual scientific production, (2) most relevant research sources, (3) world scientific production, (4) association between countries, (5) most relevant affiliations, (6) indexed terms, (7) most relevant authors, and (8) most cited documents. The results indicated that publications of studies about B in eucalyptus have increased significantly over the last decade (2010-2020). Brazil has produced the most studies relating to the nutritional management of B in eucalyptus, as is mainly reflected in the numbers of researchers, research institutions, and journals that have published on the subject. Our study found that most works have been developed regionally, with little international collaboration between countries although researchers from the United States are the most frequent partners in international collaborations. The majority of the articles analyzed focused on studying the influence of B doses on the growth and rooting of eucalyptus seedlings. Finally, one significant gap in the literature is the need for studies on sources of B via soil and leaves, and new studies on this subject should be commissioned. Thus, the bibliometric review was an efficient approach for observing the main advances in managing B in eucalyptus in recent decades and identifying the leading research groups and future opportunities for scientific advances in this area.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT: Meat consumption has been declining in favor of a shift towards poultry due to its lower price, health benefits and consumers’ preference. One of the ways to enhance broiler production and quality is to substitute standard maize (SM) with quality protein maize (QPM) in animal diets. QPM is a high lysine maize with improved nutritional and biological values, developed by the selection of a naturally occurring recessive opaque2 mutation, which can reduce the use of costly feed components - synthetic lysine and protein ingredients such as soybean and fishmeal. Different feeding trials with QPM in broiler diets indicated that body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), breast meat yield (BMY), and abdominal fat (AF) are the main improved features. Herein, an overview of the effects of QPM on broiler performance and carcass characteristics, as well as the financial effects of its use, is presented. Different effects of QPM were observed, depending, in the main, on the QPM hybrid used in the trial. The possible reasons for the discrepancies and suggestions for overcoming them, focused on the utilization of the full potential of QPM, are discussed.