Yield and diametric structure of Dimorphandra mollis Benth

ABSTRACT Dimorphandra mollis is native to the Brazilian Savanna and has social, economic and environmental importance. This study aimed to evaluate the yield and diametric distribution of Dimorphandra mollis Benth. in the Pandeiros River Environmental Protection Area, in Bonito de Minas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Five areas were assessed, totaling five hectares (50 plots of 1,000 m2). The total number of plants, yield per plant (2018, 2019 and 2020) and diameter at breast height were recorded, considering all trees from the plots in diametric classes. The average diameter at breast height of all plants was 6.05 ± 3.07 cm, and that of the plants that produced in at least one of the evaluated years was 7.46 ± 3.15 cm. The diametric distribution showed classes with no individuals, indicating imbalance, as well as a trend to inverted “J” shape. The maximum annual yield was 8.08 kg ha-1 of dry fruits (2019), the minimum 0.42 kg ha-1 (2018), and the average 2.74 kg ha-1, with biennial characteristic.

Fertility, carbon stock and aggregate stability of an Alfisol under integrated farming systems

ABSTRACT Integrated farming systems are promising strategies for the recovery of pastures and degraded soils. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of integrated farming systems arrangements, after four years of implementation, on the fertility, carbon stock and aggregate stability of an Alfisol, in the semiarid region of the Paraíba state, Brazil. A randomized block experimental design was used, with 5 treatments and 4 replications: Brachiaria decumbens; B. decumbens + Tabebuia impetiginous; B. decumbens + Gliricidia sepium; B. decumbens + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia; and B. decumbens + maize. The soil chemical attributes, fertility, carbon stock and structural and aggregate stability were evaluated in the 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.30 m layers. The B. decumbens + maize system presented an organic matter content 11.93 % higher than B. decumbens, and was higher than the other systems evaluated. Concerning the carbon stock in the 0.00-0.10 m layer, in B. decumbens the uptake was 2.66 Mg ha-1 higher than that of the B. decumbens + maize system and, on average, 4.69 Mg ha-1 higher than for the systems with the arboreal component. In the medium-term, B. decumbens is more efficient in adding carbon to the soil. The soil structural stability, aggregate stability index and fertility were not affected by the different arrangements after four years of implementation.

Effect of Savanna windrow wood burning on the spatial variability of soil properties

ABSTRACT Tropical Savannas cover an area of approximately 1.9 billion hectares around the word and are subject to regular fires every 1 to 4 years. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of burning windrow wood from Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) deforestation on the spatial variability of soil chemical properties, in the field. The data were analysed by using geostatistical methods. The semivariograms for pH(H2O), pH(CaCl2), Ca, Mg and K were calculated according to spherical models, whereas the phosphorus showed a nugget effect. The cross semi-variograms showed correlations between pH(H2O) and pH(CaCl2) with other variables with spatial dependence (exchangeable Ca and Mg and available K). The spatial variability maps for the pH(H2O), pH(CaCl2), Ca, Mg and K concentrations also showed similar patterns of spatial variability, indicating that burning the vegetation after deforestation caused a well-defined spatial arrangement. Even after 20 years of use with agriculture, the spatial distribution of pH(H2O), pH(CaCl2), Ca, Mg and available K was affected by the wood windrow burning that took place during the initial deforestation.

In vitro growth of Cattleya nobilior Rchb. f.: culture media, sealing systems and irradiance

ABSTRACT Some factors may influence the in vitro culture of native orchids, especially the culture medium, sealing system and light condition. This study aimed to evaluate the addition of banana pulp and peel in the formulation of culture media, sealing system and irradiance, in the in vitro growth of Cattleya nobilior Rchb. f. A completely randomized design was used in a factorial scheme with five culture media [Murashige & Skoog supplemented or not with banana pulp or peel (100 or 200g L-1)], two light conditions [3,000 K LED lamps (43 µmol m-2 s-1 or 86 µmol m-2 s-1)] and two sealing systems (natural and conventional ventilation), with six replicates of one vial each. The plant height, diameter of the largest pseudobulb, length of the largest root and of the largest leaf, fresh weight and number of leaves, roots and shoots were evaluated. The use of both the banana pulp and peel as additives in the culture medium formulation promoted the C. nobilior growth. The natural ventilation system increased the plant height, pseudobulb diameter and leaf length, while the conventional system promoted tillering.

Intraspecific variation in the Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) susceptibility to insecticides

ABSTRACT The looper caterpillar Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) is considered the main defoliating pest in soybean crops, which contributes to yield losses. Delaying its resistance to insecticides is a major challenge in its management. This study aimed to characterize the susceptibility of C. includens to flubendiamide, cyantraniliprole, spinetoram and methomyl, as well as to establish a diagnostic concentration for monitoring resistance. The insecticide was applied to the surface of the artificial diet. For the dose-response curve, concentrations that resulted in 5 to 99 % mortality were used to estimate the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC99) and resistance ratios (RR50 and RR99). The diagnostic concentrations were based on concentrations that provided 90 to 99 % mortality in the susceptible reference population. For flubendiamide and methomyl, the decrease in the susceptibility resulted in estimated RR50 of 6.2 to 24.2 and 4.4 to 19.6 times, respectively. For cyantraniliprole and spinetoram, there was little difference in susceptibility among the populations, with RR99 lower than 6.1 times. Differences in the susceptibility of C. includens were evident from concentrations of 0.5053, 5.053, 0.1579 and 28.42 μg cm-2, respectively for flubendiamide, cyantraniliprole, spinetoram and methomyl.

Assessing the Impact of the ABC Cerrado Project1

ABSTRACT Projects that help rural producers to use sustainable production practices are essential for the preservation of biomes. The ABC Cerrado Project, for example, aimed to promote the sustainable land use, as well as to improve the forest management, in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) biome, from 2014 to 2019. The Project’s goals included assessing the impact resulting from training a group of farmers in sustainable technologies for agricultural production and offering them technical assistance for managing rural properties. In this study, the impact of this Project was evaluated. The perception of impact adopted here has three dimensions: technical efficiency; probability of the activity being a carbon sink; and reduction of carbon emissions. In general, there was an improvement in the environmental performance of farms assisted by the Project. This reflects the efforts of the farmers to adjust their production processes and incorporate the good agricultural practices disseminated by the technology transfer process proposed by the Project.

Spray technology for deposition of droplets on coffee leaves and fruits1

ABSTRACT The correct deposition of spray along the canopy is important for the phytosanitary control in coffee plants; however, the structure of the plant makes this distribution difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the deposition of a tracer on leaves and fruits in coffee cultivation, with respect to the application rate and type of hydraulic nozzle, as well as the use of an electrostatic spraying system. A hydropneumatic sprayer was used, with hydraulic nozzles of empty conical jet of the series TVI (coarse droplets with air induction) or JA (fine droplets), at rates of 200 and 400 L ha-1. An electrostatic system, with SPE-2 nozzle and rate of 200 L ha-1, was also evaluated. The deposition of the tracer on leaves and fruits of the upper, middle and lower thirds of the trees, as well as the losses to the ground in the canopy projection, were quantified using spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the electrostatic application provides a greater deposition on leaves of the upper third than the hydropneumatic application, regardless of the application rate. The use of the TVI nozzle results in a greater deposition on the fruits of the middle third and a greater loss to the ground than the JA nozzle. Although an application rate of 400 L ha-1 results in a greater deposition on the fruits of the middle third than an application rate of 200 L ha-1, it also causes a greater loss to the ground.

Phenotypic variability of cowpea genotypes for immature seed harvesting

ABSTRACT Seed color, brightness and texture are important aspects for the consumption of immature beans. This study aimed to estimate the phenotypic variability among thirty cowpea genotypes for immature seed harvesting, in order to guide breeding programs. The experiment was carried out in a randomized blocks design, with three replications. The evaluated traits were immature seeds yield, pods and dry seeds production, number of immature pods, 100-immature seeds weight, immature pods length, number of seeds per immature pod, cooking time, harvesting period of immature pods, seed color, pod color, plant growth habit, opening of immature pods, seed threshing from immature pods, cultivation value and seed browning after threshing. Anova and three clustering methods were applied: UPGMA using the Jaccard coefficient of similarity; modified Tocher method based on the Gower algorithm; and k-means. All the analyses were performed based on the variable means of experiments evaluated in six environments. A statistically significant phenotypic variability was observed among all the quantitative traits. Discrepancies occurred in the accessions grouping and number of clusters. The accession BRS Acauã, in one group, and P508 and PCCR3F6L15, in other groups, showed a good quality for immature grain harvesting, were consistently grouped into different clusters and are recommended for use as parents in the development of new cultivars.

Development of color guides to evaluate the maturity of cacao clones by digital image processing

ABSTRACT Raw material homogeneity is one of the most requested characteristics in any production industry, and the cacao industry is no exception. However, there are many factors that affect the final quality of fruits, among them the variety and maturity stage. The present study aimed to create color tables for evaluating the maturity index of the ICS06, CCN51 and EET8 cacao clones, using digital image processing, in order to contribute for the quality and final homogeneity of the fruits and their by-products.

Efficiency of a new Waitea circinata extract against rice pathogens

ABSTRACT Waitea circinata (Warcup & Talbot) is an orchid antagonist mycorrhizal fungus with biocontrol potential against rice pathogens. This study aimed to optimize the extraction method, obtain a new extract and evaluate its efficiency against rice pathogens in vitro and in vivo, as well as to compare it with other extraction methods and W. circinata. The extracts were obtained and screened for in vitro growth inhibition against the pathogens Cochliobolus miyabeanus, Monographella albescens and Sarocladium oryzae, using the following extracts: mycelial, crude, lyophilized and mycelial mass. An additional in vitro assay was performed with the principal rice pathogen (Magnaporthe oryzae), in order to evaluate the conidial germination and appressorium formation. Based on this evaluation, the lyophilized and mycelial mass extracts were tested in vivo against rice blast (M. oryzae) and compared to the W. circinata mycelial suspension, in different application forms (simultaneous and previous). The mycelial mass extract inhibited all the pathogens, and the crude and lyophilized extracts inhibited C. miyabeanus and M. albescens, respectively. The mycelial mass extract inhibited the M. oryzae conidial germination and appressorium formation by 80 %, and the simultaneous and previous applications suppressed the rice blast by 94 %. These results indicate that the new extract can be used to control rice pathogens.