Polinização por Apis mellifera em soja em soja transgênica [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Merrill] Roundup ReadyTM cv. BRS 245 RR e convencional cv. BRS 133.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência de Apis mellifera na produção de grãos e qualidade de sementes da soja transgênica Glycine max (L.) Merrill Roundup ReadyTM e convencional. A soja transgênica foi plantada intercalada com a convencional, em 18 parcelas, em três tratamentos: gaiolas com abelhas A. mellifera, gaiolas sem abelhas e áreas descobertas, com livre visitação de insetos. Na soja transgênica, em três parcelas de cada tratamento, foi aplicado glifosato, 30 dias após a emergência. Os parâmetros analisados foram: produção de grãos; número de vagens por planta; peso de 100 sementes e porcentagem de germinação das sementes. Não houve diferença entre as cultivares, entretanto a produção de 2.757,40 kg ha-1 obtida na área coberta por gaiola com abelhas, e 2.828,47 kg ha-1 na área livre para visitação de insetos foram superiores a 2.000,53 kg ha-1 da área coberta por gaiola sem abelhas. O número de vagens por planta foi maior na área coberta por gaiola com abelhas (38,28) e área livre (32,65), quando comparado com o da área coberta por gaiola sem abelhas (21,19). O peso médio de 100 sementes e a germinação das sementes não foram diferentes entre as cultivares e nem entre os tratamentos. Conclui-se que, para as cultivares estudadas, houve benefício na produção de grãos de 37,84%, quando foi permitida a visita de abelhas. ABSTRACT. Pollination by Apis mellifera in transgenic soy (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Roundup Ready? cv. BRS 245 RR and conventional cv. BRS 133. This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of Africanized honeybees in grain production and seed quality of Glycine max (L.) Merrill Roundup Ready? transgenic soy, as well as of conventional soy. Transgenic soy was interposed with conventional soybean, in 18 plots and three treatments: covered area with Africanized honeybees, covered area without honeybees, and uncovered area with free insect visitation. The herbicide Glyphosate was applied on three plots of each treatment of transgenic soy, 30 days after emergence. Grain production, number of pods/plant, weight per 100 seeds, and seed germination percentage were evaluated. There was no difference among cultivars; however, the production in the covered area with honeybees (2757.4 kg ha-1) and in the uncovered area (2828.47 kg ha-1) were higher than in the covered area without honeybees (2000.53 kg ha-1). The number of pods/plant was greater than in the covered area with honeybees (38.28) and in the uncovered area (32.65) as compared to the covered area without honeybees (21.19). The weight per 100 seeds seed germination did not differ among cultivars or treatments. It can be concluded that, for these cultivars, there was a rise in grain production of 37.84% when honeybee visits were allowed.

Annual crop rotation of tropical pastures with no-till soil as affectedby lime surface application.

Soil acidity and low natural fertility are the main limiting factors for grain production in tropical regionssuch as the Brazilian Cerrado. The application of lime to the surface of no-till soil can improve plant nutrition, dry matter production, crop yields and revenue. The present study, conducted at the Lageado Experimental Farm in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, is part of an ongoing research project initi-ated in 2002 to evaluate the long-term effects of the surface application of lime on the soil?s chemical attributes, nutrition and kernel/grain yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), white oat (Avena sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) inter cropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu), as well as the forage dry matter yield of palisade grass in winter/spring, its crude protein concentration, estimated meat production, and revenue in a tropical region with a dry winter during four growing seasons. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments consisted of four rates of lime application (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 kg ha−1), performed in November 2004. The surface application of limestone to the studied tropical no-till soil was efficient in reducing soil acidity from the surface down to a depth of 0.60 m and resulted in greater availability of P and K at the soil surface. Ca and Mg availability in the soil also increased with the lime application rate, up to a depth of 0.60 m. Nutrient absorption was enhanced with liming, especially regarding the nutrient uptake of K, Ca and Mg by plants.Significant increases in the yield components and kernel/grain yields of peanut, white oat and maize were obtained through the surface application of limestone. The lime rates estimated to achieve the maximum grain yield, especially in white oat and maize, were very close to the rates necessary to increase the base saturation of a soil sample collected at a depth of 0?0.20 m to 70%, indicating that the surface liming of 2000 kg ha−1is effective for the studied tropical no-till soil. This lime rate also increases the forage dry matter yield, crude protein concentration and estimated meat production during winter/spring in the maize-palisade grass inter cropping, provides the highest total and mean net profit during the four growing seasons, and can improve the long-term sustainability of tropical agriculture in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade de progênies de meios-irmãos de pinhão-manso em diferentes regiões do Brasil.

RESUMO: Programas de melhoramento do pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) intensificaram-se nos últimos cinco anos, tendo sido selecionadas, localmente, plantas em diversas regiões do Brasil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a interação genótipos x ambientes da produção de grãos de pinhão-manso, avaliada em três regiões brasileiras, e o progresso genético obtido com a seleção. A partir de progênies de meios-irmãos, selecionadas pela Embrapa Semiárido e pela EPAMIG, foram instalados, no ano de 2008, três testes de progênies, nos municípios de Planaltina, DF, Nova Porteirinha, MG e Pelotas, RS, utilizando-se delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e cinco plantas por parcela. Como testemunhas foram utilizadas sementes de plantas não selecionadas e um dos materiais genéticos comercializados no Brasil. A interação genótipo x ambiente foi significativa. Foram identificadas oito progênies de adaptabilidade geral, três progênies de baixa adaptabilidade, duas progênies de adaptabilidade específica a ambientes favoráveis e duas progênies de adaptabilidade específica a ambientes desfavoráveis, em diferentes regiões do Brasil. As estimativas de progresso genético indicam eficiência da seleção massal, com ganhos de 28, 76 e 177%, nos municípios de Planaltina, DF, de Nova Porteirinha, MG, e de Pelota, RS, respectivamente. Observa-se que os ganhos de seleção obtidos pelo método centroide são mais equilibrados entre ambientes e, por isso, preferíveis. As novas médias, estimadas com o plantio das progênies selecionadas, em toneladas por hectare, são de 2,34 ton.ha-1, em Planaltina, DF; de 2,37 ton.ha-1, em Nova Porteirinha, MG, e de 2,09 ton.ha-1 , em Pelotas, RS. ABSTRACT: Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) breeding programs have intensified in the past five years, locally selecting plants from various Brazilian regions. The objective of this study was to quantify the genotype x environment interaction of the physic nut grain production and the genetic progress obtained with the selection. From Half-sib progenies selected by Embrapa and EPAMIG, in 2008, three progeny trials were installed in the cities of Planaltina-DF, Nova Porteirinha-MG and Pelotas-RS, using a randomized block design with three replications of five plants per plot. Non-selected plant seeds and genetic material commercialized in Brazil were used as control. The genotype x environment interaction was significant for the J. curcas grain yield expression. We identified eight progenies of broad adaptability, three progenies of low adaptability, two progenies of specific adaptability to favorable environments and two progenies of specific adaptability to unfavorable environments of different Brazilian regions. Estimates of genetic progress indicate mass selection efficiency, with genetic gains of 28%, 76% and 177% in the Planaltina-DF, New Porteirinha-MG and Pelotas-RS, respectively. The genetic gains obtained by the centroid method were more balanced among environments, and therefore, preferable. The new means estimated with the cultivating of the selected progenies are: 2.34 ton.ha-1 in Planaltina-DF, 2.37 ton.ha-1 in Nova Porteirinha- MG and 2.09 ton.ha-1 in Pelotas-RS.

Productivity, adaptability and stability of production of special grain common bean lines in different environments of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This study aimed to select special grain bean lines with high productivity, adaptability and stability of production, evaluated in different environments of the Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Rice grain yield as affected by grain-producing cover crops in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of biomass and grain cover crops, yield components, and grain yield of rice in Mozambique. The study was conducted in two sites located in the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique.

Fertilizers with coated urea in upland rice production and nitrogen apparent recovery.

Urea is the most used N fertilizer for upland rice, however, a great percentage of N loss can occur with the use of this fertilizer. The use of products that provide reduction of N loss for urea fertilizers can contribute to increase N use efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of N rates applied in the form of coated urea in the content and accumulation of N in dry biomass, apparent recovery of nitrogen and grain yield of upland rice. The experimental design was a randomized complete blocks arranged in a 4 x 3 + 1 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of four sources of N fertilizer [1. Common urea; 2. Polymer-coated urea for slow release of N (PCU); 3. urea with the urease inhibitor N-(n-Butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT); and 4. urea coated with copper sulfate and boric acid as urease inhibitors (UCCB)], with three fertilization rates (30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 of N). In addition, we included a control treatment without N application. Coated urea did not provide increases in rice grain yield in relation to common urea. The increasing amount of N resulted in significant increases in rice grain yield (from 3217 to 5548 kg ha-1, 2010/11, and from 3392 to 4560 kg ha-1, 2011/12). The apparent nitrogen recovery rate decreased with the increase in N applied doses.

Use of organic compost containing waste from small ruminants in corn production.

Composting is a useful way of transforming livestock waste into organic fertilizer, which is proven to increase soil nutrient levels, and thus crop yield. Remains from production and slaughter of small ruminants can become a source of important elements for plant growth, such as N, after microorganism-driven decomposition.The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of this compost on soil fertility and on the nutritional status and yield of the corn crop. The experiment was conducted in a Haplic Luvisol in a randomized block design with six treatments and five application rates of the organic compound in Mg ha-1: 3 (half the standard rate), 6 (standard rate), 9 (one and a half times the standard rate), 12 (twice the standard rate), and 24 (four times the standard rate) and an additional treatment with mineral fertilizers (110, 50 e 30 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively), with four blocks. Evaluations were performed for two harvests of rainfed crops, measuring soil fertility, nutritional status, and grain yield. The compost increased P, K, Na and Zn values in the 0.00-0.20 m layer in relation of mineral fertilization in 616, 21, 114 and 90 % with rate 24 Mg ha-1 in second crop. Leaf N, Mg, and S contents, relative chlorophyll content, and the productivity of corn kernels increased in 27, 32, 36, 20 e 85 %, respectively, of low rate (3 Mg ha-1) to high rate (24 Mg ha-1) with of application of the compost. Corn yield was higher with application of organic compost in rate of 24 Mg ha-1 than mineral fertilizer combination in second crop.