Physiological quality of soybean and wheat seeds produced with alternative potassium sources

O uso de fontes não convencionais para fornecimento de K às plantas tem sido amplamente estudado, mas os efeitos de materiais alternativos na qualidade fisiológica das sementes não são conhecidos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja e trigo em função da aplicação fontes de potássio em uma sucessão de culturas. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constaram de três fontes de K (KCl, rocha alcalina e fonolito moído, com 58%, 11% e 8.42% de K2O, respectivamente) aplicados em quatro doses (0, 25, 50 e 100 kg K2O ha-1). As doses de potássio foram aplicadas na soja e seu efeito residual foi avaliado na cultura do trigo, cultivado em sucessão. Logo após a colheita, as sementes de soja e trigo foram avaliadas pelos testes de teor de água, massa de sementes, germinação, primeira contagem, condutividade elétrica, comprimento de plântulas e massa da matéria seca de plântulas. Plantas de soja adubadas com fontes alternativas para fornecimento de K produzem sementes com maior massa e menor permeabilidade de membranas comparado às com KCl; maior qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja e massa de sementes de trigo são obtidas com maiores doses de K2O independente da fonte.

Qualidade do café natural e despolpado após secagem em terreiro e com altas temperaturas

Objetivou-se no presente trabalho verificar a qualidade do café natural e despolpado durante a secagem em terreiro e secagem com ar aquecido a 40º e 60ºC. O trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Engenharia e no Pólo de Tecnologia em Pós-Colheita do Café da Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA). A colheita do café, cultivar Topázio, foi seletiva. Parte do café foi despolpado e outra parte processado de forma natural. Uma parcela de cada tipo de café foi conduzida para a secagem em terreiro e outra parcela para secagem com temperaturas de 40ºC e 60ºC. Para avaliação da qualidade, foram feitos teste de condutividade elétrica e lixiviação de potássio; determinação de acidez titulável total; teste de acidez graxa; açúcares totais e redutores. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que: o tempo para secagem é afetado pelos diferentes tipos de secagem e processamentos; a condutividade elétrica, a lixiviação de potássio, a acidez titulável total e a acidez graxa aumentam com a elevação da temperatura de secagem, independente do tipo de processamento; os açúcares redutores e os açúcares totais diminuem com o aumento da tem peratura de secagem independente do tipo de processamento; a secagem com temperatura de 60ºC afetou negativamente a qualidade do café.

Effect of intermittent drying and storage on parchment coffee quality

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Electrical conductivity test in the evaluation of physiological quality in seeds of Zeyheria tuberculosa

The electrical conductivity test is still an excellent tool to evaluate the effect of seeds of various forest and agricultural species and recent studies have been conducted aiming at verifying its application in forest seeds. The objective of this study was to establish a specific methodology to test the electrical conductivity of forest seeds of Zeyheria tuberculosis. Four lots of seeds were used, which were submitted to the germination test, evaluating the percentage of germination, germination speed index and dry mass of seedlings. For the electrical conductivity test, five replicates of 20 seeds installed in three volumes of deionized water (75, 100 and 125 mL) were used and eight periods for seed imbibitions (2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 hour) at 25 degrees C were allowed. The statistical design used was completely random; the comparison of means was performed by Tukey test at 5 % probability. Lot II showed higher germination percentage and speed. The electrical conductivity test allows discrimination of the same batch by the germination test under laboratory conditions. It was possible to separate the seed lot presenting better physiological quality (lot II) from among the other lots. It was recommended the use of 75 or 125 mL of deionized water at a temperature of 25 degrees C to perform the electrical conductivity test.

Seed-borne pathogens and electrical conductivity of soybean seeds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Germination of Albizia hassleri seeds at different temperatures, under laboratory conditions

The objective of this study was to analyze the germination of seeds of Albizia hassleri under different temperatures. A completely random design arranged as a split plot for temperatures regimes, with 11 seed lots and four replications of 15 seeds was used. The plot was represented by the various lots and the sub plots for different temperatures. The means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The temperatures used were: a) constant: 20, 25 and 30 degrees C, and b) alternating: 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C. For all 11 seed lots the mean germination was 90%, speed germination index (IVG) was 5.059, fresh matter of seedlings (MMF) was 0.0628 g and dry matter (MMS) 0.0499 g. The variation coefficient (CV) between plots ranged from 8.48% for germination to 51.71% for dry matter of seedlings and sub plot of 6.77% to 60.45% for germination and MMS. These high values of CV, tested for MMS and MMF, indicate low repeatability of results within each treatment. In general, the IVG obtained at temperatures of 20 and 25 degrees C was lower than those in temperatures of 30, 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C. The best temperature for IVG was the alternating 25-35 degrees C and constant 30 degrees C. The germination test can be conducted at 30, 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C for 19 days.

Seed size variation in the palm Euterpe edulis and the effects of seed predators on germination and seedling survival

Intraspecific variation in seed size is common in wild plant populations and has important consequences for the reproductive success of individual plants. Multiple, often conflicting evolutionary forces mediated by biotic as well as abiotic agents may maintain such a variation. In this paper we assessed seed size variation in a population of the threatened, commercially important palm Euterpe edulis in southeast Brazil. We investigated (i) how this variation affects the probability of attack by vertebrate and invertebrate post-dispersal seed predators, and (ii) if seed size influences the outcome of seeds damaged by beetles in terms of seed germination and early survival of seedlings. Euterpe edulis seeds varied in diameter from 8.3 to 14.1 mm. Neither insects nor rodents selected the seeds they preyed upon based on seed size. Seed germination and total, shoot and root biomasses of one-year seedlings were significantly and positively affected by seed size. Root biomass and seedling survival were negatively affected by seed damage caused by a scolytid beetle (Coccotrypes palmarum) whose adults bore into seeds to consume part of the endosperm, but do not oviposit on them. Seed size had a marginally significant effect on seedling survival. Therefore, if any advantage is accrued by E. edulis individuals producing large seeds, this is because of greater seed germination success and seedling vigor. If this is so, even a relatively narrow range of variation in seed size as observed in the E. edulis population studied may translate into differential success of individual plants. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Seed dispersal and germination of Cryptocarya moschata Nees & Martius Ex Nees, Ocotea catharinensis Mez and Endlicheria paniculata (Sprengel) Macbride (Lauraceae)

Data of seed dispersal and germination of the studied species are presented, comparing both observations from the wild and nursery. Fruits were collected from Carlos Botelho State Park (24 degrees 44' to 24 degrees 03'S, 47 degrees 46' to 48 degrees 10'W), south of São Paulo State, Brazil. O. catharinensis had low germination percentage, both in the wild and in nursery, and did not tolerate seed storage at low temperature. In nursery, diaspores with removed mesocarp of E. paniculata presented greater germination than those in entire fruits. The high levels of seedling mortality beneath mother-trees of C. moschata, when in comparison to those observed to established seedlings from diaspores dispersed by muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides E. Geoffroy 1806, Cebidae, Primates), allied to the absence of juveniles in the understory, are in accord with the escape model of Janzen-Connel. In nursery, diaspores of C. moschata dispersed by the primates had greater germination, in smaller time, than those collected from mother-trees.

Teste de envelhecimento acelerado em sementes de ervilha forrageira

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variação genética para os caracteres fisiológicos, bioquímicos e nutricionais em sementes de uma população base de Myracrodruon urundeuva procedente de Aquidauana-MS

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Teste de condutividade elétrica em sementes de soja armazenadas sob diferentes temperaturas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Seed anatomy and germination of Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien (Arecaceae)

O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar a morfologia, anatomia e o processo germinativo de sementes de Phoenix roebelenii. Para o levantamento dos dados biométricos foram utilizadas 100 sementes de frutos recém-colhidos, deixados secar ao ar por um dia. Para a germinação, quatro repetições de 50 sementes tratadas com Vitavax-Thiran foram semeadas em bandejas de plástico, contendo Sphagnum sp. como substrato e mantidas sob condições ambientais de laboratório. Detalhes da morfologia da semente foram documentados com o uso de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e esquematizados com auxílio de câmara clara, acoplada ao estereomicroscópio. Foram confeccionadas lâminas permanentes com cortes do embrião, para o estudo de sua anatomia. As dimensões médias das sementes foram: 10,32mm comprimento, 5,21mm largura e 3,91mm espessura. O peso de 1000 sementes foi de 151,1g e 1kg continha 6600 unidades. O início da germinação variou entre 27 e 58 dias. As sementes são albuminosas, com endosperma duro e o embrião é pouco diferenciado, lateral e periférico. A germinação inicia-se pela abertura de um opérculo, através do qual é emitido o pecíolo cotiledonar com o eixo embrionário na extremidade. O pecíolo funciona, internamente, como um haustório, digerindo gradativamente o endosperma. Na sua parte posterior, desenvolve-se a plúmula, que emerge através de uma fenda. Nota-se o aparecimento de raízes secundárias na porção anterior da raiz primária.

Use of space by frugivorous bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in a restored Atlantic forest fragment in Brazil

We studied patterns in the use of space for foraging and roosting by two frugivorous bat species in a five-year-old restored Atlantic forest located in a fragmented landscape in southeastern Brazil. Ten individuals of Carollia perspicillata and eleven individuals of Artibeus lituratus were monitored through radio-telemetry in five sampling sessions. Each session lasted 3-8. days for each individual, with an average of 25.4 ± 10 locations for each C. perspicillata individual and 19 ± 4.4 for each A. lituratus individual. We described an average range of 124.4. ha and an average commuting distance of 1158.8. m for A. lituratus and an average range and commuting distance of 32. ha and 489. m, respectively, for C. perspicillata. We demonstrated a consistent pattern in habitat use and movements for both studied species, where they strictly used forests (restored or not) for day roosting, roosting in the foliage of trees located only in secondary forest remnants and restored areas, while restored areas were their main feeding habitat. We demonstrate that newly restored forests can be readily incorporated as foraging and roosting habitats by these species, and that C. perspicillata alters its roosting behavior in relation to preferred food availability. These results, when combined with data on the diet of the studied species, show consistent evidence of the potential that bats have to improve species diversity of anthropogenic plantings with their own natural seed dispersal. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Aplicação foliar de indutor de resistência em feijoeiro comum: efeito sobre desempenho da cultura, qualidade fisiológica e sanitária das sementes

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Potassium leaching from millet straw as affected by rainfall and potassium rates

Pearl millet (Penisetum glaucum) is an interesting species to be used as cover crop in tropical areas, showing a high ability in potassium uptake. Potassium (K) is not linked to organic compounds in the plant, and can easily be released from decaying straw becoming available for subsequent crops. This experiment evaluated K leaching from millet straw grown under potassium rates (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg dm-3), and submitted to five levels of simulated rain (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mm). Plants were grown in soil filled pots in a greenhouse. On the 50th day after emergence, the plants were desiccated with glyphosate. Artificial rain was applied over the straw. Potassium deficiency speeds up millet dehydration after herbicide application and increases lightly rain water retention in the straw. The amount of K leached right after plant desiccation is correlated with the residue nutrient content and can be as high as 64 kg ha-1 considering a mulch of 8 t ha -1. Although well-nourished millet plants release considerable amounts of K with the first rains, a large percentage of the nutrient is still retained in the straw. Copyright © Taylor & Francis, Inc.