Effects of different environmental stresses on seed germination

In this paper, the hypothesis was that different environmental stresses may show similar responses in a biological system, as exemplified by the kinetic of germination of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden seeds. It was observed that the kinetic of germination depends on environmental factors, and different treatments induced similar germination responses. The treatments with PEG 6000 and NaCl suggest that germination depends on solute used, since NaCl exhibit both ionic and osmotic effects. The analysis of the results showed that different external disturbances may lead, perhaps through different physiological ways, to similar responses related to the germination process.

Toward a hierarchical concept of plant stress

A number of attempts have been made to obtain a clear definition of biological stress. However, in spite of the efforts, some controversies on the concept of plant stress remain. The current versions are centered either on the cause (stress factor) or on the effect (stress response) of environmental stress. The objective of this study was to contribute to the definition of stress, using a hierarchical approach. Thus, we have performed an analysis of the most usual stress concepts and tested the relevance of considering different observation scales in a study on plant response to water deficit. Seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis were grown in vitro at water potentials ranging from -0.16 to -0.6 MPa, and evaluated according to growth and biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed through principal component analysis (PCA), which pointed to a hierarchical organization in plant responses to environmental disturbances. Growth parameters (height and dry weight) are more sensitive to water deficit than biochemical ones (sugars, proline, and protein), suggesting that higher hierarchical levels were more sensitive to environmental constraints than lower hierarchical ones. We suggest that before considering an environmental fluctuation as stressful, it is necessary to take into account different levels of plant response, and that the evaluation of the effects of environmental disturbances on an organism depends on the observation scale being used. Hence, a more appropriate stress concept should consider the hierarchical organization of the biological systems, not only for a more adequate theoretical approach, but also for the improvement of practical studies on plants under stress.

Determinação de fósforo microbiano: comparação entre métodos e coberturas florestais

Muitos trabalhos mostram a importância da biomassa microbiana do solo (BMS), principalmente como fonte/dreno de C e de N em plantações florestais; contudo, são escassos os trabalhos relacionados ao fósforo microbiano (PBM), sobretudo aqueles relativos aos métodos de determinação do PBM nesses ecossistemas. O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar métodos de determinação do PBM em solo com diferentes coberturas vegetais. O trabalho consistiu da análise de amostras de Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico muito argiloso (LVAd) localizado no município de Viçosa (MG), coletadas nas profundidades de 0 a 5 e 5 a 10 cm, em áreas com as seguintes coberturas vegetais: pínus (Pinus taeda), eucalipto (Eucalyptus grandis) e floresta nativa. Para determinação do P microbiano, foram empregados os métodos fumigação-extração (FE), irradiação com micro-ondas-extração (IE) e irradiação com micro-ondas-extração com membrana de troca aniônica (EMTA). em termos gerais, menores teores de PBM foram obtidos com o método irradiação-extração. Considerando a cobertura vegetal, foi detectada diferença significativa entre os três métodos sob floresta de eucalipto e floresta nativa, principalmente na camada superficial. Sob pínus, apenas o método IE diferiu dos demais, na camada subsuperficial. Menores coeficientes de variação (CV) foram obtidos com o FE, retratando maior precisão do método. Entretanto, o método IE mostrou-se, em termos operacionais, o mais adequado à determinação do PBM quando se tem maior número de amostras. Com relação às coberturas vegetais, a grande variabilidade observada nos CVs obtidos para cada cobertura, nos três métodos testados, inviabiliza a escolha de um único método que apresente maior precisão na avaliação do PBM.

Efeito de inseticidas em insetos predadores em culturas de algodão

Com o objetivo de verificar o efeito de inseticidas em insetos predadores em cultura de algodão (Gossypium hirsutum L.), instalaram-se, em 1993-1994, dois experimentos, um no campo, e outro, em laboratório. No experimento realizado no campo, os tratamentos foram: Fipronil 200 SC (75 g/ha de i.a.); Fipronil 800 WDG (64, 80 e 100 g/ha de i.a.); Endosulfan 350 CE (700 g/ha de i.a.); e testemunha. em laboratório, além das formulações à base de Fipronil foi utilizado o Paration metílico 600 CE (480 g/ha de i.a.). Fipronil foi seletivo para os artrópodes predadores (Scymnus sp., Geocoris ventralis, Cycloneda sanguinea e Doru lineare) no campo, e a Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), em laboratório, e pode ser recomendado em programas de manejo integrado de pragas na cultura do algodoeiro para o controle de Alabama argillacea (Rueb.), e Anthonomus grandis Boh. Endosulfan foi seletivo em relação a Scymnus sp., Geocoris ventralis Thomazini e Doru lineare (Eschs) no campo, com uma redução dos insetos inferior a 30%, e o Paration metílico não foi seletivo para C. sanguinea em laboratório.

Plants of an Eucalyptus clone damaged by Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Boron influence on concentration of polyols and other sugars in Eucalyptus

Embora a função do elemento Boro (B) nas plantas ainda não tenha sido bem esclarecida, várias hipóteses vêm sido levantadas. Uma das funções atribuídas a esse elemento é a síntese de carboidratos. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do B sobre a síntese de alguns polióis e açúcares em Eucalyptus grandis e híbridos urograndis, estes foram submetidos à situação de suprimento e restrição de B. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação de acordo com o delineamento de blocos casualizados com cinco repetições, e os elementos nutricionais, assim como o B, foram fornecidos na forma de solução nutritiva. Não se observou diferença significativa nos teores de manitol, sorbitol, myo-inositol e scyllo-inositol e dos açúcares α-glicose e β-glicose entre E. grandis e híbridos. Arabinose foi o único a apresentar maior teor em E. grandis em restrição de B. O efeito da presença do B foi bastante expressivo, mas em suprimento do elemento as plantas apresentaram acréscimo significativo na síntese dos compostos avaliados.

Produção de mudas de essências florestais em diferentes substratos e acompanhamento do desenvolvimento em campo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Charcoal production using tropical pine thinnings

In Brazil, the wood from pine-plantation thinnings is difficult to sell. However, these wood thinnings could be used to produce charcoal. The physical and chemical properties of charcoal produced from logs or first and fourth thinnings of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus oocarpa were determined. Similar properties were also determined for sawmill slabs cut from first and fourth thinnings. Properties were compared to charcoal made from pine materials and 7-yr-old Eucalyptus grandis. Results show that Pinus spp had better chemical properties than did E. grandis. In contrast, charcoal obtained from E. grandis had higher values of apparent density and lower values of bulk density than did Pinus spp. © 1992.

Efeito dos reguladores de crescimento vegetal nas características agronômicas do algodoeiro e no controle de insetos

The experiment was carried out in 1993/94, in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, to verify the efficiency of plant growth regulators on agronomic characteristics of cotton and as pest control technique. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with four replications and seven treatments: 1) control; 2) ethephon + cyclanilide (720 + 90 g/ha a.i.); 3) ethephon + cyclanilide (960 + 120 g/ha a.i.); 4) ethephon + cyclanilide (1200 + 150 g/ha a.i.); 5) ethephon (960 g/ha a.i.); 6) ethephon (1200 g/ha a.i.) and 7) cyclanilide 150 g/ha a.i.). Results suggest that plant growth regulators can reduce harvest time in 15 days, contributing significantly to decreased late-season squares and immature bolls that serve as feeding and oviposition sites to boll weevils and pink bollworm.

Estudos hídricos com substratos vegetais para cultivo de orquídeas epífitas

Different growing media were compared as to water adsorption and water loss, at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, through a three-year period. The objective was to recommend substrates other than tree fern fiber for cultivation of epiphytic orchids. Two treatments of each substrate were used in each sampling: materials stored in laboratory (without use) and materials exposed to conditions of orchid cultivation under laths (used). Generally, the substrates without use adsorbed less water than used substrates. When materials without use were compared, the tree fern fiber retained initially the greatest quantity of water and the blocks of pressed coconut bark, the smallest. However, these blocks gained a great capacity of water adsorption after being used. Charcoal added to the growing media did not cause significant alterations in the studied characteristics. In terms of water relations, the best growing media to substitute the tree fern fiber were composed by blocks of pressed coconut bark or by mixtures of this material with charcoal or Eucalyptus grandis bark. Bark of E grandis alone or in mixture with charcoal did not give good results.

Utilização do cloreto de clorocolina no controle do bicudo-do-algodoeiro

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the growth regulator chlorocholine chloride (CCC) in the control of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) on cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. ). The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (UNESP), Jaboticabal Campus, State of São Paulo, Brazil, during the 1988/1989 growing season. The experimental design used was the latin square. The chlorocholine chloride was sprayed on the cv IAC-19 cotton plants 70 days after emergence in the doses of 0, 25, 50, and 100 g/ha in a single application as well as 25 g/ha + 25 g/ha in two applications. The second application was 15 days after the first. There was no significant differences on cotton yield. Although the split application as well as the single application of 25 g/ha increased yield in 11.6% and 11.5%, respectively.These same treatments also increased earliness. After the last hand harvest the number of immature cotton bolls left in the field was 64.5% lower in the plots treated with chlorocholine chloride. Despite the higher earliness and the reduction of the number of immature cotton bolls, the chlorocholine chloride treatments were not sufficient to induce an effective aid in the boll weevil control but indicates a possibility of using growth regulators in the cotton crop as an auxilary strategy in integrate pest management programs.

Cytogenetic analysis of seven species of Eucalyptus L'Hér. (Myrtaceae)

Seven species of the genus Eucalyptus were studied cytogenetically (E. deanei, E. dunni, E. grandis, E. maculata E. propinqua, E. saligna and E. tereticornis). The species showed a symmetrical karyotype with 2n=22 chromosomes, with chromosome length ranging from 0.58 μm to 1.39 μm. Karyotypic analysis indicated homogeneity of morphology and of chromosome number for most of the species of this genus studied here, although casual disploid species with 2n=24 have been found in previous studies. According to these data, a basic number of x=11 was established for this genus. The evolutionary tendency probably occurred by structural alterations (deletions, duplications, additions and translocations) and in some cases by aneuploid chromosome alterations.

Growth of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. as related with nutrient concentration in the growing media

Dendrobium nobile orchids were grown for three years in different substrates (tree fern fiber, blocks of pressed coconut bark, bark of Eucalyptus grandis, mixtures with coconut bark blocks and eucalyptus bark and mixtures with the latter materials and charcoal. Plant growth increased with higher concentrations of S (up to 1.6 g/kg), Cu (up to 46 mg/kg) and Zn (up to 147 mg/kg), and decreased with higher concentrations of Ca (up to 13.2 g/kg), Mg (up to 6.6 g/kg) and B (up to 19 mg/kg). High Mo (up to 5.3 mg/kg) caused a more intense loss of leaves after planting. Relations between nutrient concentrations also affected plant growth. With exception of eucalyptus bark, all growing media under study were suitable for plant growth.

Paternity study of an interspecific natural hybrid of the genus Eucalyptus L'Hér (Myrtaceae) based on cytogenetic data

Three species of the genus Eucalyptus (E. dunni, E. grandis, E. saligna) and interspecific hybrid were studied cytogenetically. The Eucalyptus species and the hybrid showed a symmetrical karyotype with 2n=22 chromosomes, with chromosome length ranging from 0.67 to 1.39 μm. Karyotypic analysis indicated a homogenous morphology and chromosome number for the species and the hybrid studied here. Based on the karyotype asymmetry data, together with the chromosome morphology results, the hybrid presented close similarity to E. saligna, suggesting that the latter is one of the parental species involved in the production of the hybrid.

Faixas de controle de plantas daninhas e seus reflexos no crescimento de plantas de eucalipto

Two field trial were conducted in Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake crops at Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul State and Brotas, São Paulo State, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of weed control in strip of different width on the Eucalyptus plant growth. The experiments consisted of two groups treatments: group 1 - with constant width control strips being kept during the first 12 months, i.e., at 0, 25, 50, 100, 125 and 150cm on each side of the Eucalyptus row and, group 2: with increasing width control strips being adopted along the experimental period, i.e., at 25 to 150, 25-50-150, 50 to 150, 50-125-150, 100-125-150, 100 tot 150 and 125 to 150 cm on each side of the Eucalyptus row during the first 12 months. At 49 moths after planting it was verified that the Eucalyptus plants that had grown both in the constant and increasing width control strips, equal to or higher than 100 and 50 cm, respectively, showed higher steam diameter, plant height, volume and annual increment average of wood. These results led to the conclusion that the minimum control strip width should be 100 cm on each side of the Eucalyptus row in order to keep the crop free of weed interference.