Production of a bioherbicide agent in liquid and solid medium and in a biphasic cultivation system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento e nutrição mineral de Sida rhombifolia

This experiment was carried out to analyze dry mass production and distribution, and the content and accumulation of macronutrients in arrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia) plants cultivated under mineral nutrition standard conditions. Plants grew in seven liter pots filled with sand substrate and daily irrigated with nutrient solution, under greenhouse conditions. Treatments consisted of times of evaluation (21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91, 105, 119, and 133 days after emergence - DAE) and were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Arrowleaf sida plants showed small accumulation of dry mass (0.3 g per plant) and macronutrients (6.9 mg N per plant, 0.7 mg P per plant, 8.6 mg K per plant, 4.9 mg Ca per plant, 2,6 mg Mg per plant, and 0.3 mg S per plant) at the vegetative growth stage (< 49 DAE). Those accumulations increased, mainly after 63 DAE, and the daily accumulation rate was crescent up to 94 DAE (dry mass - DM), 89 DAE (N and P), 98 DAE (K), 95 DAE (Ca and S), and 93 DAE (Mg), when there was accumulation of 26.3 g DM per plant, 402.6 mg N per plant, 45.6 mg P per plant, 359.3 mg K per plant, 337.6 mg Ca per plant, 71.9 mg Mg per plant, and 20.9 mg S per plant. N and K had the highest rates and, consequently, were the most required and accumulated in greater amounts in plant tissues of arrowleaf sida.

Chemical control of morning glory as a function of water restriction levels

Among the herbicides recommended for the dry season and registered to sugarcane crop, amicarbazone, isoxaflutole and the association diuron + hexazinone + sulfomethuron-methyl can be highlighted. These are pre-emergence herbicides efficient against broad-leaved weeds. Morning glory causes large losses in infested sugarcane fields by bending the stalks and interfering in harvesting. In this study the effectiveness of pre-emergence herbicides for two species of morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia and Ipomoea grandifolia) was evaluated. Treatments were arranged in completely randomized factorial design (4 x 7). There were four periods of water restriction (0, 30, 60 and 90 days), seven chemical treatments [diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1387 + 391 + 33.35 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1507.5 + 425 + 36.25 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1658.25 + 467.5 + 39.87 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl (1809 + 510 + 43.5 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone (1190 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone + isoxaflutole (840 + 82.5 g a.i. ha-1)] and a control with no application. At 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the restoration of moisture, control was visually evaluated. After the final evaluation, the dry mass of morning glories was measured. At 90 days of water restriction, diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl was more effective to control I. hederifolia than the amicarbazone + isoxaflutole tank mixture. The four diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl doses have reduced morning glory dry mass to zero; whereas treatments with amicarbazone have not. The most effective treatment for morning glory control was diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl. This result may be due to a possible synergistic interaction.

Genetic variability among Commelina weed species from the states of Paraná and São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Otimização da aplicação de Fluazifop-P-Butil em pós-emergência na cultura de soja (Glycine max)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing spray concentration and volume of Fluazifop-p-butyl applications on postemergence soybeans, while maintaining weed control and growth selectivity. The study was conducted in the experimental area of the Teaching and Research Farm of FCAV/Unesp - Jaboticabal Campus, during the agricultural season of 1998/99, carried out on a crop of soybean cultivar FT 2009. The experimental setup utilized was a randomized block design with 24 treatments, 20 following a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 5 and 4 control treatments. The factors examined were: spray volume (100 and 200 L ha-1); reduced spray concentration - 75.2 and 112.8 g of fluazifop-p-butyl/ha (40 and 60% of the recommended concentration, respectively); and application schedule (5 A.M., 9 A.M., 1 P.M., 5 P.M. and 9 P.M.). The controls were applications at the recommended concentration (188.0 g fluazifop-p-butyl/ha), using volumes of 100 and 200 L ha-1, and treatments without weed control and weeds controlled with manual hoeing. The main species of weeds that emerged in the experimental area were: Cenchrus echinatus, comprising 60% of the infested sections; Digitaria horizontalis, 10%, and Eleusine indica, 30%. All fluazifop-p-butyl applications made up to 9 A.M. and from 5 P.M. effectively controlled the three species of weeds and provided a selective growth of soybeans. Therefore, the use of fluazifop-p-butyl can be optimized by reducing both the concentration and the volume of the spray for applications times providing favorable conditions for crop dusting.

Evolução de CO2 e atividades enzimáticas em amostras de solo tratado com herbicidas

Effects of bentazon, metolachlor, trifluralin, imazethapyr, imazethapyr+lactofen, haloxyfop-methyl, glyphosate and chlorimuron-ethyl at rates of 2 and 10 times the equivalent commercial dose on soil microbial activity was evaluated in soil samples extracted from a field never treated before. Global soil microbe respiration, estimated by CO2 production at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days of soil incubation and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) at 8 and 28 days were used as bioindicators. Bentazon and mixture imazethapyr+lactofen at the highest rate and haloxyfop-methyl at both rates, inhibited soil respiration although with differences in timing and duration. None of the herbicides affected FDA hydrolysis. Dehydrogenase activity was inhibited at 8 days of incubation with bentazon and imazethapyr at high rates but it was stimulated by metolachlor and imazethapyr at low rate and glyphosate at the highest rate. Herbicide effects on soil microbial activity was detected with higher sensitivity by global soil microbe respiration and dehydrogenase activity than by FDA hydrolysis. Only dehydrogenase activity and soil respiration estimations at 8 days of soil incubation had significant correlation. Results indicated the need of multiple estimations when evaluating herbicides effects on soil microbiota

Estimativa da área foliar de Euphorbia heterophylla

Leaf area estimate may contribute to understand the relationships of interference among weeds and crops. The objective of this research was to obtain a mathematical equation to estimate the leaf area of Euphorbia heterophylla based on linear measures of the leaf blade. Correlation studies were carried out using the real leaf area and leaf length (C) and the maximum leaf width (L) of 200 leaf blades which were collected from several agroecosystems at Universidade Estadual Paulista in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The evaluated statistic models were: linear Y = a + bx; simple linear Y = bx; geometric Y = ax b; and exponential Y = ab x. All of the evaluated models can be used for E. heterophylla leaf area estimation. The simple linear regression model is suggested using C*L and taking the linear coefficient equal to zero. Thus, an estimate of the leaf area of E. heterophylla can be obtained using the equation Af' = 0.6816*(C*L).

Effect of plant regulators on growth and flowering of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass

This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of different plant regulators over growth and flower rachis emission of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica). The study was conducted on 15-month old green turfgrass under a randomized complete block design with four replications. The following plant regulator and doses were tested: trinexapac-ethyl (113+113, 226+113, 226+226, 452+113, 452+226, 452+452, 678+339 e 904+452 g a.i./ha-1), prohexadione-calcium (100+100 e 200+200 g a.i. ha-1) and bispyribac-sodium (40+40 e 60+60 g a.i. ha-1), as well as an untreated control. The turfgrass was mowed again at 3.0 cm aboveground and the second plant regulator was applied when 'Meyer' zoysiagrass was between 5.0 and 6.0 cm high. The effect of the treatments was visually rated for visual injury, plant height, height and number of flower rachis, and total dry mass production of clippings. Only bispyribac-sodium had visual symptoms of injury on 'Meyer' zoysiagrass, and no intoxication was observed at 28 days after the second application (DAAB). The sequential applications of trinexapac-ethyl, prohexadione-calcium and bispyribac-sodium reduced by more than 80% the total clipping dry mass produced by 'Meyer' zoysiagrass. All the plant regulators tested also showed promising results in reducing the height and emission of rachis, especially when trinexapac-ethyl was applied at the doses 452+452, 678+339 and 904+452 g a.i. ha-1. 'Meyer' zoysiagrass turfgrass can be handled with the sequential application of a plant regulator, which reduces the need for mowing over a period up to 110 days after the application of the second plant regulator, and it also avoids deleterious visual effects over turfgrass.

Alterações morfoanatômicas foliares da cana-de-açúcar na fase de estabelecimento em condições de matocompetição

Aiming at the assessment of the production parameters and leaf tissues morph anatomical possible changes of the sugar cane RB 86 7515 variety in its establishment phase in the conditions of weed competition, a study over vases has been accomplished in the city of Dracena, São Paulo State, from April to June, 2010, at Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho. The species Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria decumbens, which are regarded as invaders, were used. It was also used the Completely Randomized Design with seven treatments and five repetitions, totalizing 35 lots or vases. The treatments ranged according to the number of Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria decumbens seeds, as it follows: T1 - no occurrence of weed competition; T2 - low occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria brizantha; T3 - medium occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria brizantha; T4 - high occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria brizantha; T5 - low occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria decumbens; T6 - medium occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria decumbens, and T7 - high occurrence of weed competition with Brachiaria decumbens. There was an evaluation over the following issues after 60 days of the sugar cane plantation and the invading plants: the weight of the total dry matter of the plants, the thickness of the upper surface epidermis or adaxial, the thickness of the lower surface or abaxial, the thickness of the mesophill, the thickness of the limbo, the diameter of the xylematic vessels and the diameter of the phloem vessels. The weed competition of the species Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria decumbens, which are considered as invaders, provoked some reduction of the morph anatomical characteristics and of the sugar cane production. In general, the Brachiaria decumbens was the species which mostly influenced the leaf thickness of the sugar cane in negative aspects.

Solanum americanum: reservoir for Potato virus Y and Cucumber mosaic virus in sweet pepper crops

Weeds can act as important reservoirs for viruses. Solanum americanum (Black nightshade) is a common weed in Brazil and samples showing mosaic were collected from sweet pepper crops to verify the presence of viruses. One sample showed mixed infection between Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Potato virus Y (PVY) and one sample showed simple infection by PVY. Both virus species were transmitted by plant extract and caused mosaic in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Santa Clara), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Magda), Nicotiana benthamiana and N. tabaccum TNN, and local lesions on Chenopodium quinoa, C. murale and C. amaranticolor. The coat protein sequences for CMV and PVY found in S. americanum are phylogenetically more related to isolates from tomato. We conclude that S. americanum can act as a reservoir for different viruses during and between sweet pepper crop seasons.

Avaliação comparativa das perdas de água por evapotranspiração em mesocosmos colonizados por diferentes macrófitas aquáticas

Water loss increase through evapotranspiration is one the most important modes of interference of weeds in water bodies, especially in water storage reservoirs. Thus, this research was conducted to compare the water losses in mesocosms colonized with the aquatic weeds Myriophyllum aquaticum,Brachiaria subquadripara,Echinochloa polystachya,Typha latifolia and Pontederia lanceolata. The evaluations were carried out in July 2004, in three 4-day periods. The water losses were evaluated based on the amounts of water necessary to restore the existing water level before each evaluation period. The colonization of the aquatic weeds increased the water losses in the mesocosms, with the highest losses being observed in those colonized by T. latifolia, between 3.54 to 4.71 times the water surface without aquatic weeds. The losses in the mesocosms colonized by M. aquaticum,B. subquadripara, E. polystachya, and P. lanceolata were statistically similar and promoted increases between 1.54 to 2.21 times the free surface. The results showed that aquatic weed control is important to prevent water losses in reservoirs used for water storage.

Estimativa da área foliar de Panicum maximum usando dimensões lineares do limbo foliar

The objective of this study was to obtain a mathematical equation to estimate the leaf area of Panicum maximum using linear measures of leaf blade. Correlation studies were conducted involving the real leaf area (Sf), the main vein leaf length (C), and the maximum leaf width (L). The linear and geometric equations related to C provided good leaf area estimates. For practical reasons, the use of an equation involving only the C*L product is suggested. Thus, an estimate of P. maximum leaf area can be obtained by the equation Sf = 0.6058 (C*L), with the coefficient of determination R = 0.8586.

Efeitos da deriva de clomazone, aplicado isoladamente ou em mistura com ametryn, sobre características produtivas de laranjeira 'Hamlin'

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing clomazone (sprayed alone or in mixture with ametryn) drift simulation on quantitative and qualitative aspects of orange production when applied at two developmental plant stages: flowering and initial fruit development (fruits 2 cm diameter or smaller). Increasing drifts of clomazone, in two formulations, and clomazone in mixtures with ametryn were tested. Fruit morphological features, fruit color, flower and fruit abortion and leaf chlorophyll content were evaluated. Simulated drift similar to the recommended dose of clomazone and clomazone plus ametryn caused fruit abortion in citrus at the stage of fruits 2 cm diameter or smaller. Lower drift doses did not result in fruit abortion. Fruit diameter reduction was observed with drift off above 25% of clomazone alone recommended rate and 50% when in mixture with ametryn or in microcapsule formulation. Clomazone drift at 50% of the recommended rate (alone or in mixture with ametryn ) caused clorotic and necrotic spots in the fruit peel. Drift did not affect juice quality in any of the treatments tested.

Molecular characterization of accessions of crabgrass (Digitaria nuda) and response to ametryn

Digitaria species are sugar cane crop weeds in Brazil and are being controlled with herbicides, although there are some reports of control failure, notably to the triazine group. Molecular techniques are recommended to analyze the genetic variability in weeds. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA), PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and, in combination with sequencing, allow the localization of resistance genes, as well as possible mutations related to the onset of resistant individuals in some species. Thus, the objective of this work was to characterize ten accessions of Digitaria spp. by RAPD and PCR-RFLP markers, to sequence a conserved region of the psbA gene and evaluate the accessions response to ametryn. As showed by molecular analysis there was high genetic similarity among the accessions, all of them presented similar genetics profiles and were susceptible to ametryn.