Relationship of black layer and milk line development on maize seed maturity

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

Precocidade na emissão da raiz primária para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milheto

In a program of seed quality assurance, the evaluation of seed vigor is fundamental and necessary to the global production process outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the precocity of primary root emission test, for the substrates paper roll, on paper and between papers, on vigor of pearl millet seeds. Ten seed lots evaluated in four replication of 100 pearl millet seeds cultivar ADR 500 were sown in three different humidified substrates: between papers, paper roll and on paper. These were incubated at a temperature of 20-30 degrees C. Fifteen hours after the germination test was established, the emission of seed primary roots started to be observed every 2 hours up to 25 hours and then after 48 hours. For the comparison among lots, seeds were also evaluated by moisture content, weight of 1000 seeds, germination and vigor (first count, electrical conductivity, accelerated aging and seedling emergence). The statistical design was completely randomized, and the means comparisons were accomplished by the Tukey test at 0.05 level of probability. It was concluded that the precocity of primary root emission test on paper is promising for vigor evaluation of pearl millet seeds.

Tamanho e secagem de sementes de palmeira Jussara sobre a germinação e o vigor

With the objective to determine the influence of the dehydration and of the size and/or weight on germination percentage and the vigor of jussara palm seeds (Euterpe edulis Mart.), 10 individuals' ripe fruits, picked in the Experimental Station of Ubatuba (IAC) they were classified by size in 5 sieves of circular sieve: 26/64" (10,31mm), 28/64" (11,11mm), 30/64" (11,90mm), 32/64" (12,69mm) and 34/64" (13,49mm). It was determined, the medium weight of the classified seeds. The quality of the seeds was evaluated through the following parameters: water content of the seeds; germination and vigor (first germination counting). It was evaluated the drying speed of different seed sizes for 48 hours, in dry chamber. The sizes of 28/64", 30/64" and 32/64" represented 98,7% of the total weight of the harvested seeds and showed similar drying speed, percentage of germination and vigor. With the increase of the drying period, the smaller seeds (28/64") had their germination less affected them the intermediate (30/64") and bigger sized seeds (32/64").

Efficiency of seed treatment with fungicides in castor bean crop genotypes

With the objective of assessing castor bean genotypes in relation to the influence of seeds treatment on agronomic characteristics and physiological quality of seeds, two experiments were conducted between November, 2005 and March, 2006. In the first study, experimental design used was randomized complete blocks, in factorial scheme (2 x 10), by comparing Lyra hybrid and AL Guarany 2002 cultivar and nine fungicides, including its mixtures and test, with four repetitions. Plant height, stem diameter, medium yield and observation of diseases incidence were evaluated. In the second study, conducted in randomized entirely design, in factorial scheme 2 x 10 with four repetitions, Savana and AL Guarany 2002 genotypes were analyzed, using the same fungicides. Germination, infected and dead seeds, vigor, initial moisture content and simulation of field emergency and seeds sanitary quality were also evaluated. The results obtained point that there is positive influence of seed treatment on agronomic characteristics in castor bean crop, increasing grain yield for AL Guarany cultivar and Lyra hybrid. In the analysis of seed quality, it was observed that seed treatments with fungicides and their mixtures provided superior percentages of germination and vigor, reduced the number of infected and dead seeds and increased seeds emergency for Guarany 2002 cultivar and Savana hybrid.

Germination and early growth of soybean, dry bean and turnip grown under Digitaria horizontalis straw

The study aimed to evaluate the possible inhibitory effects of different concentrations of crabgrass (Digitaria horizontalis Willd.) dry mass incorporated to the soil over the germination and early growth of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril.), dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and turnip (Raphanus raphanistrum L.). The experimental design adopted was completely random, with four replications where, each one was consisted of a 2.5 L capacity pot. Dry mass of crabgrass at equivalent amounts of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 t ha(-1) were incorporated into the soil. Crops seedling emergence was checked daily, and germination, speed germination index, mean germination time, relative frequency and synchronization index of germination were computed at the final of 10 days. The height and dry mass of plants were evaluated at 35 days after sowing. The incorporation to the soil of D. horizontalis dry mass caused significant reduction of the height and dry weight of soybean, dry bean and turnip, but were not observed consistent influence over the germination of these species.

Umedecimento do substrato na emergência e vigor de plântulas de pupunheira

A germinação rápida e uniforme das sementes, seguida por pronta emergência das plântulas são características altamente desejáveis na formação de mudas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito de diferentes níveis de umedecimento do substrato vermiculita sobre a porcentagem de emergência e o vigor de plântulas de pupunheira. O umedecimento da vermiculita com água nas quantidades de 60 a 90 ml/100 g de substrato (de 0,6 a 0,9 x o peso deste em água ou 77,6 a 86,7% da capacidade de retenção do substrato em água, respectivamente) resultaram na maior porcentagem de emergência das plântulas. O umedecimento com 90 ml água/100 g de vermiculita resultou em maior velocidade de emergência e vigor de plântulas (comprimento, diâmetro e massa).

Influência do tamanho na germinação e no vigor de sementes de milheto (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke)

O milheto é uma gramínea anual de sementes pequenas, com grande diversidade de tamanho, e com dificuldade, às vezes, do estabelecimento da população adequada de plantas. Este experimento objetivou verificar a influência do tamanho da semente de milheto sobre sua germinação e vigor. Foram utilizados quatro lotes de sementes (I, II, III e IV), classificados em quatro tamanhos, através de peneiras de malha quadrada, sendo: peneira 1 ≥ 2,00mm, peneira 2: 1,68 a 2,00mm, peneira 3: 1,41 a 1,68mm, peneira 4: 0,71 a 1,41mm e mais uma porção do lote original (testemunha), que constituíram os tamanhos. Foram realizados os testes de: peso de 1000 sementes, germinação inicial e após seis meses de armazenamento (TGI e TGII, respectivamente) e vigor (primeira contagem do teste de germinação e condutividade elétrica das sementes). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por tratamento. As sementes de peneira 4 apresentaram menores pesos de 1000 sementes para todos os lotes, menores valores de germinação para o TGI, em todos os lotes, e para o TGII nos lotes II e IV. Para o vigor (primeira contagem do teste de germinação) observou-se menor valor para peneira 4, nos lotes I, II e IV; enquanto para a condutividade, a peneira 4 apresentou maior valor para todos os lotes, indicando pior qualidade fisiológica dessas sementes. Concluiu-se que a germinação e o vigor das sementes de milheto são influenciados pelo seu tamanho; sementes maiores são de melhor qualidade do que as menores.

Genetic diversity of three size classes of seeds of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus

Variation in seed size is often observed in samples of eucalypt seeds and this leads to heterogeneous populations of plants, principally through variation in the early stages of plant development. It follows that samples of seeds more uniform in size could produce more uniform populations of plants. In studies of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus it was of interest to determine whether or not the genetic diversity within a population, through the use of isozyme markers, was altered in the subpopulations developed from seeds of different size classes. A commercial sample of seed was separated by seed size into three subpopulations and the percentage germination and mean fresh weight of the seedlings were determined. Proteins extracted from leaves of the seedlings were separated by electrophoresis and tested for activity of eight different enzymes. These eight enzymes showed activity at 20 loci and mean genetic diversity and fixation index were determined using 13 of these loci. The subpopulation of the smallest seeds contained a greater proportion of abnormal seeds and had a lower percentage germination and plant weight compared to the other subpopulations. No significant differences were found in the number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, mean heterozygosity. The major part of the endogamy, indicated by F statistic, was found within the subpopulations: F-(IS) = 0.518; F-(ST) = 0.010 and F(IT) = 0.523. We conclude that the use of seeds of uniform size will lead to more uniform germination and plant growth without alteration in overall genetic diversity.

Seed deposition patterns and the survival of seeds and seedlings of the palm Euterpe edulis

The seed deposition pattern created by a seed disperser is one of the components of the efficiency of a species as seed disperser, and ultimately may influence the recruitment of a plant species. In this study, we used the seeds of a bird-dispersed forest palm, Euterpe edulis, to investigate the effects of two distinct seed deposition patterns created by birds that defecate (clumped pattern) and regurgitate seeds (loose-clumped pattern) on the survival of seeds experimentally set in an E. edulis-rich site, and of seedlings grown under shade-house conditions. The study was conducted in the lowland forest of Parque Estadual Intervales, SE Brazil. Clumped and loose-clumped seeds were equally preyed upon by rodents and insects. Although clumped and isolated seedlings had the same root weight after 1 year, the isolated seedlings survived better and presented more developed shoots, suggesting intraspecific competition among clumped seedlings. Our results indicate that animals that deposit E. edulis seeds in faecal clumps (e.g. cracids, tapirs) are less efficient seed dispersers than those that regurgitate seeds individually (e.g. trogons, toucans). Intraspecific competition among seedlings growing from faecal clumps is a likely process preventing the occurrence of clumps of adult palms. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Vismia guianensis (Aubl.) Choisy (Clusiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structure and dynamics of a Cariniana estrellensis (Lecythidaceae) population in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Birds and bats diverge in the qualitative and quantitative components of seed dispersal of a pioneer tree

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Frugivory, Post-feeding Flights of Frugivorous Birds and the Movement of Seeds in a Brazilian Fragmented Landscape

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile and tocopherols of Tamarindus indica L. seeds

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)