Teste de envelhecimento acelerado para avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de grama-bermuda

A utilização de sementes para formação de gramados esportivos e ornamentais tem assumido grande importância no Brasil, principalmente pelo baixo custo em relação à formação por placas de tapetes naturais. As bermudas [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers] são as principais gramas utilizadas na formação de campos esportivos e, dentre os problemas enfrentados, destaca-se a dificuldade de estabelecimento adequado da cultura, fato que exige a utilização de sementes de alto potencial fisiológico, de modo a permitir rápida emergência e desenvolvimento das plantas. Assim, estudaram-se procedimentos para a condução do teste de envelhecimento acelerado para determinar o potencial fisiológico de sementes dessa espécie, incluindo a avaliação da eficiência do uso de solução saturada de NaCl como alternativa para a realização do teste. Para tanto, cinco lotes de sementes foram submetidos aos testes de germinação, emergência de plântulas e envelhecimento acelerado (períodos de 48, 72 e 96 h, a 41 e 45 ºC, com e sem o uso de solução saturada de NaCl). O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O envelhecimento acelerado com o uso de solução saturada de NaCl, dentre os procedimentos estudados, é o método mais adequado para avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de grama-bermuda, sendo que a combinação 45 ºC/48 h é eficiente para a classificação dos lotes em diferentes níveis de vigor.

Identificação de indivíduos vulneráveis no entorno de um hospital universitário: conectando vulnerabilidade, solidariedade e saúde

No entorno de um hospital universitário do interior do estado de São Paulo há pessoas dormindo, se alimentando ou descansando nos gramados e arredores, permanecendo nestes locais durante horas. Este estudo objetivou identificar e caracterizar indivíduos vulneráveis em área externa deste hospital, oferecendo ajuda. A coleta dos dados foi realizada no período de novembro de 2007 a outubro de 2008, semanalmente, em dias e horários sorteados. Identificaram-se pessoas que permaneciam nesses locais, sendo entrevistados 52 sujeitos. Esses indivíduos são, predominantemente, do sexo feminino (67,3%), brancos (51,9%), casados (59,6%), com escolaridade de até quatro anos de estudo (44,2%) e sem profissão definida (84,6%). A maioria aguardava o horário do ônibus da prefeitura de seu município de origem; o tempo médio de espera foi de aproximadamente 90 minutos e grande parte dos sujeitos apresentou necessidades durante os períodos de espera. Foi oferecida ajuda a 15 pessoas que referiram necessidades no momento da entrevista. Concluiu-se que esses indivíduos se encontram em situação de vulnerabilidade individual, social e programática, destacando-se a vulnerabilidade sócio-econômica, apresentam capacidade de autodeterminação reduzida, submetendo-se a condições desfavoráveis por dependerem dos serviços públicos.

Planejamento paisagístico do Campus Universitário da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP, Botucatu, S.P

O Planejamento Paisagístico do Campus da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) em Botucatu - SP, foi elaborado a partir de um Plano Diretor já existente e considerado o comportamento da paisagem, com edificações e circulações já estabelecidas, dando ênfase ao projeto de ajardinamento do entorno da Central de Salas de Aulas. Os objetivos principais do planejamento visam a proteção do solo, arborização adequada e ajardinamento do encontro dos prédios principais. O traçado proposto é simples, com a finalidade de dar uma escala humana ao Campus, considerando a necessidade dos usuários e de favorecer a utilização de máquinas para manutenção e tratos culturais, em face da pequena disponibilidade de mão-de-obra, sendo mais elaborado somente nos entornos dos prédios principais. A estrutura vegetal é formada de árvores, arbustos, gramados e outras forrações que foram selecionadas por sua rusticidade, resistência, aclimatação ao local e disponibilidade nos Viveiros Experimentais da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas-UNESP. Procurou-se utilizar, sempre que possível, espécies nativas

Intercontinental Differences in the Abundance of Solenopsis Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Escape from Natural Enemies?

The absence of natural enemies often allows exotic pests to reach densities that are much higher than normally occur in their native habitats. When Solenopsis fire ants were introduced into the United States, their numerous natural enemies were left behind in South America. To compare intercontinental fire ant densities, we selected 13 areas in South America and another 12 areas in North America. Sample areas were paired with weather stations and distributed across a broad range of climatic conditions. In each area, we measured fire ant densities at 5 preselected roadside sites that were at least 5 km apart. At each site, we also measured foraging activity, checked for polygyne colonies, and recorded various kinds of environmental data. In most areas, we also measured fire ant densities in lawns and grazing land. Fire ant populations along roadsides in North America were 4-7 times higher than fire ant populations in South America. Similar intercontinental differences were found in lawns and on grazing lands. These intercontinental differences in fire ant abundance were not associated with sampling conditions, seasonal variability, habitat differences, or the frequency of polygyny. Although several correlations were found with long-term weather conditions, careful inspection of the data suggests that these correlations were probably more coincidental than causal. Cultural differences in roadside maintenance may explain some of the intercontinental differences in fire ant abundance, but they did not account for equivalent intercontinental differences in grazing land and mowed lawns. Bait tests showed that competition with other ants was much more important in South America; however, we were not able to determine whether this was a major cause of intercontinental differences or largely a consequence of other factors such as the numerous pathogens and parasites that are found in South America. Because this study was correlational, we were unable to determine the cause(s) of the large intercontinental difference in fire ant abundance that we observed. However, we were able to largely exclude a number of possible explanations for the differences, including sampling, season, polygyny, climate, and aspects of habitat. By a process of elimination, escape from natural enemies remains among the most likely explanations for the unusually high densities of fire ants found in North America.

Indicadores de floresta urbana a partir de imagens aéreas multiespectrais de alta resolução

The present work evaluated urban forest indicators, acquired through airborne high-resolution multiespectral images, on the quality of the urban design and its vegetative fraction, in special its trees, in nine neighborhoods of Piracicaba, SP. There were made supervised classifications for characterization of intra-urban elements and the proportions obtained, as exposed soil, tree cover, lawns, asphalt, concrete pavements and roofs. They were studied for the measurement of the urban forest in each place. These variables were related to each other, as well as with the independent variables: population density, people with more than fifteen years of study and family heads with income above twenty minimum wages, obtained through population census. Through the analysis of linear regression variables were identified for intra-urban areas evaluation. Correlations were made and linear regressions among the data obtained from the image and among the proposed indicators. Negative correlations were obtained among population density and arboreal covering and the evaluated indices, in accordance with the predicted in the literature. Composite indicators are proposed, as: the proportion between arboreous space on waterproof space (PAW) and the proportion between arboreous space on building space (PAB). It is concluded by the possibility of the use of those indicators for evaluation of the urban forest and definition of priorities in the execution of ordinances to the improvement of the urban forestry, being prioritized the application of resources in the most lacking neighborhoods.

Inibidores de crescimento em gramados

Well-maintained lawns are comfortable and safe places for leisure activities and sports practice, and they also bring environmental benefits; for example, they reduce soil exposure to erosion and releases atmospheric CO2, thus reducing the greenhouse effect. However, regardless of the purpose of use or the choice of the plant species to form the lawn, the highest costs involve cutting that is needed to keep the turfgrass at its appropriate height. Successive lawn cutting operations are necessary basically because of the vegetative and reproductive growth of turfgrass which, in Brazil, occurs mainly from October to March. Expenditures with successive mechanical cuttings have fostered the search of alternative procedures to keep lawn plants at appropriate height, such as the use of plant growth inhibitors, an increasingly interesting procedure. Since the use of this technology in Brazil is still at its early stage, the aim of this literature review is to examine aspects associated with lawn management by using growth inhibitors. Another alternative is to increase the knowledge of the classification and rational application of the different compounds currently available in the market.

Crescimento de grama-esmeraldo em diferentes exposições e declinvidades

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adubação nitrogenada e aplicação de herbicidas como reguladores de crescimento em grama esmeralda

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Ocorrência de Meloidogyne graminis em grama no estado de São Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desenvolvimento de grama-esmeralda, grama-bermudas 'Tifway 419' e 'Celebration' submetidas a aplicação de reguladores de crescimento

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Tifton 419 Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon C. transvaaliensis) response to plant grow inhibitors

Tifton 419' bermudagrass cultivar [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] is the most preferred turfgrass for sportive, commercial and residential lawns. On similar species, such as Stenotaphrum secundatum and Zoysia japonica, gibberellic acid-inhibiting plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used to decrease mowing frequency. A very limited research has been reported yet on the PGRs regarding seasonal effects of single vs. multiple applications of these products on turfgrass quality and clipping production on South America. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of different plant growth inhibitors during re-growth and flower rachis emission of 'Tifton 419' Bermudagrass. The treatment pattern includes an initial application followed by one sequential application at 14 days intervals, according to the following: prohexadione-calcium at 100+100 or 200+200 g a.i. ha-1, bispyribac-sodium at 40+40 or 60+60 g a.i. ha-1, trinexapac-ethyl at 113+113, 226+113, 226+226, 452+113, 452+226, 452+452, 678+0 or 904+0 g a.i. ha-1, and untreated control. The treatment effect was evaluated based on measurements of visual injury, height of plants, height and number of flower rachis, and clipping total dry mass production. The results showed that only bispyribac-sodium provided visual injury on 'Tifton 419' Bermudagrass, but the symptoms quickly tend towards zero at 21 days after second application (DASA). 'Tifton 419' Bermudagrass greens could be better handle by sequential application of trinexapac-ethyl, or prohexadione-calcium or bispyribac-sodium, once the height of plants, seedhead emission and total clipping dry mass reduction were over than 37%, 91% and 88%, respectively, for a period up to 60 DASA.