Liming effects on growth of native woody species from Brazilian Savannah

The liming effects on the growth of fifteen woody species of Brazil were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. The species used belong to different ecologic groups, namely: pioneer, secondary and climax trees. The soil treatments consisted in the absence of liming (-LIM) and liming sufficient to reach soil pH 6.0 (+LIM). In general, the pioneer and secondary species presented higher responses in total dry matter production (TDM) to soil liming, whereas the TDM of the climax species were not affected by the soil treatments. Thus, the ranking of species in relation to soil acidity tolerance ranged from highly sensitive to highly tolerant. The pioneer and secondary species growing in limed soil (+LIM) showed higher calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) contents, and, at the same time lower Ca, Mg utilization efficiency (CaUE and MgUE respectively), whereas the P utilization (PUE) was higher. In contrast, the Ca, Mg and P content in the climax species were only slightly affected by the soil liming. In general the climax species were less efficient in the CaUE and MgUE than the pioneer and secondary species.

Spatial statistical analysis and selection of genotypes in plant breeding

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of spatial statistical analysis in the selection of genotypes in a plant breeding program and, particularly, to demonstrate the benefits of the approach when experimental observations are not spatially independent. The basic material of this study was a yield trial of soybean lines, with five check varieties (of fixed effect) and 110 test lines (of random effects), in an augmented block design. The spatial analysis used a random field linear model (RFML), with a covariance function estimated from the residuals of the analysis considering independent errors. Results showed a residual autocorrelation of significant magnitude and extension (range), which allowed a better discrimination among genotypes (increase of the power of statistical tests, reduction in the standard errors of estimates and predictors, and a greater amplitude of predictor values) when the spatial analysis was applied. Furthermore, the spatial analysis led to a different ranking of the genetic materials, in comparison with the non-spatial analysis, and a selection less influenced by local variation effects was obtained.

Different methods to assess yield temporal stability in rubber

The objective of this work was to assess, during six years, the temporal stability of natural rubber yield of 25 superior Hevea brasiliensis genotypes, using the Wricke, Eberhart & Russell, Lin & Binns, additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis, and harmonic mean of the relative performance of the genetic values (HMRPGV) methods. The IAC 40 and IAC 300 genotypes were identified as stable and high yielding by the Eberhart & Russell, Lin & Binns, HMRPGV, and AMMI Biplot methods. The ranking of the other more stable genotypes identified by these analyses was altered. The observed results in the AMMI Biplot agreed with those observed in the Wricke method for identifying stable, but lower yielding genotypes. The simultaneous use of different methods allows a more accurate indication of stable genotypes. Stability analyses based on different principles show agreement in indicating stable genotypes.

Early selection in open-pollinated Eucalyptus families based on competition covariates

The objetive of this work was to evaluate the influence of intergenotypic competition in open-pollinated families of Eucalyptus and its effects on early selection efficiency. Two experiments were carried out, in which the timber volume was evaluated at three ages, in a randomized complete block design. Data from the three years of evaluation (experiment 1, at 2, 4, and 7 years; and experiment 2, at 2, 5, and 7 years) were analyzed using mixed models. The following were estimated: variance components, genetic parameters, selection gains, effective number, early selection efficiency, selection gain per unit time, and coincidence of selection with and without the use of competition covariates. Competition effect was nonsignificant for ages under three years, and adjustment using competition covariates was unnecessary. Early selection for families is effective; families that have a late growth spurt are more vulnerable to competition, which markedly impairs ranking at the end of the cycle. Early selection is efficient according to all adopted criteria, and the age of around three years is the most recommended, given the high efficiency and accuracy rate in the indication of trees and families. The addition of competition covariates at the end of the cycle improves early selection efficiency for almost all studied criteria.

Influência da cobertura morta na umidade, incidência de plantas daninhas e de broca-do-rizoma (Cosmopolites sordidus) em um pomar de bananeiras (Musa spp.)

O fato do Brasil possuir a maior área plantada do mundo com banana e ocupar apenas a segunda colocação no ranking mundial dos maiores produtores, revela a necessidade da adoção de técnicas de manejo que tenha por objetivo incrementar a produção. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos da cobertura morta sobre a umidade, incidência de plantas daninhas e da broca-do-rizoma em um pomar de bananeiras manejado com e sem cobertura morta. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que a cobertura morta proporcionou benefícios quanto à manutenção da umidade no solo e controle de plantas daninhas, porém, na incidência da broca, não houve diferença em relação à área conduzida sem cobertura morta.

Estudo econômico de sistemas fertirrigados na cultura da bananeira (Musa sp.), cultivar Willians

O Brasil ocupa a quarta posição no ranking dos países produtores de banana. O Estado de São Paulo é responsável por aproximadamente 17% da produção nacional. As áreas de produção de banana, antes restritas à faixa litorânea do Estado, estão expandindo-se e ocupando regiões do planalto paulista. Para atingir altas produtividades, com frutas de qualidade, os bananicultores estão adotando novas tecnologias, sendo que a fertirrigação vem ocupando lugar de destaque nos novos sistemas produtivos. Com o objetivo de avaliar a economicidade do uso do nutriente potássio em diferentes doses (0; 300; 600 e 900 kg K2O.ha-1.ano-1) em plantio experimental, na região do Médio Paranapanema, Estado de São Paulo, foram estimados os valores do custo de produção e de indicadores econômicos, como o Custo Operacional Total (COT), a Receita Líquida e o Índice de Rentabilidade, de sistemas fertirrigados na cultura da bananeira. De acordo com a metodologia adotada, o uso do potássio, na dose de 900 kg de K2O.ha-1.ano-1, aplicado através de sistema de fertirrigação, pode ser recomendado para o plantio de bananeira, cultivar Willians, na região do Médio Paranapanema, Estado de São Paulo.

Avaliação dos programas de pós-graduação em química no Brasil: versão 2002

The graduate programs in Chemistry were evaluated and classified from the data collected for the period 1998-2000 by CAPES, the Minister of Education agency that is responsible for the regulation and support of this level of human resources formation. The next classification will be made in 2004, from the data of the period 2001-2003. The years in between, like the present year, are used for an evaluation without classification, from what comments are emitted to the programs to know how their data are improving or not, before the new ranking reporting. The progresses in the area of chemistry in Brazil are analysed from the confrontation of the present data with that of all previous evaluations, since 1983. The results confirm that the research and graduate formation in the area of Chemistry is continuously improving in Brazil, particularly during the last seven years.

Estratégia supramolecular para a nanotecnologia

Brazilian science is evolving rapidly and steadly in the last 10 years, reaching the 15º place in the international ranking. Research in nanotechnology is following a similar way generating new scientific and technological knowledge in several frontiers but specially in the interfaces of two or more areas, where Chemistry is consolidating itself as a central science. In this context, the supramolecular approach is a very promissing one because it allows the build-up of a chemical inteligence using all the sistematized knowledge for the design and development of new nanomaterials and products. The great challenge of Chemistry is not decrease the dimensionality of the materials but instead find ways to increase the dimensionality and structural complexity keeping strict control on the interactions between the components, in order to generate materials with new properties and functionalities. Unfortunately, the current vigorous advancement of scientific research has not been followed by the transformation of such know-how into patents and produts. Therefore much efforts should be devoted to build a national science and technology program, joining all the segments of the society involved in the technological development (university, institutes of technological research, industry and government) in order to promote the furtherance of the Brazilian technological base. Only in this way it is possible to evolve to a technological society capable to transform the scientific knowledge into wealthy, thus sustaining the socioeconomic development of the country.

De aromas e perfumes, o mercado da indústria do "cheiro"

Several flavors and fragrances (F&F) companies hold the economic leadership in the market, although not always have also the leadership in patent applications. The ranking of technological production in the fragrance area still remains with industries while scientific knowledge is equally shared between industries and academia. Contextualizing Brazil in this scene, despite all scientific expertise gained over the years, brazilian technological park is still at the beginning of the production of technologies applied directly to the F&F industries. The dependence on foreign technologies is remarkable as indicated by the great trade deficit in this sector.

Estabilidade da resistência de Capsicum spp. ao oídio em telado e casa de vegetação

Oídio (Oidiopsis taurica) é uma importante doença do pimentão (Capsicum annuum) e outras espécies de Capsicum. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar fontes de resistência no germoplasma de Capsicum spp. e relatar suas reações ao oídio em ambientes de telado e de casa de vegetação. Em telado, com inoculação artificial, testaram-se 104 genótipos de C. annuum, C. chinense, C. baccatum e C. frutescens. A avaliação foi repetida em canteiros de casa de vegetação com inoculação natural. Em telado, inoculou-se via atomização de 10(4) conídios/ml e em casa de vegetação manteve-se como fonte de inóculo plantas de pimentão previamente infetadas. Os genótipos foram agrupados em cinco níveis de resistência, a partir de leituras periódicas de incidência, esporulação, severidade e intensidade total da doença, e da determinação das respectivas áreas abaixo das curvas de progresso da doença. Cerca de 77% dos genótipos avaliados em telado foram altamente (AS) ou moderadamente suscetíveis (MS); 8% moderadamente resistentes (MR); 11% resistentes (R); e 4% foram altamente resistentes (AR). Cerca de 72% dos genótipos avaliados em casa de vegetação foram AS ou MS; 11% MR; 9% R; e 8% foram AR. Todos os genótipos classificados como AS tanto em telado quanto em casa de vegetação pertencem à espécie C. annuum. De modo geral, o ranking de resistência ao oídio permaneceu constante nos dois ambientes. Capsicum baccatum, C. frutescens e C. chinense apresentaram maior número de genótipos resistentes. Os principais genótipos AR foram CNPH 39, 161, 363 e 601 (C. baccatum); CNPH 579, 596 e 597 (C. frutescens); CNPH 55 (C. chinense); CNPH 280, 289, 434, 570 e 600 (C. chinense) e CNPH 1424 (C. annuum).

Desempenho das exportações brasileiras de celulose

Este estudo objetivou de analisar o desempenho das exportações brasileiras de celulose, de 1993 a 2002, pelo método de Constant-Market-Share (CMS). Foi analisado o desempenho das exportações do Brasil, Canadá, EUA, Suécia e Finlândia, cujos resultados obtidos pela aplicação do método evidenciaram que o crescimento das exportações de celulose do Brasil e de seus principais concorrentes no mercado internacional foi explicado, principalmente, pelo crescimento do comércio mundial. O Brasil apresentou o maior efeito competitividade no ranking das exportações, seguido da Finlândia, já os demais países tiveram queda desse efeito. O crescimento da renda nos mercados compradores de celulose do Canadá, EUA e Suécia foi fator determinante do crescimento das exportações de celulose desses países. O contrário ocorreu com a renda dos países de destino das exportações brasileiras e finlandesas. A projeção das exportações de celulose indicou que, em 2035, o Brasil será o maior exportador de celulose em termos de valor exportado, mantidas as taxas de crescimento das exportações.

Water quality indicators for environmental and resistance profile of Escherichia coli strains isolated in Rio Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil

In this article it was evaluated the quality of water in the Cascavel river, in the city of Cascavel - Paraná using microbiological indicators, physical and chemical pollution and susceptibility / resistance in strains of Escherichia coli isolated antimicrobial trade. The water sampling was conducted between 2010-July and 2011-June at three points: a) near the source, b) urban area, c) rural area. The samples were analyzed for physical, chemical and microbiological variables: temperature, pH, color, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, total coliforms (CT), fecal coliform (CTe) and Escherichia coli. Tests were also performed to nine antimicrobial commercial resistances. The variables studied indicated that the Cascavel river water was presented at disagreement with the resolution 357/2005 CONAMA (class I), ranking in the index as regular water quality. The physical, chemical and rainfall did not affect the growth of CT and CTe, with higher counts of E. coli in the urban area. The greatest resistance profiles of the strains of E. coli isolated from Cascavel river water was found in section 2, the urban area as a probable consequence of human influence on water quality.