DRIS norms for 'Valencia' sweet orange on three rootstocks

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) applies nutrient ratios instead of the isolated concentration values of each nutrient in interpretation of tissue analysis. The objectives of this research were to establish adequate DRIS norms for 'Valencia' sweet orange irrigated commercial groves budded on three rootstocks and correlate indexes of nutrition balance with yield. Experiments were conducted in São Paulo State, Brazil. Rootstocks Rangpur lime, Caipira sweet orange, and Poncirus trifoliata, with more than six years old and yield above 40 ton ha-1 were utilized. Data referred to yield, tree spacing, rootstock and foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B in non fruiting terminals for each grove were processed for the years 1994 through 1998. DRIS indexes were calculated by Nick criterion for choosing the ratio order of the nutrients and Jones calculation method of the ratio functions. Indexes of nutritional balance calculated from DRIS norms presented high correlation with yield for the three scion/rootstock combinations. DRIS norms defined in this research are valid, since leaf sampling is done on non fruiting terminals and the grove is irrigated.

GUS gene expression driven by a citrus promoter in transgenic tobacco and 'Valencia' sweet orange

The objective of this work was the transformation of tobacco and 'Valencia' sweet orange with the GUS gene driven by the citrus phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene promoter (CsPP). Transformation was accomplished by co-cultivation of tobacco and 'Valência' sweet orange explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the binary vector CsPP-GUS/2201. After plant transformation and regeneration, histochemical analyses using GUS staining revealed that CsPP promoter preferentially, but not exclusively, conferred gene expression in xylem tissues of tobacco. Weaker GUS staining was also detected throughout the petiole region in tobacco and citrus CsPP transgenic plants.

Zn and K influence in fruit sizes of Valencia orange

In orange commercial farms, Zn deficiencies symptoms and small fruits were observed in Corrientes, Argentine. During four years (1995 to 1998), Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis Osb.) on Rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush.) rootstock, implanted in 1974 in sandy soil, where six treatments were tested. Treatments varied from 1 to 3 Kg KCl.tree-1.year-1 (applied in April and December) with and without Zineb 80, 0,35%. year-1, 20 L. tree-1 (13,3 g Zn.tree-1 applied in December). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, with a single tree and borders in the experimental plot. Foliar sample were taken every year in Autumn and Summer, foliar concentrations of Zn and K were determined by atomic spectrum absorption. Harvested fruits were classified into small, medium and big. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test and Pearson correlations between production and foliar concentrations were performed. Higher fertilization levels of K with Zn increased medium and big fruits production (Kg and percentage). Foliar concentrations of K and Zn were positively correlated with big and medium fruit production and negatively correlated with small one. Chemical names used: Ethilenbis-ditiocarbamate of Zn (Zineb).

Tamaño óptimo de muestra para evaluar el patrón de crecimiento de frutos de naranjo 'Valencia late'

Los modelos de crecimiento de frutos describen la evolución de su tamaño a lo largo del período de desarrollo. Con fines de pronóstico, estos modelos permiten estimar en forma anticipada el tamaño que alcanzarán los frutos al momento de la cosecha. Para lograr estimaciones insesgadas del tamaño de frutos a cosecha es necesario un diseño adecuado de muestreo en la etapa de recolección de datos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el tamaño óptimo de muestra, compuesta por árboles (n) y frutos (m), para establecer modelos de crecimiento de frutos de naranjo 'Valencia late', que permitan estimar la distribución de tamaño a la cosecha. Se trabajó con el diámetro ecuatorial de frutos previo a la cosecha, proveniente de dos huertos comerciales ubicados en la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina, durante tres temporadas. Mediante modelos mixtos se estimaron las componentes de varianzas entre árboles y frutos, y posteriormente a partir de dos tipos de metodologías se determinó el tamaño de muestra óptimo. La variabilidad entre frutos fue superior a la variabilidad entre árboles. Para la determinación del patrón de crecimiento de frutos de naranjo 'Valencia late' mediante un muestreo bietápico, se sugiere seleccionar 7 árboles y 30 frutos de cada árbol, para lograr estimaciones del diámetro ecuatorial de frutos con una precisión entre el 2 y 3%.

Métodos Ultravioleta Selectivo y de reducción con Hidracina en la determinación del ión nitrato an aguas subterraneas

In this study, a comparison of two methods, the Selective UV Spectrophotometrical Method and Reduction with Hidrazine Method, for the determination of Nitrate ion in groundwater, was carried out. For this purpose, the results from all the drinking water collectings of the city of Olavarría, Argentina, were employed. Both methods present significant different means, but they don´t present significant differences in their variances.

Espectrofotometría de absorción atómica con tubo en la llama: aplicación en la determinación total de cadmio, plomo y zinc en aguas frescas, agua de mar y sedimentos marinos

Thermospray flame furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS) was used for the total determination of Cd, Pb and Zn in fresh water and seawater samples at µg L-1 levels, and in marine sediment samples at µg g-1 levels. Using a sample loop of 50 µL and a peristaltic pump the samples were transported into the metallic tube placed over an air/acetylene flame, through a ceramic capillary (o.d. = 3.2 mm) containing two parallel internal orifices (i.d = 0.5 mm). The detection limits determined for Cd, Pb and Zn using a synthetic water matrix (2.5% m/v NaCl, 0.5% m/v MgCl2 and 0.8% m/v CaCl2) were 0.32 µg L-1; 2.6 µg L-1 and 0.21 µg L-1 respectively. The methodology by TS-FF-AAS was validated by determination of Cd, Pb and Zn in certified reference materials of water and marine sediment, and the t-test for differences between means was applied. No statistically significant differences were established in fresh water and seawater (p>0.05), whereas differences became apparent in marine sediment (p<0.03).

Metales pesados y toxicidad de aguas del Río Aconcagua en Chile

The toxicity of surface waters in a zone with mining activity in the Aconcagua River was determined through growth inhibition bioassays of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and correlated with heavy metal concentrations. Results show that the waters near the discharge of the mining effluent displayed toxicity during all periods of study; the molybdenum and copper concentration exceeded the norms of water quality. The correlations between the concentrations of metals and the growth rate of P. subcapitata varied in the different periods of the study; inverse and significant correlations with copper stand out in some periods.

Daño oxidativo en la microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata expuesta a aguas receptoras de un efluente minero en del Río Blanco (V Región, Chile)

In this investigation antioxidant response and toxicity of metals in receiving water effluent miner in the Blanco river in Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata was assessed. The catalase activity, lipid damage through Tbars, the growth rate of was determined. The result showed an inhibition of the growth rate of P. subcapitata which correlated with increased catalase activity and the lipid liperoxidation. These responses were correlated with the concentrations of copper and iron.

Efecto del secado térmico y el tratamiento alcalino en las características microbiológicas y químicas de biosólidos de plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas

We evaluated the effect of thermal drying (60 to 75 ºC and times from 0 to 12.58 h) and alkaline treatment (Ca(OH)2 and CaO at doses from 8 to 10%.) on the microbiological and chemical characteristics of biosolids from the Cañaveralejo WWTP. The results showed that in thermal drying all temperatures studied were sufficient to achieve the sanitation of biosolids. In the alkaline treatment the two types of lime showed the total elimination of fecal coliforms, E. coli and helminth eggs, however, the process of alkalization of biosolids had significant influences on organic carbon and calcium.

Estimation of transpiration of the 'Valencia' orange young plant using thermal dissipation probe method

Most studies on measures of transpiration of plants, especially woody fruit, relies on methods of heat supply in the trunk. This study aimed to calibrate the Thermal Dissipation Probe Method (TDP) to estimate the transpiration, study the effects of natural thermal gradients and determine the relation between outside diameter and area of xylem in 'Valencia' orange young plants. TDP were installed in 40 orange plants of 15 months old, planted in boxes of 500 L, in a greenhouse. It was tested the correction of the natural thermal differences (DTN) for the estimation based on two unheated probes. The area of the conductive section was related to the outside diameter of the stem by means of polynomial regression. The equation for estimation of sap flow was calibrated having as standard lysimeter measures of a representative plant. The angular coefficient of the equation for estimating sap flow was adjusted by minimizing the absolute deviation between the sap flow and daily transpiration measured by lysimeter. Based on these results, it was concluded that the method of TDP, adjusting the original calibration and correction of the DTN, was effective in transpiration assessment.

Daños tóxicos en tejidos vegetales, producidos por aguas contaminadas con arsénico en Zimapán, Hidalgo, México

Según estudios realizados en el periodo de 1992-1998 en las aguas de los pozos, norias y manantiales, del municipio de Zimapán, Estado de Hidalgo, México, se corroboró que existía un incremento en el contenido de arsénico rebasando los límites máximos permisibles por la Norma Oficial Mexicana. La determinación de arsénico en las muestras de aguas se realizó por absorción atómica (AAS), mediante generador de hidruros (GH). En este estudio se utilizó el Vicia faba como un bioensayo para evaluar el daño genotóxico con la prueba de inducción de micronúcleos por exposición al agua de Zimapán, contaminada con As en células de raíces. Se utilizó como ensayo de control un agua de pozo de similares características del municipio de Pachuca, pero con contenidos de As por debajo de los límites de detección. Los resultados mostraron que el agua de esta región presenta altas concentraciones de arsénico y que puede provocar efectos genotóxicos que se manifiestan por la inducción de micronúcleos en las células meristemáticas de raíces de tejidos vegetales sensible.

Quality of 'Delta Valencia' orange grown in semiarid climate and stored under refrigeration after coating with wax

The effects of carnauba-based wax on the quality of 'Delta Valencia' orange produced in Ceará state, Brazil, were studied. The fruits were coated with carnauba-based wax and refrigerated (7 ± 2 ºC and 85 ± 2% R.H.) for 28 days. The quality attribute parameters assessed were weight loss, peel color (brightness, hue angle, and chromaticity), peel moisture, pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, yellow flavonoids, and polyphenols. The results showed that 'Delta Valencia' oranges grown in the dry climate of Ceará state has excellent quality. The coated fruits lost mass at a lower rate than the the control fruits. No significant loss of soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, and SS/TA ratio was observed, while ascorbic acid, soluble sugars, reducing sugars, yellow flavonoids, and polyphenols increased during storage in both the coated and control fruits. Carnauba-based wax coated fruits showed no signal of dehydration keeping their shiny green peel up to the end of the storage. The use of coating was crucial for the maintenance of visual quality by reducing mass loss, as well as keeping peel moisture.