Aclimatização e crescimento de plântulas de mirtileiro 'climax' micropropagadas em função do substrato e da cobertura plástica

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a aclimatização e o crescimento de plântulas micropropagadas de mirtileiro (Vaccinium ashei) cv. Climax, em função do substrato e da cobertura plástica, durante os meses de abril a dezembro de 2008. Foram utilizados três substratos (casca de arroz carbonizada + Húmus Fértil®, Plantmax® + vermiculita e solo + serragem jovem de Pínus) e dois sistemas de cobertura (com e sem cobertura plástica sobre as plântulas). As plântulas, acondicionadas em sacos plásticos com os respectivos substratos e sistemas de cobertura, permaneceram em casa de vegetação com temperatura controlada, por 30 dias. Após, permaneceram por 60 dias sem controle ambiental e, em seguida, foram transferidas para telado. A partir de 30 dias, foram avaliados a percentagem de sobrevivência e o incremento de altura das plântulas. Ao término do experimento, foi avaliada a massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e da raiz das plântulas. A percentagem de sobrevivência das plântulas de mirtileiro em substrato Plantmax® + vermiculita é igual quando utilizada ou não a cobertura plástica. O uso da cobertura plástica não foi eficiente para incrementar a altura média das plântulas nos substratos Plantmax® + vermiculita e solo + serragem jovem. A maior massa seca de parte aérea foi obtida com o uso de Plantmax® + vermiculita sem cobertura plástica sobre as plântulas. Plantmax® + vermiculita com e sem cobertura plástica proporcionam maior massa seca radicular que os demais substratos e respectivos sistemas de cobertura, porém Plantmax® + vermiculita sem cobertura plástica é superior a Plantmax® + vermiculita com cobertura plástica. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que o melhor substrato e sistema de cobertura para a aclimatização e o crescimento de plântulas de mirtileiro 'Climax' são Plantmax® + vermiculita sem cobertura plástica.

Photosynthesis and carbon gain under contrasting light levels in seedlings of a pioneer and a climax tree from a Brazilian Semideciduous Tropical Forest

In this study we evaluated photosynthetic characteristics and patterns of biomass accumulation in seedlings of two tree species from a Semideciduous Tropical Forest of Brazil. Seedlings of Trema micrantha (L.) Blum. (pioneer) and Hymenaea courbaril (L.) var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee & Langenh. (climax) were grown for 4 months under low light (LL) (5%-8% of sunlight) and high light (HL) (100% of sunlight). Under HL, T. micrantha showed higher CO2 assimilation rates (A CO2) and light saturation than H. courbaril. Under LL, A CO2 were higher in H. courbaril. Under LL, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents per unit leaf area were higher in H. courbaril. Chlorophyll a/b ratio was higher in T. micrantha under both light regimes. A CO2 and Fv/Fm ratio at both pre-dawn and midday in H. coubaril were lower in HL indicating chronic photoinhibition. Thus, the climax species was more susceptible to photoinhibition than the pioneer. However, H. courbaril produced higher total biomass under both treatments showing high efficiency in the maintenance of a positive carbon balance. Thus, both species expressed characteristics that favor growth under conditions that resemble their natural microenvironments, but H. courbaril also grew under HL. The ecophysiological range of responses to contrasting light levels of this climax plant seems to be broader than generally observed for other rainforest climax species. We propose that this could be related to the particular spatio-temporal light regime of the semideciduous forests.

Características básicas para um agrupamento ecológico preliminar de espécies madeireiras da floresta de terra firme da Amazônia Central

O objetivo deste trabalho foi reunir informações sobre espécies madeireiras de terra firme nas proximidades de Manaus e tentar identificar as suas possíveis posições no contexto da sucessão florestal. Uma classificação facilitará modelar a dinâmica da floresta para apoiar a conservação, o manejo florestal e a reabilitação de áreas degradadas. O grupo estudado foi formado por 60 espécies botânicas pertencentes a 42 gêneros e 18 famílias. Em uma visão geral observaram-se sementes grandes >0,5cm3 (69% das espécies estudadas), predominância da dispersão zoocórica (60%), germinação em um período de até três meses (69%) e densidade elevada da madeira (>0,8g/cm3 em 52%). O conjunto das características utilizadas não foi adequado para classificar todas as espécies, pois características consideradas como típicas para pioneiras, ou clímax, foram observadas na mesma espécie em 24 das árvores selecionadas (40%). A densidade da madeira e a regularidade de frutificação apresentaram pouca utilidade na classificação, como também a presença de dormência nas sementes, pois há dormência em espécies de todas as fases sucessionais. Porém, a distinção entre os diversos tipos de dormência permitiu a separação dos grupos. Sugerem-se, para uma classificação mais robusta, os seguintes critérios ligados a semente: tipo de dispersão, quantidade das reservas, tolerância ao dessecamento e tipo de dormência. A tentativa de classificação das espécies madeireiras evidenciou que a maioria apresentou o conjunto das características típicas do estádio final da sucessão florestal. Porém, poucas apresentaram características de estádios mais iniciais da sucessão, e possuem provavelmente maior resistência às perturbações florestais.

A vegetação do município de Ilhéus, Estado da Bahia: III - caracterização da vegetação pelo valôr dos índices das espécies

The indices found are analysed as a whole and general conclusions are drawn from them which may be of use in understanding many of the problems offered by the local flora (Ilhéus). The first column of the tables presented indicates the biological form of the species, showing the nature of the flora and the constitution of the climax. A total of 200 species of phanerophyta were found; 69 macrophanerophyta (trees), 54 are mesophanerophyta (treelets) and 77 are nanophanerophyta (shrubs). The macrophanerophyta are consequently considered as dominants and the meso-and nanophanerophyta as codominants (the biological forms: chamaephyta, hemicriptophyta, criptophyta, geophyta, therophyta, epiphyta and hydrophyta are subdominants), the more so as the first cover 80% and the others more or less 50%. This points to a climax of trees and a local vegetation mainly composed of trees also. The smaller forms are left out as they are beyond the present scope of this sort of wort in Brazil. The third column of ecological formulae indicates the reaction of the constituent species to light (C = sciophilous, F = photophilous and I = indifferents), the biological types of vegetation (H = hygrophytes, X = xerophytes and M = mesophytes) and the fidelity of the species to the climax. Of the species studied: 25 are pioneers (P. Table I), 63 are accidentals (A. Table II), 35 are companion species (O. Table III), 19 show preferences (E. Table with vitality Vn), 44 are selective (S. Table V) and 13 exclusive species (L. Table VI). This leads to the conclusion that the vegetation of the region is in full reconstitution. As to the ecological characteristics of the 200 species studied, 89 are either pioneers (a class separated by the author) or accidentals; this means that the devastated zones are being reconstituted in the subsere both with members of the prisere and alien species. Of the remaining species, 54 are companion, or accompanying species, which appear in most subclimax, serclímax and quasiclimax associations, and 57 are real constituents of the local climax. As all the species except the pioneers, selectives and exclusives (xerophytes and mesophytes) may be considered as hygrophytes this type evidently predominantes in the region and may constitute a hygrophilous serclimax and quasiclímax. In regard to light 101 are sciophilous, 32 indiferents and 67 photophilous. This leads to the conclusion that the vegetation comprises mainly tolerant species, showing the hygrophilous and mesophilous character of the region with a vegetation composed mostly of trees. The presence a large number of sciophilous species is easy to understand as the hygrophilous and mesophilous habitats and the dominance of trees favour the germination and growth of tolerant species. The last two columns analyse the percentage of individuals present and the occurrent classes to which they belong: 92 species vary between 1 and 9%; 50 between to 10 and 19%; 36 between 20 and 29%; 14 between 30 and 39%; and 8 between 40 and 49%. Only 8 species belong to occurrence class V; 14 to classe IV; 36 to class III; 50 to class II; and 92 to class I. This leads to the conclusion that the local formation is very unsociable and very complex, though the median coverture is 80% and the number of species is very large. The analysis of the data also shows that the climax is being reconstituted in the subsere with elements drawn from the prisere and alien species introduced either by man (following desvastation) or by other consequent factors (such as brusque changes of microclimates due to total or partial destruction). This modifies the subclimax appreciably and apparently also the climax of the local regional subsere. As a final conclusion it is suggested that as in the subsere the pioneer formation is xerophilous, the prisere also beging as a xerosere; but as there are and probably always were hydrophilous formation evolving in the same climate, the local climax is composed of species with medium exactions, that is of relative mesophites.

A vegetação no município de Ilhéus Estado da Bahia: IV - Caracaterísticas analíticas e periodicidade sociológica

It is well-known that diverse groups of vegetation with an analogous but not identical floristic composition show an ecological similarity which leads to a determined type of vegetation. Starting from this fact it becomes evident that the scope of phytosociological work is the establishing of the significance of the species within the association and the discovery of the rules which govern associations. The floristic surveys made in the field have to be analysed statistically so as to obtain satisfactory results. The usefulness of this method depends largely on the possibilities of comparing the results with previous studies of the same kind, in the same country, or elsewhere. The method used in this paper is that of measuring circumferences and counting individuals in the different associations studied because it permits the presentation of the results in tables which show the phytosociological complexity of the Brazilian rain-forests. The classical method of characteristics is valuable because the more evolved an association is the less sociable are the species it contains, so that such groups do not show clear differences between species but rather between sinusia or strata of individuals. Five tables are presented in which several of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics are studied with a view to discussing their value in relation to groups and species. They are: I - Abundance (number of individuals). II - Density (distance in meters between the individuals belonging to each stratum). III - Basal coverture (circles measured in square meters of the mean projection of the individuals on the surface). IV - Basal area (mean circle in square meters occupied by individuals on the surface). V - Frequency, abundance and sociability in relation to occurrence. TABLE I. This table indicates first the number of individuals in relation to the sinusia studied: next, the sum total of the individuals belanging to the strata are given for each association, thus providing the numeric value of the sinusia: finally, the relation between the total number of individuals in the association and the total for the sinusium thus fursnishing the abundance per sinusium, in the classic sence, that is the percentage, or rather the relative number, of the elements which compose the group. CONCLUSIONS. The general character of abundance of the regional vegetation of Ilheos may be summed up in the following way: as an association evolves towards permanent equilibirum the number of individuals the inferior strata diminishes in relation to those of the superior strata which increase. For the shrub sinusium, two important facts were observed: a) in a given association the number of elements of the inferior strata diminishes as the diameter of the individuals increases; b) the percentage of individuals belonging to the shrub sinusium in the sere diminishes as the association evolve. In the subarboreal sinusium it is seen that: in the sere the number of subarboreal individuals does not vary much; whereas in the climax or the prisere there is a fall owing to the equilibrum of the biologic forms. In the arboreal sinusium the following conclusion can be deduced from analogous facts: the number of individuals of the lower strata diminishes as circumference increases. Also, in the sere there is a progressive sequence for the individuals belonging to the superior strata. TABLE II. The relation between the mean distances of individuals belonging to the same stratum and the area of an association is equal to the density. The table shows that the mean density of the association and the distance between the individuals belonging to the strata of the same sinusium in relation to the total number of individuals belonging to the association. CONCLUSIONS. As rule, the density of individuals in the associations studied follows a very general character or at least a regional one: the distance between the individuals in the diverse strata varies according to their abundance and sociability. Two other facts of some sociological importance are: a) in identical strata of the same sere the density of individuals oscillates in an analogous manner in teh subclimaces and varies in the stages which have reached equilibrium. b) the density of individuals varias in accordance with the sinusium and the distances between individuals of the same sinusium varg in accordance with the strata. TABLE III. This table presents the mean basal individual coverture, that is the mean projection of the frond of the various individuals belonging to the same stratum. The means were obtained by measurement in the field, of 100 individuals belonging to each stratum and their projection on the surface. In the latoratory these measurements were converted into mean circles (in square meters) and the result was multiplied by the individuals belonging to the strata corresponding to the sinusium of each association. The result obtained is named basal coverture. CONCLUSIONS. As a rule, the basal coverture of the vegetation of the county of Ilhéus indicates that: in the evolution of the vegetation the basal coverture of the arbustive sinusium diminishes progressively whereas that of the arboreal one increases. The special norms obtained are: 1) in the shrub sinusium the basal coverture seems to follow a uniform norm, that is, in stages of evolution of the subclimax the basal coverture oscillates with a certain uniformity. 2) in the subarboreal sinusium this fact is related to the vitality and age of the species, as in the subclimax the number of young trees is large and the vitality of the species very variable. This permits the conclusion that: in the sere the basal coverture increases with the evolution of the vegetation and diminishes when an equilibrium is reached. 3) in the tree sinusium the climax association of the prisere and subsere seem to obey a binomial rule, as the coverture (density-abundance) increases until a determined stratum is reached and...

Estudos dos agrupamentos vegetativos relacionados com as áreas onde foram efetuadas as pesquisas sôbre a febre amarela silvestre no Município de Passos, Estado de Minas Gerais

The work reported here was carried-out on the invitation of Dr. Henry Kumm, Director of the Rockefeller Foundation, and by appointment from Dr. Henrique Aragão, Director of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. It was done during the investigation of sylvan yellow fever, in June 1947, with a view to establishing the phyto-ecological conditions of the county of Passos. The pe¬riod was, however, too short for definite conclusions to be reached. Thanks are due to Dr. O. R. Causey, Chief of Research on Yellow Fever for transpor¬tation and other help. THE REGIONAL VEGETATION. Aerial photographs of the county of Passos shoto that it is covered by three great types of vegetation: Rain Forest, Secondary Pasture Land and Scrub.1 Detailed investigation, however, brings out the fact that these correspond to different seres; furthermore, each type presents not only the specific, characteristics of the biological form dominant for the climate, but also are at various stages, which express HABITATS differing from those of the normal sere. The phytogeographic survey of the region shows that most of it is now covered by secondary pasture land (disclimax) in which Melinis minutiflora, v. "fat grass" (fig. 1), predominates. The mosaic of Rain Forest and of small patches of Scrub reveals the effects of human intervention (BARRETO, H. L. de Mello 1); consequently, all the formations have to be regarded as secon¬dary, though some of them probably include relicts of the primitive climax (WARMING, E. 2). On close examination, the Scrub cannot be considered as the climax, because of the following facts: 1. In the zone of Rain-Forest stretches of forest are present in very varied topographic conditions and the reconstitution of the associations show that man has destroyed an ecological unit (fig. 2). 2. In the zone of Scrub the characteristic patches are small. The banks of rivers and brooks, the valleys and ravine and whatever the soil has retained some humidity, is being invaded fry Rain Forest, which seems to be growing under optimum conditions. The Scrub is thus limited to small belts on the calcareous mountains and on sandy soils with alcaline depths (pH abo¬ve 7) which do not retain enough moisture for the Rain Forest that is progres¬sively restricting the area occupied by Scrub. In view of the topographic and present climatic conditions the Rain Forest must consequently be regarded as the regional climax. The presence of ecologically contradictory elements and associations shows that the real problem is that of the fluctuations of the climate of Passos or even of Minas Geraes during the quaternary and recent periods (DAN-SEREAU, P. : 3), a subject on which little is known and which is tied to the evolution of the climate of Brazil (OLIVEIRA, E. : 4) . The transformation of Scrub into Rain Forest has been - observed by the author before, in other parts of Brazil (VELOSO, PL P.: 5) . It seems probable that the Rio Grande has also greatly influenced the change of the regional vegetation, by invading areas of Scrub and dislocating the limit of the Pluvial climate towards the Canastra Range, though there are remnants of Scrub (postclimax) transfor¬med into secondary open country (disclimax, fig. 5) by human devastation and the setting of fire to the land. VEGETATION GROUPS OF THE PLUVIAL TYPE. The map of the region also shows that at the present time the small patches of forest (whether devasted or intact) occupy the least accessible places, such as valleys, peaks and abrupt slopes (fig. 2). Even these are now being destroyed, so that in the near future this forested region will be en¬tirely reduced to poor pasture land unless energetic measures of conservation are undertaken in time. The Special Service for Prophylaxis against Yellow Fever installed two of their four Stations for the Capture of Mosquitos in this area, one of them at Batatal and the other at Cachoeira, which have separate formations each of them composed of several associations. Other vegetation formations were also analysed, from the synecological point of view, so as to ascertain of which degree of succession their associations belong. These phytosociological sur¬veys give an idea of the principal characteristics of each station. BATATAL FORMATION. The abrupt nature of the valley has rendered this location inappropriate for agricultural purposes since colonial times. The relict of the primitive forest climax saved by this circumstance has expanded gradually to zones whose paedologic conditions favour the eatablishment of mesophilous species. The aerial photograph shows two small stretches of forest, one apparently primi¬tive, the other composed of associations belonging to the subclimax of the subsere. CACHOEIRA FORMATION. Aerial photographs show that this station is crossed by a small river, which divides it into two separate parts. The first, which presents ecological conditions similar, though not identical to those of Batatal, is favoured by topography and apparently remains primitive forest. Though the topography of the other, on the whole, favours the establishment of groups belonging to the normal sere of the climax, is has been partly devastated recently and the aspect of the associations has been completely modified. It was is this part that the four posts for the capturing of mosquitos were set up. The first forest is favoured by deposition of organic matter, washed out from the nearby devasted areas by torrential rains, and thus provides, an appropriate HABITAT for the climax species with certain hygrophilous trends of the ecological quasiclimax type. This association seems to have reached a biological equilibrium, as the dominates. Gallesia gorarema and Cariniana legalis (fig. 10), present an optimum vitality with a vigorous habit and a normal evolutionary cycle. The Cariniantum legalis Gallesiosum equilibrium, corresponds however, to a provisory association, because if the moving of soil by torrential rains should cease it would become possible…

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.

Fenologia, produção e qualidade de frutos de mirtilo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento fenológico, a produtividade e a qualidade de oito cultivares de mirtilo do grupo rabbiteye (Bluegem, Bluebelle, Powderblue, Florida, Delite, Briteblue, Climax e Woodard), na região de Pelotas, RS. O trabalho foi realizado durante os ciclos produtivos de 2003/2004, 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. As plantas foram dispostas no pomar em blocos varietais aleatórios, com 16 plantas por cultivar, no total de quatro linhas, com duas cultivares por linha. Para a análise das características dos frutos, a média de cada ano de avaliação foi considerada como uma repetição. Foram observadas as datas de início e fim da floração, início e final de colheita, massa, diâmetro longitudinal dos frutos, número de frutos por planta, teor de sólidos solúveis totais, produção média por planta e produtividade estimada por hectare. Não houve diferença entre as cultivares avaliadas quanto às características massa, diâmetro médio de frutos e teores de sólidos solúveis totais. Na região de Pelotas, há viabilidade técnica para o cultivo de mirtilo, cujas cultivares Bluebelle, Briteblue e Bluegem são as mais produtivas.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil rotifers in a South-Bohemian beech forest

The objective of this work was to determine seasonal variation and vertical distribution of the soil rotifer assemblage in a climax beech forest in South Bohemia. During 2005, soil rotifer was investigated to the species level. Soil samples of 10 cm² and 10 cm in depth were divided into five layers, which were processed separately. Thirty one rotifer species were identified during the investigation. Dominant species significantly changed throughout the seasons. The most abundant species were Encentrum arvicola and Wierzejskiella vagneri among the monogononts, and Adineta steineri, Ceratotrocha cornigera, Habrotrocha filum, Habrotrocha ligula, Macrotrachela plicata, Mniobia tentans, Mniobia incrassata and Mniobia granulosa among the bdelloids. Mean Shannon diversity index varied from 1.99 to 2.63. Total rotifer abundance varied from 212±63 to 513±127 10³ individuals m-2 along the year, with the highest numbers found in May, and the lowest in July. The great part of the community was concentrated in the upper (fresh litter) and second (partially decomposed litter) layers and significantly decreased in the soil vertical profile on all sampling dates. The highest rotifer density of 43 individuals g-1 was found in the upper layer in May.

Efeito do ácido indolbutírico e da cultivar no enraizamento de estacas lenhosas de mirtilo

Dentre os métodos de multiplicação do mirtilo, a propagação por meio de estacas é uma técnica de baixo custo, que proporciona resultados variáveis, de acordo com a cultivar e outros fatores. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o efeito do AIB no enraizamento de estacas lenhosas de mirtilo das cultivares Powderblue, Delite, Climax, Bluebelle e Woodard. O material vegetativo utilizado, oriundo de matrizeiro, constituiu em segmentos de ramos principais, com 15 cm de comprimento e diâmetro aproximado de 6 mm. Após o preparo das estacas, as bases das mesmas foram imersas, por 15 segundos, em uma solução com fitorregulador (AIB), nas concentrações de 0; 1.000; 2.000; 4.000 e 8.000 mg.L-1 , sendo colocadas para enraizar em areia de granulometria média, sob irrigação intermitente, por microaspersão. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e dez estacas por parcela. Após oito meses da instalação do experimento, avaliaram-se a porcentagem de estacas enraizadas, o número médio de raízes por estaca, o comprimento da maior raiz, o número médio de brotações e o comprimento da maior brotação. A resposta das diferentes cultivares de mirtilo ao enraizamento das estacas variou com a concentração de ácido indolbutírico (AIB). Independentemente do uso de AIB e da cultivar, na maioria dos tratamentos, a porcentagem de enraizamento foi superior a 55%.

Superação da dormência de cultivares de mirtileiro em ambiente protegido com cianamida hidrogenada e óleo mineral

O mirtileiro é uma frutífera de clima temperado que necessita de frio no outono/inverno. A insuficiência de frio pode provocar deficiente e desuniforme brotação e floração, com reflexos na produção. A pesquisa realizada na Universidade de Passo Fundo-RS, teve por objetivo estudar a superação da dormência de cultivares de mirtileiro (Georgiagem, Climax e Aliceblue) em ambiente protegido, tratadas em 25-07-2007 com cianamida hidrogenada (CH), nas doses de 0,52% e 1,04% (1% e 2% do produto comercial Dormex®), com a adição de 0,5% de óleo mineral (OM), comparando com plantas sem tratamento. As plantas encontravam-se no terceiro ciclo vegetativo e no primeiro de produção. O plantio foi realizado em 2005, no espaçamento de 0,7 m x 2,0 m, com irrigação por gotejamento. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a aplicação no final de julho de CH + OM concentrou e uniformizou a floração e antecipou a brotação das cvs. Georgiagem e Clímax. A cianamida hidrogenada, nas concentrações de 0,52% e 1,04% (1% e 2% de Dormex®), combinado com 0,5% de óleo mineral, não teve efeito na porcentagem de brotação, mas reduziu a produção, evidenciando efeitos fitotóxicos.

Desempenho de cultivares de mirtileiros dos grupos rabbiteye e highbush em função da cobertura de solo

A cultura do mirtileiro está em expansäo no Brasil principalmente por seus efeitos benéficos à saúde. Devido ao fato de seu cultivo ser recente no País, a cultura ainda carece de estudos relacionados ao manejo, dentre os quais a adequada cobertura do solo. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento vegetativo e produtivo de cultivares de mirtileiros dos grupos rabbiteye (Climax, Delite e Powderblue) e highbush (Georgiagem, Misty e O'neal), em resposta a dois tipos de cobertura do solo. O trabalho foi conduzido em condições de campo na empresa Frutplan Mudas Ltda., localizada no município de Pelotas-RS, no período de outubro de 2010 a maio de 2013. Foram estudadas seis cultivares de mirtilo: Climax, Delite, Powderblue, Georgiagem, Misty e O'neal, e dois tipos de cobertura do solo: polipropileno de ráfia extrusado, marca comercial Ground CoverTM e acícula de pínus. Foram avaliados o diâmetro médio das hastes, o número médio de hastes, a altura de planta, a produção por planta, a produtividade, a massa média de fruta, o diâmetro médio de fruta e os sólidos solúveis. Concluiu-se que a utilização de Ground CoverTM incrementa o diâmetro e o número médio de hastes, e a altura das cultivares estudadas, além de aumentar o número de frutas por planta e a produção de 'limax', 'Delite' e 'Powderblue'. Observou-se que, independentemente do sistema de manejo do solo, as cultivares do grupo rabbiteye säo mais produtivas do que as do grupo highbush. Finalmente, o aumento da produtividade por área justifica o custo de instalação da cobertura de polipropileno Ground CoverTM, nas cultivares Climax, Delite e Powderblue.

O fabrico e uso da pólvora no Brasil colonial: o papel de alpoim na primeira metade do século XVIII

Gunpowder played a significant role in colonial Brazil. This reached a climax in the eighteenth century, when the country's large gold output enticed the greed of many. The French invasion of Rio de Janeiro in 1711 made the city's defense even more pressing to the metropolis. Brigadier Alpoim symbolized this reaction. He was a leading Luso-Brazilian engineer of that century, whose multiple activities set him apart in colonial life. These activities included a pioneer role in teaching the manufacture and use of gunpowder, about which he wrote extensively during the first half of the eighteenth century. His work is thus among the first to treat chemical technology in the colony at such an early age.