Effect of GA3, KNO3, and removing of basal point of seeds on germination of sweet granadilla (Passiflora ligularis Juss) and yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa)

Passiflora seeds germinate erratically presenting difficulties for their handling in a greenhouse. The effect of removing of basal point of seeds (RB) and pre-imbibition of seeds of sweet granadilla and yellow passion fruit in 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg mL-1 solutions of gibberellic acid (GA3) or 0.1% KNO3 solution was studied. The experiment was conducted in greenhouses in La Plata, Colombia. Two accessions PrJ1 and PrJ2 of sweet granadilla were evaluated. There were calculated the final percentage of germination (PG), mean germination time (MGT), and the mean germination rate (MGR). The leaf area and dry mass of seedlings were measured 22 days after sowing (das); with this data, specific leaf area and relation root/shoot were calculated. In all cases, the highest germination percentages were achieved treating seeds with KNO3 (89, 92, and 87% for yellow passion fruit, PrJ2, and PrJ1, respectively), but the increase in MGR (3.3 germinated seeds per day) and the decrease in MGT (16 days) were only significant for PrJ1. RB had a significant reduction of PG in all cases (28, 12, and 33% for passion fruit, PrJ2 and PrJ1, respectively). With the increase in the concentration of GA3, PG was reduced for two accessions of sweet granadilla, for yellow passion fruit this trend was not clear, no treatment with GA3 showed significant differences with the control. Leaf area (24.07 cm2) and dry mass of seedlings (135 mg) were significantly higher than seeds previously treated with KNO3 only for PrJ1.The solution of KNO3 0,1% is recommended to improve the germination and initial growth of granadilla seedlings.

Occurrence of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) on citrus in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

The occurrence of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) was first reported in citrus orchard in the state of São Paulo (SP). High infestation levels of H. armigera were observed in October 2012, in the city of Botucatu, SP. The larvae was fed of all parts of the plants. The injuries on the leaves caused drastic reduction in the leaf area and the fruits attack occurred from an early stage of development to the ripe fruit. Thus, the first occurrence of H. armigera in this citrus culture adds to the list of hosts of this pest, and is of great importance, because it confirms H. armigera potential dispersion and polyphagia.

Maneig de les dades d'un escàner làser (LiDAR) per a l'obtenció de paràmetres vegetatius en fruiters (perera) i vinya

Aquest projecte té com a finalitat desenvolupar un sistema no destructiu per a la caracterització de les plantacions de vinya i d’arbres fruiters mitjançant la utilització d’un sensor làser (LiDAR - Light Detection and Ranging). La informació obtinguda ha de permetre estudiar la resposta del cultiu a determinades accions (poda, reg, adobs, etc.); i també realitzar tractaments fitosanitaris adaptats a la densitat foliar del cultiu. La posada a punt del sistema (software i hardware) es va realitzar a escala reduïda mitjançant proves de laboratori sobre un arbre ornamental. Obtenint la configuració del sensor LiDAR més adequada i la calibració de tot el sistema. L’any 2004 van realitzar assajos en plantacions de pomera, perera, cítrics i vinya. L’objectiu era posar a prova el sistema i obtenir dades dels cultius. Amb la introducció de canvis i millores en el sistema i en la metodologia de treball, l’any 2005 es van realitzar nous assajos, però només en perera Blanquilla i en vinya Merlot. En tots els assajos s’escanejaven unes franges de vegetació concretes i posteriorment es desfullaven manualment per a calcular-ne l’Índex d’Àrea Foliar (IAF). Les dades obtingudes amb el sensor LiDAR s’han analitzat mitjançant l’aplicació de la metodologia desenvolupada per Walklate et al.(2002) i s’han obtingut determinats paràmetres vegetatius de cultiu, que posteriorment s’han correlacionat amb l’Índex d’Àrea Foliar (IAF) obtingut de forma experimental. La capacitat de predicció de l’Índex d’Àrea Foliar (IAF) per part dels diferents paràmetres calculats es diferent en cada cultiu, essent necessàries més proves i major nombre de dades a fi d’obtenir un model fiable per a l’estimació de l’IAF a partir de les lectures del sensor LiDAR. L’estudi de la variabilitat de la vegetació mitjançant l’anàlisi de la variabilitat del Tree Area Index (TAI) al llarg de la fila ha permès determinar el nombre mínim necessari d’escanejades acumulades per a l’estimació fiable de l’Índex d’Àrea Foliar. Finalment s’ha estudiat la incidència de l’alçada de col•locació del sensor LiDAR respecte la vegetació.

Etiology and epidemiology of Pythium root rot in hydroponic crops: current knowledge and perspectives

The etiology and epidemiology of Pythium root rot in hydroponically-grown crops are reviewed with emphasis on knowledge and concepts considered important for managing the disease in commercial greenhouses. Pythium root rot continually threatens the productivity of numerous kinds of crops in hydroponic systems around the world including cucumber, tomato, sweet pepper, spinach, lettuce, nasturtium, arugula, rose, and chrysanthemum. Principal causal agents include Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium dissotocum, members of Pythium group F, and Pythium ultimum var. ultimum. Perspectives are given of sources of initial inoculum of Pythium spp. in hydroponic systems, of infection and colonization of roots by the pathogens, symptom development and inoculum production in host roots, and inoculum dispersal in nutrient solutions. Recent findings that a specific elicitor produced by P. aphanidermatum may trigger necrosis (browning) of the roots and the transition from biotrophic to necrotrophic infection are considered. Effects on root rot epidemics of host factors (disease susceptibility, phenological growth stage, root exudates and phenolic substances), the root environment (rooting media, concentrations of dissolved oxygen and phenolic substances in the nutrient solution, microbial communities and temperature) and human interferences (cropping practices and control measures) are reviewed. Recent findings on predisposition of roots to Pythium attack by environmental stress factors are highlighted. The commonly minor impact on epidemics of measures to disinfest nutrient solution as it recirculates outside the crop is contrasted with the impact of treatments that suppress Pythium in the roots and root zone of the crop. New discoveries that infection of roots by P. aphanidermatum markedly slows the increase in leaf area and whole-plant carbon gain without significant effect on the efficiency of photosynthesis per unit area of leaf are noted. The platform of knowledge and understanding of the etiology and epidemiology of root rot, and its effects on the physiology of the whole plant, are discussed in relation to new research directions and development of better practices to manage the disease in hydroponic crops. Focus is on methods and technologies for tracking Pythium and root rot, and on developing, integrating, and optimizing treatments to suppress the pathogen in the root zone and progress of root rot.

Effects of different light levels on the initial growth and photosynthesis of Croton urucurana Baill. in southeastern Brazil

Four levels of shading (full sunlight (0%), 30, 50, 70% of solar radiation interception on growth, chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic rate were studied in Croton urucurana Baill., a pioneer plant species. This species seedlings are of potential interest for reforestation projects and recovery of degraded areas. The seedlings were grown in pots containing soil and sand (2:1) and later transferred to plastic bags of 3 dm³ and submitted to different levels of shading (30, 50, 70%) of solar radiation and full sunlight, as control. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates and each experimental unit was composed of five plants. The results suggest that plants submitted to 70% shading showed higher dry weight accumulation in leaf and root, and higher plant height and leaf area. However, the seedlings root system showed higher dry biomass under full sunlight. It was observed a tendency to increase chlorophyll concentration and to decrease photosynthetic rate with the increase of the shading level.

Coffee water use in agroforestry system with rubber trees

Water uptake and use by plants are essentially energy processes that can be largely modified by percentage of soil cover, plant type; foliage area and its distribution; phenological stage and several environmental factors. Coffee trees (Coffea arabica - cv. Obatã IAC 1669-20) in Agrforestry System (AFS) spaced 3.4x0.9m apart, were planted inside and along rows of 12- year-old rubber trees (Hevea spp.) in Piracicaba-SP, Brazil (22 42'30" S, 47 38'00" W - altitude: 546m). Sap flow of one-year-old coffee plants exposed to 35; 45; 80; 95 and 100% of total solar radiation was estimated by the heat balance technique (Dynamax Inc.). Coffee plants under shade showed greater water loss per unit of incident irradiance. On the other hand, plants in monocrop (full sun) had the least water loss per unit of incident irradiance. For the evaluated positions average water use was (gH2O.m-2Leaf area.MJ-1): 64.71; 67.75; 25.89; 33.54; 27.11 in Dec./2002 and 97.14; 72.50; 40.70; 32.78; 26.13 in Feb./2003. This fact may be attributed to the higher stomata sensitivity of the coffee plants under more illuminated conditions, thus plants under full sun presented the highest water use efficiency. Express transpiration by leaf mass can be a means to access plant adaptation to the various environments, which is inaccessible when the approach is made by leaf area.

Initial development and gas exchange of Talisia subalbens (Mart.) Radlk. under different shading conditions

Ecophysiological studies under semi-controlled conditions in nurseries and greenhouses are essential to enable the use of native species to recover degraded areas and for commercial planting. Talisia subalbens (Mart) Radlk, 'cascudo', is a native fruiting species of the Cerrado on the verge of extinction. The ecophysiological performance of this species was evaluated in nursery conditions under different levels of shading (full sunshine, 30%, 50% and 70%). Initial growth, biomass allocation, gas exchange and chlorophyll content of the plants were analyzed. Full sunshine cultivated plants showed a higher accumulation of total, shoot, and root dry biomass. There was no significant difference in the root/shoot ratio among the treatments. Seedlings cultivated under full sunshine and 30% shading showed higher values for height, basal diameter, and leaf area. Differences in stomata conductance and photosynthesis rate were not observed among the different shading levels. Plants cultivated under 70% of shading had higher contents of chlorophyll a, b, and total. During the initial phase with higher levels of radiation were fundamental for the development of T. subalbens seedlings.

Management strategies of saline water on morphometric characteristics of melon cultivars

It was to aimed it to investigate effects of various saline water use strategies on melon production and quality of two cultivars (Cucumis melo L., Sancho - C1 and Medellín - C2. The plants were irrigated with water of low (S1 = 0.61 dS m-1) and high (S2 = 4.78 dS m-1) salinity levels, during each crop stage: S1S1S2S2 - T1; S2S1S2S2 - T2; S2S2S1S2 - T3. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th terms of these sequences correspond to initial growth, flowering, fruit ripening and harvest phenological stages, respectively. Additionally, there was irrigation rotation during all cycle, with water S1 during two days followed by S2 for one day (S1 2 dias + S2 1 dia - T4) and irrigation with non-salt water S2 during all cycle - T5. Moreover, we used as control, the irrigation water at 3.2 dS m-1 resulting from water mixture of S1 and S2 - T6 (farm used irrigation management). The experiment was carried out in Pedra Preta Farm, in Mossoró, RN, using an entire randomized block statistical design in a 6x2 subdivided plot scheme with four replications. Saline water irrigation at initial growth stage reduces leaf area and shoot dry phytomass of Sancho and Medellín melon cultivars. The irrigation by T4 provided the highest phytomass production of fruits at 48 DAS, reducing in 33% of good quality water in irrigation.

Physical characteristics of oily spraying liquids and droplets formed on coffee leaves and glass surfaces

The physical characteristics of a spray liquid are important in getting a good droplet formation and control efficiency over a particular target. As a function of these characteristics, it is possible to decipher which is the best adjuvant based on the respective concentration used during the spray. Therefore, ten spraying liquids were prepared, which varied in concentrations of pesticide lufenuron + profenofos, mineral oil, water and manganese sulfate. Pendant droplets formed from these mixtures were measured to examine their impact on surface tension. Droplets were applied to the surface of coffee leaves and the surface tension, contact angle formed and the leaf area wetted by the droplet, were measured. A smooth glass surface was taken as a comparative to the coffee leaves. The highest concentrations of oil resulted in lower surface tension, smaller contact angles of droplets on leaf surfaces and larger areas wetted by the droplets. Both surfaces showed hydrophilic behavior.

Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthesis of Rolandra fruticosa (asteraceae) in response to shade

The effects of shade on growth, biomass allocation patterns and photosynthetic response was examined for Rolandra fruticosa (L.) Kuntze, a common perennial weed shrub in cultivated pastures and agricultural areas of Brazilian Amazonia, for plants grown in full sunlight and those shaded to 30 % of full sunlight over a 34-d period. Specific leaf area and leaf area ratio were higher for shade plants during all the experimental period. Shade plants allocated significantly less biomass to root tissue than sun plants and relative growth rate was higher in sun plants. Sun leaves had significantly higher dark respiration and light saturated rates of photosynthesis than shade leaves. The apparent quantum efficiency was higher for shade leaves, while light compensation point was higher for sun leaves. These results are discussed in relation to their ecological and weed management implications.

Floristic composition and growth of weeds under custard apple (Annona squamosa) progenies

Weeds have a negative influence on several fruit tree characteristics, such as yield, making it difficult to management practices in orchards. Alternative weed management methods, aiming to reduce the use of herbicides, have become attractive since herbicides are costly and cause environmental degradation. The use of cultivars with greater competitive ability against weeds has attracted international attention. The objective of this work was to evaluate the floristic composition and growth of weeds under the canopies of irrigated custard apple tree progenies. Twenty halfsibling progenies around three years of age were evaluated in a random block design with five replicates and four plants per plot. A circle with a 0.5 m² area was established around the trunk of each plant. Floristic composition, fresh matter, and dry matter mass of the above-ground part of the weeds, were evaluated in this area. Root collar and canopy diameters, as well as leaf area of the progenies were also evaluated. Fifty-eight weed species were recorded. The five weed families with the most species were Leguminosae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae, in decreasing order. The number of weed species per plot ranged from 6 to 18, but there was no difference between the mean percentages of different weeds under the canopies of the progenies. The lowest weed fresh and dry matter masses occurred in progenies JG1 and SM8, respectively. There were no differences between progenies with regard to root collar diameter and leaf area; however, one of the lowest weed dry matter yields was observed under the canopy of progeny FE4, which showed the largest canopy diameter.

Weed control under integrated nutrient management systems in faba bean (Vicia faba) production in Egypt

Two field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, to determine whether management can improve faba bean competitiveness with weeds, thus helping to achieve its yield potential. The experiment included five treatments, composed of organic and mineral fertilizers, alone and mixed at different rates, along with a control and six weed control treatments, including oxadiargyl, prometryn, hand hoeing treatments alone or mixed with the herbicides, and a nonweeded treatment (control).The herbicide treatments were not superior to the two hand-hoeing treatments. Using compost favored growth and yield of faba bean more than of weeds. Adding fertilizer also improved most yield parameters. Application of compost alone or combined with 50 or 100% of the recommended NPK rate improved faba bean growth in terms of net assimilation rate, specific leaf area, and leaf weight ratio as components of relative growth rate. This improvement in growth resulted in increase of seed yield, yield components and protein of faba bean. Faba bean yield performance improved under interactive fertilizer effects and weed control treatments as growth improved, as a result of nutrient release from fertilizers and weed control.

Corn yield response to weed and fall armyworm controls

The interference imposed the by weeds on corn decreases practically all vegetative characteristics. As consequence, the green ear and grain yield are also reduced. Losses due to the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) attack can reduce corn grain yield up to 34%. In general, weed and insect control issues are addressed separately in research papers. Nevertheless, interaction between weeds and insects may exist. This study aimed to evaluate green ear and corn grain yield response to weed and fall armyworm control. A completely randomized block design with split-plots and five replicates was adopted. Corn cultivar AG 1051 was grown under weedy conditions or with control by hand hoeings performed at 20 and 40 days after planting. Fall armyworm control (applied to subplots) was performed with sprays of water (control), deltamethrin (5g active ingredient ha-1); neem oil, at 0.5% (diluted in water), and neem leaf extract at 5%. Each product was sprayed three times, at seven-day intervals, starting at the 7th day after planting, using 150 L ha-1 of the tank solution. Dry mass of the above-ground part, internode diameter, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, green ear yield and grain yield of corn were reduced due to the lack of weed control. Fall armyworm control in the weeded plots did not influence green ear yield and grain yield, except green mass of marketable, husked ears, which was reduced when the caterpillar was not controlled. Without weed control, neem extracts and deltamethrin sprays provided highest yields of number and total weight of green ears with husks, number and weight of marketable ears with husks and number of marketable ears without husks. The best results for husked ear mass and for grain yield were obtained with neem extract and deltamethrin, respectively.

Competitiveness of alexandergrass or Bengal dayflower with soybean

Weeds compete with field crops mainly for water, light and nutrients, and the degree of competition is affected by the weed density and the intrinsic competitive ability of each plant species in coexistence. The objective of this research was to compare the competitiveness of alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea) or Bengal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in coexistence with soybean, cv. M-Soy 8045. A factorial experiment (2 x 5) with two weed species and five competition proportions was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Proportions were based on a replacement series competition design, always maintaining the total density of four plants per 10 L plastic pots, which corresponded to 60 plants m ². The weed-crop proportions were: 0:4; 1:3; 2:2; 3:1; 4:0; that corresponded to the proportion of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of soybean plants and the opposite for weeds, B. plantaginea or C. benghalensis plants. Leaf area, shoot dry mass of the weeds and soybean and number of soybean trifoliate leaves were evaluated when the soybean reached the phenologic stage of full flowering. B. plantaginea was a better competitor than soybean plants. Otherwise, C. benghalensis revealed a similar competitive ability that of the soybean. In both cases, there were evidences that intraspecific competition was more important.

Corn growth and yield in competition with weeds

Although labor is intensive, evaluating the growth of crops may allow a better understanding of crop performance, including the reasons why certain cultivars can compete better with weeds. This study aims at evaluating growth, green ear yield, and grain yield in corn when in competition with weeds. Cultivars AG 1051 and BRS 106 were grown with (two hoeings, at 20 and 40 days after sowing) or without weed control. In order to evaluate crop growth, six collections of the above-ground part and the root system of corn were performed, every 15 days, with the first collection made 30 days after sowing. A randomized complete block design was adopted, with split-split plots (weed control in plots, cultivars in subplots, and collections in sub-subplots) and ten replicates. Eighteen weed species were found in the experiment area. Increased values of corn leaf area, above-ground part and root system, due to plant age function, were smaller in non-hoed plots than in hoed plots and were dependent upon cultivar. The lack of weed control increased dry matter of weeds aboveground part and decreased green ear yield and grain yield. Cultivar AG 1051 had higher increases in leaf area, above-ground part of the plant and root system, due to plant age function, and controlled weeds better than cultivar BRS 106. In addition, cultivar AG 1051 was superior to other cultivars with respect to most traits used for green corn yield and grain yield assessment.