Cesium toxicity in Arabidopsis

Cesium (Cs) is chemically similar to potassium (K). However, although K is an essential element, Cs is toxic to plants. Two contrasting hypotheses to explain Cs toxicity have been proposed: (1) extracellular Cs+ prevents K+ uptake and, thereby, induces K starvation; and (2) intracellular Cs+ interacts with vital K+-binding sites in proteins, either competitively or noncompetitively, impairing their activities. We tested these hypotheses with Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Increasing the Cs concentration in the agar (Cs(agar)) on which Arabidopsis were grown reduced shoot growth. Increasing the K concentration in the agar (K(agad)) increased the Cs(agar) at which Cs toxicity was observed. However, although increasing Cs(agar) reduced shoot K concentration (K(shoot)), the decrease in shoot growth appeared unrelated to K(shoot) per se. Furthermore, the changes in gene expression in Cs-intoxicated plants differed from those of K-starved plants, suggesting that Cs intoxication was not perceived genetically solely as K starvation. In addition to reducing K(shoot) increasing Cs(agar) also increased shoot Cs concentration (Cs(shoot)), but shoot growth appeared unrelated to Cs(shoot) per se. The relationship between shoot growth and Cs(shoot)/Kt(shoot) suggested that, at a nontoxic Cs(shoot) growth was determined by K(shoot) but that the growth of Cs-intoxicated plants was related to the Cs(shoot)/K(shoot) quotient. This is consistent with Cs intoxication resulting from competition between K+ and Cs+ for K+-binding sites on essential proteins.

Contrasting responses to drought stress in herbaceous perennial legumes

Background and aims Medicago sativa L. is widely grown in southern Australia, but is poorly adapted to dry, hot summers. This study aimed to identify perennial herbaceous legumes with greater resistance to drought stress and explore their adaptive strategies. Methods Ten herbaceous perennial legume species/accessions were grown in deep pots in a sandy, low-phosphorus field soil in a glasshouse. Drought stress was imposed by ceasing to water. A companion M. sativa plant in each pot minimised differences in leaf area and water consumption among species. Plants were harvested when stomatal conductance of stressed plants decreased to around 10% of well watered plants. Results A range of responses to drought stress were identified, including: reduced shoot growth; leaf curling; thicker pubescence on leaves and stems; an increased root:shoot ratio; an increase, decrease or no change in root distribution with depth; reductions in specific leaf area or leaf water potential; and osmotic adjustment. The suite of changes differed substantially among species and, less so, among accessions. Conclusions The inter- and intra-specific variability of responses to drought-stress in the plants examined suggests a wide range of strategies are available in perennial legumes to cope with drying conditions, and these could be harnessed in breeding/selection programs.

Caracterização ecofisiológica de sementes de espécies lenhosas da Caatinga

Dormancy is an inherent property of the seeds that define the environmental conditions in which they are able to germinate and their presence is an adaptive trait common in species inhabiting semiarid regions. Moreover, the ability of seedling establishment in these environments has been related to the size, strength and chemical characteristics of the seeds. This study investigated patterns of dormancy and germination speed in tree species of the Caatinga, exploring how the seed size influence the processes of germination, seedling size and biomass allocation. In addition, we aim to investigate the chemical characteristics of the reserves, to verify a possible relationship between nutritional content and the process of seed germination. Therefore, seeds were collected from ten species of woody Caatinga for tests of breaking dormancy, germination and biochemical characterization. Overall, the results show that the scarification treatments mechanical and chemical, and thermal shock influenced the percentage and speed of germination in 50 % of the species, suggesting that they have some level of physical dormancy in the seeds. Biochemical characterization showed the existence of large amounts of carbohydrates in the seeds of all species, low proportion of protein and low amounts of neutral lipids. Using linear regression, we demonstrated the existence of a significant relationship between seed size and the ratio of root/shoot where the largest seeds invested a greater amount of resources for shoot growth. The relationship between germination speed and non-reducing sugar content was also significant, so these compounds is related to the maintenance of physiological seed quality. These results confirm some relationships discussed in the literature for cultivated species, but can be applied to the species native to the Caatinga

Crescimento inicial da soja sob efeito de resíduos de sorgo

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação na Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas UNESP, com o objetivo de determinar o efeito no crescimento inicial da soja e na formação do sistema radicular ao longo do tempo da presença de resíduos de sorgo-de-guiné e forrageiro. As unidades experimentais constituíram-se de tubos de PVC (rhizotron) com volume de terra de 16 dm-3. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado num fatorial 2 x 3, sendo duas variedades de sorgo e três manejos dos resíduos de sorgo, com quatro repetições. A palha de sorgo-de-guiné na superfície do solo levou à diminuição na saturação do solo por bases. As palhas de sorgo de ambas as variedades, na superfície do solo, prejudicaram o crescimento da soja, o que também foi observado no caso das raízes do sorgo forrageiro. Resíduos culturais do sorgo-de-guiné, principalmente a palha, são os responsáveis por menores crescimentos das partes aérea e radicular da soja e, conseqüentemente, pelo menor acúmulo de nutrientes.

Potencial alelopático de soluções de solo cultivado com Brachiaria brizantha: efeitos sobre a germinação de gramíneas forrageiras e plantas daninhas de pastagens

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi obter informações que possam favorecer o entendimento da atuação dos compostos alelopáticos sobre o banco de sementes do solo e sobre a seleção de plantas invasoras e indicar espécies que favoreçam a renovação dos pastos. Assim, soluções de solo de uma área de pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu formada há mais de cinco anos foram extraídas para avaliar os efeitos alelopáticos dessa espécie sobre a germinação, a dormência de sementes e o vigor de plântulas de B. brizantha cv. Marandu, Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, Sida rhombifolia e Peschiera fuchsiaefolia. O experimento foi instalado e conduzido no Laboratório de Matologia do Departamento de Produção Vegetal da FCA/UNESP - campus de Botucatu-SP. O substrato de germinação foi umedecido com 12 mL dos seguintes tratamentos: solução do solo de uma área cultivada com B. brizantha; solução do solo de uma área sem B. brizantha (mata nativa); água destilada; solução de polietilenoglicol com potencial osmótico idêntico ao da solução do solo sob B. brizantha; e solução de polietilenoglicol com potencial osmótico idêntico ao da solução de solo de uma mata nativa. A porcentagem de sementes normais, mortas, anormais e dormentes de B. brizantha não foi influenciada por nenhuma das soluções testadas, o que evidencia a não-ocorrência de efeito auto-alelopático. Foram verificados possíveis efeitos alelopáticos negativos sobre a porcentagem e velocidade de germinação de P. maximum cv. Tanzânia e sobre o crescimento radicular de S. rhombifolia. Esta última também se mostrou sensível ao efeito alelopático da solução de solo de mata, que promoveu redução no crescimento radicular. P. fuchsiaefolia não foi afetada por nenhuma das soluções testadas.

Aumento da produtividade de soja com a aplicação de bioestimulantes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do sistema radicular da cana-de-açúcar por diferentes métodos

Para decidir qual método de avaliação do sistema radicular, é necessário ponderar sobre os objetivos do trabalho, a cultura em questão e as condições em que ela se desenvolve. O estudo de raízes é muito importante para a compreensão dos diversos fenômenos de crescimento e desenvolvimento da parte aérea, mas exige procedimentos extremamente criteriosos, pois, além de ser trabalhoso, seus resultados são influenciados pela variabilidade físico-química do solo. Objetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, comparar os resultados de cinco métodos de avaliação do sistema radicular, em duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar, em quatro profundidades e em dois sistemas de colheita: mecanizada de cana crua e manual de cana queimada. Foram comparados ao método de avaliação por extração de monólitos e pesagem de massa de raízes secas outros quatro métodos: monólito com medição de comprimento, trado com pesagem de massa seca, perfil com medição de comprimento por meio de imagens digitais e perfil com contagem do número de raízes. Constatou-se que regressões lineares expressaram adequadamente a relação entre os métodos estudados, exceto quando foi utilizado o trado. Os métodos de perfil foram os mais adequados para detectar diferenças entre tratamentos.

Sistema radicular de cultivares de feijão em resposta à calagem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alelopatia de extratos aquosos de canela-sassafrás (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento radicular e aéreo de cultivares de arroz de terras altas em função da calagem

This work aimed to evaluate root growth, shoot development and nutrient absorption efficiency by rice cultivars Caiapo and Maravilha as affected by lime application. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with treatments set up by Caiapo and Maravilha cultivars in combination with the base saturation (V%) of 10%, 40% and 70%. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The number of tillers, root length, root dry matter, leaves and stems, leaf content and macronutrients absorption efficiency were evaluated. Comparing cultivars, Maravilha cultivar presented higher root dry weight, root length, number of stems, dry matter of stems and shoot than Caiapo cultivar, as well as accumulated more nutrients in the shoots. on the other hand, nutrient contents were higher in the cultivar Caiapo compared to Maravilha. Maravilha cultivar shows greater root and shoot growth while Caiapo shows higher nutrient absorption efficiency from the soil. The base saturation of 40% is the most effective for both cultivars.

Efeitos do tipo de rizoma de multiplicação e da cobertura morta no desenvolvimento e produtividade de cúrcuma (Curcuma longa L.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different types of rhizomes utilized as seed and the effects of mulch in the culture of Turmeric. This work was conducted in the experimental cultivation area of the Universidade de Ribeirão Preto - UNAERP, in Ribeirao Preto, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil from September/1997 to July/1998. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement 2x3, design with 4 replications (32 plants each). The treatments consisted of the use of types of rhizomes utilized to proliferation (head and finger) and types of mulch (absent, grass and leaves/branches). This study investigated proliferation (61, 88 and 124 days after installation), length, shooting and number of leaves of the mother plant besides the number of leaves of the shoot (112, 146 and 233 days after installation), number of finger rhizomes and head rhizomes, fresh and dry biomass of rhizomes and the yield of essential oil (after harvest - July 1998). Obtained results showed a great influence of the type of rhizome used to proliferation. Head rhizomes produced, in weight, about 30% more, when compared to plants from finger rhizomes. Mulching almost duplicated rhizome productivity from 2338 kg.ha -1 of dry rhizomes to 4499 kg.ha -1, when rhizome used to proliferation was finger and from 3046 kg.ha -1 to 5943 kg.ha -1, when using head rhizomes. The yield of essential oil did not show any alteration, independently of the treatments realized.

Micropropagação de Calendula officinalis L

Micropropagation of Calendula officinalis L. is usually propagated through seeds and therefore shows high diversity in flower size and colour, what causes quantitative and qualitative chemical variability. A micropropagation protocol was established for clonal propagation of this species to achieve homogeneous biomass, more appropriate for the production of phytotherapics. Explants harvested from capitula were the most appropriate for the micropropagation process. MS culture medium supplemented with 1.0 mgL-1 BAP and 6.0 gL-1 Phytagel™ enhanced shoot proliferation, while MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgL-1 Kinetin and 6.0 gL-1 Phytagel™, increased shoot elongation. Plantlets (80%) cultured in MS/2 medium supplemented with 1.0 mgL-1 de IBA rooted.

Compactação do solo e intervalo hídrico ótimo no crescimento da parte aérea e produtividade da cultura do milho

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of soil compaction caused by tractor wheel traffic on the limiting water range (LLWR), shoot growth and levels of compaction and four replications in a completely randomized experimental design. Soil samples with preserved structure were collected in the layers: 0.02-0.05; 0.08-0.11; 0.15-0.18 and 0.22-0.25m to determine macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, bulk density, resistance to penetration and LLWR. The evaluated corn parameters were: plant and first spike height, steam diameter, number of spikes per plant, plant dry matter, dry matter of 1000 seeds and seed productivity. The soil compaction restricted all corn parameters except the number of spikes per plant and dry matter of 1000 seeds. The LLWR was reduced by the soil resistance to penetration, even in the tilled soil with bulk density of 1.12 Mg m-3. Only the treatment with 11 Mg tractor, repeated four times on the area, demonstrated bulk density above critical bulk density in the LLWR that was 1.37 Mg m-3, where the seed productivity was significantly smaller.

Cotton root volume and root dry matter as function of high soil bulk density and soil water stress

Soil compaction reduces root growth, affecting the yield, especially in the Southern Coastal Plain of the USA. Simulations of the root restricting layers in greenhouses are necessary to develop mechanisms which alleviate soil compaction problems. The selection of three distinct bulk densities based on the Standard Proctor Test is also an important factor to determine which bulk density restricts root penetration. This experiment was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root volume and root dry matter as a function of soil bulk density and water stress. Three levels of soil density (1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 g cm-3), and two levels of water content (70 and 90% of field capacity) were used. A completely randomized design with four replicates in a 3×2 factorial pattern was used. The results showed that mechanical impedance affected root volume positively with soil bulk density of 1.2 and 1.6 g cm-3, enhancing root growth (P>0.0064). Soil water content reduced root growth as root and shoot growth was higher at 70% field capacity than that at 90% field capacity. Shoot growth was not affected by the increase in soil bulk density and this result suggests that soil bulk density is not a good indicator for measuring mechanical impedance in some soils.

Soluções nutritivas no desenvolvimento do crisântemo cultivado em vaso

Although the information about nutritive solution for potted chrysanthemum is still incongruent, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nutritive solutions in the development of Miramar chrysanthemum cultivated in pots at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP. The experiment had a randomized block design with split-plot evaluation and treatments corresponding to four nutritive solutions consisting of commercial fertilizers (S1, S2, S3, S4) evaluated at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after rooting (DAE), with five replications. The plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, stem diameter, total dry matter mass of aerial part and roots; number and diameter of inflorescences, and physiological indexes of growth analysis were evaluated. The nutritive solutions did not interfere significantly in stem diameter, number and diameter of inflorescences and dry matter of roots, although S3 and S4 provided the highest plants, leaf area, number of leaves, total dry matter of aerial part. The physiological indexes showed that plants presented an accelerated growth from 14 to 28 DAE with S4 and S3 solutions and therefore they were considered the best solutions.