Phosphorus acquisition and internal utilization efficiency in tropical maize genotypes

The objective of this work was to determine the relative importance of phosphorus acquisition efficiency (PAE - plant P uptake per soil available P), and phosphorus internal utilization efficiency (PUTIL - grain yield per P uptake) in the P use efficiency (PUE - grain yield per soil available P), on 28 tropical maize genotypes evaluated at three low P and two high P environments. PAE was almost two times more important than PUTIL to explain the variability observed in PUE, at low P environments, and three times more important at high P environments. These results indicate that maize breeding programs, to increase PUE in these environments, should use selection index with higher weights for PAE than for PUTIL. The correlation between these two traits showed no significance at low or at high P environments, which indicates that selection in one of these traits would not affect the other. The main component of PUTIL was P quotient of utilization (grain yield per grain P) and not the P harvest index (grain P per P uptake). Selection to reduce grain P concentration should increase the quotient of utilization and consequently increase PUTIL.

Genetic control of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in tropical maize

The objectives of this work were to study the genetic control of grain yield (GY) and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE, grain yield/N applied) and its primary components, N uptake efficiency (NUpE, N uptake/N applied) and N utilization efficiency (NUtE, grain yield/N uptake), in maize grown in environments with high and low N availability. Experiments with 31 maize genotypes (28 hybrid crosses and three controls) were carried out in soils with high and low N rates, in the southeast of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. There was a reduction of 23.2% in average GY for maize grown in soil with low N, in comparison to that obtained with high N. There were 26.5, 199 and 400% increases in NUtE, NUpE, and NUE, respectively, for maize grown with low N. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for GY, NUE and NUpE for maize grown in high N soil. Only GCA was significant for NUpE for maize grown in low N soil. The GCA and SCA for NUtE were not significant in either environment. Additive and non-additive genetic effects are responsible for the genetic control of NUE and GY for maize grown in soils with high N availability, although additive effects are more important.

QTL mapping for protein content in soybean cultivated in two tropical environments

The objectives of this study were to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for protein content in soybean grown in two distinct tropical environments and to build a genetic map for protein content. One hundred eighteen soybean recombinant inbred lines (RIL), obtained from a cross between cultivars BARC 8 and Garimpo, were used. The RIL were cultivated in two distinct Brazilian tropical environments: Cascavel county, in Paraná, and Viçosa county, in Minas Gerais (24º57'S, 53º27'W and 20º45'S, 42º52'W, respectively). Sixty-six SSR primer pairs and 65 RAPD primers were polymorphic and segregated at a 1:1 proportion. Thirty poorly saturated linkage groups were obtained, with 90 markers and 41 nonlinked markers. For the lines cultivated in Cascavel, three QTL were mapped in C2, E and N linkage groups, which explained 14.37, 10.31 and 7.34% of the phenotypic variation of protein content, respectively. For the lines cultivated in Viçosa, two QTL were mapped in linkage groups G and #1, which explained 9.51 and 7.34% of the phenotypic variation of protein content. Based on the mean of the two environments, two QTL were identified: one in the linkage group E (9.90%) and other in the group L (7.11%). In order for future studies to consistently detect QTL effects of different environments, genotypes with greater stability should be used.

Towards an ecological index for tropical soil quality based on soil macrofauna

The objective of this work was to construct a simple index based on the presence/absence of different groups of soil macrofauna to determine the ecological quality of soils. The index was tested with data from 20 sites in South and Central Tabasco, Mexico, and a positive relation between the model and the field observations was detected. The index showed that diverse agroforestry systems had the highest soil quality index (1.00), and monocrops without trees, such as pineapple, showed the lowest soil quality index (0.08). Further research is required to improve this model for natural systems that have very low earthworm biomass (<10 g m-2) and a high number of earthworm species (5-7), as it is in the tropical rain forest, whose soil quality index was medium (0.5). The application of this index will require an illustrated guide for its users. Further studies are required in order to test the use of this index by farmers.

Tropical terrestrial model ecosystems for evaluation of soil fauna and leaf litter quality effects on litter consumption, soil microbial biomass and plant growth

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether terrestrial model ecosystems (TMEs) are a useful tool for the study of the effects of litter quality, soil invertebrates and mineral fertilizer on litter decomposition and plant growth under controlled conditions in the tropics. Forty-eight intact soil cores (17.5-cm diameter, 30-cm length) were taken out from an abandoned rubber plantation on Ferralsol soil (Latossolo Amarelo) in Central Amazonia, Brazil, and kept at 28ºC in the laboratory during four months. Leaf litter of either Hevea pauciflora (rubber tree), Flemingia macrophylla (a shrubby legume) or Brachiaria decumbens (a pasture grass) was put on top of each TME. Five specimens of either Pontoscolex corethrurus or Eisenia fetida (earthworms), Porcellionides pruinosus or Circoniscus ornatus (woodlice), and Trigoniulus corallinus (millipedes) were then added to the TMEs. Leaf litter type significantly affected litter consumption, soil microbial biomass and nitrate concentration in the leachate of all TMEs, but had no measurable effect on the shoot biomass of rice seedlings planted in top soil taken from the TMEs. Feeding rates measured with bait lamina were significantly higher in TMEs with the earthworm P. corethrurus and the woodlouse C. ornatus. TMEs are an appropriate tool to assess trophic interactions in tropical soil ecossistems under controlled laboratory conditions.

Resistência ao acamamento de plantas e ao quebramento do colmo em milho tropical

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar genótipos de milho quanto à resistência ao acamamento e ao quebramento do colmo e apresentar metodologia para avaliar essas características. Os ensaios foram realizados em blocos ao acaso, com 85 genótipos tropicais de milho e quatro repetições, em cinco locais. Foram avaliadas: as forças necessárias para o arranquio da planta e para o quebramento do colmo e o ângulo no momento do quebramento. As medições foram realizadas com equipamentos desenvolvidos para essas finalidades. Foram realizadas análises de variância e teste de Scott-Knott quanto às características. Asforças de arranquio da planta, de quebramento do colmo e ângulo no momento do quebramento do colmo interagiram significativamente com a localidade. As médias variaram de 49,43 a 76,03 kgf para a força de arranquio da planta, de 1,07 kgf a 2,76 kgf para força de quebramento do colmo, e de 16,15 a 41,18º para o ângulo de quebramento do colmo. Existe variabilidade genética para seleção quanto à resistência ao acamamento e ao quebramento do colmo em genótipos tropicais de milho. A metodologia apresentada é eficiente para a avaliação e discriminação de genótipos.

Atividade celulolítica de fungos isolados de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e madeira em decomposição

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar isolados de fungos a partir de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e madeira em decomposição e avaliar a sua atividade celulolítica em bagaço de cana. Cinco isolados foram avaliados, tendo-se como referências os fungos Trichoderma reesei QM9414 e T. reesei RUT C30. A atividade celulolítica foi estimada pela capacidade hidrolítica do extrato enzimático dos fungos cultivados em bagaço de cana sobre os substratos papel de filtro (atividade celulolítica total) e carboximetilcelulose sódica (atividade da endoglucanase). Os isolados foram identificados pela análise molecular da região 26S rDNA. Os gêneros Paecilomyces, Aspergillus, Acremonium/Penicillium e Trichoderma foram identificados. Embora T. reesei QM9414 tenha apresentado a mais alta atividade celulolítica total, alguns isolados também apresentaram alta atividade de endoglucanase. A biodiversidade, em nichos como bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, pode fornecer linhagens de fungos celulolíticos com grande potencial biotecnológico.

'Tommy Atkins' mango trees subjected to high density planting in subhumid tropical climate in northeastern Brazil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of high density planting on 'Tommy Atkins' mango trees cultivated in subhumid warm tropical climate in northeastern Brazil. Treatments consisted of five spacial arrangements of plants (8x5 m, 7x4 m, 6x3 m, 5x2 m and 4x2 m), which resulted in the following plant densities: 250 (control), 357, 555, 1,000 and 1,250 plants per hectare. Plant vegetative and reproductive variables, besides fruit quality parameters, were evaluated at seven and eight years after transplantation to the field. In general, high density planting caused reduction in vegetative and reproductive variables of individual mango trees, but had little influence on fruit quality. Above 555 plants per hectare, a significant decrease was observed in mango tree growth. Furthermore, there were decreases in the percentage of flowering, fruit yield per plant and per area. However, planting density up to 357 plants per hectare, in spite of decreasing plant growth and fruit yield per tree, increases fruit yield per area in 30% in comparison to the control.

Effect of thinning on stem form and wood characteristics of teak (Tectona grandis) in a humid tropical site in Costa Rica

Abstract

Simulating maize yield in sub‑tropical conditions of southern Brazil using Glam model

The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of simulating maize yield in a sub‑tropical region of southern Brazil using the general large area model (Glam). A 16‑year time series of daily weather data were used. The model was adjusted and tested as an alternative for simulating maize yield at small and large spatial scales. Simulated and observed grain yields were highly correlated (r above 0.8; p<0.01) at large scales (greater than 100,000 km²), with variable and mostly lower correlations (r from 0.65 to 0.87; p<0.1) at small spatial scales (lower than 10,000 km²). Large area models can contribute to monitoring or forecasting regional patterns of variability in maize production in the region, providing a basis for agricultural decision making, and Glam‑Maize is one of the alternatives.

Superação de dormência de sementes como estratégia para restauração florestal de pastagem tropical

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de tratamentos de superação da dormência de sementes sobre a taxa e o tempo de emergência de espécies arbóreas de Fabaceae, e sobre seu estabelecimento, quando reintroduzidas em pastagem, no Cerrado. Foram realizados experimentos em casa de vegetação e em campo (pastagem de Urochloa brizantha), com as espécies Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Peltophorum dubium, Pterogyne nitens, Dimorphandra mollis, Copaifera langsdorffii e Hymenaea stigonocarpa, submetidas ou não aos seguintes tratamentos de superação de dormência: D. mollis e H. stigonocarpa, escarificação mecânica; C. langsdorffii e M. caesalpiniifolia, escarificação química com H2SO4; P. nitens, punção do tegumento; e P. dubium, imersão em água a 80ºC. O estabelecimento em campo foi monitorado por 21 meses. A superação de dormência promoveu, em casa de vegetação, maior emergência de quatro das seis espécies avaliadas, e, no campo, de cinco espécies. Além disso, reduziu o tempo de emergência das espécies e aumentou o recrutamento de M. caesalpiniifolia, P. nitens, D. mollis e H. stigonocarpa, aos 127 dias, e de H. stigonocarpa aos 659 dias. Os tratamentos de superação de dormência podem aumentar a eficiência da semeadura direta, em projetos de restauração de áreas degradadas no Cerrado, ao promover maior emergência das sementes e o estabelecimento das plantas.

Determinação do volume de madeira em povoamento de eucalipto por escâner a laser aerotransportado

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de se estimar o diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) com os dados de altura e de número de árvores derivados do escâner a laser aerotransportado (LiDAR, "light detection and ranging"), e determinar o volume de madeira de talhão de Eucalyptus sp. a partir dessas variáveis. O número total de árvores detectadas foi obtido com uso da filtragem de máxima local. A altura de plantas estimada pelo LiDAR apresentou tendência não significativa à subestimativa. A estimativa do DAP foi coerente com os valores encontrados no inventário florestal; porém, também mostrou tendência à subestimativa, em razão do comportamento observado quanto à altura. A variável número de fustes apresentou valores próximos aos observados nas parcelas do inventário. O LiDAR subestimou o volume total de madeira do talhão em 11,4%, em comparação ao volume posto na fábrica. A tendência de subestimação da altura das árvores (em média, cerca de 5%) impactou a estimativa do volume individual de árvores e, consequentemente, a do volume do talhão. No entanto, é possível gerar equações de regressão que estimam o DAP com boa precisão, a partir de dados de altura de plantas obtidos pelo LiDAR. O modelo parabólico é o que possibilita as melhores estimativas da produção volumétrica dos talhões de eucalipto.

Protein contamination on Klason lignin contents in tropical grasses and legumes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the extent of protein contamination on Klason lignin (KL) in tropical grasses and legumes, and to propose an equation to estimate the protein-free content of Klason lignin (KLp). Five grass (30 samples) and 12 legume species (31 samples) were evaluated. Legumes had higher KL contents. Protein contamination was significant in both grasses and legumes, but greater in legume samples. The model to predict KLp was based on KL and crude protein (CP) contents, as follows: KLp = 0.8807KL - 0.0938KL x D - 0.00338CP (R2=0.935), in which D=0, for grasses, and D=1 for legumes.

Plutonium and americium isotopes as alternative chronostratigraphic markers in tropical regions: An application in the Havana Bay (Cuba)

The low 137Cs activity observed in marine sediments of tropical regions often precludes its use as chronostratigraphic marker. Here we present a study on the use of Pu and Am radioisotopes as alternative markers to constrain the 210Pb ages in a sediment core of the Havana Bay (Cuba). Mean activity ratios of 238Pu/239,240Pu, 241Am/239,240Pu and 241Pu/239,240Pu indicated that the nuclear weapon tests fallout is the main source of the anthropogenic radionuclides. While the inventory of 137Cs in the sediments is lower than the expected fallout inventory, 239,240Pu accumulates in the sediments with inventories higher than the expected fallout inventory. The high fluxes of 239,240Pu are nevertheless corroborated here through use of 210Pb, and confirm that focusing of solid particles is of great importance in the investigated site. 239,240Pu showed to be a useful time tracer in marine sites where the 137Cs signal is very low.

Redes neurais artificiais para a modelagem do volume de madeira e biomassa do cerradão com dados de satélite

Resumo:O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia da aplicação de modelos de análise de regressão e redes neurais artificiais (RNAs) na predição do volume de madeira e da biomassa acima do solo, da vegetação arbórea em área de cerradão. Volume de madeira e biomassa foram estimados com equações alométricas desenvolvidas para a área de estudo. Os índices de vegetação, como variáveis preditoras, foram estimados a partir de imagens do sensor LISS-III, e a área basal foi determinada por medições na floresta. A precisão das equações foi verificada pela correlação entre os valores estimados e observados (r), erro-padrão da estimativa (Syx) e gráfico residual. As equações de regressão para o volume de madeira total e do fuste (0,96 e 0,97 para r, e 11,92 e 9,72% para Syx, respectivamente) e para a biomassa (0,91 e 0,92 para r, e 22,73 e 16,80% para Syx, respectivamente) apresentaram bons ajustes. As redes neurais também apresentaram bom ajuste com o volume de madeira (0,99 e 0,99 para r, e 4,93 e 4,83% para Syx) e a biomassa (0,97 e 0,98 r, e 8,92 e 7,96% para Syx, respectivamente). A área basal e os índices de vegetação foram eficazes na estimativa do volume de madeira e biomassa para o cerradão. Os valores reais de volume de madeira e biomassa não diferiram estatisticamente dos valores estimados pelos modelos de regressão e redes neurais (χ2ns); contudo, as RNAs são mais acuradas.