Coincidence of flowering time and the productivity and quality of cauliflower hybrid seeds

A falta de sincronismo de florescimento entre as linhagens auto incompatíveis em um campo de produção de sementes híbridas de couve flor pode além de reduzir a produção de sementes comprometer a pureza genética das mesmas. Com o objetivo de estudar o efeito da coincidência de florescimento entre linhagens de couve-flor na produtividade e qualidade de sementes híbridas, foi realizado o presente experimento. Os tratamentos consistiram em seis diferentes épocas de semeadura, espaçadas a cada quinze dias, de uma linhagem de verão auto-incompatível que foi polinizada por uma linhagem de inverno que não apresenta auto-incompatibilidade. Observou-se a coincidência do florescimento das diferentes épocas de semeadura com a linhagem polinizadora. Foram avaliadas as seguintes características: área foliar média, número de flores por planta, número de síliqüas por planta, número de sementes por planta (peso e número), peso médio de 1000 sementes e foi determinado o número de sementes por síliqüa. Foi realizado ainda, o teste padrão de germinação e determinada a pureza genética das sementes para cada tratamento. A coincidência da época de florescimento entre as linhagens de couve-flor afetou diretamente a produtividade e a qualidade genética das sementes híbridas produzidas, sendo que, quanto maior foi o nível de coincidência, maior foi o número de sementes formadas por síliqüa e menor a percentagem de sementes contaminantes. Entretanto, não teve influência na qualidade fisiológica das mesmas.

Flowering phenology, nectary structure and breeding system in Corymborkis flava (Spiranthoideae : Tropidieae), a terrestrial orchid from a Neotropical forest

Flowering phenology, breeding system and nectary structure of Corymborkis flava (Sw.) Kuntze were studied in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil. The flowering period extended from March (end of rainy season) to early June and seed dispersal occurred from June to September (dry season). Flowering peak occurred mainly in April, with up to 34 open flowers per plant being observed. The yellow, odourless and tubular flowers lasted similar to 7.8 days. The flowers present a perigonal nectary located in the basal lateral parts of the labellum; this is the first report on the nectary location and characterisation in the Tropidieae tribe. At the pre-anthesis stage, cells of both secretory parenchyma and epidermis of the nectary are filled with compound amyloplasts. However, starch grains were not observed in these tissues in senescent flowers, indicating that these starch grains are hydrolysed and used as source of sugars for nectar production. The nectar accumulates between the cuticle and the outer periclinal wall of the epidermal cells before. owing out into the nectar chamber. C. flava is a self-compatible species and spontaneous self-pollination does not occur because of hercogamy. The high pollinia removal (0.80) and insertion (0.82) per flower, as well as the high natural fruit-set indicate an efficient natural pollination system. The present study contributes for the knowledge of the diversity of reproductive strategies and nectary structures in Orchidaceae.

Transposable elements in Coffea (Gentianales : Rubiacea) transcripts and their role in the origin of protein diversity in flowering plants

Transposable elements are major components of plant genomes and they influence their evolution, acting as recombination hot spots, acquiring specific cell functions or becoming part of protein-coding regions. The latter is the subject of the present analysis. This study is a report on the annotation of transposable elements (TEs) in expressed sequences of Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora and Coffea racemosa, showing the occurrence of 383 ESTs and 142 unigenes with TE fragments in these three Coffea species. Based on selected unigenes, it was possible to suggest 26 putative proteins with TE-cassette insertions, demonstrating a likely contribution to protein variability. The genes for two of those proteins, the fertility restorer (FR) and the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFKs) genes, were selected for evaluating the impact of TE-cassettes on host gene evolution of other plant genomes (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and populus trichocarpa). This survey allowed identifying a FR gene in O. sativa harboring multiple insertions of LTR retrotransposons that originated new exons, which however does not necessarily mean a case of molecular domestication. A possible transduction event of a fragment of the PPi-PFK beta-subunit gene mediated by Helitron ATREPX1 in Arabidopsis thaliana was also highlighted.

Phenological aspects of flowering and fruiting at the Ecological Station of Paulo de Faria-SP-Brazil

The present work was carried out at 'Estacao Ecologica de Paulo de Faria', north of the state of Sao Paulo, southeast of Brazil (19°55'-19°58'S and 49°31'-49°32'W). The flowering and fruiting phenology of trees, shrubs, and lianas species were observed from April 1993 to December 1995. The results were compaired with those surveyed at other forests from Sao Paulo state: Santa Genebra (Campinas). Serra do Japi (Jundiai) and lianas of Mata Atlantica. The majority of species of lianas flowered from January to April and trees and shrubs between September to December. The most intense frutification period occurred during May to August. Similarly to Santa Genebra, the flowering season at 'Estacao Ecologica de Paulo de Faria' started at the beginning of the wet season while frutification during the dryest period of the year. At Serra do Japi, the flowering and frutification occurred from the end of dry and beginning of the rainy season. Considering the liana at Mata Atlantica presented two peaks of flowering, while at 'Estacao Ecologica de Paulo de Faria' occurs only one. Regarding the fruiting phenology is similar for both area, most species producing fruits during the first semestre.

Occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in ornamental and flowering plants at UNESP/FCAV, campus of jaboticabal, são paulo state, brazil

The plant-parasitic nematodes are responsible for serious injuries in roots and shoots of ornamental plants, reducing its beauty and consequently its economic value. This study aimed to ascertain the occurrence and distribution of plantparasitic nematodes through the analysis of the roots of ornamental and flowering plants at UNESP FCAV's landscape. The roots were collected from fifteen different species as follows: Anthurium andreannum, Rhododendron simsii, Impatiens walleriana, Calathea stromata, Cordyline terminalis, Dieffenbachia picta, Dracaena marginata, Ficus benjamina, Spathiphyllum ortgiesii 'Sensation', Spathiphyllum wallisi 'American Beauty' and 'Mini', Odontonema strictum, Portulaca grandiflora, Strelitzia reginae, Tradescantia zebrina and Tradescantia pallida. Samples of roots were processed. The plant-parasitic nematodes identified in the samples were: Meloidogyne sp. (Anthurium andreannum, Calathea stromata, Dieffenbachia picta, Ficus benjamina, Impatiens walleriana, Odontonema strictum, Portulaca grandiflora, Spathiphyllum ortgiesii 'Sensation'), Helicotylenchus dihystera (Calathea stromata, Dracaena marginata, Portulaca grandiflora, Spathiphyllum ortgiessi 'Sensation', Tradescantia pallida, Tradescantia zebrina), Tylenchus sp. (Anthurium andreannum, Calathea stromata, Cordyline terminalis, Dieffenbachia picta, Ficus benjamina, Rhododendron simsii), Aphelenchoides sp. (Dieffenbachia picta, Spathiphyllum ortgiesii 'Sensation', S. wallisi 'American Beauty'), Rotylenchulus reniformis (Cordyline terminalis, Dracaena marginata, Odontonema strictum), Pratylenchus sp. (Spathiphyllum ortgiesii 'Sensation', Spathiphyllum wallisi 'Mini'), Ditylenchus sp. (Spathiphyllum wallisi 'Mini'), Pratylenchus brachyurus (Tradescantia zebrina). The plant-parasitic nematodes weren't found in the roots of Strelitzia reginae.

Effect of plant regulators on growth and flowering of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass

This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of different plant regulators over growth and flower rachis emission of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica). The study was conducted on 15-month old green turfgrass under a randomized complete block design with four replications. The following plant regulator and doses were tested: trinexapac-ethyl (113+113, 226+113, 226+226, 452+113, 452+226, 452+452, 678+339 e 904+452 g a.i./ha-1), prohexadione-calcium (100+100 e 200+200 g a.i. ha-1) and bispyribac-sodium (40+40 e 60+60 g a.i. ha-1), as well as an untreated control. The turfgrass was mowed again at 3.0 cm aboveground and the second plant regulator was applied when 'Meyer' zoysiagrass was between 5.0 and 6.0 cm high. The effect of the treatments was visually rated for visual injury, plant height, height and number of flower rachis, and total dry mass production of clippings. Only bispyribac-sodium had visual symptoms of injury on 'Meyer' zoysiagrass, and no intoxication was observed at 28 days after the second application (DAAB). The sequential applications of trinexapac-ethyl, prohexadione-calcium and bispyribac-sodium reduced by more than 80% the total clipping dry mass produced by 'Meyer' zoysiagrass. All the plant regulators tested also showed promising results in reducing the height and emission of rachis, especially when trinexapac-ethyl was applied at the doses 452+452, 678+339 and 904+452 g a.i. ha-1. 'Meyer' zoysiagrass turfgrass can be handled with the sequential application of a plant regulator, which reduces the need for mowing over a period up to 110 days after the application of the second plant regulator, and it also avoids deleterious visual effects over turfgrass.

Anthropogenic edges, isolation and the flowering time and fruit set of Anadenanthera peregrina, a cerrado savanna tree

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Growth and flowering of miltonia flavescens lindl. var. stellata regel orchid under different doses of a slow release fertilizer

The Orchidaceae is one of the most numerous and diversified families in the Plant Kingdom. Miltonia flavescens Lindl. is a native orchid to the southern region of Brazil. Studies related to the nutrition and fertilization of orchids are scarce, specific and existent only for few species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of a slow release fertilizer (Osmocote (R) 9/15/12 + micro) on the development of M. flavescens var. stellata Regel cultivated in pots with pine bark and coconut fiber (1:1, v:v) as the substrate. The treatments consisted of: no fertilizer application (control), application of 2.5 g, 5 g and 10 g of fertilizer per liter of substrate. The experimental design was set in randomized blocks, with five replications and three plants per plot. The experiment was carried out along 25 months and the fertilizer was applied every five months. The evaluated plant parameters were: length of the longest pseudobulb, number of pseudobulbs, diameter of pseudobulbs, number of shoots, number of leaves and flowering. There was a significant increment on all evaluated characteristics with the increase of the fertilizer dose. The highest dose provided a more profuse flowering, with a larger number of flower stems and flowers, in addition to bigger flower stems and flowers. These results show that the supply of nutrients in an appropriate amount is of a great importance for the development and flowering of M. flavescens.

Does fire induce flowering in Brazilian subtropical grasslands?

QuestionsWe aimed to analyse the effect of fire on flowering in subtropical grasslands, by addressing the following questions: will fire history affect flowering? If yes, do fire feedbacks influence flowering or is it just the removal of above-ground biomass? Are there differences in burned and mowed plots?LocationSubtropical grasslands in Southern Brazil (30 degrees 03S, 51 degrees 07W).MethodsWe established plots in areas with different fire histories: 30d (30 plots: five replicates), 1yr (14 replicates), 3yr (30 plots: five replicates) since the last fire, in experimentally burned and mowed plots (14 replicates each). We counted the number of flowering species, as well as the number of flowering stalks.ResultsGraminoid species flowered in highest numbers 1yr after fire, whilst forbs had more species flowering just after fire, indicating different reproductive strategies in post-fire environments. Mowing was not as efficient as fire in stimulating flowering. Finally, the different functional groups showed different flowering responses to time since last fire and to the different types of management.ConclusionsOur results show fire stimulated flowering. Although mowing can be a good alternative for maintaining plant diversity, our study showed that this practice is not as efficient as fire in stimulating flowering. However, fire season should be noted as a limiting factor to the recovery of C-3 grasses in these subtropical grasslands, and annual burns may be harmful to C-4 grasses, since they delay their flowering to the next post-fire growing season.

Effects of plant regulators on the growth and flowering of Saint Augustine grass plants

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of three plant growth inhibitors on the development and emission of floral rachis of Saint Augustine grass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntzel] plants. The study was carried out in a 15 month old lawn with the experimental plots being distributed in accordance with a complete randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of sole application of trinexapac-ethyl (113, 226, 452, 678, and 904 g ai ha(-1)), prohexadione-calcium (100 and 200 g ai ha(-1)), and bispyribac-sodium (40 and 60 g ai ha(-1)) plus a check treatment in which the plants were not submitted to any of the plant growth inhibitors. The effects of those products were evaluated in terms of visual signs of plant intoxication, plant height, emission and height of floral rachises, and chip total dry matter production. All the plant growth inhibitors resulted in visible injury to the plants but these intoxication signs practically disappeared 28 days after the application. Trinexapac-ethyl at the dose of 904 g ai ha(-1) reduced plant height by 59.7%, the emission of floral rachis by 96.4%, and the amount of chip dry matter production by 87.7%. Plant growth inhibitors may reduce the number of times of lawn plants cutting up to 119 days after their application with no harmful effects on the plants visual aspect.

Growth and flowering of five mango cultivar under subtropics conditions of Brazil

The evaluation of the new cultivars adaptation and yield potential of Mangifera indica L. provides tools to assist and improve the mango production in different climates conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the phenological and reproductive development of five mango cultivars (Bourbon, Haden, Palmer, Parwin and Tommy Atkins), on climate conditions in dry land and four production cycles (from 08/2007 to 01/2011), at São Manuel, São Paulo state, Brazil. The variables were total plant height, trunk height, stem diameter and the first insertion diameter, fruits physical characteristics, yield and harvest period, flowering seasonality and morphological characterization of the inflorescences. It was found that the four-year-old plants of Haden cv. reach 4.0 m high and 0.20 m of trunk diameter. Bourbon cultivar had the highest flowering period, from April to October. Tommy Atkins cv. had productivities of 14779.07 kg∙ha−1 in the fourth cycle and the productivity of Bourbon, Haden and Palmer cultivars was alternated.

Pollination ecology and reproductive success in isolated populations of flowering plants: Primula apennina Widmer, Dictamnus albus L. and Convolvulus lineatus L.

This research focuses on reproductive biology and pollination ecology of entomophilous angiosperms, with particular concern to reproductive success in small and isolated populations of species that occur at their distribution limits or are endemic. I considered three perennial herbs as model species: Primula apennina Widmer, Dictamnus albus L. and Convolvulus lineatus L. I carried out field work on natural populations and performed laboratory analyses on specific critical aspects (resource allocation, pollen viability, stigmatic receptivity, physiological self-incompatibility, seed viability), through which I analysed different aspects related to plant fitness, such as production of viable seed, demographic structure of populations, type and efficiency of plant-pollinator system, and limiting factors.