Effect of plant density and initial crown size on growth, development and yield in strawberry cultivars Elsanta and Bolero

The effects of density (plant spacing) and initial plant size on vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting were studied in the strawberry cultivars Elsanta and Bolero in their first and second years of cropping. The influence of these factors on light use and dry-matter partitioning was investigated. The size of planting material in 'Elsanta' and 'Bolero' slightly affected plant growth and yield, but this effect was not consistent and radiation use efficiency (RUE) and harvest index were unaltered. Plant spacing did not significantly affect the early stages of crop growth, but was important in determining growth and yield later in the season, this effect being more significant in the second year of cropping. Plant growth and yield per plant increased as plant spacing increased from 20 to 30 cm in both 'Elsanta' and 'Bolero', but the highest harvest index and yield per square metre were obtained at the closest spacing. Increased plant spacing also resulted in a greater leaf area and leaf area index. However, light was used less efficiently resulting in a lower RUE and lower harvest index (HI).

Taphonomic mycota: fungi with forensic potential

Forensic archaeologists and criminal investigators employ many different techniques for the location, recovery, and analysis of clandestine graves. Many of these techniques are based upon the premise that a grave is an anomaly and therefore differs physically, biologically, or chemically from its surroundings. The work reviewed in this communication demonstrates how and why field mycology might provide a further tool towards the investigation of scenes of crime concealed in forest ecosystems. The fruiting structures of certain fungi, the ammonia and the postputrefaction fungi, have been recorded repeatedly in association with decomposed mammalian cadavers in disparate regions of the world. The ecology and physiology of these fungi are reviewed briefly with a view to their potential as a forensic tool. This application of mycology is at an interface with forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy and may provide a means to detect graves and has the potential to estimate postburial interval.

Science drives horticulture's progress and profit

Horticultural science linked with basic studies in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering has laid the foundation for advances in applied knowledge which are at the heart of commercial, environmental and social horticulture. In few disciplines is science more rapidly translated into applicable technologies than in the huge range of man’s activities embraced within horticulture which are discussed in this Trilogy. This chapter surveys the origins of horticultural science developing as an integral part of the 16th century “Scientific Revolution”. It identifies early discoveries during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries which rationalized the control of plant growth, flowering and fruiting and the media in which crops could be cultivated. The products of these discoveries formed the basis on which huge current industries of worldwide significance are founded in fruit, vegetable and ornamental production. More recent examples of the application of horticultural science are used in an explanation of how the integration of plant breeding, crop selection and astute marketing highlighted by the New Zealand industry have retained and expanded the viability of production which supplies huge volumes of fruit into the world’s markets. This is followed by an examination of science applied to tissue and cell culture as an example of technologies which have already produced massive industrial applications but hold the prospect for generating even greater advances in the future. Finally, examples are given of nascent scientific discoveries which hold the prospect for generating horticultural industries with considerable future impact. These include systems modeling and biology, nanotechnology, robotics, automation and electronics, genetics and plant breeding, and more efficient and effective use of resources and the employment of benign microbes. In conclusion there is an estimation of the value of horticultural science to society.

An assessment of the effects of climate change on horticulture

Horticulture may be defined as the intensive cultivation and harvesting of plants for financial, environmental and social profit. Evidence for the occurrence of climate change more generally and reasons why this process is happening with such rapidity are discussed. These changes are then considered in terms of the effects which might alter the options for worldwide intensive horticultural cultivation of plants and its interactions with other organisms. Potentially changing climates will have considerable impact upon horticultural processes and productivity across the globe . Climate change will alter the growth patterns and capabilities for flowering and fruiting of many perennial and annual horticultural plants. In some regions perennial fruit crops are likely to experience substantial difficulties because of altered seasonal conditions affecting dormancy, acclimation and subsequent flowering and fruiting. Elsewhere these crops may benefit from the effects of climate change as a result of reduced cold damage and increased length of the growing season. There will be considerable effects for aerial and edaphic microbes invertebrate and vertebrate animals which have benign and pathogenic interactions with horticultural plants. Microbial activity and as a consequence soil fertility may alter. New pests and pathogens may become prevalent and damaging in areas where the climate previously excluded their activity. Vital resources such as water and nutrients may become scarce in some regions reducing opportunities for growing horticultural crops. Wind and windiness are significant factors governing the success of horticultural plants and the scale of their impacts may change as climate alters. Damaging winds could limit crop growing in areas where previously it flourished. Forms of macro- and micro-landscaping will change as the spectrum of plants which can be cultivated alters and the availability of resources and their cost changes driven by scarcities brought about by climate change. The horticultural economy of India as it may be affected by climate change is described as an individual example in a detailed study.

Impacts of climate changes on crop physiology and food quality

Carbon emissions related to human activities have been significantly contributing to the elevation of atmospheric [CO(2)] and temperature. More recently, carbon emissions have greatly accelerated, thus much stronger effects on crops are expected. Here, we revise literature data concerning the physiological effects of CO(2) enrichment and temperature rise on crop species. We discuss the main advantages and limitations of the most used CO(2)-enrichment technologies, the Open-Top Chambers (OTCs) and the Free-Air Carbon Enrichment (FACE). Within the conditions expected for the next few years, the physiological responses of crops suggest that they will grow faster, with slight changes in development, such as flowering and fruiting, depending on the species. There is growing evidence suggesting that C(3) crops are likely to produce more harvestable products and that both C(3) and C(4) crops are likely to use less water with rising atmospheric [CO(2)] in the absence of stressful conditions. However, the beneficial direct impact of elevated [CO(2)] on crop yield can be offset by other effects of climate change, such as elevated temperatures and altered patterns of precipitation. Changes in food quality in a warmer, high-CO(2) world are to be expected, e.g., decreased protein and mineral nutrient concentrations, as well as altered lipid composition. We point out that studies related to changes in crop yield and food quality as a consequence of global climatic changes should be priority areas for further studies, particularly because they will be increasingly associated with food security. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BIRD FORAGING IN ANACARDIUM PATCHES IN CENTRAL BRAZILIAN FIRE BREAKS: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLOCK SIZE AND PATCH SIZE

Fire management ran increase the biomass of some plant species at fire breaks in reserves of the Cerrado. For example, numerous and large patches of monkey-nuts (Anacardium humile, Anacardiaceae) provide abundant food resources for wildlife in the lower strata of savanna woodlands managed by fire. The objective of this study was to examine the exploitation of A. humile patches by birds in managed savanna woodlands (fire breaks) at Emas National Park, southwest Brazil. The relationship between flock size and the size of Anacardium patches were also investigated. Fire breaks were sampled in September and October 2006, when fruits and flowers were abundant. Ara ararauna was often recorded exploiting resources of Anacardium patches. This species and other psittacids (Amazona aestiva, Alipiopsittaca xanthops, and Diopsittaca nobilis) consumed seeds usually on the ground around fruiting patches. Members of Aratinga aurea flocks and Ramphastos toco consumed pseudo-fruits. Larger flocks detected were those of A. aurea and A. ararauna. Groups of A. ararauna that exploited larger patches tended to be larger than flocks that exploited smaller patches. This study suggests that intra- and interspecific interactions and characteristics of Anacardium patches and of the surrounding vegetation are involved in the feeding ecology of birds in the lower stratum of managed woodlands. Fruiting Anacardium patches attract numerous frugivorous birds to fire breaks at Emas National Park. Further research is needed to a better understanding of the influence of fire management on birds in the Cerrado. Accepted 31 July 2009.

Occurrence and characterization of injuries caused by Mycotretus apicalis Lacordaire, 1842 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) on cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju

When carrying out experiments on the production of the edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju in the Laboratory of Edible Mushrooms, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil, in the second half of 2007, the presence of beetles later identified as belonging to the species Mycotretus apicalis was verified. This is the first recorded instance of this insect in cultures of P. sajor-caju in Brazil. The larvae and adults of this insect feed on the fruiting bodies of commercial harvests, resulting in reduction in mushroom quality. To provide evaluation of the injuries caused by these insects, substrates colonized by P. sajor-caju were infested with 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 insects per block of substrate being the qualitative and quantitative losses then noted. Despite the lack of an observed decrease in biological efficiency, the injuries caused by these insects affected the commercial quality of the mushrooms, which may result in economic losses. The results showed that infestations of 32 insects per 0.8 kg of substrate led to a depreciation in the prices of mushrooms meant to be sold.

A tribo Dalbergieae (Leguminosae-Faboideae) no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Este trabalho trata do estudo taxonômico da tribo Dalbergieae no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram reconhecidos seis gêneros e 17 espécies nativas: Andira Lam. (A. fraxinifolia Benth.); Centrolobium Mart. ex Benth. [C. microchaete (Mart. ex Benth.) Lima]; Dalbergia L.f. [D. brasiliensis (Vell.) Britt., D. ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub., D. ernest-ulei Hoehne, D. frutescens (Vell.) Britt., D. lateriflora Benth.]; Machaerium Pers.[M. dimorphandrum Hoehne, M. hatschbachii Rudd, M. hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld, M. nyctitans (Vell.) Benth., M. paraguariense Hassl., M. stipitatum Vogel, M. uncinatum (Vell.) Benth., M. vestitum Vogel]; Platymiscium Vogel (P. floribundum Vogel); Pterocarpus Jacq. (P. rohrii Vahl). São fornecidos chaves analíticas para identificação de gêneros e de espécies, descrições, ilustrações, dados e mapas de distribuição geográfica, dados sobre floração, frutificação e utilidades e observações ecológicas.

O Gênero Eleocharis R.Br. (Cyperaceae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

O estudo taxonômico do gênero Eleocharis R. Br. para o Rio Grande do Sul foi desenvolvido através dos métodos tradicionais em taxonomia. Os dados foram obtidos através da bibliografia, revisão de herbários regionais e coleta de exemplares a campo. O gênero está representado no Rio Grande do Sul por 27 espécies: Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., E. bonariensis Nees, E. contracta Maury, E. dunensis Kük., E. elegans (Kunth) Roem. & Schult., E. filiculmis Kunth, E. flavescens (Poir.) Urb., E. geniculata (L.) Roem. & Schult., E. interstincta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., E. loefgreniana Boeck., E. maculosa (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., E. minima Kunth var. minima, E. montana (Kunth) Roem. & Schult., E. montevidensis Kunth, E. nudipes (Kunth) Palla, E. obtusetrigona (Lindl. & Nees) Steud., E. ochrostachys Steud., E. parodii Barros, E. aff. quinquangularis, E. quinquangularis Boeck., E. rabenii Boeck., E. radicans (Poir.) Kunth, E. sellowiana Kunth, E. squamigera Svenson, E. subarticulata (Nees) Boeck., E. viridans Kük. e Eleocharis sp. O trabalho apresenta descrições, ilustrações, dados sobre distribuição geográfica, habitat e períodos de floração e frutificação das espécies, além de uma chave dicotômica para diferenciá-las.

Análises Estruturais e atividades biológicas de exopolissacarídeo extraído do fungo comestível pleurotus Sajor-Caju e de seu derivado sulfatado quimicamente.

The exopolysaccharides are extracellular compounds produced by some species of fungi and bacteria. It is suggested that these molecules, even when in the form of complex polysaccharide-peptide, are the main bioactive molecules of many fungus. Some of the biological activities displayed by these compounds can be accentuated and others may arise when you add chemically polar or nonpolar groups to polysaccharides. The fruiting body of Pleurotus sajor-caju produces a heteropolysaccharide with antineoplastic and antimicrobial activity, but other biological activities of this polymer have not been evaluated. In this work the exopolysaccharide of Pleurotus sajor-caju was sulfated chemically and structurally characterized. We also evaluated the antiproliferative, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities from native exopolysaccharide (PN) and its sulfated derivated (PS). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C) proved successful in sulfation of PN to obtain PS. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy showed that PN and PS are composed of mannose, galactose, 3-O-methyl-galactose and glucose in proportion percentage of 44,9:16,3:19,8:19 and 49, 7:14,4:17,7:18,2, respectively. The percentage of sulfate found in PS was 22.5%. Antioxidants assays revealed that the sulfation procedure affects differently the activities of exopolysaccharides, while the total antioxidant capacity, the scavenging activity of superoxide radical and ferric chelating were not affected by sulfation, on the other hand the chemical modification of PN enhanced the scavenging activity of hydroxyl radical and reducing power. PS also showed anticoagulant activity in a dose-dependent manner and clotting time was 3.0 times higher than the baseline value in APTT at 2 mg/mL. The exopolysaccharide not presented antiproliferative activity against HeLa tumor cells, but PS affects the cellular proliferation in a time-dependent manner. After 72 h, the inhibition rate of PS (2.0 mg/mL) on HeLa cells was about 60%. The results showed that PN sulfation increase some of their activities.

Within plant distribution of Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding and oviposition damages in cotton cultivars

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Florescimento e frutificação de lichieiras em função do anelamento de ramos

Avaliou-se o efeito do anelamento de ramos sobre o florescimento e frutificação de lichieiras 'Bengal' com 17 anos de idade. Os tratamentos constaram de anelamento em ramos ou pernadas principais e ramos de 6; 4 e 2 cm de diâmetro, além do controle. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. As avaliações quanto à floração foram: percentagem de floração e comprimento de inflorescências por quadrante e árvore; quanto à frutificação, avaliaram-se: vingamento de frutos maduros por panícula, massa, diâmetros longitudinal e equatorial dos frutos, sólidos solúveis totais, época de colheita e rendimento. O anelamento nos ramos principais induziu maior florescimento, sem alterar as características das inflorescências; não houve diferenças no vingamento de frutos, mas o aumento na floração incrementou o rendimento por árvore, com significativa antecipação da colheita.

Colored polyethylene soil covers and grafting effects on cucumber flowering and yield

O pepino (Cucumis sativus L.) é, dentre os produtos hortícolas, um dos mais visados para o cultivo em estufas no Brasil devido ao ciclo vegetativo curto e ao elevado valor econômico no período da entressafra. Estudou-se, em condições de ambiente protegido, a influência de diferentes cores de cobertura plástica de solo no florescimento e na produção de pepino híbrido 'Yoshinari' enxertado ou não sobre abóbora híbrida 'Ikky'. Os tratamentos de cobertura foram: preto, preto pintado de branco, verde, e sem cobertura. Os tratamentos cobertos com plástico e sem enxertia apresentaram florescimento com distribuição mais uniforme na planta. O número de flores foi superior no tratamento preto/branco enxertado. Para as plantas não enxertadas, todas as coberturas favoreceram o florescimento. A enxertia favoreceu o florescimento somente para os tratamentos com plástico preto ou verde. A fixação dos frutos aumentou pelo uso de cobertura plástica, mas a enxertia não teve influência. A distribuição uniforme do florescimento manteve-se na frutificação apenas para os tratamentos com plantas enxertadas e cobertura do solo com plástico preto ou verde. Tanto o uso de cobertura plástica quanto a enxertia favoreceram a colheita precoce. Os frutos de melhor qualidade e as maiores produções, em número de frutos, foram obtidos nos tratamentos preto e preto/branco, não enxertados. A enxertia 'Yoshinari'/'Ikky' provocou o aparecimento de frutos mais grossos e menores, fora do padrão de comercialização.

Produção do híbrido Momotaro de tomateiro, em função da enxertia e do estádio das mudas no plantio

O experimento desenvolveu-se em ambiente protegido, de outubro de 1997 a julho de 1998, na Fazenda São Manuel da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu. O solo no local foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo fase arenosa. O tomateiro, híbrido Momotaro T-93, foi cultivado em pé franco e sobre dois porta-enxertos (híbridos Anchor T e Kaguemusha), com objetivo de determinar o desenvolvimento da muda para o transplante, no estádio de 5 a 6 folhas definitivas, de plena floração e de início da frutificação. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial de 3 x 3, num total de 9 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Foram avaliados o peso médio, diâmetro e produção total em kg por planta de frutos. O estádio de desenvolvimento de mudas de pé franco, transplantadas com 5 a 6 folhas definitivas, apresentou as melhores médias para produção, diâmetro e peso médio de frutos. Para mudas enxertadas não houve diferença na produtividade e qualidade final, do estádio de desenvolvimento de 5 a 6 folhas definitivas até o estádio de plena floração, sendo os melhores desempenhos obtidos pelo porta-enxerto 'Anchor T'.

Leaf nutritional levels in peach and nectarine grown in subtropical climate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)