Semi-determinate Growth Habit Adjusts The Vegetative-to-reproductive Balance And Increases Productivity And Water-use Efficiency In Tomato (solanum Lycopersicum).

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) shows three growth habits: determinate, indeterminate and semi-determinate. These are controlled mainly by allelic variation in the SELF-PRUNING (SP) gene family, which also includes the florigen gene SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT). Determinate cultivars have synchronized flower and fruit production, which allows mechanical harvesting in the tomato processing industry, whereas indeterminate ones have more vegetative growth with continuous flower and fruit formation, being thus preferred for fresh market tomato production. The semi-determinate growth habit is poorly understood, although there are indications that it combines advantages of determinate and indeterminate growth. Here, we used near-isogenic lines (NILs) in the cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) with different growth habit to characterize semi-determinate growth and to determine its impact on developmental and productivity traits. We show that semi-determinate genotypes are equivalent to determinate ones with extended vegetative growth, which in turn impacts shoot height, number of leaves and either stem diameter or internode length. Semi-determinate plants also tend to increase the highly relevant agronomic parameter Brix×ripe yield (BRY). Water-use efficiency (WUE), evaluated either directly as dry mass produced per amount of water transpired or indirectly through C isotope discrimination, was higher in semi-determinate genotypes. We also provide evidence that the increases in BRY in semi-determinate genotypes are a consequence of an improved balance between vegetative and reproductive growth, a mechanism analogous to the conversion of the overly vegetative tall cereal varieties into well-balanced semi-dwarf ones used in the Green Revolution.

Ectopic expression of soybean leghemoglobin in chloroplasts impairs gibberellin biosynthesis and induces dwarfism in transgenic potato plants

We have characterized potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants expressing a soybean leghemoglobin that is targeted to plastids. Transgenic plants displayed a dwarf phenotype caused by short internode length, and exhibited increased tuberization in vitro. Under in vivo conditions that do not promote tuberization, plants showed smaller parenchymal cells than control plants. Analysis of gibberellin (GA) concentrations indicated that the transgenic plants have a substantial reduction (approximately 10-fold) of bioactive GA(1) concentration in shoots. Application of GA(3) to the shoot apex of the transformed plants completely restored the wild type phenotype suggesting that GA-biosynthesis rather than signal transduction was limiting. Since the first stage of the GA-biosynthetic pathway is located in the plastid, these results suggest that an early step in the pathway may be affected by the presence of the leghemoglobin.

Strain origin drives virulence and persistence of Xylella fastidiosa in alfalfa

Generalist pathogens frequently exist as a complex of genetically differentiated strains, which can differ in virulence and transmissibility. A description of the extent to which strain variability mediates host species competence is needed to understand disease dynamics for systems with both host and pathogen strain diversity. This study tested the hypothesis that strain-specific variation of a generalist vector-borne plant pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa, affects disease severity in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and competence of this crop as a reservoir host. Alfalfa seedlings were inoculated with one of 23 X. fastidiosa isolates collected from different hosts, eight identified as belonging to an almond strain, and the remainder from a grape strain. Pathogen population, symptom severity and infection incidence were compared over five successive harvests. Infected plant size, measured mainly by plant height, internode length and above ground biomass, was reduced up to 50% compared to buffer-inoculated controls, and more severe symptoms were observed at later harvests and for higher pathogen populations. Grape isolates had higher bacterial populations within alfalfa than almond isolates. In addition, infection with grape isolates resulted in more severe alfalfa stunting than that caused by almond isolates. Moreover, there was a strong positive relationship between isolate multiplication rate and both symptom severity and infection persistence (i.e. maintenance of chronic infection within host). Isolates with low initial populations had low incidence at the final harvest, with one isolate dying out altogether. The results showed that X. fastidiosa-genetic diversity contributed to variation in alfalfa disease severity. The results also suggest that pathogen strain may mediate host competence via differences in bacterial population density and persistence.

Hormone physiology of pea mutants prevented from flowering by mutations gi or veg1

The veg1 (vegetative) mutant in pea (Pisum sativum L.) does not flower under any circumstances and gi (gigas) mutants remain vegetative under certain conditions. gi plants are deficient in production of floral stimulus, whereas veg1 plants lack a response to floral stimulus. During long days in particular, these non-flowering mutant plants eventually enter a stable compact phase characterised by a large reduction in internode length, small leaves and growth of lateral shoots from the upper-stem (aerial) nodes. The first-order laterals in turn produce second-order laterals and so on in a reiterative pattern. The apical bud is reduced in size but continues active growth. Endogenous hormone measurements and gibberellin application studies with gi-1, gi-2 and veg1 plants indicate that a reduction in gibberellin and perhaps indole-3-acetic acid level may account, at least partially, for the compact aerial shoot phenotype. In the gi-1 mutant, the compact phenotype is rescued by transfer from a 24- to an 8-h photoperiod. We propose that in plants where flowering is prevented by a lack of floral stimulus or an inability to respond, the large reduction in photoperiod gene activity during long days may lead to a reduction in apical sink strength that is manifest in an altered hormone profile and weak apical dominance.

Mutational analysis of branching in pea. Evidence that Rms1 and Rms5 regulate the same novel signal

The fifth increased branching ramosus (rms) mutant, rms5, from pea (Pisum sativum), is described here for phenotype and grafting responses with four other rms mutants. Xylem sap zeatin riboside concentration and shoot auxin levels in rms5 plants have also been compared with rms1 and wild type (WT). Rms1 and Rms5 appear to act closely at the biochemical or cellular level to control branching, because branching was inhibited in reciprocal epicotyl grafts between rms5 or rms1 and WT plants, but not inhibited in reciprocal grafts between rms5 and rmsl seedlings. The weakly transgressive or slightly additive phenotype of the rmsl rms5 double mutant provides further evidence for this interaction. Like rms1, rms5 rootstocks have reduced xylem sap cytokinin concentrations, and rms5 shoots do not appear deficient in indole-3-acetic acid or 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid. Rms1 and Rms5 are similar in their interaction with other Rms genes. Reciprocal grafting studies with rmsl, rms2, and rms5, together with the fact that root xylem sap cytokinin concentrations are reduced in rms1 and rms5 and elevated in rms2 plants, indicates that Rms1 and Rms5 may control a different pathway than that controlled by Rms2. Our studies indicate that Rms1 and Rms5 may regulate a novel graft-transmissible signal involved in the control of branching.

Pea rms6 mutants exhibit increased basal branching

Our studies on two branching mutants of pea (Pisum sativum L.) have identified a further Ramosus locus, Rms6, with two recessive or partially recessive mutant alleles: rms6-1 (type line S2-271) and rms6-2 (type line K586). Mutants rms6-1 and rms6-2 were derived from dwarf and tall cultivars, Solara and Torsdag, respectively. The rms6 mutants are characterized by increased branching from basal nodes. In contrast, mutants rms1 through rms5 have increased branching from both basal and aerial (upper stem) nodes. Buds at the cotyledonary node of wild-type (WT) plants remain dormant but in rms6 plants these buds were usually released from dormancy. Their growth was either subsequently inhibited, sometimes even prior to emergence above ground, or they grew into secondary stems. The mutant phenotype was strongest for rms6-1 on the dwarf background. Although rms6-2 had a weak single-mutant phenotype, the rms3-1 rms6-2 double mutant showed clear transgression and an additive branching phenotype, with a total lateral length almost 2-fold greater than rms3-1 and nearly 5-fold greater than rms6-2 . Grafting studies between WT and rms6-1 plants demonstrated the primary action of Rms6 may be confined to the shoot. Young WT and rms6-1 shoots had similar auxin levels, and decapitated plants had a similar magnitude of response to applied auxin. Abscisic acid levels were elevated 2-fold at node 2 of young rms6-1 plants. The Rms6 locus mapped to the R to Gp segment of linkage group V (chromosome 3). The rms6 mutants will be useful for basic research and also have possible agronomical value.

Genetic divergence of tomato subsamples

Understanding the genetic variability of a species is crucial for the progress of a genetic breeding program and requires characterization and evaluation of germplasm. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate 101 tomato subsamples of the Salad group (fresh market) and two commercial controls, one of the Salad group (cv. Fanny) and another of the Santa Cruz group (cv. Santa Clara). Four experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with three replications and five plants per plot. The joint analysis of variance was performed and characteristics with significant complex interaction between control and experiment were excluded. Subsequently, the multicollinearity diagnostic test was carried out and characteristics that contributed to severe multicollinearity were excluded. The relative importance of each characteristics for genetic divergence was calculated by the Singh's method (Singh, 1981), and the less important ones were excluded according to Garcia (1998). Results showed large genetic divergence among the subsamples for morphological, agronomic and organoleptic characteristics, indicating potential for genetic improvement. The characteristics total soluble solids, mean number of good fruits per plant, endocarp thickness, mean mass of marketable fruit per plant, total acidity, mean number of unmarketable fruit per plant, internode diameter, internode length, main stem thickness and leaf width contributed little to the genetic divergence between the subsamples and may be excluded in future studies.

Microclimate and development of 'Conilon' coffee intercropped with rubber trees

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of intercropping 'Conilon' coffee (Coffea canephora) with rubber trees on coffee tree microclimate, nutrition, growth, and yield. Rubber trees were planted in two double rows 33 m apart, with 4x2.3 m spacing between plants. Treatments consisted of the distances from the coffee plants to the rubber trees: 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 m. Measurements of atmospheric variables (temperature, irradiance, and relative humidity), leaf nutrient concentration, internode length of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches, individual leaf area, chlorophyll content, and yield were performed. Intercropping promotes changes in the microclimatic conditions of coffee plants close to rubber trees, with reduction of temperature and irradiance level and increase in air relative humidity. The proximity of the coffee tree to the rubber trees promotes the elongation of the plagiotropic and orthotropic branches and increases the individual leaf area; however, it does not affect leaf concentrations of N, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and B in 'Conilon' coffee and does not have a negative impact on yield.

Prohexadione calcium on the growth and quality of eggplant seedlings

Abstract:The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of prohexadione calcium concentrations on the growth and quality of eggplant (Solanum melongena) seedlings. The effects of prohexadione calcium concentrations of 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg L-1 on seedling growth parameters were evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. After the greenhouse experiment, the seedlings were transplanted to the field. During the field experiment, the number of days to flowering, plant height, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and yield were evaluated. Both experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. All prohexadione calcium concentrations significantly reduced shoot height and internode length, when compared to the control. The concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg L-1 prohexadione calcium reduced shoot height by 27, 32, and 38%, respectively. Prohexadione calcium treatments (except the one with 50 mg L-1) enhanced relative chlorophyll content of leaves in comparison to the control. There were no delays in flowering and no significant differences in number of fruits per plant among treatments with prohexadione calcium. The concentrations of 100 and 150 mg L-1 prohexadione calcium significantly reduced yield per plant and total fruit yield, whereas the concentration of 50 mg L-1 did not cause any change in yield compared to the control. The lowest prohexadione calcium concentration can be used to control excessive elongation of eggplant seedlings without yield loss.

Crescimento do milho em função da saturação por bases e da adubação potássica

Os teores de Ca, Mg e K no solo interferem no crescimento e na produção das culturas. No entanto, a relação entre esses nutrientes que proporciona o desenvolvimento adequado das plantas varia entre as espécies vegetais. O presente teve por objetivo estudar o desenvolvimento do milho em função da saturação do solo por bases e adubação potássica. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 3x2x4, constituindo-se de três solos (Neossolo Quartzarênico, Latossolo Vermelho e Latossolo Bruno), dois valores de saturação por bases (40 e 70 %) e quatro doses de potássio no solo (0, 60, 120 e 240 mg kg-1). O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação, utilizando-se o milho cv. Zêneca 8392 com uma planta por vaso de 30 L. Aos 29, 57 e 127 dias após a emergência das plântulas, efetuaram-se medidas do número de folhas por planta, altura média das plantas, diâmetro basal do colmo e comprimento médio de entrenós. Após a colheita final determinou-se a produção de grãos por planta. O desenvolvimento e a produção de grãos do milho aumentou até a adição de 60 mg kg-1 de K ao solo. O crescimento do milho foi mais rápido no solo mais arenoso, até o florescimento masculino. Solos com maior capacidade de troca catiônica proporcionaram maior comprimento de entrenós. O comprimento médio de entrenós foi inversamente relacionado ao número médio de entrenós por planta, em função do tipo de solo.

Uso de câmara úmida em enxertia hipocotiledonar de maracujazeiro-amarelo sobre três porta-enxertos

Com o objetivo de avaliar o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de plantas de maracujazeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims) enxertadas sobre três porta-enxertos com uso de câmara úmida, instalou-se este experimento em um viveiro de mudas no município de Adamantina - SP, no período de dezembro de 2005 a abril de 2006. O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, com quatro repetições. Os fatores avaliados foram três porta-enxertos (Passiflora edulis, P. alata e P. gibertii) em dois ambientes (com e sem câmara úmida). Foi utilizada a enxertia hipocotiledonar pelo método de garfagem tipo fenda cheia. Avaliaram-se a altura das plantas, o diâmetro do caule do porta-enxerto e do enxerto, o número de folhas, o comprimento do entrenó, a porcentagem de sobrevivência das plantas e a fitomassa seca da parte aérea e das raízes. Observou-se que o método de enxertia utilizado foi bem-sucedido para as três espécies de porta-enxertos estudadas. P. gibertii e P. edulis proporcionaram melhores resultados como porta-enxertos. O porta-enxerto P. alata proporcionou menor altura de planta, menor diâmetro do enxerto e do porta-enxerto e menor índice de sobrevivência. O uso da câmara úmida não favoreceu nenhuma das variáveis estudadas.

Desenvolvimento e produtividade do maracujazeiro-amarelo enxertado em três porta-enxertos

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento vegetativo e a produtividade do maracujazeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims) enxertado sobre três porta-enxertos em área sem histórico de morte prematura de plantas. O experimento foi conduzido no município de Adamantina-SP, no período de abril de 2006 a junho de 2007, adotando-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3 x 2 + 1 tratamento adicional, com quatro repetições. Os fatores avaliados foram três porta-enxertos: Passiflora edulis, P. alata e P. gibertii, em dois sistemas de enxertia, a hipocotiledonar e a convencional por garfagem tipo fenda cheia, e um tratamento adicional, sem enxertia. Utilizou-se como copa o maracujazeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims). Avaliaram-se o diâmetro do caule do porta-enxerto, o diâmetro do caule do enxerto, o comprimento de entrenó, o comprimento dos ramos secundários, o número de ramos terciários, o número de frutos, a massa média de frutos, a produtividade e as fitomassas verde e seca das plantas. Observou-se que as três espécies estudadas podem ser utilizadas como porta-enxertos para o maracujazeiro-amarelo, com diferentes níveis de compatibilidade. P. edulis demonstrou maior compatibilidade como porta-enxerto por apresentar-se superior aos demais na maioria dos parâmetros analisados. Plantas enxertadas sobre P. gibertii apresentaram menor vigor, menor crescimento vegetativo, frutos com menor massa e menor produtividade. A enxertia hipocotiledonar resultou em maior massa média de frutos e maior produtividade no maracujazeiro-amarelo.

Avaliação dos efeitos de doses de triadimenol e de tebuconazole sobre o crescimento do mesocótilo em plântulas de trigo

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Anahuac cultivar, were treated with six triadimenol (0,0; 12,5; 25,0; 37,5; 50,0 and 62,5 g of a.i./100 kg of seeds) and tebuconazole (0,0; 7,5; 15,0; 22,5 30,0 and 37,5 g of a.i./100 kg of seeds) dosis to reduce the subcrown internode length and then to deep the point of emission of adventitious roots. Seeds were seeded in pots with soil, with 5 cm of depth and after two weeks the seedlings number was counted and the subcrown internode length (CM) was evaluated. The CM may be represented by the equations: a) CM = 4,49 - 0,1779 x + 0,002161 x2 (r2 = 0,9247); b) CM = 4,62 - 0,29948 y + 0,006480 y3 - 0,00004622 y3 (r2 = 0,9551), where ''x'' and ''y'' represent tebuconazole and triadimenol dosis, respectively. The CM showed minimum values for triadimenol dosis equal to or higher than 37,5 g a.i./100 kg of seeds and for tebuconazole decreased continuously with the increase of the product dosis, showing values near to 1 cm for the maximum dosis. The triadimenol allowed, at suitable dosis, almost total inhibition of the wheat seedlings subcrown internode with no effects on seedling emergence and initial growth.

Coffee leaf scorch caused by a strain of Xylella fastidiosa from citrus

Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and coffee leaf scorch (CLS) are two economically important diseases in Brazil caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Strains of the bacterium isolated from the two plant hosts are very closely related, and the two diseases share sharpshooter insect vectors. In order to determine if citrus strains of X. fastidiosa could infect coffee and induce CLS disease, plant inoculations were performed. Plants of coffee, Coffea arabica 'Mundo Novo', grafted on Coffea canephora var, robusta 'Apuatao 2258' were mechanically inoculated with triply cloned strains of X. fastidiosa isolated from diseased coffee and citrus. Three months postinoculation, 5 of the 10 plants inoculated with CLS-X. fastidiosa and 1 of the 10 plants inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa gave positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eight months postinoculation, another six plants inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa gave positive PCR results. The two X. fastidiosa strains were isolated from the inoculated plants and showed the same characteristics as the original clones by microscopy, ELISA, and PCR. None of the plants inoculated with sterile periwinkle wilt (PW) medium as controls gave positive reactions in diagnostic tests, and none developed disease symptoms. Six months postinoculation, seven plants inoculated with CLS-X. fastidiosn and eight inoculated with CVC-X. fastidiosa began to develop characteristic CLS symptoms, including apical and marginal leaf scorch, defoliation, and reductions of internode length, leaf size, and plant height, terminal clusters of small chlorotic and deformed leaves, and lateral shoot dieback. We have demonstrated that X, fastidiosa from citrus plants is pathogenic for coffee plants. This has important consequences for the management of CLS disease and has implications for the origin of citrus variegated chlorosis disease.

Microhabitat and plant structure of Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) populations in four streams of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

Microhabitat and plant structure of seven Batrachospermum populations (four of Batrachospermum delicatulum (= Sirodotia delicatula), one of Batrachospermum macrosporum and two of the 'Chantransia' stage), including the influence of physical variables (current velocity, depth, irradiance and substratum), were investigated in four streams of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The populations of B. delicatulum and the 'Chantransia' stage occurred under very diverse microhabitat conditions, which probably contributes to their wide spatial and seasonal distribution in Brazilian streams. Results suggest branch reconfiguration as a probable mechanism of adaptation to current velocity based on the occurrence of: (i) B. macrosporum (a large mucilaginous form with presumably little ability for branch reconfiguration) under lower current velocity than B. delicatulum; (ii) only dense plants in populations with high current velocities (> 60 cm s-1), whereas 53-77% of dense plants were seen in populations exposed to lower currents (< 40 cm s-1); (iii) positive correlations of plant length with internode length in populations under low current velocities and negative correlation in a population with high velocity (132 cm s-1); and (iv) negative correlations of current velocity with plant diameter and internode length in a population under high flow. This study, involving mainly dioecious populations, revealed that B. delicatulum displayed higher fertilization rates than B. macrosporum. A complementary explanation for a dioecious species to increase fertilization success was proposed consisting of outcrossing among intermingled male and female adjacent plants within an algal spot.