Ecophysiology and water use efficiency of soybean cultivars under field conditions

A wide range of soybean cultivars is available on the market and understanding the physiological response and yield of these materials is fundamental to develop new management systems. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess ecophysiological parameters and yield of soybean cultivars under field conditions. The experiment was carried out on a farm located in the municipality of Açailândia, Maranhão, Brazil. Three commercial cultivars were used (SC1, SC2 and SC3), and gas exchanges, SPAD index, Fv/Fm, photosynthesis index (PI), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE) and intrinsic instantaneous of the use of water (iWUE) were assessed during the vegetative (V5) and reproductive (R5) stages. In addition, the biomass and production components were obtained. A randomized complete block design was used, with three cultivars and six replications. SC2 obtained the best mean for the photochemical variables. SC2 was more efficient at both development stages in WUE, but the maximum iWUE values were obtained in SC3. The SC2 cultivar obtained the best responses in the main variables analyzed, resulting in a higher yield.

¿Refleja Formicidae el impacto de la degradación de los bosques ribereños en la Amazonía Oriental?

La creciente presión antropogénica sobre la Amazonia Oriental hace imperativo el diagnóstico de la degradación forestal y, particularmente, su efecto sobre las comunidades clave dentro de los ecosistemas ribereños, unos de los últimos bosques amazónicos remantes en el estado de Maranhão. La familia de hormigas Formicidae juega un papel fundamental en el suelo, refleja los cambios en el uso de la tierra y es un grupo abundante en los bosques estudiados. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar el efecto del gradiente sucesional en la riqueza, frecuencia y composición de esta familia. El muestreo fue realizado durante los periodos seco y lluvioso con el método TSBF. Los organismos recolectados se identificaron a nivel de morfoespecies y se crearon curvas de acumulación de especies. Fueron utilizados modelos lineales mixtos para evaluar los efectos del periodo de recolecta local y estado de sucesión en la riqueza y la frecuencia de las hormigas. Por otro lado, se utilizaron regresiones polinómicas para investigar la relación entre la riqueza y la frecuencia de los formícidos según la cobertura del dosel y la altura de la vegetación. La composición de especies fue representada a través del índice de similitud de Jaccard. En total, 1 940 individuos fueron separados en 86 morfoespecies. Se obtuvo más del 80 % de la riqueza de especies probables. La frecuencia y riqueza de hormigas aumentó significativamente siguiendo la sucesión con valores bajos en las áreas abiertas durante la estación seca. Asimismo, durante esta estación, la cobertura del dosel y la altura de la vegetación tuvieron un efecto parcial en la riqueza y frecuencia de Formicidae. Por su parte, las áreas de sucesión intermedia y avanzada presentaron una composición similar con 50 especies compartidas, seguidas de las áreas de sucesión temprana con 43 y el uso antrópico con 34. Concluimos que la eliminación de los bosques ribereños tiene un efecto considerable sobre la riqueza y frecuencia de Formicidae, con valores mínimos en áreas degradadas durante la estación seca. Por otro lado, las áreas de bosques transformadas en sistemas agrícolas sufrieron pérdidas de 41 y 56% en la riqueza y frecuencia respectivamente. Con la sucesión, se restauran la estructura y las funciones del bosque favoreciendo la recolonización de las especies de hormigas. Finalmente, estos himenópteros son un grupo clave en los programas de monitoreo para la conservación/restauración de los bosques ribereños locales.

The increasing anthropogenic pressure on Eastern Amazon makes imperative the diagnosis of forest degradation, particularly the effect on key communities within the riparian ecosystems, one of the last remaining Amazonian forests in Maranhão State. The ant family Formicidae is an abundant group in these types of forests plays a fundamental role on the soil and also reflects the land use changes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of riparian forest successional stages on the Formicidae richness, frequency, and composition. Sampling was performed during both dry and wet seasons using the TSBF method. Collected organisms were identified as morphospecies. Also, species-accumulation curves were created. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of seasonal, local, and successional stage on ant richness and frequency. Polynomial regression models were applied to investigate the relationship between ant richness and frequency with canopy cover and vegetation height. Lastly, the species composition was represented by the Jaccard similarity index. In total, we observed 1 940 individuals grouped into 86 morphospecies. We obtained more than 80 % of the probable species richness. Ant frequency and richness increased significantly, following the successional stage, with low values in the open areas, especially during the dry season. Canopy cover and vegetation height seemed to affect partially both Formicidae richness and frequency during the dry season. Intermediate and advanced successional areas presented similar composition (50) shared species, followed by the areas of early succession (43) and anthropic use (34). We concluded that the elimination of riparian forests produces a considerable effect on the richness and frequency of the Formicidae family, minimally affecting them in open areas during the dry season, but resulting in losses of 41 % in richness and 56 % in frequency in forest areas when they are transformed into agricultural systems. Nevertheless, succession restores forest structure and functions, thus favoring re-colonization of ant species. Formicidae reflects forest degradation and is a key group in monitoring programs for the conservation/restoration of local riparian forests.

Physiological characteristics of citrus plants infested with citrus blackfly

Abstract Aleurocanthus woglumi (Ashby, 1915) is an important agricultural pest that causes yield losses of 20-80% in citrus plants by removing plant nutrients while feeding and allowing the formation of sooty mold. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological changes in citrus plants in response to A. woglumi infestation under field conditions. The experiment was conducted in a citrus orchard in Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão, Brazil. Thirty-two citrus plants were used, including eight of each of the following varieties: Tahiti lime, Tanjaroa tangerine, Nissey tangerine, and Ponkan tangerine. Four random plants with A. woglumi infestation and four plants free from this pest were selected from each variety. The physiological parameters evaluated were photochemical efficiency and gas exchange. Regarding photochemical efficiency, infested plants presented photoinhibition damage, with a performance index of 4.22. The gas exchange parameters of infested plants changed, with reductions in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation of 69.7% (Tahiti), 64% (Tanjaroa), 68.8% (Nissey) and 63.3% (Ponkan). Plants infested with A. woglumi also presented physiological changes; their photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, instantaneous transpiration, and performance indexes were affected. The infested citrus plants showed photoinhibition of photosystem II. The photosynthetic CO2 assimilation decreased approximately 70% in Tahiti lime, Tanjaroa tangerine, Nissey tangerine, and Ponkan tangerine plants infested with A. woglumi.

Seleção precoce e fenotipagem de linhagens de milho quanto à arquitetura das raízes seminais / Early selection and phenotiping of line of corn as for the architecture of the seminal roots

Objetivou-se selecionar e fenotipar linhagens de milho quanto à arquitetura das raízes seminais em relação à raiz primária da planta. Foram avaliadas 20 linhagens de milho em solução nutritiva, em experimento disposto no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três repetições. Foram realizadas medições de crescimento das raízes e dos ângulos das raízes seminais. Os pêlos radiculares foram avaliados visualmente. Os resultados mostraram que as linhagens apresentaram diferenças significativas quanto ao crescimento das raízes primárias e seminal, ângulos das raízes seminais e de pêlos radiculares, não obtendo diferença apenas para número de raízes seminais. A linhagem de milho L11 foi a que apresentou maior densidade de pêlos radiculares, ângulos e crescimento de raízes seminais. Conclui-se que as linhagens de milho L11 e L14 têm os maiores ângulos das raízes seminais; as linhagens L15 e L17 têm as maiores densidades de pêlos radiculares; a linhagem L11 sobressaiu com maior número de raízes seminais.

The objective was to select and fhenotiping corn line on the seminal roots architecture in relation to the primary root of the plant. They were appraised 20 corn lines in nutrient solution in experiment provisions of randomized block design with three replications. Were measured growth of the roots and the angles of the seminal roots. The root hairs were visually assessed. The results showed that the strains exhibited significant differences in root growth and angles seminal roots and root hairs, getting no difference only for the number of seminal roots. The corn line L11 showed the highest density of root hairs, angles and growth of seminal roots. It is concluded that corn lines L11 and L14 have the highest angles of seminal roots; lines L15 and L17 have the highest density of root hairs, the L11 excelled with the largest number of seminal roots.

Carboidratos e matéria seca de tubérculos de cultivares de batata influenciados por doses de nitrogênio / Carbohydrates and dry matter in tubers of potato cultivars as affected by nitrogen doses

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de doses de nitrogênio (N) sobre os teores de carboidratos (açúcares solúveis totais, açúcares redutores e amido), matéria seca e sólidos solúveis totais nos tubérculos de quatro cultivares de batata. Os tubérculos originaram-se de quatro experimentos, realizados simultaneamente no campo, no outono/inverno, na Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Em todos os experimentos, foi utilizado delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos de cinco doses de N (0, 50, 100, 200 e 300 kg ha-1) na forma de sulfato de amônio, aplicadas no plantio das cultivares Ágata, Asterix, Atlantic e Monalisa. Foram analisados os teores de matéria seca, açúcares solúveis totais, açúcares redutores, amido e sólidos solúveis totais nos tubérculos, após 30 dias de armazenamento a 5ºC a 80-85 por cento de umidade relativa. Em todas as cultivares, as doses de N apresentaram efeito quadrático sobre o teor de sólidos solúveis totais e não houve efeito sobre os teores de matéria seca e de amido nos tubérculos de batata. Dependendo da cultivar, as doses de N influenciam positivamente, ou não influenciam os teores de açúcares redutores e açúcares solúveis totais nos tubérculos de batata.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) doses on carbohydrate (total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and starch), dry matter and total soluble solids contents in tuber of four potato cultivars. The tubers originated from four experiments, simultaneously conducted in the field, during fall/winter, at the Federal University of Viçosa. These experiments were set in randomized complete block and four repetitions and we evaluated the effects of five N rates (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 kg ha-1) on Agata, Asterix, Atlantic and Monalisa cultivars. Dry matter, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, starch, and total soluble solids contents of the tubers were analyzed after a 30-day storage at 5ºC. N rates presented quadratic effects on the total soluble solids and presented no effects on dry matter and starch contents for all cultivars. Depending on the cultivar, N rates had positive effects or did not affect reducing sugars and total soluble sugars contents in the tubers.