ABSTRACT
The occurrence of seasonal droughts is one of the main factors that limit the sugarcane ratoon cycles, compromising sugarcane field longevity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical responses of sugarcane cultivars to drought stress in ratoon crop. Six cultivars were used: RB72910, RB99382, RB72454, RB92579, RB855536 and RB931011, and three water regimes based on soil available water content(SAWC) and defined as: control, 80 to 100% (SAWC); moderate water stress, 40 to 60% (SAWC), and severewater stress, 0 to 20% (SAWC). Cultivar RB72454 was most sensitive to water deficit. When under stress, this cultivar showed an increased production of hydrogen peroxide, but without concomitant increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Oxidative stress led to lipid peroxidation and chlorophyll degradation, resulting in higher photochemical photoinhibition. On the other hand, cultivar RB92579 was the most tolerant to drought, with increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, which led to low lipid peroxidation, maintenance of photosynthetic pigments and photochemical activity. The antioxidant defense system triggered by ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes appears to be a key protection factor to photochemical complexes of chloroplast of sugarcane plants under water stress. The increase in the antioxidant system as well as the maintenance of photosynthetic pigments and cell membranes served as important criteria to indicate cultivars more tolerant to drought stress.
A ocorrência de secas sazonais é um dos principais fatores que limitam a longevidade do canavial. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas bioquímicas de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar em seu segundo ciclo de cultivo a condições de estresse hídrico. Para tanto, foram utilizadas seis cultivares: RB72910, RB99382, RB72454, RB92579, RB855536 e RB931011, e três regimes hídricos, baseado na capacidade de água disponível (CAD) e definidos como: controle, 80 a 100% (CAD); estresse hídrico moderado, 40 a 60% (CAD), e estresse hídrico severo, 0 a 20% (CAD). A cultivar RB72454 se mostrou a mais sensível ao déficit hídrico. Essa cultivar mostrou aumento na produção de peróxido de hidrogênio, mas sem aumento concomitante das enzimas antioxidantes ascorbato peroxidase, catalase e superóxido dismutase. Esse estresse oxidativo levou a peroxidação de lipídeos das membranas e degradação das clorofilas, resultando na diminuição da eficiência fotoquímica do PSII. Por outro lado, a cultivar RB92579 foi a mais tolerante à seca, com aumento de atividade das enzimas antioxidantes, que levou a baixa peroxidação de lipídeos, manutenção dos pigmentos fotossintéticos e da eficiência fotoquímica do PSII. O sistema de defesa antioxidante desencadeado pelas enzimas ascorbato peroxidase, catalase e superóxido dismutase parece ser o fator chave de proteção à fotoinibição de plantas de cana-de-açúcar sob estresse hídrico. O aumento do sistema antioxidante, bem como a manutenção dos pigmentos fotossintéticos e das membranas celulares serviram como critérios importantes para indicar cultivares mais tolerantes ao estresse hídrico.
Subject(s)
Photosynthesis , Chlorophyll , Photooxidation , Dehydration , SaccharumABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Castor bean is one of the crops with potential to provide raw material for production of oils for biodiesel. This species possess adaptive mechanisms for maintaining the water status when subjected to drought stress. A better understanding these mechanisms under field conditions can unravel the survival strategies used by this species. This study aimed to compare the physiological adaptations of Ricinus communis (L.) in two regions with different climates, the semi-arid and semi-humid subject to water stress. The plants showed greater vapor pressure deficit during the driest hours of the day, which contributed to higher values of the leaf temperature and leaf transpiration, however, the VPD(leaf-air) had the greatest effect on plants in the semi-arid region. In both regions, between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the plants presented reduction in the rates of photosynthesis and intracellular CO2 concentration in response to stomatal closure. During the dry season in the semi-arid region, photoinhibition occurred in the leaves of castor bean between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. These results suggest that castor bean plants possess compensatory mechanisms for drought tolerance, such as: higher stomatal control and maintenance of photosynthetic capacity, allowing the plant to survive well in soil with low water availability.
Subject(s)
Photosynthesis/physiology , Ricinus/physiology , Stress, Physiological/physiology , Adaptation, Physiological/physiology , Water , Seasons , Tropical Climate , Plant Transpiration , Desert Climate , Droughts , HumidityABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Maturation is a characteristic of sugarcane plant (Saccharum spp.) and even when grown under the same soil and climate conditions the varieties differ on the maturation curve. Thus, studies that allow establishing maturation curves of different sugarcane genotypes in the local soil and climate may indicate the proper harvesting period to ensure better quality of the raw material. This study aimed to analyze the levels of soluble sugars during the maturation phase and assess the technological and productivity indexes of four irrigated sugarcane genotypes in the region of Rio Largo, Alagoas. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in a 4 x 2 x 5 factorial: four genotypes (RB92579, RB98710, RB99395 and RB961003), two stem portions (internodes 1-4 and internodes 5-8) and five seasons (82, 49, 25, 13 and 3 days before harvesting), each treatment with three replications. Internodes 1-4 showed the highest levels of reducing sugars, while the largest accumulation of sucrose and total soluble solids occurred in internodes 5-8. RB99395 genotype showed more stability in the sugar levels during sugarcane maturation, which can indicate early maturation and high agricultural yield.
Subject(s)
Plant Stems/physiology , Saccharum/physiology , Sugars/analysis , Reference Values , Temperature , Time Factors , Analysis of Variance , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Plant Stems/genetics , Saccharum/genetics , Sugars/metabolism , GenotypeABSTRACT
Notifica-se a ocorrência de Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli, 1772) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) em Igaci (Alagoas), atacando a cultura de pinhão-manso, Jatropha curcas L. O inseto, até então não constatado na região, assume relevância econômica pela natureza dos danos, ocasionando infestação em 100 por cento das plantas.
The occurrence of Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Igaci (in the state of Alagoas, Brazil), is observed attacking the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) The insect, until then not verified in the region, takes economic relevancy considering the nature of damage, causing infestation in 100 percent plants.
ABSTRACT
O pau-brasil (Caesalpinia echinata Lam.) tem grande valor cultural no Brasil e a sua propagação por sementes é dificultada pela rápida perda do poder germinativo delas. A estaquia pode ser usada para a produção de mudas de espécies florestais, principalmente quando existem algumas dificuldades de propagação por sementes. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o efeito de concentrações e fontes de auxinas sobre o enraizamento de estacas de pau-brasil. Estacas com cerca de 12cm de comprimento e de um a dois pares de folhas foram tratadas na base com ácido indol butírico (AIB), ácido naftaleno acético (ANA) na forma líquida ou na forma de pó nas concentrações de 0, 1.250, 2.500, 5.000, 10.000mg L-1 ou mg Kg-1, respectivamente. As estacas foram transferidas para substrato contendo areia e mantidas sob nebulização (90-95 por cento UR). Aos 120 dias de estaquia, foram avaliados a mortalidade, a retenção foliar, a formação de calo e a percentagem de estacas enraizadas. As estacas apresentaram índices de sobrevivência de até 70 por cento. A formação de calos não foi relacionada com a concentração de auxinas utilizadas. O maior índice de enraizamento de estacas de pau-brasil, em torno de 16 por cento, foi resgistrada com a utilização do ácido indolbutírico (AIB) e do ácido naftalenoacético (ANA) na concentração 2.500mg L-1. Os altos índices de sobrevivência e os baixos índices de enraizamento sugerem que as estacas devem permanecer por mais tempo sob nebulização, a fim de induzir o seu processo de enraizamento.
The 'pau-brasil' tree (Caesalpinia echinata Lam.) have a high cultural value in Brazil and its seed propagation is very difficult because of its rapid losses of germination potential. Cuttings propagation has been considered as alternative method to propagate forest species that seed propagation is poor. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and naphthalene acetic (NAA) acid on the adventitious root formation on stem cuttings of "pau-brasil". Cuttings with around 12cm length, with two pars of leaves, received a basal treatment of 0; 6,25; 12,50; 25 and 50mM IBA and NAA as solution form or 0, 1,250, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000mg Kg-1 as powder form. All cuttings were planted in cell trays containing sand and placed under greenhouse mist (90-95 percent relative humidity). After 120 days, cuttings were assessed for survival, foliar retention, callus formation and roots formation. There were high survival rate (up to 70 percent) of the cuttings. Callus formation was not correlated to auxin concentration. The utilization of liquid 25mM of IBA and NAA promoted the highest percentage of root formation, around 16 percent. The high survival rate associate with low percentage of root formation suggests that the cuttings may need longer time in greenhouse in order to stimulate root formation.