Oviposition biology, behavior, and avocado cultivar preferences of Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Heilipus lauri is a specialist avocado seed feeding weevil native to parts of México and is an invasive pest in Colombia. This weevil is considered an incursion risk because possible unintended introductions into areas outside of its native range can result in establishment, which threatens avocado production in invaded regions. Despite being a well-recognized pest of avocados, relatively little is known about oviposition biology, behavior, and cultivar preferences of this weevil. Field studies in commercial Hass avocado orchards in México and laboratory studies in a quarantine facility in California (USA) indicated that H. lauri prefers to oviposit into middle and bottom thirds of fruit. In the laboratory, an average of 1.7 eggs (range 1-6 eggs) are laid over a 24-h period in oviposition chambers by individual females. Conspecifics add eggs to these clutches, with up to 17 eggs being recorded in 1 oviposition chamber. This finding suggests that H. lauri does not use an oviposition deterring pheromone. Female weevils readily oviposit in artificial holes representing mechanical wounds on fruit. In comparison to the commercially dominant Hass variety, fruit from Lamb Hass and G22, a native Guatemalan variety, and to a lesser extent Gem, may be less preferred for oviposition when females have a choice of fruit in which to oviposit. Videography studies indicated that H. lauri exhibits predominantly diurnal activity with respect to oviposition behaviors, feeding, and walking.

Functional properties of starch cultivars of two Andean grains grown in Bolivia: Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) and canihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule).

The functional properties of Andean grain starches of two species, amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) and canihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule), three cultivars each, were studied. The study focused on chemical composition, pasting properties, thermal properties, water solubility index (WSI), swelling power (SP), and granule morphology. All amaranth starches were waxy starches, with amylose content less than 5 %, which had some differences in chemical composition (p < 0.05). The pasting properties differed between the species, canihua showed more resistance, than amaranth, to heat and shear stress (higher cool paste (CPV) and lower breakdown (BD), ranged between 1250 and 1600 cP and -30 - 10 cP respectively. The amaranth starches presented only similar CPV with 800-1000 cP, while canihua cultivars presented similar PT and BD, and both species presented similar PV, around 1000 cP. Thermal properties (To, Tp, Tc, ΔH, and ΔT) differed among cultivars and species. These differences could be related to the homogeneity molecular structure and content of amylose in canihua cultivars and possibly to genotype factor. Polygonal shapes were the predominant shape of starch granules, ranged 1.0-1.4 µm and 0.8-0.9 µm, for amaranth and canihua starches respectively. Amaranth starches swelled quickly to disintegrate partially at the end, contrary to canihua starches. The thermal and pasting properties were correlated between them. SB, CPV, HPV, CS, were correlated to the content of amylose in canihua starches. One amaranth cultivar was significantly different from the others. Thus, according the functional properties differenced both species and some cultivars in each species. Additionally, the amaranth starch has the potential to be used in the food industry where heat and stress are applied such as extrusion, while canihua starches can be used in desserts or in cosmetic uses, based on their functional properties.

Stability and genetic parameters for cassava yield attributes in the tropical humid region of Brazil.

The performance differences in cassava genotypes arising from genotype vs. environment interactions (G × E) often lead to responses that are significantly lower than expected for selection. The objective of this study was to evaluate different stability methods, both parametric and non-parametric, such as additive main-effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), main effect of genotypes plus G × E (GGE), and weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB), in order to quantify the G × E in multi-environmental trials. A total of 12 genotypes were assessed across 12 environments using a completely randomized block design, with three replicates for traits such as fresh root yield (FRY) and dry matter content in the roots (DMC). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Scott Knott test (p < 0.05). The sum of squares (SQ) of genotypes, environment, and G × E effects were equally distributed for FRY, whereas for DMC, these effects accounted for 64.1%, 21.9%, and 13.8% of the SQ, respectively, indicating a lower environmental effect on this characteristic. Using the AMMI, GGE, and WAASB methods, genotypes with high agronomic performance and stability for FRY (BR11-34-41 and BR11-34-69) (> 32 t ha-1) and DMC (BRS Novo Horizonte, BR12-107-002, and BR11-24-156) (> 37%) were identified. The broad-sense heritability ( h 2 ) for FRY and DMC was estimated to be 0.45 and 0.75, respectively. Approximately 72% of the methods identified BRS Novo Horizonte as the genotype with the highest stability and performance for DMC, while 47% identified genotypes BR11-34-41 and BR11-34-69 for FRY and intermediate DMC. Genotype BR11-24-156 exhibited high static stability according to 50% of the methods. Significant correlations were observed between stability and agronomic performance across the different methods, enabling the formation of groups based on stability concepts. Additionally, it was found that two mega-environments existed for FRY, whereas DMC displayed a single mega-environment with similar patterns, indicating an absence of G × E. We identified superior genotypes that could be promoted to national performance trials to develop stable cultivars with better yield attributes in cassava. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10681-024-03384-5.

Comparative analysis of infected cassava root transcriptomics reveals candidate genes for root rot disease resistance.

Cassava root-rot incited by soil-borne pathogens is one of the major diseases that reduces root yield. Although the use of resistant cultivars is the most effective method of management, the genetic basis for root-rot resistance remains poorly understood. Therefore, our work analyzed the transcriptome of two contrasting genotypes (BRS Kiriris/resistant and BGM-1345/susceptible) using RNA-Seq to understand the molecular response and identify candidate genes for resistance. Cassava seedlings (resistant and susceptible to root-rot) were both planted in infested and sterilized soil and samples from Initial-time and Final-time periods, pooled. Two controls were used: (i) seedlings collected before planting in infested soil (absolute control) and, (ii) plants grown in sterilized soil (mock treatments). For the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis 23.912 were expressed in the resistant genotype, where 10.307 were differentially expressed in the control treatment, 15 DEGs in the Initial Time-period and 366 DEGs in the Final Time-period. Eighteen candidate genes from the resistant genotype were related to plant defense, such as the MLP-like protein 31 and the peroxidase A2-like gene. This is the first model of resistance at the transcriptional level proposed for the cassava × root-rot pathosystem. Gene validation will contribute to screening for resistance of germplasm, segregating populations and/or use in gene editing in the pursuit to develop most promising cassava clones with resistance to root-rot.

Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Arabica Coffee Beans of Arara cv. Dried Using Different Methods.

The coffee fruit is preferably harvested at the cherry stage, with high moisture and metabolic activity, and must then undergo a drying process for better preservation of the bean and its sensory attributes. In this context, this study aimed to characterize the final quality of the Arara cultivar Arabica coffee processed using the wet method and subjected to six drying methods: three conducted at the agro-industrial establishment (fixed-bed dryer, rotary drum dryer, and combined drying) and three laboratory-scale methods (convective oven, cast-tape drying, and suspended terrace). Drying was carried out to reduce the coffee's moisture content from an initial value of 46.2% on a wet basis (w.b.) to a final average value of 11.35% (w.b.). The fruits of in natura demucilaged coffee and the processed dry coffee beans were characterized for moisture, ash content, nitrogen compounds, lipids, total titratable acidity, organic acids, sugars, and the instrumental color of the beans. The sensory profile of the Arabica coffee was evaluated by five coffee specialists using the methodology proposed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), and all the coffees were classified as a specialty.

Exploring the chemical diversity of Capsicum chinense cultivars using NMR-based metabolomics and machine learning methods.

The habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a prominent spicy fruit integral to the historical, social, cultural, and economic fabric of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. This study leverages the power of 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with machine learning algorithms to dissect the metabolomic profile of eleven C. chinense cultivars, including those grown by INIFAP (Habanero-Jaguar, Antillano-HRA 1-1, Antillano-HRA 7-1, Habanero-HAm-18A, Habanero-HC-23C, and Jolokia-NJolokia-22) and commercial hybrids (Habanero-Rey Votán, Habanero-Kabal, Balam, USAPR10117, and Rey Pakal). A total of fifty metabolites, encompassing sugars, amino acids, short-chain organic acids, and nucleosides, were identified from the 1H NMR spectra. The optimized machine learning model proficiently predicted the similarity percentage between the INIFAP-grown cultivars and commercial hybrids, thereby facilitating a comprehensive comparison. Biomarkers unique to each cultivar were delineated, revealing that the Habanero-Rey Votán cultivar is characterized by the highest concentration of sugars. In contrast, the Balam cultivar is rich in amino acids and short-chain organic acids, sharing a similar metabolomic profile with the Jolokia-NJolokia-22 cultivar. The findings of this study underscore the efficacy and reliability of NMR-based metabolomics as a robust tool for differentiating C. chinense cultivars based on their intricate chemical profiles. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of the metabolomic diversity among habanero peppers but also holds potential implications for food science, agriculture, and the culinary arts.

Alterations induced by Colomerus vitis on the structural and physiological leaf features of two grape cultivars.

Vitis vinifera is cultivated worldwide for its high nutritional and commercial value. More than 60 grape cultivars are cultivated in Chile. Two of these, the país and the corinto cultivars, are the oldest known and widely used for the preparation of traditional homemade drinks and consumption as table grapes. These two grape cultivars are affected by Colomerus vitis, an eriophyid mite which establishes on their leaves and forms erinea, where the mite and its offspring obtain shelter and food. Although C. vitis has a cosmopolitan distribution, few studies of its impact on the structure and physiology of affected plants have been reported. Herein we aimed to evaluate the impact of C. vitis infection on the structural and physiological leaf performance of the two grape cultivars. The results showed tissue hyperplasia and cell hypertrophy in the epidermis, with an overproduction of trichomes and emergences in the abaxial epidermis in both cultivars. The anatomical changes were similar between the país and corinto cultivars, but they were proportionally greater in the país, where the area affected by the erinea were greater. No significant changes were detected in the photosynthetic pigment content; however, there was an increase in the total soluble sugars content in the erineum leaves of the país cultivar. Higher contents of anthocyanins and total phenols, as well as the presence of the pinocembrin in the corinto cultivar, which was less affected by C. vitis, could also indicate some resistance to mites' attack, which should be investigated in future studies.

ProbBreed: a novel tool for calculating the risk of cultivar recommendation in multienvironment trials.

Neglecting genotype-by-environment interactions in multienvironment trials (MET) increases the risk of flawed cultivar recommendations for growers. Recent advancements in probability theory coupled with cutting-edge software offer a more streamlined decision-making process for selecting suitable candidates across diverse environments. Here, we present the user-friendly ProbBreed package in R, which allows breeders to calculate the probability of a given genotype outperforming competitors under a Bayesian framework. This article outlines the package's basic workflow and highlights its key features, ranging from MET model fitting to estimating the per se and pairwise probabilities of superior performance and stability for selection candidates. Remarkably, only the selection intensity is required to compute these probabilities. By democratizing this complex yet efficient methodology, ProbBreed aims to enhance decision-making and ultimately contribute to more accurate cultivar recommendations in breeding programs.

Dark-Chocolate-Coated BRS Clara Raisins: Phenolic Composition and Sensory Attributes.

Dark chocolate dragée confectionary was made with BRS Clara raisins pre-treated with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The evaluation of the changes in the phenolic composition (flavonols, hydrocinnamic acid derivatives (HCADs), stilbenes and flavan-3-ol monomers, dimers, and proanthocyanidins (PAs)) resulting from the covering process showed that the chocolate coating was responsible for an increase in the concentrations of flavan-3-ols and PAs when compared to just the raisins. For the flavonols and HCADs, a reduction in the total concentration of compounds was observed when comparing the dragées to the raisins. Furthermore, there was a strong influence of chocolate in the qualitative profile with the emergence of new compounds (quercetin-3-pentoside, kampfterol-3-rutinoside, p-coumaric acid, and caffeoyl-aspartate). The combination of these ingredients (raisins and chocolate) resulted in a dark chocolate coated raisin (DC) with good sensory acceptance and a more complex phenolic composition that may positively contribute to its functional quality.

Green Management of Postharvest Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Fruits and vegetables are constantly affected by postharvest diseases, of which anthracnose is one of the most severe and is caused by diverse Colletotrichum species, mainly C. gloeosporioides. In the last few decades, chemical fungicides have been the primary approach to anthracnose control. However, recent trends and regulations have sought to limit the use of these substances. Greener management includes a group of sustainable alternatives that use natural substances and microorganisms to control postharvest fungi. This comprehensive review of contemporary research presents various sustainable alternatives to C. gloeosporioides postharvest control in vitro and in situ, ranging from the use of biopolymers, essential oils, and antagonistic microorganisms to cultivar resistance. Strategies such as encapsulation, biofilms, coatings, compounds secreted, antibiotics, and lytic enzyme production by microorganisms are revised. Finally, the potential effects of climate change on C. gloeosporioides and anthracnose disease are explored. Greener management can provide a possible replacement for the conventional approach of using chemical fungicides for anthracnose postharvest control. It presents diverse methodologies that are not mutually exclusive and can be in tune with the needs and interests of new consumers and the environment. Overall, developing or using these alternatives has strong potential for improving sustainability and addressing the challenges generated by climate change.

Environmental performance of phytosanitary control techniques on soybean crop estimated by life cycle assessment (LCA).

Phytosanitary control is essential to ensure agricultural productivity and quality. However, approaches based on scheduled use of pesticides, overuse of harmful molecules produce impacts on different types of living organisms. Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM-IDM) may significantly reduce the burden of pesticides in the environment. Plant resistance may also be included in the IPM-IDM and even in conventional management due to little requirement of additional knowledge and changes in agricultural practices. Robust environmental assessments using methodology of universal use, life cycle assessment (LCA), may estimate the impacts of specific pesticides that cause major damages, including remarkable category impacts. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the impacts and (eco)toxicological effects of phytosanitary strategies (IPM-IDM including or not lepidopteran resistant transgenic cultivars) vs. the scheduled approach. Two inventory modeling methods were also applied to gather information on the use and applicability of these methods. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied using two inventory modeling methods: 100%Soil and PestLCI (Consensus) using data from Brazilian croplands under tropical conditions, by combining phytosanitary approaches (IPM-IDM, IPM-IDM + transgenic cultivar, conventional, conventional + transgenic cultivar) and modeling methods. Hence, eight soybean production scenarios were established. The IPM-IDM was efficient to reduce the (eco)toxicity impacts of soybean production mainly for freshwater ecotoxicity category. Due to the dynamic character of IPM-IDM approaches, the inclusion of recently introduced strategies (plant resistant and biological control to stink bugs and plant fungal diseases) may diminish even more the principal impacting substances throughout the Brazilian croplands. The PestLCI Consensus method, although its development is yet in progress, to date can be suggested to estimate the agriculture environmental impacts more properly under tropical conditions.

Olfactory Responses of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Mango Fruits as Influenced by Cultivar and Ripeness Stages.

Anastrepha obliqua Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a polyphagous species with hog plums (Spondias spp.) (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) and mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) as primary host fruits. In this study, the olfactory preference of A. obliqua for three stages of ripeness of two mango cultivars ('Coche' and 'Ataulfo') was investigated. The female flies were more attracted to ripe 'Coche' fruits compared to those ripe 'Ataulfo'. Further, they were more attracted to the 'Coche' half-ripe and ripe fruits than to the unripe ones, but they did not discriminate among the stages of ripeness of 'Ataulfo' fruits. The male flies did not show preference for any specific mango cultivars or ripeness stage tested. Four compounds from ripe 'Coche' mangoes, and two from ripe 'Ataulfo' fruits were identified using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic (GC-EAD) recording and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. 'Coche' mango volatiles eliciting responses from the female antennae were ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, and ethyl octanoate. The two 'Ataulfo' mango volatiles were identified as 3-carene and ethyl octanoate. These compounds were absent in unripe mangoes of both cultivars. Synthetic blends of these compounds were attractive to females as mango extracts in field cage tests. Our results suggest that the olfactory preference of A. obliqua for attractive hosts is based on the presence or absence of the compounds associated with fruit maturity.

Infection of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) by an endophyte fungus (Neotyphodium lolii) decreases the abundance and diversity of predators and parasitoids

ABSTRACT Perennial ryegrass is one of the most important food sources in animal production. However, several pests affect this crop, and one of the primary control strategies is the symbiotic relationships between ryegrass endophyte fungi. This fungus produces alkaloids that exhibit toxic activity against arthropods. Furthermore, the effect of fungi may extend to higher trophic levels, including predators (spiders and/or insects), decreasing their abundance and diversity. Given the importance of spiders and insects as predators, whether the symbiotic interaction between perennial ryegrass and endophyte fungus reduces the abundance and diversity of predators pose an important question. To address this question, natural enemies in perennial ryegrass were collected and analyzed over a year, and the percentage of endophyte fungus was evaluated by the presence of hyphae from two ryegrass cultivars, Jumbo (E-) and Alto AR1 (E+). We observed an 80% endophyte infection rate for (E+) and 0% for (E-). Moreover, 222 individual spiders corresponding to 10 families were identified in both perennial ryegrasses, including 209 individuals for (E-) and 13 for (E+). The most abundant spider family was Lycosidae, representing 71.17% of the total spiders. In addition, 65 insects were collected, corresponding to 6 families, with Carabidae being the most abundant. Furthermore, the Simpson index indicated the dominance of the family Lycosidae. Overall, spider and insect abundance and diversity were reduced in (E+), suggesting a negative effect of the endophyte on predator populations.

Multi-Environment and Multi-Year Bayesian Analysis Approach in Coffee canephora.

This work aimed to use the Bayesian approach to discriminate 43 genotypes of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon, which were cultivated in two producing regions to identify the most stable and productive genotypes. The experiment was a randomized block design with three replications and seven plants per plot, carried out in the south of Bahia and the north of Espírito Santo, environments with different climatic conditions, and evaluated during four harvests. The proposed Bayesian methodology was implemented in R language, using the MCMCglmm package. This approach made it possible to find great genetic divergence between the materials, and detect significant effects for both genotype, environment, and year, but the hyper-parametrized models (block effect) presented problems of singularity and convergence. It was also possible to detect a few differences between crops within the same environment. With a model with lower residual, it was possible to recommend the most productive genotypes for both environments: LB1, AD1, Peneirão, Z21, and P2.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity, phenolic content, anthocyanins, and flavonoids of fresh and dried 'Biloxi' blueberries / Evaluación de la actividad antioxidante, contenido fenólico, antocianinas y flavonoides de arándanos 'Biloxi' frescos y secos

BACKGROUND: The phytochemical content present in blueberries has generated great interest, especially in the nutra-pharmaceutical industry, where it is known as the "super fruit" due to its prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, among others). OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the functional potential of fresh blueberries and dried blueberries using forced convection by measuring phytochemical content to conclude if this drying technology is convenient for prolonging the product's shelf life. METHODS: For this purpose, antioxidant activity, phenolic content, total anthocyanins, and total flavonoids of 'Biloxi' blueberry cultivars were determined. Fresh and dried blueberries' results were studied. Fruit extracts were analyzed to determine antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as a free radical, total phenolic content with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, total anthocyanins by pH differential method, and total flavonoids by Aluminum Chloride method. RESULTS: Results for fresh blueberries yielded ranges of antioxidant activity (90.8-93.9% Free radical scavenging rate), total phenolic content (275 to 645mgGAE/100gFW), total anthocyanins content (28.55 to 43.75mgCy3G/100gFW) and total flavonoids content (159.92 to 335.75mgQE/100gFW). For the forced convection oven process, ranges of antioxidant activity (85.5-92.6% Free radical scavenging rate), total phenolic content (261 to 308mgGAE/100gFW), total anthocyanins content (4.74 to 5.12mgCy3G/100gFW) and total flavonoids content (30.66±0.38mgQE/100gFW) were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: In general, blueberries studied proved to have similar concentrations of functional properties compared to a wide variety of cultivars grown around the globe. Furthermore, higher concentrations of phytochemical content than those reported previously for strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries were evidenced. Although dried blueberries studied proved to have diminished phytochemical content, this functional component content stands out among the fruits market and give nutritional value to end consumers. Drying processes could potentially increase the commerce of blueberries by significantly reducing their perishable nature

CONTEXTO: El contenido fitoquímico presente en los arándanos ha generado gran interés, especialmente en la industria nutra-farmacéutica donde es conocido como una "super fruta" debido a su ayuda en la prevención y tratamiento de enfermedades neurodegenerativas, enfermedades cardiovasculares, diabetes, cáncer, entre otras. OBJETIVOS: Este estudio evaluó el potencial funcional de arándanos frescos y deshidratados por convección forzada mediante la determinación de su contenido fitoquímico con el objetivo de concluir si esta tecnología de secado es conveniente para aumentar la vida útil del producto. MÉTODOS: Para este propósito, se determinó la actividad antioxidante, el contenido fenólico, las antocianinas totales y los flavonoides totales de cultivos de arándanos 'Biloxi' La información recopilada de la literatura fue analizada. Se estudió el contenido en compuestos funcionales en arándanos frescos y deshidratados. Los extractos de fruta fueron analizados para determinar actividad antioxidante por medio de 2,2-Difenil-1-Picrilhidrazilo (DPPH) como radical libre, fenólicos totales con el reactivo Folin-Ciocalteu, antocianinas totales usando el método diferencial de pH y flavonoides totales con el método de Cloruro de Aluminio. RESULTADOS: Para los arándanos frescos se obtuvieron rangos de actividad antioxidante de 90.8-93.9% Tasa de captación de radicales libres, contenido fenólico total de 275-645mgEAG/100gPF, contenido de antocianinas totales de 28.55-43.75mgCy3G/100gPF y contenido total de flavonoides de 159.92-335.75mgEQ/100gPF. Para los arándanos deshidratados por convección forzada, se obtuvieron rangos de actividad antioxidante de 85.5-92.6% Tasa de captación de radicales libres, contenido fenólico total de 261-308mgEAG/100gPF, contenido de antocianinas totales de 4.74-5.12mgCy3G/100gPF y contenido total de flavonoides de 30.24-30.96mgEQ/100gPF. CONCLUSIONES: En general, los arándanos estudiados probaron tener concentraciones similares de propiedades funcionales comparados con una amplia variedad de cultivos alrededor del mundo. Además, fueron evidenciadas concentraciones más altas de contenido fitoquímico comparadas con las reportadas previamente para fresas, moras y frambuesas. Aunque los arándanos secos estudiados demostraron tener menor contenido fitoquímico, la cantidad de estos componentes funcionales destaca dentro del mercado de las frutas y dan valor nutricional a los consumidores. Los procesos de secado pueden potencialmente incrementar el comercio de arándanos derivado de una disminución significativa en su naturaleza perecedera

Germplasm screening of Myrtus communius Var. Italica l. for cultivar development from dir lower (Malakand Division), Pakistan

Habb-ul-Aas is a commercial drug obtained from Myrtus communis L and widely used for abdominal disorders in Pakistan. This sclerophyllous shrub is commonly found in the Lower Dir, Malakand Division, Pakistan. This plant is used as crude drug in herbal as well as pharmaceutical industry due to presence of aromatic oil obtained from various parts of the plant. Two varieties viz., italic and baetica of the plant exist in the world; however, no study reported before about the existence of this species up to the varietal level from Pakistan. The current study was undertaken to characterize the existing germplasm by using certain morphometric parameters in relation to physiognomic features. They exhibit high variability among characters, especially for characteristics useful in selecting cultivars for commercial production. Among the various ecotypes, MBT3 possessed high shoot length (29.96cm), leaf area (2.3cm), fruit volume (0.97ml) & fruit weight (0.88g) and pulp (0.87g) and therefore recommended for the cultivar development.

A Comprehensive Review of the Coffee Leaf Miner Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)-A Major Pest for the Coffee Crop in Brazil and Others Neotropical Countries.

The coffee leaf miner (CLM) Leucoptera coffeella moth is a major threat to coffee production. Insect damage is related to the feeding behavior of the larvae on the leaf. During the immature life stages, the insect feeds in the mesophyll triggering necrosis and causing loss of photosynthetic capacity, defoliation and significant yield loss to coffee crops. Chemical control is used to support the coffee production chain, though market requirements move toward conscious consumption claiming for more sustainable methods. In this overview, we discuss aspects about the CLM concerning biology, history, geographical distribution, economic impacts, and the most relevant control strategies in progress. Insights to develop an integrated approach for a safer and eco-friendly control of the CLM are discussed here, including bio-extracts, nanotechnology, pheromones, and tolerant cultivars.

Entomofauna study of bean genotypes by multivariate analysis / Estudio de la entomofauna de genotipos de frijol por medio de análisis multivariado

RESUMEN En el cultivo del frijol existen diversas especies de insectos que pueden ocasionar perjuicios a la productividad y enemigos naturales que pueden ayudar a regular sus poblaciones. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la entomofauna asociada a 20 genotipos de frijol y correlacionar la interacción entre los insectos utilizando análisis multivariado. Las especies más abundantes en el sistema estudiado fueron Sternechus subsignatus (Curculionidae: Sternechini), Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) y Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Las tres especies presentaron correlación directa entre sí. El cultivo del frijol en estudio presentó tres especies de chinches consideradas importantes plagas. Las especies Cerotoma arcuata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) y Edessa meditabunda meditabunda (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) presentaron correlación inversa entre sí.

ABSTRACT There are several species of insects that can cause damage to productivity and natural enemies that can help to regulate populations in beans cultivation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the entomofauna associated with 20 bean genotypes and correlate the interaction between insects using multivariate analysis. The most abundant species in the studied system were Sternechus subsignatus Boheman, 1836 (Curculionidae: Sternechini), Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). All three species showed direct correlation with each other. The bean crop under study presented three species of stinkbugs considered important pests. The species Cerotoma arcuata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Edessa meditabunda (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) presented inverse correlation with each other.

Growth and productivity of tomato under use of biostimulant and ages of seedling transplantation / Crescimento e produtividade de tomate sob uso de biostimulante e idades de transplante das mudas

The age of the seedlings in the transplant, as well as the use of biostimulants in their production, are factors that can influence the good quality of the seedlings, which is fundamental for the good development of the plant, and can affect the yield of the tomato crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate plant development and fruit yield according to the age of tomato seedlings, during transplantation, whether or not treated with the Stimulate® biostimulant. The hybrid H9553 was used, and the experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with four replications, and ten plants were evaluated, per plot. The factorial scheme 2 x 6 was adopted, where 2 corresponds to the use or not of Stimulate®, and 6 corresponds to the age of the seedlings, in the transplant. Before transplantation, the height of the seedling, length of the root, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh and dry mass of the aerial part and the root were evaluated at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days after sowing. At 78 days after transplantation, the length of the main stem, stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit mass per plant and average fruit mass were evaluated. Seedlings with seventy days show superior results for the morphological characteristics, however, this does not interfere in the yield of the culture. The use of Stimulate®, alone or in interaction with the age of the seedlings, does not influence plant growth or fruit yield.(AU)

A idade das mudas no transplante, bem como o uso de bioestimulantes em sua produção, são fatores que podem influenciar na boa qualidade das mudas, fundamental para o bom desenvolvimento da planta, podendo afetar o rendimento da cultura do tomate. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar desenvolvimento da planta e o rendimento de frutos em função da idade das mudas de tomateiro, no transplante, tratadas ou não com o bioestimulante Stimulate®. Foi utilizado o híbrido H9553, e o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, e avaliadas dez plantas, por parcela. Foi adotado o esquema fatorial 2 x 6, onde 2 corresponde ao uso ou não de Stimulate®, e 6 corresponde à idade das mudas, no transplante. Antes do transplante avaliou-se a altura da muda, comprimento da raiz, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e da raiz, aos 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 e 70 dias após a semeadura. Aos 78 dias após o transplante avaliou-se o comprimento da haste principal, diâmetro do caule, número de frutos por planta, massa total dos frutos por planta e massa média dos frutos. Mudas com setenta dias apresentam resultados superiores para as caraterísticas morfológicas, porém, isso não interfere no rendimento da cultura. O uso do Stimulate®, isoladamente ou em interação com a idade das mudas, não influencia no crescimento das plantas ou no rendimento de frutos.(AU)

Growth and productivity of tomato under use of biostimulant and ages of seedling transplantation / Crescimento e produtividade de tomate sob uso de biostimulante e idades de transplante das mudas

The age of the seedlings in the transplant, as well as the use of biostimulants in their production, are factors that can influence the good quality of the seedlings, which is fundamental for the good development of the plant, and can affect the yield of the tomato crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate plant development and fruit yield according to the age of tomato seedlings, during transplantation, whether or not treated with the Stimulate® biostimulant. The hybrid H9553 was used, and the experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with four replications, and ten plants were evaluated, per plot. The factorial scheme 2 x 6 was adopted, where 2 corresponds to the use or not of Stimulate®, and 6 corresponds to the age of the seedlings, in the transplant. Before transplantation, the height of the seedling, length of the root, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh and dry mass of the aerial part and the root were evaluated at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days after sowing. At 78 days after transplantation, the length of the main stem, stem diameter, number of fruits per plant, total fruit mass per plant and average fruit mass were evaluated. Seedlings with seventy days show superior results for the morphological characteristics, however, this does not interfere in the yield of the culture. The use of Stimulate®, alone or in interaction with the age of the seedlings, does not influence plant growth or fruit yield.

A idade das mudas no transplante, bem como o uso de bioestimulantes em sua produção, são fatores que podem influenciar na boa qualidade das mudas, fundamental para o bom desenvolvimento da planta, podendo afetar o rendimento da cultura do tomate. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar desenvolvimento da planta e o rendimento de frutos em função da idade das mudas de tomateiro, no transplante, tratadas ou não com o bioestimulante Stimulate®. Foi utilizado o híbrido H9553, e o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, e avaliadas dez plantas, por parcela. Foi adotado o esquema fatorial 2 x 6, onde 2 corresponde ao uso ou não de Stimulate®, e 6 corresponde à idade das mudas, no transplante. Antes do transplante avaliou-se a altura da muda, comprimento da raiz, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e da raiz, aos 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 e 70 dias após a semeadura. Aos 78 dias após o transplante avaliou-se o comprimento da haste principal, diâmetro do caule, número de frutos por planta, massa total dos frutos por planta e massa média dos frutos. Mudas com setenta dias apresentam resultados superiores para as caraterísticas morfológicas, porém, isso não interfere no rendimento da cultura. O uso do Stimulate®, isoladamente ou em interação com a idade das mudas, não influencia no crescimento das plantas ou no rendimento de frutos.