The light intensity in the cultivation environment and the impact of glyphosate on plants of the Urochloa genus.

The variation in light within the environment triggers morphophysiological changes in plants and can lead to distinct responses in sun-exposed or shaded plants to glyphosate. The response of Urochloa genotypes subjected to desiccation with 2160, 1622.4, 1080, 524.4, 273.6, and 0.0 g ha-1 of glyphosate was evaluated in full sun and shade conditions. Cayana grass, mulato II grass, and sabiá grass - hybrids recently launched on the market, in addition to palisade grass and congo grass were evaluated. Under full sun, we achieved control of congo grass using 1080 g ha-1 of glyphosate, while the other grasses required 2160 g ha-1. In the low-light environment, sabiá grass was effectively controlled with 524.4 g ha-1 of glyphosate, but the other grasses needed 273.6 g ha-1. In shading, compared to full sun, the savings with glyphosate were 75 and 76% for the control of congo grass and sabiá grass, respectively, and 87% for palisade grass, mulato II grass and cayana grass. Increasing glyphosate doses leads to a decline in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and in the electron transport rate, especially in the shade. Urochloa genotypes are more sensitive to glyphosate in the shade, which must be considered when determining the herbicide dose.

Leveraging a realistic synthetic database to learn Shape-from-Shading for estimating the colon depth in colonoscopy images.

Colonoscopy is the choice procedure to diagnose, screening, and treat the colon and rectum cancer, from early detection of small precancerous lesions (polyps), to confirmation of malign masses. However, the high variability of the organ appearance and the complex shape of both the colon wall and structures of interest make this exploration difficult. Learned visuospatial and perceptual abilities mitigate technical limitations in clinical practice by proper estimation of the intestinal depth. This work introduces a novel methodology to estimate colon depth maps in single frames from monocular colonoscopy videos. The generated depth map is inferred from the shading variation of the colon wall with respect to the light source, as learned from a realistic synthetic database. Briefly, a classic convolutional neural network architecture is trained from scratch to estimate the depth map, improving sharp depth estimations in haustral folds and polyps by a custom loss function that minimizes the estimation error in edges and curvatures. The network was trained by a custom synthetic colonoscopy database herein constructed and released, composed of 248400 frames (47 videos), with depth annotations at the level of pixels. This collection comprehends 5 subsets of videos with progressively higher levels of visual complexity. Evaluation of the depth estimation with the synthetic database reached a threshold accuracy of 95.65%, and a mean-RMSE of 0.451cm, while a qualitative assessment with a real database showed consistent depth estimations, visually evaluated by the expert gastroenterologist coauthoring this paper. Finally, the method achieved competitive performance with respect to another state-of-the-art method using a public synthetic database and comparable results in a set of images with other five state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, three-dimensional reconstructions demonstrated useful approximations of the gastrointestinal tract geometry. Code for reproducing the reported results and the dataset are available at https://github.com/Cimalab-unal/ColonDepthEstimation.

Milk and Fresh Cheese Quality of Crossbred Cows Supplemented with Phytogenic Additives and Managed under Thermal Stress.

This investigation aimed to assess the physiological parameters and quality of milk and fresh cheeses produced by cows that were housed in paddocks, either with or without shade, and supplemented with a phytogenic additive. Sixteen crossbred cows were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, dividing them into paddocks with or without shade, and providing or not providing a phytogenic additive in their feed. This resulted in a total of four treatment groups and sixteen experimental plots, each containing four animals, over four periods of 21 days. Various parameters were examined, including haematology, rectal and skin temperature, respiratory rate, milk yield and composition, serum parameters, and cheese yield and quality. It is worth noting that the temperature and humidity, as measured by a black globe thermometer, did not display significant variations between the different environments and exhibited minimal fluctuations throughout the day. Additionally, the supplementation of the phytogenic additive led to a reduction in haematocrit levels (p = 0.011). Furthermore, the analysis showed that whey obtained from cheese production had a higher fat content when cows were without access to shade (p = 0.005). Notably, there was an interaction between factors in relation to the total dry extract content, which was lower when cows had access to shade and received the additive (p = 0.010). In summary, the provision of a phytogenic additive and the presence or absence of shade did not bring about significant changes in milk production and quality or in the yield and quality of fresh cheese.

Carbon gain is coordinated with enhanced stomatal conductance and hydraulic architecture in coffee plants acclimated to elevated [CO2]: The interplay with irradiance supply.

We recently demonstrated that, under elevated [CO2] (eCa), coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants grown at high light (HL), but not at low light (LL), display higher stomatal conductance (gs) than at ambient [CO2] (aCa). We then hypothesized that the enhanced gs at eCa/HL, if sustained at the long-term, would lead to adjustments in hydraulic architecture. To test this hypothesis, potted plants of coffee were grown in open-top chambers for 12 months under HL or LL (ca. 9 or 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, respectively); these light treatments were combined with two [CO2] levels (ca. 437 or 705 µmol mol-1, respectively). Under eCa/HL, increased gs was closely accompanied by increases in branch and leaf hydraulic conductances, suggesting a coordinated response between liquid- and vapor-phase water flows throughout the plant. Still under HL, eCa also resulted in increased Huber value (sapwood area-to-total leaf area), sapwood area-to-stem diameter, and root mass-to-total leaf area, thus further improving the water supply to the leaves. Our results demonstrate that Ca is a central player in coffee physiology increasing carbon gain through a close association between stomatal function and an improved hydraulic architecture under HL conditions.

Three environmental dimensions of beef cattle in tropical feedlot: Water, nutrients and land.

This study aims to evaluate water, land, and nutrient efficiencies in a tropical beef feedlot system by providing artificial shading and considering local conditions and feed cultivation. The study was conducted at the Experimental Feedlot of Embrapa Southeast Livestock in Brazil. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were divided into two groups, with one group having shade (GS) and the other without shade (GWS). The animals' body weights, water intake, and dry matter intake were recorded. The water footprint was calculated using a product-focused assessment, considering water consumed in feed production and animal drinking. The nutrient balance and land footprint were also assessed. To both treatments, the crop scenario with soybean and corn first crop produced in Maringa resulted in the lowest water and land footprint values. Corn was the main contributor to green water consumption. The efficiency in water use for corn decreased between the first and second crops. The water footprint of soybean meal varied between production locations. GWS had slightly higher average blue water consumption than GS. In terms of nutrient balance, the GS treatment exhibited lower nitrogen and phosphorus balance values, indicating higher efficiency in the use of these elements. The provision of artificial shading was found to reduce the water footprint and improve nutrient use efficiency. The location of grain production and the timing of corn planting were identified as key factors influencing water and land footprint values.

Applied nucleation under high biodiversity silvopastoral system as an adaptive strategy against microclimate extremes in pasture areas.

This study aimed to assess the influence of the high biodiversity silvopastoral system (SPSnu) on the microclimate, pasture production, and pasture chemical composition. Microclimate variables and pasture production and chemical composition were measured in pared paddocks under SPSnu and treeless pasture (TLP) in a commercial farm during four seasons in Southern Brazil. SPSnu measurements were subdivided into two areas: around the nuclei (AN) and area inter-nuclei (IN). In the TLP paddocks, we plotted fictitious nuclei with the same areas and distributions of SPSnu, however without trees. For the microclimate measurements, these areas were noted when shaded or unshaded by the nuclei trees. In each season, the microclimate variables air temperature (AT, °C), relative humidity (RH, %), illuminance (Ilu, lux), wind speed (WS, m/s), and soil surface temperature (SST, °C) were measured. In addition, botanical composition (%), pasture production (kg/DM/ ha), and pasture chemical composition were evaluated. The SPSnu provided the lowest values of microclimate variables in all seasons (p < 0.05), except for the relative humidity. Winter had the highest thermal amplitude in the systems. The highest difference between SPSnu and TLP for AT (4.3 °C) and SST (5.2 °C) was measured during the hot seasons (spring and summer). In contrast, during cold seasons (autumn and winter) it observed highest thermal amplitude between SPSnu and TLP. Overall, the highest annual pasture production was observed in the SPSnu (p < 0.05). During the summer, the SPSnu areas showed the highest values of crude protein and dry matter (p < 0.05). During the winter, the TLP showed the lowest values (p < 0.05) of pasture production and dry matter. It was observed that SPSnu improved the microclimate at the pasture level, influencing pasture production and pasture chemical composition. The enhanced microclimate can partially mitigate some of the effects of climate change on pastoral agroecosystems, creating conditions for ecological rehabilitation of ecosystem processes and services. These conditions could be amplified to a biome level through a payment for ecosystem services program.

Colorações de malhas de sombreamento sobre a fenologia, biometria e características físico-químicas de Physalis peruviana L. em sistema orgânico de produção / Colors of shadowing meshes on phenology, biometrics and physicochemical characteristics of Physalis peruviana L. in organic production system

Objetivou-se neste trabalho verificar a influência de distintas colorações de malhas de sombreamento sobre a fenologia, biometria e características físico-químicas de Physalis peruviana L em sistema orgânico de produção. O experimento foi realizado na área experimentalda UFFS, campus Laranjeiras do Sul ­PR, no setor de Horticultura. Como material vegetal foram utilizadas mudas de P. peruviana L. produzidas em estufa agrícola da área didática experimental. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos completamente casualizados, em esquema unifatorial, com quatro malhas de sombreamento (azul, preta, vermelha e branca) + testemunha (sem cobertura), com quatro repetições. Para a fenologia não houve influência estatística das colorações de malhas de sombreamento. Plantas com maior altura e menordiâmetro de caule foram verificadas com o uso da malha de sombreamento da coloração azul. Houve alterações sobre a firmeza de frutos, massa com cálice, diâmetro, altura e sólidos solúveis em função da cor da malha de sombreamento. Conclui-se que as malhasde sombreamento de diferentes colorações não interferem na fenologia de P. peruviana, mas alteram ascaracterísticas biométricas e físico-químicas das frutas, sendo a de coloração vermelha a que proporcionou os melhores resultados, não sendo recomendada autilização da malha de coloração azul.(AU)

The objective of this work was to verify the influence of different colors of shading meshes onthe phenology, biometry and physicochemical characteristics of Physalis peruvianain an organic production system. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of UFFS, campus Laranjeiras do Sul -PR, in the Horticulture sector. As plant material, seedlings of Physalis peruvianaL. produced in an agricultural greenhouse in the experimental teaching area were used. The experimental design was in completely randomized blocks, in a one-factor scheme, with four shading meshes (blue, black, red andwhite) + control (no cover), with four replications. For the phenology there was no statistical influence of the shading mesh colors. Plants with greater height and smaller diameter were verified using the blue color shading mesh. There were changes in fruit firmness, mass with calyx, diameter, height and soluble solids depending on the type of shading. It is concluded in this work that shading nets of different colors do not affect the phenology of the P. peruviana, but they change the biometric and physicochemical characteristics of fruits, with red color being the ones that provide the best results, the use of the blue colored mesh is not recommended.(AU)

Growth and Leaf Gas Exchange Upregulation by Elevated [CO2] Is Light Dependent in Coffee Plants.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants have been assorted as highly suitable to growth at elevated [CO2] (eCa), although such suitability is hypothesized to decrease under severe shade. We herein examined how the combination of eCa and contrasting irradiance affects growth and photosynthetic performance. Coffee plants were grown in open-top chambers under relatively high light (HL) or low light (LL) (9 or 1 mol photons m-2 day-1, respectively), and aCa or eCa (437 or 705 µmol mol-1, respectively). Most traits were affected by light and CO2, and by their interaction. Relative to aCa, our main findings were (i) a greater stomatal conductance (gs) (only at HL) with decreased diffusive limitations to photosynthesis, (ii) greater gs during HL-to-LL transitions, whereas gs was unresponsive to the LL-to-HL transitions irrespective of [CO2], (iii) greater leaf nitrogen pools (only at HL) and higher photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency irrespective of light, (iv) lack of photosynthetic acclimation, and (v) greater biomass partitioning to roots and earlier branching. In summary, eCa improved plant growth and photosynthetic performance. Our novel and timely findings suggest that coffee plants are highly suited for a changing climate characterized by a progressive elevation of [CO2], especially if the light is nonlimiting.

Economically sustainable shade design for feedlot cattle.

Provision of shade reduces radiant heat load on feedlot cattle, thus reducing demand of water and energy for thermoregulation. While the positive effects of shade on animal welfare are widely known, the literature lacks data on the magnitude of its economic impacts. In this study, we propose the concept of novel shade design to prove that a correctly oriented and dimensioned roof structure, which optimizes shade to be displaced within the pens, motivates cattle to seek shade, protect them from short-wave solar radiation, and is resilient to counteract weather adverse conditions. The beneficial outcome is improvement in animal welfare and productive performance, as well as increments on financial return and sustainability. To attest these benefits, eight hundred B. indicus × Bos taurus bulls were randomly assigned in pens with or without shade from a galvanized steel-roof structure. Performance data (e.g., dry matter intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency and hot carcass weight) and heat stress indicators (e.g., subcutaneous temperature, body-surface temperature, respiratory rate and water intake) were assessed along the study period. The economic outcomes derived from shade implementation were determined using the net present value. Meteorological variables were also monitored every 1 min, and grouped in a thermal comfort index for feedlot cattle, the InComfort Index (InCI). The shade structure efficiently reduced radiant heat load on cattle in pens with shade. According to the classification of the InCI, during very hot days (InCI > 0.6; around noon with mean solar radiation above 800 W m-2 and mean air temperature above 33°C), greater proportion (80%) of animals in shaded pens were using shade. Under such circumstances, cattle in shade had water intake reduced by 3.4 L per animal, body temperature was lower by 5°C, subcutaneous temperature was lower by 1°C and respiration rate was lower by 10 breaths min-1 compared to animals in pens without shade (P = 0.0001). Although dry matter intake was similar (P = 0.6805), cattle in pens with shade had higher average daily gain reflected in a heavier hot carcass weight (8 kg animal-1; P = 0.0002). Considering an initial investment of $90 per animal to build a structure that lasts 15 years, the expected payback time is four finishing cycles (~110 days per cycle). In conclusion, this study confirms that the proposed novel shade design is economically profitable, improves performance, and enhances animal welfare.

Cultivation arrangements for taioba under a banana orchard / Arranjos de cultivo para taioba sob pomar de bananeira

Research on biodiversity management in production systems involves various aspects, including selecting optimal population arrangements for cultivated plants. The utilization of unconventional vegetables, such as taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott), in the diversification of production systems offers a promising alternative to enhance food security and income generation for producers. However, limited information exists in the literature regarding its management and production. Thus, the present study aimed to assess different planting densities of taioba cultivated in intercropping under banana orchards by evaluating its development and yield. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), located in Alegre, ES, Brazil. The experimental design employed randomized blocks with six replications, following a split-plot arrangement. The plots consisted of single and double rows of planting systems, while the subplots were comprised of between-plant spacings of 30, 40, and 50 cm. Various parameters were evaluated, namely, leaf area, number of leaves, leaf fresh and dry matter, chlorophyll indices, flavonoids, and nitrogen balance. Additionally, gross income was determined by estimating the production capacity of leaves and converting it into the production capacity of commercial leaf bundles, considering a 1.0 ha taioba cultivation area based on the intercropping arrangements with banana trees. The highest fresh and dry matter yields of taioba were achieved with the largest spacing between plants (50 cm) in both single and double rows. The number of leaves produced by the plants remained unaffected by the studied arrangements. Consequently, the highest gross yield was obtained with the highest plant density, achieved through a planting spacing of 30 cm between plants in double rows. These findings underscore the viability of diversifying production within banana orchards by incorporating taioba planting in alternating rows, providing a genuine opportunity for additional income for farmers.(AU)

As pesquisas associadas ao tema de manejo da biodiversidade em sistemas de produção englobam diversos aspectos, dentre eles a escolha dos melhores arranjos populacionais das plantas cultivadas. A utilização de hortaliças não convencionais, como a taioba Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott, na diversificação dos sistemas produtivos é uma ótima alternativa do ponto de vista de segurança alimentar do produtor e também para a geração de renda. Contudo, na literatura ainda são escassas as informações sobre seu manejo e produção. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar diferentes densidades de plantio de taioba cultivada em consórcio, sob pomar de bananeiras, verificando seu desenvolvimento e produção. O experimento foi realizado na área experimental da Universidades Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), localizado no município de Alegre ES. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas foram compostas pelos sistemas de plantio em linha simples e duplas. As subparcelas foram compostas pelos espaçamentos entre plantas de 30, 40 e 50 cm. Foram avaliadas a área foliar, número de folhas, matéria fresca e matéria seca de folhas, índices de clorofila, flavonoides e balanço de nitrogênio. Adicionalmente estimou-se a Renda Bruta, através da estimativa da capacidade de produção de folhas, transformada em capacidade de produção de maços de folhas comerciais, que seriam produzidos em 1,0 hectare de taioba, a partir dos arranjos adotados no consórcio com bananeiras. As maiores produções de matérias fresca e seca da taioba foram observadas quando se adotou o maior espaçamento entre plantas (50 cm), tanto em linha simples quanto em linhas duplas. Os arranjos estudados não influenciaram no número de folhas emitidas pelas plantas, por isso, o maior rendimento bruto foi obtido com a maior densidade de plantas, alcançada com o plantio no espaçamento de 30 cm entre plantas, em linhas duplas. Sendo assim, os resultados demonstram que a diversificação da produção do pomar de bananeira, com plantio de taioba em entrelinhas alternadas, representou uma real alternativa de renda extra ao agricultor.(AU)

Production and morphogenetic traits of Megathyrsus maximus "Aruana" with nitrogen fertilization in silvopastoral and full sun systems / Características produtivas e morfofisiológicas de Megathyrsus maximus "Aruana" com adubação nitrogenada em sistema silvipastoril e pleno sol

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of nitrogen fertilization on M. maximus cv. Aruana cultivated in silvopastoral and full-sun systems, focusing on morphogenetic, structural, and productive traits, as well as chemical composition. Silvopastoral systems promote productive efficiency and sustainability in animal husbandry, leading to improved herbage quality and enhanced thermal comfort for the animals. Nitrogen fertilization affects the growth of tropical forages. The study evaluated the system used (silvopastoral or full sun), the presence of fertilization (with or without), and distinct intervals (21, 42, 63, or 84 days) on productive and morphogenetic traits of the forage. The silvopastoral system exhibited increased canopy height, while the full-sun condition favored dry matter production and animal weight gain. Fertilization benefited basal tiller density and morphogenesis. The crude protein content was higher in full sun. Full sun displayed benefits in terms of both herbage production and composition, whereas the silvopastoral system excelled particularly in terms of canopy height. Fertilization improved several traits, fostering tissue turnover. The study highlights the importance of proper management in silvopastoral systems to optimize herbage production and quality.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação nitrogenada em M. maximus cv. Aruana cultivado em sistema silvipastoril e pleno sol sobre as características morfogênicas, estruturais, produtivas e composição química. Sistemas silvipastoris promovem eficiência produtiva e sustentabilidade na produção animal, melhorando a forragem e o conforto térmico. A adubação nitrogenada afeta o crescimento de forrageiras tropicais. O estudo avaliou o sistema utilizado (silvipastoril e pleno sol), adubação (com e sem) e períodos (21, 42, 63 e 84 dias) em características produtivas e morfogênicas da forrageira. O sistema silvipastoril elevou a altura do dossel, enquanto o pleno sol favoreceu a matéria seca e ganho de peso animal. A adubação beneficiou a densidade de perfilhos basais e morfogênese. O teor de proteína bruta foi maior no pleno sol. Pleno sol teve vantagens na forragem e composição, enquanto o silvipastoril destacou-se na altura do dossel. A adubação melhorou várias características, incentivando renovação tecidual. O estudo destaca a importância do manejo adequado em sistemas silvipastoris para otimizar produção e qualidade forrageira.(AU)

Coffee crops adaptation to climate change in agroforestry systems with rubber trees in southern Brazil

Adaptation to climate change is a strategy for crops to cope with the scenario of rising temperatures worldwide. In the case of Coffea arabica L., the use of agroforestry systems (AFS) with woody species is a promising practice to reduce excessive heat during the day. This study aimed to 1) evaluate air temperature changes that occur in an AFS of coffee and double alleys of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müell. Arg.) and 2) carry out an analysis of future warming scenarios by comparing the cultivation of Arabic coffee in full sun and in an AFS of double alleys of rubber trees. The microclimatic variables were measured between two rows of coffee trees at 1.0 m of height from June 2016 to June 2018. The results indicate that the AFS with double alleys of rubber trees spaced 16 m apart had an average temperature reduction from 1.4 to 2.5 °C from 10h00 to 16h00. The study also simulated temperature increases of 1.7, 2.6, 3.1, and 4.8 °C from 2018 to 2099, according to scenarios predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the impact in coffee production in Paraná State, Brazil. Using the climatic generator PGECLIMA_R, simulations suggest a progressive reduction of traditional areas suitable for open-grown coffee in the state. Production conditions can be maintained through the AFS, since the systems attenuate mean temperatures by 1-2 °C. We conclude that the AFS of coffee and rubber trees contribute to coffee crop adaptations to a future warmer environment.

Behavioral changes in dairy calves raised in outdoor holding pens with alternative roofing / Alterações comportamentais de bezerras criadas em bezerreiros tropicais com cobertura alternativa

This study assessed the behavior of dairy calves raised in outdoor holding pens covered with different geosynthetics. Twenty crossbred (Girolando, Jersey and Holstein) dairy calves undergoing weaning were used, with an average initial live weight of 40.6 Kg. A completely randomized block design was used, with a 4 x 3 factorial scheme and 5 repetitions. The roofing materials were polyethylene mesh, drainage geocomposite, nonwoven geotextile and woven geotextile, representing the first factor, and assessment times (8 to 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:15 to 6 p.m.) the second factor. Environmental variables were analyzed, and the following heat stress indices calculated: black globe-humidity index (BGHI) and equivalent temperature. The average BGHI and equivalent temperature were 79 and 26, respectively. Walking behavior differed between treatments (P<0.05) and was more frequent in the woven geotextile treatment. The most frequent behavior observed throughout the day was lying in the shade (53%), demonstrating the importance of providing artificial shading during this stage of life. When compared to polyethylene mesh, the drainage geocomposite and nonwoven geotextile were better suited to providing shade for dairy calves undergoing weaning in tropical regions.

O trabalho avaliou o comportamento de bezerras leiteiras, criadas em bezerreiros de modelo tropical, contendo diferentes geossintéticos como material de cobertura. Foram avaliadas 20 fêmeas Girolando, Jersey e Holandesa com peso inicial médio de 40,6 Kg durante a fase de aleitamento. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados completos, em arranjo fatorial 4 x 3 com 5 repetições. Os materiais de cobertura foram: malha de polietileno, geocomposto drenante, geotêxtil não-tecido e geotêxtil tecido foram o primeiro fator e os períodos do dia (08 às 11, 11:15 às 14 e 14:15 às 18 horas) foram o segundo fator. Foram avaliadas as variáveis ambientais e calculados os índices de conforto térmico: índice de temperatura do globo negro e umidade e índice de temperatura equivalente. As médias do índice de temperatura do globo negro e índice de temperatura equivalente foram 79 e 26, respectivamente. O comportamento andando diferiu entre tratamentos (P<0,05), sendo mais frequente no tratamento geotêxtil tecido. A frequência comportamental mais observada ao longo do dia foi deitada à sombra (53%) deixando evidente a importância da disponibilização de sombreamento artificial para essa fase de vida. Os materiais de cobertura geossintéticos Geodrenante e Geotêxtil não-tecido, comparados à malha de polietileno, foram os mais apropriados para a utilização como sombreamento em regiões de clima tropical para bezerras em fase de aleitamento.

Morpho-physiological and anatomical characteristics of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu in silvopastoral and monoculture systems

To gain insights into the forage morphological and anatomical characteristics in a silvopastoral system (SPS) with Bolsa de Pastor (Zeyheria tuberculosa) and palisadegrass 'Marandu' (Urochloa brizantha) monoculture (MONO). The SPS was established through natural regeneration of the tree species. Treatments were a SPS and MONO distributed in a completely randomized design with six replicates and repeated measures were the harvest periods. Response variables were morpho-physiological and anatomical characteristicss: green: dead material ratio, leaf blade: stem+sheath ratio, leaf area index, chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations, proportions of non-lignified and achlorophyllous areas, lignified areas in stems, proportions of non-lignified and achlorophyllous areas, lignified and chlorophyllous areas in leaves, as well as cell length in longitudinal section of stem. Morpho-physiological patterns were altered (p < 0.05) under natural shading conditions due to higher photosynthetic efficiency in the SPS. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of the systems on anatomical patterns, proportions of non-lignified and achlorophyllous, lignified and chlorophyllous tissues, these proportions were influenced only by the periods of the year, both for stems and leaves. Cells of the internodes of the grasses of the studied systems had the same length. The SPS alters morpho-physiological characteristics of palisadegrass and increases the concentration of chlorophyll a and b.(AU)

Adequacy of glyphosate doses in the Merremia cissoides (Lam.) Hallier f. control as a function of light intensity in the growth environments.

Shading interferes with the weed's biology, which can change their sensitivity to post-emergence herbicides. The objective was to evaluate the control of Merremia cissoides with glyphosate in full sunlight and shade conditions in two plant growth stages (30 and 73 days after sowing (DAS)). At 30 and 73 DAS, treatments were established in a 2 × 5 and 2 × 6 factorial scheme, respectively. In both experiments, the growth environments constituted the first factor, and the glyphosate doses the second factor. Shading promoted 50 and 40% reductions in glyphosate doses at 30 and 73 DAS, respectively. At 73 DAS, M. cissoides is 177.77 and 131.48% more tolerant to glyphosate than 30 DAS in shading and full sunlight, respectively. Due to the increase in glyphosate tolerance as the plant grows, the management of M. cissoides should be carried out until the stage of six fully expanded leaves. Increasing glyphosate doses reduced the quantum yield of photosystem II and electron transport rate (ETR) in both growth environments, with ETR data showing a high negative correlation with the control. The doses reductions promoted by shading and glyphosate application in the initial growth stage of M. cissoides reduces costs and the negative environmental impacts of this herbicide use.

Elevated carbon assimilation and metabolic reprogramming in tomato high pigment mutants support the increased production of pigments.

KEY MESSAGE: High pigment mutants in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a loss of function in the control of photomorphogenesis, with greater pigment production, show altered growth, greater photosynthesis, and a metabolic reprogramming. High pigment mutations cause plants to be extremely responsive to light and produce excessive pigmentation as well as fruits with high levels of health-beneficial nutrients. However, the association of these traits with changes in the physiology and metabolism of leaves remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a detailed morphophysiological and metabolic characterization of high pigment 1 (hp1) and high pigment 2 (hp2) mutants in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Micro-Tom') plants under different sunlight conditions (natural light, 50% shading, and 80% shading). These mutants occur in the DDB1 (hp1) and DET1 (hp2) genes, which are related to the regulation of photomorphogenesis and chloroplast development. Our results demonstrate that these mutations delay plant growth and height, by affecting physiological and metabolic parameters at all stages of plant development. Although the mutants were characterized by higher net CO2 assimilation, lower stomatal limitation, and higher carboxylation rates, with anatomical changes that favour photosynthesis, we found that carbohydrate levels did not increase, indicating a change in the energy flow. Shading minimized the differences between mutants and the wild type or fully reversed them in the phenotype at the metabolic level. Our results indicate that the high levels of pigments in hp1 and hp2 mutants represent an additional energy cost for these plants and that extensive physiological and metabolic reprogramming occurs to support increased pigment biosynthesis.

Single-Pixel Near-Infrared 3D Image Reconstruction in Outdoor Conditions.

In the last decade, the vision systems have improved their capabilities to capture 3D images in bad weather scenarios. Currently, there exist several techniques for image acquisition in foggy or rainy scenarios that use infrared (IR) sensors. Due to the reduced light scattering at the IR spectra it is possible to discriminate the objects in a scene compared with the images obtained in the visible spectrum. Therefore, in this work, we proposed 3D image generation in foggy conditions using the single-pixel imaging (SPI) active illumination approach in combination with the Time-of-Flight technique (ToF) at 1550 nm wavelength. For the generation of 3D images, we make use of space-filling projection with compressed sensing (CS-SRCNN) and depth information based on ToF. To evaluate the performance, the vision system included a designed test chamber to simulate different fog and background illumination environments and calculate the parameters related to image quality.

Sowing depth and light intensity in the emergence and development of monocotyledonous weeds

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different sowing depths and light intensities on the emergence and development of the monocot weed species, Urochloa decumbens and Cenchrus echinatus, under field conditions. Each species constituted an experiment, and the experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates. The treatments were arranged in a 6 x 4 factorial scheme, with six sowing depths (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 cm) associated with four solar radiation intensities (100%, 70%, 50%, and 30%) obtained through the use of shading screens. Seedling emergence capacity was evaluated daily to obtain the emergence percentage and speed index. Plant height, floral induction time, and plant dry matter at flowering were measured. Even when subjected to different solar radiation intensities, U. decumbens and C. echinatus seedlings emerged at all the sowing depths. Sowing between 2.0- and 4.0-cm depths favored the emergence of seedlings of U. decumbens and C. echinatus. However, sowing at 12-cm depth reduced the emergence of both species regardless of the solar radiation intensity. Urichloa decumbens plants grown under conditions of greater shading showed the lowest values of height and dry matter accumulation during flowering. High levels of shading facilitated only the etiolation of C. echinatus plants. Increased shading flowering time in both species compared to full sunlight.

Thermal comfort provided by different shading structures in free-range systems in Brazilian savanna.

This work aimed to evaluate the thermal comfort provided by shading structures in free-range systems under a tropical environment, based on microclimate variables of nets with different materials. During the experiment, the unshading area; the natural shading of a native tree species to the Brazilian Savanna; and the artificial 80% shadings nets: black polypropylene, heat-reflective aluminized, and association of both were evaluated. The shading structures were analyzed in paddocks at the Água Limpa Farm from the University of Brasília, where dry-bulb, wet-bulb, black globe temperatures, and wind speed were collected for the micrometeorological characterization from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. From the temperatures, the vapor pressures and the humidities were calculated. The shortwave radiation was calculated through the sum of direct, diffuse, and reflected radiations. The mean radiant temperature, radiant heat load, and black globe temperature and humidity index were calculated. The internal and external surface temperatures of the nets and the soil temperature were measured every 30 min. The data were analyzed with aid of the statistical analysis system. The air temperature varied according to the shortwave radiation, from 25.6 °C at 8:00 am to 29.6 °C at 1:00 pm, with a decrease over the hours. Despite the air temperature of the trees showed the lowest average, the nets association structure was the most reduced all the thermal comfort indexes. The heat-reflective net presented the lowest soil temperature at all hours (under 26.1 °C). In general, the shadings proved to be efficient in promoting thermal comfort in free-range systems.

Field microenvironments regulate crop diel transcript and metabolite rhythms.

Most research in plant chronobiology has been done in laboratory conditions. However, laboratories usually fail to mimic natural conditions and their slight fluctuations, highlighting or obfuscating rhythmicity. High-density crops, such as sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid), generate field microenvironments with specific light and temperature regimes resulting from mutual shading. We measured the metabolic and transcriptional rhythms in the leaves of 4-month-old (4 mo) and 9 mo field-grown sugarcane. Most of the assayed rhythms in 9 mo sugarcane peaked >1 h later than in 4 mo sugarcane, including rhythms of the circadian clock gene, LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY). We hypothesized that older sugarcane perceives dawn later than younger sugarcane as a consequence of self-shading. As a test, we measured LHY rhythms in plants on the east and the west sides of a field. We also tested if a wooden wall built between lines of sugarcane plants changed their rhythms. The LHY peak was delayed in the plants in the west of the field or beyond the wall; both shaded at dawn. We conclude that plants in the same field may have different phases resulting from field microenvironments, impacting important agronomical traits, such as flowering time, stalk weight and number.