Abstract: Sugarcane cultivar RB961552 was developed by the Sugarcane Breeding Program of the Federal University of Alagoas, a member university of RIDESA. It was selected for being highly productive, responsive to fertigation and for the high leaf biomass and excellent inter-row closure. It is resistant to brown and orange rust and moderately resistant to leaf scald and smut diseases.

ABSTRACT. This study examined the influence of the external markers chromium oxide (CO), titanium dioxide (TD), isolated, purified and enriched lignin (LIPE®) and isolated, purified, enriched lignin in nanoparticles (NANOLIPE®) as well as the internal markers indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) in diets with inclusion of passion fruit by-product for dairy heifers on the estimation of fecal output and nutrient digestibility. Sixteen Holstein × Zebu crossbred heifers at an average live weight of 363 ± 28 kg were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design where they received diets in which Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay was replaced with passion fruit by-product (0, 12, 24 and 36%, as-fed basis). The CO, LIPE®, NANOLIPE® and iNDF markers did not differ from the total collection method (p > 0.05) in the estimation of fecal output and nutrient digestibility. The TD and iDM markers overestimated, while iADF underestimated fecal output. Under the presented conditions, we recommend using the CO, LIPE®, NANOLIPE® and iNDF markers to estimate fecal output and nutrient digestibility in diets with inclusion of passion fruit by-product for dairy heifers.

Abstract Sugarcane cultivar RB0442 has a high yield, late maturation and good drought tolerance. It is recommended for planting in restrictive environments, mainly with water-deficient soils, and is resistant to the major sugarcane diseases of the Northeastern region of Brazil.

Abstract A major challenge in sugarcane breeding program is the obtaining of enough number of seeds (caryopses) for the development of new improved cultivars. Genotypes differ in their function as pollen recipient and pollen donor, which also affect the seed performance. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the production and performance of sugarcane seeds from different hybridizations involving RB92579 as pollen recipient and pollen donor. Twelve bi-parental crossings were carried out involving RB92579 and other different genotypes randomly chosen. Seed production potential was evaluated by percentage of fertile spikelets and caryopsis fresh weight. The seed physiological potential was determined by evaluating germination and vigor (index of germination rate, number of normal seedlings per gram of fuzz, and seedling dry weight). The results showed better performance for RB92579 as pollen donor for all characteristics studied. Therefore, RB92579 sugarcane cultivar should be used as pollen donor during hybridizations, condition that permits a greater production and physiological performance of seeds for the sugarcane breeding programs.

Abstract Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world and, the main varieties grown in Brazil, known as RB cultivars, were developed by the Interinstitutional Network for the Development of the Sugar and Alcohol Sector (RIDESA) and are used in 58.9% of the planted area in Brazil. These varieties were obtained through intercrosses between genotypes from the Serra do Ouro germplasm bank and successive crosses with related genotypes may have increased the level of genetic similarity. The aim of the present study was to analyze the genetic base of the Serra do Ouro germplasm bank over the past decades using microsatellite molecular markers. The genetic similarity among varieties using all the markers ranged from 0.166 to 0.823, and regression analysis showed an increase in genetic similarity in the 1970s; however, a narrowing of the genetic base over the last five decades was not observed.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon sp. cv. Tifton 85) with levels of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) byproduct (0, 8, 16, and 24%, diet dry matter basis) in the diet of 16 Holstein × Gir heifers with an average body weight of 363.0±27.7 kg on their nutrient intake, digestibility, and protein balance. The experimental period was 17 days, and the sample collection period was five days. There was no effect of cocoa byproduct on nutrient intake. However, the byproduct affected the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, all of which decreased as the level of inclusion of the byproduct in the diet was increased. Nitrogen balance was negatively affected by the inclusion of 24% cocoa byproduct. It is recommended to use cocoa byproduct up to the level of 16% to replace Tifton 85 grass hay in diets for dairy heifers.

RB99395 cultivar was developed by the Sugarcane Breeding Program at the Federal University of Alagoas, which is part of RIDESA. In 1999, seeds were obtained from crosses between RB867515 cultivar and pollen from an unknown genotype in "Serra do Ouro" Crossing Station. The process of selection and experimentation was carried out in three Research Stations of Alagoas. RB99395 cultivar was released in Alagoas in May 2010, and has a high content of sucrose throughout the harvest period. Planting is recommended in fertile soils and in environments with no water deficiency, a condition which results in high agricultural yields. It is tolerant most diseases that occur in Northeast, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the flow of nitrogenous compounds, protein degradability, rumen degradation of total carbohydrate and organic matter and microbial efficiency in heifers subjected to diets containing corn silage, sugarcane or Tifton. For this purpose, the 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) technique was adopted and analytical procedures for amino acids by HPLC were adapted. Six rumen-fistulated Holstein-Zebu heifers with 480 kg of initial BW and at 24 months of age kept in individual tie stalls were assigned to two 3 × 3 Latin squares. Omasal digesta dry matter and microbial dry matter flows were determined using the isolated, purified and enriched lignin (LIPE®) and DAPA markers, respectively. Isolated bacteria from rumen showed on average 5.84 g/100 g microbial N, 0.25 g/100 g DAPA in dry matter and 44.61 DAPA:N ratio. The forage sources did not influence the flows of nitrogen compounds, except for total omasal flow and non-ammonia N in relation to N intake for the corn silage diet, for which there was an upward trend compared with the other diets. The degradation of the organic matter and total carbohydrates did not differ, averaging 6.1 kg/day and 5.2 kg/day, respectively. The studied forage sources do not influence the flows of nitrogen compounds, except for total omasal flow and non-ammonia N in relation N intake for the corn silage diet, for which there is an upward trend compared with the other diets. Protein degradability and microbial efficiency are similar between evaluated diets.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as variáveis meteorológicas, a deficiência hídrica, o crescimento e a produtividade agroindustrial das variedades de cana-de-açúcar: RB72454, RB863129, RB867515, RB92579, RB93509, RB931003, RB951541 e RB971755, em cultivo de sequeiro, em duas safras, na região de Rio Largo - AL. As variáveis meteorológicas foram obtidas em uma estação automática, e o balanço hídrico foi feito pelo método de Thornthwaite & Mather. No período da pesquisa, a temperatura do ar variou de 16,6 a 35,9º C. No primeiro ciclo de produção, choveu 1.806 mm, e a cultura evapotranspirou 1.775 mm, e, no segundo ciclo, a precipitação pluvial somou 1.632 mm, e a evapotranspiração da cultura foi 1.290 mm. O excesso hídrico médio dos dois ciclos de produção foi 689 mm; e o déficit hídrico, 665 mm. Ou seja, mesmo resultando em uma precipitação pluvial superior à evapotranspiração da cultura, devido à má distribuição das chuvas, houve deficiência hídrica. A temperatura do ar não foi limitante para o crescimento da cana-de-açúcar. A produtividade agrícola média da cana-planta foi 86,8 t ha-1, em cana-soca foi 75,2 t ha-1, e o rendimento agroindustrial médio foi 12,9 e 10,9 toneladas de açúcar por hectare em cana-planta e cana-soca, respectivamente. As variedades mais produtivas foram a RB93509, a RB92579 e a RB863129.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the meteorological variables, water deficiency, growth, and agro-industrial yield of sugarcane varieties: RB72454, RB863129, RB867515, RB92579, RB93509, RB931003, RB951541, and RB971755, in rainfed crop in two harvests in the Rio Largo-AL region. The meteorological variables were obtained in an automatic station and water balance was done by Thornthwaite & Mather method. During the study period, the air temperature ranged from 16.6 to 35.9 ºC. In the first production cycle rained 1,806 mm and the crop evapotranspiration was 1,775 mm. In the second cycle, the rainfall totaled 1,632 mm and the crop evapotranspiration was 1,290 mm. The average water excess of two production cycles was 689 mm and the water deficit totaled 665 mm. The average agricultural productivity in the plant was 86.8 t ha-1, in the first ratoon was 75.2 t ha-1 and the agro-industrial yield average was 12.9 and 10.9 tons of sugar per hectare in the plant and first ratoon, respectively. The air temperature was not limiting to the growth of sugarcane and the rainfall was higher than the crop evapotranspiration, but due to poor distribution of the rains there was water deficit. The most productive varieties were RB93509, RB92579, and RB863129.

É apresentado o modelo RIDESA de melhoramento de cana-de-açúcar para etanol e sua contribuição científica, tecnológica e na formação de recursos humanos. A RIDESA é a rede interuniversitária para desenvolvimento do setor sucroenergético do Brasil, e foi formada por um convênio de cooperação técnica entre dez Universidades Federais. Apresenta-se o modelo de gestão da rede, o qual envolve, dentre outros aspectos, a parceria público-privada (Universidades-Usinas) para desenvolvimento de cultivares. A RIDESA produziu 59 cultivares desde 1990 e responde, atualmente, por 59% da área total de cultivo com essa planta no Brasil. Nos últimos cinco anos, 286 agrônomos foram treinados nos seus programas de melhoramento nas universidades que compõem a RIDESA. Neste mesmo período, a rede formou 35 mestres, 24 doutores e 7 pós-doutores em pesquisas com a cultura. É apresentada também uma abordagem conceitual sobre os métodos de melhoramento de cana envolvendo a seleção de famílias e a seleção genômica ampla.

In this paper, it is presented RIDESA's model for sugar cane breeding to ethanol, and its scientific, technological and human resources training contributions. RIDESA is an inter-university network for the development of sugar cane industry in Brazil, and was formed by a technical cooperation agreement between ten public universities. The model of network management is presented in this study, which involves, among other things, the public-private partnership (Universities-Mills) for the development of cultivars. RIDESA has produced 59 cultivars since 1990 and is now responsible for 59% of the total area cultivated with this plant in Brazil. In the last five years, 286 agronomists were trained in breeding programs at universities that comprise RIDESA. In this same period, the network formed 35 professors, 24 doctors and 7 post-docs in researches with this crop. It is also presented a conceptual approach on methods of sugar cane breeding involving families and genome-wide selection.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar padrões de crescimento e de produção de variedades de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) com os graus-dias e disponibilidade hídrica, durante os cultivos de cana-planta e cana-soca, na região dos Tabuleiros Costeiros Alagoano. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na área experimental de Agrometeorologia da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Rio Largo-AL, num solo classificado como Latossolo Amarelo coeso argissólico. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos cazualizados com cinco repetições e quatro tratamentos: variedades RB92579, RB931530, RB93509 e SP79-1011. As variáveis da cultura utilizadas foram: perfilhamento, altura da planta, índice de área foliar (IAF), acúmulo de matéria seca no colmo e produção final. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as médias de perfilhamento das variedades em todas as épocas amostradas, de forma geral o maior perfilhamento foi observado na variedade RB92579. O crescimento das plantas apresentou curvas de formato sigmoidal, com três fases distintas. Na fase de estabelecimento da cultura, apesar de ter ocorrido ótima disponibilidade hídrica, o crescimento foi lento. Na fase de crescimento vegetativo as plantas não cresceram em potencial, porque houve deficiências hídricas. A fase final ocorreu entre 1500 e 2015 GD na cana-planta e 950 e 1800 GD na cana-soca. A variedade RB92579 alcançou valores de IAF superiores a 3, logo aos 600 GD nos dois ciclos, permanecendo o restante dos ciclos acima desse valor, contribuindo para uma melhor eficiência no uso da água e para o maior acúmulo de matéria seca.

This work had the aim of evaluating the growth standard and yield of different sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties with meteorogical parameter, during the plant and ratoon crop cane in Mesas regions of Alagoas. This work was carried out in an experimental area of Agrometeorology used a randomized outline with five repetition and four treatments: varieties RB92579, RB931530, SP79-1011 e RB93509, in the Agrarian Center of University Federal of Alagoas in Northeast of Brazil, Rio Largo AL, in a United Argissolico Yellow Latossolo soil. The plant parameter utilized to measure the growth were: tillering, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry mater accumulation in stalk and yield sugarcane. No differences were observed among tillering media from varieties in all samplings, and in general, the variety RB92579 obtained the biggest tillering. The sugarcane growth showed sigmoidal shape curve, with three different phases. In the crop initial phase, although it occurred great water conditions the sugarcane growth was slow. In the elongation phase the sugarcane didn't grow in potential, due the occurred water deficit in this phase. The last phase occurred between 1500 e 2015 GD in plant cane and 950 e 1800 GD in ratoon crop. The variety RB92579 obtained LAI values of 3 very early (in 600 GD), this contributed to improve the water use efficient and to accumulate more dry matter. The variety RB92579 obtained the biggest tillering ant height of stalk, a result of that, it obtained the biggest yield sugarcane.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram estabelecer estimativas de repetibilidade de características agroindustriais em 20 genótipos de cana-de-açúcar, determinar a previsibilidade de cada caráter e indicar a predição do valor verdadeiro de cada clone. O delineamento utilizado foi blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Utilizaram-se a análise de variância com dois fatores de variação (cortes e genótipos) e a análise dos componentes principais para estimar o coeficiente de repetibilidade <img border=0 width=19 height=21 id="_x0000_i1026" src="../../../../img/revistas/pab/v39n4/20437s1.gif" align=absmiddle>, a partir de três cortes. Foram obtidas estimativas de repetibilidade acima de 0,5 para fibra e toneladas de cana por hectare, em ambos os métodos, com confiabilidade maior que 84% pelo método dos componentes principais. As características que ficaram abaixo de 0,5, com previsibilidade inferior a 74%, necessitam de um maior número de avaliações. Os métodos dos componentes principais e análise de variância indicaram, em cinco cortes, uma previsibilidade maior que 80% para fibra, porcentagem de pol (sacarose) no caldo da cana, toneladas de cana por hectare e toneladas de pol no caldo da cana por hectare, embora o primeiro tenha sido mais eficiente. Considerando toneladas de cana por hectare e toneladas de pol no caldo da cana por hectare, os clones RB9371, RB9350 e RB9364 são os melhores.

The objectives of this work were to establish repeatability estimates for agro-industrial characteristics for twenty genotypes of sugar cane, to indicate the determination coefficient of each character and the prediction of truthful value of each clone. The design consisted of randomized blocks, with five replications. The analysis of variance with two factors of variation (cuts and genotypes) and the analysis of the main components were used to estimate the repeatability coefficient <img border=0 width=19 height=21 id="_x0000_i1028" src="../../../../img/revistas/pab/v39n4/20437s1.gif" align=absmiddle>, initiating with three cuts. Estimates of repeatability were obtained over 0.5 for fiber and ton of cane per hectare, in both methods, with confidence over 84% by the method of main components. Characteristics lower than 0.5 and determination lower than 74% need a greater number of measures. The methods of main components and analysis of variance evidenced, in five cuts, determination over 80% for fiber, percentage of pol (sucrose) in the juice of cane, tons of cane per hectare and tons of pol in the juice of cane per hectare, though the first had been most efficient. Considering tons of cane per hectare and tons of pol in the juice of cane per hectare, the clones RB9371, RB9350 and RB9364 are the best.

Investigaram-se a temperatura retal, a freqüência respiratória e a taxa de evaporação total de ovinos Corriedale sob três temperaturas ambientes, visando uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos de termorregulação desses animais. Inicialmente, 21 animais adultos foram alojados em câmara climática à temperatura de 45ºC, e pressão parcial de vapor (PV) variável, registrando-se a freqüência respiratória (FR) e a temperatura retal (TR). Baseando-se na FR e TR, foram selecionados 10 animais, cinco com os valores mais baixos, assumindo-os como mais adaptados ao calor (grupo 1) e cinco com valores mais altos, assumindo-os como menos adaptados (grupo 2). Os animais selecionados foram mantidos em câmara climática, onde mediram-se novamente TR, FR e taxa de evaporacão total (TET), sob 20, 30 e 40ºC de temperatura do ar e PV variável. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos classificados, para todas as variáveis medidas. Concluiu-se que a utilização das variáveis fisiológicas TR e FR como parâmetros únicos para a seleção destes animais não é suficiente para avaliar o grau de adaptação a temperaturas elevadas.

It was investigated the rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and total evaporative heat loss rate in Corriedale sheep under three air temperatures, aiming a better comprehension of thermoregulation mechanisms of these animals. Initially, 21 adult animals were housed in climatic chamber under 45ºC and variable air humidity (PV), recording the respiratory frequency (FR) and rectal temperature (TR). Basing on the FR and TR, it was selected 10 animals, five of the lowest values, assuming as being the best heat adapted (group 1) and five of the highest values, assuming as the worst heat adapted (group 2). The selected animals were maintained in climatic chamber, where it was measured again TR, FR and total evaporation rate (TET), under 20, 30 and 40ºC of air temperature and variable PV. There was no statistical difference between the classified groups, for all the measured variables. In conclusion, the use of the physiological variables TR and FR as mainly parameters for these animals selection, is not enough for evaluate the level of adaptation under high temperatures.

Um experimento de campo foi realizado em Maceió, Estado de Alagoas, Brasil, para avaliar os controles químico e mecânico de Cerconota anonella (Sepp.) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) e de Bephratelloides pomorum (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), as pragas-chave da gravioleira, Annona muricata L. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com 9 tratamentos e 20 repetições. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis nos frutos: números de orifícios causados pelas pragas, peso, comprimento e diâmetro. Em cada tratamento, observaram-se a percentagem de frutos colhidos e os custos unitários. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com o saco plástico comum e com o saco plástico perfurado.

A field experiment was carried out in Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil to evaluate the controls chemical and mechanical of Cerconota anonella (Sepp.) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) and Bephratelloides pomorum (Fab.) (Hym.: Eurytomidae), the most important pests of soursop, Annona muricata L. Nine treatments were tested with twenty replications in a completely randomized design. The variables analyzed at the fruit were: hole caused by insects, weight, length, diameter and cost price. Also were evaluated the fruits cropped percentage. The best results were obtained using plastic bags and perforated plastic bags.