The effect of the utilization of three semen protocols (Inra 82®, Merck Gema and Botu-crio®) and two filling techniques (0.25 and 0.50 mL straws) in Mangalarga Marchador stallions were studied in this experiment. Sperm parameters were assessed during processing and post-freezing. No interactions between the protocols and type of filling were observed, so they were assessed separately. Sperm parameters were not altered when the extender was added to the centrifugation; however, there was reduction of motility and strength when freezing extenders were added. The Botu-crio® protocol preserved the parameters of total and progressive sperm motility, smoothed path velocity (µm/s), straight line velocity (µm/s), track velocity (µm/s) and the average and fast spermatozoa percentage better than the others. No difference between the extenders for the percentage of sperm integrity was observed. There was no difference in the responses studied on the filling techniques. The stallions presented better freezing with the use of the Botu-crio® protocol. The best post-freezing viability results were found for semen frozen using the Botu-crio® protocol and there were no differences concerning the sperm quality comparing 0.25 and 0.50 mL straws.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a produtividade e qualidade de frutos de tomateiro, híbrido Vênus, produzidos em substratos, com aplicação de solução nutritiva e de ácidos húmicos (AH). Foram avaliadas 4 doses de AH (0, 20, 40 e 80 L ha-1) e 4 substratos: S1 (fibra de coco (FC)), S2 (FC + casca de café carbonizada (CC) na proporção 1:3), S3 (FC + CC na proporção 2:3) e S4 (CC). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4x4. As mudas foram transplantadas com 35 dias para sacolas plásticas com capacidade de 7 L. Os AH foram aplicados quatro vezes em um intervalo de oito dias, sendo a primeira aplicação oito dias após o transplantio. Não houve efeito significativo dos AH sobre a produtividade e a qualidade de frutos, exceto na relação sólidos solúveis (SS)/acidez titulável (AT). Doses de até 36 L ha-1 aumentaram AT, porém, acima desse valor, favoreceram o incremento de SS. A casca de café carbonizada, nos tratamentos S2, S3 e S4, não alterou a produção de frutos pequenos, médios, não-comerciais, umidade, pH, SS, AT e SS/AT, porém, diminuiu significativamente a produção total, comercial e de frutos grandes. A produção de frutos comerciais em S1 foi significativamente superior à das plantas dos demais tratamentos, com média de 142,6 t ha-1, apresentando aumento médio de produtividade de 24,4%, 29,3% e 36,1%, em relação às plantas dos tratamentos S2, S3 e S4, respectivamente.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the yield and quality of tomato fruits, hybrid "Vênus", produced on substrates and with application of nutrient solution and humic acids (AH). Four doses of AH were evaluated (0, 20, 40 and 80 L ha-1) and 4 substrates: S1 (coconut fiber (CF)), S2 (FC + carbonized coffee husk (CC) in the ratio 1:3), S3 (CF + CC in the ratio 2:3) and S4 (CC), were evaluated following the randomized blocks design in factorial 4x4 scheme with four replications. The 35-day old seedlings were transplanted into plastic bags of 7 L. The humic acids were applied four times in eight-day intervals, and the first application was carried out eight days after transplanting. There was no significant effect of AH on the yield and quality of fruit, except in relation to soluble solids (SS)/titratable acidity (AT). Doses of up to 36 L ha-1, increase the AT, above that amount favored increase of SS. The carbonized coffee husk in treatments S2, S3 and S4, did not alter the production of small fruits, medium, non-commercial, moisture, pH, SS, AT and SS/AT, however, significantly reduced the total production, commercial and large size fruit. The production of fruits in S1 was significantly higher compared to the other treatments, with an average of 142.6 t ha-1, showing average increase in yield of 24.4%, 29.3% and 36.1% compared to plant of treatments S2, S3 and S4, respectively.

O presente estudo objetivou diagnosticar as causas da morte embrionária precoce em 128 éguas. Amostras de soro foram coletadas nos dias 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21 e 30 após ovulação, para dosagens hormonais e mensurações do corpo lúteo. O diâmetro e as características da vesícula embrionária foram avaliados, através da ultra-sonografia, a partir do 12º dia pós-ovulação. Das 128 éguas estudadas, 17 (13.28%) apresentaram morte embrionária. O diâmetro do corpo lúteo, bem como as concentrações plasmáticas de progesterona, foi semelhante nos grupos que apresentaram morte embrionária e nos que mantiveram a gestação. Os níveis de estrogeno plasmático foram mais elevados no grupo das fêmeas que mantiveram a gestação. Os exames citológicos, microbiológicos e histopatológicos revelaram que a maioria das éguas com diagnóstico de morte embrionária eram portadoras de endometrites.

The present study aimed to diagnose early embryonic death in 128 mares. Blood samples were collected at the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 21st and 30th day after ovulation and the diameter of the corpus luteum was measured. The diameter and characteristics of the embryonic vesicle were evaluated by ultrasonography. Microbiology, cytology and histopathology were carried out in mares with embryonic death. Plasma oestrogen and progesterone concentration were measured by radioimmunoassay. From 128 mares, 17 (13.28%) showed early embryonic death. The embryonic losses took place at 19 days of pregnancy in 47.05% and at 21 days of pregnancy in 29.4% of the mares. The diameter of the corpus luteum in the mares that maintained pregnancy was similar to those with embryonic loss. Otherwise, the diameter of the embryonic vesicles was bigger at the 16th, 19th, 21st and 30th day of pregnancy when compared to the mares with embryonic loss. The mean plasma progesterone concentration was similar in both groups and the median plasma oestrogen concentration was higher in the pregnant mares. The cytological, microbiological and histopathological exams revealed that most of the mares had endometritis. Ultrasonography provided an early diagnosis of pregnancy (from the 12th day post-ovulation) and important information about the development of embryo and embryonic death. Endometritis was considered the main cause of embryonic losses in this study.