ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) fertilization effectiveness in onion depends on N source, as well as on soil type and management system. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of N sources and doses applied as top-dressing on bulb yield, leaf N contents and on the postharvest conservation of onion bulbs grown under no-tillage (NTS) and conventional tillage (CTS) systems. Three experiments were carried out: two in Lebon Régis County-SC, under NTS; and one in Caçador County-SC, under CTS. The herein tested N sources comprised urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, in combination to N doses applied as top-dressing (70, 140, 210, 280 and 350 kg N ha-1) in addition to the control, without N. The N sources did not affect yield parameters, leaf N content and post-harvest onion losses. The maximum technical efficiency in bulb yield was observed at N doses of 195.8 and 258.4 kg ha-1 in the no-tillage system (NTS) and at 270.7 kg N ha-1 in the CTS. The NTS enabled maximum yield at N dose 47% lower than the officially recommended one. Maximum relative commercial yield was associated with 31.1 g kg-1 of leaf N.

ABSTRACT The recommendations of nitrogen (N) fertilization in garlic are still based on different varieties of the current types that are infected with phytopathogenic virus. There are several methods for recommendation of nitrogen (N) fertilization in garlic, but there are no enough methods for N diagnosis in garlic obtained by meristem culture. The objective of this work was to evaluate methods for diagnosing the nutritional status of virus-free garlic subjected to N doses through the use of a specific NO3- meter in soil solution and foliar sap, portable chlorophyll meter, N content in the leaf, and its relationship with yield and quality of the bulbs. The experiments were conducted with the use of virus-free seed bulbs from the meristem culture from three sites in the 2015 growing season and two locations in the 2016 growing season in South Brazil. The treatments consisted of the application of five nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1) distributed in three applications during the crop cycle: 1/3 in planting, 1/3 between 30 and 40 days after planting, and 1/3 after visual bulb differentiation. The highest commercial yield was associated with doses between 269 and 307 kg ha-1 of N and the content of 26 g kg-1 of N, in the diagnostic leaf. The relative chlorophyll content was the only diagnostic technology that showed a significant correlation with commercial yield in all experimental conditions. The evaluation of the N status in the virus-free garlic crop by a portable chlorophyll meter can be a quick strategy for recommending N fertilization and ensuring high yields.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a melhor densidade e arranjo do tomateiro tutorado verticalmente para a pulverização mecanizada. Foram realizados dois experimentos nas safras 2013/14 e 2014/15 em Calmon-SC. Na safra 2013/14, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 4x2, sendo combinados quatro densidades de plantas (10.753, 12.903, 16.129 e 21.505 plantas/ha) e dois arranjos de plantas tutoradas verticalmente (fila simples e fila dupla). Na safra 2014/15, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 5x2, representado pela combinação de cinco densidades de plantas (10.753, 12.903, 16.129, 21.505 e 32.258 plantas/ha) e de dois arranjos de plantas tutoradas verticalmente (fila simples e fila dupla). Avaliou-se a produtividade total, comercial (extra AA e extra A) e descarte, a massa média de frutos comerciais (extra AA e extra A), a severidade de doenças foliares e procedeu-se a análise econômica dos tratamentos. O arranjo de plantas em fila dupla, para a pulverização mecanizada do tomateiro, proporcionou maior produtividade de frutos comerciais e com maior porcentagem de frutos de melhor classificação, em comparação ao arranjo de plantas em fila simples. A máxima produtividade de frutos foi obtida na densidade de aproximadamente 34.000 plantas/ha, embora a densidade em que se obtém o maior retorno econômico é estimada em 23.000 plantas/ha. As maiores severidades de mancha bacteriana e septoriose foram observadas no arranjo de plantas em fila dupla, em relação ao arranjo de plantas em fila simples. O aumento da densidade de plantas aumentou a severidade de mancha bacteriana e de pinta preta.

ABSTRACT We aimed to determine an adequate planting density and arrangement for the mechanized spraying of vertically staked tomatoes. Two experiments were carried out in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 harvests in the city of Calmon, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, both in randomized block design. In 2013/14, treatments were arranged in a 4x2 factorial, corresponding to four planting densities (10,753, 12,903, 16,129 and 21,505 plants/ha) and two planting arrangements (single and double rows). In 2014/15, treatments were arranged in a 5x2 factorial, corresponding to five plant densities (the same planting densities of the previous harvest beyond 32,258 plants/ha) and the same planting arrangements. Total, marketable (considering extra AA and extra A fruits as marketable) and unmarketable yield, the average mass of marketable fruits and severity of leaf diseases were evaluated. Economic analysis was also performed. For tomatoes grown under mechanized spraying, double row plantings resulted in higher yield of marketable fruits and a higher percentage of top grade fruits compared to single row plantings. Maximum fruit yield was reached at approximately 34,000 plants/ha, although maximum revenue was estimated for 23,000 plants/ha. Bacterial spot and Septoria leaf spot severity were higher in double rows than in single rows. Increases in planting density resulted also in increases in bacterial spot and early blight severity.

Protocolos eficientes de crescimento de ápices caulinares de alho (Allium sativum L.) e posterior bulbificação in vitro são importantes para limpeza clonal e manutenção da fidelidade genética. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de tipos e concentrações de reguladores de crescimento sobre a morfogênese de plantas de alho in vitro. Ápices caulinares com até dois primórdios foram excisados de bulbilhos de alho da cv. 'Jonas' e submetidos ao cultivo in vitro em meio de cultura suplementado de ácido indolacético (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), ácido indolbutírico (0; 0,49; 0,98 e 2,46µM), ácido naftalenoacético (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), ácido jasmônico (0; 1,0; 5,0 e 10,0µM) e ácido abscísico (0; 0,38; 1,89; e 3,78µM). A concentração de 1,07µM de ácido naftalenoacético aplicado ao meio de cultura promoveu incrementos na maioria das variáveis analisadas. O ácido jasmônico induziu a formação de bulbos de alho in vitro, embora tenha apresentado performance inferior ao verificado com o uso de ANA. Por outro lado, a adição de ácido abscísico no meio de cultura inibiu o crescimento de plantas, porém, não impediu a formação de bulbos, sobretudo em concentrações reduzidas. De um modo geral, as variáveis número de bulbos e porcentagem de bulbificação diminuiram com o uso de concentrações elevadas dos reguladores de crescimento testados. Entre os reguladores de crescimento de plantas, o ANA apresenta maior efeito na morfogênese in vitro de plantas de alho, entretanto, o ácido jasmônico e o ABA também apresentam potencial para induzir a formação de bulbos de alho in vitro como o ANA.

Efficient protocols for garlic (Allium sativum L.) shoot tips growth and later in vitro bulbing are significant for pathogen removal and maintenance of genetic fidelity. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different types and concentrations of growth regulators on in vitro morphogenesis of garlic plants. Shoot meristems with up to two primordial were excised from garlic bulbils (cv. 'Jonas') and cultivated in vitro in culture media supplemented with indoleacetic acid (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), indolbutyric acid (0; 0,49; 0,98 e 2,46µM), naphthaleneacetic acid (0; 1,07; 2,69 e 5,37µM), and abscisic acid (0; 0,38; 1,89; e 3,78µM). The concentration of 1,07µM indoleacetic acid applied to the culture medium promoted increases in most variables analyzed. Jasmonic acid induced formation of garlic bulbs in vitro, although it showed lower performance than that verified with the use of NAA. On the other hand, addition of abscisic acid in culture media inhibited plant growth. However, it did not impede the formation of bulbs, especially when in reduced concentrations. Generally speaking, variables such as number of bulbs and rate of bulbing decreased with the use of high concentrations of the assessed growth regulators. Among plant growth regulators, NAA showed a stronger effect on in vitro morphogenesis of garlic plants. Nonetheless, jasmonic acid and ABA also showed potential to induce formation of garlic bulbs in vitro such as NAA.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of N and K2O doses, applied by a drip fertigation system, and of distances between plants on the productivity of the Shadow hybrid of seedless watermelon. The experiment was carried out from August to October 2008, at Tupã, SP, Brazil. Four doses of N + K2O (79.8 + 106.7, 106.4 + 142.2, 133.0 + 177.7, and 159.6 + 213.2 kg ha-1) and four spacings between plants (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m) were evaluated in 2.0-m spaced rows. A randomized complete block design with split plots and three replicates was used. Evaluated variables were: N and K foliar content, mean fruit weight, number of fruit and total and commercial productivity; and number of fruit from classes 3 to 5 kg, 5 to 7 kg, 7 to 9 kg, and above 9 kg per plant and per hectare. Nitrogen and potassium doses significantly affected K foliar content, and total and commercial productivity of the hybrid Shadow decreased linearly with the increase in spacing between plants. However, there was no effect of the interaction between factors or from the factors themselves on the other evaluated variables.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar los efectos de dosis de N y K2O, vía fertirrigación por goteo, y de la distancia entre plantas sobre la productividad del híbrido Shadow de sandía sin semillas. El experimento se realizó de agosto a octubre de 2008 en el Município de Tupã, SP, Brazil. Se avaluaran cuatro dosis de N + K2O (79,8 + 106,7, 106,4 + 142,2, 133,0 + 177,7, y 159,6 + 213,2 kg ha-1, respectivamente), y cuatro distancias entre plantas (0,5, 1,0, 1,5 y 2,0 m), en hileras espaciadas de 2,0 m. Se utilizó el diseño experimental de bloques al azar, en parcelas subdivididas, con tres repeticiones. Las variables evaluadas fueron: concentración foliar de N y K, peso medio de frutos, número de frutos y productividad total y comercial; y número de frutos en las clases de 3 a 5, 5 a 7, 7 a 9 kg y con más de 9 kg, por planta y por hectárea. Hubo efecto del factor dosis de N + K2O sobre la concentración foliar de K, y la productividad total y comercial de la sandía híbrido Shadow disminuyó linealmente con el aumento de la distancia entre plantas. Sin embargo, no hubo efecto significativo de la interacción ni efecto individual de los factores sobre las otras variables avaliadas.

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos na UNESP, em Jaboticabal (SP), com o objetivo de avaliar a interação entre alface e tomateiro, em ambiente protegido. Consórcios estabelecidos por transplantes da alface aos 0; 10; 20 e 30 dias após o transplante do tomateiro foram avaliados em dois períodos (abril a setembro/03 e janeiro a maio/04) e comparados às suas monoculturas, também estabelecidas nas mesmas épocas dos consórcios. Cada experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com nove tratamentos. Verificou-se que a produtividade do tomateiro e o percentual de frutos nas classes 50 e 60 não foram influenciados pela alface, independentemente da época em que esta foi transplantada. Por outro lado, a alface produziu menos em consórcio do que em monocultura, e quanto mais atrasado o seu transplante, em relação ao tomateiro, maior foi a redução em sua produtividade.

Two experiments were carried out in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, to evaluate the interaction between lettuce and tomato, in intercropping, in a protected cultivation. Lettuce plants were transplanted into a tomato field at 0; 10; 20, and 30 days after tomato transplantation. These evaluations were performed from April to September 2003 and from January to June 2004. Both, lettuce and tomato crops, were also cultivated in monoculture in order to compare this system and the intercropping one. Each experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with nine treatments. Both tomato yield and fruit classification into grades were not influenced by lettuce crop independently of the transplantation time. On the other hand, lettuce, when intercropped, yielded lesser than when cultivated in sole crop and the yield decreased with the delaying transplanting date.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de comparar o crescimento e acúmulo de macronutrientes pela chicória coberta e não coberta com tecido de polipropileno (TP), branco de 20 g m-2. O delineamento experimental adotado foi de blocos ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas, com 4 repetições. Na parcela, os quatro tratamentos constituíram-se de duas cultivares de chicória crespa (Chicória Crespa e AF-218) em dois sistemas de cultivo (com e sem tecido de polipropileno) e nas subparcelas as épocas de avaliação da chicória, correspondentes às idades da planta (7; 14; 21; 28; 35 e 42 dias após o transplante). A semeadura foi realizada em 02/06/03 e o transplante em 27/06/03. Foi avaliada semanalmente a altura da parte aérea, número de folhas, diâmetro das plantas, matéria fresca e seca da parte aérea e o acúmulo de macronutrientes. Exceto para o diâmetro da parte aérea, observou-se superioridade das demais características nas plantas que receberam a cobertura com TP. A cobertura com TP por todo o período pós-transplante proporcionou maior acúmulo de P, K, Mg e S. Plantas da 'AF-218' cobertas com TP por todo período pós-transplante, e que apresentaram maior matéria fresca da parte aérea, acumularam 836; 515; 205; 144; 90 e 65 mg planta-1 de N, K, Ca, Mg, S e P, respectivamente.

The experiment was carried out to compare the growth and accumulation of macronutrients on chicory, covered or not with white polypropylene (TP), 20 g m-2 thickness. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with divided-plots in four repetitions. In the plots, the four treatments consisted of two curly endive cultivars (Crespa and AF-218) in two cultivation systems (with and without polypropylene) and the subplots consisted of the plant age (7; 14; 21; 28; 35 and 42 days after transplant). Seeds were sown on June 2nd, 2003, and transplanted on June 27th. The aerial plant part, number of leaves, diameter of plant, fresh and dry matter of the aerial part and accumulation of macronutrients were evaluated weekly. Except for the diameter of the aerial plant part, the superiority of the other characteristics on the plants covered with TP was observed. The covering of plants with TP, in all period after transplanting, resulted in a greater accumulation of P, K, Mg and S. Plants of 'AF-218' protected with TP during the whole period after transplanting and that presented greater fresh matter of the aerial part, accumulated 836; 515; 205; 144; 90 and 65 mg planta-1 of N, K, Ca, Mg, S and P, respectively.

O experimento foi realizado na UNESP em Jaboticabal (SP) com o objetivo de avaliar períodos de cobertura de plantas de chicória com polipropileno branco, de 20 g m-2, sobre a produção de chicória crespa. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4x2, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de dois genótipos de chicória (cv. Chicória Crespa, da Isla Sementes, e o genótipo 'AF-218', da Sakata Seeds) e de quatro sistemas de cultivo: (a) ausência de cobertura com polipropileno; (b) cobertura pos 15 dias após o transplantio (DAT); (c) cobertura aos 30 DAT; e (d) 42 DAT coberto, o qual correspondeu a todo o período de crescimento da chicória no campo. A semeadura foi realizada em 02/06/2003 e o transplantio em 27/06/2003. A colocação do polipropileno foi feita diretamente sobre as plantas, fixando-se as laterais na parte externa do canteiro. Na colheita, avaliou-se a altura, número de folhas, diâmetro das plantas, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. O genótipo 'AF-218' apresentou maior massa fresca da parte aérea que a cv. Chicória Crespa. À medida em que houve aumento do período de cobertura com polipropileno, observou-se aumento na altura, número de folhas e na massa fresca da parte aérea dos dois genótipos. O uso do polipropileno durante todo o ciclo (42 dias) resultou em maior massa seca e promoveu precocidade da colheita em oito dias, além de qualidade superior, com folhas mais tenras e limpas.

The experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, to evaluate the production of chicory plants subjected to periods of covering with white polypropylene of 20 g m². The experimental design was a randomized block using a factorial scheme 4x2, with four replications. The treatments consisted of two chicory genotypes (cv. Chicória Crespa, of Isla Seeds, and 'AF-218', of Sakata Seeds) and four cultivation systems: (a) non covering of the plants with polypropylene; (b) covering 15 days after the transplanting (DAT); (c) covering during 30 DAT; (d) and covering during 42 DAT, corresponding to the entire growth period of chicory in the field. Sowing was done in June 2nd 2003 and transplanting in June 27th 2003. The placement of the polypropylene was made directly over the plants, fixing the lateral parts in the external side of the plot. At harvest, evaluation was done by measuring plant height and diameter, number of leaves, and shoot fresh and dry mass. After 42 days with polypropylene covering, genotype 'AF-218' showed higher shoot fresh mass (439 g/plant) when compared to cv. Chicória Crespa (286 g/plant). Shoot height, number of leaves and shoot fresh mass of the two genotypes increased as the periods of polypropylene covering were longer. The use of polypropylene during the whole plant period of post-transplanting promoted precocity of the crop in eight days, besides superior quality, with more tender and clean leaves.

O trabalho foi conduzido na UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, de setembro/2003 a janeiro/2004, com objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade da consorciação de pimentão com as culturas de repolho, rúcula, alface e rabanete. O experimento constou de 15 tratamentos, correspondentes a 10 cultivos consorciados (combinações das cinco hortaliças) e cinco monocultivos. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. Foram utilizados os híbridos Magali R e Kenzan, respectivamente, para pimentão e repolho; e as cultivares Vera, Cultivada e Crimson Gigante, respectivamente, para alface, rúcula e rabanete. As produtividades de pimentão e repolho em cultivo consorciado não diferiram significativamente das obtidas em monocultivo. Maior massa fresca de parte aérea de plantas de alface (438,86 g/planta) foi observada quando a alface foi consorciada com pimentão, diferindo estatisticamente dos demais cultivos que obtiveram em média 323,05 g/planta de alface. Aumento na produtividade de raízes comerciais de rabanete foi observado quando consorciado com pimentão, porém, foi significativamente superior apenas ao cultivo consorciado de pimentão+repolho+rabanete. A massa fresca da parte aérea da rúcula mostrou diferença estatística apenas entre os consórcios de pimentão+rúcula+alface e pimentão+repolho+rúcula. Exceto o consórcio pimentão+repolho que obteve índice de uso eficiente da terra (UET) de 1,92; todos os outros consórcios apresentaram UET superior a 2,0, com maior UET (2,64) obtido no consórcio pimentão+alface. A superioridade de 92 a 164% na produção de alimento por área dos consórcios sobre os monocultivos, demonstra a viabilidade dos policultivos e maior eficiência do uso da terra.

This work was carried out in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, from September 2003 to January 2004, to evaluate the feasibility of an intercropping system of pepper with cabbage, rocket, lettuce and radish, in relation to their monocultives. The experiment consisted of 15 treatments, corresponding to 10 intercropping and five monocultives. The experimental design was a radomized block with six replications. The hybrid Magali R and Kenzan were used, respectively, for pepper and cabbage; and cultivars Vera, Cultivada and Crimson Gigante, respectively, for lettuce, rocket and radish. Yields of pepper and cabbage in intercropping did not differ significantly to that obtained in monocultive. The largest fresh mass of the aerial part of lettuce (438.86 g/plant) was observed in lettuce and pepper intercropping cultivation. In the other cultivations, 323.05 g/plant was obtained of lettuce. Increase in yield of commercial roots of radish was observed in radish and pepper intercropping, however, it was significantly larger to the intercropping cultivation of the pepper+cabbage+radish only. The fresh mass of the aerial part of the rocket showed statistical difference between pepper+rocket+lettuce and pepper+rocket+cabbage intercropping. Except for pepper+cabbage intercropping with land efficient use (LEU) of 1.92, all the intercropping cultives showed LEU higher than 2.0, with highwest LEU (2.64) obtained with pepper+lettuce intercropping. The better results obtained with intercropping in relation to production of food per area, demonstrate the viability of policultives and better land efficient use.