RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar genitores e combinações híbridas promissoras para o melhoramento de melancia forrageira. Foram avaliados cinco genitores; BGCIA 996 (1), BGCIA 997 (2), BGCIA 998 (3), BGCIA 228 (4), Jojoba (5) e dez híbridos F1’s, obtidos a partir de cruzamentos dialélicos balanceados. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados completos, com três repetições. Avaliou -se as características morfoagronômicas e bromatológicas. Destacaram-se os genitores BGCIA 997, BGCIA 998, BGCIA 228 e Jojoba, quanto ao teor de proteína, produção de frutos, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca e número de sementes, respectivamente. O híbrido 1x4 destacou-se para comprimento dos frutos, número de sementes e extrato etéreo. O híbrido 2x3 destacou-se para espessura de casca e polpa, enquanto os híbridos 3x4, 3x5 e 4x5 destacaram-se pela digestibilidade, teor de proteína e produção de frutos, respectivamente. A análise do desvio padrão das estimativas de CEC tanto de DP (Sij-Sik) quanto de DP(Sij-Skl) indicaram que não foram encontrados híbridos com estimativas de CEC duas vezes maiores que DP(Sij-Sik) ou DP(Sij-Skl), exceto para o híbrido 1x4 para número de sementes por fruto. Estes resultados sugerem que os progenitores foram mais promissores do que os híbridos. Da mesma forma, as estimativas da CGC favorecem o método intrapopulacional, o qual promoverá maior eficiência na seleção para ganhos genéticos.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to identify parents and promising hybrid combinations for the improvement of forage watermelon. Five parents were evaluated: BGCIA 996 (1), BGCIA 997 (2), BGCIA 998 (3), BGCIA 228 (4), Jojoba (5) and ten F1 hybrids, which were obtained from balanced diallel crosses. The experimental design was in a complete randomized block, with three replications. The morphoagronomic and bromatological traits were evaluated. The highlights were the progenitors BGCIA 997, BGCIA 998, BGCIA 228 and Jojoba for protein content, fruit yield, in vitro digestibility of dry matter and number of seeds, respectively. The hybrid 1x4 stood out for fruit length, seed number, and ethereal extract. The hybrid 2x3 stood out for rind and pulp thickness while the hybrids 3x4, 3x5 and 4x5 had exceptional digestibility, protein content and fruit yield, respectively. The analysis of the standard deviation of the SCA estimates of both SD (Sij- Sik) and SD (Sij- Skl) indicated that no hybrids were found that had SCA estimates twice that of SD (Sij- Sik) or SD (Sij- Skl), except for the hybrid 1x4 for the number of seeds per fruit. These results suggest that the parents were more promising than the hybrids. Similarly, the GCA estimates favor the intrapopulation method, which will promote greater efficiency in selection for genetic gains.

The objective of the present trial was to evaluate the productive and morphogenetic characteristics of buffel grass subjected to different air temperatures and CO2 concentrations. Three cultivars of buffel grass (Biloela, Aridus and West Australian) were compared. Cultivars were grown in growth chambers at three temperatures (day/night): 26/20, 29/23, and 32/26 °C, combined with two concentrations of CO2: 370 and 550 µmol mol-1. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with three replications. There were interactions between buffel grass cultivars and air temperatures on leaf elongation rate (LER), leaf appearance rate (LAR), leaf lifespan (LL) and senescence rate (SR), whereas cultivars vs. carbon dioxide concentration affected forage mass (FM), root mass (RM), shoot/root ratio, LL and SR. Leaf elongation rate and SR were higher as the air temperature was raised. Increasing air temperature also promoted an increase in LAR, except for West Australian. High CO2 concentration provided greater SR of plants, except for Biloela. Cultivar West Australian had higher FM in relation to Biloela and Aridus when the CO2 concentration was increased to 550 µmol mol-1. West Australian was the only cultivar that responded with more forage mass when it was exposed to higher carbon dioxide concentrations, whereas Aridus had depression in forage mass. The increase in air temperatures affects morphogenetic responses of buffel grass, accelerating its vegetative development without increasing forage mass. Elevated carbon dioxide concentration changes productive responses of buffel grass.