ABSTRACT In this study, we are presenting recommendations to the best agricultural use as well as for plant breeding of three millet cultivars namely ENA1 and ENA2, which have African origin, and BRS1501 originally from India. These cultivars were evaluated for growth, yield and grain quality traits. The morphological traits evaluated in this study indicated that the African genotypes ENA1 and ENA2 are better than the Indian genotype BRS1501 for no-till farming or to produce forage with 15% of crude protein at flowering and at harvest to produce stover (around 7% of crude protein content) for livestock feeding. The BRS1501 cultivar exhibited the highest values for total crude protein, albumins and prolamins, phytate and mineral contents in grains. ENA1 and ENA2 exhibited the highest values of globulin and glutelin contents. The electrophoretic patterns for storage proteins were similar across the three millets cultivars, except for a higher intensity of two glutelin bands with 21 and 24 kDa in BRS1501. Together, the results allow us to recommend BRS1501 for grain production and ENA1 and ENA2 for biomass production.

A proteômica é uma área incrível da ciência cujas apli cações vêm avançando para diversos propósitos. Um aspecto crucial para se alcançar boa resolução proteômica é o estabelecimento de uma metodologia que resulte na melhor qualidade e ampla representação das proteínas totais. Outro aspecto importante é que em muitos estudos quantidades limitadas de tecido e de proteínas totais no tecido a ser estudado são encontradas, tornando difícil a análise. Com o objetivo de testar diferentes parâmetros, combinações usando mínimas quantidades de tecido com 4 protocolos para extração protéica de folhas e raízes de tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicumL.) foram avaliadas com atenção especial para a capacidade de remover interferentes e atingir resolução adequada em eletroforese bidimensional, bem como rendimento satisfatório de proteínas. A avaliação dos protocolos de extração revelou grandes diferenças na quantidade de proteínas obtidas por cada um. O protocolo TCA/acetona mostrou ser o protocolo mais eficiente, que permitiu a detecção de 211 "spots" para folhas e 336 para raízes utilizando 500 µg de proteína de folhas e 800 µg de proteínas de raiz por gel.

Proteomics is an outstanding area in science whose increasing application has advanced to distinct purposes. A crucial aspect to achieve a good proteome resolution is the establishment of a methodology that results in the best quality and wide range representation of total proteins. Another important aspect is that in many studies, limited amounts of tissue and total protein in the tissue to be studied are found, making difficult the analysis. In order to test different parameters, combinations using minimum amount of tissue with 4 protocols for protein extraction from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves and roots were evaluated with special attention to their capacity for removing interferents and achieving suitable resolution in bidimensional gel electrophoresis, as well as satisfactory protein yield. Evaluation of the extraction protocols revealed large protein yield differences obtained for each one. TCA/acetone was shown to be the most efficient protocol, which allowed detection of 211 spots for leaves and 336 for roots using 500 µg of leaf protein and 800 µg of root protein per gel.

Seed priming with hormones has been an efficient method for increasing seed vigor as well as seedling growth under stressful conditions. These responses have in the past been attributed to the activation of antioxidant systems in a range of crops. The results described in this work show that hormonal priming with methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid or CEPA (chloroethylphosphonic acid), an ethylene (ET) releaser, does not induce the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase or glutathione reductase in maize seedlings subjected to salt stress. The enhanced biomass of maize seedlings under salt stress that was observed only from ET priming indicates that the stress tolerance in maize from ethylene priming is a fundamental process for stress tolerance acquisition, which is explained, however, by other biochemical mechanisms but not by changes in the antioxidant system.