Abstract The current methodologies used to evaluate environmental similarities do not allow the simultaneous analysis and categorization of the environments. The objective of this study was to verify the possibility of using the Bayesian network (BN) to detect similarities between environments for plant height, lodging, and grain yield in maize. Thirteen experimental varieties were grown in six environments to measure the traits plant height, lodging, and grain yield. The BN was constructed for each trait, using the Hill-Climbing algorithm. Results were compared with the simple part of the genotypes x environments interaction, clustering by the Lin’s method and by simple correlation between environments. The Lin’s method clustered environments with predominance of complex interaction for all traits. The BN is efficient to analyze environmental similarity for plant height and grain yield since it detected the highest correlations. The BN revealed no connections among the environments that presented predominance of complex interaction.

ABSTRACT. The Brazilian popcorn has low genetic variability and the successful development of advanced lines, new popcorn cultivars with high grain yield (GY) and expansion volume (PE) is dependent on parental selection and precise determination of heterotic groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variability and identify heterotic groups in synthetic populations of popcorn, using diallel crosses. Thus, nine synthetic populations were crossed using complete diallel scheme. The GY and PE traits of 36 hybrids and reciprocals were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 72 treatments and two replicates in two years. The effects of non-additive genes were the most important in the genetic control of these traits, indicating a favorable situation to produce hybrids. The reciprocal effect is mainly due to non-maternal effects for GY and PE. The highest GY values were obtained for the 02 x 08, 04 x 09, 05 x 09, and 01 x 09 crosses and the highest PE were obtained for the 07 x 01 and 03 x 04 crosses. The exploitation of synthetic populations from S3 lines can be an alternative to increase the genetic variability for grain yield and popping expansion in popcorn breeding programs.

Abstract Breeding new maize varieties that take up more N from the soil and increase N fixation is a crucial source of combined nitrogen in agricultural systems. Thus, this study aimed to select superior maize parental lines efficient in the use of nitrogen and Azospirillum brasilense. Three experiments were conducted in two agricultural seasons aiming to allocate all diallel hybrids in three different nitrogen conditions. The experiments were performed in a RCB design with two replications, and the diallel was analyzed using the mixed model approach. The general combining ability and Azospirillum use efficiency were applied to select the best parental line. The most promising hybrid combinations were “I-08 x II-06”, “I-02 x II-04”, and “I-01 x II-02”. Parents involved were selected for the development of hybrids. Parents I-01, I-02, I-08, II-01, II-02, II-04, II-05, and II-06 were selected to explore the basic population in the A. brasilense-use efficiency breeding program.

RESUMO Características agronômicas e qualitativas de feijoeiro em razão da palhada e adubação nitrogenada O sistema plantio direto pode alterar a dinâmica do nitrogênio no solo, sendo necessária a adequação da adubação no feijoeiro, para disponibilizar esse elemento nos períodos críticos de necessidade da cultura. Objetivou-se avaliar as características agronômicas e qualitativas de feijoeiro cultivado sobre diferentes tipos de palhadas, em função do parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura. Utilizou-se delineamento de blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por 3 tipos de palhada (milho, milho consorciado com braquiária e braquiária), enquanto as subparcelas foram compostas pela combinação de palhadas com 8 arranjos de parcelamento de nitrogênio em cobertura. O feijoeiro sobre palhada de braquiária apresenta maior produtividade de grãos e maior teor de proteína bruta. O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura apresenta interação com o tipo de palhada, aumentando o número de vagens por planta. No feijoeiro sobre palhada de milho solteiro, o tempo para a máxima hidratação dos grãos é menor. O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura não influencia os atributos qualitativos do feijoeiro.

ABSTRACT The no-tillage system can change the nitrogen dynamics in the soil, being necessary to adjust the nitrogen fertilization in order to provide this nutrient during critical phases of the common bean growth. This study aimed at evaluating the agronomic and qualitative traits of common bean grown under different straw types, as a function of the topdressing nitrogen fertilization splitting. A randomized block experimental design, in a split-plot arrangement, with four replications, was used. The plots consisted of three straw types (maize, maize intercropped with brachiaria and brachiaria), while the subplots comprised the combination of these straw materials with 8 topdressing nitrogen fertilization splitting arrangements. The common bean on brachiaria straw shows higher grain yields and crude protein contents. The nitrogen fertilization splitting, as topdressing, interacts with the straw types, increasing the number of pods per plant. The common bean plants growing on plots with single-maize straw had a shorter time for maximum hydration. The topdressing nitrogen fertilization splitting has no effect on the common bean qualitative traits.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de doses de nitrogênio em cobertura e das palhadas de milho, de milho consorciado com braquiária e de braquiária sobre a produtividade e a qualidade de grãos do feijoeiro. O experimento foi realizado em área irrigada, no cultivo de inverno, após cinco anos da implantação do sistema plantio direto, em Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico de textura argilosa. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e três repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por palha de milho, palha de milho consorciado com braquiária e palha de braquiária; enquanto as subparcelas, pelas doses de N em cobertura correspondentes a 0, 40, 80, 120 e 160 kg ha-1. Todos os tratamentos receberam 17 kg ha1 de N na semeadura. O feijoeiro cultivado sobre palha de braquiária atinge maior produtividade de grãos e maior eficiência agronômica. Os atributos qualitativos dos grãos não são alterados pelas diferentes palhadas avaliadas. A aplicação do N em cobertura aumentou o teor de proteína bruta e o tempo de cozimento dos grãos de feijão, além da produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro até a dose de 136 kg ha-1 de N.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of top-dressed nitrogen fertilization and of the straws of corn crop, of corn intercropped with Brachiaria, and of Brachiaria on grain yield and quality of common bean. The experiment was carried out under irrigation, in winter cropping, after five years from the implementation of a no-tillage system, in a clayey Oxisol. A randomized block design with split plots and three replicates was used. The plots consisted of the straws of corn, of corn intercropped with Brachiaria, and of Brachiaria; while the split plots consisted of top-dressed N at levels corresponding to 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha-1. All the treatments received 17 kg ha-1 N at sowing. Common bean cropped over Brachiaria straw reaches higher grain yield and has increased agronomic efficiency. The evaluated straws did not affect the qualitative attributes of common beans. The application of top-dressed N increased protein contents and cooking time of the beans, besides grain yield up to the level of 136 kg ha-1 N.