ABSTRACT The use of growth regulators as a technique that can reduce plant height and thus strengthen stalks, which may be an option to eliminate or reduce plant lodging, thereby avoiding crop loss. However, there is a lack of information on the subject. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the dose (0; 37.5; 75.0; 112.5 e 150.0 g ha-1 active ingredient) and the application times of trinexapac-ethyl (sixth, seventh and eighth leaves), in a randomized complete block, in a 5x3 factorial scheme, with four replicates. The field experiment was performed during the 2016/17 crop season, in the experimental farm located in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, at Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP, Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State, Brazil - Campus. It is not recommended to apply the trinexapac-ethyl at eighth leaf, especially in the doses of 75.0; 112.5 and 150.0 g ha-1, since they generated the lowest values for yield parameters, thus reducing productivity, and providing greater number of unfilled grains. Taking into account the reduction in plant height, the minimization of lodging and grain yield, trinexapac-ethyl should be applied to the seventh leaf of the BRS Esmeralda rice at the dose of 75 g ha-1.

O kino (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey) é uma olerícola de ampla distribuição geográfica, com aumento significativo em relação à comercialização no mundo inteiro, devido não só à sua vida útil ser muito longa em temperatura ambiente, como também pela constante busca do mercado consumidor por produtos exóticos. Assim, a demanda e a comercialização de suas sementes estão aumentando, gerando a necessidade do estabelecimento de padrões estaduais e federais e do desenvolvimento de metodologias adequadas para a avaliação da qualidade delas. Dessa maneira, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a metodologia quanto ao substrato, temperatura e tempo de contagem para o teste de germinação em sementes de kino. As avaliações constaram de quatro substratos: rolo de papel, sobre papel, entre areia e sobre areia e quatro temperaturas: 20, 25 e 30°C constantes e 20-30°C alternada. O efeito dos substratos e temperaturas sobre o desempenho das sementes foi avaliado pelo teste de germinação, índice de velocidade e tempo médio de germinação. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com os tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 (substratos x temperaturas), com quatro repetições. O teste de germinação em sementes de kino deve ser realizado no rolo de papel, à temperatura constante de 25°C ou alternada de 20-30°C, com a contagem inicial e final, no quinto e décimo dia, respectivamente.

The kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey) is a cop of wide geographical distribution, with a significant increase in relation to marketing worldwide due not only to his life being too long at room temperature, as well as to the constant search market consumer for exotic products. Thus, demand and marketing of its seeds are increasing, creating the need for the establishment of state and federal standards and the development of appropriate methodologies for evaluating the quality of them. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the methodology for the substrate, temperature and time count for the germination test on Kiwano seeds. The evaluations consisted of four substrates: paper roll, on paper, in sand and on sand at four temperatures: 20, 25 e 30°C constant and 20-30°C alternating. The effect of substrate and temperature on seed performance was evaluated using germination, speed index and mean germination time. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with treatments arranged in a factorial 4x4 (substrates x temperatures) with four replications. The test germination in seeds of kiwano should be done on the paper roll at constant temperature of 25°C or alternating 20-30°C, with counting starting and ending in the fifth and tenth day, respectively.