The temporal expression of gene sor1 and the inhibitory effect of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench against weeds were studied by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction and intercropping management, respectively. To quantify sor1 expression, seeds were sown in pots and RNA was collected from the roots at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days after emergence (DAE). In the inhibition assay, cotton and three weeds were evaluated during single cropping and during intercropping with S. bicolor. The assay was completely randomized, with eight replications. We found early expression of sor1 in most S. bicolor accessions by 5 DAE, and a gradual reduction thereafter. Only one of the accessions showed sor1 expression up to 30 DAE. In the inhibition assay, the most significant effects were related to the dry matter production (shoots and roots) of the weeds Cenchrus echinatus and Cynodon dactylon. The intercropping of cotton and S. bicolor had no apparent deleterious effects.

Vários trabalhos vem sendo desenvolvidos sobre o cultivo in vitro de cacau (T.cacao), mas são raros para a maioria das outras espécies do gênero, como o cupuaçu (T. grandiflorum), cuja a área plantada vem aumentando expressivamente, e outras que poderiam servir de fonte de genes para as espécies economicamente já reconhecidas. Protocolos para obtenção de embriões somáticos in vitro para as espécies T. cacao,T. grandiflorum,T. speciosum e o híbrido T. grandiflorum x T. obovatum foram avaliados a partir de duas fontes de explantes, estaminódios e pétalas (formadas por lígulas e cógulas) cultivados em meio de crescimento primário de calo, consistindo de sais DKW, suplementado com 20 g l-1 de sacarose, 250 mg l-1de glutamina, 200 mg l-1de mio-inositol, 0,2 mg l-1 de tiamina-HCl, 0,1 mg l-1 de ácido nicotínico, 0,2 mg l-1 de glicina, 2 mg l-1 de 2,4-D, 2,2 g l-1 de Gelrite® e pH 5,8. A este meio foram adicionadas diferentes concentrações de tidiazuron (0, 5 e 10 µg l-1). As culturas foram mantidas no escuro por 14 dias, à temperatura de 25 ± 2 ºC, e então transferidas para meio de crescimento secundário de calo, constituído de sais WPM, vitaminas de Gamborg, 20 g l-1 de sacarose, 2 mg l-1 de 2,4 D, 0,3 mg l-1 de cinetina, 50 ml l-1 de água de côco, 2,2 g l-1 de Gelrite® e pH 5,8. A formação de calos ocorreu em todas as espécies. Embriões somáticos foram obtidos somente para T. cacao. A calogênese mostrou-se influenciada pelo genótipo e foi maior nos estaminódios.

Many works have been done on cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in vitro culture, with few studies being published for other species of the same genus, as cupuassu (T. grandiflorum), whose planted area is increasing expressively, and others that could be used as a source of genes for those with recognized economical importance. Protocols to obtain in vitro somatic embryos from T. cacao,T. grandiflorum,T. speciosum and the hybrid T. grandiflorum x T. obovatum from two sources of explants, staminodes and petals (formed by ligues and cogules) were evaluated, using a primary callus growth medium made of DKW salts, supplemented with 20 g l-1 of sucrose, 250 mg l-1 of glutamine, 200 mg l-1 of myo-inositol, 0.2 mg l-1 of thyamine-HCl; 0.1 mg l-1 of nicotinic acid; 0.2 mg l-1 of glycine; 2 mg l-1 of 2,4-D; 2.2 g l-1 of Gelrite® and the pH adjusted to 5.8. To this media was added different concentrations of thidiazuron (0; 5 and 10 µg l-1). Cultures were maintained at dark for 14 days, at a temperature of 25 ± 2 ºC, and so transferred for the secondary callus growth, made with WPM salts, Gamborg vitamins, 20 g l-1 of sucrose, 2 mg l-1 of 2,4 D; 0.3 mg l-1 of cinetin, 50 ml l-1 of coconut milk, 2.2 g l-1 of Gelrite® and the pH adjusted to 5.8. Callus formation occurred in all species. Somatic embryos were obtained only for T. cacao. Callus formation was influenced by genotype and was higher on staminodes.