ABSTRACT Harvest delay can alter the physiological and sanitary quality of sorghum seeds due to the longer exposure time of seeds to adverse environmental conditions in the field. In this study, we investigated the impact of delayed Sorghum sp. harvest on the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds in four hybrids grown in the tropical soil of the Brazilian Cerrado region. Plants from four Sorghum sp. hybrids (IPA SUDAN 4202, BRS 658, BRS 810, and BRS 373) were grown and submitted to four seed harvest periods (0, 7, 14, and 21 days after stage 9 - seed physiological maturity). The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design in a 4 × 4 factorial, with four replicates. At each harvest period, the thousand-seed weight, water content, first count of the germination test, germination, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, seedling dry matter, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, and sanitary quality of seeds were determined. Seeds of higher physiological and sanitary quality of the IPA SUDAN 4202 and BRS 658 sorghum hybrids can be obtained when the harvest is carried out up to 7 days after the physiological maturity stage. However, the delay in seed harvesting at 14 and 21 days after physiological maturity results in a higher incidence of Colletotrichum sp., Curvularia sp., Rhizoctonia sp., and Alternaria sp. on the seeds of these hybrids. Delaying the harvest of sorghum seeds from 7 days after the physiological maturity stage compromises seed vigor and viability and increases the incidence of pathogens.

A soja é uma cultura exigente em boro (B), entretanto, é estreita a faixa entre o nível adequado e o tóxico para esse nutriente no solo; dessa forma, a dose a ser recomendada deve ser bem definida. As condições hídricas do solo também é um aspecto importante relacionado diretamente com a disponibilidade de B para as plantas. Nesse contexto, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da aplicação de fontes e doses de B no crescimento da soja (Glycine max) em um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico de textura arenosa, submetido a diferentes tensões de água. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em vasos com 5 dm³ de solo. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em parcelas subdivididas, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2 x 3, sendo cinco doses de B (0,0; 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; e 2,0 mg dm-3); duas fontes (ácido bórico e colemanita) e três tensões de água no solo (0,01; 0,03; e 0,10 MPa), com quatro repetições. Os resultados indicaram que o crescimento da soja não é influenciado quando se mantém o nível de tensão de água no solo até 0,1 MPa. O crescimento do sistema radicular foi interferido negativamente com a aplicação de doses de B até 2 mg dm-3, em solo com teor inicial de 0,32 mg dm-3. Os teores de B no solo e no tecido foliar da soja aumentaram linearmente com as doses do nutriente aplicado no solo, sendo observado na maior dose (2 mg dm-3 de B) sintomas de típicos de toxidez de B nas folhas da cultura da soja.

Soybean is one of the annual crops most demanding of boron (B); however, borate fertilizer should be managed cautiously, especially in regard to application rates, because of the narrow range between the appropriate level and toxic level for this nutrient in the soil. Another important factor directly related to B availability to plants refers to soil water conditions. In this context, this study evaluated the effect of sources and application rates of B on soybean growth (Glycine max) in a Latossolo Vermelho (Oxisol) with a sandy texture, subjected to different water tensions. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse in pots with 5 dm³ of soil. We used a split plot experimental design in a 5 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement with five application rates of B (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg dm-3), two B sources (boric acid and colemanite) and three soil water tensions (0.01, 0.03 and 0.10 MPa), with four replications. The results indicated that soybean growth is not affected when the level of soil water tension is maintained up to -0.1 MPa. Root system growth was adversely affected by B application rates of up to 2 mg dm-3 in soil with an initial level of 0.32 mg dm-3. The levels of B in the soil and in leaf tissue of soybean increase linearly with nutrient application rates in the soil, and typical symptoms of B toxicity in soybean leaves were observed at the highest rate (2 mg dm-3 of B).

Sementes de pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas L.) possuem características ortodoxas e requerem conhecimento sobre os fatores que afetam a manutenção de sua qualidade fisiológica. Assim, objetivou-se neste estudo identificar as condições adequadas de armazenamento para a manutenção da qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pinhão manso. Na avaliação dos métodos de armazenamento, utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x3+1, sendo os fatores constituídos por três embalagens (saco de papel Kraft, saco de polietileno e embalagem de vidro), três ambientes de armazenamento (laboratório com condições não controladas, câmara refrigerada a 14 - 16 ºC e refrigerador a 4-6 ºC) e avaliação inicial do material em estudo. Foram analisados os valores de teor de água, primeira contagem de germinação em ambiente controlado. Também se avaliou o índice de velocidade de emergência, porcentagem de germinação das sementes e Índice de Qualidade de Dickson para as mudas após 45 dias da semeadura em ambiente propagativo não controlado. As sementes armazenadas em embalagem de vidro e ambiente de geladeira mantiveram a sua qualidade fisiológica, podendo ser armazenadas pelo período de 180 dias.

Seeds from the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) have orthodox characteristics and knowing the factors that affect their physiological qualities is necessary. The objective of this study was to identify the appropriate storage conditions for maintaining the physiological quality of physic nut seeds. Storage methods were evaluated using a randomized factorial 3x3+1 design, with factors constituted by three different packagings (Kraft paper bags, polythene bags and packaging in glass), three storage environments (laboratory room temperature, refrigerated chamber at 14-16 °C and a refrigerator at 4-6 °C) and with an initial assessment of the study material. The water content, first germination count in a controlled environment, emergence speed, percentage seed germination and Dickson's quality index for the seedlings 45 days after sowing in an environment of uncontrolled propagation, were evaluated. The characteristics of seed stored in glass containers and a refrigerated environment were maintained better and seeds can be stored for 180 days without any reduction in their physiological quality.