ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to verify the response of the melon accessions MR1 and C14 to gamma radiation in terms of germination and morphology.The melon accessions came from the germplasm collection of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, and were submitted to five doses of gamma radiation (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 Gy) in four replications, each comprising 25 seeds, at the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture of the University of São Paulo. The seeds were grown in a greenhouse at UFERSA employing a completely randomised design. The germination potential, rate and index were evaluated during the first stage of the trial. During the second stage, the germinated plants were transplanted into eight-litre buckets containing substrate and sand, in four replications of 15 plants each. The inflorescence, leaf blade and fruit were evaluated. The IMAGE J image analysis software was used to obtain the leaf and fruit data. The germination potential varied for the gamma-ray doses being tested, while the germination rate and index were not affected; phenotypic variations were seen in the leaves. The gamma-ray doses had no effect on the germination process. MR C C1 morphologyThe morphology Semiarid Semi arid Region 0, 0 (0 100 200 300 40 Gy 2 Paulo design trial eightlitre eight litre sand 1 inflorescence data gammaray ray tested affected leaves process ( 10 20 30 4 3

ABSTRACT During experiment planning, determining the number of replicates for tested treatments is important because it directly affects the accuracy of the obtained results. This study was conducted to determine the number of measurements (repetitions) necessary to evaluate the yield traits and soluble solids in Cantaloupe and Gália melon hybrid trials. The study comprised twenty-one experiments, nine for evaluating eight Cantaloupe melon hybrids, and twelve for evaluating nine Galia melon hybrids, conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates each. Analysis of variance was performed, and repeatability and genotypic determination coefficients were estimated for each experiment. The use of three repetitions allowed identification of superior genotypes with 83.6 and 80.7% predictions of the real values for the yield and soluble solids, respectively, for Cantaloupe melons. Evaluating the trials with Galia melon using three repetitions allowed prediction of the true value of the genotypes with 86.1 and 98.6% accuracy for fruit yield and soluble solids, respectively. Therefore, the use of three replicates was determined to be sufficient for detecting superior genotypes both for fruit yield and soluble solid content, with more than 80% certainty for their true values.

ABSTRACT. Determining the number of replicates required to produce statistically testable results based on previously conducted tests is important to minimize labor costs via the use of existing information. The objective of this work was to determine the number of repetitions necessary to evaluate the characters of productivity and soluble solids in hybrids of two types of Inodorus melons. The study consisted of 20 experiments: 12 evaluated 10 hybrids of honeydew melons and 8 evaluated 13 hybrids of yellow melons. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with three replicates. Analysis of variance was performed to estimate the repeatability and genotypic determination coefficients. Variability in accurately predicting the genotype was observed for different number of repetitions between the evaluated characters and melon types. In the yellow melon, experiments with three repetitions allowed the accurate identification of superior genotypes with 81.1 and 61.9% certainty for productivity and soluble solids, respectively. In the honeydew melon, 62.4 and 71.2% accuracy was obtained for productivity and soluble solids, respectively. ABSTRACT information 2 1 coefficients 811 81 81. 619 61 9 61.9 respectively 624 62 4 62. 712 71 71.2 6 61. 7 71.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the pathogenicity of the following Monosporascus species: Monosporascus brasiliensis, Monosporascus caatinguensis, Monosporascus mossoroensis, Monosporascus nordestinus, and Monosporascus semiaridus in comparison with Monosporascus cannonballus, as well as the reaction to these pathogens of the A-16, C-32, 'Goldex', and 'Hales Best Jumbo' melon accessions, which belong to the acidulus, cantalupensis, conomon, and inodorus varietal groups, respectively. Vine decline severity was evaluated based on root damage and on the root dry matter reduction index. All studied Monosporascus species caused damage to the melon accessions, but only M. brasiliensis, M. nordestinus, and especialy M. caatinguensis were considered virulent. The A-16 accession shows higher resistance to M. nordestinus, M. caatinguensis, and M. cannonballus, whereas 'Goldex' presents susceptibility to M. caatinguensis, M. nordestinus, and M. semiaridus. The M. brasiliensis, M. caatinguensis, M. mossoroensis, M. nordestinus, and M. semiaridus species present varying levels of pathogenicity and diferent levels of infection severity, with M. semiaridus having the highest severity, and M. cannonballus, the lowest. brasiliensis mossoroensis nordestinus cannonballus A16, A16 A 16, 16 C32, C32 C 32, 32 C-32 Goldex, Goldex , Hales Jumbo accessions acidulus cantalupensis conomon groups respectively index M virulent A-1 'Goldex lowest A1 1 C3 3 C-3 A- C-

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a patogenicidade das seguintes espécies de Monosporascus: Monosporascus brasiliensis, Monosporascus caatinguensis, Monosporascus mossoroensis, Monosporascus nordestinus e Monosporascus semiaridus, em comparação com Monosporascus cannonballus, bem como a reação a esses patógenos dos acessos de melão A-16, C-32, 'Goldex' e 'Hales Best Jumbo', os quais pertencem aos grupos varietais acidulus, cantalupensis, conomon e inodorus, respectivamente. A severidade do declínio das ramas foi avaliada com base nos danos às raízes e no índice de redução da matéria seca das raízes. Todas as espécies de Monosporascus estudadas causaram danos aos acessos de melão, mas apenas M. brasiliensis, M. nordestinus e, especialmente, M. caatinguensis foram consideradas virulentas. O acesso A-16 apresenta maior resistência a M. nordestinus, M. caatinguensis e M. cannonballus, enquanto 'Goldex' apresenta susceptibilidade a M. caatinguensis, M. nordestinus e M. semiaridus. As espécies M. brasiliensis, M. caatinguensis, M. mossoroensis, M. nordestinus e M. semiaridus apresentam variados níveis de patogenicidade e diferentes níveis de severidade da infecção, com M. semiaridus tendo a maior severidade, e M. cannonballus a menor. brasiliensis mossoroensis A16, A16 16, 16 C32, C32 C 32, 32 C-32 Goldex 'Goldex Hales Jumbo, Jumbo , Jumbo' acidulus cantalupensis inodorus respectivamente M especialmente virulentas A-1 infecção menor A1 1 C3 3 C-3 A- C-

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la influencia de la interacción genotipo por ambiente en estudios de divergencia genética en soja en condiciones semiáridas. Se realizaron cuatro experimentos con un diseño de bloques completos aleatorizados con cuatro repeticiones donde se evaluaron 21 genotipos de soja. Se utilizaron los siguientes descriptores para cuantificar la divergencia: altura de planta, materia seca, contenido de aceite, número de vainas por planta, número de granos por vaina, peso de cien semillas, rendimiento, días a floración y días a maduración. Se utilizó el método jerárquico UPGMA para agrupar los genotipos de la matriz de distancias de Mahalanobis mediante las medias genotípicas estimadas por el método REML / BLUP. La agrupación de genotipos depende de las condiciones de evaluación, principalmente debido a los efectos de la interacción genotipo por años. El análisis conjunto, sin la presencia del efecto de interacción, permite obtener dos grupos de genotipos. Los cruzamientos más adecuados involucran los genotipos BRS Tracajá, BRS Pérola, BRS Carnaúba, M 8644 IPRO, BRS 8590 y BMX OPUS IPRO, y el genotipo BRS Sambaíba, especialmente el entre BMX OPUS IPRO y el genotipo BRS Sambaíba, que es el de mayor disimilitud.

Abstract The objective of the present work was to evaluate the influence of the genotype-envi ronment interaction on genetically divergent soybean grown under semiarid conditions. Four experiments were carried out in randomized blocks with four replicates to evaluate twenty-one soybean genotypes. The following descriptors were used to quantify diver gence: plant height, dry matter, oil content, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, the weight of 100 seeds, yield, days for flowering, and days for maturation. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean was used to group the genotypes from the Mahalanobis distance matrix estimated using the genotypic means estimated by the REML/BLUP method. The grouping of genotypes depended mainly on the effects of the interaction between genotypes and years. The joint analysis, without the effect of the inter action, allowed us to obtain two groups of genotypes. The most recommended crosses were those of the lines BRS Tracajá, BRS Pérola, BRS Carnaúba, M 8644 IPRO, BRS 8590, and BMX OPUS IPRO with the genotype BRS Sambaíba, especially the one between BMX OPUS IPRO and BRS Sambaíba.

La cuantificación de los carotenoides en los alimentos se puede realizar mediante diversas técnicas, como la espectrofotometría, la espectrometría de masas, la cromatografía líquida de alto rendimiento, la cromatografía de gases y la colorimetría. El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar la viabilidad de la selección indirecta para evaluar los carotenoides totales en las accesiones de calabaza. El diseño experimental fue bloques completos al azar, con dos repeticiones y tres plantas por parcela. Los tratamientos consistieron en 51 accesiones de Cucurbita moschata Duch de la colección de germoplasma DCAF/UFERSA Cucurbitaceae y un cultivar comercial de C. maxima Duch. Después de la maduración, se cosecharon los frutos y se evaluó el contenido colorimétrico y total de carotenoides. Considerando el efecto de las accesiones como aleatorio, se estimaron los componentes de la varianza y se predijeron los valores genotípicos mediante la máxima verosimilitud restringida (REML) o una mejor predicción lineal e imparcial (BLUP). Las ganancias genéticas directas e indirectas se estimaron con base en una intensidad de selección del 50%. Los parámetros de intensidad de color de la pulpa y el ángulo h° indicaron la posibilidad de selección indirecta de accesiones con un contenido de carotenoides total más alto. La adhesión a ABO22 mostró un mayor contenido de carotenoides totales en las condiciones de evaluación del experimento.

Carotenoid quantification in food can be performed by various techniques, such as spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and colorimetry. The objective of this study was to verify the feasibility of indirect selection for assessment of total carotenoids in pumpkin accessions. The experimental design comprised of complete randomized blocks with two replications and three plants per plot. The treatments consisted of 51 Cucurbita moschata Duch accessions from the DCAF/UFERSA Cucurbitaceae germplasm collection and a commercial C. maxima Duch cultivar. After maturation, the fruits were harvested, and colorimetric and total carotenoid contents were evaluated. Considering the effect of accessions as random, variance components were estimated, and the genotypic values were predicted by maximum restricted likelihood (REML) or best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). Both direct and indirect genetic gains were estimated from a selection intensity of 50%. Pulp color intensity parameters and h° angle indicated the possibility of indirect selection of accessions with higher total carotenoid contents. The ABO22 accession presented higher total carotenoid content under the evaluation conditions of the experiment.

Foram avaliadas as técnicas multivariadas para se estimar a divergência genética entre genótipos de feijoeiro, visando a obtenção de populações com ampla variabilidade genética. Utilizaram-se as seguintes técnicas de análise multivariada: distância Euclidiana média, a partir dos dados padronizados (d e); distância Euclidiana média, obtida com os escores das três primeiras variáveis canônicas (d vc); distância Euclidiana média, a partir dos escores dos três primeiros componentes principais (d cp); distância Euclidiana média usando as três primeiras cargas fatoriais (d ft), e distância generalizada de Mahalanobis (D²). Foram utilizados doze genótipos de feijoeiro (Aporé, H-4-7, PF-9029975, CI-128, Carioca MG, CI-21, Carioca 300V, Ouro Negro, A-285-Rudá, ESAL 693, Pérola e IAC Carioca Aruã) avaliados em quatro épocas (inverno/97, águas/97/98, seca/98 e inverno/98) por meio de dez características agromorfológicas. O delineamento utilizado foi blocos completos casualizados com três repetições. As técnicas multivariadas foram concordantes para identificar os genótipos geneticamente mais divergentes. Os genótipos, ESAL 693 e Ouro Negro diferiram entre si e entre os demais. O PF-9029975 e Carioca MG foram similares e diferiram das demais de acordo com as distâncias Euclidianas médias. Salienta-se também a divergência da cultivar Aporé em relação à Pérola, embora esta cultivar seja uma linhagem selecionada dentro da Aporé. Assim, todos esses genótipos geneticamente mais divergentes são promissoros para serem cruzados e fornecerem populações com maior segregação em vários caracteres agronômicos, especialmente o ESAL 693 com os demais que possuem grãos tipo carioca. Foi também constatada razoável concordância na identificação dos caracteres que menos contribuíram para a diversidade genética.

Multivariate techniques were used to evaluate the genetic divergence among genotypes of common bean, aiming to identify segregating populations with large genetic variability. The multivariate techniques used were: the average Euclidean distance based on standardized variables (d e), on scores of the three first canonical variables (d vc), on scores of the first three principal components (d cp), on the first three factor loads (d ft), and the Mahalanobis generalized distance (D²). Twelve common bean genotypes were used (Aporé, H-4-7, PF-9029975, CI-128, Carioca MG, CI-21, Carioca 300V, Ouro Negro, A-285 Rudá, ESAL 693, Pérola e IAC Carioca Aruã), and evaluated in four seasons (Jul-Nov/97, Nov/97-Feb/98, Feb-Jun/98 and Jul-Nov/98), based on ten morpho-agronomic traits. A randomized block design with three replications was utilized. The multivariate techniques showed similar results mainly for identifing the more divergent genotypes. Among them, ESAL 693 and Ouro Negro were genetically different between themselves and among the other genotypes. PF-9029975 and Carioca MG were genetically similar, although different of other genotypes according to average Euclidean procedures. It should be pointed out that Aporé genotype was divergent of Pérola genotype, although the last one is a selected line in the Aporé. Therefore, all of those genetically divergent genotypes are promissing to cross for obtaining higher segregating populations, specially ESAL 693 with the others that have a carioca grain type. A resonable correspondence was found in the identification of traits with smallest contribution to genetic diversity.

The obtention of genetically improved cultivars is the main objective of breeding programs, whose efficiency is increased by a careful choice of parents. Based on both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities for grain yield, the purpose of this research was to choose the most promising populations of common beans, for line selection. GCA and SCA were measured by means of a complete diallel without reciprocals, using twelve cultivars/lines. Parents and corresponding F2 segregating populations were evaluated for grain yield by a 9 x 9 triple square lattice design. It was found that the segregating populations differed in grain yield, with predominant SCA effects, but with significant GCA effects as well. Among the populations derived from parents with positive GCA values, Aporé x CI-128, CI-128 x Pérola, PF-9029975 x Ouro Negro, and CI-128 x Ouro Negro also showed positive SCA values and high grain yields, therefore being the most promising populations for grain yield improvement. The highest values of specific combining ability were observed in populations H-4-7 x ESAL 693, CI-128 x Pérola, and A-285 Rudá x IAC Carioca Aruã, which must be the most segregating ones. Hybrid combinations with a high SCA deriving from at least one parent with high GCA were: Pérola x CI-128 and Ouro Negro x Pérola. Although line ESAL 693 presented the lowest GCA value, one of its derived populations, ESAL 693 x H-4-7, had the highest SCA and heterosis values. The high correlation between heterosis and SCA indicates that heterosis can be useful when SCA is not available.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar o progresso genético do arroz de várzea úmida no Estado do Amapá, no período de 1991 a 1996. A eficiência do programa de avaliação e seleção de linhagens de arroz foi estudada, utilizando-se os dados das produtividades de grãos obtidos nos Ensaios Comparativos Avançados, da rede de ensaios coordenada pela Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Feijão. Para estimativa do ganho genético foram utilizadas as metodologias de Vencovsky et al. (1986) e de Fernandes (1988). O ganho genético foi de 78,9 kg ha-1 (2,45%) ao ano, sendo 63,21% dos progressos brutos devidos ao melhoramento genético, pelo primeiro método. No segundo método, o ganho genético foi de 96,93 kg ha-1 (3,02%) ao ano, sendo 67,85% dos progressos brutos devidos ao melhoramento genético. Os ganhos genéticos obtidos com ambas metodologias evidenciam que os esforços empreendidos na busca de cultivares adaptadas e produtivas têm produzido resultados expressivos.

This paper had the objective of quantifying the genetic progress of lowland rice in the state of Amapá, Brazil, in the 1991-1996 period. The efficiency of the rice lineages evaluation and selection program was studied, using grain yield data, obtained in the Advanced Yield Trials, of the Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Feijão network. To estimate the genetic gain the methodologies of Vencovsky et al. (1986) and Fernandes (1988) were used. The genetic gain obtained was of 2.45%/ year (78.9 kg ha-1), being 63.21% of the whole progresses due to the genetic breeding, for the first method. In the second method, the genetic gain was of 3.02%/year (96.93 kg ha-1), being 67.85% of the whole progresses due to the genetic breeding. The genetic gains obtained in both methodologies evidence that the efforts undertaken in the search of adapted and productive cultivars have been producing expressive results.

A divergência genética dos genitores é essencial para que produzam populações segregantes em vários caracteres, ampliando as chances de seleção de genótipos superiores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se a distância de Mahalanobis (D²) classifica os genitores representados por cultivares/linhagens de feijoeiro adaptados à região sul de Minas Gerais e permite a escolha das combinações mais divergentes, em vários caracteres agronômicos. Dez características morfo-agronômicas foram utilizadas para o cálculo da distância de Mahalanobis (D²), a partir dos 12 cultivares/linhagens (Aporé, H-4-7, PF-9029975, CI-128, Carioca MG, CI-21, Carioca 300V, Ouro Negro, A-285 Rudá, ESAL 693, Pérola e IAC Carioca Aruã) avaliados em quatro épocas (inverno/97, águas 97/98, seca/98 e inverno/98). O delineamento foi realizado em blocos completos casualizados com três repetições. Verificou-se pelas análises das variâncias, que os cultivares/linhagens diferiram em todos os caracteres, bem como entre épocas. Observou-se, ainda, que a interação genótipos vs. épocas foi significativa para seis dos 10 caracteres. Constatou-se que os cultivares/linhagens foram mais contrastantes, tendo como referência a massa de cem sementes, número de dias para florescimento, porte e número de internódios. Contudo, a produção de grãos, apesar de ser muito importante, apresentou baixa contribuição para divergência, em virtude da falta de variabilidade entre os materiais estudados. As distâncias de Mahalanobis (D²) classificaram os cultivares/linhagens em dois grupos distintos. O grupo I foi formado por 'ESAL 693' e 'Ouro Negro', os mais divergentes nas quatro épocas, e o grupo II foi formado pelos cultivares/linhagens restantes (PF-9029975, A-285 Rudá, IAC Carioca Aruã, Carioca MG, CI-21, H-4-7, Pérola, CI-128, Carioca 300V e Aporé). Houve inconsistência nos agrupamentos nas quatro épocas. A distância de Mahalanobis (D²) permitiu a identificação de genitores divergentes.

The genetic divergence of parents is essential for producing segregating populations for several characters, enhancing the chances of selecting better genotypes. The objective of this work was to investigate whether Mahalanobis distance (D²) classifies possible parents for cultivars/lines adapted to local region allowing the choice of the most divergent combinations for several agronomic characters. Ten morpho-agronomic characteristics were utilized for obtaining Mahalanobis distance (D²) from 12 cultivars /lines (Aporé , H-4-7, PF- 9029975, CI-128, Carioca MG, CI-21, Carioca 300V, Ouro Negro, A-285 Rudá, Esal 693, Pérola and IAC Carioca Aruã), evaluated in four seasons (winter /97, waters 97/98 , drought/98 and winter/98). It was utilized a randomized complete block design with three replications. It was verified that the cultivars/lines differed for all characters , and according to different seasons. It was noticed that the genotype/season interaction was significant for six of the ten characters. It was found that the cultivars/ lines were the most contrasting on the basis of the mass of 100 seeds, number of days to flowering , architecture and number of internodes. However, grain yield despite its importance contributed poorly to the divergence due to the lack of variability among the materials studied. Mahalanobis distances (D²) classified the cultivars/lines into two distinct groups. There was an inconsistency in the groupings during the four seasons. Group I was made up of 'ESAL 693' and 'Ouro Negro', which were the most divergent during the four seasons, and group II was made up of the remaining cultivars/lines (PF-9029975, A-285 Rudá , IAC Carioca Aruã, Carioca MG, CI-21, H-4-7, Pérola, CI-128, Carioca 300V and Aporé). Mahalanobis distance (D²) proved to be useful for the identification of divergent parents.