ABSTRACT Garlic (Allium sativum) is normally grown under conventional tillage (CT) with soil being excessively mixed by plowing and harrowing operations that degrade soil structure, increase production costs, and increase environmental contamination. Alternatively, cover crops can be grown and their residues placed on soil surface, enabling garlic to be grown under no-tillage (NT) system. However, for subtropical climate there is little information on the impacts of tillage systems and cover crop species, particularly of their decomposition process and nutrients release, on garlic nutritional status and yield. This study aimed to evaluate garlic yield, and the decomposition rate and nutrient release from aboveground residues of cover crops cultivated in CT and NT methods, in a subtropical climate. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and sunn hemp (Crotalaria ochroleuca) were cultivated as cover crops previous to garlic, under CT or NT, for two consecutive years in the same area. The highest dry matter yield and nutrient release by cover crops were observed for millet and sunn hemp. The highest accumulations of P and K were observed in millet residue. Total garlic yield averaged 16.2 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and was affected neither by tillage method nor by cover crop species. The yield of marketable garlic was higher when soil was covered with bean residue in NT. Yield of non-marketable garlic was higher under CT in the first year, when high precipitation occurred shortly before harvest. The highest residue decomposition and nutrient release rates were observed under CT, in the three cover crop species. No-tillage increases marketable yield of garlic and the residence time of cover crop residues. We recommend cultivation in NT systems using cover crops, thus increasing marketable garlic yield and nutrient cycling. Allium sativum (CT structure costs contamination Alternatively surface notillage no (NT system However species methods Pennisetum glaucum, glaucum , glaucum) Phaseolus vulgaris Crotalaria ochroleuca area 162 16 2 16. ha1 ha 1 ha- yr1 yr yr- nonmarketable non year harvest Notillage No cycling

ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) fertilization effectiveness in onion depends on N source, as well as on soil type and management system. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of N sources and doses applied as top-dressing on bulb yield, leaf N contents and on the postharvest conservation of onion bulbs grown under no-tillage (NTS) and conventional tillage (CTS) systems. Three experiments were carried out: two in Lebon Régis County-SC, under NTS; and one in Caçador County-SC, under CTS. The herein tested N sources comprised urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, in combination to N doses applied as top-dressing (70, 140, 210, 280 and 350 kg N ha-1) in addition to the control, without N. The N sources did not affect yield parameters, leaf N content and post-harvest onion losses. The maximum technical efficiency in bulb yield was observed at N doses of 195.8 and 258.4 kg ha-1 in the no-tillage system (NTS) and at 270.7 kg N ha-1 in the CTS. The NTS enabled maximum yield at N dose 47% lower than the officially recommended one. Maximum relative commercial yield was associated with 31.1 g kg-1 of leaf N. (N source topdressing top dressing notillage no (NTS CTS (CTS systems out CountySC, CountySC County SC, SC County-SC urea sulfate 70, 70 (70 140 210 28 35 ha1 ha 1 control parameters post harvest losses 1958 195 8 195. 2584 258 4 258. ha- 2707 270 7 270. 47 311 31 31. kg1 kg- (7 14 21 2 3 19 25 27 (

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of new Ca sources sprayed on ‘Fuji Suprema’ and ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees on nutrient levels in leaves and fruit, as well as on fruit ripening features and quality at harvest time and after cold storage. Experiments were carried out in a commercial orchard planted with ‘Fuji Suprema’ and ‘Maxi Gala’ apple trees in Caçador, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Application of different Ca sources and untreated trees were evaluated in each experiment. Fruit were harvested at two different ripening stages and analyzed based on the following variables: fruit ripening at harvest time, as well as fruit quality and incidence of physiological disorders after 210-day storage at 1 °C. Calcium applications did not change Ca levels in the leaves and of the whole fruit. Calcium levels in fruit peel increased in cultivars Maxi Gala and Fuji Suprema due to leaf Ca applications. ‘Maxi Gala’ apples recorded higher postharvest incidence of physiological disorders, such as greater loss of fruit firmness than ‘Fuji Suprema’ apples (Due to 1-methylcyclopropene [1-MCP] application on ‘Fuji Suprema’ apples). Calcium applications did not change fruit maturation (starch index and pulp firmness) or apple pulp firmness preservation in both cultivars, although they reduced the incidence of bitter pit disorder in ‘Maxi Gala’ apples. The new sources of Ca tested did not increase Ca contents, nor did they reduced the risk for physiological disorder compared to the standard CaCl2 treatment that has been commercially used for decades as the main Ca fertilizer.

ABSTRACT The recommendations of nitrogen (N) fertilization in garlic are still based on different varieties of the current types that are infected with phytopathogenic virus. There are several methods for recommendation of nitrogen (N) fertilization in garlic, but there are no enough methods for N diagnosis in garlic obtained by meristem culture. The objective of this work was to evaluate methods for diagnosing the nutritional status of virus-free garlic subjected to N doses through the use of a specific NO3- meter in soil solution and foliar sap, portable chlorophyll meter, N content in the leaf, and its relationship with yield and quality of the bulbs. The experiments were conducted with the use of virus-free seed bulbs from the meristem culture from three sites in the 2015 growing season and two locations in the 2016 growing season in South Brazil. The treatments consisted of the application of five nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1) distributed in three applications during the crop cycle: 1/3 in planting, 1/3 between 30 and 40 days after planting, and 1/3 after visual bulb differentiation. The highest commercial yield was associated with doses between 269 and 307 kg ha-1 of N and the content of 26 g kg-1 of N, in the diagnostic leaf. The relative chlorophyll content was the only diagnostic technology that showed a significant correlation with commercial yield in all experimental conditions. The evaluation of the N status in the virus-free garlic crop by a portable chlorophyll meter can be a quick strategy for recommending N fertilization and ensuring high yields.

Resumen Rizobios son capaces de influir en el rendimiento de las especies no leguminosas través de la producción de sustancias fitoestimulantes. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de estudiar el efecto de la inoculación de rizobios UFRGS Lc348 y VP16 sobre la germinación y el rendimiento de millo y pasto Sudán, así como verificar si el enriquecimiento del medio de cultivo con triptófano interfiere en la interacción rizobio/planta. Para este fin se llevaron a cabo experimentos in vitro y bajo condiciones de invernadero. En el experimento con millo en condiciones in vitro, la inoculación con VP16 cultivado en medio enriquecido o no enriquecido con triptófano induce una mayor extensión de hipocótilo y epicótilo. El tratamiento UFRGS Lc348 induce una mayor extensión de hipocótilo en plantas de millo. En plantas adultas de millo no hubo efecto de la inoculación. En pasto Sudán, la inoculación de VP16 enriquecida con triptófano aumentó la masa seca de las plantas adultas. Los aumentos de elongación de plántulas de millo en condiciones in vitro pueden representar una ventaja adaptativa en la búsqueda de agua y nutrientes en el ambiente rizosférico durante el crecimiento inicial del millo. De manera similar, si se verifica en condiciones de campo, el incremento de pasto Sudán observado en condiciones de invernadero con la inoculación de VP16 enriquecido con triptófano, esto puede significar una ganancia significativa en el rendimiento del cultivo. Por lo tanto, estas relaciones entre VP16 enriquecido con triptófano y pasto Sudán deben ser verificadas en estudios posteriores en condiciones de campo.

Abstract Rhizobia are able to increase yield of non-leguminous species through production of phyto-stimulating substances. This study aimed to evaluate the inoculation effect of rhizobia UFRGS Lc348 and VP16 on millet and Sudan grass yield and germination, and verify the enrichment effect of culture medium with tryptophan, which leads on the rhizobium/plant interaction. Experiments in vitro and greenhouse conditions were conducted. In millet, the inoculation with VP16 grown in culture medium with or without tryptophan induces greater length of hypocotyl and epicotyl under in vitro conditions. UFRGS Lc348 treatment induces longer hypocotyls of millet under in vitro conditions. No effects were observed with the millet inoculation in greenhouse. In Sudan grass, inoculation with VP16 enriched with tryptophan increased dry matter in shoots of adult plants. In millet seedlings had achieved an increasing in elongation in vitro conditions, which could represent an adaptive advantage in the search for water and nutrients in the rhizospheric environment during the initial growth of millet. Similarly, if verified in field conditions, Sudan grass had achieved an increasing in greenhouse conditions with the inoculation of tryptophan-enriched VP16, which could be correlated with a significant gain in crop yield. Therefore, these relationships between tryptophan-enriched VP16 and Sudan grass should be verified in subsequent studies under field conditions.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a melhor densidade e arranjo do tomateiro tutorado verticalmente para a pulverização mecanizada. Foram realizados dois experimentos nas safras 2013/14 e 2014/15 em Calmon-SC. Na safra 2013/14, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 4x2, sendo combinados quatro densidades de plantas (10.753, 12.903, 16.129 e 21.505 plantas/ha) e dois arranjos de plantas tutoradas verticalmente (fila simples e fila dupla). Na safra 2014/15, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 5x2, representado pela combinação de cinco densidades de plantas (10.753, 12.903, 16.129, 21.505 e 32.258 plantas/ha) e de dois arranjos de plantas tutoradas verticalmente (fila simples e fila dupla). Avaliou-se a produtividade total, comercial (extra AA e extra A) e descarte, a massa média de frutos comerciais (extra AA e extra A), a severidade de doenças foliares e procedeu-se a análise econômica dos tratamentos. O arranjo de plantas em fila dupla, para a pulverização mecanizada do tomateiro, proporcionou maior produtividade de frutos comerciais e com maior porcentagem de frutos de melhor classificação, em comparação ao arranjo de plantas em fila simples. A máxima produtividade de frutos foi obtida na densidade de aproximadamente 34.000 plantas/ha, embora a densidade em que se obtém o maior retorno econômico é estimada em 23.000 plantas/ha. As maiores severidades de mancha bacteriana e septoriose foram observadas no arranjo de plantas em fila dupla, em relação ao arranjo de plantas em fila simples. O aumento da densidade de plantas aumentou a severidade de mancha bacteriana e de pinta preta.

ABSTRACT We aimed to determine an adequate planting density and arrangement for the mechanized spraying of vertically staked tomatoes. Two experiments were carried out in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 harvests in the city of Calmon, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, both in randomized block design. In 2013/14, treatments were arranged in a 4x2 factorial, corresponding to four planting densities (10,753, 12,903, 16,129 and 21,505 plants/ha) and two planting arrangements (single and double rows). In 2014/15, treatments were arranged in a 5x2 factorial, corresponding to five plant densities (the same planting densities of the previous harvest beyond 32,258 plants/ha) and the same planting arrangements. Total, marketable (considering extra AA and extra A fruits as marketable) and unmarketable yield, the average mass of marketable fruits and severity of leaf diseases were evaluated. Economic analysis was also performed. For tomatoes grown under mechanized spraying, double row plantings resulted in higher yield of marketable fruits and a higher percentage of top grade fruits compared to single row plantings. Maximum fruit yield was reached at approximately 34,000 plants/ha, although maximum revenue was estimated for 23,000 plants/ha. Bacterial spot and Septoria leaf spot severity were higher in double rows than in single rows. Increases in planting density resulted also in increases in bacterial spot and early blight severity.

ABSTRACT Rhizobia and associative bacteria promote growth in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) through a series of mechanisms, but most studies on inoculation have been performed based on inoculation with these bacteria in a separate or singular manner. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of single/isolated inoculation and inoculation combined with symbiotic rhizobia from forage legume and with Azospirillum brasilense on promoting growth and the root colonization process in wetland rice. Two rhizobia among four isolates from a greenhouse and a laboratory experiment were selected that efficiently promoted seed germination and rice plant growth in a sterilized substrate and in soil. The two most efficient isolates (UFRGS Vp16 and UFRGS Lc348) were inoculated alone or in combination with a commercial product containing A. brasilense in two field experiments using two wetland rice cultivars over two growing seasons. In the field experiments, these isolates coinoculated with A. brasilense promoted larger increases in the agronomic variables of wetland rice compared to the control without inoculation. Confocal laser microscopy confirmed the presence of inoculated bacteria tagged with gfp (UFRGS Vp16, UFRGS Lc348, and A. brasilense) colonizing the root surface of the rice seedlings, mainly in the root hairs and lateral roots.