ABSTRACT The interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is a key factor for biological productivity, and its magnitude depends on the availability of solar radiation, the stage of the plant development cycle, and the arrangement of plant structures. Given the arrangement of the vegetative and reproductive structures in different portions in the canola canopy, the objetive of the study was to morphologically characterize canola cultivars and establish relationships with the stratification of the efficiency of PAR intercep tion. Eight canola cultivars were evaluated in regards to PAR and plant morphological traits. Following the analysis of variance, treatment means were grouped, and the phenotypic correlation matrix between the traits was determined. We observed a strong relationship between the PAR interception efficiency of vegetative and reproductive structures with morphological traits. Plants with a higher number of branches have more siliques and greater efficiency of PAR interception, mainly through the reproductive structures. The characterization of morphological differences between canola cultivars in the PAR interception efficiency should be performed by measures stratified by vegetative and reproductive structures.

RESUMEN La interceptación de radiación fotosintéticamente activa (ARF) es importante para la productividad biológica y su magnitud depende de la disponibilidad de radiación solar, la etapa del ciclo de desarrollo de la planta y la disposición de las estructuras de la planta. Dada la disposición de las estructuras vegetativas y reproductivas de la canola en diferentes porciones del perfil del dosel de las plantas, el objetivo del trabajo fue buscar la caracterización morfológica de cultivares de canola y establecer relaciones con la estratificación de la eficiencia de interceptación de la radiación fotosintéticamente activa. Se evaluaron ocho cultivares de canola, se midió la ARF y se evaluaron los caracteres morfológicos de la planta. Se realizaron análisis de varianza, agrupamiento de medias y se determinó la matriz de correlación fenotípica entre los caracteres. Se observó una alta relación entre la eficiencia de interceptación de la RFA de estructuras vegetativas y reproductivas con caracteres morfológicos. Las plantas con mayor número de ramas tienen más sílice y mayor eficiencia en la interceptación de la radiación fotosintéticamente activa, principalmente debido a las estructuras reproductivas. La caracterización de las diferencias morfológicas entre cultivares de canola en la eficiencia de interceptación de la RFA debe realizarse mediante medidas estratificadas por estructuras vegetativas y reproductivas.

Abstract: The usefulness of genomic selection (GS) for improvement of complex traits has been demonstrated in plant and animal breeding. While fully adopted in the livestock sector and commercial plant breeding, the implementation of GS in public-sector plant breeding programs lags. The goal of this review is to discuss advancements in GS implementation and opportunities for near-term and long-term adoption in public-sector plant breeding programs. We also highlighted specific applications of GS for cultivar development ordered by what we believe to be their feasibility, where feasibility is defined by cost, disruption to current breeding practices, and risk.

ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the most suitable model to estimate the leaf area of dwarf pigeon pea in function of the leaf central leaflet dimension. Six samplings of 200 leaves were performed in the first experiment, at 36, 42, 50, 56, 64, and 72 days after emergence (DAE). In the second experiment, seven samplings of 200 leaves were performed at 29, 36, 43, 49, 57, 65, and 70 DAE, totaling 2600 leaves. The length (L) and width (W) of the central leaflet were measured in all leaves composed by left, central, and right leaflets, the product of length times width (LW) was calculated, and the leaf area (Y – sum of left, central, and right leaflet areas) was determined by digital images. Linear, power, quadratic, and cubic models of Y as function of L, W, and LW were built using data from the second experiment. Leaves from the first experiment were used to validate the models. In dwarf pigeon pea, the linear (Ŷ = – 0.4088 + 1.6669x, R2 = 0.9790) is preferable, but power (Ŷ = 1.6097x1.0065, R2 = 0.9766), quadratic (Ŷ = – 0.3625 + 1.663x + 0.00007x2, R2 = 0.9790), and cubic (Ŷ = 0.7216 + 1.522x + 0.005x2 – 5E–05x3, R2 = 0.9791) models in function of LW are also suitable to estimate the leaf area obtained by digital images. The power model (Ŷ = 5.2508x1.7868, R2 = 0.95) based on the central leaflet width is less laborious because requires only one variable, but it presents accuracy reduction.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the optimum plot size to evaluate the fresh matter of aerial part of dwarf pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), cultivar IAPAR 43 (Aratã), in scenarios formed by combinations of numbers of treatments, number of replications, and precision levels. The fresh matter of aerial part was weighed on basic experimental units of 1 m × 1 m in three uniformity trials with size of 24 m × 12 m (288 m2 in each trial). The soil heterogeneity index of Smith was estimated. Also, the optimum plot size was determined by Hatheway’s method in scenarios formed by combinations of i treatments (i = 5, 10, 15, and 20), r replications (r = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8, 9, and 10), and d precision levels (d = 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%). In experiments designed on randomized block design with 5 to 20 treatments and four replications, plots with 9 m2 were enough to identify significant differences among treatments regarding the fresh matter of aerial part in dwarf pigeon pea at 5% probability of 30% of the experiment overall mean.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this work were to determine the optimum plot size and number of repetitions to evaluate the fresh matter weight of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in sowing densities. Fortyeight uniformity trials of 6 m × 6 m were conducted. Sixteen trials were evaluated in each sowing density (40, 60, and 80 kg∙ha−1). Each trial was divided into 36 basic experimental units (BEU) of 1 m × 1 m, totaling 1,728 BEU. In each BEU, the fresh matter was weighed. The optimum plot size was determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model. The means were compared among sowing densities by the Scott-Knott’s test. The number of repetitions — for experiments with completely randomized and randomized block designs, in scenarios of i treatments (i = 3, 4, …, 50) and d minimal differences between treatments means being detected as significant with 5% probability by Tukey’s test, expressed in percentage of the experiment average (d = 10%, 11%, …, 20%), was determined by iterative process until convergence. The optimum plot size to evaluate the fresh matter weight of vetch is 4.52 m2 at the 3 sowing densities. Four repetitions, to evaluate up to 50 treatments, in completely randomized and randomized block designs, are enough to identify as significant, at 5% probability by Tukey’s test, differences between treatment means of 29.15% of the experiment average.

Abstract Phyllochron and leaf appearance rate are both important parameters in the production efficiency of agricultural crops. The objectives of this study were to determine the phyllochron and leaf appearance rate in 4 oat cultivars (Avena sativa L.) in 3 sowing dates and verify the variability of phyllochron and leaf appearance rate among cultivars and sowing dates. The experimental design was the completely randomized with 12 treatments and 20 repetitions. Treatments were formed by the combination of 4 cultivars (URS Charrua, URS Taura, URS Estampa, and URS Corona) and 3 sowing dates in 2014 (April 28, May 28, and July 14). In each plant (repetition) of each treatment, the number of expanded leaves (NEL) was counted 3 times per week from the first leaf emission until flowering. For each plant, cultivar, and sowing date, linear regression was adjusted between NEL and accumulated thermal time (ATT) and between NEL and number of days after emergence (DAE). Phyllochron was determined by the inverse of the angular coefficient of the linear regression between the NEL and ATT. The leaf appearance rate was determined by the inverse of the angular coefficient of the linear regression between NEL and DAE. In oat, there is variability of phyllochron and leaf appearance rate among cultivars and sowing dates. Phyllochron oscillates between 95.88 and 117.70 °C day∙leaf−1 and leaf appearance rate, between 6.41 and 9.65 days∙leaf−1. The oat cropping management in function of phyllochron and leaf appearance rate is dependent on cultivars and sowing dates.

RESUMO Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar as relações lineares entre caracteres de linho (Linum usitatissimum L.) e identificar caracteres para a seleção indireta. Em área experimental de 15 × 15 m (225 m2), aos 134 dias após a semeadura, foram selecionadas, aleatoriamente, 300 plantas. Em cada planta, foram mensurados os caracteres altura de planta, número de ramos, número de cápsulas, massa verde de cápsulas, massa verde de parte aérea sem cápsulas, massa verde de parte aérea, massa seca de cápsulas, massa seca de parte aérea sem cápsulas e massa seca de parte aérea. Para cada caractere, foi calculada a média e o coeficiente de variação. Foi investigada a relação linear entre os caracteres por meio de análises de correlação e de trilha. Na cultura de linho, o número de cápsulas tem relação linear positiva com as massas verde e seca de cápsulas e de parte aérea e pode ser utilizado para seleção indireta.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to evaluate the linear relations among traits of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and identify traits for indirect selection. In experimental area of 15 × 15 m (225 m2) 300 plants were randomly collected at 134 days after seeding. The traits plant height, number of branches, number of capsules, fresh matter of capsules, fresh matter of aerial part without capsules, fresh matter of aerial part, dry matter of capsules, dry matter of aerial part without capsules, and dry matter of aerial part were measured in each plant. The mean and coefficient of variation were calculated for each trait. It was studied the linear relation among the traits through correlation and path analysis. In flax, the number of capsules has positive linear relation with fresh and dry matter of capsules and aerial part and it can be used for indirect selection.