Abstract The presence of salts in the soil solution reduces the osmotic potential, hindering water absorption by roots. However, plants have defense mechanisms against stresses, releasing signaling molecules, in which nitric oxide plays an important role in the abiotic stress. This study aimed to assess the physiological quality of seeds from Passiflora mucronata Lam. genotypes pre-conditioned with the nitric oxide donor Tadalafil kept under salt stress. Seeds from nine P. mucronata genotypes evaluated under four nitric oxide donor Tadalafil concentrations : 0.0, 1.5, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg L-1, applied by soaking seeds for two hours, followed by washing in running water and germination in germitest® paper moistened with NaCl at -1.2 MPa. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replicates of 25 seeds. The nitric oxide donor Tadalafil, at concentrations of 1.5 and 2.5 mg L-1, increased the germination speed, shoot length, and dry mass. Pre-conditioning of seeds with the nitric oxide donor Tadalafil at concentrations of 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5 mg L-1 determined the death of seeds. Seeds from genotype G3, pre-conditioned with Tadalafil at concentrations of 1.5 and 2.5 mg L-1, presented higher germination, germination speed index, mean germination time, shoot length, root length and dry matter values. Genotypes presented distinct phenotypic responses, providing intraspecific divergence.

Resumo A presença de sais na solução do solo reduz o potencial osmótico, dificultando a absorção de água pelas raízes. No entanto, as plantas apresentam mecanismos de defesa contra estresses, liberando moléculas sinalizadoras, nas quais o óxido nítrico desempenha um papel importante no estresse abiótico. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de genótipos de Passiflora mucronataLam. pré-condicionados com o doador de óxido nítrico Tadalafil emantidos sob estresse salino. Sementes de nove genótipos de P. mucronata foram avaliadassob quatro concentrações do doador de óxido nítrico Tadalafil: 0,0; 1,5; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5;10,0 e 12,5 mg L-1, aplicadas por imersão das sementes por duas horas, seguidas de lavagem em água corrente e germinação em papel germitest® umedecido com NaCl a -1,2 MPa. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições de25 sementes.O doador de óxido nítrico Tadalafil, nas concentrações de 1,5 e 2,5 mg L-1,aumenta a velocidade de germinação, o comprimento da parte aérea e a massa seca. O pré-condicionamento das sementes com o doador de óxido nítrico Tadalafil, nas concentrações de 5,0;7,5; 10,0 e 12,5 mg L-1, determina a morte das sementes. As sementes dogenótipo G3, pré-condicionadas com Tadalafil, nas concentrações de 1,5 e 2,5 mg L-1, apresentam maiores médias de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, tempo médio degerminação,comprimento da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz e massa seca. Os genótipos apresentaram respostas fenotípicas distintas, proporcionando divergência intraespecífica.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer um protocolo eficiente para a organogênese in vitro de Dalbergia nigra. Para isso, plântulas com 30 dias de idade foram seccionadas em seus nós cotiledonares e segmentos nodais. Esses materiais foram cultivados em meio com diferentes combinações das citocininas 6-benzilaminopurina e tidiazuron. Após 60 dias em sala de crescimento mantida a 27°C e submetida a fotoperíodo de 16 horas, foram analisadas as características de crescimento. Explantes dos nós cotiledonares apresentam maior potencial morfogenético, independentemente da adição de citocininas. Nós cotiledonares em meio suplementado com 2.22 µmol L-1 de BAP são a melhor combinação para a propagação in vitro de D. nigra.

Abstract The objective of this work was to establish an efficient protocol for the in vitro organogenesis of Dalbergia nigra. For this purpose, 30-day-old seedlings were sectioned at their cotyledonary nodes and nodal segments. These materials were cultivated in a medium with different combinations of the 6-benzylaminopurine and thidiazuron cytokinins. After 60 days in a growth chamber set at 27°C and a 16-hour photoperiod, growth characteristics were analyzed. Explants from the cotyledonary nodes show a greater morphogenetic potential, regardless of the addition of cytokinins. Cotyledonary nodes in the medium supplemented with 2.22 µmol L-1 BAP show the best combination for the in vitro propagation of D. nigra.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest is a biome that has suffered anthropic actions, such as the extraction of hardwood, which can lead to the extinction of endemic species of great economic and ecological value, such as Dalbergia nigra. In this perspective, large-scale multiplication studies are necessary to contribute to the conservation of this species. The objective of this work was to establish a protocol for the in vitro production of axenic seedlings of D. nigra. Four experiments were performed: I. Immersion times in NaOCl. II. Disinfecting agents in seed germination of D. nigra. III. NaOCl toxicity in seeds of the model species Lactuca sativa L. IV. Culture media and glutamine in the germination and initial growth of D. nigra. All experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design. For a better disinfestation and less harmful effects to the seedlings, it is recommended that the seeds be treated with 70% alcohol (1 min) and NaOCl (14 min). NaOCl has a high phytotoxic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effect, and its mechanism of action in the L. sativa cell cycle is clastogenic and aneugenic, suggesting the formation of abnormal seedlings in D. nigra. The WPM medium and its supplementation with glutamine (0.75 mg.L-1) are recommended.

ABSTRACT Melanoxylon brauna is propagated by seeds, however, low yield, pest attack and short viability are problems in seedling production. In vitro cultivation is an alternative for large-scale seedling production, but studies with this species are scarce. The aim of the work was to analyze the in vitro morphogenesis of braúna. Explants after induction of growth regulators. Three experiments were performed: I. In vitro bud proliferation of juvenile explants at different BAP concentrations. Was analyzed the number and length of shoots (mm); bud explants-1 (%); calogenesis (%) and direct and indirect organogenesis budding-1 (%). II. In vitro rhizogenesis of shoots with different types and auxin concentrations. III. In vitro rhizogenesis of under temporary immersion of shoots at different IBA concentrations. It was analyzed in experiment I and II: calogenesis (%); rhizogenesis (%); number, length (mm) and root dry mass (mg) the shoots. The nodal segment with two axillary buds was the most responsive explant regardless of the use of BAP. The stem apex with the use of BAP (2.5-3.5 mg.L-1) was the most responsive in the proliferation of shoots. Tested concentrations of auxins IBA, NAA and 2,4-D were not sufficient for in vitro rhizogenesis. The average of the maximum technical efficiencies of the variables used to analyze rhizogenic process suggests the treatment of the shoots base by temporary immersion in the IBA at an approximate concentration of 2,500 mg.L-1 and planting on the vermiculite substrate.

Abstract Our study sought to evaluate the rooting capacity of indole butyric acid (IBA)-treated stem cuttings and the efficiency of the vegetative rescue technique of adult and transitional parent trees of Lecythis pisonis. Softwood, hardwood, and semi-hardwood leafless cuttings treated with IBA (0; 2,000; 4,000; 6,000; and 8,000 mg kg-1) were tested in a randomized block design with four replicates and 10 cuttings per plot. The growth of epicormic shoots was also evaluated in 60-cm branches removed from the tree canopy and kept in greenhouse for 60 days. Cuttings from adult trees did not form roots. Softwood cuttings from transitional trees had a very low rooting percentage. In both cases, no influence of IBA concentrations were observed. The use of the sectioned-branch technique was feasible for inducing sprouts.

ABSTRACT The development of tissue cultured-based protocols applied to braúna, an endangeres species, would be though highly desirable. However, contamination-free explants are determinant for the success of this technique, which might be vulnerable to the toxicity of disinfectants. Here, we aimed at establishing an efficient protocol for in vitro production of axenic seedlings of braúna and to evaluate the toxicity of disinfectant agents in the Lactuca sativa model species. Experiments I and II: Seeds were treated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and fungicide captan, with and without residue, by different immersion times, respectively. The following were analyzed: contamination; germination and normal and abnormal seedlings. Experiment III: Lettuce seeds placed in Petri dishes were exposed to 2.5 mL captan at 0.5; 1; 2; 4 and 8%; 0.01% glyphosate and distilled water. The germination, length of seedlings, cell cycle, nuclear and chromosomal alterations of the cells of the root meristem were assesed. The isolated use of NaOCl was not efficient in the disinfestation of braúna seeds. However, the immersion of the seeds in captan, for 10 minutes with its residue, led to higher germination and vigor indexes; however, resulted in the formation of abnormal seedlings. This compound exhibited toxicity in the lettuce model seeds because affected the germination and the whole development of the seedlings, showing clastogenic and aneugenic action in the meristematic cell cycle.

ABSTRACT Paratecoma peroba is a native Brazilian forest species of great economic and ecological interest, which is currently at risk of extinction owing to excessive wood exploration. The use of the mini-cutting technique could facilitate the vegetatively propagation of this species. The objective of the present study was to establish a vegetative propagation protocol for P. peroba using the mini-cutting technique. In the first experiment, were tested five concentrations of indolbutiric acid (IBA; 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 g.L-1) and two types of substrates (sand and a commercial substrate based on ground Pinus bark, coconut powder, and mineral additives). In the second experiment, were tested three types of mini-cuttings (apical of 6 cm and 10 cm, and intermediary of 4 cm) and two leaf area sizes (total leaf area and reduced to 50% of leaf area). The results showed that P. peroba could be vegetatively propagated using the mini-cutting technique with up to 82.5% rooting. There was only 5.6% of mini-cutting rooted in sand. High concentrations of IBA promotes decrease in rooting and number of roots. The 10 cm apical mini-cuttiing tend to form clones with better quality standards. The maintenance of the leaf area promotes the attainment of roots with greater root surface area, volume and dry mass of P. Peroba plants.

Abstract Physiological disturbances are one of the major bottlenecks to the expansion of papaya crops due to the negative influence on fruit quality. Studies on genotypes of light-green color have become essential to the development of strategies of tolerance to the physiological disorder skin freckle. Understanding the inheritance of qualitative traits is crucial to selection and prediction of the behavior of segregating generations. Thus, this study aimed to determine the inheritance of the qualitative trait leaf color in segregating generations of crosses between the dark-green cultivar BSA and the light-green cultivar GPC. Inheritance was determined based on the Mendelian genetics laws, by evaluating the phenotypic proportions in the analysis of generations P1 (BSA), P2 (GPC), F1, F2, BC1, BC2, BC2r, and F2:3. The inheritance of light-green leaves from the crossing between BSA and GPG is due to double recessive epistasis.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a biometria de frutos e sementes e a diversidade de genótipos de sapucaia (Lecythis pisonis). Frutos de 12 genótipos de sapucaia foram coletados de plantas na região norte do Estado do Espírito Santo e leste do Estado de Minas Gerais. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância, e as médias dos diferentes genótipos foram comparadas pelo teste de agrupamento de Scott-Knott. A diversidade fenotípica foi analisada por meio da distância de Mahalanobis, e o agrupamento, pelo método de otimização de Tocher e por dispersão gráfica a partir das variáveis canônicas. A contribuição relativa das características para diversidade foi avaliada pelo método de Singh. Os genótipos de sapucaia divergiram quanto às características morfológicas de frutos e sementes. O genótipo 1 produziu o maior número de sementes por fruto, e os genótipos 2 e 7 produziram sementes de maiores dimensões. Esses genótipos foram separados em grupos distintos, o que é indício de sua combinação para uso em programas de melhoramento.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the biometry of fruit and seed, and the diversity of paradise nut (Lecythis pisonis) genotypes. Fruit of 12 paradise nut genotypes were collected from plants in the northern region of the state of Espírito Santo and in the eastern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance, and means of the different genotypes were compared by Scott-Knott’s mean clustering test. The phenotypic diversity was analyzed using Mahalanobis’ generalized distance, and clustering, by Tocher’s optimization method and the graphical dispersion of canonical variables. The relative contribution of the characters to diversity was assessed by Singh’s method. The paradise nut genotypes differed regarding the morphological characteristics of fruit and seed. Genotype 1 produced the largest number of seed per fruit, and genotypes 2 and 7 produced the largest seed. These genotypes were clustered into different groups, which is indicative of their potential combination for use in genetic breeding programs.

Resumo Considerando os poucos estudos relacionados ao abacaxizeiro cv. Vitória, conhecer as relações entre as características físicas e químicas dos frutos, e estas com a folha “D”, é fundamental. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as relações da folha “D”, com as características físicas e químicas de frutos do abacaxizeiro cv. Vitória, nas condições edafoclimáticas do norte do Estado do Espírito Santo. O ensaio foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições. Foram analisados os dados obtidos de 433 frutos avaliados individualmente, sendo: 84 no plantio em julho e indução aos 8 meses; 98 no plantio em julho e indução aos 10 meses; 84 no plantio em julho e indução aos 12 meses; 59 no plantio em setembro e indução aos 8 meses; 50 no plantio em setembro e indução aos 10 meses; e 58 no plantio em setembro e indução aos 12 meses. Correlação de Pearson foi realizada entre as características da folha “D” (comprimento e largura) e os aspectos físicos e químicos dos frutos (massa dos frutos com e sem coroa, comprimento e diâmetro dos frutos, volume de polpa, área translúcida, sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável) para os seis tratamentos. A maioria das relações entre as 11 características avaliadas mostrou-se de baixa magnitude nos seis tratamentos, mas houve correlações de alta magnitude e de aplicação prática de interesse a fitotecnistas, melhoristas, agricultores e consumidores. O comprimento e a largura da folha “D” não devem ser usados como indicadores de qualidades físicas e químicas de frutos do abacaxizeiro cv. Vitória. Frutos com maior massa, com ou sem coroa, ou maior largura ou diâmetro apresentam maior teor de polpa. Frutos com maior massa, com ou sem coroa, apresentam menor teor de sólidos solúveis.

Abstract By considering the few studies related to pineapple cv. Vitória, to know the relationships between the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits, and they with the “D” leaf, is fundamental. The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationships between “D” leaf, with the physical and chemical characteristics of fruits of pineapple cv. Vitória, under the edaphoclimatic conditions in the North of the State of Espírito Santo. The experiment was carried out in a complete randomized block design in split-plot arrangement with four replications. The data obtained from 433 individually evaluated fruits were analyzed, as it follows: 84 at planting in July and induction at 8 months; 98 at planting in July and induction at 10 months; 84 at planting in July and induction at 12 months; 59 at planting in September and induction at 8 months; 50 at planting in September and induction at 10 months; 58 at planting in September and induction at 12 months. Pearson’s correlation was performed between the characteristics of “D” leaf (length and width) and the physical and chemical aspects of fruits (mass of the fruits with and without crown, fruit length and diameter, pulp volume, translucent area, soluble solids and titratable acidity) for the six treatments. Most of the relationships among the 11 characteristics evaluated were of low magnitude in the six treatments, but correlations of high magnitude and practical application of interest to plant scientists, breeders, farmers and consumers were found. The length and width of the “D” leaf should not be used as indicators of physical and chemical qualities of cv. Vitória. Fruits with higher mass, with or without crown or larger width or diameter present higher pulp content. Fruits with higher mass, with or without crown have lower content of soluble solids.

Resumo No Brasil, a principal espécie cultivada de maracujazeiro é Passiflora edulis (maracujazeiro-azedo), a qual é acometida pelo fungo de solo Fusarium. A espécie P. mucronata destaca-se por apresentar resistência a este fungo, sendo assim uma alternativa como portaenxerto ao maracujazeiro-amarelo. Portanto, objetivou-se avaliar a anatomia da minienxertia por garfagem no topo em fenda cheia e inglês simples, utilizando ápices caulinares de plantas adultas de P. edulis em portaenxertos clonais de P. mucronata. Quando os porta-enxertos atingiram aproximadamente 2,5 mm de diâmetro do coleto e 20 cm de altura, procedeu-se a enxertia com os fixadores fita Parafilm® e clipe de silicone. Ao completar 60 dias, foi realizada a análise histológica da região de enxertia para verificação da formação do tecido parenquimático cicatricial (calo). Verificou-se o preenchimento da fenda de minienxertia por calo; no entanto, não houve diferenciação do novo tecido vascular, aos 60 dias após a minigarfagem. Durante a execução da minienxertia inglês simples com uso de fita Parafilm®, percebeu-se extrema dificuldade em circundar a fita e, ao mesmo momento, unir os biontes, de forma que fique perfeita a junção dos tecidos. Recomenda-se a minienxertia no topo em fenda cheia com o uso do fixador fita Parafilm®.

Abstract In Brazil, the main cultivated passion fruit species is Passiflora edulis, which is affected by Fusarium soil fungus. P. mucronata species stands out because it presents resistance to this fungus, being thus an alternative rootstock to yellow passion fruit. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomy of mini-grafting by top cleft grafting and simple English type grafting, using shoot tips of adult P. edulis plants in clonal rootstocks of P. mucronata. When the rootstocks reached approximately 2.5 mm in diameter and 20 cm in height, grafting was carried out with Parafilm® tape fasteners and silicone clip. At the end of 60 days, histological analysis of the grafting region was performed to verify the formation of the scarring parenchyma tissue (callus). The filling of the mini-grafting cleft by callus was verified; however, there was no differentiation of the new vascular tissue at 60 days after grafting. During the performance of the simple English type grafting using Parafilm® tape, it was extremely difficult to encircle the tape and at the same time to join the bionts so that tissue junction is perfect. Mini-grafting by top cleft grafting using Parafilm® tape fastener is recommended.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, determinar o tamanho de amostra para análise de caracteres físicos e químicos de frutos maduros de maracujá-fedorento (Passiflora foetida). Foram colhidos, aleatoriamente, 150 frutos de plantas cultivadas em casa de vegetação. Em laboratório, esses frutos foram mensurados quanto a 12 caracteres (comprimento longitudinal; diâmetro equatorial; massa de fruto; massa de casca; massa de polpa; rendimento de polpa; peso de sementes por fruto; número de sementes por fruto; massa de sementes por fruto; acidez titulável; sólidos solúveis e ratio), sendo calculadas as medidas de tendência central e de dispersão e verificada sua normalidade. Determinou-se o intervalo de confiança bootstrap percentil, a partir da simulação de tamanho 4.000, para 150 tamanhos de amostra (1, 2, ..., 150 frutos) de cada caractere mensurado. Os caracteres físicos e químicos analisados em frutos maduros de P. foetida apresentam diferentes precisões experimentais e requerem diferentes tamanhos de amostra. Para o comprimento longitudinal, por exemplo, o diâmetro equatorial e a relação entre estes, seis frutos são suficientes para a estimação da média com um erro de estimação de 5% da média. Se forem considerados todos os caracteres físicos e químicos de frutos maduros, analisados neste trabalho, são necessários no mínimo 39 frutos, assumindo-se erro de 10% da estimativa da média.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the sample size required to evaluate physical and chemical characters of Passiflora foetida fruits. A hundred and fifty fruits were randomly harvested from plants grown in a greenhouse. In the laboratory, these fruits were measured for 12 characters (length, equatorial diameter, fruit mass, bark mass, pulp mass, pulp yield, seed weight per fruit, number of seeds per fruit, seed mass per fruit, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and ratio) and the measures of central tendency and dispersion were calculated and checked for normality. The bootstrap percentile confidence interval was determined, from the simulation of 4,000, for 150 sample sizes (1, 2, ..., 150 fruits) measured for each character. The physical and chemical characteristics evaluated in mature fruits of P. foetida exhibit different experimental accuracies and require different sample sizes. To measure only the longitudinal length, equatorial diameter and the relationship among these six fruits are sufficient to estimate the average estimation error with a 5% average. If we consider all the physical and chemical characters of ripe fruit in this work, at least 39 fruits are required, assuming 10% error of the estimated average.

RESUMO A espécie Passiflora mucronata Lam. é identificada como resistente ao Fusarim oxysporum f. passifloraceae e, portanto, pode ser utilizada como porta-enxerto para a espécie Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg., e a obtenção desses porta-enxertos pode dar-se por propagação vegetativa por estaquia. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar diferentes tipos de estacas e diferentes concentrações do ácido indol-3-butírico (AIB), no enraizamento adventício de P. mucronata. Os experimentos foram realizados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, de 16 estacas cada. No primeiro experimento, os tratamentos foram os diferentes tipos de estacas de plantas-matrizes de ambiente protegido: apical; de duas folhas e dois nós; de uma folha e um nó; sem folhas e dois nós; sem folhas e um nó. No segundo experimento, as estacas foram retiradas de campo e os tratamentos foram as concentrações de AIB: 0; 1000 (0,0036456 mol L-1); 1500 (0,0054684 mol L-1) e 2000 mg kg-1 (0,0072912 mol L-1). As características avaliadas no primeiro (1º) e no segundo (2º) experimentos foram: sobrevivência (1º e 2º); brotação (1º e 2º); número (2º), comprimento (2º), número de folhas (2º) e massa seca do broto (2º); calejamento (1º); enraizamento (1º e 2º); número (1º e 2º), comprimento (1º e 2º), volume (1º e 2º) e massa seca de raiz (1º e 2º). Recomenda-se usar estacas sem folhas e com dois nós, e não as apicais, para o processo de enraizamento de P. mucronata. O enraizamento das estacas sem folhas e com dois nós de P. mucronata dispensa o uso de reguladores de crescimento, tanto para as estacas provenientes de casa de vegetação quanto para as de campo.

ABSTRACT Passiflora mucronata Lam. is resistant to Fusarim oxysporum f. passifloraceae and therefore can be used as rootstock for the species Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa. The rootstocks in this case can be vegetatively propagated through cuttings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different types of cuttings and different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on the adventitious rooting of P. mucronata. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications of 16 cuttings each. In Experiment 1, the treatments consisted of the different types of cuttings from mother plants grown in protected environment: shoot tips; two leaves and two nodes; one leaf and one node; leafless with two nodes; leafless with one node. In Experiment 2, the cuttings were taken from field plants and treated with the following IBA concentrations: 0; 1000 mg kg-1 (0.0036456 mol L-1); 1500 mg kg-1 (0.0054684 mol L-1) and 2000 mg kg-1 (0.0072912 mol L-1). The characteristics evaluated in the experiments 1 and 2 were: survival (1 and 2); budding (1 and 2); shoot number (2), shoot length (2), number of shoot leaves (2);shoot dry mass (2); callusing (1); rooting (1 and 2); root number (1 and 2), largest root length (1 and 2), root volume (1 and 2), and root dry mass (1 and 2). We found that, instead the shoot tips, the cuttings of the type leafless with two nodes are the best for P. mucronata rooting. Neither the cuttings from greenhouse plants nor the cuttings from field plants require growth regulators for rooting of P. mucronata cuttings of the type leafless with two nodes.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a divergência genética e as características físicas e químicas de frutos de duas populações do maracujazeiro azedo na região Norte do Espírito Santo, como as progênies de meio-irmãos de acesso local de um plantio comercial (genótipos: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9 e 10) e do híbrido BRS Ouro Vermelho (genótipos: 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19 e 20). A divergência genética foi avaliada por procedimentos multivariados como a distância generalizada de Mahalanobis (D2) e pelos métodos de agrupamento de otimização de Tocher e UPGMA. Encontrou-se divergência genética entre as populações estudadas promovendo a formação de grupos diferentes entre o método de Tocher e do UPGMA. As características, referentes ao tamanho do fruto, diâmetro polar e equatorial, foram as que mais contribuíram na diversidade genética dos genótipos. Nas populações estudadas de maracujazeiro azedo há grande variabilidade genética quanto às características avaliadas, o que possibilita selecionar plantas com elevado potencial para fins de melhoramento genético. O híbrido BRS Ouro Vermelho apresenta boa adaptação às condições locais.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present work was to evaluate genetic divergence and physical and chemical characteristics in fruit of two populations of sour passion fruit in the northern region of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, these being half-sibling progenies from local accessions of a commercial crop (genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and the hybrid BRS Ouro Vermelho (genotypes: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20). Genetic divergence was evaluated using such multivariate procedures as the generalised Mahalanobis distance (D2) and the Tocher optimisation and UPGMA clustering methods. Genetic divergence was found between the populations under study, promoting the formation of different groups between the Tocher and UPGMA methods. As characteristics for fruit size, the polar and equatorial diameters had the most impact on the genetic diversity of the genotypes. In the populations of sour passion fruit being studied, great genetic variability is seen in the evaluated characteristics, making it possible to select plants of high potential for breeding purposes. The BRS Ouro Vermelho hybrid is well adapted to the local conditions.

RESUMO Em experimentos com mudas de mamoeiro é de extrema importância que se avalie a qualidade das mudas o que é feito por características da parte aérea e radicular. Foram avaliados altura da parte aérea, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, comprimento do pecíolo e comprimento da maior raiz em plântulas de mamoeiro com objetivo de estimar o tamanho ótimo de parcelas. As análises foram feitas a partir de ensaio em branco com 240 plântulas de 'Golden Pecíolo Curto'. A determinação do tamanho ótimo de parcela foi feita aplicando-se os métodos de máxima curvatura, da máxima curvatura do coeficiente de variação e um método proposto, que incorpora a simulação bootstrap de reamostragem ao método da máxima curvatura. O número ótimo de plantas por parcela para avaliação de mudas de mamoeiro 'Golden Pecíolo Curto' é de cinco. O método proposto de simulação bootstrap com reposição proporciona tamanhos ótimos de parcela iguais ou superiores ao método da máxima curvatura e, proporciona mesmo tamanho de parcela do método da máxima curvatura do coeficiente de variação.

ABSTRACT Evaluating the quality of scions is extremely important and it can be done by characteristics of shoots and roots. This experiment evaluated height of the aerial part, stem diameter, number of leaves, petiole length and length of roots of papaya seedlings. Analyses were performed from a blank trial with 240 seedlings of "Golden Pecíolo Curto". The determination of the optimum plot size was done by applying the methods of maximum curvature, maximum curvature of coefficient of variation and a new proposed method, which incorporates the bootstrap resampling simulation to the maximum curvature method. According to the results obtained, five is the optimal number of seedlings of papaya "Golden Pecíolo Curto" per plot. The proposed method of bootstrap simulation with replacement provides optimal plot sizes equal or higher than the maximum curvature method and provides same plot size than maximum curvature method of the coefficient of variation.