Abstract Interspecific hybridization is required for the development of Jatropha curcas L. improved cultivars, due to its narrow genetic basis. The present study aimed to analyze the parental genomic composition of F1 and BC1F1 generations derived from interspecific crosses (J. curcas/J. integerrima and J. curcas/J. multifida) by GISH (Genomic In Situ Hybridization), and the meiotic index and pollen viability of F1 hybrids. In F1 cells from both hybrids, 11 chromosomes of each parental was observed, as expected, but chromosome rearrangement events could be detected using rDNA chromosome markers, suggesting unbalanced cells. In the BC1F1, both hybrids had 22 chromosomes, suggesting that only n = 11 gametes were viable in the next generation. However, GISH allowed the identification of three and two alien chromosomes in J. curcas//J. integerrima and J. curcas//J. multifida BC1F1 hybrids, respectively, suggesting a preferential transmission of J. curcas chromosomes for both hybrids. Pollen viability in F1 hybrids derived from J. curcas/J. integerrima crosses were higher (82-83%) than those found for J. curcas/J. multifida (68%), showing post-meiotic problems in these last hybrids, with dyads, triads, polyads, and micronuclei as post-meiosis results. The here presented cytogenetic characterization of interspecific hybrids and their backcross progenies can contribute to the selection of the best genotypes for future assisted breeding of J. curcas.

O perfil metabólito baseado na aplicação de análises multivariadas (análise de componentes principais, PCA) dos dados de espectrometria de massas com ionização electrospray (ESIMS) no modo positivo e de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) do ¹H de extratos brutos de espécies de Piper destacou algumas espécies caracterizadas pela produção de lignanas (P. solmsianum, P. truncatum e P. cernuum), neolignanas (P. regnellii) e cromenos (P. gaudichaudianum). Análises específicas em conjunto de espécies caracterizadas morfologicamente por apresentarem inflorescências pêndulas e globosas (P. caldense, P. carniconnectivum, P. bowiei e P. permucronatum) ou em espécies que produzem amidas indicaram o potencial mais significativo para tais análises como critério para estudos fitoquímicos posteriores. Análises intraespecíficas de plântulas das espécies P. solmsianum, P. regnellii e P. gaudichaudianum indicaram uma composição química nas folhas baseada na presença dos fenilpropanóides dilapiol e apiol, diferentemente do que produzem as plantas adultas. No caso das espécies que produzem amidas, a composição apresentou-se relativamente constante independentemente do estágio de desenvolvimento.

The metabolomic profiling based on the application of multivariate analysis (principal component analysis, PCA) of positive mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESIMS) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data of crude extracts highlighted some species characterized by lignans (P. solmsianum, P. truncatum and P. cernuum), neolignans (P. regnellii) and chromenes (P. gaudichaudianum). A specific analysis focusing on species having pendant and globular inflorescences (P. caldense, P. carniconnectivum, P. bowiei and P. permucronatum) or amides-producing species indicated higher potential of the methodology in determining similarities and establishing priorities for further phytochemical investigation. Such intraspecific analysis applied to analyzed seedling leaves of the P. solmsianum, P. regnellii and P. gaudichaudianum species revealed the production of dillapiole and apiole instead of lignans, neolignans or prenylated benzoic acid, produced by the adult leaves, respectively. In case of amides-producing species, a similar profile was observed regardless the developmental stage.

Caffeine inheritance was investigated in F2 and BC1F1 generations between Coffea arabica var. Bourbon Vermelho (BV) and Coffea canephora var. Robusta 4x (R4x). The caffeine content of seeds and leaves was determined during 2004 and 2005. Microsatellite loci-markers were used to deduce the meiotic pattern of chromosome pairing of tetraploid interspecific hybrids. Genetic analysis indicated that caffeine content in seeds was quantitatively inherited and controlled by genes with additive effects. The estimates of broad-sense heritability of caffeine content in seeds were high for both generations. In coffee leaves, the caffeine content (BSH) from the same populations showed transgressive segregants with enhanced levels and high BSH. Segregation of loci-markers in BC1F1 populations showed that the ratios of the gametes genotype did not differ significantly from those expected assuming random associations and tetrasomic inheritance. The results confirm the existence of distinct mechanisms controlling the caffeine content in seeds and leaves, the gene exchange between the C. arabica BV and C. canephora R4x genomes and favorable conditions for improving caffeine content in this coffee population.

Linhagens avançadas do programa de melhoramento do tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) do IAC foram avaliadas em condições de campo em Campinas (SP) para resistência a tospovírus e a potyvírus, nos anos agrícolas 2002/2003 e 2003/2004, respectivamente. No primeiro ano, a única espécie de tospovírus que ocorreu na área experimental foi Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). As sete linhagens do grupo IAC exibiram baixa porcentagem de plantas sintomáticas em duas avaliações, com médias abaixo de 28%; as cultivares testadas mostraram-se altamente suscetíveis, com médias acima de 85%, à exceção de 'Franco', que apresentou cerca de 55% de infecção. No segundo experimento, conduzido em 2003/2004, dez linhagens do grupo IAC foram comparadas com cinco cultivares de polinização aberta e híbridos F1, além do acesso LA-444-1 de L. peruvianum. Nesse experimento, por meio de testes biológicos e sorológicos, verificou-se ocorrência generalizada de Potato virus Y (PVY). Foi determinado o percentual de plantas com sintomas e avaliada a intensidade dos sintomas mediante uso de escala de notas. Com base nos dois critérios, verificou-se que LA-444-1 apresenta alta resistência a PVY, que 'Tyrade' exibe comportamento intermediário, enquanto todos os demais genótipos demonstram alta suscetibilidade ao vírus. O comportamento dos genótipos avaliados neste trabalho mostra a necessidade de se considerar, nos programas de melhoramento do tomateiro, a introgressão de fatores de resistência não só a vírus de importância atual nas regiões produtoras, como geminivírus, mas também a outros vírus potencialmente nocivos à cultura, como tospovírus e potyvírus.

Advanced breeding lines from the IAC tomato breeding program and several tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars and F1 hybrids were screened for tospovirus and potyvirus resistance under field conditions, at Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil, during the 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 growing seasons. During the first season, only Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV) was detected in plants of the experimental area. On both evaluations, all seven lines (IAC group) were resistant to TCSV, with under 28% of infected plants. The tomato cultivars and hybrids were highly susceptible, with greater than 85% of infected plants, except for 'Franco', with 55% of infected plants. During the 2003/2004 growing season, the number of IAC lines evaluated was raised from seven to ten, and they were compared to five cultivars/F1 hybrids and to L. peruvianum LA-444-1. On this experiment, only Potato virus Y (PVY) was detected in plants. Evaluations were carried out using a symptom intensity scale and ELISA. Considering both criteria, it was verified that only LA-444-1 displayed high resistance to PVY. In addition, 'Tyrade' displayed an intermediate behavior while all other lines, cultivars and hybrids behaved as susceptible to this potyvirus. These results highlight the need of introgressing resistance to multiple viruses in tomato breeding programs, taking into consideration the economical importance and relative incidence of each virus in different geographical regions and natural variations on incidence from year to year.

Estudaram-se clones de porta-enxertos de citros (Citrus spp.), híbridos e genitores quanto à tolerância das raízes a Phytophthora nicotianae através de inoculações em substrato de argila expandida. Investigaram-se progênies nucelares dos clones Poncirus trifoliata 'Rich 16-6', citrumelo 'Swingle' (C. paradisi x P. trifoliolata ), tangerinas 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni) e 'Suen Kat' (C. sunki), limão'Volkameriano' (C. volkameriana), dos genitores tangerina 'Sunki' (C. sunki) (S), limão 'Cravo' (C. limonia) (C), laranja 'Azeda' (C. aurantium) ((A), Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (T), e progênies nucelares de híbridos entre eles, totalizando 2303 plântulas. Avaliou-se a taxa de sobrevivência, redução de raízes e partes aéreas, peso de raízes e de partes aéreas, diâmetro do caule e altura, comparando-se plântulas inoculadas e não inoculadas. Atribuíram-se também notas subjetivas para volume de raízes, enfolhamento, coloração das folhas e altura. Desenvolveu-se um índice total de redução (ITR) baseado na taxa de sobrevivência e nos parâmetros mencionados. Mostraram-se altamente tolerantes os trifoliatas 'Davis A' e 'Rich 16-6', o citrumelo 'Swingle', três híbridos TxS, dois SxT e dois SxA, com ITR < 20%. Laranja 'Azeda', tangerina 'Suen Kat', limões 'Cravo' e 'Volkameriano', oito híbridos TxS, quatro SxT, dois TxA e um SxA mostraram-se tolerantes, com ITR entre 20 e 40%. Três híbridos SxA mostraram-se moderadamente tolerantes, com ITR entre 40 e 60%. Tangerinas 'Sunki' e 'Cleópatra', dois híbridos SxA, um TxA e dois SxC mostraram-se intolerantes, com ITR entre 60 e 80%. Cinco híbridos SxC mostraram-se altamente intolerantes, com ITR > 80%. A metodologia de inoculação e avaliação discriminou com precisão progênies nucelares dos clones e dos híbridos, evidenciando o potencial de seleção principalmente dos híbridos SxT e recíprocos.

Clones of citrus rootstocks, hybrids and their parents were evaluated for tolerance to root rot incited by Phytophthora nicotianae. It were evaluated 'Rich 16-6' Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata), citrumelo 'Swingle' (C. paradisi x P. trifoliolata), 'Cleopatra' (Citrus reshni) and 'Suen Kat' (C. sunki) mandarins, 'Volkamer' lemon (C. volkameriana), the parents 'Sunki' mandarin (C. sunki) (S), Rangpur lime (C. limonia) (C), Sour orange (C. aurantium) (A) and 'Davis A' Trifoliate orange (T), and the nucellar progenies of hybrids between them, in a total of 2303 seedlings maintained in expanded clay. Tolerance was determined by survival rate, root and shoot growth reduction, root and shoot weight, stem diameter, plant height, visual ratings of root volume, shoot growth, leaf color and plant height comparing inoculated with non inoculated plants. A Total Reduction Index (ITR) based on survival rate and all the other parameters ranked clones and their hybrids. Trifoliate oranges, 'Swingle' citrumelo, three hybrids TxS, two SxT and two SxA performed as highly tolerant with ITR < 20%. Sour orange, 'Suen Kat' mandarin, 'Volkamer' lemon, Rangpur lime, eight hybrids TxS, four SxT, two TxA and one SxA were tolerant with ITR between 20 and 40%. Three hybrids SxA were moderately tolerant, with ITR between 40 and 60%. 'Sunki' and 'Cleopatra' mandarins, two hybrids SxA, one TxA and two SxC were intolerant, with ITR ranging from 60 to 80%. Five SxC hybrids were highly intolerant with ITR values > 80%. The methodology of inoculation and evaluation discriminated with good precision different levels of tolerance of nucellar progenies of clones and hybrids showing their selection potential, specially of the SxT hybrids and reciprocals.

Rice blast is the most important fungal disease of rice and is caused by Pyricularia oryzae Sacc. (Telomorph Magnoporthe grisea Barr.). Seven randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers OPA5, OPG17, OPG18, OPG19, OPF9, OPF17 and OPF19 showed very clear polymorphism in resistant cultivar lines which differed from susceptible lines. By comparing different susceptible lines, nine DNA amplifications of seven primers (OPA5(1000), OPA5(1200,) OPG17(700), OPG18(850), OPG19(500), OPG19(600), OPF9(600), OPF17(1200) and OPF19(600)) were identified as dominant markers for the blast resistant gene in resistant cultivar lines. These loci facilitate the indirect scoring of blast resistant and blast susceptible genotypes. The codomine RAPDs markers will facilitate marker-assisted selection of the blast resistant gene in two blast resistant genotypes of rice (Labelle and Line 11) and will be useful in rice breeding programs.

Sete grupos de híbridos entre porta-enxertos elite de citros (Citrus sp.) e seus genitores foram estudados quanto a reação à infecção de tronco por Phytophthora parasitica, em plantas adultas no campo. Inocularam-se artificialmente, em duas posições do tronco, 132 plantas nucelares dos genitores e 486 híbridos entre limão (Citrus limonia) Cravo 'Limeira' (C), Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (T), tangerina (C.sunki) 'Sunki' (S) e laranja Azeda (C. aurantium) 'São Paulo' (A). A classificação do grau de resistência à gomose de tronco em plantas adultas no campo foi possível somente quando baseada na média do tamanho de lesões de mais de 30 plantas nucelares, devido às grandes variações observadas em plantas individuais do mesmo clone, impossibilitando a seleção precoce de híbridos baseada em valores de plantas individuais. O trifoliata e a laranja Azeda mostraram-se bastante resistentes, desenvolvendo, em geral, lesões de tamanho reduzido. A tangerina Sunki e o limão Cravo desenvolveram lesões maiores, embora a tangerina Sunki tenha mostrado uma tendência em desenvolver lesões maiores que às do limão Cravo. Híbridos de trifoliata apresentaram, no geral, lesões intermediárias. Os híbridos de Azeda apresentaram lesões de tamanhos bastante variáveis, porém a maioria, com lesões grandes. Da mesma forma comportaram-se os híbridos recíprocos entre Sunki e Cravo.

Seven groups of elite citrus (Citrus sp.) rootstock hybrids and their genitors were field tested for gummosis caused by Phytophthora parasitica. Two trunk inoculations were made in 132 nucellar clones of the genitors and in 486 hybrids between 'Limeira' rangpur lime (Citrus limonia) (C), 'Davis A' trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) (T), 'Sunki' mandarin (C. sunki) (S) and 'São Paulo' sour orange (C. aurantium) (A). The degree of resistance to gummosis could be estimated from inoculation of adult plants in the field only when it was based on the mean lesions of more than 30 nucellar plants. This was due to the great variations observed in single individuals of the same clone although the conditions were well controlled. For this reason, it was not possible to make an early selection of hybrids based on the mean lesion area developed in single individuals. Trifoliate and sour oranges were quite resistant, displaying small-size lesions. Sunki mandarin and rangpur lime developed larger lesions, although Sunki mandarin tended to develop larger lesions than rangpur lime. In general, trifoliate hybrids showed lesions of intermediate size. Sour orange hybrids developed lesions that were quite variable in size although most of them were large. This same behaviour was observed among reciprocal SxC hybrids.

Plantas de tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) apresentando sintomas de amarelecimento do limbo foliar principalmente nas nervuras, redução de crescimento e distorções foliares foram coletadas em lavouras do cinturão verde de Campinas, São Paulo, e mantidas no Centro Experimental de Campinas (IAC), para utilização em experimentos de avaliação de resistência de genótipos à virose. A partir de análises moleculares, o vírus foi identificado como Tomato yellow vein streak virus (TYVSV). Foram feitas avaliações em campo (infecção natural) e em telado (infecção natural e controlada), usando-se diversos genótipos, abrangendo cultivares, híbridos, linhagens e populações, além de espécies selvagens de tomateiro. Alguns dos genótipos e híbridos contêm o gene de resistência Ty-1. Em campo, destacou-se o híbrido 'BX 1016158' com as menores incidências de doença. Em telado (infecção natural), híbridos interespecíficos de L. esculentum x L. peruvianum, e a linhagem PI 134417 (L. hirsutum) mostraram-se os mais resistentes ao isolado. O método de avaliação precoce em telado (infecção controlada) mostrou-se adequado para discriminar genótipos resistentes ao isolado. Por meio desse método, constatou-se a resistência das linhagens 'LA 444-1' (L. peruvianum), F4(TySw5) e a série IAC 14-2, e dos híbridos 'Franco' e BX1653088 ('Densus'), os quais receberam notas próximas de um ou não apresentaram sintomas.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plant showing symptoms attributed to geminivirus were collected from crops of the green belt of Campinas, SP. The symptoms consisted of leaf yellowing, especially along the veins, leaf distortion and reduced plant growth. A virus isolate was maintained in tomatoplants by whiteflies transmission at the Experimental Center of Instituto Agronômico in Campinas. Molecular tests were performed with the virus, which showed to be Tomato yellow vein streak virus (TYVSV). Evaluations of tomato resistance were done under field (natural infections) and screen house conditions (natural and controlled infections) using genotypes of diverse origins, comprising cultivars, hybrids, breeding lines, populations and wild tomato species. The evaluated material included experimental genotypes and hybrids carrying the gene for vertical resistance, Ty-1. In the field, the evaluations pointed to the hybrid 'BX 1016158' as having the the lowest disease infection rates. In screen house conditions, the interspecific hybrids of L. esculentum x L. peruvianum, and the access PI 134417 of L. hirsutum showed the highest resistance to the virus. Another screen house experiment used a method of early testing for resistance of tomato genotypes to geminivirus. This method proved to be adequate for discrimination of genotypes, found resistance in the L. peruvianum access LA 444-1, in the IAC 14-2 series, in the F4 line TySw5, and in the hybrids 'Franco' and BX 1653088 ('Densus'), with ratings close to absence of symptoms.