ABSTRACT The elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone) is one of the species with great prominence for energy production because of its favorable traits, such as high yield and short cycle, combined with several biomass quality characteristics. Therefore, this study intended to evaluate the morpho-agronomic traits of eight elephant grass genotypes under different cutting ages. A randomized block design with three replicates was applied to the experiment, and plots were composed of a 12 m long line divided into six subplots for each of the bimonthly cuts. Eight genotypes were evaluated in the plots, and the cutting ages (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-mo) were analyzed in the subplots. The following traits were assessed: DM yield, (DMY) percentage of DM, and average plant height (HEI). All genetic-statistical analyses were conducted using the Genes Program. The evaluated genotypes showed nonsignificant differences, indicating that, for the evaluated traits, these genotypes are genetically similar. Most genotypes presented linear effect of 2nd degree in the two assessment cuts, pointing they did not reach their maximum capacity of DMY in the time interval of the evaluated cuts. The maximum %DM achieved for the most genotypes occurred at about 9-mo age, while genotypes Vruckwona and BAG-86 at about 10-mo age. The maximum points for HEI trait were between 8 and 10-mo age. Increasing the cutting interval leads to increases in DM yield, with the 10-mo cutting age being the most efficient, resulting in higher yields.

RESUMO A falta de registros sobre as cultivares de feijão-vagem é um dos obstáculos que levaram à lacuna na produtividade e baixo destaque da cultura. Este trabalho teve como objetivo indicar as linhagens de feijão-vagem obtidas pelo Programa de Melhoramento da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF) para avaliar seu desempenho quanto ao certificado de proteção de cultivares. O estudo foi conduzido usando delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repetições em casa de vegetação da Unidade de Apoio à Pesquisa da UENF. Nove linhas candidatas foram comparadas com a cultivar comercial “Topseed Blue Line”, de acordo com 56 descritores estabelecidos pelos National Plant Variety Rights. Todas as linhas se apresentaram homogêneas. A linha L31 forneceu um total de 30 descritores diferentes da cultivar comercial. Para os dados quantitativos adicionados aos testes Distinguibilidade, Homogeneidade e Estabilidade (DHE), foi realizada a análise de variância e o biplot GT gerado pelo software R. Foi observada variabilidade entre os genótipos para todas as características avaliadas, exceto dias até germinação e espessura das sementes. As linhagens que apresentaram melhor desempenho médio foram L6, L7, L10, L11 e L13. Entre essas, as linhas L6 e L11 proporcionaram maior estabilidade.

ABSTRACT The lack of records about snap bean cultivars is one of the obstacles that has led to a yield gap and low prominence of the crop. This work aimed at indicating snap bean lines obtained by the Breeding Program of the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF) to assess their performance and to apply for a certificate of plant variety protection. The study was managed using a randomized block design with three replicates in a greenhouse at the Research Support Unit of the UENF. Nine candidate lines were compared to the commercial cultivar “Topseed Blue Line” in accordance with 56 descriptors set by the National Plant Variety Rights. All lines presented themselves as homogeneous. The L31 line provided a total of 30 different descriptors of the commercial cultivar. For the quantitative data added to the Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability, (DUS) tests, the analysis of variance was performed and the GT biplot generated by the R software. Variability was noticed among the genotypes for all assessed traits, excepting days until germination and seed thickness. The lines that showed the best mean performance were L6, L7, L10, L11, and L13. Among those, the L6 and L11 lines provided higher stability.

RESUMO A cultivar de feijão vagem UENF Goytacá, registrada no Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuário e Abastecimento, foi obtida após a geração F6 pelo método de melhoramento Single Seed Descent (SSD). Pertence ao Programa de Melhoramento de feijão vagem da UENF que consiste de mais de uma década de pesquisa com a cultura, objetivando a recomendação de cultivares para as regiões Norte e Noroeste Fluminense do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Essa cultivar possui hábito de crescimento indeterminado (tipo IV) e porte trepador, características de interesse por atingirem maiores produções. Apresenta dupla aptidão, sendo destinada tanto para o consumo da vagem fresca quanto da vagem seca, com produtividade de grãos desejável, em torno de 4,28 t ha-1. Além de sua versatilidade de uso, possui ciclo e velocidade de desenvolvimento do hábito trepador médio; número médio de vagens equivalente a 83,93; comprimento médio de vagem de 15cm; grau de curvatura fraca a média, e grau de ternura média. Ensaios para o pedido de proteção da cultivar estão sendo concluídos com a finalidade de realizar sua produção e distribuição.

ABSTRACT The snap bean cultivar UENF Goytacá, registered in the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), was obtained from an F6 generation, based on the Single Seed Descent (SSD) method. It belongs to UENF Snap Bean Breeding Program, which has carried out researches on this crop type for more than a decade aiming at developing cultivars for Northern and Northwestern Rio de Janeiro State. This cultivar presents an indeterminate growth (type IV) and climbing habit, traits of interest, because they enable a higher crop yield. The cultivar also presents double suitability since its beans can be consumed both fresh and dry, with a desirable grain yield of approximately 4.28 t ha-1. Besides its versatility of use, this cultivar presents medium cycle and medium speed of the climbing habit, mean number of pods equivalent to 83.93, mean pod length of 15 cm, slight-to-moderate curvature degree, and moderate tenderness degree. The final tests focused on cultivar protection application to enable its production and distribution.