ABSTRACT Onion production is conditioned to the adopted techniques during the cultivation. Sowing depth, soil preparation and cultivars are determinant factors for productivity to be increased. Two experiments were developed, the first with the objective of evaluating the effect of sowing depths and soil preparation methods on the germination and development of onion seedlings, while the objective of the second was to evaluate the productivity of onion cultivars as a soil preparation function. In experiment I, the split plot scheme was adopted, where the main plots consisted on soil tillage methods (total area and bed) and in the subplots, the sowing depths (0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 cm), with six replicates. Experiment II was carried out in a split plot scheme, in which the main plots consisted on soil tillage methods (total area and bed) and in the subplots, such as onion cultivars (Itajubá, Rainha, Salto Grande, Ômega, Mulata and BR29), with four replicates. The 1.5 cm sowing depth provided greater speed of germination and plant stand. Raising beds offers the best initial seedling development. The onion cultivation under beds offers the highest vegetative development and productivity.

High yield stability and adaptability of yellow passion fruit varieties (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg.) are highly desirable attributes when exploring different environments. This study aimed to evaluate the adaptability and yield stability of yellow passion fruit varieties using AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) and other ancillary statistics. Twelve varieties were evaluated in eight environments. Analysis of variance showed effects attributable to the varieties (G), environment (E) and their interaction (G × E). The first two multiplicative components of the interaction accounted for 69% of the sum of squares. The scores of the principal interaction components showed high variability for the environments relative to the variety effects. High varietal phenotypic stability was observed in three environments; which can be used in yellow passion fruit breeding programs for initial selection trials. A biplot-AMMI analysis and yield stability index incorporating the AMMI stability value and yield capacity in a single non-parametric index were useful for discriminating genotypes with superior and stable fruit yield. AMMI analysis also allowed for the identification of more productive varieties in specific environments, leading to significant increase in passion fruit productivity.

This study aimed to characterize the resistance of 31 passion fruit (Passiflora sp.) genotypes to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae (FOP). About 20 seedlings of each genotype were inoculated by immersing the roots in a suspension of 10(6) macroconidia mL-1 for five minutes and then transplanting them into pots containing a mixture of soil and sterile substrate. They were evaluated daily for 120 days for the occurrence of wilt symptoms and death. These data were used to calculate the area under the disease progress curve, for survival analysis and grouping. The mortality rate ranged from 0 to 100% and the AUDPC ranged from 0 for genotypes without symptoms of the disease to 6,650.63 for the hybrid HFOP-01. Genotypes were classified into four subgroups: resistant, moderately resistant, susceptible and highly susceptible. The resistance was genotype dependent, but no significant variation was found between the purple and the yellow P. edulis.

RESUMO O estado nutricional da planta-matriz é de grande importância para a manutenção do seu vigor vegetativo, o que determina a produção de brotos e também os índices de enraizamento e velocidade de formação das raízes, uma vez que os macronutrientes e os micronutrientes estão envolvidos nos processos bioquímicos e fisiológicos vitais à planta. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da adubação NPK sobre a partição de biomassa seca e nutriente em minicepa de eucalipto em solução nutritiva. O trabalho foi realizado de novembro de 2008 a janeiro de 2009, em casa de vegetação. Foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial fracionado (4x4x4)1/2, perfazendo 32 tratamentos com três repetições. Os tratamentos se constituíram de quatro doses dos nutrientes de N (50; 100; 200 e 400 mg L-1) na forma de ureia, P (7,5; 15; 30 e 60 mg L-1) na forma de ácido fosfórico e K (50; 100; 200 e 400 mg L-1) na forma de cloreto de potássio em solução nutritiva. Houve efeito significativo apenas para as doses de N isoladamente, para a biomassa seca das miniestacas e biomassa seca da parte aérea e raiz das minicepas com efeito linear decrescente, com o aumento das doses de N. A dose de 50 mg L-1 de N proporcionou maior acúmulo de biomassa seca das miniestacas e minicepas. A distribuição percentual da biomassa seca e dos nutrientes na biomassa seca das miniestacas, parte aérea e raízes das minicepas variou em relação às doses de N. A extração de macronutrientes pelas miniestacas de 6 cm na dose de 50 mg L-1 de N seguiu a seguinte ordem decrescente de N > S > P > K > Ca > Mg e micronutrientes de Cu > B > Mn > Fe > Zn.

ABSTRACT The nutritional status of the matrix plant has a great importance for the maintenance of its vegetative vigor, which determines the sprouts production and also the rooting percentage and the speed of root formation, since the macro and micronutrients are involved in biochemical and physiological vital processes for the plant. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of NPK fertilizer on dry biomass production by mini-cuttings and mini-stumps and the percentage distribution of nutrients in a simple hybrid plant of Eucalyptus urophylla in nutrient solution. The experiment was realized from November, 2008 to January, 2009 in a vegetation environment. The experimental design was a completely randomized in factorial scheme with a fractional factorial (4x4x4)1/2, adding up to 32 treatments with three replicates. The treatments consisted of four levels nutrients of nitrogen (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1) in the urea form, P (7.5, 15, 30 and 60 mg L-1) in the phosphoric acid form and K (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1) in the potassium chloride form, in the nutrient solution. There was significant effect only to the N doses to the dry mass of mini-cuttings and the dry mass of shoots and roots of mini-stumps with decreasing linear effect against N doses increasing. The doses of 50 mg.L-1 of N promoted higher accumulation of dry mass in mini-cuttings and mini-stumps. The percentage distribution of dry mass and of the nutrients in dry mass of mini-stumps, shoots and roots of mini-stumps varied in relation to N doses. Macronutrients extraction from mini-stumps of 6 cm at a dose of 50 mg L-1 of N followed the order of decreasing N > S > P > K > Ca > Mg and micronutrients Cu > B > Mn > Fe >Zn

Objetivou-se estimar parâmetros genéticos e valores genotípicos em populações segregantes de mamoeiro com o método de modelos mistos. Foram avaliadas duas populações segregantes F2 dos híbridos Tainung e Calimosa. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos aumentados com quatro repetições, utilizando como testemunhas as cultivares Golden e Calimosa. As estimativas de herdabilidade individual foram altas para comprimento (CF) e peso do fruto (PF), moderadas para diâmetro (DF) e menores para sólidos solúveis totais (SST) e firmeza do fruto (FF). Considerando SST e FF como principais características para seleção, genótipos da população Calimosa-F2 apresentaram melhor desempenho em relação à FF, porém pior em relação à SST. Foram selecionados 18,30 e 24,61% dos indivíduos da população Tainung-F2 e Calimosa-F2, respectivamente. A existência de correlação negativa entre SST e FF não dificultou a obtenção de ganhos genéticos. Foi demonstrado que populações segregantes do híbrido Calimosa são mais promissoras para seleção de linhagens de mamoeiro.

The objective of this paper was to estimate the genetic parameters and additive genetic values in segregating populations of papaya using the mixed model methodology. Two F2 populations from Tainung and Calimosa hybrids were evaluated. The experimental design was an augmented block with four replicates, and Golden and Calimosa cultivars were the common treatment. Estimates of individual heritability were high for fruit length (FL) and weight (FW), moderate for fruit diameter (FD), and low for total soluble solids (TSS) and fruit firmness (FF). Considering FF and TSS as main traits for selection, genotypes of Calimosa-F2 population showed better performance to FF, but worse concerning TSS. It was selected 18.3% and 24.6% of plants from Tainung-F2 and Calimosa-F2 populations, respectively. Negative correlation between TSS and FF was not able to reduce the genetic gains. The segregating populations from Calimosa hybrid are more promising for the selection of papaya lines.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar índices de seleção para a identificação de parentais, para uso na seleção recorrente de maracujazeiro-amarelo. Foram avaliados 43 acessos quanto a 18 características agronômicas, entre as quais a produtividade, a massa de frutos, o teor de sólidos solúveis, o rendimento de polpa e a resistência a doenças foram consideradas as principais. A seleção direta, o índice de seleção distância genótipo-ideótipo, Smith & Hazel e soma de postos de Mulamba & Mock foram as estratégias de seleção avaliadas. As médias da maioria das características principais e seus valores de herdabilidade e amplitude indicaram a possibilidade de se obterem ganhos genéticos pela seleção. Altos ganhos genéticos foram obtidos com a seleção direta, porém com perdas indesejáveis em outras características importantes. Foi possível obter ganhos preditos de forma equilibrada, para as 18 características, com uso da soma de postos e do desvio-padrão genético como peso econômico. Os ganhos genéticos variaram de 2,47 a 10,33%, quanto ao rendimento de polpa e à produtividade, respectivamente, e houve redução da severidade da maioria das doenças avaliadas. A aplicação dos índices de seleção, para a escolha de parentais de ampla base genética, é uma alternativa viável mesmo com a presença de correlações indesejáveis.

The objective of this work was to evaluate selection indexes to identify parents to be used in the recurrent selection of yellow passion fruit. Forty-three germplasm accessions were evaluated for 18 agronomic traits, from which productivity, fruit mass, total soluble solids, pulp yield and resistance to diseases were considered as the primary ones. Direct selection, genotype-ideotype distance index, Smith & Hazel index and the sum of ranks of Mulamba & Mock were the selection strategies evaluated. The means for most of the main traits, and their heritability and amplitude values indicated the possibility to obtain genetic gains by selection. High genetic gains were achieved by direct selection, but with undesirable losses in other important traits. Using the genetic standard deviation as economic weight, the sum of ranks selection index made possible balanced predicted gains for the 18 traits. The genetic gains ranged from 2.47 to 10.33%, for productivity and pulp yield, respectively, and there was a severity reduction in most of the evaluated diseases. The utilization of selection indexes for choosing parentals with wide genetic basis to be used in recurrent selection programs of yellow passion fruit is a viable alternative, even when undesirable correlations are present.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar e avaliar recursos genéticos de maracujazeiro‑amarelo (Passiflora edulis) quanto às principais características de importância econômica. Foram realizadas avaliações agronômicas e estimados parâmetros genéticos em 38 acessos do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Maracujazeiro da Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, tendo-se utilizado cinco testemunhas provenientes de seleções ou melhoradas geneticamente. Foram avaliadas duas características produtivas, três características de qualidade química e sete atributos físicos dos frutos. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos aumentados, com quatro repetições e parcela de dez plantas. O elevado coeficiente de variação genética, o índice de variação maior que a unidade e os altos valores de herdabilidade indicam a existência de grande variabilidade genética ainda não explorada, bem como de condições favoráveis ao melhoramento genético. Para a maioria das características avaliadas, os acessos foram superiores às testemunhas. Os acessos BGM185 e BGM051 são mais promissores para o mercado de frutas frescas, pela qualidade dos frutos, enquanto os acessos BGM181, BGM034, BGM123 e BGM079 são indicados para a indústria de sucos, por apresentar alta produtividade e rendimento de polpa.

The objective of this work was to characterize and evaluate genetic resources of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) for its main economic traits. Agronomic evaluations were made and genetic parameters were estimated in 38 germplasm accessions from the passion fruit germplasm bank of Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, using five controls from selections or genetically improved material. Two productive characteristics, three chemical qualities, and seven physical attributes of fruit were evaluated. An augmented block design with four replicates and ten plants per plot was used. The high coefficient of genetic variation, the index of variation greater than one, and the high heritability values indicate the existence of high genetic variability not yet explored, as well as favorable conditions to implement a breeding program. For most of the traits evaluated, accessions were superior to the controls. Accessions BGM185 and BGM051 are more promising for the fresh fruit market, due to fruit quality, while accessions BGM181, BGM034, BGM123, and BGM079 are recommended for the fruit juice industry, due to high productivity and pulp yield.