ABSTRACT: Even though oats (Avena spp.) have the capacity to produce numerous compounds with the potential to act antagonistically against plant pathogens, studies on the genotypic effect of this crop focusing on their nematicidal activity are limited. The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the aqueous extracts prepared with the biomass of oat genotypes, on the hatching of second-stage juveniles of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita). The bioassays were carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications. Eighteen extracts were evaluated, consisting of a combination of six oat genotypes Agro Quaraí, Agro Esteio, Embrapa 139, AF 12202, UPFPS Farroupilha, and AF 1345 Ucraniana, and three extract concentrations (5 %, 10 %, and 20 % w/v). Three additional treatments were added to the study (distilled water, chemical nematicides abamectin, and imidacloprid + thiodicarb). The treatments and the suspension containing nematode eggs were placed in Petri dishes and incubated in a growth chamber for ten days. At the 5 % and 10 % w/v concentration levels, a genotype effect was observed in the hatching of juveniles for both nematode species. For the control of M. javanica the extracts of Embrapa 139 had a better performance, while the extracts of Agro Quaraí and AF1345 Ucraniana performed better when under the control of M. incognita. Thus, oat biomass formation might have the ability to suppress the nematode population in the soil, and could therefore, be used for the management of root-knot nematodes.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar onze cultivares de aveia (Avena spp.) quanto à reação à brusone, causada pelo fungo Pyricularia oryzae Cav., sob condições controladas, a fim de identificar cultivares promissoras para uso em programas de melhoramento genético. Foram testadas cinco cultivares de Avena sativa, quatro cultivares de A. strigosa e duas cultivares de A. brevis. A reação foi testada em folhas, com quatro isolados de P. oryzae, na concentração de 2 x 10(5) conídios/mL. Quantificou-se número e expansão de lesões, severidade e área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença. As cultivares apresentaram variabilidade quanto à reação à inoculação. O melhor desempenho foi de A. sativa ‘URS Taura’, que mostrou os menores valores para número de lesões (2/folha), comprimento (5,42 mm) e largura (1,25 mm) de lesões, área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença (0,65) e severidade (6%). Nenhum genótipo foi resistente, mas quatro cultivares mostraram percentuais de severidade compatíveis com reação de ‘Moderada resistência’: A. sativa ‘URS Taura’ (6%), ‘UPFA Ouro’ (14%) e ‘IPR Afrodite’ (24%) e A. brevis ‘BRS Madrugada’ (24%). Esses genótipos são referências para uso como parentais nos programas de melhoramento de aveia.

The objective of this work was to evaluate eleven oat (Avena spp.) cultivars for the reaction to the blast caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae Cav., under controlled conditions, to identify promising cultivars for use in genetic breeding programs. Five cultivars of Avena sativa, four of A. strigosa and two of A. brevis were tested. The reaction was observed in leaves, with four isolates of P. oryzae, in the concentration of 2 x 10(5) conidia/ml. It was quantified the number and expansion of lesions, severity and area under the curve of disease progression. The cultivars presented variability regarding the reaction to inoculation. The best performance was A. sativa 'URS Taura', which showed the lowest values for number of lesions (2/leaf), length (5.42 mm) and width (1.25 mm) of lesions, area under the curve of disease progression (0.65) and severity (6%). No genotype was resistant, but four cultivars showed severity percentages compatible with 'Moderately resistance': A. sativa 'URS Taura' (6%), 'UPFA Ouro' (14%) and 'IPR Afrodite' and A. brevis 'BRS Madrugada' (24%). These genotypes are references for use as parents in oat breeding programs.

Determinou-se a concentração de catequina, epicatequina, rutina e quercetina, por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, em extratos metanólicos elaborados com folhas+caules e flores+frutos de Lotus corniculatus colhido nos estádios vegetativo e reprodutivo. O estádio fenológico não afetou a concentração de flavonoides dos extratos de folhas+caules, que apresentaram maior concentração de catequina (2,11 mg.g-1) em relação ao extrato de flores+frutos (1,18 mg.g-1). As maiores concentrações de epicatequina (11,6 mg.g-1), quercetina (1,26 mg.g-1) e rutina (2,23 mg.g-1) ocorreram no extrato de flores+frutos. A concentração de compostos fenólicos dessa espécie parece estar dependente da alocação da biomassa nos órgãos vegetativos e reprodutivos das plantas.

The concentration of catechin, epicatechin, rutin and quercetin was determined by high performance liquid chromatography on methanolic extracts from leaves+stems and flowers+fruits of Lotus corniculatus harvested at vegetative and reproductive stages. Phenological stage did not affect the flavonoid concentration of leaves+stems extracts, which presented higher concentration of catechin (2.11 mg.g-1) than flowers+fruits extract (1.18 mg.g-1). The highest concentrations of epicatechin (11,6 mg.g-1), quercetin (1,26 mg.g-1) and rutin (2,23 mg.g-1) occurred in the flower+ fruit extract. The concentration of phenolics in this species seems to be dependent on the biomass allocation in the vegetative and reproductive organs of the plants.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a dominância, crescimento e bromatologia do capim-annoni (Eragrostis plana) em área de vegetação secundária. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 23; 45; 64; 86; 111; 132; 153 e 174 dias de crescimento após uma roçada. O capim-annoni foi a espécie dominante na área, representando entre 76 e 90% do total da biomassa. Houve aumento linear na produção de massa seca de folhas (9,8 kg MS ha-1 dia-1) e da parte aérea (16,9 kg MS ha-1 dia-1) do capim-annoni. Durante os 111 dias da fase vegetativa, a biomassa das plantas foi composta somente por folhas. O florescimento iniciou a partir do 132º dia após o corte. Aos 174 dias de crescimento, o capim-annoni acumulou cerca de 4.000 kg de MS ha-1, dos quais 650 kg MS ha-1 foi composta por inflorescências. A gramínea apresentou área foliar específica de 72 cm2 g-1 e índice de área foliar máximo de 2,1. A razão de área foliar reduziu de 72,2 para 43,9 cm2 g-1 entre o 23º e o 174º dia após o corte. A análise bromatológica mostrou elevados teores de fibra em detergente neutro (85,390,4%) e fibra em detergente ácido (39,4-42,8%), e baixo teor de proteína bruta (3,9-9,9%), indicando a baixa qualidade nutricional do capim-annoni.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the dominance, growth and bromatology of tough lovegrass or 'annoni' grass (Eragrostis plana) in secondary vegetation area. The evaluations were carried out at 23, 45, 64, 86, 111, 132, 153, and 174 days of growth after a mowing. The tough lovegrass was the dominant species on the area, accounting for 76 to 90% of biomass. There was a linear increase for leaf (9.8 kg DM ha-1 day-1) and total dry mass (16.9 kg DM ha-1 day-1) of the tough lovegrass. During the 111 days of the vegetative stage, the biomass was composed only of leaves, and the flowering started at 132 days. At 174 days, the tough lovegrass accumulated about 4,000 kg DM ha-1, 650 kg DM ha-1 of which was composed of inflorescences. The growth analysis revealed a specific leaf area of 72 cm2 g-1 and a maximum leaf area index of 2.1. The leaf area ratio decreased from 72.2 to 43.9 cm2 g-1 between the 23rd and 174th days. The bromatological analysis showed a high content of neutral detergent fiber (85.3-90.4%) and acid detergent fiber (39.4-42.8%), as well as low crude protein content (3.9-9.9%), indicating the low forage quality of the species.

RESUMO O esterco de poedeira in natura é utilizado como fertilizante, mas pouco se sabe se esta prática pode contaminar o solo com organismos patogênicos. O objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar o efeito da adubação orgânica, organomineral e mineral na contaminação do solo com estes organismos, utilizando o esterco de poedeira como fertilizante orgânico. Foram aplicadas 7,0 (milho 2008/2009), 8,0 (trigo 2009) e 14 t ha-1 (milho 2010/11) de esterco, em experimentos a campo. A adubação organomineral consistiu em 50% destas quantidades e 50% das quantidades aplicadas com fertilizantes minerais. Após 30 e 70 dias da adubação, avaliou-se a ocorrência de ovos e de larvas de helmintos e de bactérias enteropatogênicas no fertilizante orgânico e destes microrganismos na camada de 0-5 cm do Latossolo. Coliformes totais e fecais (Escherichia coli e Clostridium perfringens) foram constatados no fertilizante orgânico, enquanto Salmonella sp e os enteroparasitas não foram detectados. A população de bactérias enteropatogênicas do solo foi similar entre os tratamentos, em todas as culturas e ambas épocas de avaliações. A população de coliformes termotolerantes do fertilizante orgânico foi maior que o máximo permitido no Brasil, mas a adubação orgânica ou organomineral não contaminou o solo.

ABSTRACT Poultry manure is used as fertilizer in natura, but little is known about whether it contaminates the soil with pathogenic organisms. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of organic, organomineral and mineral fertilizers on soil contamination by enteric pathogens, using poultry manure as the organic fertilizer. Manure was applied in field experiments at rates of 7.0 ton. ha-1 (maize crop, 2008/2009), 8.0 ton. ha-1 (wheat crop, 2009) and 14 t ha-1 (maize crop, 2010/2011). Organomineral fertilizer was applied at the same rates but was comprised of 50% manure and 50% mineral fertilizer. At 30 and 70 days after fertilization, the organic fertilizer and the upper 0-5 cm layer of the soil were tested for the presence of helminth eggs and larvae and enteropathogenic bacteria. Fecal and non-fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringes) were found in the organic fertilizer, but neither Salmonella spp. nor enteroparasites were detected. The population of enteropathogenic bacteria in the soil was similar among the treatments for all crops at both evaluation times. The population of thermotolerant coliforms in the organic fertilizer was larger than the maximum level allowed in Brazil, but neither the organic or nor the organomineral fertilizer contaminated the soil.

O efeito do alumínio (Al) em raízes tem sido avaliado por medidas lineares e de peso, mas ainda não se conhece a influência desse elemento na configuração da ramificação do sistema radicial. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a toxicidade do alumínio em plântulas de 21 dias de idade de três leguminosas forrageiras, Adesmia latifolia, Trifolium repens and T. pratense, por meio de análise topológica. As plantas foram cultivadas em Latossolo vermelho distrófico tratado ou não com calcário dolomítico, o que resultou em dois níveis de saturação de Al e pH: (a) Al= 0%, pH= 6,2; (b) Al= 16%, pH= 4,8. Foram determinados: número de raízes de primeira ordem, segmentos externos (magnitude), segmentos do caminho mais longo (altitude), total de segmentos da raiz primária (altitude da raiz primária), segmentos totais, segmentos internos, pontos de ramificação e pontos de ramificação, caminho total percorrido total, proporção de ramificações na raiz primária e comprimento da raiz primária. As variáveis topológicas foram reduzidas significativamente pelo Al, independente de leguminosa. Na presença de alumínio o sistema radicial mostrou configuração de ramificação mais aleatória ou dicotômica e A. latifolia foi a leguminosa com maior plasticidade.

The effect of aluminum (Al) on roots has been evaluated based on linear and weight measurements, but how this element influences the branching configuration of the root system remains unknown. The objective of this study was to assess aluminum toxicity in the roots of 21-day old seedlings from three forage legumes using topological analysis: Adesmia latifolia, Trifolium repens and T. pratense. The legumes were grown in dystrophic Red Latosol that had either been treated or not treated with dolomitic lime. This resulted in two Al saturation and pH treatments: (a) Al= 0%, pH= 6.2; and (b) Al= 16%, pH= 4.8. The following attributes were determined: number of first-order roots, external links (magnitude), total links in the longest unique path (altitude), total links in the primary root (primary root altitude), total exterior path length, total links, internal links, branching points and proportion of branching in the primary root. The topological variables were significantly reduced by Al for all of the legume species. There was a more randomized or dichotomous branching configuration in the seedlings grown in acid soil and A. latifolia was the most plastic of the species.

A morfogênese da grama-missioneira-gigante (Axonopus jesuticus x A. scoparius) tirar itálico dos parentes foi avaliada neste estudo em resposta à aplicação de doses de 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 e 200m³ ha-1ano-1 de dejeto líquido de suínos, calculadas para suprir 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500kg de N ha-1ano-1, respectivamente. O experimento foi realizado no campo, em Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brasil, em 2010-2011. As doses foram fracionadas em quatro aplicações, após os cortes da pastagem, durante a estação de crescimento da gramínea. As avaliações morfogenéticas ocorreram semanalmente entre 26/10/2010 e 07/12/2010 (primavera), 14/12/2010 e 11/01/2011 (final da primavera/início do verão), 18/01/2011 e 07/02/2011 (verão), e 15/02/2011 e 21/03/2011 (final do verão). As taxas de senescência foliar, alongamento foliar e alongamento do pseudocolmo, a altura do dossel e do pseudocolmo, o comprimento de lâmina foliar e o afilhamento foram incrementados como resultado da fertilização. A aplicação de dejetos de suínos como fonte de nitrogênio altera o fluxo de tecido de grama-missioneira-gigante, o que requer atenção ao manejo da pastagem para maximizar a eficiência de uso da forragem e prevenir perdas por senescência.

The morphogenesis of giant missionary grass (Axonopus jesuticus x A. scoparius) was evaluated in this study in response to the application of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200m³ ha-1year-1 of pig slurry, calculated to provide 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500kg N ha-1year-1, respectively. The experiment was carried out in the field, at Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2010-2011. The doses were fractioned in four applications, performed after the pasture cuttings, during the growth season of the grass. Morphogenetic evaluations were performed weekly between 10/26/2010 and 12/07/2010 (spring), 12/14/2010 and 01/11/2011 (late spring/early summer), 01/18/2011 and 02/07/2011 (summer), and 02/15/2011 and 03/21/2011 (late summer). The leaf senescence, leaf elongation, and pseudoculm elongation rates, canopy and pseudoculm heights, leaf blade length, and tillering increased because of fertilization. The application of pig slurry as a source of nitrogen alters the tissue flow of giant missionary grass, which requires attention to pasture management in order to maximize the efficiency of forage use and to prevent losses of herbage by leaf senescence.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a morfogênese da grama-tapete (Axonopus affinis) adubada durante dois anos com dejeto líquido de suínos (DLS). Na média de dois anos, foram aplicados 0, 51, 102, 153, 204 e 255m³ de DLS ha-1, calculados para prover 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500kg de N/ha/ano, respetivamente. A morfogênese foi avaliada na primavera e verão de 2008-2009 e 2009-2010, considerando-se como temperatura basal 10°C para cálculo da soma térmica no intervalo entre as amostragens. Houve aumento linear no número de perfilhos, taxa de alongamento de perfilhos, taxa de expansão foliar e índice de área foliar em função das doses de DLS. Não houve efeito da adubação na taxa de alongamento de pseudocolmo (0,004cm GD-1), taxa de aparecimento foliar (0,004 folha perfilho-1 GD-1) e filocrono (274GD).

This study aimed to evaluate the morphogenesis of carpet grass fertilized for two years with pig slurry (PS). On the average of two years were applied 0, 51, 102, 153, 204 and 255m³ of PS ha-1, calculated to provide 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500kg of N ha-1 year-1, respectively. The morphogenesis was evaluated in the spring and summer of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, considering 10°C as threshold temperature to evaluate the thermal sum in degree-days (DD) between the samplings. The fertilization linearly increased the tiller number, tiller elongation rate, leaf elongation rate and leaf area index. There was no effect of the fertilization on pseudoculm elongation rate (0.004cm DD-1), leaf appearance rate (0.004 leaf tiller-1 DD-1) and phyllochron (274DD).

Foi caracterizada morfofisiologicamente uma coleção de germoplasma de 19 acessos de alcachofra, visando acessar a variabilidade genética e selecionar materiais aptos ao consumo in natura para o melhoramento genético. A coleção foi constituída por acessos comerciais, materiais coletados no sul do Brasil e de origem internacional. Vinte caracteres quantitativos, cinco multicategóricos e dois binários foram avaliados. Os dados quantitativos foram submetidos à análise multivariada. Foi observada variabilidade genética para quase todas as características estudadas. Os caracteres com maior contribuição relativa para a divergência genética foram espessura e diâmetro do fundo; razão massa fresca do fundo/massa fresca do capítulo; comprimento da bráctea externa, base das brácteas, folhas e capítulo primário; altura e diâmetro da planta; diâmetro do capítulo primário e espessura da base das brácteas, representando 79,54% da variabilidade. Quatro grupos foram formados pela análise de agrupamento. O grupo I reuniu o maior número de acessos com características para o consumo in natura. Os melhores acessos foram Romanesca 1, Verde Redonda e Verde Redonda Melhorada, pois apresentaram plantas com maior massa fresca e diâmetro de capítulos primários, massa fresca e diâmetro do fundo, capítulo circular, sem espinhos e coloração desejada, características importantes na seleção de genótipos superiores ao consumo in natura.

A morphophysiological characterization of 19 accessions within an artichoke germplasm collection was conducted with the aim of determining genetic variability and to select materials suitable for in natura consumption to be used in genetic breeding. The collection was composed of commercial accessions, materials collected in South Brazil, and of foreign origin. Twenty quantitative, five multicategorical and two binary traits were evaluated. Quantitative data were submitted to a multivariate analysis. Genetic variability was observed for almost all characteristics. The traits with the greatest relative contribution to genetic divergence, which accounted for 79.54% of the variability, were as follows: the thickness and diameter bottom, bottom fresh mass/head fresh mass ratio, external bract length, bracts base, leaves and primary head height and plant diameter, primary head diameter and bracts base thickness. A cluster analysis revealed four groups. Group I aggregated the accessions with characteristics for fresh consumption. The best accessions were Romanesco 1, Green Globe, and Improved Green Globe, all of which exhibited plants with a greater fresh mass, larger primary head diameter, greater fresh mass and bottom diameter, circular head shape, no thorns, round head tip and desired color, that are important traits for selection of superior genotypes for in natura consumption.

As aveias silvestres são importantes fontes de genes para programas de melhoramento e sua caracterização é fundamental para a efetiva conservação e uso. Por isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a divergência genética em uma coleção de 71 subamostras de aveias silvestres, do Banco de Germoplasma da Embrapa Trigo, com base em caracteres multicategóricos e quantitativos. Procederam-se às análises de variância, para os caracteres quantitativos, e multivariada, para ambos os tipos de caracteres. Os métodos de agrupamento UPGMA, a partir da distância euclidiana média (caracteres multicategóricos), e de ligação completa, com base na distância de Mahalanobis (caracteres quantitativos), foram os mais adequados para ilustrar a relação entre as subamostras. A pilosidade da base dos grãos foi o caractere com maior contribuição relativa para divergência genética (32,16%) e a menor contribuição foi da pilosidade do nó superior (0,081%). As subamostras divergiram quanto a vinte caracteres: pilosidade da bainha da folha inferior, bordas da lâmina imediatamente abaixo da folha bandeira, nó superior, face externa do lema e base do grão; posição da folha bandeira e das ramificações na panícula; frequência de plantas com folha bandeira recurvada; intensidade da pilosidade do nó superior e da cerosidade do lema; orientação das ramificações na panícula; comprimento dos pelos basais do grão, ráquila, panícula, glumas e planta; cor do lema, tipo de arista, número de grãos por espigueta e ciclo. O germoplasma apresenta elevada variabilidade genética e genes de interesse para o melhoramento de aveias.

The wild oats are an important source of genes for breeding programs and their characterization is essential for effective conservation and use. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic divergence among 71 subsamples of wild oats (A. abyssinica, A. barbata, A. brevis, A. fatua, A. longiglumis, A. sterilis, A. vaviloviana and A. wiestii) based on 25 multicategoric and quantitative traits. Analyzes of variance, for quantitative traits, and multivariate, for both types of characters, were carried out. The UPGMA clustering, based on average Euclidean distance (multicategoric characters), and the complete linkage, based on Mahalanobis distance (quantitative traits), were the most appropriate methods to illustrate the relationship among the subsamples. The hairiness of the base of the grain was the trait with the greatest relative contribution to genetic divergence (32.16%), whereas the smallest contribution was the hairiness of the uppermost node (0.081%). The subsamples differed for twenty traits: hairiness of sheath of lower leaf, margin of leaf below flag leaf, uppermost node, external surface of lemma and base of the grain; position of the flag leaf and panicle branches; frequency of plants with flag leaf curved; intensity of hairiness of the uppermost node and glaucosity of lemma; orientation of branches in the panicle; length of the basal hairs of the grain, rachilla, panicle, glumes and plant; color of lemma, awn type, number of grains per spikelet, and cycle. The germplasm has high genetic variability and genes of interest for the improvement of oats.

This study assessed the effect of successive applications of pig slurry on the dry matter (DM) production and the nitrogen use efficiency of giant missionary grass along two years. A total of 55, 110, 165, 220 and 275 m³ of pig slurry/ha/year were applied in order to supply 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg of total N/ha/year, respectively. These treatments were compared with the ammonium nitrate (200 kg of N/ha/year) source of N and with a control (no nitrogen application). Annually, nitrogen was applied in four divided doses, after the cutting of forage grasses, which takes place five times a year. The total DM yield did not differ between years and increased linearly as a function of pig slurry application, ranging from 2,698 kg of DM/ha/year (control) to 11,371 kg of DM/ha/year (275 m³ of pig slurry/ha/year). There was an increment of 32.3 kg of DM/m³ of pig slurry/ha or 17.7 kg of DM/kg of N/ha. The highest average daily DM accumulation rate (66.8 kg of DM/ha/day) was achieved with the highest pig slurry rate, from February/2007 to April/2008. Nitrogen use efficiency did not differ across pig slurry rates (19.0 kg of DM/kg of N), but it was lower than that obtained with ammonium nitrate (30.3 kg of DM/kg of N). The efficiency index of pig slurry ranged from 0.52 to 0.72.

This study evaluated the morphological development of two populations of tough lovegrass during 120 days of continuous growth (Experiment I), and the regrowth of one population under the combination of cutting height (5 cm and 10 cm) and phenological stage at the first cutting (vegetative and beginning of flowering; Experiment II). In Experiment I, plants were harvested at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of growth; in Experiment II, three cuttings were carried out at every 30 days, and the plants were harvested four weeks after the previous one. In Experiment I, the populations did not differ for morphological development, showing a linear increase in height and tiller number, and a quadratic trend for root and shoot dry matter (DM). At 120 days of growth, plants presented 10 basal tillers and 80 leaves, strongly compressed at the base and no sign of senescence. In Experiment II, there was no significant cutting height × phenological stage interaction, but cuttings at 5 cm reduced plant size and yield. Cuttings started at the vegetative stage decreased the root (3.06 g DM/plant) and stubble dry matter (1.17 g DM/plant), compared with 6.84 g and 3.99 g DM/plant, respectively, with cuttings started at the flowering stage. Tough lovegrass shows basal architecture, basal bud renovation, leaves densely compressed in the tiller base, high belowground allocation, and elongation of internodes only in reproductive stage. Mechanical control is an alternative method to minimize its growth, especially if it is carried out early in the growing season and at low cutting height.

In this study, the phenotypic diversity of five accessions of giant missionary grass (Axonopus jesuiticus × A. scoparius) was evaluated by using morphophysiological traits. Accessions V 14337, V 14403, V 14404, V 14405 and V 14406 are hybrids derived from spontaneous crossing that occurred in Vale do Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Plants were cultivated in greenhouse and evaluated at 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 days of growth. Variation was observed for dry matter production, phenology and morphological traits, showing the possibility of selection. Flowering started at 210 days of growth and only in accessions V 14337 and V 14404. The Mahalanobis distance among accessions ranged from 35.64 (V 14403 and V 14405) to 183.38 (V 14337 and V 14405), and three groups were formed, based on 17 vegetative morphophysiological traits evaluated in plants with 180 days of growth: G1 (V 14403, V 14405), G2 (V 14406) and G3 (V 14337, V 14404). Group I presented the greatest dry matter production of stolon and aboveground, which were the traits with the largest relative contribution to genetic divergence, 38.67% and 38.31%, respectively. Accessions V 14403 and V 14405 are the most promising for agronomic evaluations that address their records as forage cultivars.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of five birdsfoot trefoil populations (Lotus corniculatus L.), selected under severe and intense grazing (P38, P37, P9 and P3) or cutting (population Corte), one rhizomatous population from Morocco and two cultivars, São Gabriel (Brazil) and ARS 2620 (USA), to different cutting intervals (20 and 40 days). The trial was carried out in a greenhouse for 224 days. The plants were submitted to the treatments during four months, when it was made four and two cuttings for the 20 and 40 day intervals, respectively. In the following months, aerial part of the plants was totally removed and after 70 days of regrowth, evaluation of roots and aerial section were performed. Analysis of variance and multivariate analysis was performed, obtaining the Mahalanobis distance (Md), dendogram by UPGMA method and the relative contribution of the characters for genetic divergence. There was no genotype × cutting interval interaction and the genotypes presented a reduction on dry matter yield of roots, crown and aerial sections, number of stems and plant height when submitted to frequent cuttings. The most divergent genotypes were Marrocos and P9 (Md = 108.7) and the most similar ones were São Gabriel and P37 (Md = 7.8). The results suggest exclusion of the population P9 because of its weak performance and the utilization of the populations Corte and P37 as progenitors in the birdsfoot trefoil breeding program. Root dry matter accumulation and plant height were the characters that contributed most to genetic divergence and they can be used for selection works.

Avaliou-se o desenvolvimento morfológico das gramas São Carlos (Axonopus affinis), Tifton 419 (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) e Esmeralda (Zoysia sp.), cultivadas em casa de vegetação e colhidas integralmente aos 97, 118, 146, 174, 202, 230 e 258 dias de idade. A Tifton 419 mostrou os maiores comprimentos de estolão (83,3 cm), altura de planta (23,6 cm) e número de folhas (12-24 cm-1 de estolão); as folhas mediram 6,7 cm x 1,9 mm (textura fina). Os estolões da São Carlos atingiram em média 58,3 cm e foram os mais espessos (2,5 cm), com 2-4 folhas cm de estolão-1; as folhas mediram 10,9 cm x 12,3 mm (textura grossa) e a altura máxima da planta foi de 13 cm. A Esmeralda foi inferior quanto à altura (10 cm), comprimento de estolão (45 cm) e número de folhas (7 folhas cm de estolão-1); as folhas mediram 6,2 cm x 3,7 mm (textura média). O acúmulo de matéria seca da parte aérea (mg planta-1) atingiu 12.100 (São Carlos), 8.700 (Tifton 419) e 3.500 (Esmeralda) e a relação raiz:parte aérea foi de 0,33; 0,15 e 0,19, respectivamente. As distintas características morfológicas das gramas podem subsidiar sua escolha para diferentes propósitos.

This study evaluated the morphological development of Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis), Tifton 419 (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) and Emerald (Zoysia sp.) turfgrasses grown in greenhouse and harvested at 97, 118, 146, 174, 202, 230 and 258 days old. Tifton 419 showed the largest stolons (83.3 cm), height (23.6 cm) and leaf number (12-24 cm-1 stolon); leaves measured 6.7 cm x 1.9 mm (fine texture). Carpetgrass stolons reached on average 58.3 cm and were thicker (2.5 cm), with 2-4 leaf cm-1; their leaves measured 10.9 cm x 12.3 mm (coarse texture) and the maximum height of the plant was 13 cm. The Emerald presented the lowest height (10 cm), stolon length (45 cm), leaf number (7 leaves cm stolon-1); their leaves measured 6.2 cm x 3.7 mm (medium texture). The dry matter accumulation (mg plant-1) reached 12,100 (Carpetgrass), 8,700 (Tifton 419) and 3,500 (Emerald), with root:shoot relation of 0.33, 0.15 and 0.19, respectively. The distinct morphologic characteristics of the grasses may promote its use for different purposes.