ABSTRACT Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the most cultivated fruits in Brazil. Thus, increasing efforts to improve the crop efficiency have been carried out, being the study of quality seedling production of fundamental importance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in symbiosis with the root system of plants, can bring great improvements to the morphophysiological aspects of the papaya tree. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction of papaya seeds treated with AMF, in order to support management works on the crop. The experiment was installed in an agricultural greenhouse in a completely randomized design with three treatments: T0 – control (no inoculation); T1 - inoculation of seeds with Gigaspora rosea + Gigaspora margarita; and T2 - inoculation of seeds with Rhizophagus clarus, with 40 replicates, with each sowing cell being considered a replicate. Mycorrhizal colonization, seedling emergence and biometric indices at 60 days after sowing were evaluated. High symbiosis rate was observed between papaya seedlings with Rhizophagus clarus and Gigaspora rosea + Gigaspora margarita. Increase in the percentage and speed emergence and decrease in emergence time in relation to control was observed, in addition to increase in biometric characteristics of seedlings, evidencing its beneficial use for higher production.

ABSTRACT. Fig tree (Ficus carica L., Moraceae), which originated in the Mediterranean Basin, is one of the many fruit trees grown in Brazil, with ‘Roxo-de-Valinhos’ being the exclusively used cultivar. In this context, research aimed at the improvement of this species to develop highly resistant and adaptable cultivars is paramount. Thus, the present study aimed to maintain fig accessions in an in vivo active germplasm bank (AGB) at the Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira (FEIS), São Paulo State University (UNESP), as well as to characterize the agronomic traits of these accessions based on quantitative descriptors of genetic parameters and observe gains with the selection of specific genotypes to illustrate the AGB in terms of genetic variability. A total of 36 F. carica genotypes were evaluated in the field at the Teaching, Research and Extension Farm (FEPE) of the FEIS, UNESP. Qualitative traits, fruit parameters (e.g., insertion of the first fruit, fruit stalk length, fruit length, fruit diameter, and average fruit mass), and accumulated plant dry mass were measured. In addition, genetic parameters, variance components, and descriptive statistics, including genetic and environmental variances, heritability and average heritability of clones, coefficients of genotypic and environmental variation and their ratio (CV g %/Cv e %), general average, and selection gain, were evaluated. The selected fig tree accessions showed genetic variability in the assessed traits, exhibiting good heritability and achieving selection gains. For instance, the first 10 classified clones exhibited a heritability of 80.2% and achieved a selection gain of 98% for accumulated plant dry mass. Therefore, the maintenance of in vivo AGBs allows agronomic studies, offering promising results for continuing the breeding programs and preserving the genetic variability of species.

RESUMO A estaquia é o método de propagação que tem como vantagem a precocidade de produção e a uniformidade do cultivo. Alguns fatores influenciam na propagação e enraizamento dentre eles, o tamanho da estaca e a época do ano para sua coleta. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o tamanho ideal de cladódios de pitaya vermelha com polpa branca (Hylocereus undatus Haw.), bem como a época de sua retirada na propagação da cultura por estaquia, tendo em vista a qualidade fisiológica de mudas produzidas, viabilizando manejos culturais mais adequados e incremento na área de cultivo. O experimento foi conduzido na Faculdade de Engenharia, Câmpus de Ilha Solteira - UNESP, utilizando três tamanhos de cladódios (estacas) com 10, 20 e 40 cm de comprimento, coletada em duas épocas (verão e inverno). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas sub-divididas no tempo, sem dependência dos fatores, com 20 repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas 60 dias após o estaqueamento, avaliando-se fatores biométricos relacionados às brotações e ao enraizamento dos cladódios. De acordo com os resultados, observa-se que houve diferença estatística entre os tratamentos, com interação significativa para número de brotos. Pode-se concluir que, quanto ao tamanho dos cladódios, recomenda-se, quando possível, a utilização daqueles com 40 cm e em relação à época de coleta, recomenda-se que seja feito no período de inverno, favorecendo o desenvolvimento de plantas clonais de melhor qualidade.

ABSTRACT Cutting is a propagation method with the advantages of early production and uniform cultivation. Some factors influence propagation and rooting, such as the cutting size and the time of year the collection is performed. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the ideal size of white-fleshed red pitahaya cladodes and the time of their collection for crop propagation by cutting in view of the physiological quality of the produced clonal plants to enable more appropriate cultural management and increase the cultivation area. The experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Engineering (UNESP) using three cladode sizes (cuttings) with lengths of 10, 20 and 40 cm collected in two seasons (summer and winter). The experimental design used was completely randomized in a split-time scheme, with no dependence on the factors and 20 replicates. Evaluations of the biometric factors related to sprouts and cladode rooting were carried out 60 days after cutting. According to the results, there were significant differences among treatments, with a significant interaction of the number of sprouts. It can be concluded that, regarding the size of the cladodes, it is recommended, when possible, to use cladodes 40 cm in length; regarding the time of collection, it is recommended that collection be conducted in the winter period to favor the development of better-quality clonal plants.

Resumo A figueira (Ficus carica L.) é uma frutífera de grande importância mundial, podendo ser implantada como fonte de variabilidade agrícola. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar a caracterização do banco ativo de germoplasma da cultura da figueira por meio de descritores morfológicos de 45 acessos de figo, na Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Câmpus de Dracena, FCAT/UNESP, visando ao reconhecimento da qualidade e da potencialidade da variação genética da espécie. Assim, foram avaliadas características biométricas por descritores qualitativos e quantitativos de folhas e de frutos. Foi possível caracterizar os acessos de figueira por meio das características morfológicas de folhas e de frutos, identificando um BAG com alta variabilidade fenotípica e bem adaptado à região e, pela análise dos caracteres qualitativos e quantitativos, conclui-se que os acessos mais divergentes apresentaram características de interesse agronômico, possibilitando a seleção de caracteres a fim de subsidiar trabalhos de conservação, de melhoramento genético e de produção da cultura.

Abstract Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit of great importance worldwide, being able to be implanted as new source of agricultural variability. The aim of the present work was to characterize the active germplasm bank of fig trees by means of morphological descriptors of 45 fig accessions at the Faculty of Agrarian and Technological Sciences, Campus of Dracena, FCAT / UNESP aiming at the recognition of the quality and genetic variability potential of the species. Thus, their biometric characteristics were evaluated by qualitative and quantitative descriptors of leaves and fruits. Fig tree accessions were characterized by means of the morphological characteristics of leaves and fruits, identifying AGB with high phenotypic variability and well adapted to the region and, by the analysis of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics, it was concluded that the most divergent accessions presented characteristics of agronomic interest, allowing the selection of features in order to subsidize conservation works, genetic improvement and crop production.

Resumo A fruticultura constitui-se em importante estratégia econômica alternativa para a reprodução social dos pequenos produtores rurais. A figueira (Ficus carica L.) é uma frutífera de grande importância mundial, podendo ser implantada como nova fonte de variabilidade agrícola, agregando vantagens, tanto do ponto de vista econômico quanto social. Adicionalmente, a caracterização dos bancos ativos de germoplasma do gênero Ficus torna-se uma linha de pesquisa importante para a melhoria da cultura, sendo necessário reunir informações, para que projetos de propagação e manejo adequados sejam realizados. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar o estabelecimento e a caracterização de um banco ativo de germoplasma da cultura da figueira por meio de caracteres morfofisiológicos de 45 acessos de figo, com delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, na Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Câmpus de Dracena, FCAT/UNESP. Para tanto, foram avaliadas suas características biométricas de rebrota, taxa de crescimento relativo, altura das plantas e características morfofisiológicas dos acessos de melhor desempenho durante seu desenvolvimento vegetativo. Pôde-se concluir que a maioria dos acessos apresentou boa adaptação à região de implantação, com destaque para os acessos 18; 28; 29; 30 e 31, que se mostraram mais promissores.

Abstract Fruit growing has become an important alternative economic strategy for the social reproduction of small rural producers. Fig (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit of great world importance, and can be used as a new source of agricultural variability, adding advantages, both economically and socially. In addition, the characterization of active germplasm banks of the genus Ficus becomes an important research line for culture improvement, and it is necessary to gather information, mainly in relation to its genetic variability, so that adequate propagation and management projects are carried out. Therefore, the aim of this work was to establish and characterize an active germplasm bank of fig tree by means of the morphophysiological descriptors of 45 fig accessions, with a randomized complete block design at the Faculty of Agrarian and Technological Sciences, Campus of Dracena, FCAT / UNESP. To do so, the biometric features of re-growth, relative growth rate, plant height and morphophysiological characteristics of the best performance accessions during their vegetative development were evaluated. It could be concluded that most accessions presented good adaptation to the implantation region, especially accessions 18; 28; 29; 30 and 31, which were more promising.

ABSTRACT Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) breeding programs using conventional methods, such as directed crosses, to obtain new cultivars, are unworkable in many countries, including Brazil. Consequently, genetic breeding through mutagenesis has emerged as an important line of research that can improve this crop, and be a significant source of information about this species and assist in the implementation of propagation projects and appropriate management. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of epigenetic variability attributable to DNA methylation in irradiated fig selections when compared both to each other and to the main commercial cultivar, “Roxo-de-Valinhos”, which had previously used methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and DNA sequencing to detect the position of polymorphic regions, analyzable by bioinformatic tools. The sequencing of DNA, isolated from the differentially methylated sites, makes it possible to observe different patterns of methylation by sequencing the treated DNA with sodium bisulfite in the coding regions of regulatory genes active in the development, and fruit ripening stages. Furthermore, they have been found in the mitochondrial DNA of treatments which regulate the supply of energy in Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) form in plants. Closely related to their development, they justify the different phenotypes found in both fruit and plant growth that have suffered stress due to exposure to gamma radiation. Thus, future studies on gene expression in treatments have emerged as an extremely important strategy for understanding these complex regulatory systems, which may lead to the identification of genes of agricultural interest for the fig tree crop, and allow for manipulation and subsequent propagation of improved crops for commercial purposes.

O flamboyanzinho (Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Fabaceae) é muito utilizado como cerca-viva e na arborização de ruas, parques e jardins. De florescimento exuberante, suas flores podem apresentar coloração rosa, laranja ou amarela, conforme a variedade. Como características florais são essenciais para a definição do valor comercial de espécies ornamentais, o objetivo principal do trabalho foi verificar a existência de polimorfismo entre plantas de C. pulcherrima, que produzem flores de diferentes colorações, por marcadores moleculares RAPD. Foram escolhidas aleatoriamente 30 plantas adultas, cultivadas no município de Jaboticabal, Estado de São Paulo, para a retirada de amostras foliares para a extração de DNA. Dentre essas matrizes, 20 possuem flores alaranjadas, oito, flores amarelas, e apenas duas produzem flores de coloração rosa. Dos 140 primers de RAPD avaliados, 94 foram capazes de ampliar fragmentos definidos, gerando 246 bandas, das quais se observou 100% de bandas monomórficas, indicando que nenhum dos primers utilizados detectou polimorfismo entre os tratamentos. Concluiu-se que a técnica para detecção de polimorfismo por marcadores RAPD não foi eficiente, e que existe a necessidade de se testarem marcadores moleculares mais específicos. Além disso, a característica morfológica "cor de flor" é, possivelmente, controlada por vários genes ou pela combinação deles.

The species Caesalpinia pulcherrima, which belongs to the Fabaceae family, is frequently used as a hedge or street tree in urban landscapes, parks and gardens. It flowers profusely, and the flowers, depending on the variety, may be pink, orange or yellow. As flower characteristics are essential for determining the commercial value of ornamental species, the main objective of this work was to identify polymorphisms in C. pulcherrima plants that produce flowers of different colors using RAPD molecular markers. For this study, 30 adult plants were randomly chosen on streets located in Jaboticabal city, São Paulo State, Brazil, and leaf samples were collected for DNA extraction. Among these trees, 20 have orange flowers, eight have yellow flowers and only two produce pink flowers. From the 140 tested RAPD primers, 94 primers amplified defined fragments that resulted in 246 bands, which were 100% monomorphic. Thus, a polymorphism was not detected by any of the primers tested. It was concluded that the RAPD technique is not an efficient method for detecting polymorphisms and that more specific molecular markers should be tested. Additionally, the morphological characteristic "flower color" may be controlled by several genes or by the association of them.

A figueira (Ficus carica L.), pertencente à família das Moráceas, constitui-se numa das mais importantes frutíferas cultivadas, elevando o Brasil à condição de décimo maior produtor e exportador de figos do mundo. Porém, a ficicultura apresenta alguns problemas fitossanitários, além de, no Brasil, estar toda implantada com uma única cultivar, a Roxo de Valinhos, que produz frutos sem sementes, inviabilizando o melhoramento convencional. Nesse sentido, o melhoramento genético, com o uso de mutagênicos, passa a ser uma linha de pesquisa altamente importante, podendo contribuir enormemente para o desenvolvimento da cultura. Diante disto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi selecionar mutantes em plantas de figueira formadas por estacas irradiadas com raios gama, a fim de aumentar sua variabilidade genética com relação ao desenvolvimento vegetativo e reprodutivo. Utilizaram-se plantas formadas por estacas originadas de gemas da cultivar Roxo de Valinhos irradiadas com raios gama, no irradiador tipo Gamma a 0,10 m do ápice, na dose de Gy com taxa de dose de 238 Gy/h. O experimento constou de 450 tratamentos, sendo cada planta formada considerada um tratamento, numerando-as sequencialmente de 1 a 450 e cultivadas em espaçamento de 2,5 x 1,5 m.. As avaliações foram realizadas a partir das características tanto das folhas quanto dos frutos, bem como da incidência das principais pragas e doenças da cultura nestas plantas. Da análise dos dados, conclui-se que há variabilidade genética entre os tratamentos e que algumas plantas são prováveis mutantes, mostrando-se assim com potencial para posteriores estudos, devendo ser testadas em plantios comerciais.

The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit tree of great world importance and, therefore, the genetic improvement becomes an important field of research for the crop improvement, being necessary to gather information on this species, mainly regarding its genetic variability so that appropriate propagation projects and management are made. However, the fig, in Brazil, is all produced from only one cultivar, Roxo de Valinhos, which produces seedless fruit, making impossible the conventional breeding. So, the fig breeding through induced mutagenic becomes a very important research line, greatly contributing to the fig culture development. The objective of this study was to select fig plants formed by cuttings treated with gamma ray. The plants used were obtained from buds of the cv. Roxo de Valinhos. The cuttings were irradiated with gamma rays in an irradiator Gamma Cell at 10 cm from the tip of the cutting, at doses of 30 Gy with dose rate of 238 Gy/h. The experiment consisted of 450 treatments, where each formed plant was a treatment. The treatments were numbered sequentially from 1 to 450 and spaced 2.5 x 1.5 m. It was evaluated the vegetative and the fruits characteristics, and the incidence of major crop pests and diseases. The analysis data showed that there is genetic variability among treatments and that the plants under numbers 1, 5, 20, 79, 164, 189, 194, 201, 221, 214, 258, 301, 322, 392, 433 and 440 are probably genetic mutants that should be tested as commercial orchards.

Pertencente à família Lauraceae, o abacateiro compreende três raças hortícolas: antilhana, guatemalense e mexicana. Os marcadores moleculares são uma ferramenta rápida e eficaz para estudos genômicos, uma vez que detectam o polimorfismo diretamente ao nível do DNA e não sofrem qualquer tipo de influência ambiental. Com base nesse polimorfismo, é possível fazer inferências sobre as relações entre o genótipo e o fenótipo dos indivíduos, o que, em última análise, permite aumentar a eficiência dos programas de melhoramento. Diante o exposto, o objetivo foi investigar a diversidade genética entre sete variedades de abacate a partir de 5 lócus de marcadores moleculares microssatélites (SSR). Nas amostras de abacateiros avaliadas, encontrou-se um total de 18 alelos, com uma média de 3,6 alelos por lócus. O dendrograma gerado a partir de análise de agrupamento UPGMA agrupou, separadamente do resto dos genótipos, a cultivar Geada da raça Antilhana, possivelmente por esta variedade ser uma raça pura, e o restante foi agrupado em dois grandes grupos das raças, a Guatemalense e a Mexicana. Os genótipos das sete variedades de abacate apresentam diversidade genética nos cinco lócus de marcadores moleculares microssatélites (SSR) avaliados, o que indica que são materiais promissores para utilização em futuros programas de melhoramento.

Belonging to Lauraceae family, avocado vegetables include three races: West Indian, Guatemalan and Mexican. Molecular markers are a fast and efficient tool for genomic studies since they detect polymorphism directly at the DNA level and do not suffer any kind of environmental influence. Based on this polymorphism, it is possible to make inferences about the relationship between genotype and phenotype of individuals, which ultimately will increase the efficiency of breeding programs. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity among seven varieties of avocados from five loci of microsatellite molecular markers (SSR). In samples of avocado evaluated it was found a total of 18 alleles, with an average of 3.6 alleles per locus. The dendrogram generated from UPGMA cluster analysis grouped separately from the rest of the genotypes the "Geada" cultivar an Antillean race, possibly because this strain is a pure race, the remainder was divided into two principal races groups, the Guatemalan and the Mexican. The genotypes of the seven varieties of avocado, show genetic diversity in the five loci of microsatellite molecular markers (SSR) assessed, indicating that they are promising materials for using in future breeding programs.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e caracterizar os genes cry3, vip1, vip2 e vip1/vip2 em uma coleção de 1.078 isolados de Bacillus thuringiensis potencialmente tóxicos para larvas de coleópteros. Foram utilizados pares de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores gerais obtidos a partir de regiões conservadas dos genes e do alinhamento de sequências consenso. Posteriormente, os isolados positivos foram caracterizados por meio da técnica de PCR‑RFLP, tendo-se utilizado enzimas de restrição específicas, para identificar novas subclasses de genes nos isolados. Cento e cinquenta e um isolados foram positivos para os genes avaliados, com maior frequência para o gene vip1/vip2 (139 isolados). Pela técnica de PCR‑RFLP, foram observados 14 perfis polimórficos, o que indica a presença de diferentes alelos e, consequentemente, de distintas subclasses desses genes.

The objective of this work was to identify and characterize cry3, vip1, vip2 and vip1/vip2 genes in a collection of 1,078 Bacillus thuringiensis isolates potentially toxic against Coleoptera larvae. Pairs of primers derived from conserved regions of genes and from sequence alignment consensus were used. Subsequently, positive isolates were characterized by PCR‑RFLP, using specific restriction enzymes to identify new subclasses of genes in the isolates. One hundred and fifty‑one isolates were positive for the evaluated genes, with higher frequency for the vip1/vip2 gene (139 isolates). By PCR‑RFLP, 14 polymorphic profiles were observed, indicating the presence of different alleles, and, therefore, of distinct subclasses of these genes.

A figueira (Ficus carica L.), pertencente à família das Moráceas, constitui-se numa das mais importantes frutíferas cultivadas, elevando o Brasil à condição de décimo maior produtor e exportador de figos do mundo. Porém, a ficicultura apresenta alguns problemas fitossanitários, além de, no Brasil, estar toda implantada com uma única cultivar, a Roxo-de-Valinhos, que produz frutos sem sementes, inviabilizando o melhoramento convencional. Nesse sentido, o melhoramento genético, com o uso de mutagênicos, passa a ser uma linha de pesquisa altamente importante, podendo contribuir enormemente para o desenvolvimento da cultura. Diante disto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar seleções mutantes de figueira originadas de plantas formadas por estacas provenientes de gemas irradiadas com raio gama, bem como compará-las com as principais cultivares da cultura em plantio comercial. Utilizou-se de plantas originadas de estacas de 5 cultivares tradicionais de figueira e de cinco seleções de figueiras mutantes (formadas por estacas originadas de gemas da cultivar Roxo-de-Valinhos irradiadas com raio gama, na dose de 30 Gy), cultivadas em espaçamento de 2,5 x 1,5 m. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos inteiramente casualizados, contendo 10 tratamentos, com 3 repetições e 5 plantas por parcela. As avaliações foram realizadas a partir do desenvolvimento vegetativo das plantas, bem como as características dos frutos. Da análise dos dados, conclui-se que há variabilidade entre as seleções mutantes e destas com as cultivares tradicionais, e que o tratamento PI-189 foi superior à cultivar-padrão Roxo-de-Valinhos em características de grande importância comercial, como "número de frutos por planta", "massa média por fruto" e "produtividade", igualando-se nas demais características, mostrando-se, assim, com enorme potencial para posteriores estudos.

The fig (Ficus carica L.), belonging to the Moraceas family, is one of the most important fruit crops, bringing Brazil to the condition of the tenth largest fig producer and exporter in the world. But the culture presents some problems with plant protection, and in Brazil, it is all implanted with an only cultivar, Roxo-de-Valinhos, which produces seedless fruit, not permitting the conventional improvement. In this sense, the genetic improvement by using mutagenic becomes a very important research line, that can greatly contribute to the culture development. Considering this, this study aimed to evaluate selections of fig originated from mutant plants formed by cuttings from buds irradiated with gamma ray and compare them with the main varieties of the culture in commercial plantation. By using plants originated from 5 traditional fig cultivars cuttings and 5 fig mutant selections (formed by cuttings from Roxo-de-Valinhos buds irradiated with gamma ray, in the dose of 30 Gy), spaced by 2.5 x 1.5 m. The experimental layout was a completely randomized block design, with 10 treatments, 3 repetitions and 5 plants per plot. The evaluations are made from the plants vegetative growth as well as the fruit characteristics. Through data analysis, it seems that there is variability between the mutant selections and with the traditional cultivars, and the treatment PI-189 was superior to the standard cultivar Roxo-de-Valinhos on great commercial characteristics importance, such as "number of fruit per plant", "average weight per fruit" and "productivity", having the same traits, showing itself with enormous potential for future studies.