ABSTRACT Against the background of a sharp decline in soybean planting, rising imports, and natural disasters in China, finding appropriate distribution areas for soybean has become a matter of urgency so that soybean planting policies can be formulated and soybean food security ensured. Among the numerous ecological niche models, the most suitable one for predicting potential distribution areas of soybean in the frigid region must be identified. Based on 65 soybean occurrence points and nine environmental variables, three ecological niche models, MaxEnt, BIOCLIM, and DOMAIN, were applied to the prediction of potential distribution areas for soybean. According to the analytical comparison, the three models predicted the potential distribution of soybean and, specifically, MaxEnt, stood out above the other two models as regards predicting the soybean distribution (Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, AUC = 0.916, Kappa = 0.685). The potential distribution areas (from low suitability to high suitability) predicted by MaxEnt was the largest and accounted for 59.5 % of the total area. The potential suitable distribution area of soybean was mainly concentrated in relatively flat terrain. The Sanjiang Plain and the Northeast Plain accounted for 9.4 % of the total area in the frigid region and are highly suitability for soybean. At the same time, annual mean temperature, elevation and Apr solar radiation were the key determinants affecting soybeans’ habitat. On the whole, the selection of ecological niche models and the prediction of soybean potential distribution can provide an essential reference for soybean planting and planning. Moreover, it would be a reliable example for the subsequent related research on soybean habitats.

ABSTRACT Bulk density (BD) is a soil physical property used as a soil quality indicator and variations in this measurement influence soil water content and carbon stock estimates. This study aims to compile a database of samples of bulk density, textural fractions, and organic carbon values, as well as evaluate the accuracy of published pedotransfer functions (PTF) that predict bulk density, and propose a hierarchical PTF to predict the bulk density of Brazilian Soils. The performance of eleven PTFs and the newly proposed PTFs were evaluated and compared using the root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) based on a testing soil database collected from the literature. We noticed a slight improvement in accuracy when organic carbon and coarse and fine sand fractions were included as predictors alongside silt and clay. The best results with existing PTFs were obtained by PTF-A in Tomasella and Hodnett (1998) (RMSE = 0.20 g cm–3) and PTF-F in Benites et al. (2007) (RMSE = 0.17 g cm–3). Our proposed PTFs use textural fractions and organic carbon as predictors in a hierarchical form. The proposed PTF-4, which uses fine sand, coarse sand, clay, and organic carbon, presented the lowest value for RMSE (0.14 g cm–3) for BD prediction.

ABSTRACT Zinnia sp. and hairy beggartick (Bidens pilosa) plants exhibiting symptoms of possible virus infection were found in the municipality of Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, São Paulo State, Brazil. Flexuous filamentous particles and cytoplasmatic inclusions typical of potyvirus infection were observed by transmission electron microscopy, respectively, in leaf extracts and cells of symptomatic leaves. Infection of both plants with bidens mottle virus (BiMoV) was confirmed by RT-PCR using potyvirus universal primers, followed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons. The nearly complete genome sequence of the Brazilian isolate, named BiMoV-BR, is 9700 nucleotides long and shares 95.6 % identity with the corresponding nucleotide sequence of a BiMoV isolate from the United States. BiMoV-BR was mechanically transmitted and caused systemic infection on plants of Zinnia sp., hairy beggarstick, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Myzus persicae transmitted the virus to Zinnia sp. plants with efficacy of 8 % and 42 %, using one and ten aphids per plant, respectively. This is the first detection of BiMoV in Brazil. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the distribution of this potyvirus in the country.

ABSTRACT Management of Quilombola systems are primitive agricultural systems based on the ancestral knowledge of Afro-Brazilian enslaved people. Here, the aim was to understand the impact of these primitive farming methods on the distribution of available nitrogen (N) forms in the soil profile of two Brazilian Cerrado phytophysiognomies. The soil was sampled in Cerradão (high Cerrado) and Cerrado Stricto sensu (low Cerrado) at six soil depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, and 50-60 cm). The following management systems were considered: pasture (PP1 and PP2), maize cultivation (M1 and M2), citrus-cassava intercropping (T1), and citrus monoculture (T2). In addition, the soil was sampled in the native area of Cerradão (NC1) and Cerrado Stricto sensu (NC2). Three N forms were determined: i) available nitrogen (Av-N), ii) ammonium (NH4+-N) and iii) nitrate (NO3–-N) contents. The Av-N content decreased with increasing soil depth only in NC1 and NC2. The NO3–-N content was similar at all soil depths for maize and pasture, while the content decreased at soil depth for NC1, NC2, and T1. NH4+-N was similar in M2 and PP2, but it increased in T2, ranging from 6.17 mg kg–1 to 17.54 mg kg–1. Overall, the dynamics of available N forms varied according to the Cerrado phytophysiognomy and the management systems and NO3–-N was the most constant N form in the soil profile. Therefore, although the management of Quilombola systems is less intensive, they negatively affect the dynamics and N availability, mainly where management is less conservative, that is, in maize and citrus monocultures.

ABSTRACT Single nucleotide polymorphisms are variations of a single nucleotide base pair and can be associated to phenotypic characteristics. This study aimed to determine the association of CAPN1 and CAST gene polymorphisms with the tenderness of Creole cattle meat from the Amazonas region, Peru. The texture profile (adhesiveness, cohesiveness, Warner-Bratzler shear force, elasticity, gumminess, and chewiness) of 100 animals was determined in 100 g of Longissimus dorsi et lumborum muscle. Allelic frequencies, genotypic frequencies, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) of calpain (CAPN-316, CAPN-530) and calpastatin (CAST-2959) gene polymorphisms were studied. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated, as well as the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with the Chi-square test. The texture profile of each group of samples corresponding to a polymorphism was compared with the Duncan’s test and the t-test for independent samples (p < 0.05). Genotypic frequencies were 78 % GG and 22 % CC for CAPN-316; 68 % GG, 5 % GA, and 27 % AA for CAPN-530; and 74 % AA, 18 % AG, and 8 % GG for CAST-2959. The CAPN-316, CAPN-530, and CAST-2959 polymorphisms were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CC genotype of CAPN-316 marker influences meat tenderness on day 21 of meat aging. In contrast, the GG genotype of CAST-2959 marker affects meat tenderness at days 14 and 21 of meat aging concerning the other genotypes.

ABSTRACT In-depth knowledge of total soil organic phosphorus (TPO) as a potential P source for plants allows for a comprehensive understanding of the adoption of an efficient management system of phosphorus fertilization in forest plantations. Thus, we aimed to compare three TPO extraction methods (Hedley; Bowman; Bowman and Moir) in different Eucalyptus plantations on strongly weathered soils. The TPO concentrations obtained by the “Hedley” (mean of 130 mg kg–1), and “Bowman and Moir” methods (mean of 131 mg kg–1) were similar. The “Bowman” method extracted less than 50 % of the TPO content extracted by the other methods. Both “Hedley” and “Bowman and Moir” methods showed similar TPO extraction efficiency compared to TP determined by acid digestion. However, the “Hedley” method is the most expensive and time-consuming analytical technique. In view of this, the NaOH+Na2EDTA extractor (Bowman and Moir) would be the most suitable since, in addition to showing high extraction efficiency, it offers fast analysis execution, low analytical error, and lower cost.

ABSTRACT Studies on the adaptability of raspberry cultivars to subtropical regions are needed since growth, yield, and fruit quality may differ from levels observed in temperate climates. This study evaluated the phenology, yield, physical-chemical attributes, and bioactive compounds of raspberries produced in a subtropical region of Brazil under an organic cropping system. The experiment was carried out in three production cycles 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 in Pinhais, Paraná State, Brazil. We evaluated ten raspberry cultivars, eight primocanes (Alemãzinha, Autumn Bliss, Bababerry, Fallgold, Golden Bliss, Heritage, Indian Summer and Polana), and two floricane cultivars (Schoenmann and Willamette). Phenological evaluations were carried out weekly at the beginning and end of flowering and harvesting. The soluble solids content, titratable acidity, the pH, and bioactive compounds were analyzed. Primocane cultivars showed two flowering and fruiting periods, the first in spring/summer and the other in summer/autumn, except for the Indian Summer cultivar, which showed a floricane-fruiting behavior, bearing fruit only on one-year-old canes, like Schoenmann and Willamette cultivars. ‘Alemãzinha’ shows better adaptation to the region under study with higher yield and concentration of total polyphenols, but its fruits are small and acidic. ‘Heritage’ is also an option for cultivation in this region, even though it is less productive, as the fruits are larger, less acidic, and have high levels of bioactive compounds. Yellow cultivars Fallgold and Golden Bliss are good options for diversifying the color offer, with yields similar to ‘Heritage’ and with a high total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to characterize the occurrence, duration, and intensity of the flushes of vegetative growth in two peach cultivars of Prunus persica L. Batsch, grown as a pioneer endeavor at a high-altitude tropical climate site in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The observational experiment was carried out in 2017/18 and 2018/19 on the ‘Tropic Beauty’ and ‘BRS Kampai’ cultivars by an evaluation of the number and duration of flushes of vegetative growth during the year over two cycles. The number of fruit-bearing shoots, total number of leaves and shoot length were also assessed. At harvest, fruit load and diameter were determined and grouped into diameter ranges. The number of hours recorded at different temperature ranges, < 10.0 °C; 10.1-15.0 °C; 15.1-20.0 °C; 20.1-25.0 °C; > 25.1 °C, were summed separately and divided into daily and nightly periods. The peach tree has an unusual vegetative growth pattern when cultivated in a tropical area, which occurs in two flushes, with the first flush occurring from budbreak to fruit harvest between June and Sept, forming short shoots (less than 10 cm), with early shoot growth cessation, with a limited leaf number that can potentially diminish the supply of carbohydrates to the fruit, leading to smaller growth. The second flush occurs after harvest, between Oct and Dec, when there is an increase in daily temperature and precipitation, and no competition with fruits. Notabily, these second flush shoots grow with greater vigor and regularization of the growth cycle, forming fruit-bearing shoots with abundant leaf and flower buds for the next production cycle.

ABSTRACT Leaf litter decomposition and the release of nutrients from macauba palm leaves play a major role in nutrient return to the soil in a conservation environment. This study evaluated macauba palm leaf decomposition, macronutrient contents and biochemical composition under contrasting water conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado. Macauba leaves were collected from plants in two different environments (low and high water table conditions), placed in litter bags and evaluated according to their decomposition, macronutrients, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose for 420 days. In addition, green and dry leaves were collected for macronutrient analyses. Litter decomposition ranged between 49 % and 59 % up to 180 days. The half-life of litter ranged from 141 to 198 days. The leaf litter decomposition of macauba was practically stable during the dry season, whereas at the beginning of the rainy season, decomposition resumed. Nitrogen, P and S were higher in the green leaves, whereas the Ca levels were higher in the dry leaves. In addition, the K levels were twofold higher in the green leaves than in the dry leaves. Lignin release from macauba residues was slower than cellulose and hemicellulose. The decomposition rates of hemicellulose were higher initially due to its high solubility, although it gradually decreased with the decomposition process. Lignin decomposition was also higher at the beginning of the process but stabilized during the drought period. The study indicates that the decomposition process and nutrient cycling of macauba are influenced by its biochemical composition.

ABSTRACT Favorable soil conditions are essential to the proper growth and production of any crop worldwide. Only 9 % of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR) territory is suitable for agriculture and/or livestock farming, due to limitations imposed by physio-edaphoclimatic factors. This study evaluated the soil potential suitability for coffee, cocoa and tropical pastures to determine optimal, moderate and marginal areas in three provinces in the EAR (Orellana, Sucumbios and Pastaza) under different agroecological conditions. On-site field work was carried out to analyze the soil profile to determine the mineral composition. Eight environmental variables were evaluated through the integration of GIS-based modeling to determine the agroecological zoning of the crops. The results showed that the main determining factors for optimal areas of soil suitability within the three provinces included soil depth (30 cm), organic matter content (5.3 %), concentration of macronutrients (2,700 mg kg–1), and slope (< 10 %), whereas annual temperature (18-26 °C), annual precipitation (1200-3000 mm), altitude (0-500 m), and pH (4.38) were included for moderate and marginal areas. Depending on the crop and the province, soil suitability was classified into two or three classes (optimal, moderate, and marginal areas), relying on the agroecological conditions specific to each crop. This study highlights that all crops showed mostly optimal soil suitability for proper development under the agroecological conditions analyzed, which contributes to the provision of valuable information to decision-makers about key limiting factors, land-use planning and mapping soil suitability when considering the best location for a specific crop.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the use of decision trees to select sows based on the production parameters of parity order (PO) 1 sows from a commercial herd. Data were collected at a piglet production unit with a capacity of housing 5,500 sows in collective pens. Piglet production and sow culling information was collected from PO1 and PO2 sows. The period from January 2017 to March 2020 was analyzed. The correlation analysis was used to identify the influence of the production parameters on sow culling after exploring the database using the graphical analysis and descriptive statistics. The ANOVA was applied to evaluate differences in the response variables between culled and unculled sows. Two models were proposed using the decision tree method: model 1 referred to sow culling, and model 2 comprised the total number of liveborn piglets (TBA). The calculated value was close to 0, although the correlations of the production parameters with culling were statistically significant. The mean number of weaned piglets was higher for unculled sows in PO1 (p < 0.05). The number of weaned piglets, total number of liveborn piglets, and weaning-service interval did not differ in the unculled and culled sows in PO2 (p > 0.05). Using a confusion matrix as a metric tool, the decision tree method used in this study provided consistent results for this database, indicating its possible use for decision-making in sow selection.

ABSTRACT The coffee sector is estimated to have a retail market value in excess of USD 83 billion, and over 125 million jobs have been created in the global coffee chain. The coffee specialty market has recently increased significantly, generating opportunities to certify coffee beans produced by sustainable practices. This avoids practices potentially harmful to the environment. Agroforestry, organic farming, intercropping, and soil conservation strategies are examples of sustainable alternatives in the production of coffee. In this review, we focus on practices for the sustainable management of coffee plantations that can help farmers fight problems caused by global warming. More specifically, we address soil organic matter and microbiota, the use of Urochloa grass as intercrop in coffee plantations, shading systems (including agroforestry), and organic coffee production. We concluded that from the agronomic viewpoint, we already have production techniques that can replace traditional ones with significant advantages accruing to the quality of coffee orchard ecosystems. Nevertheless, we need scientific research efforts to deal with the existing gaps and the engagement of the whole coffee chain as a means of guaranteeing an adequate profit to those smallholders who adopt and maintain sustainable practice and are capable of bringing several positive changes to the coffee crop, including the use of microbia-based commercial products and new organic sources of nutrients to complement chemical fertilizers and improve coffee quality.

ABSTRACT The ordinary least squares (OLS) can be affected by errors associated with heteroscedasticity and outliers, and extreme points can influence the regression parameters. Methods based on the median rather than on the mean and variance are more resistant to outliers and extreme points. These methods could be used to obtain regression parameter estimates that reflect more accurately the genuine relationship between the Y and X variables, leading to better identification of outliers and extreme points by comparing the slopes and intercepts of both methods. The Theil-Sen (TS) regression computes all possible pairwise slopes and determines the median of slopes as the regression slope. Here, we illustrated the potential use of TS and frequently used robust regression (RR) techniques to single linear regression using synthetic datasets and a practical problem in animal science. Three synthetic datasets were created assuming the normal distribution of Y and X values: one was free of outliers, while the other two had one or two clusters of outliers but the same X values. The TS, OLS, and RR had nearly identical regression parameter estimates for the dataset without synthetic outliers. However, the intercept and slope estimates by the OLS method differed considerably from the TS and RR methods when one or two clusters of outliers were included. The TS approach could be used to indirectly determine the presence of outliers or extreme points by comparing the 95 % confidence interval of the TS and OLS parameter estimates.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the combined use of ultrasound (US) and incorporation of micronized salt (MS) as a strategy for reducing sodium without affecting the quality of beef burgers. Ten treatments were manufactured with varying MS content (0.75 %, 1.0 %, and 1.5 %) and ultrasound time (0, 5, and 10 min), with a control treatment manufactured at 1.5 % of regular salt without ultrasound. The beef burgers formulated with 0.75 % MS submitted to the US for 10 min (M0.75US10) reduced the salt content by 50 %, thereby efficiently maintaining texture profile (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness) and decreasing the cooking loss and diameter reduction compared to the control treatment. M0.75US10 treatment also preserved the color of samples after cooking, keeping myoglobin stable. Therefore, micronized salt coupled with ultrasound technology reduces sodium chloride content in beef burgers, enabling the application of clean technology to reduce sodium content in meat products efficiently.

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa) is among the most important crops worldwide; however, rice crops demand high water consumption. Future projections indicate reduced water availability and severe drought events, which may affect rice crops as the cereal is highly sensitive to drought stress. Thus, cultivars with lower water demand for irrigation or drought escape capacities are among the strategies to address this issue. This study aimed to assess five mutant rice genotypes in terms of growth cycle length, other agronomic interest traits, and drought response in the reproductive stage. The mutant genotypes evaluated showed a shortening of the growth cycle compared to the original cultivar, BRS Pampeira, representing a drought escape strategy. In addition, mutations did not negatively affect plant height and crop yield. However, similar to the original cultivar, mutants are not tolerant to water deficit in the reproductive stage. The genotypes evaluated have potential to be released as early cycle cultivars, which can reduce water demand during the harvest season while presenting a drought escape strategy. Oryza sativa worldwide however consumption events stress Thus issue length traits stage cultivar Pampeira strategy addition yield However