Ananda Virgínia de Aguiar

Produção de frutos e caracterização de ambientes de ocorrência de plantas nativas de araticum no cerrado de Goiás

This study had the objective to evaluate the production of araticum fruits in the Cerrado of the Goias State. Fourteen areas with high natural occurrences of araticum in the whole state were selected from January 2000 to July 2002. In each area, thirty to forty mother trees were selected. The experimental research corresponds to the hierarchical model for the fruit production, and that means that the original data was submitted to an analysis of variance. The spatial phenotypic structure variation among populations was investigated through dendrograms by the UPGMA linking criterion. The results demonstrated that the production of araticum fruits is low and changeable in areas and years, and the average corresponds to 2.97 usable fruits and 1.37 not usable fruits per plant. The phenotypic variation of morphologic characters between populations of araticum of the Goias state does not present a standard of space arrangement. The production of fruits per plant is very changeable, since some plants present productive and apparent quality characteristics of fruits that make them potential plants matrix. The main pests that attack the fruits of araticum are: Spermologus funereus, Cerconota anonella and Bephratelloides pomorum. The anthropic pressure on natural environments of production of araticum has reduced the current production and can make the future productions impracticable.

Genetics and expected selection gain for growth traits in Eugenia dysenterica DC. populations

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of quantitative traits in a living germplasm collection of Eugenia dysenterica. The genetic material consisted of 110 progenies derived from 10 natural Eugenia dysenterica subpopulations sampled in the southeastern region of the state of Goias. The experiment was established in a complete randomized block design, with 110 treatments, four replications and one tree per plot. The study variables were total height, stem diameter and respective growth rates. After the analysis of variance some genetic parameters were estimated. The levels of genetic variation in the collection were high and the highest proportion was found within subpopulations. Highest coefficients of heritability and genetic variation were observed in subpopulations from the counties Catalao, Tres Ranchos, Cristalina and Senador Canedo. Considering the promising expected progress for growth traits, this collection can be converted into an unrogued seedling seed orchard, aiming the production of improved seed.

Relação entre a variação genética de caracteres quantitativos e marcadores moleculares em subpopulações de cagaiteira (Eugenia dysenterica DC)

This research aimed to measure the association between molecular diversity and the genetic variation of quantitative traits, estimated from a progeny trial, under controlled conditions. Ten natural subpopulations of cagaita tree from the southeast of Goias State, Brazil, were investigated. The maternal families were evaluated in a trail using the randomized complete block design with four replications and a single tree per plot. Quantitative data were analyzed estimating the coefficient of heritability (hmi2 ), on a progeny mean basis and the genetic coefficient of variation (CVgi) for each subpopulation. The traits considered were: plant height and the respective diameter and the corresponding annual rates of increment. Estimates of gene diversity (Hei) and fixation index (fi), available for the same subpopulations, based on isozymes, SSR and RAPD markers, were taken for comparison. Simple linear correlation and multiple regression analysis were used for measuring the association between those estimates on intra and interpopulation level. The weak correlation between gene diversity estimated with codominant and dominant markers reduced the expectation of a good correlation between those statistics and the genetic variation of the quantitative traits. In general, the possibility to infer the magnitude of quantitative variation within subpopulations, based on molecular gene diversity, was not confirmed. RAPD results were more promising, indicating the importance to have an adequate genomic coverage in this kind of research. On the other hand, the interpopulation level, a much better association was detected for all markers. The possibility of predicting quantitative variation based on molecular information was, therefore, not excluded.

Identification of microsatellite loci in Pinus tecunumanii

Background Pinus tecunumanii has displayed good performance in tropical regions of Brazil and showed high potential for commercial exploitation. Embrapa Forestry and its partners own many of the species seed production areas. In spite of its importance, the majority of P. tecunumanii germplasm collections remain still genetically uncharacterized. Thus identifying genetic markers is an important tool to genetically characterize these collections.We describe the initial steps to develop microsatellites for Pinus tecunumanii by enriched library construction with the ultimate goal of characterizing accessions of the germplasm collections of EMBRAPA.

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in Grevillea robusta

*Grevillea robusta is a native tree to the subtropical coastal regions of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland in Australia. In Brazil, Embrapa Forestry and its partners have established many provenance/progeny tests to increase the species genetic basis and aim to implement a breeding program to improve timber production. Genetic variability of these tests has been monitored through the assessment of quantitative traits. However, the genetic evaluation of materials based on phenotypic traits is influenced by many environmental factors. Estimates of some genetic parameters such as gene flow and parentage are possible using molecular tools as most common molecular marker, microsatellite (Simple Sequence Repeats, SSRs) which are codominant and highly polymorphic. Genetic markers have intensively applied for the main strategies in breeding programs, especially when economically important traits are difficult measure because of low heritability. The aim of this study was develop microsatellite markers for Grevillea robusta through enriched library in order to estimate the genetic diversity and structure of the species, and direct efforts for the conservation and management of its active germplasm banks.

Genetic variation and effective population size of a Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engler) Fr. Allem. provenance and progeny test

ABSTRACT Ex situ conservation of tree species in provenance and progeny tests allow the estimation of genetic parameters for quantitative traits and are also useful for tree breeding programs. This study aimed at estimating the genetic variability of provenance and progeny test of Myracrodruon urundeuva and providing subsidies for ex situ conservation and the use of germplasm in breeding programs. We also estimated the variance effective population size () of seeds sampled from this test, simulating six different scenarios for test management and seed collection strategies. We estimated genetic parameters for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, volume and fork in 31-year-old provenance and progeny test established with 91 open-pollinated progenies from five provenances, allocated in a compact family block design at Pederneiras Experimental Station, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The genetic-statistical analysis was based on REML/BLUP procedure. Significant genetic differences were detected only among progenies within provenances. Individual heritability was high for DBH, height, and volume. We hypothesize that inter-tree competition inflated these estimations and have, consequently, overrated the estimates for genetic gain. Thus, this test should be mainly used for conservation purposes. The estimates for varied considering different scenarios, showing that female gametic control is the best strategy to achieve higher gains on , being an important suggestion for the management and seed collection strategies in dioecious species as M. urundeuva.

METODOLOGIA PARA A POLINIZAÇÃO CONTROLADA EM Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. - Aquifoliaceae

A erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) e uma especie nativa brasileira de grande interesse economico. Programas de melhoramento genetico dessa especie tem visado ao aumento da produtividade de biomassa e qualidade. A polinizacao controlada permite a combinacao de caracteristicas desejaveis da especie. Para isso, tecnicas adequadas de polinizacao controlada devem ser disponibilizadas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo definir uma metodologia para a polinizacao controlada de erva-mate. Para isso, utilizou-se um teste clonal de 15 anos de idade na Embrapa Florestas-Colombo-PR com nove tratamentos em flores de tres arvores (repeticoes). As flores foram polinizadas em novembro de 2010 e os frutos, coletados em marco de 2011. Os frutos e sementes produzidos foram quantificados e a viabilidade dos embrioes, avaliada pelo teste de tetrazolio. Os dados foram analisados com base no procedimento GLM do programa R. Maior quantidade de frutos e sementes foi observada na polinizacao controlada comparativamente a polinizacao livre. Conclui-se que a polinizacao controlada apos a antese dessa especie deve ser realizada em dois dias consecutivos, para assegurar boa producao de sementes em erva-mate.

Development of microsatellite markers for Pinus maximinoi derived from microsatellite-enriched libraries

Background Integrating the use of molecular techniques in ongoing breeding can help identifying divergent genotypes to be used in controlled crosses for the development of hybrids, estimating parentage and monitoring the efficient use of genetic variation. Breeding programs carried out at EMBRAPA have established a broad population genetic base for various species of pine, from which trees with high productivity and wood quality have been selected. P. maximinoi was included in this program as its timber has specific characteristics of great economic importance. One of the main features of P. maximinoi is its rapid growth, reaching 20 to 40 meters in height with a diameter at breast height of 100 cm. The species’ straight trunk with few branches is advantageous to the sawmill, and the timber’s thick fiber is necessary for quality paper production. IN this work we report on the initial steps of the development of microsatellite markers for P. maximinoi derived from microsatellite-enriched libraries. These markers will be used to characterize the breeding populations and germplasm collections of EMBRAPA.