Antônio Natal Gonçalves

Relationships between nursery practices and field performance for Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil

The 3.5 million ha of Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil support many domestic and industrial activities. In the pulpwood sector, forest productivity has increased from 12 to 40 m3 ha−1 year−1 through breeding and silviculturalpractices. Nurseries have fostered thisevolution with changes in container/substratetypes, propagation methods and specificinfrastructure for each plant growth phase.Eucalyptus plants are mainly produced bycuttings, using rigid tube containers filledwith vermiculite-organic compound substrates.Stock quality is based on morphologicalcharacteristics of the plants, andenvironmental conditions are highly significantfor plant performance. Performance is dependenton physiological short-term effects related tosurvival and long-term effects of genotype/rootmorphology related to tree development. Currentsilvicultural trends are reducing establishmentcosts but increasing the risk of using lowquality plants. The development of fieldperformance models and nursery physiologicaltests is recommended for Eucalyptusplantations in Brazil. Improved experimentaldesigns are needed to capture the interactionbetween plant quality and field performance.

A NOVEL APPROACH FOR THE DEFINITION OF THE INORGANIC MEDIUM COMPONENTS FOR MICROPROPAGATION OF YELLOW PASSIONFRUIT (PASSIFLORA EDULIS SIMS. F. FLAVICARPA DEG.)

SummaryMineral deficiency symptoms were observed in leaves of yellow passionfruit plantlets grown in MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) with 1.0 mg l−1 (3.0 μM) gibberellic acid. Initially, leaves showed interveinal chlorosis, followed by bleaching of the leaves and retarded growth. Leaf mineral analysis was done and compared to mineral requirements suggested for passionfruit in the literature. Several modifications were made to the inorganic composition of MS medium, according to mineral deficiencies, mainly of Fe and Ca, and possible toxicity of Cl. The concentration of the elements in the new medium (MSM) was based on the mineral composition of leaves of healthy plants. The chemical equilibrium was checked using the software Geochem (Sposito and Mattigod, 1980) and final adjustments were made to ensure good availability of nutrients. To test the efficiency of the modified medium nodal segments were cultured in both MS and MSM supplemented with 3.0 mg l−1 (13.3 μM) 6-benzyladenine. After three subcultures mineral analysis of the leaves was done. Severe mineral deficiency was observed on the leaves of plantlets cultured in MS, while plantlets cultivated in MSM had green leaves. A comparison of the mineral analysis of plantlets in both media showed a fairly large increase in Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg and S and decrease in levels of B and Cl in plantlets cultivated in MSM. A slight increase or decrease in other elements was also observed. Subculture of the chlorotic plantlets into MSM showed that the visual symptoms of mineral deficiency disappeared in 2–4 wk.

In vitro morphogenic response of leaf sheath of Phyllostachys bambusoides

Nodal segments from secondary branches of saplings of Phyllostachys bambusoides were inoculated in MS medium to assess the in vitro morphogenic response of leaf sheath through the induction to callogenesis by Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) at different concentrations of carbohydrate under the same conditions with presence or absence of luminosity. In our experiment, secondary explants were kept in MS medium containing 8.0 mg·L−1 of Picloram for the callus formation. Calluses were transferred in MS medium supplemented with sucrose, fructose and glucose (control, 2%, 4% and 6%). Results show that Picloram induced the callogenesis in leaf sheath. The secondary embryogenesis was formed in yellow-globular callus. The sucrose as carbohydrate source in the absence of light was more efficient to induce rhizogenesis. Glucose was more efficiency in the presence of light. Callogenic induction and further embryogenesis evidenced the competence and determination of leaf sheath cells.

Efeitos de diferentes concentrações de nitrogênio no crescimento de Aechmea blanchetiana (Baker) L.B. Sm. cultivada in vitro

Effects of nitrogen concentrations on the growth of Aechmea blanchetiana (Baker) L.B. Sm. cultured in vitro). This work aimed to study the influence of different nitrogen concentrations (7.5; 15; 30; 60 and 120 mM) on the growth of Aechmea blanchetiana plantlets cultivated in vitro. The results showed that 7.5 mM of nitrogen in a modified liquid culture Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium was the best concentration for increasing fresh and dry mass production.

Absorção de macronutrientes por explantes de bananeira in vitro

The absorption of the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) by banana (Musa sp.) cv. Prata Ana explants on the basic medium of Murashige & Skoog (1962) supplemented with sucrose (30 g/L) and BAP (3.5 mg/L) were evaluated at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after inoculation. The seven treatments were arranged on a completely randomized design with three replicates. The sequence of nutrient absorption by the explants was K > N > Ca ³ P > Mg @ S. The P was the nutrient with the fastest absorption rate and at the 30th day the explants had already absorbed 75% of the P from the medium. The P absorption stopped by the 50th day. The S absorption stopped at the 50th day with 66% of it remaining in the medium. The results suggested a close relationship between these two nutrients. The highest rates of nutrient absorption were observed during the first 20 days of culture. The rhizome, pseudostem and leaves behaved differently to the extraction and accumulation of nutrients.

Low temperature, IBA concentrations and optimal time for adventitious rooting of Eucalyptus benthamii mini-cuttings

Eucalyptus benthamii is a forest species of economic interest that has difficulty with seed production and also is considered to have difficulty with adventitious rooting using propagation techniques, such as cutting or mini-cutting. We aimed to assess the adventitious rooting percentage under different storage times in low temperatures and at various IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) concentrations to determine the optimal time of permanence for rooting Eucalyptus benthamii minicuttings in a greenhouse. Shoots collected from mini-stumps cultivated in a semi-hydroponic system were used to obtain the mini-cuttings. For the first experiment, the mini-cuttings were stored at 4°C for 0 (immediate planting), 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. The second experiment evaluated the rooting dynamic to determine the optimal time of permanence for minicuttings in a greenhouse. The basal region of the mini-cutting was treated with various IBA solutions: 0 (free of IBA), 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 mg·L−1. Every seven days (0 (immediate planting), 7, 14, 21 and 28 days), destructive sampling of the mini-cuttings was performed to evaluate the histology of the adventitious rooting. Eucalyptus benthamii minicuttings should be rooted immediately after the collection of the shoots. The 2,000 mg·L−1 IBA concentration induced a greater speed and percentage of adventitious rooting, and an interval of 35 to 42 days was indicated for permanence of the mini-cuttings in the greenhouse. Exposure to low temperature induced adventitious root formation with diffuse vascular connections.

TRATAMENTOS PRÉ-GERMINATIVOS DE SEMENTES DE ESPÉCIES FLORESTAIS AMAZÔNICAS. I - ANGELIM PEDRA (DINIZIA EXCELSA DUCKE - LEGUMINOSAE, MIMOSOIDEAE).

O angelim pedra (Dinizia excelsa Ducke — Leguminosae) e uma essencia florestal da regiao amazonica de importância economica, mas pouco estudada. Suas sementes apresentam dormencia e heterogeneidade de germinacao, o que dificulta a atividade de formacao de mudas. Os autores, no presente trabalho, estudam metodos de quebra de dormencia destas sementes, e a influencia do tegumento na germinacao. Recomendam ainda para a quebra da dormencia, escarificacoes com acido sulfurico, escarificacoes mecânicas ou acao termica.

Miniestaquia de Eucalyptus benthamii: efeito do genótipo, AIB, zinco, boro e coletas de brotações

-1 de Zn, S3 - 0,5 mg L -1 de B, S4 - 0,5 mg L -1 de Zn e B, S5 - 1,0 mg L -1 de Zn e B, S6 - 2,0 mg L -1 ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the induction of adventitious rooting in Eucalyptus benthamii mini-cuttings regarding to genotype, Zn and B concentrations, shoot collections and IBA application. Shoots for the mini-cuttings confection were collected from mini-stumps fertigated with nutrient solutions containing different concentrations of Zn and B (S1 - free of Zn and B, S2 - 0.5 mg L -1 Zn, S3 - 0.5 mg L -1 B, S4 - 0.5 mg L -1 Zn and B, S5 - 1.0 mg L -1 Zn and B, S6 - 2.0 mg L -1 Zn and B). The basal portion of the mini-cuttings was immersed for 10 s in a solution containing 2,000 mg L -1 IBA. A free IBA solution was used as control. The mini-cuttings survival in greenhouse, shade-house and in full sun area were evaluated. In full sun area, only the rooted mini-cuttings were evaluated, and of these, the total length of the root system was measured. The adventitious rooting of Eucalyptus benthamii mini-cuttings depended of the genotype, Zn and B concentrations, shoots collections and IBA application. In general, the adventitious rooting percentage was low, and the genotypes were considered difficult to propagation by mini-cuttings technique. The mini-cuttings collected of mini-stumps fertigated with nutrient solutions S5 (1.0 mg L -1 Zn and B) and S6 (2.0 mg L -1 Zn and B) associated with the presence of IBA in the concentration of 2,000 mg L -1 presented the greater adventitious rooting percentage.

Controle genético da regeneração in vitro em progênies de Eucalyptus grandis

The genetic control of in vitro direct regeneration was tested on seedlings of ten open-pollinated progenies from the base population of Atherton origin of Eucalyptus grandis at University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Seeds were germinated in vitro, after twenty days, distal hypocotyls segments from 196 seedlings per progeny were inoculated in culture media at Generalized Complete Randomized Block Design, with two experimental units per block and seven repetitions, using the interaction blocks by progenies as an estimate of the experimental error. At week 14 from the inoculation bud induction was evaluated. Regeneration among progenies were significantly different (P<0.0001). Regeneration varied from 11 to 60%. The narrow-sense heritability between means of experimental units for in vitro regeneration was height. (h2m=0.94), indicating a strong genetic control of the trait within the population and also a high maternal effect. High variability within the study sample was found.

Morphologic and molecular characterization of Myrciaria spp species

The jabuticaba tree is considered one of the most typical Brazilian fruit trees. However, few studies of this plant are found in the literature and even its botanical classification is very controversial. The present research reports some comparisons between jabuticaba species, using morphologic (organography) and molecular markers techniques. The morphologic characteristics of the plant used as markers were compared with specimens of the herbaria from Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais States and with the descriptions reported in the literature. Molecular differences between the species were identified by the use of RAPD markers. The experiment was made in Piracicaba, Jaboticabal and Ituverava municipal districts in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Morphologic and molecular differences between the studied plants were identified and four groups of species were defined: Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg, M. coronata Mattos, M. jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg. and Myrciaria phytrantha (Kiaersk.) Mattos. Both molecular and morphologic markers techniques showed to be important tools for the identification of jabuticaba tree species.