Augusto Carlos Baier

Conversão e balanço energético de sistemas de rotação de culturas para triticale, sob plantio direto

Efficient energy conversion production systems are important for modern agriculture. The objetive was to evaluate the energy conversion and balance of five rotation systems that included triticale. The evaluated systems, from 1987 to 1991, were: I (triticale/soybean), II (triticale/soybean and black oats/soybean), III (triticale/soybean and common vetch/corn), IV (triticale/soybean, common vetch/corn, and black oats/soybean), and V (triticale/soybean, triticale/soybean, common vetch/corn, and black oats/ soybean). In 1990, black oats was replaced by white oats in systems II, IV, and V. The experiment was set up under no-tillage, using a randomized block design with three replications and plots totalizing 24 m2 . On average, for the period 1987 to 1989, system III showed higher energy conversou (9.30) and balance (23.860 Mcal/ha), as compared to the othen studied systems (I: 5.38, II: 5.02, IV: 8.12 e V: 7.37; I: 18.067 Mcal/ha, II: 13.790 Mcal/ha, IV: 19.875 Mcal/ha e V: 19.264 Mcal/ha, respectivily). In this period, the climatic conditions were normal. On average, the period 1990 to 1991, there were no significant differences between energy conversion and balance means. In this period, climatic conditions were adverse.

Breeding Strategies for Triticale

A long-standing scientific vision -- the dream of combining in one and the same plant, the yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the rusticity of rye -- is materializing as triticale becomes an established economic crop. The ability of scientists world-wide to shape food supply strategies is being reduced, as the interactions between farmers and consumers are increasingly being regulated by world-wide marketing strategies. Thus, the success of a triticale breeding program depends more than ever on a precise evaluation of the consumer’s requirements (they are the ultimate clients), and on a broad evaluation of the environment and the farmers’ limitations and potentialities (they are the first clients). High yield potential, harvest index, protein and lysine content, adaptation to acid and sandy soils, nutrient uptake efficiency, resistance to diseases, tolerance to moisture and cold stresses are all desirable features of triticale. Using triticale as a feed is an immediate option, because of the high yield and good protein and amino acid balance. Improved milling and bread making will increase its potential for human nutrition. Sprouting resistance, broader adaptation, smoother grains in stressed conditions, frost damage at flowering, milling and baking quality, and poor primary triticales, are all challenges facing breeders. Intergenomic barriers limiting gene expression between wheat and rye, are still posing considerable difficulties to breeders. Basic research involving potential tools (anther culture, molecular markers, etc.) for breeders to manipulate this man-made intergeneric hybrid will need to be developed hand-in-hand with multi-environment field evaluations. Rye with better amino acid content or balance, plant type, biotic or abiotic stress resistance or tolerance, nutrient uptake efficiency, broader adaptation or lower secalin content, is critical to the improvement of triticale. The type of rye which will give the best genome balance when placed in a wheat background has yet to be established. Finally, the study of agronomic practices for each environment will be important to fully explore triticales potential.

Sistemas de produção alternativos de triticale, sob plantio direto, em Passo Fundo, RS

From 1987 to 1991, in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, the effects of production systems on triticale crop were assessed at the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo. Five systems for triticale were studied: system I (triticale/soybean), system II (triticale/soybean and black oats/soybean, from 1987 to 1989, and triticale/soybean and white oats/soybean, from 1990 to 1991), system III (triticale/soybean and common vetch/corn), system IV (triticale/soybean, black oats/soybean and common vetch/corn, from 1987 to 1989, and triticale/soybean, common vetch/corn and white oats/soybean, from 1990 to 1991), and system V (triticale/soybean, triticale/soybean, black oats/soybean and common vetch/corn, from 1987 to 1989, and triticale/soybean, triticale/soybean, common vetch/corn and white oats/soybean, from 1990 to 1991). An experimental design of blocks at random with three replications and plots with 24 m2 was used. Economic analysis over that period is presented in this paper. Over the period in which the climatic conditions were normal, system III was the best alternative to be offered to farmers from profitability standpoint. When climatic conditions were adverse, system II showed higher economic return, as compared to the remaining systems studied.

Adaptation of Triticale to Southern Brazil

A yield nursery with 18 to 23 triticale genotypes and 2 wheat cultivars was conducted annually in cooperation with other triticale research programs in southern Brazil. Results over five years (1989–93) from 7 locations confirmed the superior adaptation, yield potential and disease resistance of triticale.