Euclydes Minella

Yield and nutritive value of dual purpose winter cereals: green forage, silage or grain.

This study was carried out to evaluate 14 genotypes of six winter species for yield and nutritive value of early forage and silage or regrowth grain. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design with three replications, so that the plots consisted of seven 5.0 m-long rows spaced at 0.2 m. The seeding date was April in the three study years and fertilization followed the recommendations for the crops. During the tillering period and after cutting, urea was applied at the rate of 22.5 kg N/ha. Each plot was cut at a height of 7.0 cm from the soil to estimate the forage yield per genotype, when plants reached 30 cm height. Half the regrowth of each plot was used for silage and half for grain. Harvesting for silage was at the dough stage, from 30 to 35% DM. Nutritive value analyses were made using the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique. Rye BRS Serrano was superior for green forage, silage, and total forage yield (green forage + silage) and regrowth grain yield. However, for grain yield, BRS Serrano rye was similar to BRS 277 wheat, BRS 148 and BRS 203 triticales, UPF 18 oats, and BR 1 rye. It is possible to obtain early forage using genotypes of rye, wheat, barley, and triticale, producing equivalent forage yields to those obtained with black oats pasture. Embrapa 53 triticale and UPF 18 oats yielded more digestible green forage, but the silages had digestibility similar to barley silage.

Occurrence of head blast in barley

In the 2001 and 2002 crop seasons, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) spikes showing symptoms similar to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) blast were collected in commercial fields in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, and Goias, Brazil, as well as in experimental plots grown by the National Wheat Research Center (Embrapa Trigo) in the counties of Passo Fundo and Tapera, RS. The characteristic symptoms such as spike tip death (Figure 1A) and bright black spots of the rachis,were associated with pear-shaped, hyaline conidia, of up to three cells, 27.06-34.44 μm long and 9.84-12.3 μm wide, inherent characteristics of the fungus Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Saccardo synonym P. oryzae Cavara [Tel.: Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr]. Attempting to confirm this etiology, an isolation was made on potato dextrose agar (PDA), with incubation at 22 ± 2 C and 12 h under light. Microorganism sporulation was obtained according to Anjos & Charchar (Fitopatologia Brasileira 25:205. 2000). Spikes of barley BR 2 were inoculated with a spore suspension (2.5 x 10 spores ml). Two inoculation procedures were used: sprinkling spore suspension and applying drop suspension on the rachis in two opposite spikelets. Plants were kept for 24 h in a humid chamber made from semitransparent, dark polyethylene bags, in the greenhouse. The spikes were sprayed with distilled water in the morning and in the afternoon for three consecutive days to keep them wet. Characteristic disease symptoms were recorded from the twelfth day onwards (Figure 1B). Inoculation by spraying resulted in the total death of most spikes. The microorganism isolated from inoculated spikes showed characteristics of P. grisea, confirming Koch′s postulates. Pyricularia grisea affecting barley spikes in Brazil is hereby reported for the first time. FIG. 1 Barley (Hordeum vulgare) spikes affected by Pyricularia grisea: A) Symptoms in spikes under natural conditions; B) Symptoms observed in cv. BR 2 after inoculation.

BRS 180: cevada cervejeira para cultivo irrigado no Cerrado

Culturas alternativas de inverno com viabilidade tecnica e economica para integrar os sistemas de producao irrigados constituem-se na principal demanda dos agricultores da regiao do Cerrado. A cultivar de cevada BRS 180 obtida pela Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo e Embrapa-Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuaria dos Cerrados, lancada para o cultivo irrigado em 1999, representa a primeira cultivar adaptada para a regiao, potencializando essa cultura como uma nova opcao para o produtor. BRS 180 apresenta elevados indices de produtividade, resistencia ao acamamento e baixos teores de proteinas, o que vem atender as demandas agronomicas dos agricultores e aos padroes de qualidade da industria de malte cervejeiro. Em parcelas experimentais, BRS 180 apresentou rendimentos de graos de ate 8.920 kg/ha, atingindo ate 6.000 kg/ha em lavouras comerciais.

Assessment of genetic diversity in Brazilian barley using SSR markers

Abstract Barley is a major cereal grown widely and used in several food products, beverage production and animal fodder. Genetic diversity is a key component in breeding programs. We have analyzed the genetic diversity of barley accessions using microsatellite markers. The accessions were composed of wild and domesticated barley representing genotypes from six countries and three breeding programs in Brazil. A total of 280 alleles were detected, 36 unique to Brazilian barley. The marker Bmag120 showed the greatest polymorphism information content (PIC), with the highest mean value found on chromosome three, and the lowest on chromosomes four and six. The wild accessions presented the highest diversity followed by the foreign genotypes. Genetic analysis was performed using Principal Coordinates Analysis, UPGMA clustering, and Bayesian clustering analysis implemented in Structure. All results obtained by the different methods were similar. Loss of genetic diversity has occurred in Brazilian genotypes. The number of alleles detected in genotypes released in 1980s was higher, whereas most of the cultivars released thereafter showed lower PIC and clustered in separate subgroups from the older cultivars. The use of a more diverse panel of genotypes should be considered in order to exploit novel alleles in Brazilian barley breeding programs.

Cevada BR 2: cultivar de cevada cervejeira resistente à mancha-reticular causada por Pyrenophora teres

Barley cultivar BR 2 developed by the Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Trigo (CNPT) was released in 1989. BR 2 traces back to seven plants selected in the F3 from the cross FM 424/TR 206 made in Passo Fundo, RS, in 1979. BR 2 is a two row spring barley with wide adaptation, earliness and short straw. It is the first Brazilian cultivar resistant to Pyrenophora teres, causal agent of net blotch, a major barley disease in Brazil. In eight years of yield testing in the National Barley Trial in twelve locations of Southern Brazil, BR 2 yielded between 1,621and 4,014 kg/ha of plump kernels, with 3%, 13% and 6% yield increase over the check cultivar Antarctica 05 in the States of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, Parana and in the mean of 96 trials, respectively. On the farm fields, BR 2 has yielded over 5,000 kg/ha. Since its approval as a malting barley in 1992, it has been widely used, taking up 30% in 1993 and 90% in 1997 of the area sown. Barley BR 2 represents a cornerstone in the history of barley breeding in Brazil and is making a significant contribution to the competitiveness of the domestic barley production.

Barley in Tropical Areas: The Brazilian Experience

Domesticated barley, Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare, is poorly adapted to acid, aluminum toxic soils, and warm and wet springs, conditions that normally occur in the world subtropical/tropical areas. Tailoring barley to fit these adverse conditions has challenged researchers and farmers in Brazil since early 1920s. Increasing beer consumption has pushed domestic malt and malting barley production since 1930s. The selection of soil acidity/aluminum toxicity more tolerant varieties in the late 1950s was a major achievement in establishing barley production. The release of the net blotch resistant, high-yielding variety “Cevada BR 2” by Embrapa in 1990 was a cornerstone in the consolidation of a malting barley industry. The adoption of the “Zero Tillage” by mid-1990s in the double-cropping grain production system of the subtropical has significantly improved the yield potential and, consequently, the competitiveness of barley compared to wheat and other competitor cereals. The increased soil production capacity under “no-till” demanded for varieties more adapted to this technology. The release of the disease-resistant, short-strawed, high-yielding varieties BRS 195 (2000), BRS Caue, BRS Elis (2006), and BRS Brau (2010) by Embrapa is the third major event in the crop history, revolutionizing barley production. The widespread use of these improved genotypes has boosted yield and malting quality, making barley even a more competitive crop in this century. Since then, farm productivities over 6,000 kg/ha have been harvested in favorable seasons, increasing the average farm yield from 1,500 kg/ha in the 1980s to 3,500 kg/ha in the 2000s. Varieties BRS 180 (1999), BRS 195 (2000), BRS Sampa (2009), and BRS Manduri (2011) made malting barley production economically feasible also in more tropical environments of the southeast and central-west (cerrados) regions, under irrigation, where yields over 7,000 kg/ha are not difficult to obtain. However, the breakthroughs in yield, quality, and disease resistance have not reduced to a satisfactory level yet, the production/quality instability due to excessive rainfall during harvesting, particularly in ENSO years. On the average, the volume of harvested grain that does not meet the required quality for malting is close to 20%. Besides preharvesting sprouting, increased losses to Fusarium head blight and/or DON contamination, possibly associated with the no-till practice, have been observed and are of concern and need to be addressed for the country’s sustainability of the malting barley industry.

Conventional and transgenic strategies to enhance the acid soil tolerance of barley

The aluminum (Al3+) tolerance of barley cultivars predominately from Brazil was compared to that of cultivars from other countries, wild barley accessions, and a transgenic line (L5) over-expressing TaALMT1, the major Al3+ tolerance gene from wheat. After screening conventional germplasm for Al3+ tolerance in hydroponics, 18 genotypes were further characterized in a short-term soil experiment. Among the Brazilian cultivars, Antarctica 01 and BRS Mariana showed the greatest relative root length (RRL) in acid soil. However, these cultivars were significantly less tolerant than the foreign cultivars Dayton (USA) and Murasakimochi (Japan) and the transgenic line L5 which out-performed all conventional genotypes. In long-term growth trials, the transgenic line produced the greatest relative root and relative shoot dry weight. Relative grain yield was greatest in the transgenic line and Dayton. All genotypes were also scored for two genetic markers linked to HvAACT1, the major Al3+ tolerance gene in barley. One marker detects a 1-kb insertion in the promoter that increases gene expression and leads to increased Al3+-activated citrate efflux from root apices. The other marker detects a 21-bp indel downstream of the coding region. The 1-kb insertion was only detected in Dayton and Murasakimochi that were the best performing cultivars among the non-transgenic germplasm. Interestingly, the Brazilian cultivars with an intermediate level of tolerance, Antarctica 01 and BRS Mariana, lacked the 1-kb insertion but had enhanced HvAACT1 expression compared to an Al3+-sensitive cultivar. No clear correlation was observed between Al3+ tolerance and the 21-bp indel marker in the short-term soil trials. We conclude that improved Al3+ tolerance in barley could be achieved by combining the best allele of HvAACT1 along with TaALMT1 as a transgene.

Occurrence of rice blast in barley leaves in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Occurrence of Rice Blast in Barley leaves in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Magnaporthe grisea is reported for the first time affecting barley leaves in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in experimental plots and in farmers fields in Victor Graeff county and surroundings. A brusone, causada pelo fungo Magnaporthe grisea (T.T. Hebert) M.E. Barr (anamorfo Pyricularia grisea Sacc.), foi constatada pela primeira vez na cultura de cevada (Hordeum vulgare L.) no Brasil em 1998 (Anjos & Charchar, Fitopatol. Bras. 25:205. 2000), no Distrito Federal afetando folhas da planta, cujos sintomas foram descritos como lesoes elipticas com centro de cor cinza e margem de cor marrom. Em 2001 e 2002, registrou-se sua ocorrencia afetando espigas nos estados de Goias, Minas Gerais e tambem no Rio Grande do Sul (Lima & Minella, Fitopatol. Bras. 28:207. 2003), cujos sintomas foram caracterizados por morte da porcao superior da espiga no ponto de infeccao no raquis e lesao preta brilhante nesse. Em 2005, a brusone em espigas de cevada foi observada, novamente, no Rio Grande do Sul em ensaios e lavouras no municipio Victor Graeff e arredores. Observou-se nas folhas sintomas similares aos de brusone descritos em cevada (Figura 1A). Na Embrapa Trigo, no Laboratorio de Fitopatologia, apos incubacao das folhas com sintomas em câmara umida, constatou-se nas lesoes a presenca de conidios em formato semelhante a pera, hialinos, com ate tres celulas, caracteristicas inerentes a conidios de Pyricularia. Realizou-se isolamento do fungo em meio de cultura BDA conforme Anjos & Charchar (2000). Plantas de cevada, cultivar BR 2, de aproximadamente 30 dias foram pulverizadas com uma suspensao de conidios na concentracao de 1,0 X 105 esporos mL-1 e mantidas em câmara umida no escuro por 24 horas a temperatura de 28 oC. Os primeiros sintomas da doenca foram registrados 48 horas apos a inoculacao. As dimensoes dos conidios produzidos em câmara umida foram de 10 μm de largura e 30-40 μm de comprimento. O re-isolamento do microorganismo a partir das lesoes produzidas nas folhas inoculadas (Figura 1B) comprovou a ocorrencia de P. grisea afetando folhas de cevada no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Recebido 13 Dezembro 2006 Aceito 16 Marco 2007 FB 6134 FIG. 1 Folhas de cevada (Hordeum vulgare) com sintomas causados por Pyricularia grisea A. Sintomas em folha em condicoes naturais; B. Sintomas observados na cv. BR 2 apos inoculacao. A B

Correction to: Conventional and transgenic strategies to enhance the acid soil tolerance of barley

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The online supplementary material (composed of Table S1, Fig. S1, and Fig. S2) was omitted in the published online version. The supplementary material is available in this version.

Caracterização nutricional de grãos integrais e descascados de cultivares de cevada

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a composicao de nutrientes de graos de diferentes cultivares de cevada, na forma integral e descascada, e classifica-los em grupos com caracteristicas nutricionais distintas. Foram utilizadas amostras de 17 cultivares, da Embrapa Trigo, Passo Fundo, RS, da safra de 2005. As determinacoes quimicas foram realizadas de acordo com os metodos de analise oficial da AOAC Internacional. Foram observadas diferencas significativas entre graos integrais de cultivares para proteina bruta, cinzas, extrato etereo, fibra total e carboidratos nao-fibrosos, porem, os teores de fibra insoluvel e fibra soluvel nao diferiram. Em graos descascados, foram observadas diferencas em todos os parâmetros analisados. Com excecao da fracao de carboidratos nao-fibrosos, o processo de descascamento promoveu reducao em todas as fracoes avaliadas, em especial nos teores de fibra total e fibra insoluvel. Diferencas na composicao bromatologica ocorreram devido a variabilidade genetica das cultivares e ao descascamento.