Flávio Sérgio Afférri

Nitrogênio em cobertura e estresse salino na qualidade fisiológica de sementes de meio-irmãos de milho, no Tocantins

Genotype and plant nutrition influence the production of physiological qualities in maize seeds, and the use of vigor tests under stress conditions allows for the identification of superior genotypes. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of covered nitrogen fertilization on the physiological quality of seeds from 12 half-sib maize families, with or without saline stress. Seeds were used from plants that were growing with two levels of top dressed nitrogen fertilization (0; 150 kg ha-1), in the 2012/13 growing season, at Gurupi, in the state of Tocantins. In the laboratory, two experiments were conducted: one without and another with saline stress (KCl – 16.73 g L-1). The experimental design was fully randomized, with a factorial arrangement (12x2x2) and four replications. The following tests were carried out: germination, length and dry weight of seedling. The effects of topdressed nitrogen were more visible in the conditions of saline stress on the seeds. In this situation, when seeds were produced without topdressed N the half-sib L8 showed higher: total length (15.3 cm), root length (9.54 cm) and aerial part length (5.75 cm), and dry weight of roots (26 mg seedling-1) and aerial part (28 mg seedling-1). The half-sib L9 had shown significant (positive) influence from the use of topdressed N when germination was carried out with saline stress. The concentration of KCl (16.73 g L-1) promoted significant decreases in the germination and vigor of the seeds, however, it allowed for the visualization of the effect of covered nitrogen fertilization. In conditions without topdressed N and saline stress at germination, the half-sibs P6 and L8 showed superiority.

Adaptabilidade na produção de massa verde e grãos de genótipos de milho no Tocantins

Different growth conditions give genotypes a different response to each situation. To reduce the effect of this interaction, analyses of stability and adaptability are undertaken, which assist in choosing the genotypes. However, often a genotype can have a variety of purposes, causing problems to farmers in some situations, and the use of specific genotypes could be a solution. The objective of this research was to study the adaptability and stability of maize genotypes in the South Central region of the state of Tocantins, Brazil, and to classify them according to trends in productivity goals: grain or green weight. Eight experiments were conducted in two towns in Tocantins in the 2010 off-season and the 2010/2011 season, in which 16 maize genotypes were evaluated. The total plant green weight and grain production (g plant-1) were evaluated and then used in the analysis of stability and adaptability. Later it was sought to classify the trends in productivity goals for the genotypes. The genotypes P09, P12, P10, H02 and H01 displayed a superior classification of the regression coefficient for grain production compared to total plant green weight, with the opposite happening in the P02 and P01 genotypes. Genotype H01, as regards grain production, was adapted for favourable environments and displayed a tendency for this characteristic as a productive goal. Unlike the P08 and P02 genotypes that were adapted for both environments or for favourable environments respectively, as regards total plant green weight, and show a trend in productive goals for this characteristic.