Marcos Antônio Drumond

Desempenho agronômico de genótipos de pinhão manso no Semiárido pernambucano

This research aimed to evaluate the silvicultural behavior and the yield of different genotypes of physic nut under irrigated conditions in the Semi-arid zone of Pernambuco State. An experiment was carried out at Gabriela Farm, located in the municipality of Santa Maria da Boa Vista-PE, Brazil. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with ten treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of ten genotypes obtained from a previous selection of the most productive plants of a physic nut collection located in the municipality of Petrolina-PE, Brazil. Plant spacing was 3.0m x 2.0m. Each plant was fertilized with 150g of NPK (formula 06:24:12) at sowing time. The plants were weekly watered by dripping irrigation system. The data at three months after planting were submitted to statistical analysis and the means compared by the test of Duncan at the level of 5% of probability. Genotypes showed good silvicultural behavior at three months age. Although there was not significant difference among genotypes for plant survival (100%), plant height (1.3m) and number of inflorescences per plant (12), it was observed significant difference for number of bifurcations that varied from 3.6 to 5.3 bifurcations per plant. At twelve month evaluation, genotype 2304 was superior to the other genotypes in plant height (2.7m), steam diameter (6.3cm), number of fruit per plant (1,211) and seed production (3,542kg ha-1). It is recommended 2304 genotype for plant breeding research, which can improve seed productivity of J. curcas species.

Genetic similarity of Jatropha curcas accessions based on AFLP markers

The genetic relationships between accessions of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) were determined based on AFLP marker. A set of 50 plants from 12 accessions of J. curcas was analyzed with molecular data from 164 loci generated from 17 AFLP primer combinations. Molecular variance of data was analyzed by total decomposition between and within accessions. An UPGMA dendrogram was constructed based on genetic distances estimated by Jaccards similarity coefficient. The well-defined dendrogram showed a cophenetic value of 0.91. Groups of plants were observed in six of the 12 accessions studied with similarity of over 30 %, indicating high genetic variability. The variation among accessions was estimated to be 0.275, also indicating high variability. These results show that the genetic variability of the studied J. curcas accessions is structured according to the origin and that a greater number of populations should be sampled to increase the genetic diversity of the studied genebank.

Variabilidade genética de procedências e progênies de umbuzeiro via metodologia de modelos lineares mistos (REML/BLUP)

The umbu tree, a native species from the Brazilian semi-arid, is one of the most important genetic resources for fruit production in the region. In the improvement of perennial plant species, the use of the mixed model methodology trough the REML/BLUP (restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction) procedure is an essential feature for selecting individuals based on their predicted genetic additive and genotypic values, at the intra and inter population levels. This procedure is being successfully applied to breeding of several fruit and forest tree species in Brazil. This paper aimed to study the genetic variability, estimating genetic parameters and predicting individual breeding values in the umbu tree, through the REML/BLUP procedure applied in the evaluation of populations and progenies. The trial was set out in a randomized complete block design with 42 progenies arranged as a unbalanced hierarchy within 3 populations. The traits plant height (ALP), biggest canopy diameter (MAC), smallest canopy diameter (MEC), base diameter (DIC) and number of primary branches (NRP) were evaluated. These traits are related to fruit production. The results showed that the greatest part of the genetic variability is concentrated within populations. The heritability coefficients were of the order of 0.08 and 0.14 for the traits MEC and MAC, respectively. Genetic gain estimates with selection of the best ten parents were in the order of 6% and 9% for MEC and MAC, respectively.

Biologia floral e sistema reprodutivo de Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. (Fabaceae- Papilionoidae) na região de Petrolina, Pernambuco

The aspects of floral biology and reproductive system of Gliricidia sepium were studied from March to October of 1999, from 5:30am to 5:00pm, in an introduced population at Embrapa Semi-Arido, Petrolina, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Fifteen plants were marked and observed every two weeks for the study of phenology. For the study of floral biology and morphology, flowers and inflorescences were marked and observed until fruit set. The visitors of flowers were observed during all time of the experiment, when frequency, time and duration of their visits were registered. G. sepium has a cornucopia pattern of flowering and the peak of this phenophase occurs in August. The flowers are grouped in axilar racemes, with centripetal development, and the anthesis occurs at 5 to 45 flowers/day. The flowers have the typical organization of papilionaceae, corolla of magenta color and the central region of flag of cream color, which functions as nectar guide. The anthesis is diurnal, occurring at around 6:00am, and the lifetime of flowers is around 10 hours. Apidae and Anthophoridae bees and Hesperiidae moths are the most frequent visitors. Xylocopa griscesens, X. frontalis and Eulaema nigrita were considered the main pollinators of this species. G. sepium is a species which produces fruits only after cross-pollination (51.6%).

The Importance of Jatropha for Brazil

Fossil derived fuels currently supply most of the world’s energy, even though it represents a finite resource. Aiming at reducing the fossil fuels dependency, alternative sources of energy have been pursued in the last few years. In view of the urgent need to develop new technologies that may enable the widespread use of environment friendly forms of energy, biofuels in general and biodiesel in particular, are receiving considerable attention throughout the world and especially in Brazil. Due to the high quality of its oil that meets the rapeseed quality standard, to the fact that its oil can be easily converted into biodiesel, and its wide adaptability, physic nut (Jatropha curcas) has been considered a potential crop to serve as feedstock for biodiesel production. In that context, this chapter demonstrates the potential of physic nut as a biofuel crop, highlighting however the existing challenges to its wide adoption as a fuel crop. Even facing enormous challenges (detailed below), our cautiously yet optimistic vision is that a dense and directed research program may successfully make physic nut a viable feedstock for biodiesel production. In that respect we detail the Embrapa research initiative drawn to address many of the existing challenges.

Produção e distribuição de biomassa de espécies arbóreas no semi-árido brasileiro

The objective of the study was to quantify the production and biomass distribution of some potential arboreal species of multiple uses, under dry land conditions, in the Brazilian Semi-arid. The study was developed in the Experimental Station of Caatinga, of Embrapa Semi-Arido, Petrolina-PE, Brazil. Plant height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of 16 central trees of each plot, from three replicates, were measured. The following species were studied: Leucaena diversifolia, Caesalpinia velutina, Caesalpinia coriaria, Mimosa tenuiflora and Ateleia herbert-smithii. Biomass was estimated based on the medium height tree in each plot, evaluating each component separately: leaf, bark, branch, root and log, except for A. herbert-smithii that produced more leaf than bark. Total biomass production was superior for C. velutina (51.6 kg ha-1), followed by L. diversifolia (36.6 kg ha-1), A. herbert-smithii (26.4 kg ha-1), Caesalpinia coriaria (23.0 kg ha-1) and Mimosa tenuiflora (21.6 kg ha-1 However, leaf dry matter, the main potential component of forage species, was higher for C. velutina y A. herbert-smithii (2.8 kg ha-1) and C. coriaria (2.2 kg ha-1), L. diversifolia (2.0 kg ha-1) and M. tenuiflora (1.3 kg ha-1) representing, respectively, 7.2, 10.7, 9.5, 5.3 and 6.3% of total biomass. C. velutina stands out as the most productive, as well as wood (log = 30.8 t ha-1) as forage (leaves = 3.7 t ha-1), while M. tenuiflora showed the lowest forage potential.

Effect of density, stem diameter classes on yield of peach palm in the Vale do São Francisco, Brazil

Com o objetivo de avaliar a producao e o rendimento de palmito de pupunha, instalou-se um experimento na Estacao Experimental de Mandacaru, Juazeiro (BA), em solo argiloso. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas com tres repeticoes. A parcela principal constituiu-se dos espacamentos 2,0 m x 1,0 m (E1) e 2,0 m x 1,5 m (E2) e as subparcelas constituiram-se do arranjo fatorial 2x3: dois manejos de perfilhos e tres classes de diâmetros de corte. A area util das subparcelas foi de 14 m2 (E1) e 12 m2 (E2). Foram avaliados o diâmetro e altura da planta, comprimento e rendimento do palmito e numero de estipes colhidos por parcela. Os resultados referem-se as colheitas realizadas dos 16 aos 42 meses apos o plantio, realizadas a cada tres meses. O diâmetro de corte afetou significativamente o rendimento, o numero de estipes, o peso medio do palmito e a altura da planta. Colheu-se 1,86, 1,58 e 1,05 t/ha de palmito nas classes de diâmetros de 9,7 a 11,3 cm, 11,4 a 13,4 cm e 13,5 a 15,6 cm, respectivamente. Nao verificou-se diferenca de rendimento entre as classes de diâmetro de 9,7 a 11,3 cm e 11,4 a 13,4 cm. A classe de diâmetro afetou o numero de estipes e peso medio do palmito. Nas classes de diâmetro de 9,7 a 11,3 cm, 11,4 a 13,4 cm e 13,5 a 15,6 cm foram colhidos em media 11,5, 8,5 e 4,5 estipes por subparcela com o peso medio do palmito de 210, 256 e 310 g, respectivamente. O espacamento nao afetou as caracteristicas avaliadas, exceto o peso medio do palmito. O manejo de perfilhos afetou o rendimento de palmito, foram produzidos 1,65 t/ha e 1,34 t/ha aos 42 meses para o manejo com quatro perfilhos e todos os perfilhos, respectivamente. O rendimento de palmito correlacionou positivamente com o numero de estipes (0,84) e negativamente com a classe de diâmetro de corte (-0,76), altura da planta (-0,52) e peso medio do palmito (-0,51). O peso medio do palmito foi 65% explicado na analise de regressao pelo comprimento do palmito e a classe de diâmetro de corte da planta. Os resultados obtidos permitem indicar como orientacao preliminar para as areas irrigadas do submedio Sao Francisco o cultivo da pupunha no espacamento de 2,0 m x 1,0 m ou 2,0 m x 1,5 m, com manejo de quatro perfilhos/planta e o corte com o diâmetro variando de 9,7 a 13,4 cm.

Introdução e seleção de espécies arbóreas forrageiras exóticas na região semi-árida do Estado de Sergipe

The objective of this work was the selection of arboreal species for multiple use in the semi-arid area of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Fifteen species from the semi-arid area of Central America were introduced in the region: Acacia farnesiana, Albizia caribaea, Albizia guachepele, Ateleia herbert-smithii, Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia eryostachys, Caesalpinia velutina, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena diversifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena shannoni, Parkinsonia aculeata, Pithecellobium dulce and Senna otomaria. The species were planted in the Experimental Field of Gloria, Embrapa Semi-Arido, in Nossa Senhora da Gloria, Sergipe State, in holes of 30cmx30cm, without fertilization, 3.0mx2.0m apart in a randomized block design with three replications and 36 plants per plot. They were evaluated for survival, height, diameter at the height of 1.30m from the soil surface, 55 months after planting. G. sepium and A. guachepelle showed higher growth than the other species, with mean heights (± standard deviation), of 4.0±0.4 and 4.3±0.2m respectively, and mean diameters (± standard deviation) of 4.4±0.5 and 6.3±0.1cm, and survival rates of 100 and 98%. Although L. leucocephala showed excellent growth in height (5.0±0.3m) and in diameter (6.0±1.5cm), its survival rate was 44%. L. diversifolia and A. farnesiana have shown 100% mortality in the studied plots. Gliricidia sepium and Albizia guachepele were outstanding, with great potentiality for the semi-arid areas in the State of Sergipe. Acacia farnesiana, Leucaena diversifolia and Senna otomaria did not show a good performance in the semi-arid conditions of the region.

Estimativas de polinização cruzada em população de Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae) usando marcador AFLP

Umbu tree is one of the most important species in the Brazilian semi-arid region due to its ability to produce fruit in water stress environments. The objective of this work was to estimate outcrossing rates in the S. tuberosa (), by considering the observed and expected frequency of heterozygous in the mother and descent population (M1), respectively, and the estimate of multilocus (M2), to direct programs of conservation and genetic improvement of the species. Samples of DNA extracted from a maternal population with 96 plants established in 1991, at Petrolina, PE, as well as the DNA from one descent from each maternal plant were analyzed for the 16 polymorphic AFLP bands obtained from AAA_CTG and AAA_CTC primer combinations. In M1, it was considered the frequency of heterozygote estimated by the square root of 1 minus the AFLP fragment absence frequency, for the maternal population (observed frequency) and also for the descent population (expected frequency), whereas in the M2, the estimate was obtained by the multilocus estimate (m). The estimates of M1 ranged from 1.74 to 0.50, with mean value of 1.063. Because values of above 1.0 are biologically inadequate, it was demonstrated that M1 was not appropriate to estimate . Frequencies of pollen and ovule for 15 AFLP loci were the same, suggesting good adjustment to the mixed mating model in M2. The rate obtained by M2 was 0.719, which was close to previous estimates with isoenzymes obtained in other umbu tree populations. Results point that umbu tree is predominantly an outcrossing species and there is the need for broad samples in order to preserve the genetic variability of this species.

Rendimento da pupunheira em função da densidade de plantio, diâmetro de corte e manejo dos perfilhos no Vale do São Francisco

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of planting density, cut-off diameter classes and shoot number on heart of palm production on irrigated peach palm. The experimental layout was a randomized split-plot design with a factorial arrangement in the split-plot with four replicates. The whole plots were plant spacing S¹ - 2 x 1 m and S² - 2 x 2 m and the subplots were 12 m² (with factorial arrangement of two diameters and two shoot number). The harvesting was done from 16 to 69 months after planting with three months interval. The cut-off diameter class affected significantly the production. The yields of heart of palm at diameter classes 10 cm and 12 cm were 494 and 484 kg ha-1 year-1 and, respectively. The average weight of heart of palm for the cut-off diameters 10 cm and 12 cm were 149 g and 178 g and yield of heart of palm were 545 and 434 kg ha-1 year-1, respectively. Planting space affect all the parameters evaluated, except the average plant height. The results allow to point out, as information for the irrigated areas of the San Francisco Valley, the cultivation of peach palm spaced 2 x 1 m and cut-off diameter of de stem from 10 to 12 cm about 30 cm up the grownd.