Leila Aparecida Salles Pio

Effective banana sucker management is essential for plantation renewal because physical removal may allow regrowth from viable rhizome buds. This study compared localized pseudostem application of glyphosate (480 g a.e. L⁻¹; 1.8 mL shoot⁻¹), 2,4-D (720 g a.e. L⁻¹; 1.5 mL shoot⁻¹), and KH₂PO₄ + paclobutrazol (PBZ; 2.0 g + 1.0 g in 5 mL water shoot⁻¹) with untreated, cutting, and mechanical controls in ‘Prata Anã’ banana. Phytotoxicity, chlorophyll indices, relative water content (RWC), mortality, regrowth, growth, and biomass were evaluated for up to 120 days after application (DAA). Soils collected six months after treatment application were subsequently evaluated using lettuce and tomato as bioindicator species, together with soil chemical characterization. Glyphosate and 2,4-D progressively impaired banana sucker physiology and growth. At 120 DAA, both treatments resulted in 100% sucker mortality, completely suppressed new sucker emergence, and reduced shoot fresh and dry biomass by 100% compared with the untreated control. The response to 2,4-D was faster, reaching 100% mortality as early as 28 DAA. In contrast, KH₂PO₄ + PBZ caused temporary physiological impairment, with RWC decreasing to 63.83% at 60 DAA and recovering to 85.56% at 120 DAA. Six months after field application, seedling emergence was unaffected by soil origin, ranging from 86.32 to 89.84% in lettuce and from 94.53 to 95.70% in tomato, and chlorophyll indices were also unaffected. However, species-specific differences occurred in growth, biomass, and Dickson quality index, while soil chemical properties differed among field treatments. Overall, localized pseudostem application of glyphosate and 2,4-D provided sustained suppression of banana sucker regrowth, whereas KH₂PO₄ + PBZ produced only temporary suppression. No consistent biologically detectable effects were observed across the bioindicator responses six months after field treatment application under the conditions of this bioassay. However, these responses cannot be attributed exclusively to chemical residues because the compounds and their metabolites were not directly quantified and soil chemical properties differed among treatments. From a practical standpoint, localized pseudostem application of glyphosate or 2,4-D can provide sustained sucker suppression, but the present bioassay does not establish a safe rotation or replanting interval, which would require direct residue quantification and evaluation at multiple post-application times.

O cultivo de banana é severamente afetado pela murcha de Fusarium, que compromete o vigor das plantas e a produtividade. Biofertilizantes têm emergido como alternativas promissoras no manejo integrado de doenças, por estimularem o crescimento vegetal e ativarem mecanismos de defesa. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos de diferentes biofertilizantes sobre o desenvolvimento vegetativo e na severidade da doença em mudas de bananeira ‘Maçã’ inoculadas com isolados de Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) pertencentes à raça subtropical 4 (R4ST). Quatro isolados de Foc R4ST (CML3487, CML3488, CML3489 e CML3490) foram avaliados em combinação com os biofertilizantes Agro-Mos®, Coppercrop®, Compost-Aid®, Nem-Out® e a mistura Compost-Aid® + Nem-Out®, em condições de casa de vegetação. Foram avaliados índices de clorofila, altura da planta, diâmetro do pseudocaule, área foliar total, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e das raízes, além da severidade da doença em tecidos aéreos, rizoma, sistema vascular e raízes, bem como a área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD). O biofertilizante Compost-Aid® promoveu os maiores teores de clorofila e favoreceu o crescimento das mudas, especialmente nas plantas inoculadas com os isolados CML3488 e CML3490. Para o isolado CML3488, a massa fresca da parte aérea aumentou de 42,54 g nas plantas sem biofertilizante para 152,09 g com a aplicação de Compost-Aid®, enquanto a massa seca da parte aérea aumentou de 4,68 g para 15,22 g. A severidade da doença nos tecidos aéreos foi substancialmente reduzida por Compost-Aid®, Nem-Out® e pela combinação desses produtos, com reduções superiores a 60% em algumas combinações entre isolados e tratamentos quando comparadas aos tratamentos de maior severidade. Esses biofertilizantes também proporcionaram menores valores de AACPD, indicando uma progressão mais lenta da doença ao longo do período de avaliação. Em contraste, Coppercrop® apresentou desempenho inconsistente e, em alguns casos, níveis de severidade semelhantes ou superiores aos observados nas plantas não tratadas. Esses resultados demonstram que biofertilizantes selecionados podem reduzir a severidade da murcha de Fusarium e melhorar o desempenho fisiológico e o crescimento inicial de mudas de bananeira ‘Maçã’ em condições de casa de vegetação, reforçando seu potencial como componentes complementares em estratégias integradas de manejo da doença do Panamá.

Selenium (Se) can be supplemented in the human diet through the consumption of foods rich in this element. However, these foods are often inaccessible to low-income populations. In this context, the enrichment of staple food crops can increase the nutritional quality of the product and contribute to efforts to reduce malnutrition. Thus, during in vitro culture, the culture medium can be enriched with elements such as Se to biofortify the plantlets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of Se-biofortified micropropagated banana plantlets. 'Prata Anã' Gorutuba banana plants were cultured in vitro and subsequently acclimatized. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, and the treatments consisted of the addition of sodium selenate at Se concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 µmol L-¹, with five replicates and six culture tubes per replicate. Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents, biochemical parameters, and Se accumulation were evaluated in each treatment at 30 days of in vitro cultivation. The number of leaves, shoot length, and stem base diameter were evaluated at 90 days of greenhouse acclimatization. The intermediate concentration of 20 μmol L-¹ Se was the most suitable for obtaining plants with greater Se accumulation without adversely affecting phytotechnical traits and resulted in greater photosynthetic activity. Higher Se concentrations increased Se accumulation but negatively affected plant growth, indicating a dose-dependent toxic effect at elevated concentrations. During acclimatization, intermediate Se concentrations maintained a better balance between biofortification efficiency and plantlet quality. Photosynthetic pigments responded positively to lower Se concentrations, whereas antioxidant enzyme activity was not significantly affected. Overall, Se biofortification through micropropagation is feasible when appropriate concentrations are used to maintain plant quality and physiological stability.

Fruit ripening involves coordinated metabolic and molecular changes that shape quality traits, yet tissue-specific regulation in Selenicereus megalanthus remains unclear. Fruit development in S. megalanthus was investigated through an integrated analysis of pulp and peel across five developmental stages to elucidate tissue-specific metabolic and molecular regulatory dynamics. Proteomic profiling combined with targeted metabolomic analyses of sugars and phenolic compounds, multivariate statistics, and protein–protein interaction analysis was applied. A total of 411 proteins were identified in the pulp and 812 in the peel, of which 255 and 362 proteins, respectively, showed significant differential accumulation across development (p < 0.05), indicating higher regulatory plasticity in the peel. Multivariate analyses revealed clear stage-dependent reorganization of the proteome in both tissues. Functional annotation highlighted coordinated modulation of pathways related to cell wall remodeling, carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant and detoxification systems, protein folding, and myo-inositol biosynthesis, directly associated with fruit texture and quality attributes. Metabolomic analyses revealed progressive sugar accumulation during ripening, with sucrose predominating at advanced stages, and pronounced tissue- and stage-dependent modulation of phenolic compounds, characterized by early enrichment in the pulp and sustained accumulation in the peel. Overall, these results demonstrate that yellow pitaya development involves tightly coordinated biochemical and regulatory mechanisms and identify the peel as a metabolically active tissue with relevance for postharvest management, fruit quality, and sustainable horticultural valorization.

This study aims to determine the optimal dose of gibberellic acid (GA3) in modified MS medium for the in vitro germination and development of red-fleshed dragon fruit explants (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Seeds from mature, red-fleshed fruits were inoculated in modified MS medium with GA3 doses of 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 mg L-1, and germination percentage was evaluated weekly. Sixty days after inoculation, explant height, longest root length, longest shoot length, and average number of roots were assessed. The 1.0 mg L-1 dose resulted in the highest germination percentage, greater cladode height, and longer shoot length. In contrast, root length and average number of roots were favored in the absence of GA3. It is concluded that GA3 application influences germination and early growth, with 1.0 mg L-1 being the most effective dose to accelerate germination and aerial growth. At the same time, the absence of the hormone promotes root development.

O controle químico de plantas daninhas em viveiros de frutíferas requer a escolha de herbicidas seletivos, capazes de controlar espécies invasoras sem comprometer o crescimento das mudas. Entretanto, há escassez de informações sobre a seletividade de herbicidas em espécies frutíferas durante a fase de viveiro. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a sensibilidade de mudas de araticum-de-terra-fria aos efeitos fitotóxicos de diferentes herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições, utilizando três mudas por parcela com aproximadamente 1,0 m de altura. Foram testados os herbicidas fomesafen, glufosinato de amônio, glifosato, cletodim, carfentrazona-etílica, imazetapir e clorimuron, além de um controle sem herbicida. As avaliações de fitotoxicidade foram realizadas aos 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias após a aplicação, com base na escala da EWRC, bem como na determinação dos teores de clorofila a, b, total e da razão a/b. Os resultados indicaram que glufosinato de amônio e glifosato causaram os maiores níveis de injúria, enquanto fomesafen, cletodim, carfentrazona-etílica e imazetapir apresentaram menor fitotoxicidade. Conclui-se que esses herbicidas são os mais promissores para o manejo seletivo de plantas daninhas em viveiros de araticum-de-terra-fria.

One of the main challenges in citrus nursery plant production under protected environments is the space required for plant growth due to the large volume of containers and substrates, along with nutritional management demands. Hydroponics emerges as a promising alternative, offering more precise nutrient supply, efficient water use, reduced space requirements, and better control of growth conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the production of ‘Ponkan’ mandarin nursery plants in conventional cultivation and hydroponics systems, using five rootstocks: ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Limeira’ and ‘Rubidoux’ trifoliate, and ‘Índio’ citrandarin. Two experiments were conducted in randomized blocks with five treatments, four replicates, and 18 plants per plot. One hundred and 50 days after grafting, growth and physiological parameters were measured, including scion length,plant height, stem diameters, number of leaves, root length, root volume, dry mass, Dickson quality index, leaf traits, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a-fluorescence, gas exchange, and water use efficiency. The joint analysis of experiments was performed, and the means were compared using the Tukey’s test. In the conventional system, plants were produced in 3.2 dm3 bags with commercial substrate, while in the hydroponic one they were produced in 280 cm3 tubes with vermiculite placed in pools supplied with nutrient solution. Higher growth of ‘Ponkan’ mandarin nursery plants was obtained in the conventional system with ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Rangpur’ lime, and ‘Índio’ citrandarin rootstocks. Photosynthetic parameters showed no significant differences between rootstocks and production systems, except for photochemical dissipation coefficient, which was higher in hydroponics for plants grafted onto ‘Swingle’ citrumelo and ‘Rangpur’.

O coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata) é uma palmeira nativa do Cerrado com elevado potencial econômico e ecológico, cuja propagação é limitada pela dormência e pela germinação lenta e desuniforme das sementes. Dessa forma, o uso de reguladores vegetais como o ácido giberélico (GA₃) pode acelerar o processo germinativo ao estimular a síntese de enzimas hidrolíticas que mobilizam as reservas do endosperma. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a germinação de sementes de coquinho-azedo em função de diferentes períodos de embebição em soluções de GA₃. O experimento foi conduzido em dezembro de 2024, sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com diferentes tempos de imersão das sementes em GA₃ e posterior incubação em condições controladas. As variáveis avaliadas incluíram porcentagem e velocidade de germinação, além do desenvolvimento inicial das plântulas. Os resultados evidenciaram comportamento quadrático para a maioria das variáveis, com o aumento do tempo de embebição elevando a germinação até determinado ponto, seguido de decréscimo. A embebição intermediária promoveu maior vigor e crescimento das plântulas. Conclui-se que o ácido giberélico é eficiente na superação da dormência e na uniformização da germinação de sementes de coquinho-azedo, sendo o tempo de embebição um fator determinante para maximizar o desempenho fisiológico.

O cultivo da pitaia tem despertado crescente interesse devido ao seu elevado valor comercial e potencial de expansão no mercado. Contudo, a suscetibilidade de algumas cultivares a nematoides e a baixa taxa de enraizamento em determinadas variedades limitam a propagação por estacas, tornando a enxertia uma alternativa promissora. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho da enxertia em diferentes combinações de cultivares de pitaia utilizadas como enxerto e porta-enxerto. O experimento foi conduzido em Ingaí, Minas Gerais, em delineamento fatorial 5 × 2 (cinco cultivares como enxerto: ‘American Beauty’, ‘Golden’, ‘Dark Star’, ‘Vietnamese White’ e ‘Physical Graffiti’; dois porta-enxertos: ‘Cebra’ e ‘Orejona’), com avaliações aos 54, 78, 131 e 188 dias após a enxertia. Foram determinados o percentual de coloração dos cladódios, pegamento da enxertia, número e comprimento de brotações. Os resultados evidenciaram que ‘Golden’ e ‘Vietnamese White’ apresentaram maior proporção de enxertos verdes e menor murcha, sobretudo sobre o porta-enxerto ‘Orejona’. Já ‘Dark Star’ e ‘American Beauty’ tiveram menor compatibilidade, refletida em reduções no pegamento e vigor vegetativo, especialmente sobre ‘Cebra’. Conclui-se que as combinações ‘Golden’/‘Orejona’, ‘Physical Graffiti’/‘Orejona’ e ‘American Beauty’/‘Orejona’ são as mais promissoras para a produção de mudas enxertadas de pitaia.