Cucumber is one of the most important horticultural species at economic level. Despite its agronomic relevance, there is currently no efficient transformation method available. The problems to obtain transgenic cucumber plants are mainly due to the low morphogenetic response in explants of certain genotypes, poor adequacy of selection methods, decrease in regeneration rate as a consequence of the usual treatments in a transformation experiment and, above all, the high rate of 'escape' plants. Taking into account the existing problems, the first objective of the present work has been the evaluation of the morphogenetic response in cucumber explants and the development of regeneration methods potentially useful in transformation experiments. These studies have been carried out with two commercial cultivars, four pure lines and one line that has been frequently used in cucumber breeding programs. Different types of primary explants have been evaluated to determine which may be the most suitable in a transformation experiment. The influence of the ontogenic state of the seedling on the degree of myxoploidy in cotyledon explants has been studied. Likewise, the ploidy level of regenerated plants from these explants has been determined. Regarding the culture medium, the effect of growth regulators, as well as that of other components, such as silver nitrate or copper sulphate, has been studied. In the context of the second objective, studies on the different stages of the transformation process by co-cultivation of cucumber explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens have been carried out. Several factors, such as the Agrobacterium strain, how to carry out the phases of inoculation and co-culture, the suitability of different marker genes in the selection process and the influence of different components of the culture medium have been analyzed. Attempts have also been made to infer the causes of the occurrence of 'escape' plants or the formation of chimeras in cucumber transformation experiments. Finally, based on the results obtained, some solutions that could help to avoid this problem in future experiments are proposed. / El pepino es una de las especies hortícolas más importantes a nivel económico. Pese a su relevancia agronómica, no puede decirse que a día de hoy se disponga de un método de transformación adecuado. Los problemas a la hora de conseguir plantas transgénicas de pepino estriban en la baja respuesta morfogenética en explantes de ciertos genotipos, la escasa adecuación de los métodos de selección, el descenso en la tasa de regeneración debido a los tratamientos habituales en un experimento de transformación y, sobre todo, la alta tasa de escapes. En función de la problemática existente, el primer objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido la evaluación de la respuesta morfogenética en explantes de pepino y el desarrollo de métodos de regeneración potencialmente útiles en experimentos de transformación. Estos estudios se han llevado a cabo con dos cultivares comerciales, cuatro líneas puras y una línea que ha sido utilizada frecuentemente en programas de mejora genética de pepino. Se han empleado distintos tipos de explantes primarios para determinar cuál o cuáles pueden ser los más adecuados en un experimento de transformación. Se ha estudiado la influencia del estado ontogénico de la plántula sobre el grado de mixoploidía en explantes de cotiledón. Asimismo, se ha determinado el nivel de ploidía de las plantas regeneradas a partir de estos explantes. Por lo que respecta al medio de cultivo, además de estudiar el efecto de componentes habituales (e.g. reguladores del crecimiento) se ha evaluado el de otros que no lo son tanto, como el nitrato de plata o el sulfato de cobre. En el contexto del segundo objetivo se han realizado una serie de estudios sobre las etapas del proceso de transformación mediante co-cultivo de explantes de pepino con Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Se han analizado diversos factores, tales como la cepa de Agrobacterium, la forma de llevar a cabo las fases de inoculación y co-cultivo, la adecuación de distintos genes marcadores en el proceso de selección y la influencia de distintos componentes del medio de cultivo. Asimismo, se han tratado de inferir las causas que generan la aparición de escapes o de quimeras en experimentos de transformación de pepino. Por último, sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos, se proponen algunas soluciones que podrían ayudar a evitar este problema en futuros experimentos. / El cogombre és una de les espècies hortícoles més importants a nivell econòmic. A pesar de la seua rellevància agronòmica, no pot dir-se que a hores d'ara es dispose d'un mètode de transformació adequat. Els problemes a l'hora d'aconseguir plantes transgèniques de cogombre consistixen en la baixa resposta morfogenètica en explants de certs genotips, l'escassa adequació dels mètodes de selecció, el descens en la taxa de regeneració degut als tractaments habituals en un experiment de transformació i, sobretot, l'alta taxa de fugues. En funció de la problemàtica existent, el primer objectiu del present treball ha sigut l'avaluació de la resposta en explants de cogombre i el desenvolupament de mètodes de regeneració potencialment útils en experiments de transformació. Estos estudis s'han dut a terme amb dos cultivars comercials de cogombre, tres línies pures i una línia que ha servit de base en programes de millora. S'han empleat distints tipus d'explants primaris per a determinar quin o quins poden ser els més adequats en un experiment de transformació. Pel que fa al mig de cultiu, a més d'estudiar l'efecte de components habituals (e.g. reguladors del creixement) s'ha avaluat el d'altres que no ho són tant, com el nitrat de planta o el sulfat de coure. Així mateix, s'ha analitzat el grau de mixoploidia en alguns explants i l'efecte de certs tractaments sobre el nivell de ploidia de les plantes regenerades. En el context del segon objectiu s'han realitzat una sèrie d'estudis sobre les etapes del procés de transformació per mitjà de co-cultiu d'explants de cogombre amb Agrobacterium tumefaciens. S'han analitzat diversos factors, com ara el cep d'Agrobacterium, la forma de dur a terme les fases d'inoculació i co-cultiu, l'adequació de distints gens marcadors en el procés de selecció i la influència de distints components del mig de cultiu. Així mateix, s'han tractat d'inferir les causes que generen l'aparició de plantes no transgèniques (escape plants) o de quimeres en experiments de transformació de cogombre. Finalment, sobre la base dels resultats obtinguts es plantegen algunes solucions que ajuden a evitar estos problemes en futurs experiments. / Fonseca Miguel, JA. (2017). Estudios sobre regeneración y transformación genética en pepino (Cucumis sativus L) vía Agrobacterium tumefaciens [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90405 / TESIS

On the protected horticultural industry, the artificial lighting is a common practice under reduced natural light radiation or self-shading of the leaves at lower canopies. Those conditions affect the photosynthetic activity and the yield is limited. In the last decade, the use of lamps with LED technology for supplemental lighting has increased on high-latitude countries. LED lights are more energy efficient and have lower power consumption. On these lamps is possible to regulate the intensity (quantity) and the radiation (quality) on the ideal range of light spectrum in order to convert the luminous energy into chemical energy. Not reports of use of this technology were found at the tropics. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate physiological parameters related with the photosynthetic activity and the yield on mini-cucumber plants grown on protected environment with supplemental LED interlighting. At Piracicaba (Sao Paulo), Brazil, three experiments were conducted on LED interlighting equipped greenhouse, two at winter seasons (2015 and 2016 years) and one at summer season (2017 year) using mini-cucumber hybrid Larino. Through the three stands, was verified an increase on the photosynthesis in the leaves and the commercial productivity of the mini-cucumber due to the LED lighting use. This increase on the commercial yield ranged between 13 and 30%, being higher the effect on the summer season. At the first stand, in addition to the light effect, grafted plants were tested. On this case, the photosynthetic rate increased with grafted plants when treated with LEDs. However, the yield did not increase with grafting. Postharvest parameters as titratable acidity, total soluble solids and long shelf life did not increase as consequence of supplemental LED lighting. Studying the light response curves, it was verified that above a photosynthetic photon flux density of 400 μmol m-2s-1, plants treated with supplemental lighting showed higher values of net CO2 assimilation. The light compensation point was also higher on plants with LEDs. In the case of the CO2 response curve, plants treated with LED lighting verified higher increase on the CO2 assimilation rate when the plant internal CO2 concentration increased. Parameters like Rubisco carboxylase activity, rate of electron transport and leaf dark respiration were also higher on plants under supplemental LED lighting. The lower consumption of electricity and the yield increase on the summer stand allowed registering greater energy and light efficiency on this cycle when compared with the winter stands. For the same reason, the cost analysis revealed that only at the summer stand the LED interlighting was profitable. At that time, the total net income was positive and the benefit cost ratio favorable (1.15). / Na produção hortícola em ambiente protegido, o emprego de luz artificial é uma prática comum, quando condições de radiação natural reduzidas ou o autosombreamento das folhas nos estratos médio e inferior do dossel prejudicam a atividade fotossintética da planta, e consequentemente, limitam a produtividade. Na última década, em países de alta latitude, tem aumentado o uso de lâmpadas com tecnologia de luz LED para fazer essa suplementação luminosa. As luzes do tipo LED são mais eficientes energeticamente e apresentam baixo consumo de energia. Também nessas lâmpadas é possível regular a intensidade (quantidade) e a radiação (qualidade) na faixa ideal do espectro de luz visível para a conversão da energia luminosa em energia química. Em países de clima tropical, experiências dessa natureza não estão reportadas. Assim, foi realizado este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar parâmetros fisiológicos relacionados com a atividade fotossintética e a produtividade de minipepino cultivado em um ambiente protegido com suplementação luminosa de tipo LED. Em Piracicaba (SP), foram conduzidos três experimentos em casa de vegetação, sendo realizados no inverno (anos 2015 e 2016) e no verão (ano 2017), usando plantas de minipepino híbrido Larino. Foi constatado nos três ciclos aumento na fotossíntese da planta e na produção de pepino comercial devido ao emprego da luz LED. Esse aumento no rendimento comercial variou entre 13 e 30%, sendo maior o efeito no ciclo do verão. No primeiro ciclo além do efeito da luz LED, plantas enxertadas foram testadas. Nesse caso, as plantas enxertadas mostraram também aumento na taxa fotossintética quando submetidas à suplementação luminosa, porém a produtividade não aumentou com a enxertia. Parâmetros de pós-colheita como acidez titulável, teor de sólidos solúveis e vida de prateleira não aumentaram pela suplementação com LED. Estudando as curvas de resposta à luz foi constatado que acima de 400 μmol m-2s-1 na densidade do fluxo de fótons, as plantas com suplementação luminosa mostraram valores maiores na taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2. O ponto de compensação à luz também foi superior em plantas com LED. No caso da curva de resposta ao CO2, as plantas tratadas com luz LED mostraram maior incremento na taxa de assimilação de CO2 quando a concentração interna de CO2 na planta aumentou. Parâmetros como atividade da Rubisco carboxilase, taxa de transporte de elétrons e a respiração obscura foram também maiores em plantas sob luz LED. O menor consumo de eletricidade junto com o aumento na produtividade no ciclo de verão favoreceu maior eficiência no uso da energia e da luz nesse ciclo, quando comparado com os ciclos de inverno. Por esse mesmo motivo, a análise de custos revelou que a suplementação luminosa com luz LED somente foi benéfica no ciclo de verão. Nessa época, a renda líquida total foi positiva e a relação custo beneficio favorável (1.15).

Light and phytohormones, such as cytokinins, have been known to play a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes in plant cells. Previous work in our laboratory has revealed the light- and cytokinin- modulated changes both in the levels of specific tRNA species and their modified nucleotide contents, in addition to the characterization of specific tRNAs and tRNA genes from higher plants. The plant hormone cytokinin, which is of particular interest to us has been implicated to be involved in processes such as induction of cell division, plastid biogenesis and delay of senescence. Ongoing work in our laboratory also points towards the role of Ca2+ as a second messenger in cytokinin mediated gene expression. With the objective of isolation of specific tRNA genes which could then be used as probes to study the light- and phytohormone- induced changes in the levels of respective functional mature tRNAs, a previously isolated clone containing a 6.6kb insert that hybridized with 3 end labeled cucumber total cellular tRNA was sequenced by the dideoxy chain termination method. Sequence analysis of the 6.6 kb DNA fragment has revealed a chloroplast genome DNA fragment containing the trnNGUU and trnRACG genes in addition to the genes coding for the ribosomal RNAs 4.5S, 5S and 23S as well as the protein coding genes ccsA (cytochrome c-synthesis) and ndhD(NADH plastoquinone oxidoreductase).These genes were found to be arranged in the order-23S-4.5S-5S-trnRACG-trnNGUU-ccsA-ndhD. This shows a divergence from the gene organization in the completely sequenced chloroplast genomes of other higher plant species such as tobacco, maize, rice and Arabidopsis, especially with regard to the absence of a highly conserved trnLUAG gene that has been shown to be present in the trnNGUU-ndhD intergenic region. The cucumber chloroplast trnNGUU and trnRACG genes have shown very high homology (>90%) whereas ccsA and ndhD show 50-61% similarity to corresponding genes from chloroplast genomes of other plant species. The relative levels of tRNAArg and tRNAAsn were determined by Northern analysis using the tRNA gene probes, in etiolated excised cucumber cotyledons treated with light or phytohormones, such as cytokinin (BA) and auxin (2,4-D). Light and phytohormones were found to significantly increase the levels of tRNAArg unlike in the case tRNAAsn where no significant changes in the levels were observed. This result points towards the regulation of relative levels of specific tRNA species by light and cytokinin so as to match the codon usage of the mRNA population during light- and cytokinin- induced plant development in cucumber. Northern analyses were also performed to monitor the relative transcript levels of the plastid encoded ccsA and ndhD in etiolated excised cucumber cotyledons treated with light or phytohormones. ccsA transcript levels were found to be significantly reduced in auxin treated cucumber cotyledons where as exogenous application of cytokinin to either dark-grown or light exposed cotyledons did not seem to have any pronounced effect. ndhD transcripts were found to be up-regulated by cytokinin treatment or light exposure in comparison to un-treated controls probably indicating a point of overlap in the light/ cytokinin mediated signal transduction pathways. Auxin treatment on the other hand was found to down-regulate ndhD transcript levels also. Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated the involvement of a calcium-dependent protein kinase(CDPK) in the cytokinin-signal transduction pathway associated with the induction of pathogenesis-related proteins (chitinase and β 1-3 modulation of nuclear-encoded CDPK transcripts in response to light and exogenously added phytohormones such as cytokinins and auxin. Towards this end, partial CDPK cDNAs were generated from Cucumis Sativus by RT-PCR using degenerate primers designed based on the conserved regions of the known CDPK proteins available in the database, cloned in pGEM-T and sequenced. Sequence analysis of twenty partial cDNA clones revealed the presence of at least four CDPK isoforms in Cucumis sativus (CuCDPK 1-4). Of the four partial CDPK cDNAs, the tissue-specific expression level of CuCDPK3 was studied using the highly sensitive Taqman Analysis (Quantitative RT-PCR). The results obtained indicate that, in excised dark-grown cucumber cotyledons light and cytokinin were found to up-regulate the levels of CuCDPK3 unlike auxin, which was found to have no significant effect. In cucumber hypocotyls, which had the highest levels of CuCDPK3, light was found to have a down-regulatory effect whereas cytokinin and auxin did not bring about any significant changes in the levels of CuCDPK3. In cucumber root tissue, both light and cytokinin were found to have a down-regulatory effect on the levels of CuCDPK3, unlike auxin. The southern analysis of cucumber genomic DNA revealed a CDPK multi-gene family in cucumber. Since cytokinins have been known to play a role in both etioplast and chloroplast biogenesis and since various groups have recently reported the presence of higher plant homologues of bacterial cell-division protein FtsZ and the requirement of plant nuclear-encoded FtsZs for plastid division, efforts were also made to isolate and to study the expression of cucumber FtsZ in dark-grown cucumber cotyledon tissue treated exogenously with light/phytohormones. Towards this end, a partial FtsZ cDNA was generated from cucumber by RT-PCR using degenerate primers designed based on conserved regions of known plant FtsZ proteins. Results of the Taqman Analysis indicate that cytokinin, unlike auxin, mimics the action of light by increasing the levels of CuFtsZ transcripts in dark-grown cotyledon tissue suggesting the involvement of FtsZ in cytokinin-induced plastid-biogenesis.

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Two experiments were conducted to find diversity in plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi: positively and negatively/non-responsive combinations. Medic (Medicago truncatula L.) tomato (Solanum esculentum L.), leek (Allium porrum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were inoculated with Glomus intraradices, Gigaspora margarita and Scutellospora calospora. It was found that soil differences critically affect plant responses to AM fungi. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1283734 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Two experiments were conducted to find diversity in plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi: positively and negatively/non-responsive combinations. Medic (Medicago truncatula L.) tomato (Solanum esculentum L.), leek (Allium porrum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were inoculated with Glomus intraradices, Gigaspora margarita and Scutellospora calospora. It was found that soil differences critically affect plant responses to AM fungi. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1283734 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Resumo: A enxertia é uma técnica frequentemente recomendada para a cultura do pepino em áreas infestadas com nematoides das galhas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de pepineiro enxertado em solo infestado com Meloidogyne incognita raça 2 ou com M. javanica. Foram avaliados nove tratamentos (fatorial 3x3: pepino híbrido Tsuyataro pé-franco, enxertado na abóbora híbrida Shelper e enxertado em abóbora híbrida Excitte Ikki x sem inoculação, inoculação com M. incognita e inoculação com M. javanica), no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e seis plantas por parcela. As características avaliadas foram em relação ao crescimento vegetativo, nutrição das plantas, produção dos frutos e aos nematoides. Os teores de nutrientes avaliados não diferiram em função das espécies de nematoides (com ou sem inoculação), porém houve diferença em relação aos porta-enxertos, com maiores valores de fósforo nas plantas enxertadas e magnésio no pé-franco. Para as características de produção de frutos avaliadas não foi obtida interação entre os fatores. Obteve-se maior produção de frutos em plantas enxertadas sobre a abóbora 'Shelper', independentemente da espécie de nematoide, enquanto que a enxertia sobre 'Excitte Ikki' não diferiu do pé-franco para produção total. Ambas as espécies de nematoide reduziram a produção de frutos, porém este efeito foi mais pronunciado com a M. javanica. Tanto o pepino pé-franco como as plantas enxertadas foram suscetíveis, pois permitiram a multiplicação dos nematoides, com fator de reprodução, em avaliação realizada aos 72 dias após a inoculação, variando de 3,57 a 15,04, sendo este valor maior no pepino pé-franco inoculado com M. javanica / Abstract: Grafting is a technique often recommended for cucumber culture in root-knot nematodes infested areas. This study aimed to study yield of cucumber grafted in infected soil with Meloidogyne javanica or with M. incognita race 2. Nine treatments (factorial 3x3: Japanese cucumber hybrid Tsuyataro without grafting, grafted on squash hybrid Shelper and grafted on squash hybrid Excitte Ikki x without nematode inoculation, inoculated with M. incognita and inoculated with M. javanica) were evaluated in a randomized blocks design, with four repetitions and six plants per plot. The evaluated characteristics were in relation to vegetative growth, plant nutrition, fruit yield and nematodes. The nutrient levels evaluated did not differ between nematode species (inoculated and not inoculated), but there was a difference from the rootstock, with higher values for phosphorus in plant grafted and magnesium in non grafted. There was no interaction between factors for yield evaluated characteristics (total and commercial fruit yield). Greater fruit yield was obtained in cucumber grafted on 'Shelper', for both nematode species, while cucumber grafted on 'Excitte Ikki' did not differ from non grafted plants for total fruit weight. Both nematode species reduced fruit yield, but inoculation with M. javanica resulted greater reduction. Grafted and non grafted plants were susceptible, because they enabled the multiplication of nematodes, with a reproduction factor, in evaluation made 72 days after inoculation, ranging from 3.57 to 15.04, with the highest value in cucumber not grafted inoculated with M. javanica / Orientador: Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso / Coorientador: Sívia Renata S. Wilcken / Banca: Roberto Lyra Villas Bôas / Banca: Mario Massayuki Inomoto / Banca: Leila Trevizan Braz / Banca: Amanda Regina Godoy / Doutor

On the protected horticultural industry, the artificial lighting is a common practice under reduced natural light radiation or self-shading of the leaves at lower canopies. Those conditions affect the photosynthetic activity and the yield is limited. In the last decade, the use of lamps with LED technology for supplemental lighting has increased on high-latitude countries. LED lights are more energy efficient and have lower power consumption. On these lamps is possible to regulate the intensity (quantity) and the radiation (quality) on the ideal range of light spectrum in order to convert the luminous energy into chemical energy. Not reports of use of this technology were found at the tropics. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate physiological parameters related with the photosynthetic activity and the yield on mini-cucumber plants grown on protected environment with supplemental LED interlighting. At Piracicaba (Sao Paulo), Brazil, three experiments were conducted on LED interlighting equipped greenhouse, two at winter seasons (2015 and 2016 years) and one at summer season (2017 year) using mini-cucumber hybrid Larino. Through the three stands, was verified an increase on the photosynthesis in the leaves and the commercial productivity of the mini-cucumber due to the LED lighting use. This increase on the commercial yield ranged between 13 and 30%, being higher the effect on the summer season. At the first stand, in addition to the light effect, grafted plants were tested. On this case, the photosynthetic rate increased with grafted plants when treated with LEDs. However, the yield did not increase with grafting. Postharvest parameters as titratable acidity, total soluble solids and long shelf life did not increase as consequence of supplemental LED lighting. Studying the light response curves, it was verified that above a photosynthetic photon flux density of 400 μmol m-2s-1, plants treated with supplemental lighting showed higher values of net CO2 assimilation. The light compensation point was also higher on plants with LEDs. In the case of the CO2 response curve, plants treated with LED lighting verified higher increase on the CO2 assimilation rate when the plant internal CO2 concentration increased. Parameters like Rubisco carboxylase activity, rate of electron transport and leaf dark respiration were also higher on plants under supplemental LED lighting. The lower consumption of electricity and the yield increase on the summer stand allowed registering greater energy and light efficiency on this cycle when compared with the winter stands. For the same reason, the cost analysis revealed that only at the summer stand the LED interlighting was profitable. At that time, the total net income was positive and the benefit cost ratio favorable (1.15). / Na produção hortícola em ambiente protegido, o emprego de luz artificial é uma prática comum, quando condições de radiação natural reduzidas ou o autosombreamento das folhas nos estratos médio e inferior do dossel prejudicam a atividade fotossintética da planta, e consequentemente, limitam a produtividade. Na última década, em países de alta latitude, tem aumentado o uso de lâmpadas com tecnologia de luz LED para fazer essa suplementação luminosa. As luzes do tipo LED são mais eficientes energeticamente e apresentam baixo consumo de energia. Também nessas lâmpadas é possível regular a intensidade (quantidade) e a radiação (qualidade) na faixa ideal do espectro de luz visível para a conversão da energia luminosa em energia química. Em países de clima tropical, experiências dessa natureza não estão reportadas. Assim, foi realizado este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar parâmetros fisiológicos relacionados com a atividade fotossintética e a produtividade de minipepino cultivado em um ambiente protegido com suplementação luminosa de tipo LED. Em Piracicaba (SP), foram conduzidos três experimentos em casa de vegetação, sendo realizados no inverno (anos 2015 e 2016) e no verão (ano 2017), usando plantas de minipepino híbrido Larino. Foi constatado nos três ciclos aumento na fotossíntese da planta e na produção de pepino comercial devido ao emprego da luz LED. Esse aumento no rendimento comercial variou entre 13 e 30%, sendo maior o efeito no ciclo do verão. No primeiro ciclo além do efeito da luz LED, plantas enxertadas foram testadas. Nesse caso, as plantas enxertadas mostraram também aumento na taxa fotossintética quando submetidas à suplementação luminosa, porém a produtividade não aumentou com a enxertia. Parâmetros de pós-colheita como acidez titulável, teor de sólidos solúveis e vida de prateleira não aumentaram pela suplementação com LED. Estudando as curvas de resposta à luz foi constatado que acima de 400 μmol m-2s-1 na densidade do fluxo de fótons, as plantas com suplementação luminosa mostraram valores maiores na taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2. O ponto de compensação à luz também foi superior em plantas com LED. No caso da curva de resposta ao CO2, as plantas tratadas com luz LED mostraram maior incremento na taxa de assimilação de CO2 quando a concentração interna de CO2 na planta aumentou. Parâmetros como atividade da Rubisco carboxilase, taxa de transporte de elétrons e a respiração obscura foram também maiores em plantas sob luz LED. O menor consumo de eletricidade junto com o aumento na produtividade no ciclo de verão favoreceu maior eficiência no uso da energia e da luz nesse ciclo, quando comparado com os ciclos de inverno. Por esse mesmo motivo, a análise de custos revelou que a suplementação luminosa com luz LED somente foi benéfica no ciclo de verão. Nessa época, a renda líquida total foi positiva e a relação custo beneficio favorável (1.15).

The response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to various root and shoot environments (solution depth, temperature, ionic strength, nitrogen and calcium level and light intensity) were studied. Cucumber plants were grown in continuously circulating-solution in a heated-glasshouse. Dry weights of leaves, stems and roots, leaf area, leaf number, root length and root number were measured as well as uptake of potassium, calcium and nitrogen. The relationship between shoot and root in terms of functional equilibrium equations was also examined. The results presented show that: 1. Shoot growth of cucumber plants was reduced if grown in solutions of less than 50mm in depth; 2. When roots were grown in shallow solution depths at 1 or 5mm the dry weight allocated to the root increased. The ratio of root number/root length(no./cm) also increased. Lowering solution temperature to 12.5±2.5°C enhanced the production of root number relctive to root length, and 5 and 2% of full strength and 5% of full strength nitrogen level solution stimulated the growth of root length relative to root number; 3. Under low solution temperature treatment leaf number was maintained at the expense of leaf area. Under low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution, enhanced root length growth was at the expense of leaf area growth; 4. Low solution temperature enhanced the dry weight allocated to the stem relative to the leaf. Low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution increased the dry weight allocated to the leaf relative to the stem; 5. The specific activity of root, represented by specific absorption rate, increased when the shoot was under light stress and, the specific activity of shoot, represented by unit shoot rate, increased when the root was under nitrogen-stress; 6. The form of equation developed by Thornley (ΔM = fmΔW, where ΔM is the increment in weight of element M and ΔW the increment in total plant dry weight during a time period Δt with fm a constant) showed a better relationship than the equation developed by Davidson [root mass x rate(absorption) ∝ leaf mass x rate(photosynthesis)] and subsequently used by Hunt in the form of mass ratio(root/shoot) ∝ l/activity ratio; 7. The equation developed by Chung et al, total plant weight/(leaf number/leaf area) ∝ total "k"/(root number/root length), where k represents the total contents of elements or compounds, showed a good approximation of the relationship between shoot and root under all the environmental stresses imposed with the exception of calcium uptake. The results support the concept that the activity of the root or shoot in carrying out its function is influenced by the demand created by the opposite organ and appears to be a better assumption than that which proposes that the activity of an organ is solely dependent on its own size.

Orientador: João Domingos Rodrigues / Banca: Elizabeth Orika Ono / Banca Rumy Goto / Banca: Juliano Tadeu Vilela de Resende / Banca: Rerison Catarino da Hora / Resumo: A Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britt & Wilson é uma importante espécie medicinal de uso popular conhecida como erva cidreira brasileira. Trata-se de um arbusto, cujas folhas frescas ou secas e inflorescências são utilizadas na forma de chás, macerados, compressas, pomadas, banhos e extratos alcoólicos. Suas folhas apresentam ação antiespasmódica, moluscicida, fungicida, calmante e digestiva. Considerando, a) a inexistência de estudos sobre a L. alba em hidroponia b) a utilização de solução nutritiva para atender as necessidades da espécie, fornecendo nutrientes de maneira balanceada e possibilitando a produção de plantas com adequada qualidade e em menor espaço de tempo, c) a necessidade de produção de matéria prima para uso medicinal popular e farmacêutico, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o desenvolvimento e as trocas gasosas de L. alba submetida à variação das concentrações dos nutrientes a partir da diluição da solução nutritiva de Hoagland e Arnon (1950). Assim, as plantas foram cultivadas em quatro tratamentos, constituídos pela variação de nutrientes na solução nutritiva n°2 de Hoagland e Arnon (1950), ou seja, em solução completa (100%) e diluída à 80%, 60% e 40% em relação à completa. As variáveis avaliadas foram área foliar, massas secas dos diferentes órgãos, razão de área foliar (RAF), área foliar específica (AFE), razão de massa foliar (RMF), taxa de crescimento absoluto (TCA), taxa assimilatória líquida (TAL), taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), taxa de assimilação de CO2 (A, mmolCO2 m-2 s-1), condutância estomática (gs, mol m-2s-1), transpiração (E, mmol H2O m-2 s-1), concentração intercelular de CO2 na folha (Ci, mmolCO2 mol-1ar) e eficiência de uso da água (EUA). Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que: 1. As concentrações dos nutrientes na solução nutritiva, de maneira geral, foram excessivas ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate physiological effects of the boscalida-based fungicide on phytotechnical, physiological and biochemical aspects of grafted and ungrafted Japanese cucumber plants. The experiment was carried out under protected cultivation at São Manuel Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agronomical Sciences (FCA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu Campus, São Paulo State, Brazil. Both the cucumber hybrid 'Tsuyataro' grafted onto the pumpkin 'Excite Ikky' and ungrafted plants were subjected to different levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g a.i. ha-1) of the boscalida fungicide through leaf application at weekly intervals. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 5x2 factorial arrangement, with four replicates and six plants per plot, so that the four central plants were considered in the evaluation. Higher CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency and lower internal CO2 concentration were observed in grafted plants at 39 DAT. The levels 75 and 100 g a.i. ha-1 favored CO2 assimilation in grafted plants and led to lower internal CO2 concentration in the substomatal chamber. Grafted plants had higher total soluble protein concentration and a linear response to boscalida levels at 81 D.A.T. SOD and CAT activities were higher in ungrafted plants, whereas the highest boscalida levels, especially 100 g a.i. ha-1, led to a decrease in the activity of both enzymes. POD activity was higher in grafted plants and decreased as the fungicide levels increased. Higher activity of nitrate reductase was ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to various root and shoot environments (solution depth, temperature, ionic strength, nitrogen and calcium level and light intensity) were studied. Cucumber plants were grown in continuously circulating-solution in a heated-glasshouse. Dry weights of leaves, stems and roots, leaf area, leaf number, root length and root number were measured as well as uptake of potassium, calcium and nitrogen. The relationship between shoot and root in terms of functional equilibrium equations was also examined. The results presented show that: 1. Shoot growth of cucumber plants was reduced if grown in solutions of less than 50mm in depth; 2. When roots were grown in shallow solution depths at 1 or 5mm the dry weight allocated to the root increased. The ratio of root number/root length(no./cm) also increased. Lowering solution temperature to 12.5±2.5°C enhanced the production of root number relctive to root length, and 5 and 2% of full strength and 5% of full strength nitrogen level solution stimulated the growth of root length relative to root number; 3. Under low solution temperature treatment leaf number was maintained at the expense of leaf area. Under low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution, enhanced root length growth was at the expense of leaf area growth; 4. Low solution temperature enhanced the dry weight allocated to the stem relative to the leaf. Low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution increased the dry weight allocated to the leaf relative to the stem; 5. The specific activity of root, represented by specific absorption rate, increased when the shoot was under light stress and, the specific activity of shoot, represented by unit shoot rate, increased when the root was under nitrogen-stress; 6. The form of equation developed by Thornley (∆M = fm∆W, where ∆M is the increment in weight of element M and ∆W the increment in total plant dry weight during a time period ∆t with fm a constant) showed a better relationship than the equation developed by Davidson [root mass x rate(absorption) ∝ leaf mass x rate(photosynthesis)] and subsequently used by Hunt in the form of mass ratio(root/shoot) ∝ l/activity ratio; 7. The equation developed by Chung et al, total plant weight/(leaf number/leaf area) ∝ total "k"/(root number/root length), where k represents the total contents of elements or compounds, showed a good approximation of the relationship between shoot and root under all the environmental stresses imposed with the exception of calcium uptake. The results support the concept that the activity of the root or shoot in carrying out its function is influenced by the demand created by the opposite organ and appears to be a better assumption than that which proposes that the activity of an organ is solely dependent on its own size.