Orientador: Dagoberto Martins / Banca: Cibele Chalita Martins / Banca: Fernando Tadeu de Carvalho / Banca: Luciano Soares de Souza / Banca: Mário Sergio Tomazela / Resumo: Foram realizados estudos com as forrageiras tropicais: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia e Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. Objetivou-se avaliar a seletividade da aplicação de herbicidas em condições de campo e seu reflexo na qualidade de sementes. Todos os herbicidas foram testados em pós-emergência. Para as espécies B. brizantha e B.decumbens os tratamentos foram: imazethapyr a 100 g.ha-1, chlorimuron-ethyl a 15 g.ha-1, nicossulfuron a 50 g.ha-1, bentazon a 720 g.ha-1 e atrazine a 3000 g.ha-1. Para as espécies P. maximum cv. Mombaça e Tanzânia, o tratamento com o herbicida imazethapyr não foi utilizado e acrescentou-se: diclofop-methil a 284 g.ha-1, ametryne a 1250 g.ha-1 e propanil a 3600 g.ha-1. Além dos tratamentos químicos, houve uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicidas. A aplicação foi realizada utilizando-se um pulverizador costal, pressurizado a CO2, equipado com uma barra munida com 6 bicos de jato plano tipo "Teejet" XR8002VS. A pressão de trabalho foi de 2,1 bar, com um consumo de calda de 200 l/ha. Os efeitos dos tratamentos foram avaliados aos 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 e 28 dias após aplicação de acordo com uma escala percentual e visual de notas de 0 a 100, na qual 0 consistia em ausência de injúria e 100 em morte das plantas. Ao final das avaliações, foi determinada a massa seca das plantas. As sementes foram colhidas pelo método de varredura e avaliou-se a germinação através de 50 sementes em gerbox, com 16 repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias, tendo como parâmetros de avaliação: plântulas normais, plântulas anormais, sementes mortas e sementes dormentes. Para verificar a possível dormência das sementes foi utilizado o teste de Tetrazólio a 0,1 %. Os estudos de campo foram instalados em delineamento em blocos casualizados e os estudos de laboratório...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Four studies were accomplished with tropical grass forages: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania and Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. The objective was to evaluate the selectivity of the herbicides application in field conditions and the quality of seeds. The herbicides were tested in post-emergency. The treatments to B. brizantha and B. decumbens species were: imazethapyr to 100 g.ha-1, chlorimuron-ethyl to 15 g.ha-1, nicossulfuron to 50 g.ha-1, bentazon to 720 g.ha-1 and atrazine to 3000 g.ha-1. For P. maximum cv. Mombaça and Tanzania species the herbicide imazethapyr was removed from the treatments and it was increased: diclofop-methil to 284 g.ha-1, ametryne to 1250 g.ha-1 and propanil to 3600 g.ha-1, and a control plot. The application was accomplished used a back-pack, pressurized with CO2, and four "Teejet" XR8002VS, plain jet noozle. The work pressure was 2,1 bar and the application solution consumed was 200 l/ha. The treatments effects were appraised at the 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 Days After Application in agreement with a percentual and visual scale of notes from 0 to 100, in which " 0 " were consisted of injury absence and " 100 " in death of the plants and, at the end of the evaluations, dry mass of the plants was determined. The seeds were picked by the sweeping method and the germination was evaluated through 50 seeds in gerbox, with 16 replication. The evaluations were accomplished at the 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, tends as evaluation parameters: normal seeds, abnormal seeds, dead seeds and dormancy seeds. To verify the possible dormancy of the seeds it was used of Tetrazolium test at 0,1%. The field trials were carried out in randomized completely block design and the laboratory studies in totally randomized. All herbicides printed some visual toxic effect to the different species and cultivate appraised...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-06-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:18:05Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_af_me_ilha.pdf: 749987 bytes, checksum: 0c81f46a542c9187e2e4d0fc5ae7f098 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O potássio (K) é o segundo nutriente requerido em maior quantidade pela cultura da soja. Com a utilização de altas doses de potássio na semeadura da soja em solos com baixa Capacidade de Troca Catiônica (CTC) e precipitação pluvial intensa ocorrem perdas de K+ por lixiviação, necessitando de um melhor manejo dessa adubação. As plantas de cobertura podem ser opções eficientes para a reciclagem de K+ do solo e disponibilização gradativa à cultura subsequente. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o efeito da antecipação da adubação potássica da soja em culturas de cobertura para a produção de palha e disponibilização gradativa de potássio para a soja em sucessão, em semeadura direta num Latossolo Vermelho distrófico argiloso (LVd) na região de cerrado, em comparação às aplicações usuais na semeadura e/ou em cobertura. O experimento foi conduzido no ano agrícola 2009/2010 na área experimental da Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão da Faculdade de Engenharia/UNESP – Campus de Ilha Solteira, localizada no município de Selvíria –MS. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com os tratamentos dispostos em esquema fatorial 3x3x5, com quatro repetições. Os fatores consistiram de culturas de cobertura (milheto e painço) e um controle (pousio), doses de K2O (0, 50 e 100 kg ha-1) e formas de aplicação de K2O (100% na semeadura das culturas de cobertura; 100% na semeadura da soja; 100% em cobertura na soja; 50% antecipada nas culturas de cobertura + 50% na semeadura da soja; 50% na semeadura da soja + 50% em cobertura na soja). Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: Estado nutricional e massa seca das culturas de cobertura, estado nutricional das plantas de soja, altura de plantas, altura de inserção de primeira vagem, número de vagens por planta e grãos por vagem, produtividade de grãos, massa de 100 grãos e teor... / The potassium is the second nutrient required in greater quantity by crop soybean. With the utilization of high doses of potassium in soybean sowing in soils with low Cationic Exchange Capacity (CEC) and intense rainfall occurs losses of K+ by leaching, requiring better management of fertilizer. Cover crops can be efficient options for the recycling of K the soil and gradual availability to subsequent crop. In this sense, aimed to evaluate the effect of anticipation potassium fertilization of soybean in cover crops for the production of straw and gradual availability of potassium soybean in succession, in no-tillage in a clayey Distrofic Red Latosol, in savannah, comparing to the usual applications at sowing and/or cover. The experiment was conducted in the crop season 2009/2010, in the experimental farm of São Paulo State University, campus of Ilha Solteira, located in Selvíria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with treatments arranged in a factorial scheme 3x3x5, with four replications. The factors consisted of cover crops (Pennisetum glaucum and Panicum miliaceum) and a control (fallow area), doses of K2O (0, 50 e 100 kg ha-1) and application forms of K2O (100% at sowing of cover crops; 100% at sowing of soybean; 100% at cover in soybean; 50% at sowing cover crops + 50% at sowing of soybean; 50% at sowing of soybean + 50% at cover in the soybean). We evaluated the following variables: nutritional state and dry matter of cover crops, nutritional state of soybean plants, plant height, height of insertion of first pod, number of pods per plant and grains per pod, grains productivity , mass 100 grains and macronutrient content in soybean seeds. The pearl millet as cover crop soybean predecessor, had dry matter and potassium content higher than the proso millet, independent of dose and application form of K2O. In soil with high potassium... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-05-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:00:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 trigueiro_lrc_dr_botfca.pdf: 432257 bytes, checksum: b6fd485a006dd2961410bd68aab25e09 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foram realizados estudos com as forrageiras tropicais: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia e Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. Objetivou-se avaliar a seletividade da aplicação de herbicidas em condições de campo e seu reflexo na qualidade de sementes. Todos os herbicidas foram testados em pós-emergência. Para as espécies B. brizantha e B.decumbens os tratamentos foram: imazethapyr a 100 g.ha-1, chlorimuron-ethyl a 15 g.ha-1, nicossulfuron a 50 g.ha-1, bentazon a 720 g.ha-1 e atrazine a 3000 g.ha-1. Para as espécies P. maximum cv. Mombaça e Tanzânia, o tratamento com o herbicida imazethapyr não foi utilizado e acrescentou-se: diclofop-methil a 284 g.ha-1, ametryne a 1250 g.ha-1 e propanil a 3600 g.ha-1. Além dos tratamentos químicos, houve uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicidas. A aplicação foi realizada utilizando-se um pulverizador costal, pressurizado a CO2, equipado com uma barra munida com 6 bicos de jato plano tipo Teejet XR8002VS. A pressão de trabalho foi de 2,1 bar, com um consumo de calda de 200 l/ha. Os efeitos dos tratamentos foram avaliados aos 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 e 28 dias após aplicação de acordo com uma escala percentual e visual de notas de 0 a 100, na qual 0 consistia em ausência de injúria e 100 em morte das plantas. Ao final das avaliações, foi determinada a massa seca das plantas. As sementes foram colhidas pelo método de varredura e avaliou-se a germinação através de 50 sementes em gerbox, com 16 repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias, tendo como parâmetros de avaliação: plântulas normais, plântulas anormais, sementes mortas e sementes dormentes. Para verificar a possível dormência das sementes foi utilizado o teste de Tetrazólio a 0,1 %. Os estudos de campo foram instalados em delineamento em blocos casualizados e os estudos de laboratório... / Four studies were accomplished with tropical grass forages: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania and Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. The objective was to evaluate the selectivity of the herbicides application in field conditions and the quality of seeds. The herbicides were tested in post-emergency. The treatments to B. brizantha and B. decumbens species were: imazethapyr to 100 g.ha-1, chlorimuron-ethyl to 15 g.ha-1, nicossulfuron to 50 g.ha-1, bentazon to 720 g.ha-1 and atrazine to 3000 g.ha-1. For P. maximum cv. Mombaça and Tanzania species the herbicide imazethapyr was removed from the treatments and it was increased: diclofop-methil to 284 g.ha-1, ametryne to 1250 g.ha-1 and propanil to 3600 g.ha-1, and a control plot. The application was accomplished used a back-pack, pressurized with CO2, and four Teejet XR8002VS, plain jet noozle. The work pressure was 2,1 bar and the application solution consumed was 200 l/ha. The treatments effects were appraised at the 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 Days After Application in agreement with a percentual and visual scale of notes from 0 to 100, in which 0 were consisted of injury absence and 100 in death of the plants and, at the end of the evaluations, dry mass of the plants was determined. The seeds were picked by the sweeping method and the germination was evaluated through 50 seeds in gerbox, with 16 replication. The evaluations were accomplished at the 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, tends as evaluation parameters: normal seeds, abnormal seeds, dead seeds and dormancy seeds. To verify the possible dormancy of the seeds it was used of Tetrazolium test at 0,1%. The field trials were carried out in randomized completely block design and the laboratory studies in totally randomized. All herbicides printed some visual toxic effect to the different species and cultivate appraised...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-08-02T19:49:14Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Jose_Alexandre_14_06_2018.pdf: 1789545 bytes, checksum: c4b284b35b57fa2d10339e1d9aee5454 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-08-02T19:49:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Jose_Alexandre_14_06_2018.pdf: 1789545 bytes, checksum: c4b284b35b57fa2d10339e1d9aee5454 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-02T19:49:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Jose_Alexandre_14_06_2018.pdf: 1789545 bytes, checksum: c4b284b35b57fa2d10339e1d9aee5454 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-30 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of this work was to identify perennial forage grasses, which are potentially capable of producing large amounts of dry matter at different times of the year under the edaphoclimatic conditions of Manaus, AM. The experiment was carried out in the experimental field of Embrapa Western Amazon. The treatments corresponded to the eleven cultivars, which were cut in two intervals (28 and 42 days), with three replicates, totaling 66 experimental units. The experimental units of 16 m2 (4m x 4m), with spacing between plots of 2 m, were established through sowing in April 2016, in factorial arrangement, following a completely randomized design. The samples were obtained by harvesting a plot of the plot measuring 3m x 1m with recommended cutting height according to each cultivar, using a mower-mower with 1 m wide cutting bar. The forage was heavy green in the field as well as a sub-sample of approximately 1 kg. This sub-sample was dried in a forced circulation air oven at 65 ° C until constant weight, weighing again to determine the dry mass contente. The contents were used to determine the forage mass (MF) for each sample, being considered equal to the accumulation of forage (AF). At the end of the experiment, the AFs referring to each regrowth were added to obtain the total forage accumulation (AFT) for each plot. The data were grouped in two periods: rainy season and dry season, generating the seasonal forage accumulations, rainy season (AFpc) and dry period (AFps). From these were also generated the values of seasonal distribution of dry period and the rainy season, as a proportion of the total annual distribution (AFpc / AFps), dividing AFpc and AFps by AFT. The cultivars Mombaça and Massai are the most recommended for the edaphoclimatic conditions of Manaus, AM because their yields are very high in comparison to the others. The cultivar Tupi is a good alternative for pasture formation in the climatic conditions of Manaus due to the fact that it does not present the seasonality effect and its high production. In the cut-off interval of 42 days the cultivars obtained higher forage production in the soil and climatic conditions of Manaus, AM. / The objective of this work was to identify perennial forage grasses, which are potentially capable of producing large amounts of dry matter at different times of the year under the edaphoclimatic conditions of Manaus, AM. The experiment was carried out in the experimental field of Embrapa Western Amazon. The treatments corresponded to the eleven cultivars, which were cut in two intervals (28 and 42 days), with three replicates, totaling 66 experimental units. The experimental units of 16 m2 (4m x 4m), with spacing between plots of 2 m, were established through sowing in April 2016, in factorial arrangement, following a completely randomized design. The samples were obtained by harvesting a plot of the plot measuring 3m x 1m with recommended cutting height according to each cultivar, using a mower-mower with 1 m wide cutting bar. The forage was heavy green in the field as well as a sub-sample of approximately 1 kg. This sub-sample was dried in a forced circulation air oven at 65 ° C until constant weight, weighing again to determine the dry mass contente. The contents were used to determine the forage mass (MF) for each sample, being considered equal to the accumulation of forage (AF). At the end of the experiment, the AFs referring to each regrowth were added to obtain the total forage accumulation (AFT) for each plot. The data were grouped in two periods: rainy season and dry season, generating the seasonal forage accumulations, rainy season (AFpc) and dry period (AFps). From these were also generated the values of seasonal distribution of dry period and the rainy season, as a proportion of the total annual distribution (AFpc / AFps), dividing AFpc and AFps by AFT. The cultivars Mombaça and Massai are the most recommended for the edaphoclimatic conditions of Manaus, AM because their yields are very high in comparison to the others. The cultivar Tupi is a good alternative for pasture formation in the climatic conditions of Manaus due to the fact that it does not present the seasonality effect and its high production. In the cut-off interval of 42 days the cultivars obtained higher forage production in the soil and climatic conditions of Manaus, AM. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar cultivares de gramíneas forrageiras perenes, que sejam potencialmente capazes de produzir matéria seca em grande quantidade nas diferentes épocas do ano nas condições edafoclimáticas de Manaus, AM. O experimento foi realizado no campo experimental da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental. Os tratamentos corresponderam às onze cultivares, as quais foram cortadas em dois intervalos (28 e 42 dias), com três repetições, totalizando 66 unidades experimentais. As unidades experimentais de 16 m2 (4m x 4m), com espaçamento entre as parcelas de 2 m, foram estabelecidas através de semeaduras em abril de 2016, em arranjo fatorial, seguindo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. As amostras foram obtidas colhendo-se uma faixa da parcela medindo 3m x 1m com altura de corte recomendada de acordo com cada cultivar, empregando-se uma moto-segadora com barra de corte de 1 m de largura. A forragem foi pesada verde no campo assim como uma subamostra de aproximadamente 1 kg. Essa subamostra foi seca em estufa de circulação de ar forçado a 65 °C até peso constante, pesada novamente para determinação do teor de massa seca. Os teores foram usados na determinação da massa de forragem (MF) relativa a cada amostragem, sendo esta considerada igual ao acúmulo de forragem (AF). Ao final do experimento, os AFs referentes a cada rebrota foram somados para a obtenção do acúmulo total de forragem (AFT) referente a cada parcela. Os dados foram agrupados em dois períodos: período chuvoso e período seco, gerando os acúmulos de forragem estacionais, período chuvoso (AFpc) no período seco (AFps). A partir destes foram gerados ainda os valores de distribuição estacional de período seco e do período chuvoso, como proporção da distribuição anual total (AFpc/AFps), dividindo-se os AFpc e AFps pelo AFT. As cultivares Mombaça e Massai são as mais recomendadas para as condições edafoclimáticas de Manaus, AM pelas suas produções serem bem elevadas em comparação às demais. A cultivar Tupi é uma boa alternativa para formação de pastagem nas condições climáticas de Manaus pelo fato de quase não apresentar o efeito de estacionalidade e pela sua produção elevada. No intervalo de corte de 42 dias as cultivares obtiveram maior produção de forragem nas condições edafoclimáticas de Manaus, AM.

This study is part of a larger collaborative effort to determine the overall environmental sustainability of intercropping pine (Pinus taeda L.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), both of which are promising feedstock for bioenergy production in the Lower Coastal Plain in North Carolina. We measured soil CO₂ efflux (RS) every six weeks from January 2012 to March 2013 in four-year-old monoculture and intercropped stands of loblolly pine and switchgrass. RS is primarily the result of root respiration (RA) and microbial decomposition of organic matter (RH) releasing CO₂ as a by-product and is an important and large part of the global carbon (C) cycle. Accurate estimates of the two components of total soil respiration (RS) are required as they are functionally different processes and vary greatly spatially and temporally with species composition, temperature, moisture, productivity, and management activities. We quantified RA and RH components of RS by using a root exclusion core technique based on root carbohydrate depletion, which eliminates RA within the cores over time. We determined the relationship between RS, RA and RH measurements and roots collected from the cores. We took fresh soil cores in July 2012 to compare root productivity of loblolly pine and switchgrass in monoculture versus the co-culture. Additionally, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were monitored quarterly using vented static chambers. Pure switchgrass had significantly higher RS rates (July, August, September), root biomass and root length in the top 0-35 cm relative to switchgrass in the co-culture, while loblolly pine with and without switchgrass had no significant changes in RS and roots. Correlations between RA and roots showed significantly positive correlation of RA to grass root biomass (r = 0.37, p ≤ 0.001), fine (r = 0.26, p ≤ 0.05) and medium root surface area (r = 0.20, p ≤ 0.1). The estimated portions of RS attributed to RA in the intercrop stand were 31% and 22% in the summer and fall, respectively. No significant treatment differences were observed in either CH₄ or N₂O flux. Our study indicates a decrease in switchgrass root productivity in the intercropped stand versus the monoculture stand which could account for differences in the observed RS. / Master of Science

The world\'s highest yielding crops are C4 plants due to their higher water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, and productivity compared with C3 plants.  With an increasing demand for renewable resources as a result of the decreasing global supplies of fossil fuels, we need to improve our understanding of the limitations of biomass fuel feedstock to improve yields and better satisfy energy requirements.  The ability to attain the goal feedstock production in the US is limited by available arable land and cool temperatures.  This study investigates the effects of cool temperatures on the productivity and photosynthesis of the two species with the highest potential for feedstock production in the US: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cv. Alamo and miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus).  At 14/12"C and a 14/10 hour light/dark photoperiod, switchgrass showed lower productivity and light saturated photosynthetic rates (Amax=10.3 "mol m-2s-1) compared with 28/25"C and the same photoperiod (Amax=18.8 "mol m-2s-1).  Miscanthus has demonstrated cold tolerance in previous studies, and here showed no significant decrease in the productivity or photosynthetic rates in cool, compared with warm, growing conditions (Amax=8.2 "mol m-2s-1 and 7.0 "mol m-2s-1 for warm and cool conditions, respectively). Also, this study examines the potential limitations of C4 photosynthesis by the enzyme pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) under the same cool conditions, transgenic switchgrass cv. Alamo were created with the insertion of the miscanthus PPDK gene. Productivity and photosynthetic responses of the transgenic plants were evaluated in cool and warm growth temperatures.  Of the two transgenic events tested here, line S(1) displayed cold tolerance, as seen in no loss of both carboxylation efficiency and the ratio of CO2 assimilation to electron transport (Asat/Jmax).  These results indicate that PPDK may pose a significant limitation to C4 photosynthesis in cool conditions and there is a possibility that cold season photosynthesis of switchgrass cv. Alamo could be improved. / Master of Science

Interest in renewable energy and governmental mandates has motivated land managers to consider cellulosic feedstocks for bioenergy. I investigated plant community response to a system including switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a feedstock intercropped with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). I estimated plant species evenness, richness, and diversity and biomass production, with emphasis on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forages. I detected 225 species in 2,220 1-m2 quadrats, and 7,495 biomass samples (96.4 kg dry weight) from 960 quadrats. Intercropping reduced plant species diversity, total non-pine tree biomass, and biomass of deer forages during switchgrass establishment. These effects were no longer apparent at treatment level two years after switchgrass establishment, except that deer browse and total deer forage biomass remained less in intercropped interbeds. Intercropping in managed pines may temporarily effect plant communities but further studies are needed to examine longer term effects and to quantify effects on nutritional carrying capacity for deer.

An experiment was conducted to determine temperature effects on switchgrass seed germination, a native species with feedstock potential for the biofuel industry. Stratified seeds were germinated at constant temperatures, 15 to 45°C with 5°C interval. Maximum seed germination (MSG) and germination rate (GR), estimated by fitting sigmoid function to germination-time series data, varied among genotypes. Quadratic and bilinear models best described the MSG and GR responses to temperature, respectively. The mean cardinal temperatures, minimum, optimum and maximum, were 8.1, 26.6 and 45.1ºC for MSG and 11.1, 33.1 and 46.0ºC for GR, respectively, varied among genotypes. Genotypes were classified for temperature tolerance based on cumulative temperature response index: ‘Summer’ and ‘Expresso’ were identified as the most heat- and cold-tolerant genotypes, respectively. The functional algorithms and identified tolerant genotypes may be used to improve switchgrass models for field applications and breeding programs to develop new genotypes with enhanced tolerance for niche environments.

No description available.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a high-yielding perennial C4 prairie grass species, is a top candidate as a bioenergy feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Seedling establishment is a primary concern given the inherent variability in switchgrass seed dormancy. Determining current states of seed quality in terms of emergence percentage is crucial for a successful stand establishment. A practical seed vigor test was conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine current emergence percentage. Three depths and three media types were conditions evaluated in the vigor test. To find correlation between emergence percentage in greenhouse test conditions and that in field conditions, results from the vigor test were applied in two separate field evaluations. Field evaluations showed that vigor test conditions of field soil at 1-cm depth yielded below the target, suggesting that this condition did not put enough stress on seedling emergence in the greenhouse vigor test. A 20% increase of vigor test results in the field soil/1 cm condition could accurately predict field emergence. Field results suggested that coarse sand at 5-cm accurately predicted field emergence of highly vigorous varieties and that coarse sand at 1-cm and fine sand at 3-cm predicted field emergence in moderately to least vigorous varieties.