Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-02-10T15:27:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 777562 bytes, checksum: 11f688a1703ac8135b33f98491793bf3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-10T15:27:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 777562 bytes, checksum: 11f688a1703ac8135b33f98491793bf3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A seleção genômica tornou-se ferramenta bastante útil no auxílio ao melhoramento animal e vegetal, contudo este cenário tem requerido modelos com alta capacidade de predição. Neste contexto a inclusão de efeitos não aditivos e também de interação GxA em modelos GBLUP desponta como possível fonte de melhoria de capacidade predição em estudos de seleção genômica. Em conformidade com esta demanda, o objetivo com este trabalho foi verificar se a inclusão do efeito de dominância e seu respectivo efeito de interação com o ambiente aumentaria a habilidade de predição do modelo G-BLUP. Foram comparados modelos com e sem inclusão de efeitos de dominância sob interação GxA. Para as análises foram utilizados dados reais e simulados. Os dados simulados consistiram de 923 indivíduos avaliados em três ambientes sob diferentes herdabilidades no sentido amplo, herdabilidades no sentido restrito, níveis de dominância e correlações genéticas e residuais. Os dados reais provêm de 923 indivíduos de Pinus taeda L. genotipados e fenotipados para característica altura em quatro localidades dos Estados Unidos da América. Os resultados demonstraram haver ligeiro incremento na habilidade de predição (em validações entre e dentro de ambientes) quando utilizado o modelo com inclusão do efeito de dominância e também o efeito de interação dominância por ambiente, contudo conclui-se que o modelo aditivo dominante teve performance estatisticamente igual ao modelo aditivo sob interação GxA. / Genomic selection has become very useful tool in helping to animal and plant breeding, however this scenario has required models with high predictive ability. In this context the inclusion of non-additive effects and GxE interaction in GBLUP models is emerging as a possible source for improve the predictions of genomic selection. In line with this demand, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of dominance effect and also the additive and dominance by environment interaction in genomic prediction. We compared models with and without inclusion of dominance effects in GxE interaction. For the analyzes, real and simulated data were used. The simulated data consisted in 923 individuals evaluated in three environments under different broad-sense heritability, narrow-sense heritability, dominance levels and genetic and residual correlations. The real data comes from 923 individuals of Pinus taeda L. genotyped and phenotyped to hight in four locations of United States. The results demonstrated a slight increase in predictive ability (in validations within and across environments) when using model with inclusion of dominance effect and the interaction effect dominance by environment, but we concluded that the additive and dominance model had a performance statistically equal to the additive model under GxE interaction.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-03-07T12:46:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS16MA145.pdf: 655955 bytes, checksum: bf04be65ba544eba0d5c3c8744e49793 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-07T12:46:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS16MA145.pdf: 655955 bytes, checksum: bf04be65ba544eba0d5c3c8744e49793 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / Capes / The incentive to forest cultivation using exotic species in southern Brazil, occurred in the late 1960s, with the law of tax incentives, where many companies were based on national and foreign capital formed. In southern Brazil and Pinus taeda L. is the predominant specie in forest plantations. Considering these aspects the importance of reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, studies in forest cultivation areas are necessary to assess the effects of natural forest conversion to exotic plantations. The objective of this study was to quantify the carbon stock and nitrogen and soil chemical properties on a Humic Dystrupept, under forestry production areas (Pinus taeda L.) and native forest, in layers of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm in the region of Ponte Alta do Norte - SC. Soil sampling occurred in areas with 9, 13 and 21 year, where it was determined particle size distribution, effective depth, drainage and total and particulate organic carbon, total and particulate nitrogen, soil bulk density, active and potential acidity, aluminum, phosphorus and potassium. Active acidity, potential and exchangeable aluminum, were higher in plantations than native forests. Regarding to the phosphorus contents, generally occurred low values in all locations, decreasing with increasing depth. Potassium contents were higher in the native areas than in forest plantations. Nitrogen contents decreased with increasing depth, except in CP 21, where there was an anthropic influence. The total stock of soil organic carbon in the areas of forest cultivation in general, were similar to the areas of native forests, and shows that pine can be efficient in carbon storage in relation to natural vegetation. Forest farming plantations, add organic matter to the soil as plant residues and can increase the content of soil organic carbon, contributing to the maintenance of soil sustainability. Carbon stocks were not influenced by the cultivation age but by the amount of biomass deposited on the soil / O incentivo ao cultivo florestal de exóticas no sul do Brasil ocorreu no fim da década de 1960 com a lei de incentivos ficais, onde muitas empresas foram formadas, desde empresas de capital nacional a capital estrangeiro. No sul do Brasil o cultivo de Pinus taeda L. se destaca, sendo nesta região a espécie predominante. Diante deste cenário, e com a preocupação com os níveis de CO2 emitidos na atmosfera, são necessários estudos para avaliar os efeitos da conversão de áreas nativa para cultivo florestal com espécies exóticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de quantificar o estoque de carbono e nitrogênio e a composição química em Cambissolo Húmico, em áreas de produção florestal (Pinus taeda L.) e em área de mata nativa, nas camadas de 0-20 cm e 20-40 cm, na região de Ponte Alta do Norte – SC. A coleta de solo ocorreu em áreas com idades de, 9, 13 e 21 anos, onde foi determinada granulometria, profundidade efetiva, drenagem, carbono orgânico total e particulado, nitrogênio total e particulado, densidade do solo, estoque de carbono orgânico total e particulado, acidez ativa e potencial, teores de alumínio, fósforo, potássio. A acidez ativa, potencial e alumínio trocável, foram maior nas áreas de cultivo do que nas florestas nativas. Em relação aos valores de fósforo, no geral os teores foram baixos em todos os locais, e sendo observado que os teores diminuem conforme o aumento de profundidade. Os teores em relação aos cultivos florestais de potássio foram superiores nas áreas de referência. Os valores encontrados de nitrogênio diminuíram com o aumento da profundidade, com exceção a CP 21, onde ocorreu influência antrópica. O estoque de carbono orgânico total do solo nas áreas de cultivo florestal no geral, foi semelhante ao das áreas de mata nativa, e demonstra que o pinus pode ser eficiente no armazenamento de carbono em relação à vegetação natural. O cultivo florestal adiciona matéria orgânica via resíduos vegetais e pode incrementar o conteúdo de carbono orgânico do solo e contribuir para a manutenção da sustentabilidade do solo. O estoque de carbono não foi influenciado pelo tempo de cultivo, mas sim pela quantidade de biomassa depositada sobre o solo

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:12:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGEF14MA024.pdf: 1261697 bytes, checksum: ec2e9967a31397bdac0f09368d8c0745 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-31 / This work had as main objective to study environmental conditions to re-establish with the aid of transposition of matter and the support of native forest fragment. To meet these objectives, the study was conducted in the form of chapters: 1) Litter in adjacent natural forest fragment in Pinus taeda L. 2) Natural regeneration in Pinus taeda L. under different thinning ages. To study the litter and seed rain were installed ten collectors 1 m x 1 m and 50m equidistant at each location. The collectors were installed for comparison on the edge of three fragments adjacent to Pinus taeda L. natural forest, totaling 30 collectors. The intercepted litter was collected monthly during the period of one year, from May 2013 to April 2014 At each harvest the seeds were separated and counted. Samples of litter fractions were oven-dried to obtain the dry weight and quantification of total production. The evaluation study of regeneration was conducted at two locations without thinning and second thinning. The process of systematic sampling, being installed eight tracks of 10 m wide by 50 m long at each site was used. The strips were placed perpendicularly from the edge into the planting together with the fragment of native forest. In bands, three sub-plots of 10 m x10 m, 10 m equidistant between them settled. These sub-plots was measured the height of the layer of needles on the soil surface and allocated 10 plots 1m² to assess the vegetation cover and account for the arboreal regenerating 16 17 individuals, 5 removed the needles every three months, the period of a year 5 without remove them. Climate variables, wind speed, precipitation and temperature exert greater influence on the production and deposition of litter on the ground. Seed rain is influenced by occurring species and fruiting period. Litter production was higher in late winter and early spring. Natural regeneration within the Pinus. Different thinning intensities influence the regeneration. Percent coverage was superior in place with second thinning is influenced by the distance of the native forest, while no thinning was decreasing gradually with increasing distance regeneration of native forest. The regenerating species are present in the native forest fragment. Onsite without thinning 15 species occurred, while in the second thinning was the regeneration of 14 species, with the occurrence of exotic species Pinus. The environment occupied by Pinus stand has conditions of formation of a sub grove, with a reduced number of species compared to native forest fragment. The brightness is the environmental factor that exerts the greatest influence on natural regeneration within the stand of Pinus, the greater the intensity of thinning, higher brightness inside the settlement, most regeneration / Esta dissertação teve como objetivo geral estudar as condições do ambiente se reestabelecer com o auxílio de transposição de matéria e suporte do fragmento de floresta nativa. Para atender esses objetivos, o trabalho foi desenvolvido em forma de capítulos: 1) Serapilheira em fragmento de floresta natural adjacentes em plantios de Pinus taeda L. 2) Regeneração natural em plantios de Pinus taeda L. em diferentes idades de desbaste. Para estudo da serapilheira e da chuva de sementes, foram instalados dez coletores de 1m x1m e equidistantes 50m em cada local. Os coletores foram instalados para comparação na borda de três fragmentos de floresta natural adjacentes a plantios de Pinus taeda L., totalizando 30 coletores. A serapilheira interceptada foi coletada mensalmente durante o período de um ano, entre maio de 2013 a abril de 2014. Em cada coleta as sementes foram separadas e contabilizadas. As amostras de frações de serapilheira foram secas em estufa para obtenção do peso seco e quantificação da produção total. O estudo de avaliação de regeneração foi realizado em dois locais, sem desbaste e com segundo desbaste. Utilizou-se o processo de amostragem sistemática, sendo instaladas oito faixas de 10 m de largura por 50 m de comprimento em cada local. As faixas foram alocadas perpendicularmente da borda para o interior do plantio em conjunto com o fragmento de floresta nativa. Nas faixas, 12 13 instalou-se três sub-parcelas de 10 mx10 m, equidistantes 10 m entre elas. Nestas sub-parcelas foi medido a altura da camada de acículas na superfície do solo e alocadas 10 parcelas de 1m², para avaliar a cobertura vegetal e contabilizar os indivíduos arbóreos regenerantes, sendo em 5 retiradas as acículas a cada 3 meses, no período de um ano, 5 sem retira-las. As variáveis climáticas, velocidade do vento, precipitação e temperatura exercem maior influência na produção e deposição de serapilheira no solo. A chuva de sementes é influenciada pelas espécies ocorrentes e período de frutificação. A produção de serapilheira foi maior no final do inverno e início da primavera. Na regeneração natural no interior do Pinus as diferentes intensidades de desbaste influenciam na regeneração. A porcentagem de cobertura foi superior no local com segundo desbaste sendo influenciada pela distância da floresta nativa, enquanto o sem desbaste foi diminuindo gradativamente a regeneração quando aumenta a distância da mata nativa. As espécies regenerantes, estão presentes no fragmento de floresta nativa. No local sem desbaste ocorreu 15 espécies, enquanto no segundo desbaste houve a regeneração de 14 espécies, com a ocorrência da espécie exótica Pinus. O ambiente ocupado pelo povoamento de pinus possui condições de formação de um sub bosque, com uma quantidade de espécies reduzidas comparado com o fragmento de floresta nativa. A luminosidade é o fator ambiental que exerce maior influência na regeneração natural no interior do povoamento de Pinus, quanto maior a intensidade de desbaste, maior luminosidade no interior do povoamento, maior regeneração

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work was developed with the aim of studying the efficiency of the models that express the relationship of density and diameter in evenaged stands of Pinus taeda L., managed in full density and highly stocked for a bioeconomic model of production. For this, were tested density and diameter models, using data derived from 50 permanent plots, measured annually until 18 age, allocated to settlements established in the spacing of 1.5x1.0 m, 2.5x 1.0 m, 1.5x2.0 m, 2.0x2.0 m, 1.5x3.0 m, 2.5x2.0 m, 2.0x3.0 m and 2.5x3.0 m, kept at full density, in Otacílio Costa, physiographic region of Santa Catarina State plateau.The results of the bioeconomic modeling of production, based on the density management diagram system for tall trees, we concluded that the models proposed by Reineke, Yoda, Zeide and Tang showed a good statistical precision, with a determination coefficient higher than 0,88 and coefficient of variation less than 1.25 % but the model of Tang was more accurate and efficient. The size of the diameter at the point where you start self-thinning in the population varies considerably with the density of trees established per hectare. For all plant spacings analyzed did not prove the value of the slope of -3/2 law of self-thinning proposed by Tang and is a result of the initial spacing. The limit of self-thinning in less dense populations, occurs with a diameter slightly less than in maximum density, which is directly proportional to the density of trees when the implementation of the forest. The model of self-thinning described the management zones of great individuals in the population, between 0.45 and 0.55 limits the maximum density of the forest. The annual increment in diameter between 6 and 7 years, when related to relative density (G/d0,5622) identified five areas of growth, defined by: excessive space - trees grow free of competition;free growth - where growth in diameter is maximum; increased competition- when the diameter increment begins to decrease; full density - when productivity of the stand is maximum; and imminent death - begins when individuals have died by excessive density and high competition. The Diagrams Density Management of the variables mean diameter, basal area, volume by the Population Density Index was efficient and to estimate thisis values with accuracy, showed an efficiency of 0.99. The lines demarcating the areas of competition allow us to project the trajectory of the diameter and density, with the definition of the clearcutting. The Normal, Lnnormal, Weibull and Gamma probability distributions, described accurately the variation of the density of the stands, but the Weibull function with two parameters was comparable to the adjustment by the simplicity and efficiency in the prognosis of frequencies for diameter in time. The shape of the trunk was adjusted by the polynomial of five degree, allowed the best estimates than other models. The net present value of R$ 15587.60 ha-1 was given to the management regime with three thinnings at 9, 13 and 18 years and cut at 22 years, higher than the other schemes simulated. A comparison of management regimes for the equivalence of planning horizons for 28 years, determined by the equivalent annual value, said the management regime with three thinned and cut at 22 years, such as greater economic efficiency, with a value of R$ 1380.10 ha-1. The internal rate of return in any simulated management regimes was highly attractive, with varying from 14.83 % per year in managed regimes stands with three thinning and cut to 22 years to 14.25 % per year in managed regimes stands with threethinning and cut to 18 years. The biggest benefit/costs ratio was 2.81, obtained in the management regime with three thinnings, at 9, 13 and 18 years and final cutting at 22 years. / Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de estudar a eficiência dos modelos que expressam a relação de densidade e diâmetro em povoamentos equiâneos de Pinus taeda L., manejados em densidade completa e altamente estocados, para obtenção de um modelo bioeconômico da produção. Para isso, foram testados modelos de densidadee diâmetro, através de dados originados de 50 parcelas permanentes, medidas anualmente até os 18 anos, alocados em povoamentos implantados em espaçamentos de 1,5x1,0 m, 2,5x1,0 m, 1,5x2,0 m, 2,0x2,0 m, 1,5x3,0 m, 2,5x2,0 m, 2,0x3,0 m e 2,5x3,0 m, mantidos em densidade completa, em Otacílio Costa, região fisiográfica do planalto do estado de Santa Catarina. Os resultados obtidos da modelagem bioeconômica da produção, baseada no Diagrama de Manejo da Densidade para sistema de alto fuste, permitiram concluir que os modelos propostos por Reineke, Yoda, Zeide e Tang apresentaram uma boa precisão estatística, com um coeficiente de determinação superior a 0,88 e um coeficiente de variação inferior a 1,25%, porém o modelo de Tang mostrou-se mais preciso e eficiente. A dimensão do diâmetro médio no ponto em que inicia o autodesbaste na população varia consideravelmente com a densidade de árvores implantadas por hectare. Para todos os espaçamentos de plantio analisados, não se comprovou o valor do coeficiente angular de -3/2 da lei de autodesbaste proposto por Tang, sendo uma decorrência do espaçamento inicial. O limite de autodesbaste de populações menos densas ocorre com um diâmetro médio pouco inferior ao obtido em máxima densidade, sendo este diretamente proporcional à densidade de árvores quando da implantação da floresta. O modelo de autodesbaste descreveu as zonas de manejo ótimo dos indivíduos na população entre limites de 0,45 e 0,55 da densidade máxima da floresta. O incremento corrente anual em diâmetro entre o 6º e o 7º ano, quando relacionado com a densidade relativa (G/d0,5622), permitiu identificar cinco zonas de crescimento, definidas por: espaço excessivo as árvores crescem livre de concorrência; crescimento livre o incremento em diâmetro é máximo; aumento da competição o incremento em diâmetro começa a diminuir; estoque completo a produtividade do povoamento é máxima; e iminente mortalidade começa a haver morte de indivíduos por densidade excessiva e alta concorrência. Os Diagramas de Manejo da Densidade com as variáveis diâmetro médio, área basal e volume por Índice de Densidade do Povoamento foram eficientes e permitiram estimar estes valores com acurácia, para uma eficiência igual a 0,99. As linhas que delimitam as zonas de concorrência permitem projetar a trajetória do diâmetro por densidade populacional, com definição da idade de corte final. As distribuições de probabilidade Normal, Ln-normal, Weibull e Gama descreveram com acurácia a variação da densidade dos povoamentos, masa função de Weibull, com dois parâmetros, foi compatível pela simplicidade ao ajuste e à eficiência na prognose das frequências por diâmetro no tempo. A forma de tronco ajustada pelo polinômio do 5º grau apresentou melhores estimativas que outros modelos. O Valor Presente Líquido de R$ 15.587,60 ha-1 foi determinado para o regime de manejo com três desbastes, aos 9, 13 e 18 anos e corte final aos 22, superior aos demais regimes simulados. A comparação dos regimes de manejo pela equivalência dos horizontes de planejamento em 28 anos, determinado pelo Valor Anual Equivalente, indicou o regime de manejo com três desbastes e corte final aos 22 anos como o de maior eficiência econômica, com um valor de R$ 1.380,10 ha-1. A taxa interna de retorno em qualquer dos regimes de manejo simulados foi altamente atrativa, tendo variado de 14,83 % a.a. em povoamentos manejados com três desbastes e corte final aos 22 anos a 14,25 % a.a. em povoamentos manejadoscom dois desbastes e corte final aos 18 anos. A maior razão benefício sobre os custos foi de 2,81, obtida no regime de manejo com três desbastes, aos 9, 13 e 18 anos e corte final aos 22.

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

Application of biosolids as an alternative source of Nitrogen (N) is becoming a common silviculture practices on loblolly pine forest. However, little is known about how biosolids type, application rate, and timing affect forest floor and soil N availability in pine plantations. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of different types, rates, and season of application of biosolids on forest floor and soil N. The study was established in a 17-year-old loblolly pine plantation in Amelia County, VA. Anaerobically digested (AD225), lime stabilized (LS225), and pelletized (Pellet225) biosolids and a conventional inorganic urea plus diammonium phosphate fertilizer (U+DAP225) were surface applied at a rate of 225 kg ha-1 based on Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) between March 5th and 10th, 2006. Anaerobically digested biosolids were also surface applied at the rates of 900 kg PAN ha-1 and 1800 kg PAN ha<sup>-</sup¹ (AD900 and AD1800). Anaerobically digested biosolids at the rate of 900 kg PAN ha⁻¹ were also applied on November 5th, 2005 (AD900F). Surface application of different type of biosolids in a loblolly pine plantation increased soil N availability and mineralization when biosolids were applied at the permitted rate of 225 kg PAN ha⁻¹. Surface soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N availability and N mineralization was significantly different among biosolids type over time. N release from different type of biosolids depends on the initial inorganic N content, and N mineralization in biosolids. The average soil N availability and mineralization was significantly greater in the Pellet225 treatments than in all the other treatments. Soil N availability decreased in winter in all the treatments but remained generally higher than the control until the end of the second growing season. Nitrate-N concentrations in lysimeters were below water quality standard limits in all the treatments applied at the rate of 225 kg PAN ha⁻¹. Accumulation of N, C, and Ca in the forest floor was well correlated with the amount of biosolids applied on each treatment. The surface application of different type of biosolids had minimal impact upon total N and C in the mineral soil. Increasing application rates of anaerobically digested biosolids directly increased soil N availability and mineralization. Nitrate-N concentrations in lysimeters were above water quality standards limits during several months in the AD900 and AD1800 treatments. Significant differences in the forest floor total N, C and Ca were observed with increasing application rates of biosolids. Total C accumulation was significantly higher in the forest floor in the AD1800 treatment. However, we observed no effect on soil total C with increasing application rates of biosolids. We found that biosolids application during spring significantly increased soil extractable N, N mineralization, NO₃-N leaching, and total C in the mineral soil in comparison to the fall application. Fall application significantly increased NH₄-N leaching and soil extractable Ca. We observed no significant effect on ion exchangeable N measured on membranes, total N, C, Ca, and pH measured in the forest floor, and soil total N and pH in the mineral soil. Our results demonstrated that permitted surface application of biosolids at the rate of 225 kg PAN ha⁻¹ in a loblolly pine plantation increased surface soil N availability without increasing the potential for NO₃-N groundwater pollution. / Ph. D.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications occur during plant growth, development, and in response to environmental stimuli. Key modulators of ECM modification in vertebrates, the extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), have also been described in a few plants. Here, we report the identification of Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) Pta1-MMP and its characterization during seed development and germination. The Pta1-MMP protein has the structural characteristics of other plant MMPs, and a recombinant protein (rPta-MMP) generated by using EST sequences for a seed-expressed MMP exhibits Zn2+-dependent protease activity, and is inhibited by the active site-binding hydroxamate inhibitor GM6001 and EDTA. The Pta1-MMP gene is expressed during embryo development, with transcript levels increasing from proembryo to early cotyledonary stage, then declining during late cotyledonary expansion and maturation drying. Protein extracts exhibited similar developmental-stage MMP-like activity. Seed imbibition in water facilited germination, which was stimulated by GA3 and inhibited by ABA. The timing of germination was mirrored by the presence of MMP-like protease activity in both water- and GA3-imbibed embryos. Pta1-MMP transcript levels increased in association with germination for both GA3- and water-treated embryos, in agreement with MMP-like activity. In contrast, by 10 days after imbibition, Pta1-MMP transcripts in ABA-treated embryos were at levels similar to the other treatments, although MMP-like activity was not observed. The application of GM6001 during Loblolly pine seed imbibition inhibited germination in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that Pta1-MMP is required for ECM modification, facilitating the cell division and expansion required for both embryo development and germination. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an MMP in any gymnosperm and also its involvement in embryo development and subsequent germination. / Ph. D.

Stand conditions influence the partitioning of biomass to stem, foliage, branch, and root components. Using data from 4 to 6-year old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees grown in a miniature-scale spacing trial, this study determined the effect of initial planting density on the biomass partitioning of loblolly pine. An analysis of covariance concluded that density did not have a significant effect on the relative amount of biomass in aboveground components.Some measures of partitioning tradeoffs (such as root: shoot ratio) showed a significant positive slope when regressed against trees per hectare. Systems of linear equations were developed based on tree measurements and age, and additivity was specified. By taking into account contemporaneous correlations among tree components, seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) methodologies led to efficient parameter estimates. When compared to studies with mature trees at operational scales, results from the miniature-scale trees showed similar trends. Stem and woody roots were 70 and 14% of total mass, respectively. Since these miniature-scale trees were physiologically young at time of harvest, allocation of mass to foliage continued to be a priority, occupying 10% of total mass. / Master of Science

Biosolids, materials resulting from domestic sewage treatment, are surface applied to forest soils to increase nutrient availability. Retaining streamside management zones (SMZs) can limit nutrient pollution of streams. We delineated 15 m SMZs along three intermittent streams in an 18-year-old Pinus taeda L. plantation. We applied biosolids outside the SMZ on one side of each of the streams maintaining the other side of the stream as control. We collected water samples from the three treated and six reference streams as well as from the perennial stream both upstream and downstream from the intermittent streams for 12 months following treatment. Along transects perpendicular to the treated streams, we collected overland flow samples, soil solution samples at 60 cm and extracts from ion exchange membranes (IEMs) placed in the surface soil. We found elevated nitrate concentrations outside the SMZ in the treated side soil solution samples, in which concentrations remained below 1.5 mg L-1. Nutrient concentrations outside the SMZ in treated side IEM extracts increased following biosolids application, returning to near control levels after one year. Nutrient concentrations in IEM extracts were not elevated adjacent to the streams. We observed elevated phosphorus concentrations adjacent to the stream in overland flow during one period on the treated side of the stream. Stream nutrient concentrations showed few differences downstream from the treatment with concentrations below 1.5 mg L-1. Our results indicate that a 15 m SMZ protected streams from nutrient pollution for the first year following biosolids application to adjacent forestlands. / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:42:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rall_r_dr_botfca.pdf: 3009719 bytes, checksum: 38cc6cd9bb7ba17898d531cc167e3715 (MD5) / No Brasil, a utilização de Pinus (de reflorestamentos) na indústria madeireira tem sido crescente nos últimos anos. Particularmente para a madeira serrada desse gênero, a produção nacional de madeira serrada de Pinus atingiu 9,46 milhões de m³ em 2008. O crescimento da produção no período de 1999 a 2008 foi de 40,6%. A produção de madeira em ciclos mais curtos tem tornado comum o decréscimo constante na oferta de árvores adultas com grandes diâmetros. Além do aspecto da juvenilidade, nota-se que a madeira hoje disponível para uso industrial e comercial apresenta uma incidência muito grande de nós e outros defeitos, que comprometem significativamente seu desempenho físico mecânico e sua qualidade. Diante dos números que apontam uma crescente demanda por produtos de madeira serrada de Pinus, é natural que a indústria busque formas mais eficientes de garantir a qualidade dos produtos por ela gerados; neste sentido a atividade de inspeção assume um papel importante no processo produtivo. De fato, a classificação de madeira serrada é afetada sensivelmente pela qualidade do trabalho desempenhado pelos graduadores humanos (trabalhadores das serrarias), pois essa é uma atividade estressante, exigindo grande atenção por longos períodos de tempo. O objetivo geral foi o desenvolvimento de técnicas de processamento de imagens digitais para detecção de defeitos na madeira serrada de coníferas. Os objetivos específicos foram, por meio da análise digital das imagens, analisar quais os parâmetros devem ser empregados para a detecção de defeitos na madeira serrada de coníferas, além de desenvolver um software de visão de máquina para a detecção de defeitos na madeira serrada de coníferas. O material utilizado para o estudo foi a madeira extraída de seis árvores de Pinus taeda com 37 anos de idade, provenientes do Horto Florestal de Manduri – SP. As árvores... / In Brazil, the use of Pinus (reforestation) in the timber industry has been growing in recent years. Estimates indicate that the volume of lumber produced in the country, estimated at about 22 million m3, more than 35% is made of pinewood. Timber production in shorter cycles has become common for the steady decline in the supply of mature trees with large diameters (ABRAF, 2009). In the aspect of juvenility, it is noted that the wood available today for industrial and commercial use has a very high number of knots and other defects that significantly impair their physical performance and mechanical quality. Given the numbers that indicate a growing demand for sawn timber products from pine, it is natural that the industry seek more efficient ways to ensure the quality of products generated by it, meaning that the inspection activity plays an important role in the production process. In fact, the classification of lumber is affected significantly by the quality of work performed by human graders (sawmill workers), because this is a stressful activity, requiring close attention for long periods of time. So, the aim of this study was to develop techniques of digital imaging to detect defects in lumber conifers. The specific objectives were, through the analysis of digital images, analyze which parameters should be taken to detect defects in lumber conifers, and develop a software for machine vision detection of defects in lumber conifers. The material used for the study was the wood from six trees of Pinus taeda with 37 years of age, from the forest nursery of Manduri - SP. The trees were split into planks, which led to 84 samples in which they were originally analyzed manually nodes, presence of bone marrow and 17 other conditions that compromise their quality in accordance with standards established by the NBR 12297 (ABNT, 1991). In the processing of digital images acquired from these boards...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)