This study examines the environmental and socio-economic effects associated with the planting of Atriplex nummularia Lindl. (Oldman saltbush) in the karoo. This is the first study of its kind on oldman saltbush and serves as an important scoping exercise in assessing the impact of saltbush on its surrounds and in identifying additional aspects which require investigation. The environmental parameters investigated include microclimatic effects, soil induced changes, salinity effects on the germination of selected karoo species and compositional changes in the indigenous plant community within a saltbush plantation. When compared to indigenous karoo plant species oldman saltbush is found to ameliorate soil temperatures and increase surface soil salinity (specifically sodium chloride), on an individual plant basis. Salinity is shown to have a differential effect on the germination of selected karoo shrubs. The indigenous plant community within a forty year old saltbush plantation is impoverished with both density of individuals and species richness being markedly reduced. Saltbush is identified as an unsuitable nurse plant for the majority of karoo shrubs. Farm size in relation to both actual and intended area established to saltbush is considered. The area of saltbush already established in the karoo is considered too insignificant to have any wide socio-economic impact. Farmers who intend planting large areas of their farms to saltbush are in the minority. It is those farmers who already have some saltbush planted, who intend planting more. Ecologically based management guidelines are presented, suggesting practices which minimize the detrimental effects of saltbush on soil salinity and the indigenous plant community. These guidelines are practical and in keeping with the overall objectives of optimum resource utilisation and the national grazing strategy for South Africa.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Orientador: Gustavo Vitti Môro / Banca: Sandra Helena Unêda Trevisoli / Banca: Ivana Marino Bárbaro / Resumo: O milho é a terceira cultura mais cultivada no mundo e ocupa o primeiro lugar em produção e produtividade entre as principais culturas produtoras de grãos. Sua importância agronômica e econômica estimula diversos estudos, entre eles a densidade populacional, em decorrência das alterações no espaçamento entre e dentro de linhas. Esse estudo remete a uma série de implicações, por exemplo, o desenvolvimento de cultivares adaptadas a diferentes condições, considerando sua arquitetura, assim como o estudo dos fatores abióticos e, fundamentalmente, a interação genótipo x ambiente. Baseado nisso, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a dissimilaridade ambiental em variedades de milho submetidas ao cultivo em diferentes densidades populacionais. Os experimentos foram instalados com quatro densidades populacionais em diferentes ambientes no delineamento de blocos casualizados, avaliando-se os caracteres relacionados ao ciclo, altura e produtividade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância conjunta, seguida das análises de dissimilaridade ambiental e de correlação. Observou-se que existe uma tendência de, com o aumento da densidade, os genótipos interagirem mais com o ambiente, principalmente para os caracteres relacionados à produtividade, apresentando interação genótipo x ambiente. Portanto, não se faz possível a recomendação precisa e uniforme de densidade populacional para os genótipos nas distintas épocas de cultivo / Abstract: Maize is the third most grown crop in the world and ranks first in production and productivity of the main grain crops. Their agronomic and economic importance stimulates several studies, including population density, due to the changes in spacing. This study refers a series of implications, for example, the development of cultivars adapted to different conditions, considering architecture as well as the study of abiotic factors and, crucially, the genotype x environment interaction. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the environmental dissimilarity in maize varieties subjected to cultivation in different population densities. The experiments were conducted with four population densities in different environments in a randomized block design, evaluating traits related to cycle, height and productivity. The data were submitted to analysis of variance followed by environmental dissimilarity and correlation analysis. It was observed there is a tendency of genotypes interact more with the environment with increasing density, especially for traits related to yield. Therefore, the populations density can't be recommended in a precise and uniform way for genotypes in different growing seasons / Mestre

Orientador: Antonio Orlando Di Mauro / Coorientador: Sandra Helena Unêda Trevisoli / Banca: Antonio Sergio Ferraudo / Banca: Everton Luis Finoto / Resumo: A soja é a oleaginosa mais importante cultivada no planeta. Dela são retirados inúmeros derivados, que compõem a alimentação humana e animal. Dentre os principais estão o farelo e o óleo que têm sua cotação influenciada pela razão demanda/produção no cenário mundial. Desde sua introdução no Brasil em 1882, a soja vem passando por um processo constante de melhoramento genético, o que permitiu que a cultura expandisse a área de cultivo que era basicamente a região Sul até a década de 70 para a região dos cerrados que corresponde ao Triângulo Mineiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Tocantins, sul do Maranhão, sul do Piauí e oeste da Bahia. Para um programa de melhoramento genético, a obtenção de estimativas de parâmetros genéticos é de grande importância, pois possibilita conhecer a magnitude dos efeitos que controlam o carácter além da possibilidade de predizer qual será o ganho com a seleção. O ganho genético para o melhorista tem grande importância, pois com os valores deste parâmetro pode-se efetuar alterações no critério seletivo adotado, visando adequar a população selecionada aos objetivos do programa de melhoramento. Avaliar as características agronômicas da soja e analisar todos os parâmetros ao mesmo tempo em função das informações coletadas durante o ensaio, se torna interessante quando o objetivo é selecionar genótipos superiores, uma vez que muitos fatores estão relacionados de maneira que seus diferentes efeitos são melhor interpretados se estudados em conjunto. A estatística multivariada permite identificar quais caracteres estão diretamente correlacionados com a produtividade de grãos e discriminar os genótipos levando em consideração a similaridade dos múltiplos caracteres avaliados, ajudando no processo seletivo. A análise, a descrição e a inferência são realizadas com base nas respostas simultâneas, valendo-se da estrutura de correlação ... / Abstract: Soybean is the most important cultivated oilseed crop on the planet, it is extracted numerous derivatives that make up the human and animal food. Among the main ones are the bran and oil that have influence your quote according to the reason of demand and production on the world stage. Since its introduction in Brazil in 1882, the soybean has been undergoing a constant process of genetic breeding, which allowed the culture expand the area of cultivation which was basically South in the 70 years for the Cerrado region that corresponds to Triangulo Mineiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhao south, south west of Piaui and Bahia. For a breeding program, obtain estimates of genetic parameters is of great importance, as they allow to know the magnitude of the effects that control the character and the ability to forecast the gain with selection. The genetic gain for the breeder is very important, because with the values of this parameter can make changes to the selection criteria adopted in order to adjust the improved population for the objectives of the breeding program. Evaluate the agronomic characteristics of soybean and analyze all parameters at the same time in function on the information collected during the test becomes interesting when the goal is to select superior genotypes, since many factors are correlated so that their different effects are best interpreted if studied together. The Multivariate statistics allows to identify which characters are directly correlated with grain yield and discriminate the genotypes taking into account the similarity of multiple traits evaluated, helping in the selective process. The Analysis, description and inference are performed based on the simultaneous responses, taking advantage of the correlation structure between the variables. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters in advanced soybean lines, identify characters directly and ... / Mestre

Thesis (MTech (Horticulture))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Deteriorating living and environmental conditions have contributed to the increasing prevalence of diseases in plants and animals. In humans, accumulation of abnormally high levels of free radicals in the tissues has been implicated in many non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis, ischemia, gastritis, obesity and asthma. Worldwide, there is recognition of need to improve plant and animal health. Tulbaghia violacea (Alliaceae) is a medicinal plant that is extensively harvested by traditional healers in the wild for its medicinal uses and if this practice continues, it may result in an unsolicited decline of the species in situ. Therefore, there is a need for cultivation of this species. Plant cultivation in a controlled environment for conservation purposes as well as the enhancement of yield and quality is gaining favour among farmers and consumers. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of altering the growing conditions by applying environmental stresses on the plant growth, antifungal and antioxidant activities of T. violacea, with the view of enhancing the future cultivation of this species for pharmaceutical companies, traditional healers and the horticulture industry. This study was divided into two parts, and the first part, which was further sub-divided into two separate preliminary experiments, is presented in chapter three. Simultaneous assessments of the effects of i) varied pH levels (pH 4, pH 6, pH 8) and ii) light intensity on plant growth, antioxidant-content and -capacity of extracts of T. violacea were carried out. The second part of the thesis consisted of a more detailed assessment of the above-mentioned independent variables and interactions thereof on plant growth, and antifungal activity of extracts of T. violacea. Results obtained from the first part of the study, showed that plants exposed to pH 6 showed a marked increase in plant height (from 25-37 cm) after 2 months of treatment although, generally, the variations of the different growth parameters among the pH treatments were not significant (p > 0.05). Antioxidant-contents and -capacity were not significantly different (p > 0.05) when pH treatments were compared. However, a high polyphenol content value (of 3 mg/g) occurred in leaves of plants exposed to pH 8. Overall, comparatively, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in antioxidant-content and -capacity when pH treatments. In the light experiment, decreasing light intensity led to the elongation of plant height. A higher mean shoot length of 34.6 cm was obtained under low light compared to normal light (26.5 cm) two months post-treatment. The results obtained in this study indicated that light had a significant affect (p < 0.05) on the vegetative growth of this species. In contrast, normal light intensity yielded higher antioxidant-content and -capacity. The polyphenol and flavanol content were fluctuating between the averages of 5.8 mg/g to 8.5 mg/g. Overall, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the antioxidant-content and -capacity when low and normal light intensity treatments compared. In conclusion, both normal light intensity and at pH 8 induced better antioxidant results. In the second part of the study, chapter four, one-month old T. violacea plantlets were grown under two light intensities (low light and normal light) in a greenhouse and concurrently exposed to varying pH levels: pH 4, pH 6 and pH 8. Plants exposed to normal light received natural sunlight through the roof of the greenhouse, while low light intensity (40% reduction) was achieved using shade nets. Plants were drip irrigated with Nutrifeed fertilizer. Plant growth parameters such as height and fresh and dry weights were determined. Leaf samples were analysed for macro-and micro-nutrients contents. Antifungal tests were carried out on the plant extracts from the various treatments in an antifungal bioassay (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]). The experimental data collected were analysed using one and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey HSD was used to separate the means at p < 0.05 level of significance. Varied effects of different pH levels (4, 6 and 8) and light intensities (low and normal) on plant height, and fresh and dry weights were recorded in the current study. A significant interactive (df, 2; F = 0.001; p < 0.001) effect between pH and light on fresh weight was observed. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (df, 2, 57; F = 12.63; p < 0.001) in dry weights with plants under normal light intensity and pH 4 treatment (8.285 ± 0.802 g) producing the highest dry weight. There was a significant interaction (df, 2; F = 6.4; p < 0.001) between pH and light intensity on plant dry weight. Extracts from plants grown under normal light intensity showed stronger antifungal activity at pH level 4, and MIC values ranged from 0.18 ± 0 to 0.375 ± 0.04 mg/ml at 6h and 1.5 ± 0 to 0.97 ± 0.18 mg/ml at 18h. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the interactive effects of pH and light intensity on the growth of T. violacea. These findings also confirmed that it is possible to enhance the cultivation of T. violacea under greenhouse conditions. Chapter 5 focused on the interactive effects of pH and watering regime on plant growth, nutrient uptake and antifungal activity of T. violacea plant extracts, grown hydroponically. The results showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) on plant growth parameters amongst the different watering regimes under normal light intensity. Broadly, two trends occurred in the results: firstly, more macro-nutrients were taken up by plants in the higher frequency watering intervals as opposed to higher tissue micronutrient nutrient values for plants grown under the lower light intensity conditions. The levels of N, P, K, Mg nutrient uptake differed significantly in plants (p < 0.001) among watering interval periods. On the other hand, plants simultaneously exposed to extended watering intervals of 21-day and low light intensity showed more bioactivity of the crude extracts against F. oxysporum in the MIC bioassay. Based on the current results, a combination of shorter watering interval and normal light intensity favoured plant growth and development, while plants grown under low light intensity with longer watering interval showed good bioactivity. Broadly, these results demonstrated that varying pH, light intensity, and watering regime can influence plant growth, secondary metabolite contents and antifungal activity of crude extracts of T. violacea. These findings will contribute to the current body of knowledge around cultivation of indigenous medicinal plants. The study will further benefit the conservation of medicinal plant initiatives, increased income of small-scale farmers and potentially promote indigenous knowledge by increasing the availability of South African medicinal plants.

Orientador: Elizabeth Orika Ono / Banca: João Domingos Rodrigues / Banca: Valdir Zucareli / Banca: Nobuyo Narita / Banca: José Carlos Cavichioli / Resumo: Ao longo desse trabalho foram desenvolvidos três experimentos, onde objetivou-se estudar a atividade de enzimas antioxidantes e as trocas gasosas ao longo do processo de cicatrização em dois métodos de enxertia em mudas de maracujazeiro. Após esse período foi estudado o desenvolvimento e crescimento dessas mudas, assim como o comportamento do aparato fotossintético. Quando as mudas estavam adultas foi avaliado a campo o desempenho agronômico, assim como a qualidade dos frutos e o seu potencial antioxidante, assim como o desempenho do aparato fotossintético. Os tratamentos foram: plantas não enxertada de Passiflora edulis Sims, plantas enxertadas convencionalmente e plantas enxertadas com manutenção de dois sistemas radiculares, sendo o porta-enxerto utilizado a Passiflora gibertii. Com base nos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que a utilização de plantas enxertadas e com manutenção de dois sistemas radiculares proporcionou produtividade e qualidade de frutos semelhante ao das plantas não enxertadas. Essas plantas ao longo do processo de cicatrização apresentaram menor atividade de enzimas antioxidantes, assim como menor tempo para recuperação do aparato fotossintético, após o processo da enxertia. Após a cicatrização, todos os tratamentos apresentaram o mesmo comportamento fotossintético. / Abstract: Throughout this study, it was developed three experiments, which aimed to study the activity of antioxidant enzymes and gas exchange during the healing process in two grafting methods in passion fruit seedlings. After this period has been studied the development and growth of these seedlings, as well as the behavior of the photosynthetic apparatus. When the seedlings were grown, was rated the field agronomic performance, as well as fruit quality and their antioxidant potential, as well as the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus. The treatments were not grafted plants of Passiflora edulis Sims, conventionally grafted plants and grafted plants with maintaining two root systems, and the rootstock used to Passiflora gibertii. Based on the results obtained it was concluded that the use of grafted plants and maintaining two root systems provided yield and fruit quality equal to that of ungrafted plants. These plants throughout the healing process showed lower activity of antioxidant enzymes as well as shorter time for recovery of the photosynthetic apparatus. After healing, all treatments showed the same photosynthetic behavior. / Doutor

Thesis (M.Ed. (Education)) - Rhodes University, 2008. / A half thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Education: Environmental Education.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-03T11:52:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-07-15Bitstream added on 2015-03-03T12:06:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000811912.pdf: 279642 bytes, checksum: 002dece3f58931a2115a006cef8e2b72 (MD5) / O milho é a terceira cultura mais cultivada no mundo e ocupa o primeiro lugar em produção e produtividade entre as principais culturas produtoras de grãos. Sua importância agronômica e econômica estimula diversos estudos, entre eles a densidade populacional, em decorrência das alterações no espaçamento entre e dentro de linhas. Esse estudo remete a uma série de implicações, por exemplo, o desenvolvimento de cultivares adaptadas a diferentes condições, considerando sua arquitetura, assim como o estudo dos fatores abióticos e, fundamentalmente, a interação genótipo x ambiente. Baseado nisso, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a dissimilaridade ambiental em variedades de milho submetidas ao cultivo em diferentes densidades populacionais. Os experimentos foram instalados com quatro densidades populacionais em diferentes ambientes no delineamento de blocos casualizados, avaliando-se os caracteres relacionados ao ciclo, altura e produtividade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância conjunta, seguida das análises de dissimilaridade ambiental e de correlação. Observou-se que existe uma tendência de, com o aumento da densidade, os genótipos interagirem mais com o ambiente, principalmente para os caracteres relacionados à produtividade, apresentando interação genótipo x ambiente. Portanto, não se faz possível a recomendação precisa e uniforme de densidade populacional para os genótipos nas distintas épocas de cultivo / Maize is the third most grown crop in the world and ranks first in production and productivity of the main grain crops. Their agronomic and economic importance stimulates several studies, including population density, due to the changes in spacing. This study refers a series of implications, for example, the development of cultivars adapted to different conditions, considering architecture as well as the study of abiotic factors and, crucially, the genotype x environment interaction. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the environmental dissimilarity in maize varieties subjected to cultivation in different population densities. The experiments were conducted with four population densities in different environments in a randomized block design, evaluating traits related to cycle, height and productivity. The data were submitted to analysis of variance followed by environmental dissimilarity and correlation analysis. It was observed there is a tendency of genotypes interact more with the environment with increasing density, especially for traits related to yield. Therefore, the populations density can`t be recommended in a precise and uniform way for genotypes in different growing seasons

Orientador: Lin Chau Ming / Banca: Natalia Hanazaki / Banca: Fatims Chechetto / Resumo: Neste trabalho pretende-se diagnosticar e analisar o manejo dos recursos vegetais hortícolas alimentares da agricultura tradicional da comunidade caiçara residente no interior e entorno do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM)- Núcleo Picinguaba- situado no estado de São Paulo relacionando-os com a orientação e interferência na paisagem. Para tanto, busca-se, à luz da Etnoecologia Abrangente, por meio de ferramentas da Etnobotânica e da Antropologia, subsídio para a análise do modo de vida das populações considerando o uso e ocupação do solo assim como a inserção e importância de espécies alimentares, cultivadas e não-cultivadas, no dia-a-dia das pessoas. Foram obtidos dados em campo por meio da observação participante e com o uso de questionários e entrevistas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas. Utilizou-se o geopreocessamento a fim de se obter um mapa a partir de unidades de paisagem reconhecidas pelos agricultores correlacionando critérios êmicos de distinção da paisagem com aspectos fitossociológicos e de diversidade. Concluiu-se que o sistema de conhecimentos, crenças e sentimentos influenciam o manejo das espécies alimentares e das paisagens afetando diretamente a conservação e variabilidade de espécies de plantas e paisagens, ainda que haja pressão para substituições e impedimentos legais. A partir da argumentação de que é possível co-existir conservação de recursos naturais em locais onde habitam comunidades tradicionais tendo em vista seu modo de vida conservacionista, espera-se que este trabalho possa trazer contribuições para programas e políticas públicas de proteção às populações que têm sua cultura comprometida por restrições da legislação de uma UC e para conservação das espécies alimentares alvo do estudo / Abstract: This paper aims to diagnose and analyze the management of food plants resources of traditional agriculture of caiçara community resident in and around the Serra do Mar State Park (PESM) - Picinguaba situated in the state of São Paulo relating them to management and interference in the landscape . To do that, we seek the light of Comprehensive Ethnoecology, through tools of ethnobotany and anthropology, allowing the analysis of the way of life of the people considering the use and occupation as well as the inclusion and importance of food species, cultivated and non-cultivated, day-to-day lives. Field data were obtained through participant observation and the use of questionnaires and structured and semi-structured interviews. We used the geoprocessing in order to obtain a map from landscape units recognized by farmers correlating emic criterion for distinguishing the landscape with phytosociological and diversity aspects. We can conclude that the system of knowledge, beliefs and feelings influence the management of food plants species and landscapes directly affecting the conservation and variability of plant species and landscapes, although there is pressure to substitutions and legal impediments. From the argument that it is possible to co -exist conservation of natural resources in places with traditional communities considering their conservationist way of life, it is expected that this work will bring contributions to public programs and policies to protect the people who have their culture compromised by restrictions in the laws of a Conservation Unit (UC) and to the conservation of targeted food plants of this study / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-10T14:24:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-07-17. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-12-10T14:30:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000853101.pdf: 2144623 bytes, checksum: 8c90483cb3e30b95fae0f815b60b40e0 (MD5) / Ao longo desse trabalho foram desenvolvidos três experimentos, onde objetivou-se estudar a atividade de enzimas antioxidantes e as trocas gasosas ao longo do processo de cicatrização em dois métodos de enxertia em mudas de maracujazeiro. Após esse período foi estudado o desenvolvimento e crescimento dessas mudas, assim como o comportamento do aparato fotossintético. Quando as mudas estavam adultas foi avaliado a campo o desempenho agronômico, assim como a qualidade dos frutos e o seu potencial antioxidante, assim como o desempenho do aparato fotossintético. Os tratamentos foram: plantas não enxertada de Passiflora edulis Sims, plantas enxertadas convencionalmente e plantas enxertadas com manutenção de dois sistemas radiculares, sendo o porta-enxerto utilizado a Passiflora gibertii. Com base nos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que a utilização de plantas enxertadas e com manutenção de dois sistemas radiculares proporcionou produtividade e qualidade de frutos semelhante ao das plantas não enxertadas. Essas plantas ao longo do processo de cicatrização apresentaram menor atividade de enzimas antioxidantes, assim como menor tempo para recuperação do aparato fotossintético, após o processo da enxertia. Após a cicatrização, todos os tratamentos apresentaram o mesmo comportamento fotossintético. / Throughout this study, it was developed three experiments, which aimed to study the activity of antioxidant enzymes and gas exchange during the healing process in two grafting methods in passion fruit seedlings. After this period has been studied the development and growth of these seedlings, as well as the behavior of the photosynthetic apparatus. When the seedlings were grown, was rated the field agronomic performance, as well as fruit quality and their antioxidant potential, as well as the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus. The treatments were not grafted plants of Passiflora edulis Sims, conventionally grafted plants and grafted plants with maintaining two root systems, and the rootstock used to Passiflora gibertii. Based on the results obtained it was concluded that the use of grafted plants and maintaining two root systems provided yield and fruit quality equal to that of ungrafted plants. These plants throughout the healing process showed lower activity of antioxidant enzymes as well as shorter time for recovery of the photosynthetic apparatus. After healing, all treatments showed the same photosynthetic behavior.