Limited research has been conducted and uncertainty exists regarding sugarcane response to water stress during different development phases. This information is necessary to optimize the allocation of limited irrigation water for sugarcane production. The objective of this study was to understand and quantify the response of crop water use (CWU), canopy development, stalk elongation, biomass accumulation and partitioning, and sugarcane yield to mild water stress, imposed through deficit drip irrigation, during different development phases. A field experiment consisting of a plant and first ratoon crop of cultivar N49 was conducted near Komatipoort. For the three water stress treatments, available soil water (ASW) was maintained between 30 and 60% of capacity during the tillering phase (TP), stalk elongation phase (SEP) and through both phases. ASW was maintained above 60% of capacity in the well-watered control and during periods when stress was not intended. Rainfall prevented water stress from developing in the TP of the plant crop. In the ratoon crop, 72% less irrigation was applied in the TP, resulting in 50 days of stress (ASW<50%). This did not affect stalk population but reduced CWU by 13%, shortened stalks by 21% and affected the canopy by reducing green leaf number (GLN) and green leaf area index (GLAI). Relieving the stress during SEP allowed the crop to re-establish its canopy, capture adequate photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and restore rates of photo-assimilation (as suggested by CWU) and stalk elongation to support rapid biomass production. This restoration of plant processes allowed the ratoon crop to attain a cane and stalk dry biomass (SDM) yield that was only 9 and 11% lower (statistically insignificant), respectively, than the well-watered control at lodging (crop age of 286 days). During the SEP of the plant and ratoon crop, 42 and 85% less irrigation was applied, resulting in the crops experiencing 74 and 39 days of stress and using 7 and 8% less water, respectively. This did not affect stalk population or the crop canopy, but reduced stalk height by about 6 and 14% in the plant and ratoon crops, respectively. In both crops, shorter stalks and a negatively affected CWU which reduced photo-assimilate production, reduced cane yield by 14 and 10% (statically insignificant) and SDM yield by 15 and 5% (statistically insignificant), in the plant and ratoon crops respectively. © University of Pretoria iv Deficit irrigation throughout the TP and SEP of the ratoon crop reduced irrigation amount by 74%, resulting in 110 days of stress and reducing CWU by 16% and stalk height by 14%. PAR capture was reduced through reduced GLAI. This resulted in a significant reduction of 15% in cane yield. SDM yield was reduced by 17%, although this was not statistically significant. Stalk sucrose content was not influenced by deficit irrigation but was rather dependent on the duration of the drying-off period prior to harvest. Sucrose yields were therefore largely determined by SDM. Results suggest that the soil water potential (SWP) measured at 0.25 and 0.40 m depths, halfway between drip emitters within a plant or ratoon crop, can drop to about -40 kPa before irrigation is applied, without sacrificing cane or sucrose yield. Lastly, a ratoon crop can rapidly recover from stress during the TP, provided that the SWP during SEP is maintained above -40 kPa. / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

The ability of Cytisus scoparius L. and Spartium junceum L. to acclimate to different levels of light and water stress was studied to understand ecological constraints on distributions of these plants. A reaction norm experimental design was used to determine growth and physiological responses of each to imposed conditions. Light treatments were stressful for both species. Increases in shade led to decreases in relative growth rates (RGR); however, light was more of a limiting factor for S. junceum because of the greater decrease in its growth rate at lowest light intensities. As light decreased, stem allocation increased in S. junceum. More differences in allocation to leaves and roots among light treatments were found in C. scoparius. Correspondingly, the greatest changes in photosynthetic characters were found in S. junceum stems and C. scoparius leaves. Differences in physiological traits did not prove to be acclimation to low light levels because quantum yield decreased when light decreased. Neither species exhibited rapid growth rates, normal allocation patterns, or proper adjustments of photosynthetic characters under light conditions below 50% full intensity. Water treatments did not cause any critical changes in growth or physiology of either species. Neither species' RGR was greatly decreased. Water availability is more of a determining factor of growth for C. scoparius because of its continued, small decline in RGR as watering frequency decreased. Spartium junceum appeared to be better adapted to the imposed water treatments with its smaller number of leaves, leaf surface area, percentage leaf weight, specific leaf area, and leaf area / stem area ratio. Spartium junceum also displayed larger root / shoot ratios in drier conditions. The magnitude of these shifts was typically greater in C. scoparius, but the RGR of this species decreased more than that of S. junceum under drier conditions. More stress was imposed on C. scoparius because its lowest water potential measurements were 40% lower than those of S. junceum and below the water potential value at turgor loss point during midday hours. When water potential decreased, Spartium junceum showed signs of acclimation because stem photosynthesis increased and leaf photosynthesis decreased while C. scoparius did not adjust its rates of photosynthesis. Water treatments did not impose enough stress to cause osmotic adjustments. Performance under these light and water treatments explained the habitat preference of each to areas where these species have become invaders along the Pacific Coast of the Unites States. / Master of Science

The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and their potential for leaching have raised considerable environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. As systematic studies investigating potential anomalies in the morphology and anatomy of crop plants are scarce, herein we report on the developmental responses of two agriculturally significant crop plants, maize (Zea mays L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), upon in vitro exposure to nanoparticles of citrate-coated silver (Citrate-nAg) and zinc oxide (nZnO). Analyses involve histology of the primary root morphology and anatomy using light microscopy, metal biouptake, moisture content, rate of germination, and root elongation. Comparative toxicity profiles of the ionic salts (AgNO3 and ZnSO4) are developed. Notably, we uncover structural changes in maize primary root cells upon exposure to Citrate-nAg, nZnO, AgNO3, and ZnSO4, possibly due to metal biouptake, suggesting potential for functional impairments in the plant growth and development. Citrate-nAg exposure results in lower Ag biouptake compared to AgNO3 treatment in maize. Microscopic evidence reveals 'tunneling-like effect' with nZnO treatment, while exposure to AgNO3 leads to cell erosion in maize root apical meristem. In maize, a significant change in metaxylem count is evident with Citrate-nAg, AgNO3, and ZnSO4 treatment, but not with nZnO treatment (p>0.1). In both maize and cabbage, measures of germination and root elongation reveal lower nanoparticle toxicity compared to free ions. As moisture data do not support osmotically-induced water stress hypothesis for explaining toxicity, we discuss other proximate mechanisms including the potential role of growth hormones and transcription factors. These findings highlight previously overlooked, anatomically significant effects of metal nanoparticles, and recommend considering detailed anatomical investigations in tandem with the standard developmental phytotoxicity assays (germination and root elongation) as the latter ones appear less sensitive for screening plant responses to nanomaterial insults.

The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and their potential for leaching have raised considerable environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. As systematic studies investigating potential anomalies in the morphology and anatomy of crop plants are scarce, herein we report on the developmental responses of two agriculturally significant crop plants, maize (Zea mays L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), upon in vitro exposure to nanoparticles of citrate-coated silver (Citrate-nAg) and zinc oxide (nZnO). Analyses involve histology of the primary root morphology and anatomy using light microscopy, metal biouptake, moisture content, rate of germination, and root elongation. Comparative toxicity profiles of the ionic salts (AgNO3 and ZnSO4) are developed. Notably, we uncover structural changes in maize primary root cells upon exposure to Citrate-nAg, nZnO, AgNO3, and ZnSO4, possibly due to metal biouptake, suggesting potential for functional impairments in the plant growth and development. Citrate-nAg exposure results in lower Ag biouptake compared to AgNO3 treatment in maize. Microscopic evidence reveals 'tunneling-like effect' with nZnO treatment, while exposure to AgNO3 leads to cell erosion in maize root apical meristem. In maize, a significant change in metaxylem count is evident with Citrate-nAg, AgNO3, and ZnSO4 treatment, but not with nZnO treatment (p>0.1). In both maize and cabbage, measures of germination and root elongation reveal lower nanoparticle toxicity compared to free ions. As moisture data do not support osmotically-induced water stress hypothesis for explaining toxicity, we discuss other proximate mechanisms including the potential role of growth hormones and transcription factors. These findings highlight previously overlooked, anatomically significant effects of metal nanoparticles, and recommend considering detailed anatomical investigations in tandem with the standard developmental phytotoxicity assays (germination and root elongation) as the latter ones appear less sensitive for screening plant responses to nanomaterial insults.

Abiotic stresses cause extensive losses to agriculture production worldwide. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop grown widely in subtropical region where temperature, water and nutrients are the common factors limiting crop production. Such losses could be more severe in the future climate as intensity and frequency of those stresses are projected to increase. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate effects of abiotic stresses on cotton reproductive performance and develop functional algorithms for fiber properties in response to different stress factors. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature, water, and nitrogen in naturally-lit growth chambers. Influence of potassium nutrition was conducted in outdoor pot culture facility. In all experiments, upland cotton cultivar TM-1, a genetic standard, was used by imposing treatments at flowering. In all experiments, growth and photosynthesis measurements were recorded frequently during the treatment period. Biomass of various plant- and boll-components determined at harvest when 80% bolls were opened. Boll developmental period was tracked by daily tagging of flowers and open bolls. Bolls were grouped on the basis of onset of anthesis and lint samples were pooled together for fiber analysis. Fiber quality was assessed using High Volume Instrumentation and Advanced Fiber Information System. Total plant biomass, boll weights, and numbers significantly declined for plants grown under low and high temperature, severe water stress and nitrogen and potassium deficient conditions compared to optimum conditions for the respective stresses. Gas exchange processes were severely affected by moisture, nitrogen, and potassium deficient conditions. Time required from flower to open boll was mostly affected by growing temperature but not modified by other stresses. Fiber micronaire was most the responsive to changes in temperature, followed by strength, length and uniformity. Water limiting conditions and nitrogen defficiency severely affected strength and micronaire, whereas potassium deficiency had significant effect on fiber micronaire. This study was used to develop functional algorithms between abiotic stresses and fiber properties, once integrated into the crop simulation model. The improved crop model will be useful assist producers in optimizing planting dates, scheduling irrigation and fertigation to improve and fiber quality.

Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) is used to study several inorganic coordination complexes and a variety of compounds from cyanobacteria. Also presented is a discussion of TOFMS instrumentation and the improvements in resolution and instrument automation that have lead to widespread and diverse applications of MALDI-TOFMS in all areas of science. The feasibility of using direct laser desorption/ionization (LDI) TOFMS to detect trace elements in a variety of glass samples using a lithium borate fusion technique for sample preparation is investigated. The result of the fusion technique is a homogeneous incorporation of the analytical sample into a glass. The fusion technique is investigated as a way to eliminate matrix effects in direct LDI-TOFMS analysis. However, the high concentration and low ionization potential of lithium suppress ionization of the elements of interest. The detection limits of elements in glass samples were not at the trace level. Therefore the technique is not as useful as well-established analytical methods like X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Direct laser ablation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of four inorganic coordination complexes are discussed. The compounds studied include [Ir(dpp)2Cl2](PF6), {[(bpy)2Ru(dpp)]2RuCl2}(PF6)4, [(tpy)Ru(tpp)Ru(tpp)RhCl3](PF6)4 and {[(bpy)2Ru(dpp)]2IrCl2}(PF6)5 (dpp = 2,3-bis-(2'-pyridyl)-pyrazine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpy = 2,2',6',2"-terpyradine, tpp = 2,3,5,6,-tetrakis-(2'-pyridyl)-pyrazine). Spectral intensities and fragmentation patterns are compared and evaluated for several instrument parameters, matrices, and matrix-to-analyte ratios. Direct ablation and MALDI mass spectra of the monometallic complex showed the same ion peaks and differed only in the relative peak intensities. Direct ablation of the trimetallic complexes produced only low-mass fragments containing one metal atom at most. MALDI spectra of the trimetallic complexes exhibited little fragmentation in the high-mass region (>1500 Da) and less fragmentation in the low-mass region compared to direct laser ablation. Proper matrix selection for MALDI analysis was vital, as was an appropriate matrix-to-analyte ratio. The results demonstrate the applicability of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the structural characterization of labile inorganic coordination complexes. A correlation is made between the gas-phase redox chemistry in the MALDI plume and the solution phase electrochemistry for this series of complexes. MALDI-TOFMS was also used to study compounds isolated from cyanobacteria. A MALDI screening method has been developed to detect the presence of scytonemin, a UV-absorbing pigment. Detection of scytonemin is accomplished by a simple solvent extraction of cyanobacteria in the desiccated state with subsequent MALDI-TOFMS analysis. The method is rapid and semi-quantitative. Cyanobacteria is the only known organism to produce scytonemin, and it is only produced when the organism is subjected to UV stress. Laboratory-grown cultures were subjected to different amounts of UV radiation, and the screening method was used to detect the presence or absence of scytonemin. Cultures grown under ambient conditions (low UV) did not show the presence of scytonemin, while those grown under UV lamps did show the detectable scytonemin. Because scytonemin acts as a biomarker for UV stress, the MALDI screening method could find application in molecular ecology studies of cyanobacteria. Peptide mass fingerprinting is used to monitor the isolation of the water stress protein from N. commune. The protein is produced by recombinant growth in E. coli in order to assess the role of Wsp in the desiccation tolerance of N. commune. The results show that SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis are not sufficient to detect the presence of Wsp after purification using ion-exchange chromatography. Three E. coli proteins were identified in the same molecular weight range as Wsp and one of them cross-reacts with the series of antibodies used for the Western blot. The presence of contaminating proteins that cross-react with the immuno assay make it difficult to determine which fractions contained Wsp. Peptide mass fingerprints were obtained for a series of fractions collected after ion-exchange chromatography to pinpoint the location of Wsp. Peptide mass fingerprinting was also used to monitor the stability of the clone and results show that the clone is modified over a six month period. / Ph. D.

A cana-de-açúcar tem significativa importância nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais do mundo. O Brasil tem importância mundial como maior produtor de cana-de-açúcar, etanol e açúcar, no entanto, a produtividade da cultura ainda é baixa em muitas regiões do país, principalmente devido à deficiência hídrica e de nitrogênio. Estimar as perdas de produtividade causada por estresse hídrico e de N com métodos de experimentação convencionais nem sempre apresentam resultados satisfatórios. Este trabalho teve como objetivos quantificar em cana-de-açúcar fertirrigada com doses crescentes de N-fertilizante e duas disponibilidades hídricas contrastantes, os estresses a N (deficiência ou excesso) e o déficit hídrico por meio do fracionamento isotópico de carbono (\'delta\'13C) e da produtividade de cana-de-açúcar, assim como, correlacionar o \'delta\'13C com o acúmulo de massa seca de colmos nos tratamentos com e sem aplicação de N e em duas disponibilidades de água no solo (regime irrigado e de sequeiro); quantificar acúmulo de matéria seca em três compartimentos da planta (folha seca, ponteiro e colmo), correlacionando os resultados obtidos com avaliações fisiológicas como índice SPAD, IAF e biométricas como altura, diâmetro, perfilhos ao longo do ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura. O estudo foi desenvolvido no município de Jaú, no Estado de São Paulo, nas coordenadas geográficas de: 22°17\'S 48°34\'O, em Latossolo Vermelho. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. O cultivar de cana-de-açúcar foi o SP80-3280. Utilizou-se quatro doses de N, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1, aplicadas por fertirrigação subsuperficial e mais um tratamento controle sem N, para estimar acúmulo de fitomassa e de N na parte aérea de cana-de-açúcar. Para quantificar as perdas de produtividade causadas por deficiência hídrica e de N foram usados os tratamentos: T1-sequeiro não fertilizado com N; T2-irrigado não fertilizado com N; T3-sequeiro e fertilizado com N; e T4-irrigado e fertilizado com N. Foi verificada resposta linear das variáveis fisiológicas, morfológicas e da produção de biomassa da cultura em função das doses de N. O teor de N e índice Spad da folha +1 ajustaram-se ao modelo linear decrescente. A elevação da dose de N de 100 para 200 kg ha-1 N aumentou o acúmulo de matéria seca da parte aérea em 20 Mg ha-1, e de N em 95 kg ha-1, incrementos também observados nas taxas de produção matéria seca e taxas de acúmulo de N. O \'delta\'13C (\'por mil\') apresentou correlação negativa com a produtividade de colmos (R2= 0,69, p<0,05) e a MSPA (R2= 0,69, p<0,05) nas diferentes doses de N aplicadas. Verificou-se aumento linear na produtividade de colmos e de açúcar com um incremento respectivamente de 60 e 8 Mg ha-1 em função das doses de N aplicadas junto à irrigação. Os maiores valores de fracionamento dos isótopos de carbono (\'delta\'13C) foram obtidos para o tratamento com deficiência de N e elevado déficit hídrico (T1), enquanto que para o tratamento T4 (adubação com N e baixo déficit hídrico) foram verificados valores de \'delta\'13C inferiores. A medida do fracionamento isotópico de carbono mostrou-se eficiente na avaliação de estresse da cana-de-açúcar, podendo ser utilizado como um indicador de déficit hídrico e deficiência de N nessa cultura / The sugarcane crop has an important contribution in sub tropical and tropical regions around the world, which Brazil the major producer of sugarcane crop, sugar and ethanol. However, the sugarcane yield is still very low in many regions of this country, mainly due to water stress and nitrogen supply. Understand the loss sugarcane production related with water and nitrogen stress using experimental classical methodology not always has obtained conclusive results. This work has evaluated the impact of water and nitrogen (N) stress by discrimination of 13C (\'delta\'13C) and sugarcane production in a ratoon over fertirrigation system, where 2 water supply and 5 N level were applied. The results of isotopic technique (\'delta\'13C) were correlated with a several parameters like sugarcane production, biomass accumulation (tops, stalks and dry leaves), and, others physiologic parameters (SPAD index, foliar area, diameter, tillering and height) evaluated throughout crop cycle. The research was performed in Jaú county, São Paulo State, Brazil (22°17\'S 48°34\'O), over Rhodic Eutrudox condition. The randomized block design was used with 4 replication per treatment. The sugarcane cultivar SP80-3280 was submitted a 5 N rates (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1 N) which were applied by fertirrigation system. Further, 4 treatments were used to estimate the N and water stress, such as: T1- without water irrigation and N application; T2 - water irrigation without N supply; T3 - without water irrigation but with N application; T4 - with water irrigation and N fertilization. The results showed linear increase in physiologic, morphologic parameters and biomass production related N rates applied. The N content and SPAD index of leaf +1 correlated a linear decreasing model. The elevation of dose of 100 to 200 kg N ha-1 no increased dry matter accumulation of aboveground in 20 Mg ha-1, and N in 95 kg ha-1, increments also observed in dry matter production rates and rates of accumulation of N. The data of 13C (\'delta\'13C) had a negative correlation between sugarcane production (R2= 0.69, p<0.05) and biomass (R2= 0.69, p<0.05) and N rates. Verified an increase linear in productivity of stalks and sugar with an increment respectively of 60 and 8 Mg ha-1 as a function of applied doses of N along the irrigation. The higher value of 13C (\'delta\'13C) were observed when took place N and water stress (T1), whilst the treatment with N application and water irrigation (T4) showed the lowest value of 13C discrimination (\'delta\'13C). The 13C discrimination (\'delta\'13C) was efficient to evaluate stress in sugarcane crop, can be used as an indicator of water deficit and deficiency of N to in this culture

O almeirão e produzido no Brasil principalmente por pequenos produtores, que geralmente produzem outras culturas hortícolas. O almeirão e principalmente utilizado na alimentação humana, porem com potencial para produção de inulina e também com potencial para alimentação animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de porcentagens da evapotranspiração da cultura por irrigação na produção vegetal do almeirão cultivar \"Folha Larga\" cultivado em casa de vegetação. Dois experimentos consecutivos foram executados em delineamento de blocos inteiramente aleatorizados submetidos a cinco porcentagens de evapotranspiração de cultura (ETc): 60, 80, 100, 120 e 140% aplicadas por irrigação via gotejo. A área experimental foi constituída de 45 parcelas de 1,3 m2 cada, sendo que cada parcela possuía uma válvula solenoide para controlar o tempo de funcionamento da irrigação, totalizando nove repetições por tratamento. A umidade do solo foi monitorada por meio de três sondas de TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), instaladas a 0,05, 0,30 e 0,50 m de profundidade. As condições meteorológicas foram monitoradas utilizando-se uma estação meteorológica, a qual registrava medidas de umidade relativa do ar, temperatura do ar, radiação solar e velocidade do vento, realizando medidas a cada segundo e armazenando os dados a cada 15 minutos. A partir dos dados meteorológicos, estimou-se a evapotranspiração de referencia pelo método de Penman-Monteith FAO-56, e a evapotranspiração da cultura, utilizando-se um coeficiente de cultura médio igual a 0,76. Foram realizados dois experimentos consecutivos, aplicando-se as porcentagens de ETc durante todo o cultivo do almeirão. As variáveis medidas e analisadas foram: altura de plantas (cm), numero de folhas por planta, massa fresca da parte aérea (g), massa fresca por folha (g folha-1), massa seca da parte aérea (g), umidade da parte aérea (%), área foliar (cm2), comprimento foliar (cm) e largura foliar. Utilizou-se os dados de cada tratamento para se realizar a analise de variância conjunta e teste de media ou analise de regressão, sendo que apenas para as variáveis de massa fresca e massa seca da parte aérea foi possível ajustar equações que representassem os dados médios dos dois experimentos. Observou-se que os dados de massa fresca da parte aérea apresentaram-se diretamente proporcionais ao aumento da porcentagem de evapotranspiração, sendo que o tratamento de 140% da ETc foi o que resultou em maior produção de massa fresca da parte aérea, aproximadamente 31,6% superior a produção do tratamento de 60% da ETC. Quanto aos dados de massa seca da parte aérea, observou-se que a porcentagem de 111,1% da evapotranspiração foi a que obteve maior produção de massa seca da parte aérea, sendo 29,3% maior do que a produção em massa seca do tratamento de 60% da evapotranspiração e 9,35% maior do que a obtida no tratamento de 140% da ETc. A partir dos dados de área foliar, comprimento e largura das folhas do primeiro experimento, foi possível ajustar quatro modelos com resíduos tendendo a normalidade e homocedásticos, os quais foram testados pelo método de Bland-Altman com os dados de área, comprimento e largura foliar do segundo experimento. / Chicory is grown in Brazil mainly by small landowners, which usually product other horticultural crops. Chicory is mainly used for human feeding, but it has potential for inuin production and also potential for animal feeding. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of applying percentages of crop evapotranspiration by irrigation over vegetable production of \"Folha Larga\" chicory cultivar grown in greenhouse. Two experiments were performed in the of completely randomized design under five percentages of crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 60, 80, 100, 140% applied by drip irrigation. The experimental area was constituted of 45 plots of 1.3 m2 each, each plot had a solenoid valve to control the duration of the irrigation, totaling nine plots for each treatment. Soil humidity was monitored through three TDR probes (Time Domain Reflectometry), installed at 0.05, 0.30, and 0.50 m depth. The meteorological conditions were monitored using a meteorological station, which recorded measures of relative air humidity, air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed, taking measures at each second and registering the data at each 15 minutes. From meteorologic data, the reference evapotranspiration was estimated by the Penman-Monteith FAO-56 method, and the crop evapotranspiration, using an average crop coefficient equal to 0.76. Two consecutive experiments were performed, applying the percentages of ETc during all the chicory growth period. The measured and analyzed variables were: plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, plant fresh mass (g), fresh mass by leaf (g leaf-1), plant dry mass (g), plant humidity (%), leaf area (cm2), leaf length (cm) and leaf width (cm). The data of each treatment was used to perform the joint analysis of variation and average test or regression analysis, resulting that only for the variables of leaves fresh and dry weight it was possible to adjust equations to represent the mean values of both experiments. It was observed that the plant fresh weight presented itself directly proportional to increments of percentages of evapotranspiration, being that the treatment of 140% of ETc was the treatment that resulted higher production of plant fresh weight, approximately 31.6% higher than the production obtained from treatment of 60% of evapotranspiration. For the data of plant dry mass, it was observed that the percentage of 111.1% of evapotranspiration was the one that obtained higher values of plant dry weight, being 29.3% higher than the production of plant dry mass obtained with the treatment of 60% of ETc and 9.35% higher than the one obtained with the treatment of 140% of evapotranspiration. From the data of leaf area, length and width of the first experiment, was possible to adjust four models with residuals with normal tendency and homocedastic, which were tested by the Bland- Altman method with the data of leaf area, length and width of the second experiment.

A crescente demanda por produtos madeireiros no mercado nacional e internacional requer produção constante de madeira, sendo o gênero Eucalyptus uma alternativa para atender esta demanda. A seleção do local para plantio deste gênero requer estudos relacionados às características de adaptabilidade da espécie. Para regiões com déficit hídrico é necessária a seleção de uma espécie ou clone resistente a esta característica. Muitos autores mostram a potencialidade de produção do Eucalyptus camaldulensis e do híbrido E. grandis x E. camaldulensis para regiões áridas do Brasil, em relação a outras espécies de eucalipto. A adaptação de uma espécie a determinado ambiente, esta relacionada a muitas características genéticas que influenciam, por exemplo, o proteoma e o metaboloma desta espécie. As células de um organismo possuem o mesmo genoma, mas apresentam as mais variadas funções e morfologias, e isto está relacionado ao fato de existir diferenças no padrão de expressão de proteínas e metabólitos destas células. As áreas de proteômica e metabolômica auxiliam no entendimento de processos biológicos e fornecem um panorama sobre o estado das plantas em determinado momento e em resposta a determinadas condições/estresses ambientais. Assim o principal objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma análise comparativa do proteoma e metaboloma de raízes de dois clones de E. grandis x E. camaldulensis, sendo um tolerante e um susceptível ao déficit hídrico, após os indivíduos terem sido submetidos a diferentes regimes hídricos, sendo 100% da capacidade de campo utilizada nas plantas controle e 30% nas plantas tratamento. Os resultados gerados mostraram a existência de proteínas relacionadas ao estresse hídrico e a existência de metabólitos secundários diferencialmente expressos nas plantas controle e tratamento. Esta pesquisa possui um caráter inovador por ser um dos primeiros trabalhos relacionados à área de proteômica e metabolômica de raiz de eucalipto sob estresse hídrico. Novos estudos relacionados a esta área são bem vindos, podendo contribuir na identificação de genes tolerantes ao estresse hídrico e que poderão ser utilizados no futuro na engenharia genética de plantas. / The increasing demand for wood products in the domestic and international markets requires constant wood production and the Eucalyptus genus is an alternative to meet this demand. The site selection for planting this genus requires studies related to characteristics of adaptability of the species to be used. For regions with drought stress, for example, a drought resistant clone or species must be selected. Many authors have shown the potential of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and hybrids of this species with E. grandis for production in arid regions of Brazil. The adaptation of a species to a particular environment may be related to many genetic features which have an impact, for example, on the proteome and metabolome of this species. The cells in an organism have the same genome, but exhibit the most varied functions and morphologies, which are related to differences in the expression pattern of proteins and metabolites of those cells. The areas of proteomics and metabolomics can assist in the understanding the biological processes and supply an overview about plants status at any given time and in response to certain conditions / environmental stresses. The aim of this work is to perform a comparative analysis of the roots´s proteome and metabolome of two E. grandis x E. camaldulensis clones, one tolerant and another susceptible to drought, after the individuals have been subjected to different water regimes, 100% of field capacity for the control plants and 30% for the treated ones. The results showed the presence of proteins related to drought stress and the presence of secondary metabolites differentially expressed in the control when compared to treatment plants. This research has an innovative feature to be one of the first works involving proteomics and metabolomics studies of eucalyptus roots under water stress. New researches related to this field are welcome and may help to identify genes tolerant to drought stress that may be used in the future for genetic engineering plants.

A escassez de água é um dos fatores mais limitantes à produção agrícola. O entendimento dos fatores que regem a extração da água do solo por plantas e a sua distribuição ao longo do sistema radicular em condições hidráulicas contrastantes é importante para o ajuste fino de modelos hidrológicos que servem de referência para modelos de produção vegetal e meteorológicos, entre outros. Com a finalidade de contribuir com o conhecimento sobre a dinâmica da água na rizosfera, nesta dissertação um modelo de partição de extração de água do solo pelas raízes foi descrito e testado experimentalmente. Para poder medir a partição da extração de água do solo por raízes impondo condições contrastantes de teor de água foi criado um ambiente artificial, um lisímetro com dois compartimentos A e B separados fisicamente (split-pot). Foram confeccionados quatro desses lisímetros, preenchidos com material de um solo de textura média e plantados com duas plantas de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), dividindo o sistema radicular ao meio entre os compartimentos. Sensores de TDR e tensiômetros foram instalados nos lisímetros para monitoramento do teor de água no solo e referencia para irrigação, respectivamente. O manejo da irrigação adotado foi constituído de quatro fases: I - irrigação apenas do compartimento B e secagem do compartimento A (07/05 25/05); II - secagem dos dois compartimentos (26/05 05/06); III - irrigação do compartimento A e secagem do compartimento B (06/06 14/06); IV - secagem dos dois compartimentos (15/06 - 22/06). O material de solo utilizado foi analisado quanto a suas propriedades hidráulicas. Após o fim do período de monitoramento os lisímetros foram desmontados e os parâmetros radiculares determinados. Para avaliar o desempenho do modelo de extração radicular compararam-se os dados observados de teor de água (obs) com os previstos pelo modelo (mod), utilizando-se a raiz do erro médio quadrático (RMSE) como indicador quantitativo. Incluiu-se um fator de correção para atividade e distribuição do sistema radicular. Para as quatro unidades experimentais, os valores do teor de água variaram devido às lâminas de irrigação aplicadas e a extração de água pela planta. Observaram-se, ainda, muito mais valores positivo de modelados do que observados, o que indica que a resistência hidráulica interna das raízes e mecanismos que impedem o refluxo de água ao solo, não considerados pelo modelo, podem, na verdade, ter um papel importante nas relações hídricas na rizosfera. Concluiu-se que o experimento permitiu fazer observações da extração radicular em condições hidráulicas contrastantes de seu sistema radicular. As plantas demonstraram preferência por extrair água dos compartimentos mais úmidos, interrompendo a exploração dos mais secos. Em diversas ocasiões a liberação da água ao solo foi observada nos compartimentos mais secos. Utilizando-se um fator de eficiência radicular de 0,015, o modelo testado descreveu razoavelmente bem as observações. / Water shortage is one of the most limiting factors for agricultural production. The understanding of factors that rule the extraction of soil water by plants and its distribution along the root system under contrasting hydraulic conditions is important for fine-tuning hydrological models which are a reference for crop growth models, meteorological models, among others. Aiming to contribute with the understanding of water dynamics in the rhizosphere, a model for the description of root water extraction partition was described and experimentally tested in this dissertation. To measure the root water extraction partition under contrasting hydraulic conditions an artificial environment was created: a split-pot lysimeter with two physically divided compartments A and B. Four of these lysimeters were constructed, filled with a medium textured soil and populated by two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) plants whose root systems were divided among the compartments. TDR and tensiometer equipment was installed in the lysimeters to measure soil water content and as a reference for irrigation, respectively. Irrigation management consisted of four phases: I - irrigation only in compartment B, drying out compartment A (07/May 25/May); II no irrigation, drying out of both compartments (26/May 05/June); III - irrigation only in compartment A, drying out compartment B (06/June 14/June); IV - no irrigation, drying out of both compartments (15/June 22/June). Soil hydraulic properties were determined in laboratory. At the end of the experimental period, lysimeters were disassembled and root system parameters were determined. To evaluate the performance of the root water extraction model, observed water contents were compared with model predictions, using the root means square error (RMSE) as quantitative index. A correction factor for root activity and distribution was included. Water contents were observed to vary in the four lysimeters due to irrigation and root water extraction. Model predictions showed much more positive values of than observed, suggesting that internal root resistance and mechanisms impeding reflux from root to soil, not considered by the model may play an important role in rhizosphere water relations. It is concluded that the experiment permitted to observe root water extraction under contrasting hydraulic conditions in the root system. Plants showed preference for water extraction from the wetter compartments, interrupting the exploitation of the dryer ones. On several occasions, a hydraulic lift (water transfer from roots to soil) was observed in the dry compartments. Using a root system efficiency factor of 0.015, the tested model described the observations reasonably well.