Orientador: Edson Lazarini / Resumo: Em um sistema plantio direto em processo de estabilização, preconiza o não revolvimento do solo. Neste sentido o uso de gesso agrícola pode ser uma alternativa para viabilizar a aplicação do calcário em superfície sem que seja necessária sua incorporação. Dessa forma, o gesso entra como um insumo complementar ao uso do calcário. Em vista do exposto, o presente trabalho objetivou estudar o comportamento do calcário e/ou gesso reaplicados em superfície, e seus reflexos nos atributos químicos do solo e nas culturas do milho e soja em sucessão. O experimento está sendo desenvolvido desde o ano de 2011 em LATOSSOLO VERMELHO distrófico de textura argilosa, desde o ano de 2011, no qual se apresenta em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas sub-subdivididas com quatro repetições. Como tratamentos nas parcelas, foi instalado o milho em dois sistemas de cultivo, sendo eles, solteiro e consorciado com Urochloa. Para as subparcelas foram utilizadas quatro doses de calcário (0; 2000; 4000 e 6000 kg ha-1) e quatro doses de gesso (0; 1500; 3000 e 4500 kg ha-1) distribuídas ao acaso nas sub-subparcelas. As aplicações foram em superfície manualmente em cada parcela e sendo realizadas as seguintes avaliações: características agronômicas, estado nutricional e produtividade de grãos das culturas do milho e soja e os atributos químicos do solo em diferentes profundidades (0,0 – 0,10; 0,10 – 0,20 e 0,20 – 0,40 m). O efeito residual das maiores doses de calcário reaplicados em 2014... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the process of stabilizing in a no-tillage system, the soil revolving must be minimized. In this sense the application of lime can be an alternative to enable the use of gypsum as an alternative to conditioner the subsurface soil layers in the short term, and it can be used as a complementary product to lime because of its greater solubility and mobility in the soil profile. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to study the effect of lime and gypsum reapplied in surface and their impacts on maize crop under the sole and intercropped with soybean. The experiment is being developed in a dystrophic Red Latosol with clayey texture, since the year of 2011, and arranged in a randomized block designs, in split-split plots, with four replications. As treatments in the plots, the maize was installed in two cropping systems: sole and intercropped with Urochloa. For the subplots, were used four doses of lime (0; 2000; 4000 and 6000 kg ha-1) and four doses of gypsum (0; 1500; 3000 and 4500 kg ha-1) randomly distributed in the sub-subplots. The applications were manual and in surface in each plot, and being performed the following evaluations: agronomic characteristics, nutritional status and grains yield of maize and soybean and the chemical attributes of soil in three different depth (0,0 – 0,10; 0,10 – 0,20 e 0,20 – 0,40 m). The residual effect of the major gypsum doses reapplied in 2014 provided greater yield on the soybean sown two years after. Higher doses of gypsum reduced ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A matéria orgânica é a principal responsável pela boa produtividade das culturas por possibilitar melhorias nas propriedades químicas, físicas e biológicas do solo. Os ácidos húmicos presentes na matéria orgânica têm sido estudados uma vez que as plantas apresentam respostas às suas aplicações no solo ou nas folhas. Muitos produtos comerciais compostos por substâncias húmicas têm sua origem a partir da mistura de adubos minerais com o produto resultante da decomposição de materiais orgânicos. Os bioestimulantes têm sido amplamente comercializados por apresentarem respostas no incremento da produtividade das culturas, principalmente em regiões onde as plantas estão sendo cultivadas em ambientes estressantes. Estes produtos possibilitam aumento na absorção de nutrientes e de água pelas plantas, bem como influenciam a atividade hormonal das plantas. Alguns estudos mostram resultados controversos sobre o uso de bioestimulantes nas plantas, sendo necessárias, portanto, novas pesquisas para melhor avaliação dos efeitos destes produtos na agricultura. Alguns deles mostram que a aplicação de bioestimulantes aumenta a atividade antioxidante na planta e, consequentemente, melhora seu sistema de defesa contra os estresses abióticos. Com base nestes fatos, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito de diferentes bioestimulantes aplicados em diferentes doses em plantas de milho e de soja no conteúdo de nutrientes, na produção de matéria seca e nos níveis de enzimas antioxidantes nas plantas. / Organic matter is the main source for high crop productivity since it improves chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil. Humic acids of the organic matter have been studied for many scientists. Plants have shown some improvements in their growth when they are subjected to applications of humic acids in the soil as well as via foliar. Many commercial products have humic acids in their compositions. They have been commercialized because they have increased crop production, especially when plants are subjected to severe environment. These products improve nutrient and water uptake, as well as they influence hormonal activities in plants. Some researches have shown application of biostimulants increases antioxidant activity in plants. So, they enhance defense system against abiotic stresses. But there are some studies showing that biostimulants have not caused any significant differences in plant growth. The aim of this research was evaluate biostimulants sources applied in different doses in maize and soybean in nutrient content as well as in the antioxidant enzymes levels in the plants.

A conservação do potencial fisiológico de sementes durante armazenamento depende de vários fatores, dentre os quais o genótipo e as condições de ambiente. Empresas produtoras de sementes de milho têm demonstrado séria preocupação com variações na longevidade de sementes de diferentes híbridos, que podem não apresentar o desempenho desejado, tanto na época normal de semeadura como na semeadura de safrinha. Visando contribuir para o esclarecimento do problema, este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de ambientes de armazenamento sobre o potencial fisiológico de sementes de diferentes genótipos de milho, procurando identificar causas de possíveis alterações fisiológicas e diferenças em seu desempenho. Foram avaliadas sementes de três híbridos experimentais de milho, cada um representado por três lotes produzidos pela empresa Syngenta Seeds, armazenados durante quinze meses, em três ambientes: câmara fria e seca (10 ºC e 30 % de umidade relativa do ar), laboratório e ambiente controlado (20 ºC e 70 % de umidade relativa do ar). O desempenho das sementes foi avaliado em épocas trimestrais, por meio de testes de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, frio e emergência de plântulas em campo. Foi também determinada a atividade dos sistemas enzimáticos superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), esterase (EST), malato desidrogenase (MDH), álcool desidrogenase (ADH), glutamato oxalacetato transaminase (GOT), glutamato desidrogenase (GTDH), -amilase (-AM) e sorbitol desidrogenase (SDH), por meio da técnica de eletroforese. Verificou-se que o potencial de armazenamento de sementes de diferentes genótipos de milho é avaliado, com segurança, associando-se resultados de testes de germinação e de vigor com avaliações da atividade de isoenzimas. Alterações em sistemas isoenzimáticos álcool desidrogenase, catalase, esterase, -amilase e sorbitol desidrogenase permitem identificar o progresso do processo de deterioração de sementes de milho e o estabelecimento de causas de diferenças no desempenho de genótipos e lotes de sementes. O armazenamento sob condições sub-ótimas de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar é adequado para promover diferenças na intensidade e velocidade de deterioração de sementes de genótipos de milho. / Seed storability is affected by several factors including genotype and environmental conditions. Corn seed producers are highly concerned with variations in seed longevity of different hybrids, resulting in lower performance than desired during the normal sowing season as much as during off season times. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of storage conditions on the seed physiological potential of different corn genotypes to identify possible causes of changes in seed performance. Three experimental corn hybrids each represented by three seed lots produced by Syngenta Seeds were evaluated. Seeds were stored for fifteen months under three environments: cold and dry chamber (10ºC and 30% relative air humidity), laboratory, and controlled environment (20ºC and 70% relative air humidity). Seed performance was evaluated every three months by germination, accelerated aging and cold tests as well as field seedling emergence. Activity of the enzymatic systems superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), esterase (EST), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GTDH), -amilase (-AM) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was also determined using electrophoresis. The storability of corn seeds from different genotypes can be consistently evaluated by associating germination and vigor test results with isoenzymatic activity. Changes in alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase, esterase, -amilase and sorbital dehydrogenase isoenzymatic systems can identify the progress of seed deterioration in corn and establish causes of differences in performance among seed genotypes and lots. Storage under sub-optimal temperature and relative air humidity is an efficient procedure to provoke differences in intensity and speed of seed deterioration in corn seeds of different genotypes.

Orientador: Edson Lazarini / Resumo: No cerrado, o Sistema Plantio Direto assume importância devido ao não revolvimento do solo, utilizar culturas de cobertura e preconizar rotação de culturas. Em área experimental no município de Selvíria – MS implantou-se o sistema plantio direto no ano agrícola 2000/01, com o objetivo de avaliar os tratamentos com diferentes modos e épocas de aplicação de calcário, culturas de cobertura e doses de N, no comportamento das culturas de milho e soja. Os resultados abordados neste trabalho, referem-se aos anos agrícolas 2015/16, 2016/2017 e 2017/18, quando utilizou-se o milho como cultura principal, o milheto e a Crotalaria juncea como culturas de cobertura, diferentes doses de calcário aplicadas durante os anos anteriores, complementadas com a reaplicação de calcário na presença e ou ausência de gesso e doses de N em cobertura. A área experimental pertence a UNESP – Campus de Ilha Solteira, sendo o solo classificado como LATOSSOLO VERMELHO distrófico com textura argilosa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o em blocos casualizados com os tratamentos disposto em esquema fatorial. O calcário foi aplicado em 2001, 2007 e 2012, perfazendo um total de (T1) 4,66; (T2) 6,90; (T3) 5,47; (T4) 6,11 e (T5) 0,81 t ha-1. No ano de 2016, foi realizado uma nova reaplicação de calcário, aplicando respectivamente nos tratamentos, 2,26; 4,52; 2,26; 4,52 e 0 t ha-1, acrescido para os tratamentos T3 e T4, 1,7 t ha-1 de gesso. As plantas de cobertura forma mantidas e as doses de N utilizadas a... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In the Cerrado region, the no-tillage system assumes importance because of no soil tillage, use of cover crops and crop rotation. In an experimental area in Selvíria county, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, the no-tillage system was implemented in the agricultural year 2000/01, aiming to evaluate the treatments with different modes and times of application of limestone, cover crops and N rates, on the behavior of corn and soybean crops. The results to be presented in this work refer to the agricultural years 2015/16, 2016/2017 and 2017/18, when maize was used as the main crop, millet and Crotalaria juncea as cover crops, different doses of limestone applied during the previous years, complemented by the reapplication of limestone in the presence and / or absence of gypsum and N rates in topdressing. The experimental area of UNESP - Ilha Solteira Campus has soil classified as dystrophic Red Latosol with clay texture. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with treatments arranged in a factorial scheme. Limestone was applied in 2001, 2007 and 2012, totaling (T1) 4.66; (T2) 6.90; (T3) 5.47; (T4) 6.11 and (T5) 0.81 t ha-1. In 2016, a new limestone reapplication was performed, applying respectively 2.26; 4.52; 2.26; 4.52 and 0 t ha-1, plus for treatments T3 and T4, 1.7 t ha-1 of gypsum. The cover crops were maintained and the doses of N used annually were 0, 90 and 180 kg ha-1, using urea as source. Evaluations were based on corn nutritional status, corn agronomi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

1. Today honey bee colonies face a wide range of challenges in modern agricultural landscapes which entails the need for a comprehensive investigation of honey bees in a landscape context and the assessment of environmental risks. Within this dissertation the pollen foraging of honey bee colonies is studied in different agricultural landscapes to gain insight into the use of pollen resources and the influence of landscape structure across the season. General suggestions for landscape management to support honey bees and other pollinators are derived. 2. Decoding of waggle dances and a subsequent spatial foraging analysis are used as methods in Chapters 4 and 5 to study honey bee colonies in agricultural landscapes. The recently developed metabarcoding of mixed pollen samples was applied for the first time in honey bee foraging ecology and allowed for a detailed analysis of pollen, that was trapped from honey bees in front hive entrances (Chapter 6). 3. Pollen identification through molecular sequencing and DNA barcoding has been proposed as an alternative approach to light microscopy, which still is a tedious and error-prone task. In this study we assessed mixed pollen probes through next-generation sequencing and developed a bioinformatic workflow to analyse these high-throughput data with a newly created reference database. To evaluate the feasibility, we compared results from classical identification based on light microscopy from the same samples with our sequencing results. Abundance estimations from sequencing data were significantly correlated with counted abundances through light microscopy. Next-generation sequencing thus presents a useful and efficient workflow to identify pollen at the genus and species level without requiring specialized palynological expert knowledge. 4. During maize flowering, four observation hives were placed in and rotated between 11 landscapes covering a gradient in maize acreage. A higher foraging frequency on maize fields compared to other landuse types showed that maize is an intensively used pollen resource for honey bee colonies. Mean foraging distances were significantly shorter for maize pollen than for other pollen origins, indicating that effort is put into collecting a diverse pollen diet. The percentage of maize pollen foragers did not increase with maize acreage in the landscape and was not reduced by grassland area as an alternative pollen resource. Our findings allow estimating the distance-related exposure risk of honey bee colonies to pollen from surrounding maize fields treated with systemic insecticides. 5. It is unknown how an increasing area of mass-flowering crops like oilseed rape (OSR) or a decrease of semi-natural habitats (SNH) change the temporal and spatial availability of pollen resources for honey bee colonies, and thus foraging distances and frequency in different habitat types. Sixteen observation hives were placed in and rotated between 16 agricultural landscapes with independent gradients of OSR and SNH area within 2 km to analyze foraging distances and frequencies. SNH and OSR reduced foraging distance at different spatial scales and depending on season, with possible benefits for the performance of honey bee colonies. Frequency of pollen foragers per habitat type was equally high for SNH, grassland and OSR fields, but lower for other crops and forest. In landscapes with a small proportion of SNH a significantly higher density of pollen foragers on SNH was observed, indicating the limitation of pollen resources in simple agricultural landscapes and the importance of SNH. 6. Quantity and diversity of collected pollen can influence the growth and health of honey bee colonies, but little is known about the influence of landscape structure on pollen diet. In a field experiment we rotated 16 honey bee colonies across 16 agricultural landscapes (see also Chapter 5), used traps to get samples of collected pollen and observed the intra-colonial dance communication to gain information about foraging distances. Neither the amount of collected pollen nor pollen diversity were related to landscape diversity. The revealed increase of foraging distances with decreasing landscape diversity suggests that honey bees compensate for a lower landscape diversity by increasing their pollen foraging range in order to maintain pollen amount and diversity. 7. Our results show the importance of diverse pollen resources for honey bee colonies in agricultural landscapes. Beside the risk of exposure to pesticides honey bees face the risk of nutritional deficiency with implications for their health. By modifying landscape composition and therefore availability of resources we are able to contribute to the wellbeing of honey bees. Agri-environmental schemes aiming to support pollinators should focus on possible spatial and temporal gaps in pollen availability and diversity in agricultural landscapes. / 1. Honigbienen stehen heutzutage vor einer Vielzahl von Herausforderungen in der modernen Agrarlandschaft, was umfassende Untersuchungen von Honigbienen im Landschafskontext erforderlich macht. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde das Pollensammeln von Honigbienenvölkern in verschiedenen Agrarlandschaften studiert, um Einblick in die Nutzung von Pollenressourcen und auf den Einfluss der Landschaftsstruktur zu gewinnen. 2. Die Dekodierung von Schwänzeltänzen und eine anschließende räumliche Analyse des Sammelverhaltens werden als Methoden in den Kapiteln 4 und 5 eingesetzt, um Bienenvölker in Agrarlandschaften zu untersuchen. Das kürzlich entwickelte Metabarcoding von gemischten Pollenproben wurde zum ersten Mal in der Honigbienenökologie angewandt und ermöglichte eine detaillierte Analyse von Pollenproben, die per Pollenfallen vor den Stockeingängen gesammelt wurden (Kapitel 6). 3. Pollenbestimmung durch molekulare Sequenzierung und DNA Barcoding wurde als Alternative zur Lichtmikroskopie vorgeschlagen, die immer noch sehr mühsam und fehlerbehaftet ist. In dieser Studie bestimmten wir gemischte Pollenproben durch Next-Generation-Sequenzierung und entwickelten einen bioinformatischen Arbeitsablauf um diese Hochdurchsatz-Daten mit einer neu kreierten Referenzdatanbank zu analysieren. Um die Durchführbarkeit zu evaluieren verglichen wir Ergebnisse aus der klassischen Identifizierung via Lichtmikroskopie derselben Proben mit unseren Sequenzier-Ergebnissen. Häufigkeitsschätzungen auf Basis der Sequenzierdaten waren signifikant mit den gezählten Häufigkeiten via Lichtmikroskopie korreliert. Next-Generation-Sequenzierung stellt daher einen nützlichen und effizienten Arbeitsablauf dar, um Pollen auf dem Gattungs- und Artniveau zu bestimmen ohne spezielles palynologisches Expertenwissen zu benötigen. 4. Während der Maisblüte wurden vier Beobachtungsstöcke in 11 Landschaften mit einem Maisflächengradienten platziert und zwischen diesen rotiert. Maisfelder wurden intensiver genutzt als Flächen anderer Landnutzungstypen. Die mittleren Sammeldistanzen waren signifikant niedriger für Maispollen als Pollen anderer Herkunft, was darauf hinweist, dass Aufwand in das Sammeln einer diversen Pollendiät gesetzt wird. Der Anteil an Maispollensammlerinnen stieg nicht mit der Maisanbaufläche in der Landschaft und wurde nicht durch Grünlandfläche als alternative Pollenressource reduziert. Unsere Ergebnisse ermöglichen die Schätzung des entfernungsbezogenen Expositionsrisikos von Honigbienenvölker auf Pollen aus den umliegenden Maisfeldern, die mit systemischen Insektiziden behandelt werden. 5. Es ist nicht bekannt, wie eine Zunahme von Massentrachten wie Raps (OSR) oder eine Abnahme von halbnatürlichen Habitaten (SNH) die zeitliche und räumliche Verfügbarkeit von Pollenressourcen für die Honigbienen, und damit Sammeldistanzen und -frequenzen in verschiedenen Lebensraumtypen verändert. Sechzehn Beobachtungsstöcke wurden in 16 Agrarlandschaften mit unabhängigen Gradienten an OSR- und SNH-Fläche innerhalb von 2 km platziert und regelmäßig rotiert, um Sammeldistanzen und -frequenzen zu analysieren. SNH und OSR reduzierten die Sammeldistanzen auf verschiedenen räumlichen Skalen und je nach Saison, mit möglichen Vorteilen für die Leistungsfähigkeit von Bienenvölkern. Die Häufigkeit der Pollensammler pro Habitattyp war gleich hoch für SNH, Grünland und OSR, aber niedriger für andere Kulturen und Wald. In Landschaften mit einem kleinen Anteil von SNH wurde eine deutlich höhere Dichte von Pollensammlerinnen auf SNH beobachtet, was auf die Begrenzung der Pollenressourcen in einfachen Agrarlandschaften und die Bedeutung von SNH hinweist. 6. Menge und Diversität des gesammelten Pollens können das Wachstum und die Gesundheit von Honigbienenvölkern beeinflussen, aber es ist wenig über den Einfluss der Landschaftsstruktur auf die Pollendiät bekannt. In einem Feldexperiment rotierten wir 16 Honigbienenkolonien über 16 Agrarlandschaften (siehe auch Kapitel 5), nutzten Pollenfallen um Proben des gesammelten Pollens zu nehmen und beobachteten die intrakoloniale Tanzkommunikation, um Informationen über die Sammeldistanzen zu erhalten. Weder Pollenmenge noch -diversität waren von der Landschaftsdiversität abhängig. Der offenbarte Anstieg von Sammeldistanzen mit abnehmender Landschaftsdiversität legt nahe, dass Honigbienen durch die Erweiterung des Pollensammelbereichs eine niedrigere Landschaftsdiversität kompensieren, um Pollenmenge und -diversität zu erhalten. 7. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen die Bedeutung eines diversen Pollenangebots für Bienenvölker in der Agrarlandschaft. Neben dem Risiko einer Exposition gegenüber Pestiziden, stehen Bienenvölker vor der Gefahr von Mangelernährung mit Auswirkungen auf ihre Gesundheit. Durch eine Änderung der Landschaftzusammensetzung und damit der Verfügbarkeit von Ressourcen können wir zum Wohlergehen der Honigbienen beitragen. Agrarumweltmaßnahmen mit dem Ziel Bestäuber zu unterstützen, sollten sich auf mögliche räumliche und zeitliche Lücken in der Pollenverfügbarkeit und Vielfalt in der Agrarlandschaft konzentrieren.

Le sélénium (Se) est un antioxydant et un oligo-élément pour les animaux et les humains. Néanmoins, l'intervalle de concentration entre carence et toxicité est très étroit. Ce métalloïde est introduit indirectement dans la chaine alimentaire via son accumulation dans les plantes. La littérature sur ce sujet est encore restreinte et incomplète, s'effectuant couramment sur des plantes modèles et en présence de fortes concentrations en Se. Cette thèse porte sur le transfert du Se dans une plante de grande culture, le Zea mays, et les conséquences de cette accumulation sur la physiologique de la plante à travers l'étude de l'accumulation des cations essentiels (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu). Des expérimentations en milieu contrôlé (cultures en hydroponie) ont donc été réalisées pour obtenir un ensemble d'échantillons analysés ensuite par des techniques d'analyse adéquates et sensibles (CRC-ICP-MS par exemple). Diverses modalités influençant le transfert du Se dans la plante ont ainsi été étudiées : la concentration et forme du Se source ainsi que le stade de développement de la plante. Les résultats ont montré que l'absorption racinaire, la concentration au sein de la plante ainsi que le degré de métabolisation du Se, et par conséquent les apports en Se pour les populations animales et humaines, sont fortement influencés par les trois facteurs énoncés. De plus, cette étude a mis en évidence que l'accumulation des cations au sein des plantes dépendent du Se. Ces effets peuvent être associés au déséquilibre du système de détoxification des espèces oxygénées réactives des cellules, en cohérence avec le caractère ambivalent du Se: antioxydant ou pro-oxydant selon sa concentration.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-77).

Les plantes dans leur environnement établissent des interactions avec des micro-organismes du sol. Parmi ces interactions nous pouvons distinguer les symbioses associatives mettant en jeu des bactéries PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria). L'impact de ces microorganismes phytobénéfiques (Azospirillum, Pseudomonas...) sur le métabolisme de la plante hôte est encore mal connu. Le modèle d'étude que nous avons choisi dans le cadre de ce travail est Zea mays L. qui peut établir de nombreuses symbioses associatives avec des PGPR. Pour étudier les effets de ces micro-organismes sur le maïs, deux approches ont été développées faisant notamment appel à des outils de profilage métabolique pour i) déterminer l'impact de la simple inoculation micro-organismes sur le métabolisme secondaire racinaire et des parties aériennes de la plante hôte, et ii) évaluer les effets physiologiques de consortia microbiens comprenant Azsopirillum, Pseudomonas et Glomus. Les résultats de ce travail démontrent la place prépondérante des composés de type benzoxazinoide (benzoxazolinone et benzoxazinone) dans les interactions et la modulation de leur synthèse induite par les inocula. Par ailleurs nos travaux mettent également en évidence que la réponse métabolique de la plante à l'interaction avec les micro-organismes est dépendante de l'espèce et de la souche bactérienne considérée suggérant ainsi un phénomène de reconnaissance entre les deux organismes

Interspecific competition is comprised of both resource dependant and resource independent processes. While many studies have focused on the role that resource dependant competition plays in reducing crop yields, few have investigated whether resource independent effects, such as light or hormonal signaling, may contribute to these yield losses. The focus of this thesis was to investigate the role of the shade avoidance response in determining the onset and outcome of crop-weed competition in maize (Zea mays L.). The results of greenhouse and field trials demonstrate that shade avoidance in maize can be induced shortly after seedling emergence and that the effects of this early response can be detected throughout the entire life cycle of the crop. Seedlings exposed to a weedy or low red to far-red light (R/FR) environment at emergence displayed an initial increase in plant height and a reduction in the root-to-shoot ratio. These effects were followed by a reduction in the rate of leaf appearance (RLA) and a linear decline in biomass and leaf area (LA) as the duration of time spent in a weedy environment increased. Conversely, seedlings emerging in a weed-free or ambient R/FR environment were unaffected regardless the duration of time spent in the weedy environment. These effects of early crop-weed competition are distinct from those of plant population density (i.e., intraspecific competition). Results of a field trial demonstrated that intraspecific competition at a conventional density of 8 plants m-2 did not negatively impact RLA or biomass accumulation until well after the defined critical period for weed control. Moreover, intraspecific competition at 16 plants m-2 was not detected until the 12th leaf tip stage, suggesting that the effects of crop density are more closely associated with canopy closure than an early shade avoidance response. At maturity, seedlings that expressed shade avoidance at early stages of development set fewer kernels and partitioned less biomass to the developing ear. Shade avoidance also doubled the plant-to-plant variability in yield parameters without affecting the mean or frequency distribution of shoot biomass at maturity. When taken together, the results of these studies indicate that shade avoidance destabilizes stand productivity by increasing plant-to-plant variability in reproductive effort prior to intra- or interspecific competition for resources.

The fungus Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe) causes Gibberella ear rot in maize, resulting in accumulation of harmful mycotoxins in the grain. Disease severity and pericarp/aleurone dehydrodiferulic acid content are negatively correlated. Furthermore, quantitative trait locus mapping (QTL) identified colocalization between QTL for both traits. A candidate gene approach was employed to identify the genes responsible for the observed colocalization. Candidate genes selected on the basis of their putative involvement in various aspects of cell wall DFA accumulation were mapped in silico using the maize genome sequence. Polymorphisms were discovered in putative genes and converted to molecular markers. The in silico mapping effort was successful in predicting map locations of the analyzed sequences, and the segregation of certain marker alleles could explain variation for Gibberella ear rot severity and pericarp-aleurone DFA content.