Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Six experiments, five in the glasshouse and one in the field near Nelspruit, were carried out to ascertain the effect of factors related to shoot die-back, and of water treatments on the growth and physiological responses of Pterocarpus angolensis seedlings. The study was undertaken to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of shoot die-back in order to enhance our ability to regenerate the species. The following experiments were carried out (a) Assessment of biomass accumulation; anatomical characteristics of the shoot apical meristem; foliar, stem and root concentration of micro- and macronutrients associated with each phenophase, (b) Effect of seedling age and seed source on the occurrence of shoot die-back under field conditions; (c) Water treatment effects on ChI. afluorescence traits of£'. angolensis seedlings obtained by assessing the fluorescence yield of photosynthetic samples subjected to dark- and light-adaptation; (d) Genetic variation in shoot die-back and other traits of sixteen halfsib families of £.. angolensis from Malawi, Namibia and Zambia grown over two die-back seasons. Experiments conducted revealed the following 1. Patterns of growth observed in phenophases are indicators of seasonal changes in annual biomass allocation to the shoot and root. Phenophases such as leaf loss and stem senescence, whether shoot die-back occurs completely or not, are directly related to the decline in above-ground biomass and declined rate of increase in root biomass respectively. Leaf flush, expansion and maturation result in increased biomass accumulation whilst shoot die-back has a minimal downregulatory effect on root biomass accumulation compared to the shoot. Shoot dieback is not sudden, therefore from the first day of germination, seedlings synchronise growth and development with the occurrence of shoot die-back. 2. Phenophasic concentration of foliar N, Ca and Mg, stem Fe and Cu and root concentrations of P, K, Mg, Fe and B are associated with shoot die-back. Patterns of mineral nutrient concentration obtained in foliage and roots but to a lesser extent in the stem, may be related to nutrient remobilisation during shoot dieback. Higher relative mineral nutrient changes during leaf yellowing and shoot die-back may be an indication of the removal of significant volumes of mobile nutrients from senescing tissues. 3. The volume of the shoot apex of E. angolensis remains constant during different phenophases which points to seasonal uniformity in the size of the apical dome. Changes in phenology associated with declined growth, or shoot die-back, is revealed through declined cell number in the tunica which is a reflection of declined mitotic activity. 4. Shoot die-back occurs in all seedlings from nursery stock planted under field conditions and all seedlings of up to two years experience complete shoot dieback. Shoot die-back takes place irrespective of seed source or the age of nursery stock that is planted. Survival after the first shoot die-back is normally low. Water treatments had no significant effect on the function of PSIJ reaction centres of P. angolensis nursery seedlings. In the case of both dark- and light-adapted leaves, water treatment had no significant effect on the measured Chi. a fluorescence parameters or the calculated parameters (specific activities, phenomenological fluxes, structure-function and performance indexes and drivingforces). 5. Water treatments affect the shape of ChI. a fluorescence transients of lightadapted compared to that of dark-adapted photosynthetic samples of E. angolensis. No significant water treatment effect was obtained for extracted and technical Chi. afluorescence parameters, specific fluxes, quantum efficiencies and phenomenological fluxes. Quantum yield, relative electron transport and quantum yield limitation, de-excitation rate constants, structure-function, performance indexes and driving forces were also not significantly different across water treatments.6. Genetic variation was observed to exist among 16 halfsib families from Malawi, Namibia and Zambia. High heritabilities were obtained for shoot die-back and other traits, indicating that shoot die-back is genetically controlled. The trait is passed from parents to offspring and it is highly probable that it occurs, throughout its natural range, in all seedlings. Since shoot die-back is genetically programmed, it remains crucial to the ability of a seedling to regenerate in the following rainy season / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Ses eksperimente, vyf in die glashuis en een in die veld naby Nelspruit, is uitgevoer om die effek van faktore wat verwant is aan die terugsterwing van lote op saailinge, sowel as om die effek van waterstres op die groei en fisiologiese responsies van Pterocarpus angolensis saailinge, te ondersoek. Die studie is ondemeem om die kennis en begrip aangaande die regenerasie-dinamika van die spesies te verbeter. Die volgende eksperimente is uitgevoer: (a) Evaluering van die effek van jisiologiese veranderings op biomassa; blaar-, stam- en wortelkonsentrasies van spoor- en makro-voedingselemente, en anatomiese eienskappe van die apikale meristeem van die lote. (b) Effek van saailingouderdom en saadbron op die voorkoms van lootterugsterwing onder veldtoestande. (c) Waterbehandelingseffekte op Chi. ajluorisensie eienskappe van ,e. angolensis saailinge wat verkry is deur die jluorisensie te evalueer van fotosintesemonsters wat aan donker- en lig-adaptasies onderwerp is. (d) Genetiese variasie in loot-terugsterwing en ander groei-eienskappe van 16 halfsib families van ,e. angolensis vanaf Malawi, Namibia en Zambia wat gekweek is oor twee terugsterj-seisoene. Die eksperimente het die volgende aan die lig gebring: 1. Groeipatrone waargeneem gedurende die fenofases is indikatore van seisoenale veranderings in jaarlikse biomassa allokasies aan die loot en die wortels. Fenofases soos blaarverlies en lootafsterwing, ongeag of loot-terugsterwing volledig is of nie, is direk verwant aan die afname in bogrondse biomassa en afnemende tempo van toename in wortelbiomassa respektiewelik. Bottende blare, vergroting en rypwording van blare lei tot toenemende biomassa akkumulasie terwyl loot-terugsterwing 'n minimale afskalende effek op akkumulasie van wortelbiomassa het in vergelyking met die van die loot. Loot-terugsterwing is nie skielik, met ander woorde vanaf die eerste dag van ontkieming sinchroniseer saailinge groei en ontwikkeling met die voorkoms van loot-terugsterwing. 2. Fenofase konsentrasies van en veranderings in blaar N en Ca en loot Fe, asook veranderings in waargenome wortel N, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn en B is sterk geassosieer met loot-terugsterwing. Patrone van minerale voedingselementkonsentrasies wat in blare en wortels, en in minder mate in die loot, verkry is, mag direk verwant wees aan hermobilisering van voedingselemente gedurende loot-terugsterwing. Hoe relatiewe minerale voedingselementveranderings gedurende die vergeling van blare en lootterugsterwing mag 'n indikasie wees van die verwydering van betekenisvoUe hoeveelhede mobiele nutriente vanaf sterwende weefsel. 3. Die volume van die groeipunt van r. angolensis bly konstant gedurende verskillende fenofases wat dui op seisoenale uniformiteit in die grootte van die apikale koepel. Veranderings in fenologie ge-assosieer met afnemende groei, of loot-terugsterwing, word gerejlekteer deur afnemende selgetaUe in die tunika wat dui op afnemende mitotiese aktiwiteit. 4. VoUedige loot-terugsterwing kom voor in aUe saailinge vanaf die kwekery wat in die veld geplant word tot op die ouderdom van twee iaar. Dit kom voor angeag van saadbron of ouderdom van saailinge ten tye van planting. Oorlewing na aanvanklike loot-terugsterwing is normaalweg laag. 5. Water behandelings het geen beduidende effek op die funksie van PSII reaksiesentra van r. angolensis kewekery-saailinge gehad. Vir beide donker- en lig-aangepaste blare is geen beduidende waterbehandelingseffek verkry vir waargenome ChI. a jluoresensie parameters of die berekende parameters (spes ifieke aktiwiteite, jenomenologiese jlukse, struktuur-funksie-indekse, "perjormance-indekse oj" driving forces" ). 6. Genetiese variasie tussen 16 halfsibfamilies vanaf Malawi, Namibie en Zambie is verkry vir loot-terugsterwing en ander groei-eienskappe. Dit dui op genetiese beheer van terugsterwing en dat die eienskap oorerjbaar is, en waarskynlik in die hele natuurlike verspreidingsgebied van die spesies in aUe saailinge voorkom. Aangesien loot-terugsterwing gene ties geprogrammeer is, is dit noodsaaklik vir die vermoe van die plant om in die volgende reenseisoen te regenereer.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy

Attempts at reforestation of many sites in the southwestern United States have repeatedly failed. Experience and research show that moisture stress is the primary cause of seedling mortality. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to produce planting stock for these areas that are as drought tolerant as possible. Seedlings with high ratios of root mass to shoot mass and adequate mycorrhizal infections should be more resistant to harsh conditions than most seedlings currently produced in nurseries and greenhouses. Inferences from other research indicated that the root-shoot ratios of seedlings could be increased solely by decreasing the amount of nitrogen supplied to them. Mycorrhizal formation would also be enhanced by minimal nitrogen levels. Containerized ponderosa pine seedlings (Pinus ponderosa Lawson var. scopulorum Engelm.) were grown in commercial greenhouses at various levels of nitrogen fertilization and treated with several mycorrhizal inoculums. Mycorrhizal treatments significantly increased shoot height and diameter, but no other seedling parameters. The inoculums did not affect the root-shoot ratio or the percent of short roots that became infected. Nitrogen levels significantly affected all parameters measured. As nitrogen concentration increased, shoot height, diameter, and weight increased, while root weight, root-shoot ratios, and mycorrhizal infections decreased. The inverse relationship between fertilizer nitrogen concentration and the resulting root-shoot ratios of the seedlings was linear and highly correlated. Nitrogen and percent mycorrhizal infection was nearly linear and also inversely correlated. The results of this research are immediately applicable to current greenhouse and nursery operations. When stock is to be planted on sites where seedling survival may be compromised by harsh environmental conditions, production methods should be modified to yield seedlings with maximum root-shoot ratios and heavily infected with mycorrhizae.

Ecologization of agriculture and forestry directly and indirectly influences the environment, water, air, and landscape. Thus, analysis of organic forestry activities, evaluation and forecast are of scientific, ecological and political significance. Weed control and the resulting organic farming and forestry issues have attracted greater attention to the use of physical methods in weed control, because this weed control method is effective and does not leave chemical residues neither in the soil, nor in water. One of the physical methods is thermal weed control method, which contrary to the other weed control methods, leaves only dead biomass, preventing self-sowing of weed seeds in the soil, destroys some of the pests and disinfects the surface layer of soil (Upadhyaya et al, 2007). Meanwhile, as an alternative to seed treatment, various physical methods are also used (Lynikienė, 2006). However, the effect of some of the techniques on seed-born fungi are not explained, optimal exposures of the effects are unidentified (Clear et al., 2002). One of the possibilities to reduce the infestation of seeds by fungi - their thermal destruction. / Žemės ir miškų ūkio ekologizavimas tiesiogiai ir netiesiogiai veikia aplinką, vandenį, orą, landšaftą. Todėl ekologinės veiklos miškų ūkyje analizė, įvertinimas ir prognozė turi mokslinę, ekologinę ir politinę reikšmę (Diepenbrock, 1996). Piktžolių naikinimas ir ekologinės žemės bei miškų ūkių problemos paskatino atkreipti dėmesį į fizikinių metodų naudojimo piktžolių kontrolei svarbą, nes šis piktžolių naikinimo metodas yra efektyvus, nepaliekantis cheminių medžiagų likučių nei dirvožemyje, nei vandenyje. Vienas iš fizikinių metodų ir yra terminis piktžolių naikinimo būdas, kuris, skirtingai nuo kitų piktžolių kontrolės būdų, palieka tik negyvą jų biomasę, neleisdamas piktžolių sėkloms pasisėti dirvoje, sunaikina kai kuriuos kenkėjus ir dezinfekuoja paviršinį dirvožemio sluoksnį (Upadhyaya, 2012). Kaip alternatyva sėkloms beicuoti taip pat naudojami įvairūs fizikiniai metodai (Lynikienė, 2006). Kai kurių metodų poveikis sėklomis plintantiems mikromicetams nenustatytas, nenustatytos ir šių poveikių optimalios ekspozicijos (Clear et al., 2002). Viena iš galimybių sumažinti sėklų užterštumą mikromicetais – jų naikinimas termiškai.

The potential growth-regulating compound 4-chloroglutaranilic acid (CGA) was tested in whole-plant bioassay systems which utilized sunflower seedlings (Helianthus annuus, L.). Test systems included the growth of plants in soil , solid inert (Vermiculite) substrate, and hydroponic (Seed-Pak) pouches.

Os diodos emissores de luz (LEDs) são utilizados em vários setores da agricultura, principalmente no cultivo in vitro, por ser uma alternativa de fonte de luz mais eficiente. Além de proporcionar uma significativa economia de energia elétrica, pode também auxiliar no desenvolvimento das plantas. Algumas técnicas de cultivo in vitro tem a finalidade de conservar os recursos fitogenéticos, que são fundamentais para viabilizar o estabelecimento de bancos de germoplasma e permitir a produção comercial de plantas micropropagadas. No Brasil, essa técnica já é usada para a propagação de plantas, no entanto ainda são poucos experimentos com a presença de LEDs. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de plântulas de morangueiro da cultivar Camarosa conservadas in vitro, sob a ação de diferentes espectros de luz. Os explantes de morangueiro foram mantidos em tubos de ensaio contendo 10 ml de meio de cultura semi-sólido MS, acrescido de 30 g de sacarose L-1; 1,8 g L-1 de Phytagel® e 0,1 mg L-1 de IBA (ácido idolbutírico), permanecendo in vitro por 28, 56, 84, 112 e 140 dias sob os tratamentos de LEDs de cor branca, mista (70% vermelha + 30% azul), vermelha e azul, sem ocorrência de subcultivos. Em cada intervalo de tempo, foram avaliadas a altura, peso fresco, número e comprimento das raízes, número de folhas, diâmetro do caule, teores de clorofila a e b. As plântulas obtidas foram aclimatizadas por 21 dias e avaliadas a taxa de sobrevivência das plantas, expressas em porcentagem, o número de folhas, o diâmetro do caule e a altura das plantas. O uso de LEDs de cor vermelha e mista contribuíram para o desenvolvimento das plântulas, já a luz azul reduziu o desenvolvimento das plântulas. Em relação aos pigmentos fotossintéticos, a utilização de LEDs não teve interferência em nenhum tratamento sob as plântulas. Na aclimatização, as plântulas sob efeitos das luzes vermelha e mista, tiveram um melhor resultado de sobrevivência em até três meses de conservação sem subcultivos. / Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used in many agriculture sectors, especially in vitro cultivation, because it is a more efficient light source alternative. In addition to providing significant energy savings, it can also help in the development of plants. Some techniques of in vitro cultivation have the purpose of conserving plant genetic resources, which are fundamental to enable the establishment of germplasm banks and allow the commercial production of micropropagated plants. In Brazil, this technique is already used for the propagation of plants, however there are still few experiments with the presence of LEDs. The objective of the study was to evaluate the development of strawberry cv. Camarosa conserved in vitro, under the effect of different light spectra. The strawberry explants were kept in test tubes containing 10 ml of MS semi-solid culture medium, plus 30 g of sucrose L-1; 1.8 g L-1 of Phytagel® and 0.1 mg L-1 of IBA (idolbutyric acid), remaining in vitro for 28, 56, 84, 112 and 140 days under the treatments of mixed white LEDs (70% red + 30% blue), red and blue, without subculture interference. At each interval, height, fresh weight, number and length of roots, number of leaves, stem diameter, chlorophyll a and b contents were evaluated. The seedlings obtained were acclimatized for 21 days and evaluated the survival rate of the plants, expressed as percentage, number of leaves, stem diameter and height of plants. The use of red and mixed color LEDs contributed to the development of the seedlings, while the blue light reduced the development of the seedlings. In relation to the photosynthetic pigments, the use of LEDs did not interfere in any treatment under the seedlings. In acclimatization, the seedlings under the effects of red and mixed lights, had a better survival result in up to three months of conservation without subcultures.

Orientador: Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani / Coorientador: Rafael Henrique de Freitas Noronha / Banca: Marcelo Boamorte Ravelli / Banca: Cristiano Zerbato / Resumo: O processo de colheita mecanizada de mudas de cana-de-açúcar é decisivo na operação seguinte, a de plantio mecanizado da cultura, principalmente nos meses de outubro/novembro, nos quais há maior estresse hídrico e temperatura elevadas. Assim, a quantidade de palha retida no rebolo durante o processo de colheita mecanizada, pode reduzir a quantidade de gemas inviáveis por danos mecânicos e proteger as gemas das condições climáticas adversas. Objetivou-se, avaliar a qualidade de operação de plantio de cana-de-açúcar utilizando mudas com e sem palhada, com utilização de plantadoras e distribuidoras de cana-de-açúcar picada comparados ao plantio semi-mecanizado. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Santa Clara, localizada no município de Pradópolis - SP, com cinco tratamentos sendo, plantadora mecanizada sem palha na muda, plantadora mecanizada com palha na muda, distribuidora mecanizada sem palha na muda, distribuidora mecanizada com palha na muda e plantio semi-mecanizado. A coleta de dados foi realizada em 50 pontos amostrais para cada tratamento, de acordo com as premissas do Controle Estatístico de Processo. A quantidade de gemas inviáveis e as falhas no estande reduziram com a presença de palha no rebolo. A presença de palha no rebolo possibilita o aumento do potencial da área plantada. Dessa forma, a presença de palha na muda melhorou a qualidade do plantio de cana de açúcar. / Abstract: The process of sugarcane seedlings mechanized harvesting is decisive in the next operation, which is the mechanized crop planting, mainly in the months of October/November, when the plants experience higher water stress and elevated temperatures. Thus, the amount of straw retained in the stalk during the mechanized harvesting process can reduce the number of non-viable buds due to mechanical damage and protect the buds from adverse climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of the sugarcane planting operation using seedlings with and without straw, employing planters and distributors of chopped sugarcane compared to semi-mechanized planting. The experiment was carried out at Santa Clara Farm, located in the city of Pradópolis, SP, Brazil, with five treatments, being: mechanized planter without straw in the seedling, mechanized planter with straw in the seedling, mechanized distributor without straw in the seedling, mechanized distributor with straw in the seedling and semi-mechanized planting. The data collection was performed in 50 sample points for each treatment, according to the premises of the Statistical Process Control. The amount of unviable gems and faults in the stand reduced with the presence of straw on the stalk. The presence of straw in the stalk makes it possible to increase the potential of the planted area. Thus, the presence of straw in the seedling improved the quality of sugarcane cropping. / Mestre

A restauração de áreas degradadas tem como objetivo a formação de um ambiente florestal e o restabelecimento das interações entre espécies vegetais e animais que auxiliam na manutenção das populações locais e a evolução da comunidade implantada. Atualmente, existe a preocupação com a qualidade das áreas restauradas no Estado de São Paulo nos últimos anos em relação à perda da diversidade biológica e ao estado de declínio em que se encontram, principalmente devido ao isolamento dessas áreas na paisagem. Considerando a contínua expansão econômica e a construção de obras que acarretam o corte legalizado de áreas naturais, a utilização dos recursos dessas áreas pode se tornar uma alternativa para a restauração de áreas degradadas através da obrigatoriedade de ações mitigadoras e compensatórias. A transferência de plântulas dessas áreas é uma técnica utilizada para a produção de mudas de elevada riqueza de espécies e formas de vida que podem ser utilizadas no enriquecimento de áreas em processo de restauração ou de florestas secundárias degradadas. O isolamento desses fragmentos dificulta a chegada de novas espécies na área, mesmo após a formação do dossel que propicia um ambiente adequado ao estabelecimento de guildas como as espécies de sub-bosque. Dessa forma, torna-se necessária a introdução assistida de novas espécies nessas áreas para o restabelecimento de interações ecológicas e auto-perpetuação da floresta. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar diferentes técnicas de enriquecimento em uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual em processo de restauração. O estudo foi realizado em um fragmento localizado no município de Santa Bárbara dOeste, SP. Foram coletadas plântulas de uma área que seria legalmente suprimida e transferidas para o viveiro visando à produção de mudas. Posteriormente, mudas de vinte espécies foram plantadas no fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e apresentaram elevadas taxas de sobrevivência. Nesta mesma área foi realizado o plantio de plântulas e mudas de espécies de subbosque produzidas em viveiro. Foram plantadas sete espécies de plântulas e dez espécies de mudas na entrelinha do plantio original que durante o período de avaliação apresentaram elevadas taxas de sobrevivência. Deste modo, esses resultados demonstram a viabilidade da técnica de transferência de plântulas da regeneração natural, do plantio de plântulas e mudas de espécies de sub-bosque visando o enriquecimento de áreas em processo de restauração. / The main objective of ecological restoration is to built a forested environment and reestablish plants and animals interactions, which promotes the maintenance of local populations and the development of the restored community. Nowadays, there is concern about the quality of restored forests in the São Paulo State (Brazil), regarding their biodiversity loss, related to the landscape isolation on which they are found. Considering the fact that economic expansion and building works result on legalized deforestation, the good use of these natural resources may consist on an interesting alternative to restoration ecology. Transplanting seedlings from these condemned areas is a technique that aims to gather high diversity of species and lifeforms that can be used to enhance diversity on restored sites or secondary forests. Isolation of forest remnants raise difficulties to the arrival of colonizing species, even after a canopy is formed and therefore a suitable environment for the establishment of guilds such as understorey species is available. For that matter it is necessary to assist the introduction of new species to these areas under reforestation process, reestablishing ecological interactions and forest self- maintenance. The main purpose of this study was to analyze different techniques of diversity enhancement of a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest under restoration process. The study was taken on a forest remnant located at Santa Barbara d\'Oeste (São Paulo State). Seedlings were transplanted from a site to be legally deforested and taken to a seedling nursery. Then, seedlings of 20 species were planted on a forest remnant and presented high survival rates. At this same site, seedlings produced under nursery conditions were planted; seven understorey species of young seedlings and ten understorey species of regular sized seedlings were transplanted to a restored forest and presented high survival rates during evaluation period. The results add evidence that transplanting seedlings from forest understorey and from nurseries is a feasible technique to enhance diversity on restoring forests.

Estudos fitoquímicos em geral são realizados com indivíduos adultos visando isolar e caracterizar substâncias em quantidade para testes de atividade biológica e por isso, há poucos estudos de metabólitos secundários em estágios iniciais do desenvolvimento das plantas. Assim, o trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de analisar o perfil de metabolitos secundários ao longo da ontogenia de espécies do gênero Piper. Os extratos brutos de plântulas e plantas adultas de diversas espécies de Piper foram analisados por técnicas cromatográficas, espectrométricas e espectroscópicas (RMN de 1H, CLAE-UV-EM, CG-EM). Os dados submetidos à análise de componentes principais (PCA) revelaram três grupos, sendo que no primeiro grupo contendo amidas (P. tuberculatum, P. amalago e P. reticulatum) não foi observada diferença significativa no perfil químico nos diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. No segundo grupo (P. gaudichaudianum, P. solmsianum, P. regnellii, P. caldense e P. hemmendorfii) foi observado o acúmulo de alilfenois nas folhas das plântulas contrastando com as folhas adultas que produziam lignanas, neolignanas ou ácidos benzóicos prenilados. No terceiro grupo (P. richardiaefolium e P. permucronatum) observou-se o predomínio de amidas nas folhas das plântulas enquanto que lignanas ou flavonoides constituem-se nos metabólitos predominantes no estágio adulto. A diferenciação observada na produção de metabólitos secundários ao longo da ontogenia fornece indícios de possíveis estratégias de defesa contra fitopatógenos ou herbívoros. / Phytochemical studies are usually carried out with adult plants for isolation and characterization of compounds in large amounts especially when bioactivity is involved and thus remarkably little is known about the production of secondary metabolites in Piper species at early developmental stages. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to describe the secondary metabolites profile of plants during the ontogeny of the Piper species. Crude extracts from seedlings and adult plants of several Piper species were analyzed by chromatographic, spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, HPLC-DAD-MS, GC-MS). The analysis with the aid of principal component analysis (PCA) revealed three groups: the first group containing amides (P. tuberculatum, P. amalago and P. reticulatum) no significant differences were observed in the chemical profile at different developmental stages. In the second group (P. gaudichaudianum, P. solmsianum, P. regnellii, P. caldense and P. hemmendorfii) allylphenols were detected as major compounds in the seedling leaves while adult leaves contained lignans, neolignans or prenylated benzoic acids. Additionally, in a third group (P. richardiaefolium and P. permucronatum) amides were observed as major compounds in the seedling leaves instead of lignans or flavonoids found in the adult leaves. The differentiation observed in the secondary metabolite production suggests a plant defensive strategy against phytopathogens and herbivores.

O planejamento de colheita na cultura da cana-de-açúcar busca otimizar o retorno econômico, baseado no conceito de que a cana tem uma época, durante o ano, onde ocorre máxima concentração de sacarose nos colmos. Realizaram-se neste trabalho estudos enfocando as influências dos fatores edafo-climáticos sobre o rendimento e açúcares totais recuperáveis. Foram testadas as hipóteses de que há interação entre as épocas de plantio e corte, bem como a hipótese de que há interação do tratamento muda inteira e picada com cada época de plantio. Utilizaram-se dados de pesquisa conduzida, no Campo de experimentação da COPERSUCAR - Piracicaba/SP, num solo Latossol Vermelho Eutrófico. O delineamento utilizado foi blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas em faixas e sub-subparcelas dentro das faixas. Os tratamentos foram épocas de plantio (Novembro, Janeiro, Março, Maio), as faixas foram épocas de corte (Maio, julho, Setembro, Novembro), e os sub-subtratamentos foram mudas picada e inteira. Mediram-se as variáveis: toneladas de colmos (TCH) e toneladas de açúcar por hectare (TAH), e açúcar total recuperável (ATR). A soqueira foi avaliada da mesma forma que o 1º corte, aos (12) meses de idade. Foram instalados três experimentos, cada um com uma variedade, SP 70-1143, NA 56-79 e SP 71-1406. Os experimentos foram instalados e repetidos em três anos-safra, 1983/84, 1984/85 e 1985/86, com colheitas nas safras dos anos de 1985 até 1988, obtendo-se assim, rendimentos de estágios iguais em anos diferentes e estágios diferentes no mesmo ano. Concluiu-se que as épocas de plantio afetaram TCH, ATR e TAH do 1º corte; épocas de plantio interagiram com os tipos de mudas na cana planta; épocas de corte afetaram TCH, ATR e TAH nas canas planta e soqueiras; ATR sempre evoluiu do início para o final da safra, com os picos nos meses de setembro e novembro; plantios tardios atrasam a maturação; os valores de TAH acompanham as curvas de ATR sendo influenciados por TCH. Para a variedade SP 70-1143 no primeiro corte o clima influenciou os resultados de épocas de plantio e de tipos de mudas; os menores valores de TCH foram obtidos nas épocas de plantio Maio com mudas de cana picada e nas demais épocas de plantio não houve diferenças, indicando que se podem plantar mudas de cana inteiras em qualquer época; nos dois cortes estudados, os maiores valores de ATR foram obtidos na colheita de Setembro e os menores valores foram obtidos na época de plantio de Maio indicando que o pico de maturação ocorre no mês de setembro. Para a variedade NA 56-79 os valores de TCH das mudas picadas e inteiras não mostraram diferenças indicando que se pode plantar cana inteira; os maiores valores de ATR e TAH foram obtidos a partir das colheitas de Julho. Para a variedade SP 71-1406, no primeiro corte, houve superioridade para mudas picadas sendo o melhor manejo, os menores valores de TCH foram obtidos no plantio de Maio e o maior valor de ATR foi obtido na colheita de Novembro; nos dois cortes os valores de TAH e de ATR indicaram que a colheita deve ser feita partir de setembro. / Harvest planning in sugarcane attempts to optimize the crop's economic return based on the concept that sugarcane presents, along the cropping season, a period during which the maximum concentration of sucrose occurs in the stalks. This work consisted of studies that focused on the influences of edaphic-climatic factors on yield and total recoverable sugars. The hypothesis was tested that an interaction exists between the planting and harvesting seasons, as well as the hypothesis that an interaction exists between the whole-stalk and the bud seedling treatments with each planting season. Data from a research conducted at COPERSUCAR’s Experimental Field - Piracicaba/SP, in a Red Eutrophic Latosol, were used. A random blocks design with strip split-plots was used, where sub-subplots were allocated within strips. Treatments were planting seasons (November, January, March, May), with harvesting seasons represented by strips (May, July, September, November), while sub-subtreatments consisted of bud and whole-stalk seedlings. The variables measured were: tons of sugarcane stalks (TSS) and tons of sugar per hectare (TSH), and total recoverable sugar (TRS). The ratoon (second cut) was evaluated in the same manner as the 1st cut, when sugarcane was 12 months old. Three experiments were installed, each consisting of one variety: SP 70-1143, NA 56-79, and SP 71-1406. The experiments were installed and replicated in three cropping years: 1983/84, 1984/85, and 1985/86, with harvests in the cropping seasons from 1985 through 1988; therefore, yields for the same stage in different years, and yields for different stages in the same year were obtained. It was concluded that planting seasons affected TSS, TRS, and TSH in the 1st cut; planting seasons interacted with seedling types in one-year-old sugarcane; harvesting seasons affected TSS, TRS, and TSH in one-year-old and ratoon sugarcane; TRS always progressed from the beginning to the end of the cropping season, with peaks in the months of September and November; late plantings delayed maturation; TSH values followed the TRS curves, and were influenced by TSS. In the first cut of variety SP 70-1143, climate influenced the planting season and seedling type results; the smallest TSS values were obtained in the May planting seasons with bud seedlings, while no differences were observed in the other planting seasons, indicating that whole-stalk seedlings can be planted in any season; in both cuts under study, the highest TRS values were obtained for the September harvesting, and the smallest values were obtained for the May planting season, indicating that peak maturity occurs in the month of September. In variety NA 56-79, the TSS values for bud and whole-stalk seedlings did not show differences, indicating that whole-stalk cane can be planted; the highest TRS and TSH values were obtained from harvests made in July. In the first cut of variety SP 71-1406, the best management consisted of bud seedlings, which were superior; the smallest TSS values were obtained for the May planting and the highest TRS value was obtained for the November harvesting; in both cuts, the TSH and TRS values indicated that harvesting should be done beginning in September.