Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Apuleia leiocarpa (grápia) is a native forest species with wide distribution in Brazil as well as in neighboring countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, inhabiting preferentially hillsides. The wood is considered valuable and is obtained from extractive way, and in view of the interest, it is in danger of extinction and is classified as vulnerable. Faced with this, studies are needed to subsidize the cultivation of grapia plants. This study aimed to determine whether there is interaction between the combined rates of N, P and K, as well as establishing nutritional parameters for seedlings Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J. F. Macbr., From the application of different doses of nutrients, using soil Red Argissoil aluminic abruptc. The seedlings were grown in pots polypropylene capacity of 2.5 dm3 of soil with different doses of nutrients. Treatments were obtained by combining the N levels (50, 100, and 150 mg dm-3), P (150, 300, and 450 mg dm-3) and K (50, 100, and 150 mg dm-3) plus an control treatment which was not added nutrients, resulting in unbalanced factorial experiment arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 6 replicates resulting in 168 sampling units. The variables morphological height (H), stem diameter (DC), height/stem diameter (H/DC), shoot dry matter (SDM), root dry weight (RDW) and total dry matter (MST), and the variables leaf area, root length and nutrient content in the leaves. The seedlings were maintained for 120 days in a greenhouse with monitoring of temperature and relative humidity. The combination of different doses of N, P and K showed that there was a differential response in the growth of seedlings Apuleia leiocarpa in Red Argisoil aluminic abruptic. N levels interfere with the content of nutrients in the leaf. Doses above 100 mg dm-3 of N interfere negatively on seedling growth of young plants. The use of 450 and 150 mg dm-3 of P and K, respectively, is recommended to fertilize grápia plants in Red Argisoil aluminic abruptic. Additional studies with intermediate doses of 50 and 100 mg dm-3 of N should be performed. / Apuleia leiocarpa (grápia) é uma espécie florestal nativa com ampla distribuição no território brasileiro bem como em países vizinhos como Argentina, Bolívia, Paraguai, Peru e Uruguai, habitando preferencialmente as encostas de morros. A madeira é considerada valiosa e é obtida de forma extrativista, sendo que em vista do interesse, ela encontra-se em risco de extinção sendo classificada como vulnerável. Frente a isso, estudos são necessários para subsidiar o cultivo da grápia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar se há interação entre as doses combinadas de N, P e K, bem como estabelecer parâmetros nutricionais para produção de mudas Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J. F. Macbr., a partir da aplicação de diferentes doses dos nutrientes, utilizando um solo Argissolo Vermelho alumínico abrúptico. As mudas foram produzidas em vasos de polipropileno com capacidade de 2,5 dm3 de solo com diferentes doses de nutrientes. Os tratamentos foram obtidos pela combinação dos níveis de N (50, 100 e 150 mg dm-3), P (150, 300 e 450 mg dm-3) e K (50, 100 e 150 mg dm-3), mais um tratamento testemunha o qual não foi adicionado os nutrientes, resultando num experimento trifatorial desbalanceado, organizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com 6 repetições o que resultou em 168 unidades amostrais. Foram avaliadas as variáveis morfológicas altura (H), diâmetro do coleto (DC), relação altura/diâmetro do coleto (H/DC), massa seca da parte aérea (MSPA), massa seca do sistema radicular (MSSR) e massa seca total (MST), além das variáveis área foliar, comprimento radicular e os teores de nutrientes nas folhas. As mudas permaneceram por 120 dias em casa de vegetação com monitoramento de temperatura e umidade relativa. A combinação de diferentes doses de N, P e K mostrou que houve resposta diferenciada no crescimento de mudas de Apuleia leiocarpa, em Argissolo Vermelho alumínico abrúptico. Doses de N interferem no teor de nutrientes na folha. Doses acima de 100 mg dm-3 de N interferem negativamente no crescimento de mudas da grápia. O uso de 450 e 150 mg dm-3 de P e K, respectivamente, é recomendado para fertilização de grápia em um Argissolo Vermelho alumínico abrúptico. Estudos complementares com doses intermediárias a 50 e 100 mg dm-3 de N devem ser realizados.

An understanding of the potential roles as lipid mediators of a family of bioactive metabolites called N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) depends on their accurate identification and quantification. The levels of 18C unsaturated NAEs (e.g. NAE18:2, NAE 18:3, etc.) in wild-type seeds (about 2000 ng/g fw) generally decreased by about 80% during germination and post-germinative growth. In addition, results suggest NAE-degradative fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) expression does not play a major role in normal NAE metabolism as previously thought. Seedlings germinated and grown in the presence of abscisic acid (ABA), an endogenous plant hormone, exhibited growth arrest and secondary dormancy, similar to the treatment of seedlings with exogenous N­lauroylethanolamine (NAE12:0). ABA-mediated growth arrest was associated with higher levels of unsaturated NAEs. Overall, these results are consistent with the concept that NAE metabolism is activated during seed germination and suggest that the reduction in unsaturated NAE levels is under strict temporal control and may be a requirement for normal seed germination and post-germinative growth.

N-Acylethanolamines (NAEs) are bioactive acylamides that are present in a wide range of organisms. Because NAE levels in seeds decline during imbibition similar to ABA, a physiological role was predicted for these metabolites in Arabidopsis thaliana seed germination and seedling development. There is also a corresponding increase of AtFAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase), transcript levels and activity, which metabolizes NAE to ethanolamine and free fatty acids. Based on whole genome microarray studies it was determined that a number of up-regulated genes that were responsive to NAE were also ABA responsive. NAE induced gene expression in these ABA responsive genes without elevating endogenous levels of ABA. It was also determined that many of these NAE/ABA responsive genes were associated with an ABA induced secondary growth arrest, including ABI3. ABI3 is a transcription factor that regulates the transition from embryo to seedling growth, the analysis of transcript levels in NAE treated seedlings revealed a dose dependent, inverse relationship between ABI3 transcript levels and growth, high ABI3 transcript levels were associated with growth inhibition. Similar to ABA, NAE negatively regulated seedling growth within a narrow window of early seedling establishment. When seedlings are exposed to NAE or ABA within the window of sensitivity, the induction of genes normally associated with the ungerminated desiccation tolerant state resumed. The NAE tolerant FAAH overexpressor and the NAE sensitive FAAH knockout both had a NAE/ABA sensitive window similar to the wild type A. thaliana. The abi3-1 ABA insensitive mutant does not undergo growth arrest upon exposure to ABA, but NAE did induce growth arrest when treated within the sensitivity window. This evidence showed that although NAE functions within an ABA dependent pathway, it also functions in an ABA independent signaling pathway. The FAAH overexpressor is tolerant to NAE through its ability to quickly metabolize NAE from the growth media, yet it is hypersensitive to ABA. The FAAH overexpressor also displayed hypersensitivity to GA, which improved its delayed germination in non-stratified seed, while the FAAH knock out showed GA insensitivity. Overall, these results showed that NAE functions as a negative regulator of germinating seed and seedling growth in ABA dependent and independent signaling pathways, and that altered NAE metabolism may interfere with ABA/GA perception in germinating seed.

Seed reproduction is a key part of the life cycle of the most plant species. It allows for the dispersal of species in space and time and, thus, significantly affects dynamics of plant populations and communities. Seed formation, germination and seedling establishment are subjected to selection pressures from the environment and lead to optimization of maternal investments (maternal care), manifested by the number of seeds and amount and composition of nutrients stored in individual seeds. The thesis aims to answer two questions: (i) whether maternal investments in terms of seed mass and seed nutrient stoichiometry is optimized according to the environmental conditions in which seedling development is expected and (ii) how nutrient availability, considering nutrients both stored in the seed by the mother plant and those available in the substrate, affects seedling growth and development. To answer the first question, we focused on interspecific comparisons of seed nutrient stoichiometry linking it with data on seed mass and species niche along gradients of nu- trient availability. We used a phylogenetically informed comparative approach to explore the ratio between phosphorus, nitrogen and nonstructural carbon in seeds from 510 wild herbaceous species. We analyzed seed nutrient stoichiometry with...

The genus Tsuga is comprised of eight extant species found in North America and East Asia and four species represented by fossils from Europe and Japan. This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis based on structural, biochemical, and molecular sequence data. Characters obtained from published and unpublished literature were combined with new morphological characters from seeds, seedlings, and leaf cuticle material. Results from parsimony analyses of these characters differed from the published molecular based phylogeny. The non-molecular based phylogeny resolves two separate clades, a North American and an Asian, but did not group the western North American species, as in the molecular based analysis. Character states were traced on the trees to interpret character evolution. The combined analysis resulted in a phylogeny that differed from the previously published molecular tree by resolving a clade between T. caroliniana and T. diversifolia and placing T. dumosa outside of the Asian clade.

Soil salinity and the arid climate in Libya are major constraints in agriculture and predominantly in foodstuff production which are limiting wheat production and yield. The effect of pre-sowing seed treatments with 50 mM of KCl, NaCl, CaCl2, and distilled water as hydropriming on germination and early seedling growth in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars S-24 (tolerant) and Slambo (untested before) under 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl concentrations was examined. CaCl2 was the only priming treatment that significantly improved the germination percentage, germination rate, and mean germination time in both cultivars under almost all NaCl concentrations. Thus, priming with CaCl2 was selected for further experiments. In the greenhouse, seeds primed with 50 mM of CaCl2 also improved the emergence percentage, emergence rate, shoot and root length, and fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of both cultivars under all NaCl concentration except at 300 mM where the emergence was completely inhibited. The response of wheat cultivars to three compost treatments including cow manure compost (CC), greenwaste compost (GC) and 50:50 mixture (mix) between them and sand at percentage inclusions of 10 and 30 % by weight under 0, 100, 200, and 300 mM of NaCl was also investigated. Among all compost treatments, 30% GC and 30% mix were the best treatment and improved almost all growth parameters under salt stress, and 30% GC was also the only treatment that had any emergence at 300 mM NaCl. 30% GC and 30% mix were selected for further experiments. The effect of the combination of the selected priming agent (CaCl2) and the best two compost treatments (30% GC and 30% mix) on the emergence and early seedling growth of both cultivars was tested. The results showed that all the treatments enhanced plant growth parameters including seedling ion uptake in both cultivars, with preference to primed seeds sown in 30% GC. The treatments had the following order of the performance of both cultivars under salt stress. Primed seeds sown in 30% GC > unprimed seeds sown in 30% GC > primed seeds sown in 30% mix > unprimed seeds sown in 30% mix. This enhancement is possibly due to the provision of Ca2+ and / or the improvement in the availability of water as both of them were improved by the application of priming and compost.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the most important foliar disease of rooibos seedlings. Although the disease is primarily controlled with applications of fungicides, the improvement of cultural methods of disease management should lessen this dependence on chemical control. Such improvements would, however, not be possible without knowledge of the inoculum sources and dispersal of the pathogen. The aim of this study was to investigate the inoculum ecology of B. cinerea in rooibos nurseries in order to identify primary sources of inoculum and to improve the environmentally friendly management of the disease. The study was conducted in four nurseries over two production seasons (March to July 2003 and 2004). Levels of airborne inoculum of B. cinerea were monitored on a monthly basis inside and around the nurseries with spore traps. Samples of plant material and organic debris were taken in the corresponding areas to determine the incidence of plant material infected by the pathogen and the incidences of grey mould in the nurseries were recorded. Low numbers of B. cinerea colonies were observed on the spore traps. Similar levels of airborne inoculum were observed inside and around the nurseries. The incidence of plant material yielding B. cinerea was higher outside the nurseries than inside, indicating the importance of such materials as potential sources of inoculum. Since patterns of airborne inoculum observed in this study confirmed reports of the local dispersal of B. cinerea, the removal of possible hosts outside the nurseries could aid in the management of grey mould in rooibos nurseries. Resistance to dicarboximide fungicides is a genetically stable trait in B. cinerea, and therefore has the potential to be used as a phenotypic marker. This marker can be used to gain knowledge on the dispersal of B. cinerea inoculum inside and outside rooibos nurseries. Isolates of B. cinerea collected from the air and from plant material in and around four rooibos nurseries were assessed for resistance to iprodione at 1 and 3 μg/ml a.i. Some of the isolates showed resistance to iprodione at 1 μg/ml a.i. However, none of the isolates showed resistance at 3 μg/ml a.i. iprodione. The initial incidence of dicarboximide-resistance at the nurseries was slightly higher than expected. As the season progressed, the incidence of iprodione-resistant isolates decreased towards May, after which an increase was observed towards July. A relatively high percentage of isolates collected outside the nurseries was found to be dicarboximide-resistant. Two of the nurseries had a significant higher incidence of resistant isolates on plant material collected inside, than on plant material collected outside the nursery. However, when looking at resistance levels of airborne isolates, no significant differences were found in the incidence of resistant isolates sampled inside and outside the four nurseries. The data indicated the importance of organic debris and seed-borne infections in the survival and dispersal of dicarboximide-resistant isolates of the pathogen. With the current emphasis on organic agriculture the knowledge gained in this study presents valuable possibilities of improving the cultural management of grey mould in rooibos nurseries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vaalvrot, veroorsaak deur Botrytis cinerea, is die belangrikste bo-grondse siekte van rooibossaailinge. Alhoewel die beheer van die siekte hoofsaaklik op die gebruik van fungisiede berus, behoort die verbetering van verbouingspraktyke hierdie afhanklikheid van chemiese beheer te verminder. Sulke verbeteringe sal egter slegs moontlik wees indien voldoende kennis van die inokulumbronne en verspreiding van die patogeen beskikbaar is. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om die inokulum ekologie van B. cinerea in rooibos kwekerye te ondersoek sodat primêre inokulumbronne opgespoor en omgewingsvriendelike siektebestuurspraktyke verbeter kan word. Die ondersoek is in vier kwekerye oor twee produksie seisoene (Maart tot Julie 2003 en 2004) uitgevoer. Vlakke van luggedraagde inokulum van B. cinerea is op ’n maandelikse basis met behulp van spoorvangers binne en buite die kwekerye gemonitor. Monsters van plantmateriaal en organiese materiaal is in ooreenstemmende areas geneem om die voorkoms van B. cinerea geïnfekteerde plantmateriaal vas te stel en die voorkoms van vaalvrot in die kwekerye is aangeteken. Min B. cinerea kolonies is op die spoorvangers waargeneem. Soortgelyke vlakke van luggedraagde inokulum is binne en buite die kwekerye waargeneem. Die hoër voorkoms van B. cinerea geïnfekteerde plantmateriaal buite die kwekerye as binne, dui op die belang van sulke materiaal as potensiële inokulumbronne. Aangesien die patrone van luggedraagde inokulum, soos waargeneem in hierdie ondersoek, ander berigte van B. cinerea se beperkte verspreidingsvermoë bevestig, kan die verwydering van moontlike alternatiewe gashere buite die kwekerye die bestuur van die siekte binne die kwekerye verbeter. Weerstand teen dikarboksimied fungisiede is ’n geneties-stabiele kenmerk in B. cinerea en het daarom potensiaal om as ’n fenotipiese merker gebruik te word. Hierdie merker kan gebruik word om kennis aangaande die verspreiding van B. cinerea in en om rooibos kwekerye in te samel. Botrytis cinerea isolate in lug en op plantmateriaal in en om vier rooibos kwekerye is gedurende 2003 en 2004 versamel. Die isolate is vir weerstandbiedendheid teen iprodioon by konsentrasies van 1 en 3 μg/ml aktiewe bestandeel (a.b.) getoets. Isolate met weerstand teen 1 μg/ml a.b. iprodioon is waargeneem, maar nie teen 3 μg/ml nie. Die aanvanklike voorkoms van dikarboksimiedweerstand by die kwekerye was hoër as verwag. Hierdie vlak het egter gedaal met die verloop van die seisoen tot in Mei, waarna ’n toename tot in Julie waargeneem is. Die persentasie dikarboksimied-weerstandbiedende isolate buite die kwekerye was relatief hoog. In twee van die kwekerye was die voorkoms van weerstandbiedende isolate op plantmateriaal in die kwekerye betekenisvol hoër as op plantmateriaal buite die kwekerye. Daar was egter geen betekenisvolle verskille in die voorkoms van luggedraagde weerstandbiedende isolate nie, ongeag van die kwekery of posisie. Die data dui op die belang van organiese materiaal en saadgedraagde infeksies in die oorlewing en verspreiding van dikarboksimied-weerstandbiedende isolate van die patogeen. Met die huidige klem op organiese landbou bied die inligting wat in hierdie ondersoek versamel is moontlike praktyke wat geïmplementeer kan word om die beheer van vaalvrot in kwekerye met behulp van verbouingspraktyke te verbeter.

In order to assess the enhancement of seedling survival and growth during drought conditions, five-hundred bare-root seedlings each of Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii Buckl.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) were planted each with four soil amendments at a Wildlife Management Area in Lewisville, Texas. The treatments were a mycorrhizal inoculant, mulch fabric, and two superabsorbent gels (TerraSorb® and DRiWATER®). Survival and growth measurements were assessed periodically for two years. Research was conducted on vegetation, soil, and site history for baseline data. Both superabsorbent gels gave significant results for Shumard oak survival, and one increased green ash diameter. For overall growth, significant results were found among DRiWATER®, mycorrhizae, and mulch treatments.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 vii, 108 leaves / The South African nursery industry has faced many challenges over the last ten years. Excess in both demand and supply occur in any given year. The cost of maintaining a plant beyond its ideal ‘sell-by-date’ erodes profit and after time, results in complete wastage. The seedling nursery industry cannot afford to throw away large quantities of surplus seedlings or those that have become root-bound. The size of the wastage problem was unknown. It was believed that a website for trading surplus stock of seedlings might be the answer to the oversupply experienced by individual nurseries. The literature was consulted to establish what had made large companies successful. The advantages and disadvantages of E-business were investigated. / M

Com a implantação do Plano Nacional de Produção de Biodiesel, surgiu o interesse na produção comercial de Pinhão Manso (Jatropha curcas L.), uma vez que essa oleaginosa apresenta características favoráveis para a produção do biodiesel. Informações sobre essa cultura ainda são escassas, principalmente no Brasil onde a pouco tempo iniciaram-se as pesquisas. A necessidade de informações locais também ressalta a importância da pesquisa com o Pinhão Manso, sendo que muito se comenta sobre a adaptabilidade dessa cultura sob diferentes condições. Com base nessas necessidades, no desenvolvimento deste experimento teve-se como objetivo avaliar o crescimento e a qualidade de mudas de Pinhão Manso produzidas em casa de vegetação até o momento de serem transplantadas para o campo, para isto foram proporcionadas diversas maneiras de produção, envolvendo diferentes tipos e volumes de recipientes, substratos e adubações, além de contabilizar a quantidade de água consumida pelas mudas para os diferentes recipientes e substratos durante a fase experimental. Conclui-se que as mudas que apresentaram melhor qualidade e que proporcionaram maior crescimento, obtendo condições adequadas para o transplantio na sexta semana após a emergência, foram obtidas com a combinação dos fatores: substrato comercial Plantmax®, recipiente tipo tubete com volume de 290 cm3 e o adubo de liberação lenta, Osmocote®. A combinação do substrato Plantmax® e o tubete de 290 cm3 proporcionaram um consumo de água de aproximadamente 1,4 L contabilizado a partir da emergência das mudas. / With the settlement of the National Plan of Biofuel Production, the interest aroused in the commercial production of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.), once that oleaginous plant presents favorable characteristics for Biofuel production. Information on that crop is still scarce, mainly in Brazil where research is incipient. The need of information on local conditions also emphasizes the importance of research on Physic Nut, once much is commented on the adaptability of that crop to different conditions, but a few experiments to evaluate it have been performed. Therefore, during the development of this experiment we aimed to evaluate growth and quality of Physic Nut seedlings produced in greenhouse until the moment to be transplanted to the field. To do so, several production ways were analyzed, involving different types and volumes of dibble-tube containers, different substrate and fertilization. Besides, it was measured the amount of water consumed by the seedlings for different containers and substrate during the experimental phase. Results show that seedlings that presented best quality and largest growth, obtaining appropriate conditions to transplantation in the sixth week after germination, were obtained from the combination of the following factors: commercial substrate Plantmax®, dibble-tube container with volume of 290 cm3 and fertilizer of slow liberation, Osmocote®. The combination of the substrate Plantmax® and the dibble-tube container of 290 cm3 provided a consumption of water of approximately 1.4 L counted since the beginning of seedlings emergence.