Orientador: Renate Krause Sakate / Banca: Carlos Frederico Wilcken / Banca: Arlete Marchi Tavares de Melo / Banca: Marcelo Agenor Pavan / Banca: Antonio Carlos Maringoni / Resumo: Considerando o aumento de begomovírus e mosca-branca no campo o presente trabalho teve como objetivos a detecção, a caracterização molecular e a análise da diversidade genética de begomovírus em pimentão e tomateiro em diferentes municípios do Estado de São Paulo: Piraju, Tejupá, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Pedro do Turvo, São Miguel Arcanjo, Itapetininga, Lins, Sabino, Timburí, Iacanga, Pirajuí, Avaí, Reginópolis e Salto; a identificação de biótipos de B. tabaci por meio da amplificação do gene mitocondrial (citocromo oxidase I - mtCOI) seguido de seqüenciamento ou RFLP utilizando a enzima Taq I e a avaliação para resistência de acessos de Capsicum spp. a dois isolados de ToSRV. A análise da variabilidade foi realizada por meio de seqüenciamento da região da capa protéica (DNA-A) com oligonucleotídeos universais e, paralelamente, as mesmas amostras foram testadas por amplificação por círculo rolante (RCA) sendo, posteriormente, clivadas com a enzima de restrição HpaII. Um total de 812 amostras foi analisado, sendo 709 de pimentão e 103 de tomate. Por PCR tradicional, foram detectadas positivas para presença de begomovírus 98 amostras provenientes de pimentão e 39 de tomateiro, e por RCA-PCR, foram 332 e 82 respectivamente, evidenciando maior sensibilidade desta técnica. Dessas amostras, foram seqüenciadas 39 de pimentão e 25 de tomateiro, verificando-se ocorrência prevalente da espécie ToSRV no estado de São Paulo. Infecção mista com ToSRV e ToYVSV foi observada tomateiro. Por RCA-RFLP, foram observados quatro padrões de clivagem com a enzima HpaII e todos foram confirmados como sendo da espécie ToSRV indicando variabilidade molecular intraespecífica. Para tomateiro, foram observados 18 padrões de restrição, dois idênticos aos verificados em plantas de pimentão indicando, possivelmente, infecção pelos mesmos isolados de ToSRV, porém... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Considering the high incidence of begomoviruses and the whitefly on the field, the objetives of this work were to analyze the genetic diversity of begomoviruses infecting pepper and tomato plants in different counties of São Paulo State: Piraju, Tejupá, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Pedro do Turvo, São Miguel Arcanjo, Itapetininga, Lins, Sabino, Timburí, Iacanga, Pirajuí, Avaí, Reginópolis and Salto; the identification of biotypes of B. tabaci through the amplification of the mitochondrial gene (cytochrome oxidase I) 4 followed by sequencing the gene or analysis by RFLP using the enzyme TaqI and the evaluation of Capsicum spp. for the resistance source for two isolates of ToSRV. The coat protein from the DNA A of the begomovirus was amplified and sequenced, and the same samples were amplified by rolling circle amplification (RCA) followed by analysis by RCA-RFLP using the HpaII enzyme. A total of 812 samples were analyzed, 709 from pepper and 103 from tomato. By PCR, 98 samples from pepper and 39 from tomato were positives for the presence of begomoviruses, while by RCA-PCR 332 and 82 respectively. Thirty-nine samples from pepper and 25 from tomato were sequenced indicating the prevalence of the ToSRV species in São Paulo State. Mixed infections with ToSRV and ToYVSV were found in tomato plants. By RCA-RFLP four restriction profiles were found for ToSRV in pepper plants. In tomato 18 profiles were observed: two identical as observed for ToSRV in pepper, indicating possible infection with the same ToSRV isolates, a profile for ToSRV and ToYVSV mixed infections and also different profiles for ToSRV isolates didn't found in pepper plants. The sequencing of 17 samples of B. tabaci mitochondrial citochrome oxidase I gene and analysis by Taq I digestion of whiteflies collected in growers areas of pepper and tomato indicated only the presence of the B biotype... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Resumo: Estudos realizados em ambientes fragmentados revelam que vários processos ecológicos são afetados pelo tamanho, forma e grau de isolamento dos remanescentes de vegetação nativa. A abundância local de polinizadores pode ser explicada pela relação de atratividade planta - polinizador e pela disponibilidade de sítios de nidificação e recursos florais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo geral, avaliar o efeito da heterogeneidade de habitats sobre a interação planta - polinizador em áreas com forte influência antrópica. A hipótese testada foi a de que a heterogeneidade de habitats afeta a disponibilidade de polinizadores e, conseqüentemente, a produção de frutos e sementes. Para isso, a espécie seleciona foi S. viarum. Foram selecionadas 12 áreas dentro da região da Bacia do Rio Corumbataí - SP, sendo 6 áreas mais homogêneas, com H’ < 0,9, e 6 mais diversificadas, com H’ > 1,4. Os pontos amostrais foram distribuídos nas áreas centrais desses habitats segundo as possibilidades de acesso. Para cada ponto amostral foi estabelecida uma estação de coleta de dados, onde foram instaladas as plantas para os estudos sobre polinização. Foram realizados 4 períodos de coletas de dados. Em um mesmo período, tanto áreas de alta como de baixa heterogeneidade foram observadas quanto à fenologia e à visitação por abelhas. Em relação à porcentagem de frutos formados de S. viarum Dun., evidenciando seu sucesso reprodutivo, houve diferença significativa entre as áreas localizadas na região de Rio Claro e as localizadas na região de Ipeúna, mas não entre as áreas de alta e baixa heterogeneidade. A análise da paisagem na escala de 600m mostrou que essas duas regiões diferem significativamente quanto à porcentagem de cobertura de mata. Isso pode, em parte, explicar a diferença encontrada entre as duas regiões, mas não entre áreas de alta e baixa heterogeneidade... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Studies carried through in fragmented environments disclose that some ecological processes are affected by the size, form and degree of isolation of the remainders of native vegetation. The local abundance of pollinators can be explained by the relation of plant-pollinator attractiveness and the availability of nest site and floral resources. This study it aimed to evaluate the effect of the heterogeneity of habitats on the interaction plant-pollinator in areas with strong antropogenic influence. The tested hypothesis was of that the heterogeneity of habitats affects the availability of pollinators and, consequently, the production of fruits and seeds. 12 areas inside of the region of the Basin of Rio Corumbataí - SP had been selected, being 6 more homogeneous areas, with H' < 0,9, and 6 more diversified, with H' > 1,4. The sampling points had been distributed in the central areas of these habitats according to access possibilities. For each sampling point, a period of collection of data was established, where the plants had been installed for pollination studies. Four periods of data collecting had been carried through. In a same period, as many areas of high as of low heterogeneity had been observed according the phenology and the visitation for bees. The percentage of formed fruits of S. Viarum Dun., evidencing the reproductive success, had significant difference between the located areas in the region of Rio Claro and the located ones in the region of Ipeúna, but not between the areas of high and low heterogeneity. The analysis of the landscape in the scale of 600m showed that these two regions differ significantly as for the percentage of bush covering. This can, in part, to explain the difference found between the two regions, but not between areas of high and low heterogeneity. A very small number of bees were collected in the flowers... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Maria José de Oliveira Campos / Coorientador: Osmar Malaspina / Banca: José Chaud Netto / Banca: Isabel Alves dos Santos / Mestre

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-02-09T19:14:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Evandro Silva Pereira Costa.pdf: 2009437 bytes, checksum: cf64a3e8f7e3e004841a52c65f4c6626 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-09T19:14:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Evandro Silva Pereira Costa.pdf: 2009437 bytes, checksum: cf64a3e8f7e3e004841a52c65f4c6626 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-21 / CNPq / Defining methods of quantification of tomato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is important to many researches about strategies of management of the disease. The aim of this present study was to assess and to validate the diagrammatic grading keys - Simplified, James-modified and Broad - and to determinate the possible correlations between the measures of severity and plants? physiological and nutritional state and biomass accumulation. Two simultaneous experiments were carried out: one in greenhouse and the other in field conditions. Two cultivars were studied in greenhouses, Super Sweet and ?Perinha ?gua Branca?, a resistant and a susceptible to late blight genotypes, respectively. The plants were inoculated or not with a sporangia suspension, and submitted to ten evaluations: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 17 and 24 days after inoculation. The avaliations were performed in the fifth oldest leaf, and eighth and eleventh leaves, by visual estimation of severity, using three diagrammatic grading keys, Simplified, Broad and James-modified, but also measuring photosynthetic potential (Fv/Fm), by chlorophyll ?a? fluorescence emission. In field conditions, four cultivars were evaluated ? ?Perinha ?gua Branca?, Super Sweet, Santa Clara and Carmen F1. Periodically, late blight severity was quantified using the same three grading keys in leaves of different plant parts, at 51, 62, 74, 94 and 102 days after transplant (DAT). At the day following each severity disease evaluation, one plant was harvested per plot to measure the accumulation of biomass and macronutrients of different plant organs. Fruit yield was determined by summing fruits harvested between 68 and 114 DAT. In greenhouse conditions, the estimative of late blight severity with the three diagrammatic grading keys proved to be adequate to the disease?s quantification, enabling the discrimination between inoculation effects and differences between the cultivars in four and in nine days after inoculation, respectively, which were confirmed by measures of the photosynthetic potential of the leaves. In field conditions, the diagrammatic grading keys Simplified and Broad were more adequate to tomato late blight quantification. Quantifications in the youngest leaves, in the medium and superior third part of the plant, were the most representative of the disease progress and also discriminated the cultivars regarding disease resistance. Negative correlations were observed between severity, estimated with the three grading keys considering the whole plant and its medium third part, and leaf dry mass and leaf concentrations of K and P. The cultivar ?Perinha ?gua Branca? showed the lowest stem and leaf dry mass at the beginning of plant evaluations, and also late fruit yield, but had the higher stem and leaf mass and at the end of the experiment. The cultivar Perinha ?gua Branca and the hybrid Carmen F1 had higher commercial fruit yield. Based in the results, it is recommended the use of Simplified diagrammatic grading key and evaluations in the medium or superior tomato third to quantify the late blight disease. / A defini??o de m?todos de quantifica??o da requeima no tomateiro, causada por Phytophthora infestans, ? importante para v?rias pesquisas sobre estrat?gias de manejo da doen?a. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo aferir e validar as escalas diagram?ticas, Simplificada, James-modificada e Detalhada e determinar as poss?veis correla??es entre as medidas de severidade e o estado fisiol?gico e nutricional da planta e o ac?mulo de biomassa. Realizaram-se dois experimentos simult?neos, um sob condi??es de ambiente protegido e o outro sob condi??es de campo. Em casa de vegeta??o, utilizaram-se duas cultivares de tomate cereja, ?Perinha ?gua Branca? e Super Sweet, suscet?vel e resistente ? requeima, respectivamente. As plantas foram inoculadas ou n?o com suspens?o de espor?ngios de P. infestans e em seguida, avaliadas aos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 17 e 24 dias ap?s a inocula??o. As avalia??es foram feitas na quinta, oitava e d?cima primeira folha, contadas do ?pice para a base, usando as tr?s escalas acima citadas e medi??es do potencial fotossint?tico (Fv/Fm) pela emiss?o da clorofila ?a?. No campo, utilizaram-se quatro cultivares, ?Perinha ?gua Branca?, Super Sweet, Santa Clara e Carmen F1. Periodicamente, quantificou-se a severidade da requeima utilizando-se as mesmas escalas acima citadas em folhas de diferentes partes da planta, aos 51, 62, 74, 94 e 102 dias ap?s o transplante (DAT). No dia seguinte a cada avalia??o de severidade, foi coletada uma planta por parcela para mensurar o ac?mulo de biomassa e de macronutrientes nos diferentes ?rg?os da planta. A produ??o de frutos foi determinada pelo somat?rio das colheitas realizadas entre 68 e 114 DAT. Em condi??es de casa de vegeta??o, a estimativa da severidade da requeima com as tr?s escalas se mostrou adequada para quantifica??o da doen?a tendo permitido discriminar efeito de inocula??o e diferen?as entre as cultivares aos quatro e nove dias ap?s a inocula??o, respectivamente, que foram confirmadas pelas medidas do potencial fotossint?tico das folhas. Em condi??es de campo, as escalas Simplificada e Detalhada, foram mais adequadas para a quantifica??o da requeima do tomateiro. Quantifica??es feitas nas folhas mais jovens, no ter?o m?dio e superior da planta, foram as que melhor representaram o progresso da doen?a e discriminaram as cultivares quanto a resist?ncia ? doen?a. Observaram-se correla??es negativas entre a severidade, estimada com as tr?s escalas, considerando a planta inteira e o ter?o m?dio, e a massa seca de folhas e os teores foliares de K e P nas quatro cultivares. A cultivar ?Perinha ?gua Branca? apresentou menor massa seca de caule e de folha no in?cio das avalia??es e produ??o de frutos mais tardia, por?m ao final do ciclo destacou-se pela maior massa seca de caule e de folha. A cultivar ?Perinha ?gua Branca? e o h?brido Carmen F1 apresentaram maior produ??o de frutos comerciais. Com base nos resultados pode-se recomendar o uso da escala simplificada e avalia??es no te?o m?dio ou superior do tomateiro para quantifica??o da requeima.

Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2018-08-14T12:35:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Cristiana Maia de Oliveira.pdf: 3631492 bytes, checksum: d4d9d115590b3750ed24bebb16823dea (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T12:35:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Cristiana Maia de Oliveira.pdf: 3631492 bytes, checksum: d4d9d115590b3750ed24bebb16823dea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-25 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Among the main diseases which affects tomato plants there is Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). Control of this disease is difficult due to the farmer?s specialization in the crop, pathogen ability to survive in the soil for long periods and physiological specialization of the pathogen in races. Three races of the pathogen have been described in Brazil, 1, 2 and 3, being the 3 of more restricted occurrence. The main strategy to control this disease is the use of resistant cultivars to the races present in the region. Nova Friburgo, RJ, an important tomato producing region during the summer, shows serious problems with plant diseases caused by common soil pathogens and soil management. For this reason, the present work was developed based on the collection of soil and plants samples in 41 farm family units, aiming to study different aspects related to Fusarium wilt in the region. The presentation of the work and the results obtained was divided into four chapters. In Chapter 1, a survey on the occurrence of the disease in the farm unities and identification of the predominant races was presented. In Chapter 2, studies on the incidence and distribution of the disease, as well as, evaluation of the most planted cultivars for resistance to the three races of FOL was presented. In the Chapter 3, we have showed studies on the management practices adopted by the farmers and their relations with soil fertility, plant nutrition and disease severity. Finally, in Chapter 4, 100 tomato accessions were evaluated regarding cultivar resistance to the three races of the pathogen. The accessions were obtained in the germplasm collection of the Department of Crop Science of the UFRRJ. Among the main results, we could identify the generalized occurrence of race 3 of FOL in the region, as well as, that most of the planted cultivars are susceptible to this race. The management practices adopted by the farmers contribute to the dissemination and survival of the pathogen the selection of race 3 due to the use of resistant cultivars to races 1 and 2 only. Finally, from the tomato accessions evaluated, five were resistant to races 1 and 2 of FOL and no resistant access to race 3 was identified / Dentre as principais doen?as do tomateiro est? a murcha-de-fus?rio causada por Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). O seu controle ? dificultado pelo cultivo sucessivo do tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum L.) por produtores especializados na cultura, pela capacidade de sobreviv?ncia do pat?geno no solo por longos per?odos e pela presen?a de ra?as do pat?geno. At? ent?o j? foram descritas tr?s ra?as do pat?geno no Brasil (1, 2 e 3) sendo a ra?a 3 de ocorr?ncia mais restrita. A principal estrat?gia para controle da doen?a ? o uso de cultivares resistentes ?(s) ra?a(s) presentes na regi?o. O munic?pio de Nova Friburgo, RJ, importante regi?o produtora de tomate no ver?o, apresenta s?rios problemas com doen?as causadas por pat?genos habitantes do solo, que se intensificam devido a pr?ticas inadequadas de manejo de solo. Diante disto, desenvolveu-se o presente trabalho tendo como base a coleta de amostras de solo e de plantas em 41 unidades familiares visando estudar diferentes aspectos relacionados ? murcha-de-fus?rio na regi?o. A apresenta??o do trabalho e dos resultados obtidos foi dividida em quatro cap?tulos. No Cap?tulo 1, s?o apresentados estudos com o levantamento sobre a ocorr?ncia da doen?a nas propriedades e de identifica??o das ra?as predominantes. No Cap?tulo 2, s?o apresentados estudos sobre a incid?ncia e distribui??o da doen?a e avalia??o das cultivares mais plantadas quanto a resist?ncia ?s tr?s ra?as de FOL. No Cap?tulo 3, s?o apresentados os estudos sobre as pr?ticas de manejo adotadas pelos produtores e as suas rela??es com a fertilidade do solo, nutri??o das plantas e severidade da doen?a. E finalmente, no Cap?tulo 4 ? descrita a avalia??o de cerca de 100 acessos de tomateiro da cole??o de germoplasma do Departamento de Fitotecnia da UFRRJ quanto ? resist?ncia ?s tr?s ra?as do pat?geno. Entre os principais resultados obtidos pode-se destacar a constata??o de ocorr?ncia generalizada da ra?a 3 de FOL na regi?o e a confirma??o de que a maioria das cultivares plantadas s?o suscet?veis a esta ra?a. Constatou-se, ainda, que as pr?ticas de manejo adotadas pelos produtores contribuem para a dissemina??o e sobreviv?ncia do pat?geno e para sele??o da ra?a 3 devido ao uso de cultivares resistentes ?s ra?as 1 e 2. Por fim, na avalia??o dos acessos de tomateiro da UFRRJ, identificaram-se cinco acessos resistentes ?s ra?as 1 e 2 de FOL e nenhum acesso resistente ? ra?a 3.

A água é um dos principais fatores que afeta o desenvolvimento, a produtividade e a qualidade industrial dos frutos de tomateiro. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar durante dois anos a necessidade hídrica, desenvolvimento vegetativo e produtividade do tomateiro para processamento industrial (BRS Sena) em sistema de gotejamento enterrado, em resposta a níveis e épocas de suspensão da irrigação na região Sul de Goiás. Os experimentos foram instalados no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram aplicados cinco níveis de irrigação (50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% da evapotranspiração potencial da cultura - ETc), acumulada entre duas irrigações consecutivas. Nas subparcelas foram aplicados cinco períodos de suspensão da irrigação: 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias, em antecedência à colheita. A subparcela experimental foi constituída por três linhas de plantas, de 5,5 m de comprimento, espaçadas em 1,1 m entre si e 0,30 m entre plantas. Utilizou-se o sistema de irrigação com tubo gotejador autocompensantes, com emissores espaçados de 30 cm entre si e vazão de 2,2 L h-1, com sistema antesifão, enterrado a 20 cm de profundidade. O deficit e o excesso hídrico prejudicaram o desenvolvimento vegetativo e a produtividade do tomateiro, reduziram o número de flores, frutos e aumentaram a taxa de abortamento de flores do cacho floral das plantas. As plantas cultivadas sob deficit hídrico, independentemente do período e ano de avaliação, apresentaram maiores índices de estresse hídrico da cultura (CWSI). Os níveis de irrigação em deficit e excesso prejudicam a produtividade do tomateiro. As maiores produtividades totais de frutos foram obtidas com reposições hídricas que variaram de 125,47 (615,09 mm) e 132,11% (564,00 mm) da ETc, que resultaram em uma produtividade total de frutos de 105,86 e 58,60 t ha-1, no primeiro e segundo ano do experimento, respectivamente. As plantas cultivadas sob deficit e excesso hídrico, aumentaram a incidência de frutos podres e diminuem a de frutos maduros. Irrigações que variaram de 115 a 125 % da ETc, aumentaram a taxa de maturação dos frutos, diminuiu a incidência de frutos verdes e podres. A maior produtividade da água obitida para a cultura ocorreu sob deficit hídrico, com reposição de 50% da irrigação necessária. A suspensão da irrigação em antecedência à colheita diminuiu a incidência de frutos verdes e aumentou a ocorrência de frutos podres. Quanto maior o período de suspensão da irrigação, menor a produtividade da cultura. Os níveis e suspensão da irrigação antes da colheita não influenciaram os valores de sólidos solúveis totais (SST), pH e firmeza. Porém, a acidez titulável apresentou maiores valores à medida que aumentou os níveis de irrigação na cultura Os coeficientes de cultivo do tomateiro foram estimados em aproximadamente 0,65, 1,01, 1,23, 1,25 e 0,80 em 2015. Enquanto em 2016 os valores de kc foram influenciados pelo menor desenvolvimento e produtividade das plantas, que foram afetadas com viroses influenciando e comprometendo os valores do kc. / Water is one of the main factors affecting the development, production and industrial quality of tomato fruits. Thus, the objectieve of this work was to quantify for two years the water requirement, vegetative development and tomato yield for industrial processing (BRS Sena) in buried drip system on response to levels and times of irrigation suspension in Goiás southern region. The experiments were installed under a randomized complete block design with four replications, in subdivided plots. On the plots were applied five irrigation levels (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of potential crop evapotranspiration - ETc), accumulated between two consecutive irrigations. In the subplots were applied five irrigation suspension periods: 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in advance of harvest. Three plant lines constituted the experimental subplot with 5.5 m in length, spaced at 1.1 m apart and 0.30 m between plants. Was used an irrigation system with a self-compensating drip-tube, spaced 0.30 m apart and 2.2 L h-1, with an anti-drainage system, which was buried at 0.20 m depth. Deficit and the hydric excess impaired vegetative development and tomato productivity, reduced the number of flowers, fruits and increased the flowers abortion rate from plant flower bunch. Plants cultivated under water deficit, regardless the period and evaluation year, had higher crop water stress index (CWSI). Irrigation levels in deficit and excess damage the tomato yield. The highest total fruit yields were obtained with water replacement ranging of 125.47% (615.09 mm) and 132.11% (564.00 mm) of ETc, which resulted in a total fruit yield of 105.86 and 58.60 t ha-1, in the first and second year of the experiment, respectively. The plants cultivated under deficit and water excess, increased the rotten fruits incidence and declined that of mature fruits. Irrigations that varied from 115 to 125% of ETc, increased the fruits maturation rate, decreased the incidence of green and rotten fruits. The higher water yield by the crop occurs under the water deficit, with 50% replacement of irrigation required. The irrigation suspension in advance of harvest reduced the incidence of green fruits and increased the occurrence of rotten fruits. The larger suspension period of irrigation result in lower crop yield. The levels and irrigation suspension before harvest did not influence the values of ºBrix, pH and firmness. However, the titratable acidity showed higher values as the irrigation levels in the crop increased. Tomato crop coefficients (kc) were estimated at about 0.65, 1.01, 1.23, 1.25 and 0.80 in 2015. While in 2016 the values of kc were influenced by the lower development and productivity of plants, which were affected by the virus influencing and compromising the kc values.

Thesis (M. Agricultural Management (Agronomy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / A survey study identified indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) utilized by rural communities in Limpopo Province in the three districts of Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Vhembe focusing on their availability, agronomic practices, marketing, medicinal and cultural roles, as well as their nutritional value. An ILV that was highly preferred and with good marketing potential was identified for further studies on its response to planting density and nitrogen fertilizer rate. A questionnaire survey was used to gather information about types of ILVs utilised, their production practices, marketing of ILVs and their importance in medicinal and cultural roles. Data collected were subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using descriptive statistics. Results showed that there were 45 different types of ILVs identified from the three districts in Limpopo Province. Farmers indicated that cultivation of these vegetables was mostly done from October to January in Sekhukhune and Capricorn district while in Vhembe it was practiced all year round. Most of farmers in Vhembe district used inorganic fertilizer during planting while farmers in Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts used organic fertilizers such as cattle manure. Irrigation was commonly used in Vhembe district through furrow irrigation system whereas in Capricorn and Sekhukhune districts most farmers relied on rainfall. Farmers indicated that harvesting was done at an early growing stage of the crop. Indigenous leafy vegetables were mostly marketed in local communities. Several ILVs were identified as preferred and regularly consumed as vegetables. Spider plant (Cleome gynandra) and nightshade (Solanum retroflexum) were identified as the most consumed ILVs in the three districts. Comparing the market potential of the two vegetables, S. retroflexum was chosen for further studies on its response to plant density and nitrogen fertilizer rate. The first study investigated the effect of varying plant density (inter and intra-row spacing) and the second study evaluated the response of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer (LAN-28%N) rate on growth and yield of S. retroflexum during 2014 (April to May) and 2015 (March to May) growing seasons. The plant density experiment was laid out as a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatment factors were 3 inter-row spacings of 30, 45 and 60 cm and 4 intra-row spacings of vi 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30 cm. The data collected included plant height, plant vigour, number of leaves and branches per plant as well as plant leaf yield. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using STATISTIX 10.0 package and mean treatments were separated using Turkey HSD at 5% probability level. The results revealed that growth parameters (plant height, plant vigour, number of branches and leaves) and plant leaf yield were significantly influenced by the combined inter and intra-row spacings. Closer inter-row spacings of 30 cm and 45 cm, and intra-row spacings of 7.5 and 15 cm produced the highest values of parameters and plant leaf yield. The combined spacings of 30 x 7.5 cm produced the highest plant leaf yield. The second study was also laid out as a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were 6 x 2 factorial arrangement: 6 levels of nitrogen (LAN-28%N) at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N/ha and two intra-row spacings of 15 and 30cm. Inter-row spacing of 30 cm was used. The nitrogen fertilizer was applied a week after transplanting and repeated a week after first harvesting. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using STATISTIX 10.0 package. Where significant differences were detected, means were separated using Turkey HSD at 5% propability level. The results suggested that both nitrogen fertilizer and spacing can be used to enhance growth and leaf yield of S. retroflexum vegetable. Nitrogen fertilizer rate and plant density significantly (P≤0.05) affected plant growth and plant leaf yields. Growth parameters and leaf yield were optimised using closer spacing of 15 cm and applying nitrogen at 60 kg N/ha. The application of 60 kg N/ha and 15 cm spacing was therefore recommended for the production of S. retroflexum as a vegetable, if planted at 30 cm inter-row spacing. Key words: Indigenous leafy vegetables, agronomic practices, Solanum retroflexum, planting density, nitrogen fertilizer, planting date

Les fruits et légumes constituent la principale source de vitamine C dans l'alimentation humaine, mais leur concentration en vitamine C varie fortement en fonction de la saison et des conditions de culture. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons testé successivement différentes hypothèses afin de mettre en évidence le rôle de la lumière dans ces variations, en prenant comme modèle le fruit de tomate. Nous avons supposé i) un effet direct du rayonnement intercepté par les fruits sur le métabolisme de la vitamine C (synthèse, recyclage, dégradation), ou ii) un effet du rayonnement sur les feuilles augmentant le transport de molécules (sucres, vitamine C, ...) favorisant l'accumulation de vitamine C dans le fruit. Nos résultats ont souligné la complexité de la régulation de la teneur en vitamine C dans les fruits par la lumière, qui dépend principalement du microclimat radiatif du fruit et dans une moindre mesure du rayonnement intercepté par les feuilles, en interaction avec le stade de développement du fruit. L'étude de la relation sucres/vitamine C dans les fruits a montré que les sucres n'étaient pas limitants pour la synthèse de vitamine C. L'impact du rayonnement sur le métabolisme de la vitamine C a été étudié, en interaction avec la température, sur fruits détachés. Le rayonnement augmente les teneurs en vitamine C des fruits pour les températures inférieures ou égales à 23°C en liaison avec l'augmentation des expressions des gènes de la voie de biosynthèse et des activités des enzymes de recyclage, particulièrement à 12°C. À forte température (31°C), la lumière ne modifie pas la teneur en vitamine C du fruit malgré l'augmentation de l'expression de certains gènes de la voie de synthèse, mais on observe une diminution du recyclage de la vitamine C (DHAR) et une augmentation d'un produit de dégradation de la vitamine C (thréonate). Les données recueillies ont permis d'initier un modèle d'accumulation de la vitamine C au cours du développement du fruit qui dans le futur prendra en compte les facteurs de l'environnement

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Two experiments were conducted to find diversity in plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi: positively and negatively/non-responsive combinations. Medic (Medicago truncatula L.) tomato (Solanum esculentum L.), leek (Allium porrum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were inoculated with Glomus intraradices, Gigaspora margarita and Scutellospora calospora. It was found that soil differences critically affect plant responses to AM fungi. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1283734 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Two experiments were conducted to find diversity in plant responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi: positively and negatively/non-responsive combinations. Medic (Medicago truncatula L.) tomato (Solanum esculentum L.), leek (Allium porrum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were inoculated with Glomus intraradices, Gigaspora margarita and Scutellospora calospora. It was found that soil differences critically affect plant responses to AM fungi. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1283734 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.