This paper focuses on the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (the Act), the regulations promulgated thereunder and several questions arising from an examination of the Act and regulations. Specifically, the analysis examines the agricultural provisions within the regulations and asks whether the provisions are economically desirable, as well as legally enforceable. The provisions of the Act and the regulations constitute the major focus of Chapter One. Chapter One's discussion concludes with an analysis of the regulations’ main pollution prevention tool, the vegetative buffer strip, and a brief listing of various issues and controversies involving the Act and the regulations. Chapter Two introduces a linear programming model designed to determine the most cost-effective means of pollution control based on farmer profits under several regulatory scenarios. The results imply that the mandatory provisions of the regulation prevent farmers from achieving the desired level of pollution reduction in the least costly fashion. The takings issue, a major concern for all environmental legislation, forms the major focus of Chapter Three. This analysis considers the provisions of the Act and regulations within the historic context of the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, as well as the takings clause of the Virginia Constitution, and determines the legal validity of the provisions. Finally, Chapter Four presents several criticisms of the regulations as presently constituted. Suggestions for a more cost effective regulatory scheme conclude the analysis. / Master of Science

Through natural and constructed elements, landscape architects design public landscapes to engage the public in the great outdoors. While many local governments and designers actively create landscapes to keep the unsheltered and homeless out of public spaces, keep water in storm drains, and keep native plants on the periphery of the public landscape, my project, Safe Haven, is about creating an inclusive public landscape for people, water, and native plants. Preliminary research into the history of property ownership, discrimination, economic inequality, and government programs for the unsheltered created a picture of why certain demographics struggle with housing. Case studies of homeless encampments in the Washington DC area of NOMA, Abbot's Camp in Austin, Texas, and car camping in San Diego, California, and Seattle, Washington, gave insight into the current landscape needs of unsheltered people. Studies of the watershed and plants native to the site inspired a water retention system and a seasonal pallet of plants. The design incorporates existing infrastructure, new buildings, a natural playground, wilderness camping, a Mount Vernon-inspired vegetable garden, and a sunken garden designed to retain water while showcasing native plants. Describing the design are narratives sharing the perspective of water, native plants, the unsheltered, and the homeless. Lady Landscape guides the stories and offers her views on the responsibilities of a landscape architect. / Master of Landscape Architecture / Inclusive landscapes create a vision of places where children, older adults, people with and without disabilities enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. There are ADA regulations that ensure everyone can be accommodated within a public landscape, but those regulations don't extend to the needs of unsheltered or homeless people. Their needs to enjoy public parks and recreation areas are different from housed people. They're looking for a home, and many public spaces are built to deter them from living on public lands. My project is a landscape designed with the unsheltered and homeless as the primary client. My project is about creating room for people without homes in the landscape - offering them dignity and meeting them where they are. Researching the needs of the homeless and what is presently available helped guide my design. After choosing an appropriate site in Fairfax City, Virginia, it became apparent that water and native plants would also need a home in this project. A thorough study of the water pattern over the area informed design elements that gave water a home through a Vegetative Swale and Sunken Garden while native plants found space in garden rooms. The thesis is presented as a narrative with Lady Landscape guiding the reader through the design by introducing them to the people and natural elements the landscape offers refuge to.

The adaptation of trees to temperate and boreal climates depends on their ability to respond to environmental signals that are markers of seasonal changes in order to survive winter and maximize growth. The genus Populus (poplars) is a model system for identifying the genes and molecular mechanisms that regulate growth and dormancy transitions. Photoperiod and temperature regulate both vegetative and floral phenology. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and FLOWERING LOCUS D (FD) are key regulators of flowering time in Arabidopsis and other plants. The distinct functions of three poplar FD-LIKE (FDL) genes and two FTs were explored through gain-of-function, dominant repression, and CRISPR/CAS9-mediated gene editing. We studied trees in controlled environments, including manipulation of daylength and temperature to mimic an annual seasonal growth and dormancy cycle. Our studies showed that the FDL proteins share less than complete functional equivalency. Among the three paralogs, only FDL2.2 promoted precocious flowering, whereas FDL1 and FDL3 appear to have distinct roles in vegetative growth and phenology. Whereas overexpression of any FDL gene delays short day-induced growth cessation and bud set, only FDL3 coordinately altered leaf development and the transition to secondary growth in a photoperiod-dependent manner. For the first time, we demonstrate distinct functions of the two FT paralogs in vegetative phenology. Study of ft1ft2 double mutants and ft1-specific mutants showed that FT1 promotes dormancy release, whereas FT2 is necessary to sustain growth. Collectively, our results reveal that poplar FTs and FDLs have distinct roles in controlling different aspects of vegetative phenology and woody shoot development. / PHD / The adaptation of trees to temperate and boreal climates depends on their ability to respond to environmental signals that are markers of seasonal changes in order to survive winter and maximize growth. The genus Populus (poplars) is a model system for identifying the genes and molecular mechanisms that regulate growth and dormancy transitions. Photoperiod and temperature regulate both vegetative and floral phenology. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and FLOWERING LOCUS D (FD) are key regulators of flowering time in Arabidopsis and other plants. The distinct functions of three poplar FD-LIKE (FDL) genes and two FTs were explored through gain-of-function, dominant repression, and CRISPR/CAS9-mediated gene editing. We studied trees in controlled environments, including manipulation of daylength and temperature to mimic an annual seasonal growth and dormancy cycle. Our studies showed that the FDL proteins share less than complete functional equivalency. Among the three paralogs, only FDL2.2 promoted precocious flowering, whereas FDL1 and FDL3 appear to have distinct roles in vegetative growth and phenology. Whereas overexpression of any FDL gene delays short day-induced growth cessation and bud set, only FDL3 coordinately altered leaf development and the transition to secondary growth in a photoperiod-dependent manner. For the first time, we demonstrate distinct functions of the two FT paralogs in vegetative phenology. Study of ft1ft2 double mutants and ft1-specific mutants showed that FT1 promotes dormancy release, whereas FT2 is necessary to sustain growth. Collectively, our results reveal that poplar FTs and FDLs have distinct roles in controlling different aspects of vegetative phenology and woody shoot development.

Zielsetzung: Der Nachweis eines Apallischen Syndroms (APS) ist trotz der diagnostischen Kriterien der Multi Society Task Force on persistent vegetative state (MSTF) selbst für erfahrene Kliniker eine diagnostische Herausforderung. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist, inwieweit etablierte neurologische Untersuchungstechniken die Anwendung der MSTF-Kriterien vereinfachen und so zur Diagnose des APS beitragen. Design: Prospektive diagnostische Studie Patienten: Von initial 24 Patienten mit der Differentialdiagnose eines APS wurden 16 Patienten endgültig in die Studie eingeschlossen und einer prospektiven klinischen Untersuchung unterzogen. Das Studienprotokoll umfasste die Untersuchung der spontanen Motorik sowie Reiz korrelierter motorischen Reaktionen, der Primitivreflexe, Habituation und der Okulomotorik. Ergebnisse: Die Diagnosekriterien der MSTF waren bei allen Patienten nachweisbar, die in die Studie eingeschlossenen wurden. Darüber hinaus wurde durch die Studie weitere, ebenfalls häufig auftretende klinischen Symptome identifiziert, die als Markersymptom für eine APS bewertet wurden: spontane Automatismen (N=12), periodisch-alternierende Augenbewegungen (N=12), startle Reaktion nach externer Reizung (N=10) und Spastik (N=9). Klinische Symptome, die erhaltene Bewusstseinsleistung voraussetzen wie reflektorische Sakkaden, Habituation, der optokinetische Nystagmus und Augenfolgebewegungen oder Symptome, die auf eine schwere Hirnstammschädigung hinweisen wie eine Dezerebrationshaltung, wurden als Ausschlusskriterien eines APS vorgeschlagen. Zusammenfassung: Die Erweiterung der MSTF-Diagnosekriterien um obligatorische und unterstützende Schlüsselsymptome sowie klar definierte Ausschlusskriterien erleichtert die klinische Differentialdiagnose des APS und führt zu einer größeren Diagnosesicherheit des Syndroms. / Objective: Although the Multi Society Task Force (MSTF) on persistent vegetative state (PVS) published diagnostic criteria ten years ago, differentiation of PVS from similar syndromes remains a diagnostic challenge. The aim of our study was the prospective identification of clinically assessable symptoms supplementary to the MSTF criteria which supports or rejects the diagnosis of a PVS and to reevaluate the parameters after 30 month. Design: Prospective diagnostic study Setting: The 90-bed department of Neurology of the University hospital of Berlin. Patients and participants: Out of 24 screened patients with the differential diagnosis PVS, 16 patients were finally included to the study and prospectively assessed by a clinical examination, comprising spontaneous and reflexive motor activities, primitive reflexes, habituation and eye movements. Measurements and results: Mandatory symptoms of the MSTF were found in all 16 patients. In addition, clinical features like spontaneous automatisms (n=12), periodic alternating gaze deviation (n=12), startle reaction to external stimuli (n=10), and spastic muscular tone (n=9) were found frequently and considered supportive for the diagnosis. In contrast to previous observations, periodic alternating eye movements and increased muscular tone were found more frequently in our patients. Symptoms linked to a preserved consciousness like reflexive visually guided saccades, habituation, an optokinetic nystagmus and eye tracking or symptoms indicating a severe functional impairment of the brainstem like a decerebrated posture were proposed as excluding PVS. Conclusion: The application of mandatory and supportive symptoms lead to a further improvement of diagnostic certainty in PVS, particular in patient presenting exceptional clinical phenomena. Clearly defined exclusive criteria prevent from misdiagnosis.

Master of Science / Department of Biology / David C. Hartnett / Perennial grasses on tallgrass prairie primarily reproduce vegetatively via the belowground bud bank, yet the production, dynamics, and morphology of belowground buds is largely unexplored. Since the two main photosynthetic pathway guilds (C3 and C4) on tallgrass prairie vary in their aboveground phenology, their belowground phenology would also be expected to vary. Differences in bud production, development, and spatial arrangement result in different growth forms. Therefore, an extensive biweekly examination of a dominant tallgrass prairie C4 rhizomatous grass Andropogon gerardii and C3 caespitose grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes was conducted over an entire year. Andropogon gerardii and D. oligosanthes have multiple distinctive bud developmental stages. Andropogon gerardii was synchronous in its bud development and its bud bank was composed of multiple annual cohorts. The bud bank of D. oligosanthes was developmentally asynchronous and was comprised of a single bud cohort since its bud bank underwent a complete turnover in early summer. The different roles of buds in the life history of each species reflected their differences in bud longevity, quality, and dormancy. In D. oligosanthes, belowground buds enabled plant survival over the C3 summer dormant period whereas juvenile tillers overwintered during the longer winter dormant period. In contrast, A. gerardii survived its single, winter dormant period as dormant buds. The higher-order bud production observed in D. oligosanthes multiplied its tiller production potential and, along with its shortened internodes, contributed to its caespitose growth form. The rhizomatous growth form of A. gerardii resulted from its lack of higher-order bud production and its elongated internodes. Differences in production of buds per vegetative and flowering tiller were quantified in A. gerardii. Flowering tillers of A. gerardii produced larger numbers of buds per tiller and transitioned a larger proportion of their buds to tillers than did vegetative tillers. Therefore, no tradeoff between sexual and vegetative reproduction was evident. Developmental constraints likely prevented such a tradeoff. Bud bank dynamics offer insight into the control of grass population dynamics, production, and ultimately aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and will be useful in understanding the underlying mechanisms by which management practices and environmental change can alter perennial grasslands.

Fusarium oxysporum Schl. var. vanillae (Tucker) Gondon is known to cause root rot in Vanilla planifolia Andrews in most regions where it is grown, including the major plantations in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province of China. This is of serious economic concern to the Province since the vanilla flavouring extractable from the beans of the plant is a valuable food product and an important export commodity. There are no fungicides registered for the control of Fusarium root rot and the only available chemical control methods are ineffective and cause serious contamination of the soil. Breeding for resistance is difficult when no dominant gene is known or where little information is available on fungal pathogenicity. Biocontrol is the main alternative for disease control in this crop, an attractive approach because of increasing concerns for environmental protection. The investigation considers two biocontrol strategies: first the introduction of virulent, antagonistic, non-pathogenic strains, closely-related to the pathogen, to overcome pathogenic populations in infected soils; second the use of essential oils with antimicrobial properties when applied to infected soils. Pathogenicity tests have been done on 81 out of 87 F. oxysporum isolates collected in Yunnan Province. Among these, 32 isolates were non-pathogenic and 49 were pathogenic. The pathogenicity results showed the complexity of F. oxysporum in Yunnan. Seventeen isolates were recovered from the Daluo plantation, of which 14 were pathogenic isolates and 3 non-pathogenic isolates; 26 from the Menglun plantation, in which 12 were pathogenic and 14 were non-pathogenic; 18 isolates from the Manjingdai plantation, in which 12 isolates were pathogenic, whilst the other 6 were non-pathogenic and 20 were obtained from the plantation in Hekou i County, of which 11 were pathogenic isolates and 9 were non-pathogenic. Genetic diversity within this population of F. oxysporum has been investigated with respect to vegetative compatibility and to determine the relationship between VCGs and virulence. The VCG results showed that the 87 strains of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp vanillae isolated from Yunnan Province were complex. They could be distributed into 12 different VCGs and that a direct relationship between VCGs group and virulence could not be drawn. Two non-pathogenic strains, ML-5-2 and HK-5b-4-1, have been screened from 87 strains as candidate biocontrol agents by pathogenicity and VCG, which are self-incompatible and closely related to the pathogens. These two strains were effective in vanilla root rot control in controlled environments, but their effects in field experiments were less conclusive. Seven essential oils, which have long been regarded as having inhibitory effects on pathogens in nature, have also been investigated as biocontrol agents. Three oils, cinnamon oil, thyme oil and clove oil, were effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogen in vitro. These oils may develop into useful components of different management strategies with non-pathogenic strains. For the future, consideration will need to be given to the mechanism(s) of the interaction of the antagonistic components with the soil microbe population and host plant and also to appropriate formulation, to take account of soil type, crop status, cultural practices, environmental and economic factors. Biocontrol methods have considerable potential but must be acceptable to farmers as part of an overall crop management programme.

"The orientation of this study began with a collection of the grasses of Erath County during their flowering periods. Collections were made in the Spring and Fall of 1950 and 1951 to obtain both vernal and autumnal grasses. Identifications were made from the grass floras previously mentioned and checked against specimens in the herbarium of North Texas State College for verification. In addition, the list was checked by W.A. Turney, Conservationist, United States Department of Agriculture of Dublin, Texas. Finally, the list was compared with that prepared by W.M. Cory for the plant areas of which Erath County is a part. On the basis of the above identifications, a critical study of the vegetative characteristics was made and a key based on these features prepared. The width of the blad and characteristics of the ligule, roots, culms, and sheaths were used to distinguish each of the eighty-six specimens found in the collection area. A drawing was made of the longitudinal section of the juncture of the blade and the sheath of each grass. This diagnostic section includes the collar, ligule, a part of the blade and sheath, and auricles, if present."-- leaf 5.

Les prions sont des agrégats amyloïdes infectieux. Le prion [Het-s] de Podospora anserina est un des prions le mieux caractérisé. Le prion [Het-s] est impliqué dans l’incompatibilité végétative – un processus biologique qui a lieu au cours des anastomoses entre des souches génétiquement différentes. Quand une souche [Het-s] fusionne avec une souche exprimant l’allèle alternatif du gène het-s – l’allèle het-S – une réaction de mort cellulaire programmée est déclenchée. Les deux protéines diffèrent de 13 acides aminés et partagent une architecture en deux domaines ; un domaine globulaire en N-terminal nommé HeLo et un domaine PFD (Prion Forming Domain) en C-terminal. Il a été établi qu’en présence des fibres amyloïdes de [Het-s], la protéine HET-S agit en ‘pore-forming’ toxine : la transconformation du PFD de HET-S par les fibres amyloïdes du [Het-s] active le domaine HeLo de HET-S et entraîne la mort cellulaire. Afin de mieux caractériser les propriétés du repliement β-solénoïde du prion [Het-s], nous avons entrepris l’exploration in vivo des relations structure-fonction de ce repliement par une approche d’alanine scanning. Au cours de nos recherches pour des homologues de HET-S/s, nous avons identifié un partenaire fonctionnel de HET-S – une protéine appelée NWD2. NWD2 est une protéine STAND et partage une séquence homologue (3-23) au PFD de HET-S/s. Les protéines STAND, après la reconnaissance d’un ligand, forment des plateformes oligomériques pour transduire le signal. Des analyses génomiques in silico réalisées dans plusieurs génomes fongiques nous ont amené à proposer que la transduction du signal via une protéine STAND à repliement amyloïde est un mécanisme ancien et conservé chez les champignons. Dans ce contexte nous avons identifié deux nouveaux motifs PFD putatifs – σ et PP. En soumettant à l’épreuve notre hypothèse, nous avons d’abord démontré que NWD2 interagit avec HET-S/s en fonction d’un ligand spécifique in vivo et l’interaction est dépendante de la séquence NWD2(3-23) homologue au PFD de HET-S/s. Nous avons ensuite exploré le motif PP associé à un domaine HeLo-like (HELL) dans le génome de Chaetomium globosum. En démontrant la nature amyloïde et prion-like du motif PP ainsi que l’analogie fonctionnelle entre ce motif et le PFD de HET-S/s in vivo nous avons apporté des arguments supplémentaires en faveur de l’implication des repliements amyloïdes dans la transduction du signal chez les champignons filamenteux. / Prions are infectious amyloid aggregates. Podospora anserina’s [Het-s] is one of the best characterized fungal prions with a remarkably high prevalence in wild populations. [Het-s] functions in vegetative incompatibility - a biological process occurring during anastomosis between two genetically incompatible strains. When an [Het-s] prion infected strain fuses with a strain expressing the alternative allelic variant of the het-s locus – het-S – a cell death reaction of the heterokaryon occurs. Differing by 13 amino acids both proteins shares two domain architecture; a globular N-terminal domain called HeLo and a C-terminal Prion Forming Domain (PFD). It has been demonstrated that in presence of [Het-s] amyloid fibers HET-S turns into a pore-forming toxin: transconformation of the HET-S PFD by [Het-s] fibers triggers the refolding of the HET-S HeLo domain, inducing the cell death reaction. In an attempt to better characterize the conserved features of the [Het-s] β-solenoid fold we have used a mutational alanine scanning approach and explored in vivo the existing relations between structure and prion functions of [Het-s]. During our quest for new distant homologues of HET-S/s, we have identified a functional partner of HET-S toxin called NWD2. NWD2 is a STAND protein and shares a homology sequence (3-23) in the HET-S/s PFD. STAND proteins form signal transducing hubs through oligomerization upon ligand recognition. Several in silico analysis in various fungal genomes led us to propose that signal transduction via a STAND protein using an amyloid prion-like fold is a general widespread mechanism in fungi. In that context, we have proposed two novel putative PFD motifs called σ and PP. Testing experimentally our hypothesis, we have first demonstrated that NWD2 interacts with HET-S/s upon ligand recognition in vivo and the interaction is dependant of the NWD2(3-23) region. We have then explored the newly identified putative prion domain PP, associated to a Helo-like domain (termed HELL) from the filamentous fungus Chaetomium globosum. By demonstrating the amyloid, prion-like nature of the PP motif and the functional analogy between PP and HET-S/s PFD domain in vivo, we expose further evidences supporting the implication of amyloid folds in signal transduction in filamentous fungi.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biology / David C. Hartnett / Perennial grass populations propagate vegetatively via the belowground bud bank. Climate, photosynthetic pathway, and growth form impact bud production, longevity, and dormancy; leading to alterations in bud bank and tiller dynamics. Previous research in mesic C₄-dominated tallgrass prairie revealed that a C₄ grass had greater bud longevity and differing bud bank dynamics than a C₃ species. This study examined the bud bank dynamics of rhizomatous and caespitose grasses in a more arid C₃ dominated prairie to gain insights into how bud banks differ among grass species, growth forms, and environments, and the relationship between bud bank characteristics and grass architecture and growth patterns. The bud bank and tiller dynamics of four perennial grasses in the C₃-dominated northern mixed grass prairie were examined over 15 months. The C₃ caespitose and rhizomatous grasses produced similar numbers of buds per tiller and their bud longevity was [greater than or equal to] 2 years. Tiller longevity drove the turnover within the bud bank of the dominant C₃ caespitose grasses Hesperostipa comata and Nassella viridula. Their polycyclic tillers (tillers that lived for more than one year) created multi-aged bud banks. The rhizomatous C₃ grass Pascopyrum smithii also had a multi-aged bud bank because buds were able to live longer than its annual tillers. Differences between caespitose and rhizomatous C₃ grass bud banks were driven by differences in tiller and rhizome production and spatial distribution. Responses to water availability fluctuations are likely buffered by the maintenance of polycyclic tillers in the caespitose grasses and flexible timing of annual tiller recruitment in the rhizomatous grass. The C₄ rhizomatous grass Andropogon gerardii had similar phenology to populations in its tallgrass prairie range center. Despite declines in bud production per tiller and lowered flowering probability in mixed-grass prairie, A. gerardii maintained a multi-aged bud bank and a positive population growth rate via vegetative reproduction at both the center and edge of its range. Bud bank dynamics of different growth forms and photosynthetic pathways, as they offer insight into the control of grass population dynamics and production, will enhance understanding of the mechanisms by which management practices and environmental change can alter perennial grasslands.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) nutrient demand depends on fruit load and intensity of the annual variation of vegetative growth. However, nutrient rates recommended for this crop are based only on bean yield, manily yields of old crops. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the source-sink relationship, through the effect of fruit load on vegetative growth, to understand coffee nutritional demand. The hypotheses were (i) the annual biomass of stem, branches and leaves should have a strong negative linear relationship regarding fruit load, (ii) the average nutrients concentration changes in the vegetative plant part due to the number of fruits, and (iii) the plant nutrient demand varies in years of high and low production due to the different proportions between fruiting and annual vegetation. The study was carried out from November 2015 to June 2016 in coffee trees in the municipality of Jacuí - MG, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with one factor (fruit load), six factor levels (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% and 0%) and five replicates. After flowering, in early November 2015, six fruit loads were manually imposed and the base of the last pair of fully expanded leaf was labeled with wire on all branches of the trees. In early June 2016, during the coffee harvest, branches were cut from the wire-label and characterized. The variables analyzed were: numbers of nodes, leaf area, dry vegetation yield, dry bean yield, volume of fruits and concentration of macro and micro nutrients in vegetation and fruiting. The study revealed that fruit load strongly affects vegetative growth in Coffee arabica L. For each liter of fruit produced, ~ 103 g of dry vegetation yield decreases per tree. Furthermore, the concentration of the macronutrients N, P, K, Mg and S and the micronutrients Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in vegetation and fruiting not dependent on fruit load. Nutrient demand of a given plant density varies in years of high and low production due to the different yield proportions of mass between fruiting and annual vegetation. / A demanda de nutrients do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) depende da carga de frutos e da intensidade da variação anual do crescimento vegetativo. No entanto, as doses de nutrientes recomendadas para a cultura são baseadas apenas na produtividade de frutos, especialmente produtividades de lavouras antigas. Portanto, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi determinar a relação fonte-dreno, por meio do efeito da carga de frutos no crescimento vegetativo, para compreender a demanda nutricional do café. As hipóteses foram (i) a biomassa vegetativa anual teria uma forte relação linear negativa em função da carga de frutos, (ii) a concentração média de nutrientes seria variável na parte vegetativa da planta devido à quantidade de frutos e (iii) a demanda de nutrientes variaria em anos de alta e baixa produção devido às diferentes proporções entre frutificação e vegetação anual. O experimento foi realizado de novembro de 2015 a junho de 2016 em Jacuí - MG, Brasil. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com um fator (carga de frutos), seis níveis do fator (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% e 0%) e cinco repetições. Após o florescimento, no início de novembro de 2015, as seis cargas de frutos foram aplicadas manualmente e a base do último par de folhas totalmente expandidas foi marcada com um arame indicador em todos os ramos das plantas. No início de junho de 2016, durante o período de colheita do café, os ramos foram cortados a partir do arame indicador e caracterizados. As variáveis analisadas foram: número de nós, área foliar, massa seca da vegetação, massa seca de frutos, volume de frutos e concentração de macro e micronutrientes na vegetação e na frutificação. O estudo revelou que a carga de frutos afeta fortemente o crescimento vegetativo de Coffee arabica L. Para cada litro de fruto produzido a planta deixa de vegetar ~ 103 g de massa seca. Além disso, as concentrações dos macronutrientes N, P, K, Mg e S e os micronutrientes Mn, Fe, Cu e Zn na vegetação e na frutificação não dependeram da carga de frutos. A demanda de nutrientes de uma dada densidade de plantas varia em anos de alta e baixa produção devido às diferentes proporções de produção de massa entre frutificação e vegetação anual.