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Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the combining ability of S3 forage maize (Zea mays) progenies for traits related to forage yield and bromatological quality, with and without the ear, as well as to evaluate the ability of testers to discriminate progenies for these traits. The trials were carried out in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 crop seasons, in the municipality of Guarapuava, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Topcross hybrids obtained from the crosses of 28 S3 maize progenies with three testers were evaluated. The following forage qualitative traits of the whole plant and of the plant without the ear were evaluated: neutral and acid detergent fibers, lignin, and in situ dry mass digestibility, as well as digestible dry mass yield of the whole plant. The progenies that stood out for forage qualitative traits were 85.1 and 42.1 for the whole plant and for the plant without the ear, respectively. For the qualitative and productive traits of whole-plant forage, progenies 91.1, 106.2, 126.2, 138.1, 152.1, 235.1, and 251.1 are promising to continue in the breeding program aiming to generate hybrids with a high yield and fiber quality. Testers LEM3 and AG8025 are efficient in discriminating progenies for forage yield and bromatological traits.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the damages caused by Diceraeus (=Dichelops) melacanthus in maize plants subjected to bioinoculation with or without imidacloprid seed treatment. In this study, five different combinations of bioinoculants and imidacloprid seed treatment were applied to maize seeds in a completely randomized design. The bioinoculants used were Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium japonicum. From emergence, the plants were subjected to infestation with the stink bug D. melacanthus (one stink bug/plant), with permanence up to 21 days after emergence. After this period, the phytotechnical parameters (shoot and root) of the corn plants were evaluated. In general, plant height was higher when imidacloprid was applied, suggesting compatibility with bioinoculants. The chlorophyll a content was higher when bioinoculants were applied, regardless of whether imidacloprid was present. Finally, the results indicate that the bacteria A. brasilense and B. japonicum do not induce resistance to the level of D. melacanthus infestation used in the present study. Therefore, these bacteria can be used in combination with imidacloprid, allowing for greater plant height, higher chlorophyll a content, and reduced damage caused by D. melacanthus.

The food industry is very interested in high-yield ingredients to enrich and develop new products that have an affordable value for the population. This work aimed to determine the correlations and contrasts between grain physical and agronomic traits of conventional and transgenic corn hybrids cultivated in the first crop season. The experiments were installed in the 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20 crop seasons in Guarapuava - PR. The experimental design was a randomized block design with eight hybrids (SUPREMO VIP, SUPREMO, P30F53VYH, P30F53, P3456H, P3456, DKB290PRO3, and DKB290) and three replications. The agronomic traits, such as the percentage of rot grains, 1000-grain mass, and grain yield, also the physical traits of grains for industrial purposes, such as grits, germ, vitreousness, flotation, and hectoliter weight, were evaluated. There is a positive correlation between grits and flotation. The choice of hybrids for the food industry based on vitreousness positively favors flotation. The grits showed a positive correlation with hectoliter weight and a negative correlation with the incidence of rot grains. Vitreousness was influenced by the choice of conventional or transgenic hybrid and crop season. The environments of the crop seasons influence the grain yield, 1000-grain mass, and rot grain incidence of conventional and transgenic corn hybrids.

Maize forage is commonly used as silage in milk and beef cattle livestock production systems. Despite the wide variety of maize hybrids with high potential for grain production, few available hybrids have been developed exclusively for forage aptitude. The present study aimed to select S3 maize progenies derived from the single hybrid AS1572 based on the combining ability of forage traits in topcrosses with testers AG8025, 70.H26.1, and MLP102. The 135 resulting topcross hybrids were assessed in partial diallel in Guarapuava and Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Paraná State, Brazil. Were evaluated the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF, %DM) and acid detergent fiber (ADF, %DM), forage dry matter yield (DMY, t ha-1), and in situ digestibility of forage dry matter (DIG, %DM). For all evaluated traits, the variability allowed us to select superior progenies. Progenies 3.1, 22.1, and 39.1stood out in terms of NDF, ADF, and DIG, whereas progenies 47.1, 73.1, 79.1, and 90.2 were efficient in increasing the forage dry matter yield. The testers AG8025 and 70.H26.1, of narrow genetic base, are the best to explore genetic variability among progenies.

ABSTRACT: The management of white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum(Lib.) De Bary) has been one of the main production limitations faced by soybean (Glycine max L.) producers. Considering the complex management of this disease and resistance structure of the pathogen, the present study was conducted in the municipalities of Guarapuava and Palmas in Paraná with the objective of managing the white mold of soybean using straws of winter cereals, such as oat, rye, and triticale. Initially, the three winter cereals were cultivated simultaneously in both the study areas. Straw production, plant height, and shoot fresh and dry weight were evaluated. Subsequently, BMX Apollo soybean was cultivated on cereal straws, and the incidence and severity of white mold were evaluated. In the in vitro experiment, 20 sclerotia covered by a layer of cereal (oat, rye, and triticale) straws were added and carpogenic germination was observed only in the control treatment after 98 days. Regardless of the study site, rye presented greater height and fresh weight than the remaining two cereals. Soybean cultivation on winter cereal straw reduced the incidence and severity of white mold. Cultivation on rye straw reduced mold incidence by 77.7% and 76.6% in Palmas and Guarapuava, respectively.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar fungicide application on the chemical characteristics and in situ digestibility of forage and silage in forage maize hybrids with different grain textures in two sowing seasons. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications, in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, 4 hybrids, with and without foliar fungicide application, in two sowing seasons. The hybrids used were DKB240PRO, AS1572PRO, 32R48YH and AG8690PRO3. Data were tested by analysis of variance; the means were compared by Tukey’s test at 5% probability and two non-orthogonal contrasts were performed. The application of fungicide on forage maize hybrids reduced the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), soft dough stage and in the silage produced. The sowing season in December negatively influenced the chemical parameters of forage maize hybrids, compared to sowing in October. Hybrids with highly vitreous endosperm presented the highest contents of NDF and ADF, soft dough stage and in the silage produced. The application of fungicide (trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole) at the V8 and R1 stages positively influenced in situ digestibility soft dough stage and in the silage produced, depending of the sowing season.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros bromatológicos e o desaparecimento ruminal da matéria seca da foragem de centeio Secale cereale, cv. Temprano manejado em diferentes regimes de cortes no estádio vegetativo, com ou sem aplicação de fungicida a base de Fluxapiroxade + Piraclostrobina no estádio de pré-florescimento. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso e os tratamentos constaram da avaliação das forragens colhidas no estádio de grão farináceo, sendo SCSF: sem corte no vegetativo e sem aplicação de fungicida; SCCF: sem corte no vegetativo com aplicação de fungicida; UCSF: um corte no vegetativo sem aplicação de fungicida; UCCF: um corte com aplicação de fungicida; DCSF: dois cortes no vegetativo sem aplicação de fungicida; DCCF: dois cortes com aplicação de fungicida. De maneira geral, a realização de um corte no estádio vegetativo e posterior corte para ensilagem no estádio de grão farináceo foi o melhor sistema empregado no centeio cv. Temprano com base nos parâmetros de bromatologia e desaparecimento ruminal. Esse sistema proporcionou melhor composição dos carboidratos fibrosos com menores teores de Fibra em Detergente Ácido (41,55%) e Lignina (10,79%) após o corte e gerou melhor taxa de desaparecimento ruminal da matéria seca a nível ruminal (0,46%) por hora de exposição, ressaltando ainda o corte do vegetativo que produziu um material com 20,76% de Proteína Bruta, Fibra em detergente neutro de 52,69% evidenciando a sua qualidade nutricional para uso em pastejo ou como silagem pré-secada. O uso do fungicida proporcionou melhoras significativas nos teores de proteína bruta (8,24% vs 7,23%) e matéria mineral (3,02% vs 2,82%) da planta no momento da ensilagem, o que gerou melhores índices de desaparecimento da matéria seca no rúmen.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produção de matéria seca de diferentes híbridos de milho, a bromatologia da planta no momento da ensilagem bem como a participação dos componentes estruturais da planta nos diferentes estádios fenológicos. Foram utilizados os híbridos de milho P2530, P30B39H e P30R50H, colhidos sucessivamente nas fases de grão leitoso(R2); grão pastoso(R3); grão farináceo(R4); e grão farináceo-duro (R5). Determinou-se os teores de matéria seca, a participação percentual de cada estrutura física da planta, na ocasião de cada avaliação, além da altura da inserção da primeira espiga e da planta, número de folhas secas, produção de fitomassa seca ensilável, de grãos e bromatologia no momento da ensilagem (fase de grão farináceo-duro, R5). Não houve diferença (p > 0,05) na produção de fitomassa seca entre os híbridos avaliados. Em geral o híbrido P30R50H, considerando a produção de biomassa seca e composição fibrosa da planta e valor relativo do alimento mostrou-se equilibrado para silagem. O avanço dos estádios proporcionou aumento na participação de grãos e consequente redução dos demais componentes na composição física da planta, e o estádio R4 apresentou-se como o momento de melhor associação entre produtividade e composição física da planta para produção de silagem.

Resistance of maize inbred lines to major leaf diseases should be characterized for the development of new hybrids in breeding programs. Thus, this study aimed to assess the severity of leaf diseases in maize inbredlines with different kernel hardnessand two sowingseasons. We assessed four inbred lines and one check hybrid with dent kernels and four inbred lines and a check hybrid with flint kernels. Treatments were conducted in two sowing seasons, one in October, and another in December 2013. The symptoms of gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis), northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum), and white leaf spot (a complex of Phaeosphaeria maydis and Pantoea ananatis) were assessed every 10 days from flowering. The area under the disease progress curve was also calculated. Severity level of the diseases was higher in inbred lines when compared to the check hybrds (AG8041 PRO and P30R50YH), regardless of kernel hardness. Dent-kernel inbred lines showed a higher severity of northern leaf blight symptoms when compared to flint-kernelones. It is worth mentioning that disease severity increased as sowing was delayed.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization with and without humic acid in barley cultivars on the export of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium grains. The experiment was performed in the city of Guarapuava, PR, during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The experimental design was in RCB in factorial 5 x 2, with the following sowing fertilization (kg ha-1): 0, 100 NPK, 100 NPK+HS, 250 NPK, 250 NPK+HS and two cultivars, BRS Brau and BRS Elis. The dose of 250 kg NPK with humic substance increased the nitrogen export to barley grains, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar under favorable climatic conditions. Under favorable climatic conditions, the export of phosphorus to barley grains in the agricultural crop was not influenced by the humic substance, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar. The dose of 100 kg NPK with humic substance increased the export of potassium to barley grains, with the highest levels occurring in the BRS Brau cultivar regardless of climatic condition. There were correlations between nitrogen and phosphorus levels in grains and between phosphorus content and grain yield.

This study aimed to assess the chemical composition of the forage and pre-dried silage from twelve winter cereals harvested at pre-flowering. We used black oat (Avena strigosa) cv. EMB 139 and cv. IAPAR 61; white oat (Avena sativa) cv. IPR and 126 hp. URS Taura; barley (Hordeum vulgare) cv. BRS Brau and cv. BRS Cauê; wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. BRS Umbu and cv. BRS Tarumã; rye (Secale cereale) cv. Temprano and cv. BRS Serrano; and triticale (X. Triticosecale) cv. IPR and 111 hp. BRS Saturno. Plants were harvested at pre-flowering, when they were pre-dried and ensiled. The analysis of variance evidenced nutritional differences between species and cultivars. Triticale cv. IPR 111 showed notorious chemical characteristics in relation to the other treatments, highest protein content (113.7 g kg-1) and lower content of NDF and ADF (657.9 and 380.9 g kg-1, respectively). Among the pre-dried silages, barley cv. BRS Cauê had the highest level of NDT (614.7 g kg-1). Triticale cv. IPR 111 was shown as a high-quality nutritional food as forage and kept these characteristics after conservation. On the other hand, the pre-dried silage of barley cv. BRS Cauê showed the highest potential for nutrient degradability.

A caracterização de linhagens de milho quanto à resistência às principais doenças é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de novos híbridos em programas de melhoramento. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a severidade de doenças foliares em linhagens de milho com diferentes texturas de grãos em duas épocas de semeadura. Foram avaliadas quatro linhagens e um híbrido testemunha com grãos dentados e quatro linhagens e um híbrido testemunha com grãos duros. Os tratamentos foram conduzidos em duas épocas de semeadura, em outubro e em dezembro de 2013. A partir do florescimento, a cada 10 dias, foram avaliadas as doenças foliares cercosporiose (Cercospora zeae-maydis), helmintosporiose (Exserohilum turcicum) e mancha branca (complexo Phaeosphaeria maydis/Pantoea ananatis). Foi calculada a área abaixo da curva do progresso das doenças (AACPD). A severidade das doenças foi maior nas linhagens, comparativamente aos híbridos testemunhas AG8041 PRO e P30R50YH, independentemente da textura dos grãos. As linhagens de textura dentada apresentaram maior severidade de sintomas da helmintosporiose, quando comparada às linhagens de grãos duros. Houve aumento da severidade das doenças avaliadas com o atraso da semeadura.

The sowing dates and harvesting times of forage maize are important factors in high-yield forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the participation of plant components for different sowing dates and harvest stages, in commercial maize hybrids recommended for the production of forage. The experimental design was of randomised blocks, three replications, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, being four maize hybrids (P30B39H, DKB245, 2B688H and DKB330Y) and two sowing dates (October and November). The experiment was carried out in Guarapuava, in the state of Paraná, Brazil (PR). Evaluations were done at stages R4 and R5, when the percentage of dry matter was evaluated by means of fractionation for the leaves (PPFOL), stem (PPCOL), grain (PPGR), and bracts and cob (PPSAB). The hybrid DKB245 displayed less participation of the leaves, stem, bracts and cob, and a higher participation of grain at the farinaceous and hard farinaceous grain reproductive stages, irrespective of sowing time. With the advancement of the farinaceous grain reproductive stage to hard farinaceous grain, there was an increase in the percentage of grain in the hybrids under evaluation and a reduction in the participation of the leaves, stem, bracts and cob for the two sowing dates (October and November). At the hard farinaceous grain stage, the genotypes under evaluation were less influenced by the effect of sowing time, there being a greater participation of the grain for all genotypes; with the hard farinaceous grain stage being indicated for harvesting the forage. = Época de semeadura e ponto de corte de plantas de milho forrageiro são fatores importantes na produção de forragem de alto rendimento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a participação dos componentes da planta em diferentes épocas de semeadura e estádios de colheita, em híbridos comerciais de milho recomendados para produção de forragem. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, esquema fatorial 4x2, sendo quatro híbridos de milho (P30B39H, DKB245, 2B688H e DKB330Y) e duas épocas de semeadura (outubro e novembro). O experimento foi conduzido no município de Guarapuava, PR. As avaliações foram realizadas nos estádios R4 e R5, sendo avaliados a porcentagem em matéria seca da folha (PPFOL), colmo (PPCOL), brácteas e sabugo (PPSAB), e grãos (PPGR) por meio de fracionamento da planta. O hibrido DKB245 apresentou menor participação de folhas, colmo, brácteas e sabugo, e maior participação de grãos nos estádios reprodutivos grãos farináceos e grãos farináceos duros, independente da época de semeadura. Com o avanço do estádio reprodutivo grãos farináceos para grãos farináceos duros houve elevação do percentual de grãos nos híbridos avaliados e redução na participação de folhas, colmos, brácteas e sabugo, nas duas épocas de semeadura (outubro e novembro). No estádio grãos farináceos duros os genótipos avaliados foram menos influenciados pelo efeito da época de semeadura, tendo maior participação de grãos para todos os genótipos, sendo a época indicada para a colheita da forragem.

Seven commercial maize hybrids (AS1575, 2B688, Penta, GNZ2004, AG8021, Sprint e P30F53) were intercrossed in a complete diallel, excluded reciprocal, obtaining 21 crosses. The 28 treatments were evaluated in two environments characterized by different densities (62,500 and 90,000 plants ha-1), with the aim of selecting the most promising parents for generating base population to obtain lines. Two experiments were carried out in Guarapuava-PR, at randomized block design with three replications. We estimated the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities for yield and disease severity assessed by the area under the common rust (Puccinia sorghi) progress curve (AURPC) and the area under the leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) progress curve (AULPC). The effects of GCA and SCA were significant for grain yield and diseases severity in both densities, revealing the importance of both additive and non-additive effects. There GCA x densities interaction was significant only for grain yield. Crossings P30F53 x AG8021 and P30F53 x Penta had negative estimates of SCA for AURPC and AULPC on the environments average. Hybrids GNZ 2004 and P30F53 stood out showing positive GCA for grain yield and negative for AURPC and AULPC in both densities and therefore are recommended for generating base populations for obtaining lines adapted for both densities, conventional and denser plantings, given the current trends in management of maize.

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of fungicide application on grain rot in commercial maize hybrids and the relation between grain rot and the expression of lipoxygenase enzyme in grain in conventional row spacing of 0.70 m and reduced row spacing of 0.45 m. Treatments were made in a 3 x 8 factorial scheme, using three forms of management with fungicide (Trifloxystrobin + Prothioconazole) and eight maize hybrids divided into two groups (tolerant and susceptible) with three repetitions, totaling 72 plots in each environment (conventional and reduced spacing) in the 2013/2014 crop. The following characteristics were evaluated: grain rot percentage and lipoxygenase enzyme expression (LOX) in the grain. The hybrid and the fungicide utilized influenced the grain rot percentage. Grain rot percentage was reduced by the use of the fungicide, and the highest reduction was in susceptible hybrids with two applications, V8 and V8+VT. There was higher expression of LOX enzyme in maize hybrids that belong to the group tolerant of fungi that cause grain rot .The use of the fungicide in two applications, V8 (eight leaves) and VT (tasseling), increased the intensity of the LOX enzyme, which was more evident for the reduced spacing.

The aim of this research was to evaluate vitreousness in commercial corn hybrids with flint and dent grains and to study the effect of this characteristic on agronomic behavior, nutritional value, and ruminal degradability of grains harvested in silage maturity. Twelve commercial corn hybrids were evaluated. They were divided in two groups (six with flint grains and six with dent grains). The experiments were conducted in two municipalities represented by Guarapuava and Laranjeiras do Sul, both in Paraná State. The harvest for the grain quality analysis was performed at ¾ of the milk line stage in the grain. The following characteristics were evaluated: grain yield, grain yield in silage maturity, vitreousness, ruminal digestibility of grain, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and crude protein. The grains in the group of dent hybrids exhibited better degradability associated with lower vitreousness than the group of flint hybrids. The group of dent hybrids exhibited better ruminal digestibility of the grains associated with lower vitreousness versus the group of flint hybrids. There is a negative correlation between vitreousness and the digestibility of the grain; thus, vitreousness can be a criterion for selecting genotypes for forage production.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of 46 maize lines (S4) obtained from crosses between the commercial hybrids Penta x P30F53 in topcrosses with the commercial simple cross hybrid Dow8460 (tester) and checks (hybrids Penta, P30F53, Dow8460 and Status). The grain yield was evaluated in two environments in Guarapuava, Paraná State, and the effects of genotype, environment and genotype x environment interaction were significant. The grain yield of the topcross hybrids ranged from 8,416 to 13,428 kg ha-1. The agronomic characteristics of the forage and the bromatological characteristics of the silage were evaluated in environment 1. The green mass yield of the forage ranged from 48,767 to 87,714 kg ha-1 and the dry mass yield ranged from 14,749 to 26,130 kg ha-1. The neutral detergent fiber content ranged from 44.85 to 58.45% and the acid detergent fiber content ranged from 28.28 to 37.06%. The relative feed value of the silage ranged between 100.5 and 138.5. The tester, hybrid Dow8460, was efficient to discriminate the relative performance of the S4 lines in the topcrosses.

Os biorreguladores são produtos relativamente novos no mercado e sua utilização vem gradativamente aumentando na agricultura. Porém, há poucos trabalhos científicos que denotam a eficiência de utilização desses produtos no tratamento de sementes e via aplicação foliar para a cultura do trigo no Brasil. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a eficiência agronômica de um biorregulador comercial à base de auxina, citocinina e giberelina no tratamento de sementes e/ou aplicado via foliar em diferentes estádios fenológicos na cultivar de trigo Quartzo. As aplicações foliares foram realizadas nos estádios fenológicos de perfilhamento, florescimento e em ambos estádios perfilhamento e florescimento. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo, no sistema de plantio direto, onde, anteriormente, havia sido cultivado milho no verão, no município de Guarapuava, PR. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições, sendo avaliado, após o ponto de maturidade fisiológica, as seguintes características agronômicas: número de perfilhos, número de espigas, número de grãos por espiga, peso hectolitro, peso de 1000 grãos e produtividade de grãos. O biorregulador à base de auxina, citocinina e giberelina aumenta a produtividade de grãos, quando aplicado de forma conjunta, via sementes e aplicação foliar, sendo mais efetivo no florescimento.

ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar híbridos de milho oriundos de empresas sementeiras do Brasil, com e sem a inoculação dos fungos Fusarium verticilioides, Stenocarpella maydis e Stenocarpella macrospora, em dois sistemas de cultivo, convencional e sistema de semeadura direta e em dois anos agrícolas e verificar a associação com parâmetros químicos e bioquímicos, que possam estar diretamente relacionados à resistência aos fungos. As características avaliadas foram à produtividade de grãos, a porcentagem de grãos ardidos, os teores de ácidos graxos, as proteínas resistentes ao calor e a atividade da enzima lipoxigenase. A significância do contraste entre os híbridos considerados resistentes versus os híbridos considerados susceptíveis, para produtividade de grãos e porcentagem de grãos ardidos evidência a existência de genótipos com maior resistência os fungos F. verticilioides, S. maydis e S. macrospora. A produtividade de grãos e a porcentagem de grãos ardidos foram influenciadas pelo tipo de híbrido, pelas safras agrícolas e pelas inoculações artificiais, sendo mais pronunciada no sistema de plantio direto. Não há associação entre a produtividade de grãos e porcentagem de grãos ardidos o que evidencia que as perdas provocadas pela incidência de grãos ardidos em milho não são de caráter quantitativo. Há diferenças nos teores de ácidos graxos linoléico entre os grupos de híbridos estudados, sendo maiores os valores obtidos no grupo de híbridos considerados resistentes ao complexo grãos ardidos. Com base na concentração de frações de proteínas resistentes ao calor, foi possível verificar bandas específicas presentes nos híbridos considerados resistentes aos fungos causadores do complexo grãos ardidos, mais especificamente de peso molecular de 50 kDa. Os perfis eletroforéticos para a lipoxigenase revelam uma maior intensidade de bandas para os híbridos resistentes aos fungos causadores de grãos ardidos em milho.

O uso sucessivo de híbridos de milho com resistência variada aos fungos causadores de podridão de grãos tem causado aumento na importância dessas doenças a cada safra. Conduziu-se este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar pelo teste de sanidade (blotter test) a severidade do fungo Fusarium verticilioides e a incidência dos fungos Stenocarpella maydis e Stenocarpella macrospora em grãos de milho, oriundos de híbridos comerciais, com e sem a inoculação artificial a campo, em dois sistemas de cultivo, convencional e sistema de semeadura direta e em dois anos agrícolas. O experimento foi conduzido a campo, em blocos casualizados, com três repetições. Em laboratório, foram avaliadas, pelo método de "blotter test", a severidade do fungo F. verticilioides e a incidência dos fungos S. maydis e S. macrospora causadores de podridões de espiga. A avaliação pelo teste de sanidade (blotter test) evidenciou a diferença entre os híbridos quanto a reação aos fungos F.verticilioides, S. maydis e S. macrospora. Houve influência do híbrido, da safra agrícola e do sistema de cultivo sobre a infecção dos fungos causadores de podridões de espigas, sendo que o sistema plantio direto favorece o aumento dos fungos responsáveis pelos grãos ardidos em milho. A utilização da inoculação artificial, em campo, visando a selecionar genótipos resistentes aos fungos causadores do "complexo de grãos ardidos" é eficiente.The continued use of corn hybrids with varied resistance to grain rot-causing fungal agents increases the importance of these diseases every year. The objective of this work was to evaluate, by a sanitary test (blotter test), the severity of the fungus Fusarium verticilioides and the incidence of Stenocarpella maydis and Stenocarpella macrospora in corn grain from commercial hybrids, with and without in-field artificial inoculation, under two cultivation systems (conventional and direct sowing), over two crop seasons. The experiment was carried out under field conditions, using an experimental randomized blocks design, with three replications. In the laboratory, the severity of F. verticilioides and the incidence of S. maydis and S. macrospora ,the causative agents of ear rot in corn, were evaluated by the "blotter test" method. The blotter test evaluation allowed us to detect differences between the hybrids in their reactions to the fungi F. verticilioides, S. maydis and S. macrospora. The crop season and cultivation system used had the most influence on fungal infection in the hybrids. The direct sowing system showed an increase in the fungal infection responsible for causing grain rot. The use of artificial inoculation, in-field, to select genotypes resistant to the fungal agents causing the "grain rot complex" is efficient.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profitability of beef cattle finishing steers crossbreedingcharolais and nellore in feedlot condition, feed with diets based on silage of maize (Zea mays L.) at two differentmaturation stages: with 25.6 and 32.6% of dry matter (DM), associated to two different levels of concentrate 40 e 70%.The maturation stage with 32.6% of DM proportioned higher production of green matter production (GM) (62,234 vs.50,565 kg.ha-1), DM (20,288 vs. 12,944 kg.ha-1), grains (8,329 vs. 3,100 kg.ha-1) and total digestible nutrients (TDN)(14,070 vs. 8,378 kg.ha-1), consequently, the silage showed lower production costs of GM (49.20 vs. 59.03 R$.t-1 ofGM), DM (150.93 vs. 230.61 R$.t-1 of DM) and TDN (217.63 vs. 356.29 R$.t-1 of TDN), face the silage with 25.6% ofDM. The diet that included silage with 32.6% of DM and 40% of concentrate level showed the better economic result(231.30 R$.animal-1), being the most economically adequate for beef cattle finishing in feedlot condition.

Época de semeadura e ponto de corte de plantas de milho forrageiro são fatores importantes na produção de forragem de alto rendimento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a participação dos componentes da planta em diferentes épocas de semeadura e estádios de colheita, em híbridos comerciais de milho recomendados para produção de forragem. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, esquema fatorial 4x2, sendo quatro híbridos de milho (P30B39H, DKB245, 2B688H e DKB330Y) e duas épocas de semeadura (outubro e novembro). O experimento foi conduzido no município de Guarapuava, PR. As avaliações foram realizadas nos estádios R4 e R5, sendo avaliados a porcentagem em matéria seca da folha (PPFOL), colmo (PPCOL), brácteas e sabugo (PPSAB), e grãos (PPGR) por meio de fracionamento da planta. O hibrido DKB245 apresentou menor participação de folhas, colmo, brácteas e sabugo, e maior participação de grãos nos estádios reprodutivos grãos farináceos e grãos farináceos duros, independente da época de semeadura. Com o avanço do estádio reprodutivo grãos farináceos para grãos farináceos duros houve elevação do percentual de grãos nos híbridos avaliados e redução na participação de folhas, colmos, brácteas e sabugo, nas duas épocas de semeadura (outubro e novembro). No estádio grãos farináceos duros os genótipos avaliados foram menos influenciados pelo efeito da época de semeadura, tendo maior participação de grãos para todos os genótipos, sendo a época indicada para a colheita da forragem.