Search

Among the factors that may influence the germination process of seeds, water deficiency is considered the most important. The present study aims to evaluate the physiological response of peanut genotypes to water deficiency. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications in a 12 x 7 factorial scheme with 12 peanut genotypes and seven polyethylene glycol 6000 concentrations corresponding to osmotic potentials of 0.00; -0.10; -0.20; -0.40; -0.60; -0.80 and -1.00 MPa. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey’s test at a 5% probability level and, when significant, to analysis of variance adjusted to a quadratic polynomial curve. The germination percentage, seed vigor evaluated by the speed germination index, mean germination time, root length and root dry matter of some genotypes were affected by the osmotic potentials. Among the genotypes, there is a differential response related to the water deficiency level. In relation to the physiological response of the seeds, the lineages 506, 599, and 870 and the cultivar IAC Tatu-ST have a higher tolerance of water deficit. The peanut genotypes begin to suffer the effects of water deficiency at the osmotic potential of -0.4 MPa.

The cotton leafworm, Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1818) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major defoliating pest that reduces yield and quality of the crop. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of defoliation caused by different larval densities of A. argillacea on four cotton cultivars in three different plant ages. The experiment was conducted at an experimental station of the Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA), Polo Centro Norte, in Pindorama, SP, Brazil. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized block design with 4 replicates: four cultivars (DeltaOPAL, IAC-25, Fibermax 996 and Fibermax 993) x four larval densities (0, 2, 4, and 6 larvae per plant) x three infestation times (30, 60 and 90 days after plant emergence). Fortnightly evaluations carried out based on the production of squares, flowers, fruits and bolls per plant. It was found that the higher infestation level of A. argillacea, the lower was the production of buds per plant and consequently the production of fruits and bolls of the four varieties. Early infestation (30 and 60 DAE) reduced the production of reproductive structures per plant in cultivars more than late infestation (90 DAE).

Some wild species of the genus Arachis have demonstrated potential for improvement of peanuts. This work was performed to evaluate the occurrence and symptoms of Enneothrips flavens and Stegasta bosquella and its effects on agronomic traits of wild Arachis accessions. Nine accessions of wild Arachis species and a commercial A. hypogaea variety were studied in a split plot statistical scheme with a completely randomized block design and four replications. The main plots consisted of plants sprayed or not sprayed for insect control, while the subplots comprised the peanut accessions. Accessions GKP10017 (A. cardenasii) and V7639 (A. kuhlmannii) showed the lowest percentages of leaflets with E. flavens and S. bosquella. Accessions V9912, V7639 and V8979 (all three A. kuhlmannii) and V13250 (A. kempff-mercadoi) showed the lowest responses to insecticide application among the various plant traits evaluated. These accessions are of interest for further studies to identify mechanisms of resistance, to be used in breeding programs for resistance to these insects.

Para expandir a utilização do amendoim como cultura de sucessão durante a entressafra da cana-de-açúcar, é necessário limitar o ciclo da cultura, principalmente quando as cultivares são rasteiras. Uma das alternativas para reduzir o ciclo é a utilização de reguladores de crescimento. O presente trabalho objetivou testar em campo o efeito do Prohexadione-Ca na cultivar de amendoim IAC 503 do tipo rasteiro, e que tem um ciclo que excede 130 dias. O experimento foi realizado em área experimental na região centro norte do estado de São Paulo. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o de blocos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de épocas de aplicação e doses do produto. Avaliaram-se características vegetativas das plantas, a produtividade e a porcentagem de maturação em três épocas de colheita. Verificaram-se efeitos moderados do Prohexadione-Ca em relação à testemunha, tanto na maturação como em aspectos relativos ao crescimento de ramos e na produtividade. Os tratamentos com duas ou três aplicações do regulador foram na maioria dos casos mais efetivos do que onde apenas uma aplicação foi feita. A melhor dose situa-se entre 110 e 220g i.a ha-1, com duas aplicações. Os efeitos do regulador sobre a maturação foram pequenos nas três épocas de colheita estudadas porque o ciclo da cultivar foi mais longo do que o esperado neste local e ano. Mas os resultados, embora moderados, sugerem que é interessante prosseguir com esses estudos, buscando ajustar melhor as aplicações do produto com o ciclo desta cultivar em outros ambientes.