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Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius (Asteraceae), is an oilseed plant with good adaptability to warm and dry climatic conditions. It is used for biodiesel production, human food, animal feed, and in the pharmaceutical industry. Recently, the crop has been highlighted, mainly for its oil quality and for biofuel production. We compared 124 safflower genotypes, which are a part of the State University of Mato Grosso germplasm collection, based on their agronomic characteristics, to provide the initial guidelines for a breeding program. Evaluations were carried out during the crop cycle and parameters were defined according to the descriptions recommended by International Board for Plant Genetic Resources and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the divergence among genotypes, by using Average Euclidean Distance, which ranged from 0.07 to 0.57, showing considerable genetic diversity among safflower genotypes for the agronomic characteristics that were evaluated (flowering, plant cycle, number of branches per plant, plant height, number of chapters per plant, number of seeds per chapter, chapter diameter, stem diameter, weight of 100 seeds, seed size and plant yield. Tocher and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) clustering methods were partially consistent in ordering similar genotypes. The agronomic characteristics: plant yield, number of chapters per plant and plant height provided the greatest contribution to genetic divergence among the genotypes. According to the groupings established with each methodology and depending on the variation structures within each group, several genotypes stood out in terms of agronomic performance and may be indicated for future crosses aiming to obtain improved safflower cultivars for Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asiatic citrus canker (ACC), caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, is one of the most serious diseases affecting citrus worldwide. In areas under quarantine/ eradication, such as São Paulo state (SPS), Brazil, the impact of ACC is related to the production costs for inspections and tree removal. Several protocols for eradication were adopted in SPS since the first detection of ACC in 1957. Among these, the one carried out from 1999 to 2009 was the most effective for maintaining the disease at a very low level throughout the state. That protocol mandated periodic inspections and removal of symptomatic and asymptomatic trees based on disease incidence in the block. After 2009 the eradication protocols were less stringent and ACC incidence continued to increase. This study aimed at identifying the key factors for the successful eradication of ACC in a farm located in SPS. Data on the outbreaks from 2006 to 2010 and the related control measures adopted were analysed. The farm remained under quarantine from July 2006 to March 2010. Twelve disease foci were detected from July 2006 to January 2008 and incidence of symptomatic tress ranged from 0.05% to 0.43%. The successful eradication of ACC in this farm is attributed to the relatively low number of diseased trees in all foci detected in the course of frequent and well-executed inspections. The results of this case study may be used to guide containment protocols in other citrus production areas of Brazil or countries where ACC is either absent or has a low incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphologic traits of the common bean genotype (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Cáceres MT, Brazil, are evaluated to optimize genotypes for future improvement breeding cultures. Sixteen genotypes were evaluated through 33 morphological characters. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks with four replicates at the Mato Grosso Company for Research and Extension (EMPAER) in Cáceres, Mato Grosso State. A dendrogram was produced by Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) and Plan projection. Results showed the occurrence of genetic variability among the genotypes and the dendrogram revealed the formation of two main groups, one comprised genotypes of the black group and the other comprised genotypes of the Cores and Carioca group, placed side by side. This fact may also be observed by a projection on a bi-dimension plane. The most divergent materials were LP 98-122 and Jalo Precoce, whereas the most similar genotypes were IPR Chopin and BRS Grafite, IPR Chopin and Graúna, IPR Chopin and LP 98- 122. Genotypes in the experiment have a possible genetic variability of being used in genetic breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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