Plant stage and glyphosate doses on Solanum americanum

Application stage and doses of glyphosate in control, production of fruits and seeds of Solanum americanum
César Tiago Forte1, Ubirajara Russi Nunes2, Millena Candeia Dutra1, Emely Vitória Bona1, Maurício Albertoni Scariot1, Michele Renata Revers Meneguzzo1 and Leandro Galon3
1Centro Universitário IDEAU, Getúlio Vargas, RS, Brasil
2Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
3Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Erechim, RS, Brasil

Abstract
Weeds interfere with crops of economic interest, and their control has been threatened due to how management practices are being applied, increasing cases of resistance to herbicides. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the application stage and doses of glyphosate herbicide on the development characteristics of Solanum americanum and the production of fruits and seeds. The experiment was characterized as bifactorial (doses x application stages). The first factor was composed of 7 doses of glyphosate herbicide (0, 45, 90, 180, 360, 720 and 1440 g e.a ha-1) applied when there were 5 leaves and at flowering (first open flower), simulating application at the ideal time and late, respectively. The variables evaluated were control at 28 and 56 days after application of treatments (DAA), 28 DAA; plant height (cm), number of fruits per plant, seeds per fruit, total fruit production, plant dry matter and seed germination at the end of the experiment were measured. The application of glyphosate in the initial stages of the weed improved control when compared to the application at the flowering stage of the species, resulting in a lower dose of glyphosate for control. Anticipating control drastically reduced plant height, production of fruits, seeds, and dry matter mass of S. americanum, but without affecting seed germination. When applied at the 5-leaf stage, 25% (180 g e.a ha-1) of the recommended dose of glyphosate is enough for the S. americanum species not to produce descendants.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. All evaluated factors were reduced with an increase in the dose of glyphosate herbicide.
2. The best controls were observed at the weed stage of up to 5 leaves.
3. The flowering stage of the American black nightshade weed requires 4 times more glyphosate to obtain adequate levels of control.

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Turnip competitive effects in rye

Interference and economic damage level of turnips in rye
Leandro Galon, Juliane Cervi Portes, Milena Barretta Franceschetti, Leonardo Brunetto, Janaíne Oliveira Toso, Vinícius Soligo, Caroline Müller and Gismael Francisco Perin
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Erechim, RS, Brasil

Abstract
Turnip (Raphanus sativus) is one of the weeds that have caused the most quantitative and qualitative losses by infesting winter crops, including rye. Therefore, the objective of this work was to test mathematical models and identify explanatory variables to determine the economic damage level (EDL) of the weed turnip in rye genotypes. Treatments consisted of rye genotypes (BRS Serrano, IPR 89, BRS Progresso, and Crioulo) and turnip densities ranging from 0 to 648 plants m-2 in competition with the crop. Plant density, leaf area, soil cover, and shoot dry matter of the turnip were evaluated 30 days after species emergence. For rye, grain yield, control cost, bag price, and control efficiency were determined. The rectangular hyperbola model was efficient for estimating rye yield loss due to turnip interference. Plant density best fitted the rectangular hyperbola model. BRS Serrano, BRS Progresso, and Crioulo genotypes showed greater competitiveness and higher EDL values (from 2.03 to 4.36 plants m-2) in the presence of turnip. The lowest EDL values ranged from 1.31 to 2.19 plants m-2, for the genotype IPR 89, which showed the lowest competitive ability. EDL values decreased with increasing grain yield, price of a bag of rye, herbicide efficiency, and with decreasing turnip control costs, justifying the use of control measures at lower weed densities.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. The plant density of ryegrass showed better fit to the rectangular hyperbola.
2. The ryegrass genotypes BRS Serrano, BRS Progresso and Crioulo showed greater competitive ability in the presence of turnips.
3. The rye genotype IPR 89 had the lowest EDL values and the least competitive ability in the presence of turnip.

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Hop production in the South of Brazil

Agronomic performance of hops cultivars in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Suélen Giacomin, Jenifer Filipini de Oliveira, Emanuele Finatto Carlot, Giovani Finatto Carlot, Sabrina Tolotti Peruzzo, Paulo Roberto Machado, Juçara Elza Hennerich and Daniela Meira
Centro de Ensino Superior Riograndense – Cesurg, Sarandi, RS, Brasil

Abstract
Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) is a plant native to Europe and northern Asia, belonging to the Rosales order and the Cannabaceae family. Hops are used in the production of beer, which contributes to the bitterness and aroma of different types. In view of this, the objective was to evaluate the adaptation and productivity of two hop cultivars, under soil and climate conditions in the north of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The experiment was implemented at the university CESURG Sarandi – RS, the cultivars evaluated were Cascade and Chinook. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, consisting of two cultivars, in four blocks, 7 replications (plants). Initial development was evaluated during the crop cycle. In the phenology at the stage of maturation, the following were measured: plant height and green mass, green and dry mass of cones, number of cones, width and length of the cone, number of bracts. The data were submitted to analysis of variance. Tukey’s means were compared (p>0.05). In addition, a descriptive analysis was performed. Analyzes were performed using the R program and Microsoft Office Excel was used to make graphs. There was an adaptation and productivity of the hop cultivars chosen, in edaphoclimatic conditions of the region. In addition, this project will make it possible for producers in the region to get to know the culture, and for it to be seen as a source of income, demonstrating aspects of the cultivar and how to start implementation. In view of this, the best cultivar was Chinook, demonstrating better productivity and production. The 2021/2022 crop season was a year of habituation and knowledge of cultural practices, from the second hop crop onwards, there will be an increase in production, as the rhizomes acquire more nutritional reserves.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. Cascade and Chinook cultivars showed similar cone productivity, showing growth and development in the North Region of Rio Grande do Sul in the first year of cultivation.
2. The Chinook cultivar showed great potential due to the larger size and fresh mass of 10 pine cones.

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Germination biology of Solanum americanum

Biology of germination of Solanum americanum: a weed ascending in Brazilian crops
Milena Barretta Franceschetti1, Leandro Galon1, Ubirajara Russi Nunes2, Rodrigo Roso2, André Dalponte Menegat1, Leonardo Brunetto1, Geovana Facco Barbieri2, Alessandra Gallina1 and Cesar Tiago Forte2
1Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Erechim, RS, Brasil.
2Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.

Abstract
Solanum americanum is a weed found in many important crops and is characterized by high production of fruits and seeds. Knowledge of the biology of the species is essential for efficient weed control so that the best control strategies and combinations thereof can be developed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the environmental factors that affect germination and emergence of S. americanum. Six experiments were conducted in the laboratory, simulating field situations in which germination was tested under different pH conditions, osmotic and saline stress, the effect of aluminum content, and different covers and straw levels. Germination and seedling emergence were evaluated, depending on the objectives of the experiment. We found that the germination changed according to the increase in salinity and the decrease in osmotic potential of the soil. The same was observed to the soil cover and its levels, as the emergence rate decreased with the increase in the amount of straw. Germination was reduced at alkaline pH (9-10). Aluminum had no effect on germination, only on normal seed development.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. Increasing the amount of straw in the soil reduced the germination of S. americanum.
2. At alkaline pH, germination of S. americanum was reduced.
3. Aluminum had a negative influence on the development of S. americanum.

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Legume ecosystemic services

Legume ecosystemic services in agro-ecosystems: a review
Mohamed Lazali1 and Jean Jacques Drevon2
1Laboratoire de recherche ERP, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie et des Sciences de la Terre. Université de Khemis Miliana, Algérie.
2Université de Montepplier, UMR Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Biogéochimie des Sols et Agroécosystèmes, INRAE-IRD-CIRAD-SupAgro. Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France.

Abstract
Legumes are a pivotal component of the agro-ecosystems and sustainable agriculture worldwide and are of immense importance for providing food to the ever-growing population. Legumes are also a significant source of fodder and are grown on a large scale in the semi-arid tropics including Africa, Asia and Latin America. They deliver several important services to societies as sources of oil, fiber, and protein-rich food and feed while supplying nitrogen to agro-ecosystems via their unique ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with the soil bacteria rhizobia, thus stimulating the productivity of the associated or following crops. They contribute efficiently to agro-ecosystems services through low reliance on synthetic N fertilizers, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, increased diversification of crop rotations with concomitant increases in above- and below-ground biodiversity, soil fertility, carbon storage and changes in weed, pest, and disease pressures. This review examines how the inclusion of legumes in redesigned cropping and forage systems might assist in reducing the environmental risk associated with the need to further increase the production of food, forage, and fiber while addressing the current reliance on N fertilizer to maintain high crop yields in most of the planet’s agro-ecosystems.

Highlighted Conclusion
Legumes fix the atmospheric nitrogen, release in the soil high-quality organic matter and facilitate soil nutrients’ circulation and water retention. Based on these multiple functions, legume crops have high potential for conservation agriculture, being functional either as growing crop or as crop residue.

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Phytoremediation strategies and prospects for contaminated soils

Strategies and prospects in the recovery of contaminated soils by phytoremediation: an updated overview
Jhonatan da Silva1, Gabriel Bachega Rosa2, William Gustavo Sganzerla3, Jocleita Peruzzo Ferrareze2, Flávio José Simioni1 and Mari Lucia Campos1
1University of the State of Santa Catarina – Center of Agroveterinary Sciences (UDESC-CAV), Lages, SC, Brazil.
2Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology (IFSC), Lages, SC, Brazil.
3University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Food Engineering (FEA), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Abstract
The contamination of soils and groundwater has attracted worldwide attention, since many contaminants are poorly biodegradable and can accumulate in living organisms, causing implications for plants, animals, and human health. The high cost of conventional remediation processes stimulates research for the development of innovative and more sustainable techniques. Likewise, phytoremediation is a cheap technology that uses plants to absorb, transform, and detoxify contaminants through in situ (phytoextraction, phytotransformation, and phytovolatilization) and ex situ mechanisms (phytostabilization and phytostimulation). Recently, phytoremediation has been adopted as a more profitable technique than physicochemical processes. Otherwise, the existence of variables, such as interactions between climate, soil, and plants, requires analysis methods for its implementation, which ensure the reduction of time and cost and improve its efficiency. Research on the application of different phytoremediation techniques is still in progress, and therefore, this study evaluated the main advantages of phytoremediation through a literature overview, comparing the most adequate remediation models in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. Phytoremediation consists of the use of plants and their associated microbes for environmental cleanup and recovery of contaminate soil.
2. Phytoremediation promotes social-economics benefits comparing to the conventional techniques, and ensures sustainability in environmental rehabilitation.

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Alexandergrass interference periods on soybean

Periods of interference of Alexandergrass on morphophysiological and productive characteristics of transgenic soybean
Leandro Galon, Alessandro Konzen, Hugo Von Linsingen Piazzetta, Germani Concenço, Maico André, Michelon Bagnara, Antonio Marcos Loureiro da Silva and Gismael Francisco Perin
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Erechim, RS, Brasil.

Abstract
Among the weed species infesting soybean, Alexandergrass (Urochloa plantaginea) is highlighted as one of the most competitive. The objective of this work was to determine the periods of interference of Alexandergrass, and is effects, on morphophysiology and yield components of soybean. Treatments were pooled into two groups: the group “convivence” comprised soybean growing among Alexandergrass for increasing periods: 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after emergence (DAE), as well as along all the crop cycle. The “control” group comprised soybean free from competition for the same time lapses. Forty-two DAE, soybean morphophysiology was assessed. There was no effect of the time lpse of Alexandergrass “control” or “convivence” on soybean physiological performance. Plant height, stem diameter, plant dry mass, leaf area and grain yield components of soybean were, however, affected by Alexandergrass. The critical period of interference prevention comprises 26-41 DAE; the period prior to interference is 26 DAE; and the total period of interference prevention is 41 DAE.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. The yield components of soybean are negatively affected by Alexandergrass (Urochloa plantaginea) interference.
2. The control and coexistence periods of Alexandergrass did not change the physiological traits of soybean plants.
3. The critical periods of interference of Alexandergrass in competition with soybean were 26, 41 and 26 – 41 days, respectively for PAI, PTPI and PCPI.

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Soybean protein determination with adenylyl cyclase

Identification and characterization of a soybean protein with adenylyl cyclase activity
Enetia Desberia Bobo, Katlego Selaelo Sehlabane, Tshegofatso Bridget Dikobe, Mutsa Monica Takundwa, David Tonderai Kawadza and Oziniel Ruzvidzo
North-West University, Mmabatho, North West, South Africa.

Abstract
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a high value leguminous crop characterized by its excellent protein content and ability to improve soil quality through nitrogen fixation. Whereas this plant has attractive human and animal feed attributes in addition to its pharmaceutical and industrial uses, its growth and yield are severely affected by drought. Thus any research aimed at understanding the genome response of this plant to drought and other related environmental stress factors would be worthwhile. In plants, in general, second messengers have a key role in linking and coordinating environmental stimuli to cellular communication and responses. One group of such messengers are adenylyl cyclases (ACs) and their catalytic product 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), involved in plant growth, cell division, reproduction, development and response to stress. However, while ACs have been reported in some plant species such as Arabidopsis and maize, their presence together with their cAMP-dependent systems in G. max have largely remained unavailable. Fortunately, a putative molecule, Glyma.07G251000 (accession number: XP_003529590), with a predicted function as an AC in G. max has at some point been reported. This molecule harbors a domain annotated AC catalytic center and therefore, was herein targeted for study. In order to characterize the Glyma.07G251000, we cloned and expressed it, followed by purification of the resultant recombinant protein (GmAC). When tested in vitro for AC activity, the GmAC protein showed a Mn2+-dependent activity that is positively enhanced by calcium. GmAC also complemented the AC-deficiency (cyaA mutation) of an SP850 mutant strain when expressed in Escherichia coli. When analysed by a web-based approach system, the GmAC protein was found to be co-expressed and co-regulated with various other proteins responsible for early plant development and stress response, strongly suggesting that it has a central role in these two key cellular processes. In addition, the GmAC protein conferred stress resistance to EXPRESS BL21 (DE3) pLysS DUOs cells when expressed in these host cells under salt (200 mM NaCl) and oxidative stress (0.2 mM H2O2). Conceivably, our findings showed that GmAC is an AC protein with a role in early plant development and stress response.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. GmAC is an adenylyl cyclase and the first ever such protein to be identified in soybean.
2. GmAC confers stress tolerance to Escherichia coli and is co-expressed/co-regulated with other soybean proteins responsible for early plant development and stress response.

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Storage time and potato quality

Quality of potato tubers according to the storage time
Helis Marina Salomão1, Adriano Suchoronczek2, Sidnei Osmar Jadoski3, Andréia Suchoronczek4, Katia Cristina Dalpiva Hartmann1 and Janaina Cosmedamiana Metinoski Bueno2
1Federal University of Technology, Pato Branco, PR, Brazil.
2Faculdade Mater Dei, Pato Branco, PR, Brasil.
3UNICENTRO, Cedeteg, PR, Brasil.
4Biologist, Master’s in Biology.

Abstract
The storage of potato tubers, even for short periods, is essential to stabilize the supply of the product on the market. However, it can affect several physicochemical and biochemical properties of the product, negatively impacting its quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of storage time on the physical and biochemical properties of two potato cultivars. Potato tubers of Ágata and Atlantic cultivars were stored at room temperature for 35 days. At 0, 7, 21, and 35 days of storage, analyses of pulp firmness, total soluble sugar contente (ºBrix), dry mass contente (MS), and tuber mass loss were performed. Also, the activity of the enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), the hydrogen peroxide contente (H2O2), total soluble sugars (AT), and reducing sugars (AR) was monitored. The reduction in pulp firmness was linear for both cultivars and is related to the loss of tuber mass. The observed decrease in enzymatic activity is a negative factor as it reduces the ability to defend against oxidative stress. The reduction in the sugar content is interesting, as it maintains the quality of the tubers, especially for industrial processing.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. Potato tubers of cultivars Ágata and Atlantic stored under ambient conditions showed loss of fresh mass, reduced firmness, and increased soluble sugar content.
2. The cultivars Ágata and Atlantic can be stored for up to 35 days under ambient conditions without damaging their physicochemical quality significantly.

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Effects of herbicides on quality of bean seeds

Quality of bean seeds submitted to doses of desiccant herbicides at application periods
Camile Tais Castoldi, Leandro Galon, Lauri Lourenço Radünz, Josiel Ricardo Toni, Francisco Wilson Reichert Júnior, Mauricio Albertoni Scariot, Daniel de Oliveira e Souza and Gismael Francisco Perin
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Erechim, RS, Brasil.

Abstract
In view of the high nitrogen availability required by soybean, inoculation with nitrogen fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium japonicum, is an economically viable option. Moreover, the co-inoculation of these microorganisms with plant growth promoting bacteria, such as Azospirillum brasilense, presents high efficiency compared to the isolated use of these microorganisms. Given the above, the study aimed to determine the effects of applying a soil bio-activator associated with the inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense bacteria, on morphometric, physiological and productive variables of soybean crop. The experiment was conducted in the field, in a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments were: control; seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum; seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense; application of soil bio-activator; seed inoculation with B. japonicum and A. brasilense; seed inoculation with B. japonicum and application of soil bio-activator; seed inoculation with A. brasilense and application of soil bio-activator; and seed inoculation with B. japonicum and A. brasilense and application of soil bio-activator. In the morphometric analysis, plants inoculated with B. japonicum presented a greater number of nodules compared to the control. The co-inoculation associated with use of soil bio-activator increased the chlorophyll relative content, at the beginning of the cycle, in 6.37% in relation to the control. In gas exchange analysis, the isolated use of soil bio-activator obtained higher intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) in V4. No increases in relation to the control were observed in the other variables evaluated, rejecting the hypothesis that co-inoculation associated with the use of soil bio-activator would promote increases in morphometric, physiological and productive characteristics of the soybean crop.

Highlighted Conclusions
1. Harvesting bean seeds with water contents of 30 and 42% and without the application of desiccants provided the best physical and sanitary quality of the seeds.
2. The desiccation in bean seeds using the recommended average dose increases electrical conductivity, reduces the hectoliter weight, and causes a loss in sanitary quality of the seeds.
3. It is feasible the application glufosinate-ammonium, saflufenacil, and diquat for anticipating harvest when 50% of the recommended average dose is used.

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