Oil quality characterization of the Arauco variety from the main olive growing areas of Mendoza (Argentina)

‘Arauco’ forms part of the over two thousand olives (Olea europaea L.) varieties identified worldwide with the peculiarity of being the only recognized variety from Argentina. In this work, the fruit and oil characteristics from the ‘Arauco’ variety cultivated in the three main olive growing zones of Mendoza province (Argentina) were evaluated over two harvests (2016 and 2017). The characteristics assessed were oil and water concentrations, pulp/pit ratio, industrial yield, oxidative stability, fatty acid profile, total phenols and total flavonoids, among others. The results showed relatively high oleic acid and phenolic contents, together with low acidity and extinction coefficients (K232 and K270), as well as a well-balanced fatty acid profile. In addition, three interesting relationships among oxidative stability and ratios of monounsaturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids (R2=0.96), oleic/linoleic (R2=0.96) and stearic acid (R2=0.93) were observed. These results showed that the ‘Arauco’ variety cultivated in Mendoza provides excellent oil quality.

Variedades de Coffea arabica L. con manejo orgánico en Oaxaca

Mexico is an important producer of organic coffee, mainly harvested by producers with small shade plots who use a diversity of varieties. Considering organic cultivation standards, we evaluated fruit production, cherry-parchment industrial yield, and the sensory cup quality of 20 coffee varieties (10 tall stature and 10 compact stature) during six production cycles in Oaxaca, Mexico. The varieties with the highest average fruit production in six years were three compact stature: Colombia Brote Café (30.2 kg / plant), Oro Azteca (29.0 kg / plant), and Yellow Catuai (27 kg / plant). These varieties produce large beans suitable for a European-style preparation. The Aztec Gold varieties presented good aroma, acidity and body attributes. Tall stature varieties with greater intermediate yield were Batie, Dessie, Pluma Hidalgo 177, and Typica 947, with around 24 kg / plant. Pacamara and Blue Mountain had low fruit production. Some varieties achieved a good taste irrespectively of their stature. Abnormalities in beans and agroindustrial yields were similar for all varieties

Differential expression in leaves of Saccharum genotypes contrasting in biomass production provides evidence of genes involved in carbon partitioning

Background The development of biomass crops aims to meet industrial yield demands, in order to optimize profitability and sustainability. Achieving these goals in an energy crop like sugarcane relies on breeding for sucrose accumulation, fiber content and stalk number. To expand the understanding of the biological pathways related to these traits, we evaluated gene expression of two groups of genotypes contrasting in biomass composition. Results First visible dewlap leaves were collected from 12 genotypes, six per group, to perform RNA-Seq. We found a high number of differentially expressed genes, showing how hybridization in a complex polyploid system caused extensive modifications in genome functioning. We found evidence that differences in transposition and defense related genes may arise due to the complex nature of the polyploid Saccharum genomes. Genotypes within both biomass groups showed substantial variability in genes involved in photosynthesis. However, most genes coding for photosystem components or those coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs) were upregulated in the high biomass group. Sucrose synthase (SuSy) coding genes were upregulated in the low biomass group, showing that this enzyme class can be involved with sucrose synthesis in leaves, similarly to sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP). Genes in pathways related to biosynthesis of cell wall components and expansins coding genes showed low average expression levels and were mostly upregulated in the high biomass group. Conclusions Together, these results show differences in carbohydrate synthesis and carbon partitioning in the source tissue of distinct phenotypic groups. Our data from sugarcane leaves revealed how hybridization in a complex polyploid system resulted in noticeably different transcriptomic profiles between contrasting genotypes.

Differential Expression in Leaves of Saccharum Genotypes Contrasting in Biomass Production Provides Evidence of Genes Involved in Carbon Partitioning

BackgroundThe development of biomass crops aims to meet industrial yield demands, in order to optimize profitability and sustainability. Achieving these goals in an energy crop like sugarcane relies on breeding for sucrose accumulation, fiber content and stalk number. To expand the understanding of the biological pathways related to these traits, we evaluated gene expression of two groups of genotypes contrasting in biomass composition.ResultsFirst visible dewlap leaves were collected from 12 genotypes, six per group, to perform RNA-Seq. We found a high number of differentially expressed genes, showing how hybridization in a complex polyploid system caused extensive modifications in genome functioning. We found evidence that differences in transposition and defense related genes may arise due to the complex nature of the polyploid Saccharum genomes. Genotypes within both biomass groups showed substantial variability in genes involved in photosynthesis. However, most genes coding for photosystem components or those coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs) were upregulated in the high biomass group. Sucrose synthase (SuSy) coding genes were upregulated in the low biomass group, showing that this enzyme class can be involved with sucrose synthesis in leaves, similarly to sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP). Genes in pathways related to biosynthesis of cell wall components and expansins coding genes showed low average expression levels and were mostly upregulated in the high biomass group.ConclusionsTogether, these results show differences in carbohydrate synthesis and carbon partitioning in the source tissue of distinct phenotypic groups. Our data from sugarcane leaves revealed how hybridization in a complex polyploid system resulted in noticeably different transcriptomic profiles between contrasting genotypes.

Stalk dry mass and industrial yield of 16 varieties of sugar cane cultivated under water restriction

The great extension of the cultivated area, associated with the low water availability to supply the sugarcane demand in the periods of drought and the high evapotranspiration demand, requires varieties adapted to these specific conditions. The aim of this study was to assess 16 sugarcane varieties regarding the efficiency in water use (EWU) and in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), cultivated under a water restriction, in the production of stalks dry matter, sugar and alcohol. The experiment was carried out in the Brazilian savannah biome, Goiás State, during the 2011/2012 crop year, in a randomized blocks design, with four repetitions. The treatments consisted of 16 varieties of sugarcane cultivated on a supply of only 50% of the water demand demanded by the crop. The EWU and EUPAR of the varieties were evaluated for the production of stalk dry mass (SDM), sugar and alcohol. During the crop cycle there was sufficient precipitation to supply the water demand of sugarcane; however, the irregular distribution of rainfall resulted in a water deficit of -697 mm during its cycle. The varieties IAC 91-1099, CTC-15, CTC-11, SP 86-0042 and IAC 87-3396 showed higher EWU and better photosynthetically active radiation for the production of stalks dry matter, sugar and alcohol. IACSP 94-2094 and CTC 09 varieties presented the same efficiency in industrial yield and lower dry matter yield than the five following varieties IAC 91-1099, CTC-15, CTC-11, SP 86-0042 and IAC 87-3396. Therefore, these last varieties are the most efficient in water use and photosynthetically active radiation aiming the stalks dry matter, sugar and alcohol production under water restriction.

Differential Expression in Leaves of Saccharum Genotypes Contrasting in Biomass Production Provides Evidence of Genes Involved in Carbon Partitioning

Background The development of biomass crops aims to meet industrial yield demands, in order to optimize profitability and sustainability. Achieving these goals in an energy crop like sugarcane relies on breeding for sucrose accumulation, fiber content and stalk number. To expand the understanding of the biological pathways related to these traits, we evaluated gene expression of two groups of genotypes contrasting in biomass composition. Results First visible dewlap leaves were collected from 12 genotypes, six per group, to perform RNA-SEq. We found a high number of differentially expressed genes, showing how hybridization in a complex polyploid system caused extensive modifications in genome functioning. We found evidence that the variation between these groups may be partly due to the expansion of the Saccharum genomes by differential transposition and defense related genes. Genotypes within both biomass groups showed substantial variability in genes involved in photosynthesis. However, most genes coding for photosystem components or those coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs) were upregulated in the high biomass group. Sucrose synthase (SuSy) coding genes were upregulated in the low biomass group, showing that this enzyme class can be involved with sucrose synthesis in leaves, similarly to sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose phosphate phosphatase (SPP). Genes in pathways related to biosynthesis of cell wall components and expansins coding genes showed low average expression levels and were mostly upregulated in the high biomass group. Conclusions Together, these results show differences in carbohydrate synthesis and carbon partitioning in the source tissue of distinct phenotypic groups. Our data from sugarcane leaves revealed how hybridization in a complex polyploid system resulted in noticeably different transcriptomic profiles between contrasting genotypes.

Genetic diversity and population structure of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) accessions by means of microsatellites markers

The success of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs depends on the choice of productive parent lines that have a high industrial yield and are genetically divergent. This study assessed the genetic divergence and population structure of sugarcane accessions that are the parents of the RB05 Series of the Sugarcane Breeding Program of Brazil. The DNA of 82 accessions was evaluated using 36 simple sequence repeat markers. The Jaccard similarity coefficient and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean clustering method were used to generate a cluster that was divided into 17 distinct groups derived from probabilistic models. The similarity coefficient used in both cases showed that the degree of similarity varied from 0.4716 (RB971551 x RB965586) to 0.9526 (RB936001 x SP89-1115), with a mean of 0.8536. This result demonstrates a high similarity between the 82 accessions and confirms Wright’s F statistic (0.125), which indicates moderate genetic variability. The less-similar crosses suggest that breeders seek a higher number of crosses using cultivar RB965586, highlighting the RB971551 x RB965586 and RB965586 x RB855511 crosses. The results demonstrate that crosses such as RB936001 x SP89-1115 and RB945954 x RB896342 should be avoided because of their high genetic similarity.

Selection indexes for agronomic and chemical traits in segregating sweet corn populations

ABSTRACT In the sweet corn breeding, the selection of superior genotypes should consider many traits simultaneously. The best strategy to select traits simultaneously is through selection indexes. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of different selection indexes based on characteristics with direct effect on grain yield in segregating sweet corn populations. Eighteen traits were evaluated in eight sweet corn genotypes on generation F3. Data were submitted to analyses of variance and path coefficient analyses. We compared the direct and indirect selection and the following indexes: base, classical, desired gains and genotype-ideotype distance. According to path coefficient analyses, the traits which showed a direct effect about grain yield (GY) were stand, number of ears, ear diameter, number of grains per row and industrial yield, which composed the indexes. The base index provided the greatest total genetic gain, desired gains on all traits, uniform distribution of the gains and considerable gains on GY.

Agronomic yield and quality of industrial tomatoes under NPK doses

ABSTRACT High doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in irrigated systems may lead to an increase in the productivity of industrial tomatoes, but may also alter the final quality of the fruits. The objective of this was to evaluate the agronomic yield and post-harvest quality of industrial tomatoes, under NPK doses for climatic conditions of Northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The study was conducted in the city of Jaíba, MG, Brazil, in randomized block design with four repetitions in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme, consisting of three doses of N (90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1), of P (270, 405 and 540 kg ha-1) and of K (225, 337 and 450 kg ha-1), corresponding to 50, 75 and 100% of the fertilization recommendation; and three tomato hybrids: BRS Sena, Heinz 9553 and BHN 0574. The following variables were evaluated: number of bunches, number and weight of fruits, productivity and fertilizer efficiency index; besides the physico-chemical characteristics: firmness, soluble solids concentration, pH and pulp industrial yield. The hybrid Heinz 9553 showed higher weight, number of fruits, productivity and industrial yield at doses of 75 and 100% of NPK recommendation. The fertilizer doses did not interfere on the soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness of the three hybrids. The hybrid BRS Sena was not influenced by the increase of NPK and there was lower weight, number of fruits, productivity and fertilization efficiency. The hybrid BHN and Heinz hybrids can be indicated for cultivation at doses of 100 and 75% of NPK recommendation, because they promote higher agronomic yield and do not alter the post-harvest quality of the tomatoes.

Nitrogen management in the relationships between oat inflorescence components and productivity

ABSTRACT Among oat inflorescence components there are different magnitudes of contribution to expression of grain and industrial productivity by nitrogen stimulation. Thus, it was proposed to size and interpret the contribution and dynamics of the relationships of oat inflorescence components with grain and industrial yield by N-fertilizer stimulation, partitioning correlation values into direct and indirect effects by path diagnosis, strengthened by the joint analysis of different agricultural years. The study was carried out from 2011 to 2016, in the municipality of Augusto Pestana, RS, Brazil, in a randomized block design with four repetitions in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme for nitrogen doses (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg ha-1), using oat cultivars (Barbarasul and Brisasul) in soybean/oat and corn/oat systems. In the soybean/oat system, the mass and the number of panicle spikelets and the mass of panicle grains, contributed more to promoting changes by the increase of nitrogen. In the corn/oat system, the variables with the highest contribution are the mass and the number of panicle spikelets. The increase in panicle grain mass and in panicle harvest index increases grain yield, however, together with the number of panicle grains, they reduce industrial productivity, regardless of the cultivation system.