The aim of this study was to determine nutritional efficiency for macronutrients (NPK) in three peach rootstock cultivars, as well as relate these indices to growth variables. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications of five plants each and treatments consisting of the Capdeboscq, Flordaguard and Okinawa Roxo cultivars. The experiment was conducted between April and August of 2017, at the Federal University of Pelotas (31°52′00″S and 52°21′24″W, and altitude of 13.1 m), with the plants grown in 1-L bags containing commercial substrate to which a dose of 8 g L⁻¹ slow-release fertilizer in an NPK formulation of 14–14–14. Eighty days after transplanting, the growth characteristics were measured, and the macronutrient content was determined. From this data, efficiency indices were calculated for nutrient uptake, transport and use. The cultivars under evaluation differ in growth characteristics as well as nutritional efficiency for the evaluated macronutrients. The Flordaguard cultivar showed greater efficiency in the transport and use of nitrogen (N), and in the use of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), which was reflected in superior growth parameters, suggesting that the cultivar is the most suitable for use in places with restrictions on the availability of these nutrients.

Analysing growth and nutrient accumulation is generally employed for guiding the fertilisation practices in the seedling-production chain. In the production of peach rootstock, such evaluations can provide information to aid can to aid in discrimination available genotypes, especially regarding the efficient use and conversion of fertiliser into dry matter, which can reduce the time required to obtain plants suitable for grafting. The aim of this study, was to investigate the differences in growth and nutrient accumulation in three peach-rootstock cultivars. A completely randomised experimental design was used, in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme, including three peach rootstocks ('Flordaguard', 'Capdeboscq' and 'Okinawa Roxo') and four periods of growth evaluation (20, 40, 60 and 80 days after transplanting - DAT), giving a total of 12 treatments, with four replications, one for each plant. The Flordaguard and Capdeboscq cultivars showed greater height and stem diameter as well as a greater accumulation of total dry matter at 80 DAT, and both followed the distribution: leaves (67%) > roots (33%), while total dry-matter production in 'Okinawa Roxo' was less, following the order: leaves (71%) > roots (29%). The rootstock under evaluation showed variations in growth, confirmed by the physiological indices, except for the leaf area and specific leaf area. In general, macronutrient accumulation in the shoots and roots of the cultivars during each growth period was different, suggesting intrinsic differences in each of the genetic materials regarding nutrient demand for maintaining the metabolic processes which are vital to plant growth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of Agonandra brasiliensis Miers ex Benth. & Hook. F. in response to different levels of shading and doses of controlled-release fertiliser (CRF). The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Roraima in Boa Vista, in a completely randomised experimental design and a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, of two luminosity levels (50 and 30%) and five doses of CRF (formulation 18-05-09, NPK) (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 g L-1 substrate), with five replications, each consisting of five plants. At 240 days after transplanting, the growth characteristics were evaluated, and the influence of the light levels and the CRF dose was recorded on these characteristics, either individually or interactively. It is suggested that plants of Agonandra brasiliensis be fertilised with a dose of 2 g L-1 CRF and grown in an environment with 50% of luminosity to maximize growth and efficiency in the production of high-quality seedlings.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a divergência genética entre quatro procedências de bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Benth.) pertencentes ao estado de Santa Catarina, sendo elas: Abelardo Luz (AB), Chapadão do Lageado (CL), Lages (PB) e Três Barras (TB), por meio de análises multivariadas, sendo elas a técnica de componentes principais e agrupamento hierárquico, baseado na distância euclidiana. Sementes de 40 matrizes, 10 de cada local, foram avaliadas quanto aos aspectos biométricos de sementes e variáveis oriundas do teste de germinação. Os caracteres que mais contribuíram para a divergência entre as procedências foram o comprimento e largura de sementes, % de plântulas normais, % de germinação e índice de velocidade de germinação. Constatou-se divergência genética entre as procedências, e foi possível separá-las em dois grupos. O cruzamento entre os indivíduos superiores das procedências Abelardo Luz e / ou com os indivíduos superiores das origens do grupo I (CL e PB) são os mais promissores para futuros programas de melhoramento genético.