O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do estádio de maturação dos frutos, no desenvolvimento de embriões de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas), cultivados em meio MS com diferentes suplementos: sacarose, água de coco e carvão ativado. Os frutos foram coletados, e os embriões de suas sementes extraídos assepticamente. Utilizaram-se duas condições experimentais: embriões oriundos de frutos em três estádios de desenvolvimento (imaturo, maduro e seco), colocados em meio de cultivo MS acrescido de sacarose (0, 15, 30 e 60 g L-1); embriões oriundos de frutos secos, colocados em meio MS acrescido de: 30 g L-1de sacarose, carvão ativado (0, 1, 2 e 3 g L-1) e de água de coco (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 mL L-1). O material foi mantido por 30 dias em sala de crescimento, sob condições ambientais controladas. Apenas os embriões zigóticos provenientes de frutos imaturos necessitam da suplementação de sacarose para sustentar sua germinação. O melhor desenvolvimento de embriões ocorre em meio MS suplementado com 60 g L-1 de sacarose. A associação de carvão ativado e água de coco proporcionam melhor crescimento de plântulas oriundas de embriões de sementes retiradas de frutos secos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar aspectos morfológicos externos do fruto, semente, processo germinativo e plântula de Jatropha curcas. Em frutos e sementes foram avaliadas as características: dimensões, tipo, cor, textura, deiscência e número de sementes por fruto, presença de carúncula, formato do embrião e presença do endosperma. No estudo do desenvolvimento pós-seminal e diferenciação das plântulas, as sementes foram colocadas para germinar em meio de cultura MS (Murashige & Skoog). O fruto de Jatropha curcas é seco deiscente, capsular, tricoca, geralmente com três sementes e endocarpo lenhoso. A semente é ovalada, endospérmica, com envoltório liso e presença de carúncula. O embrião possui um par de cotilédones e eixo hipocótilo-radícula cilíndrico e reto. A germinação é epígea.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the induction of indirect organogenesis by concentrations of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and thidiazuron (TDZ) in pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) explants, using scanning electron microscopy and the flow cytometry technique. The treatments consisted of the concentrations of 0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg L-1 2,4-D and TDZ and of the combinations of these regulators. Percentages of callus coverage at 45 and 60 days were evaluated. The explants subjected to the treatments were analized by flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy. All treatments induced endoreduplication, and there was no somaclonal variation. Under the combination of 2.0 mg L-1 TDZ and 4.0 mg L-1 2,4-D, calluses were formed in 95% of the explants, but were smaller than those produced with 2,4-D separately. The concentration of 2.0 mg L-1 TDZ induces the indirect organogenesis in pitaya explants, confirmed by the presence of conducting vessels through scanning electron microscopy.

The aimed was characterization and determining the time for Jatropha curcas callus subculture. The pattern of J. curcas callus development is sigmoidal with 5 distinct phases, and transplantation should be performed at the end of the deceleration phase (approximately day 28). During callus development, it was observed that at the onset of growth in the exponential phase the cells were internally disorganized; in the linear phase, respiratory metabolism was resumed through reorganization of the first mitochondria; and by the mid-deceleration phase, the cells were entirely active, and several organelles were detected. This organizational status was maintained throughout the stationary phase during which somatic pre-embryos were identified. At the end of the stationary phase, intracellular disruption began, and the cells entered senescence, which characterized the decline phase for the J. curcas calli growth curve.

Jatropha is a potential oilseed crop, which requires mitigating factors such as the low genetic variability of the species. The solution runs through the research of Brazilian germplasm. Attention should be given to the germplasm of jatropha the north of Minas Gerais, because this is the oldest national collection and because this region may be a regions of jatropha diversity due to selection pressure arising from environmental adversities. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of 48 accessions of collection from Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), using SSR and ISSR markers. The results showed low genetic diversity, but some individuals stood out as J. mollissima (48), J. podagrica (47), Mexican accessions (42, 43, 44 and 45) and some national accessions (28, 29, 41 and 46). Therefore, aiming to increase the genetic variability and improve the effectiveness of jatropha breeding programs, it is suggested to explore such as parental accessions to generate commercial hybrids. This fact implies the possibility to support future production of jatropha, since this culture may be an important source of income, especially for small farmers living in semiarid regions of Brazil.

Cambuci (Campomanesia phaea) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. It has ecological and social appeal but is exposed to problems associated with environmental degradation and expansion of agricultural activities in the region. Comprehensive studies on this species are rare, making its conservation and genetic improvement difficult. Thus, it is important to develop research activities to understand the current situation of the species as well as to make recommendations for its conservation and use. This study was performed to characterize the cambuci accessions found in the germplasm bank of Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral using inter-simple sequence repeat markers, with the goal of understanding the plant's population structure. The results showed the existence of some level of genetic diversity among the cambuci accessions that could be exploited for the genetic improvement of the species. Principal coordinate analysis and discriminant analysis clustered the 80 accessions into three groups, whereas Bayesian model-based clustering analysis clustered them into two groups. The formation of two cluster groups and the high membership coefficients within the groups pointed out the importance of further collection to cover more areas and more genetic variability within the species. The study also showed the lack of conservation activities; therefore, more attention from the appropriate organizations is needed to plan and implement natural and ex situ conservation activities.