RESUMO - Uma característica importante do sorgo sacarino é o Período de Utilização Industrial (PUI), necessário para o planejamento da colheita e o processamento. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer o PUI de cinco cultivares comerciais de sorgo sacarino visando a produção de etanol na região Central de Minas Gerais. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com três repetições, num esquema em parcelas subdivididas. Características avaliadas: florescimento, produção de massa verde (PMV), sólidos solúveis totais (SST), açucares redutores totais (ART), teor de sacarose aparente (POL), açucares totais recuperáveis (ATR), produtividade de etanol por tonelada (PROTE) e PUI. Foram verificadas diferenças entre as duas safras agrícolas, cultivares e épocas de colheita para todos os caracteres agronômicos e industriais do sorgo sacarino. A interação safras x épocas de colheita foi significativa para todos os caracteres. Já a interação cultivares x épocas de colheita mostrou-se significativa (P≤0,01) para quase todos os caracteres, exceto PMV. Houve interação safras x cultivares x épocas de colheita significativa para SST, ART, POL, ATR, e PROTE. No primeiro ano de semeadura, as variedades BRS 511, BRS 508 e BRS 509 apresentaram melhor desempenho agroindustrial visando a produção de etanol quando comparadas com os híbridos XBSW80147 e Sugargraze. As cultivares BRS 511, BRS 508 e BRS 509 apresentaram-se dentro dos limites mínimos de qualidade e produtividade estabelecidos na safra 2011/2012. Já na safra 2012/2013 apenas o BRS 508 apresentou-se dentro de todos os padrões estipulados em razão da ocorrência de acamamento. Baseado nos resultados obtidos, destacaram-se as variedades BRS 508, BRS509 e BRS511, considerando os caracteres agroindustriais e PUI para a produção de etanol. O melhor período de colheita considerando as características agroindustriais foi dos 100 aos 130 dias após o semeio, apresentando pico aos 113. As cultivares avaliadas apresentaram períodos de utilização industrial diferentes, com as variedades apresentando PUI superior a 30 dias e os híbridos com PUI inferiores a 20 dias. Palavras-chave: Sorghum bicolor, biocombustíveis, agroindústria. PERIOD OF INDUSTRIAL USE OF SWEET SORGHUM VARIETIES AIMING ETHANOL PRODUCTION ABSTRACT - An important parameter of sweet sorghum is the Period of Industrial Utilization (PIU), necessary for industrial management to provide high quality feedstock 24 hours per day during the period of industrial processing. The objective of this study was to establish maturity curves and PIU for five commercial cultivars of sweet sorghum for ethanol production in the Central region of Minas Gerais. A randomized complete block design with three replications in a split plot (seven-day harvest intervals) scheme was used during two seasons to determine the following parameters: days to flower, production of fresh biomass (PFB), total soluble solids in the juice (TSS), total sugars (TS), apparent sucrose content (ASC), total recoverable sugars (TRS), ethanol productivity per ton (EPT) and PIU. Differences were found between the two agricultural seasons, cultivars and harvest periods for all the agronomic and industrial traits of sweet sorghum. The yield x harvest period interaction was significant for all parameters evaluated. The interaction cultivar x harvest period was highly significant for all parameters except PFB. There was significant year x cultivars interaction for harvest period for SST, TS, ASC, TRS and EPT. The varieties BRS 511, BRS 508 and BRS 509 showed better agro-industrial performance for producing ethanol compared to sweet sorghum hybrids XBSW80147 and Sugargraze. The varieties BRS 511, BRS 508 and BRS 509 were within the PIU thresholds for quality and productivity in the 2011/2012 season. However, only BRS 508 was within the quality threshold for the 2012/2013 harvest, due to the occurrence of lodging. Based on these results, the varieties BRS 508, BRS 509 and BRS 511 can be considered for ethanol production. The best harvesting period considering the agro-industrial characteristics was between 100 and 130 days after planting, with peaking at 113 days. The cultivars showed different periods of industrial use, with the varieties presenting PIU values of more than 30 days and the hybrids with PUI values less than 20 days. Keywords: Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, biofuels, agribusiness.

Carrots (Daucus carota L.), a globally significant vegetable, lack extensive research on heterotic groups and diallel analysis to generate hybrid combinations. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess combining abilities and identify optimal carrot parents for producing hybrids suitable for tropical climates with elevated metabolite levels. Twenty carrot hybrids, ten parent plants, and three commercial cultivars were evaluated during the summers of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Agronomic evaluations were carried out and chlorophyll and carotenoid levels were determined, followed by a diallel analysis using Griffing’s Method III and GGE biplot analysis. There were significant general combining ability (GCA) effects for various agronomic traits, suggesting additive genetic effects. Based on GCA, cultivars 5, 4, and 2 were the most promising parents. Specific combining ability (SCA) revealed that hybrids 1 × 2 and 3 × 5 stood out in environment 1, whereas hybrids 1 × 5 and 5 × 3 performed well in environment 2. The GGE biplot analysis showed that hybrids 1 × 2 and 3 × 2 displayed larger average root diameters, belonged to the group with the best bolting percentages, and exhibited stability across environments. Moreover, hybrids 2 × 4, 3 × 1, 4 × 1, and 4 × 2 exhibited higher metabolite levels. These findings suggest the feasibility of obtaining superior hybrids tailored for the tropical carrot market.

O sorgo sacarino [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] vem ganhando espaço e se consolidando em áreas de cultivo em todo o mundo, sendo uma cultura complementar a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) na produção de etanol, pois possui caules suculentos rico em açúcares fermentáveis. Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar curvas de maturação de genótipos de sorgo sacarino provenientes do programa de melhoramento da EMBRAPA Milho e sorgo, através da avaliação do perfil de acúmulo de açúcar no colmo ao longo do tempo, com foco em estabelecer o período de utilização industrial (PUI) desejando maximizar o aproveitamento industrial para a produção de etanol. Os doze genótipos foram cultivados no município de Ivaiporã/PR em oito épocas de colheita. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos completos, com parcela formada por uma linha de 5,0 m. Foram avaliadas as características de florescimento (FLOR), altura de plantas (ALT), produção de massa verde (PMV) e estande final (ESTANDE) e o teor de sólidos solúveis totais (SST). O genótipo de sorgo sacarino que mais se destacou na região de Ivaiporã – PR foi o CMSXS5041 que obteve os melhores resultados para altura de plantas, produtividade de massa verde e teor de sólidos solúveis totais. Apresentando assim potencial produtivo e aptidão para produção de etanol. Os genótipos BRS 716, CMSXS5020, CMSXS5027, CMSXS5037, CMSXS5041 e CMSXS5043 foram promissores, com boa perspectiva para ampliar a janela de colheita das usinas por apresentarem PUI igual e/ou superior 30 dias. Os híbridos CMSXS5029 e CMSXS5039 não atingiram o teor de teor de sólidos solúveis mínimo em nenhum momento. Híbridos e variedades não distinguiram significativamente quanto a nenhuma das características avaliadas. Os híbridos CMSXS5029 e CMSXS5039 não atingiram o teor de teor de sólidos solúveis mínimo em nenhum momento.

Tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.) productivity is threatened by biotic and abiotic stresses, exacerbated by climate change. The use of rootstocks is an effective strategy to enhance tomato resilience. Interest in characterizing dwarf tomato germplasm has increased, though its potential as a rootstock remains unexplored. The objective was to validate the use of dwarf tomato germplasm for: (1) characterizing dwarf tomato genotypes for morphoagronomic traits relevant to hybrid development and (2) evaluating their potential as rootstocks. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted. Experiment I assessed a recurrent parent (normal-architecture tomato), a donor parent (dwarf tomato), and twelve dwarf tomato lines. Morphoagronomic traits of fruits, shoots, and roots were evaluated, allowing the selection of the best dwarf tomato candidate for rootstock use. Experiment II was performed after grafting onto the selected dwarf tomato rootstock (UFU MC TOM1) from Experiment I. Commercial hybrids (Xanthus, Luan, Vivacy, and Bento) were used as grafting material, resulting in four graft combinations: Vivacy/UFU MC TOM1, Xanthus/UFU MC TOM1, Luan/UFU MC TOM1, and Bento/UFU MC TOM1. Both experiments followed a randomized block design in a greenhouse. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate approaches. The evaluated dwarf tomato germplasm exhibited relevant morphoagronomic traits, standing out as a promising source for hybrid development. The use of dwarf tomato genotypes as rootstocks proved viable, as grafting significantly increased root volume, overcoming potential limitations associated with the dwarf plant’s root system. These findings highlight the potential of dwarf tomatoes for both breeding programs and grafted seedling production, contributing to crop sustainability and efficiency.