The purpose of the review is to comment on available data on the application of plant tissue culture to carnivorous plants. Thus, the review encompassed publications from 1979 to 2017 along in vitro germination studies and micropropagation techniques, such as somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, which emphasized the responses of plant materials to the stimuli offered during in vitro culture. Tissue culture in carnivorous plants is presented as a tool to promote the increase of the population of these plants either for scientific and commercial purposes or for the conservation and reintroduction in their natural habitat, in order to ensure a sustainable exploitation of this nutritional pattern of plants. In general terms, the studies carried out were limited to the following aspects: cultivation technique, explant source, exogenously applied substances and culture medium. The review also revealed the absence of defined protocols for in vitro multiplication of large-scale carnivorous plants.

The analysis of genetic variability in germplasm banks is essential for the success of breeding programs. However, such analyses traditionally require time, labor, and high financial resources. With the growing accessibility of equipment and decreasing costs of image acquisition and processing, image phenotyping emerges as a promising tool for carrying out fast, precise, and highly accurate assessments. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of digital image-based phenotyping in characterizing the genetic diversity of Butia capitata genotypes contributing to breeding and conservation strategies. Digital image analysis was applied to assess fruits from 59 genotypes, estimating the following parameters: area, perimeter, average, minimum and maximum radius, largest diameter, eccentricity, and colorimetric indices (L, a*, and b*) – L* represents luminosity, and a* and b* indicate chromaticity. The regression analysis between measurements obtained with a digital caliper and those generated by image processing resulted in a high coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.861), confirming the methodology’s practicality and accuracy. The significant genetic diversity observed among genotypes highlights their potential for targeted selection in breeding programs. Genotypes GN55, GN3, GN25, GN1, GN10, GN59, GN43, GN18, and GN13 stood out for producing larger fruits.

Preserving seed quality during and after storage is one of the main challenges of the seed industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fungicide treatment on the health and physiological quality of tomato seeds (cv. Santa Clara) under different storage conditions. A homogeneous seed sample was divided into two lots: one treated with the fungicide Iprodiona (Rovral® SC) and the other untreated. Both were dried and stored in three types of packaging (plastic, paper, and aluminum foil), in two environments (natural ambient conditions and cold storage), over five storage periods (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months), in a 5×3×2×2 factorial design. Statistical analysis was carried out using a mixed model through the lme4 package of the R software. The results showed that seed quality was affected by the storage environment, the type of packaging, and the treatment. Cold storage with the use of aluminum foil packets preserved germination above 80% for up to 12 months. The fungicide treatment was effective in controlling Alternaria alternata and Penicillium, promoting greater vigor and enabling storage for up to 12 months in plastic containers. In contrast, paper and plastic packaging exposed to the ambient conditions led to moisture absorption, reducing seed viability, particularly in untreated seeds.

The Acrocomia aculeata is a promising palm tree for biofuel production, but it faces challenges related to propagation, especially due to seed dormancy. This article presents an integrative review, supported by bibliometrics, of the sexual and asexual propagation methods of the species, conducted through searches in Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science databases. The results indicate that sexual propagation is the predominant approach in the literature, although it faces significant challenges due to seed dormancy, such as the physical resistance to embryo protrusion imposed by the operculum. Asexual propagation demonstrates great potential through micropropagation techniques, which allow obtaining genetically uniform plants in relatively short periods. The non-deep physic dormancy exhibited by the seeds interferes with germination by constraining embryo growth potential and postponing the metabolic reactivation essential for successful germination. Despite the existence of promising methods for overcoming dormancy, additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved in this process. This review maps the scientific literature to highlight areas of proven research success, identify critical gaps and underexplored topics, and indicate how future investigations can support the development of efficient propagation protocols and the establishment of commercial plantations.

RESUMO: O cultivo de grão-de-bico (Cicer arietinum) tem se expandido no Brasil, o que demanda a oferta de cultivares registradas, adaptadas às diferentes regiões. Assim, são necessários descritores seguros visando à distinção de cultivares para a habilitação destas para a produção, beneficiamento e comercialização de sementes. Objetivou-se avaliar descritores morfológicos e moleculares de proteínas e DNA para a identificação de 10 cultivares de grão-de-bico. Os descritores morfológicos, baseados nas diretrizes da UPOV, foram avaliados em plantas cultivadas em casa de vegetação, em parcelas contendo plantas com diferentes níveis de misturas destas cultivares, em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento. Nesta avaliação, foram calculadas as porcentagens de acerto e erro de quatro especialistas da área de sementes que desconheciam a porcentagem de misturas das cultivares. Também foram avaliadas expressões de proteínas de armazenamento, resistentes ao calor e de enzimas, em sementes das diferentes cultivares, as quais foram produzidas sob dois níveis de nitrogênio (50 e 200 kg.ha⁻¹). A caracterização das cultivares também foi realizada por meio de marcadores SSR, simples sequencia repetida. Conclui-se que que a combinação de descritores morfológicos, proteicos e moleculares é importante para a diferenciação das cultivares de grão de bico. Para os marcadores SSR, foi possível discriminar o maior número de cultivares por meio do iniciador TA-203. A expressão das proteínas não foi influenciada pelos níveis de nitrogênio, e o estádio ideal para a avaliação da pureza genética variou entre as cultivares.

Zinnia elegans shows potential as a cut flower, however, its production in tropical regions can be limited by abiotic stresses. Controlling light quality with shading nets can minimize these effects. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different shading nets on the vegetative growth, floral production, leaf anatomy, and antioxidant system of Z. elegans cv. ‘Luz da Lua’. The experiment was conducted during two seasons: spring-summer and autumn-winter, with plants grown under full sun, black nets (30% and 50%), and blue (50%) and red (50%) photoconversion nets. In the spring-summer period, plants exhibited greater vegetative growth and flower number. The 30% black and 50% red nets promoted the development of longer floral stems with higher biomass, while the highest number of flowers was obtained under the 30% black net. Cultivation under full sun resulted in lower flower production and shorter stems. Regarding the antioxidant system, higher enzymatic activity was observed in plants grown in spring-summer, notably higher catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities under black nets, contributing to reduced oxidative damage. In contrast, the 50% blue net promoted higher H2O2 accumulation and lipid peroxidation, indicating the occurrence of oxidative stress. Plants grown under black nets also showed higher stomatal density. The use of shading nets favors the production of high-quality flowers, and the 30% black net is recommended for maximizing flower number, stem length, and the efficiency of the antioxidant system.