ADUBAÇÃO FOLIAR DE BORO EM DOIS HÍBRIDOS DE CANOLA

A canola (Brassica napus L. var oleífera) é uma oleaginosa, pertencente à família Brassicaceae, resultado do cruzamento interespecífico entre repolho silvestre (Brassica oleracea L.) e mostarda (Brassica rapa L., syn. campestris). O boro é considerado um micronutriente, que atua na translocação de açúcares, formação de proteínas, crescimento do tubo polínico, germinação dos grãos de pólen, desenvolvimento das sementes e das paredes celulares. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar as interferências nos componentes produtivos de dois híbridos de canola com a aplicação de adubação com boro por via foliar. Para tanto, instalou-se um experimento em condições de campo num delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em arranjo fatorial 2 x 3. Utilizou-se os híbridos Hyola 433 e Hyola 575 CL e três doses de boro foliar (0;100; 200) g ha-1 de B. As seguintes características foram avaliadas: número de plantas, número de síliquas por planta, massa de parte aérea, massa de 100 grãos e produtividade. Com a aplicação de boro houve aumento da massa de grãos independente do híbrido. Para produtividade houve aumento somente para o híbrido Hyola 433, sendo a maior produtividade alcançada na dose de 200 g ha-1. O híbrido Hyola 575 CL não teve sua produtividade alterada com a aplicação de boro. Palavras-chave: ácido bórico; Brassica napus L. var. oleífera; colza; massa de 100 grãos; oleaginosa. Leaf boron fertilization in two rapessed ABSTRACT: Rapessed (Brassica napus L. var oleífera) is an oilseed, belongs to Brassicaceae family, resultated between inter specific crossing of wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) and mustard (Brassica rapa L., syn. campestris). Boron is considered a micronutrient, acting in sugars translocation, protein formation, pollen tube growth, pollen grain germination, seeds and cell wall development. The aimed was to study the interferences in productive components of two rapessed hybrids with application of boron fertilization by leaf application. For this, a field experiment was installed by using experimental design of randomized blocks in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme. Hyola 433 and Hyola 575CL hybrids and three doses of leaf boron (0; 100 and 200) g ha-1 of B were used. The following characteristics were evaluated: plants number, number of pods per plant, mass of one hundred grains and yield. With boron application there was an increase in grain mass independent of the hybrid. In relation grain yield there was increase only for Hyola 433 hybrid, with the highest yield reached at 200 g ha-1. The Hyola 575CL hybrid did not have its productivity altered with the application of boron. Keywords: boric acid; Brassica napus L. var. oleífera; mustard; mass of a hundred grass; oilseeds.

Evaluation of the effects of homeopathic medicines on the seed germination of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica

Background: Aiming to increase the productivity and achieve production levels that meet the market demands, agriculture makes use of pesticides and fertilizers. Fertilizers are natural or artificial substances that contain chemical elements and physical proprieties that enhance plant growth and productivity [1]. However, the addition of fertilizers has generated environmental impacts that jeopardize the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems in the medium and long term [2]. Fertilizers are associated with eutrophication of rivers and lakes [2], soil erosion [3], among others. The organic agriculture is an alternative for the use of additives, which aims to enhance the efficient use of nonrenewable natural resources, and utilization of renewable natural resources and biological processes aligned to biodiversity, the environment, economic development and quality of human life [4]. The use of homeopathy for the cultivation of plants is into the organic agriculture. Homeopathic medicines can lead to greater plant growth, the elimination of pests and soil enrichment, without presenting environmental impacts, or damage to the consumer or for the handler. Aim: The objective of this study is to find on the homeopathic medicine an alternative method for the use of fertilizers in order to increase the germination of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica. Methodology: Seeds of broccoli will be treated with homeopathic medicines for phosphorus and gibberelic acid in the following method and scale 6cH, 30cH and 200cH, according with the 3rd edition of the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. These seeds will be cultured on Petri dishes in a MS medium. The dilution and the agitation water on the same high dilutions above, are used as a growth control, in the same way, gibberelic acid, a hormone, widely used commercially as a fertilizer, is also used as control. The applications will be made six days a week. It will be conducted a seedlings count since the first days of germination and also will be measured the germination velocity and the hypocotyl and primary roots lengths. Results: A quickly, regular and more complete germination is expected when used homeopathic drugs. Rather than use substances harmful to human health, such as fertilizers but gaining it´s same efficiency with a less aggressive results for the plant and for who will eat it or work with agriculture [5-8]. Support: authors declare that this study received no funding Conflict of interest: authors declare there is no conflict of interest Correspondente author: Marina das Neves Gomes, [email protected] REFERENCE [1] EMBRAPA. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Glossário, 2011. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 01 de março de 2012. [2] IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável, 2010. Disponível: .Acessado:01/3/12 [3] IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Perfil dos municípios brasileiros - meio ambiente, 2002. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 01 de março de 2012. [4] SEBRAE - Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas. 2011. O que é agricultura orgânica. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 05/03/12. [5] BAUMGARTNERA, S.; THURNEYSENA, A.; HEUSSERA, P. Growth Stimulation of Dwarf Peas (Pisum sativum L.) through Homeopathic Potencies of Plant Growth Substances. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd, v. 11, p. 281 – 292. 2004. [6] BONATO, C. M.; SILVA, E. P. Effect of the homeopathic solution Sulphur on the growth and productivity of radish. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy Maringá, v. 25 (2), p. 259 - 263, 2003. [7] BONATO, C. M.; PROENÇA, G. T.; REIS, B. Homeopathic drugs Arsenicum album and Sulphur affect the growth and essential oil content in mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy, v. 31 (1), p. 101-105, 2009. [8] LASTA, J. P. Preparados homeopáticos na germinação de sementes de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) submetidas ao teste de envelhecimento acelerado. 2010. Dissertação - Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó. Chapecó – Santa Catarina, 2010.

Exogenous Glycine Betaine Application Improves Freezing Tolerance of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) Leaves

Exogenous glycine betaine (GB) application has been reported to improve plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses, but its effect on freezing tolerance has not been well studied. We investigated the effect of exogenous GB on freezing tolerance of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) leaves. Seedlings fed with 30 mM GB via sub-irrigation showed effectively assimilated GB as evident by higher GB concentration. Exogenous GB did not retard leaf-growth (fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area) rather slightly promoted it. Temperature controlled freeze-thaw tests proved GB-fed plants were more freeze-tolerant as indicated by lower electrolyte leakage (i.e., indication of less membrane damage) and alleviating oxidative stress (less accumulation of O2•− and H2O2, as well as of malondialdehyde (MDA)) following a relatively moderate or severe freeze-thaw stress, i.e., −2.5 and −3.5 °C. Improved freezing tolerance induced by exogenous GB application may be associated with accumulation of compatible solute (proline) and antioxidant (glutathione). GB-fed leaves also had higher activity of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). These changes, together, may improve freezing tolerance through membrane protection from freeze-desiccation and alleviation of freeze-induced oxidative stress.

High-Resolution UPLC-MS Profiling of Anthocyanins and Flavonols of Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra DC.) Cultivated in Egypt and Evaluation of Their Biological Activity

In this paper, biological investigations and a high-resolution UPLC-PDA-ESI-qTOF-HRMS technique were employed for Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra DC. (red cabbage) of the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), cultivated in Egypt, for the first time. The positive ionization mode is usually performed to identify anthocyanins. However, this technique cannot differentiate between anthocyanins and corresponding non-anthocyanin polyphenols. Thus, the negative ionization mode was also used, as it provided a series of characteristic ions for the MS analysis of anthocyanins. This helped in identifying five kaempferol derivatives for the first time in red cabbage, as well as nine—previously reported—anthocyanins. For the biological investigations, the acidified methanolic extract of fresh leaves and the methanolic extract of air-dried powdered leaves were examined for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The freshly prepared phenolic extract was proven to be more biologically potent. Statistical significance was determined for its anticancer activity in comparison with standard doxorubicin.

Improving the Health-Benefits of Kales (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC) through the Application of Controlled Abiotic Stresses: A Review

Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC) is a popular cruciferous vegetable originating from Central Asia, and is well known for its abundant bioactive compounds. This review discusses the main kale phytochemicals and emphasizes molecules of nutraceutical interest, including phenolics, carotenoids, and glucosinolates. The preventive and therapeutic properties of kale against chronic and degenerative diseases are highlighted according to the most recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reported. Likewise, it is well known that the application of controlled abiotic stresses can be used as an effective tool to increase the content of phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. In this context, the effect of different abiotic stresses (saline, exogenous phytohormones, drought, temperature, and radiation) on the accumulation of secondary metabolites in kale is also presented. The information reviewed in this article can be used as a starting point to further validate through bioassays the effects of abiotically stressed kale on the prevention and treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases.