Old but still good: genetic diversity of ancient pecan genotypes from southern Brazil.

Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] is a crop fruit native to the USA and Mexico currently cultivated in several countries, including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, China, South Africa, and Australia. Supported by the increasing consumption and market prices, the interest in the cultivation of this fruit crop is strongly growing around the world. In this study, AFLP and S-SAP markers were employed to characterize the genetic diversity of ancient accessions of pecan from southern Brazil. The evaluated plants were selected and preserved by the farmers and are remnants of the first introduction of seedlings from the U.S.A into southern Brazil aiming at developing research towards establishing commercial orchards. High levels of genetic diversity were estimated, suggesting that these plants have an important genetic background for the establishment of a germplasm collection with a wide genetic basis, for the development of breeding programs for this fruit crop. Cluster analysis of the genetic datasets revealed some correlation between the nuts' morphometric traits and genetic markers. Such correlation should be further exploited. These ancient genotypes must be evaluated for other agronomic traits of interest and included in core collections of pecans.

Dormancy overcome and seedling quality of pecan in nursery / Superação de dormência e qualidade de mudas de nogueira-pecã em viveiro

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the efficiency of methods to overcome seed dormancy in different storage periods in the production of pecan seedlings. Seeds were submitted to the following treatments: T1, T4 and T7 - control treatments (seeds with no treatment, stored at room temperature for 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively), T2, T5 and T8 - stratification (seeds were distributed in boxes with wet sand maintained at a temperature of 4°C for 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively), T3, T6 and T9 - scarification + stratification (seeds scarified with sandpaper n.80 and stratified by 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively), in completely random experimental design. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, full emergence and emergence speed index (ESI) were evaluated after 14 weeks of sowing. The best development of pecan 'plants, their emergence, and ESI were observed in the stratification treatment for 90 day as well as in the scarification + stratification treatment for 90 day. Storing seeds in uncontrolled environment reduced their viability.

RESUMO: Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência dos métodos de superação de dormência de sementes, em diferentes períodos de armazenamento, na produção de mudas de nogueira-pecã. As sementes foram submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: T1, T4 e T7 - testemunhas (sementes sem qualquer método de tratamento, armazenadas em ambiente não controlado por 30, 60 e 90 dias, respectivamente), T2, T5 e T8 - estratificação (sementes distribuídas em caixas com areia úmida e mantidas em temperatura de 4°C por 30, 60 e 90 dias, respectivamente), T3, T6 e T9 - escarificação + estratificação (sementes escarificadas com lixa n.80 e estratificadas também por 30, 60 e 90 dias, respectivamente), em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso. Avaliou-se, após 14 semanas da semeadura, altura das plantas, diâmetro do colo, número de folhas, emergência total e índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE). O melhor desenvolvimento das plantas de nogueira-pecã, bem como sua emergência e IVE foi observado no tratamento com estratificação por 90 dias e quando combinado escarificação e estratificação por 90 dias. O armazenamento das sementes em ambiente não controlado reduz sua viabilidade.

Dimensionamento amostral para avaliação da massa e diâmetro de frutos de nogueira-pecã / Sample size for evaluating the weight and diameter of pecan fruits

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o tamanho de amostra necessário para a estimação da média das massas do fruto, da casca e da amêndoa e dos diâmetros longitudinal e transversal de frutos de nogueira-pecã (Carya illinoinensis). Em 20 frutos, de cada uma de seis cultivares de nogueira-pecã ('Barton', 'Imperial', 'Importada', 'Mahan', 'Moneymaker' e 'Melhorada'), foi determinada a massa do fruto (MF), a massa da casca (MC) e a massa da amêndoa (MA) e mensurado o diâmetro longitudinal (DL) e o diâmetro transversal (DT). Com os dados desses 20 frutos, para cada caractere e cultivar, foram calculadas medidas de tendência central e de variabilidade, verificada a normalidade e calculado o tamanho de amostra. Para cada caractere, foi verificada a homogeneidade de variâncias entre as cultivares e comparadas as médias de cultivares. Cinquenta frutos são suficientes para a estimação da média de MF, MC, MA, DL e DT de frutos de nogueira-pecã, para erro de estimação de até 5% da média estimada, com grau de confiança de 95%.

The objective of this research was to determine the sample size necessary to estimate the average mass of fruit, peel and almond and longitudinal and transverse diameters of fruits of pecan (Carya illinoinensis). On 20 fruits of each of the six cultivars of pecan ('Barton', 'Imperial', 'Importada', 'Mahan', 'Moneymaker' e 'Melhorada'), the fruit mass (MF), the shell mass (MC) and almond mass (MA) was determined and measured the longitudinal diameter (DL) and transverse diameter (DT). With the data from these 20 fruits for each character and cultivar, measures of central tendency and variability were calculated, normality was checked and sample size was calculated. For each character, the homogeneity of variances among cultivars was verified and averages of cultivars were compared. Fifty fruits were enough to predict the average of MF, MC, MA, DL and DT fruit of pecan, with an estimation error equal to 5% of estimated average, with a degree confidence of 95%.

Historical gene flow within and among populations of Luehea divaricata in the Brazilian Pampa.

Within and among population gene flow is a central aspect of the evolutionary history of ecosystems and essential for the potential for adaptive evolution of populations. We employed nuclear microsatellite markers to assess inter- and intra-population gene flow in five natural populations of Luehea divaricata growing in the Pampa biome, in southern Brazil. This species occurs in practically all secondary forests of the Pampa and has recognized ecological significance for these formations. The genetic structuring of the studied populations suggests limited gene dispersal among forest fragments, despite a homogeneous level of migration among populations. Notwithstanding the gene flow among populations, significant SGS is still found in some fragments. Significant spatial genetic structure within population was also found likely as result of limited seed and/or pollen dispersal. The scattered distribution of the populations and their relatively high density seem to limit pollen dispersal. Also seed dispersal by wind is not efficient due to large distances among forest formations. As conservationist actions towards preserving the genetic resources of L. divaricata and the Brazilian Pampa, we suggest the protection of the existing forest formations and the maintenance of the natural expansion of the forests over the grasslands in the biome.