Evolutionary fingerprint, phylogenetic and forest structure of tropical montane Atlantic cloud forests along an elevation gradient

Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients,making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities.This work aimed to assess the influences of elevation on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,a historically neglected ecoregion.We evaluated the phylogenetic structure,forest structure(tree basal area and tree density)and species richness along an elevation gradient,as well as the evolutionary fingerprints of elevation-success on phylogenetic lineages from the tree communities.To do so,we assessed nine communities along an elevation gradient from 1210 to 2310 m a.s.l.without large elevation gaps.The relationships between elevation and phylogenetic structure,forest structure and species richness were investigated through Linear Models.The occurrence of evolutionary fingerprint on phylogenetic lineages was investigated by quantifying the extent of phylogenetic signal of elevation-success using a genus-level molecular phylogeny.Our results showed decreased species richness at higher elevations and independence between forest structure,phylogenetic structure and elevation.We also verified that there is a phylogenetic signal associated with elevation-success by lineages.We concluded that the elevation is associated with species richness and the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages in the tree communities evaluated in Mantiqueira Range.On the other hand,elevation is not associated with forest structure or phylogenetic structure.Furthermore,closely related taxa tend to have their higher ecological success in similar elevations.Finally,we highlight the fragility of the tropical montane cloud forests in the Mantiqueira Range in face of environmental changes(i.e.global warming)due to the occurrence of exclusive phylogenetic lineages evolutionarily adapted to environmental conditions(i.e.minimum temperature)associated with each elevation range.

Evaluation of total protein,peroxidase,and nutrients measured by pXRF for the determination of tissue rejuvenation/reinvigoration of Eucalyptus microcorys

Ontogenetic aging of tissues and the gradual decrease of adventitious rooting are known challenges for the clonal propagation of woody species,hampering clonal forestry programs.This study examined possible signatures of tissue rejuvenation/reinvigoration in different propagated materials of Eucalyptus microcorys by analyzing the total protein profile,peroxidase activity,macro-and micronutrient contents,and adventitious rooting of mini cuttings.The analyses were performed on E.microcorys shoots which were successfully obtained by seminal and grafting propagation,micropropagation with epicormic shoots,and indirect organogenesis.Among four mature trees used in the propagation,tissues from the one with the best propagation results were investigated for signs of tissue rejuvenation and/or reinvigoration.Five individuals from each technique were randomly selected and transferred to a semi-hydroponic"channel"system.After four weeks in the seedbed,the total protein,peroxidase activity,nutrient content and rooting of the mini cuttings were evaluated.SDS-PAGE enabled the differentiation of leaf samples obtained by grafting from the other propagation techniques,as revealed by two distinct bands.Materials obtained by micropropagation with epicormic shoots showed the highest peroxidase activity,while those obtained by seminal propagation and from the selected mature tree showed the lowest peroxidase activity.A portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscope(pXRF)identified adequate nutrient content in most of the nutrients tested in materials obtained by seminal and grafting propagation,and by indirect organogenesis.The analysis of adventitious rooting showed that the highest rooting percentage was observed in mini cuttings from seminal propagation(75%)followed by indirect organogenesis(35%).Based on principal component analysis,it was concluded that rooting of mini cuttings from both seminal propagation and indirect organogenesis was associated with phosphorous,sulphur,and potassium contents,which suggests a higher level of tissue rejuvenation/reinvigoration in these propagated plants.Further studies are recommended to search for other methods that present similarities with the responses to adventitious rooting in forest species and thus optimize the rescue and propagation of plants with distinct ontogenetic stages.

Coffee Orchard Response to Enhanced Efficiency Phosphate Fertilizer

Phosphorus (P) plays a crucial role in plant growth by aiding in the development of strong roots, promoting flower and fruit formation, and aiding in photosynthesis. Studies to improve P fertilizers efficiency in coffee orchards are necessary due to the need for better efficiency and the lack of information on enhanced efficiency P fertilizers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of MAP coated with anionic polymers (Policote) on coffee orchard development. A coffee trial was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments, applied at coffee planting, were arranged in an incomplete factorial (2 × 4) + 1, using two P sources (MAP and Policote coated MAP), four P rates (40, 80, 120, and 160 g P2O5 plant-1) and control (without application of P fertilizer). Plant height was evaluated in the 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019 seasons, while coffee bean maturation, yield, and agronomic P efficiency use were evaluated in the last two seasons. P fertilization did not affect coffee bean maturation and increased coffee yield in 31-month-old plants when differences among P sources and rates were observed. Using Policote-coated P fertilizer resulted in higher yields at the same P rate, as well as similar yields at a lower P rate, compared to conventional fertilizer. Policote-coated P fertilizer can be used as an enhanced efficiency fertilizer and is an efficient way to deliver required P to plants. The target for reducing farm investment, increasing agricultural profits, preserving phosphatic rock reserves, and avoiding the overuse of phosphate fertilizer could be realized through the rational use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers.

Enhanced Efficiency Phosphorus Fertilizer Impact on Physiological Characteristics of Coffee Seedlings

The effects of phosphorus (P) nutrition on various aspects of photosynthetic metabolism have been examined for coffee plants (Coffea arabica) grown under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized, and the treatments were carried out in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme: two P sources [Triple Superphosphate - TSP (46% P2O5) and Policote coated TSP - TSP + Policote (43.7% P2O5)] and five P rates (0;5;10;15 and 20 g P2O5 plot-1), with three replications. The net photosynthetic rate (A), the leaf temperature (LT), the atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ca), the stomatal conductance (gs), the transpiration rate (E), the substomatal CO2 concentration (Ci) and carboxylation efficiency (Ce) were measured in the youngest fully expanded leaf, with the use of an infrared gas analyzer. All photosynthesis measurements were affected by P fertilization. P fertilization increased net photosynthetic rate, leaf temperature, substomatal CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and carboxylation efficiency. Policote coated P fertilizer resulted in a higher net photosynthetic rate, leaf temperature, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate than conventional P fertilizer. The data indicated that Policote coated P fertilizer, a kind of enhanced efficiency P fertilizer (EEPF), alters the plant’s photosynthetic carbon metabolism, explaining higher crop development and yield resulted from this EEPF.

Solar-driven CO_(2) conversion to methane and methanol using different nanostructured Cu_(2)O-based catalysts modified with Au nanoparticles

This work describes the use of TiO_(2)nanotubes-based electrodes(TNT)modified with Cu_(2)O nanostructures and gold nanoparticles for the photoelectroreduction of CO_(2)to produce value-added compounds.A thin layer of polydopamine was used as both an adherent agent and an electron transfer mediator,due to itsπ-conjugated electron system.The highest production yield was achieved using a TNT@PDA/Nc/Au40%electrode,with Faradaic efficiencies of 47.4%(110.5μM cm^(-2))and 27.8%(50.4μM cm^(-2))for methanol and methane,respectively.The performance of the photoelectrodes was shown to be Cu_(2)O facet-dependent,with cubic structures leading to greater conversion of CO_(2)to methanol(43%)and methane(27%),compared to the octahedral morphology,while a higher percentage of metallic gold on the nanostructured Cu_(2)O surface was mainly important for CH4production.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations supported these findings,attributing the superior photoelectrocatalytic performance of the TNT@PDA/Nc/Au40%electrode for CH4generation to the formation of an OCH3intermediate bonded to Au atoms.Studies using isotope-labeling and analysis by gas chromatograph-mass(GC-MS)demonstrated that13CO_(2)was the source for photoelectrocatalytic generation of13CH3OH and13CH313CH2OH.

Socio-ecological insights into the development of agrarian professionals

There is a lack of information about the factors responsible for the effectiveness of environmental policies in Brazilian agriculture.This study aimed at identifying the perception and practices of agrarian professionals.The data analysis was carried out using a survey and methodological approaches focusing on environmental complexity and categorization of environmental actions.Quantitative analysis was based on descriptive statistics.Atmospheric problems were perceived as the main problems for the current and next two generations,while hydrological problems were indicated as those deserving most urgent solutions.On the other hand,the main developed actions and those planned to be carried out were classified within the responsibility category.Because of the reductionist perceptions,introduction of the concept of a socio-ecological system is indicated by means of methodological interventions during the development of agrarian professionals;also,in order to stimulate actions related to the competence and citizenship category,a methodological intervention focusing on resilience thinking is proposed.Typical actions of individuals with either reductionist or complex conceptions of the environment can be captured and,therefore,educational strategies can be traced based on the profiles obtained.

Nonformal environmental education:a case study with farmers in a town of the South Minas Gerais state,Brazil

Brazil is a central place in the international agricultural markets and this fact has been demanding environmentally oriented agricultural practices by Brazilian farmers and professionals involved in the agricultural market chain.A concise and structured questionnaire was applied to obtain the environmental perception of a group of Brazilian farmers in a town of the south Minas Gerais state,using herbicides as the topic for a case study.A highly variable opinion about taking the environment into account when choosing the most appropriate herbicide was found.Anyway,efficacy has been indicated as the most important factor when choosing an herbicide,followed by the environment and price.The outcomes from the questionnaires,i.e.the insufficient conception and importance given to environment when choosing the herbicide,motivated the creation of a teaching-learning model for the nonformal environmental education using the concept of socio-ecological resilience.This routine puts in practice the resilience thinking currently invoked as a major tool to achieve the conservation of the socio-ecological system,as well as it is complimentary to the outcome-oriented optimization for conservation theory.For the case study about farmers and the use of herbicides,we conclude that a complex reasoning and,ultimately,pro-environmental actions can be improved after experiencing the recommended model for environmental education.

Projections of the impacts of climate change on the water deficit and on the precipitation erosive indexes in Mantaro River Basin, Peru

Projections of climate change are essential to guide sustainable development plans in the tropical Andean countries such as Peru. This study assessed the projections of precipitation and potential evaporation, rain erosive potential, and precipitation concentration in the Mantaro River Basin, in the Peruvian Andes, which is important for agriculture and energy production in Peru. We assumed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)A_1B greenhouse gas emission scenario and simulated the global climate change by the HadCM_3 global climate model. Due to the steepness of the mountain slopes and the narrowness of the river valley, this study uses the downscaling of the global model simulations by the regional Eta model down to 20-km resolution. The downscaling projections show decrease in the monthly precipitation with respect to the baseline period, especially during the rainy season,between February and April, until the end of the 21st century. Meanwhile, a progressive increase in the monthly evaporation from the baseline period is projected. The Modified Fournier Index(MFI) shows a statistically significant downward trend in the Mantaro River Basin, which suggests a possible reduction in the rain erosive potential. The Precipitation Concentration Index(PCI) shows a statistically significant increasing trend, which indicates increasingly more irregular temporal distribution of precipitation towards the end of the century. The results of this study allow us to conclude that there should be a gradual increase in water deficit and precipitation concentration. Both changes can be negative for agriculture, power generation, and water supply in the Mantaro River Basin in Peru.

Effects of chemical sterilization of the culture media,porous membranes and luminosity on in vitro culture of Eucalyptus grandis×Eucalyptus urophylla

Hybrid combinations of Eucalyptus have increased due to expansion of plantations into unconventional areas and to the search for higher quality timber.However,most of these species have difficulties surviving in vitro cultivation.Active chlorine and sealing systems are often used to reduce contamination and increase gas exchange.The aim of the present study is to evaluate the establishment,multiplication,elongation and adventitious rooting of E.grandis × E.urophylla.Two clones(C1 and C2) and four active chlorine concentrations(0.000%,0.001%,0.003%,and 0.005%) were tested in the establishment and multiplication phases.Three sealing forms(W/M,1/M and 3/M) and the same four active chlorine concentrations were applied to the elongation phase.Two luminosities(dark and light)and three sealings(W/M,1/M and 3/M) were tested during adventitious rooting.Active chlorine concentration of0.005% led to the lowest fungal contamination rate and to the highest in vitro establishment.Active chlorine concentration of 0.003% resulted in the greatest length and highest number of shoots per explant in the multiplication phase.There were no phytotoxicity problems and the quality of plants grown in an environment with active chlorine was maintained in comparison with those grown in an autoclave.The increase in gas exchange in ventilation systems had a positive impact on the in vitro growth and development of plants.

Understanding how environmental heterogeneity and elevation drives the distribution of woody communities across vegetation types within the campo rupestre in South America

The campo rupestre sensu lato is a vegetation type that occurs in South American mountains,supports a distinctive flora characterized by high rates of endemism,high herbaceous species richness and often-neglected but also species-rich of the arboreal stratum.We aimed to investigate how environmental factors and elevation are associated with the distribution and diversity of woody species in different rupestrian vegetation types across South America.Using a database of 2,049 woody species from 185 sites across four vegetation types within the campo rupestre,we assessed how the vegetation types were grouped according to their floristic composition and number of shared indicator species,as well as by using different beta diversity indices.The most important variables from a set of 27 variables(e.g.altitude,geo-edaphic and climatic)explaining species distribution were identified using redundancy analysis(RDA)and variation partitioning methods.The distribution of vegetation types was related to both environmental and spatial fractions,with a set of 17 variables retained(e.g.rockiness,grass cover and temperature seasonality as the most important variables).There was an association between the floristic composition of each vegetation type and the elevation range.Although the identified vegetation types are floristically related,they are distinguished by exclusive and habitat-specialist woody species.This uniqueness of vegetation types should be considered in terms of complementarity for the conservation of campos rupestres.

Agronomic and Energetic Potential of Biomass Sorghum Genotypes

The biomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], is an interesting crop considering the necessity to invest in alternative sources to generate renewable energy. The objective of this experiment was to identify sorghum biomass genotypes with greatest agronomic and energetic potential, and verify if there is phenotypic association between agronomic and technological properties in the hybrids. The study was conducted in three cities of the Minas Gerais State, Brazil (Lavras, Uberlandia and Sete Lagoas). It was evaluated 16 genotypes of sorghum biomass, being 14 of them sensitive hybrids to photoperiod and two cultivars, as control, insensitive to photoperiod. The experimental design was a triple lattice 4 × 4, with plots formed by four linear rows of 5.0 m. The morphoagronomic characteristics evaluated for the three environments were: days to flowering (FLOW), plant height (PH), number of stems (NS) and green matter production (GMP). In the experiment conducted in Lavras, also it was evaluated the agronomic traits: stem diameter (SD) and dry matter production (DMP) besides the technological traits: higher heating value (HHV), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The genotype × environment interaction was significant for all traits. The hybrids had superior performance compared to the control genotypes. Biomass sorghum hybrids, sensitive to photoperiod, when compared with commercial hybrids of forage sorghum, insensitive to photoperiod, had an average production of 34 t ha-1 dry matter with 62% humidity and higher heating value of 4.400 Kcal/Kg. There was no phenotypic correlation between agronomic and technological characters evaluated.

Adjustment of Mathematical Models and the Quality of Drying the Pulped Coffee at Different Air Conditions

The aim of the study was to describe the drying kinetics of washed coffee (Coffea arabica L.) and evaluate the best mathematical model to fit the experimental drying data conducted with different air humidity (40%, 50% and 60%), temperatures (23, 40 and 60 °C) and the quality of the coffee. The cherries coffee were separated and standardized in the processes of washing, mechanical and manual separation. Then, approx. 85 kg of coffee cherries were pulped and taken directly to the yard. The washed coffee was completed dried in a mechanical dryer and yard. The results showed that the different conditions of the ambient air significantly influenced the processes of drying. The water content of the hygroscopic equilibrium of pulped coffee is directly proportional to the water activity and relative humidity (RH), decreasing with increasing temperature, for the same value of equilibrium. The Oswin model was best represented by the hygroscopicity of the pulped coffee, while the Midilli model shows the best fit to describe the drying curves of the washed coffee. The effective diffusion coefficient increases with increasing temperature of the drying air and reducing of RH, being described by the Arrhenius equation. Electrical conductivity, potassium leaching, total titratable acidity and grease acidity increase with increasing drying temperature regardless of the type of processing. Reducing sugars, total sugars and the sensorial quality was negatively affected with increasing drying temperature regardless of the type of processing. The drying at 60 °C/40% RH negatively affected the coffee quality.

Production and Partial Characterization of an Extracellular Phytase Produced by Muscodor sp. under Submerged Fermentation

In most of the raw materials of plant origin used in animal feed, a portion of the phosphorus is stored as phytic acid or phytate. Phytate is the main storage form of phosphorus in vegetables but is not readily assimilated into food at low concentrations of the enzyme phytase. In addition to making phosphorous unavailable, phytate binds divalent cations such as calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc, preventing the absorption of these nutrients in the gut of the animal. Phytase promotes the hydrolysis of the phytate phosphorus-releasing molecule, thereby increasing its bioavailability in feed. Phytase is distributed in plant and animal tissues and it is synthesized by some species of bacteria and fungi. The addition of this enzyme in the diet of animals is essential to promote greater uptake of phosphorus and also contributes to a decrease in the levels of phosphorus excreted by animals, thus reducing the pollution caused by excess phosphorus in the environment. This work aimed to select a fungus that stands out in the production of phytase among 100 isolates from Brazilian caves belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium and 13 endophytic fungi of the aerial part of the coffee plant. For selection, the fungi were cultured in medium containing phytic acid as a sole source of phosphorus. After seven days at 25 °C, we evaluated growth and enzyme production by the presence of the phytic acid halo degradation (Enzymatic Index-EI) surrounding the colonies. Forty-seven species produced phytase, and the fungi Penicillium minioluteum (CF279) and Muscodor sp. (UBSX) showed higher degradation halos, 2.41 and 4.46, respectively. Considering the Muscodor sp. as the main source of phytase, high enzymatic levels were obtained when the fungus was grown under submerged fermentation with initial pH of 5.0 using wheat bran as additional carbon source for 144 h, at 125 rpm and 30 °C. Additionally, the enzyme was stable at pH 5.0 and 40 °C, and inhibited (14% - 88%) by all compounds analyzed. Then, this is the first study that reports the production of phytase by the endophytic fungus Muscodor sp.

Ultrastructural analysis of the loss of desiccation tolerance in germinating Eremanthus erythropappus seeds

Eremanthus erythropappus(DC.)MacLeish is an important forest species native to the Brazilian savanna biome,an environment with well-defined rainy and dry seasons.Its seeds are desiccation tolerant,non-dormant and dispersed at the end of dry season.This exposes them to the first sporadic rains that can trigger germination but the subsequent dry days can compromise survival of the newly germinated seed.This study evaluates if the damages caused by drying of germinating E.erythropappus seeds,at the stage when they have lost desiccation tolerance,are lethal.The percentage of normal seedlings was evaluated when seeds with different imbibition times were dried to their initial water content and then pre-humidified and rehydrated.Desiccation tolerance was fully lost after 0.5 mm of hypocotyl-radicle protrusion(approximately 72 h)when the radicle had root hairs,a possible indicator of sensitivity to desiccation.Disintegration of cell contents and ultrastructural damage to the seeds subjected to drying were observed by electron scanning microscope.Root hairs disappeared after drying,reappearing after pre-humidification,possibly an attempt to increase the surface area of the radicle for water uptake.However,the hypocotylradicle axis became darkened,probably by antioxidant system failure,causing seed death.

Comparison and Quantification of the Development of Phenolic Compounds during the Aging of Cachaca in Oak(Quercus sp)and Amburana(Amburana cearensis)Barrels

Aging is a stage of the cacha&ccedila production process in which several chemical reactions occur between compounds extracted from the wood and other compounds present on the beverage. In an attempt to establish a profile regarding the chemical characterization of aged cacha&ccedilas, phenolic compounds have been studied because of the specific characteristics of each wood species and their known antioxidant properties. This work sought to assess and compare the development of 12 phenolic compounds in cacha&ccedilas aged in oak (Quercus sp) and amburana (Amburana cearenses) barrels during a period of 12 months. There was a progressive increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds in the beverage for both of the types of wood. The principal compounds encountered in the cacha&ccedila aged in oak barrels were gallic acid, syringaldehyde and syringic acid, while vanillic acid, syringaldehyde, sinapic acid and gallic acid were isolated from that aged in amburana barrels.

Residual Effects of the Organic Amendments Poultry Litter,Farmyard Manure and Biochar on Soybean Crop

The use of organic wastes, as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer, can be an important strategy for Brazilian and tropical agriculture. Despite the importance, few field studies have been done for evaluating organic amendments on soybean crops in Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the residual effects of the organic amendments poultry litter, farmyard manure and biochar combined with mineral fertilizer on some agronomic attributes of a soybean crop. A field experiment was carried out in a split-split-plot scheme, with three replicates in a randomized block experimental design. The organic sources (plots) at rates of 0, 3, 6 and 9 Mg·ha-1 (subplots) combined with 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg·ha-1 (sub subplots) of a mineral fertilizer were applied in 2008. In 2009, only the mineral fertilizer was used on the soybean crop. As a?result, all evaluated attributes were influenced by the treatments, except for the number of grains per pod. The application of poultry litter provided the highest yield (3715 kg·ha-1 using 9 Mg·ha-1 of the source). A synergistic effect between organic amendments and mineral fertilizer was observed. It was found the possibility of decrease doses of mineral fertilizers by prior use of organic amendments. The most effective dose combination application is 5.5 Mg·ha-1 of organic amendments associated with 200 kg·ha-1 of mineral fertilizer to provide optimum yield. The use of organic amendments, rich in nutrients, is a technology to sustainably increase the soybean grain yield.

Old climatically-buffered infertile landscapes(OCBILs):more than harsh habitats,Atlantic Forest inselbergs can be drivers of evolutionary diversity

Granite-gneiss rock outcrop inselbergs are ancient stable ecosystems with old,climaticallybuffered infertile landscapes(OCBILs).Although inselbergs provide key ecosystem services,little is done for their conservation and,so far,a lot of their unknown evolutionary history has already been lost by human activities.Using a fine-scale approach,here we tested if habitat and environmental filtering(the inselberg’s harshness)affect the evolutionary diversity of an Atlantic Forest inselberg in Brazil.We recorded all trees with a diameter at breast height≥5cm in 20 plots in four habitat types(total sampled area of 0.8 hectares),from highest to lowest:island,hillside,foothill,and semideciduous forest(matrix).We also collected soil samples for chemical,textural and physical soil characterization.We fitted linear models to test the effects of soil and habitat on plotlevel metrics of phylogenetic diversity and structure,lineage diversity,phylogeneticβ-diversity,and evolutionary distinctiveness.We found that the upper inselberg habitats contain a distinct set of ancient,closely related,harsh-tolerant lineages,as well as a subset of lineages that persist under harsh conditions with a certain degree of water availability.The inferior inselberg habitats harbor higher lineage diversity than expected by chance.Soil strongly predicted evolutionary diversity.We concluded that soil depth,slope,nutrients and texture(environmental filtering)and habitat types and topography(habitat filtering)shape the evolutionary history contained in fine-scale inselberg habitats,which should encourage the conservation of these ancient ecosystems.

Autoregressive spatial analysis and individual tree modeling as strategies for the management of Eremanthus erythropappus

The objectives of this study were to apply statistical techniques to discriminate fertilization treatments of Eremanthus erythropappus（DC.） Mac Leish.through autoregressive modeling, and to develop individual tree models for diameter and crown area（CA） projection to define management strategies for candeia plantations subjected to different fertilization treatments. This is an important tree species originating from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain forest and Savannah biomes, intensively used in the cosmetic industry. Nonetheless, to date, research has not addressed the management of natural stands or plantations of the species. Our experiment was located in Baependi, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and comprised of four randomized blocks and 13 treatments. The treatments consisted of 12 different regimes of fertilization plus a control. Each sample plot was composed of 50 plants plus two border plants in a planting spacing of 2.5 9 2.0 m and undergoing pruning at 5 and 6 years of age. Starting in the second year, total tree height（H） and circumference（at 1.30 m from the ground or breast height, CBH） were measured every 6 months. Starting in the fifth year CA was measured. Tree growth varied by fertilization strategy.Differences were detected by using an autoregressive approach, considering that standard statistical methods were not powerful enough to detect significant differences.Three growth groups were formed, and maximum growth was obtained for treatment 10（NPK, 8-28-16）. Management guidelines are provided based on individual tree models for different fertilization levels.

Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Activity of the Essential Oil from Callistemon viminalis(Myrtaceae)Blossoms on Lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)Seedlings

The extraction of essential oils was performed by using the technique of hydrodistillation modified Clevenger apparatus, identification and quantification of the constituents was achieved by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry, and Gas Chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Assessment of allelopathic activity was evaluated with the use of the method that assesses the direct contact of essential oils on germination and vigor of lettuce seeds. The major constituents that characterize the essential oil from the flowers of Callistemon viminalis were 1, 8-cineole, α-pinene and limonene at concentrations of 66.9%, 16.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The essential oil presented allelopathic activity at intensities that varied proportionately to the concentration of the essential oil, with a reduction in the percentage of germination and the germination speed index (GSI) of lettuce seeds and in the dry mass and length of shoots and roots of lettuce seedlings.