El repollo es consumido preferencialmente in natura y en muchos casos es producido de manera convencional, dejando trazas de residuos químicos, lo cual puede generar afecciones directas sobre la salud del consumidor y del agricultor. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la influencia de preparados homeopáticos en altas diluciones en el crecimiento de plántulas y en la producción de repollo, en sistema orgánico. El trabajo fue compuesto por cinco experimentos para estudiar nueve tratamientos con cuatro repeticiones siendo la conducción de tres experimentos en invernadero, utilizando el diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar, y de dos experimentos en el campo utilizando el diseño experimental de bloques al azar. Los tratamientos estudiados fueron los preparados de Arnica montana,Silicea terra, Carbo vegetabilisy Sulphur en la 6CH y 30CH (orden de dilución centesimal hahnemanniana); y agua como testigo. Sulphur6CH aumentó en dos de los tres experimentos la altura y la longitud de raíz en relación al testigo, en plántulas de repollo. Silicea terra 30CH y Sulphur6CH aumentaron la producción y la materia seca de cabezas de repollo cultivadas en campo, así como, Arnica montana 6CH y 30CH también incrementaron la materia seca de cabezas. Se concluyó que Sulphur6CH se destacó como promisorio para mejorar la calidad de las plántulas de repollo, así como en la producción y materia seca de cabezas de repollo en condiciones de campo siendo estas últimas características también mejoradas por Silicea terra30CH.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of high dilution preparations on seedlings growth and production of broccoli under organic system. Three experiments were conducted in a greenhouse with completely randomized design. Two others experiments were conducted under field conditions, and the experimental design was randomized in blocks. Both designs were done with four replications and nine treatments. The treatments consisted of high dilution preparations of Arnica montana, Silicea terra, Carbo vegetabilis and Sulphur at 6CH or 30CH, water was used as control. In greenhouse, plant height, root length and stem diameter of seedlings were evaluated, along with the fresh and dry mass of shoot and root. In field, fresh and dry mass of inflorescences, plant heigh and stem diameter were evaluated. Silicea terra at 30CH increased the stem diameter, root length and dry mass of shoot and root in the broccoli seedlings. Sulphur at 6CH increased the fresh and dry mass of broccoli inflorescences. Silicea terra at 6CH, Carbo vegetabilis, and Sulphur at 30CH increased the plant height in field experiments. This suggests that high dilution preparations can be utilized to increase the biomass production and others desirable characteristics of broccoli crop under organic system.

Vriesea incurvata is a native bromeliad from Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and commercialized as an ornamental pot plant. The morphological characteristics of its floral scape may also indicate it as a new product to use as a cut flower. However, its postharvest behavior was unknown. This study was conducted to determine its vase life by applying distilled water (control) and solutions containing sucrose (50 g L-1), salicylic acid (50 μM), and citric acid (50 g L-1) for periods of 8 and 24 h. Floral scapes maintained in solutions showed vase life greater than 16 days when compared to the control (distilled water). However, solutions with sucrose evidenced the best behaviors related to the maintenance of physiological and aesthetic features during the vase life of the floral scapes. It is concluded that solutions with sucrose, salicylic acid, and citric acid applied for 8 and 24 h extend the vase life of the V. incurvata floral scapes. Sucrose applied for 8 h promotes the maintenance of color, brightness, and turgidity; improves water balance, and reduces the relative fresh weight losses of floral scapes throughout the vase life, extending their longevity up to 24 days.

Vriesea incurvata in the natural environment shows some difficulties associated to the low seed germination capacity. Aiming to provide basis for the seedlings production, the results of the seeds germination percentage and the initial growth of V. incurvata seedlings in vitro conditions in different culture media, are reported. Completely randomized design was comprised of eight treatments and eight replications. The treatments were as culture media: MS (Murashige & Skoog); MS½; KC (Knudson); KC½; MS + activated carbon (AC); MS½ + AC; KC + AC; and KC½ + AC. The germination percentage was calculated from the division between the number of seeds with primary root extrusion by the total number of sowed seeds. The initial growth was evaluated considering the values of total fresh biomass, percentage of normal and dead seedlings, number and roots length, stem length, number of leaves and percentage of chlorotic, necrotic and dead leaves, respectively. All the cultures promoted high germination percentages (> 82.8%). In MS and MS½ medium, it was evidenced the highest percentage of normal seedlings, the highest values of fresh biomass production, stem growth and number of leaves. KC and KC½ medium also promoted highest percentages of normal seedlings and low percentages of necrotic and dead leaves. The addition of activated carbon in the culture media was unfavorable to promote the growth of seedlings. This suggests that MS and MS½ are the most suitable culture media for the production of Vriesea incurvata in vitro.

Genus Vriesea of the Bromeliaceae family are highly appreciated to use as ornamental plant due to their floral morphological characteristics, color and the beauty of inflorescences. V. incurvata has been commercialized as a potted ornamental plant. The morphological features of its floral scape may also indicate it for use as a cut flower. However, there are no information available to use of this bromeliad as a cut flower. The aim of this study was to determine quantitative and qualitative criteria in order to evaluate the postharvest behavior of V. incurvata floral scapes. It was observed that V. incurvata floral scapes has great potential to use as cut flower, which has an average of vase-life of 14.9 ± 1.5 days. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics such as color (L*, C*, H°), brightness, turgidity, stiffness, presence of injuries, relative fresh weight, water uptake and loss can be indicated as postharvest evaluation criteria of V. incurvata floral scapes. Keywords: bromeliads, cut flowers, ornamental plant, senescence, vase-life. RESUMO Comportamento e critérios de avaliação pós-colheita de escapos florais de Vriesea incurvata Gaudich. (Bromeliaceae)O gênero Vriesea da família Bromeliaceae é altamente apreciado por seu uso como planta ornamental devido a suas características morfológicas florais, colorido e beleza das inflorescências. A comercialização de V. incurvata é como planta ornamental de vaso. As características morfológicas de seu escapo floral podem também indicá-la para uso como flor de corte. Contudo, não há informações disponíveis sobre o uso desta bromélia como flor de corte. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar critérios quantitativos e qualitativos para avaliar o comportamento pós-colheita de escapos florais de V. incurvata. Observou-se que os escapos florais de V. incurvata apresentam grande potencial como flor de corte, alcançando uma vida de vaso média de 14,9 ± 1,5 dias. As características quantitativas e qualitativas como cor (L*, C*, H°), brilho, turgescência, rigidez, presença de injurias, massa fresca relativa, absorção e perda de água, podem ser indicados como critérios de avalição na pós-colheita de escapos florais de V. incurvata. Palavras-chave: bromélias, flores de corte, planta ornamental, senescência, vida de vaso.