The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) methodology, which is widely used in animal and forestry genetic evaluation, can also be applied to annual crop breeding. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and efficiency of among-and within-half-sib family selection through the use of single-and multi-trait BLUP, and BLUE/ANOVA methods. Expansion volume and yield data from two recurrent selection cycles of a popcorn population were analyzed. Progeny tests were designed as a lattice. To maximize accuracy of the prediction of breeding values, the BLUP analyses included phenotypic values of the two cycles. All BLUP analyses were performed using the ASReml software. The multi-trait BLUP method demonstrated greater accuracy and efficiency in family selection. In the case of within-family selection, both accuracy and efficiency of multi-and single-trait BLUP methods were equivalent. The selection efficiency of the multi-trait BLUP was dependent on the estimated genetic parameters, particularly the difference between the genetic and environmental correlations of the traits.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as consequências da redução no espaçamento entre linhas e entre plantas na linha de plantio sobre o crescimento, a produtividade e a bienalidade de produção do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 4x3. Foram utilizadas quatro distâncias entre as linhas (2,0, 2,5 3,0 e 3,5 m) e três distâncias entre as plantas na linha de plantio (0,50, 0,75 e 1,00 m), o que totalizou 12 tratamentos. A produtividade e a produção por planta foram avaliadas anualmente entre 1994 e 2001, e o crescimento foi avaliado em 2002. A redução no espaçamento entre as linhas e entre as plantas na linha de plantio aumenta a produtividade da lavoura cafeeira. Os espaçamentos entre as linhas e entre as plantas influenciam o crescimento e a arquitetura dos cafeeiros.Termos para indexação: Coffea arabica, adensamento, manejo, fenologia. Growth, productivity and bienniality of coffee plants according to cultivation spacingAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the consequences of spacing reduction between rows and between plants in the planting row on growth, productivity and bienniality of coffee plants (Coffea arábica). The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with three replicates, in a 4x3 factorial arrangement. Four distances between rows (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 m) and three distances between plants in the planting rows (0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 m) were used, which totalized 12 treatments. The productivity and the production per plant were assessed annually between 1994 and 2001, and the growth was evaluated in 2002. The reduction of spacing between rows and between plants in the planting row increases the productivity of coffee plants. The spacing between the rows and plants influences the growth and architecture of the coffee plant.

Genetic parameters, dissimilarity and performance of pumpkin accessionsPumpkin is very important in human and animal food, especially concerning family farms. The germplasm bank of vegetables of Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Federal University of Viçosa, UFV-BGH), Brazil, has several pumpkin accessions with wide genetic variability. All this genetic variability is of great importance for plant breeding. However, little is known about the true potential of BGH-UFV, because there are few scientific papers published with information on these accessions. The objective was to obtain information on genetic parameters, dissimilarity and performance of BGH-UFV pumpkin accessions. We evaluated 11 morphological descriptors of 55 accessions and three cultivars. The genetic parameters, expected gain with selection, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations were estimated. For the dissimilarity study, the Tocher test was carried out and graphic dispersion of the canonical variables was evaluated. There was genetic variability among accessions, with a predominance of genetic effects over the environment. Higher gain selection for mass per fruit, plant appearance and location of the first male flower node are expected. The commercial cultivars Butternut and Tetsukabuto have excelled due to the lower mass per fruit and precocity of flowering, but they had the worst results in terms of phytosanitary aspect. There are negative correlation estimates between the phytosanitary aspect and growth habit, length and growth rate of the main stem, indicating that compact plants may have greater phytossanitary problems. Crossing accession BGH-7003 or cultivar Butternut with accessions BGH-1946 or BGH-7765 can generate progenies with potential for breeding.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o parcelamento e a dose de nitrogênio e potássio mais adequados para o primeiro e segundo anos de formação do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica) fertirrigado por gotejamento, no sul de Minas Gerais. Dois experimentos foram instalados simultaneamente com plantio adensado (6.666 plantas ha -1 ): em um, a adubação foi realizada em quatro aplicações ao ano e, no outro, em 12 aplicações. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições em ambos os experimentos. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por doses, aplicadas via fertirrigação, equivalentes a 70, 100, 130, 160 e 190% da recomendada para N e K 2 O, para o cultivo em sequeiro. Foi realizado tratamento controle com cultivo em sequeiro e adubação com a dose padrão: 100% da recomendada. No primeiro e segundo anos, em ambos os tipos de parcelamento, não houve diferença significativa entre as doses, quanto ao crescimento do cafeeiro. O parcelamento em 12 aplicações é mais adequado para adubação de primeiro e segundo anos pós-plantio. Cafeeiros em formação fertirrigados por gotejamento apresentam maior crescimento e menor demanda por adubação com N e K do que os cultivados em sequeiro.Termos para indexação: Coffea arabica, demanda nutricional, irrigação por gotejamento, parcelamento da adubação, sequeiro. Nitrogen and potassium fertigation in coffee at the formation phase, with high plant densityAbstract -The objective of this study was to evaluate the most adequate parceling and dose of nitrogen and potassium for the first and second years of coffee shrub (Coffea arabica) formation, under a drip fertigation system, in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two experiments with high plant density (6.666 plants ha -1 ) were carried out simultaneously: in one of them, the fertilization was done in 4 applications yearly, and in the other one, in 12 applications. A randomized block design was used with five treatments and four replicates in both experiments. Treatments consisted of N and K 2 O doses applied via fertigation: 70, 100, 130, 160 and 190% from the N and K 2 O recommended doses for the rainfed cropping. A control treatment was carried out in rainfed conditions and fertilized with the standard dose (100%). In the first and second years, in both parceling types, there were no significant differences among doses regarding coffee shrub vegetative growth. Parceling into 12 applications is more suitable for fertilization at both first and second years after planting. Fertigated coffee shrubs at the formation phase have higher growth and demand less nitrogen and potassium fertilization than the ones in rainfed conditions.

The production of specialty coffees is the main criterion to add value to the product. However, there is a lack of information regarding genetic variability of C. arabica for quality improvement. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic divergence among Coffee arabica genotypes regarding the potential cup quality, possible limitations and their potential use in breeding programs to improve quality. We evaluated 101 coffee genotypes from the Germplasm Active Bank of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais, covering different groups of genealogical origin. A randomized block design was used with two replications. Sensory analysis of the beverage was performed by two tasters per sample (repetition), using the Cup of Excellence methodology enhanced by the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association. The attributes assessed were clean cup, sweetness, acidity, body, flavor, aftertaste, balance, overall and final score. K-means and Ward clustering methods were used to study the genotypes divergence. Based on sensory scores, the formed clusters differed with regards to all sensory characteristics (P ≤ 0.01). Three K-means clusters were formed among 40, 45 and 16 genotypes, with final average scores of 80.11, 83.17 and 87.56 points, respectively. Ninety percent of the genotypes evaluated have the genetic potential to produce specialty coffees. The observed divergence indicates the potential of genetic gains for quality and the Híbrido de Timor germplasm can be used for this purpose.