-This study evaluated the compatibility of crosses between C. chinense and C. annuum and the seed vigor and germination of interspecific hybrids. Twenty-one accessions of C. chinense, used as male parents, were crossed with the cultivar Cascadura Ikeda (C. annuum) as female parent in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications. Fruit setting was evaluated in 30 flowers per plot. Seed germination and hybrid vigor were analyzed using CRD with four replications and plots of 16 seeds. All interspecific crosses produced fruit, at fruit set rates between 8.9% and 40.0%. In a first count, germination ranged from 0.0% to 45.3% and in the second from 0.0% to 87.5%. The conclusion was drawn that it is possible to obtain fruit and viable seeds in interspecific crosses of C. chinense with C. annuum.

Morphological characterization of Amazon pepper accessionsIn Brazil wide variability is found in peppers of Capsicum genus and the Amazon region is an important center of diversity. Information about the diversity in collection is useful, among other aspects, to increase the efficiency of breeding studies of cultivated species. The present study aimed to characterize the morphology and estimate the genetic diversity of 40 Capsicum accessions from Universidade Federal do Amazonas germplasm collection. Morphological descriptors recommended by IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute), for the Capsicum and sensory analysis for pungency and flavor were used to characterize the accessions. Seventeen descriptors, identified as essentials, were used to calculate the genetic similarity among accessions, considering the general similarity coefficient of Gower. The hierarchical method of the average of the distances UPGMA (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using an Arithmetic Average) and PCO (Principal Coordinates Analysis) were used to cluster the accessions. Three species were found comprising 35 accessions of C. chinense, one of C. baccatum and four C. frutescens. Phenotypic variation among accessions was observed mainly on fruit characteristics that showed differences in size, shape, color and pungency. Several chilli peppers morphotypes were identified: two accessions of murupi; two lady's finger; four from "malagueta"; seven from fisheye; 13 from smell pepper, and 12 curabiá. Cluster and dispersion graph analysis were concordant in clustering accessions with small genetic distance. The collection presents a wide variation among accessions.

A Amazônia é um importante centro de diversidade de Capsicum spp., em especial de C. chinense. Informações relativas à biologia reprodutiva são importantes para o melhoramento e conservação da espécie. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar o sistema de reprodução de C. chinense. Foram avaliados cinco genótipos e quatro tratamentos: polinização natural, proteção dos botões florais, autopolinização manual e polinização cruzada manual. Os genótipos avaliados demonstraram auto-compatibilidade e reprodução como plantas autógamas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Sistema reprodutivo, Pimentas, Germoplasmas.Pollinization and fruit fixation in Capsicum chinense Jacq. ABSTRACTThe Amazon is an important diversity center of Capsicum spp. especially C. chinense. Information about their reproductive biology is important to species breeding and conservation. The objective of this work was to study the C. chinense reproductive system. We evaluated five genotypes and four treatments: natural pollination, protection of floral bottoms, manual self pollination and manual cross pollination. The results showed that the genotypes evaluated are self-compatible and autogamous.

RESUMOAs dimensões do recipiente afetam tanto o custo de produção quanto a qualidade das mudas de espécies florestais, e o padrão de resposta destas é dependente da especificidade da espécie. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar o efeito do tamanho de recipientes no crescimento inicial das espécies florestais Mezilaurus itauba Taub ABSTRACTThe dimensions of the container affect both the production cost and the quality of seedlings of forest species, and the pattern of response of these depends on the specificity of the species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of size of containers on the initial growth of forest species Mezilaurus itauba Taub. ex Mez and Platymiscium ulei Harms. Two experiments were conducted concomitantly in nursery conditions, using the completely randomized design with five replicates. The treatments comprised of six sizes of containers: 20 cm x 15 cm (T1), 20 cm x 20 cm (T2), 23 cm x 20 cm (T3), 25 cm x 20 cm (T4), 30 cm x 20 cm (T5) and 33 cm x 23 cm (T6). After 90 days of growth, the size of containers affects differently the quality of the seedlings of both the species. The size of container 25 x 20 cm is more appropriate for the cultivation of macacaúba species while the best response to itaúba was obtained for the container 33 x 23 cm. On the other hand, the containers 20 x 15 cm and 20 x 20 cm should not be used for any of the tested species.

The Amazon is a center of diversity for Capsicum chinense Jacq., with wide genetic and morphological variability, but little exploration has been performed there to facilitate their improvement. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate C. chinense genotypes for the development of cultivars by determining the optimal size of the experimental plot and the minimum sample size to ensure a precise estimation of yield. A total of 23 genotypes were evaluated, and in multivariate analyses, the plants were characterized by 21 morphological descriptors and eight quantitative traits related to biometry and yield. The recommended sample size for fruit evaluation was defined based on simulations with subsample resampling and evaluation of the semi-amplitudes of the confidence interval of the mean estimate. The optimal plot size was estimated by the modified maximum curvature method. The similarity coefficients among the genotypes ranged from 0.54 to 0.93, indicating that the established clusters contained important information for future crosses. According to the sample size methodologies, 25 to 40 fruits should be sampled for valid evaluations of biometric traits. Experiments with five to eight plants per plot are recommended to test progenies of the species, ensuring good experimental precision combined with high selection accuracy for yield traits.