Plant biostimulants have been increasingly used in agriculture. Plant biostimulants have been mostly investigated regarding their stress attenuation and only a few reports have brought information on their effects on fruit quality, which is related to appearance, chemical and physical attributes. Due to their organic nature, they have a sustainable appeal, attending the demand of consumers worried about the beneficial effects of healthier foods. This review turns evident the little information available on this matter. As fruits have differentiated metabolism, from pollination to harvest and after-harvesting, it is suggested that further research should focus separately on each stage. Thus, research should aim at quality formation, when the fruits are still attached to the plant, and shelf life extension, after harvesting.

Computerized systems for image analysis are alternatives to decrease the subjectivity and speed of assessment of seed physiological potential. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of the Seed Vigor Automated Analysis System (Vigor-S) to identify differences in vigor among soybean seed lots compared to results of the Seed Vigor Imaging System - SVIS® and tests recommended for evaluation of soybean seed vigor. Two cultivars were used, BMX Potência RR and 7166 RSF IPRO, each one represented by ten seed lots with similar germination and vigor differences. The seeds were evaluated regarding germination, vigor (tetrazolium, accelerated aging), seedling emergence in the field and SVIS® and Vigor-S analysis, in three experimental periods. Analysis of variance was used on the data in a completely randomized experimental design (laboratory tests) and in randomized blocks (field tests), and the mean values were compared by the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). Separation of the seed lots by Vigor-S was consistent with the results obtained in tests recognized as effective in evaluating the physiological potential of soybean seeds, and there was no interference of the different cultivars on the response pattern for vigor. Analysis through Vigor-S proved to be effective in determination of physiological potential and for composition of quality control programs established by soybean seeds production companies.

The study was carried out in Selvíria-MS, in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 agricultural years, aiming to evaluate the efficiency of Azospirillum brasilense in nitrogen fixation in upland rice, as a function of doses and application methods of the inoculant containing this diazotrophic bacterium. The experimental design was randomized blocks, arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with 4 doses of inoculant (control without inoculation, 100, 200 and 300 mL of the commercial product ha-1) and 4 application methods (seed inoculation, application in the sowing furrow, soil spraying after sowing, and foliar spraying at the beginning of plant tillering), with 4 replicates. During the experiment, the agronomic characteristics, production components and yield of the rice crop were evaluated. It was concluded that the inoculant containing Azospirillum brasilense promotes increase (19%) in the yield of upland rice under sprinkler irrigation when used at the dose of 200 mL ha-1, regardless of the application methods.

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Vigor-S: sistema para avaliação automatizada do vigor de sementes de soja / Mayara Rodrigues.-versão revisada de acordo com a resolução CoPGr 6018 de 2011.Piracicaba, 2019. 65 p. Dissertação (Mestrado)-USP / Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz". 1. Glycine max 2. SVIS ® 3. Controle de qualidade 4. Potencial fisiológico I. Título