The Caatinga biome which presents a singular vegetation found only in Brazil has a diversity of vegetal species with uses not yet explored. In this sense, the objective was to study two species of the Caatinga biome to be used as cut flowers. The work was developed at the Agricultural Sciences Campus of the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, PE. Based on previous studies, two endemic species of the Caatinga biome were selected: Neoglaziovia variegata and Senna martiana. The evaluation criteria were based on the length, stiffness and appearance of the stems; form of flower, fruit or leaf; income in floral composition; color or brightness; scent; originality; and real life in water and floral foam. For these characteristics grades were assigned (0, 5 and 10) and after classified for ornamental potential (high, medium, low and minimum ornamental potential). The results showed that the species N. variegata and S. martiana reached 80 and 85 points, respectively, classifying them as high ornamental potentiality. As such, they can be used as cut flower. Keywords: Neoglaziovia variegata, Senna martiana, floral art, floriculture, semiarid. RESUMOInovação na floricultura com plantas ornamentais do Bioma Caatinga O Bioma Caatinga, que apresenta uma vegetação singular, encontrada apenas no Brasil, possui diversidade de espécies vegetais com usos ainda não explorados. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se estudar espécies da flora da Caatinga para serem utilizadas como flores de corte. O trabalho foi desenvolvido no Campus de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE. Baseado em estudos prévios foram selecionadas duas espécies endêmicas do Bioma Caatinga: Neoglaziovia variegata e Senna martiana. Os critérios de avaliação foram baseados no comprimento, rigidez e aparência das hastes; forma da flor, fruto ou folha; rendimento na composição floral; cor ou brilho; aroma; originalidade; e, vida útil real na água e espuma floral. Para estas características foram atribuídas notas (0, 5 e 10) e, posteriomente, classificadas quanto ao potencial ornamental (alta, média, baixa e mínima potencialidade ornamental). Pelos resultados obtidos, a espécie N. variegata e S. martiana obtiveram 80 e 85 pontos respectivamente, classificando-as como de alta potencialidade ornamental. Sendo assim, podem ser utilizadas como flor de corte. Palavras-chave: Neoglaziovia variegata, Senna martiana, arte floral, floricultura, semiárido.

One of the tendencies in the floriculture sector, whether in modern landscaping or floral art, is related to the insertion of innovations in the sector, mainly of native origin. For this it is necessary to establish strategies that favor the introduction of these materials. Among the species that present ornamental potential, Rhaphiodon echinus Schauer has been outstanding for groundcover; however it is necessary to establish the proper propagation protocol for the species. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the vegetative propagation process of this species considering the period of cutting in rooting, cuttings arrangement and IBA concentrations for seedlings production. The experiment was carried out in a sub-split plots scheme with the period of cutting in rooting in the plots (30 and 60 days), the cuttings arrangement (horizontal and vertical) in the subplots and the IBA concentrations (0; 1,000; 2,000 and 4,000 ppm) in sub-subplots. The following variables were evaluated: survival cuttings, percentage of rooted cuttings, number of sprouts per cuttings, average length of the largest root, root volume, shoot dry biomass and root dry biomass. There was a significant interaction between the period of cutting in rooting and the cuttings arrangement for survival cuttings and rooted cuttings; between the period of cutting in rooting and the concentration of IBA for shoot dry and between the cuttings arrangement and concentration and IBA for the percentage of rooted cuttings, number of sprouts per cuttings and root dry biomass. For average length of the largest root and root volume there was a significant effect for period of cutting in rooting and IBA concentrations individually. The period of cutting in rooting of 30 days is the most suitable for rooting the cuttings. In relation of the cuttings arrangement the most indicated is vertical. Finally, the concentration of 1,000 ppm of IBA can be indicated for the propagation of R. echinus by the cutting process.

The introduction of the cut rose culture in high temperature environment requires the use of technologies that allows its acclimation to the unusual environment. Products based on strobilurins, carboxamides and anilides as well as plant regulators that promote changes in the plant growth, can be a viable tool for the introduction of cut roses in the semiarid Northeast of Brazil. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of products with physiological effects on the growth of cut rose ‘Ambiance’ in the Submedium of the São Francisco Valley. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replicates and six treatments: control (water application); Boscalid; Pyraclostrobin; mixture of Boscalid + Pyraclostrobin; Fluxapyroxad + Pyraclostrobin; Kinetin + GA3 + IBA; and consisted of foliar applications every 15 days for 280 days. The growth evaluations were performed through physiological indexes assessment, chlorophyll content and production of flower buds per stem. The results obtained showed that, especially Boscalid, both isolated and combined with Pyraclostrobin, the Fluxapyroxad + Pyraclostrobin and the plant regulators provided better physiological responses on the growth of the rose ‘Ambiance’, considering the relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area. Although the average increase on production of flower buds per stem of all treatments applied in relation to the control was in the order of 135%, none of the treatments applied produced stem for cut roses with the required commercial standards, indicating that further studies are needed for an adequate introduction of the crop in Submedium of the São Francisco Valley.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the accumulation of carbohydrates, protein, and proline as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase in the Ambiance cultivar of cut rose plants grown with the application of physiological effect products in the Sub-Middle São Francisco River Valley in Brazil. The experiment was performed under a mesh screen with 50% shading. The experimental design used randomized blocks with four repetitions and six treatments: T1) control (water); T2) boscalid; T3) pyraclostrobin; T4) boscalid + pyraclostrobin (T2 + T3); T5) fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin; T6) plant growth regulators 4-(indol-3-yl) butyric acid (IBA) + gibberellic acid (GA3) + kinetin; these treatments were applied every 15 days throughout the crop cycle. To determine the accumulation of solutes and enzymatic activity, 8 leaves was collected every 48 h. Leaves were immediately immersed in liquid nitrogen and frozen until further analysis in the laboratory. Results showed that the product combinations boscalid + pyraclostrobin and fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin as well as the plant growth regulators were the treatments with the most consistent responses throughout the evaluated cycle, providing a greater accumulation of solutes in rose leaves, as an osmotic adjustment strategy against stress from high temperatures, particularly when proline accumulation is observed. With regard to enzymatic activity, plant regulators showed more consistent results when compared with other treatments, increasing both superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. The marked accumulation of organic solutes and the high enzymatic activity, particularly of catalase, indicated that rose plants use such mechanisms as a defense against the region’s high temperatures.