The present study aimed to review the advances in the production of temperate fruits to determine future research directions that improve production in the tropics. Temperate fruits are no longer only produced in regions characterized by a cold winter period. These fruits are also produced in the sub-tropical and tropical regions characterized by mild winter or even the absence of chilling conditions often required by the tree to break dormancy. Currently, temperate fruit production is possible in certain regions of South America, Africa and Asia that are near to the Equator. However, temperate tree fruit production in tropical regions requires modified techniques to overcome dormancy and allow adequate flowering, growth and productivity. The main approaches taken are the development of cultivars with low chilling requirement, chemical induction of budbreak, interruption of irrigation during the winter period, defoliation, orchard densification, and double pruning. Breeding has become a key tool in the advancement of temperate fruit growing in the tropics, especially with the development of low chilling requirement cultivars.

Six new hybrid rootstocks, ‘US-1279’, ‘US-1281’, ‘US-1282’, ‘US-1283’, ‘US-1284’, and ‘US-1516’, were released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus breeding program to provide improved tree tolerance to huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive disease facing the citrus industry in the United States and many other parts of the world. Five of these new rootstocks were released based on field performance in trials with the rootstocks propagated by stem cuttings, rather than the traditional propagation using nucellar seedlings. In this study, we evaluated the fruit, seed, and seedling characteristics of these new rootstocks, along with four other USDA rootstocks of commercial importance. The study included a determination of the percentage of true-to-type and off-type seedlings by both plant morphology and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. All 10 rootstocks produced an acceptable number of seeds and good seedling emergence from those seeds. The rootstocks ‘Swingle’, ‘US-802’, ‘US-812’, ‘US-1283’, ‘US-1284’, and ‘US-1516’ had a high percentage of true-to-type seedlings and correspondingly good potential to be propagated by seeds. However, no true-to-type plants were observed among seedlings from the rootstocks ‘US-1279’, ‘US-1281’, and ‘US-1282’, indicating that economical seed propagation will be impossible for these cultivars. The 10 SSR marker sets used in this study were observed to easily differentiate the 10 rootstocks studied, and readily distinguished true-to-type and off-type seedlings among progeny from all 10 rootstock clones. This study presents information of significant value for commercial nurseries involved in propagation of citrus rootstocks, and those involved in citrus rootstock breeding and development around the world. We propose the use of these 10 SSR marker sets as readily applicable for accurate identification of most citrus rootstock cultivars and their true-to-type seedlings.

RESUMO Physalis peruviana L. é uma espécie pertencente à família Solanaceae, que vem sendo incorporada em plantios de pequenas frutas, com alto potencial produtivo para regiões subtropicais. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a qualidade das frutas de P. peruviana L., produzidas com ou sem cobertura plástica sobre o dossel das plantas e em duas densidades de plantio (0,5 e 1,0 m entre plantas), sendo de 3,0 m o espaçamento entre linhas. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2, com seis blocos e dez plantas por parcela. Foram avaliadas as características qualitativas das frutas, como coloração, quantidade de antocianinas totais, vitamina C, cinzas, sólidos solúveis totais, sacarose, glicose, açúcares totais, acidez titulável, firmeza e umidade. A maior densidade de plantio e o plantio sem cobertura plástica sobre o dossel das plantas resultaram em melhor qualidade das frutas de P. peruviana L.

ResumoO objetivo desse estudo foi quantificar o ganho genético para produtividade de grãos do programa de melhoramento do arroz irrigado de Minas Gerais, no período de 1998 a 2010. Foram utilizados dados dos ensaios comparativos avançados realizados em quatro localidades diferentes de Minas Gerais. Nem todos os locais foram contemplados em todos os anos agrícolas e para estimativas com maior acurácia, utilizou-se o método de modelos mistos. O ganho genético para produtividade de grãos no período considerado foi de 107,42 kg ha -1 , o que representou uma proporção de 17,88% da estimativa total do progresso. Esse ganho correspondeu ao aumento de 8,95 kg ha -1 ano -1 , ou ainda, aumento de 1,99% em produtividade de grãos por ano. Apesar de o ganho genético ter sido satisfatório, novas alternativas de melhoramento podem ser empreendidas para que o incremento produtivo seja maior nos próximos anos.Palavras-chave: Oryza sativa, progresso genético, obtenção de cultivares, REML/BLUP. Genetic contribution in yield of irrigated rice in Minas Gerais State between 1998 and 2010 AbstractThe objective of this study was to quantify the genetic gain for grain yield of the breeding program of irrigated rice in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in the period of 1998 to 2010. For this, data from advanced comparative trials performed in four different sites of Minas Gerais were analyzed. Some sites were not included in all crop years and thus a mixed model methodology was used to obtain more accurate estimates. The genetic gain for grain yield over the period was 107.42 kg ha -1 , which represented a proportion of 17.88% of the total progress estimative. This gain corresponds to an increase of 8.95 kg ha -1 yr -1 or even a 1.99% increase in grain productivity per year. Although the genetic gain has been satisfactory, new alternatives may be applied to improve the rice yield in coming years.

The pear tree is originally a temperate-climate fruit tree. The cross Pyrus communis × Pyrus pyrifolia generated hybrid cultivars adapted to subtropical regions. However, the low effective fruiting is a limiting factor for the expansion of pear tree crops in subtropical regions and no pollinizer plants have been identified for these cultivars in subtropical regions. This work aimed to identify possible pollinizer pear tree cultivars in subtropical regions by evaluating the stigmatic receptivity, the germination percentage, and the number of pollen grains. Seven hybrid pear cultivars were used. Flowers of each cultivar at each floral stage were collected (E, E2, F, F2, and G). The stigmatic receptivity was evaluated by immersing the material in 3% hydrogen peroxide. Flowers were collected for the quantification of anthers, pollen grains per anther and per flower, and pollen grain germination. Stigmas were 100% receptive for all cultivars at the F2 and G stages. Cultivar Cascatense showed a large number of anthers and pollen grains per anther and per flower. The highest pollen grain germination percentage was detected for Cascatense (72.75%). Cultivars Seleta and Triunfo have high stigmatic receptivity for a longer period during the flowering stage, proven to be a potential female parent. Cascatense has a higher germination percentage and a larger number of anthers per flower, pollen grains per anther, and pollen grains per flower. Cascatense has a high potential to be used as a pollinizer, both in pear tree breeding programs and commercial orchards.