The cultivation of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) for table or horticultural purposes is largely carried out in the conventional way which is characterized by intense mechanization causing soil degradation and high labor costs. New cultivation techniques are being employed in the production of vegetables aiming to ensure improvements in environmental and economic conditions, such as the no-till farming system. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the vegetable classification and physicochemical characteristics of beets from different corn planting densities. The experiment was conducted in the period from October 2018 to June 2019 in the municipality of Nova Laranjeiras (PR). Corn was used as a cover plant and the vegetable used was beet cultivar Early Wonder Tall Top. The experimental design used was in interspersed blocks in unifactorial scheme (corn densities 40, 60, 80, 100 thousand plants/ha and control) with four blocks, with plots 3.60 m long and 1.20 m wide. The parameters evaluated 60 days after planting were: commercial classification (class, group, subgroup, category), length, diameter, mass, pulp firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and ratio, phenolic compounds. Of which the variables that were not significant at 0.5 probability were length, category (defects), firmness, subgroup (flesh color), soluble solids and phenolic compounds. It is concluded that high densities of corn as mulch for SPDH of sugar beet crop negatively affect the grade and physicochemical characterization of the products.

Among major global threats to papaya cultivation, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is the most challenging one. In the absence of any PRSV resistant commercial papaya cultivar, PRSV management is restricted to minimizing yield losses. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Pune has developed PRSV tolerant dioecious papaya lines, Pune Selection (PS)-1, PS-2, PS-3 and PS-5. Being dioecious these lines have limited acceptability among farmers. Gynodioecious population from these lines were developed and characterized. They are numbered PS-1-1, PS-2-1, PS-3-1 and PS-5-1. These lines were characterized against prevailing commercial gynodioecious cultivar, Red Lady, for five generations. The average plant height of PS-2-1 and PS-5-1 (183 cm) was more than Red Lady (158 cm), however, stem girth of all lines was lesser than Red Lady. The fruiting height of all lines was less than Red Lady (87 cm). Length of the fruiting column of all lines was more than Red Lady (37 cm), except in PS-1-1. Fruit yield of all lines was more than Red Lady (16 kg/plant). Intensity of PRSV infection in Red Lady (48%) was considerably more than all lines. These lines can be used for developing PRSV tolerant gynodioecious papaya variety.

Considering the need to adopt more sustainable agricultural systems, it is important that sweet potato breeding programs seek to increase not only root productivity, but also the productivity and quality of branches for silage production. The objective was to evaluate the genetic divergence and the importance of traits associated with the production and quality of branch silage in sweet potato genotypes. The experiment was conducted on the JK Campus of the Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys in a randomized block design with 12 treatments and four repetitions. Twelve characteristics of branches and silage were evaluated. There was genetic variability between the genotypes, making it possible to select parents divergent for future breeding programs for silage production. The genotypes BD-54 and BD-31TO were the most divergent in relation to the others, being indicated its use in crossbreeding aiming the improvement of the culture for silage, once the high performance per se of all genotypes evaluated has already been verified in previous works. The characteristics Na, TDN and NDF were those that most contributed to the divergence.

Nanomaterials stand as transformative elements across diverse domains, ranging from biotechnology, aircraft, aviation, and space exploration to medicine, health, environmental preservation, resources, energy, and aerospace. This issue, comprising nine original research articles and two insightful reviews, we embark on a journey to unravel the multifaceted uses of nanomaterials, with a special emphasis on their contributions to environmental protection and medicine. Delving into the unique traits of various nanomaterials, our aim is to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding that transcends conventional boundaries, fostering a deeper appreciation for the impact of nanomaterials.

“This paper’s purpose l is to determine whether certain firm-specific factors have an influence on the catering theory of dividend in the MENA region.” The catering theory of dividend related to the dividend policy by the different companies used in our paper to explain the decision by managers. The sample includes 600 non-financial firms listed stocks in the Stock Exchange of 6 countries from MENA region during the years 2010–2019. Catering theory explains why managers initiate (continue) to distribute dividends. A high dividend premium encourages managers to increase the level of dividend payment and explains why firms pay dividends or do not pay them thereafter. Investors should increase their demand for dividends to push managers to comply. Investors show their preference for dividend to self control, satisfaction and increase their profit. “This could be the catering incentive of the firm to decide to pay dividends”. Even although the result Investor preference for dividend is explained by different factors related to the firms characteristics from each firms is different from markets, it can be the evidence supporting the catering theory of dividend, not only in well-developed markets, but also in emerging markets such as our country.