An experiment was carried out in the vegetable garden of Plant Science Department at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, during the period of June to August 2005, to evaluate the influence of different spacings on rocket economics performance. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of three between row spacings (0,20; 0,25 and 0,30 m) with four within row spacings (0,05; 0,06; 0,07 and 0,10 m). The rocket cultivar grown was 'Cultivada'. Indicators of economic performance were evaluated through gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. The highest economics efficiencies were obtained in the following spacings: 0,20 m x 0,05 m; 0,25 m x 0,05 m and 0,30 m x 0,05 m.

The increasing importance of sunflower leads to studies on seed pathogen, to guarantee crop sanity and to provide identification of pathogens in new areas. Genotypes seeds lots produced in Embrapa Soja assays carried out in tree cities of the State of Maranhão, Brazil (Balsas, São Luís and Timon) were analyzed, with the objective of evaluating sanitary quality of sunflower seeds. Sanitary analysis was performed by blotter test method and identification of fungi genera was based on morphological features. The occurrence of Fusarium sp., Alternaria spp., Curvularia sp., Dreschelera sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Phoma sp., Trichoderma sp., Botrytis sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp., Colletotrichum sp., Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was observed in seeds of sunflower, with variable incidences.

This work was done in order to characterize the water holding capacity and availability to plants in three soils of coastal tablelands in the state of Paraíba using tensiometry in areas cultivated with sugarcane. The water retention curves were determined for the Neossolo Quartzarenico, Latossolo Amarelo, Latossolo Coeso soils in the depths of 0 - 30cm and from 30 - 60 cm, by the Richards extractor method and by tensiometens in PVC columns in a greenhouse in the first phase and in a battery of field tensiometers in the second phase, in the tensions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm Hg. The water retention in the soils was significantly affected (p<0,01) as a function of the tensions (TS) applied. The same effect (p<0,01) was seen for the factor soil (S) and for the interaction (TS x S) both for the extractor and the greenhouse methods as well as for the field method. According to the study of the regression analysis, the mathematical model that showed the best adjustment was the decreasing quadratic. The values of moisture content found showed the most abrupt variations at the lowest tensions. The moisture content for the Neossolo Quartzarenico demonstrated under field conditions the importance of the structure for soils retaining more moisture in the tensions studied in relation to the laboratory and greenhouse methods. Even though the clay content were similar for the Latossolo Amarelo and the Latossolo. Coeso the greatest moisture retentions were observed in the Latossolo Coeso.

The work was conducted in Acauã site, in Caucaia - Ceará State, in a "semi-árida" coast region. The objective was to evaluate thermal stress occurrence and his possible impact on ovulation induction treatment efficiency, onset of estrous behavior of dairy Goats from different breeds. Twenty two adult goats were utilized: 10 Saanen, 4 American Alpines and 8 ½ Murciana x undefined breed, raised in installations with high floor, side windows and sunny areas. The estrous induction treatment was conducted using vaginal sponges with MAP, intramuscularly Cloprostenol and eCG. In the environment were registered air temperature and humidity, Radiant Heat Load and Black-Globe Humidity Index. Rectal temperature was similar between breeds and partum order. Respiratory rate was higher in Alpine goats. The induction treatment and estrous behavior interval was similar in ½ Murciana x undefined breed goats and Saanen goats and higher in Alpines and multiparous goats. The fertility rate at 1st AI was lower in ½ Murciana x undefined breed goats and multiparous goats.

The objective was to study the morphology of the fruits and seeds of marmelinho-do-campo. The botanical characteristics were descripted and the dimensions of the fruits and seeds were obtained. For the description of the embryo, the seeds were kept immersed in distillated water for 24 hours at room temperature. The fruits of this species are indehiscent, globulous and berry-shaped. They have a fleshy mesocarp and contain a large number of seeds. The seeds show an irregular shape, but their majority is angular with triangle-deltoid sides. Their color ranges from yellowgreen to light brown. The embryo is axial, continuous and spatulate. It has short, white, foliaceous and circular cotyledons showing discrete nervures. The seeds have abundant endosperm of rigid consistency.

Soil salinity is a abiotic factor that can harmful of Rhizobium-legumes symbiosis, reducing plant nodulation and growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of saline stress on nodulation of cowpea inoculated with strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. The study was conduced out using plastic pots containing 5 kg of a Neossolo Quartzarênico typical órtico. The experimental design was randomized and the treatments consisted of five levels of salinity of irrigation water (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 dS m-1). The seeds inoculation was made using inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium sp, strain BR 2001. The evaluations were made at 35 days after plant emergence, being determined the nodule number and dry mass and shoot mass. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant effect for salinity levels on all variables. The regression analysis showed negative linear and quadratic responses for the nodule number and dry mass, respectively. In relation to the dry mass was observed negative linear response. Nodulation of cowpea was reduced by the salinity levels showing a sensibility of symbiosis to saline stress.

The experiment was executed to evaluate the temperature and pH influence on activity of peroxidase (POD) in two sweet basil (Ocimum sp.) genotypes, grown in Viçosa, MG, Brazil, the 'Large Leaf' or 'Basilicão' and 'Purple'. It was evaluated the peroxidase activity at pH's 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and the remaining activity at 80 oC treated for 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Each experiment was repeated three times. The 'Purple' genotype had higher POD specific activity. Higher and lower activities, for both genotypes, were present at pH 5 to 7 and pH 3 and 9, respectively. The heat treatment at 80 oC for 20 minutes reduced the enzyme activity by 86.28% and 100% for the genotype 'Pulple' and 'Large Leaf', respectively.

The objective of this study was to economically compare a corn silage diet supplemented with 1.3 kg/day of concentrate with sugarcane diets supplemented with a 9:1 mixture of urea plus ammonium sulphate and increasing levels o concentrate (1.3, 2.0, or 2.7 kg/day). Twelve Holstein and eight Brown Swiss dairy heifers averaging 176 kg of body weight (BW) in the beginning of the trial were blocked by breed and BW, and within each block, randomly assigned to treatments. Each experimental period lasted 28 days with 21 days for diet adaptation and seven days for data and sample collections. The average prices of feedstuffs in the state of Minas Gerais during the year of 2004 were used in the economical analyses. The sugarcane diet with greatest proportion of concentrate or, forage to concentrate ratio of 45:55 (dry matter basis), can replace corn silage in dairy production systems that plan heifer's birth age close to 24 months of age .

The present research if developed in an area of 7 ha that it was divided in seven equal sub-parcels and it had as objective to evaluate the effect of itinerant agriculture by means of drill and forest fire of the lenhosa vegetation, with subsequente plantation of maize and beans, for up to two years followed of rest for up to five years on the edafic fauna. In the period of rest these areas had been used as area of maintenance of ten sheep matrices. To the side of these systems an established secondary bush has 50 years was used as control. Had been installed traps type "Pitfal" for the collects of the fauna of the soil in the period of abundant rain and the dry period. The forest fires carried through in the treatments cultivated with maize and beans, had contributed for a drastic reduction in the diversity of the soil fauna. The group's formicidae and coleopters had been gifts more abundantly in all the handling systems what it exactly shows its presences in caatinga in adverse conditions. The period of collects of the fauna of soil influenced in the evaluated biological attributes.

The alfavacão (Ocimum gratissimum L.) is a perennial forb used in the popular medicine and wide found in domestic yards and gardens. In the period of May the June of 2005, investigated aspects of floral biology (anthesis determination, osmophores presence, stigma receptiveness and pollen viability) and the visiting insects of the O. gratissimum in the Horto de Medicinal Plantas of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, in Dourados-MS. It analyzed, also, the reproductive mechanisms and ambient factors in the visits of the insects. It was verified that the flowers of the alfavacão present climax of budding in the period that coincides with the period of higher temperatures, with average percentages of the viable grains of pollen in the daily pay-anthesis, anthesis and after anthesis phases, varied of 94% 98%. The species presented indications of being preferential autogamous, a time that had greater efficiency in the natural auto-pollinization. With relation to the visiting insects visits of eleven different species with predominance of the species of the Apidae family had been observed.