Beginning with the observed rainfall data and the potential evapotranspiration for normal, dry and rainy years, the best period for the vegetable cultivation was evaluated for Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil. The potential monthly evapotranspiration (ETP) data was computed using Hargreaves' method and transformed into ten-day averages. The sum total of rainfall over a ten day period, full evapotranspiration and half of the potential evapotranspiration data are used to characterize of the growth phase, along with the determination of the pre-humid, humid and post-humid periods. The results show that the best period for the initial growth phase in Ipojuca for dry years is from the 01st of March to the 06th of October spaning 223 days and with a total rainfall of 1414 mm. Results demonstrated that the best initial growth phase for sugar cane during normal years is from the 20th of February to the 06th of October, spaning 236 days and with a total rainfall of 1864 mm. And for the rainy years, the best period for the initial growth phase of sugar cane is from the 23th of January to the 20th of October, spanning a period of 267 days and with a total rainfall of 2578 mm.

The thermo-reflective and black screens was used for shading for plants and they has private properties that improve the microclimate conditions, it was aimed to evaluate the growth and yields in hydroponic lettuce production (Lactuca sativa L, cv. Olinda), under effect of the thermo-reflective with different percentages of attenuation of the solar radiation. The treatments were and thermo black screens 50% with four different percentages of attenuation of the solar radiation, being meshes 40, 50, 60 and 70%. It was observed significant differences in function of the treatments for all the analyzed characteristics number of leaf, diameter of stem, fresh and dry matter biomass, leaf area and distances of internodes. The meshes thermo-reflective 40 and 50%, it had provided better development for lettuce, in relation to expression of the economical characteristics, being suitable to supply shading in greenhouse conditions at Northeastern semi-arid areas. However, it's improved the most control of the solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity, with micro weather conditions the best for growth and yields of Lettuce.

Considering the importance of studies in communities dynamics, especially in vegetation sites with anthropogenic disturbs as Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil, was evaluate the edge effect caused by the opening of a oil duct on the dynamics of plants in three physiognomies of Caatinga (open shrub, riparian shrub dense and shrub dense) over 15 months (May/2007, January/2008 and August/2008), taking into account the hypothesis that there are differences in the dynamics in areas near edge and more distant. In each situations were evaluated edge and interior, so much in terms of trees in five plots of 10×10 m contiguous as of regeneration of the plants in plots of 2×2 m. Were calculate mortality, recruitment and growth rates in the edge and interior. Most important differences in terms of edge and interior occurred in open shrub Caatinga. The largest fluctuations in the values of density and diameter occurred at the edge, which indicates that the opening of the duct caused greater interference in this situation.

The aim this work was know the species of fruit fly and host plants in orchards in the urban area in the north of Minas Gerais. Were selected 10 orchards with wide variety of fruit species, which were distributed in equidistant way in the urban area of Janaúba, MG. Weekly, were collected systematically fruit flies through trap type McPhail and ripe fruit and in ripening one, on those orchards. Were collected 7.016 tephritid obtained from trap (5.226) and fruit (1.790), from which 1.044 belonged to genus Anastrepha and 5.972 were Ceratitis capitata. The specimens number of C. capitata (85.1%) was around six times superior to Anastrepha spp. (14.9%), demonstrating the preference of this species for urban orchards. Eight species of Anastrepha occur in urban orchards of Janaúba, MG. Ceratitis capitata was found infesting 10 species of host fruits, being the main S. purpurea and guava. In fruits were collected three species of Anastrepha (A. obliqua, A. sororcula and A. zenildae) which were associated with five species of fruit (Malpighia glabra L, Psidium guayava L, S. dulcis, S. purpurea and S. tuberosa). The predominant species of Anastrepha was A. obliqua, and S. tuberosa and S. purpurea being the main hosts of this species in the urban area of Janaúba, MG.

The ground pods of mesquite (GPM) was submitted to different thermal treatments for two hours after wanted temperature stabilization, for making of the treatments: A = ground pods of mesquite without heat treatment (approximately 30ºC); B = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 60ºC; C = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 80ºC; D = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 100ºC and E = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 120ºC. Soon after, samples were collected for accomplishment for chemical analyses and in vitro digestibility. A completely randomized design with three replications was utilized. The DM, CP, NFE, CF, ADF, celluloses, lignin, ash and CE values, did not were affected (P>0.05) by temperature. It was observed a quadratic effect (P<0.01) on the contents of EE, decreasing linear effect (P<0.01) on the CC and increasing linear effect on the NDF (P<0.01) and Hemicellulose (P<0.05) contents. The in vitro dry matter digestibility and the in vitro organic matter digestibility were not affected (P>0.05) by temperature. On the other hand the in vitro protein digestibility level, showed a quadratic effect (P<0.05), decreasing after 54ºC.

In sight of scarcity of references and information on the atemóia, this work considered to evaluate some chemical and physical analyses in intention to characterize two maturation stages. The used fruits in the experiment had been gotten in the Agropólo Mossoró-Assú, in the state of the Great River of the North. For this, the following analyses had been carried through: length and diameter of the fruit, total firmness of the pulp, soluble solids, pH, titulável total acidity and vitamin level C total. Differences between stadiums of maturation with degradation of the cellular components and the reserves of the fruits had been observed, thus reducing the firmness of the pulp and liberating simple sugars, respectively. It occurred increment in the acidity and consequence decrease in the value of pH. The vitamin C level didn't suffer significant alterations between such stages.

The castor bean is a demanding culture in fertility of the soil, especially of phosphorus, that is one of the nutrients more limitation the agricultural production. This experiment was carried with the objective of evaluating the answer of the castor bean during her initial development to different phosphorus doses. The used design was it entirely randomized, with five treatments and three repetitions, where the treatments consisted of different phosphorus doses (0, 3, 6, 9, 13 e 15 g planta-1). The plants were collected at 65 days after sowing for evaluation. The evaluated characteristics were: the number of leaves, leaf area, height, stem diameter, matter dries of the aerial part, of the system roots and total. The castor bean showed response to phosphate fertilizer in all characteristics evaluated, presenting consider increasing the parameters of growth. The best results were found with a dose of 9 g planta-1 P.

Red rice is grown by small farmers of Brazil, especially in the Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco States, because of its specialty characteristics, compared to white rice, like flavor, texture and supposed nutritional value. Current varieties were selected by farmers and, in general, present traditional plant architecture and small yield. Aim of this work was to compare agronomic, cooking and nutritional characteristics of white and red rice varieties. A field assay was carried out in the Embrapa Meio-Norte experimental area, in Teresina, Piauí State, and the laboratorial analysis, in Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás State. Eleven white rice and four red rice varieties were evaluated, with emphasis to yield, amylose content, cooking time, brown and polished rice, iron and zinc contents. The white rice varieties present larger yield and amylose content, requiring smaller cooking time than the red rice varieties, however the red rice varieties stand out, specially as polished rice, regarding the iron and zinc contents.

Biological control using natural enemies has become one of the main alternatives to chemical control. Among these enemies, worth highlighting the green lacewings, known for their predatory efficiency and the ability of their larvae to seek out food. The present review aimed to gather scientific knowledge about these predators, intending to encourage the inclusion of theses insects in future biological control programs.

Silk flower [Calotropis procera (Aiton) R. Br.] is a very common plant in the north-eastern Brazil, used in the animal ration in the period of food scarcity, beyond presenting phytotherapic properties and effect presented against nematoid when incorporated to the ground. The work was considered to evaluate the influence of the substrate and the temperature on the germination of seeds and the development of the seedlings. The knowledge on the germination and the more adjusted substrate can propitiate an increment in the production of seedling of silk flower. The temperature can cause changes in the germination percentage, in the speed and relative frequency of germination. In laboratory experiment using the entirely randomized delineation in array factorial 3 x 3, with 4 repetitions, whose plots had been constituted by 25 seeds. The treatments had been to the combinations of three substrate (paper towel, sand and vermiculite) with three temperatures, 25 ºC (bookshelf coated with plastic canvas), 27 ºC (laboratory environment), 30º C (chamber of controlled temperature). The analyzed variable had been the percentage of germination, VIG, SDM and height dry of the seedlings. Paper towel, under temperatures 27 and 30 °C, showed it more appropriate for the germination five days after the sowing. Sand and vermiculite under temperatures 25 and 27 ºC, showed it more appropriate for the germination and the index of speed of germination twelve days after the sowing. The dry matter of the seedlings, on sand and vermiculite was superior under temperature 30 ºC.