The potential insecticidal of oils from southwestern Amazon plants against Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was investigated. Initial bioassays were performed with undiluted oils from 11 plant species. The efficacy of the oils was evaluated against eggs and third-instar caterpillars of S. frugiperda. The oils of Copaifera sp. (Leguminosae), Orbignya phalerata (Arecaceae), and Carapa guianensis (Meliaceae) displayed a high efficacy against the caterpillars and were used in subsequent concentration-response bioassays, at concentrations established through preliminary tests. The highest nonlethal concentrations of oils and the lowest lethal concentrations were calculated. A completely randomized design was adopted in both bioassays. The LC50 of the oils varied from 7.50 to 60.84% (v/v). Copaifera sp. oil had the highest toxicity and was 6.84-fold more toxic than O. phalerata oil and 8.11-fold more toxic than Carapa guianensis oil. In general, oils from Copaifera sp., O. phalerata, and Carapa guianensis were effective in controlling S. frugiperda caterpillars under laboratory conditions, and are good candidates for use in integrated management programs of corn pests.

Two experiments were performed for the purpose of determining the nutritional value and assess the performance and carcass traits in pigs fed on canola meal (Brassica napus). Experiment I consisted of a total digestibility trial conducted with 14 castrated commercial crossbred male pigs with 60.69 ± 4.26 kg initial live weight. The treatments consisted of a control diet based on maize and soybean meal and another diet containing canola meal (control + 25% canola meal). Each pig was an experimental unit, totalling seven experimental units per diet. The digestible energy and the metabolizable energy of canola meal used was 2,999 and 2,730 kcal.kg-1, respectively. These values were used to formulate the diets of the performance experiment. Experiment II included 50 crossbred pigs with an average initial live weight of 29.90 ± 1.16 kg and an average final live weight of 60.33 ± 3.38 kg during the growing phase, and an average initial live weight of 60.37 ± 1.6 kg and an average final live weight of 90.37 ± 3.19 kg during the finishing phase. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with four treatments (6, 12, 18, and 24% canola meal), 10 repetitions, and one pig per experimental unit. The control diet was formulated with 0% canola meal. The data were assessed using ANOVA test and the averages of the treatments were compared using Dunnett's test and regression analysis at a 5% probability level. The results suggest that it is possible to use up to 24% canola meal in the diets for pigs during the growing and finishing phases without affecting the performance and carcass traits.

Psidium guineense Sw , popularly known as araçá, is a fruit tree there is widely distributed in Brazil and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. In northeastern Brazil, araçá occurs along coast and in the Zona da Mata; its fruit looks like guava but is more acidic and has a stronger smell. There is a little information about this species, which increases the difficulty of conserving its genetic resources and exploiting araçá as an economic resource. The objective of this research was the evaluation of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of P. guineense from Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata. One hundred and fourteen individuals and 18 isozyme loci were evaluated, showing 28 alleles. The percentage of polymorphic loci ( ) and the average number of alleles per locus ( ) were 0.5 and 1.5, respectively, in this population. The expected heterozygosity , which corresponds to the genetic diversity, ranged from 0.22 to 0.23, a high value when considering that isozymes mark access from the functional genome. The differentiation index among the population was ( ) = 0.015; therefore, the populations were not different among the sampled places. The inbreeding values ( ) ranged from - 0.549 to - 0.794, indicating an absence of inbreeding and a greater - than - expected heterozygosity in all the studied populations. The estimated gene flow ( N m ) for a pair of this population ranged from 3.23 to 20.77, sufficient to avoid genetic differentiation among the population and in accordance with the values of genetic divergence found in this study.

Tambaqui is intensively farmed because of its production characteristics; however, there is a lack of information lacks about the nutritional requirements of this species. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of various crude protein (CP) levels in the diets of tambaqui fingerlings. A total of 750 fingerlings with an initial weight of 0.35 ± 0.09 g were selected in a completely randomized design with six treatments (experimental feeds with 20%, 24%, 28%, 32%, 36%, and 40% CP), five replicates, and 25 fish per experimental unit. Performance, survival rate, carcass yield, body composition, protein deposition, body fat, and nitrogen retention efficiency were evaluated after 45 days. CP levels did not affect the following: feed conversion, survival rate, moisture content, and carcass yield. However, with increasing CP levels, protein efficiency ratio decreased. Weight gain, feed conversion, and specific growth rate improved until CP levels of 31.57%, 28.90%, and 31.12%, respectively, were achieved. Quadratic effects of elevated CP levels on body fat and body fat deposition were observed at minimum CP levels of 26.55% and 23.77%, respectively; and on body protein, body protein deposition, and nitrogen retention efficiency at maximum CP levels of 29.26%, 32.50%, and 27.21%, respectively. We conclude that a CP level of 31.57% is recommended for the diets of tambaqui fingerlings weighing between 0.35 and 15.11 g, which corresponds to a digestible energy:CP ratio of 9.50 kcal DE/g CP.

Brazilian coffee farming is carried out both on flat and steep lands. In flat areas, mechanized operations are intensive; however, in steep slope areas, certain mechanized operations cannot be performed, such as harvesting. Based on this, the industry has developed machinery to harvest coffee in areas with up to 30% slope. However, harvesters have their efficiency and operational performance influenced by land slope. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the operational performance and harvesting efficiency of a steep-slope harvester under different situations, using different speed settings. The experiment was carried out in the county of Santo Antônio do Amparo, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, using five coffee stands with 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% slope. Evaluations were performed with a self-propelled harvester (Electron, TDI®, Araguari, MG, Brazil) at three rotation speeds (600, 800 and 1.000 rpm) and two ground speeds (800 and 1.000 m h-1). The results showed the lower speed (800 m h-1) was suitable for 10% slope areas since the amount of fallen coffee berries. For areas of 20% slope, harvesting time was 21.6% longer than in flatter areas. Downtime varied from 10.66 to 29.18% total harvest due to a higher number of maneuvers.

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variation in milk production, milk components, and reproductive traits in dairy buffaloes. A total of 9,318 lactation records from 3,061 cows were used to estimate the heritability of milk yield (MY), fat percentage (%F), protein percentage (%P), lactation length (LL), calving interval (CI), and age at first calving (AFC), as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations between these traits. Covariance components were estimated by Bayesian inference in a multitrait animal model using the GIBBS2F90 program. Contemporary groups and number of milkings (1 or 2) were included as fixed effects, age of dam at calving (linear and quadratic effects) as a covariate, and additive genetic , permanent environmental, and residual effects as random effects. The heritability estimates (± standard deviation) were 0.24 ± 0.02, 0.34 ± 0.05, 0.40 ± 0.05, 0.09 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.01, and 0.16 ± 0.04 for MY, %F, %P, LL, CI, and AFC, respectively. The genetic correlations between MY and %F, %P, LL, CI, and AFC were - 0.29, - 0.18, 0.66, 0.08, and 0.24, respectively. Milk production and milk components showed sufficient genetic variation to obtain genetic gains through selection. The genetic correlations between MY and milk components were negative, and thus, undesirable because efforts to increase MY may decrease milk quality . Reproductive traits had little genetic influence, indicating that improvement of management would be sufficient to obtain better performance.

RESUMO: Os sistemas de cultivo modificam os atributos do solo, podendo alterar sua qualidade. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as alterações nos atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos de solos sob sistemas de cultivo orgânico (solos cultivados organicamente há mais de sete anos), em conversão para orgânico e convencional, tendo como referência o solo sob mata, assim como identificar os atributos a serem utilizados como indicadores de qualidade do solo. Foram selecionadas três áreas de propriedades agrícolas, localizadas nos municípios de Areia, Remígio e Lagoa Seca, Paraíba, para a coleta de amostras de solo deformadas, nas camadas de 0-10 e 10-20 cm. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA, Teste de Tukey e Análise de Componentes Principais. Houve redução da densidade do solo (Ds) e aumento da porosidade total (PT) no sistema de cultivo orgânico comparado aos sistemas de cultivo em conversão para orgânico e convencional. Os teores de fósforo e de carbono orgânico (CO), a soma de bases (SB), a capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC), a matéria orgânica particulada leve (MOPL), o carbono da matéria orgânica particulada leve (CMOPL), a respiração edáfica (RE) e o pH dos solos sob cultivo orgânico foram superiores aos obtidos nos solos sob cultivo convencional. O cultivo em bases orgânicas proporcionou a manutenção da qualidade do solo em condições semelhantes e/ou melhores que a condição de mata e para as condições deste trabalho os indicadores mais adequados para analisar o cultivo em bases orgânicas foram Ds, PT, CO, MOPL, CMOPL, pH, SB, CTC e RE. | SUMMARY: Cropping systems modify soil attributes and may change its quality.The work had the objective to evaluate the changes in physical, chemical and biological soil under organic farming systems (soils cultivated organically for more than seven years), in conversion to organic and conventional, with reference to the soil under native forest, and identify the attributes used as indicators of soil quality. Three areas of farm crops, located in the municipalities of Areia, Remígio, and Lagoa Seca, the state of Paraíba, Brazil were selected, and soil samples deformed collected in the layers 0-10 and 10-20 cm. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, the Tukey Test, and the Principal Component Analysis. There was a reduction of soil density (Ds) and increased porosity (PT) in the system of organic farming compared to cropping systems in conversion organic and conventional. The contents of phosphorus and organic carbon (CO), the base sum (SB), cation exchange capacity (CTC), light particulate organic matter (MOPL), carbon particulate organic matter light (CMOPL), edaphic respiration (RE) and pH of soils under organic cultivation are higher than soils under conventional tillage.The growing organic basis contributes to the maintenance of soil quality under similar conditions and/or even better than the condition forest and, under the conditions of this study, the most appropriate indicators to analyze the cultivation organic basesare Ds, PT, CO, MOPL, CMOPL, pH, SB, CTC e RE.

RESUMO: A longevidade das hastes florais é um dos principais aspectos observados na produção de flores para corte, constituindo-se um pré-requisito para a qualidade do produto e sucesso da comercialização. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a conservação de inflorescências de helicônias com ou sem renovação da água de manutenção, previamente adubadas com doses crescentes de nitrogênio e potássio. Foram utilizadas inflorescências de helicônias da espécie Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata cv. Golden Torch cultivadas a céu aberto no Setor de Floricultura da UFPI, Bom Jesus (PI), sob doses crescentes de adubação com N e K. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 x 2, correspondendo a: i) doses de N (0, 120, 180 e 240 g de N cova1); ii) doses de K (0, 120, 180 e 240 g de K2O cova-1); e iii) renovação da água de manutenção (sem e com renovação) com três repetições e três hastes cada uma. Fora realizado a avaliação de absorção de água pelas hastes florais, perda de massa fresca das hastes florais, massa seca das hastes florais e longevidade pós-colheita. A dose de 180 g cova-1 tanto de N quanto K proporcionou a maior longevidade das hastes florais com manutenção da qualidade. A absorção de água pelas hastes florais e sua massa seca após a colheita foram influenciadas pela adubação prévia de N e K. A renovação da água de manutenção também influenciou positivamente na longevidade das hastes florais, sendo um manejo indicado para manter a qualidade pós-colheita. | ABSTRACT: The post-harvest of floral stems is one of the main features observed in the production of flowers for cutting, becoming a prerequisite for product quality and successful marketing. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the conservation of heliconias inflorescences with or without renewal of the water maintenance, previously fertilized with increasing doses of nitrogen and potassium. Inflorescences of Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinata cultivar Golden Torch were used and grown in open conditions in the Floriculture area at UFPI, city of Bom Jesus, Piauí State under increasing doses of fertilization with N and K. The stems were harvested in the morning, standardized and placed in containers with 500 mL of water. The design was a randomized block in factorial 4 x 4 x 2, corresponding to: i) N doses (0, 120, 180, and 240 g N hole-1), ii) K doses (0, 120, 180, and 240 g K2O hole-1), and iii) renewing the water maintenance in vase (with and without renewal) with three replicates of three stems each. Some evaluations were observed during the Study, such as: the water uptake by the flower stems; loss of fresh weight of the flower stems, dry weight of the flower stems and post-harvest longevity. The dose of 180 g hole-1 both as N and K provided the longevity of the flower stems with quality maintenance. The absorption of water by the flower stems and its dry mass after harvesting are influenced by previous fertilizer N and K. The renewal of the water maintenance also positively influence the longevity of flower stems and its a management indicated to maintain quality post-harvest.

RESUMO: O milheto é uma forrageira com alto potencial produtivo, principalmente devido a sua alta tolerância ao déficit hídrico e adaptação a solos de baixa fertilidade. Mesmo sendo adaptada a solos de baixa fertilidade é responsiva à adubação nitrogenada. Assim, o objetivo foi avaliar o crescimento e a eficiência nutricional de cultivares de milheto forrageiro em função de doses de nitrogênio (N). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em um Latossolo Amarelo Distrófico típico. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, arranjado em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com seis repetições. Os fatores constituíram-se de tratamento controle (sem adubação com N) e três doses de N (75, 150 e 225 kg ha-1) na forma de uréia e sulfato de amônio e duas cultivares de milheto (BN2 e ADR500). E a colheita realizada 80 dias após a emergência. A maior produção de matéria seca da parte aérea foi obtida com a dose estimada de 179 kg ha-1 de N. A cultivar ADR500 apresentou maior altura e maior eficiência de translocação, enquanto a BN2 apresentou maior teor de N da parte aérea e de raízes. A maior eficiência de utilização e translocação de N foram alcançadas com as doses estimadas de 109 e 133 ha-1 de N para as cultivares ADR500 e BN2, respectivamente. | ABSTRACT: The millet is a forage with high yield potential, mainly due to its high tolerance to water deficit and adaptation to soils of low fertility. Even being adapted to soils of low fertility, it is responsive to nitrogen fertilization. The objective was to evaluate the growth and nutritional efficiency of millet forage cultivars, due to nitrogen (N). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in a typical Yellow Oxisol Dystrophic. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with six repetitions. The factors were the control treatment (without fertilization with N) and three doses of N (75, 150 and 225 kg ha-1) in the form of urea and ammonium sulfate and two cultivars of pearl millet (BN2 and ADR500). The harvest was performed 80 days after the emergency. The higher production of dry matter of aerial part was obtained with the estimated dose of 179 kg ha-1 of N. The cultivar ADR500 showed the highest height and greater efficiency of translocation, while the BN2 showed higher N content of the aerial part and roots. The greater efficiency of use and translocation of N were achieved with doses estimated for 109 and 133 ha-1 of N for the cultivars ADR500 and BN2, respectively.

RESUMO: O experimento teve como objetivo associar conceitos para avaliação do vigor de sementes, o envelhecimento acelerado e crescimento de plântulas medido por meio da análise de imagens. Para tanto, cinco lotes de sementes com diferentes níveis de vigor de dois híbridos simples foram utilizados. As sementes foram caracterizadas pelo teor de água, germinação, porcentagem e índice de velocidade de emergência de plântulas, envelhecimento acelerado e teste de frio. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por diferentes períodos de envelhecimento acelerado (0, 24, 48, 72 e 96h) e de crescimento de plântulas (48 e 72h) e, em seguida, as plântulas, submetidas à análise de imagens para mensuração do comprimento de raízes. A adaptação do teste de envelhecimento acelerado, reduzindo a duração do envelhecimento de 96h para 48h e a substituição do teste de germinação pela mensuração do comprimento de raízes das plântulas por meio da análise de imagens, comprovou-se um método potencial para avaliação da qualidade de sementes de milho. Assim, os tratamentos compostos por 48h de envelhecimento, seguido pela mensuração do comprimento de raízes utilizando a análise de imagens, forneceram dados confiáveis em comparação aos testes de vigor tradicionais e podem ser considerados uma nova abordagem para a análise de vigor de sementes. | ABSTRACT: This study aimed to associate two concepts of seed vigor testing, the aging and seedling growth using image analysis, providing a feasible and time-saving way to evaluate maize seed vigor in large scale. For this purpose, five seed lots with different vigor levels from two single hybrids were used. The seeds were characterized by moisture content, germination, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed index, accelerated aging and cold tests. The treatments were composed by varying the accelerated aging periods (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96h) and seedling growth periods (48 and 72h), before submitting the seedlings to image analysis for seedling root length measurement. Considering the results obtained, the adaptation of accelerated aging test by reducing the aging duration from 96h to 48h, and the replacement of the germination test by seedling root length measurement using image analysis could be considered a potential tool for maize seed vigor assessment. The treatments composed of 48h of seed aging followed by seedlings root length measurements using image analysis provided reliable data, compared to traditional vigor tests and it could be considered an efficient and time-saving approach, associating two different concepts of seed vigor analysis.