Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) is a shrub originating from Australia, which represents one of the forage resources suitable for rainfed land in arid and semiarid regions of Brazil, they have tolerance to dry and saline. In this context, it was aimed to verifying the effect of partial replacement of the conventional diet of saltbush hay on performance and carcass quality of chickens. The treatments consisted of substituting 0, 5, 10 and 15% of the basal saltbush hay. There was a significant effect (P <0.01) of the replacement of the hay on intake of crude protein, crude fiber and gross energy, average daily gain, feed conversion, body weight, absolute weight of carcass, thigh, chest and abdominal fat, and relative weight of thigh, abdominal fat and liver, indicating that the replacement of hay up to 10% of the conventional diet for broiler chickens does not compromise on performance and carcass characteristics of chickens.

Studies with Stegasta bosquella in peanut crop are little explored by researchers, mainly by the need of obtaining, in the field, a large quantity of closed leaflets. Therefore, it was sought a way of rearing in a natural diet that facilitates the attainment of the insect. The research was developed at the Laboratório de Resistência de Plantas a Insetos (FCAV/Jaboticabal) (T: 25 ± 2 °C, RH 60 ± 10% and photophase: 12 hours) (Runner IAC 886). The rearing stock of was carried out by collecting caterpillars from the field and keeping them in flat bottom glass tubes until adult emergence and test performance. Caterpillars were individualized in Petri dish plates, lined with moistened filter paper, which contained closed and early opened leaflets, but closed with paper clips (imitating the closed leaflet). A randomized design with two treatments and 36 repetitions was used. After the pupae formation, they were separated into five couples and the adults were kept in transparent plastic cages containing a peanut stem with leaves for oviposition, and fed with a 10% honey solution. The duration and viability of the larval and pupal periods, male and female longevity with and without food, and fertility were evaluated. The two forms of larvae rearing (closed leaflet and leaflet closed with clips) did not influence on any of the studied parameters. Therefore, the rearing of S. bosquella becomes feasible in natural diet, which means there is no need to use the enclosed leaflets for this purpose, and implies the easiness for rearing.

Faced with the need for conservation of water resources it is necessary to better irrigation management. The objective of this research was to analyse the water requirement in Pernambuco State, Brazil, represented by the evapotranspiration reference (ET0), in diferents regimes annuals of precipitation: rainfall, regular and dry. The ET0 values were estimated through the Thornthwaite e Mather (1955) method starting from data originated by the registration of 45 climatological stations of the SUDENE (Superintendence of Northeast Development). In general, the results showed that the ET0 were variable on the three Mesoregion, reaching medium values from 915 to 1.549 mm year-¹. The Pernambuco State presents an annual water deficit in approximately 70% of its total area. The months that presented the greatest and smallest water requirements in the State were January and July, respectively. The knowledge of spacial and temporal distribuition of ETo on Mesoregions of Pernambuco bring benefits to producers who can make water management more suited to local crops.

This study was carried out in a mixed orchard in the municipality of Belmonte, in the southernmost region of Bahia and it aimed at characterizing the fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) population using faunistic analysis and studying its population fluctuation. The study was conducted from August 2007 to August 2009. Fruit fly captures were carried out using McPhail traps baited with protein hydrolisate at 5%. Weekly, the captured insects found in traps were transferred to plastic vials, one vial per trap, filled with 70% ethanol and taken to the laboratory for identification. A total of 9,709 fruit flies was captured, out of which 9,477 specimens were Anastrepha (5,908 females and 3,569 males) and 232 specimens were Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (201 females and 31 males). Nine species of Anastrepha were recorded: Anastrepha bahiensis (Lima) (2.59%), Anastrepha distincta (Greene) (2.71%), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (59.37%), Anastrepha leptozona (Hendel) (0.02%), Anastrepha manihoti (Lima) (0.02%), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (2.98%), Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) (0.07%), Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi (29.14%), Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (0.22%), and C. capitata (2.88%). Anastrepha fraterculus and A. sororcula were the dominant species and only A. fraterculus was constant on the orchard. The values of the Simpson (0.51) and of Shannon (01.35) indices were intermediate and the modified Hill index was 0.49, indicating a medium diversity. The high est capturevalues of Anastrepha spp. occurred from July to December 2008, with a population peak in September.

The present work had as objective to carry through the agroclimatic zoning of the culture of surinam cherry in the state of Pernambuco. They had been used given average annual of minimum and maximum pluvial precipitation and pertaining temperatures of air the 201 climatologic station located in the main representative cities of the regions of the State for the elaboration of the water balance and the attainment of the thermal and water limits. The function density of probability of the distribution gamma was used to classify the dry, regular and rainy years. The maps of dry, regular and rainy years had been produced using interpolation for kriging. The results had presented 19 cities with full aptitude for dry years, 50 cities for regular years and 66 cities for rainy years apt to the culture of surinam cherry. The cities of Cortês, Gameleira and Palmares had revealed with better aptitudes agroclimatic for the culture of the surinam cherry in Pernambuco.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence of priming and efficiency of two methods of scarification on dormancy break of brave peanut seeds. After scarification with sulfuric acid and sandpaper, seeds were placed in mannitol solutions at concentrations 0.0 (control), -0.25, -0.50, -0.75 and -1.00 MPa for six days at 10 °C. Water content and germination percentage were determined. It was observed that, at 0.0 MPa, the seeds were scarified with H2SO4 had higher water content than the scarified with sandpaper, this may be related to uniform wear in the seed coat caused by H2SO4. For the water content, due the concentrations of mannitol, there was a significant linear response, only for the chemical scarification. However, it was observed null for both. The maximum responses of germination were 79.36% (chemical scarification) and 95.56% (scarification) with a maximum point of -0.41 MPa either. The scarification with sandpaper was most effective, however, at concentrations above -0.41 MPa, it was observed reduction in germination percentage.

The objective of this research was to characterize the nutritional limitations of Jatropha curcas, in addition the effect of the absence of certain nutrients in the growth of the plant. The research was carried in the greenhouse conditions at Agriculture Science Institute of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The soil was used dystrophic Yellow Oxisol, colleted in the superficial layer (0-20cm), under cerrado vegetation. The experimental design was totally randomized with 13 treatments and three replications. The treatments were based on the missing element technique (with omission of liming and each one of the macro and micronutrients). The plants without the nutrients P, K and liming showed less growth. The nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg e liming affected the shoot of plants. The roots were more affected by absence N, P, Mg and Ca. The results allowed concluding that the macronutrients were more limiting to growth of plant.

The goal of the current report was to evaluate the initial development of Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan.) and Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne intercropped with cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz.). The experimental design was a randomized block design with sub-divided plots and four repetitions. The treatments tested in the plots were the cultivation with the cassava (Manihot esculenta) and in the subparcels the fertilization with 200 g simple superphosphate. The survival percentage, height, stem diameter of tree species and biomass of cassava were evaluated. The survival rates for H. stigonocarpa and A. macrocarpa were 95% and 99%, respectively. The highest ratio of relative growth in diameter and height was observed for A. macrocarpa. The cassava productivity was not affected by the arboreous plants, therefore cassava may be intercropped with these tree species.

This paper aimed to collect, to characterize and to estimate the phenotypic divergence of Dimorphandra spp. from different regions of Brazil. Dimorphandra species are sources of rutin, quercetin and rhamnose for pharmaceutical industry. Fruits at mature stage were collected from 21 areas, totaling 84 trees in cities of Minas Gerais, Maranhão and Tocantins states. The following descriptors were used to characterize the collected fruits: mean fruit fresh weight; mean seed fresh weight; fruit length and diameter; length, diameter and thickness of seed; seed color; number of viable and unviable seeds per fruit, and boron content in mesocarp and endocarp. The data were analyzed using a standardized average Euclidian distance matrix. The areas were clustered based on Neighbor Joining algorithm. Phenotypic variability among areas was detected. The clustering of the groups was consistent with geographic region of the collection and the species were separated in different groups. The D. wilsonii Rizz. species was the most divergent considering the three studied species. However, for germplasm conservation, more expeditions to collect samples are needed to increase the effective population number and to ensure an adequate accuracy to assure the occurrence of minimal genetic erosion.

The determination of leaf area is of interest to producers and sectors of research, and techniques should be simple, quick and accurate. This study aimed to compare methods for estimating leaf area of Barbados cherry in orchard. 60 leaves were collected randomly, and after collection, were measurements of leaf area by five methods: squares, linear dimensions, leaf area integrator AM 300, leaf disks and Digital Image Analysis (Scanner). All methods were compared with the reference method (scanner), based on the criterion of determination coefficient of linear regression (R2). The method that is closer to the leaf area of reference was the integrator portable AM 300.