The growth regulators have been used in different cultures as cultural management technique that aims to reduce the size of the plant and also provide physiological changes that promote increases in grain yield. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of paclobutrazol on growth and yield performance of soybeans grown under different plant densities. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial scheme (2 × 4 × 4), with four replications, two populations of plants (250 and 450.000 plants ha - 1 ), four doses of the plant growth regulator paclobutrazol (0, 12.5, 25.0 and 37.5 g ai ha - 1 ) and four stages of application (V 3 , V 6 , R 1 and V 3 + R 1 ). Averages for the effects of stadiums applications and plant populations underwent Scott Knott test at 5% probability of doses and the regulator to regression analysis. The population of 450.000 pl ha - 1 resulted in greater plant height, lodging and most lower productivity of soybeans. The use of paclobutrazol at V 3 soybean crop did not reduce plant height or grain yield, but reduced the percentage of lodging, and in the stadiums full development of culture (V 6 ) or early reproductive period (R 1 ) reduced height and lodging, as well as the grain yield of the crop. Increases in doses regulator paclobutrazol resulted in reducing plant height, lodg- ing and grain yield of soybean.

The relative toxicity of the mustard (Brassica rapa L.) essential oil (MEO) on young and old larvae, pupae, and adults of Sitophilus zeamais and Callosobruchus maculatus was determined using concen- tration-response bioassays. The respiration rate of adults was measured to determine its influence on its toxic- ity. Different developmental stages of both species differed significantly in their response to MEO, with the adults being much more susceptible than the immature stages. Although adult mortality did not differ between species, the adult respiration rate of C. maculatus was significantly higher than that of S. zeamais. Thus, the toxicity oil for adults was not influenced by natural respiration rate of species investigated.

Browning discoloration after cutting is detrimental for the quality of a number of fruits and vegetables, such as banana, apple, pear, potato, and some roots such as cassava, yam, and others. Browning and softening compromise banana after cut shelf-life in a few hours under cold storage. Therefore, anti-browning compounds have been applied to slices before packing. Some commonly used substances are calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, cysteine and citric acid, in immersed inchemical mixtures. Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of preserving fresh-cut banana immersed in sweetened fruit juice for relatively longer periods, favoring commercialization. This type of conservation, although widely used in Brazil for fruit salads, consists of a more complex system in a physiological basis, requiring adjustment of the solution parameters, such as sugar concentration, pH and acidity, considering the viability and freshness of the plant tissue. In this short review, we discuss some experimental data and present a new method for preserving fresh-cut banana. Reduction of enzymatic activity, either in temporary dipping treatment or permanent immersion of banana slices is regarded as a key factor for maintaining its quality during cold storage.

The study aimed to examine the response of cowpea Vinegar cultivarwith inoculation of rhizobia and Trichoderma spp. at cerrado environment in Gurupi – TO, in the years of 2011 and 2012. The experiment was conducted under field conditions and experimental design of randomized blocks, corresponding to the treatments: inoculation with rhizobia and Trichoderma spp. in the seed; the seed inoculation with rhizobia and Trichoderma spp. in the soil; the seed inoculation with rhizobia and Trichoderma spp. in the seed and soil; only inoculation with rhizobia; fertilized with nitrogen; and control non-inoculated and non-fertilized with nitrogen. Inoculation was performed with the rhizobia strains INPA 03-11B and UFLA 03-84. For treatments with Trichoderma spp. was used to inoculate commercial Trichoplus JCO powder formulation. The results indicated that the potential for nitrogen fixation of rhizobia strains tested, and the Trichoderma bioprotection was of fundamental importance for biomass, production, nodulation and yield, which may be related with the effective capacity to supply nitrogen and protection against pathogens. Generallythe inoculation with rhizobia and Trichoderma in the seed and soil, provided better results on the variables analyzed for both season, with higher productivity than other treatments

The process of production of Biodiesel Directly Seed (PDS) of oil using a catalyst based on NaOH in the transesterification reaction. The primary byproduct of this process is the pie PDS, this presents considerable levels of sodium in their composition, which can be limiting in the activity of microorganisms during mineralization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineralization rate of castor bean cake pro- duced from the direct process of the seed (PDS), added to soil samples collected at a depth of 0 - 20 cm of a Typic Eutrophic (CXbe) located in the area of the Apodi Plateau, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The castor bean used were from the Experimental Station of Biodiesel (UEB - 2), Research Center Leopoldo Americo Miguez de Mello, Guamaré, RN. For the study was used castor bean in fresh state and treated with distilled water to re- move the Na + . The material was incubated in increasing leaves of castor bean PDS 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg ha - 1 for a period of 32 days. Was evaluated the decomposition of the material through the evolution of CO 2 . The mineralization rate of the pie PDS castor in a Cambisol is not influenced by sodium levels present in in natura and treated pie. The treatment with pie PDS water is effective in reducing the levels of total and ex- changeable sodium, but as a result there are losses of N and K.

This study aimed to evaluate antagonism and metabolites produced by different species of Ba- cillus in the inhibition of mycelial growth in vitro against F. oxysporum f. sp . lycopersici . For evaluating the antagonism of Bacillus spp. F. oxysporum f. sp . lycopersici was performed pairing of fungus and bacteria by the method of the circle. In the method for detection for the quality for thermostable metabolites liquids. Media BD were used for growth of the isolated Bacillus sp. And incubated for 15 days. After this period, was added 3 g of agar in each flask, and autoclaved broth and poured into Petri dishes. In the center of the plates were placed discs culture of the pathogen. The experimental design was completely randomized with 11 treatments and six repetitions in both experiments. Statistical difference was found between the isolate and the control. Special mention to strains B12 ( Bacillus sp.), B41 ( B. cereus ), B22' ( B.pentothenticus ), B45 ( B. cereus ), B47 ( B. cereus ) that exhibited the lowest average diameter of the colony. To study the inhibition of mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici by thermostatable metabolites five differ statistically from the control they are: B35 ( B. pumilus ), B47 ( B. cereus ), B22' ( B. pentothenticus ), B12 ( Bacillus sp.) and B41 ( B. cereus ) the latter two treatments showed the best results of the pathogen colony diameters and 3.81 to 2.89 cm, respective- ly. B12 and B41 Isolates showed that their antibiotic products were able to inhibit 67.88 % and 57,66 % of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici . These results highlight the possibility of using isolates of the genus Bacillus in the fight against fusarium wilt in tomato.

Macroptilium martii Benth. is a native grass species of the Caatinga, used in the feeding of cattle and goats during dry periods. This study aimed to characterize the fruit and seeds, as well as evaluating the germination of the seeds of M. martii subjected to different methods of scarification. For the characterization of the seeds was carried out using biometrics a random sample of 100 seeds and 100 fruits. Mass, length, width and thickness of fruits and seeds, and number of seeds per fruit were evaluated. With and without lopping: monitoring the soaking curve using two treatments: with and without lopping. Twelve pregerminative to assess seed dormancy treatments were used: control, coating, soaking for 12, 24 and 48 hours, warm to 80 °C for 3, 6 and 12 minutes and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 3, 6 water 12 minutes. The seeds were germinated as substrate type germitest paper towel. The design was completely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds each. The data were submitted to Tukey test at 5% probability. The seeds of M. martii have low variation for biometric features. Furthermore, seeds respond to standard soaking phase, being verified by the dormancy coating impermeable. The most appropriate method for breaking dormancy is blunt on the side opposite the micropyle, it provides the best conditions for seed germination.

Fueron conducidos dos experimentos individuales en el municipio de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Se empleó dos cultivares de melón, ‘Olimpic express’ (del tipo Cantaloupo) e ‘Iracema’ (del tipo Amarillo), para evaluar el crecimiento y la acumulación de macronutrientes, bajo el diseño de bloques al azar con siete tratamientos (épocas de muestreo) y tres repeticiones. Los muestreos de plantas fueron realizados a los 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 y 56 días después del trasplante (DDT). El crecimiento fue lento hasta 28 DDT en ambos cultivares evaluados, intensificándose en el periodo siguiente, alcanzando a los 56 DDT, 246.4g planta-1, en ‘Olimpic express’,y 266.9 g planta-1, en ‘Iracema’, siendo la materia seca (MS) de los frutos correspondientes a 60% y 64% de la MS total, respectivamente. Mayores acumulaciones de N, P y K fueron obtenidos en los frutos, mientras de Ca, Mg y S en las hojas. Al final del ciclo, en ‘Olimpic express’, cuya productividad fue de 32 t ha-1, fueron acumulados 173.4, 110.1, 101.1, 26.9, 15.6 y 13.5 kg ha-1 de K, Ca, N, Mg, S y P, respectivamente, y en ‘Iracema’, cuya productividad fue de 38 t ha-1, fueron acumulados 136.0, 93.9, 84.1, 22.6, 15.4 y 9.5 kg ha-1 de K, N, Ca, Mg, S y P, respectivamente. En relación al total acumulado, las exportaciones de N, P, K, Ca, Mg y S en los frutos fueron de 61, 73, 66, 9, 35 y 39% (‘Olimpic express’)y 58, 70, 55, 6, 33 y 41% (‘Iracema’). Con una menor producción de frutos y una mayor acumulación de nutrientes, ‘Olimpic express’ ha demostrado ser menos eficiente en el uso de nutrientes que ‘Iracema’.

One of the characteristics of maize cultivation in the Northeast region of Brazil is the diversity of production systems. One can find from large companies, which adopt modern cultivars and relatively high sowing densities, to small properties, with traditional cultivars grown at low sowing densities (cultivation in pits spaced more than 1.0 m). The objective with this work was to evaluate the effects of sowing density (30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 thousand plants ha-1) on green ear yield and grain yield of maize cultivars (AG 405 and BR 106). Green ears and grain are assessed and marketed differently. Consequently the optimum densities for ob- taining each product may be different. In addition, maize cultivars may respond differently to increased density. Densities were achieved by maintaining a constant spacing between rows (1.0 m) and varying the spacing be- tween pits within the same row. Cultivars and sowing densities were combined in a factorial scheme, arranged in a random block design with five replications. The maximum yield of marketable husked green ears of culti- vars AG BR 405 and 106 were obtained with densities of 59 and 62 thousand plants ha-1, respectively. The maximum grain yield of cultivars AG 405 and BR 106 were obtained with densities of 61 and 70 thousand plants ha-1, respectively. In general, to produce marketable green ears, cultivar BR 106 was better in terms of number of ears, but the other cultivar was better in terms of ear weight. Cultivar AG 405 responds better to increased density for grain production.

The scarcity of good quality water in semiarid region has been the main limiting factor for in- creasing the irrigated area. However, due to greater availability of saline water, and reduced costs, when man- aged carefully, can be a viable alternative. The objective of this research was to study the effects of water use with low (S1 = 0,5 dS m-1) and high (S2 = 4,3 dS m-1) salt concentration on growth of melon plant. Melon (Cucumis melo L., cv Sancho) crop was irrigated with water of low and high salinity water under different management strategies: S1S2S2S2 – T1, S1S1S2S2 – T2, S1S1S1S2 – T3, S2S1S2S2 – T4, S2S1S1S2 – T5, S2S2S1S2 – T6 (the 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th term of these sequences correspond to different phases of crop – initial growth, flowering, fruit maturation and harvest, respectively), irrigation with S1 water throughout the crop cycle – T7 (control), varying the type of water every two days throughout the cycle (irrigation with S1 during 2 days fol- lowed by S2 1 day – T8 and with S2 during 2 days and followed by S1 1 day – T9) and irrigation with S2 water throughout the cycle - T10. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replica- tions. The use of low and high salinity water applied in different phases of plant growth under different man- agement strategies did not affect the characteristics of melon cultivar Sancho. The cultivar Sancho tolerates irrigation water salinity up to 4,3 dS m-1, without any loss in growth and development.