This paper has evaluated the alterations in the number of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and enzymatic activity in soil under cultivation of banana trees in Chapada of Apodi. The hypothesis was tested that the agricultural use causes environmental alterations that they reduce the presence of population of AMF and the microbial activity. An area was selected under cultivation of banana trees (Farm Frutacor) and its control (natural vegetation). Four soil samples were collected in three depths in which analyses were accomplished, the number of spores of AMF by Gerdemann and Nicholson (1964) and enzymatic activity: acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase and b-glucosidase by Tabatabai, (1994). The number of spores of AMF show values decreasing with the rise in depth in area cultivated. The activity of the arylsulphatase and acid phosphatase were stimulated by the competition of the anions H2PO4- and SO4- for the same ranches of adsorption in the colloids of the soil. For b-glucosidase, there was a larger activity in the cultivated area, influenced by the amount and quality of the vegetable residue. The enzymatic activity evidences a difficulty of establishing correlations between the biochemistry and chemistry of the soil in area where the entrance of nutrients is high.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the development of melon seedlings grown in different substrates. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse covered with 25% screen, at the Department of Technology and Social Sciences -DTCS of the University of the State of Bahia / UNEB, Juazeiro-BA, from July to August 2005. It was used a completely randomized experimental design with six treatments and four replications, each one consisted of 50 seedlings. The treatments composed of the substrates: Plantmax HT©; soil; sterilized soil; sugarcane residue; sugarcane residue + soil (1:1) and sugarcane residue + urea. Polystyrene trays of 200 cells were used as containers, where seeds of the AF882 melon cultivar. We sowed at 1 cm depth, using one seed per cell. The emergence percentage, average emergence time and average emergence velocity were determined. Fourteen days after sowing were evaluated seedling height, shoot and toot fresh and dry masses leaf area and chlorophyll content. The results allow one to conclude that the commercial substrate Plantmax HT© and the sterilized soil were those that provided the best melon seedlings formation.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the wood natural resistance of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. of phenotypes (plants) with and without prickles to subterranean termite (Nasutitermes corniger Motsch.) in forced feeding and feeding preference assays, under laboratory conditions. Wood test samples measuring 2.54 x 1.50 x 0.64 cm (forced feeding) and 10.00 x 1.50 x 0.64 cm (feeding preference), with the largest measurement in the fiber direction, were obtained from three positions from pith to bark direction. The samples were exposed for 28 days (forced feeding) and 45 days (feeding preference) to Nasutitermes corniger Motsch. termites. In forced feeding assay the termites caused superficial attack in wood and lived during 8 to 10 days, thus the wood was classified as resistant. In forced feeding assay more mass loss and attack in wood of external positions to both phenotypes was observed. To the waste and survival time of termites were similar to both types. In feeding preference a larger mass loss and waste to inner position in both phenotypes was observed. In general, the plants with prickles lost more mass than the one without prickles. Therefore, the wood of plants without prickles is more suitable to be use in construction of fences, sheepfolds and other similar uses where the wood shall be subject to attack by termites.

In desalination process, besides the potable water, highly salty and pollutant water (brine) is generated, which can be used for producing crops since it is carefully monitored. In order to test this hypothesis, bell pepper plants, cv. 'Margarita', were grown in coconut fiber substrate under greenhouse and were irrigated with nutrient solutions prepared with tap water, brine from desalination plant, and its dilution with tap water at 75, 50 and 25%, giving a range of electrical conductivities of the nutrient solution (ECs) of 2.6, 3.1, 6.6, 10.0 and 12.2 dS m-1 after the dilutions and fertilizers addition. Completely randomized blocks design was used with 5 treatments (salinity levels of the nutrient solutions) and six replications. Leaf area, number of marketable fruit, total and marketable yield were reduced with ECs increase. The marketable yield of bell pepper 'Margarita' reduced 6.3% for each unitary increase of ECs above 2.6 dS m-1 (threshold salinity) and the results suggest that in hydroponic system, the reduction of marketable yield with increasing ECs is promoted by reduction of the number of fruits per plant instead of a reduction of fruit mean weight.

Due the expansion of atemoya cultivation and its increasing consumption in the principal Brazilian markets, it is necessary to investigate the postharvest physiology of fruit as well as the use of technologies to increase their shelf life. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the quality attributes of atemoya 'Gefner' harvested in two maturation stages. The fruit, from commercial plantation located in Neopólis, SE, Brazil, were evaluated at harvest and after three days, staying at 25 ° C throughout the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 2 x 4 (maturity stage x time), with five replicates. The characteristics evaluated were: color, firmness, weight loss, color, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TTA), pH and vitamin C. The color, the mass loss and the SS and ATT increased during storage, with decrease in pH and a dramatic reduction in the level of vitamin C. The storage time directly influenced all traits. Among the stages of maturation, only firmness differed significantly and may be used as an indicator of ripeness.

To evaluate the nutrient content of leaves of gerbera fertigated with treated domestic effluents with and without mineral supplementation, a study was carried out in a greenhouse located at the Embrapa Meio-Norte in Teresina, Brazil from July to October 2007. The treatments studied were: T1 - 100% water and nutritional needs furnished with fertigation (N e K2 O); T2 - 25% volume of water through fertigation and 75% treated wastewater effluents (TWE); T3 - 50% volume of water through fertigation and 50% TWE; T4 - 75% volume of water with fertigation and 25% TWE; and T5 - volume of water 100% supplied through TWE. The leaf growth and plant development were favored by the application of 50% fertigation and 50% TWE (T3). At the end of experiment two adult leaves were collected in each treatment and content of nutrients was determined. Soil samples were also collected for analysis to verify alterations in physical and chemical properties. The soil irrigated with 100% wastewater effluent showed high concentrations of P, organic matter and low concentration of Na and K, but these changes did not cause any alteration in nutritional status of leaves and quality of gerberas flowers.

paper aimed to evaluate the growth and accumulation of pigments in leaves of cowpea plants kept under two light conditions. The experimental design was carried out by using two randomized blocks with two treatments and twenty-two repetitions. The tested treatments were: natural environment (full sun) and artificial environment (50% light). The evaluated variety of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) was the Vinegar, which has indeterminate growth habit. For growth analysis samples were taken at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after emergence (DAE) and 50 DAE for determining the levels of a, b, and total chlorophyll and carotenoids content. Significant interaction was observed for the characteristics of the main stem length, leaf area, fresh weight and a, b, and total chlorophyll and carotenoids from plants grown in artificial environment. The studied type showed plasticity when subjected to low light, such as morphological changes in the length of main stem and leaf area, as well as changes in the amount of leaf pigments.

The current paper was proposed to analyze and determine the behavior and the direct and indirect relation between the sign of live cattle value and the main components of supplementation. The database was obtained by consulting secondary sources, which underwent path analysis to study the unfolding of the correlation coefficient (dependent variable x independent) in direct and indirect effects. The analysis period was from January 1999 to December in 2008. The corn presented a total correlation of 0.5080 indicating a substantial contribution for the increasing of beef value. The value of wheat bag had a direct effect of 0.4897 and an indirect effect through the soybean (0.5601), like this, the main components of concentrate supplementation (soybean, corn and wheat) showed high correlation with the sign of live cattle value in the state of Sao Paulo.

This paper aimed to analyze the flow rate drippers of three sets supplied with different qualities of domestic sewage from condominium Bosque Acamari in Viçosa-MG. The experiment was accomplished in experimental area of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa-MG. Three sets of drip irrigation were mounted and supplied with preliminary sewage (EDP), secondary sewage (EDS) and tertiary sewage (EDT). Each irrigation set consisted of filter discs and non self-compensating emitters with nominal flow of 1.7 L h-1. The flow rate of drippers was obtained in 100 hours, totaling 500 hours of operation. Were accomplished physico- chemical and microbiological analysis in domestic sewage. Conclude that the presence of total coliforms and iron in domestic sewage confer severe risk of clogging the emitters. The chemical characteristics manganese, magnesium and calcium represent low risk of clogging the emitters. The EDP and EDT sewage caused high reductions in the emitter discharge in relation to EDS, due to higher concentration of suspended solids that interacted with the bacterial slimes.

This study was conducted in the Private Reserve Mata do Jambreiro (912 ha), localized in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, southeastern portion of the Espinhaço Range, which is predominantly covered by semideciduous seasonal montane forest. Three topographically and physiognomic similar areas located within a continuum forest fragment, distant by 1.3 to 1.5 km were sampled by the point-quadrat method. In each area, 30 points were marked. Individuals with a minimum perimeter at the breast height (PBH) of 15 cm were sampled, totaling 111 species belonging to 40 families. The most representative family was Fabaceae, with 14.29% of the total number of species. Low floristic similarity (5.3% to 34.4%) was observed between the areas, pointing out the importance of distribution of sample units in continuous fragments. Shannon diversity index (H') found was 4.22 and Pielou equability (J) 0.894. Soil analysis showed some differences in chemical composition between the three studied areas and was an important component for the interpretation of the floristic variation found. The low floristic similarity observed here for close areas justify the requirement of more detailed inventories by Brazilian Environmental Agencies for the legal authorization procedures prior to the establishment of new enterprising projects. Also, the professionals that conduct rapid inventories, mainly the Environmental Consultants, should give more attention to this kind of floristic variation and to the methods used to inventory complex forests.