The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the quality of red pitaya of pulp white, produced in Itajobi city, São Paulo state. The pitayas were stored at room temperature, (21-27 ºC with 44-63% de UR), at 18 ± 1 ºC, with 86-92% RH), 13 ± 1 ºC, with 85-90% RH and at 8 ± 1 ºC, with 85-95% RH. The quality was monitored during storage time through the parameters: fresh weight loss titleble acidity; soluble solids contents; vitamin C, external appearance, pH and fruit firmness. Through the results obtained may be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was proportioned the small fresh weight loss; the acidity, soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness were influenced by the storage temperature and storage time, but the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was that occasioned the small change theses parameters. In general, it can be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was the best to maintenance the quality of pitaya fruit.

Some factories of the State of Alagoas are using the fungus entomopathogenic Metarhizium anisopliae as control against Mahanrva fimbriolata. Being so this work it had how aim to value the quantity of nymphs and adults of spittlebug of the root after the air application of the biological insecticide (M. anisopliae), race PL-43 and of the Imidacloprido, and to analyze the costs of this application. The experiment was driven in the sugarcane region of the Factory Cachoeira, located in Maceió-AL, in the period understood between July and September of 2006, on the sugarcane variety SP813250. The application of the products took place in 19th of July of 2006 and the reapplication in 22th of August of the same year. There was carried out initially a population evaluation of nymphs and adults and others 15, 30 and 45 days after the treatments. The treatments did not differ between them, but when each area was analyzed separately, there were differences between sub-areas of the experimental area and between the periods of application. The total costs of the application of Imidacloprido, were less comparing with the other treatments.

The blossom-end rot of tomato is characterized by the appearance of a necrotic tissue in the distal part of the fruit. This disorder is not caused directly by the calcium deficiency, but it results from the expression of some genes in stress conditions. Interactions between temperature, water availability, high saline or ammonium concentration, etc., control the appearance of the blossom-end rot in the fruits. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence calcium and ammonium on the productivity and blossom-end of tomatoes grown hydroponically. The experiment was carried out in the green house of the Department of Agronomy of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, and consisted of factorial arrangement between six levels of calcium and two levels of ammonium in the nutrient solution (6 x 2), with six replications in experimental design of randomized blocks. Calcium treatments were the concentrations of 120, 140, 170, 200, 240 and 280 mg L-1, and ammonium treatments were the absence of this cation in the nutrient solution and the addition of 28.4 mg L-1, corresponding to 15% of total-N of the nutrient solution. The blossom-end rot, productivity, fruit diameter and number of fruits were evaluated. The data were submitted to the analysis of the variance and regression. The calcium addition caused a reduction in the tomato productivity, and the treatments with ammonium caused a lesser incidence of blossom-end rot.

In recent years an increase of 15 to 20% occurred in market share melons like Cantaloupes group, which present more attractive organoleptic characteristics and higher commercial value. However it needs more care in production due its higher sensitivity to soil salinity. Effects of soil and water salinity are among the main limiting factors to melon yield and quality at Rio Grande do Norte Sate, Brazil. This work was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of different irrigation water salinity levels on yield and quality of cantaloupe hybrid 'Sedna'. Experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted of five salt concentrations in irrigation water (0.54; 1.48; 2.02; 3.03 and 3.9 dS m-1). Yield and quality characteristics evaluated were: number of marketable fruits per plant, yield of marketable fruits, mean weight of fruits, soluble solids content (SS) and pulp firmness. An increase on irrigation water salinity level negatively influenced yield of melon hybrid 'Sedna'. Yield loss in response to salinity was due to decrease in number of fruits per plant. Mean values of soluble solids and pulp firmness were not influenced by irrigation water salinity.

Due the fast growing in flowers and ornamental plants production and their high export potential, it is important to identify the insects species associated with Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum crops and to establish their role in this agroecosystem/production system The insects were collected from A. purpurata cv. Pink Ginger and Red Ginger plants cultivated in two farmswith different agroecological characteristics, located in two recognized tropical flower production areas/regions, Maceió and Río Largo cities/localities, Alagoas state, during one year. They were identified and its frequency analyzed according with a numerical scale. According to the results was collected 790 insects of which 69 were identified to specific level, belonging to 59 families of 9 ordens. Results showed Hymenoptera individuals as the most frequent, mainly predator ants and/or associated with phytophagous insects (sucking), besides natural enemies, followed by Hemiptera and Lepidoptera orders, which involved recognized agricultural pests. Insects belonging to the order Odonata and Orthoptera were found less frequently.

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 use of granular fertilizers as a vehicle for seeding forage species has become a simple and very useful operation. However, the data is contradictory about how much time the seeds can be mixed with urea without reducing the germination percentage. The aim was to study the effect of mixing periods of urea with seeds of Brachiaria ruziziensis on physiological quality. The treatments consisted of seed mixed times of B. ruziziensis (0; 4; 8; 16; 24; 48; 96 and 192 hours) with urea, besides control treatment. It was used a completely randomized design with four replications. Moreover, with the passage of time in contact with urea, water content and electrical conductivity of seed increased, while there was decrease in percentage of germination, first count, the emergence and emergence speed index. Thus, it is concluded as feasible to mix the seeds with urea, since the seeding is performed at intervals shorter than 8 hours, reducing damage to the seed physiological quality of forage.

This paper aimed to evaluate the initial growth of castor bean (Ricinus cummunis L.) in response to fertilization with sewage sludge and calcium and magnesium silicate. The experiment was conducted from July to August 2010 at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICA) in Montes Claros, UFMG - MG. The cultivation was carried out on a Cambisol, using as indicator plant castor bean (Ricinus communis) variety BRS Energy. The treatments, in factorial 2 x 4, in randomized block design with three replicates, were: two doses of calcium and magnesium silicate (0 and 1 t ha-1) and four doses of sewage sludge compost (0; 23,81; 47,62 and 71,43 t ha-1, in dry basis). In the experiment, plant height, crown diameter, stem diameter and leaf number were measurement. Calcium and magnesium silicate did not influence the growth characteristics of plant. On the other hand, the castor bean showed response to sewage sludge compost, expressing the maximum value of the growth characteristics at a dosage of 71.43 t ha-1, except for the number of leaves, which did not respond to any treatment.

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.

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.