The goal of this paper was to determine the effects of seven diets with differents fatty acids sources in hematology of Nile tilapia before and after cold stimulus. Seven diets, with 3% of fatty acid source, were formulated: soybean oil (OS); fish oil (OP); beef tallow (SB) and mixtures of OS+OP; OS+SB; OP+SB e OS+OP+SB. Fish (112 male of Nile tilapia of 30,0 ± 2,65g) were totally randomly distributed, with four repli-cates, into 28 plastic aquaria (40 L; 4 fish per aquarium). Fish were fed four times per day for 35 days. At 35th day and also after seven days cold stimulus blood was collected and the profile hematological was evaluated. Leucocytes numbers were reduced in fish fed a SB and fish oil combination diet and were highest in fish fed SB diet before cold stimulus. Plasma protein was reduced in fish fed soybean oil diets and highest in fishes fed a combination of soybean oil, fish oil and SB diets. Anything fatty acids source promotes effective changes in fish health and cold tolerance promotion. Cold don’t drastically reduced fish general health status.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the profitability of the production of rocket ferti-lized in different amounts of roostertree biomass and times of incorporation of this green manure into the soil, in two cultivation seasons (spring-summer and autumn), in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The exper-imental design was a randomized block with the treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 4, with three replications, with the first factor consisting of amounts of roostertree biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2 and 15.6 t ha-1 on a dry basis), and the second factor by the incorporation times into the soil (0, 10, 20 and 30 days before sowing of the rock-et). Beyond the green mass yield and production costs, were determined the following economic indicators: gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. The optimal agronomic performance of the rocket was obtained into monetary terms. Spending on hand labor accounted for 69% of protuction costs. Due to the increase in the daily price of rural workers, the costs of preparation of the green manure were higher in autumn. The cultivation of the rocket under fertilization with roostertree was feasible from the economic perspective, regardless the amount of green manure, time of incorporation into the soil and cultivation season. The amount of 12.2 t ha-1 of roostertree biomass promoted greater profitability for the production of rocket. The incorpora-tion of green manure at 20 days before planting the crop was considered ideal to the economic viability of the activity. The net income of the rocket was higher in the autumn season.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and the adaptive profile of de 25 steers ¶ Angus x μ Nelore (RED) and 25 steers ´ Angus x ´ Nelore (NEL), during the milking and the fattening phas-es, in an intensive system, at Rio Grande do Norte state. The body weights, anterior and posterior high, as well as the thoracic perimeter, were monthly measured to evaluate the growth pattern. As adaptive responses were registered rectal temperature and hair coat traits. The statistical analyzes were based in the minimum square method, utilized mixed models. At the beginning of the trial both of genetic groups presented the same body weight (103,03kg) and from the second sampling on the animals RED were superior in comparison with the NEL and showed higher body weight at the weaning (181,60kg RED e 158,57kg NEL) and the 13th months. On the other hand, there was no difference between the genetic groups for the final weight (slaughter body weight). There were differences in all the performance characteristics analyzed. The RED group was superior in relation to the NEL group. The hair coat characteristics didn't differ between the genetic groups, except the hair coat length, which was higher in the RED animals. We concluded that both of genetic groups were adapted to tropical weather conditions, nevertheless, despite the better performance showed by the animals RED during the suckling and the fattening phases, the NEL animal may be indicated because of the similar slaughter body weight.

There is great genetic diversity of rambutan plants, thus, to establish commercial orchards cul-ture, it is recommended the use of plants vegetatively propagated. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the best method of grafting, graft protection and type of rootstock for its propagation. The experiment was re-peated in two seasons (autumn/winter and spring/summer). The experimental design was completely random-ized in both experiments, with four replicates, each experimental unit consisted of 10 plants analyzed in a 4x2x2 factorial with four types of grafting (whip graft-WG; cleft graft –CG; wedge graft-WG; and inverted wedge graft-IWG;), 2 types of graft protection (Biodegradable and plastic) and 2 types of rootstock (without or with leaves). The variables analyzed in this study were: percentage of grafting success, number and length of buds (cm). For grafting performed in autumn / winter, both by cleft grafting as whip graft with biodegradable strip and rootstock leafless provided the best results in propagation of rambutan tree. The best results were ob-served during the autumn / winter.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the cutting frequency and levels of the manure on cactus for-age productivity. The research was conducted at Pendencia Station – The State Agribusiness Reaserch Compa-ny of Paraíba, Soledade – PB –Brazil, from August 2008 to August 2010. It was utilized a factorial arrenge-ment 4x5, 4 crop managements (M1= cactus forage harvested at 12 months after establishment; M2= cactus forage harvested at 12 months after the first regrowth; M3= harvested of the accumulated production in 24 months and M4= sum of the first production and regrowth) and five levels of goat manure: 0; 5; 10; 15 e 20 Mg ha-1. It was evaluated the fresh matter production (FMP) and dry matter production (DMP), water accumula-tion, rainfall use efficiency (RUE) and percentage of the water accumulation in the plant. The largest level of organic fertilizer promoted an increase in FMP of 275, 171, 184, 203% and DMP: 305, 175, 223, 218%, re-spectively, when comparing the highest level of fertilizer with the unfertilized treatment, and an increase in water accumulation 115.60, 102.93, 166.95, 218.53 kg of water ha-1 when comparing the highest level with the unfertilized treatment. The organic fertilization in M1, M2, M3 and M4 managements, despite of the levels, promoted a linear increase in the RUE. Fertilization increases the cactus forage productivity, and its rainfall use efficiency. The annual cut can be employed as a practice in the management of cactus forage.

Much of the cassava flour produced in northern Brazil is handmade and contains a small amount of turmeric powder, a natural colorant produced by the family producers, the colorant is added to the flour because local consumers prefer a product of intense yellow color, being therefore of interest to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of natural turmeric colorant in centesimal composition of tradition-al cassava flour. The flours were manufactured with different concentrations of saffron powder (without tur-meric; 0.003% turmeric; 0.03% turmeric and 1% turmeric), collected immediately after production in transpar-ent plastic bags, transported by plane and analyzed for moisture, ash, protein, lipids, fiber and total carbohy-drates content, as well as for acidity, pH, water activity and instrumental color. The increase in concentration of turmeric affected the ash content of handmade cassava flour starting from 0.03%, and at the concentration used by producers (0.003%), this level was similar to the flour without turmeric. In addition, concentrations starting from 0.03% caused a significant increase in the intensity of the yellow color.

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of different treatments to overcome dormancy of Luffa operculata seeds. The tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Seed Analyzes of the Federal Univer-sity of Paraíba, in the city of Areia-PB. The seeds of L. operculata were submitted to scarification treatments with sandpaper, cutting with scissors, imbibition in cold water, immersion in hot water and immersion in sulfu-ric acid. In evaluating the effect of treatment, was determined percentage, first count and germination index speed as well as length and dry mass of roots and hypocotyl. The mechanical scarification with sandpaper and cutting with scissors with or without imbibition in cold water for 12 hours are recommended for overcoming dormancy of L. operculata seeds.

Los objetivos del trabajo fueron evaluar la calidad sanitaria en cariopsis de maíz (Zea mays L.) infectados por F. graminearum provenientes de plantas inoculadas en diferentes momentos de la floración y determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en los tejidos de cariopsis de maíz. Se evaluó la patología de los cariopsis y se determinó la calidad sanitaria de las espigas inoculadas con F. graminearum en diferentes mo-mentos de floración en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla – Santa Fe, Argentina. Para determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en tejidos del cariop-sis de maíz se realizaron cortes histológicos en los cariopsis con probables síntomas de enfermedad mediante técnicas de corte por congelación, diafanización, tinción y técnica de inclusión en parafina y coloración y se utilizó la Técnica de Rayos X para observar el efecto de la colonización por F. graminearum en los tejidos se-minales. Se observaron diferencias entre híbridos, sin embargo F. graminearum afectó de manera similar los cariopsis en los tercios superior, medio e inferior de la espiga de maíz; la incidencia por F. graminearum es baja en cariopsis de maíz debido a la mayor agresividad de F. verticillioides al ingresar al estigma del maíz con el grano de polen. F. graminearum y F. verticillioides no penetran al interior del cariopsis, sino que llegan has-ta las capas internas del pericarpo y no afectan la capa de aleurona y el embrión del cariopsis de maíz.

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton - Apocynaceae (silk-flower) is an important species for several usages: ornamental, forage, timber, textile and medicine, that justify its study. We investigated the physiological behavior and the vigor of seeds under different storage conditions. There were performed month-ly evaluations of germination, seedling emergence, speed of emergence, seedling length and weight of seedling dry matter, during 180 days. Experimental design was completely randomized with a 6x5x3x2 factorial, using combinations of six storage periods (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 days), five moisture contents (30, 24, 18, 12 e 7%), three package types (paper bags, plastic bags and PET bottles) and two environmental conditions (chamber: 16 °C a 18 °C and laboratory: 27 °C a 30 °C, both environments with 50±5%) with four replications of 50 seeds. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance using F (p≤ 0.05) test to treatments and Tukey test for averages comparison, with polynomial regression analysis considering the storage periods. There were con-cluded that silk flower seeds presented orthodox physiological behavior; the vigor decreased when stored for 180 days; silk flower seeds with 7% moisture content are preserved efficiently in paper bags and controlled environment for 90 days.

This study aimed at evaluating the performance of Nelore cattle during growth classified for different classes of frame size regarding body weights and morphometric measures at different ages. Weights and morphometric measures Nelore bulls up to 1 year of age were monthly recorded. The characteristics evalu-ated were birth weight, 120, 205, 240 and 365 days of age, withers height and rump height, thoracic perimeter, distance between pin bones, distance between hip bones and chest width, depth of chest, space under sternal and hip length. Frame size scores classified as medium, large and extreme, were estimated using equations and tables according to Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey-Kramer test at 5% probability and analyses were performed by canonical variables and the grouping analyses of genotype by method of Tocher. The animals with larger class of frame size were heavier and morphometric measurements as well, when compared with animals classified for smaller class. The correlation between weight at different ages were higher. The weight correlates with body features positively, indicating that the weight gain of the animals increased their influence on the frame size. Cluster analysis resulted in three distinct genetic groups that have similar within the group and genetic divergence between them.