Red rice is grown by small farmers of Brazil, especially in the Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco States, because of its specialty characteristics, compared to white rice, like flavor, texture and supposed nutritional value. Current varieties were selected by farmers and, in general, present traditional plant architecture and small yield. Aim of this work was to compare agronomic, cooking and nutritional characteristics of white and red rice varieties. A field assay was carried out in the Embrapa Meio-Norte experimental area, in Teresina, Piauí State, and the laboratorial analysis, in Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás State. Eleven white rice and four red rice varieties were evaluated, with emphasis to yield, amylose content, cooking time, brown and polished rice, iron and zinc contents. The white rice varieties present larger yield and amylose content, requiring smaller cooking time than the red rice varieties, however the red rice varieties stand out, specially as polished rice, regarding the iron and zinc contents.

Biological control using natural enemies has become one of the main alternatives to chemical control. Among these enemies, worth highlighting the green lacewings, known for their predatory efficiency and the ability of their larvae to seek out food. The present review aimed to gather scientific knowledge about these predators, intending to encourage the inclusion of theses insects in future biological control programs.

Silk flower [Calotropis procera (Aiton) R. Br.] is a very common plant in the north-eastern Brazil, used in the animal ration in the period of food scarcity, beyond presenting phytotherapic properties and effect presented against nematoid when incorporated to the ground. The work was considered to evaluate the influence of the substrate and the temperature on the germination of seeds and the development of the seedlings. The knowledge on the germination and the more adjusted substrate can propitiate an increment in the production of seedling of silk flower. The temperature can cause changes in the germination percentage, in the speed and relative frequency of germination. In laboratory experiment using the entirely randomized delineation in array factorial 3 x 3, with 4 repetitions, whose plots had been constituted by 25 seeds. The treatments had been to the combinations of three substrate (paper towel, sand and vermiculite) with three temperatures, 25 ºC (bookshelf coated with plastic canvas), 27 ºC (laboratory environment), 30º C (chamber of controlled temperature). The analyzed variable had been the percentage of germination, VIG, SDM and height dry of the seedlings. Paper towel, under temperatures 27 and 30 °C, showed it more appropriate for the germination five days after the sowing. Sand and vermiculite under temperatures 25 and 27 ºC, showed it more appropriate for the germination and the index of speed of germination twelve days after the sowing. The dry matter of the seedlings, on sand and vermiculite was superior under temperature 30 ºC.

The latent infections represent serious problems for exportation of the fruits. Nevertheless, the number of products registered for postharvest treatment of melon is reduced. In view of that, was evaluated the efficiency of three pesticides thiabendazole, azoxystrobin and imazalil utilized, in the commercial doses of 194g, 8g and 100g, a.i. /100 l, respectively, in storage conditions at ambient temperature in the control of faulness postharvest caused for Alternaria alternata. The effect of pesticides on the mycelial growth, sporulation and germination of the fungi was evaluated, as well as the efficiency of the pesticides in the control of the fungi in melons. After the immersion of fruits in the fungicidal solution, discs of 5mm of PDA medium with the fungi structures were inoculated. After, four fruits were put in each cartoon package and storaged for 36 hours in a humid chamber. After that, the fruits were taken out of the humid chamber and storaged at ambient temperature. The Imazalil has inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth and sporulation of A. alternata. Although the azoxystrobin only reduced 36% of the mycelial growth, when compared with the standard sample, it shows efficiency related to sporulation. The Thiabendazole was also efficient to reduce the mycelial growth. However, it had not the same efficiency related to sporulation. All pesticides researched were efficient in the control 'in vitro', but they did not show any efficiency in the control of fungi in fruits storaged at ambient temperature.

The occurrence of Spodoptera eridania (Cremer, 1782), Spodoptera dolichus (Fabricius, 1794) and Spodoptera cosmioidess (Walker) is registered for the first time attacking Crotalaria spp. in Rio Largo country (12°40' S, 39°06' W, 127 m de altitude), Alagoas State, Brazil.

The objective in this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing concentrate by flor-de-seda hay under the levels of 0; 15; 30; 45 and 60 % on the fatty acids profile of goat milk. Five multiparus goats of the alpine origin were used with 106 days on lactation at the beginning of the trial, being milked twice daily (06:00 and 16:00 hs). The goats were allotted into a 5 x 5 Latin Square, consisted of five periods of 13 days which, in which the first 10 days were for adaptation of the animals to the new diet and the other three days used to collect the milk from the animals. It was identified the presence of 13 fatty acids, being 8 saturated, small, medium and large chain (C6 to C20), 3 monounsaturated of medium and long chain (C14 to C18) and 2 polyunsaturated of long chain (C18:2 and C18:3). There was not detected any significant difference (P>0.05) on the variables evaluated but on miristoleic acid (P<0.05). The presence of CLA (linoleic conjugated acid) was not evident, although its precursors (C18:2 and C18:3) were identified. It could be concluded that flor-de-seda hay can be included in the diet up to the level of 60% without causing a depression on milk content of essential fatty acids.

The maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii) owns good qualities as forage for the herds. The goal of this work was to evaluate forms for superation of numbness in maniçoba seeds. The research was developed in the Labotatório de Sementes-CCA/UFPB. It was used delineation entirely casualised, with four repetitions of 25 seeds. The treatments were: witness (without treatment) - escarification mechanical (SANDPAPER) - T2; escarification mechanical + immersion in water for 24 hours (SANDPAPER+24h) - T3; escarification mechanical + immersion in water for 48 hours (SANDPAPER+48h) - T4; immersion in hot water to 80ºC for 2' (80th+2min)- T5; immersion in hot water to 90ºC for 2' (90th+2min) - T6; immersion in hot water to 100ºC for 2' (100th+2min) - T7. The seeds, after treated, were sown in plastic arts trays contend sand and done daily countings for IVE's Determination, emergency first counting and percentage. The comparison of the averages was by Tukey's Test to 5% of probability. That the treatments T2 was observed and T3 were the ones that obtained best results of Emergency Velocity Indice (IVE), not differentiating to each other, however, in the treatments T5, T6 and T7 the emergency was null. For the first-rate results counting the treatment T3 was what it obtained better answer. Already for the results of emergency percentage T2 was what it introduced better result, ending up introducing 70% of emergency, followed by the treatments T3, T4, T1 respectively.

It was evaluated banana weevil infestation in six varieties of banana, in the region of Inhambupe - Bahia, using itself of traps of the type "cheese". The biggest level of infestation occurred in the variety Great Naine, that was statistical significant, with 972 captured insects, average of 7,59 insects/traps. The other varieties presented low index of infestation. With exception of Tap Maeo.

The evaluation of the effect of seed has been fundamental tool in the program of quality control, and the accelerated aging test, an important part of that process. Some authors report that the germination and vigor are associated with seed size and facing the lack of consensus for the use of this test methodology and the relationship of seed size on the physiological quality, this work aimed to adapt the existing methodology as the temperature and period of conditioning on the performance of two sizes of seed cotton. The seeds were classified into two meshes of sieves, and then subjected to tests of water content, germination and electrical conductivity. The experimental design was completely randomized, analyzed statistically in a factorial threefold. Seeds of different sizes, showed no difference in percentage of germination. Seeds subjected to 40 º C for 42h of conditioning showed better percentage of germination.

The process of water erosion soil involves the detachment of particles soil by raindrop impact, the transport and consequently your deposition, by overland flow of water on the soil. This drainage happens in the flow form to laminate shallow what characterizes the interrill erosion. The work evaluated the efficiency in the different ways of soil cover provided by the sugarcane in the control of the losses of water and of the rates of detachment of the soil. The appraised treatments were: bary soil, residue under surface; dossal of the sugarcane and the added effect of the residue + dossal. The regime of found drainage, to laminate slow, it characterizes the interril erosion. The vegetable covering promoted by the culture of the sugarcane it promoted reduction in the rates of detachment of the soil. The residue in direct contact with soil and with the drainage it was responsible for the increment of the rugosidade, however, it provided low infiltration rates with consequent increase of the rates of loss of water, for constituting in a vegetable layer that hindered the infiltration. The dossal of the cane of suugarcane promoted a larger interception of the rain, delaying the beginning of the drainage, checking the largest infiltration rates obtained.