The purpose of this study was to assess the seedling growth of cashew and tamarind rootstocks with nitrogen fertilization. To this end, two experiments were conducted in the Production Sector of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), at the University Unit of Cassilândia (UUC), Brazil. Five nitrogen levels were tested: 0, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/dm3 of N in the substrates. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 4 repetitions and ten plants per parcel. 20 ml of urea solution were added to each application from each treatment containing 45% nitrogen. The application was repeated four times. Ninety days after planting, we assessed plant height (cm), number of leaves/seedling, plant diameter (mm), roots, aerial part, root and total dry matter (g/seedling). Nitrogen fertilizer in doses of up to 2000 mg/dm3 of N in the substrate ensures better cashew and tamarind rootstock seedling quality. A 3200 mg/dm3 dose of N in the substrate had a growth depression effect on the rootstock seedlings.

This work was carried out from october to december, 2005, in Agropolo Assu-Mossoró region, RN, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the effect of nitrogen and potassium doses on fertilization efficiency of melon crop. Three simultaneous trials were performed in adjacent areas, each one receiving a different water amount (L1=0.76NTI, L2=0.9NTI and L3=1.04NTI). Experimental design was a randomized blocks in a factorial scheme with three replications. Treatments consisted of combination of three doses of both nitrogen (N1=42, N2=84 and N3=126 kg ha-1) and potassium (K1=106, K2=212 and K3=322 kg ha-1), plus two additional treatments (N2K0 e N0K2), applied only with intermediary water amount. N2 e K2 was the levels recommended for melon. Indexes of agronomic efficiency of fertirrigation were determined for nitrogen, potassium and irrigation depths. Agronomic efficiency was influenced by N and K doses, irrigation depths and by factor interaction. Treatments L3N1K1 (305.57 kg kg-1) and L3N2K1 (132.63 kg kg-1) presented higher efficiencies for fertirrigation with nitrogen and potassium, respectively.

The experiment was carried out at Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP during the period of March to May of 2006, with the objective of evaluating the production cost and profit margin of crespleaf lettuce cv. 'Verônica' and American lettuce cv. 'Lucy Brown' in sole crop and intercropping with rocket cv. 'Folha Larga'. The determination of the production cost was based on the total operational cost. The estimate of the operational cost for crespleaf and american lettuces and rocket in sole crop were about R$ 5, 446.42; R$ 4, 923.25 and R$ 3,829.84, respectively. The estimate of the total operational costs of crispleaf lettuce x rocket and American lettuce x rocket intercrops were about R$ 7,195.46 and R$ 6,041.38 per hectare. Higher operational profits were observed in intercropping systems, being highest in the american lettuce x rocket intercrop, with R$ 45,437.68 per hectare.

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the nutrients content in leaves of lettuce intercropped with carrot in strip-intercropping under different planting densities of component crops. The experimental design used was of randomized complete blocks in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with three replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of four lettuce-planting densities (40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the recommended sole crop density - RSCD) with four carrot-planting densities (40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the RSCD). Evaluations for P, Na, Ca, Mg, and K contents were made in the lettuce leaves. There was a significant interaction between lettucedensities and carrot-densities on P content in lettuce leaves. Higher contents of Na and Ca (58.40 and 7.58 mg/plant) were observed in the lettuce-densities of 52% and 47% of the RSCD. The contents of Na and K held constant with increasing carrot-densities. Higher contents of Mg (30 and 15 mg/plant) were observed in the density of 40% of the RSCD both in lettuce and carrot crop.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the genetic divergence of a melon population of the Plant Breeding Program from the Federal University of Alagoas. The following quantitative characteristics were evaluated: the fruit weight (FW), the longitudinal fruit (LFL) and transversal fruit (TFL) lengths; the skin (SFT) and the pulp¿s (SPF) thicknesses; and number of seeds (NSF). For the evaluation of the genetic divergence, a multi varied analysis was used by means of the main component method, which graphical dispersion was done from the two first components and from the euclidean distance average standardized, being that the grouping among the similar families done by the Tocher Method. The results suggest genetic divergence among the families, indicated by the two techniques used. The two first main components were able to explain 72.36% of the existing variability, being the TFL and FW variables which contributed more to the divergence. Considerable genetic divergence among the families was verified and that some of these are promises for use in genetic improvement programs.

The measures of leaf area for methods no destructive to evaluate the growth certain plants during the whole cycle. The experiment aimed at to establish a mathematical model to esteem the leaf area of cowpea, through measures maximum of length and width of the foliole. The measures were accomplished in collected leaflets of plants cultivated in vases. The real leaf area was certain through a leaf integrator (model LI 3100 LICOR.) and in the choice of the models they were appraised the types: lineal and potential, with measures of the length (L), width (W), product LxW and it adds L+W. The mathematical models obtained by regression were applied to the destructive methods and no destructive, and compared to the dear leaf area and too real. Measures of leaf area of cowpea can be dear starting from equations potential and lineal with good precision. The equations that involve two measured biometrics, for adds and the product, present better adjustment in the potential equation. Measures of leaf area starting from mathematical models, for being a method no destructive, they allow analysis of growth of vegetables with reduced number plants. The leaf area cowpea can be dear for the equations: LA=¿(0.9915(LxW)0.9134) and LA=¿(0.6597(LxW)+2.1745).

This work had the purpose evaluate physiological quality and incidence of fungi in twelve cowpea seeds cultivars, produced in the state of Ceará, Brazil, in 2005. The physiological quality was evaluated through the germination standard and vigour tests (First germination count) and sanity quality was evaluated through the method paper filter (blotter test) being used four repetitions of 100 seeds. In relation physiological potential of cultivars, it was observed that the cultivars presented low vigour, like Galanjão (0 %), Costela de Vaca (11,49 %) and Parambú (16,6 %). The germination index were low too, except Sempre Verde with 70,33 % the germination of seedlings normal. In respect the incidence of fungi in the seeds, the Fusarium spp. was detected in 0,5 a 0,6 %, Colletotrichum only in Corujinha (0,5 %), Pingo de Ouro 3 (2 %) and Macrophomina phaseolina was detected only in Costela de vaca and Pingo de ouro (0,5 %) and Galanjão (7 %). The incidence of Aspergillus spp. was verified in all you cultivars and Penicillium sp. was detected only in Galanjão, Pingo de Ouro and Costela de Vaca (12 %). Others fungi like Curvularia sp., Phoma sp., Trichoderma sp. and Alternaria sp. were detected in low incidence. The seeds evaluated shown a low physiological quality and the most frequent fungi were those of storage.

The culture of the popcorn comes as a promising culture for region of the Brazilian northeast, however they are still scarce studies to make possible the expansion of this culture, especially as the fertilization. This experiment was accomplished in the department of Environmental Sciences of the Rural Federal University of the Semi-arid (UFERSA), Mossoró, RN, with the objective of evaluating the effect in different ammonium:nitrate ratios in the initial development of the popcorn. The design was used randomized entirely with five treatments and four repetitions, with the treatments being constituted of ratios different NH4 +: NO3 - (0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0) and the experimental unit acted by a plant/vase. To the 45 DAS the plants were collected and appraised, as for the height, number of leaves, leave area, diameter the stem and matter total dry. The results obtained in this work evidence that plants of popcorn present a larger development when the supply of nitrogen is accomplished with application of this nutritious one in the form ammonium.

This work aimed to evaluate the influence of light and temperature on germination of Hyptis suaveolens seeds. The seeds were harvested at Mossoró/RN city and the experiment developed in at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis of the Department of Agriculture of the Federal University of Lavras at Lavras/MG. The treatments was consisted of four temperatures (20ºC, 25ºC, 30ºC and 20-30ºC) and two light conditions (light and darkness). The treatments consisted of 200 seeds, with four repetitions of 50 seeds each, sown on a two Germitest towel paper, displayed inside gerbox, and maintained for 30 days in germination chamber. A completely randomized constituted design with 2x4 factorial design (two light expositions x four temperatures) was used with 4 replicates of 50 seeds. The Scott-Knot¿s Test at 5% of probability was used to compare the obtained averages. There was significant difference in the interaction temperature x shines, in the two variables. It can be concluded that the largest germination of seeds happened in the light presence and in high temperatures. And that the temperatures alternated of 20-30ºC, 30ºC and 25ºC are favorable for germination of seeds of Hyptis suaveolens.

The alfavacão (Ocimum gratissimum L.) is a perennial forb used in the popular medicine and wide found in domestic yards and gardens. In the period of May the June of 2005, investigated aspects of floral biology (anthesis determination, osmophores presence, stigma receptiveness and pollen viability) and the visiting insects of the O. gratissimum in the Horto de Medicinal Plantas of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, in Dourados-MS. It analyzed, also, the reproductive mechanisms and ambient factors in the visits of the insects. It was verified that the flowers of the alfavacão present climax of budding in the period that coincides with the period of higher temperatures, with average percentages of the viable grains of pollen in the daily pay-anthesis, anthesis and after anthesis phases, varied of 94% 98%. The species presented indications of being preferential autogamous, a time that had greater efficiency in the natural auto-pollinization. With relation to the visiting insects visits of eleven different species with predominance of the species of the Apidae family had been observed.