A Caatinga vegetation was submitted to various grazing intensities (GI) by steers (1981-84) to verify their effect on ligneous stratum degradation. The study involved four GI: Heavy (1 steer/6.7 ha); Moderate (1 steer/10.0 ha); Light (1 steer/13.3 ha); Exclosure (no grazing). Areas under grazing varied from 40 to 80 ha, whereas exclosure had 20 ha. The research had two replications, occupying a total area of 400 ha. Data of woody species new plants density (NP) were determined annually in 1 m2 plots, and data of shrubs and trees density were determined by Point-Centered Quarter Method in 1982 and in 1984. NP density (Mean = 3.38 plants/m2) was neither affected by GI, nor by years, although it was highest in 1984 (3.83 plants/m2), the rainiest year. Taking into account the eight areas, there was linear relation (P<0.01) between 1982 and 1984 tree densities. There was linear relation between tree density and density of tree species in shrub stages in 1982, but not in 1984, because the drought probably affected shrubs but not trees. There was, for some tree and shrub species, linear relation between adult plant and NP densities. This fact occurred more in 1982. There was in 1983 a very high germination of the tree Tabebuia spongiosa (22.14 seedlings/m2), there being a linear relation (P<0.01) between NP and tree density.

The objective of the present work was to study the characteristics biometrics of the fruit and the effect of the physical and chemical scarification in the germination of seeds of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. Ripe fruits were collected in August of 2007 of existent trees in the campus of the Rural Federal University of the Semi-arid, Mossoró- RN. The evaluations were carried at the Laboratory of Analysis of Seeds of the Department of Vegetable Sciences of UFERSA. The germination test was constituted of witness and 4 treatments (types of common vinegar: vinegar of alcohol, vinegar of red wine and vinegar of white wine) and hot water to 65ºC, with 4 repetitions of 50 seeds. The sowing was in containers plastic with dimensions of 32.5 x 24 x 4 cm (length, width and depth). The used substrates were sand washed sterilized previously and being irrigated with water distilled. The appraised characteristics were: mass of the fresh matter and matter dries of the seedling, germination percentage and index of emergency velocity. The immersion of the seeds in vinegar of white wine favors the germination, the index of germination velocity and the accumulation of fresh and dry matter of the juca seedlings.

The knowledge of the parameters of the growth of a culture is of fundamental importance for a rational and efficient nutritional handling. An experiment was carried out during the period of october to december of 2005, in farm of the producing melons region of Assu-Mossoró, with the objective of analyzing the growth of the melon plant Gália fertirrigation with different doses of nitrogen and potassium. The randomized blocks in a factorial scheme (3 x 3), with three replications. The Treatments consisted of combination the three nitrogen doses (N1-42, N2-84 e N3-126 kg ha-1) and potassium (K1-106, K2-212 e K3-322 kg ha-1), being the levels N2 e K2 are most recommended in technical literature, applied for fertirrigation with different irrigation depths (L1 = 1,1.NTI, L2 = 0,9.NTI and L3 = 0,7.NTI). The appraised variables were index of leaf area (IAF), matter dries of the aerial part (MSPA) and the reason of leaf area (RLA). The index of leaf area and I accumulate it of matter dries can be dear for equations polynomials of the second degree. The index of leaf area and the matter accumulation dries were influenced positively by the increment in the doses of applied nutrients and for the irrigation depths. The reason of leaf area of the melon plant is reduced during the cycle of the culture, being influenced by the irrigation depths than for the levels of nitrogen and potassium.

To evaluate the effects of fiber level and source in diets on the intestinal morphology and histology of duodenum, jejunum and ileum medium portions, it used 40 rabbits New Zealand White race in growing phase, weaned with 35 days of age, allocated in individual cages in the entirely randomized design with 2x2 factorial outline. Samples of duodenum, jejunum and ileum of animals slaughtered at 45 days of age were collected to the present study. It was observed significant interaction of the dietary treatments on the intestinal morphology and histology parameters, being verify that diets with high e low level of fiber with soybean hulls propitiated the greater values of villus height and those diets with high e low level of fiber with alfalfa hay propitiated the bigger values of crypt depth, while the number of goblet cells was larger to the diet with high level of fiber contained soybean hulls. And so there was significant effect of the food quality in terms of fiber components on the extrusion and turnover in intestinal mucous membrane cells, it was evidenced by the greater villus height:crypt depth ratio provided with the diets contained soybean hulls in relation to those diets contained alfalfa hay.

The present work had as objective verifies different methods for evaluation of the physiologic potential of gherkin seeds. Two lots of seeds aged were used artificially, in water, being obtained for each lot, six quality levels. The seeds aged artificially to the temperature of 41ºC by 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 45 hours and high relative humidity were submitted to the germination tests, first count of the germination and vigor. The first germination count, accelerated aging (41ºC/48h) and seedling emergence was efficient in evaluating physiological quality of gherkin seeds.

The study of the family Hydrophyllaceae senso latu in the state of Pernambuco, Brazilian Northeastern is presented. It was found only one species, Hydrolea spinosa L., being provided description, besides illustrations, comments based on its morphology, distribution and flowering and fruiting data.

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the entomophauna associated to pigeonpea in the Reconcave Region of Bahia, Brazil. Fifteen day period collections were carried out between September 2004 and October 2005. A total of 4,799 samples represented by 58 species and distributed in six orders and 25 families were collected in experimental plantations. The richest order in species was Hemiptera with 30 species represented by 57.43% of the total of the individuals collected. The Membracidae family was the most abundant with 36.72% of the total of the samples whereas the Enchenopa gracilis species was the most featured with 9.38% of the total. Hymenoptera was the second order regarding richness with 14 species being represented by 37.03% of the individuals. Among the species identified, the Atta and Acromyrmex species were the most damaging to the pigeonpea crop leading to significant losses in the early stages of the crop.

In order to determinate the floristic check-list of a inselberg at the Fazenda Timbaúba (35o52'50.3", 7o1'0.8"), municipality of Esperança/PB, Agreste da Borborema Microregion, were realized the present study. The inselberg flora comprise 127 species, 101 genera and 53 families of wich the Leguminosae family with 17 species showed the higher richness, followed by the Asteraceae (9 spp.), Poaceae (7 spp.), Euphorbiaceae and Orchidaceae (6 spp.) families. Bromeliaceae and Cactaceae, despite of not be the higher richness, are covering extents areas, suggesting a higher importance for those families in inselbergs colonization. Comparing the families with other inselberg floras, 29 of them also were raising in Quixadá/CE, 28 in Pão de Açúcar and 24 in Serra do Mar/RJ inselbergs. The majority of species showed xenomorphic adaptations due hydric stress observed in the Southern and Northeastern Brazilian inselbergs. The differences in the floristic composition, especially at genus and species level seem to result of different speciation pressure what aid the taxa with better adaptation at these environments.

Currently, the concern on different poultry market has increased and among several native species, partridge, (Rhynchotus rufescens) is good option as source of avian protein, showing excellent carcass performance. The aims of this paper were to study environmental and genetic factors those affect body weight on different ages in partridges, raised in captivity. Data were collected in the Wild Animal Section of Departamento de Zootecnia, located at Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (UNESP), at Jaboticabal - SP. Partridges were raised in a commercial avian barn and families were kept using 1 sire to 2 or 5 dams. Mattings were through natural ride. Eggs were collected daily, weighted, measured and identified by box and sire for pedigree control. Chick were identified and weighted at birth and weekly til get 30 weeks of age. Data set had 13,164 weights taken from 2000 to 2004. The statistical analyses were performed by least squares method and heritability estimated y the Maximum likelihood method. The overall means of 3(W3), 7 (W7), 14 (W14), 21 (W21), 28(W28), 35 (W35), 42 (W42), 49 (W49), 56 (W56), 63(W63), 70(W70), 77 (W77), 84 (W84), 91 (W91), 98 (W98), 105 (W105), 112 (W112), 119 (W119), 126 (W126), 133 (W133), 140 (W140), 147 (W147), 154 (W154), 161 (W161), 168 (W168), 175 (W175), 182 (W182), 189 (W189), 196 (W196), 203 (W203) and 210 (W210) days weight were 38.92g, 52.23g, 76.40g, 105.61g, 137.79g, 208.38g, 208.56g, 249.99g, 293.71g, 335.45g, 373.86g, 408.53g, 440.83g, 467.92g, 503.29g, 522.36g, 548.70g, 564.21g, 582.71g, 593.59g, 603.69g, 613.85g, 629.08g, 642.44g, 637.03g, 646.91g, 637.81g, 653.86g, 662.63, 663.19g and 667.385, respectively. The estimates of heritability to egg weight and weight at birth showed large genetic variability among birds and selection for weight at these ages could be done. The genetic and environmental effects are difficult to estimate in old ages and require more information to provide best estimates.

An experiment was carried out at a greenhouse of Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, in the period of May to June of 2006, with the objective of determing the best treatment with scarlet starglory (Merremia aegyptia L.) incorporated to with soil on rocket performance cv. Folha Larga. A completely randomized desing with six treatments and four replications. The treatment consist of: T1 - 19g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base plus; T2 - 28g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base plus; T3 - 37g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T4 - 46g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T5 - 55g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T6 - Fertilization with NPK at the recommended dose for the crop and. The rocket cultivar grown was Folha Larga. The evaluated traits were: plant height, number of leaves per pot, shoo fresh and dry mass. All the evaluated traits were significantly affected by the amounts of scarlet starglory incorporated. Height mean value for plant height, shoo fresh, dry mass and number of leaves were obtained in the amount of scarlet starglory incorporated of 19 g pot-1.