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 word had the aim to evaluate vegetative growing of manicoba function of two management systems, three densities and four plant cuttings. It had been used randomized blocks an sub-divided with factorial (2x3x4) with 5 repetition, being two of management systems (with/without camalhao) and 3 densities of planting (6666; 3333 and 2500 plants/ha) and to sub-parcels four heights (5, 15, 30 and 45 cm). Analyzed variable were: plant height (PLHE), broting number (BRNU), dry matter production (Kg/ha), and ratio leaf/brunch (L/B). Management system and planting density do not manicoba with medium value of 114.4 cm. BRNU increased (P<0.01) with planting cut height of 45 cm and as consequence production increasement of DM of leaves total. Ratio L/B was altered by management system, planting density, cutting height, keeping bigger than other. Among evaluated treatments, cutting height was affected vegetative growing and consequently phitomass accumulation and DM production.

Is a native species of the Brazilian half-barren, pertaining to the family Anacardiaceae Lindl., being of importance socioeconomic for the populations of these regions. With intention to supply subsidies that contribute for optimum knowledge of the species, the present work has for objective the histochemistry characterization of leaflets of Spondias tuberosa Arruda. For this study cuts of the transversal from medium portion of leaflets, submitting them later the diverse reagents and corantings. The analyses had evidenced the starch granule presence, oxalate of calcium crystals, greasy composites, resins, phenolic composites and tannins. Mucilages peptics and reducing sugars had not been found in no tissues to leaflet. One expects that the results of the histochemistry tests serve as elements to qualitative comparison for identification of phytotherapeutics drugs and to the prospection of the principle(s) active(s) of the vegetable.

The present work has as objective to determine and compare the variation of basic density of peroba's wood throughout the Aspidosperma polineuron, that specie belongs to Apocynaceae's family, known popularly as Peroba. The sample was carried in three selected trees at random form in dense Ombrófila¿s forest in Apiuna and President Nereus Ramos/SC. The trees were knocked and they had their changeable dendrometrics measured. The basic density was determined in samples of 1,5 x 1,5 x 5 cm, removed of the internal part of the record (cerne) and the external part (alburnum), having been these collected the height of chest (DAP), 0%, 10%, 50%, 75% and 95% of morphologic inversion's point. Above this, two samples with branches called G1 and G2 were colleted. The basic density was gotten through the relation between the dry weight and the green volume of samples, revealing increasing of the base for the top of the tree. In the accomplishment of variance's performance (ANOVA) was not able to be verified significant differences between the averages of densities throughout the log and the branches. The average basic density was 0, 66 gcm3. The uniformity found for basic density throughout the stem is a characteristic that confers the specie stability and security for its use in structural projects, however it´s necessary deeper studies to better scientific fundaments of its physical and technological properties.

The growth of the melon "pele de sapo" was studied under different irrigation depths and doses of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), in Mossoró-RN, Brazil, in the year 2004. Three experiments were accomplished simultaneously. In each experiment was used a different depth (L) and eleven treatments. The experimental design was a completely randomized block in a factorial scheme 3 x 3 + 2, with 3 replications. Factors studied were three levels of N (N1, N2 and N3), three of K (K1, K2 e K3) plus two additional treatments (N0 with K2 e N2 with K0). The doses of K did not influence significantly in the appraised characteristics. During the cycle of the culture it was verified for L that leaf area index (IAF) and dry mater of the aerial part (FSPA) presented cubic response. Mean maximum values were 1,73 cm2 cm-2 at 64 DAS for IAF and 336,92 g at 70 DAS for FSPA. For factor N the response was linear with dose N0 and cubic with doses N1, N2 and N3 for IAF and for FSPA, which presented mean maximum values of 1,77 cm2 cm-2 and 344,27 g, at 64 and 70 DAS, respectively.

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.

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.

In environmental studies is important to know the adsorption process of heavy metals in clay minerals, since they are able to immobilize these metals. Knowing the cations adsorption is influenced for several factors, the objective of this research was to study the copper adsorption process by bentonite clay and to evaluate the electrolyte type and pH influence on this process. In order to quantify the adsorbed copper, 2 g of bentonite clay were equilibrated for 24 hours with 20 mL of a NaNO3 (0,01 mol L-1) solution and with 20 mL of water containing different quantities of copper (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100,120 mg L-1) as background solutions of pH values 4 and 6. Langmuir's adsorption equation in its linearized form was applied and the values of the maximum capacity and those of the constant related to the bonding energy were obtained. Langmuir isotherms presented two distinct adsorption regions at both pH 4 and pH 6, showing that the adsorptive phenomenon occurs in two distinct stages. The adsorption of copper depends on pH and ionic strength and it increased with an increase in pH and decreased slightly with an increase in ionic strength. The maximum capacity of adsorption and the bonding energy varied with the pH, with electrolyte used and with the adsorption regions.

The increasing importance of sunflower leads to studies on seed pathogen, to guarantee crop sanity and to provide identification of pathogens in new areas. Genotypes seeds lots produced in Embrapa Soja assays carried out in tree cities of the State of Maranhão, Brazil (Balsas, São Luís and Timon) were analyzed, with the objective of evaluating sanitary quality of sunflower seeds. Sanitary analysis was performed by blotter test method and identification of fungi genera was based on morphological features. The occurrence of Fusarium sp., Alternaria spp., Curvularia sp., Dreschelera sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Phoma sp., Trichoderma sp., Botrytis sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus sp., Colletotrichum sp., Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was observed in seeds of sunflower, with variable incidences.

The objectives of this work were identified and characterize the allelopatic activity of extracts obtained from Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh (Asteraceae). The fitotoxic activity of organic extracts (1 e 100 mg.L-1) and aqueous extract (5,00 e 0,05% m/v) on the germination and radicular growth of the monocotyledon Sorghum bicolor L. (sorghum), and the dicotyledon Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber) were evaluated. The results showed the presence of allelopatic activity variable in according to the extract concentration and with the target plant. The intensity of induced inhibitory effect was higher for the ethanolic extract in concentration of 100 mg.L-1 for Sorghum bicolor L. The results also indicates the existence of the potential use of Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh ethanolic extract as a natural herbicide and open perspectives for the research of the constituent(s) with higher allelopatic activity.