The sustainable use of land constitutes a growing concern for different managements and inappropriate agricultural practices. Despite the expansion of scientific knowledge on soil it appears that the use of indicators to estimate their quality, independently does not allow a proper evaluation for the diagnosis of imbalances in production systems. This research aimed to diagnose changes on important physical and microbiological indicators in a dystrophic Red-Yellow (Oxissol) under extensive grazing conditions and native vegetation in the Brazilian Pantanal. The results showed significant deterioration in physical and microbiological environment anthropized with average reductions in indicators of 51.62%, 10.30%, 16.36%, for microbial carbon, basal respiration, percentage of wet aggregates, respectively, and increases for soil density, soil resistance to penetration, metabolic quotient of 184.68%, 142.18%, 88.31%, respectively. By inserting these results in a Qualigram allowed to obtain a quantitative index of soil quality under extensive grazing equal to -0.0814. Based on this index has qualified sustainable management of cumulative effects on pasture as a "system under collapse" compared to the native environment.

This work had the objective of checking the echophysiological behavior of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cv. BRS Xique-xique cultivated under different levels of hydric deficit. The plants were cultivated in vases with capacity for 10L, containing one substratum composed by: 88,45% sand, 3,71% of clay, 7,84 % of silte. The experimental design was entirely randomized with three treatments (TO- reposition of 100% of lost water by evapotranspiration, T1- reposition of 50% and T2- reposition of 25%) and five repelicates. Previously, T1 and T2 suffered a period of stress and were later rehydrated. In the day of the assessment, the plants of T1 had been undergone to stress for three days, while the plants T2 for 5 days. The variables analyzed were: leaf water potential, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal CO2 concentration and foliar temperature. The fewest availability of water caused reductions in the net photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration in T1 and T2 when they were compared to T0. The internal CO2 concentration in T2 was the greater among analyzed treatments. The reposition of 50 % of the lost water hasn´t caused any damage in the net photosynthesis.

Concerning the different plant physiognomies of Brazilian semi-arid, the riparian vegetation is the least studied. With reference to this, there is a gap in comprehension of the influence of environments heterogeneity on the flora distribution. In order to evaluate the richness and species composition in distinct environments along a stretch of riparian vegetation of the Pajeú river, was performed a botanical survey in the municipality of Floresta, Pernambuco state. Samples were collected in six hectare. Were identified 78 species in 39 families in four environments: the fluvial terrace, the riverside, the small elevation and the tableland. Families with the greatest number of species were Leguminosae (sensu Engler) and Euphorbiaceae, similar to those reported in other Caatinga surveys. 52% of species collected were herbs. As expected, there were floristic differences between the gradient along the fluvial terrace to tableland, as a function of environmental heterogeneity. The tableland had the highest species richness while the fluvial terrace the lower.

In Northeastern Brazil peanut is an important culture due to its high palatability, nutritional value, grain high oil content and for being an additional and/or alternative source of income for small regional farmers. However, production is insufficient, primarily due to low yield, lack of use of adequate cultivars and inadequate management. Therefore, an experiment was carried out (March/June, 2008), at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) (Semi-arid Rural Federal University), in Mossoró, RN (Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil) experimental station, to evaluate yield of 2 creeping peanut cultivars (Runner IAC 886 and IAC-Caiapó), grown in 2 row spacings (0.5 m and 0.9 m). In a complete randomized block design treatments were allocated in a 2 x 2 factorial (2 cultivars x 2 row spacings), with 4 replications. Production components and yield were evaluated (number pods plant-1, number seeds meadow-1, 100 seed weight, pod yield, percentage yield almonds and straw yield). Cv. Runner IAC 886 showed higher yield than cv Caiapó, in both row spacings (0.5 m = 5,169 kg ha-1 and 0.9 m = 4,264 kg ha-1) mainly due to the number of pods plant-1. Row spacings affected both cultivars. Runner IAC 886 showed higher yield of pods at the 0.5 m spacing (5,897 kg ha-1) and Caiapó in the 0.9 m spacing (4,264 kg ha-1). Straw yield was higher in the lower row spacing cultivation.

Callus culture has shown a great potential for large-scale multiplication of superior genotypes in a short period of time. The objective of this work was to establish a methodology to induce callus formation in leaf fragments of Coffea canephora Conilon cultivar, to determine the growth curve and to analyze the development of the calli. The growth curve allows to determine the suitable time to subculture the calli in a new medium. The explants were inoculated in 50% MS medium with 10 mg.L-1 thiamine, 1 mg.L-1 pyridoxine, 1 mg.L-1 nicotinic acid, 1 mg.L-1 glycine, inositol 100 mg.L-1, hydrolysed casein 100 mg.L-1 and 400 mg.L-1 malt extract, 20 g.L-1 sucrose, 8 g.L-1 agar, supplemented with IBA (10 HM), 2,4-D (20 HM) and 2iP (10 HM). To determine the growth curve, the calli were weighted up to the 60th day of culture. The callus growth curve presented sigmoidal shape, with five distinct phases. The subculture must be done on the 53th day of culture, aiming at the plant regeneration.

The experiment was carried with the objective of evaluating the adaptability of the breeds goats to Semiárid through physiologic parameters: rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and surface temperature and the structures of the tegument: perspiration glands, fat of glands and hair follicles. 40 female were used goat, of the breeds Anglo-Nubiana, Savana, Boer and Moxotó, being 10 animals of each breed, with medium age of five months. For the physiologic answers, he animals were allocated into a completely randomized design entirely in portions subdivided in the time, with the main treatments constituted by the breeds and the secondary ones by the shifts. For the study steorologic of the tegument was used in a completely randomized design entirely with four treatments and three repetitions. There was in significant teraction (P<0.05) between breed and shift, for the rectal and surface temperature. The breed Savanna it presented larger medium (P<0.05) for respiratory frequency and the Anglo-Nubiana to medium smallest (P<0.05). There was significant difference (P<0.05) regarding the number of hair follicles for breed Anglo-Nubiana that presented the smallest number, differing significantly (P<0.05) of the breeds Savanna and Moxotó that presented the largest averages, however these didn't differ (P>0.05) of the Boer breed. The breed Anglo-Nubiana it presented larger number of glands perspiration (P<0.05) and the breed Savanna presented the largest average of fat of glands (P<0.05). The studied breeds demonstrated to be physiological well adapted and with characteristics of the favorable tegument to the climatic conditions of semiarid.

The purpose of this research was to make a floristic survey of the shrubby-arboreous stratum in three contiguous areas of Caatinga in the Cariri of Paraiba. The survey was accomplished in the "Estação Experimental Bacia Escola/UFPB", municipality of São João do Cariri, PB Brazilian Northeast. The experiment consisted of three areas of 3.2 ha, where three parallel transects had been established, in a distance of 20 m from each other, and there were marked ten parcels with equidistant systematic distribution (10 m x 10 m), having been sampled 30 parcels from each area. The floristic survey was carried through by the method of parcels. There was fulfilled a grouping analysis using the index of similarity of Jaccard. The number of parcels showed was enough to reflect the plantdiversity of the studied places; the families with highest number of species in the arboreous-shrubby stratum were Cactaceae and Euphorbiaceae; the species that had been common in the three areas, , were: Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Croton blanchetianus, Poincianella pyramidalis, Jatropha mollisssima, Malva sp., Pilosocereus gounellei, Spondias tuberosa and Opuntia palmadora. The arboreous habitat presented seven species, being higher to the shrubby component that was presented with five species. The more conspicuous arboreous elements had been: Poincianella pyramidalis (Caesalpiniaceae) and Aspidosperma pyrifolium (Apocynaceae). The most important shrubs were: Croton blanchetianus and Jatropha mollisssima (Euphorbiaceae). The analysis made by the index of floristic similarity indicated that the similarity was considered high by the three area, because they presented a Jaccard index higher than 0.25.

This study was aimed to carried out a floristic survey in four communities that are localized in the São Miguel do Gostoso municipality - RN, focusing on the Leguminosae species and its potential use. Field research was carried out between May and October/2007, for acquire information about the use of plants and samples of them in the local communities. The study registered 102 species pertaining 73 genera and 30 families. Leguminosae/Fabaceae (25), Asteraceae (10) and Euphorbiaceae (8) were the most representative families in number of species and the genus Mimosa L. and Senna Mill., with five species each. Most species of Leguminosae (68%) have economic value and are recognized seven categories of use: medicinal (8), technology (7) fuel (8), construction (6), fodder (14), veterinary (2) and other (9). Although many species have different types of utilities, Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P.Queiroz stood out from others by being quoted in all use categories considered.

The use of phosphates fertilizers can increase the trace element concentration in the soils, with an eventual transfer to human chain food. As indispensable tool, models can be used to identify the risks and to evaluate the effects of preventive actions. The goal of this study was to applied a mass model for trace elements, developed at the University of California - Riverside, (USA) in two cerrado soils (LVdf, a clayey soil and NQ, a Sandy Soil). The model was used as an instrument to evaluate the risks of cadmium and lead accumulation in different soils and in soybean plants, upon the application of different phosphorous sources in the soils. The simulate cadmium content after ten years of application of the reactive phosphate FR3, it reached 2.97 mg kg-1 in the LVdf. The cadmium content in the RQo was more available for the soybean plants. The model showed a greater accumulation of Cd and Pb in the clayey soil (LVdf), after ten years of application high doses of these elements through the phosphates fertilizers FR3 and FN2.

Many arthropods are mentioned with whitefly natural enemies, including the green lacewings. The aim of this study is to analyses the development and the capacity of predation of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) fed with Bemisia tabaci B biotype nymphs, rearing different vegetables (kale, broccoli, eggplant end tomato). The duration, viability end weight in each stage end phase of development of the insectpredator had been evaluated, as well as the predatory capacity of the larvae in the third instar. The larval phase of the predator presented minor duration when these had been fed with nymphs developed the broccoli (12.36 days) and minor duration of the tomato (14.36 days) phase when fed with nymphs developed in kale, broccoli, and eggplant (6.50, 7.20, 7.33 days, respectively). The lower indices of viability been found for the larvae fed with nymphs developed in the tomato (30%), and average weights have. The predatory capacity of the larvae during the third instar was not affected, independently on the plant host where the whitefly nymph fed itself.