This study was conducted in the Private Reserve Mata do Jambreiro (912 ha), localized in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, southeastern portion of the Espinhaço Range, which is predominantly covered by semideciduous seasonal montane forest. Three topographically and physiognomic similar areas located within a continuum forest fragment, distant by 1.3 to 1.5 km were sampled by the point-quadrat method. In each area, 30 points were marked. Individuals with a minimum perimeter at the breast height (PBH) of 15 cm were sampled, totaling 111 species belonging to 40 families. The most representative family was Fabaceae, with 14.29% of the total number of species. Low floristic similarity (5.3% to 34.4%) was observed between the areas, pointing out the importance of distribution of sample units in continuous fragments. Shannon diversity index (H') found was 4.22 and Pielou equability (J) 0.894. Soil analysis showed some differences in chemical composition between the three studied areas and was an important component for the interpretation of the floristic variation found. The low floristic similarity observed here for close areas justify the requirement of more detailed inventories by Brazilian Environmental Agencies for the legal authorization procedures prior to the establishment of new enterprising projects. Also, the professionals that conduct rapid inventories, mainly the Environmental Consultants, should give more attention to this kind of floristic variation and to the methods used to inventory complex forests.

This research performed an evaluation of the water distribution on the soil surface and in its profile in a subunit irrigated by microsprinkle cultivated with Annona muricata L., with the purpose of verifying the spatial distribution and quantification of the water availability in the soil profile. The data were collected in 28 spaced emission points of 10 x 24 m, forming a mesh for application of the geostatistics. In the surface evaluation it was determined the coefficient of emission uniformity and the irrigation efficiency, while in the subsurface evaluation the water availability was esteemed in three layers of the soil profile, 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm, one and twenty-four hours after the irrigation, using a neutrons probe. The coefficient of irrigation uniformity found was of 84.69% with an irrigation efficiency of 76.22%. It was verified that, twenty-four hours after irrigation, the water content in the most superficial layers of the soil profile is below the correspondent to the wilting point, while in the deepest layers the water content overcomes the maximum capacity of soil water retention, in other words, humidity superior to field capacity.

The reaction of resistance to ten simple hybrids of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), as well as of their 14 parents were evaluated to the pathogen Colletotrichum sublineolum, the causal agent of anthracnose. In greenhouse, the genotypes were inoculated separately with 20 monosporic isolates obtained from different sorghum producing areas in the Brazil. Evaluation was carried out ten days after inoculation utilizing methodology proposed by Cardwel et al. (1989). Neither sorghum genotype was resistant to all the isolates inoculated. Line CMSXS657 was resistant to 95%, ATF14 to 90%, ATF08 to 85% and CMSXS210 to 70% of the isolates. The most outstanding hybrids were BRS305 (CMSXS210A X BR012R) resistant to 75% of the isolates, 9920045 (ATF14A X CMSXS180R) to 65% of the isolates, BRS308 (CMSXS233A X BR012R) to 60% of the isolates, and BRS650 (CMSXS222A X CMSXS657R) to 55% of the isolates. Lines BR001 and CMSXS222 were susceptible to 90% of the isolates. The resistance frequency of the hybrids was equal or inferior to that of the parent lines, except for hybrid BRS305 (CMSXS210A X BR012R) which was resistant to a larger number of isolates than its parents. None of the isolates tested were virulent to all the genotypes. The isolates from Campo Novo dos Parecis (MT) were the most virulent while the isolates from Jardinopolis (SP) were the least virulent.

The preparation of lists from the obtaining of primary data in herbaria contributes to enrich knowledge about the Brazilian flora. Mainly, for botanical groups present in the region semiarid and characterized by low availability of information as the monocotyledons. In this way, this work presents a floristic survey of monocotyledons of the State of Ceará, northeast of Brazil, analyzing the taxa richness. The data, which are computerized and available in the software BRAHMS 6.7, were obtained from collecting of the Herbarium Prisco Bezerra (EAC). A total of 3,472 exsicates from collections in the State of Ceará were analyzed, representing 540 species, 207 genera and 28 families. The richest families were: Poaceae (193 spp.), Cyperaceae (104 spp.), Orchidaceae (51 spp.), Bromeliaceae (38 spp.) and Araceae (35 spp.). The richest genera were: Cyperus (31 spp.), Paspalum (26 spp.), Panicum (23 spp.), Rhynchospora (17 spp.), Eleocharis (16 spp.) and Eragrostis (13 spp.).

This study was carried out in three irrigated West indian cherry varieties at Petrolina - PE, Brazil, in 2006 and 2007, with the objective of comparatively knowing the floral biology, the reproductive system, the effective pollinators, their habit of visiting the flowers and the contribution of pollination to crop benefit. The floral anthesis was diurnal and occurred between 4.30h and 5.00h, and at this moment the pollen grains were already available and the stigma was receptive. The number of elaiophores varied among the varieties and individuals. The pollinic viability of the variety Okinawa was low (14.8 ± 5.5%) when compared to Flor Branca and (92 ± 3%) and Sertaneja (83.4 ± 9.2%) varieties. The reproductive success due to spontaneous selfpollination varied from 4 to 6% among the three varieties. In the manual crossed pollination among the varieties, the lower fructification tax was obtained for the crossing using Okinawa as pollen donor (<1%) and the major rate was obtained with Sertaneja (43%). In the natural pollination (control) Sertaneja presented the biggest value of fructification (46%). The variety Okinawa showed the lowest frutification rates. The irrigation system adopted in the farming systems influenced the visits of the pollinators. Regarding frequency, behavior and flower constancy, Centris aenea was considered effective pollinator of the crop in the region.

The aim of this paper was to study the decomposition velocity of the sugar cane leaf in the own plantation in the Chã de Jardim Farm, belonging to Agrarian Sciences Center/UFPB-Areia, PB. It was used 10 g of dry leaves in litter bags measuring 30 cm x 20 cm, being these deposited in the soil superficial and in the depth of 15 cm, with biweekly collections during three months. A subplot design was used with 2 depths, 5 collection times and 3 repetitions. The largest decomposition rates happened in the subsuperficial treatment, mainly in the first 15 days, when it was lost 24.5% of the material, happening a stabilization soon after in the rate of disappearance of the biomass starting from the 30 days. The decomposition in the superficial and subsuperficial treatment followed a standard logarithmic with high correlation coefficient. In the surface, the decomposition rate was slower, having a decomposition peak to the 45 days with 24% of material loss and showing stability starting from 60 days. The superficial decomposition at the end of the experiment was the same percentile reached in the subsuperficial treatment before the 30 days, evidencing, therefore slower decomposition process and nutrients liberation for the soil in larger period.

The sugarcane is a widely adapted species to tropical climate and has made key role in economic development in Southeast and Northeast. The ability to adapt in different environments can be evaluated through the growth analysis and yield. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and yield of four sugarcane varieties (RB92579 and SP79-1011, RB931530 and RB93509) in the third ratoon. The experiment was conducted at the CECA/UFAL, Rio Largo (28º02'09''S, 35°49'43''W and 127m). The experimental design was randomized blocks. Was evaluated monthly the number of plants, height, leaf area index and stem diameter. The quality of raw material, dry matter and yield were evaluated at 360 DAC. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared to each other by Tukey test. The results showed that the maximum tillering occurred at 90 DAC for all varieties, and the RB92579 showed greater tillering and greater height at 360 DAC. The variety RB931530 had superior diameter than the others. The RB92579 and RB93509 were higher than the others on the sugar production, dry matter and yield, however, differed ech only on the matter. Varieties RB92579 and RB931530 had similar levels of Brix, PCC and ATR. Since this latter variable responsible for developing the pricing of sugarcane industry.

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.) (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in folk medicine in Northeast Brazil as a treatment for respiratory diseases, antispasmodic, sweat and useful in the treatment of gout. The aim of this study was to evaluate hereto the influence of different lengths of cuttings in rooting ofbamburral. The test was conducted for 30 days in the greenhouse of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Semi-Arid (UFERSA). The experimental design was randomized blocks with four cutting lengths (5; 10; 15 and 20 cm) and four replications and 10 cuttings per plot. After 30 days of planting, characteristics were evaluated: percentage of survival, rooting percentage, longest root length, diameter and initial end of cutting, the dry mass of shoot and root. Conclude that the length of piles does not affect the rooting of bamburral.

Some factories of the State of Alagoas are using the fungus entomopathogenic Metarhizium anisopliae as control against Mahanrva fimbriolata. Being so this work it had how aim to value the quantity of nymphs and adults of spittlebug of the root after the air application of the biological insecticide (M. anisopliae), race PL-43 and of the Imidacloprido, and to analyze the costs of this application. The experiment was driven in the sugarcane region of the Factory Cachoeira, located in Maceió-AL, in the period understood between July and September of 2006, on the sugarcane variety SP813250. The application of the products took place in 19th of July of 2006 and the reapplication in 22th of August of the same year. There was carried out initially a population evaluation of nymphs and adults and others 15, 30 and 45 days after the treatments. The treatments did not differ between them, but when each area was analyzed separately, there were differences between sub-areas of the experimental area and between the periods of application. The total costs of the application of Imidacloprido, were less comparing with the other treatments.

This study aimed to identify the similarities among hydrochemical variables describing the groundwater qualities in the Salgado watershed river (Southern Ceará), with the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Also, the groundwater hydrochemistry was investigated and classified using the Piper diagram. The study was developed from secondary data provided by the CPRM (Centro de Estudo Geológico do Brasil, previously Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais). The geological formation of the Salgado basin has two aquifer systems, one on sedimentary rock (porous, karst and alluvial) and another on (fractured) crystalline rock. The research was conducted in 24 groundwater wells spread out over the drainage area of the basin, with data having been collected for the last 10 years. The water samples were analyzed for their content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, CO3, HCO3 -, SO4 2- and CE. Two groups were formed by the use of cluster analysis, and both were independent with respect to their hydrological characteristics, and similar in hydro geological formation. The water quality study showed no temporal interference. The two components explained 78.30% of the total variance of the water quality. According to the Piper diagram, the waters were classified as 55.6% mixed chlorided water and 40% mixed bicarbonate water, in groups 1 and 2 respectively. The hydrochemical characterization of the studied waters implied no limitation to their human consumption.