This study was carried out in a mixed orchard in the municipality of Belmonte, in the southernmost region of Bahia and it aimed at characterizing the fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) population using faunistic analysis and studying its population fluctuation. The study was conducted from August 2007 to August 2009. Fruit fly captures were carried out using McPhail traps baited with protein hydrolisate at 5%. Weekly, the captured insects found in traps were transferred to plastic vials, one vial per trap, filled with 70% ethanol and taken to the laboratory for identification. A total of 9,709 fruit flies was captured, out of which 9,477 specimens were Anastrepha (5,908 females and 3,569 males) and 232 specimens were Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (201 females and 31 males). Nine species of Anastrepha were recorded: Anastrepha bahiensis (Lima) (2.59%), Anastrepha distincta (Greene) (2.71%), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (59.37%), Anastrepha leptozona (Hendel) (0.02%), Anastrepha manihoti (Lima) (0.02%), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (2.98%), Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) (0.07%), Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi (29.14%), Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (0.22%), and C. capitata (2.88%). Anastrepha fraterculus and A. sororcula were the dominant species and only A. fraterculus was constant on the orchard. The values of the Simpson (0.51) and of Shannon (01.35) indices were intermediate and the modified Hill index was 0.49, indicating a medium diversity. The high est capturevalues of Anastrepha spp. occurred from July to December 2008, with a population peak in September.

The present work had as objective to carry through the agroclimatic zoning of the culture of surinam cherry in the state of Pernambuco. They had been used given average annual of minimum and maximum pluvial precipitation and pertaining temperatures of air the 201 climatologic station located in the main representative cities of the regions of the State for the elaboration of the water balance and the attainment of the thermal and water limits. The function density of probability of the distribution gamma was used to classify the dry, regular and rainy years. The maps of dry, regular and rainy years had been produced using interpolation for kriging. The results had presented 19 cities with full aptitude for dry years, 50 cities for regular years and 66 cities for rainy years apt to the culture of surinam cherry. The cities of Cortês, Gameleira and Palmares had revealed with better aptitudes agroclimatic for the culture of the surinam cherry in Pernambuco.

This paper presents the results of a taxonomic study of the family Poaceae held in Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana, with the objective of contributing to the knowledge of species richest of the Park. The PARNA Serra de Itabaiana (10 45'15''S and 37 25'15''O) is located in the state of Sergipe and covers an area of 7966 ha which includes three units, the serra do Cajueiro, Comprida and de Itabaiana. Collections were made between April 2006 and April 2008 and deposited in UFP, ASE, MO, and RB. Information on distribution have been raised from herbaria, literature and databases available on the Internet. We identified 40 species in the PARNA classified into 19 genera, the richest of which is Paspalum L., with eight species. Five species had their distribution extended in this work. A key to identify the species is presented, as well as comments on distribution and ecology.

The blossom-end rot of tomato is characterized by the appearance of a necrotic tissue in the distal part of the fruit. This disorder is not caused directly by the calcium deficiency, but it results from the expression of some genes in stress conditions. Interactions between temperature, water availability, high saline or ammonium concentration, etc., control the appearance of the blossom-end rot in the fruits. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence calcium and ammonium on the productivity and blossom-end of tomatoes grown hydroponically. The experiment was carried out in the green house of the Department of Agronomy of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, and consisted of factorial arrangement between six levels of calcium and two levels of ammonium in the nutrient solution (6 x 2), with six replications in experimental design of randomized blocks. Calcium treatments were the concentrations of 120, 140, 170, 200, 240 and 280 mg L-1, and ammonium treatments were the absence of this cation in the nutrient solution and the addition of 28.4 mg L-1, corresponding to 15% of total-N of the nutrient solution. The blossom-end rot, productivity, fruit diameter and number of fruits were evaluated. The data were submitted to the analysis of the variance and regression. The calcium addition caused a reduction in the tomato productivity, and the treatments with ammonium caused a lesser incidence of blossom-end rot.

Aiming to evaluate the nodulation and grain yield by cowpea inoculated with rhizobia isolates obtained of soil samples from Brazilian Northeast region, an experiment was carried out in Leonard jars under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was performed on a randomized block design with five replicates and five sampling times, performed at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after emergence (DAE). Nine rhizobia isolates and the recommended strain (BR 2001) were inoculated on cowpea. Besides, it were used two control treatment: mineral nitrogen (TN, applying 150 mg N plant-1) and an absolute control (T0). Evaluating the number of nodules per plant (NN), nodule dry mass (NDM), plant dry matter (PDM), Accumulated N (Nac), grain dry mass (GDM) and straw dry mass of pods (DMP). Results showed that the NN, NDM, PDM and Nac content increased until 45 DAE. Although variations had been occurred after 60 DAE for these parameters, significant difference was only found for Nac content at 75 DAE. Evaluated parameters (NN, NDM, PDM and Nac) showed a high correlation with GDM. Although no statistical difference had been observed to the strain BR 2001, five of the nine Bradyrhizobia isolates provided GDM production from 1.6 to 2.4 times more than the recommended strain, indicating high potential of use of these isolates as inoculant. However, further experiments are needed, mostly under field conditions to confirm these results.

The effects of thermal gradients on stem add one methodological constraint for estimating sap flow through the Granier method (thermal dissipation probe). The present work studied the effect of natural thermal gradients on estimates of sap flow by using thermal dissipation probe in mango plants. The study was carried by using mango plants of the cultivar Tommy Atkins during two development stages: (a) during the initial development phase of plants with leaf area of 0.66, 0.73, 1.78 m2 , planted in 15 and 50 liters pots. The study was carried in a greenhouse environment and in the field. Different thermal shields were used around the stem of plants in pots in order to minimize the effects of thermal natural gradients. The measurements of thermal differences were obtained from an adult plant with high leaf density and small exposition of branches to solar radiation. Sensors placed in stems of adult plant with high leaf density provided smaller thermal gradients compared to those inserted in young plant stems. It is necessary to cover the whole branch with neoprene and a shield (skirt type) of aluminum paper above and below the location of probe insertion for exposed branches. The air temperature at 2 m height may be used efficiently to correct thermal gradients. It is indispensable the correction of natural thermal gradients in the stem for adequate estimating sap flow density by the Granier method.

The Serra de Itabaiana is located near the coast of Sergipe, in the municipalities of Areia Branca and Itabaiana. It is part of the Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiaba, which is characterized as being an ecotone. Orchidaceae Juss. is one of the most diverse families in the world and is the fourth richest in the study area. This paper presents a taxonomic survey of the orchids from the area. The fieldwork was carried out during july 2006 to january 2009 in several habitats of the study area and during the dry and rainy seasons. The vouchers are at UFP Herbarium, with duplicates at ASE, BHCB, HUEFS and RB. The current work registered 25 species belonging to 17 genera. Habenaria (5 spp.) and Epidendrum (3 spp.) were the most diverse. It represents around 70% of the total orchid species recorded for the State of which 14 are new records (see Flora of Brazil, www.jbrj.gov.br). The large number of orchid species, which five of them are endemic to Brazil supports the area as a Conservation Site and reinforces the needs for floristic-taxonomic inventories for a better knowledge of the real diversity of the family in the Brazilian Northeastern.

This paper aimed to evaluate the initial growth of castor bean (Ricinus cummunis L.) in response to fertilization with sewage sludge and calcium and magnesium silicate. The experiment was conducted from July to August 2010 at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICA) in Montes Claros, UFMG - MG. The cultivation was carried out on a Cambisol, using as indicator plant castor bean (Ricinus communis) variety BRS Energy. The treatments, in factorial 2 x 4, in randomized block design with three replicates, were: two doses of calcium and magnesium silicate (0 and 1 t ha-1) and four doses of sewage sludge compost (0; 23,81; 47,62 and 71,43 t ha-1, in dry basis). In the experiment, plant height, crown diameter, stem diameter and leaf number were measurement. Calcium and magnesium silicate did not influence the growth characteristics of plant. On the other hand, the castor bean showed response to sewage sludge compost, expressing the maximum value of the growth characteristics at a dosage of 71.43 t ha-1, except for the number of leaves, which did not respond to any treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the precision of the Original Geometric Method and Modified Geometric Method, to estimate the individual volume of 100 trees of Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake, coming from a plantation with high variability of shape, with five years of age, located in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. For this, the trees were rigorously cubed and separated into five diameter classes with an amplitude of 3 cm, and their actual volumes were compared with volumes estimated by the respective methods, in an analysis of variance in factorial with two factors (diameter classes and methods). The results showed that, in general, the methods produced good estimates of volume, however, there was loss of precision in estimates related to a greater taper of the trees belonging to the largest diameter classes (DBH > 12 cm), with shape factors smaller than 0.46, as well as the presence of deformations on the stem.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of five nitrogen doses (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1) on yield components and yield of watermelon cv. Crimson Sweet. The experiment was carried out under field conditions at Boa Vista, RR, on January to April 2010, under yellow oxisol. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The length of the stems and leaf number were significantly affected by treatments at, 45 days after emergence (DAE), affecting also the dry matter total in the end of cycle. The estimated maximum yield of watermelon (40.428 kg ha-1) was obtained with 144.7 kg N ha-1, while for fruit fresh mass was 9.45 kg with the application of 248,5 kg ha-1 N. The pH of the fruits were not affected by treatments, while the sugar content of the watermelon, measured in degrees Brix, was affected by the depths of nitrogen.