Native seeds should be studied and appreciated as they can contribute to the improvement of production, trade and supply aspects of family farmers, and breeding programs. The aim of the current study was to compare the physical characteristics (color and size) and the chemical composition of the grain in natura five genotypes creole red beans, grown in organic system, on the Nossa Senhora Aparecida farm, in Hi-drolândia-GO, Brazil. Completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications was employed. Caliper was used to determine the dimensions (length, height and width), Sphere II colorimeter ColorQuest to the instrumental color parameters (L*, a* e b*), and methods recommended by Association of Official Analyti-cal Chemists to the chemical composition. The Safira beans showed the greatest length and width (13.89 and 7.59 mm, respectively), in addition to greater luminosity (42.38), less reddish (3.53) and lower levels of ash and crude fiber (3.59 and 12.05 g 100 g-1, respectively). The beans Bolinha Vermelha showed the lowest di-mensions (9.1 x 4.3 x 5.7 mm), while the Vermelho Rajado beans showed lower protein (16.61 g 100 g-1) and higher ash (3.91 g 100 g-1). The bean Vermelho Rajado received the greatest levels of protein and crude fiber (18.83 and 16.45 g 100 g-1, respectively). All creole beans adapted to organic production system. Among the genotypes, beans Safira stood out for having larger and lighter in color, the beans Vermelho Rajado and Bolin-ha Vermelha dot by higher protein, beans Bolinha Vermelha by higher contents of ash and ether extract, and Vermelho Rajado the higher fiber content.

Two experiments were conducted with the aim of determining the nutritional composition of babassu cake, metabolizable energy and true amino acid digestibility of babassu cake for slow growth broilers. In the first experiment, 352 broilers were used at different ages, distributed randomly in three treatments, with six replications compounds by reference diets (RDs) formulated for three different ages, and test diets (80% of RRs over 20% of babassu cake). The method used was the total collection. In the second experiment, 168 slow growth broilers were used, from 20 to 25 days of age, distributed randomly in two treatments which consisted of a diet free of protein (DIP) starch-based and the DIP plus 35% inclusion of babassu cake. The chemical composition of babassu cake exhibit elevated levels of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent, which can interfere with the metabolizable energy values of this food. In the formulations diets for slow growth broilers using babassu cake in its composition should take into consideration the age of the animal, and with advancing age of the chickens improves utilization of metabolizable energy for broilers. Amino acids have lower digestibility coefficients to those found in the literature for fast growth broilers, and histidine is the ami-no acid that has the lowest coefficient of digestibility and arginine, the highest.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the optimum plot size to three sunflower hybrids in three spatial arrangements of plants. The uniformity test was installed in the experimental field of the Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia, in Cruz das Almas, Brazil, in 2012. The plots were composed of six lines of 36 m, which were willing three spatial arrangements of plants: A1 (0,45 m x 0,49 m); A2 (0,70 m x 0,32 m) and A3 (0,90 m x 0,25 m), and each arrangement were distributed three sunflower hybrids: Hélio 250, Hélio 253 e Aguara 3. For the evaluation of the optimal plot size, at 110 days after sowing was harvested a sample of 180 basic units (plants) per plot, in which were evaluated the final plant height, the final diameter of the rod and the diameter of the chapter. Thirty - one plots sizes of three hybrids were simulated and for each variable assessed, wherein each plant was considered as a basic unit. The estimation of optimum plot size to the sun- flower crop was calculated by the method of modified curvature maximum. The combined use of hybrid H253, installed in the arrangement 0.45 m x 0.49 m, promotes obtainment the greatest value of curvature maximum it was estimated the optimum plot size of six plants.

This work aimed to study the agronomic feasibility of the arugula (A) and lettuce (L) bicropping intercropped with carrot (C) under different amounts of roostertree incorporated into the soil and proportions of population densities among component crops in semiarid conditions of the Rio Grande do Norte state. The experimental design was randomized complete block with four replications, with the treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 4. The first factor was constituted by the amounts of roostertree incorporated into the soil (10, 25, 40 and 55 t ha - 1 on a dry basis) and the second factor by the proportions of population densities of the component crops in polyculture [(50A - 50C - 50L (%); 40A - 50C - 40L (%); 30A - 50C - 30L (%) and 20A - 50C - 20L (%) of the recommended populations in sole crops - RPSC)]. The leafy vegetable crops were planted in two cultivations during the carrot cycle, and a joint analysis was carried out involving the two cultivations in the 4 x 4 factorial scheme. The characteristics evaluated were green mass yield (arugula), dry mass of shoots and productivity (lettuce), total, commercial and classified productivity of carrot roots. The modified monetary advantage was used to evaluate the agronomic feasibility of intercropping systems. The use of roostertree as green manure proved viable in the polyculture of arugula, carrot, and lettuce. The major agronomic perfor- mance of the arugula, carrot and lettuce in the polyculture was registered in the amount of 55 t ha - 1 of rooster- tree incorporated into the soil. The population density proportions of arugula, carrot and lettuce of 50A - 50C - 50L (%) of the RPSC were those that provided the greatest agronomic feasibility of the polycultures.

This work aimed to determine instead at determining chemical composition, nutritional aspects and morphological characteristic of tubers from sweet potato roots (Ipomoea batatas L.) of cultivars Rosinha de Verdan, Capivara and orange-fleshed produced under the organic system. The chemical composition of flours from sweet potato (SP) roots was different among cultivars. The starch content for SP cultivar ranged from 26-33 % (d. b.), and the orange-fleshed roots presented 3182 μg of β-carotene/100 g. The flour yield ob-tained for SPF processing was higher in Rosinha de Verdan (25.40%), and the starch content of roots ranged from 12.48-27.63 % (d.b.). The processing condition modified the starch granular characteristics of the flours and reduced 31% the carotene content and vitamin A value of the orange-fleshed flour. The orange-fleshed flour presented higher levels of carbohydrate, starch and total energy value (TEV) than others white fleshed flour. The consumption of serving size of orange-fleshed roots and flour provided higher provitamin A require-ments for children.

The piçarra (subsoil material mainly formed by silt, sand and gravel) is commonly used in the civil construction and activities related to the onshore oil production in the Caatinga biome. The revegetation of the piçarra mines at the end of exploration cycle is mandatory and generally demands the planting of native tree species. However, there is scarce information about tree species able to grow in these degraded environments. This study aimed to evaluate the development and survival of 20 tree species, including native and exotic spe-cies, and nodulating and non nodulating species, planted in five piçarra mines located in three cities in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The experiment was a split-split block design, where 10 nodulating tree species were compared with ten other non nodulating species in areas with and without addition of a 20 cm topsoil layer and/or 2 L cattle manure in the planting hole. Biometric measurements were made at the end of the dry and rainy seasons (February 2008 to February 2010) up to 660 days after planting. The addition of topsoil re-duced the survival of trees, especially of non nodulating species, likely due to the vigorous herbaceous regener-ation in this treatment. Conversely, the addition of manure favored the tree growth. The nodulating species outperformed the non nodulating in respect to survival rate, total height, trunk diameter, and growth rate. The native species with the best survival and development rates were Mimosa tenuiflora, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Caesalpinia ferrea and Tabebuia caraiba, and among the exotics were Azadirachta indica and Pseudosamanea guachapele.

The removal of the original vegetation and deployment of crops, combined with inadequate management practices, usually cause the deterioration of the physical and chemical quality of the soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the physical and chemical attributes of a Typic Quartzipsamment from different land use systems and soil management. Four agroecosystems were selected: eucalyptus forest, extensive grazing, crop-livestock integration and integrated crop-livestock-forest, and an ecosystem preserved vegetation of native cerrado, located on Fazenda Modelo II in Ribas do Rio Pardo, MS. Soil samples were col-lected at depths of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm in a completely randomized design, with six plots of 150 m2 on each system. The integrated crop-livestock and integrated crop-livestock-forest provided the biggest contribution in the improvement of soil fertility. There was an antagonistic relationship between physical and chemical soil as sustainability evaluation, and chemical attributes had to be more affected than physical.

The Golden mosaic, caused by Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV), causes severe losses to faba beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) growers in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed at analyzing the temporal and spatial aspects of the disease at two experimental plots (A and B with 1360 m2 each) cultivated with faba beans located in Rio Largo, Alagoas. The evaluation of the disease incidence was done by visual in-spection of all plants at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after planting (DAP). The epidemics were compared with respect to initial incidence (yo), maximum incidence (ymax), rate of disease progression (RDP), and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The spatial pattern of the disease was analyzed by isopath mapping, ordi-nary runs, fitting the beta-binomial distribution and spatial autocorrelation. The analysis of the progress curves showed that the epidemic was significantly (P≤0.05) faster in plot B, probably associated with increased expo-sure to whitefly populations from areas external to assay. The within rows aggregation increased along with the period after planting and the increase in the disease incidence in both areas. In plot A, there was a slight pre-dominance of aggregation within the rows while, in plot B, the across rows aggregation of sick plants was prevalent.

The Integrated Diagnosis and Recommendation (DRIS) is based on the calculation of an index for each nutrient. For the calculation of DRIS norms, there is a need a database containing the results of leaf analysis and yield. In Pará State, no DRIS norms developed for the cultivation of hybrid coconut. The objective was to develop DRIS norms for this culture. The aim was carried at the Socôco farm in Moju PA. The database consisted of 134 observations for the period 2001 - 2011. We obtained the mean, standard deviation, variance and coefficient of variation of the relationships of concentrations of nutrients, and the coefficients of correlation between the ratio of each pair of nutrients and fruit yield. DRIS norms were established based on the population of high productivity. Of the 110 relationships, 55 were selected to DRIS norms, using two selection criteria of relationships between nutrients. The highest values of standard deviation, variance and coefficient of variation were presented to the leaf levels of the micronutrients iron, manganese, and boron. While the nutrients showed higher percentages of samples with levels below the adequate levels used were Mg and Ca, and finally the nu- trients in leaf samples presented above or equal to the adequate levels contents were Fe, Mn and Ca.

The Monosporascus Cannonballus is the main agent of decline roots. However, grafting is be-ing tested to overcome this disease. From this perspective, the current research, aimed to screen resistant root-stocks and evaluate the compatibility of grafting watermelon Crimson Sweet. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and Laboratory of Plant Pathology-II, UFERSA Mossoró, RN. In the first, 12 genotypes were used: watermelon (TPR- 02978 e TPR- 04329); melon (TPR- 05851 e TPR- 08689) e pumpkin (TPR- 06827, PES- 07, PEC- 01, PEM- 06, PED- 02, PEK- 05, Shintoza e Fito), sown in pots with soil naturally infected by M. cannonballus. After 60 days, the roots were evaluated (DR) and (IGD) and (IA). In the second, Crimson Sweet was used as graft and PEC-01, PES-07, PEK-05 and Shintoza as rootstocks. The seventeenth day, were evaluated (% PEG), (AB2), (AC), (L), (NF), (DC), (AP), (MSPA) e (MSR). The experimental design was ran-domized, using the Scott-Knott and Tukey tests SAEG® 9.1. There were lower notes the (DR): TPR-02978, TPR-06827, TPR-08689, PES-07, PEC-01, PED-02, PEK-05 e Shintoza. The (IGD): TPR-02978, TPR-08689, TPR-06827, PES-07, PEC-01, PEM-06, PED-02, PEK-05, Shintoza e Fitó. And (IA): PES-07, PEC-01 and PEK-05. The PEC-01 had the highest (% PEG). And the highest rates of MSPA and the MSR were obtained in PEC-01 and Shintoza. The TPR- 02978, TPR- 04329, TPR- 05851, TPR- 08689, TPR- 06827, PEM- 06, PED- 02, Shintoza and Fito showed susceptibility. As for PEK-05, PES-07 and PEC-01, they were resistant to M. cannonballus and the latter presented to the graft compatibility Crimson Sweet.