The objective of this research was to identify species of ants in plantations of Heliconia spp. in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. The fauna of Formicidae was sampled in Maceió and Rio Largo, State of Alagoas, Brazil. The samples were taken from three producing areas of tropical flowers from June 2003 to May 2004. We collected 289 specimens belonging to 12 species, distributed in five genera of four subfamilies. The most abundant genus was Camponotus, with five species. This is the first record of a survey of mirmecofauna in Heliconia plantations in the agrobusiness flowers.

The accumulated litter in the forest ecosystems is source of nutrients for the soil, contributing to the maintenance of the productivity and sustainability in these environments. This study evaluated the chemical characteristics and nutrient content of litter in a Caatinga forest site located in the Fazenda Tamanduá RPPN, in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. Litter production in collector boxes were monthly collected of the seven transects systematically located in the RPPN area, being that the each three months was litter retired an the organic material sample, by transect, to evaluated the chemical characteristics. It was also estimated the remaining nutrient content of litter in nylon bags after 12 and 24 months under field conditions. The order of the nutrient quantities present in litter was: N > Ca > S > K > Mg > P. Potassium, Ca, and Mg release was directly related to litter weight loss, and N, P and S concentrations in litter increased during the process of litter decomposition. The nitrogen in the litter was presented the highest concentration in the wet period and phosphorus as limiting factor in this environment.

The occurrence of Spodoptera eridania (Cremer, 1782), Spodoptera dolichus (Fabricius, 1794) and Spodoptera cosmioidess (Walker) is registered for the first time attacking Crotalaria spp. in Rio Largo country (12°40' S, 39°06' W, 127 m de altitude), Alagoas State, Brazil.

A field experiment was developed in the period of April of 2000 to May of 2002, at the Experimental Station of Jiqui pertaining to the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte - EMPARN, Parnamirim city, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The work had as objective to evaluate the effects of nitrogen and potassium applied through irrigation water on the nutritional state of green dwarf coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L). The treatments had consisted of the combination through the experimental matrix of Plan Puebla III, 5 doses of N and 5 doses of K2O both oscillating of 135 the 2565 g plant -1 year -1 derived of the urea and white potassium chloride. The used experimental A field experiment was developed in the period of April of 2000 to May of 2002, at the Experimental Station of Jiqui pertaining to the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte - EMPARN, Parnamirim city, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The work had as objective to evaluate the effects of nitrogen and potassium applied through irrigation water on the nutritional state of green dwarf coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L). The treatments had consisted of the combination through the experimental matrix of Plan Puebla III, 5 doses of N and 5 doses of K2O both oscillating of 135 the 2565 g plant -1 year -1 derived of the urea and white potassium chloride. The used experimental delineation was of blocks at random with 4 repetitions and 5 plants for plots totalizing 40 experimental units. The plantation was made in the triangular spacing of 7.5 m between plants and 7.5 m between lines. When the plants were with 4, 4.5 and 5 years had been made three foliar material collections in two plants for parcel in 9 and 14 number leaves. With the results of the analyses proceeding from these collections they had extracted to the averages and was made the statistics analysis. In the samples, they were determined the N, K, P, Ca, Mg and Cl concentrations. Only the N presented concentration below of the critical level, the other P, K, Ca, Mg and Cl nutrients had presented its concentrations above of this level. There was not trend defined between 9 and 14 levels in relation to the N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Cl concentration. The N concentrations had increased proportionally and linearly and to the amount of N applied. The K concentrations had increased proportionally of quadratic form to the amount of applied N. The K concentrations had increased of quadratic form proportionally to the K doses and linearly to the N doses. There was no effect of the N and K doses on the Ca proportions, the Mg concentrations of Mg had diminished linearly with the rise of the N and K doses. The Cl concentrations had increased with the rise in the N and K doses. Considering the evaluated nutrients and the shown leaves, it is possible affirm that the plants were nutritiously were balanced.

Most of the time, seedlings of yellow passion fruit are produced from seeds. The success in the establishment of the culture depends on several factors, such as the use of seeds of good quality and choice of the best substrate. This work the aim, was to evaluate sources alternative of organic matter in the mixture of substrates for the production of yellow-passion (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg) seedlings. The experimental design was in blocks completely randomized, with ten treatments, with four repetitions and ten plants per parcel, been the treatments: pure soil (S), soil + goat manure (S + GM) in the proportion of 3:1, soil + sheep manure (S + SM) in the proportion of 3:1, soil + bovine manure (S + BM) in the proportion of 3:1, soil + earthworm humus (S + H) in the proportion of 3:1, soil + goat manure + sheep manure (S + GM + SM) in the proportion of 2:1:1, soil + goat manure + bovine manure (S + GM + BM) in the proportion of 2:1:1, soil + sheep manure + bovine manure (S + SM + BM) in the proportion of 2:1:1 , soil + sheep manure + bovine manure (S + SM + BM) in the proportion of 2:1:1, pure soil fertilized with single superphosphate and potassium chloride (S + P + K) at doses of 1 kg m-3 and 0.5 kg m-3 respectively and pure soil fertilized with only single superphosphate (S + P) at a dose of 1 kg m-3. The use of goat and sheep manure in mixtures of substrates provided good results in the production of Yellow-passion seedlings. Of all the tested substrates, the substrate soil + bovine manure in the proportion of 3:1 promoted the best development of the yellow-passion seedlings.

The use of different practical vegetal coverings and cultural seems to act directly on soil mesofauna. The objective of this work was to evaluate the variations of the groups of soil mesofauna n different systems of handling of the ground. The treatments had consisted of three areas: castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), pasture (Brachiaria decumbens) and native woods. In each area 21 samples had been removed, seven for treatments, three times. The soil mesofauna extracted using a modified Berlese-Tullgren apparatus. In the evaluation of the ecological behavior ofmesofauna, the total number of individuals was mensured and had been made comparisons of the communities using: the Shannon index and the Pielou index. Pertaining ones to filo Arthropoda had been identified to 13 taxonomics groupsin the three areas in study, being all. In the area and castor bean lesser diversity in the structure of the community of arthropods was verified, evidencing the influence of the culture systems on the population of soil mesofauna, diminishing its density and diversity in relation to the native woods area.

The effects of the fertirrigation were evaluated with in nature vinasse on to microorganism of the soil. The soil was treated with three levels different from in nature vinasse (equivalent to 200, 400 and 600m3.ha-1), withhumidity maintained around 70% of c.r.a.. Para isolation and count of the total microorganisms (bacterias, mushrooms and actinomicetos) and microorganisms celulolíticos were used the methods of the dilutions in series. The population of mushrooms had a significant increase with addition of the level of in nature vinasse of 200m3.ha-1, and the population of bacterias only obtained increase starting from the 120 days of incubation, tends larger growth in the level of vinasse 600m3.ha-1. The number of actinomicetos of the soil had a significant reduction in all the levels standing out the one of 600m3.ha-1, already with relationship to the population of microorganisms celulolíticos an increase of in nature vinasse 200m3.ha-1 was verified.

That revision article has for purpose to contain works regarding the of the you analyze physiochemical and microbiológicas of bee honey. They are related some of the most important goods published on the subject, to explain the main ones you analyze that the honey of bees should be submitted since it is a product in natura broadly consumed. The knowledge of the characteristics organoléptica, sensorial and microbiológicas of the honey has been aiding a lot in the characterization and quality control of that food.

Aimed to study the floristic composition of the shrub-tree layer in the areas in Caatinga baiana, Brazil. The study was made being used in each area 100 contiguous parcels of 10 x 10m. The collected material was deposited in the herbarium Jaime Coelho de Morais of UFPB and through consultations in specialized literature. They were registered in Senhor do Bonfim 1.793 individuals distributed in 52 species and 23 families. In the area of Jacobina were presented 1.961 individuals which were distributed in 62 species and 24 families. In Senhor do Bonfim, the families with larger number of species were Euphorbiaceae, Leg. Mimosoideae, Malvaceae and Rubiaceae. In Jacobina they stood out: Euphorbiaceae, Leg.Mimosoideae, Myrtaceae, Cactaceae, Leg. Caesalpinoideae, Malpighiaceae and Malvaceae. It was observed it influences her predominant of six species in the community of both areas. The analysis of similarity florística indicated that for the two areas the similarity was very low. It was verified that the studied areas presented composition varied floristic.

The objective of the present work was to characterize melon plant accessions collected in the Brazilian Northeast. They were appraised 42 accessions and four you cultivate commercial, in the years of 2006 and 2007, in twoexperiments in randomized blocks with two replications. 24 traits were used, being 1 of the seed, 11 of fruits, 7 inflorescência, 4 of the leaf and 2 of the plant. The accesses belonged to the botanical group Cantalupensis, Momordica, Conomon and not defined group. Great variation was observed among the accessions for all the traits, especially in the fruit descritores. Variation was verified among and within of the studied botanical groups, mainly in the group Cantalupensis. In a general way, the accesses were fruitful, productive, with long fruits of intermediate size the big ones, with low pulp firmness and lower content of soluble solids. The characterization of the accessions with relationship to the fruit traits can aid the improvement programs. Some accessions can be used to increased the fruitful and the productivity of the melon through crossings with elite cultivars.