Chicory is a vegetable Amazon unconventional flavor that has attracted the attention of researchers for its great versatility, which makes it a promising vegetable. However, jobs are scarce in the literature on cultivation techniques for the species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pruning tassel floral and different spacing, the yield on Amazon chicory. Three different spacings: E1 = 0.15 x 0.15 m, with 44 plants m2, E2 = 0.20 x 0.20 m, with 25 plants m2, and E3 = 0.25 x 0.25 m, with 16 plants m2, with and without pruning floral tassel. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a split plot design 3 x 2, with six replications. The characteristics evaluated were: number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of shoots, number of tassel floral tassel floral fresh weight, yield (kg m-2), and leaf area index (LAI). The largest production of chicory Amazon was obtained in plants grown at a spacing of 0.25 x 0.25 m subjected to pruning floral tassel. The highest yield for Amazon chicory was obtained in plants grown at a spacing of 0.15 x 0.15 m submitted pruning floral tassel.

The supply adequate of lime and phosphorus fertiliz er for cowpea beans can contribute for the increased of the productivity and the nutritional v alue of the grains. Therefore the effect of the pho sphate fer- tilization and the base saturation was evaluated on the growth and the productivity of the cowpea bean s of a Typic Hapludox. The experimental delineation was bl ock randomized, with eight replicates in factorial project 4 x 2, corresponding to the combination of four of phosphorus (P) levels (0, 25, 50 and 100 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) and two base saturations (50 and 60%). It was used to c ultivate BR3-Tracuateua, sown to provide 80,000 pla nts/ha. In period of flowering were collected two samples r epresentative in each plot for the determination of the dry mass aerial part. The dry mass aerial part producti on had a significant effect for interaction between the base saturation and phosphorus rate, the maximum product ion was reached in saturation of 50%, corresponding to the dose of 45 kg ha -1 . The components of output and weight of dry mass o f pods and grains also had signifi- cant effects on the interaction P x base saturation , and the highest production occurred in the base s aturation of 60% with the initial dose (25 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) of phosphorus. The maximum production estimated o f grains that corresponding to 90% was hit with the doses of 11.3 and 10.2 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 , with base saturation of 60%.

There are few studies related to the in vitro cultivation of plants from theTheobroma genus and no effective micropropagation protocols for T.grandiflorum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the calli formation in cupuassu floral explants, targeting their organogenic or embryogenicdevelopment. Experiments were conducted in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of EMBRAPA, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. Floral parts from unopened immature flower buds taken from seedless cupuassu trees were sterilized and employed as a source of explants. These explants were cultivated in Petri dishes in an induction medium consisting of MS salts and vitamins, supplemented with glycine(3 mg.L-1), lysine (0,4 mg.L-1), leucine (0,4 mg.L-1), arginine (0,4 mg.L-1), tryptophan (0,2 mg.L-1), 2,4-D (1 mg.L-1), kinetin (0,25 mg.L-1), coconut water (50 ml.L-1), sucrose (40 g.L-1), Gelrite (2,2 g.L-1) and pH adjusted to 5,8. Cultures were maintained in the dark for 3 weeks at 27°C and then subcultured for six weeks in medium without growth regulators supplemented with glycine (1 mg.L-1), lysine (0,2 mg.L-1), leucine (0,2 mg.L-1), arginine (0,2 mg.L-1), tryptophan (0,1 mg.L-1), coconut water (100 ml.L-1), sucrose (40 g.L-1), Gelrite (2,2 g.L-1) and pH 5,8. We used a completely randomized design with 10 replications of 5 explants per plate and four different explant sources: staminode, petal, ligule and ovary. As a result, we obtained a highercalli formation in theinduction medium when ovaries were used as source of explants. However, there was no development of somatic embryosor organogenic response in medium without growth regulators and further studies are being conducted.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of mechanical injuries caused by impact, abrasion and cut in guavas cv. 'Paluma' under fruit quality during cold storage at 10°C, and at environment temperature. Was to adopt the completely randomized design in a split-plot in time considering as plots, the mechanical injuries and subplots, the storage periods (0, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17 days) with four replicates of two fruits per experimental unit. The mechanical injuries were induced considering the following criteria: T1, witness, without fruit visible damage; T2, fruits impacts, two impacts per fruit at a height of 85 cm; T3, fruits subjected two cuts, on opposite sides, depth of 2 mm and length 30 mm; T4, fruits subjected to abrasion, area of 10 cm2. Was evaluated the exterior color, the external appearance, the internal appearance, the severity of disease. Injury due to impact, abrasion and cut no influence on in exterior color, external appearance, internal appearance and severity of diseases of guava cv. 'Paluma' during storage for 11 days at 10oC. But, the quality was impaired by mechanical injuries six days after exposure to 30°C.

The use of manure as a nutrient source is of fundam ental importance in the restoration and maintenance of soil fertility, especially in semiar id regions. The purpose of this study was to evalua te the nutri- ent release during decomposition of different manur es in the Paraíba semiarid region. The experiment w as con- ducted at the Experimental Field belonging Embrapa, in Patos/PB. The treatments were arranged in block s with split plot with four replications using a factorial arrangement 4 x 2 x 6, referring to four types of manure (donkey, cow, goat and sheep), two forms of deposit ion (surface soil and buried 10 cm deep) and six sa mpling times for assessment (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days after the experiment). Were determined the con centra- tions of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The N in goat and shee p manure were higher than 50% of the donkey and cat tle manure and also showed the highest levels of calciu m and magnesium. The sheep and cattle manure showed the highest levels of phosphorus and potassium, res pectively. The goat and sheep manure showed the hig hest levels of N, Ca and Mg. The release of nutrients fr om manure spread on the soil surface and incubated showed little variation in the initial phase of the experi mental period. Increases in soil water content prov ided higher activity of the microbial community, with more inte nse release of nutrients in the manure treatments were in- cubated in soil.

This work aimed to evaluate strategies for weed management on the quality of watermelon in the subsequent growing melons in no-tillage (NT) and conventional (SPC). The experiment was conducted in split plot in randomized block design with four replications. The plots were evaluated both tillage systems (no tillage and conventional tillage) and sub-plots, nine strategies for weed management (covering with polyethylene film, with weeding at 14 days after transplanting (DAT) at 14 and DAT 28, 14 and 42 DAT, at 14, 28 and 42 DAT, the DAT 28, at 28 and 42 DAT, the DAT 42 and a control without weeding). We evaluated density and weed dry weight at 14, 28 and 42 DAT and at harvest of watermelon (80 DAT). For watermelon, were evaluated for fruit quality characteristics (longitudinal and transverse length, pulp thickness, firmness, pH and soluble solids). The SPD reduced the density and dry mass of weeds, requiring the completion of only one weeding between 28 and 42 DAT, whereas the SPC was necessary to carry out weeding at 14 and 28 DAT. The SPD and the polyethylene film in the conventional tillage system allow the realization a second crop in the area in succession to the melon, reducing weed interference and providing satisfactory results in the quality characteristics of watermelon.

Our objective was to evaluate the chemical composit ion and in vitro digestibility of dry matter of hydrolyzed sugar cane in different storage times . We conducted the trial in the Forage Sector at UN IFENAS, campus of Alfenas (MG) in 2010. The data were analy zed as completely randomized design in factorial sc heme 2 (sugar cane without lime and hydrolyzed with 1.0% of lime, basis of fresh matter) x 6 (six times of storage: 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours), with three replicate s. The sugar cane stored without lime showed lower dry mat- ter (DM), crude protein, neutral detergent fiber an d acid detergent fiber contents compared to hydroly zed sugar cane. However, the hydrolyzed sugar cane showed hig her contents of organic matter (OM) and total diges tible nutrients. We reported higher in vitro digestibility of DM and OM when the sugar cane was not hydrolyzed. This can be explaining by better chemical compositi on of sugar cane without lime. The storage of sugar cane without lime shows results more interesting because the chemical composition and digestibility is bett er than hydrolyzed sugar cane. So, we not recommended using lime on the sugar cane. Moreover, the sugar cane w ith- out lime can be stored until 96 hours after cut.

The anthracnose is important disease in the pre an d postharvest phases. Several species of Colle- totrichum ( C. gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, C. musae e C. magn a ) are responsible for inciting this disease. The pathogen infects many fruit trees in tropical and t emperate regions, causing considerable damage and l oss in all phases of cultures. Characteristic symptoms are dar k necrotic lesions depressed, subcircular or angula r shaped, and there may be coalescing. Infections have a spec ial feature: the phenomenon of quiescence. This pro cess has important implications, particularly in post-harves t, because the damage from infections reflect only this phase. The intensity of the disease have been striking at temperatures from 24 to 28 °C and in the presence o f high relative humidity. The understanding of some aspect s of the biology of the pathogen (the process of qu ies- cence) and the epidemiology of the disease is cruci al, since much has not yet been fully clarified, es pecially when the aim is to achieve sustainable management.

This work was carried out with the objective to study the foam-mat drying of Cereus jamacaru pulp fruit with albumen (2%) and “Super Liga Neutra” (2%) with whipping time of 5 min, dried in oven with air circulation at 70; 80, and 90 °C with three different foam thicknesses (0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 cm). The drying curves were fitted with the Page, Henderson and Pabis and Cavalcanti Mata models. Drying time was influ- enced by the foam thickness and process temperature being the process faster for smaller thickness and higher temperature. He Cavalcanti Mata model presented the best fit of the experimental foam drying kinetics data.

In order to quantify the growth, accumulation and exportation of macronutrients by carrot ‘Forto', and obtain equations that best represent them, it was conducted an experiment in the São Gotardo (MG), from May to September 2004. Samples were taken at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 days after sowing (DAS) to determine dry matter and accumulation of macronutrients in leaves and roots. At 40 DAS, five days after thinning, the plants had 0.18 g and 0.04 g in dry leaves (LDM) and of roots (RDM), respectively. From then, until 88 DAS, the partitioning of photoassimilates and accumulation of matter in the shoots were more pronounced. The RDM was low until 80 DAS, which corresponded to two thirds of the crop cycle, from when the amount of material allocated in this part of the plant had strong growth, surpassing, at 88 DAS, the amount of LDM. The nutrient accumulation was small in the first 60 DAS, coinciding with the period of lower dry matter accumulation. The order of decreasing macronutrient accumulation by the crop were: K > N > Ca > P > S > Mg, in the amounts of 906.7, 438, 155.46, 87.4, 58 and 37.63 mg plant-1, respectively. The root participated with 60.5% of the accumulation of N, 86.1% of P, 58% of K, 25.5% of Ca, 55.6% of Mg and 65.5% of S. Considering a population of 590,000 plants per hectare, the total quantity of nutrients by the crop of carrots was 258.3, 51.6, 534.8, 91.7, 22.2 and 34.2 kg N ha-1, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, respectively.