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.

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.

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and genetic trends for reproductive traits and testicular growth in Guzerá cattle. Variance components were estimated through two-trait analyses using the restricted maximum likelihood method. To age at first calving (AFC), first calving interval (FC1), gestation period (GP), and scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days (SC365 and SC450, respectively) were included the random residual and additive genetic effects and the fixed effects of contemporary group. The covariates cows age at calving and AFC were included in the model for SC365 and SC450 (linear and quadratic effects) and for FC1 (linear effect), respectively. For GP, The random maternal genetic effects were also considered. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.08 ± 0.05 (FC1) to 0.48 ± 0.11 (GP). Genetic trends were significant (P <0.05) for all traits with the exception of the maternal genetic effect of GP. The SC365, SC450 and GP traits, could be used as selection criteria for presenting additive genetic variability sufficient to respond to the selec-tion process. The genetic correlation between AFC and scrotal circumferences (SC365 and SC450) indicates that selection for scrotal circumference in these ages, reduce the AFC of the females.

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.

Cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most limiting factors for cotton crop expansion. It presents different biological and behavioral aspects that ensure its success on this agroecosystem. This research aimed to identify pollen sources used by this insect during harvest and intercrop periods of cotton cultivations in Iuiu and Correntina – BA, Brazil; moreover, evaluating Caatinga and Cerrado neighboring areas. Adult insect samplings were made from February to September of 2013, through pheromone traps. Samples were analyzed to identify the pollen types inside the digestive system of insects. The results indicated that the pest explores 22 botanical families as nourishment source, from which 16 in Caatinga and five in Cerrado. Regarding crop samples, eight genera were found in Iuiu and Correntina, being three found in both areas (Angelonia, Mimosa and Myrcia sp.1). Pollen from 26 genera were identified for Caatinga and six for Cerrado, with three genera in common for both (Myrcia sp.2, Eucalyptus, and Mimosa). The boll weevil uses alternative sources of food within the main cotton growing regions in Bahia State, highlighting the Caatinga with most of the botanical families and genera explored by the pest.

The goal of this paper was to study the morphogenetic responses of jenipapo explants in differ-ent culture conditions in vitro to support multiplication and in vitro production of secondary metabolites proto-cols. After 90 days of cultivation, the jenipapo seedlings were segmented (nodal and leaf segments) and trans-ferred to MS medium supplemented with 30 g L-1 sucrose and different concentrations of 2.4 2.4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid -2.4-D (0; 4 and 8 mg L-1) combined with four concentrations of benzilamino-purine- BAP (0; 1; 2 and 3 mg L-1). After 120 days the percentage of explants with morphogenetic response, as is the formation of calluses and/or organogenesis was evaluated. The 2.4-D at concentrations of 4 and 8 mg L-1 induces an increase in morphogenetic response, especially in callus formation, of leaf and nodal segments. The BAP 1.77 mg L-1 induces increased callus formation in leaf segments and induces their higher shoot regenera-tion in leaf and nodal segments. The concentrations of 2.4- D and BAP studied do not induce the formation of somatic embryogenesis in leaf and nodal segments of jenipapo SIR access.

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.

Desertification is a land degradation process of the arid, semi-arid and sub-humid natural envi-ronment, almost always associated with the intensification of the erosive effects of rainfall. Nowadays, with the availability of technologies in remote sensing and geoinformatics inventories and diagnostics can to be per-formed with great ease and low cost in large territories. Using these new technologies, this study gathered in-formation on vegetation, topography and soil, in a estimation model of land degradation, that was applied to the watershed of the river Taperoá (5686.4 km2), located on the plateau of Borborema in the state of Paraíba. The results show that the proposed model was able to predict faithfully land degradation in the basin; and despite the high level of degradation of the vegetation (59.2%) and of the susceptibility to erosion of the soil (59.4%), the flat and soft slope in 87% of the lands contributes to minimize the prognosis of the degradation, that shows the predominance of medium-grade class, in 46.2% of the basin. The most critical areas of the basin, with 26.9% coverage, represented by high and very high classes of degradation are concentrated in the lower and the middle third along the drainage, showing there, one of the desertification nucleus of the region Cariri in Parai-ba, where the erodibility of the soil and vegetation degradation are higher.

Aiming at evaluating the postharvest shelf life of banana Prata Catarina coated with cassava starch or PVC films, were harvested bunches of bananas in the physiological maturity stage. The fruits were packed in boxes and transported to the Food Chemistry Lab of the Federal Institute of Ceará, Campus of Limoeiro do Norte for 10 days at room temperature (27.5 °C and RH 62.5%). The design used was a complete-ly randomized one in 3 x 5 factorial scheme, which the first factor was treatment (control, cassava starch 3% and PVC film,) and the second period of storage (0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days) with four replications of four fruits per plots (clusters). The use of PVC film and cassava starch 3%, influenced the physical and physicochemical char-acteristics evaluated, except for firmness and soluble solids of the „Prata Catarina‟ banana stored under ambient conditions. The use of PVC film was effective in maintaining the external appearance and reduced weight loss. However, the application of cassava starch 3%, was not effective in reducing weight loss, maintained the fruits with good appearance till the end of storage. The „Prata Catarina‟ bananas control had a shelf life of 8 days, while the bananas coated with cassava starch and PVC had a shelf life of 10 days stored at ambi-ent conditions.

The goal of this paper was to determine the effects of seven diets with differents fatty acids sources in hematology of Nile tilapia before and after cold stimulus. Seven diets, with 3% of fatty acid source, were formulated: soybean oil (OS); fish oil (OP); beef tallow (SB) and mixtures of OS+OP; OS+SB; OP+SB e OS+OP+SB. Fish (112 male of Nile tilapia of 30,0 ± 2,65g) were totally randomly distributed, with four repli-cates, into 28 plastic aquaria (40 L; 4 fish per aquarium). Fish were fed four times per day for 35 days. At 35th day and also after seven days cold stimulus blood was collected and the profile hematological was evaluated. Leucocytes numbers were reduced in fish fed a SB and fish oil combination diet and were highest in fish fed SB diet before cold stimulus. Plasma protein was reduced in fish fed soybean oil diets and highest in fishes fed a combination of soybean oil, fish oil and SB diets. Anything fatty acids source promotes effective changes in fish health and cold tolerance promotion. Cold don’t drastically reduced fish general health status.