This research aimed to study competition effects of legumes intercropping and weeds on seeds yield and quality of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. The experiment was carried out in a Rhodic Nitisol, under field condition in Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil. Ten treatments were tested: sorghum (cv. A-6304) intercropped with Dolichos lablab L., Mucuna aterrima (Piper et Tracy) Holland, Canavalia ensiformis D.C. or Crotalaria juncea L., that were sown in the same time of sorghum or 20 days after the sorghum sowing, and sorghum weed-free and sorghum without weeding. The experimental design employed was the completely randomized blocks with four replications. There were evaluated sorghum seeds yield and some characteristcs of seed quality: purity, hectolitric weight, 1000 seeds weight, insect infestation, germination and vigor (by first counting of germination test and accelerated ageing test). The competition caused by legumes intercropping and weeds affected the yield and the physical and physiological characteristics of sorghum seeds, but the intensity of prejudicial effects depended on the time and the species of legume intercropping.

This work it objectified determination apparent digestibility of Dry Matter (DM), of Fraction Crude Protein (CP), of Gross Energy (GE) and the Digestible Energy (DEa) and Digestible Protein (DPa) of the waste guava meal and coconut meal. 75 figerlings of Nile tilapia had used been (with initial weight of 20,00 ± 5,0g), kept per 25 days in glass aquariums (70 L of water, each one), were fed to satiation, in small fractions to each 2 hours, of the 8:00 to 17:00h, with three diets (three repetitions each one) contend 0,10% of oxide chromic (marked intern): a) the reference (half-purified); b) 30 % coconut meal and c) 30% of waste guava meal. The feces had been by "sifonagem" two times for day (in beginning of the morning and afternoon end). The values of digestibility of waste guava meal had been: DM 43,36%; CP 61,49%, GE 64,24%; DEa 3601,03 kcal/kg e DPa 6,89% and for coconut meal: MD 60,36%; CP 75,62%, GE 37,10%; DEa 1878,74 kcal/kg e DPa 15,60%. The tested ingredients present potential to be used in rations for figerlings of Nile tilapia.

The present study aimed to evaluate the interference of cows genotype and calving order on the milk production and composition during lactation period. Thirty six cow (19 Gir and 17 Guzera) were the studied population, analyzed from October 2005 to February 2008. Gir and Guzera cows showed no significant differences between daily milk production amount of milk produced in 305 days and of lactation duration. There were significant differences in milk fat for Gir and Guzer multiparous, and milk protein for Gir and Guzer primiparous and multiparous. Multiparous Gir cow showed higher lactose rate than Guzera cow. Calving order among cows that multiparous produced milk containing higher fat levels than cow at first giving birth. Total solid (TS) end nonfat dry extract (NDE) was significantly different of both primiparous and multiparous animals between genotypes, except for TS primiparous cows. It was used Student-T test to compare different milk characteristics between genotypes and calving order, setting at 5%. In conclusion, the calving order and genotype do not affect Gir and Guzera milk production, but however, milk composition was interference.

The effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) on spore germination of arbuscular mycorrizal fungi (AMF) and the co-inoculation of these organisms on aclimatization of micropropagated pineapple cv. Pérolaseedlings were evaluated. The germination study was performed in a completely randomized design (CRD), factorial of 3 (G. albida, G. etunicatum, S. heterogama) × 4 (C210, RAB9, ENF10 and control) with five replicates, in plate with water-agar, where the bacteria and spores were inoculated and evaluated after 21 and 28 days. The co-inoculation study was performed in a CRD, factorial of 5 (G. albida, G. etunicatum, S. heterogama, mixture ofAMF and control) × 5 (C210, RAB9, ENF10, mixture of PGPB and control) and six replicates. At the 21th day RAB9 stimulated germination of G. albida in relation to the others PGPB; ENF10 stimulated the germination of G. etunicatum in relation to absence of bacteria, where the spores did not germinate; differences were not observed for S. heterogama. At the 28th day C210 inhibited the germination of G. albida. In both periods, G. albida showed higher germination rate. In absence of PGPB,G. albida improved growth more than G. etunicatum. The effect of G. albida on seedlings can be inhibited by C210 and by the bacterial mixture. It was confirmed that AMF germination can be stimulated or inhibited in presence of PGPB while the mycorrhizal symbiosis can be inhibited. In general co-inoculation of AMF and PGPB did not improve growth of pineapple cv. Pérola during the aclimatization period until the 90th day.

It had the aim to evaluate chemical composition functioning of two systems, three planting densities and four height of plant. It had been used randomized blocks an sub-divided parcels of factoring 2x3x4 with 5 repetition being two soil management (with/without camalhao) three densities of planting (6666; 3333 and 2500 plants/ha) and sub-parcels four planting cutting (5, 15, 30 and 45 cm). Studied variable were: crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), non-fibrous carbohydrates e total, (NFC) (CT). Management system and others did not influence (P>0.05), CP mean with medium value of 11%, NDF and ADF were affected (P<0.01) only by soil management and cutting height. System linking and other had influenced (P<0.01) CNF mean. Soil management system as planting density did not influence (P>0.05). CHOT mean with medium value of 78.0%.

The aim of this research was to verify the action of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in the control of Erysiphe diffusa in soybean plants applied alone or mixed to a fungicide. NaOCl was applied eight times during crop cycle in parcels that received the product in concentrations of 0,2; 0,4 and 0,6%, applied alone, and applied with fungicide, in only two applications. There was a control parcel and a fungicide parcel for comparison. It was not observed statistical differences among treatments in the comparison of the development of the disease in the parcels treated with NaOCl alone, fungicide and NaOCl mixed to a fungicide. It is suggested that more research should be done with NaOCl to evaluate its potential for fungus control.

The domain geographical ecology of the caatinga occupies an area of about 750.000 Km² and it includes parts of the territories the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia and part of Minas Gerais. Its area corresponds at 54% of the Northeast and 11% of the brazilian territory and it constitutes it calling Polygon of the Droughts. The use of the caatinga as extensive pasture comes causing strong degradations and for irreversible times in that ecosystem. They are already found extensive areas whose vegetation already meets very impoverished; having lost the diversification vegetation that is it typical. Even so, the regeneration cannot almost always happen because of the intense and constant human pressure. This, once ceased, it would allow, the medium or long term, that the vegetation if it reconstituted. So that that was possible it would be precise to take in bill the factors such geographical ecology as: location, soil types, rock-mother, indexes precipitation and duration of the station evaporates. Of what concisely was exposed, it can be ended that the degrading activities as, especially the extensive cattle creation, contributed to structural alterations of the caatinga and that these they are reflected in its polymorphism, but they are not the only factors. However that was the purpose of that work of presenting a vision geographical ecology of the caatinga submitted to the human, special activity the cattle creation, and the consequences impacts for the vegetable covering in the semi-arid brazilian.

Foliar nutrient contents are evaluated in several fruit trees with many objectives. Leaf analysis constitutes a way of evaluating the nutritional requirements of crops. Due to the positive impact that fertilizers have on crop yields, researchers frequently try to evaluate the correlations between yield and foliar nutrient contents. This work's objective was to present fruit yields from the 4th to the 6th cropping seasons, evaluate foliar nutrient contents (on the 5th cropping season), and estimate the correlations between these two groups of traits for 20 half-sibling custard apple tree progenies. The progenies were evaluated in a random block design with five replicates and four plants per plot. One hundred leaves were collected from the middle third of the canopy (in height) of each of four plants in each plot. The leaves were collected haphazardly, i.e., in a random manner, but without using a drawing mechanism. In the analysis of variance, the nutrient concentrations in the leaves from plants of each plot were represented by the average of four plants in the plot. Fruit yield in the various progenies did not depend on cropping season; progeny A4 was the most productive. No Spearman correlation was found between leaf nutrient concentrations and fruit yield. Increased nutrient concentrations in the leaves were progeny-dependent, i.e., with regard to Na (progenies FE5 and JG1), Ca (progeny A4), Mg (progeny SM7), N (progeny A3), P (progeny M), and K contents (progeny JG3). Spearman's correlation was negative between Na-Mg, Na-Ca, and Mg-P contents, and positive between Mg-Ca and N-K contents.

Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. is cultivated extensively a fodder species and for fruit in many countries. The seeds have a lignified covering that protects them against adverse environmental factors, however it hinders germination. Objective was to determine to determine an efficient, practical and low-cost methodology to break seed dormancy. These were submitted to the following treatments: control (intact seeds) (T1); mechanical scarification with number 80 water sandpaper for ten minutes (T2); sulfuric acid immersion for 3, 5 and 10 minutes (T3, T4 e T5, respectively); e 80ºC water immersion for 3, 5 e 10 minutes (T6, T7, e T8, respectively). The experimental design was entirely random, with eight treatments and four repetitions. The appraised characteristics were: emergence percentage first count and velocity index and seedling dry mass. The mechanical scarification with number 80 water sandpaper for ten minutes effectively broke the O. ficus indica seed dormancy.

The forage cactus is cultivated of extensive form as a producing species of fruits and fodder plant in many countries. The extensive culture if bases on the vegetative propagation, that is preferred, had its easiness. The propagation for seeds can come to be a useful tool for ends of genetic improvement, then, in this work forage cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) seeds were submitted to different fermentation periods (0; 24; 48; 72 and 96 hours) and were dried or not, before sowing. It was evaluated the physiological quality of the seeds through the determination of the moisture content, emergence percentage and speed of seedling emergency. It was used an entirely randomized experimental design 5x2 (period of fermentation and drying). The practical one of the fermentation is efficient in the elimination of the sarcotesta in palm seeds, occurring bigger vigor in the seeds without drying and submitted the 55 hours of fermentation, as well as, the drying of the seeds, after the first periods of fermentation promotes reduction of the physiological quality, with reflected right-handers in the vigor.