The growth retardants Paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Cycocel (CCC) had been used, in spraying, associates or not with two cytokinins: Benziladenina (BAP) and Thidiazuron (TDZ), and a nitrogenous base, the Uracil, with the purpose of studying its effect in the bud fertility of the 'Superior Seedless', grafted on the 'Harmony' and IAC-766 'Campinas', and of the 'Crimson Seedless' and 'Thompson Seedless', grafted on the 'Harmony', in the conditions of the São Francisco Valley, Brazil. It was observed that the separately use of the products had not promoted significant differences in the studied of the bud fertility, but, the association of the growth retardants with the TDZ it induce the 'Thompson Seedless' to a bigger productivity, and that the expression of the bud fertility of the 'Seedless Superior' benefits on to being grafted on the 'Harmony' rootstock.

This paper aimed to evaluate the use of cactus pear as the main substrate for the production of amiloglucosidase by solid state fermentation with the aid of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. The experiments were conducted at the Laboratory of Agro-industrial wastes at the State University of Southwest Bahia - UESB. The cactus pear was dried up to about 2% moisture. The variables in the fermentation process were water activity (0.891, 0.964, 0.976 and 0.983) and fermentation time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 120 h). The results showed high enzyme production by the third day of fermentation, irrespective of water activity in all trials, after the fermentation time reduction of enzyme activity was observed, with the highest activity was 60.32 U/g in 72 hours and the water activity of 0.891. During the fermentation process the fungus synthesized and excreted the enzyme without the need for any other inducer addition to forage cactus and water, thus demonstrating the viability of using the palm as raw materials for bioprocesses.

The goal of this paper is to evaluate the shelf-life of five yellow melon hybrids (AF-5107, AF6742, AF-9136, AF and AF-6798-7719) produced in the Mossoró-Assu agropole. The yellow melon hybrids were grown in soil fertilized and irrigated following the demand of culture. Reaching the stage of commercial maturity, fruit were harvested and brought to the Postharvest Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido, where were taken12 fruits at random for characterization of each hybrid at time zero. Afterwards the other fruits were weighed, identified and stored in cold room regulated at 10 ± 1 ºC and 90 ± 2% RH, where they remained for 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days. At each time interval, the following analyses were realized: mass loss, external and internal appearance, pulp firmness and soluble solids. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5 x 7, five hybrids and seven periods of storage. We used four replications, and the experimental unit consists of three fruits. There was significant interaction between hybrid and storage period only for the soluble solids. For the other characteristics evaluated, we observed the isolated effect of the main factors. The hybrid AF-9136 stood out compared to other hybrids tested by greater pulp firmness and soluble solids.

This paper aims to evaluate the quality of yellow mombin fruit in different maturation stages from clones cultivated in Ceará - CE. For that 'Capuan', 'Lagoa Redonda', 'Genipabu' and 'Gereau' clones was harvested, at different maturation stages, being: 1 (green fruit), 2 (25% to 50% of yellow skin), 3 (75% of yellow skin) and 4 (100% of yellow skin). The fruits were transported to the laboratory of Chemistry of IFCE Campus Limoeiro do Norte - CE, and then were made a selection and the classification of maturity stages by skin color. The experiment was conducted with four treatments (maturation stages) with five replications each consisting of 10 fruits. It was evaluated soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C and Ratio. To the physical parameters, was using only yellow mombin of 3rd stage, and was evaluated weight, length diameter of fruit. The clones presented differences physico-chemical. The 'Gereau' clone had the highest soluble solids. In the stage 4, independent of the clone, was verifying the higher soluble solids content and lower acidity, thus presenting, higher condition of acceptability by consumers and the industry, and the point of harvest more appropriate.

The viruses from the genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae are considered emergent pathogens, mainly because of the population explosion of their insect vectors. For this reason, more attention needs to be directed to the correct virus species identification inside the genus. The present paper had the objectives of serologically detecting a begomovirus in Macroptilium lathyroides plants in the State of Ceará, and developing biological, serological and molecular studies with a virus isolate obtained from M. lathyroides. Indirect ELISA with antiserum for Macroptilium golden mosaic virus (MaGMV) demonstrated that the samples collected from M. lathyroides showing golden mosaic in the field were infected with a begomovirus. The virus isolate obtained was transmitted by grafting to eight species of the family Leguminosae, four species of Solonaceae, and one species in the family Amaranthaceae. The virus also was transmitted from M. lathyroides to M. lathyroides by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype B. A DNA fragment of 1.2 kb was obtained by PCR with the primers PAL1v 1978 and PAR1c 496 for component A, and a DNA fragment of 0.5 kb was obtained with the primers PBL1v 2040 and PCR cl for component B, confirming the presence of a begomovirus infecting M. lathyroides. Molecular studies indicated that the begomovirus isolate showed 77% genomic similarity with Bean golden mosaic virus and 75% with Cowpea golden mosaic virus for their cp and rep genes, indicating the possibility that the isolate is a distinct virus species of the Begomovirus genus.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the biochar as a substrate conditioner for the production of eucalyptus seedlings. The work was lead in nursery and the experimental design was randomized blocks arranged in factorial 5 x 2, being the factors composed of five concentrations of biochar (0; 7.5; 15; 30 and 60% v/v) added to the Germinar® commercial substrate and two species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus urophylla), with four repetitions. At 75, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS) evaluated the stem diameter and plant height and at the end of the experiment (120 DAS) assessed fresh biomass of shoot and root, dry mass of shoot and root morphological parameters relative the plant height/stem diameter, dry mass of shoot/dry mass of roots and index of quality of Dickson. In general, the substrates that was added 7.5% of biochar promoted greater growth of seedlings, especially E. citriodora showed the best results for the evaluated characteristics. Evaluating the morphological parameters that act as key components in the quality of seedlings E. citriodora was superiors than E. urophylla. Concentrations of biochar above 30% harm the development of seedlings.

The aim of this paper was to assess the hygiene and sanitary profile of sun-dried meat sell points in the county of Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Four supermarkets, three food stores, two marketplace stallsand three butcher shops were researched, from December 2009 to January 2010. Data were collected by visiting, observing and the use of a checklist. From the places visited, only the supermarkets reached most of the evaluated parameters. In 50% of the sell points no refrigeration was used, and in 100% of them, the sun-dried meat was not packaged. In 75% of the establishments there was no exclusive knife to cut sun-dried meat, and in 25% of them food and money were handled simultaneously. Aprons, hairnets and clean closed-toe shoes were used in 25% of the sell points. No proper hand washing and others inadequate habits, such as chatting while handling and commercializing the product were in all the establishments. The sun-dried meat commercialized in the county does not comply with the Brazilian legislation, thus affecting food quality and putting at risk consumers' health, being necessary actions to qualify the workers involved in the handling of this food, as well a higher intervention of the responsible sanitary authority.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of late application of different nitrogen levels in different cultivars. The experimental design was a block design with four replications in a factorial 3 x 5 compounds by combining three soybean varieties: Conquest (early season), Pioneer 98C81 (medium cycle) and M-Soy 9350 (late maturity) and five nitrogen rates: zero, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg ha-1 applied at growth stage R.1 (early flowering), using urea as nitrogen source. The application of 20 and 40 kg N ha-1 provided an increase in the number of pods per plant in all cultivars. Effect on thousand seed weight in cultivar checked only for conquest, with the application of 20 and 40 kg ha-1 N. Yield was reduced with application of 80 and 160 kg N ha-1 and increased with the application of 20 and 40 kg ha-1 N. There was a similar behavior among cultivars for yield components and yield when subjected to nitrogen in a late period. Although it was observed an increase in production around 300 kg ha-1, is still not economically viable application of nitrogen in soybean.

Seed treatment with insecticides is a routine practice that helps control initial field pests. However there is little information on the effects of insecticides on physiological quality of soybean seeds. Thus, this paper was to evaluate the effect of seed treatment with insecticides on the germination and vigor of soybean seeds. The design was completely randomized consisting of 7 treatments with 4 repetitions. The seeds of the cv. M-soy-6101 were treated with the insecticide thiamethoxam on the rate of 0.15 kg of a.i./100 kg of seeds, fipronil in the rate of 0.37 kg of a.i./100 kg of seeds, imidacloprido in the rate of 0,10 kg of a.i./100 kg of seeds; [thiodicarb + imidacloprid] at a rates of 0.14 + 0.13 kg of a.i./ha-1, carbofuran of rate 0.52 kg of a.i./100 kg of seeds, acephate at a rate of 0.75 kg of i.a./100 kg of seeds and a control without treatment. The variables analyzed were: germination, emergence speed, root length and seedling and percentage of normal seedlings in the accelerated aging. In the greenhouse (pot of 6 dm-3 of soil) were obtained levels of phytotoxicity, height and dry mass of shoots. Treatment with insecticides thiamethoxam, fipronil and imidacloprid provides adequate quality of the seeds and do not negatively affect the early development of plants. Insecticides [imidacloprid + thiodicarb], acephate and carbofuran affect the germination and vigor of soybean seeds.

With the purpose to minimize the incidence of stem-end rot, mango, caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusicoccum aesculi, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, five resistance inductors were tested under field conditions: (T1) absolute control (no treatment); (T2) Fosetyl-AL; (T3) Agromós; (T4) Calcium Phosphite; (T5) Potassium Phosphite: (K30) and (T6) Acibenzolar-S-methyl; which were compared to the control treatment, to the conventional treatment on the farm (T7) compound: Pyraclostrobin; Thiophanate methyl; Azoxystrobin; Difeconazole; Tebuconazole; Thiabendazol; Tetraconazole. The sprayings were performed using a knapsack sprayer in a total of seven applications with 15-day intervals. The statistical design was a randomized block design with seven treatments and four replications, with each plant being considered a repetition, totaling 28 plants. Incidence of post-harvest rot was obtained for 77.9% of the treated fruit. No significant difference between the tested resistance inducers was observed, not even regarding the control. However, the conventional treatment (T7), adopted by the farm, showed a 25% disease incidence only and diverged statistically from the others. Studying the etiology of the rot, high indices of C. gloeosporioides, with 75% incidence, were verified, followed by L. theobromae, F. aesculi, A. niger and Alternaria sp, with incidence of 11%, 5.5%, 2.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Moreover, 4.3% of non-identified micro-organisms were detected.