The irrigation frequency to meet the water requirement for the production of passion fruit seed-lings can cause nutrients leaching, reducing the fertilization efficiency. Thus, the work was carried out to evalu-ate the effect of hydro-absorbent polymer in reducing losses of leached nutrients during the production of yel-low passion fruit seedlings. The factorial design 5 x 2 was used, distributed in a completely randomized design, being the factors represented by five doses of polymer (Hidroplan®-EB/HyB-M): 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g L-1 of substrate and two types of substrates: Bioplant® and Provaso® with four replications and 10 plants per plot. The polymer was incorporated into the substrates, making up the homogenization of the mixture at the time of planting. Irrigation was carried out daily sufficient to keep the substrate moisture control treatment at field ca-pacity, programmed by a system of automated irrigation sprinkler type. Collection of the leachate was carried out at 30 and 60 days after emergence of seed, which was submitted to laboratory analysis to determine the amount of nutrients leached. In the last evaluation determined the seedlings size and nutrient content in leaf dry mass. The incorporation of hydro-absorbent polymer to substrate reduced nutrient losses by leaching in the substrates. The losses reduction of leached nutrients favored the growth and increase of leaf nutrients in passion fruit seedlings with the polymer.

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.

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , handles significant losses in lettuce production. Being a soil borne fungus, its management is difficult, and an alternative is the use of biological control using species of the Trichoderma genus. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify native species of Trichoderma spp. presents in the soil with (CP) and without white mold (SP), evaluate the growth rate and in vitro antagonism of Trichoderma spp. against S. sclerotiorum and to verify the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma spp. microbi- olized lettuce seeds, growing in substrate infested with S. sclerotiorum . Trichoderma spp. isolates were obtained from areas with and without history of white mold or stored in water. Mycelial growth rate and sporu- lation of the Trichoderma spp. isolates and control of Trichoderma spp. versus S. sclerotiorum in the in vitro essays. For the in vivo essay, lettuce seeds were microbiolized with Trichoderma spp. and the substrate was infested with S. sclerotiorum . The native isolates of Trichoderma identified belong to T. koningiopsis and T. asperellum species. The CP isolates had higher mycelial growth rates when compared to the SP isolates and stored while the stored isolates showed better responses in confrontation. The application of Trichoderma spp. promoted higher seedlings quality compared to control, as well as good seedlings development in the presence of the pathogen.

This study aimed at determining the best irrigation frequency and main cultivar associated with the production of strawberry according to the irrigation management used. The experiment was carried out at the FEMO, linked to the URENM of the EPAMIG. The experiment was installed in split plots, with cultivars Camarosa, Dover, Oso Grande and Tudla on subplot and frequencies FR1, FR2 and FR3 in the plots in ran-domized block with four replications, totaling 48 experimental units. The fruits were harvested, quantified and classified as fruits commercial and non-commercial. Higher commercial fruit yield was observed in cultivar Oso Grande, mainly associated with characteristic fruit that fruit weight is equal or superior to 10g. The culti-var Dover was sole with a higher yield of commercial fruit when subjected to FR2. Regarding the number of commercial fruits, the cultivar Oso Grande showed yield higher than the 'Tudla'. The FR2 showed a better per-formance for all variables compared to FR3. Therefore, the cultivar Oso Grande showed better productive per-formance. Taking into consideration the irrigation’s frequency, and for higher strawberry yields, the frequen-cies FR1 and FR2 can be used.

This study sought to estimate (co)variance and genetic parameters for birth weight (BWT) and weaning weight (WWT) in Santa Ines sheep. A total of 2,111 records were obtained from EMBRAPA/CPATC experimental herds, dating from the years 1998 to 2008. (Co)variance parameters were obtained through a two - trait analysis with the Gibbs sampling algorithm using the MTGSAM program. The mixed model included the environmental effects of sex, contemporary group and type of birth, in addition to residual, direct and maternal additive effects. Mean estimates of direct heritability for BWT and WWT were 0.25 and 0.09, respectively. Mean estimates of maternal heritability were 0.34 for BWT and 0.24 for WWT. The genetic correlation be- tween BWT and WWT was 0.14. The results suggest that breeding Santa Ines sheep for meat production must take into consideration direct and maternal additive genetic effects.

The umbu is an important fruit for the northeast of Brazil because it is being used in reforestation areas and has great economic potential. However, there is a gap on propagation techniques of this culture that is a crucial step for the successful of plant development. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of alternative substrate on the growth of umbu rootstock, fertility attributes, and microbial populations of these mixtures.The experimental design was completely randomized with 10 treatments: TA = soil + sand (1:1); A = sand; ECSC = goat manure + Plantmax® (1:3); EBSC = manure + Plantmax® (1:3); ECA = goat manure + sand (1:3); EBA = manure + sand (1:3); ECBSC = manure + goat manure + Plantmax® (1:1:3); ECBA = manure + goat manure + sand (1:1:3); HSC = humus + Plantmax® (1:3) and HA = humus + sand (1:3),with four replications. The addition of residues promoted the quality of the umbu rootstock, especially when mixed with a commercial substrate composed of vegetable organic matter and expanded vermiculite. With multivariate clustering, three groups acknowledged a similarity between the substrate mixtures. The use of humus or goat manure mixed with the commercial substrate is recommended for the production of umbu rootstock.

There is great genetic diversity of rambutan plants, thus, to establish commercial orchards cul-ture, it is recommended the use of plants vegetatively propagated. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the best method of grafting, graft protection and type of rootstock for its propagation. The experiment was re-peated in two seasons (autumn/winter and spring/summer). The experimental design was completely random-ized in both experiments, with four replicates, each experimental unit consisted of 10 plants analyzed in a 4x2x2 factorial with four types of grafting (whip graft-WG; cleft graft –CG; wedge graft-WG; and inverted wedge graft-IWG;), 2 types of graft protection (Biodegradable and plastic) and 2 types of rootstock (without or with leaves). The variables analyzed in this study were: percentage of grafting success, number and length of buds (cm). For grafting performed in autumn / winter, both by cleft grafting as whip graft with biodegradable strip and rootstock leafless provided the best results in propagation of rambutan tree. The best results were ob-served during the autumn / winter.

The classification of the onion made based on the diameter of the bulbs and the quality measured by soluble solids, titratable acidity, relation soluble solids /acidity e a pungency due to nitrogen and planting times were evaluated in two experiments conducted from december 2011 to April 2012 and August tha december to 2012, horta in the Department of Plant Sciences Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árida em Mossoró-RN. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. The treatments consisted of N rates: 0, 34, 67, 101, 134 and 168 kg ha -1 N. Each experimental unit consisted of a bed of 3,0 x 0,8 m, satisfaction eight rows of plants spaced 0.10 x 0.10 m. Was used as floor area, the six central rows of plants in the flowerbed. The bulb pungency increased with the supply of nitrogen to the dose of 93 kg ha-1 . Acidity and soluble solids reduced with the application of nitrogen. The onion planting in August 2012 favored the production of better quality bulbs.

The process of protein enrichment of cactus pear (Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm Dyck) by solid state fermentation with the use of Aspergillus niger and Rhyzopus sp. was studied for improving the nutritional value of this cactus species for use as animal feed. The experiments were conducted in the Agroindustrial Waste Laboratory of State University of Southwest Bahia (Brazil). To this end, we have evaluated the effects of biotransformation on the levels of protein, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, as well as the potential degradability. Bioconversion was carried out using cactus pear as the only substrate, without supplementation with nitrogen, mineral and vitamin sources. The fermentation with Aspergillus niger promoted a 78% increase in/of protein content and reductions of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of 40%, 36%, and 28%, respectively. Degradability, in turn, was observed to have increased by 66 % after 240 h. On the other hand, the fermentation with Rhyzopus sp. was less efficient, with a 69% increase in protein content, and reductions in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of 30%, 28%, and 18%. In turn, degradability was seen to have increased by 51%. The fermentation of cactus pear by Aspergillus niger and Rhyzopus sp. exhibited the protein enrichment and increased protein degradability of this Cactaceae. Moreover, this is the most ever efficient micro-organism used in bioconversion. Based on the results, bioconversion of cactus is an excellent alternative to ruminant feeding in arid or semi-arid land.