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 objective of the work was to evaluate the decoctions of Hyptis marrubioides, Aloysia gratissima and Cordia verbenacea and the mixture of those decoctions with the commercial fungicide pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole on the control of powdery mildew in eucalyptus. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using ministumps of Eucalyptus urophylla x E. camaldulensis (“urocam”) VM1 hybrid, considered highly susceptible to powdery mildew. The treatments consisted of three decoctions at 50%, of the fungicide at 0,75 mL L-1 and the mixture of the decoction with the fungicide at the proportions of 50:50, 25:75 and 75:25, respectively. The treatments were sprayed every 14 days and the disease severity evaluations were carried out every 7 days. The direct fungitoxic effect of the treatments on the powdery mildew of the eucalyptus was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was verified that the fungicide and decoctions of H. marrubioides, A. gratissima and C. verbenacea and all the mixtures of those decoctions with the fungicide were efficient in reducing the severity of powdery mildew in eucalyptus ministumps. The mixture of decoctions with the fungicide pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole allowed us to reduce fungicide dose by 75% and increase the efficiency of control. Through the images obtained by SEM verified the fungitoxic action of the decoctions, the fungicide and combinations of these products on the powdery mildew of the eucalyptus, such as hyphal wall and conidiophore lysis and wilting of the fungal conidia.

This study evaluated the effect of different salt concentrations on growth, synthesis of organic solutes and ionic balance (Na+, Cl- and K+) of Jatropha curcas L. for 28 days. Seven treatments were established: 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 mol m-3 NaCl in a completely randomized design with five replicates per treatment. The largest concentrations of NaCl the addition of the salt was made gradually to avoid osmotic shock. The number of leaves and leaf area were reduced in plants subjected to salinity from 30 to 45 mol m-3 NaCl, respectively. The production of fresh and dry matter were reduced from 60 mol.m-3 NaCl up to 36%. The concentration of soluble carbohydrates and total soluble proteins increased significantly only in plants exposed to 15 and 30 mol.m-3 and 30 mol.m-3 NaCl, respectively. The total phenol content increased in plants subjected to salinity from 30 mol.m-3 NaCl. The increase in the levels of total phenols, soluble carbohydrates and soluble proteins and the absence of reduced growth in seedlings subjected to 30 mol.m-3 NaCl indicates the activation of an efficient mechanisms of acclimatization of this stress magnitude. The levels of Na+ and Cl- increased in all parts of the plant were increased concentrations of salt in the nutrient solution. The high levels of Na+ and Cl- indicate the absence of extrusion mechanisms of these ions.

The whitefly is the major pest of tomato due to direct damages caused by sucking and indirect damages related to viruses transmition. Was evaluated the distribution and incidence of whitefly nymphs in tomato by using of mineral and organic fertilization in greenhouse. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of São Luis, Maranhão State University in a greenhouse during the period november 2010 to december 2011. The experimental design was completely randomized plots with five treatments and six replications T1-Soil + NPK, T2-Soil + NPK + micro-nutrient, T3-Soil + NPK + manure, T4-Solo + manure + NPK + micro-nutrient, T5-Solo + manure + rock phosphate + Biofertilizer. Irrigation was performed manually, based on the weight and field capacity of each pot. The number of nymphs of B. tabaci was evaluated by counting performed at 45, 60 and 75 days after transplanting. In the process of sampling three leaflets were removed by plant been each of plant strata lower, middle and top. The use of organic fertilization showed lower incidence of nymphs of B. tabaci in tomato and distribution of this insect pest is higher in middle and apical strata of the plant.

The pollination is currently recognized as impor tant factor of production in the driving of many crops. The objective of this research was to study the reproductive biology of fennel in the field int ercropped with colored cotton (BRS Safira) in the presence an d absence of insecticide Actara and evaluate the pe rform- ance of their floral visitors. The evaluations were conducted in an experimental field in the municipa lity of Lagoa Seca-PB. Plots were evaluated: P 1 = fennel in the absence of insecticide; P 2 = fennel in the presence of insecticide; P 3 = fennel intercropped with cotton in the absence o f insecticide; P 4 = fennel intercropped with cotton in the presence of insecticide. In each plot data were recorded on the inflorescence and flower s such as floral morphology, color, time, duration and sequen ce of anthesis and observed aspects related to time , fre- quency, duration and visiting behavior. For analysi s of the reproductive system was evaluated the natu ral polli- nation and self-pollination by the number of fruits formed, weight of thousand seeds and number of see ds/kg. The hermaphrodite flowers are yellow in color, have 5 mm in diameter, have five petals, have short cor olla and inferior ovary containing two ova. After anthesis, the flowers remained open for approximately 24 hour s. Ob- served self-pollination in this species, but there is increased production of fruits and seeds in the natural polli- nation. The bee Apis mellifera is the most efficient pollinator of this species, with a higher number of visits to the plots without insecticide application, regardle ss of single planting or intercropping system.

Rio Grande do Norte state despite having favorable conditions for growing garlic, currently depends on imports of this product to meet its domestic demand. Evaluation of cultivars from of other regions of Brazil was determined in order to verify the agronomic performance under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Mossoró. region The study consisted of an experiment conducted in the city of Mossoro from June to November/ 2011. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications and eleven treatments, cultivars Amarante, Branco Mossoró, Caturra, Chinês Real, Chinês São Joaquim, Cateto Roxo, Gravatá, Gigante do Núcleo, Gigante Lavinia , Gigante Roxo and Hozan. Cultivars Branco Mossoró, Caturra, Cateto Roxo and Gravatá had a greater percentage of plants with bulb and larger diameter bulb, indicating adaptability conditions of Mossoró. Most total yield bulbs) was recorded by cultivar Branco Mossoró presented 65.22% and 11.53% distributed in bulb diameter grades 3 (32 to 37 mm) and 4 (37 to 42 mm), respectively.

With purpose of evaluating the salinity’s effe cts of the nutrient solution at different stages of development of the culture of pepper grown in a hyd roponic system, an experiment was conducted in a pr o- tected environment at the Department of Environment al Sciences, Federal University of the Semi - Arid (UFERSA). The experimental design was completely ra ndomized design with 15 treatments and three replic a- tions. The treatments consisted of five levels of s alinity of the nutrient solution (1.2, 3.49, 5.69, 7.07 and 9.23 dS m -1 ), applied at three stages of crop development (24, 85 and 120 days after the transplanting) .The leve ls salt obtained by mixing two sources of water (water supply (AB) and waste water desalination (RD)) .Th e nu- tritive’s solution salinity above 1,2 dS m -1 reduced the growth and yield of pepper grown in c oconut fiber sub- strate. The nutrient solutions prepared with water saline waste can be used in the pepper’s grown nutr ition in coconut fiber substrate with the lowest yield loss for increment the electrical conductivities (CEs), when ap- plied at 85 and 120 days after the transplanting , corresponding to fruiting phase.

The cassava flour is a product known in the Brazil as part of daily meals of the population, mainly in northern and northeastern country. Much of this product is processed by hand, making it difficult to standardize the heterogeneity mainly from the manufacturing processes themselves. In this sense, the physical and chemical attributes of handmade cassava flour sold in Acre, the levels of the Brazilian legislation, were to evaluate. Samples of 20 brands of handmade cassava flour were collected from commercial establishments in Rio Branco, Acre, classified and analyzed for nutrient composition. The results that the flours analyzed, classi- fied as Group Thick and low acidity, are in accordance with the legislation limits for moisture content and starch, but only 10% to be consistent with the actual classification. 25% of the samples were disqualified and 75% were classified as "out of type", which implies that the flour trade of Rio Branco are not in accordance with the standards of the current Brazilian legislation.

This work was carried out with the objective to study the foam-mat drying of Cereusjamacaru pulp fruit with albumen (2%) and “Super Liga Neutra” (2%) with whipping time of 5 min, dried inoven 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 influenced by the foam thickness and process temperature being the process faster for smaller thickness and higher temperature. The Cavalcanti Mata model presented the best fit of the experimental foam drying kinetics data.

The aim of this study was to identify the main cat egories of use of native plants in a rural com- munity from Caicó Municipality, Rio Grande do Norte , Northeastern Brazil. From March 2007 to August 20 08 semi-structured and structured interviews were cond ucted with 23 local specialists (woodsmen, witch do ctors, healers, growers and housewives) aged over 35. We d escribe the uses of 69 species grouped in seven cat egories which are: medicinal, food, wood, mystic , fuel, fo dder and household. The families with the largest r epresenta- tion in the interviews were Fabaceae (14 species), Euphorbiaceae (6 species), Cucurbitaceae and Cactac eae (3 species each). By calculating the value in use, it was found that Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A. C. Sm. (cumaru) and Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (jurema preta) stood out as the spe cies with the highest number of citations and nominated uses. The medicinal use was related to 62 species (89.85 %). Barks and root s were the most consumed parts. The data indicate that the flora of the Potiguar Seridó has a great potential of use and that this community will often use local plant reso urces in their everyday life, for many different pu rposes. Keywords : Caatinga. Ethnobotany. Phytoterapy. Northeastern of Brazil.