This work was carried out to evaluate the functional response of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed with Planococcus citri Risso, 1813 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) reared on a pumpkin hybrid (Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moscata) (Cucurbitaceae), seedlings of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia) Rutaceae) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Solanaceae) at two temperatures. The predation rate of C. montrouzieri was measured using Petri dishes of 15 cm diameter with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 adults of P. Citri. One third instar larva, one fourfh instar and one newly emerged adult (without differentiation of sex) of C. montrouzieri were added to each plate. The study was conducted in climatic chambers at temperatures of 25 and 30 º C and photophase of 12 hours. The predation rate was evaluated after 24 hours of prey exposition to the predator, by counting the number of preys trapped in the different treatments and control. The statistical design was completely randomized with four treatments x 6 subplots with 7 repetitions, the two temperatures. The values obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, to relate the number of scales preyed by larvae and adults of C. montrouzieri set up in different substrates. The amount of prey consumed by larvae and adults of the predator increased with increasing the prey density until it reaches a plateau, characterizing functional response type II. In general, the number of scales preyed by larvae and adults of C. montrouzieri was higher on potato and under temperature of 30 °C.

It is reported the occurrence of coleoborers Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar, 1824), Metama- sius hemipterus (L., 1758), Metamasius canalipes (Gyllenhal, 1838) and Rhynchophorus palmarum (L., 1758) attacking banana cultivar 'Terra' (Musa paradisiaca) (Musaceae), in the municipality of Joaquim Gomes, State of Alagoas. Twenty adult specimens were sent to Prof. Dr. Sergio Antonio Vanin, Department of Zoology, In- stitute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo and identified by morphological characteristics, being this the first report of M. canalipes and R. palmarum damaging the cultivar 'Terra’ in Brazil. Attack symptoms in the field are initially manifested by chlorosis, necrosis and fall of the lower leaves, the fruits did not develop satis- factorily and plants finished by fall over. As a result of infestation was observed the death of 70% of the plants evaluated in the area.

The productivity of passion fruit in Maranhão State, Brazil, is very low, because the deficient utilization of technologies by the smallholders. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of polli- nation on the fruiting set and fruit quality, and the frequency of visiting on flowers of carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) on passion fruit species Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg. And Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis).The treatments of field experiment was formed by the methods of pollination: opened, controlled and manual, using six flowers per plant in five plants of the two passion fruit forms. The frequency of visiting of Xylocopa spp. to the flowers was taken in five intervals of time. The controlled and manual pollination pre- sented higher fruit set per plant in the two passion fruit forms. In the monitoring of visiting, the flowers of yel- low passion received a greater number of visitors from 14 h and in purple passion fruit the visits were retarded in one hour. The frequency of visiting of carpenter bees to the flowers of yellow passion fruitis closely related to the provision of flowers per plant. The manual pollination ofyellow passion fruit resulted fruits with higher total weight, mass of pulp and seed number in relation to opened pollination. Different results were verified to purple passion fruit.

The use of compatible rootstocks, besides protecting sensive plant risk of soil- borne pathogens, can increase the yield and improve the quality of the fruit. The study aimed evaluated compatibility, yield and fruit quality of rootstocks and seedless watermelon. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with a 2x3 (two varieties of seedless watermelon: Shadow and RWT8154; three type of root system: without rootstock and upon BGCIA229 and BGCIA941, selected for their resistance/tolerance to nematodes and/or Fusarium spp) with four blocks and six plants/plot. The grafting method was approaching. Hipocotyl diameter of seed- lings of ‘Shadow' was similar to BGCIA229, and 'RWT8154' to BGCIA941. Verified a hight compatibility in combinations 'RWT8154' with BGCIA941 and BGCIA229. Through grafting it was found: Higher survival was observed in 'Shadow' grafted on BGCIA229. increased vegetative growth of 'Shadow' and reduction in 'RWT8154'; delayed of the 'RWT8154' female flowering; increase in fresh plant weight; increase in the yield of 'RWT8154', and reduction in 'Shadow'; increased fruit weight in 'Shadow' grafted on BGCIA229 and 'RWT8154' grafted on BGCIA941; increase in 'RWT8154' peel thickness; greatest firmness; increase in bright- ness and color intensity of the 'Shadow' pulp. The titratable acidity of the cultivars increased and that the SS/ TA ratio decreased in the tested combinations. So there is specificity among cultivars and rootstocks. The com- bination 'RWT 8154' grafted on rootstock BGCIA 941 provided higher yield and fruit quality.

It is proposed to evaluate the growth of tomato plants grown in soil covered with different types of material. The experiment was conducted at WG Fruit Farm in Baraúna-RN during the period from July to November 2008. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The treat- ments were arranged in split plots. The plots were the types of ground cover: bare soil (control), black polyeth- ylene film (double-sided black), silver polyethylene film (double-sided black and silver), white polyethylene film (double-sided black and white) and black row cover (TNT), and the subplots sampling dates of plants of the hybrid tomato Mariana at intervals of fourteen days, from the seedling stage (14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84 and 98 days after transplanting, DAT). The plants were harvested in the surface area of each plot, partitioned into leaves, stems, flowers clusters and fruit, and placed in an oven with forced circulation at 65 oC, until constant weight is gotten. The characteristics assessed were: dry matter accumulation of leaves, twigs, flower clusters, fruit, total leaf area and leaf area index. Based on the dry mass of leaves, twigs, flower clusters, fruit and total, it was quantified partition of treated tomato grown in different mulching. Mulching treatments affected the growth of tomato plants with black row cover, white polyethylene and bare soil registering the highest mean of total dry matter, leaf area and leaf area index. The maximum leaf area index was obtained at 71 DAT in the treatments with black row cover (2.88), non-covered soil (2.36), white polyethylene (2.21), 77 DAT in silver polyethylene (2.17) and black polyethylene (1.72). At the end of the cycle, the plant has accumulated a mean of 28.30%, 11.98%, 3.92% and 55.82% of dry leaves, twigs, flowers and fruit clusters, respectively. Key words: Solanum lycopersicon L, dry mass accumulation, assimilate partitioning, leaf area.It is proposed to evaluate the growth of tomato plants grown in soil covered with different types of material. The experiment was conducted at WG Fruit Farm in Baraúna-RN during the period from July to November 2008. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The treat- ments were arranged in split plots. The plots were the types of ground cover: bare soil (control), black polyeth- ylene film (double-sided black), silver polyethylene film (double-sided black and silver), white polyethylene film (double-sided black and white) and black row cover (TNT), and the subplots sampling dates of plants of the hybrid tomato Mariana at intervals of fourteen days, from the seedling stage (14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84 and 98 days after transplanting, DAT). The plants were harvested in the surface area of each plot, partitioned into leaves, stems, flowers clusters and fruit, and placed in an oven with forced circulation at 65 oC, until constant weight is gotten. The characteristics assessed were: dry matter accumulation of leaves, twigs, flower clusters, fruit, total leaf area and leaf area index. Based on the dry mass of leaves, twigs, flower clusters, fruit and total, it was quantified partition of treated tomato grown in different mulching. Mulching treatments affected the growth of tomato plants with black row cover, white polyethylene and bare soil registering the highest mean of total dry matter, leaf area and leaf area index. The maximum leaf area index was obtained at 71 DAT in the treatments with black row cover (2.88), non-covered soil (2.36), white polyethylene (2.21), 77 DAT in silver polyethylene (2.17) and black polyethylene (1.72). At the end of the cycle, the plant has accumulated a mean of 28.30%, 11.98%, 3.92% and 55.82% of dry leaves, twigs, flowers and fruit clusters, respectively.

The management when done so improperly can cause changes in the physical, chemical and biological soil properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of physical attributes in a dystrophic Oxisol under different vegetation covers and managements in the city of Chain southern state of Piauí. The experimental design was randomized using a split-plot with four types of cropping systems and four sampling depths, with three replications. Cropping systems were studied: Nim (Azadirachta indica), elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Brachiaria decumbens and Native Forest sampling depths 0-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0, 30 and 0.30-0.40 m. The effects of hedges and management on soil physical properties in different soil depths were recorded from the analysis of variance and treatment means compared by Tukey p <0.05. Determinations were carried out density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and resistance to penetration in all cropping systems. The elephant grass and native forest had the lowest values of penetration resistance and bulk density, higher values of total porosity and macroporosity, reflecting better physical condition of the soil. The area with Nim and Brachiaria was influenced by animal trampling, thus causing increase of soil density and hence the resistance to penetration.

The rio Doce river basin has great silvicultural potential, areas cultivated with pasture are con- verted to forest plantations. Physical processes in the soil, especially the infiltration water, are very dependent on the type and management of its coverage. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the differences between rates of water infiltration in soils submitted to eucalyptus plantations and pasture and adjust empirical models of infiltration. The experiment was conducted at four sites in the Rio Doce river basin, MG, Brazil, where two were planted with eucalyptus and two with pasture. Five infiltration tests using the concentric rings method were performed in each area. Results show that the soils infiltration rate with eucalyptus plantations were higher than those found in soils from pasture areas, with stable infiltration rates of 78 and 165 mm h-1 in eucalyptus and 47 and 50 mm h-1 in pasture. The model of Horton indicated the highest adjusted confidence index for the four sites analyzed.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reaction of soybean (Glycine max) cultivars to brown spot (Septoria glycines) under different crop management methods. In this study the effects of the following crop management techniques were evaluated on five soybean cultivars (Msoy9001; Msoy8411; Conquista; Emgopa313; A7002): (a) fungicides and hormones, and; (b) time of planting (October, November and December). The experiment was set in Cristalina, GO, Brazil, in a randomized complete block design with eight replications in a factorial scheme (5 x 3 x 4). The chemical control of brown spot was tested as following: 1) Tetraconazol (T) (0.35 L ha-1) Thiophanate methyl + (TM) (0.4 L ha-1); 2) Stimulate ® [indolbutiric acid 0.005%, kinetin 0009% and giberelic acid (GA3 0.005%) (0.10 L ha-1)] + T (0.35 L / ha) + TM (0.4 L ha-1); 3) T (0.5 L ha-1), and; 4) control without any product. For each plot was evaluated the disease severity and incidence, and yield of seeds. Msoy8411 and Emgopa-313 planted in November presented the lowest amount of disease, and the highest seed yield. Considering the analysis of all cultivars, the chemical treatments that significantly reduced disease were Tetraconazol (0.5 L ha-1) and the chemical combination [Stimulate ® (0.10 L ha-1) + Tetraconazol (0.35 L ha-1) + Thiophanate methyl (0.4 L ha-1)].

The morphogenesis determines the model of plant growth, and is, among other factors, under the influence of nutrient availability. In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of using wastewater from the dairy industry (RLL) as a supplier of nutrients in the morphogenesis of grass Mombaça. For this we studied six doses of liquid dairy waste, corresponding to: 10, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 m³ ha-1 evaluated in four production cycles and compared to chemical fertilizer. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications compounds. We measured the characteristics of expansion and leaf appearance, leaf senescence, stem elongation and tillering. The application of wastewater from the dairy industry has positively influenced the leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate, stem elongation rate and the rate of tillering. A reduction in the rate leaf senescence and the phyllochron in the grass. The application of 400 m³ ha-¹ RLL guarantees satisfactory morphogenic indices in intensive grazing system, replacing up to 25% of phosphorus and potassium fertilization of 100%, having also a positive residual effect on the growth of grass. The liquid waste is a potential supplier of dairy grazing potassium for the pastures.

The correct time to make the ridging and spacing of plants in the rows are factors that affect the development of potato culture and its effects need to be better known to assist in establishing best management alternatives. The study was conducted on the campus of Universidade Estadual do Centro Oeste (Unicentro) in Guarapuava, Paraná State, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the effects of different times of ridging and spacing of plants on the rows in characteristics of the vegetative development of potato plants, Ágata, to estab- lish the best alternative for managing these factors. The design was completely randomized in a factorial 4 x 4, composed by four management of ridging (at planting, at 10 days after the emergency of plants (DAE), 20 DAE and without ridging) and four spacing of plants in the row (16, 22, 28 and 34 cm). It was concluded that ridging in the planting and the largest spacing of plants in the row in the range between 16 and 34 cm are the best management options for these factors, due to its decrease in the occurrence of mechanical damage in the canopy and further development of vegetation potato plants.