The removal of the original vegetation and deployment of crops, combined with inadequate management practices, usually cause the deterioration of the physical and chemical quality of the soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the physical and chemical attributes of a Typic Quartzipsamment from different land use systems and soil management. Four agroecosystems were selected: eucalyptus forest, extensive grazing, crop-livestock integration and integrated crop-livestock-forest, and an ecosystem preserved vegetation of native cerrado, located on Fazenda Modelo II in Ribas do Rio Pardo, MS. Soil samples were col-lected at depths of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm in a completely randomized design, with six plots of 150 m2 on each system. The integrated crop-livestock and integrated crop-livestock-forest provided the biggest contribution in the improvement of soil fertility. There was an antagonistic relationship between physical and chemical soil as sustainability evaluation, and chemical attributes had to be more affected than physical.

The Golden mosaic, caused by Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV), causes severe losses to faba beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) growers in the Northeastern region of Brazil. This study aimed at analyzing the temporal and spatial aspects of the disease at two experimental plots (A and B with 1360 m2 each) cultivated with faba beans located in Rio Largo, Alagoas. The evaluation of the disease incidence was done by visual in-spection of all plants at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after planting (DAP). The epidemics were compared with respect to initial incidence (yo), maximum incidence (ymax), rate of disease progression (RDP), and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The spatial pattern of the disease was analyzed by isopath mapping, ordi-nary runs, fitting the beta-binomial distribution and spatial autocorrelation. The analysis of the progress curves showed that the epidemic was significantly (P≤0.05) faster in plot B, probably associated with increased expo-sure to whitefly populations from areas external to assay. The within rows aggregation increased along with the period after planting and the increase in the disease incidence in both areas. In plot A, there was a slight pre-dominance of aggregation within the rows while, in plot B, the across rows aggregation of sick plants was prevalent.

The Integrated Diagnosis and Recommendation (DRIS) is based on the calculation of an index for each nutrient. For the calculation of DRIS norms, there is a need a database containing the results of leaf analysis and yield. In Pará State, no DRIS norms developed for the cultivation of hybrid coconut. The objective was to develop DRIS norms for this culture. The aim was carried at the Socôco farm in Moju PA. The database consisted of 134 observations for the period 2001 - 2011. We obtained the mean, standard deviation, variance and coefficient of variation of the relationships of concentrations of nutrients, and the coefficients of correlation between the ratio of each pair of nutrients and fruit yield. DRIS norms were established based on the population of high productivity. Of the 110 relationships, 55 were selected to DRIS norms, using two selection criteria of relationships between nutrients. The highest values of standard deviation, variance and coefficient of variation were presented to the leaf levels of the micronutrients iron, manganese, and boron. While the nutrients showed higher percentages of samples with levels below the adequate levels used were Mg and Ca, and finally the nu- trients in leaf samples presented above or equal to the adequate levels contents were Fe, Mn and Ca.

The Monosporascus Cannonballus is the main agent of decline roots. However, grafting is be-ing tested to overcome this disease. From this perspective, the current research, aimed to screen resistant root-stocks and evaluate the compatibility of grafting watermelon Crimson Sweet. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and Laboratory of Plant Pathology-II, UFERSA Mossoró, RN. In the first, 12 genotypes were used: watermelon (TPR- 02978 e TPR- 04329); melon (TPR- 05851 e TPR- 08689) e pumpkin (TPR- 06827, PES- 07, PEC- 01, PEM- 06, PED- 02, PEK- 05, Shintoza e Fito), sown in pots with soil naturally infected by M. cannonballus. After 60 days, the roots were evaluated (DR) and (IGD) and (IA). In the second, Crimson Sweet was used as graft and PEC-01, PES-07, PEK-05 and Shintoza as rootstocks. The seventeenth day, were evaluated (% PEG), (AB2), (AC), (L), (NF), (DC), (AP), (MSPA) e (MSR). The experimental design was ran-domized, using the Scott-Knott and Tukey tests SAEG® 9.1. There were lower notes the (DR): TPR-02978, TPR-06827, TPR-08689, PES-07, PEC-01, PED-02, PEK-05 e Shintoza. The (IGD): TPR-02978, TPR-08689, TPR-06827, PES-07, PEC-01, PEM-06, PED-02, PEK-05, Shintoza e Fitó. And (IA): PES-07, PEC-01 and PEK-05. The PEC-01 had the highest (% PEG). And the highest rates of MSPA and the MSR were obtained in PEC-01 and Shintoza. The TPR- 02978, TPR- 04329, TPR- 05851, TPR- 08689, TPR- 06827, PEM- 06, PED- 02, Shintoza and Fito showed susceptibility. As for PEK-05, PES-07 and PEC-01, they were resistant to M. cannonballus and the latter presented to the graft compatibility Crimson Sweet.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of increasing pollen supply to honey bees (Apis mellifera) during the dry season in Caatinga (shrub vegetation of NE Brazil) by inducing Mimosa tenui-flora to bloom. The work was carried out from August to December 2012 in Altamira Apícola Apiaries, situat-ed at Limoeiro do Norte – Ceará, Brazil. The experiment comprised three phases: Phase 1 – the amount of wa-ter needed to induce the blooming of Mimosa tenuiflora (T0L, T250L, T500L, T750L and T1000L); Phase 2 – Floral biology and flower visitors; Phase 3 – pollen harvested by the colonies and percentage of M. tenuiflora in the honey bee diet by sampling and comparing pollen loads from colonies placed 20m with those more than 3km away from the induced plants. Results of the Phase 1 showed that the treatments 3, 4 and 5 induced blooming, and T1000L produced a greater number of inflorescences (p <0.05). Blooming reached its peak eight days after induction. Hymenoptera represented more than 95% of floral visitors with Apis mellifera, Trigona spinipes and Melipona subnitida as the most frequent bee species. Palynological analyses carried out in phase 3 showed a significant (p<0,05) increment in pollen collection and the participation of M. tenuiflora pollen in the diet of colonies situated 20 meters from the induced plants. Induction of flowering Mimosa tenuiflora increased the supply and collection of pollen by bees in the critical period of the year, minimizing the effect of drought on the colonies.

Several breeding programs aim to develop superior maize genotypes able to be explored in off-season cropping, mainly due to the increased area under maize produced in alternative season. Few hybrids on the market are adapted to the environmental conditions of autumn-winter. The objective of this study was to identify the inbred lines adapted to off-season condition, by the analysis of combining ability of 50 S3 maize inbred lines, developed by the Maringá State University. These inbred lines were crossed with two adapted hybrids (AG9040 and P30K75), used as testers. The male and female flowering time and also the grain yield (kg ha-1) adjusted for moisture (14,5%) and stand (65.000 plants) were evaluated in 3 locations of the western region of Paraná. The tester AG9040 presents itself as the best to contribute to high grain yields in their topcrosses. The line 30 had high general combining ability for yield in the three environments. The crossing line AG9040 x 49 obtained significant estimates of specific combining ability (SCA) for grain yield in Toledo and Palotina. Also, there is the crossing line AG9040 x 38 to obtain relevant SCA for yield and flowering Tupãssi in male and female. With the tester 30K75 mainly determined by the intersection with the line 27, so it is recommended that this inbred line can be used as tester lines from the commercial hybrid 30K75. With the tester AG9040 mainly determined by the intersection with the line 48, therefore, thes lines can be used as a new tester inbred lines derived from commercial hybrid AG9040.

The culture of coffee is quite important on the national scene and in the country's economy. Though, the crop response to salt stress is not well known. The objective of this paper was to evaluate compar-atively the initial growth of seedlings of two Conilon coffee cultivars under different conditions of soil salinity, and low water availability in the soil. The experiment followed a randomized block design in factorial arrange-ment with two Conilon cultivars (clones 120 and 14), two levels of water in the soil (50% and 70% of available soil water) and four levels of soil salinity (0; 2.0; 4.0 and 6.0 dS m-1). The physiological characteristics of growth: leaf area (Area F), stem height (Height. C), Stem diameter (Dia. C), reproductive branches numbers, shoot biomass and root were evaluated. Among the growth variables, leaf area and leaf dry mass and root are the best indicators of the presence of saline-hydric stress. The cultivar clone 120 is moderately tolerant of soil salinity, with less reduction in leaf area and leaf dry mass when subjected to salt stress.

This study aimed to characterize the morphology of seeds and seedlings and evaluate the germination of seeds of Albizia edwallii submitted to different substrates and temperatures. In physical characterization were evaluated thousand seed weight, the number of seeds per kilogram and moisture content. To determine the morphological characteristics, it was evaluated the biometry of 50 seeds, as well as its internal and external characteristics. Germination was conducted at three temperatures (20 ° C, 25 ° C and 30 ° C) and three substrates (sand, vermiculite and blotting paper) with five replications of 40 seeds per treatment, in a factorial 3 x 3 and completely randomized design. The variables were germination percentage, germination rate index, mean germination time, and synchronization index. The thousand seed weight was 47.7 g, while the number of seeds per kilo was 20.964 for the moisture content of 13.1%. The seeds have an elliptical shape, no endosperm and have persistent funiculus. Germination is epigeal, and the seedling is phanerocotylar being fully formed at 15 days. Temperatures of 20 ° C and 25 ° C provide the highest germination rates, 42 and 38%, respectively, and germination speed index (GSI). The use of sand as a substrate provided better germination percentage than the other substrates. Thus, it is recommended to use sand as a substrate and temperatures of 20 ° C and 25 ° C in A. edwalli germination tests.

Los objetivos del trabajo fueron evaluar la calidad sanitaria en cariopsis de maíz (Zea mays L.) infectados por F. graminearum provenientes de plantas inoculadas en diferentes momentos de la floración y determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en los tejidos de cariopsis de maíz. Se evaluó la patología de los cariopsis y se determinó la calidad sanitaria de las espigas inoculadas con F. graminearum en diferentes mo-mentos de floración en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla – Santa Fe, Argentina. Para determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en tejidos del cariop-sis de maíz se realizaron cortes histológicos en los cariopsis con probables síntomas de enfermedad mediante técnicas de corte por congelación, diafanización, tinción y técnica de inclusión en parafina y coloración y se utilizó la Técnica de Rayos X para observar el efecto de la colonización por F. graminearum en los tejidos se-minales. Se observaron diferencias entre híbridos, sin embargo F. graminearum afectó de manera similar los cariopsis en los tercios superior, medio e inferior de la espiga de maíz; la incidencia por F. graminearum es baja en cariopsis de maíz debido a la mayor agresividad de F. verticillioides al ingresar al estigma del maíz con el grano de polen. F. graminearum y F. verticillioides no penetran al interior del cariopsis, sino que llegan has-ta las capas internas del pericarpo y no afectan la capa de aleurona y el embrión del cariopsis de maíz.

This study was carried out at SIPA (Integrated System of Agroecological Production), situated in Seropédica, RJ, Brazil, in order to evaluate the effects of two cropping systems on yield and growth of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The trial was conducted in a scheme of plots split in time, with three rep-lications, where cropping systems (conventional - CT and e no-till - NT) were assigned to the plots, while sam-pling dates were assigned to the subplots. Although values observed suggested that NT system provided a better crop growth performance in relation to CP, this superiority was not confirmed when comparing growth analysis methods. The functional method provided different values of biomass accumulation and leaf area index (LAI) of plants between two cropping systems. The highest values of LAI were 1.61 m2 m-2 and 1.31 m2 m-2, respec-tively, for NT and CT. Similar behavior was observed for accumulated plant biomass, being obtained values of 634.29 g m-2 and 511.44 g m-2, respectively, for NT and CT. In both cropping systems evaluated, three produc-tion cycles were identified, which yield peaks occurred at 58, 100 and 149 days after planting (DAP). However, yield per harvest and total yield presented no difference between the cropping systems.