To evaluate the nutrient content of leaves of gerbera fertigated with treated domestic effluents with and without mineral supplementation, a study was carried out in a greenhouse located at the Embrapa Meio-Norte in Teresina, Brazil from July to October 2007. The treatments studied were: T1 - 100% water and nutritional needs furnished with fertigation (N e K2 O); T2 - 25% volume of water through fertigation and 75% treated wastewater effluents (TWE); T3 - 50% volume of water through fertigation and 50% TWE; T4 - 75% volume of water with fertigation and 25% TWE; and T5 - volume of water 100% supplied through TWE. The leaf growth and plant development were favored by the application of 50% fertigation and 50% TWE (T3). At the end of experiment two adult leaves were collected in each treatment and content of nutrients was determined. Soil samples were also collected for analysis to verify alterations in physical and chemical properties. The soil irrigated with 100% wastewater effluent showed high concentrations of P, organic matter and low concentration of Na and K, but these changes did not cause any alteration in nutritional status of leaves and quality of gerberas flowers.

paper aimed to evaluate the growth and accumulation of pigments in leaves of cowpea plants kept under two light conditions. The experimental design was carried out by using two randomized blocks with two treatments and twenty-two repetitions. The tested treatments were: natural environment (full sun) and artificial environment (50% light). The evaluated variety of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) was the Vinegar, which has indeterminate growth habit. For growth analysis samples were taken at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after emergence (DAE) and 50 DAE for determining the levels of a, b, and total chlorophyll and carotenoids content. Significant interaction was observed for the characteristics of the main stem length, leaf area, fresh weight and a, b, and total chlorophyll and carotenoids from plants grown in artificial environment. The studied type showed plasticity when subjected to low light, such as morphological changes in the length of main stem and leaf area, as well as changes in the amount of leaf pigments.

In order to evaluate the growth and accumulation of nutrients in watermelon 'Quetzal' grown under different levels of salinity of irrigation water, was developed in the period november/2007 to January 2008, an experiment at the Experimental Farm "Rafael Fernandes", University Federal Rural do Semi-arid (UFERSA) Mossoró-RN. The experiment was a randomized blocks design with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split plots with the plots represented by the salinity levels of irrigation water: 0.60, 1.69, 2.36, 3.46 and 3.98 dS m-1, and the subplots consist of samplings of plants: 12, 22, 32, 42 and 52 days after transplanting, DAT. In achieving the levels of salinity were mixed natural waters and / or saline in order to obtain approximate composition of natural waters in the region. Plant growth, expressed by the accumulation of dry matter and accumulation of macronutrients by watermelon over the age of the plants decreased with increasing water salinity. The largest increases of dry matter and macronutrients occurred after fruit set, which took place from 42 DAT. The period of greatest demand for phosphorus, potassium and calcium was 42-52 DAT, and nitrogen, and magnesium was 32-42 DAT. The order of extracted nutrients was K> N> Ca> Mg> P.

The microbiota soil has an important role as an indicator of the sustainability of agroecosystems, reflecting the environmental changes, particularly the antrophic actions. To evaluate the influence of different fertilizers in populations of Pseudomonas spp, in the common kale was conducted a field experiment with kale at the Agrobiology Embrapa National Center, in Seropédica, RJ, on a Argisol. The experimental design was random blocks in factorial 3 x 4, with treatments (home biosolid, cattle manure and urea fertilization), four dose levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg de N.ha-1) and four replicates. The amount of fertilizer applied was given according to the dosage of nitrogen.ha-1 desired. From the rhizosphere, at 15 and 30 days after transplanting the seedlings to the field, we selected strains showing fluorescence under UV light with a wavelength of 366 nm. For grouping the isolates were considered the main morphological characteristics. The majority being identified as Pseudomonas putida (54%) and P. fluorescens (14%), by API 20NE System (bioMérieux, Analytab Products). The results obtained from the reactions of the API 20NE test kit showed a wide variation in the utilization of carbon compounds and enzymatic inter-and intraspecific. Some groups of isolates colonized preferentially the cabbage rhizosphere of plants fertilized with biosolids and different doses of fertilizers used. There were a smaller number of groups present in treatments with urea.

Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) is a shrub originating from Australia, which represents one of the forage resources suitable for rainfed land in arid and semiarid regions of Brazil, they have tolerance to dry and saline. In this context, it was aimed to verifying the effect of partial replacement of the conventional diet of saltbush hay on performance and carcass quality of chickens. The treatments consisted of substituting 0, 5, 10 and 15% of the basal saltbush hay. There was a significant effect (P <0.01) of the replacement of the hay on intake of crude protein, crude fiber and gross energy, average daily gain, feed conversion, body weight, absolute weight of carcass, thigh, chest and abdominal fat, and relative weight of thigh, abdominal fat and liver, indicating that the replacement of hay up to 10% of the conventional diet for broiler chickens does not compromise on performance and carcass characteristics of chickens.

Trichogramma species are found naturally parasitizing eggs of several lepidopteran species. Among the Trichogramma species, however, there is preference for certain lepidopteran species as host. Therefore, to succeed in a biological control program using Trichogramma is recommended to seek for more related parasitoid species to the target lepidopteran pests. Four species of the parasitoid were studied: Trichogramma acacioi Brun, Moraes & Soares, Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Planter, Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Planter and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).Thus, this study investigated three methods of evaluating Trichogramma species parasitizing Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): parasitism within 24 h period, daily parasitism rate during adult stage, and fertility life table. The parasitism within 24 h-period and the daily parasitism rate showed that T. atopovirilia and T. pretiosum. Otherwise, the fertility life table parameters showed the better performance of T. atopovirilia. Therefore, the parasitism within 24 h-period can be considered the most efficacious selection methods because requiring less time to achieve the results, however with limitations when compared with daily parasitism rate during adult stage, and fertility life table.

The objective of this work was to evaluate an aspirated psychrometer constructed under different thermocouple gauges. Were used three thermocouple copper-constantan gauge: 24 AWG (0.511 mm of diameter), 32 AWG (0.202 mm of diameter) and 40 AWG (0.080 mm of diameter). The thermocouples were placed into a single psychrometer and each one positioned side by side at a distance of approximately 30 mm each other. Hourly air temperature and humidity values obtained from each gauge were compared with the values obtained with a thermistor and capacitive hygrometer. The results showed that the thermocouple gauges used (24, 32 and 40 AWG) had high correlation and accuracy with values determined by the hygrometer (r2 > 0.97, RMSE P 3.91%).

In Brazil, especially in the state of Goiás, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are largely cropped in small and mean farms where the association beans+corn is predominant. The castor beans has draw the attention as a promising crop for biodiesel production, and being suggested by federal authorities as a primary choice in family run small farmer¿s agricultural projects. However, to attain that purpose, a careful selection of high yielding varieties is imperative. The objective was to assess the bean cultivars intercropped with castor bean in "Cerrado". The experimental design was a completely randomized block, in a 6 x 2 + 1 factorial, with four replications. Treatments comprised a combination of six cultivars of beans (Pérola, Pontal, Requinte, Grafite, Diamante Negro and Radiante) grown under two cropping systems (non-intercropped and intercropped castor bean), and the additional treatment of the castor beans non-intercropped. Bean cultivar Pérola yield best when intercropped as well as when single crop. Castor bean cultivar Paraguaçu performed similarly in both cropping systems. Bean yield decreased in the intercropping, but in the range of 38 to 71% was more efficient than in single crop.

The reaction of resistance to ten simple hybrids of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), as well as of their 14 parents were evaluated to the pathogen Colletotrichum sublineolum, the causal agent of anthracnose. In greenhouse, the genotypes were inoculated separately with 20 monosporic isolates obtained from different sorghum producing areas in the Brazil. Evaluation was carried out ten days after inoculation utilizing methodology proposed by Cardwel et al. (1989). Neither sorghum genotype was resistant to all the isolates inoculated. Line CMSXS657 was resistant to 95%, ATF14 to 90%, ATF08 to 85% and CMSXS210 to 70% of the isolates. The most outstanding hybrids were BRS305 (CMSXS210A X BR012R) resistant to 75% of the isolates, 9920045 (ATF14A X CMSXS180R) to 65% of the isolates, BRS308 (CMSXS233A X BR012R) to 60% of the isolates, and BRS650 (CMSXS222A X CMSXS657R) to 55% of the isolates. Lines BR001 and CMSXS222 were susceptible to 90% of the isolates. The resistance frequency of the hybrids was equal or inferior to that of the parent lines, except for hybrid BRS305 (CMSXS210A X BR012R) which was resistant to a larger number of isolates than its parents. None of the isolates tested were virulent to all the genotypes. The isolates from Campo Novo dos Parecis (MT) were the most virulent while the isolates from Jardinopolis (SP) were the least virulent.

Studies with Stegasta bosquella in peanut crop are little explored by researchers, mainly by the need of obtaining, in the field, a large quantity of closed leaflets. Therefore, it was sought a way of rearing in a natural diet that facilitates the attainment of the insect. The research was developed at the Laboratório de Resistência de Plantas a Insetos (FCAV/Jaboticabal) (T: 25 ± 2 °C, RH 60 ± 10% and photophase: 12 hours) (Runner IAC 886). The rearing stock of was carried out by collecting caterpillars from the field and keeping them in flat bottom glass tubes until adult emergence and test performance. Caterpillars were individualized in Petri dish plates, lined with moistened filter paper, which contained closed and early opened leaflets, but closed with paper clips (imitating the closed leaflet). A randomized design with two treatments and 36 repetitions was used. After the pupae formation, they were separated into five couples and the adults were kept in transparent plastic cages containing a peanut stem with leaves for oviposition, and fed with a 10% honey solution. The duration and viability of the larval and pupal periods, male and female longevity with and without food, and fertility were evaluated. The two forms of larvae rearing (closed leaflet and leaflet closed with clips) did not influence on any of the studied parameters. Therefore, the rearing of S. bosquella becomes feasible in natural diet, which means there is no need to use the enclosed leaflets for this purpose, and implies the easiness for rearing.