Aiming the characterization of genotypes and estimate the genetic divergence through morphological markers of the sweet-potato, an experiment was developed, in the year 2007, in the municipality of Junqueiro, in the Alagoas State, composed of nine clones and two local varieties, in the randomized complete block design with three replications. Were evaluated fourteen characteristics of the aerial part and seven of the roots through morphological descriptors. For the assessment of genetic divergence was used the methodology of the principal components made by the group and the methodology of Tocher. It was wide phenotypic variability among genotypes based on morphological markers. The results showed that the first three components of the variables of aerial part explain 77.08% and in the first two components of the root system of variables explain 72.13% of the variability exists. Six groups were formed, being that group I restrained three genotypes, the groups II, III and IV have been formed by two genotypes each, and the groups V and VI contain a genotype each. The results indicate; using the two methodologies, have wide phenotypic and genotypic variation among genotypes of sweet potato-based on morphological descriptors, indicating prospects for the breeding program of this culture.

The Brazilian northeast region is the main melon producer of Brazil, however in the rainy period there is a significant fall in the quality and amount of melon produced. This work aimed to evaluate the quality and the shelf-life of 'Frevo' yellow melon produced rainy time and stored under cold storage. The completely randomized design was used, in factorial scheme 5 x 4, with five replications. The treatments resulted of the combination of five storage times (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days) and four storage temperatures (7, 9, 11 and 13 ºC). In each storage time the fruits were analyzed 48 hours after the withdrawal of these of the cold chambers to simulate the market conditions. The evaluated characteristics were flesh firmness, soluble solids, weight loss, chilling injury and internal and external appearances. The fruits kept at 13ºC and 11ºC temperatures had a postharvest shelf-life of 21 days, however, temperatures around 7ºC and 9 ºC favored the development of chilling injury, being apparent at 14º day. The temperatures and the time studied are not determinative for the increase or reduction in the soluble solid content.

This work had the purpose evaluate physiological quality and incidence of fungi in twelve cowpea seeds cultivars, produced in the state of Ceará, Brazil, in 2005. The physiological quality was evaluated through the germination standard and vigour tests (First germination count) and sanity quality was evaluated through the method paper filter (blotter test) being used four repetitions of 100 seeds. In relation physiological potential of cultivars, it was observed that the cultivars presented low vigour, like Galanjão (0 %), Costela de Vaca (11,49 %) and Parambú (16,6 %). The germination index were low too, except Sempre Verde with 70,33 % the germination of seedlings normal. In respect the incidence of fungi in the seeds, the Fusarium spp. was detected in 0,5 a 0,6 %, Colletotrichum only in Corujinha (0,5 %), Pingo de Ouro 3 (2 %) and Macrophomina phaseolina was detected only in Costela de vaca and Pingo de ouro (0,5 %) and Galanjão (7 %). The incidence of Aspergillus spp. was verified in all you cultivars and Penicillium sp. was detected only in Galanjão, Pingo de Ouro and Costela de Vaca (12 %). Others fungi like Curvularia sp., Phoma sp., Trichoderma sp. and Alternaria sp. were detected in low incidence. The seeds evaluated shown a low physiological quality and the most frequent fungi were those of storage.

The passion fruit tree (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) is a fruitful tree whose the propagation usually is made for seeds. With the objective to study the possible effects allelopathy of neem in the physiologic aspects in germination of seeds of passion fruit in the different periods of storage. Was carried at UFERSA. For the acquisition of powder of neem, it was used plants located in institution. In the obtaining of seeds of passion fruits, it was used in natura fruits bought in the local supermarket; this seeds were extracted of fruits for fermentation. It was placed 50g of seeds of passion fruits together with each measure of powder of leaves of neem (0; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75; 1,0 g of powder of leaves of neem / 50 g of seeds of passion fruits). It was utilized the randomized design in esquire of portions subdivides, where the portions was composed of five dosages of powder of leaves neem.

The objective of this study was to economically compare a corn silage diet supplemented with 1.3 kg/day of concentrate with sugarcane diets supplemented with a 9:1 mixture of urea plus ammonium sulphate and increasing levels o concentrate (1.3, 2.0, or 2.7 kg/day). Twelve Holstein and eight Brown Swiss dairy heifers averaging 176 kg of body weight (BW) in the beginning of the trial were blocked by breed and BW, and within each block, randomly assigned to treatments. Each experimental period lasted 28 days with 21 days for diet adaptation and seven days for data and sample collections. The average prices of feedstuffs in the state of Minas Gerais during the year of 2004 were used in the economical analyses. The sugarcane diet with greatest proportion of concentrate or, forage to concentrate ratio of 45:55 (dry matter basis), can replace corn silage in dairy production systems that plan heifer's birth age close to 24 months of age .

The best period for sugarcane growth for Itambé, Pernambuco, Brazil, was evaluated, based on observed daily precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data, for years classified as "dry", "normal" or "rainy". Potential evapotranspiration monthly values were estimated through Hargreaves methods, and transformed into 10-days period averages. Ten-days period distribution of precipitation, full evapotranspiration and half of potential evapotranspiration are used to characterize sugarcane growth phase, by determination of pre-humid, humid and post-humid periods. Results show that the best period for the growth phase of this culture in Itambé region for dry years is from January 26th to September 28th, with 245 days duration and total precipitation of 822 mm. In normal years, it begins on March 9th and ends on October 5th, with 210 days duration, and precipitation of 1064 mm. For rainy years the best period for sugarcane growth phase begins on February 20th and ends on October 13th, with 235 days duration, and average precipitation of 1426 mm.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the biological and chemical soil quality of a degraded area of clay extraction, after it has been re-vegetate with Eucalyptus spp. and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, cultivated in single or inter-cropping systems. It was used as soil biological quality indicators the total microbial activity, evaluated by enzymatic method of the hydrolize of the fluoresceína diacetato (FDA) and soil total respiration; and, the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To evaluate the chemical quality it was used some chemical characteristics of the soil. The random blocks experimental design was used, with nine treatments + control. The treatments were constituted of single plantings of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (sabiá) and of four species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus pellita, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus robusta) and intercropping plantings of sábia with the four eucalyptus species, with four repetitions. The control treatment (degraded soil without any re-vegetation) was an area inside of the digging of clay extraction, with four replicates. The experimental unit was composed by 36 plants. After 36 months, the soils with single plantings of E. pellita and sabiá presented, in relation to the control treatment (without vegetation), larger microbial activity, evaluated by both the method of FDA and by total respiration, larger diversity of AMF and larger concentrations of nitrogen. The microbial soil activity, as much for the method of FDA as for the breathing, it was larger in intercropping plantings of E. pellita with sabiá, when compared with the control treatment. The AMF Glomus and Acaulospora were largest genus found in all treatments, however, in the control treatment it was found only the AMF species Glomus macrocarpum.

Aiming to evaluate the genetic divergence among castor bean accessions through collections of racemos with seeds of ten municipalities in the State of Alagoas in the year 2007. The variables were analyzed: weight of 100 seeds (W100), weight of the 100 seed coats (WC100); transversal (TLS) and longitudinal lengths of the seed (LLS); raceme length (LR); e content oil of the seeds (OCS). For the evaluation of genetic divergence was used the principal components analysis and the cluster were made using the Tocher method. Phenotypic correlations between the variable and the altitude (ALT) of the collection places were also carried through. Exist significant divergence between the accessions, indicated for the two first principal components, that explained 82.15% of the existing variability. The variables W100 and WC100 were those that more contributed for the observed divergence. Four groups were formed by Tocher' methodology, showing possibilities of future works to explore the variability found in castor bean accessions. The correlations were positive between some variables, like the altitude, that seems to have especially influenced the W100 variable, but not on OCS.

The study was carried out greenhouse of the Department of Forestry of the Federal University of Paraíba, Patos, PB. Are am of this study to evaluate the effect of the inoculation with native rhizobia and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the initial growth of red-angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa Benth. Bren.), a legume native tree of the great socio-economic and ecological importance in the semi-arid of the Brazilian northeast. The plants grew for 120 days in pots with 4.0 dm3 with a mixture by sand and clay (1:2, v/v). The five treatments consisted: inoculation of AM fungi (Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdmann) and/or native rhizobia (NR), previously selected; addition of N (100 mg dm-3) and a control (without N and inoculation). All treatments were significantly higher than the control for seedling height and shoot dry weight, mainly in the treatment with fungi inoculation. Inoculation treatments were able to supply the nutrients (N and P) for growth of A. macrocarpa seedlings ultil 120-days old.

The alfavacão (Ocimum gratissimum L.) is a perennial forb used in the popular medicine and wide found in domestic yards and gardens. In the period of May the June of 2005, investigated aspects of floral biology (anthesis determination, osmophores presence, stigma receptiveness and pollen viability) and the visiting insects of the O. gratissimum in the Horto de Medicinal Plantas of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, in Dourados-MS. It analyzed, also, the reproductive mechanisms and ambient factors in the visits of the insects. It was verified that the flowers of the alfavacão present climax of budding in the period that coincides with the period of higher temperatures, with average percentages of the viable grains of pollen in the daily pay-anthesis, anthesis and after anthesis phases, varied of 94% 98%. The species presented indications of being preferential autogamous, a time that had greater efficiency in the natural auto-pollinization. With relation to the visiting insects visits of eleven different species with predominance of the species of the Apidae family had been observed.