Proper planning of experiments in the culture of castor bean is one of the ways to maximize the research information. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum plot size and number of replications and the influence of spacing between plants in experiments involving castor bean crops. The experiment with the hybrid Sara was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Maria in 2010 with a spacing of 1.2 m be- tween rows and between plants of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m. Each plant was evaluated taking into account: the number of racemes, fruit weight, the average length of the racemes, and fruit number, with the plant identification by the order number of the row and the number of plants within the row. The optimum plot size is eight plants for all spacings and all variables. However, the area of optimum plot size inside the spacing depends on the area occupied by the basic unit. Thus, the plot area is 3.84, 5.76 and 7.68 m 2 for each spacing of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m, respectively. Twelve replications in randomized block design, are sufficient to identify, as significant at 5% probability, differences between treatment means of 27%.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the optimum plot size to three sunflower hybrids in three spatial arrangements of plants. The uniformity test was installed in the experimental field of the Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia, in Cruz das Almas, Brazil, in 2012. The plots were composed of six lines of 36 m, which were willing three spatial arrangements of plants: A1 (0,45 m x 0,49 m); A2 (0,70 m x 0,32 m) and A3 (0,90 m x 0,25 m), and each arrangement were distributed three sunflower hybrids: Hélio 250, Hélio 253 e Aguara 3. For the evaluation of the optimal plot size, at 110 days after sowing was harvested a sample of 180 basic units (plants) per plot, in which were evaluated the final plant height, the final diameter of the rod and the diameter of the chapter. Thirty - one plots sizes of three hybrids were simulated and for each variable assessed, wherein each plant was considered as a basic unit. The estimation of optimum plot size to the sun- flower crop was calculated by the method of modified curvature maximum. The combined use of hybrid H253, installed in the arrangement 0.45 m x 0.49 m, promotes obtainment the greatest value of curvature maximum it was estimated the optimum plot size of six plants.

In order to determine the water requirement and crop coefficient for the different phenological stages on corn plants ( Zea mays L.) and cowpea plants ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in intercropping and sole cropping systems under the climatic conditions of the Brazilian semiarid. The experiment was conducted in the city of Petrolina, PE. Shoots total dry mass and photosynthetically active radiation intercepted for both crops were monitored. Furthermore, it was obtained the evapotranspiration (ETc) by the soil water balance method. With these data and reference evapotranspiration it was obtained crop coefficient (Kc), which were subsequent- ly used to adjust models as a function of accumulated degree days. With the results, it was found the water re- quirements from maize and cowpea intercropped system were greater than the sole system. Kc in the inter- cropped system was 0.90, 1.30, 1.20 and 0.72 for maize and 0.86, 1.30, 1.21 and 0.91 for cowpea, respectively, for the vegetative, flowering, grain filling and ripening stages. In the sole system, these values were, 0.86, 1.23, 0.97 and 0.52 for maize and 0.68, 1.02, 1.06 and 0.63 for cowpea in those phases mentioned. The variations of the Kc values for both systems and cultures have been associated to the increase of biomass and light intercep- tion. The Gaussian model adjusted properly described the relationship between Kc and accumulated degree days.

This work aimed to study the agronomic feasibility of the arugula (A) and lettuce (L) bicropping intercropped with carrot (C) under different amounts of roostertree incorporated into the soil and proportions of population densities among component crops in semiarid conditions of the Rio Grande do Norte state. The experimental design was randomized complete block with four replications, with the treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 4. The first factor was constituted by the amounts of roostertree incorporated into the soil (10, 25, 40 and 55 t ha - 1 on a dry basis) and the second factor by the proportions of population densities of the component crops in polyculture [(50A - 50C - 50L (%); 40A - 50C - 40L (%); 30A - 50C - 30L (%) and 20A - 50C - 20L (%) of the recommended populations in sole crops - RPSC)]. The leafy vegetable crops were planted in two cultivations during the carrot cycle, and a joint analysis was carried out involving the two cultivations in the 4 x 4 factorial scheme. The characteristics evaluated were green mass yield (arugula), dry mass of shoots and productivity (lettuce), total, commercial and classified productivity of carrot roots. The modified monetary advantage was used to evaluate the agronomic feasibility of intercropping systems. The use of roostertree as green manure proved viable in the polyculture of arugula, carrot, and lettuce. The major agronomic perfor- mance of the arugula, carrot and lettuce in the polyculture was registered in the amount of 55 t ha - 1 of rooster- tree incorporated into the soil. The population density proportions of arugula, carrot and lettuce of 50A - 50C - 50L (%) of the RPSC were those that provided the greatest agronomic feasibility of the polycultures.

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 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 mechanical harvesting causes injuries on seeds and may affect their quality. Different threshing mechanisms and their adjustments may also affect the intensity of impacts that machines cause on seeds. So, this study aimed at diagnosing and evaluating the effect of two combines: the first one with a threshing system of axial flow and the other one with a threshing system of tangential flow, under adjustments of concave opening (10 mm, 30 mm and 10 mm for a combine with axial flow and 3.0 mm, 15 mm and 3.0 mm for a combine with tangential flow) and three cylinder rotations on the quality of soybean seeds harvested at two moisture contents. Soybean seeds of cultivar 'ND 4910' were harvested at 16.6% moisture (mid - morning) and 13.7% moisture in the afternoon. The seeds quality was evaluated by germination tests, germination speed index (GSI), germination rate, moisture content, percentage of purity and vigor by tetrazolium test. Despite the combine, the results showed that the mechanical injury has most reduced seeds quality, at 16.6% moisture content, concave opening of 30 mm (axial) and 10 mm (tangential) and cylinder rotation of 1100 rpm (axial) and 1000 (tangential), both with the highest rotations used. The combine with tangential flow had the highest degree of seeds purity. When seeds moisture content at harvest was close to 13.7%, there was the highest seed injury, while, at 16.6%, there was the highest number of crushed soybeans, regardless the combine adjustment.

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton - Apocynaceae (silk-flower) is an important species for several usages: ornamental, forage, timber, textile and medicine, that justify its study. We investigated the physiological behavior and the vigor of seeds under different storage conditions. There were performed month-ly evaluations of germination, seedling emergence, speed of emergence, seedling length and weight of seedling dry matter, during 180 days. Experimental design was completely randomized with a 6x5x3x2 factorial, using combinations of six storage periods (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 days), five moisture contents (30, 24, 18, 12 e 7%), three package types (paper bags, plastic bags and PET bottles) and two environmental conditions (chamber: 16 °C a 18 °C and laboratory: 27 °C a 30 °C, both environments with 50±5%) with four replications of 50 seeds. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance using F (p≤ 0.05) test to treatments and Tukey test for averages comparison, with polynomial regression analysis considering the storage periods. There were con-cluded that silk flower seeds presented orthodox physiological behavior; the vigor decreased when stored for 180 days; silk flower seeds with 7% moisture content are preserved efficiently in paper bags and controlled environment for 90 days.

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro behavior of the fungus Fusarium guttiform in different conditions of temperature and luminosity and determine the most efficient inoculation method for evaluating the resistance of pineapple to fusariosis. To determine the in vitro behavior, two experiments was performed, with the same design, conduction, and evaluation. It was used a completely randomized experimental design in a factorial arrangement of 3x3 (three temperatures and three light regimes), with five replications. The evaluations of inoculation methods were conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 3x4 (methods x distance of inoculation). D leaves of pineapple, cultivar Pearl, were inoculated at two, five, eight and eleven centimeters from the base by the methods of infected toothpick, mycelium disc without injury and mycelium disc with injury on the leaf. There was no significant difference on in vitro behavior of the isolates analyzed. The indicated temperature and luminosity for the multiplication of F. guttiform were 25°C and 12 hours, respectively, since they showed significant my celial growth and increased production of reproductive structures. The indicated method for evaluation of resistance to fusariosis in pineapple was the inoculation by infected toothpick at a distance between 2 - 11 cm from the base of the leaf. It becomes necessary to perform an injury at the site to be inoculated for the infection of the pathogen F. guttiform occurs.