The aim of this paper was to: a) verify if digital radiographic image measurements of G. biloba seeds could replace those obtained with a manual caliper; b) determine the degree of seed development through digitally measuring the air chamber of the seed and, c) make a radiographic pattern to characterize the seed species according to its anatomical and morphological structure, identify physical damage and characterize the species according to physical variables. In order to draw the radiographic patter, the seeds were submitted to different treatments: seed imbibition in rolled paper at 20 ºC for 48 hours; artificial damage by puncturing dry and imbibed seeds; artificial damage by fracturing dry and imbibed seeds. Seed anatomy structures were measured with a digital caliper and a manual caliper. The digital radiographic measurements could: a) replace the measurements taken with a manual caliper; b) obtain measurements that a manual caliper cannot supply; c) measure the air chamber in order to determine the level of seed filling; d) characterize the species by its anatomical and morphological structures, detect insect damage or fracture and make a radiographic pattern of G. biloba seeds.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the Sitophilus zeamais development in maize seeds, under four lightning systems and to find a mathematical model that describes the growth of this insect under the ambient conditions. Four wood cabinets were built, one of them was a natural light and the other ones as it follow: mixed light, sodium steam light and anti-bugs incandescent light. Inside each chamber, there were 18 recipients containing approximately 250g of seeds infested with 25 weevils. After the chambers building, a timer system was built, so the lamps would stay turned on always on the same time, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to next day, consequently kept on for 12 hours. Every 21 days after the construction of the experiment 3 recipients from each chamber were taken off and weevils there were counted using the Belese funnel, and the seeds moisture was measured. It was not observed any influence on the bug development, who presented the maximum level of growing 84 days after the storage at all lightning systems tested. The humidity level kept constant itself until the 84th day and it had reduced significantly, indicating environmental changes during the procedure. The growth of S. zeamais can be described by a polynomial model.

To study plant growth and yield of cauliflower, two field trials were carried out: the first springsummer (Oct. 07, 2006 to Jan. 28, 2007) and the second autumn-winter (Apr. 04, 2007 to Jul. 09, 2007). The experimental design was randomized complete blocks in 4 x 4 factorial design with three replications. The following factors: line spacing (0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 m) and plant spacing (0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 m). The used cultivar was cv. Verona 284. The characteristics, number of leaves by plant, diameter of stem, diameter of inflorescence, inflorescence mass and yield were evaluated. With the reduction in spacing, were observed lower numbers of leaves, stem diameter, diameter and mass of the inflorescence, but there was an increase in yield. The maximum yield (23 t ha-1) was obtained with 0.6 x 0.4 m, ie, in higher plant population (41,667, plants ha-1).

Cubiu is a native Amazon plant that has attracted attention for its nutritional and pharmaceutical industries. The goal this paper was to evaluate the effect of priming on germination andseedling emergence from of three varieties of cubiu seeds: Santa Luzia, Thais and Musquet, using five priming conditions: water for 12 and 24 h, solutions of PEG 6000 and 0.35 Mol KNO3 for 24 and 48 h at 25 °C. Unprimed seeds were considered as control. After priming, seeds conditioned or not, were evaluated by means of tests: germination, speed of germination, seedling emergence and speed of emergence. The variety Thais had the best physiological quality, and priming in KNO3 which provided greater effects on germination and seed vigor cubiu.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the quality of red pitaya of pulp white, produced in Itajobi city, São Paulo state. The pitayas were stored at room temperature, (21-27 ºC with 44-63% de UR), at 18 ± 1 ºC, with 86-92% RH), 13 ± 1 ºC, with 85-90% RH and at 8 ± 1 ºC, with 85-95% RH. The quality was monitored during storage time through the parameters: fresh weight loss titleble acidity; soluble solids contents; vitamin C, external appearance, pH and fruit firmness. Through the results obtained may be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was proportioned the small fresh weight loss; the acidity, soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness were influenced by the storage temperature and storage time, but the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was that occasioned the small change theses parameters. In general, it can be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was the best to maintenance the quality of pitaya fruit.

Some factories of the State of Alagoas are using the fungus entomopathogenic Metarhizium anisopliae as control against Mahanrva fimbriolata. Being so this work it had how aim to value the quantity of nymphs and adults of spittlebug of the root after the air application of the biological insecticide (M. anisopliae), race PL-43 and of the Imidacloprido, and to analyze the costs of this application. The experiment was driven in the sugarcane region of the Factory Cachoeira, located in Maceió-AL, in the period understood between July and September of 2006, on the sugarcane variety SP813250. The application of the products took place in 19th of July of 2006 and the reapplication in 22th of August of the same year. There was carried out initially a population evaluation of nymphs and adults and others 15, 30 and 45 days after the treatments. The treatments did not differ between them, but when each area was analyzed separately, there were differences between sub-areas of the experimental area and between the periods of application. The total costs of the application of Imidacloprido, were less comparing with the other treatments.

The blossom-end rot of tomato is characterized by the appearance of a necrotic tissue in the distal part of the fruit. This disorder is not caused directly by the calcium deficiency, but it results from the expression of some genes in stress conditions. Interactions between temperature, water availability, high saline or ammonium concentration, etc., control the appearance of the blossom-end rot in the fruits. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence calcium and ammonium on the productivity and blossom-end of tomatoes grown hydroponically. The experiment was carried out in the green house of the Department of Agronomy of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, and consisted of factorial arrangement between six levels of calcium and two levels of ammonium in the nutrient solution (6 x 2), with six replications in experimental design of randomized blocks. Calcium treatments were the concentrations of 120, 140, 170, 200, 240 and 280 mg L-1, and ammonium treatments were the absence of this cation in the nutrient solution and the addition of 28.4 mg L-1, corresponding to 15% of total-N of the nutrient solution. The blossom-end rot, productivity, fruit diameter and number of fruits were evaluated. The data were submitted to the analysis of the variance and regression. The calcium addition caused a reduction in the tomato productivity, and the treatments with ammonium caused a lesser incidence of blossom-end rot.

In recent years an increase of 15 to 20% occurred in market share melons like Cantaloupes group, which present more attractive organoleptic characteristics and higher commercial value. However it needs more care in production due its higher sensitivity to soil salinity. Effects of soil and water salinity are among the main limiting factors to melon yield and quality at Rio Grande do Norte Sate, Brazil. This work was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of different irrigation water salinity levels on yield and quality of cantaloupe hybrid 'Sedna'. Experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted of five salt concentrations in irrigation water (0.54; 1.48; 2.02; 3.03 and 3.9 dS m-1). Yield and quality characteristics evaluated were: number of marketable fruits per plant, yield of marketable fruits, mean weight of fruits, soluble solids content (SS) and pulp firmness. An increase on irrigation water salinity level negatively influenced yield of melon hybrid 'Sedna'. Yield loss in response to salinity was due to decrease in number of fruits per plant. Mean values of soluble solids and pulp firmness were not influenced by irrigation water salinity.

Due the fast growing in flowers and ornamental plants production and their high export potential, it is important to identify the insects species associated with Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum crops and to establish their role in this agroecosystem/production system The insects were collected from A. purpurata cv. Pink Ginger and Red Ginger plants cultivated in two farmswith different agroecological characteristics, located in two recognized tropical flower production areas/regions, Maceió and Río Largo cities/localities, Alagoas state, during one year. They were identified and its frequency analyzed according with a numerical scale. According to the results was collected 790 insects of which 69 were identified to specific level, belonging to 59 families of 9 ordens. Results showed Hymenoptera individuals as the most frequent, mainly predator ants and/or associated with phytophagous insects (sucking), besides natural enemies, followed by Hemiptera and Lepidoptera orders, which involved recognized agricultural pests. Insects belonging to the order Odonata and Orthoptera were found less frequently.

This paper has evaluated the alterations in the number of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and enzymatic activity in soil under cultivation of banana trees in Chapada of Apodi. The hypothesis was tested that the agricultural use causes environmental alterations that they reduce the presence of population of AMF and the microbial activity. An area was selected under cultivation of banana trees (Farm Frutacor) and its control (natural vegetation). Four soil samples were collected in three depths in which analyses were accomplished, the number of spores of AMF by Gerdemann and Nicholson (1964) and enzymatic activity: acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase and b-glucosidase by Tabatabai, (1994). The number of spores of AMF show values decreasing with the rise in depth in area cultivated. The activity of the arylsulphatase and acid phosphatase were stimulated by the competition of the anions H2PO4- and SO4- for the same ranches of adsorption in the colloids of the soil. For b-glucosidase, there was a larger activity in the cultivated area, influenced by the amount and quality of the vegetable residue. The enzymatic activity evidences a difficulty of establishing correlations between the biochemistry and chemistry of the soil in area where the entrance of nutrients is high.