The municipal district of Mossoró - RN is inserted into the Caatinga biome and like other coun- ties its vegetation is notably mischaracterized. Thus a phytosociological study of forest remnants was conduct- ed in Mossoró, seeking knowledge of forest wealth for possible conservation. Bibliographic and cartographic materials were consulted, as well as maps were used for better spatial visualization of forest remnants. Areas where there are forest remnants were highlighted and four sites were chosen to characterize the vegetation. At these sites, the phytosociological study was conducted by installing plots of 20 x 20 m, within which were esti- mated height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of all living individuals of the shrub and herbs layers. The phytosociological parameters considered were: Margal ef and Menhinick Diversity Index, Frequency, Density, Dominance and Coverage and Importance Percentage Index. It was found that Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) and Croton sonderianus Mull. Arg. have excelled in number of individuals, frequency and density. Poincianel- la pyramidalis (Tul.) was the one that stood out in most of the analyzed parameters. Species that stand out in an area are found at low frequency in the other. This variation can be probably explained by several factors, one of them may be the anthropic level among the studied areas. Diversity indices indicated that Point 4 showed the greatest diversity and the lowest point 3. However, the Caatinga vegetation of the areas analyzed has low diver- sity, probably by the effects of human disturbance, but with proper planning and managements could avoid its complete disappearance.

The study was conducted to evaluate the intake, digestibility, production and composition of milk from goats fed with diets containing different protein sources (soybean meal, cottonseed cake, aerial part cassava hay, leucaena hay). Were used eight goats with 96.5 ± 3.7 days in lactation, producing 2.0 ± 0.44 kg of milk and with an average initial weight of 47.5 ± 6.6 kg distributed in two Latin square 4 x 4. The animals fed the diet containing aerial part cassava hay presented (P<0.05) higher intake of rumen undegradable protein and an intake neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein higher than (P<0.05) the diet with soybean meal. The use of cottonseed cake as protein source have provided (P<0.05) intake of rumen degradable protein and ether extract higher than the remaining diets. The nutrient digestibility, production and milk composition were similar (P>0.05) between the protein sources evaluated. The efficiency of nitrogen utilization and secretion of urea in milk presented significant effect (P<0.05) in that diet with aerial part cassava hay had lower average compared to the diet with soybean meal. Diets containing soybean meal, cottonseed cake, aerial part cassava hay or leucaena hay can be used as a protein source in diets for lactating goats, not to change the digestibility of nutrients or interfere with the production and composition of milk.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative expression of three candidate genes, CHIA1, SGF14c and CHS8 * possibly involved in seed quality, in contrasting seed coats from four soybean genotypes. Two genotypes with yellow seed coats, BMX Potência RR and CD 202, and two genotypes with black seed coats, TP and IAC were studied to determine the relative gene expression through the qPCR technique, in sev- en stages of seed coat development for all four genotypes, at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 days after anthesis. The CHIA1 and SGF14c genes showed higher expression in cultivar CD 202; the former in the final stages of seed coat development, at 55 days after anthesis, the latter gene at earlier stages, specifically at 25 days after anthesis. The CHS8* gene showed higher expression in CD 202 seed coats at 50 days after anthesis. All three genes expressed at higher levels on genotypes of yellow seed coats, and are considered relevant to new areas of research based on the expression of genes related to seed quality.

In order to evaluate the sensitivity of citrus g enotypes: ‘Santa Cruz Rangpur’ lime, ‘Sunki Tropical’ mandarin, ‘Troyer’ citrange, ‘Volkamer’ l emon, and HTR-051 and HTR-069 trifoliate hybrids to salinity during the rootstock formation period in g reenhouse. The genotypes were subjected to five lev els of irrigation water salinity: control, tap water with electrical conductivity (EC w ) of 0.41 dS m -1 and water with EC w of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 dS m -1 , made from salts NaCl, CaCl 2 .2H 2 O e MgCl 2 .6H 2 O, using the 7:2:1 propor- tion, respectively. The ‘genotypes’ and ‘salinity’ factors were arranged in factorial design (6x5), us ing a ran- domized block, with five blocks and four plants per parcel. The growth and physiological variables wer e evalu- ated registering the most significant effects to sa linity on total dry matter at all genotypes, highli ghting total dry matter accumulation in 'Volkamer' lemon and the hig hest decrease from increasing salinity it is observ ed in 'Troyer' citrange. The 'Volkamer' lemon and HTR – 0 69 can be recommended to formation of seedlings of cit- rus rootstocks under salinity due to its less sensi tivity in the formation of biomass.

Studies related to the absorptions and nutrient partitioning in organs of irrigated beans are scarce and very important for the improvement of different fertilization models. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of irrigated common bean in winter, through biomass production and nutrients uptake to organs and shoots. We used a randomized block design with three replications and seven composed of time periods of plant collection (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days after plant emergence) with separation in leaves, stem, flower+pod and grains. After determination of dry matter, the content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S absorbed by shoots and components of bean was estimated. Nonlinear sigmoid and gaussian models were fitted to characterize biomassa production and nutrient uptake during bean growth. The absorption of by bean decreasing in the following order, in kg ha-1: 138 K, 112 N, 66 Ca, 16 P, 11 S and 7 Mg, indicating the high absorption of K and N and demand of K replacement by top dressing. During the initial growth stage, leaves were responsible for 80% of macronutrients accumulation in shoots. In the final growth stage, grains exported 90, 75 and 65% of P, N and Mg absorbed, showing its high export rate.

Growing cover crops preceding planting common beans and corn may influence the yield of these cash crops. This study aimed to evaluate the biomass production and decomposition of crop residue cover and yield of maize and beans grown on these soils as coverings of plants. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in the 2011/12 harvest in Uberaba. With a randomized block designed in a split - plot scheme, seven cover crops were used : sunn hemp ( Crotalaria spectabilis ), jack bean ( Canavalia ensiformis DC.), mil- let ADR300, ADR500 and ENA2 ( Pennisetum glaucum L.), Sorgo (S orghum bicolor L.) and brachiária ( Urochloa brizantha cv Marandú), and subplots in annual succession crops (maize and bean). The millets ADR300, ADR500 and ENA2 among Poaceae and jack beans between Fabaceae produced more dry biomass (9.8, 8.9, 8.6 and 3.8 t ha - 1 ), respectively; after 150 days of decomposition of plant residues of sunn hemp, jack bean, sorghum, brachiaria, millet ADR500, millet ENA2 and millet ADR300 were in the order of 67.9; 71.7; 53.8; 61.7; 49.9; 45.5 and 46.7%, respectively; the maize yield was higher when the culture was grown on resi- dues of millet ENA2 (7.2 t ha - 1 ) and jack bean (6.8 t ha - 1 ), while the bean was higher when grown on millet ADR300 (1.3 t ha - 1 ) and sunn hemp (1.2 t ha - 1 ).

The silicon fertilization has a beneficial effect in enhancing the resistance of plants to diseases, however, this effect can be reduced in the presence of high levels of nitrogen. Given the above, this study aimed to investigate the effect of silicated and nitrogen fertilization in control of rice blast in irrigated system. Plants were grown in an area of tropical lowland and evaluated as to the severity of leaf blast incidence on pan-1 of calcium and magnesium silicate associated with 45 kg ha - 1 of nitrogen topdressing on had lower severity of leaf blast and higher grain yield compared to plants not supplemented with silicon. The combination of silicated fertilization with 90 kg ha - 1 of nitrogen topdressing resulted in a greater incidence of panicle rice blast. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that supple- mentation with silicon and nitrogen promoted reduction in the severity of blast in rice plants in irrigation sys- tem without affecting the yield.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of desalination wastewater on the post harvest quality and conservation of lettuce, cultivars Verônica and Quatro Estações, produced in hydroponic system with coconut fiber. The test was developed in an protected environment from the Department of Environmental Sciences of Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, located in Mossoró/RN, installed in an experimental design of randomized blocks, in factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 5, with three replicates, the treatments consisted of two lettuce cultivars (Verônica and Quatro Estações), two times of evaluation (at the time of harvest and after three days of conservation) and five levels of salinity of the nutrient solution with or without a further dilution of the tailing desalination of brackish water (1.1; 2.4; 3.6; 4.7 and 5.7 dS m-1). Quatro Estações cultivar showed lower weight loss during the conservation period and higher total value of chlorophyll and pH. The matter of vitamin C and soluble solids were influenced by the reuse of tailing from desalination in nutrient solution, presenting higher level in the highest salt content studied. The cultivated lettuce on coconut fiber irrigated with reuse of the tailing nutrient solution in desalination presented, in general, good appearance both at harvest and after three days of conservation.

The bovine biofertilizer applied through irrigation water in the soil (bio fertigation), can be a viable organic source to maintain fertility levels in agricultural production systems. So, this work was aimed at evaluating the effects of different concentrations of bovine biofertilizer applied by fertigation on corn growth, gas exchange and yield. The experiment was conducted under full sun exposure, in Fortaleza, Ceara, in 100 liter (100 L) vessels. The experimental design was that of randomized blocks with five treatments and five repetitions. Treatments consisted of 0.5 L doses (per plant) of a fertigating solution (biofertilizer + water) weekly applied, with a different biofertilizer concentration to each treatment, as follows: C0 = 0% biofertilizer (control), C1 = 12.5%, C2 = 25% biofertilizer, C3=50% biofertilizer, C4 = 100% biofertilizer. We analyzed the effects on the following variables: plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, shoot dry weight, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and yield. The biofertilizer was the most efficient considering the initial growth and gas exchange. Also, the bovine biofertilizer treatments (as a whole) favored the increase in the weight of 1000 seeds and grain yield.

The trial was developed under greenhouse conditions in the experimental area of IFGoiano - Campus Rio Verde. The research aimed to evaluate the growth of physic nut irrigated with subsurface drip sys- tem. The experimental design was completely randomized, using two irrigation depths (100% and 50% of irri- gation depth) and two models of driplines (M1 and M2) with five replicates (containers) each treatment. Data was submitted to analysis of variance by F test, and in cases of significance, regression analysis was performed. For the data flow of the drippers, we used descriptive statistics. The application of irrigation equal to 100% using the dripper model presented a major development when compared to other treatments.