Random regression models (RRM) allows considering heterogeneous residual variances to describe the growth for each age. However, this feature increases the number of parameters to be estimated in the maximization likelihood function process. Searching for more parsimonious RRM, several approaches have been suggested. One of them is the use of different structures of residual variances modelled through step function in different classes with similar variance or through variance functions. A total of 7,369 records of body weight of partridges, measured from birth to 210 days of partridges born from 2000 to 2004 were used in this research. The random regression models applied to the data set considered different structures of residual variances and were performed by the restricted maximum likelihood method. The residual variances were modeled using classes of 210 (R210) and 30 (R30) ages and variance functions with orders ranging from quadratic (VF2) to nine (VF9). The R30 considered birds weighted in the same week. The random effects included were the genetic additive direct and the permanent environment effects of the animal. It was not possible to include the maternal effects in the models. All random effects were modelled by sixth order regression on Legendre polynomials. The models were compared by the likelihood ratio test, the Akaike's information criterion and the Schwarz's Bayesian information criterion. Best results were showed by the models R210 and VF5. In conclusion, the most parsimonious model was VF5 and should be applied to fit growth records of partridges.

The mapping of the Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) of the municipal district of Grossos, RN, located in a region with avowed tourist potential, because of their dunes, salt marsh and archeological ranch. Interesting for planned real estate activity. The objective of this work was the necessity to produce cartographic documents, orientated by the actual legislation, that serve as base for to decide as occupy the surface of municipal district. The maps, at the 1:100,000 scale, with delimitation of the PPAs were produced aided by SIG, satellite image colored and vectorial file. The conclusions were good, principally the next: the PPAs occupy 46,8% of the surface of the municipal district, limiting the use and soil occupation, already the PPA of dunes occupy an area 25% of the municipal surface.

The present work aimed to study the environment genotype interaction and estimate the componentssimple and complex of interaction as well as identify watermelon cultivars with phenotypic stability. Seven cultivars of watermelon were evaluated in six environments during the years of 1996, 1997 and 1998 in two location of Rio Grande do Norte State. The trait evaluated was the commercial fruits yield. The interaction Cultivar x Year wasn¿t significant, amount only to 3, 26 % of the total sum of square sum total of the source of variation. There wasn't interaction Cultivar x Location significant, however it explained 11,68 % of the total variation. The triple interaction was significant and explained 13,67 % of the total observed variation. The simple component was responsible for the most part of Cultivar x Environment interaction with about 61% of the total variation. The hybrid Jetstream had the best perfeormance with linear regression coeficient equal to unit, with regression deviation not significant, high coeficient of determination and average yield above the check.

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.

To the evaluate the different alternative foods identify like an agroindustrial by-products through on the total apparent digestibility and digestible nutrients determinations five Criole adult horses were housed in individual metabolism cages. From the reference diet (DR) contained peletized ration and tifton-85 hay, was made the substitution in 30% with weight basis (kg/kg) for each one of the agro industrial by-products, soybean residue (RS), soybean hulls (CS), wheat hulls (CT) and corn hulls (CM). In the digestibility obtained with each one of the alternative foods, the best values were obtained with CT (45.31% crude protein), with RS (78.86% ethereal extract), with CS (82.53% neutral detergent fiber), with CS (85.75% acid detergent fiber), CM (96.92 % non structural carbohydrate), CM (57.18 % total carbohydrate) e CS (57.67 % crude energy). In the determination of nutritional value with each one of the alternative foods, the best values were obtained with CT (7.53 % DCP), RS (5.11 % DEE), CS (53.04 % DNDF), CS (40.77 % DADF), CT (35.82 % DNSC), CM (48.12 % DTC), CM (2101 DEB kcal/kg). It was suggest that all alternative foods tested in this study can be used in the feeding horse, more over, the inclusion level and combination of these by-products in the diets to maximize feed efficiency and mantence of the digestive tract health will be depend on the readiness and regional cost.

Three experiments were conducted in the agricultural year of 2007, aiming to estimate the genetic divergence, using the Mahalanobis' generalized distance, and the test of competition of six populations of corn in the municipalities of Arapiraca, Rio Largo and Viçosa, of Alagoas State. The experimental was in the randomized blocks design with seven treatments and four repetitions. There was the formation of two different groups where, it was conclued that is small genetic divergence between the populations of corn. A group was formed by six populations and the other group by the "Asa Branca" variety. The people "Viçosense" and "Rio Largo" were closer genetically (D2 = 1.70), while the longest distance has been detected among the population Alagoano and witness Asa Branca (D2 = 67.27). The average yield of grains ranged from 2,885 kg ha-1 to 3.461 kg ha-1 in the "São Luiz" and "Viçosense" populations, respectively, with overall average of 3,207 kg ha-1, although not statistically differ.

Were evaluated five soybean genotypes of precocious, average and tardy cycles' in greenhouse UESPI/Parnaíba-PI in the agricultural year 2005/06. The adopted experimental delineation was the entirely randomized with four repetitions. Cultivars evaluated were cultivated in plastic vases with five 5kg of soil. Significant differences among cultivars for the height plant characters in the bloom were not observed and height of insert of the first pod. Regarding the number of days' for the bloom and maturation highlights to cultivate BRS Sambaíba who introduced reduction of cycle. BRS Tracajá introduced larger number of pod for plant not differing significantly of cultivars Sambaíba and Babaçu. For the characteristic weight of a hundred seeds to cultivate Candeia showed better a phenotypic behavior to the too much cultivars not differing statistically just to cultivate Babaçu. All the evaluated genotypes of this leguminous answered to photoperiod terms in Parnaíba-PI's Municipal district.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the genetic divergence of a melon population of the Plant Breeding Program from the Federal University of Alagoas. The following quantitative characteristics were evaluated: the fruit weight (FW), the longitudinal fruit (LFL) and transversal fruit (TFL) lengths; the skin (SFT) and the pulp¿s (SPF) thicknesses; and number of seeds (NSF). For the evaluation of the genetic divergence, a multi varied analysis was used by means of the main component method, which graphical dispersion was done from the two first components and from the euclidean distance average standardized, being that the grouping among the similar families done by the Tocher Method. The results suggest genetic divergence among the families, indicated by the two techniques used. The two first main components were able to explain 72.36% of the existing variability, being the TFL and FW variables which contributed more to the divergence. Considerable genetic divergence among the families was verified and that some of these are promises for use in genetic improvement programs.

The measures of leaf area for methods no destructive to evaluate the growth certain plants during the whole cycle. The experiment aimed at to establish a mathematical model to esteem the leaf area of cowpea, through measures maximum of length and width of the foliole. The measures were accomplished in collected leaflets of plants cultivated in vases. The real leaf area was certain through a leaf integrator (model LI 3100 LICOR.) and in the choice of the models they were appraised the types: lineal and potential, with measures of the length (L), width (W), product LxW and it adds L+W. The mathematical models obtained by regression were applied to the destructive methods and no destructive, and compared to the dear leaf area and too real. Measures of leaf area of cowpea can be dear starting from equations potential and lineal with good precision. The equations that involve two measured biometrics, for adds and the product, present better adjustment in the potential equation. Measures of leaf area starting from mathematical models, for being a method no destructive, they allow analysis of growth of vegetables with reduced number plants. The leaf area cowpea can be dear for the equations: LA=¿(0.9915(LxW)0.9134) and LA=¿(0.6597(LxW)+2.1745).

The water and soil natural resources in the semi-arid tropics are under pressure and are inclined to degradation due to the severe environment and shallow soils, in ecologically sensitive regions to anthropic actions. In view of the above, this work aimed to characterize the structure and the hydraulic evaluation of the surface water typical of interrill erosion, in a caatinga area of Serra Talhada country in Brazil. For this the quadrant point method was used in the structural characterization of the vegetation of caatinga for trees and shrubby species. Laminar surface regime was generated from a rain simulator in 2 m2 plots with caatinga in the humid and dry seasons. The differentiations of the flow rates, average surface water speed and the Reynolds number, had demonstrated the significant effect of seasonality on the characteristic laminar surface water of the interrill erosion. The observed tree-shrub structure of caatinga contributed to the low values of runoff coefficient of the interrill areas, demonstrating the efficiency of caatinga, and its resulting vegetated cover in the interception of rain and, in the delay of the surface water. The low values runoff also observed also contributed to the high rates of infiltration of water.