In the Northeastern part of Brazil, the mosaics caused by viruses, emerge as the most important diseases for the cowpea, thus becoming a limiting factor of production. Genetic resistance has been considered as the best alternative of controlling Cowpea severe mosaic virus. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the F3 population behavior developed for the resistance against different isolated CPSMV collected from different areas of cultivation. Leaf samples presenting cowpea mosaic symptoms were collected from plantations from the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba. There was inoculation on susceptible cultivars of cowpea kept in house vegetation. The isolates were also diagnosed by reactions RT-PCR using specific primers. Of the 185 F3 plants inoculated 183 plants were resistant to different isolates of CPSMV.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the biological aspects of Plutella xylostella and Trichogramma pretiosum in eggs of the F2 generation of P. xylostella under the influence of Bacillus thuringiensis in laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted in the Laboratório de Biologia and Criação de Insetos of Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal - UNESP reen collars contaminated with strains and commercial product based on B. thuringiensis in the laboratory. The eggs obtained from the F2 generation of P. xylostella evaluated the biological parameters of T. pretiosum. It was observed that some biological characteristics of P. xylostella showed changes by the treatment with B. thuringiensis. The viability of the larvae and pupae stages, pupae weight were the biological parameters more influenced by treatments, with values significantly reduced when compared to control. However, the larvae length and pupae stages and sex ratio were similar in all treatments, with no significant biological variations. Thus, this bacterium isolated from this behavior may provide greater exposure of larvae to other natural enemies as well as generation of adults less viable, which makes them potential programs in pest control, since the interaction of the methods of control is one of the main ways to enhance the biological control of insect pests. It was observed sublethal effects on P. xylostella biology, and B. thuringiensis negative influence on the parasitism capacity and emergency of T. pretiosum.

The growth retardants Paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Cycocel (CCC) had been used, in spraying, associates or not with two cytokinins: Benziladenina (BAP) and Thidiazuron (TDZ), and a nitrogenous base, the Uracil, with the purpose of studying its effect in the bud fertility of the 'Superior Seedless', grafted on the 'Harmony' and IAC-766 'Campinas', and of the 'Crimson Seedless' and 'Thompson Seedless', grafted on the 'Harmony', in the conditions of the São Francisco Valley, Brazil. It was observed that the separately use of the products had not promoted significant differences in the studied of the bud fertility, but, the association of the growth retardants with the TDZ it induce the 'Thompson Seedless' to a bigger productivity, and that the expression of the bud fertility of the 'Seedless Superior' benefits on to being grafted on the 'Harmony' rootstock.

The paper aimed to examine the equity investment in shrimp production, a typical farm of the western region of Rio Grande do Norte, using the following criteria for project selection: Net present value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), payback and Cost/benefit analysis (C/B). In a complementary manner it has evaluated the likelihood of change in Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return, through the risk analysis. In the risk analysis input variables (inputs) were considered: the price paid to producers per Kg of shrimp and price of Kg of ration HD-35%, which represents 36.42% of the total cost per production cycle. The selected variables or (outputs) were the Net Present Value at 12% and 6%, and the Internal Rate of Return. The results of investment analysis, without considering price risk were: R$ 214,943.93 NPV 12% NPV 300,819.13 6%, 60% IRR, payback of two years and 1,4 Interface B/C. The survey results indicate that shrimp farming represents for the rural sector of Rio Grande do Norte, a leading alternative investment, considering that the average IRR, considering the risks of price, was 35.21%, ie any other investment would only be desirable, in comparison with investment in shrimp production, if present rate of return higher than 35.21%.

Heteropterys tomentosa A. Juss. belonging to the Malpighiaceae family has its roots extracted and used in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso, mainly as a tonic and aphrodisiac. Evaluation of seedling growth may provide information for growing and selecting plants of the species. In this paper the aim was to evaluate the growth of progenies of H. tomentosa in a greenhouse. 30 progenies were evaluated in a randomized experimental design with three replications of 10 plants per plot. The variables analyzed were height (cm/plant), diameter (mm/plant) and number of leaves/plant. The plants were grown at an average speed of 0.38 cm per day. However, the average speed was higher at 120 days, with about 0.53 cm.day. The diameter increment was much lower in the first 60 days, about 0.01 mm.day, but there was an increase to 0.03 at 100 days, 0.02 mm.day stabilizing again to the end of 150 days. The increase in speed to the number of leaves at 45 days and 105 days was the same (0.13 leaves.ind.day). However, it was between 60 and 90 days after planting that the growth rate was higher (0.26 leaves.ind.day). The highlights were significant associations between fresh weight and dry weight and between length and weight of the plant. It is concluded that the seedlings of H. tomentosa kept in a greenhouse grow up too quickly and can be transplanted to grow efficiently. The selection of individuals for increased root production can be done by those with the greatest number of leaves.

The sustainable management of savanna reduces the devastation of semiarid and aims based agricultural guided by systematic principles of agroecology. In that connection we evaluated the effects of cropping systems and management of savanna through the analysis of chemical indicators of soil quality in agricultural production in Apodi, RN. . The systems were evaluated: 1 - management area of savanna with 5 (five) years (MAS5), 2 - management area of savanna with 7 (seven) years (MAS7), 3 - conventional system (CSA) and 4 - native forest (NF). The chemical analysis revealed that the management of savanna for five to seven years is a beneficial way contributed to conservation of soil.

Aiming to evaluate gas exchange and concentration of macro and micronutrients in leaves of physic nut grown under saline conditions, an experiment was conducted in protected ambient adopting a randomized block design in factorial scheme combining five levels of irrigation water salinity ECw (0.6; 1.2; 1.8; 2.4 and 3.0 dS m-1) and two levels of phosphorus (135 and 200 g plant-1) and with four replications. Each plant was grown in pots with a capacity of 200 L. The gas exchange rates (leaf temperature, transpiration, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis) were obtained using a portable photosynthesis meter (IRGA), in the fourth expanded leaf from the apex of the plant. To determine the nutrient content of the plant, the limbo located between the fourth and fifth leaf below the inflorescence was used. The determination of nutrients followed the methodology described by Silva (1999). It was found that the salinity level of irrigation water affected the variables of gas exchange and accumulation of the minerals which has following sequence: K > N > Ca > Cl > Na > Mg > P > S > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. With the exception of copper all evaluated nutrients and increased with increasing salinity of irrigation water. The lowest dose of P2O5 used was sufficient to allow the development of the plant during the experimental period, there was no effect of its increase in photosynthetic parameters evaluated.

The Northeast, including Maranhão, there are great poles of development for the maize crop, due to a good potential for growth of agribusiness and marketing of agricultural production. In order to analyze the productivity of maize in this region and compare the average performance between different genetic classes, we analyzed different types of hybrids and open pollinated varieties. They were evaluated in two essays. The first, with 42 cultivars, 23 simple hybrids, 11 hybrids and 8 triple double hybrids. The second, with 40 cultivars, 12 simple hybrids, hybrid 7 doubles, 7 triples and 14 hybrid varieties of open pollinated. The design was a randomized complete block with two replications. Each plot consisted of two useful rows spaced 5.0 m at 0.90 m. The tests were grouped and the average productivity of the different gene classes was compared by t test and confidence intervals. On average, single-cross hybrids were superior to other types of cultivars. There was no difference between double and triple hybrids, but the two types of cultivars were higher than the group of open-pollinated variety. This result demonstrates the importance of the commercial exploitation of heterosis in maize. However, it is not possible to generalize on the recommendation of cultivars, because despite the obvious differences regarding the average yield on a small scale some simple and triple hybrids produced less than a few doubles and even hybrid varieties.

The lacewings appear in many agroecosystems, preying several species of agricultural pests. They have great search capability, high voracity, high reproductive potential and are easily maintained in laboratory conditions. In laboratory rearing, to avoid problems in the mass production are recommended adjustments in the type and quality of prey to be used in order to obtain individuals with desirable characteristics. It is necessary special care with the laboratory populations, avoiding problems from inbreeding. Larvae were reared individually in Petri dishes (9.0 cm diameter) and fed with eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier, 1789) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in the amount of 25 mg / larva, while the adults were kept in PVC cylindrical cages (10 cm x 30 cm). Thus, the study analyzed the influence of the size of the population of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on the pre-imaginal period (egg to adult) and reproductive capacity of this specie come from different populations and generations of laboratory. To this end, we used two populations, one of Jaboticabal (F8 and F21) and one of Piracicaba (F6 and F15), and subpopulations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 couples, analyzing the incubation of eggs and the number of eggs per female in each population, generation and subpopulation. The pre-imaginal period (egg to adult) and the number of eggs per female of C. externa are influenced by the generation and the number of founding individuals, being these parameters favored when laboratory populations are established with the largest number of couples.

The aim of this paper was to assess the hygiene and sanitary profile of sun-dried meat sell points in the county of Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Four supermarkets, three food stores, two marketplace stallsand three butcher shops were researched, from December 2009 to January 2010. Data were collected by visiting, observing and the use of a checklist. From the places visited, only the supermarkets reached most of the evaluated parameters. In 50% of the sell points no refrigeration was used, and in 100% of them, the sun-dried meat was not packaged. In 75% of the establishments there was no exclusive knife to cut sun-dried meat, and in 25% of them food and money were handled simultaneously. Aprons, hairnets and clean closed-toe shoes were used in 25% of the sell points. No proper hand washing and others inadequate habits, such as chatting while handling and commercializing the product were in all the establishments. The sun-dried meat commercialized in the county does not comply with the Brazilian legislation, thus affecting food quality and putting at risk consumers' health, being necessary actions to qualify the workers involved in the handling of this food, as well a higher intervention of the responsible sanitary authority.