In order study the different management techniques stakes pomegranate 'Wonderful' for vegeta-tive propagation in the dry and rainy season, in the semiarid region of Paraiba. The survey was conducted in the greenhouse, in the Campus Center of Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, in the City of Pombal-PB, Brazil. There were two experiments, one in the dry season, which com-prised from August to December 2012 (Experiment I), and another in the rainy season, from January to June 2013 (Experiment II). Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four repli-cations and five plants per replication. To monitor the growth and physiology of the plant was adopted factorial consisting of two factors, managements of cuttings (cuttings with leaves, cuttings without leaves and cuttings without leaves more base incision) in function evaluation times (Days after planting). The propagation material was purchased from commercial plants and cuttings of softwood type. The samples were standardized by size, standard length 15 cm. The management of the cuttings leafless more incision in the base is most suitable for the propagation of pomegranate 'Wonderful'. The management of the cuttings with leaves is not suitable for the propagation of the pomegranate 'Wonderful', in the dry season. The rainy season is the ideal time for the pro-duction of seedlings of the pomegranate 'Wonderful'. The ideal time to obtain saplings of pomegranate 'Wonderful' is 144 days after planting the cuttings.

Deficiency of micronutrients is increasing in the recent years in cropping systems in many parts of the world and cover crops are important components of cropping systems. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) use efficiency in 14 tropical leg-ume cover crops grown on an Oxisol. The P levels used were low (0 mg kg-1), medium (100 mg kg-1) and high (200 mg kg-1). The P X cover crops interactions were significant for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn use efficiency (tops dry weight/unit nutrient uptake). Hence, cover crop species varied in nutrient use efficiency with change in P levels. The micronutrient use efficiency was in the order of Cu > Zn > Mn > Fe. Higher Cu use efficiency was associated with lower uptake of this element, in the cover crop tops compared to other micronutrients. Similar-ly, lower efficiency of Fe and Mn was associated with their higher uptake in the tops of cover crops. Overall, Cu and Mn use efficiency was decreased when P level was raised from low to medium level and then it was constant. Iron use efficiency was increased with increasing P level but Zn use efficiency was constant with the addition of P fertilizer

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of replacing corn by palm in the supplements for dairy females in grazing at levels of 0, 33, 66 and 100%. Intake of pasture and apparent nutrient digestibility, animal performance, intake of nitrogenous compounds, nitrogen balance, synthesis and microbial efficiency and bioe-conomy system were evaluated. The study was conducted at Farm Roçadinho, municipality of Capoeiras Wasteland region of the State of Pernambuco in the period from 30/09/2012 to 19/01/2013, in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications, using 24 dairy females growing initial weight of 180 pounds. Consisted of 112 days, and 28 for adaptation. The intake of DM, DM/pasture, OM, CP, NDFap. NDFi intake and increased ADF because of the NFC, EE, and TDN decreased (P <0.05). PUN levels in plasma did not change. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, NFC, EE and TDN decreased linearly, and CP increased (P <0.05). Weight gains decreased since the FC increased (P <0.05). No effect was observed in nitrogen intake and nitrogen excreted in the urine. A reduction in nitrogen excreted in the faeces nitrogen bal-ance and percentage of ingested nitrogen, urea-N excreted in the urine increased (P <0.05). The replacement of corn by palm reduces the performance of dairy females in pasture growth. Thus the total or partial replacement is conditioned to the projection of age at first calving on the production system and economy of use.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of increasing pollen supply to honey bees (Apis mellifera) during the dry season in Caatinga (shrub vegetation of NE Brazil) by inducing Mimosa tenui-flora to bloom. The work was carried out from August to December 2012 in Altamira Apícola Apiaries, situat-ed at Limoeiro do Norte – Ceará, Brazil. The experiment comprised three phases: Phase 1 – the amount of wa-ter needed to induce the blooming of Mimosa tenuiflora (T0L, T250L, T500L, T750L and T1000L); Phase 2 – Floral biology and flower visitors; Phase 3 – pollen harvested by the colonies and percentage of M. tenuiflora in the honey bee diet by sampling and comparing pollen loads from colonies placed 20m with those more than 3km away from the induced plants. Results of the Phase 1 showed that the treatments 3, 4 and 5 induced blooming, and T1000L produced a greater number of inflorescences (p <0.05). Blooming reached its peak eight days after induction. Hymenoptera represented more than 95% of floral visitors with Apis mellifera, Trigona spinipes and Melipona subnitida as the most frequent bee species. Palynological analyses carried out in phase 3 showed a significant (p<0,05) increment in pollen collection and the participation of M. tenuiflora pollen in the diet of colonies situated 20 meters from the induced plants. Induction of flowering Mimosa tenuiflora increased the supply and collection of pollen by bees in the critical period of the year, minimizing the effect of drought on the colonies.

The culture of coffee is quite important on the national scene and in the country's economy. Though, the crop response to salt stress is not well known. The objective of this paper was to evaluate compar-atively the initial growth of seedlings of two Conilon coffee cultivars under different conditions of soil salinity, and low water availability in the soil. The experiment followed a randomized block design in factorial arrange-ment with two Conilon cultivars (clones 120 and 14), two levels of water in the soil (50% and 70% of available soil water) and four levels of soil salinity (0; 2.0; 4.0 and 6.0 dS m-1). The physiological characteristics of growth: leaf area (Area F), stem height (Height. C), Stem diameter (Dia. C), reproductive branches numbers, shoot biomass and root were evaluated. Among the growth variables, leaf area and leaf dry mass and root are the best indicators of the presence of saline-hydric stress. The cultivar clone 120 is moderately tolerant of soil salinity, with less reduction in leaf area and leaf dry mass when subjected to salt stress.

Sorghum is grown in areas and environmental situations very dry and/or too hot, where produc- tivity of other cereals is uneconomical. Aiming to evaluate the production of three sorghum hybrids, because of potassium and management systems, grown in Oxisol with low productive capacity, an experiment was con- ducted in the field, in the area of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia/UFRA, Belém campus The experi- mental design was randomized in blocks, arranged in a factorial 4 x 3 x 2 with four replications. The factors were: four doses of potassium (50, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha - 1 ) as KCl, three sorghum hybrids (Qualimax, Volumax and AG 2005 - E) and two tillage systems (no - till and conventional). The tillage produced a higher shoot dry weight of sorghum, and the hybrid and Volumax and Qualimax had incomes above the AG2005 - E. The contents of the elements N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the leaves of sorghum grown with tillage were higher than those found in conventional tillage. Doses of potassium resulted in greater increase in MSPA tillage using 40% less potash fertilizer with the conventional system.

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in dairy cattle from São Luis Island in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. A total of 281 blood samples were collected. In total, 275 (97.9%) animals were B. bovis-reactive and B. bigemina reactive in the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The microscopy examination detected 22 (7.8%) animals that were positive for Babesia sp. and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis showed that 91 animals (32.38%) and 23 animals (8.18%) were positive for B. bovis and B. bigemina, respectively, while 17 animals (6.04%) were co-infected. There is a high level of transmission of these protozoa in Maranhão, and the animals were naturally exposed. Therefore, it is possible to characterize the island as enzootic stability for babesiosis, indicat-ing a risk of financial losses when susceptible animals are introduced from areas of enzootic instability or free regions of B. bovis and B. bigemina.

Cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most limiting factors for cotton crop expansion. It presents different biological and behavioral aspects that ensure its success on this agroecosystem. This research aimed to identify pollen sources used by this insect during harvest and intercrop periods of cotton cultivations in Iuiu and Correntina – BA, Brazil; moreover, evaluating Caatinga and Cerrado neighboring areas. Adult insect samplings were made from February to September of 2013, through pheromone traps. Samples were analyzed to identify the pollen types inside the digestive system of insects. The results indicated that the pest explores 22 botanical families as nourishment source, from which 16 in Caatinga and five in Cerrado. Regarding crop samples, eight genera were found in Iuiu and Correntina, being three found in both areas (Angelonia, Mimosa and Myrcia sp.1). Pollen from 26 genera were identified for Caatinga and six for Cerrado, with three genera in common for both (Myrcia sp.2, Eucalyptus, and Mimosa). The boll weevil uses alternative sources of food within the main cotton growing regions in Bahia State, highlighting the Caatinga with most of the botanical families and genera explored by the pest.

This study aimed to characterize the morphology of seeds and seedlings and evaluate the germination of seeds of Albizia edwallii submitted to different substrates and temperatures. In physical characterization were evaluated thousand seed weight, the number of seeds per kilogram and moisture content. To determine the morphological characteristics, it was evaluated the biometry of 50 seeds, as well as its internal and external characteristics. Germination was conducted at three temperatures (20 ° C, 25 ° C and 30 ° C) and three substrates (sand, vermiculite and blotting paper) with five replications of 40 seeds per treatment, in a factorial 3 x 3 and completely randomized design. The variables were germination percentage, germination rate index, mean germination time, and synchronization index. The thousand seed weight was 47.7 g, while the number of seeds per kilo was 20.964 for the moisture content of 13.1%. The seeds have an elliptical shape, no endosperm and have persistent funiculus. Germination is epigeal, and the seedling is phanerocotylar being fully formed at 15 days. Temperatures of 20 ° C and 25 ° C provide the highest germination rates, 42 and 38%, respectively, and germination speed index (GSI). The use of sand as a substrate provided better germination percentage than the other substrates. Thus, it is recommended to use sand as a substrate and temperatures of 20 ° C and 25 ° C in A. edwalli germination tests.

Los objetivos del trabajo fueron evaluar la calidad sanitaria en cariopsis de maíz (Zea mays L.) infectados por F. graminearum provenientes de plantas inoculadas en diferentes momentos de la floración y determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en los tejidos de cariopsis de maíz. Se evaluó la patología de los cariopsis y se determinó la calidad sanitaria de las espigas inoculadas con F. graminearum en diferentes mo-mentos de floración en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Zavalla – Santa Fe, Argentina. Para determinar la ubicación de F. graminearum en tejidos del cariop-sis de maíz se realizaron cortes histológicos en los cariopsis con probables síntomas de enfermedad mediante técnicas de corte por congelación, diafanización, tinción y técnica de inclusión en parafina y coloración y se utilizó la Técnica de Rayos X para observar el efecto de la colonización por F. graminearum en los tejidos se-minales. Se observaron diferencias entre híbridos, sin embargo F. graminearum afectó de manera similar los cariopsis en los tercios superior, medio e inferior de la espiga de maíz; la incidencia por F. graminearum es baja en cariopsis de maíz debido a la mayor agresividad de F. verticillioides al ingresar al estigma del maíz con el grano de polen. F. graminearum y F. verticillioides no penetran al interior del cariopsis, sino que llegan has-ta las capas internas del pericarpo y no afectan la capa de aleurona y el embrión del cariopsis de maíz.