The Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is one of the main plague-insect specie of Brassicaceae plants in Brazil and all over the world. The resistant genotypes use to its control is a promising alternative. This work aimed evaluates the eggs distribution along the plant, the adults' density per plant, and determine the cauliflower genotypes effect in the P. xylostella oviposition. The experiment was carried out at FCAV/UNESP - Jaboticabal Campus Phytossanity Department (Departamento de Fitossanidade). It was evaluated the eggs distribution, the P. xylostella adults density effect using Sharon hybrid, and tests with or without choose choice to determine the P. xylostella nonpreference in the Teresópolis Gigante, Verona, Barcelona, Sharon, Silver Streak, and Piracicaba Precoce genotypes. It is possible conclude that P. xylostella has higher willingness to oviposits in the stem than in the basal leaves. The three couple density of P. xylostella per plant is the best to discriminate cauliflower genotypes regarding the resistance grade to nonpreference choose choice to oviposition. During the P. xylostella oviposition preference tests with choose choice, the genotypes Sharon, Piracicaba Precoce, Barcelona, Verona e Teresópolis Gigante are less desirable to oviposition; while during the no choose choice tests the genotypes did not differ among them.

The aim of this research was to examine the response of utilization of wastewater and organic manure on the growth of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Embrapa BRS Oásis). The study was carried out from April to July 2009 in a greenhouse. Sunflower plants were irrigated with wastewater and tap water combined with doses of humus (w/w) of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% and two controls (wastewater + mineral NPK and tap water + NPK) with three replications. Humus application did not show significant effect on any variable analyzed except duration of post-harvest where all treatments presented duration more than the established by the market, while the wastewater was efficient in all assessments, promoting substantial increases in the growth of sunflower.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) in different stocking densities in cages polycultured with Amazon River Prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum). Four treatments were evaluated (1; 2; 3 and 4 fish.10 L-1) using two ponds and 24 experimental units. Water quality parameter reached adequate levels for the species. Production data were submitted to ANOVA. Fish produced in the lowest density showed higher values of final weight and standard length, and lower total biomass in comparison with the others treatments. Feed conversion rate, survival, batch uniformity and body factor were not significant different among treatments. The highest density tested produced more fish and gross yield than the others treatments. The density 20 fish.10L-1 is recommended to produce Freshwater Angelfish in cages polycultured with Amazon River Prawn.

To evaluate the effect of the temporary replacement of shrimp ration (RC) by chicken ration (RF) in the culture of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp, juvenils (1.07 ± 0.26 g), were cultivated (52/m2) for 30 days in 50 L boxes, with constant aeration, 0% of water exchange and fed with 10% of its biomass/day at 08:00 and 16:00 h, according to the treatments: (1) RC; (2) 1 week RC + 1 week RF, alternate; (3) RF and (4) 1 day RF + 1 day RC, alternate; with 5 repetitions each. There was no difference (P <0.05) in the weight of shrimp on the basis of treatments applied at the beginning (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0003), 15 days (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0.98) and at 30 days (Kruskal-Wallis, P = 0.07) to experiment. The Specific Growth Rate (rm ANOVA, P = 0.28) and survival (Friedman, P = 0,34 the animals were significantly similar, indicating that these parameters were not affected by treatments, with the possible replacement of shrimp ration by chicken ration, as a measure of containment of expenditure, for short intervals of time. Studies are needed to validate these results in earth ponds.

This study was carried out at the Department of Plant Production, Sector Horticulture, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu Campus, São Paulo State, Brazil in order to evaluate the effect of sources and increasing doses of potassium in roots of eggplant. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial scheme 2 x 4 (two sources of potassium: KCl and K2SO4 and four doses of K2O, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 kg ha-1) and three replications. For the experiment, we used Oxisol medium texture (615 g of sand, 45 g of silt and 340 g of clay per kg soil). The soil passed through sieve of 5 mm and packed in plastic pots with a capacity of 32 liters of soil where plants were grown. The pots were distributed with a spacing of 0,63 m between plants and 1,0 m between rows each pot being grown with a plant. The evaluated characteristics were: root dry mass and volume of the root. It was concluded that sources and excessive doses of mineral K2O induces stress in eggplants and affect the roots being less harmful K2SO4 source.

The sustainable use of land constitutes a growing concern for different managements and inappropriate agricultural practices. Despite the expansion of scientific knowledge on soil it appears that the use of indicators to estimate their quality, independently does not allow a proper evaluation for the diagnosis of imbalances in production systems. This research aimed to diagnose changes on important physical and microbiological indicators in a dystrophic Red-Yellow (Oxissol) under extensive grazing conditions and native vegetation in the Brazilian Pantanal. The results showed significant deterioration in physical and microbiological environment anthropized with average reductions in indicators of 51.62%, 10.30%, 16.36%, for microbial carbon, basal respiration, percentage of wet aggregates, respectively, and increases for soil density, soil resistance to penetration, metabolic quotient of 184.68%, 142.18%, 88.31%, respectively. By inserting these results in a Qualigram allowed to obtain a quantitative index of soil quality under extensive grazing equal to -0.0814. Based on this index has qualified sustainable management of cumulative effects on pasture as a "system under collapse" compared to the native environment.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization effects of two native cacti named mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.) and xiquexique [Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Bly ex Rowl.] associated with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) and flor de seda (Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br.) about the nutrient intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion in sheep feedlot. Twenty Morada Nova male hair sheep with an average weight of 15.40, were allocated in a randomized block design, with four treatments and five replicates. The experimental treatments consisted of four diets (30% native cacti + 30% shrub hay + 40% concentrate, on dry matter basis): T1- xiquexique + sabiá hay; T2- xiquexique + flor de seda hay; T3- mandacaru + sabiá hay e T4- mandacaru + flor-de-seda hay. The concentrate consisted of 100.0% algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC) pods. No significant difference was observed for daily weight gain which averaged 88.77 g, and also for voluntary intakes of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, total carbohydrates, nonfiber carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy in relation to g/day, %BW and g/kg0.75. Significant differences were observed for intake of water in g/day.

This study was aimed to carried out a floristic survey in four communities that are localized in the São Miguel do Gostoso municipality - RN, focusing on the Leguminosae species and its potential use. Field research was carried out between May and October/2007, for acquire information about the use of plants and samples of them in the local communities. The study registered 102 species pertaining 73 genera and 30 families. Leguminosae/Fabaceae (25), Asteraceae (10) and Euphorbiaceae (8) were the most representative families in number of species and the genus Mimosa L. and Senna Mill., with five species each. Most species of Leguminosae (68%) have economic value and are recognized seven categories of use: medicinal (8), technology (7) fuel (8), construction (6), fodder (14), veterinary (2) and other (9). Although many species have different types of utilities, Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P.Queiroz stood out from others by being quoted in all use categories considered.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different pre-treatments on the germination of the seeds as well as the emergence velocity of the seedlings of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina falcata. The treatments utilized for the evaluation of germination were intact seeds (control); mechanical scarification with sandpaper number 120 in the opposite side of the embryo; and immersion in water at room temperature for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. Four replications of 25 seeds each were used per treatment and the experimental design was completely randomized, and the comparison among the averages was made using the Tukey test at 5% of probability. The percentage of germination, the emergence velocity index and the relative frequency of germination were calculated 31 days after sowing. For both species, better percentages of germination and values of emergence velocity were obtained with the mechanical scarification of seeds. That treatment was efficient in the uniformization and anticipation of the germination process. However, the tests done with seed immersion in water at room temperature for up to 48 hours do not increase the percentage of germination of E. velutina and E. falcata seeds.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of S. platensis as a food supplement for Nile tilapia post-larvae. Two trials was running. In the first, was used two treatments, one offered freshwater microalgae (green water) and other offered microalga S. platensis. In the second trial, were evaluated the effect of without copepods, administration of copepods alone and copepods enriched with S. platensis. Throughout the study, all animals were fed diets with masculinizing hormone 17-K-methyl-testosterone. It was evaluated the growth in weight and length, the survival rate and the rate of sex reversal of tilapia (mean +,- SD). In the first trial, the fish that received the S. platensis and receiving freshwater microalgae showed as result, 0.21 +,- 0.042 g; 2.50 +,- 0.091 cm; 97.5 ± 1,00% and 0.11 +,- 0.022 g; 1.91 +,- 0.419 cm; 98.33 +,- 0.70%, respectively. In the second trial, when the copepods were utilized, with and without S. platensis, the post-larvae as result, 0.221 ± 0.008 g; 2.70 ± 0.070 cm; 86.67 +,- 1.03% and 0.211 +,- 0.014 g; 2.56 ± 0.121 cm; 77.50 +,- 1.33%, respectively. The animals that received only commercial had as result, 0.190 +,- 0.008 g; 2.22 +,- 0.215 cm and 79.17 +,-0.21%. Using S. platensis resulted in better growth in weight and length, but did not affect survival and rates of sex reversal Nile tilapia post-larvae of exposed to natural food.