The Serra de Itabaiana is located near the coast of Sergipe, in the municipalities of Areia Branca and Itabaiana. It is part of the Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiaba, which is characterized as being an ecotone. Orchidaceae Juss. is one of the most diverse families in the world and is the fourth richest in the study area. This paper presents a taxonomic survey of the orchids from the area. The fieldwork was carried out during july 2006 to january 2009 in several habitats of the study area and during the dry and rainy seasons. The vouchers are at UFP Herbarium, with duplicates at ASE, BHCB, HUEFS and RB. The current work registered 25 species belonging to 17 genera. Habenaria (5 spp.) and Epidendrum (3 spp.) were the most diverse. It represents around 70% of the total orchid species recorded for the State of which 14 are new records (see Flora of Brazil, www.jbrj.gov.br). The large number of orchid species, which five of them are endemic to Brazil supports the area as a Conservation Site and reinforces the needs for floristic-taxonomic inventories for a better knowledge of the real diversity of the family in the Brazilian Northeastern.

Atrazine is a herbicide applied to a number of important crops, but litle has been done to study the susceptibility of species like Digitaria horizontalis to such herbicide. This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of the stage of development of Digitaria horizontalis at spraying on the suppression imposed by atrazine. The experiment was conducted in 10 dm-3 pots, under greenhouse conditions, and the experimental units were disposed in a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme 5x3, with four replicates. Treatments were composed by Five rates of atrazine (0; 0.5; 1.5; 2.5 and 4.0 kg ha-1), applied in three stages of D. horizontalis development (two leaves, four leaves and one-two tillers). Applications accomplished in later stages of development were inefficient in controlling this species, despite causing significant reductions of weed shoot and root dry mass and plant height. For applications at two leaves stage, a maximum of 60% control was achieved by using 4.0 kg ha-1 of atrazine, indicating the lack of efficiency of this herbicide in controlling this species.

The genus Lippia (Verbenaceae) comprises about 200 species of pantropical distribution. Lippia gracilis Schauer, popularly known as the mountain balm, is an aromatic plant, native of northeastern Brazil, used in folk medicine as an antiseptic and to treat dermatitis. Although cytogenetic serve as a tool in taxonomy rate, cytogenetical studies of genus Lippia are restricted. Given the above, the present study aimed to determine, at the first time, the chromosome number of copies of L. gracilis, and thereby contribute to a better taxonomic understanding of this genus. In this sense root tips collected from newly planted specimens were pretreated with a solution of 2mM 8-hydroxyquinoline for 4 hours, fixed in Carnoy 3:1 (ethanol: acetic acid) for 24 hours and stored in the same fixative for later analysis. The roots were hydrolyzed in 5N HCl for 20 minutes and the slides, prepared by squashing in acetic acid (45%) and stained with 2% Giemsa. The best metaphases were photographed and pointed to the chromosome number 2n = 24. Moreover, were observed metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Because there are several chromosome numbers in the genus, from n=10 to n=30, and as the same is little known cytogenetically, f more comprehensive cytogenetic studies are necessary, involving a larger number of species, so these data may help to clarify taxonomic inconsistencies in the family Verbenaceae.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a uniformidade de aplicação de efluente de três sistemas de irrigação abastecidos com diferentes características de esgoto doméstico do condomínio residencial Bosque Acamari, em Viçosa-MG. O experimento foi realizado em área de pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), em Viçosa-MG. Montaram-se três sistemas de irrigação por gotejamento, abastecidos com esgoto doméstico preliminar (EDP), esgoto de tratamento secundário (EDS) e esgoto de tratamento terciário (EDT). Cada sistema de irrigação foi composto por filtro de discos e gotejadores não autocompensantes com vazão nominal de 1,7 L h-1. A uniformidade de aplicação de efluente foi obtida a cada 100 h, totalizando 500 h de operação, com os Coeficientes de Uniformidade de Distribuição (CUD) e de Uniformidade Estatística (Us). Foram realizadas determinações físico-químicas e microbiológicas nos esgotos domésticos. Conclui-se que as características ferro total e coliformes totais representam risco severo de obstrução para gotejadores abastecidos com EDP, EDS e EDT, enquanto para as características manganês total, magnésio e cálcio tal risco é baixo. A formação de biofilme de sólidos suspensos e bactérias foi a principal causa de obstrução de gotejadores. Os valores de CUD e Us apresentaram, após 500 h de operação, redução de 61 e 54%; 27 e 24%; e 57 e 59%, respectivamente, para os sistemas de irrigação abastecidos com EDP, EDS e EDT.

This paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbicides [MSMA+diuron], [paraquat+diuron], metsulfuron-methyl and 2,4-D in control of volunteer plants of Roundup Ready® soybean, cultivar BRS Valiosa RR® when applied at various stages of development. The experiment was set up in Rio Verde city, in agricultural year 2007/08, using the randomized complete block experimental design in factorial scheme 5 x 3 (herbicide x application times) with four replications. The herbicide treatments were: metsulfuron- methyl (3,0 g ha-1), 2,4-D (1340 g ha-1), [MSMA+diuron] (1.800+700 g ha-1, respectively), [paraquat+diuron] (600+300 g ha-1, respectively) and control without spraying of herbicide; the second factor was the spraying of herbicides on phenological stages (V2, V6 and R2) of soybean plants. It was evaluated the percentage of controlling of volunteer soybean at 7, 14, 28 and 42 days after application (DAA) of herbicides, beyond the plant height and dry matter accumulation in shoots at 42 DAA. It was found that the herbicide treatments [MSMA+diuron] and 2,4-D provided greater control of volunteer plants of RR® soybean at stage V2 and the 2,4-D with spraying at V6. The treatment [paraquat+diuron] was more efficient in controlling at all phenologic stages. The metsufuron-methyl showed greater effectiveness of controlling when the spraying was done at stage R2.

A identificação das similaridades na qualidade das águas subterrâneas pode ajudar a reduzir o número de postos de monitoramento utilizados nos corpos hídricos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar similaridades na qualidade da água subterrânea usando a técnica de estatística multivariada conhecida como análise de agrupamento, no Distrito de Irrigação do Baixo Acaraú (DIBAU), no estado do Ceará. Dez poços rasos distribuídos aleatoriamente no DIBAU foram monitorados regularmente por um período de 27 meses (dez/2003 a nov/2005, nov/2006, mar e abr/2007). Para cada amostra foram analisados pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, CO3 2-, HCO3 -, SO4 2-, PO4 3-, NH4 +, NO3 -, condutividade elétrica (CE) e razão de adsorção de sódio (RAS). A estatística descritiva, a análise de agrupamento hierárquica e o t-test (1%) foram avaliados utilizando o software SPSS 16.0. No geral, com exceção de dois poços, a água foi classificada como ácida e o pH médio foi menor do que cinco. A concentração de fósforo foi sempre acima do limite recomendado para o consume humano (0,1 mg L-1). Além disso, a qualidade da água subterrânea foi utilizada para definir quatro agrupamentos que foram independentes da posição geográfica dos poços. Os valores de CE e as concentrações de sódio e cloreto distinguiram dois poços (P1 e P7) dos demais, e o pH, o Mg2+ e a RAS determinaram a dissimilaridade dos dois poços entre si.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of the fertilization with silica and its effect compared with limestone and interaction with the phosphorus in an Oxissol in tomato. A 5 x 2 factorial randomized block experimental design was adopted with four replication being five levels of metasilicate, five levels of limestone and two of phosphorus. In absence of phosphorus and in the presence limestone negative correlation was observed between stem diameter and content of Al in the soil and positive among stem diameter, root growth and content of P in the plant with the pH soil and the content of Ca in the soil. In the presence of phosphorus, positive correlation was verified among content of P in the plant and fresh matter of root with electrical conductivity of soil and root growth and content of Al in the soil. Using metasilicate of calcium in the absence of phosphorus, significant and positive correlation was observed for root growth with pH soil, Ca and sum of bases sum and content of P in the root with electrical conductivity of soil; in the presence of phosphorus, negative correlation was observed among Na and Al in soil. In the presence of phosphorus, was observed negative correlation among the stem diameter with pH, Ca, sum of bases and electrical conductivity of soil. For the leaf area, plant height, fresh matter in shoot and content of phosphorus in the root was verified significant and positive correlation with Na and the K in soil.

The bromeliads are hardy plants with exotic beauty, appreciated by consumers worldwide. The species Ananas porteanus Hort ex C. Veitch Koch, in particular, shows great potential for floriculture. These plants acclimate easily to adverse environmental conditions like those found in semi-arid areas. To assess the salinity tolerance of A. porteanus there were two treatments, one without the addition of NaCl (control) and the other with 80 mmol L-1 NaCl. The experiment lasted 90 days and were evaluated in the shoot: shoot dry matter, chloride, sodium and potassium contents, Na + / K + rate, proline content, total soluble carbohydrates, total soluble proteins, total phenols, peroxidase activity, levels of chlorophyll "a" and "b" and membrane damage. Plants of A. porteanus treated with sodium chloride were able to maintain the integrity of the membrane at levels similar to those found in control plants and the maintenance of membrane integrity result in part from increased activity of peroxidase. The increase in proline and protein content also appears to be one of the strategies of this species to cope with damage caused by the excess of NaCl as well as the increase in levels of chlorophyll. Soluble carbohydrates are not used to adjust the osmotic potential in plants subjected to 80 mmol L-1 NaCl. The metabolic changes occurring in plants of A. porteanus treated with sodium chloride led to a new homeostasis that resulted in the plant tolerance to salt stress imposed.

The sugarcane is a widely adapted species to tropical climate and has made key role in economic development in Southeast and Northeast. The ability to adapt in different environments can be evaluated through the growth analysis and yield. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and yield of four sugarcane varieties (RB92579 and SP79-1011, RB931530 and RB93509) in the third ratoon. The experiment was conducted at the CECA/UFAL, Rio Largo (28º02'09''S, 35°49'43''W and 127m). The experimental design was randomized blocks. Was evaluated monthly the number of plants, height, leaf area index and stem diameter. The quality of raw material, dry matter and yield were evaluated at 360 DAC. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared to each other by Tukey test. The results showed that the maximum tillering occurred at 90 DAC for all varieties, and the RB92579 showed greater tillering and greater height at 360 DAC. The variety RB931530 had superior diameter than the others. The RB92579 and RB93509 were higher than the others on the sugar production, dry matter and yield, however, differed ech only on the matter. Varieties RB92579 and RB931530 had similar levels of Brix, PCC and ATR. Since this latter variable responsible for developing the pricing of sugarcane industry.

Some factories of the State of Alagoas are using the fungus entomopathogenic Metarhizium anisopliae as control against Mahanrva fimbriolata. Being so this work it had how aim to value the quantity of nymphs and adults of spittlebug of the root after the air application of the biological insecticide (M. anisopliae), race PL-43 and of the Imidacloprido, and to analyze the costs of this application. The experiment was driven in the sugarcane region of the Factory Cachoeira, located in Maceió-AL, in the period understood between July and September of 2006, on the sugarcane variety SP813250. The application of the products took place in 19th of July of 2006 and the reapplication in 22th of August of the same year. There was carried out initially a population evaluation of nymphs and adults and others 15, 30 and 45 days after the treatments. The treatments did not differ between them, but when each area was analyzed separately, there were differences between sub-areas of the experimental area and between the periods of application. The total costs of the application of Imidacloprido, were less comparing with the other treatments.