The objective of this research was to evaluate the color of tomatoes coated with different concentrations of pectin during storage at room temperature. Were used tomatoes with color greenish-pink divided into four lots: uncoated tomatoes (CT) and covered with biofilms with 2% (P2), 5% (P5) and 8% (P8) of solution of pectin. Initially it was evaluated the rind of tomatoes, then these were cut in half and it was evaluated the pulp (fleshy part), subsequently the two parts of tomatoes were processed in a blender to yield the processed pulp, which also was evaluated. Evaluations were done at 0, 2, 4, 7, 11 and 16 days storage with analysis of luminosity (L*), intensity of red (+a*) and intensity of yellow (+b*) in portable spectrophotometer. It was observed in all treatments that the rind and the fleshy and processed pulp showed a reduction in the values of L*. At the end of the storage, the treatment CT showed the highest values +a* for the rind and the fleshy and processed pulp, followed of the treatments P2, P5 and P8, respectively. The values of +b* decreased in the rind and in processed pulp of the CT and P2 treatments, but increased in the P5 and P8 treatments. It is concluded that the use of edible coatings pectin is effective to retard development of coloration typical of ripe tomato, results to be associated with the evaluation of physical and chemical parameters for a respect to retardation of the ripening.

The caatinga vegetation has many physiognomies and in a general way is degraded by human pressure, so it is important to characterize phytosociologically its various facies. This study aimed to characterize the composition and structure of the woody component of a relatively homogeneous remnant of caatinga vegetation in semiarid region of Paraiba, in a region locally called as Seridó. We sampled all shrub-tree species, alive or dead, still foot, with basal circumference > 10 cm (at 30 cm from the base) and total height > 1m. Ten plots of 20 x 20 m were allocated, randomly distributed across the study area. The total density was 1622.5 ind./ha, distributed in 21 species, 21 genera and 11 botanical families. The main species, according to the index of importance value were Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz, Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Commiphora leptophloeos (Mart.) J.B. Gillett and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan. Despite being an area that is considered well preserved within the region, the studied community has a high density of individuals with small diameter shafts (D0,3 ¿ 6 cm) (63%). The Shannon index (3.38) may be considered medium and the Pielou equability (0.85) indicates floristic heterogeneity of the shrub-arboreal component. The floristic composition and species richness are similar to those found in other studied areas of the region, except by the high abundance of Commiphora leptophloeos and Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Sm.

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 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 absence of fissure between palea and lemma of the husk rice grain, is an important character to avoid infestation by insect plague on storage. In the current paper 14 genotypes of upland rice were evaluated in three places of Pernambuco state; Palmares, Vitória de Santo Antão and Carpina counties. It was used randomized complete block design with four replications and the evaluations were made using 250 grains from each plot. The statistical analyses were made by software Genes and the average was compared by Tukey test with 5% of probability. The genotype x environment interaction was significant for the three places and the genotype BRSMG curinga was one of the most resistant and the PB 5 was one of most susceptive and, the difference on loss potential between both genotypes varies from 24.10 to 44.75% on tree places. Therefore there was variability among genotypes for resistance furthermore there was high difference on the loss potential in case infestation by insect plague during grain storage.

In the reclamation of a degraded area, it is important the use of nitrogen fixing legumes, associated with climax species, to make possible a faster recovery of the environment. In urban centers various wastes are produced, among them the marble rock waste, which, despite having agricultural value, ends up being thrown in the environment.. The objective of this work was to evaluate the Cedrela fissilis growth and of pioneering legume in quincunx system, in degraded area, fertilized with doses of marble rock waste. The treatments, distributed in factorial scheme 2 x 4, in the randomized block design, with three replicates, were: two species of pioneering legume (Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis in quincunx system with the Cedrela fissilis) and four doses of marble rock waste (0; 300; 600 and 900 g.cova-1). Were determined annually, along three years, the height of the plants, the stem diameter, the cup diameter and, in the end, the mortality percentage. The Acacia auriculiformis presented characteristic of better growth than the Acacia mangium and greater resistance to adverse conditions of degraded soil. There was tendency of reduction of the characteristics of growth of the Cedrela fissilis and of the Acacias with the increment of the doses of rock powder applied to the soil. The Cedrela fissilis presented, in general, larger growth, when combined with Acacia mangium than with Acacia auriculiformis, however, showed a high mortality after two years of planting.

The abusive use of pesticides results in contamination of the environment, food and people. The aim of this research was to evaluate the use of silicon in the integrated management of Diamondback moth, as a physical barrier, reducing the use of pesticides. Agrosilício was the source of silicon used in the research. This product has 23% of silicon. Discs of cabbage were sunk in water (control) and on four solutions containing 3, 6, 9 e 12 kg.ha-1 of silicon, in 10 replicates. The discs were offered to 2o instar larvae, reared in laboratory, and morphological and behavior responses were recorded in the first 24 hours. Feeding preference, mortality and jaw damage were evaluated. Treatments had a significant effect in all variables. Larvae were more attracted and mortality was high in treatment with 12 kg.ha-1 of silicon. Silicon damaged larvae jaw, limiting ingestion and causing high mortality. Silicon in the integrated management of diamondback moth may contribute to reduction of pesticides use.

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.

This paper aimed to characterize the main agricultural productive systems of the county of Ibimirim in the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, in order to obtain data that can serve as subsidy to the implementation of agroforestry systems. Different productive unities were characterized through semi-structured interviews with local agriculturists selected through a stratified sampling. Each layer was composed by the main activity executed by the family which correspondent to: group 1: irrigated agricultural systems; group 2: traditional systems and forest extractivism; group 3: apiculture; group 4: handicraft fishing. The sample was composed by 5% of the small agriculturist in the groups 1, 2 and 3 and 2% in the group 4, due to this group being more homogeneous. The irrigated agriculture stood out in economic terms, althought it has demonstrated limited autonomy due to external raw materials dependence in addition to contribute to soil and hydric resource degradation. The traditional systems high adaptability and the apiculture conservationist character have generated a low impact under the local ecosystems. Fishing, forest extractivism and forest management are activities that allow the agriculturist maintenance in the rural environment and constitute a source of revenue during the dry season. The activities diversification and the integration of different productive systems has been a concrete possibility for income generation and improvement in the life quality of the families in the region. This way, the agroforestry systems of multiple use must be priority in rural development programs for the region sustainability.

This paper presents morphoanatomic characteristics of roots, cataphylls, leaves and scapes of Amaryllidaceae s.s. and Alliaceae s.s. species from Northeastern Brazil. The histological laminas were prepared following standard plant anatomy techniques. Among the organs studied, leaves and scapes were shown to be useful for the delimitation of groups in family, genera and species. Among the diagnostic characters are raised: the presence of biconvex scape is unique in Griffinia and Hymenocallis (Amaryllidaceae s.s.), epidermal cell with sinuous anticlinal walls in the leaves and scape occur only in Griffinia espiritensis e acute maple leaf only in Habranthus robustus. Zephyranthes candidula differs by having subcircular and unifacial leaves, Hymenocallis littoralis by having subepidermal strands of collenchyma in the scapes and above the vascular bundles in the leaves. The presence of latex is unique of Nothoscordum pernambucanum (Alliaceae s.s.).