Water shortage and saline soils of the Brazilian semi-arid northeastern region are limiting factors to the development of many plants. Jurema preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poiret) is a small, multiple use tree that abundantly colonizes unfavorable sites, including environments with severe water stress. This work had the objective of investigating the tolerance of jurema preta seeds to water and salt stresses during germination. Seeds germination in polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions was analyzed under five different osmotic potentials (0.0; -0.3, -0.6, -0.9 and -1.2MPa), in order to simulate water and salt stress, respectively, in four 100-seed replications for each treatment. Seeds were placed into 10cmx10cmx4cm boxes, and germination accomplished in BOD germinator adjusted to 30oC. The number of germinated seeds was monitored every 24 hours, and percentage and speed of seed germination were generated from these data. Mean percentage germination in the control treatment was ~95%, reducing to 63-53% at -0.9 to -1.2-MPa PEG solutions, and to 27- 9.5% at NaCl solutions at equivalent osmotic potentials. Velocity of germination index was more affected, and decreased up to 1/8 of the control, at -0.6 MPa. Jurema preta seeds showed lower tolerance to NaCl than to water stress, and this species can be classified as a glycophyte.

Different substrates were tested, aiming to verify the ones that provided better development conditions for the mandacaru without thorns (Cereus hildemannianus K. Schum.). The work was carried out in the period from January to December 2005 in room temperature at Embrapa Semi-Árido, Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil. A randomized blocks design, in a 5 X 3 factorial with five treatments and four replications, was used. The treatments consisted of five different substrate compositions and three plant types. Bud number, length, weight and dry matter of the flowers, besides weight, length and diameter of the roots were evaluated 360 days after planting. The substrates composed by sand, soil and cattle manure, presented the highest percentages of mandacaru buds growth.

A study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the elephant-grass x leucena intercropping, in aspects like productivity, crude protein contents and tillering of the intercropped elephant grass, besides trying to find the best planting density of this intercropping, aiming both highest grass productivity and better produced forage quality. The experiment was carried out at the Fazenda Experimental Vale do Curu, located in Pentecoste- Ceará, using a completely randomized blocks design with four treatments and four replications. The used treatments were: elephant-grass x leucena intercropping in the following spacings: 1.00m x 0.25 m; 1.00m x 0.50m; 1.00m x 0.75m and 1.00m x 1.00m, between the lines and plants, respectively. Cuts were done each 60 days, being six cuts during the experimental period. Leucena and capim-elephant were cutted 40cm and 10cm above ground 10 cm above the soil. The intercropping using leucena did not influence elephant-grass crude protein contents. The smallest tillers number and the biggest dry matter production of the grass occurred in spacing 1.00m x 0.25m, being this the indicated for this intercropping.

Oils of andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl.), copaiba (Copaifera sp.), Eucaliptus globulus Labill. and Eucaliptus citriodora Hook., neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), eugenol, souari nut (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), rosemary (Lippia gracillis HBK.), and cedar (Cedrela fissilis Vell.) were evaluated in adults of Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In the non-choice test, 20 g of corn grains per plot were treated with 50¿L of each oil and homogenized for two minutes. The plot was infested with eight 0 to 15 days-old S. zeamais adults. The E. globulus, eugenol, rosemary, and neem oils caused 100% mortality in S. zeamais adults. Except for copaiba, all oils caused mortality above 87% and the reduction in emergence of 100%. In the free-choice tests, arenas consisting of two plastic containers symmetrically interconnected to a central box by two plastic tubes were used. Twenty grams of non-treated corn (control) were placed in one of the boxes and the same amount of grain treated with 50¿L of each oil comprised the other treatment. Sixteen non-sexed S. zeamais adults (0-15 days old) were released in the central box. The rosemary, E. citriodora, eugenol and copaiba oils were the most repellent for S. zeamais adults, with repellence percentage varying from 97.3 to 87.7. Rosemary, andiroba, neem, and cedar reduced S. zeamais emergence in 100%, while the reduction caused by the other oils ranged from 72.7 to 97.9%.

The research was conducted in order to compare the methodology recommended on Seeds Analysis Rules, regarding substrate and temperature, for the germination test of linted and delinted cottonseeds. Seeds of the cultivar 7MH from the 98/99 season of Morada Nova-CE were divided into two samples. Two assays were done: inthe first, seeds were delinted with sulfuric acid (98%), for three minutes, being later washed in current water, while in the second, seeds were maintained with linter. Both samples were put to germinate on towel paper, cotton cloth and sand substrates, on fixed temperatures at 25ºC, 30ºC and alternated temperatures of 20-30ºC (20ºC/16h and 30ºC/8h). For each treatment, 400 seeds were used, being eight sub-samples of 50 seeds for paper and cloth substrates. The analysis were done in a seven days interval, being the first counting done at the fourth day and the final at the seventh day after the sowing. Two experiments were done to evaluate linted and delinted seeds, using the completely randomized design, with four replications, in a 3x3 factorial scheme. One concluded that for delinted seeds the germination test must be conducted on cloth cotton or paper towel substrate, atfixed temperature of 25ºC or 30ºC or alternated of 20-30ºC; for linted seeds, the best was cloth at alternated temperature of 20-30ºC.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the growth and nodulation of Leucaena and Prosopis seedlings in soil plus tannery sludge. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, using bags containing soil plus tannery sludge. Seedlings of Leucaena and Prosopis inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp were used. Results were evaluated 90 days after plant emergency. The application of tannery sludge, in the rate of 11.250 kg per hectare significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, and above ground dry mass ofLeucaena. Regarding Prosopis, there were no significant increases in these variables with tannery sludge application, except for aerial dry mass. No significant differences were seen between the treatments with sludge and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. as to nodule number and dry mass. Tannery sludge evaluated in this work did not affect nodulation, besides favoring Leucaena and Prosopis seedling growth.

The objective of this work was to study the influence of the seeds storage period of the Imbu Tree (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) in the germination percentage and germination velocity index. The study was carried out from January to December 2004 in a greenhouse with 50% shadowing screen, under room temperature, at Embrapa Tropical Semi-Arid, Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil, in a randomized complete block design, with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of seeds harvested in six different crops. The germination percentage and germination velocity index were evaluated at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing through daily counts. The seeds of 2001 and 2002 crops had the best performance in terms of emergence and germination velocity index.

The red pitaya is a cactacea that has been more and more demanded both for theproducers and for the consumers. Nevertheless, there are still several aspects about its cultivation that need to be elucidated, in order to provide a good culture development and profitability to the producer. This work was done aiming to study the effect of substrate in the vegetative propagation of this fruit, commonly done through cutting. The experiment was carried out in a lath house from the Departamento de Produção Vegetal of FCAV - UNESP. Cuttings of adult plant were used and placed in different substrates for rooting, composing the following treatments: (1) soil, sand and manure of tanned corral mixture, in the proportion of 3:1:1; (2) coconut fiber (Amafibra); (3) sand and (4) commercial substrate (Plantmax). For each treatment, 4 replications with 10 cuttings were done. Fresh and dry mass of roots (grams) and volume (mL) were evaluated. A completely randomized design was used, and data evaluated by Tukey test at 5% probability. In the conditions in which the experiment was accomplished, one can conclude that there was influence of the substrate in the fresh mass and volume of the roots, being the substrate (1) the most appropriate for seedlings formation of this species.

The experiment was accomplished in a completely randomized block design, using 25 cross bred bullocks nursed in the periods of 35, 42, 49, 56 and 63 days of life. Effect of the breastfeed periods was not observed on the weight development of the bullocks. The consumption of daily and total milk was influenced by the weight when being born and for the breastfeed period (P < 0,05). The adjustment of the averages for the variation analysis showed an increase tendency in the consumption of proportional milk to the breastfeed periods. The wean at 35 days was shown economically viable.

This work had as objective to evaluate the emergency and the survival of seedlings of imbu tree (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) in caatinga. The assay was carried through of January of 2001 the December of 2004 with 37 plants of imbu tree, selected to perhaps in area of caatinga of the Embrapa Semi-Árido, Petrolina - PE. In each plant four quadrants of 1 m2 had been demarcated randomized below of the pantry for counting of the emergency and survival of seedlings. The comments had been carried through to each 15 days in the rainy station and 30 days in the dry station. A rain gauge was installed in the area of the experiment for attainment of the values of the occurred precipitation during the period of evaluation. The biggest indices of emergency had occurred in the period of bigger precipitation with 57,89 plântulas.m-2, in average, for plant-mother in the rainy station of 2004. Few seedlings had survived until the end of the period of evaluation. The stadium seedling is most critical for the survival and development of the imbu tree in caatinga. The biggest volume of precipitation significantly contributed for a bigger tax of germination and emergency of seedlings of imbu tree.