The implantation of the mechanized harvesting system of sugarcane led to changes in the pro- duction system, in the production system was the modification of the weed flora, promoting the emergence of weed species that weren`t present in the conventional production system where the sugar cane was burnt. The present work had the objective of determining dose response curves of the herbicides amicarbazone, saflufenacil, mesotrione and sulfentrazone in post - emergence, over the weed species Merremia aegyptia ; Ipo- moea purpurea ; Luffa aegyptiaca ; Mucuna aterrima e Ricinus communis. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, with delineation entirely randomized, with four repetitions. The treatments constituted of the spraying of different doses of the herbicides amicarbazone, saflufenacil, mesotrione and sulfentrazone over the weed plants M. aegyptia ; I. purpurea ; L. aegyptiaca ; M. aterrima e R. communis when the plants had two pairs of true leaves. . The method used was the dose response curves, being sprayed doses equivalent to 1,5; 1,0; 0,5; 0,25 and 0,0 times the commercial dose of each product ( amicarbazone, saflufenacil, mesotrione, and sulfentrazone). The herbicides were sprayed individually over each weed species,. By 7, 14 and 21 days after the applications of the treatments (DAT), the symptoms of phytotoxicity were visually evaluated, and by 21 DAT, the dry mass of the shoots was determined. The herbicides saflufenacil and mesotrione weren`t effective in controlling Luffa aegyptiaca e Ricinus communis, respectively. The application of the herbicides sulfentrazone and amicarbazone resulted in control supe- rior to 80% for all weed species times the commercial dose studied. Therefore, different levels of susceptibility of the weed plants to post - emergent herbicides were observed. The herbicides amicarbazone and sulfentrazone were the most effective.

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , handles significant losses in lettuce production. Being a soil borne fungus, its management is difficult, and an alternative is the use of biological control using species of the Trichoderma genus. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify native species of Trichoderma spp. presents in the soil with (CP) and without white mold (SP), evaluate the growth rate and in vitro antagonism of Trichoderma spp. against S. sclerotiorum and to verify the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma spp. microbi- olized lettuce seeds, growing in substrate infested with S. sclerotiorum . Trichoderma spp. isolates were obtained from areas with and without history of white mold or stored in water. Mycelial growth rate and sporu- lation of the Trichoderma spp. isolates and control of Trichoderma spp. versus S. sclerotiorum in the in vitro essays. For the in vivo essay, lettuce seeds were microbiolized with Trichoderma spp. and the substrate was infested with S. sclerotiorum . The native isolates of Trichoderma identified belong to T. koningiopsis and T. asperellum species. The CP isolates had higher mycelial growth rates when compared to the SP isolates and stored while the stored isolates showed better responses in confrontation. The application of Trichoderma spp. promoted higher seedlings quality compared to control, as well as good seedlings development in the presence of the pathogen.

The objective was to compare models by Bayes factor (BF) to estimate the (co)variance compo- nents, genetic parameters and genetic values for the adjusted weights at 205 (W205), 365 (W365) and 550 (W550) days of age in Tabapuã animals reared on pasture in the Brazilian Northeast. Information about 26,838 cattle born in the period from 1975 to 2007 originally from the weight - development - control system of the Bra- zilian Association of Zebu Farmers ( Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Zebu , ABCZ) was used. The (co) variance components and genetic parameters were estimated by the Bayesian approach, in single - and two - trait analysis, using the GIBBS3F90 software. The full model provided the best fit to estimate the breeding value for W205 and W365 characteristics parameters. For trait W550, the model that provided the best fit was the one that did not include the effect of permanent environment. Genetic trends of direct effect were significant for the W205, W365 and W550 features, corresponding to increments of 2.67 kg, 7.35 kg and 8.32 kg, respectively, during the 32 years evaluated. Phenotypic trends were significant only for W205 and W365 characteristics cor- responding to increments of 26.82 kg and 22.42 kg, respectively. The genetic correlations between weight at 205, 365 and 550 days of age were of high magnitude (P205P365 = 0.90, = 0.90 and P205P550 P365P550 = 0.98); you can obtain genetic gains via correlated response to the weights at 365 and 550 days old when select- ing for W205.

The population density is one of the factors that affect the final yield of crops, being easily ma-nipulated by man. The objective was to evaluate the growth of castor bean plants cv BRS Energia in dense pop-ulations through primary data and non-destructive analysis of growth and identify which period greater vegeta-tive growth occurs. We adopted a randomized block design with five treatments and four replications, totaling 20 experimental units. Each experimental unit contained 4 m wide and 6 m in length, representing 24 m². Treatments involving five populations of plants 10.000; 16.666; 25.000; 50.000; 100.000 plants ha-1, with a spacing of 1 m between rows and 1; 0.6; 0.4; 0.2 and 0.1 m between plants, respectively. It was determined: stem diameter, plant height, leaf area, leaf area index and rates absolute and relative leaf growth, of stem diam-eter, of plant height and of fresh biomass epigeal. The castor bean BRS Energia has the highest rates of vegeta-tive increase between 15 and 45 days after emergence. Therefore, it is of great importance, in this period, pro-vide the plant water and nutrient conditions appropriate so that does not compromise on plant development.

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and genetic trends for reproductive traits and testicular growth in Guzerá cattle. Variance components were estimated through two-trait analyses using the restricted maximum likelihood method. To age at first calving (AFC), first calving interval (FC1), gestation period (GP), and scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days (SC365 and SC450, respectively) were included the random residual and additive genetic effects and the fixed effects of contemporary group. The covariates cows age at calving and AFC were included in the model for SC365 and SC450 (linear and quadratic effects) and for FC1 (linear effect), respectively. For GP, The random maternal genetic effects were also considered. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.08 ± 0.05 (FC1) to 0.48 ± 0.11 (GP). Genetic trends were significant (P <0.05) for all traits with the exception of the maternal genetic effect of GP. The SC365, SC450 and GP traits, could be used as selection criteria for presenting additive genetic variability sufficient to respond to the selec-tion process. The genetic correlation between AFC and scrotal circumferences (SC365 and SC450) indicates that selection for scrotal circumference in these ages, reduce the AFC of the females.

Aiming to evaluate the digestive use and performance of growing rabbits fed with diets con- taining sugarcane bagasse enriched with vinasse, 118 New Zealand white rabbits was used in a digestibility, caecotrophy and performance trials. The experimental design was completely randomized, being applied in the digestibility and caecotrophy three treatments (a reference diet, a diet containing sugarcane bagasse and a diet containing sugarcane bagasse enriched with vinasse) and in performance trial, four treatments (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg - 1 of bagasse enriched with vinasse). The data were subjected to variance analysis and subsequently carried out comparisons between the averages of the treatments. The bagasse enriched or not with vinasse changes consumption, excretion and the digestibility coefficients of dry matter, mineral matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and gross energy. The inclusion of vinasse promotes the improvement of the values of digestible energy and digestible protein of bagasse. There was no change in the dry matter of the ceco- trophes, while there wasn’t on the crude protein of cecotrophes by the inclusion of the bagasse enriched or not with vinasse. There was a reduction of the nutritional contribution in dry matter, from the inclusion of test feeds. This did not affect nutritional contribution in crude protein. The use of bagasse enriched with vinasse in diets for growing rabbits proved viable, so that the inclusion did not alter the average daily weight gain of ani- mals and therefore, the time required to reach slaughter weight.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial activity and the contribution of light organic matter (LOM) in areas under natural regeneration of the Caatinga, checking the effect of seasonality and turn (daytime and nighttime) about the the release of CO2 from the soil. The experiment was conducted in the mu-nicipality of Santa Terezinha, Paraíba, where four areas were selected: (1) pasture (P), (2) Early Stage (E) of natural regeneration in the last five years, (3) Intermediate Stage (I) regenerating the last 15 years, and (4) Late Stage (L) of approximately 50 years. Microbial activity was determined in the field, monthly in two turns (daytime and nighttime). Respiratory activity in the soil was low in all areas and periods evaluated, with the lowest values for the areas of P and L. The CO2 values tended to be higher in the rainy season when compared to the dry season. The content of LOM was higher in P and E, in the dry season, and did not differ statistically between the areas during the rainy season. All attributes have tended to be influenced by temperature and soil moisture.

Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is an exotic species, from the Indian Northeast, the Moringaceae family and has significant economic importance, with many applications in industry and medi-cine. This species spreads mainly by seed, so obtaining information on the behavior of different temperature and substrate on germination becomes essential since there is no standardized methodology for installation of the germination test. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the influence of substrate and temperature on germination and vigor of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA). The statistical design was completely randomized in a 5x2 factorial scheme (temperature x substrate), totaling ten treatments with four replicates of 25 seeds. The substrates were tested roll paper and vermiculite. Then the seeds were incubated at room Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) at constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C and 20-30 °C alternating with a photoperiod of 8 hours. We evaluated the percentage, the average time and the germination speed index and the shoot length and root and total dry weight of seedlings. The roll paper substrate at temperatures of 25 to 30 °C, as well as vermiculite of 30 °C temperature are the most suitable combinations to evaluate germination and vigor of seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different additions of flour I endocarp of babassu on consumption and digestibility in diets. Twenty uncastrated male sheep were distributed in a completely ran-domized into four treatments with five replicates per treatment. The animals received experimental diets isoca-loric and isonitrogenous (zero, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5%). The dry matter intake as a function of body weight and metabolic weight decreased linearly with the inclusion of flour I Endocarp in the diet. The apparent digestibil-ity coefficients demonstrate the occurrence of a linear decrease with the inclusion of by-product in the diet. Nitrogen balance was positive with all inclusion levels, decreasing with larger inclusions in a linear response. The inclusion of this byproduct promotes change in score of the feces. The flour endocarp I of babassu present-ed the typical features of consumption and digestibility of forages. The inclusion of by-product in diets for lambs should stand at 7.5% inclusion.

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of different treatments to overcome dormancy of Luffa operculata seeds. The tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Seed Analyzes of the Federal Univer-sity of Paraíba, in the city of Areia-PB. The seeds of L. operculata were submitted to scarification treatments with sandpaper, cutting with scissors, imbibition in cold water, immersion in hot water and immersion in sulfu-ric acid. In evaluating the effect of treatment, was determined percentage, first count and germination index speed as well as length and dry mass of roots and hypocotyl. The mechanical scarification with sandpaper and cutting with scissors with or without imbibition in cold water for 12 hours are recommended for overcoming dormancy of L. operculata seeds.