Native seeds should be studied and appreciated as they can contribute to the improvement of production, trade and supply aspects of family farmers, and breeding programs. The aim of the current study was to compare the physical characteristics (color and size) and the chemical composition of the grain in natura five genotypes creole red beans, grown in organic system, on the Nossa Senhora Aparecida farm, in Hi-drolândia-GO, Brazil. Completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications was employed. Caliper was used to determine the dimensions (length, height and width), Sphere II colorimeter ColorQuest to the instrumental color parameters (L*, a* e b*), and methods recommended by Association of Official Analyti-cal Chemists to the chemical composition. The Safira beans showed the greatest length and width (13.89 and 7.59 mm, respectively), in addition to greater luminosity (42.38), less reddish (3.53) and lower levels of ash and crude fiber (3.59 and 12.05 g 100 g-1, respectively). The beans Bolinha Vermelha showed the lowest di-mensions (9.1 x 4.3 x 5.7 mm), while the Vermelho Rajado beans showed lower protein (16.61 g 100 g-1) and higher ash (3.91 g 100 g-1). The bean Vermelho Rajado received the greatest levels of protein and crude fiber (18.83 and 16.45 g 100 g-1, respectively). All creole beans adapted to organic production system. Among the genotypes, beans Safira stood out for having larger and lighter in color, the beans Vermelho Rajado and Bolin-ha Vermelha dot by higher protein, beans Bolinha Vermelha by higher contents of ash and ether extract, and Vermelho Rajado the higher fiber content.

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.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn plant harvested in diferente ma-turity stages on the chemical composition, digestibility and aerobic stability of silages. The corn used in the study was the hybrid BM3061 harvested after 114, 121, 126, 133 and 140 days of sowing at five maturity stag-es based on the advancement of the grain milk line (early dent (ED), 1/3 of milk line (ML), 1/2 ML, 2/3 ML and black layer (BL)). A variation from 242.7 to 377.4 g of dry matter (DM) kg-1as fed was observed between the ED and BL stages; however, the measurements performed in this study did not exhibited major changes in the composition of these silages. The silages produced with plants that were harvested at the 1/2 ML, 2/3 ML and BL stages showed lower DM loss during the fermentative process. The silages produced with plants that were harvested at the ED and 1/3 ML stages showed higher in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) (0.584 and 0.631 g g-1 of OM, respectively). The corn silages produced at the maturity stage of 2/3 ML showed a higher aerobic stability (104 hours) during the aerobic exposure. The 1/3 and 2/3 ML maturity stages seem to be the best harvest stages for the production of corn silage in tropical climates.

The scarcity of the water resources has been becoming an aggravating factor in irrigation of agricultural crops, with that the utilization of treated wastewater arises as a viable alternative to meeting that demand. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of wastewater, on growth vari-ables and yield of cotton plants. The research was conducted at Experimental Station of Biological Treatments Sanitary Sewage – EXTRABES, in the city of Campina Grande – PB, in completely randomized design with five treatments and four repetitions. When the treatment 1 (T1) – consisted of irrigation with water refueling coming from CAGEPA; the treatment 2 (T2) – irrigation with effluent coming from the UASB reactor; the treatment 3 (T3) – irrigated with effluent coming from the series of filter; the treatment 4 (T4) – irrigated with effluent coming from the anaerobic filter; the treatment 5 (T5) – irrigated with effluent coming from the ponds of macrophytes. The incremented sodium content in soil at the end of the experiment was 812.9% afforded by irrigation with wastewater coming from the UASB reactor. The application of wastewater through irrigation in cotton culture coming from the UASB reactor and filter in series have increased the concentrations of phospho-rus, potash and organic matter in surface soil layer.

The goal of this paper was to select among the attributes surveyed soil, one with better repre-sentation to explain the variability of the technological components of sugar cane. The study was conducted at ETH Eldorado Plant in Rio Brilhante, MS, in the agricultural year 2011/2012, in a Oxisol, which was installed a geostatistical grid for data collection of soil and plant, with 80 sampling points, a 80 ha area. From the stand-point of linear and spatial TCH has been explained as a function of volumetric moisture. The volumetric mois-ture collected at a depth of 0.00 to 0.20 m, which had values between 0,24 to 0,270 m3 m-3, resulted in sites with the highest productivity of sugar cane per hectare from 64 to 70 t ha-1. To aid future studies aimed at preci-sion agriculture, which will use the same attributes as those of the future works, the values of ranges of spatial dependence to be used should be between 81 and 487 meters.

In order study the different management techniques stakes pomegranate 'Wonderful' for vegeta-tive propagation in the dry and rainy season, in the semiarid region of Paraiba. The survey was conducted in the greenhouse, in the Campus Center of Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, in the City of Pombal-PB, Brazil. There were two experiments, one in the dry season, which com-prised from August to December 2012 (Experiment I), and another in the rainy season, from January to June 2013 (Experiment II). Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four repli-cations and five plants per replication. To monitor the growth and physiology of the plant was adopted factorial consisting of two factors, managements of cuttings (cuttings with leaves, cuttings without leaves and cuttings without leaves more base incision) in function evaluation times (Days after planting). The propagation material was purchased from commercial plants and cuttings of softwood type. The samples were standardized by size, standard length 15 cm. The management of the cuttings leafless more incision in the base is most suitable for the propagation of pomegranate 'Wonderful'. The management of the cuttings with leaves is not suitable for the propagation of the pomegranate 'Wonderful', in the dry season. The rainy season is the ideal time for the pro-duction of seedlings of the pomegranate 'Wonderful'. The ideal time to obtain saplings of pomegranate 'Wonderful' is 144 days after planting the cuttings.

Deficiency of micronutrients is increasing in the recent years in cropping systems in many parts of the world and cover crops are important components of cropping systems. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) use efficiency in 14 tropical leg-ume cover crops grown on an Oxisol. The P levels used were low (0 mg kg-1), medium (100 mg kg-1) and high (200 mg kg-1). The P X cover crops interactions were significant for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn use efficiency (tops dry weight/unit nutrient uptake). Hence, cover crop species varied in nutrient use efficiency with change in P levels. The micronutrient use efficiency was in the order of Cu > Zn > Mn > Fe. Higher Cu use efficiency was associated with lower uptake of this element, in the cover crop tops compared to other micronutrients. Similar-ly, lower efficiency of Fe and Mn was associated with their higher uptake in the tops of cover crops. Overall, Cu and Mn use efficiency was decreased when P level was raised from low to medium level and then it was constant. Iron use efficiency was increased with increasing P level but Zn use efficiency was constant with the addition of P fertilizer

The Monosporascus Cannonballus is the main agent of decline roots. However, grafting is be-ing tested to overcome this disease. From this perspective, the current research, aimed to screen resistant root-stocks and evaluate the compatibility of grafting watermelon Crimson Sweet. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and Laboratory of Plant Pathology-II, UFERSA Mossoró, RN. In the first, 12 genotypes were used: watermelon (TPR- 02978 e TPR- 04329); melon (TPR- 05851 e TPR- 08689) e pumpkin (TPR- 06827, PES- 07, PEC- 01, PEM- 06, PED- 02, PEK- 05, Shintoza e Fito), sown in pots with soil naturally infected by M. cannonballus. After 60 days, the roots were evaluated (DR) and (IGD) and (IA). In the second, Crimson Sweet was used as graft and PEC-01, PES-07, PEK-05 and Shintoza as rootstocks. The seventeenth day, were evaluated (% PEG), (AB2), (AC), (L), (NF), (DC), (AP), (MSPA) e (MSR). The experimental design was ran-domized, using the Scott-Knott and Tukey tests SAEG® 9.1. There were lower notes the (DR): TPR-02978, TPR-06827, TPR-08689, PES-07, PEC-01, PED-02, PEK-05 e Shintoza. The (IGD): TPR-02978, TPR-08689, TPR-06827, PES-07, PEC-01, PEM-06, PED-02, PEK-05, Shintoza e Fitó. And (IA): PES-07, PEC-01 and PEK-05. The PEC-01 had the highest (% PEG). And the highest rates of MSPA and the MSR were obtained in PEC-01 and Shintoza. The TPR- 02978, TPR- 04329, TPR- 05851, TPR- 08689, TPR- 06827, PEM- 06, PED- 02, Shintoza and Fito showed susceptibility. As for PEK-05, PES-07 and PEC-01, they were resistant to M. cannonballus and the latter presented to the graft compatibility Crimson Sweet.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of ruminal fermentation dry matter and car-bohydrates of two varieties of sugar cane ensiled with different additives using a semiautomatic technique in vitro gas production. We used a completely randomized design with a factorial 2 x 5, two varieties of cane sug-ar (RB 86 7515 and IAC 86 2480) and five additives (urea, NaOH, CaO, corn and L. buchneri) and without additive treatments, with the opening of the silos being made at 60 days after ensiling. Pressure readings were performed on days 0; 2; 4; 6; 8; 10; 12; 15; 19; 24; 30; 36; 48; 72 and 96 h. The pressure caused by organic matter was recorded in a pressure transducer universal and for adjusting the parameters kinetic model was used bicompartmental. The technique of in vitro gas production satisfactorily estimated the volume of gases from silage and sugarcane raw. The higher gas volume fraction of fiber was not in IAC 86 2480, with the additive NaOH. In the fiber fraction only difference between varieties with the additive urea, and the IAC 86 2480 that had the highest volume. The cane silage IAC 86 2480, showed the best values for most of the evaluated kinetic parameters. The best results for the parameters of degradability were in silages with NaOH and CaO.

Aiming at evaluating the postharvest shelf life of banana Prata Catarina coated with cassava starch or PVC films, were harvested bunches of bananas in the physiological maturity stage. The fruits were packed in boxes and transported to the Food Chemistry Lab of the Federal Institute of Ceará, Campus of Limoeiro do Norte for 10 days at room temperature (27.5 °C and RH 62.5%). The design used was a complete-ly randomized one in 3 x 5 factorial scheme, which the first factor was treatment (control, cassava starch 3% and PVC film,) and the second period of storage (0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days) with four replications of four fruits per plots (clusters). The use of PVC film and cassava starch 3%, influenced the physical and physicochemical char-acteristics evaluated, except for firmness and soluble solids of the „Prata Catarina‟ banana stored under ambient conditions. The use of PVC film was effective in maintaining the external appearance and reduced weight loss. However, the application of cassava starch 3%, was not effective in reducing weight loss, maintained the fruits with good appearance till the end of storage. The „Prata Catarina‟ bananas control had a shelf life of 8 days, while the bananas coated with cassava starch and PVC had a shelf life of 10 days stored at ambi-ent conditions.