The objective of this research was to know the species and the population fluctuation of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a commercial mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchard in the coast of Ceará State. The study was developed from July of 2005 to July of 2007, in the municipality of Beberibe (CE). The capture of the fruit flies was performed using McPhail traps with 5% corn protein hydrolyzed solution as attractant. Weekly, the captured insects were sorted, the fruit flies were maintained in 70% alcohol solution and subsequently identified. The population fluctuation was estimated using the FTD (Fly/Trap/Day) index. During the research, six fruit flies species were captured: Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (63%), A. zenildae Zucchi (7%), A. sororcula Zucchi (5%), A. fraterculus (Wied.) (2%), A. distincta Greene (2%) and Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (21%). The Anastrepha spp. and C. capitata population peaked was between April and July, in both years of study.

The experiment was carried out at a greenhouse of Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, with the objective of determing the effect green manuring with scarlet starglory incorporated to with soil on radish production. A completely randomized desing with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consist of: T1 (scarlet starglory incorporated 0 days ; T2 (scarlet starglory incorporated 7 days); T3 (scarlet starglory incorporated 14 days); T4 (scarlet starglory incorporated 21 days); T5 (scarlet starglory incorporated 28 days); T6 - Control (no fertilized soil). The evaluated traits were: plant height, Horizontal and vertical diameter of the root (mm), shoot fresh and dry mass (g); roots fresh and dry mass (g). The decomposition times of seven days was what provided the best height, and the other characteristics oscillated among 21 to 28 days.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and spatial distributions of Croton urucurana (sangrad` água) in Dourados-MS. They had been marked, using systematic systematic sampling, 15 plots of 100 m2 in which had been identified all individuals of Croton urucurana that they had been to classified phase of development in young, youthful and adult. To classify the species in the spatial patterns the Payandeh index was used. It was verified 943 individuals with aggregate spatial distribution in the area in study. C. urucurana is in regeneration process with has predominance of young and youthful individuals, 54.1% and 28.4%, respectively, in relation to the adult individuals (17.5%).

The production of shifts sweet passion fruit tree (Passiflora alata Curtis) is hampered by the presence of soils that, sometimes, doesn¿t tend to nutritional demand of the plant, needing, then, fertilization. The application of Arbuscular Mycchorizic Fungus (AMF) is a way to available this nutrients in the soil. It can take to a reduction of time of the shifts in vegetation house anticipating the transplantation for the field, increasing the growth, developing the biomass of the plant and the production of fruits of quality. The aim of this work was to analyze the growth of the shifts of sweet passion fruit according to the levels of concentration of this innoculus. The experiment was conducted in casualty entirely lineation (CEL) with factorial arrangement of 2 x 4, as: 2 innoculation treatments (Gigaspora albida Schenck & Smith and Scutellospora heterograma Nicolson & Gerdemann) x 4 levels of innoculation (without innoculus = WN/I 100 spores = N1, 200 spores = N2 and 300 spores = N3) whit 5 repetitions. In each 30 days after the innoculation were measured the height, stem diameter and number of leaves. After harvest (90 days) also were evaluated: leaf area, fresh and dry biomass of the air and radicular part, colonization of roots and density of spores of Arbuscular Mycchorizic Fungus. Plants of sweet passion fruit showed high Mycchorizic dependence when innoculated with Gigaspora albida, this fungus proportioned in the plants of sweet passion fruit better answers in relation to the evaluated parameters.

The aim of this research was to verify the action of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in the control of Erysiphe diffusa in soybean plants applied alone or mixed to a fungicide. NaOCl was applied eight times during crop cycle in parcels that received the product in concentrations of 0,2; 0,4 and 0,6%, applied alone, and applied with fungicide, in only two applications. There was a control parcel and a fungicide parcel for comparison. It was not observed statistical differences among treatments in the comparison of the development of the disease in the parcels treated with NaOCl alone, fungicide and NaOCl mixed to a fungicide. It is suggested that more research should be done with NaOCl to evaluate its potential for fungus control.

Red rice is grown by small farmers of Brazil, especially in the Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco States, because of its specialty characteristics, compared to white rice, like flavor, texture and supposed nutritional value. Current varieties were selected by farmers and, in general, present traditional plant architecture and small yield. Aim of this work was to compare agronomic, cooking and nutritional characteristics of white and red rice varieties. A field assay was carried out in the Embrapa Meio-Norte experimental area, in Teresina, Piauí State, and the laboratorial analysis, in Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás State. Eleven white rice and four red rice varieties were evaluated, with emphasis to yield, amylose content, cooking time, brown and polished rice, iron and zinc contents. The white rice varieties present larger yield and amylose content, requiring smaller cooking time than the red rice varieties, however the red rice varieties stand out, specially as polished rice, regarding the iron and zinc contents.

Biological control using natural enemies has become one of the main alternatives to chemical control. Among these enemies, worth highlighting the green lacewings, known for their predatory efficiency and the ability of their larvae to seek out food. The present review aimed to gather scientific knowledge about these predators, intending to encourage the inclusion of theses insects in future biological control programs.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of two doses of organic material in the nutrition of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), cv Santa Cruz, grown in pots in an Oxisol Ultisol Distrocoeso the municipality of Rio Largo - AL. The design was in randomized blocks in factorial 2 X 4 (two and four fertilizer doses) with 5 replicates. The experimental unit consisted of a vessel with capacity for 12 dm3 containing 15 kg of soil. The fertilizer materials were: 1 fertilizer - manure from corral + chicken manure + fertilizer and the filter cake of 2 - to corral manure + chicken manure + sugar cane bagasse, in doses 0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1. The applications were split in the following way: 10% at the time of transplantation, and 15% at 20, 34, 48, 62, 76 and 90 days after transplanting (DAT) in coverage. The seedlings were produced in the tomato seed, on March 10, 2008, in polystyrene trays with 128 cells, after transplantation and were selected for the vessel on April 02, 2008, leaving two plants per pot . The plants were conducted in mentoring and single stem, and where, therefore, all cultural and treatment plant. There was a collection of leaves 4 + from the apex of the plant, to assess nutritional status at the beginning of flowering. Among the nutrients, the nitrogen was absorbed the most, followed by: potassium, calcium, sulfur, magnesium and phosphorus, whereas among the micronutrients, in increasing order of absorption was the following: boron, zinc, copper, manganese and iron. According to analysis of variance and regression analysis of the fertilizer did not affect the levels of nutrients in the plant, with only difference between the doses.

This work deals with the survey of the family Boraginaceae in a lowland seasonal dry forest in the municipality of Aliança, Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Seven species and three genera were recorded: Cordia L., with three species (C. sellowiana Cham., C. taguahyensis Vell. and C. trichotoma (Vell.) Arráb. ex Steud.); Heliotropium L., with only one species, H. elongatum (Lehm.) I.M. Johnst. and Tournefortia L., represented by three species (T. bicolor Sw., T. gardneri A.DC. and T. rubicunda Salzm. ex A.DC.). A key to the recognition of the species, as well as descriptions and illustrations were given. Data about distribution, flowering and or fruiting of the species also are provided.

The objective of this research was to identify species of ants in plantations of Heliconia spp. in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. The fauna of Formicidae was sampled in Maceió and Rio Largo, State of Alagoas, Brazil. The samples were taken from three producing areas of tropical flowers from June 2003 to May 2004. We collected 289 specimens belonging to 12 species, distributed in five genera of four subfamilies. The most abundant genus was Camponotus, with five species. This is the first record of a survey of mirmecofauna in Heliconia plantations in the agrobusiness flowers.