The germplasm bank of cucurbitaceae, sited at Semi-Arid Embrapa in Petrolina-PE comprises different species of cucurbitaceae family, out of which 600 accessions of Citrullus spp. Forty two accessions from the germplasm bank plus the Crimson Sweet cultivar were submitted to morphological evaluation in order to study the genetic variability of accessions collected in three different regions from the State of Bahia (Chapada Diamantina; Irecê e Vitória da Conquista). The field trial was set in a randomized block design with three replications. Thirteen phenotypic descriptors to evaluate plant and fruit characteristics were used. The data were submitted to a variance analysis and the means were compared using Scott-Knott at 5% probability. The analysis of variance among accessions from different regions showed significant differences for eleven characters except number of stems per plant and rind thickness in the peduncle region. The accessions formed two different groups for most of the descriptions, but, fruit mean weight and sugar content presented four and three groups, respectively showing higher genetic variability, the variation among accessions within each region was significant. Irecê and Vitória da Conquista presented the higher and the smaller variation among the accessions, respectively. Therefore, the genetic variability of watermelon accessions in the tree regions of the State of Bahia and some accessions presented useful characters to be incorporated in watermelon breeding programs.

The 20th century was marked by great discovers, which had a deep impact on plants resistance against pest insects. In this context, high studies were developed about cucurbitacins, an important group of secondary substances produced by plants. These substances are mainly produced by the Cucurbitacea family and act against the insects like allomones, imposing an obstacle to the herbivory. However, some insects, mainly defoliators beetles of the Luperini tribe (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), defeated these defenses of the plants and used them as alimentary stimulants and/or in the defense against natural enemies. The action mode of cucurbitacins against the target-insects opens possibilities of its application in the plants breeding, aiming the resistance against insects as well on its utilization in toxic baits or trap cultures.

Different rooting average were tested to identify those whch would provide the best conditions for growth of mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru P.. DC.), facheiro (Pilosocereus pachycladus Ritter), xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Webwr ex K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl.) and coroa-de-frade (Melocactus bahiensis Britton & Rose). five different compositions for rooting average were (sand; soil; sand + soil; sand + cattle manure; soil + cattle manure) the study was carried out from september of 2004 to december of 2005, in an area room temperature at Embrapa semi-arid, Petrolina, PE, Brazil. the substrate composed with sand + cattle manure and soil + cattle manure rooting medium showing the highest rates. In relation to the development of the system to radicular of the cactáceas was verified that in treatment 1 (sand) all had presented the biggest values in length terms. The growth in height of the cactáceas was influenced by different analyzed substrata. Between substrate, optimum cattle manure was with ground.

The objective of this work was to evaluate sowing depth and seed dormancy breaking method in the formation of seedlings of the soursup rootstock cv RBR. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the orchard of the Lavras Federal University - UFLA. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a two factors arrangement (4x3), with four replicates and five plants per plot. The dormancy breaking treatments were: witness (control); immersion in water (25 °C for 12 hours); immersion in water (25 °C per 24 hours) and side cut on the seed. The seeds were sowed at 1, 2 and 3 cm of profundity. The characteristics evaluated were germination velocity; germination percentage and after 120 days of sowing the seedlings height (cm); rootsand aerial part fresh matter (g) and roots and aerial part dry matter (g) were also evaluated. There was notinteraction of dormancy brake treatments with the seeds profundity. Seed germination was not influenciated by theprofundity that the seeds were sowed. The side cut on the seed did not provide different results of germination percentage and germination velocity compared to the other treatments, but presented higher of seedlings height.

This work objectived to evaluate the influence of the calcium levels reduction (0.75 and 0.60%), using two suplemental sources in the diet, limestones of two distinct deposits of calcareous rock (A and B), for female and male broiler chickens in the period between 1 to 28 days of age, and thus, its effect on the performance and the bone development. For such purpose, had been used 288 female and 288 male cobb line broilers, by entirely randomized design in factorial arrangement (2x2x2). The food intake and live weight gain had presented significant differencesfor the calcium sources, while the calcium level and the sex of the chickens had influenced the feed conversion, the mineralization and the length of the tibia bone. The reduction in the calcium level to 0.75% with the tested limestones, in males and females, provided to satisfactory performance, bone mineralization and calcium retention.

The objective of this work was evaluating the principal alterations of the chemical properties of quality of the papaya 'Formosa' under refrigerated storage. The harvest of fruits was accomplished in a commercial planting located in the municipal district of Baraúna-RN. The storage happened in cameras under controlled conditions of temperatures (8, 10 and 12 ºC ± 1 ºC) and relative humidity of the air (90 ±5%) during periods of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. After each period, the papayas were transferred to environmental conditions (20 ± 1oC 60 ± 5% UR) where a period of shelf life of seven days was simulated. Then, the papayas were analyzed regarding the titratable acidity (ATT), C vitamin, total soluble solids (SS), starch, reducing and non-reducing sugars. A completely randomized experimental design was used, in a factorial 3 x 4 outline (temperatures x time of storage), with five replications and two fruits per plot. The best extension for the post harvest useful life of papaya 'Formosa' was esteemed for the fruits submitted to 10 °C and 90 ± 5% UR up to 20 days, with soluble solids above 12% and C vitamin around 40 mg×100 g-1. The fruits submitted to 8 °C, 90 ± 5% UR had the worst estimates, presenting the smallest contents of SS.

The goal of this work was to evaluate the sulfur supply in soils of different textural classes using the mineral plaster originating of the region of Araripe-PE as sulfur source the sugar cane. They were installed 5 field rehearsals in different classes texturais soils to evaluate the effects of the mineral gypsum as sulfur source in the sugar cane plants nutrition. It searched the relations of the sulfur in plant, evaluating itself your availability. The rehearsals were led in the Zone of the Woods of Pernambuco. The experimental delineation employee was the one of blocks at random. The treatments in each rehearsal they constituted of the combination of 5 sulfur doses, with 3 repetitions (5 x 3). They evaluated the treatments at 16 months after the application of the sulfur doses calculated by the exchangeable aluminum neutralization and or calcium exchangeable content method, for the 0,4-0,6m soil depth layer. In the loamier soils and of smaller values of P-rem the sulfur doses promoted sugar cane larger production. The sulfur doses were enough for the sulfur supply for the sugar cane.

A treated sewage effluent was initially analyzed and after that an experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of the irrigation using this effluent on some chemical properties of a Typic Quartzipsamment soil, in a greenhouse. The experiment was accomplished in a completely randomized design with two treatments and ten replications. The treatments consisted of applying normal water and treated sewage effluent in twenty experimental units (plastic bags with capacity of 2 L). Soil samples from experimental units, collected before and after experiment, tap water and treated sewage effluent samples were chemically analyzed. Results indicated that treated sewage effluent can be used for crop irrigation. When compared to water, irrigation with treated sewage effluent produced in the soil, under the study conditions: a) increase in the P and organicmatter contents in the soil; b) increase in the sodium contents, exchangeable sodium percentage and, consequently, in the soil pH; and c) increase on the sum of exchangeable basis and on the exchangeable cationic capacity.

Aiming to evaluate crisp head lettuce cultivars adapted to summer, showing tip burn¿s tolerance caused by calcium deficiency, an experiment was conducted in Santana da Vargem, MG, comprising the Lucy Brown, PSR 1114, PSR 1115, PSR 0110, PSR 5338, PSR 1530, PSR 0398 and Raider cultivars. A randomized complete blocks design with three replications was used. Total and commercial fresh mass, stem length and tip burn¿s tolerance caused by calcium deficiency were evaluated. The total fresh mass ranged between 538.8 and 894.4 g.plant-1, being PSR 1114; PSR 1115; PSR 5338 and Lucy Brown superior to the others, with 822.2; 833.3; 850.0 and 894.4 g plant-1, respectively. For commercial fresh mass and stem length there were no significant differences among the evaluated cultivars. Regarding tip burn¿s tolerance significant differences were observed. The Lucy Brown cultivar showed the highest incidence of this physiological disorder.

Studies on availability of suitable and economic diets for adults and larvae of the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) were carried out at the Entomology Unit of the FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria with the aim to find the best diets to fit in a large scale mass rearing production. The best diet for adult was the combination of Hydrolysate Corn Protein + Yeast Hydrolysate Enzymatic + Sugar (3:1:3). This diet resulted in the highest numbers of egg/female/day, spermatozoid in the spermathecae, percentages of egg hatch, the lowest mortality rate of adults and the highest average mating duration compared with the standard adult diet based on Yeast Hydrolysate Enzymatic + Sugar (1:3). Among eleven larval diets tested, diets based on sugarcane and sugarbeet bagases plus 7% brewer yeast, 8% sugar, 0.2% sodium benzoate, 0.8% of hydrochloric acid and 60% water (adjusted), yielded the highest percentages of egg hatching, pupal recovery, pupal weight and adult emergence. There was no statistical difference with the standard larval diet based on wheat germ 3%, corncob 15%, corn flower 8%, brewer yeast 6%, sugar 8%, sodium benzoate 0.23%, hydrochloric acid 0.63%, nipagin 0.14% and water 59% (adjusted). The significant performance of these adult and larval diets open discussion for future researches on improvement of rearing techniques required for the establishment of sterile insect technique (SIT) program focused on the South American fruit fly.