In arid and semi - arid regions, the quality of irrigation water varies in geographic terms and during the year, and the occurrence of water with high concentrations of salts is common. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the emergence, growth and production of sesame, cultivar CNPA G3, irrigated with saline water and fertilized with N of different carrier proportions by the ratio of nitrate and ammonium ( NO 3 - - N and NH 4 + - N) in an experiment conducted in lysimeters arranged in a greenhouse in the municipality of Campina Grande - PB, Brazil. The treatments were distributed into randomized blocks using a 5 × 5 factorial scheme relative to levels of irrigation water salinity (ECw; 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0 dS m - 1 ) and five proportions of NO 3 - - N/NH 4 + - N (200/0; 150/50; 100/100; 50/150 and 0/200 mg of N kg - 1 ), with three replicates. The increase in ECw compromised the emergence, growth and production of sesame, cultivar CNPA G3, and the production components were the most sensitive variables. The highest growth in diameter was obtained with the proportion of 200/0 mg kg - 1 of NO 3 - - N /NH 4 + - N . An ECw level of 3.0 dS m - 1 and fertilization with 0/200 mg kg - 1 of NO 3 - - N /NH 4 + - N promoted deleterious effects on the total mass of sesame fruits and mass of seeds. The interaction between water salinity levels and NO 3 - /NH 4 + proportions significantly affected the number of leaves (at 50 and 70 days after sowing), the total mass of fruits and the mass of seeds.

The characterization of litterfall in forest and agroforest systems is important to better understand the cycling of nutrients, however, few studies on litterfall of fruit trees, such as banana, are found. Therefore, the objective of this work was assess the production and decomposition and chemically characterize the litterfall of banana genotypes cropped in a dystrophic typical Red-Yellow Latossol, with weak A horizon, medium texture in a hypo-xerophytic Caatinga in the Southwest of Bahia, Brazil. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with twelve treatments (genotypes) and five replications. The genotypes Preciosa, Pacovan-Ken and Maravilha presented the greatest dry weight. The genotype Fhia18 showed the longest half-life of litterfall decomposition. The banana genotypes Preciosa, Maravilha and Pacovan-Ken produce the greatest contents of litterfall, and their chemical characterization shows the descending order Ca>N>Mg>K>S>P for macronutrients and Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu for micronutrients. The banana genotypes PV-79-34, Garantida, Pacovan, JV-42-135, Prata-Anã, Pacovan-Ken, Preciosa and Maravilha present the lowest number of days for decomposition of the litterfall accumulated.

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of bovine biofertilizer on passion fruit production and fruit quality. We carried out an experiment in the city of Nova Floresta, Paraíba State, Brazil. It was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications and three plants per plot. We adopted a 3 x 5 factorial scheme, which evaluated three passion fruit genotypes and five cattle biofertilizer doses. The assessed genotypes consisted of a local one (Guinezinho - LG) and two hybrids (BRS Gigante Amarelo - GA and BRS Sol do Cerrado - SC). We applied five rates of cattle biofertilizer (B) monthly at a constant volume of 5 L plant-1, after diluting in irrigation water (W) at an electrical conductivity of 1.4 dS m-1. The evaluated rates were 0% (100% irrigation water - 0B + 5W), 10% (1B + 9W), 20% (2B + 8W), 30% (3B + 7W) and 40% (4B + 6W). Every week, we sampled, counted and weighed fruit to gather data on fruit number per plant, pant production, and yield. At peak production, we also sampled two fruit randomly from each plot floor area. These fruits were used for determinations of the average mass in fruit, peel and pulp (seeds + juice), peel thickness, fruit diameter and length, pulp yield, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, vitamin C, pH and pulp electrical conductivity. As a result, we observed that the biofertilizer did not compromise both LG and GA production capacity. Overall, the biofertilizer doses provided quality characteristics superior to those required by the fruit market.

The objective of this work was to evaluate seeds of cowpea, cultivar BRS Tumucumaque, subjected to different water stresses induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) and mannitol and different salt stresses induced by NaCl and CaCl2 solutions. The water and salt stresses was evaluated in laboratory using completely randomized experimental designs in 2x6 factorial arrangements, with six osmotic potentials (0.0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8 and -1.0 MPa) and two stress inducers for each experiment, with four replications of 50 seeds. The percentage of germination, germination speed index, root and shoot lengths and seedling fresh weight were evaluated at the tenth day (end of the evaluation period). The simulated water stress showed effects on the cowpea seed germination and seedling initial growth by decreasing the rates of the variables evaluated, which had greater effect in treatments with PEG-6000. The salt stress induced by NaCl showed greater effect on the variables evaluated than that induced by CaCl2, due to the sodium toxicity in the salt chemical composition.

Passiflora cincinnata Mast. has become more popular in the market because the unusual flavor of its fruits and natural beauty of its flowers, and has great potential for breeding programs of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, because its resistance to diseases and drought. The objective of this work was to evaluate seven wild passion fruit (P. cincinnata) accessions, using morphological and agronomic descriptors and molecular markers type ISSR, to identify their morphoagronomic and genetic variabilities and potential for use in breeding programs. A randomized block experimental design was used with five replications and two plants per plot. Thirteen qualitative and twenty-one quantitative, vegetative and floral characteristics were used for morphoagronomic characterization. Twelve ISSR primers were evaluated for molecular characterization. Among the qualitative characteristics, only the color variations were significantly different between the accessions. According to the mean squares of the quantitative characteristics evaluated, obtained from analysis of variance, the means of accessions showed significant differences (p<0.01) for all characteristics. The IAL (internode average length) was the morphological descriptor that most contributed to diversity, with 43.12%, followed by DH5 (stem diameter at 5 cm height) and SW (sepal width). The average genetic similarity found was 68%. Despite the low genetic variability found among accessions, the primers UBC-887 and UBC-841 stood out with high percentage of polymorphism with 14 and 11 polymorphic fragments, respectively, and higher values of polymorphism information content (PIC), resolving power (RP) and marker index (MI), denoting suitability for use in diversity studies of P. cincinnata. Low variability was found among accessions evaluated.

Banana farming is an activity of great economic and social importance, and is carried out in most tropical countries. The aim of this work was to evaluate the biomass accumulation and levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in micropropagated plants of the banana “Prata Catarina” during the acclimatization phase, under different types and doses of biofertilisers. The experimental design included randomised blocks in a 2 × 5 + (2) factorial scheme, with two types of liquid biofertilisers (bovine biofertiliser with anaerobic and aerobic fermentation) and five biofertiliser doses (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 L plant-1 week-1), as well as two additional treatments (control and recommended mineral fertilisation). The following variables were analysed: dry weight of the leaves and roots, and mineral element content (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) in different parts of the plant (leaf and root). During 90 days of acclimatization, the nutritional contribution of bovine biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation was greater in comparison with the biofertiliser with aerobic fermentation and the control, but lower in comparison with mineral fertilisation. The 1000-mL dose of the biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation promoted greater dry weight accumulation in the leaves and roots of the banana “Prata Catarina”. The biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation promoted higher levels of N, K, and Ca in the leaves, whereas the biofertiliser with aerobic fermentation promoted higher levels of P in the leaves and roots.

Cowpea is broadly cultivated worldwide, especially in semi-arid or arid regions where soil or irrigation water salt contents can negatively influence the species’ productive capacity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphophysiological responses of cowpea genotypes to irrigation water salinity. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, under a completely randomized design with nine replications and in a 5x3 factorial scheme. Treatments consisted of five levels of irrigation water electrical conductivity - EC (EC0: 0.55; EC1: 1.60; EC2: 3.20; EC3: 4.80 and EC4: 6.40 dS m-1), applied from the 15th day after sowing (DAS), and three cowpea genotypes (G1: BRS Imponente; G2: MNC04-795F-168 and G3: MNC04-795F-159). EC increases at 35 DAS promoted stem diameter reductions of 8.0% (G1), 11.4% (G2), and 7.7% (G3), indicating different resistance to salinity by each genotype. Leaf area reductions at 25 and 38 DAS were 30.9% and 38.8% for EC0 and EC4, respectively. The BRS Imponente cultivar presented a performance superior to those of G2 and G3 in relation to stem diameter and stem dry matter at 25 DAS, and root-shoot and root-leaf ratios at 38 DAS.

The precocity of cowpea is important because it indicates the possibility of increasing and/or stabilizing production in regions with long periods of drought. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variability and select extra-early cowpea progenies. Fifteen F3:6 progenies were evaluated in 2014 while sixty-two F7 progenies were evaluated in 2015. Two commercial cultivars were used in experiments performed in the irrigated perimeter of Baixo Acaraú, in Marco, CE. The following characteristics were evaluated: number of days for flowering (NDF), number of days for maturity (NDM), plant height (PH), pod length (PL), number of seeds per pod (NSP), number of grains per plant (NGP), weight of 100 grains (W100G) and total weight (MTOT). Data were analyzed in lattice and RBD, according to the methodology of mixed models by the REML/BLUP procedure. Also, the components of variance and genetic values were estimated. Variability among progenies, high heritability and high accuracy were identified for all traits. For NDF and NDM, the progenies presented higher behavior than the controls. The lattice arrangement contributed to a greater gain with the selection of NDF, NDM, PH, NSP, NGP and WTOT. The genotypes 12, 15, 30, 33, 41, 43 and 52 are among the top ten because they have high genetic values in three or more traits. The genotypes 12, 15, 30, 33, 43 and 52 highlight extra-earliness (precocity).

In Brazil, species of the genus Liriomyza are widely distributed and have economic importance as they cause damage to at least 14 plant families, especially Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. Studies suggest existence of a species complex within this genus, based on the presence of morphological similarities among the species Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), L. sativae Blanchard and L. huidobrensis (Blanchard). The present study aimed to use DNA barcoding to establish new distribution records of L. sativae in distinct regions in Brazil, determine intra- and inter-population genetic diversity, and reconstruct the phylogeny of Liriomyza species using the DNA barcode sequences. Identity values were between 97% and 99%, confirming that all the examined Brazilian populations belonged to the species L. sativae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated the presence of a single clade of L. sativae, composed of seven populations. Intra-population analysis on individuals of these populations indicated low levels of nucleotide and haplotype diversity. The haplotype network indicated presence of only 14 haplotypes distributed among the Brazilian populations. The genetic similarities shared by the Brazilian populations of L. sativae suggest that these populations are closely related. Genetic patterns observed among populations of L. sativae might be associated with bottleneck events or founder effect during establishment of this leafminer in Brazil.

The goal of this work was to evaluate the physiological responses of cowpea under water stress and rehydration in conventional and no-tillage systems. We evaluated two crop systems (conventional and no tillage) and three water conditions (no stress, moderate stress and severe stress). The following were determined: leaf area, total dry matter, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal CO2 concentration and leaf water potential. Water stress affected all variables evaluated, with the exception of leaf water potential. Cowpea recovered with respect to all variables after rehydration at both stress levels. Stomatal closure is an important drought tolerance mechanism, and cowpea can be considered a conservative species (i.e., one that prioritizes water status maintenance rather than photosynthetic rate). Planting systems did not affect photosynthetic rate. The tillage system promoted greater accumulation of biomass and higher leaf area.