The psyllid Euphalerus clitoriae Burckhardt & Guajará is a common pest of the clitoria tree, a common urban plant in Brazil that naturally occurs in the Amazon rainforest. Here we report the occurrence of Delphastus davidsoni Gordon on clitoria trees highly infested with the psyllid E. clitoriae in the city of Altamira, Pará. This is the first record of a coccinellid predator associated with E. clitoriae. It is also one of the few records suggesting predation on psyllids by a Delphastus species.

The irrigation water can aid to increase yield of agricultural crop. The methods to determinate the water quantity and depth available using the conventional methods and sensors can underestimate or overestimate the water quantity that need used, because this kid of sensors considers the soil features. The objective of this study was to irrigate orchard crops based on real-time plant water status as estimated by a wireless network of these continuous leaf monitors, comparing with results obtained by grower practice, using soil moisture sensors. The irrigation system that used management in real-time resulted in 70% of the water applied compared to ET and 85% of water applied compared to grower practice which used soil moisture sensors.

A modern alternative to reduce the effects of soil compaction by intensive agricultural machine traffic is the adoption of controlled machine traffic. The objective of this work was to implement and evaluate the effects of machine traffic control on grain crops in the Brazilian central plateau region. The work, carried out in farms of the Directed Settlement Program of the Federal District (PAD/DF), counted on researchers from the University of Brasília, Embrapa Cerrados, farmers and manufacturers of agricultural machinery. Given the experiences obtained, it can be reported that producers have a real need and interest in adopting control of machine traffic, driven by the high cost of compaction of soils to productivity and scarification. It is conclusive that implementing the technology has restrictive obstacles mainly referring to the adjustment of the gauge of tractors, harvesters and pulverized, not to mention multiple work widths between implements and accurate global positioning systems for the machines – items with little or no possibility of changes

The rambutan is an exotic tropical fruit that presents high perishability after the harvest due to the intense metabolic activity and the high water content in its chemical composition that together with the darkening process of the pericarp compromise its acceptance by the consumer. In this context, the present research had the objective of evaluating the effect of the passive modified atmosphere with the evaluation of different packing packages aiming at prolonging the useful life of the fruits by the greater acceptance of the final consumer. The rambutans were packaged in polyethylene bags, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays, polystyrene styrofoam trays coated with 14 micron PVC plastic film and in cardboard boxes during storage at 10 ° C and 85% of RH for 16 days with analyzes performed at four-day intervals on the variables: loss of fresh mass, soluble solids, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C and pericarp appearance. A DIC experimental design with 4×5 factorial was adopted with five replicates and the experimental plot formed by five fruits. The analysis of variance showed no significant effect of the package on the maintenance of fruit quality during storage days. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and styrofoam trays made of polystyrene coated with PVC film (BPE + PVC) favored a shelf life of up to 12 days by controlling the physico-chemical changes and the control of browning in the fruit pericarp. The use of the packaging (BPE + PVC) is more suitable for the packaging of the fruits because of the more affordable cost.

Chrysanthemum is one of the most commercialized cut flowers on world market. After cutting, it becomes highly perishable due to the increased metabolic activity that leads to senescence. Thus, the experiment was carried out in order to evaluate action of maintenance solutions on the postharvest physiology cutting chrysanthemums of the cultivar Framint. A completely randomized design was used in the factorial scheme composed of two factors: four postharvest treatments and seven evaluation times. The flowers remained in the following maintenance solutions: citric acid solution, solution with boric acid, and salicylic acid solution at concentrations 100 mg. L-1 for both treatments in combination with 1% ethanol. During postharvest period, following analyzes were performed: fresh mass loss, volume of water absorbed, luminosity (petals), activity of the enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total protein and total carbohydrate content. The treatment with citric acid + ethanol was the most adequate to conserve the quality and to prolong longevity of the flowers, being confirmed by the smaller loss of fresh mass, respiratory activity, better maintenance of carbohydrate and protein content.

This study aims to evaluate the allelopathic potential of aqueous extract of leaves and branches of mint under the initial development of seedlings of cowpea (cv. BRS Guariba). This study was developed at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Campus Serra Talhada-PE. Six concentrations were evaluated: 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of aqueous extract of leaves and branches of mint. The variables analyzed were seedling emergence, shoot and root length, shoot and root dry matter and stem diameter. The aqueous extracts of leaves and branches of mint in the different studied concentrations had no significant effects on the studied variables, except for root length of seedlings submitted to mint leaf extract. However, when compared with the extracts from branches and leaves, it is observed that the leaf extract caused a decrease in all variables in relation to those of branches. Possibly, this result indicates that the extract from leaves of mint contains a secondary metabolic at a higher concentration, delaying the initial development of seedlings of cowpea.

Brazil is an extensive forest plants producer due to the edaphoclimatic conditions though; most part of the soils constituting Brazil’s territorial extension possesses features as low fertility mainly in primary nutrients. Intimate relationships on rhizosphere are mandatory to take effect in order to plants capture and assimilate nutritional elements present in the soil such as the microorganisms present in it. Nitrogen fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are responsible for most part of the organic matter decomposition in the soil and availability of essential nutrients to plants through symbiotic relationship. This relationship can be intensified by practices such as biodiversity enrichment and microbial fauna which occurs in agrosilvopastoral system. Results contribute to better comprehension on those systems towards grassland ecosystems and the vast soil living microorganisms contribution that live in it.