This study aimed to estimate the combining ability, of T. cacao genotypes preselected for drought tolerance through diallel crosses. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Cacao Research Center (CEPEC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, in a completely randomized block design, in an experimental arrangement 21 x 2 [21 complete diallel crosses and two water regimes (control and stressed)]. In the control, soil moisture was kept close to field capacity, with predawn leaf water potential (ΨWL) ranging from -0.1 to -0.5 MPa. In the drought regime, the soil moisture was reduced gradually by decreasing the amount of water application until ΨWL reached -2.0 to -2.5 MPa. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for most morphological attributes analyzed regarding progenies, water regime and their interactions. The results of the joint diallel analysis revealed significant effects between general combining ability (GCA) x water regimes and between specific combining ability (SCA) x water regimes. The SCA 6 genetic material showed high general combining ability for growth variables regardless of the water regime. In general, the water deficit influenced the production of biomass in most of the evaluated T. cacao crosses, except for SCA-6 x IMC-67, Catongo x SCA, MOC-01 x Catongo, Catongo x IMC-67 and RB-40 x Catongo. Multivariate analysis showed that stem diameter (CD), total leaf area (TLA), leaf dry biomass (LDB), stem dry biomass (SDB), root dry biomass (RDB), total dry biomass (TDB), root length (RL), root volume (RV), root diameter (RD) <1 mm and 1 <(RD) <2 mm were the most important growth parameters in the separation of T. cacao genotypes in to tolerant and intolerant to soil water deficit.

Drought is worldwide considered one of the most limiting factors of Theobroma cacao production, which can be intensified by global climate changes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phenotypic correlation among morphological characteristics of cacao progenies submitted to irrigation and drought conditions and their partitions into direct and indirect effects. Path analysis with phenotypic plasticity index was used as criteria for estimation of basic and explanatory variables. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Cacao Research Center (CEPEC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, in a randomized block 21 x 2 factorial arrangement [21 cacao progenies obtained from complete diallel crosses and two water regimes (control and drought)] and six replications. In general, drought conditions influenced biomass production in most progenies, causing significant reductions in total leaf area, leaf number, leaf biomass, fine-roots length (diameter <1 mm), root volume and root area for considered drought intolerant. All progenies showed alterations in growth due to drought. Phenotypic plasticity was most strongly pronounced in root volume. Stem and root diameters, as well as stem dry biomass were the growth variables with the greatest direct effects on root volume under drought conditions, these characters being indicated in screening of cacao progenies drought tolerant.

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is a major coconut pest in the Americas, Africa and some Asian countries, and occurs in high population levels in northeastern Brazil. The determination of the climatic conditions that favorably affect its population growth and the prevalence and abundance of predatory mites can promote more efficient control practices. Our objective was to evaluate the pattern of occurrence and population dynamics of A. guerreronis, their associated predators and other mites during a 2 year period in a hybrid coconut plantation in the municipality of Una, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Monthly samples of fruits were taken from June 2008 to May 2010 for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mites. Aceria guerreronis represented 99.9 % of the mites. An average density of 1,117 mites per fruit and a maximum of 23,596 mites per fruit indicated that the level of infestation can be high in Bahia. Bdella ueckermanni Hernandes, Daud and Feres was the most abundant and frequent predator. Population increase of A. guerreronis was directly related to the temperature rise and inversely related to both the increase of air relative humidity and rainfall. The highest population densities occurred from November to March. The largest A. guerreronis populations occurred in fruits with 32 and 48 % of damaged surface. The relationship between prevailing wind direction and incidence of A. guerreronis could not be corroborated or refuted.

The main objectives of this study were to determine the content of secondary metabolites (carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins) of Argemone mexicana L., Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp. Fistulosa (Martius ex Choisy), Amorimia rigida (A.Juss.) W. R. Anderson, Ricinus communis L. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry using UV-VIS spectroscopy, and evaluating the bioactivity of the ethanolic extracts on citrus blackfly eggs (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, 1915). Pera sweet orange leaves infested with citrus blackfly eggs were treated by immersion in 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10%; each replicate consisted of 30 eggs. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven treatments and four replications. Three immersions of leaves with eggs were performed, and the mortality was evaluated seven days after the procedure. Leaves were placed in Petri dishes and kept in incubators [25±1°C; relative humidity (RH) 60±5% and 12 hours]. S. aromaticum peduncle presented high content of tannins and phenolic compounds, while R. communis leaves showed high content of phenolic compounds. The commercial product Bioneem © caused egg infeasibility greater than 85% at all concentrations. Treatments (10%) that caused the greatest egg mortality were Bioneem © (94.74%), R. communis extract (81.58%), and the extract of S. aromaticum peduncle (80.57%). RESUMO: Os principais objetivos deste estudo foram determinar, utilizando espectroscopia UV-VIS, os compostos secundários (carotenoides, flavonoides, compostos fenólicos e taninos) das espéciesArgenome mexicana L., Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp. Fistulosa (Martius ex Choisy), Amorimia rigida (A.Juss.) W. R. Anderson, Ricinus communis L. e Syzygium aromaticum L. (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry, bem como avaliar a bioatividade de extratos etanólicos sobre ovos da mosca -negra-dos-citros (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, 1915). Folhas de laranja Pêra infestadas com mosca-negra-dos-citros foram imersas nos tratamentos, a 0,5%, 1,0%, 5,0% e 10% de concentração; cada replicata foi constituída por 30 ovos. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Foram realizadas três imersões das folhas com ovos, tendo sido avaliada a mortalidade sete dias após as imersões. As folhas foram alocadas em placa de Petri e mantidas em câmaras climáticas (25±1°C; U.R 60±5% e 12 horas). O pedúnculo do craveiro-da-india apresentou alto teor de taninos e compostos fenólicos, e folhas de mamona apresentavam alto teor de compostos fenólicos. O produto comercial Bioneem © , em todas as concentrações, causou inviabilidade de ovos superior a 85%. Os tratamentos (10%) que causaram a maior inviabilidade de ovos foram o Bioneem © (94,74%), o extrato de mamona (81,58%) e o extrato do pedúnculo do craveiro-da-india (80,57%).

The main objectives of this study were to determine the content of secondary metabolites (carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins) of Argemone mexicana L., Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp. Fistulosa (Martius ex Choisy), Amorimia rigida (A.Juss.) W. R. Anderson, Ricinus communis L. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr.& L. M. Perry using UV-VIS spectroscopy, and evaluating the bioactivity of the ethanolic extracts on citrus blackfly eggs (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, 1915). Pera sweet orange leaves infested with citrus blackfly eggs were treated by immersion in 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10%; each replicate consisted of 30 eggs. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven treatments and four replications. Three immersions of leaves with eggs were performed, and the mortality was evaluated seven days after the procedure.Leaves were placed in Petri dishes and kept in incubators [25±1°C; relative humidity (RH) 60±5% and 12 hours]. S. aromaticum peduncle presented high content of tannins and phenolic compounds, while R. communis leaves showed high content of phenolic compounds. The commercial product Bioneem © caused egg infeasibility greater than 85% at all concentrations. Treatments (10%) that caused the greatest egg mortality were Bioneem © (94.74%), R. communis extract (81.58%), and the extract of S. aromaticum peduncle (80.57%).