The quality parameters of cassava roots vary between cultivars and depend on abiotic factors, such as plant nutrition. However, the magnitude of how these factors interfere is not yet well defined, especially for phosphorus (P), which is a nutrient directly linked to the synthesis of sugars and starches in plants. Thus, the objective of the research was to evaluate the quality of roots of table cassava cultivars fertilized with doses of P in the Brazilian semiarid. The research was carried out at the Rafael Fernandes experimental farm, Mossoró, RN, Brazil, from June 2018 to April 2019. The experimental design used was in randomized blocks, arranged in subdivided plots and with four replications. Doses of P (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha-1 of P2O5) were applied in the plots, and in the subplots, the table cassava cultivars (Água Morna, BRS Gema de Ovo, Recife and Venâncio). Firmness, elasticity, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total soluble sugars, starch and cooking were all evaluated. The quality of table cassava roots varied depending on the cultivar and the dose of P. Doses of P between 120 and 240 kg ha-1 of P2O5 increase the starch content and reduce the cooking time of table cassava roots.

Necrophagous dipterofauna diversity associated to different types of organic matter decomposed in two vegetation types of the semi-arid PernambucoAbstract. In the semi-arid region, there are few studies that address the necrophagous dipterofauna. Then, this study aimed to carry out a survey the fauna of necrophagous insects of Diptera order and assess its spatiotemporal distribution in different locations in the municipalities of Serra Talhada/PE and Triunfo PE. The insects have been collected during the September 2013 (dry season) and April 2014 (rainy season), using air traps with three different types of bait (fish, chicken and beef) in four collection points, three in Serra Talhada (rural area, urban area and dump city) and Triunfo (rural area). From 1,215 individuals collected were identified 12 species distributed among the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae, Stratiomyidae, Sarcophagidae, Tephritidae and Ulidiidae.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate genotypes of Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima for resistance to the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Taissi) Goid. The experiment evaluated 17 accessions of Cucurbita moschata Duchesne and 20 accessions of Cucurbita maxima Duchesne preserved in the Cucurbit Germplasm Collection of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA). Four commercial controls were also used, two for each species. In both studies, three isolates of M. phaseolina were inoculated, which are kept at the Fungal Culture Collection of UFERSA: MM1531 (GenBank identifi catio: MM1531 (GenBank identifi cation: MN136199), ME249 and ME250. Plants received inoculum of the pathogen in pieces of colonized toothpick and were evaluated for the incidence and severity of the disease. Both species showed resistant plants, but with varied frequencies for the accessions. Considering the species, the frequencies observed for C. moschata were higher than those observed for C. maxima. The accessions of C. moschata ABPUN 206 F1, P114-1, P160-2, P11-2, P114-6, P14-02 and P97-1 show different levels of resistance to the Macrophomina phaseolina isolates MM1531, ME-249 and ME-250.Thus, for an effi cient selection in a breeding program for the characteristic, the selection strategies adopted must consider each source of resistance in isolationand not each species.

The genus Cucurbita has been mentioned as a good source of carotenoids, including β-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. However, the variability observed for the genus denotes the individual need to invest in the species. An experiment was carried out with the aim of evaluating the content of total carotenoids and β-carotene in C. maxima germplasm. Treatments consisted of 23 accessions and two commercial cultivars of C. maxima. The content of total carotenoids, β-carotene, and the pulp color of the accessions were evaluated. Clustering was performed, and the components of genotypic variance, mean heritability, and accuracy were calculated. The grouping led to the formation of four groups where the total carotenoid content influenced the formation the most. There was no difference in color parameters. High variability was observed for total carotenoids in the studied genotypes (22.28 µg/g to 49.58 µg/g) and β-carotene (7.81 µg/g to 13.75 µg/g). Accessions CMAX-09, CMAX-10, CMAX-12, CMAX-13, and CMAX-14 showed the highest levels of total carotenoids and β-carotene.