The quality of the seeds is of great importance for the cultivation of plants, however, the quality can be altered by the abiotic effects, amongst such, saline stress. Salinity is one of the great obstacles faced by modern agriculture, however, alternatives have been researched to mitigate its effects, where it is possible to mention the use of salicylic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds cultivated using applications of salicylic acid to attenuate the irrigation water salinity. The experimental design was a completely randomized complete block design in incomplete factor scheme, with five conductivities for irrigation water (0.5, 1.3, 3.25, 5.2, 6.0 dS m -1 ) and five salicylic acid doses (0.0, 0.29, 1.0, 1.71 and 2.0 mM), with five and four replicates, respectively. The electrical conductivity presented an effect on germination, while the salicylic acid presented an effect on the germination speed index, emergence speed index, shoot length, root and seedling length, and seedlings dry mass. The highest correlations were obtained amongst the germination variables. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that salicylic acid can be used up to the dose of 1.0 mM with no further damage to basil seeds' quality.

Sesame is considered an alternative crop for small and medium farmers in the Brazilian Northeast region. However, under the conditions of the northeastern semi-arid region, the scarcity of good quality water for irrigation may lead to a reduction in the quality of the final product. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of sesame seeds produced under levels of soil salinity. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, in a 5 × 5 factorial scheme, with three replicates, corresponding to sesame cultivars (BRS Seda, BRS G2, BRS G3, BRS G4 and BRS Anahi) and soil salinity levels with the following values for electrical conductivity: 0.6 dS m-1, 1.2 dS m-1, 1.8 dS m-1, 2.4 dS m-1 and 3.0 dS m-1. The physiological quality was characterized based on tests of germination, first germination count, germination speed index, radicle length, seed electrical conductivity, emergence, emergence speed index and seedling dry matter. BRS Seda, BRS G2 and BRS G3, cultivated under salinity levels, present seeds with a better physiological quality, demonstrating a higher tolerance to salt stress conditions. The BRS Seda and BRS G2 cultivars tolerate salinity levels of up to 2.4 dS m-1, while BRS G3 tolerates levels of up to 1.8 dS m-1. BRS G4 and BRS Anahi have the physiological quality of their seeds compromised by the increase in the soil salinity, during their production.

Objetivou-se caracterizar a fenologia de quarto espécies arbóreas de ocorrência em área de caatinga na região do Semiárido paraibano. Para tanto, dez indivíduos de cada uma das espécies escolhidas: angico (Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan) – Fabaceae-Mimosoideae; aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão) – Anacardiaceae; cumaru (Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith) – Fabaceae e oiticica (Licania rigida Benth) – Chrysobalanaceae, foram marcados e numerados sequencialmente em uma área de caatinga situada na região de Pombal - PB. Quinzenalmente foram realizadas avaliações para a identificação das fenofases de brotamento, floração, frutificação e dispersão de diásporos ou sementes. As espécies Anadenanthera colubrina, Myracrodruon urundeuva e Amburana carensis são classificadas como espécies decíduas, apresentando abscisão das folhas entre setembro e dezembro (estação seca) e a rebrota entre janeiro e agosto (estação chuvosa) na região do semiárido paraibano, enquanto a Licania rigida é classificada como uma espécie perene, por não apresentar o fenômeno de abscisão foliar ao longo do período de avaliação. Todas as espécies estudadas apresentam dispersão de seus diásporos ainda na estação seca. A espécie Anadenanthera colubrina apresenta diferentes picos nas fenofases de floração ao longo do ano, com frutificação e dispersão de sementes ocorrendo parte na estação chuvosa e parte na estação seca da região. Os padrões fenológicos das quatro espécies estudadas são distinguidos de acordo com a distribuição temporal dos eventos climáticos.Phenology of four arboreal species of the Caatinga in Semiarid of ParaibaAbstract: The point of this paper was suppling necessary information to future of botany and ecology studies, in which it concerns the behavior of arboreal species. For so much, ten individuals of each one of the chosen species: “angico” (Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan) – Fabaceae-Mimosoideae; “aroeira” (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão) – Anacardiaceae; “cumaru” (Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith) – Fabaceae e “oiticica” (Licania rigida Benth) – Chrysobalanaceae, were marked and numbered sequentially in an area of Caatinga located in Pombal’s region, Paraíba. Biweekly were made evaluations for the identification of the spring up phenophases, leaf formation, flowering, fructification and seeds dispersion. The Anadenanthera colubrina, M. urundeuva Amburana carens and are classified as deciduous species, with leaf abscission between September and December (dry season) and regrowth between January and August (rainy season) in the semiarid region of Paraíba, while the Licania rigida is classified as a perennial species, not to present the phenomenon of leaf abscission during the evaluation period. All species have their diaspores dispersed even in the dry season. The species Anadenanthera colubrina has different peaks in phenological phases of flowering throughout the year, with fruiting and seed dispersal occurring in the rainy and dry season of the region. The phenology of four species aredistinguished according to the temporal distribution of weather events.

Salinity is one of the modern agriculture major obstacles, causing several physiological disturbances in plants, adversely affecting its growth and development. Therefore, some techniques are required in order to alleviate the negative effects of salinity stress on plants, as for example an adequate nitrogen fertilization. The aim of this study was to assess the ecophysiological responses of sugar apple plants (Annona squamosa L.) submitted to different salinity levels and nitrogen fertilization doses. The experimental design was a randomized block in an incomplete factorial scheme, with five electrical conductivities of the irrigation water (ECw: 0.5, 1.01, 2.25, 3.49 and 4.0 dS m-1) and five nitrogen doses (0, 101, 350, 598.2 and 700 mg dm-3), with four replicates, generated from the Box Central Composite experimental design matrix. Through a daily course, it was observed variations in gas exchange, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters. The gas exchange, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters were measured on photosynthetically active leaves. There was significant interaction between the salinity levels (ECw) and nitrogen doses for the chlorophyll indexes. The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water caused significant negative effects on chlorophyll fluorescence. Therefore, it can be stated that the sugar apple plants ecophysiology varies through the day and that salinity affects its chlorophyll content and fluorescence.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the physical and chemical quality of young palm cladodes produced with different sources and concentrations of organic fertilisation. Experimental Design: The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, corresponding to five doses and three sources of organic fertilisation.