Biodegradable nanoparticles have been widely explored as carriers for controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules; however, studies describing the development of nanoparticles as carriers for biopesticide products are few. In this work, a new method to prepare nanoparticles loaded with neem (Azadirachta indica) extracts is presented. In this study, nanoparticles were formulated as colloidal suspension and (spray-dried) powder and characterized by evaluating pH, particle size, zeta potential, morphology, absolute recovery, and entrapment efficiency. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used for nanoparticle characterization. The best formulations presented absolute recovery and entrapment efficiencies of approximately 100% and a release profile based on swelling and relaxation of the polymer or polymer erosion. The biological data of the formulated products against Plutella xylostella showed 100% larval mortality. The nanoparticle information improved the stability of neem products against ultraviolet radiation and increased their dispersion in the aqueous phase.

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-The genetic divergence of sixteen rice cultivars regarding their resistance to the rice stem bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stål, was estimated by multivariate analysis techniques. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, in randomized block design with eight replications. Eight plant resistance related traits were evaluated. Genetic divergence was evaluated by multivariate procedures: generalized Mahalanobis (D 2 ) distance, the Tocher's grouping optimization method and canonical variables. The most dissimilar cultivars were Bico Ganga and Marabá Branco, while Agulha and Branco Tardão were the most similar. Five clusters were formed by the Tocher's optimization method. Three canonic variables explained 88.5% of the observed variation. We concluded that the multivariate analysis techniques are suitable for analyzing the genetic divergence among rice cultivars, indicating Bico Ganga and Marabá Branco as the most promising for future breeding programs of resistance to the rice stem bug.KEY WORDS: Plant breeding, rice stem bug, multivariate analysis RESUMO -A divergência genética de 16 cultivares de arroz quanto à resistência ao percevejo-docolmo-do-arroz, Tibraca limbativentris Stål, foi avaliada por meio de técnicas de análise multivariada. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com oito repetições. Na avaliação foram considerados oito caracteres de resistência ao ataque do inseto. A divergência genética foi avaliada por procedimentos multivariados: distância generalizada de Mahalanobis (D 2 ), método de agrupamento de otimização de Tocher e técnica de variáveis canônicas. As cultivares mais dissimilares foram Bico Ganga e Marabá Branco, enquanto Agulha e Branco Tardão foram as mais similares. Foram formados cinco grupos pelo método de otimização de Tocher. As três primeiras variáveis canônicas explicaram 88,5% da variabilidade total disponível. Conclui-se que as técnicas de análise multivariada são efi cientes para a análise da divergência genética entre as cultivares de arroz, com destaque para Marabá Branco e Bico Ganga, consideradas as mais promissoras a serem utilizadas em futuros cruzamentos para melhoramento visando resistência ao percevejo-do-colmo-do-arroz. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Melhoramento de plantas, percevejo-do-colmo-do-arroz, análise multivariada O Brasil é o nono produtor mundial de arroz, Oryza sativa, e, excluindo-se os países asiáticos, o maior produtor. A metade da população mundial tem o arroz como sua principal fonte de alimento. As médias de produção e consumo de arroz no Brasil nos últimos dez anos foram de, respectivamente, 10,3 e 11,6 milhões de toneladas (Ferreira et al 2005). A