Na semeadura da cultura do feijão-caupi, fatores adversos como o estresse hídrico podem prejudicar o estabelecimento do estande. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a emergência de sementes de duas genótipos de feijão-caupi sob a influência de diferentes níveis de água disponível no solo. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de túnel plástico na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Pombal, (PB), adotando-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com os tratamentos distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 4 x 2, correspondentes a quatro níveis de água disponível (40; 60; 80 e 100%) e dois genótipos de feijão-caupi (BRS Pujante e Costela de Vaca), com três repetições. Foram avaliados: Primeira contagem de emergência, Índice de velocidade de emergência e Porcentagem de emergência. Os níveis de água disponível no solo de 40 e 60% de água disponível (AD) são limitantes na fase inicial de desenvolvimento do feijão-caupi, reduzindo à emergência de ambas as genótipos estudadas. O nível de 80% de água disponível no solo é satisfatório à emergência das plantas de feijão-caupi, independente da variedade. A variedade Costela de Vaca obteve maiores percentagens de emergência e maior vigor sob condições de estresse hídrico que a variedade BRS Pujante.

Assessing the differential behavior of a group of genotypes in various environments is fundamentally important in any breeding program. As sugarcane is the most important crop in the state of Pernambuco, it is of great relevance to study its performance in different cultivation sites to assist in the recommendation of new cultivars that increase the productivity of the cane fields. In view of the new demand from the sugar-energy sector for cultivars with high energy potential, this work aimed to select and recommend new genotypes with high fiber and sucrose percentage in the sugarcane microregions of the state of Pernambuco. The methodologies used to classify genotypes for adaptability and stability were as follows: simple linear regression, the modified centroid method, additive main effects, multiplicative interaction analysis, and linear mixed models. Genotypes with higher productivity and specific adaptability to the tested microregions were identified. The methodologies applied were efficient and complementary in recommending genotypes with favorable prospects for increasing sugar productivity, cogeneration of electric energy and the production of renewable fuels. Genotypes 6, 7, 9, 14, 16, and 18 stand out in terms of the productivity of sugar and fiber, with high potential to be released as commercial cultivars.

Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes métodos de superação da dormência de sementes e doses de esterco na produção de mudas de graviola (Annona muricata L.). O trabalho foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação no Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Agroalimentar da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande Campus Pombal. Para a superação da dormência nas sementes foram empregadas: T1 -sementes intactas, como testemunha; T2 -Escarificação no lado oposto a micrópila, com auxílio de uma lixa nº 80; T3 -Corte lateral do tegumento, com auxílio de um estilete; T4 e T5 -Imersão em ácido giberélico (GA 3 ) durante 96 horas a 0,5 e 4,0 mg L -1 , empregando quatro doses de esterco bovino (0,0; 15; 30 e 45%) em substituição ao solo. Foi usado o esquema fatorial 5 x 4 com quatro repetições de duas plantas por parcela. Os métodos pré-germinativos não diferiram quanto à emergência e mostraram-se pouco representativos quanto ao crescimento das mudas de graviola com destaque para os tratamentos usando ácido giberélico (GA 3 ) num período de até os 60 dias após a semeadura. Doses de esterco de até 45% em substituição ao solo causam efeito negativo no crescimento das mudas de gravioleira independente do método de superação de dormência. Palavras-chave:Annona muricata L.; Fruticultura; Propagação. Abstract:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different methods of overcoming dormancy and doses of manure in seeds and soursop (Annona muricata L.) seedlings. The work was developed in a greenhouse at the CCTA / UFCG. Four doses of bovine manure (0,0; 15; 30 and 45%) were used and to overcome dormancy were used: T1 -Intact seeds as a control; T2 -Scarification on the opposite side of the micropyle, using a nº 80 sandpaper; T3 -Side cut of the tegument, with the aid of a stylet; T4 and T5 -Immersion in gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) for 96 hours, at 0.5 and 4.0 mg L -1 , using four doses of bovine manure (0.0, 15, 30 and 45%) instead of the soil. The 5 x 4 factorial scheme was used with four replicates of two plants per plot. The pre-germination methods did not differ in the emergence and were not very representative for the growth of graviola seedlings, especially the treatments using gibberellic acid (GA3) in a period up to 60 days after sowing. Doses of manure up to 45% in substitution to the soil cause negative effect on the growth of soursop seedlings regardless of the method of overcoming dormancy.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the productivity and quality of a melon crop treated with fruit thinning and main stem pruning under field conditions. Experimental Design: The treatments comprised the amount of fruit thinning in the plant (one, two and without thinning) and the period of main stem pruning (35, 40, 45 and 50 days after transplanting -DAT). The crop was set up in a randomized block design factorial of type 3x4, with five replications. Location and Duration of the Study: The experiment carried out at Methodology: The Hopey King hybrid of the Cantaloupe group was cultivated at a spacing of 2.0 x 0.4 m. Results: The plants without thinning of fruits provided lower values of leaf area and fruits of lower mass. However, due to their higher quantity per hectare, the crop total productivity was high. On the other hand, plants with fewer fruits had the highest values of soluble solids, total and non-reducing soluble sugars. The leaf area, fruit mass, total productivity, and the concentration of reducing and non-reducing soluble sugars were higher when the plants were pruned at 35 DAT. Conclusion: The fruit thinning and main stem pruning affected the production and quality of melon fruits significantly. For more demanding markets, we recommend to treat the plants with one or two fruits and prune at 35 days after transplantation, aiming to enhance the quality variables.

The coverage of plants with agrotextiles of different colors and length of stay may influence the productivity of the crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the use of colored agrotextiles and their length of stay on the cultivation of melon plants in the conditions of the semiarid region of Paraíba. The experiment was fulfilled out at the Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Campina Grande, located in the municipality of São Domingos – PB.  The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with four repetitions and consisting of four colors of agrotextile (orange, white, gray, and blue) and four lengths of stay (15, 18, 21, and 24 days after transplanting).  The following characteristics were evaluated: active photosynthetic radiation, average temperature, number of fruits per plant, average fruit mass and total productivity. The use of colored agrotextiles associated with the length of stay promoted a change in the production characteristics of the yellow melon fruits. The highest productivity, number of fruits, and mass of the melon fruits were obtained when the plants were covered with the orange-colored agrotextile at 15, 18, and 24 days after transplantation, respectively. The long stay of the agrotextile affected the content of total soluble solids.