Geostatistical analysis of crop yield maps in a long term no tillage system.

It is known, for a long time, that crop yields are not uniform at the field. In some places, it is possible to distinguish sites with both low and high yields even within the same area. This work aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of some crop yields and to identify potential zones for site specific management in an area under no-tillage system for 23 years. Data were analyzed from a 3.42 ha long term experimental area at the Centro Experimental Central of the Instituto Agronômico, located in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. The crop yield data evaluated included the following crops: soybean, maize, lablab and triticale, and all of them were cultivated since 1985 and sampled at a regular grid of 302 points. Data were normalized and analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistical tools in order to demonstrate and describe the structure of the spatial variability. All crop yields showed high variability. All of them also showed spatial dependence and were fitted to the spherical model, except for the yield of the maize in 1999 productivity which was fitted to the exponential model. The north part of the area presented repeated high values of productivity in some years. There was a positive cross correlation amongst the productivity values, especially for the maize crops

Danos de Tropidacris collaris (Stoll, 1813) (Orthoptera: Romaleidae) em castanheiras na reserva extrativista do rio Cajari, AP.

Resumo 1

Altered proteolytic and amydolytic activity in insecticide-susceptible and -resistant strains of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

Fitness cost is usually associated with insecticide resistance and may be mitigated by increased energy accumulation and mobilization. Preliminarily evidence from tests with Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, the maize weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) suggested possible involvement of proteinases and amylases in such a phenomenon. Therefore, trypsin-like serine-proteinases, cysteine-proteinases and α-amylases were purified and characterized from an insecticide-susceptible and two insecticide-resistant strains (one with associated fitness cost [resistant cost strain], and the other without it [resistant no-cost strain]). Trypsin-like serine-proteinases were purified by aprotinin-agarose affinity chromatography, while cysteine-proteinases were purified using thiol-sepharose affinity chromatography, and the main α-amylase of each strain was purified by glycogen precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. The activity and inhibition profile differed among strains for each group of purified enzyme. The higher levels of activity observed for trypsin-like proteinases and amylase in the resistant no-cost strain, as well as their susceptibility to inhibition provide support for the hypothesis that enhanced trypsin-like protease and α-amylase activity may be playing a major role in mitigating fitness costs associated with insecticide resistance. In contrast, enhanced cysteine-proteinase activity is likely to play only a secondary role, if any, in mitigating the costs usually associated with insecticide resistance. Keywords: Fitness cost mitigation, Insecticide resistance, Digestive enzymes, Amylases, Proteinases

Competitive strategies in fashion industries: portuguese footwear industry

Portugal is an important player in the European fashion industry. The Portuguese footwear industry, “low-tech” and traditional industry, dominated by SMEs and located in two main clusters, is a success case in the Portuguese economy. After a long period of decline until 2009, the footwear companies prepared new strategies that made big changes in the image and performance achieved. Since 2009, exports have increased more than 55% and the Portuguese footwear has grown in almost all the most important foreign markets. The competitive strategies followed by the Portuguese footwear companies are different and they can be clearly identified according Porter’s three generic competitive strategies: cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategy. This paper had analysed seven Portuguese footwear companies (seven cases, case study strategy) and the results obtained shows how important is to have the right approach to the markets, according the internal and external resources that each firm has available. The footwear clusters in Portugal and the sectorial organizations are also very important in this competitive performance achieved by the companies. Last years the Portuguese government recognize this increasing importance of the fashion industries and prepared several programs to promote these industries in Europe and other continents.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produção e predação de sementes de andiroba em floresta de várzea estuarina na Amazônia.

A andirobeira (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) é uma espécie de uso múltiplo das florestas de várzea. Além da madeira, de suas sementes é extraído um óleo medicinal utilizado pelos amazônidas e também por indústrias de fitoterápicos e/ou cosméticos. Este estudo objetiva descrever a produção de sementes de andirobeira, bem como a predação pela broca-da-andiroba (Hypsipyla spp.). A área estudada é uma floresta de várzea, pertencente ao Campo Experimental do Mazagão (Embrapa-AP), nas coordenadas (00º06'54" S e 51º17'20" W). Foram selecionadas e cercadas com tela plástica 16 andirobeiras produtivas, para evitar a perda das sementes, principalmente pelas águas do rio. As coletas foram realizadas quinzenalmente, durante três safras no período de dezembro/2011 a outubro/2014. As sementes coletadas foram separadas em sementes sadias e danificadas por larvas de Hypsipyla spp., em seguida foram quantificadas. A queda de frutos e sementes na safra de 2011/2012 ocorreu de dezembro/2011 a agosto/2012; na safra de 2012/2013 ocorreu de novembro/2012 a julho/2013 e na safra de 2013/2014, de dezembro/2013 a setembro/2014. Em todas as safras houve predação das sementes pela broca. Em 2012, as andirobeiras monitoradas produziram 9.829 sementes (47% predadas). A produção e a predação decresceram em 2013/2014: 1.689 (38% predadas) e 3.507 (31% predadas), respectivamente. A maior predação sempre ocorreu no início e no final das safras. Em 2012, nesses períodos a predação foi 100%, dando indícios de que a atividade dos predadores é dependente da abundância do recurso. Recomenda-se que as sementes não sejam coletadas no início e final da safra, devido ao maior percentual de sementes danificadas que não servem para produção de óleo. As sementes desse período também ficariam disponíveis para alimentação de roedores, que contribuem para dispersão e regeneração da espécie. Assim, sempre haverá estoque de regenerantes de andirobeiras, garantindo o futuro da floresta e a possibilidade do manejo sustentável

The monoclinic phase of PZT ceramics: Raman and phenomenological theory studies

This work reports on the first Raman detection of the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition in PZT ceramics near morphotropic phase boundary at low temperatures. The transition is characterized by changes in the frequency of lattice modes with the temperature. The results presented here confirm the previous one recently reported by Noheda et al. using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction technique and dielectric measurements. The stability of the new phase is discussed within the framework of phenomenological Landau-Devonshire Theory.Comment: 6 pages including 4 figures, Latex, submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Polyphasic characterization of gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus isolates obtained from different sugarcane varieties

Parceria: UFRJ; UFRRJ; UENF

Comportamento de híbridos e variedades de milho em região semiárida no ano agrícola 2013.

Resumo: A produção de milho no Brasil é bastante difundida, uma vez que o País apresenta áreas consideradas propensas para a implantação de tal cultura. No entanto, em algumas regiões como o Semiárido brasileiro as condições ambientais são variáveis e o que prevalece são as variedades de polinização aberta na produção do pequeno e médio produtor. Pretendendo compensar o déficit de conhecimento técnico sobre os tipos de milho mais adaptados às características climáticas da nossa região o presente trabalho tem como objetivo a realização de um estudo comparativo do comportamento e potencial produtivo do milho no Semiárido brasileiro, relevando justamente a análise do desempenho dos grãos de híbridos e variedades de polinização aberta. Na presente pesquisa, foram avaliados 72 genótipos, sendo 30 variedades de polinização aberta e 33 híbridos elites, ambos oriundos de programas de melhoramento genético. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições, sendo cada parcela constituída de duas linhas de quatro metros com espaçamento de 0,75 m entre linha e 0,20 m entre plantas. Pretendeu-se aqui identificar a variação de produtividade presente nos híbridos e variedades em relação aos tratamentos bem como a viabilidade do uso destes na região do experimento, conforme apresentado no decorrer do trabalho. [Behavior of hybrids and varieties of maize semiarid region in the agricultural year 2013]. Abstract: The maize production in Brazil is widespread, since the country has areas considered appropriate to implantation such culture. However, in some regions such as the Brazilian semiarid, the environmental conditions are variable and prevailing open pollinated varieties in the production of small and medium growers. Intending to make up the little knowledge about the maize types best adapted to the climatic characteristics from this region, this study aimed compare the behavior and yield potential of maize in Brazilian semi-arid, revealing the performance analysis of maize hybrids and open pollinated varieties. In the present study, it was evaluated 72 genotypes, being 30 open-pollinated varieties and 33 hybrids, both derived from breeding programs. The experimental design was a randomized block design with two replications, each plot consisted of two rows with four length meters, spacing 0.75 m between row and 0.20 m between plants. The intention here is to identify the variation in productivity present in hybrids and varieties in relation to treatment as well as viability of their use in the region, as presented in this work