The aim of this study was to determine the species predatory mites on strawberry crop and associated plants in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. It was conducted in Bom Princípio, Capitão and Lajeado counties, in crops of strawberry Oso Grande variety in low tunnels. The evaluations were done monthly between August 2002 and March 2004. In the plants of strawberry, the samples were constituted of three leaves collected in each of 15 plants taken randomly, totaling 45 leaves/field. In the associated plants, the sampling effort was of one hour for each plant evaluated. Mites of the families Ascidae, Parasitidae, Phytoseiidae, Cunaxidae, Erythraeidae, Stigmaeidae and Tydeidae were observed associated with the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836, important pest of this crop in the region where the study was conducted. Twenty species were identified, 14 of which belong to the family Phytoseiidae. Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks, 1905) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) were the most common species. On associated plants, the highest diversity of predatory mites was found on Richardia sp. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as espécies de ácaros predadores associados à cultura do morango e em plantas associadas, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Este estudo foi conduzido nos municípios de Bom Princípio, Capitão e Lajeado em plantações de morango da variedade Oso Grande em túnel baixo. As avaliações foram feitas mensalmente entre agosto de 2002 e março de 2004. Nas plantas de morango, as amostras foram constituídas de três folhas coletadas em cada uma das 15 plantas escolhidas ao acaso, totalizando 45 folhas/campo. Nas plantas associadas, o esforço de amostragem foi de uma hora para cada planta avaliada. Ácaros das famílias Ascidae, Parasitidae, Phytoseiidae, Cunaxidae, Erythraeidae, Stigmaeidae e Tydeidae foram observados associados com o ácaro rajado, Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836, praga importante na região onde este estudo foi conduzido. Vinte espécies foram identificadas, 14 das quais pertencem à família Phytoseiidae. Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks, 1905) e Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) foram as espécies mais comuns. Nas plantas asssociadas, a maior diversidade foi observada em Richardia sp. (seis espécies), Agerantum conyzoides L.(quatro espécies) e Sonchus oleraceus L., Bidens pilosa L.e Rumex sp. (três espécies). Uma chave docotômica é apresentada para a identificação das espécies.Palavras-chave: biodiversidade, Phytoseiidae, Phytoseiulus macropilis, Neoseiulus californicus.

No abstract

Resumo-Coleópteros da família Chrysomelidae são importantes pragas no Brasil por causarem injúrias e afetarem o crescimento das árvores. Dentre os crisomelideos, a subfamília Eumolpinae possui maior número de espécies registradas como pragas. O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar a ocorrência e avaliar o ataque de Costalimaita lurida (Lefévre, 1891) em um plantio de Eucalyptus spp. no norte de Minas Gerais. O ataque foi observado em setembro de 2006, em plantio com 12 meses de idade, com as seguintes espécies injuriadas: Eucalyptus grandis, E. saligna, E. urophylla, E. robusta, um híbrido entre E. grandis e E. urophylla e também Corymbia torelliana. Termos para indexação: Besouro desfolhador, Corymbia torelliana, praga. Occurrence of Costalimaita lurida (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Eucalyptus spp. in Minas Gerais state, Brazil Abstract-Chrysomelids are important pests in forest plantations because they cause injuries and affect tree growth. Among the chrysomelid, Eumolpinae subfamily presents the greatest number of species recorded as pest. The purpose of this study was to register the occurrence and evaluate the attack of Costalimaita lurida (Lefévre, 1891) in a plantation of Eucalyptus spp. in the northern of Minas Gerais state. The attack was observed in September 2006 on a twelve months old plantation of age with the following species being injuried: Eucalyptus grandis, E. saligna, E. urophylla, E. robusta, a hybrid of E. grandis and E. urophylla and also Corymbia torelliana.

The MeJA has been shown to be promising in reducing the damages caused by cold and maintaining the quality in several products. Nevertheless, few studies are conducted with flowers and there are no studies of its use in bird of paradise. The objective of this study was to determine whether the pulsing application with MeJA submitted to cold storage promotes physiological changes of the bird of paradise. Flowers were placed in solutions of 200 g L -1 sucrose added with 100, 250 and 400 µmol L -1 MeJA and control without MeJA for 24 h. The stems were transferred to containers with water at 5 ºC for 28 days. During storage, the water uptake rate, transpiration and fresh mass were reduced, while the electrolyte leakage and phenolic compounds increased. The application of MeJA did not reduce the loss of fresh mass and electrolyte leakage. The application of 400 µmol L -1 MeJA has increased peroxidase activity since day 14 of storage. It is concluded that the application of MeJA with pulsing under refrigeration does not promote positive physiological changes for the maintenance of the quality in bird of paradise flowers.

Yerba mate is a plant of great socioeconomic importance in southern South America. Little has been published about the phytoseiid mite fauna of yerba mate. This paper presents information about the morphology and distribution of phytoseiid mites collected in yerba mate in the Ilópolis and Putinga counties of Brazil between 2002 and 2004. Four areas with of different forms of cultivation in every county were sampled. A list of the species recorded from that state, and a key for their identification are provided. Sixteen phytoseiid mites species were identified, belonging to 11 genera in the subfamilies Amblyseiinae (13 species) and Typhlodrominae (three species). The most abundant genus was Amblyseius with three species. Phytoscutus sexpilis Muma, 1961 and Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus Lofego, Demite & Feres, 2011 are reported for the first time from Rio Grande do Sul state. This study also includes the description of a new species, Typhlodromips pallinii n. sp.

The objective of this study was to determine the storage efficiency and reconditioning of potato cv. Innovator for processing. Tubers were stored at 6, 7 and 8 °C in the dark for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days and reconditioned at 15 °C for 15 days. TRS and RS were reduced as storage temperature increased from 6 + 15 °C to 8 + 15 °C. Regardless of temperature and storage time, sugar contents were suitable for industry; however non-enzymatic browning remained in category 2 for up to 60, 90 and 150 days in tubers stored at 6 + 15 °C, 7 + 15 °C and 8 + 15 °C, respectively. Starch was influenced by storage time, despite the absence of temperature effect. Regardless of the temperature, sprouting started at 90 days, but the growth of shoots was directly proportional to the increase in temperature. The PPO and POD increased at the beginning of storage but did not cause darkening before the frying. Reduction in storage temperature followed by reconditioning did not delay the onset of sprouting, but reduced the size of sprouts, maintained adequate sugar levels, however it promoted non-enzymatic browning.

This paper reports on the Phytoseiidae from an Araucaria forest in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, describing four new species, namely Transeius kroeffis n. sp., Typhlodromalus araucariae n. sp., Typhlodromips pompeui n. sp. and Typhlodromips salvadorii n. sp.. Iphiseiodes moraesi Ferla & Silva, Neoseiulus tunus (DeLeon), Typhlodromips japi Lofego, Demite & Feres, Typhlodromips pallinii Gonçalves, Silva & Ferla, Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus Lofego, Demite & Feres are reported for the first time from this type of habitat in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Mechanical damage and storage conditions may alter carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative enzyme activity, causing darkening and impairing the use of tubers in pre-fried potato processing industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic changes and carbohydrate metabolism of ‘Markies’ potato tubers subjected to mechanical damage and exposed to high temperatures before processing. The tubers were stored for 4 months at 8 °C, and further divided into treatment with impact and abrasion damage; and control treatment, in which the tubers were not damaged. Afterwards, they were stored at 28 °C room temperature, evaluated for loss of accumulated fresh mass (FML); total soluble sugar (TSS), reducing sugar (RS) and non-reducing sugar (NRS); color after frying and activity of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after placed at room temperature. The mechanical damages incremented FML, RS, PPO and TSS, NRS and POD up to 35.6, 34, and 22 h, respectively. Regardless of the occurrence of mechanical damage and the period of evaluation, the sticks showed a light color after frying and were classified in category 2. The increase in the evaluation time led to the rise in FML and the PPO activity. It is concluded that the mechanical damages increase the FML and cause darkening of the tips of the sticks after frying, however this variety still display qualities that are suitable for industrial processing.