Okra performance intercropped with small size and erect green manure in two production systemsTo evaluate the agronomic viability of the intercropping okra crop (Abelmoschus esculentus) with small size and erect green manuring species Mucuna deeringiana and Crotalaria spectabilis, two experiments were carried out, one in conventional system at Monte Alegre do Sul, São Paulo state, Brazil, from February to July 2008 and one in an organic system at São Roque, São Paulo state, Brazil, from December 2008 to June 2009. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks, with five treatments and five replications. The five treatments were constituted by okra monoculture and okra intercropped with one or two lines of M. deeringiana and one or two lines of C.spectabilis in the seeded at the same time of the okra crop. In organic farming two new treatments were added to the experiment to evaluate the green manures in single cropping. Production, number of fruits per plant, fruit length and diameter and plant height were evaluated in okra plants and plant height and fresh matter weight were determined in the green manuring plants at different periods after seeding.. The evaluation of the efficiency of the consortium was measured by the ratio of area equivalent (RAE). Average yield per okra plant was 190.9 and 582.0 g plant -1, respectively, under conventional and organic cropping. The RAE was 1.5 and 1.6 in the consortium of okra with two rows of M. deeringiana and Crotalaria spectabilis, respectively. Intercropping erect short green manuring species with okra is agronomically viable and can be used by family farmers without interference with the yield of okra crop.

Com o aumento da demanda por produtos ecologicamente corretos tornaram-se necessários estudos de novas tecnologias para inseri-las no método de cultivo orgânico para que se tenha um crescimento sustentável da atividade. Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho de cultivares e híbridos de hortaliças cultivados seqüencialmente no método orgânico, em diferentes ambientes. O delineamento experimental foi de parcelas sub-subdivididas com 3 repetições, resultando em 24 unidades experimentais. Foram estudados dois métodos de irrigação (aspersão convencional e localizada por gotejamento); duas coberturas do solo (plástico e palha) e dois híbridos ou cultivares de espécies de hortaliças, sendo que para o cultivo do feijão-vagem utilizou-se apenas uma cultivar. Conduziram-se concomitantemente dois cultivos seqüenciais de hortaliças: (1) alface americana - tomate - brócolis e; (2) alface crespa - feijão-vagem - repolho. Avaliaram-se as características produtivas de cada espécie. Na seqüência (1) o cultivo da alface americana teve melhor desempenho quando irrigada por gotejamento, não havendo diferença entre as coberturas do solo, sendo a cv 'Rubette' a mais produtiva. O tomateiro foi mais produtivo no "mulching"plástico, independentemente do método de irrigação e o brócolis teve desempenho semelhante entre os tratamentos. Na seqüência (2) a alface crespa e o feijão-vagem foram mais produtivos quando irrigados por gotejamento e cultivados em cobertura plástica. O repolho teve melhor desempenho na cobertura do solo com filme plástico.

Aims This study aimed to gather information on farming practices employed in organic lettuce fields in Sao Paulo, Brazil and associate these practices with the microbiological characteristics of the products. Methods and Results Practices were surveyed using a questionnaire applied in ten farms, where 200 heads of lettuce were collected and submitted to enumeration of total coliforms and generic Escherichia coli and tested for Salmonella spp. using culture and molecular (qPCR) methods. Based on the responses, the farms could be clustered in two groups: group 1, comprised by six farms, where chicken manure was used as fertilizer in most of them and the composting process was not performed on site; and group 2, comprised by four farms, where other types of fertilizer were used, and the composting process was performed on site. Generic E. coli was detected in 56 (28%) samples, with an average of 1·1 ± 0·7 log MPN per g. Salmonella DNA was detected in two (1%) samples by qPCR. Conclusions The prevalence and bacterial loads of generic E. coli, and the occurrence of Salmonella, even at low populations undetectable by conventional culture methods, highlight the need for control measures during farming practices to reduce microbial contamination and risks of foodborne illnesses. These measures include the use of properly composted manure and appropriate washing procedures for leafy vegetables before consumption. Significance and Impact of the Study The obtained data contribute to a better understanding of the farming practices of organically grown lettuces in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

RESUMOEm Pariquera-Açu, SP, em maio de 1987, foi plantado um ensaio com o objetivo de avaliar as variedades IAC Azteca Centenário, IAC Maya Latente, IAC-1 e IAC-VD 2 e dois híbridos comerciais de milho verde, Agroceres 162 e Cargill 742, quanto à resistência à lagarta da espiga, espessura do peri¬ carpo do grão e outros caracteres de importância agronômica. O ataque da lagarta foi avaliado utilizando-se a escala modificada por Widstrom e a contagem do furo de safda da lagarta. A espessura do pericarpo, medida através de um relógio comparador, foi retirada de duas posições de grãos embebidos em solução de glicerol e de uma posição em grãos secos. Outros caracteres agronômicos estudados foram: germinação e vigor das sementes usadas; estande final; altura da planta e da espiga; porcentagem de palha na espiga; número, rendimento, peso total e peso médio das espigas comer¬ ciáveis; peso de grãos e resistência a Exserohilum turticum (Pass.) Leonard e Suggs. As variedades, com exceção da IAC-VD 2, apresentaram produção inferior aos híbridos. Quanto ao ataque do E. turcicum, o Cargill 742, IAC-VD 2 e IAC Maya Latente foram resistentes, e 'Agroceres 162', intermediário, 'IAC-1' e IAC Azteca Centenário', suscetíveis. Os resultados obtidos pelos métodos de avaliação do ataque da lagarta da espiga -a escala de Widstrom e a contagem do furo de safda -foram equivalentes na discriminação dos genótipos. A 'IAC Azteca Centenária foi a mais resistente e a IAC Maya Latente, a mais suscetível. A espessura do pericarpo variou entre os genótipos, sendo maior no 'Agroceres 162' e IAC Azteca Centenário'. ABSTRACT GREEN CORN: EVALUATION OF EARWORM RESISTANCE, PERICARP THICKNESS AND OTHER AGRONOMIC CHARACTERSThe varieties IAC Azteca Centenário, IAC Maya Latente, IAC-1 and IAC-VD 2 and the hybrid Cargill 742 and Agroceres 162 were evaluated for resistance to corn earworm, pericarp thickness and other agronomic characters, in a trial planted at May 1987 in the Pariquera-Acu Experimental Station, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The earworm infestation was estimated by the revised Widstrom scale and the presence of caterpillar exit holes in the husk. The kernel pericarp was measured with a comparative watch, using kernels soaked in glicerol solution and dried kernels. The other agronomic characters studied were: final stand, plant and ear height husk percentage of the ear; number, yield, total weight and medium weight of commercial ears; grain weight; and resistance to Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs. Except for the IAC-VD 2, all varieties were less productive than the hybrids. In relation to E. turcicum, Cargill 742, IAC Maya Latente and IAC-VD 2 were resistant Agroceres 162 was intermediated; and IAC-1 and IAC Azteca Centenário were susceptible. Similar results were obtained with the evaluation methods to lhe earworm infestation -revised Widstrom scale and presence of caterpillar exit hole in the husk. IAC Azteca Centenário and IAC Maya Latente were respectively the less and the more damage by corn earworm. Pericarp thickness w...

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