ABSTRACT Several studies have shown that the survival and reproduction of lacewings varies depending on the type of prey they consumed, especially during the first instar. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a diet consisting of Ephestia kuehniella (EK) and/or Planococcus-citri (PC) eggs offered to first instar Chrysoperla externa on subsequent development and survival. Larvae supplied only with P. citri (PC) nymphs had extended immature development, low survival, adults with lower weight and longevity, low fecundity and egg viability, and lower net reproduction rate (R0). Larvae submitted to the treatment EK+PC responded positively to the diet, showing results similar to those obtained in the control-EK treatment. Therefore, this mealybug supports suitable development and reproduction of C. externa when it is provided to second instar larvae after they fed on E. kuehniella eggs as first instars. As far as we know, this is the first report that demonstrates the effect of natural prey and alternatives on different larval stages of lacewings. This information is valuable in developing protocols for use of C. externaas a pest control agent.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three dehydration/rehydration cycles on the vegetative growth and shoot dry matter of citrus seedlings, as well as seedling acclimatization to this environmental stress. The five following water regimes were evaluated: WR1 (control), WR2, and WR3, with plants kept at 100, 75, and 50% of pot capacity during the three cycles, respectively; and WR4 and WR5, with plants kept at 75, 100, and 75% and 50, 100, and 50% of pot capacity during the first, second, and third cycles, respectively. Relative water content, plant height, length and diameter of the main and secondary branches, angle of leaf insertion in the branch, specific leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, and dry matter were evaluated. Rehydration after a cycle with 50% of pot capacity did not improve plant growth or dry matter accumulation in relation to the well-hydrated plants of the control. However, after a cycle with 75% of pot capacity, rehydration restores water content, the diameter of the secondary branches, and the angle of leaf insertion. The exposure to successive events of dehydration/rehydration makes the citrus seedlings more resistant to future exposures to water stress.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de três ciclos consecutivos de desidratação/reidratação no crescimento vegetativo e na matéria seca de mudas de citros, bem como a aclimatação dessas mudas a esse estresse ambiental. Foram avaliados os seguintes cinco regimes hídricos: WR1 (controle), WR2 e WR3, com plantas mantidas em 100, 75 e 50% da capacidade de vaso durante os três ciclos, respectivamente; e WR4 e WR5, com plantas mantidas em 75, 100 e 75% e 50, 100 e 50% da capacidade de vaso durante o primeiro, o segundo e o terceiro ciclo, respectivamente. Foram avaliados teor relativo de água, altura da planta, comprimento e diâmetro dos ramos principal e secundário, ângulo de inserção da folha no ramo, área foliar específica, teor de clorofila foliar e matéria seca. A reidratação após um ciclo com 50% da capacidade do vaso não aumentou o crescimento nem o acúmulo de matéria seca das plantas, em comparação às plantas bem hidratadas do controle. Porém, após um ciclo com 75% da capacidade do vaso, a reidratação repôs o teor de água, o diâmetro dos ramos secundários e o ângulo de inserção das folhas. A exposição a sucessivos eventos de desidratação/reidratação torna as mudas de citros mais resistentes a futuras exposições ao estresse hídrico.

ABSTRACT Salinity is recognized as one of the main abiotic stresses, causing declines in the productivity of many crops, such as rice. Considering the importance of rice as a staple food crop, the generalized pattern of salinization in soils around the globe and the sensitivity of the crop to saline soils, the aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity / tolerance of upland rice lines. The upland rice lines used in this work were obtained from the Genetic Improvement Program of the Universidade Federal de Lavras. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with a block design and factorial scheme, with 10 lines and four NaCl treatments (0, 3, 15 and 45 mmol·L-1) on the substrate. Parameters related to the emergence rate, seedling survival rate, growth and architecture, biomass allocation, gas exchange and productivity were evaluated. Salinity levels influenced the emergence and survival rates, especially at the highest levels of NaCl, with lines L1, L4 and L5 showing survival below 60%. These lines were excluded from the experiment, and the other seven lines were carried out until the end of the crop cycle. Grain weight per plant (GWP) was used as an indicator of greater tolerance to salinity, and lines L6, L7 and L8 showed outstanding performance under treatments with increased NaCl. L6 had the highest GWP, while L7 and L8 had less pronounced decreases with increasing NaCl doses. These three lines may be recommended for further studies about the impacts of NaCl on rice production.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the consumption of Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) nymphs and the predator:prey ratio required for high predatory efficacy and survival of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larvae under different densities of prey, reared in rose bushes. Consumption by first-, second-, and third-instar larvae of C. externa was assessed. The predatory efficiency and survival of the predator were calculated for larvae in the second instar under densities of 20, 40, 80, 120, and 160 nymphs of P. citri and predator:prey ratios of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20. The assessments were performed after 24 and 48 hours of exposure between species. There was increasing consumption throughout the larval development of C. externa. The predator:prey ratios 1:5 and 1:10 were the most efficient for P. citri population reduction, but the 1:5 ratio led to lower survival of larvae than the 1:10 and 1:20 ratios. There was a positive correlation between C. externa larval density and cannibalism (ρ = 0.45) and a negative correlation between predator density and P. citri population density (ρ = -0.81). Third-instar larvae consume more P. citri nymphs than second-instar larvae. Second-instar larvae of this lacewing released at a 1:20 ratio caused total mortality of mealybug nymphs within 48 hours, regardless the density of P. citri, with high larvae survival of C. externa.

ABSTRACT The predator Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a polyphagous species that has, among its wide range of acceptable prey, the aphid Macrosiphum rosae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), an important pest of rose plants. We assessed the consumption of nymphs and adults of M. rosae by C. externa larvae, the predatory efficiency, and larval survival under different predator:prey ratios, densities of aphids, and ages of aphids. The bioassays were performed at 25 ± 1°C and 70 ± 10% RH under a 12-hour photoperiod, with aphids taken from roses of the cultivar Avalanche. Consumption was assessed by making young aphids (2nd and 3rd instars) and more developed aphids (4th instar and adult) available throughout the larval stage of the predator. The predatory efficiency and survival were studied for second-instar larvae offered M. rosae nymphs at densities of 20, 40, 80, 120, and 160 using predator:prey ratios of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20. The assessments were performed 24, 48, and 72 hours after putting the species together. All of the C. externa instars consumed younger than older aphids. Larvae in the third instar consumed 80% of the young aphids and 77% of the older aphids. The higher the predator:prey ratio and larval density, the higher the predatory efficiency and the lower the larval survival. The ratios 1:5 and 1:10 led to the elimination of younger and older aphid populations 72 hours into the interaction between species.

ABSTRACT. The current scenario of increased water scarcity is due to climate change and directly affects food production. It is thus necessary to develop strategies to mitigate the impacts of low water availability. Therefore, the goal of the present study is to evaluate the physiological behaviour of melon cultivars under water stress. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment in the experimental Submedium region of the São Francisco River Valley in the period ranging from October to December. In this study, we used the melon cultivars 'Amarelo' and 'Piel de Sapo'. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replicates that were subdivided into plots, where the plots were comprised of four irrigation rates (50, 75, 100, and 125% of crop evapotranspiration - CET), subplots were comprised of the two melon cultivars, and sub-subplots were comprised of samplings for physiological analyses (15, 30, and 45 days after transplanting). The parameters evaluated were stomatal conductance, transpiration, net photosynthesis, relationship CI/CA, and accumulated dry matter. Water stress reduced the stomatal conductance, transpiration, net photosynthesis, CI/CA, and accumulated dry matter. 'Piel de Sapo' showed a higher photosynthetic adjustment than 'Amarelo' melon due to the gas exchange behaviour of the former, and it was, therefore, more tolerant to water stress.