ABSTRACT: With the aim of making the application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) feasible in the management of the West Indian fruit fly in Brazil, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a number of quality parameters required by the SIT were investigated in this study. The aim was to verify the influence of a range of doses of gamma radiation (40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 Gy) on the fertility of females and to evaluate several quality control parameters, such as fly emergence, sex ratio, flight ability and survival under stress, as well as the characterization of the morphology (measurement of length and width) of the ovaries and testicles of A. obliqua. Pupae with 24 h before adult emergence were irradiated at CENA/Universidade de São Paulo. The radiosterilization test showed no difference between treatments for the parameters of fly emergence, sex ratio and survival under stress. The radiation at doses above 40 Gy resulted in ovarian atrophy in females and the absence of egg production. In males, the radiation also affected testicular development. Considering the quality parameters assessed, the sterilization results obtained agreed with previous data in the literature for other A. obliqua strains, and the dose of 60 Gy could be considered as the best compromise between insect quality and full sterility for the Brazilian strain of A. obliqua evaluated.

ABSTRACT: Macrodactylus pumilio Burm. (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae) and Naupactus cervinus (Boh.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are considered primary pests in citrus crops in Brazil, causing damage to plants and decreasing productivity. However, few studies investigate the ecology of these insects. In this context, the use of stable isotopes analysis (SIA) emerges as an alternative technique to conventional studies of behavioral ecology because it is faster and may explain feeding behavior based on the food source for each species. Field sampling and laboratory experiments were carried out to examine the changes of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) among pests and host plants (C3 citrus and C4 grasses), providing means to examine trophic interactions. Beetles were collected at the municipality of Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo State, identified and kept at 5 °C in saturated saline solution until the SIA. Two patterns for both species were found: δ13C value for N. cervinus was -23.6 ‰ and -13 ‰ for M. pumilio, indicating similarity between the results of δ13C of N. cervinus and citrus plants (-26 ‰) and dependence on grasses (-12 ‰) for M. pumilio individuals. The mean δ15N value was 4.3 and 5.8 ‰ for citrus plants and grass leaves, respectively, and the mean δ15N value was 4.4 ‰ for N. cervinus and 4.9 ‰ for M. pumilio. The results showed a higher affinity of N. cervinus for citrus roots since the larval stage compared with the alternative diet on M. pumilio.

Resumo A radiação ionizante pode ser utilizada para diferentes fins na indústria alimentícia. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o efeito das doses de irradiação (0, 0,5, 1,0 e 1,5 kGy) nos parâmetros de qualidade nutricional de tomates longa vida (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), durante quatro períodos de armazenamento (1, 7, 14 e 21 dias). Os diferentes tratamentos foram avaliados por análises de cor, pH, teor de sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez titulável total (ATT), razão (SST/AT), firmeza/textura, teor total de licopeno e ácido ascórbico, perda de peso e fase de maturação (taxa de O2 /CO2), em todos os períodos de armazenamento. As amostras de tomate foram irradiadas em irradiador de Co60 e mantidas a 22 °C ± 1 °C. A qualidade dos frutos foi influenciada pelo processo de irradiação, basicamente tornando os frutos mais macios e não degradando os parâmetros de ácido ascórbico e licopeno, nas doses propostas por este estudo. O processo de irradiação, nas doses avaliadas, é promissor na manutenção da qualidade dos tomates longa vida.

Abstract Ionizing radiation can be used for different purposes in the food industry. In this study, the effect of irradiation doses (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kGy) on the quality parameters of long life tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), was evaluated during 4 storage periods (1, 7, 14 and 21 days). The different treatments were evaluated by analysing for colour, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), ratio (TSS/TTA), hardness, total lycopene and ascorbic acid contents, weight loss and maturation stage (O2 /CO2 ratio) for all the storage periods. The tomato samples were irradiated in a Co60 irradiator and maintained at 22 °C ± 1 °C. The quality of the tomato fruits was influenced by the gamma radiation basically by making the fruits softer and not degrading the ascorbic acid and lycopene contents at the doses evaluated. The irradiation process used in the doses evaluated was promising with respect to maintaining the quality parameters of long life tomatoes.

RESUMOÉ necessário o desenvolvimento de ferramentas que auxiliem no mapeamento de solos, a fim de agilizar o processo e melhorar sua precisão. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo integrar diversas tecnologias no desenvolvimento de um mapa de solos na região de Piracicaba-SP, Brasil. Esperava-se que cada produto fornecesse informações diferenciadas que, em conjunto, resultassem em um mapa de nível detalhado. Foram realizadas incursões a campo e amostragem de terra para análise em laboratório. Inicialmente, foram obtidos padrões de solos de uma área referência, com incursões a campo. Posteriormente, em uma área desconhecida, foram aplicados os padrões previamente conhecidos, baseado somente nos produtos sensores e bases cartográficas, a saber: imagens LANDSAT 7/ETM, modelo digital de terreno (MDT) e fotografias aéreas. A integração das informações de cada produto gerou um mapa da área desconhecida, o qual foi posteriormente validado com novas incursões a campo. A classificação textural por imagem de satélite variou de 21 a 51% de acerto. A banda 5 do sensor foi a melhor na discriminação de solos argilosos e arenosos. Em termos de contribuição, as fotografias aéreas foram o melhor produto utilizado, pois além das características a elas inerentes, tiveram escala maior, resultando em um mapa com até 50 polígonos, enquanto os MDT's atingiram máximo de 30 polígonos. O produto do mapeamento digital gerou 45 unidades de mapeamento. Por fim, observou-se que o mapeamento separou de forma eficiente os Latossolos das outras classes, contudo, em alguns casos, houve confusão entre Cambissolos e Neossolos Litólicos.

ABSTRACTNew tools for soil mapping are needed to increase speed and accuracy of pedological mapping processes. This study integrated various technologies to map soils of the Piracicaba region in São Paulo State, Brazil. Each technology was expected to provide different information to design a detailed map. We carried out field survey and soil sampling for laboratory analysis. Initially, we conducted field visits to obtain soil patterns of a reference site. We applied the acquired patterns to an validation site, based solely on information obtained from remote sensing and cartographic databases, namely LANDSAT 7/ETM, digital elevation models (DEM) and aerial photographs. We integrated the information from each product to generate the map of the validation site, which was validated by field inspection. Textural classification using satellite imaging ranged from 21-51% of accuracy. Band 5 in the sensor showed the best performance to discriminate between clayey and sandy soils. Aerial photographs provided the best information because, besides their own inherent characteristics, they operate on a larger scale and result in a map with up to 50 polygons, while DEM reached a maximum of 30 polygons. The digital mapping technology generated 45 mapping units. Finally, the mapping efficiently separated the Latosols from the other classes; however, in some cases there was confusion in the identification of Cambisols and litholic Neosols.