Quarantine facilities and legal issues of the use of biocontrol agents in Brazil.

The objective of this work was to address the classical biological control of pests in Brazil, regarding procedures to import and export native biological material. A brief introduction will be given on the current legal issues on the use of biocontrol agents, as well as some considerations on the existing quarantine pests and actions already carried out in the country. The safety in the introduction of exotic organisms is important for Brazilian phytosanitary defense and for a higher adoption of classical biocontrol, making it available for integrated pest management (IPM). Legal and normative aspects establish the procedures that must to be adopted, not only to protect bioprospecting and native organisms, but also to minimize risks to the national genetic patrimony associated with the introduction of exotic organisms. Furthermore, the import/export procedures adopted for vegetal and useful organisms for pest biological control and for other genetic material must be subjected to phytosanitary measures performed in government?certified quarantine facilities and diagnostic laboratories. Finally, the quarantine activities listed here are strategic for safeguarding the country from potential problems arising from border transit of living organisms.

Reducing competition in agroforestry by pruning native trees.

The degree to which pruning helps reestablish balance in agroforestry was assessed in a system established in São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008. Seven native tree species were planted at a density of 600 trees/ha in five strips of three rows each, and annual crops were cultivated in the 17-m crop strips between the tree strips. Competition was established after 35 months, decreasing the aboveground biomass production of corn planted close to the trees. An assessment of black oats in the dry season following tree pruning showed that the proximity of trees caused reductions in plant and panicle density, aboveground biomass production, number of grains per panicle and grain weight. Because pruning was not sufficient to maintain crop yields, tree thinning is recommended in order to minimize competition and restore conditions for adequate crop production.

The women role in the agroenvironmental activities of Amazon agroforeststry systems.

2008

Consumers motivations for buying local and organic products in developing vs developed countries.

2008

Expansion of sunflower crop production in Brazil: a survey of future trends.

2008

Mineralisation of 14c-labelled metalaxyl fungicide in Brazilian soils.

2008

Effect of phytoremediation with atriplex nummularia in irrigated soils with saline waste.

2008

Approaches to assess climate change effects on plant disease: (1) impacts of rising CO2 in Brazil.

2008

Approaches to assess climate change effects on plant disease: (2) mapping risk in Brazil.

2008

Effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on rice blast in open-top chambers in Brazil.

2008

Risk analysis of climate change on black sigatoka in banana in Brazil.

2008

New methodologies for risk assessment of GMOs: an experiment of public consultation in Brazil.

2008

Spatial variability of satured soil hydraulic conductivity in the region of Araguaia River - Brazil.

2008

In vitro effects of metals on the acid phosphatase from the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata.

2008

Wheat blast: progress in elucidating its ecology and developing strategies for control.

2006