Surface crusts, formed by raindrop impact, degrade the soil surface structure causing changes in porosity. An experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the influence of the formation of a crusting layer on the porosity (percentage of area, shape and size) of a Haplic Acrisol under three tillage systems, and simulated rainfall. The tillage systems were: conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT). Each tillage system was submitted to different levels of simulated rainfall (0, 27, 54 and 80 mm) at an intensity of 80 mm·h⁻¹. Undisturbed soil samples were collected and resin impregnated for image analysis in two layers: layer 1 (0–1 cm) and layer 2 (1–2 cm). Image analysis was used to obtain the pore area percentage, pore shape and size. The degradation of the soil surface and change in porosity, caused by rainfall, occurred differently in the tillage systems. In the CT and RT systems, the most pronounced pore changes caused by rainfall occurred in layer 1, but in the NT system, this change occurred in layer 2. The rainfall caused change of pore area percentage in the CT and RT systems, with reduction of complex and an increase of rounded pores. The NT system showed greater occurrence of the rounded pores (vesicles), originated by processes of wetting below the residue cover, and by alternating periods of wetting and drying. In this study, the changes in porosity were attributed to two main factors: (1) to the effect of the raindrop directly on the soil surface (for CT and RT tillage systems) and (2) water transfer processes in the soil surface (for NT systems).

Mudas de progênies de polinização livre de 20 clones de cacaueiro (Theobroma cacao) foram inoculadas com o fungo Ceratocystis cacaofunesta, agente causal da murcha-de-Ceratocystis, e a resposta avaliada pelo percentual de plantas mortas. Progênies de polinização aberta dos clones TSH1188 e VB1151 foram usadas como padrões de resistência, e de CCN51 e SJ02 como suscetíveis. Foram estimados contrastes entre estes referenciais e as progênies em estudo, e avaliados pelo teste t de Dunnett (α= 0,05). As progênies apresentaram diferentes respostas a C. cacaofunesta sendo possível classificá-las em três grupos: resistente (FCB01, CSG70, BOBA01, VB902, TSH1188, VB1151, PS1319 e MAC01), moderadamente suscetível (HW25, PM02, FA13, PH15, M05 e BJ11) e suscetível (CCN51, FB206, PH16, SJ02, CCN10 e FSU77).

Resistance of fourteen Theobroma cacao clones to Phytophthora spp. was evaluated using stem inoculations on grafted seedlings. Concepts of phenotypic stability were used to interpret the results and to express horizontality of the resistance. The linear regression coefficient 'b', the determination coefficient (R²) and average lesion size were used to determine the level of horizontal resistance, the phenotypic stability and the predictability of all clones. The results indicated that clones P 7 and MA 15 present highest levels of horizontal resistance and stability, but with moderate predictability. Clones CAS 1 and CEPEC 13 were classified as those with high horizontal resistance, stability and predictability, while clones PA 30, UF 650 and SIAL 88 and EET 59 showed intermediate resistance and stability and high predictability. Clones SPA 17, OC 61, PA 150, SIAL 505, ICS 1 and R 41 presented high susceptibility and intermediate or low stability and moderate or high predictability.