Salinity is a significant challenge for agriculture in semi-arid regions, affecting the growth and productivity of plants like Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium), which is valued for its ornamental, medicinal, and food uses. Salt stress disrupts the plant’s biochemical, physiological, and anatomical processes, limiting its development. This study investigates the potential of proline as an osmoprotectant to mitigate the effects of salt stress on nasturtium’s growth and physiology. A completely randomized factorial design was employed, testing five levels of electrical conductivity (0.0, 1.50, 3.00, 4.5, 6.5 dS m⁻¹) and four proline concentrations (0.0, 5.00, 10.0, 15.0 mM) with six replicates. The results showed that proline application, particularly at 15.0 mM, enhanced growth parameters such as leaf number, stem diameter, and root length. At moderate salinity (3.0 dS m⁻¹), proline significantly improved gas exchange, increasing net photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance. Additionally, proline reduced the negative impact of salt stress on the fresh mass of leaves, stems, and roots, and increased both the mass and number of flowers. Proline also elevated the levels of total phenolic compounds and vitamin C while reducing soluble sugars, particularly under moderate salt stress (4.75 dS m⁻¹). Overall, applying 15.0 mM proline shows promise for enhancing the biomass accumulation, flower production, and overall quality of nasturtium under saline conditions.

Radish is a tuberous vegetable rich in nutrients, making it a great option for crop rotation on small and medium-sized properties. In this way, the determination adequate sources and doses of nitrogen (N) is essential to guarantee the development of this crop without excessive losses through leaching, reducing both damage to the environment and production costs. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and physiology of radish cultivated under fertilization with different sources and doses of N. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located in the experimental area of the Biotechnology and Plant Breeding Sector of the Department of Biosciences of the Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme (two sources of nitrogen fertilization – urea and ammonium sulfate; and five doses of nitrogen fertilizer – 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha-1) with four replications. Plant height, fresh and dry mass of roots, fresh and dry mass of shoots, number of leaves, leaf area, gas exchange, chlorophyll index and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated. Radish growth was positively influenced by N sources and doses. The application of urea was more efficient for plant growth, chlorophyll a index and total chlorophyll index, and fertilization with 15.0 kg ha-1 of urea was the most efficient way to increase the growth and production of radish plants.

The Brazilian Semiarid Region is a complex region, not only in terms of climate, but also in terms of geography, history, vegetation and socioeconomic aspects. Initially delimited in 1936 as the "Drought Polygon", the region was predominantly associated with the Brazilian Northeast, but over time, its understanding and delimitation have expanded and been refined. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of the three main Brazilian biomes - Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest - in the composition of the Brazilian Semiarid Region. Using data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the research mapped the presence of these biomes and their transitions in the semiarid region. The results revealed that the Caatinga is the predominant biome in the region, present in approximately 78% of the municipalities and covering more than 75% of the total area of ​​the Semiarid Region. However, there was a significant increase in the presence of the Cerrado Complex and the Atlantic Forest Biome, indicating environmental diversification in the region. These findings have important implications for public policy planning, suggesting the need for more localized approaches adapted to the specific characteristics of each area to promote sustainable development and resilience of semiarid communities.

O controle biológico é considerado uma estratégia inovadora e sustentável para o manejo de pragas agrícolas, estando fundamentado em relações ecológicas que envolvem a competição do homem com as pragas por recursos naturais. A presença de agentes de controle biológico, aliados do ser humano e inimigos naturais das pragas, desempenha um papel crucial nesse cenário, mantendo o equilíbrio biológico no ambiente. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre o controle biológico de pragas, focando na cultura da videira e mangueira. Além disso, o estudo se concentra no uso de ácaros predadores (Neoseiulus barkeri) como agentes de controle biológico contra o ácaro vermelho na videira e os tripés na mangueira. Essa revisão de literatura foi desenvolvida através de pesquisas de abordagem qualitativa, realizada por meio de uma análise descritiva, com a técnica de documentação indireta, sendo caracterizada como uma revisão de literatura narrativa. Para que fosse possível a realização do estudo, utilizou-se de trabalhos publicados em revistas nacionais e internacionais, no período dos últimos 5 anos ou superior que apresentaram relevância para o referente estudo. Observou-se que o controle biológico surge como uma resposta promissora e sustentável, em que os inimigos naturais, como ácaros predadores, destacam-se como aliados cruciais na luta contra pragas específicas, podendo sua liberação ocorrer de forma manual e mecanizada. Ainda, o controle biológico na cultura da videira e mangueira, com ênfase no uso de Neoseiulus barkeri como agente de controle biológico, revela a relevância dessa abordagem em contextos específicos.