The genetic variability within the crop species Ipomoea batatas is broad, hence, in order to support future breeding programs it is of the utmost importance that germplasm banks be created, conserved, and characterized. Therefore, the objective of this work was to rescue and evaluate the genetic divergence in sweet potato accessions collected in traditional communities of Vale do Ribeira Paulista. Sweet potato samples were collected from quilombos, indigenous villages, caiçaras communities, and small farms. The study was conducted between February 2013 and August 2014 in a randomized block design with three replications. Genetic material included 95 collected accessions and two commercial cultivars. Morphological characteristics of the accessions were evaluated and distances in the genetic distance matrix were estimated by means of multi-category variables, the data being subsequently clustered by the Tocher method. Analysis of the relative contribution of each characteristic and phenotypic correlation of descriptors was also performed. Results evidenced wide genetic diversity among the sweet potato accessions collected in Vale do Ribeira, which were not grouped according to the collection point. The descriptors that contributed more than 60% of genetic diversity included: leaf size, general leaf profile, immature leaf color, petiole pigmentation, predominant branch color, branch secondary color, stem length, cortical thickness, predominant periderm color, and periderm color intensity. Correlations between morphological descriptors was observed in 22.26% of the paired traits.

Cultivating areas adjoining watercourses can cause serious changes in the soil attributes, promoting negative environmental processes. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the properties of soil and use comparative diagrams to compare soil quality in response to land use in riparian areas in Brazil. Based on the obtained data, a soil quality index was calculated for each type of land use, and comparative diagrams were drawn and compared to assess soil quality. Agricultural land use alongside rivers (riparian areas) has caused negative changes to the main properties of soil. Comparing diagram areas, land under banana cultivation, degraded pastures and silvopastoral land had values that were 40%, 36% and 29%, respectively, of diagram areas for the native forest. While banana cultivation caused the greatest negative changes to the physical and mechanical properties, silvopastoral land and degraded pastures caused the greatest negative changes to the chemical properties. The polygons formed, which were used to compare the reference areas to the areas for the three different agricultural land uses, differed in shape and area compared to reference values, proving that these comparative diagrams are a useful tool in the assessment of soil quality in riparian areas.

Introdução: O aleitamento materno (AM) é uma estratégia de promoção da saúde e requer compreensão dos determinantes associados à sua interrupção. Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de intercorrências relacionadas à amamentação em puérperas de maternidade filantrópica do interior de São Paulo associando-as com as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínico-obstétricas. Método: Estudo exploratório descritivo realizado no período de maio a setembro de 2011. Aplicado questionário às puérperas em duas etapas, durante a internação, e realizado contato telefônico após 15 dias para acompanhamento da amamentação. Resultados: Das 123 puérperas pesquisadas, 29 apresentaram intercorrências mamárias, com prevalência de 23,5%, e na segunda etapa 23,6% das mães referiram aparecimento de fissuras. Os resultados para as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínico-obstétricas não apresentaram significância estatística com as intercorrências mamárias, exceto para horas de vida do recém-nascido (RN) no momento da entrevista, quantidade de mamadas observadas e pigmentação do mamilo. Conclusão: As intercorrências mamárias encontradas indicaram prevalência de 23,5% com predomínio de trauma nos mamilos.

Macrobrachium acanthurus is a caridean prawn native to Brazil, and studying techniques to assist in its cultivation is important due to economic interest in it. Eyestalk ablation is commonly used to promote ovarian development and maturation of captive crustaceans, but it can have possible consequences on fertility and brood quality. Histological and histochemical dynamism of oogenesis was analyzed under control (non-ablated females) and unilateral eyestalk ablated females. Females with ovaries in the spent stage of gonadal development were divided into two treatments: unilaterally ablated and non-ablated. A second experiment with the same treatments was conducted using females with mature gonads. Histological and histochemical analyses of the ovaries indicated that the ablation did not affect oogenesis based on ovarian structure, oocyte size, histochemical properties, and atretic oocytes. Ovarian maturation was not accelerated by ablation, either. Survival, nuptial molting, and spawning were also unaffected. From an applied point of view, unilateral eyestalk ablation is not needed in M. acanthurus farming because it does not improve reproductive performance.

PERCEPÇÃO ARBORIZAÇÃO URBANA – MORADORES DE REGISTRO, NO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioeconomic efficiency of pondbased Family Farming Units (UPFs) of tilapia (O. niloticus) in a semi-intensive system in the Ribeira Valley region, São Paulo, Brazil. Eight UPFs were studied and an experiment was developed to define a UFM. The bioeconomic efficiency of the UPFs presented a decrease of 4.58 tons per hectare and an increase of 93 days in slaughtering and commercialization time when compared to that of the UFMs. The return on capital invested can reach up to R$2.76 per kg produced and profitability of 46% in each cycle.