RESUMO ‘ Pitaya’ (Hylocereus undatus) é um cacto trepador, frutífera com grande potencial de alimento para região semiárida. Objetivou-se avaliar a produção de mudas de ‘pitaya’ irrigadas com água de baixa e alta salinidade e cultivadas em diferentes tipos de ambientes. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 × 2, sendo duas condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação: S1 - 0,3 dS m-1 (baixa salinidade) e S2 - 5,0 dS m-1 (salinidade moderada), em dois ambientes: A1 - telado preto com 50% de sombreamento e A2 - pleno sol, com 10 repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: altura da planta, diâmetro do caule principal, massa seca da parte aérea, massa seca da raiz, massa seca total da planta, número de brotos secundários, comprimento de raiz e comprimento dos brotos secundários. O telado preto com 50% de sombreamento proporcionou maior altura de planta, número de brotos secundários e comprimento de raiz de plantas de ‘pitaya’. A irrigação com água de salinidade moderada (5,0 dS m-1) reduz o número de brotos secundários, e comprimento da raiz e dos cladódios secundários. As mudas de ‘pitaya’ cultivadas sob 50% de sombreamento (telado preto) apresentaram maior biomassa seca de raiz quando irrigadas com água de baixa salinidade. Foram observados maiores valores do diâmetro do cladódio primário, da biomassa seca acima do solo e da biomassa seca total sob luz plena do sol e elevado estresse salino.

ABSTRACT ‘Pitaya’ (Hylocereus undatus) is a fruit-bearing, climbing cactus with great food potential for the semiarid region. This study aimed to evaluate the production of ‘pitaya’ seedlings irrigated with low and high salinity water and grown in different light intensities. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two electrical conductivities of irrigation water: S1 - 0.3 dS m-1 (low salinity) and S2 - 5.0 dS m-1 (moderate salinity) in two environments: A1 - black net with 50% shading, and A2 - full sun, with ten replicates. The variables evaluated were plant height, main cladode diameter, above-ground biomass, root biomass, total plant biomass, number of secondary cladodes, root length, and length of secondary cladodes. The 50% shading (black net) promoted higher plant height, number of secondary shoots, and root length of the ‘pitaya’ plants. The irrigation with moderate saline water (5.0 dS m-1) reduced the number of secondary cladodes, length of root, and length of secondary cladodes. The ‘pitaya’ seedlings grown under 50% shading (black net) showed greater root dry biomass when irrigated with low-salinity water. Greater values of diameter of the primary cladode, above-ground dry biomass, and total dry biomass were observed under full sunlight and elevated saline stress.

Bacillus spp. based larvides are increasingly replacing, with numerous advantages, chemical insecticides in programmes for controlling black fly and mosquito populations. Brazil was among the pioneers in adopting Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i) to control black flies. However, the major current mosquito control programme in Brazil, the Programme for Eradication of Aedes aegypti launched in 1997, only recently decided to replace temephos by B.t.i based larvicides, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. In the last decade, works developed by research groups in Brazilian institutions have generated a significant contribution to this subject through the isolation of B. sphaericus new strains, the development of new products and the implementation of field trials of Bacillus efficacy against mosquito species under different environmental conditions.

Um projeto piloto para o controle da filariose bancroftiana foi desenvolvido em duas áreas do Recife, com índices iniciais de prevalência de microfilaremia de 10%. Nas duas áreas, foi aplicado tratamento em massa com doses baixas de dietilcarbamazina. Em uma das áreas, esse tratamento foi associado ao controle do vetor, integrando medidas físicas, como o uso de camadas flutuantes de esferas de poliestireno, ao tratamento periódico dos criadouros com a bactéria entomopatógena Bacillus sphaericus. Como resultado, a densidade populacional do vetor, da ordem de sessenta a 120 Culex/quarto/noite antes das intervenções, foi drasticamente reduzida, mantendo-se, durante dois anos, em valores entre quatro e 16 Culex/quarto/noite. Neste contexto, as ações para envolver a comunidade escolar local no controle do vetor resultaram na realização de atividades curriculares e extraclasses, culminando com a participação efetiva de grupos de alunos ("Vigilantes de Vetores") na aplicação das medidas de controle e na divulgação de conhecimentos básicos sobre a biologia do Culex quinquefasciatus. O entusiástico envolvimento de professores e alunos mostrou ser a escola um espaço aberto à participação em programas desta natureza.

A pilot study for the control of Bancroftian filariasis transmission was developed in two areas of Recife, Brazil, where microfilaraemic prevalence was 10% in 1991. Mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) using low and spaced doses was employed in both areas. In one such instance, DEC therapy was associated with vector control using physical measures and periodic treatment of Culex breeding sites with the entomopathogen Bacillus sphaericus. The vector population density, reaching 60 120 Culex/room /night before the intervention, was drastically reduced to 4 16 Culex/room/night, and maintained at this level for more than two years. Actions to engage the local school community in the vector control process were implemented, and as a consequence several classroom and extracurricular activities were put into practice, culminating with the effective participation of a team of students called the "Vector Vigilantes", in the application of control measures against the vector. The enthusiastic involvement of schoolteachers and students pointed to schools as a place amenable to programs such as this.

Um projeto piloto para o controle da filariose bancroftiana foi desenvolvido em duas áreas do Recife, com índices iniciais de prevalência de microfilaremia de 10%. Nas duas áreas, foi aplicado tratamento em massa com doses baixas de dietilcarbamazina. Em uma das áreas, esse tratamento foi associado ao controle do vetor, integrando medidas físicas, como o uso de camadas flutuantes de esferas de poliestireno, ao tratamento periódico dos criadouros com a bactéria entomopatógena Bacillus sphaericus. Como resultado, a densidade populacional do vetor, da ordem de sessenta a 120 Culex/quarto/noite antes das intervenções, foi drasticamente reduzida, mantendo-se, durante dois anos, em valores entre quatro e 16 Culex/quarto/noite. Neste contexto, as ações para envolver a comunidade escolar local no controle do vetor resultaram na realização de atividades curriculares e extraclasses, culminando com a participação efetiva de grupos de alunos ("Vigilantes de Vetores") na aplicação das medidas de controle e na divulgação de conhecimentos básicos sobre a biologia do Culex quinquefasciatus. O entusiástico envolvimento de professores e alunos mostrou ser a escola um espaço aberto à participação em programas desta natureza.

A pilot study for the control of Bancroftian filariasis transmission was developed in two areas of Recife, Brazil, where microfilaraemic prevalence was 10% in 1991. Mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) using low and spaced doses was employed in both areas. In one such instance, DEC therapy was associated with vector control using physical measures and periodic treatment of Culex breeding sites with the entomopathogen Bacillus sphaericus. The vector population density, reaching 60 120 Culex/room /night before the intervention, was drastically reduced to 4 16 Culex/room/night, and maintained at this level for more than two years. Actions to engage the local school community in the vector control process were implemented, and as a consequence several classroom and extracurricular activities were put into practice, culminating with the effective participation of a team of students called the "Vector Vigilantes", in the application of control measures against the vector. The enthusiastic involvement of schoolteachers and students pointed to schools as a place amenable to programs such as this.

Integrated control measures against Culex quinquefasciastus have been implemented in a pilot urban area in Recife, Brazil. About 3,000 breeding sites found within the operational area were responsible for very high mosquito densities recorded during the pretrial period. Physical control measures have been applied to cess pits before starting a series of 37 treatments of the other sites with Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362, over 27 months. In spite of the difficulties due to environmental conditions, very significant reductions in preimaginal population of C. quinquefasciatus were achieved and, as a consequence, low adult mosquito densities were maintained for a relatively long period of time. Entomological and environmental data gathered in this pilot project can contribute to design an integrated mosquito control program in Recife city.