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We provide a systematic update of Pradosia (Sapotaceae, Chrysophylloideae), including overall morphology, a key to all species, comprehensive morphological descriptions, geographic distributions, and important characteristics for each species. Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data demonstrated that the genus is monophyletic and includes three main clades. Twenty-three species of Pradosia are accepted, which are mostly distributed in lowland rainforests on either white-sand or clayish soils in tropical South America. A rotate corolla with a short tube, lack of staminodes, a drupaceous fruit with plano-convex cotyledons, an exserted radicle below the cotyledons, and the absence of endosperm are diagnostic for the genus. Two names are reduced into synonymy, viz. Pradosia atroviolacea Ducke, syn. of P. grisebachii (Pierre) T. D. Penn., and Pradosia verrucosa Ducke, syn. of P. glaziovii (Pierre) T. D. Penn. The affinity of P. argentea (Kunth) T. D. Penn., a species known only from the type col...

Aquatic and marsh plants are those that have the capacity to withstand a continuous or periodic submersion in water, at least of their roots. Such plants are thus able to occupy environments that are at least periodically waterlogged. The knowledge about this plant group is still rather incomplete for various parts of Brazil including the Northeast. The present study was conducted in Bahia state, through collections in 20 municipalities within the Recôncavo basin between 2009 and 2015. All species were classified across six life forms. We report 316 species in 206 genera and 71 families, including 11 fern species, with helophytes and emergent being the commonest ones. Collection efforts in aquatic environments in the Recôncavo region added nine families of angiosperms to those already reported in previous studies of such plants in Northeastern Brazil. The region presents a wide variety of aquatic and marsh plants and the respective habitats play an important role in the conservation/maintenance of biodiversity and especially of water bodies in Eastern Bahia.

Pradosia restingae Terra-Araujo, a new species of Sapotaceae (Chrysophylloideae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest is described and illustrated. It is only known from the southern coast of the State Rio Grande do Norte and is likely restricted to the coastal sand dune ecosystem, locally known as the restinga forest, from which the epithet is derived. The species is naturally common, but due the low number of known subpopulations we assign P. restingae a preliminary conservation status of ‘Endangered’ (EN).

Pradosia lahoziana is here described as new. It is known from four collections from wet lowland and non-flooded terra firme forests near Manaus in Central Amazonia. Illustrations are provided together with a comparison of the morphological differences with similar species.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T18:55:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-07-01 Tetrapedia diversipes and other Apidae (Anthophoridae) may be deceived by floral similarities between Malpighiaceae and Orchidaceae of the Oncidiinae subtribe. The latter do not usually exudate floral oils. Thus, visitors may pollinate the flowers in a deceit/food/pollination syndrome. We studied the chemical compositions of Byrsonima intermedia (Malpighiaceae) floral oil and T. diversipes (Anthophoridae) cell provisions. From B. intermedia floral oil, we isolated a novel fatty acid (3R, 7R)-3,7-diacetoxy-docosanoic acid, here named byrsonic acid, and from T. diversipes cell provisions we isolated two novel fatty acid derivatives 3,7-dihydroxy-eicosanoic acid and 3,7-dihydroxy- docosanoic acid, here named tetrapedic acids A and B, respectively. The three fatty acid derivatives have common features: possess long chains (20 or 22 carbon atoms) with no double bond and either hydroxy or acetoxy groups at carbons 3 and 7. This characteristic was also encountered in the fatty acid moiety of oncidinol (2S, 3′R, 7′R)-1-acetyl-2-[3′, 7′-diacetoxyeicosanyl)-glycerol, a major floral oil constituent of several Oncidiinae species (Orchidaceae). Thus, both tetrapedic A (C20) and B (C22) could be the biotransformation products of oncidinol and byrsonic acid by T. diversipes hydrolases. These are the chemical clues for bee visitation and oil collecting from both plant species. The results indicate that the deceit/pollination syndrome should not be applied to all Oncidiinae flowers. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Instituto de Quimica UNICAMP, C. P. 6154, Campinas, SP 13084-971 Instituto de Biologia UNICAMP, C. P. 6109, Campinas, SP 13084-971 Instituto de Biociências State University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900 UNIR BR 364, Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO 78900-00 INPA, C. P. 478, Manaus, AM

A new triterpene named 3a-hydroxy-13a,17a,21b-hopan-15,19-dione and E-phytyl hexadecanoate were isolated from the hexanic extract of Eleocharis sellowiana. NMR and MS experiments determined the molecular structures.

The inflorescences of Eleocharis elegans and Eleocharis sellowiana were investigated by dynamic headspace/GCeMS for the presence of volatiles. No floral volatile was detected in the inconspicuous inflorescences of E. sellowiana but various floral volatiles were produced by the showy inflorescences of E. elegans. The results are discussed in their ecological and evolutionary context. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

O gênero Eleocharis R. Br. compreende cerca de 200 espécies, ocorrendo em ambientes úmidos tais como brejos e margens de rios e lagos. Procurando novos agentes moluscicidas, os extratos de Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., Eleocharis interstincta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., Eleocharis maculosa (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. e Eleocharis sellowiana Kunth foram testados para atividade moluscicida, contra caramujos adultos e desovas, e toxicidade (ensaio de letalidade com Artemia salina). O extrato hexânico de Eleocharis acutangula (parte subterrânea fresca) foi ativo contra Artemia salina (CL50 = 476,00 mg/mL), enquanto os demais extratos apresentaram CL50 >> 10³ mg/mL, sugerindo baixa toxicidade. O extrato hidro-etanólico de Eleocharis sellowiana (parte subterrânea fresca) foi ativo contra desovas de Biomphalaria glabrata (CL50 = 24,27 mg/mL) mas inativo contra indivíduos adultos. Os demais extratos testados não apresentaram atividade moluscicida. The genus Eleocharis R. Br. comprises about 200 species, occurring in wet environments like swamps, lakes and river margins. In the search for new molluscicides, extracts from Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., Eleocharis interstincta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., Eleocharis maculosa (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. and Eleocharis sellowiana Kunth were tested for molluscicidal activity (spawns and adult snails) and toxicity (Brine Shrimp Lethality - BSL - bioassay). The hexane extract of Eleocharis acutangula (fresh subterraneous parts) was active in the BSL bioassay (LC50 = 476 mg/mL), while the other extracts showed LC50 >> 10³ mg/mL, suggesting they have low toxicity. The aqueous ethanol extract of Eleocharis sellowiana (fresh subterraneous parts) was active against Biomphalaria glabrata spawns (LC50 = 24.27 mg/mL) but it was not lethal to adult snails. No other plant extract tested in this study showed molluscicidal activity.

The structure and absolute configuration of a novel diacylglycerol, (2S,3′R,6′R)-1-acetyl-2-[3′,6′-diacetoxyeicosanyl)-glycerol 1 , named oncidinol, from the Ornithophora radicans floral oil was elucidated from spectroscopic data and by applying the Mosher method.

Recent phylogenetic studies in Sapotaceae have demonstrated that many genera need to be redefined to better correspond to natural groups. The Neotropical genus Pradosia is believed to be monophyletic and includes 26 recognized species. Here we reconstruct the generic phylogeny by a species-tree approach using *BEAST, 21 recognized species (36 accessions), sequence data from three nuclear markers (ITS, ETS, and RPB2), a relaxed lognormal clock model, and a fossil calibration. We explore the evolution of five selected morphological characters, reconstruct the evolution of habitat (white-sand vs. clayish soils) preference, as well as space and time by using a recently developed continuous diffusion model in biogeography. We find Pradosia to be monophyletic in its current circumscription and to have originated in the Amazon basin at ~47.5Ma. Selected morphological characters are useful to readily distinguish three clades. Preferences to white-sand and/or clay are somewhat important for the majority of species, but speciation has not been powered by habitat shifts. Pradosia brevipes is a relative young species (~1.3Ma) that has evolved a unique geoxylic life strategy within Pradosia and is restricted to savannahs. Molecular dating and phylogenetic pattern indicate that Pradosia reached the Brazilian Atlantic coast at least three times: at 34.4Ma (P. longipedicellata), at 11.7Ma (P. kuhlmannii), and at 3.9Ma (weakly supported node within the red-flowered clade). © 2015 Elsevier Inc.

A new species of Pouteria from the Atlantic Forest area of the northern littoral of Bahia State, Brazil, is described and illustrated. Pouteria synsepala, whose epithet refers to the basally united sepals, a feature rare in the genus, resembles P. salicifolia in its narrowly elliptic leaves, but differs by the angle of secondary veins in relation to the midrib, pentamerous flowers, and stamens adnate to the corolla tube from the base to the tube orifice. Micromorphological studies revealed different patterns of stomate and wax morphology in the two species, providing further justification for the recognition of P. synsepala.

From the hexane extract of the underground parts of Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., lup-20(29)-ene-3beta,16beta-diol and a mixture of campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol were isolated. The hexane extracts of aerial and underground parts of E. sellowiana Kunth furnished two new substances, namely neohop-13(18)-en-3alpha-ol and stigmast-22-en-3beta,6beta,9alpha-triol, together with a mixture of steroids, betulinic acid, stigmast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one and fern-9(11)-en-3alpha-ol. The molecular structures were determined by spectral analysis (1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and MS) and comparison with literature data.

O Estado do Paraná, localizado no sul do Brasil, apresenta uma grande diversidade de tipos de vegetação, incluindo florestas, campos, cerrados e vegetações costeiras. Em menos de 150 anos de ciclos econômicos, a vegetação do Paraná foi intensamente degradada, sendo considerado um dos estados brasileiros que mais perderam cobertura vegetal nativa. Espécies endêmicas são prioritárias quanto aos esforços de conservação, pois são mais vulneráveis a eventos de extinção devido as suas pequenas populações, especificidade de habitat e baixa diversidade genética. O presente estudo fornece a primeira lista de espécies de plantas vasculares endêmicas do Paraná, e inclui para cada espécie o estado de conservação, distribuição, ano do registro mais recente e os tipos de vegetação de ocorrência. Esses dados foram criteriosamente compilados de espécimes de herbário, consulta a especialistas e principalmente de bancos de dados de biodiversidade. A lista de espécies da flora vascular endêmica do Paraná compreende 185 espécies, distribuídas em 106 gêneros e 46 famílias. As famílias mais ricas em espécies endêmicas são Orchidaceae (33), Fabaceae (20), Amaryllidaceae (16) e Asteraceae (14). Usando critérios da IUCN, 85 espécies foram avaliadas como Criticamente em Perigo, 57 como Em Perigo, 10 como Vulnerável, sete como Quase Ameaçada, uma como Pouco Preocupante e 25 como Dados Insuficientes. Espera-se que essa lista de espécies de plantas endêmicas e ameaçadas guie futuros estudos e esforços de conservação da flora do Paraná. The State of Paraná, located in southern of Brazil, presents a great diversity of types of vegetation, including forests, grasslands, cerrados and coastal vegetation. In less than 150 years of economic cycles, the vegetation of Paraná was intensively degraded, being considered one of the Brazilian states that lost most native vegetation cover. Endemic species are a priority for conservation efforts because they are more vulnerable to extinction events due to their small populations, habitat specificity, and low genetic diversity. The present study provides the first list of endemic vascular plant species of Paraná, and includes for each species the conservation status, distribution, year of the most recent record, and types of environment of occurrence. These data were carefully compiled from herbarium specimens, consultation with experts and especially from biodiversity databases. The species list of the endemic vascular flora of Paraná comprises 185 species, distributed in 106 genus and 46 families. The richest families in endemic species are Orchidaceae (33), Fabaceae (20), Amaryllidaceae (16) and Asteraceae (14). Using IUCN criteria, 85 species were assessed as Critically Endangered, 57 species as Endangered, 10 as Vulnerable, seven as Near Threatened, one as Least Concern, and 25 as Data Deficient. We hope that this list of endemic and endangered plant species will guide future studies and conservation efforts of the Paraná flora.

Algumas espécies de formigas se alimentam de néctar produzido por determinadas espécies de plantas em glândulas conhecidas como nectários extraflorais (NEFs). Ao forragearem nestas glândulas, as formigas acabam protegendo a planta contra ataques herbívoros. Esta interação tem sido bastante estudada, e nos últimos anos tem aumentado o número de trabalhos que utilizam uma abordagem de redes de interações para avaliar esta associação em nível de comunidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as interações formiga-planta mediadas por NEFs em uma abordagem de rede. O trabalho foi realizado no Estado do Acre, Amazônia brasileira, mais especificamente em 10 fragmentos florestais cujos tamanhos variaram entre aproximadamente 5 e 3000 ha. A partir das amostragens realizadas, foi possível a elaboração de quatro capítulos, os quais abordam diferentes fatores que influenciam na estrutura destas redes, tais como morfologia dos NEFs, categoria de matrizes de dados (binário ou ponderados), sazonalidade das chuvas e modificação do hábitat (isto é, fragmentação florestal). No primeiro capítulo, utilizando-se de imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, foi realizada a descrição morfológica dos NEFs de 68 espécies de plantas. As famílias mais representativas foram Fabaceae, Bignoniaceae e Malpighiaceae. Os NEFs denominados elevados foram os mais frequentes, seguidos dos morfotipos achatados, sem forma, côncavos, ocos e transformados. Esta maior representatividade dos NEFs do tipo elevado evidencia a importância do sistema de defesa de formigas contra a herbivoria nas florestas da Amazônia brasileira, pois estas glândulas são as que produzem maior volume de néctar, sendo consequentemente bastante visitadas por formigas. No segundo capítulo, a estrutura destas redes de interações formiga-planta foi avaliada a partir de diferentes categorias de dados (presença e ausência da interação, frequência de interação e abundância de formigas). O uso de diferentes categorias de dados resultou em diferenças estruturais significativas destas redes de interações, no que diz respeito a descritores de rede como generalidade, vulnerabilidade, aninhamento e modularidade. Estes resultados destacam a necessidade de se expandir a discussão sobre categorias de dados em estudos de interação ecológica a fim de se evitar inferências inapropriadas. No terceiro capítulo, foram detectadas diferenças significativas da estrutura destas redes de interações formiga-planta (isto é, número de interações, diversidade de interações e aninhamento) entre estação de chuvas intensas e de seca. Estes resultados indicam que a sazonalidade das chuvas na Amazônia é um fator determinante na organização estrutural destas redes, sendo essencial se considerar a dinâmica sazonal destas glândulas em estudos similares, a fim de se garantir que a maior parte das possibilidades de interação entre formigas e plantas para uma dada localidade esteja presente nas redes. Finalmente, os resultados do quarto capítulo indicam que a estrutura das redes formigaplanta é relativamente estável à fragmentação florestal. O único descritor de rede afetado foi o aninhamento. Especificamente, foi observado que o aninhamento diminuiu com o aumento da irregularidade da borda. A relativa estabilidade estrutural das redes estudadas está possivelmente relacionada à constância das espécies de formigas nos núcleos centrais de espécies altamente interativas. Em suma, os resultados observados indicam que a abordagem de redes é uma ferramenta adequada para o estudo das interações formiga-planta mediadas por NEFs em nível de comunidade, e alertam para alguns cuidados relacionados à definição da categoria de dados a ser usada e ao período amostral apropriado, considerando a dinâmica sazonal destas glândulas. Some ant species feed on the nectar produced by some plant species in glands called extrafloral nectaries (EFNs). The ants protect the plant against herbivore attack by foraging in these glands. This ant-plant interaction has been studied extensively and in the last few years there has been an increase in the number of studies that use an interaction networks approach to evaluate this association at community level. The aim of this investigation was to study ant-plant interactions mediated by EFNs using a network approach. The work was carried out in the State of Acre, Brazilian Amazon, more specifically in 10 forest fragments ranging in size from approximately 5 to 3000 hectares. From the sampling carried out, it was possible to generate four chapter, which address different factors that influence the structure of these networks, such as EFN morphology, matrix categories (binary or weighted data), rainfall seasonality, and habitat modification (i.e., forest fragmentation). In the first chapter, using scanning electron microscopy images, morphological descriptions of the EFNs of 68 plant species were produced. The most representative families were Fabaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Malpighiaceae. Elevated extrafloral nectaries were the most frequent type found, followed by flattened, formless, pit, hollow, and transformed. The greater frequency of elevated EFNs evidences the importance of the ant defense system against herbivory in the Brazilian Amazon forest, since these glands are the ones that produce greater nectar volume, consequently being more often visited by ants. In the second chapter, the structural organization of these ant-plant interaction networks was evaluated from different data categories (presence and absence of interaction, interaction frequency, and ant abundance). The use of different data categories resulted in significant structural differences among these interaction networks, in relation to network descriptors such as generality, vulnerability, nestedness, and modularity. These results highlight the need to expand the discussion regarding data categories in ecological interaction studies, in order to avoid inappropriate inferences. In the third chapter, significant differences were detected in the structure of the ant-plant interaction networks (i.e., number of interactions, diversity of interactions, and nestedness) between the rainy and dry seasons. These results indicate that rainfall seasonality in the Amazon rainforest is a determining factor in the structural organization of these networks and, therefore, it is essential to consider the seasonal dynamics of these glands in similar studies, to ensure that most of the ant-plant interaction possibilities of a given locality are present in the network. Finally, the results of the fourth chapter indicate that the structure of ant-plant networks is relatively stable in face of forest fragmentation. Nestedness was the only network descriptor affected by fragmentation. Specifically, nestedness decreased with increasing edge irregularity. The relative structural stability of the networks studied is possibly related to the constancy of ant species in the central core of highly interacting species. In summary, the observed results indicate that network approach is an adequate tool to study the ant-plant interactions mediated by EFNs at community level, and alert to some care related to the definition of the data category to be used and to the appropriate sampling period, considering the seasonal dynamics of these glands.

A utilização de plantas antagonistas para o manejo de fitonematoides é uma ferramenta promissora, por se tratar de um método que afeta negativamente a população desses patógenos no solo. O gênero Crotalaria é uma boa opção, principalmente, por serem não hospedeiras e/ou não permitirem a multiplicação de diversos nematoides. Porém, algumas informações sobre a forma de condução dos ensaios podem ser melhor elucidadas visando a eficiência das metodologias, assim como a confirmação sobre o comportamento de resistência de Crotalaria spp. ao nematoide de cisto da soja. Sendo assim, os objetivos do presente trabalho foram avaliar a infectividade, desenvolvimento de juvenis e a reprodução de Heterodera glycines raça 3 em plantas de Crotalaria breviflora, C. juncea, C. ochroleuca e C. spectabilis obtidas de diferentes formas, em diferentes períodos, em condições de casa de vegetação. A dissertação está apresentada em dois artigos. No primeiro, avaliou-se a influência de três formas de obtenção de plântulas, para as espécies C. breviflora, C. juncea, C. spectabilis e C. ochroleuca sobre a penetração e o desenvolvimento de juvenis de H. glycines raça 3 nas raízes aos 10, 20 e 30 dias após a inoculação (DAI). Com base nos resultados, verificou-se que o desenvolvimento inicial das espécies de crotalária deve ser considerado no momento da inoculação de H. glycines, principalmente, em experimentos conduzidos em casa de vegetação, pois estão diretamente relacionados com os resultados obtidos. E que, a semeadura realizada diretamente no vaso, porém de forma escalonada de acordo com o desenvolvimento inicial da espécie, foi o tratamento que resultou em maior penetração de H. glycines raça 3 nas raízes de Crotalaria spp. No segundo artigo, determinou-se a hospedabilidade das mesmas espécies de Crotalaria à H. glycines raça 3, padronizando-se a obtenção das plântulas através da semeadura direta e escalonada de acordo com o desenvolvimento inicial das espécies. Também foi utilizada a soja cv. Lee como padrão de suscetibilidade. Aos 10, 20 e 30 DAI, foram avaliadas a massa fresca de raiz e o desenvolvimento dos juvenis. E, aos 30 DAI calculou-se, ainda, o índice de fêmeas e a produção de ovos por fêmea nas espécies de crotalária e na soja. Os resultados apontam que as espécies avaliadas permitem a penetração de juvenis de H. glycines raça 3. Também confirmam que C. ochroleuca é hospedeira do nematoide, permitindo o desenvolvimento de juvenis até a formação de fêmeas e a produção de ovos. E que C. breviflora, C. juncea e C. spectabilis, apesar de terem permitido a penetração de H. glycines, não possibilitam o desenvolvimento completo do ciclo de vida do nematoide. The use of antagonistic plants to management plant nematodes is a promising tool because it is a method that negatively affects the population of these pathogens in the soil. The genus Crotalaria is a good option, mainly because they are non-host and / or they do not allow the multiplication of several nematodes. However, some information is required about how to perform the tests to improve the efficiency of the methodologies and which is the resistance level of Crotalaria spp. to the soybean cyst nematode. The objective of this work was to evaluate the infectivity, development of juveniles and the reproduction of Heterodera glycines race 3 in Crotalaria breviflora, C. juncea, C. ochroleuca and C. spectabilis plants obtained by different ways, at different times under greenhouse conditions. The dissertation is presented in two articles. In the first one, was investigated the influence of three ways of seedling production of C. breviflora, C. juncea, C. spectabilis and C. ochroleuca on the efficiency of inoculation, penetration and juvenile development of H. glycines race 3 in roots at 10, 20 and 30 days after inoculation (DAI). Based on the results, it was verified that the initial development of Crotalaria species should be considered at the time of inoculation of H. glycines, mainly in greenhouse experiments, because they are directly related to the results obtained. The sowing done directly in the pot (in a staggered form according to the initial development of the species), was the treatment that resulted in greater penetration of H. glycines race 3 in the roots of Crotalaria spp. In the second article the hospedability of the same species of Crotalaria to H. glycines race 3 was determined, being standardized the seedlings production by direct sowing and staggered according to the initial development of the species. Soybean cv. Lee was used as the standard of susceptibility. At 10, 20 and 30 DAI, fresh root mass and juvenile development were evaluated. And, at 30 DAI, the female index and the egg production per female were also calculated in Crotalaria spp. and in soybean. The results indicate that all tested Crotalaria species allow the penetration of juveniles of H. glycines race 3. Results also confirmed that C. ochroleuca is host of the nematode, allowing the development of juveniles until the formation of females and the production of eggs. Although C. breviflora, C. juncea and C. spectabilis were penetrated by juveniles of H. glycines, do not allow the complete development of the nematode life cycle.

O cenário atual da agricultura em áreas extensas de monocultivo tem dificultado o manejo de pragas, em razão do desequilíbrio causado no ecossistema pela substituição da vegetação natural. A diversificação dos agrossistemas fornece serviços ecológicos que garantem proteção às plantas, tanto de forma direta, formando barreiras contra o ataque de pragas, quanto indireta através de benefícios aos inimigos naturais. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a ocorrência de predadores e parasitoides em diferentes espécies vegetais possíveis de serem cultivadas para a diversificação de agrossistemas. O estudo foi conduzido durante duas safras de verão, na fazenda escola da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-Paraná, avaliando-se cinco espécies vegetais: feijão caupi (Vigna unguiculata), girassol (Helianthus annuus), mamona (Ricinus communis), trigo mourisco (Fagopyrum esculentum) e crotalária (Crotalaria spectabilis). Os inimigos naturais foram amostrados por meio de varredura com rede entomológica, armadilha Moericke e observações diretas. Em laboratório, os inimigos naturais foram identificados e contabilizados. A abundância de cada família de inimigo natural foi comparada entre as diferentes plantas através de análise de variância, com médias separadas através do teste Tukey (α = 5%) (ou Friedman, quando não era atendido os pressupostos da análise paramétrica). Os parâmetros de riqueza de famílias de inimigos naturais, diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H’) e equitabilidade foram calculados para cada espécie de planta. Foram coletados na primeira safra 15967 inimigos naturais nos três métodos de amostragem. Dolichopodidae (71,1%), Vespidae (7,4%), Forficulidae (6,4%), Araneae (5,2%), Anthocoridae (2,6%), Coccinellidae (2,2%) e Syrphidae (1,7%) foram os predadores mais abundantes. Os parasitoides mais abundantes foram Encyrtidae (34,5%), Aphelinidae (9,8%), Trichogrammatidae (9,7%), Figitidae (8,7%), Eulophidae (8,0%) e Scelionidae (6,1%). Na segunda safra, foram coletados 31440 inimigos naturais. Dolichopodidae (85,8%), Araneae (4,1%), Vespidae (2,2%) e Anthocoridae (2,0%) foram os predadores mais abundantes. Encyrtidae (43,1%), Figitidae (13,0%), Scelionidae (6,3%), Eulophidae (5,5%), Mymaridae (5,5%), Ichneumonidae (5,2%), e Trichogrammatidae (4,5%) foram os parasitoides mais abundantes. De modo geral, feijão caupi e trigo mourisco foram as plantas mais atrativas aos inimigos naturais. Mamona foi a planta que apresentou maior diversidade de inimigos naturais nos dois períodos de avaliação. Feijão caupi, trigo mourisco e mamona, foram as plantas que se destacaram pela presença de insetos benéficos, sendo consideradas boas candidatas para diversificação de agrossistemas. The current situation of agriculture in large areas of monoculture has bring difficulties to pest management, due to the imbalance caused in the ecosystem by replacing the natural vegetation. The diversification of agricultural systems provides ecological services that ensure protection of plants, both directly, forming barriers against pest attack, and indirectly through benefits to natural enemies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of predators and parasitoids in potencial crops to improve the diversification of agricultural systems. The study was conducted during two summer season at the farm of the Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná. Five crops were evaluated: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), castor bean (Ricinus communis), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and sunn hemp (Crotalaria spectabilis). Natural enemies were sampled by sweeping with insect net, Moericke trap and direct observations. In the laboratory, the natural enemies have been identified and accounted for. The abundance of each natural enemy at family level was compared between the different plants using analysis of variance, followed by Tukey test (α = 5%) (or Friedman when it was not granted the assumptions of parametric analysis). The number of families of natural enemies, diversity of Shannon-Wiener (H ') and evenness were calculated for each plant species. In the first season 15967 natural enemies were collected with the three sampling methods. Dolichopodidae (71.1%), Vespidae (7.4%), Forficulidae (6.4%), Araneae (5.2%), Anthocoridae (2.6%), Coccinellidae (2.2%) and Syrphidae (1.7%) were the most abundant predators. The more abundant parasitoids were Encyrtidae (34.5%), Aphelinidae (9.8%), Trichogrammatidae (9.7%), Figitidae (8.7%), Eulophidae (8.0%) and Scelionidae (6.1 %). During the second season 31440 natural enemies were collected. Dolichopodidae (85.8%), Araneae (4.1%), Vespidae (2.2%) and Anthocoridae (2.0%) were the most abundant predators. Encyrtidae (43.1%), Figitidae (13.0%), Scelionidae (6.3%), Eulophidae (5.5%), Mymaridae (5.5%), Ichneumonidae (5.2%) and Trichogrammatidae (4.5%) were the most abundant parasitoids. In general, cowpea and buckwheat were the most attractive plants to natural enemies. Castor bean was the plant that showed greater diversity of natural enemies in both evaluation seasons. Cowpea, buckwheat and wheat castor bean, were the plants that stood out by presence of beneficial insects, and considered good candidates for diversification of agricultural systems.