Free proline accumulation in sugarcane under water restriction and spittlebug infestation

A cigarrinha-das-raízes Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) tornou-se uma praga importante da cultura da cana-de-açúcar na região centro-sul do Brasil. Estratégias de controle têm sido desenvolvidas, mas os danos promovidos por essa praga e sua interação com a cana-de-açúcar ainda são pouco caracterizados. em altos níveis de infestação da praga, os sintomas nas plantas são muito semelhantes à restrição hídrica severa. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de determinar se o estresse promovido pela infestação de ninfas de cigarrinha-das-raízes resulta em acúmulo de prolina livre, além de comparar dois genótipos de cana-de-açúcar quanto à tolerância ao déficit hídrico. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 4 com duas cultivares (SP80-1816 e RB72454), dois níveis de estresse (controle e dez ninfas por planta ou 50% de restrição hídrica) e quatro épocas. O déficit hídrico promovido por M. fimbriolata não resultou em acúmulo de prolina, ilustrando a existência de mecanismos distintos para a percepção do estresse hídrico promovido pela praga e pela variação no potencial osmótico nas células das raízes. A cultivar RB72454 acumula maiores teores de prolina livre, e o acúmulo de massa seca e o crescimento dos colmos são menos afetados nessa cultivar sob restrição hídrica. Os teores de solutos compatíveis provavelmente não podem ser utilizados para quantificar o estresse promovido por M. fimbriolata em cana-de-açúcar. A cultivar RB72454 é mais tolerante ao déficit hídrico do que a cultivar SP80-1816.

Field methods for the study of ants in sugarcane plantations in Southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Prospecting sugarcane genes involved in aluminum tolerance

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sugarcane silage production treated with additives at different times post burning

Objetivou-se estudar a ação do tempo após a queima do canavial e o uso de aditivos sobre as características fermentativas, as perdas e a composição química de silagens de cana-de-açúcar. A cultivar utilizada foi a IAC 86-2480 colhida em cinco tempos (1, 4, 7, 10 e 14 dias) pós-queima. Os aditivos utilizados foram controle, sem aditivos, Lactobacillus buchneri, cal virgem micropulverizada e Lactobacillus buchneri + cal virgem micropulverizada. Antes da ensilagem em cada tempo, foram determinadas as populações de leveduras presentes na cana-de-açúcar. Decorridos 56 dias após a ensilagem, os silos experimentais foram abertos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial, considerando os fatores aditivos e tempo pós-queima. Houve recontaminação da cana-de-açúcar pelas leveduras, elevando a população de 5,04 para 6,48 log ufc/g de forragem. Os teores de matéria seca (MS) após a abertura do silo reduziram em média 7,6 unidades percentuais em comparação aos observados na ensilagem. As silagens controle e com Lactobacillus buchneri tiveram menores recuperações da matéria seca (613 e 631 g/kg, respectivamente), em comparação às observadas nas silagens com cal e com a combinação Lactobacillus buchneri + cal (807 g/kg e 832 g/kg, respectivamente), fato que pode ser justificado pelo controle de levedura pela cal. Após a queima, as maiores variações foram na produção de gás e na recuperação de matéria seca: a produção de gás foi maior nos primeiros dias e diminuiu com o tempo após a queima, consequentemente, a recuperação de MS foi menor nos primeiros dias e aumentou com o tempo após a queima. O tempo após a queima altera o valor nutritivo da cana-de-açúcar fresca e das suas silagens, assim como a magnitude das perdas no processo de ensilagem.

Synthesis and thermal study of the barium complexes with 8-hydroxyquinolinate derivatives

In this present work, barium ion was reacted with different ligands which are 5,7-dibromo, 5,7-dichloro, 7-iodo and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline, in acetone/ammonium hydroxide medium under constant stirring and the obtained compounds were as follows: (I) Ba[(C9H4ONBr2)(2)].1.5H(2)O; (II) Ba[(C9H4ONCl2)(OH)]. 1H(2)O; (III) Ba[(C9H5ONI)(2)]. 1H(2)O and (IV) Ba[(C9H4ONICl)(2)]. 5H(2)O, respectively. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared absorption spectrum (IR), inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).The final residue of the thermal decomposition was characterized as orthorhombic BaBr2 from (I); the intermediate residue, as a mixture of orthorhombic BaCO3 and BaCl2 and cubic BaO and the final residue, as a mixture of cubic and tetragonal BaO and orthorhombic BaCl2 (II); the intermediate residue, as orthorhombic BaCO3 and as a final residue, a mixture of cubic and tetragonal BaO from (III); and the intermediate residue, as a mixture of orthorhombic BaCO3 and BaCl2 and as a final residue, a mixture of cubic and tetragonal BaO and orthorhombic BaCl2 from (IV).

Surface pressure-area isotherms for Langmuir monolayers and a docking molecular orientation of perylene tetracarboxylic derivatives on a water surface

The surface pressure-molecular area (pi-A) isotherms for Langmuir monolayers of four perylenetetracarboxylic (PTCD) derivatives, measured with varying subphase temperatures and compression speeds, are reported. The behavior of these PTCD derivatives at the water-air interface is modeled using the rigid docking method. This approach is the first attempt to model the molecular orientation of PTCD on the water surface to be compared with experimental Langmuir isotherms. Through this methodology, it would be possible to anticipate aggregation and determine if favorable spatial orientations of perylenes are generated on the water surface. The pi-A isotherm experiments show that these molecules can support high surface pressures, indicating strong packing on the water surface and that the isotherms are compression speed independent but temperature dependent. The molecular orientation and stacking was further examined in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers deposited onto glass and glass coated with Ag island films using UV-visible absorption and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) measurements.

Effects of genetic polymorphisms CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in sugarcane workers

Sugarcane workers in Brazil are exposed to various genotoxic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), derived from an incomplete combustion process of burnt sugarcane fields. The effects of the occupational exposure to sugarcane fields burning were measured in urine samples of sugarcane workers from the northwest of the State of São Paulo when exposed (harvesting) and when non-exposed (non-harvesting). The urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and the influence of the genetic polymorphisms CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 were evaluated. Our results showed that the 1-OHP levels were significantly higher (P < 0.0000) in the exposed sugarcane workers (0.318 mu mol mol(-1) creatinine) than in the non-exposed workers (0.035 mu mol mol(-1) creatinine). In an unvaried analysis, no influence regarding the polymorphisms was observed. However, multivariate regression analysis showed that the CYP1A1*4 polymorphism in the exposed group, and age and the GSTP1 polymorphism in the non-exposed group significantly influenced urinary 1-OHP excretion levels (P < 0.10). The same group of sugarcane workers was significantly more exposed to PAHs during the harvesting period than during the non-harvesting period. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrastructure of the excretory duct in the silk gland of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)

The excretory duct in the silk gland of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis consists of two morphologically distinct regions, recognized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The thin posterior region, adjacent to the glandular region, presents a regular surface. Secretory vesicles containing either electron-dense or fibrillar cuticular-like materials are observed in their apical cytoplasm; the same cuticular materials were detected as extracellular deposits among the microvilli. The short anterior region, near the common duct, exhibits surface protrusions; there are no secretory vesicles in their apical cytoplasm. These results show that only the duct cells at the posterior region are involved in the secretion of the cuticular intima elements. Desmosome-like structures were visualized linking together adjacent microvillar membranes only in the cells of anterior duct region, with unknown function. The transition between the duct and the glandular region is abrupt; the cells of the glandular and posterior duct regions present large amounts of microtubules. Nerve fibers can be observed between the duct cells in their two regions, suggesting that control of silk secretion may occur in the excretory duct via neurotransmitter liberation. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sugarcane molasses and yeast powder used in the Fructooligosaccharides production by Aspergillus japonicus-FCL 119T and Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611

Different concentrations of sucrose (3-25% w/v) and peptone (2-5% w/v) were studied in the formulation of media during the cultivation of Aspergillus japonicus-FCL 119T and Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611. Moreover, cane molasses (3.5-17.5% w/v total sugar) and yeast powder (1.5-5% w/v) were used as alternative nutrients for both strains' cultivation. These media were formulated for analysis of cellular growth, P-Fructosyltransferase and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) production. Transfructosylating activity (U-t) and FOS production were analyzed by HPLC. The highest enzyme production by both the strains was 3% (w/v) sucrose and 3% (w/v) peptone, or 3.5% (w/v) total sugars present in cane molasses and 1.5% (w/v) yeast powder. Cane molasses and yeast powder were as good as sucrose and peptone in the enzyme and FOS (around 60% w/w) production by studied strains.

Catalysis and temperature dependence on the formation of ZnO nanoparticles and of zinc acetate derivatives prepared by the sol-gel route

The chemical and structural nature of powders prepared from the zinc acetate-derived precursor using the sol-gel route is discussed. The influence of the synthesis temperature and of the hydrolytic catalyst on the structural features of the powder is focused on the basis of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements and complemented with density and thermoanalysis (TG-DTA) results. EXAFS and XRPD results show that no-washed nanoparticulate powders are composed of a mixture of ZnO (wurtzite), zinc acetate, and zinc hydroxyacetate. The latter has a layered structure typical of hydroxy double salts (HDS). The main component of no-washed powders is always unreacted zinc acetate solid but the relative amount of the zinc-based compounds depends on the nature of the hydrolytic catalyst, hydrolysis ratio, and of synthesis temperature. According to the proportion of the three zinc-based compounds, three families of powders could be distinguished. The amount of ZnO nanoparticles (1.6 +/- 0.6 nm) decreases as the synthesis temperature increases, as the hydrolysis ratio decreases, or by changing from basic to acid catalysis. This finding suggests that the formation of zinc compounds is controlled by the equilibrium between hydrolysis-condensation and complexation-reprecipitation reactions.

Sublimation/volatilisation kinetics of 8-hydroxyquinolines and their nitro-derivatives

5-Nitro-8-hydroxyquinoline (B) and 5,7-dinitro-8-hydroxyquinoline (C) were obtained from nitration of 8-hydroxyquinoline (A) and purified in acetone medium and under heating in which the formation of (B) or (C) depends on the amount of HNO3 added. TG curves present mass loss in only one step before and after the melting point (T-m=76 degreesC (A) and 180 degreesC (B)) in different proportions as a function of the heating rate, characterising the sublimation and the volatilisation processes, respectively. The thermal stability of the compounds follow the order: A (77 degreesC)

CURRENT ASPECTS OF FUEL ETHANOL-PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL

Brazil has become a great producer of bioethanol using sugarcane as the basic raw material. Fed-batch process and continuous process are used. Biogas generation from vinasse, production of dry yeast, and autolyzed bagasse for animal feed are making the ethanol production less polluting and more profitable. Bagasse surplus has also been converted into electrical energy. Another alternative use for bioethanol is its conversion to petrochemical derivatives. Up to the present, however, this conversion has been carried out on only a small scale by the industry.

Energy balance optimization of sugarcane crop residual biomass

This work presents a mathematical model for helping mills choose sugarcane varieties for planting. It maximizes crop residual biomass energy balance by considering the difference between generated and consumed energy in the process of transferring this biomass from the field to the processing center; it takes into account enterprise demand restrictions and cane planting area. For this full zero-one linear programming techniques were proposed. The model is viable for choosing sugarcane varieties that would benefit sugarcane production and industrial systems, by reducing crop residue and increasing final energy production. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.