Leaf and inflorescence peduncle anatomy: a contribution to the taxonomy of Rapateaceae

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leaf-cutting ants: an unexpected microenvironment holding human opportunistic black fungi

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

Yeasts found on an ephemeral reproductive caste of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

High-throughput sugarcane leaf analysis using a low cost closed-vessel conductively heated digestion system and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy

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

Diversity of leaf-litter anurans in a fragmented landscape of the Atlantic Plateau of Sao Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

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

Reproductive site selection in the leaf-frog Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862 (Anura: Hylidae) in altered areas of the Brazilian Cerrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Species limits, phylogeographic and hybridization patterns in Neotropical leaf frogs (Phyllomedusinae)

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

TANZANIA GRASS STRUCTURE GRAZED BY GOATS MANAGED WITH DIFFERENT RESIDUAL LEAF AREA INDEX UNDER INTERMITTENT STOCKING

The objective of this study was to evaluate the structure of Tanzania grassland grazed by goats managed with different residue leaf area index (RLAI) under intermittent stocking. The experiment was carried out from February to August, 2008. The treatments consisted of three different targets RLAI (0.8, 1.6 and 2.4) and 95% light interception (LI) criterion determined the rest period. Forage samples were collected at average height sampling points and weighed. Subsequently, a smaller sample was removed to separate the morphological components (leaf, stem and dead material) and to determine the structural and productive features. The canopy architecture was evaluated by the method of inclined point quadrat. The pre-grazing height in the paddocks were significantly different among treatments. RLAI influenced dry matter contents of green forage, leaf, stem and total, with the exception of dry matter of dead material, where the lowest values were observed for 0.8 RLAI. Thus, RLAI modifies canopy structure and is sensitive to canopy height changes throughout the year. Pasture regrowth is not compromised by residual leaf area indexes between 0.8 and 2.4, when climatic factors are not limiting.

Antitumor Activity of Kielmeyera Coriacea Leaf Constituents in Experimental Melanoma, Tested in Vitro and in Vivo in Syngeneic Mice

Purpose: The antitumor activity of Kielmeyera coriacea (Clusiaceae), a medicinal plant used in the treatment of parasitic, as well as fungal and bacterial infections by the Brazilian Cerrado population, was investigated. Methods: A chloroform extract (CE) of K. coriacea was tested in the murine melanoma cell line (B16F10-Nex2) and a panel of human tumor cell lines. Tumor cell migration was determined by the wound-healing assay and the in vivo antitumor activity of CE was investigated in a melanoma cell metastatic model. 1H NMR and GC/MS were used to determine CE chemical composition. Results: We found that CE exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against murine melanoma cells and a panel of human tumor cell lines in vitro. CE also inhibited growth of B16F10- Nex2 cells at sub lethal concentrations, inducing cell cycle arrest at S phase, and inhibition of tumor cell migration. Most importantly, administration of CE significantly reduced the number of melanoma metastatic nodules in vivo. Chemical analysis of CE indicated the presence of the long chain fatty compounds, 1-eicosanol, 1-docosanol, and 2-nonadecanone as main constituents. Conclusion: These results indicate that K. coriacea is a promising medicinal plant in cancer therapy exhibiting antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo against different tumor cell lines.

Evaluation of allelopathic potential of leaf extract of kielmeyera coriacea on lactuca sativa l

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

Effects of leaf extracts of Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. on growth and gene expression during root development of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

The allelopathic potential of leaf extracts from the medicinal plant Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. was studied in Petri dish bioassays on sorghum and determined the seed germination, germination rate index (GRI), root growth, secondary root number, the genes involved in root development (SHR, PHB, PHV and REV) and microRNA 166 that regulates these genes. The hydroalcoholic extract was more inhibitory than methanol extract (moderate inhibition) and aqueous extract at 25 and 100% concentration were least inhibitory. Application of higher dose of hydroalcoholic M. guianenesis leaf extracts on sorghum seeds, inhibited the root development and changed the expression of SHR and PHB genes and microRNA 166. This suggested that the expression of these genes could be indicator of allelopathic potential for inhibition of root development in sorghum.

Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum (Myrtaceae): stem and leaf anatomy of a medicinal plant

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq)

Leaf gas exchange and yield of three upland rice cultivars

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

Non-destructive linear model for leaf area estimation in Vernonia ferruginea Less

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