Substrate Preparation Behaviors for the Cultivation of the Symbiotic Fungus in Leaf-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Our findings revealed two distinct patterns of substrate preparation: the pattern of leaf-cutting ants foraging on dicotyledons is marked by highly fragmented substrate resulting in a more advanced initial decomposition. The pattern of leaf-cutting ants harvesting grasses is characterized by large pieces of substrate, resulting in little initial decomposition. Ants foraging on both types of plants are apparently intermediary between the two patterns, although more similar to the patterns of those foraging on dicotyledons. Also, the behavior of scraping the substrate was described for the first time, it is very important for the removal of the epicuticular wax layer of the leaves helping the growth of the symbiotic fungus.

Preliminary studies on the effects of d-limonene to workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa and its implications for control

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Attractiveness of Different Citrus Pulps to the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The most common control method Uses toxic baits consisted of dehydrated citrus pulp as carrier and attractant. However, the portion of the citrus fruit that is attractive to ants is still Unknown, despite its importance in chemical control. This study compared the attractiveness of different fruit parts of citrus pulps to Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers. Three treatments: pellets of industrial citrus pulp, albedo (mesocarp), and whole citrus pulp were offered randomly to ants and the removal of these substrates by workers was observed. Tie three pulps Were equally attractive to this species (F = 0.8033; p = 0.4633). Although the whole pulp included the epicarp, it was as attractive as the other treatments, possibly because, the material was heated during processing, eliminating any volatile substance that could repel ants.

Low variation in ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacers of the symbiotic fungi of leaf-cutting ants (Attini: Formicidae)

Leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex (tribe Attini) are symbiotic with basidiomycete fungi of the genus Leucoagaricus (tribe Leucocoprineae), which they cultivate on vegetable matter inside their nests. We determined the variation of the 28S, 18S, and 5.8S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene loci and the rapidly evolving internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) of 15 sympatric and allopatric fungi associated with colonies of 11 species of leafcutter ants living up to 2,600 km apart in Brazil. We found that the fungal rDNA and ITS sequences from different species of ants were identical (or nearly identical) to each other, whereas 10 GenBank Leucoagaricus species showed higher ITS variation. Our findings suggest that Atta and Acromyrmex leafcutters living in geographic sites that are very distant from each other cultivate a single fungal species made up of closely related lineages of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. We discuss the strikingly high similarity in the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of the Atta and Acromyrmex symbiotic L. gongylophorus studied by us, in contrast to the lower similarity displayed by their non-symbiotic counterparts. We suggest that the similarity of our L. gongylophorus isolates is an indication of the recent association of the fungus with these ants, and propose that both the intense lateral transmission of fungal material within leafcutter nests and the selection of more adapted fungal strains are involved in the homogenization of the symbiotic fungal stock.

Genetic associations between weight at maturity and maturation rate with ages and weights at first and second calving in Canchim beef cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrasonographic and echobiometric findings in the eyes of Saanen goats of different ages

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

Intraocular pressure and tear secretion in Saanen goats with different ages

Objetivou-se comparar os valores normais de pressão intraocular (PIO) e de produção lacrimal, através de tonometria de aplanação e do teste da lágrima de Schirmer-1 (TLS-1) em cabras da raça Saanen, com diferentes idades e momentos. Trinta e seis cabras da raça Saanen, livres de afecções oculares, foram agrupadas em três categorias etárias (n=12), compreendendo animais com 45, 180 e 549 dias de idade. O TLS-1 e a PIO foram aferidos sempre às 9:00 e às 19:00, durante três dias consecutivos. Os resultados foram avaliados estatisticamente (p<0,05). Relativamente ao horário do dia, a PIO foi significativamente menor às 19:00 (p<0,001) nos animais com 45 dias de idade; os valores do TLS-1 foram significativamente maiores às 19:00 (p=0,004) nas cabras com 549 dias de idade. Considerando-se a somatória dos três dias, ambos os parâmetros foram significativamente menores nos indivíduos com 45 dias de idade (p<0,001). A pressão intraocular e a produção lacrimal em cabras da raça Saanen se elevam de forma significativa até os 180 dias de idade.

Dispersion of Seeds of Tree Species by the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Egg traits and physiological neonatal chick parameters from broiler breeder at different ages

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

Evaluation and development of passion fruit (Passiflora alata Dryander) propagated by cutting and seet in conditions of commercial orchard

The present work was conducted in a fruit tree propagation area of the Plant Production Department of the Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP) in Jaboticabal, SP, and also in a commercial orchard in Araguari, MG, with the objective to verify the potential of vegetative growth (stem diameter, height of plants and leaf number) of plants of passion fruit (Passiflora alata Dryander), gotten by cutting and seed, comparing the initial development of plants in the field. This experiment was carried out from January 2002 to February 2003. The experiment using seeds was conducted at a shadow house, and the one that used cuttings in an intermitent mist. The cuttings and seeds were collected from adult plants which came from Passifloraceae Active Germoplasm Bank (BAG) of the Plant Production Department of FCAC/UNESP. For the cuttings, it was used the intermediate part of the branches in stadium of vegetative growth. The seeds, in order to obtain the seedlings, had been sown in plastic trays. Cuttings and seedlings were transplanted to plastic bags with substrate in shadow house and with daily irrigation. They were acclimatized and planted on field, after 60 days. on field, the stem diameter, plant height and number of leaves were better for cuttings than for seedlings in Jaboticabal, SP. In Araguari, MG, stem diameter was larger in the seedlings, which plant heights and number of leaves were larger on cuttings.

Performance, carcass yield, and qualitative characteristics of breast and leg muscles of broilers fed diets supplemented with vitamin E at different ages

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

Fotossíntese, reservas orgânicas e rebrota do capim-mombaça (Panicum maximum Jacq.) sob diferentes intensidades de desfolha do perfilho principal

Buscando-se avaliar morfofisiologicamente a rebrota do capim-mombaça, quatro desfolhas foram impostas ao perfilho principal, sendo estudado o comportamento da planta em termos da taxa de expansão da área foliar, crescimento do sistema radicular, nível de carboidratos totais não estruturais (CTNE) da raiz e do colmo, taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), taxa de assimilação líquida (TAL) e razão de área foliar (RAF) às idades de 2, 5, 9 e 16 dias após as desfolhas, bem como da taxa fotossintética máxima às idades de 2, 6 e 13 dias das folhas remanescentes à desfolha. As desfolhas foram as seguintes: remoção de todas as lâminas foliares (desfolha total), a remoção da lâmina da folha adulta mais jovem (desfolha superior), a remoção das lâminas das duas folhas adultas mais velhas (desfolha inferior) e controle (sem desfolha), juntamente com o corte dos demais perfilhos, realizado a 8 cm do solo. Foram observadas cinco repetições por tratamento, segundo o delineamento inteiramente casualizado. As folhas adultas não diferiram quanto às taxas fotossintéticas máximas, que exibiram aumento nos primeiros dias após a desfolha, e queda aos 13 dias. A desfolha reduziu os teores de CTNE da base do colmo, principalmente nas plantas sob desfolha total. Comprometimento do crescimento do sistema radicular e do teor de CTNE das raízes foi observado nas plantas sob desfolha total, que também tiveram sua TCR reduzida nos primeiros dias de rebrotação. Entretanto, o aumento na RAF possibilitou a estas plantas recuperação da TCR e alta taxa de expansão da área foliar, igualando a área foliar das demais plantas aos 16 dias de rebrota.

Densitometric and biochemical values of broiler tibias at different ages

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

Blood serum components and serum protein test of Hybro-PG broilers of different ages

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

Estimation of genetic parameters for body weights, scrotal circumference, and testicular volume measured at different ages in Nellore cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)