Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de milho tratadas com molibdênio

O tratamento de sementes com micronutrientes, como o molibdênio, garante uma maior uniformidade de aplicação, sendo que, a quantidade a ser aplicada desse elemento nas sementes deve ser suficiente para provir à exigência para o desenvolvimento e produção da cultura. Assim, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de milho tratadas com molibdênio. A qualidade das sementes foi avaliada por meio da determinação do teor de água, do teste de germinação, da primeira contagem de germinação e da emissão de raízes primárias. Os tratamentos testados consistiram de cinco híbridos (DOW CO32; DOW 2B587; DOW 2B688; PIONEER 30F35 e PIONEER 30K73) e cinco doses de molibdênio aplicadas via semente (0; 7,5; 22,5; 67,5; 202,5 g ha-1 de molibdênio). A fonte de molibdênio utilizada foi o molibdato de sódio dihidratado (39% de molibdênio), sendo que a aplicação do molibdênio foi efetuada por meio da mistura com o fungicida líquido de suspensão concentrada carboxina+thiram sobre as sementes. A qualidade fisiológica das sementes de milho é influenciada negativamente por doses crescentes de molibdênio aplicadas. O híbrido de milho DOW 2B587 obteve melhor resposta à aplicação da maior dose de molibdênio em relação aos demais híbridos estudados.

Rendimento de grãos de aveia branca (Avena sativa l.) em densidades de plantas e doses de nitrogênio

O experimento foi realizado na Fazenda Experimental Lageado, Unesp Botucatu - SP, em um Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico, em plantio direto sobre resteva de milho. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As densidades de plantas (60, 120, 180, 240 e 300 plantas m²) constituíram as parcelas e as doses de N em cobertura (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80kg ha-1) constituíram as sub-parcelas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o rendimento de grãos de aveia branca cultivada em diferentes densidades de plantas e doses de N. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância (teste F), e as médias submetidas à regressão polinomial. Verificou-se interação significativa para as variáveis avaliadas. O rendimento de grãos foi influenciado positivamente pelas densidades e doses de N. O número final de panículas foi influenciado pelas médias de densidades de plantas e doses de N e o número de grãos por panícula foi influenciado negativamente pelas densidades e positivamente pelas doses de N. A massa de mil grãos foi maior nas maiores densidades de plantas e nas doses intermediárias de N. Com redução na densidade inicial de plantas, o rendimento de grãos esperado foi alcançado com aumento na dose de N em cobertura. Com densidade normal de plantas e doses recomendadas de N em cobertura, o rendimento de grãos obtido foi maior que o esperado.

Interferência do hipoclorito de sódio na absorção de macro e micronutrientes nas culturas da soja e do feijão

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the sodium hypochlorite application in different levels in the fresh and dry biomass and in the uptake of macronutrients and micronutrients in plants of soybean and bean. The experiments were carried at the greenhouse of the "Departamento de Recursos Naturais/Ciência do Solo, FCA/UNESP, Botucatu/SP", in columns of rigid PVC with capacity to 1.0 liter of soil. The experimental design used in each experiment was entirely randomized, with 4 replications. The treatments in each experiment were constituted of 5 doses of sodium hypochlorite (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 L ha(-1)). The following parameters were evaluated: fresh and dry biomass, macro and micronutrients contents in the plants leaves. The levels of sodium hypochlorite did not reflect significantly on the fresh and dry biomass of soybean and bean. The soybean dry biomass presented significant difference among the level of sodium hypochlorite. Average contents of macro and micronutrients obtained in bean leaves were not affected by the levels of sodium hypochlorite. The sulphur contents in soybean leaves presented significant difference. The sodium hypochlorite did not affect negatively the macro and micronutrients contents in leaves of soybean and bean.

Influence of nitrogen fertilization and green manure on the economic feasibility of no-tilled wheat in the Cerrado

É importante a busca por melhores rentabilidades para a cultura do trigo por meio de tecnologias que reduzam custos de produção e proporcionem sustentabilidade à agricultura brasileira. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a rentabilidade da cultura do trigo em sistema plantio direto, visando reduzir doses de nitrogênio em cobertura, pelo cultivo de adubos verdes anterior ao do trigo. O experimento foi realizado em Selvíria (MS), Brasil, no ano 2009/10. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com 36 tratamentos, em parcelas subdividas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram formadas por seis tipos de adubos verdes (guandu BRS Mandarim, Crotalaria juncea, milheto BRS 1501, pousio e os consórcios milheto + guandu e milheto + crotalária), que forneceram palha para o plantio direto do trigo no inverno, após a cultura de arroz na safra de verão. As subparcelas foram formadas por seis doses de nitrogênio (0, 25, 50,75, 100 e 125 kg ha-1 de N) em uma aplicação em cobertura, ten-do como fonte a ureia. O trigo cultivado, após a semeadura dos adubos verdes na safra de inverno anterior, sem a aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura e na dose 25 kg ha-1 de N, apresentou com maior frequência custos de produção superior à receita bruta. O custo de produção de trigo cultivado após os consórcios de milheto + guandu e milheto + crotalária na safra de inverno anterior, associado a doses de nitrogênio de 50 e 75 kg ha-1 de N, proporcionou maior lucratividade em relação aos demais adubos verdes avaliados.

Fontes e doses de manganês no acúmulo de nutrientes na palhada em cana-de-açúcar

The sugar cane crop uptake high amount of nutrients from the soil and the lack of these elements can result in low productivity of this crop. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sources and doses of manganese on the accumulation of macro-and micronutrients of straw and stalk yield in the sugar cane crop. The experiment was conducted at Fujimoto farm, area administered by the Vale do Parana SA Alcohol and Sugar located in Suzanapolis - SP county. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a factorial scheme 5x3, with five levels of manganese and three sources, applied at planting, in four replications. The plots consisted of four rows 5 m long, spaced by 1.5 m. The variety used was RB 86-7515. The variables analyzed in the sugar cane plant and sugar cane ratoon cane were: accumulation of macro-and micronutrients, dry weight of straw and crop yield. The sources Mn influenced the accumulation of N, P and K in the straw cane plant and ratoon sugar cane in the accumulation of K, Ca, S, B, Mn and Zn. The increasing levels of Mn increased the cumulative amount of Ca, Mg, S and Mn in the cane plant and stubble of Ca, Fe and Mn in sugar cane ratoon. The sources of Mn did not influence the dry matter yields of straw and stalk, so as to plant cane to first sugar cane ratoon. The levels of Mn influenced linearly the dry straw on cane plant. As for the stem yield of sugarcane plant and sugar cane ratoon was not influenced by the levels of Mn.

Analysis of systemic inflammatory response in the carcinogenic process of uterine cervical neoplasia

The inflammatory response is an active process in cervical cancer and may act in the progression and/or regression of the lesion. At the site of inflammation, macrophages and neutrophils are present as well as cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. This study aims to evaluate the inflammatory response levels in women with cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) and with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. Serum samples obtained from women without evidence of disease (n = 30), with CIN (n = 30) and with SCC of the cervix (n = 30) were analyzed for the activities of N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) by enzymatic assay and the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma by ELISA assay. The activities of NAG and MPO and the level of TNF-alpha were higher in women with CIN compared to the women with SCC. The levels of IFN-gamma were lower in the group of women with CIN compared to the group with SCC. There was not a significant association between the degree of the CIN and the staging of the SCC of the cervix and the degree of inflammation as assessed by the levels of inflammatory markers. The inflammatory response was inversely correlated with the progression of the carcinogenic process. In the three groups, the control group, women with CIN and women with invasive SCC, there was no association between the degree of preinvasive lesions and staging of the SCC of the cervix. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of lycopene on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: An echocardiographic, histological and morphometrical assessment

Doxorubicin is an excellent chemotherapeutic agent utilized for several types of cancer but the irreversible doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage is the major limitation for its use. Oxidative stress seems to be associated with some phase of the toxicity mechanism process. To determine if lycopene protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned either to control, lycopene, doxorubicin or doxorubicin + lycopene groups. They received corn oil (control, doxorubicin) or lycopene (5 mg/kg body weight a day) (lycopene, doxorubicin + lycopene) by gavage for a 7-week period. They also received saline (control, lycopene) or doxorubicin (4 mg/kg) (doxorubicin, doxorubin + lycopene) intraperitoneally by week 3, 4 5 and 6. Animals underwent echocardiogram and were killed for tissue analyses by week 7. Mean lycopene levels (nmol/kg) in liver were higher in the doxorubicin + lycopene group (5822.59) than in the lycopene group (2496.73), but no differences in lycopene were found in heart or Plasma of these two groups. Lycopene did not prevent left ventricular systolic dysfunction induced by doxorubicin. However, morphologic examination revealed that doxorubicin-induced myocyte damage was significantly suppressed in rats treated with lycopene. Doxorubicin treatment was followed by increase of myocardium interstitial collagen volume fraction. Our results show that: (i) doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was confirmed by echocardiogram and morphological evaluations; (ii) lycopene absorption was confirmed by its levels in heart, liver and plasma; (iii) lycopene supplementation provided myocyte protection without preventing interstitial collagen accumulation increase; (iv) doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction was not prevented by lycopene supplementation; and (v) lycopene depletion was not observed in plasma and tissues from animals treated with doxorubicin.

Plasma glutathione of HIV+ patients responded positively and differently to dietary supplementation with cysteine or glutamine

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

Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus A Multinational Multicenter Study of Thirty-Eight Patients

Objective. To describe the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Cases of juvenile SLE-associated macrophage activation syndrome were provided by investigators belonging to 3 pediatric rheumatology networks or were found in the literature. Patients who had evidence of macrophage hemophagocytosis on bone marrow aspiration were considered to have definite macrophage activation syndrome, and those who did not have such evidence were considered to have probable macrophage activation syndrome. Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with macrophage activation syndrome were contrasted with those of 2 control groups composed of patients with active juvenile SLE without macrophage activation syndrome. The ability of each feature to discriminate macrophage activation syndrome from active disease was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results. The study included 38 patients (20 with definite macrophage activation syndrome and 18 with probable macrophage activation syndrome). Patients with definite and probable macrophage activation syndrome were comparable with regard to all clinical and laboratory features of the syndrome, except for a greater frequency of lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in patients with definite macrophage activation syndrome. Overall, clinical features had better specificity than sensitivity, except for fever, which was highly sensitive but had low specificity. Among laboratory features, the best sensitivity and specificity was achieved using hyperferritinemia, followed by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypofibrinogenemia. Based on the results of statistical analysis, preliminary diagnostic guidelines for macrophage activation syndrome in juvenile SLE were developed.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the occurrence of unexplained fever and cytopenia, when associated with hyperferritinemia, in a patient with juvenile SLE should raise the suspicion of macrophage activation syndrome. We propose preliminary guidelines for this syndrome in juvenile SLE to facilitate timely diagnosis and correct classification of patients.

Use of high moisture corn silage replacing dry corn on intake, apparent digestibility, production and composition of milk of dairy goats

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

Effect of organic mineral supplementation on the egg quality of semi-heavy layers in their second cycle of lay

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary trace mineral levels and sources on egg quality parameters of second-cycle semi-heavy layers. A number of 360 72-week-old layers were submitted to forced molting. Upon return of lay (83 weeks of age), birds were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design of six treatments with six replicates of 10 birds each. The control treatment consisted of 0.10% dietary supplementation of trace minerals from inorganic sources, which was proportionally replaced by five levels (110, 100, 90, 80, 70%) of an organic trace mineral supplement containing 30, 30, 40, 6, 0.61, and 0.3 g/kg product of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, I, and Se, respectively. All diets contained equal protein, energy, and amino acid levels. Every 28 days of the experimental period (112 days) four eggs per replicate were collected for egg quality evaluation. The following parameters were evaluated: specific gravity, yolk, albumen and eggshell percentages, yolk index, Haugh units, and eggshell thickness and breaking strength. One sample per replicate, consisting of the pool of the yolks of three eggs collected at the end of each experimental period, was used to assess protein and mineral (Ca, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) contents. The results were submitted to ANOVA, and means to the test of Tukey at 5% significance level. The evaluated trace mineral levels and sources did not influence any of the studied egg quality parameters. It was concluded that reducing organic trace mineral supplementation in up to 70% relative to 100% inorganic trace mineral supplementation does not affect egg parameters and therefore, can be applied to the diet of semi-heavy layers in their second cycle of lay.

Gastroprotective and ulcer healing effects of essential oil from Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Lamiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Identification of suitable internal control genes for expression studies in Coffea arabica under different experimental conditions

Background: Quantitative data from gene expression experiments are often normalized by transcription levels of reference or housekeeping genes. An inherent assumption for their use is that the expression of these genes is highly uniform in living organisms during various phases of development, in different cell types and under diverse environmental conditions. To date, the validation of reference genes in plants has received very little attention and suitable reference genes have not been defined for a great number of crop species including Coffea arabica. The aim of the research reported herein was to compare the relative expression of a set of potential reference genes across different types of tissue/organ samples of coffee. We also validated the expression profiles of the selected reference genes at various stages of development and under a specific biotic stress.Results: The expression levels of five frequently used housekeeping genes (reference genes), namely alcohol dehydrogenase (adh), 14-3-3, polyubiquitin (poly), beta-actin (actin) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) was assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR over a set of five tissue/organ samples (root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruits) of Coffea arabica plants. In addition to these commonly used internal controls, three other genes encoding a cysteine proteinase (cys), a caffeine synthase (ccs) and the 60S ribosomal protein L7 (rpl7) were also tested. Their stability and suitability as reference genes were validated by geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper programs. The obtained results revealed significantly variable expression levels of all reference genes analyzed, with the exception of gapdh, which showed no significant changes in expression among the investigated experimental conditions.Conclusion: Our data suggests that the expression of housekeeping genes is not completely stable in coffee. Based on our results, gapdh, followed by 14-3-3 and rpl7 were found to be homogeneously expressed and are therefore adequate for normalization purposes, showing equivalent transcript levels in different tissue/ organ samples. Gapdh is therefore the recommended reference gene for measuring gene expression in Coffea arabica. Its use will enable more accurate and reliable normalization of tissue/organ-specific gene expression studies in this important cherry crop plant.

Modulação androgênica e estrogênica na próstata: uma abordagem em modelos experimentais de roedores com enfoque na biologia estrutural

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

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do sorgo granífero: IX - efeitos do potássio

Cinco cultivares de sorgo granífero foram cultivados em solução nutritiva, com o objetivo de se estudar os efeitos da deficiência de potássio no crescimento, produção e absorção de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio. O sorgo foi cultivado em solução nutritiva completa ou com potássio diluído a 1/2, 1/5 e 1/10 da concentração usual, até o final do ciclo, ou seja 110 dias. As plantas foram então colhidas e separa das em raiz, colmo, folhas, raquis e grãos, sendo a seguir secadas e moídas. Foram feitas análises de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio em cada uma das partes das plantas. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que, em média, os níveis de potássio tiveram efeito apenas na produção dos grãos de sorgo, não afetando a matéria seca produzida das demais partes da planta. Os níveis de potássio tiveram ainda efeito significativo sobre as quantidades de nitrogênio; fósforo e potássio absorvidas pelas plantas; a translocação de nitrogênio para os grãos foi também afetada significativamente.