Ciclo reprodutivo do caranguejo violinista Uca rapax (Smith) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae) habitante de um estuário degradado em Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

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

Número necessário de experimentos para a comparação de cultivares de feijão

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o número de medições (experimentos) necessários à predição do desempenho de cultivares de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Quatorze cultivares de feijão foram avaliadas em nove experimentos conduzidos em Santa Maria, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (latitude 29°42'S, longitude 53°49'W e 95m de altitude), nos anos agrícolas de 2000/2001 a 2004/2005. As avaliações foram constituídas por produtividade de grãos, número de vagens por planta, número de sementes por vagem, massa de cem grãos, população final de plantas, número de dias da emergência ao florescimento, número de dias da emergência à colheita, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, altura de inserção da última vagem, grau de acamamento e coloração do tegumento dos grãos. As estimativas dos coeficientes de repetibilidade foram obtidas por três métodos - análise de variância, componentes principais e análise estrutural. Sete experimentos possibilitam a identificação de cultivares superiores de feijão em relação às características de produção, de fenologia e de morfologia, com 85% de exatidão no prognóstico de seu valor real.

Caracterização morfológica de frutos, de sementes e do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo descrever a morfologia do fruto, da semente e do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de oiti (Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch.). As sementes e os frutos foram avaliados quanto às dimensões e forma por meio de mensurações com paquímetro digital e observações realizadas em microscópio estereoscópico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Os frutos de oiti são drupáceos, elípticos, monospérmicos, carnosos, indeiscentes, com pedúnculos não articulados, epicarpo liso, glabro, de coloração amarela a alaranjada, mesocarpo carnoso, fibroso, coloração amarela a laranja e endocarpo membranáceo, de coloração branca a creme, medindo aproximadamente 6,19cm de comprimento, 3,3cm de largura, 39,5g de massa fresca e 17,3g de massa seca. As sementes são exalbuminosas, de forma elíptica, com tegumento liso, de coloração marrom, de cartáceo a coriáceo, com rafe visível longitudinalmente, micrópila inconspícua e hilo pouco aparente, com cotilédones crassos, elípticos e plano-convexos, de coloração creme a levemente rósea. O embrião é diminuto, reto, central, com eixo embrionário diferenciado em plúmula e eixo hipocótilo-radicular. O comprimento, largura e massa fresca e seca das sementes são cerca de 4,07, 2,18cm, 12,7 e 7,2g, respectivamente. A germinação é criptocotiledonar hipógea, com eófilos alterno-dísticos e lanosos, com estômatos paracíticos e duas glândulas na base do limbo ou, raramente no ápice, na face abaxial da folha.

Escarificação ácida, temperatura e luz no processo germinativo de sementes de Senna alata (L.) Roxb

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o tempo ótimo de escarificação das sementes de Senna alata em ácido sulfúrico e verificar o efeito da temperatura, em condição de luz e escuro, na germinação de sementes dessa espécie. As sementes foram imersas em ácido sulfúrico concentrado por períodos de 0, 15, 30 e 60 minutos, e o teste de germinação realizado em BOD a 25ºC, utilizando quatro repetições de 50 sementes em cada período de tempo, sendo o delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado com 4 tratamentos. No segundo experimento, para verificar o efeito da temperatura e da condição de luz mais adequada a germinação, utilizou-se temperaturas de 10 a 45ºC, com intervalos de 5ºC, em condição de luz fluorescente branca ou escuro contínuo (gerbox preto). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, disposto em esquema fatorial 8x2, com 4 repetições, de 50 sementes cada. em todos os testes as avaliações da porcentagem e índice de velocidade de germinação foram feitas diariamente, durante 10 dias, onde as sementes foram consideradas germinadas quando apresentaram 2 mm de raiz. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. A escarificação do tegumento com ácido sulfúrico durante 60 minutos, foi ideal para as sementes de Senna alata, por proporcionar maiores valores na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação. A germinação ocorre entre 15 e 40ºC, sendo consideradas fotoblásticas neutras entre 20 e 40ºC e fotoblásticas negativas preferenciais a 15ºC. O melhor desempenho germinativo foi obtido nas temperaturas de 25, 30 e 35ºC, onde ocorreram maior porcentagem e velocidade de germinação.

Analysis of seed-germination in Piptadenia-Gonoacantha (Mart) MACBR (Leguminosae Mimosoideae)

Preliminary tests indicated 20-degrees-25-degrees-C as optimum temperature range to the germination of the seeds of P. gonoacantha. Seeds germinate both under light and dark conditions, although final percentage is always higher in latest condition. The transmission spectrum of the tegument was investigated and showed an enrichment of the light in far-red region which reaches the embryo. Consequently the white light inhibits partially germination. Another factor controlling germination was the water availability. Our results indicated that the excessive water available during imbibition inhibits the germination process. According to our results we propose that this species do not have a pioneer behavior and even though P. gonoacantha had been described as a riparian vegetation species, the germination process is strongly inhibited with excessive water during imbiibition process.

Ant Group Effects on the Insecticide and Dye Flow Among Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Germinative pretreatments to dormancy break in Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. seeds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reproductive cycle, ovarian development, and vertebrate-type steroids profile in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study is intended to characterize the ovarian development and hemolymph vertebrate-type steroids concentration during the reproductive cycle of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. A five-stage classification based on the external observation of the ovary's size and color as seen through the tegument was used. The results showed the existence of a direct correspondence between the ovarian stages and the gonadosomatic index, the oöcyte diameter, and the characteristics of ovarian histology. In each stage total bleeding of the prawns was conducted and the hemolymph concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E 2), testosterone (T) and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP; conjugated and unconjugated) were determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). High levels of unconjugated 17-OHP, relatively constant concentrations of unconjugated T, and null concentration of unconjugated E 2 were found throughout the five stages considered. Nonetheless, low levels of E 2 were determined in all stages, in conjugated (glucoronide) form. The highest levels were obtained in stage II and III (18.14 ± 14.52 pg/ml hemolymph) and progressively declined in the other stages (7.53 ± 6.76 pg/ml hemolymph). These results point out the possible involvement of vertebrate-type steroids in the endocrine regulation of the Macrobrachium rosenbergii's ovarian cycle. To our knowledge this is the first study concerning the vertebrate-like steroid levels throughout the ovarian cycle and is a step needed to characterize the hemolymph profile of these steroids in order to elucidate the possible role in the regulation of the reproductive crustacean cycle.

Avaliação de métodos de escarificação na superação de dormência de chizolobium parahyba (vell.) blake (Fabaceae: caesalpinioideae)

Dormancy caused by the tegument's impermeability to water is a feature of Schizolobium parahyba seeds. So that the best methodology for overcoming the species's dormancy may be determined, the seeds were submitted to mechanical scarification treatments, using sandpaper and scissors, on the opposite side of the hilum. Chemical scarification was also undertaken with sulfuric (H2SO4) and hydrochloric (HCl) acids for 30 minutes. Seeds were distributed in groups of 25 units in four petri plates. The experiment was undertaken in a BOD germination chamber at 25°C and 120 μmol.m^-2.s^-1. Data were used to calculate the germination capacity (G%), the Germination Velocity Index (IVG) and Mean Germination Time (TM). Imbibation curve was also calculated to analyze the dormancy type of the seeds by using the three-phase model where phase FI was completed in 6 hours and FIII was initiated after 12 hours of imbibation. Results show that whereas pre-germinative treatments trigger S. parahyba germination, mechanical scarification is the most effective method to overcome the species's dormancy.

Superação de dormência e influência dos fatores ambientais na germinação de sementes de Spermacoce latifolia

Understanding basic information on weed biology contributes to the implementation of appropriate management and control strategies. Thus, this work was developed to evaluate the germination of Spermacoce latifolia Aubl. seeds, an important weed in reforestation areas. The seeds were subjected to dormancy break treatments, in which the mechanical scarification, chemical treatment (H2SO 4 and KNO 3), heat treatment, and control, were evaluated. Three more tests were done determinate the effects of temperature (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C), light filters (absence of light and red, green, yellow, distant red, blue, orange and clear light) and water availability (0.0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8 and -1.0 MPa) on the seeds germination and vigor. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications, and the experimental plot was constituted by gerbox plastic boxes with 50 seeds. The mechanical scarification (sanding) provided the best dormancy break, indicating that Spermacoce latifolia seeds have tegument water impermeability. The seeds showed higher germination percentage under conditions of mild water stress (-0.2 MPa) and the optimal temperature was 25°C. The blue light reduced seed germination.

Effect of Hot Air Drying on Ultrastructure of Crambe Seeds

This study was conducted to evaluate the morphologic modifications in tissues of the fruit and seed of the crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. Ex R.E. Fr.) after drying at different temperatures. Fruits with a water content of 0.38 kg water/kg dry matter were harvested and manually homogenized. Drying was accomplished at 35, 45, 60, 75, and 90°C and at 21,9,7,5, and 2% relative humidity, respectively. After drying, the structure of the pericarp and tegument of the seed were evaluated and the embryo was removed from the fruit/seed for morphological analysis (structural and ultrastructural and the histolocalization of reserve substances). Drying at different temperatures did not affect the cellular structure of the tissues composing the pericarp of the fruits, but it disorganized the structure of the seed tegument. The cells of the tegument and cotyledons presented a contraction in their volumes. The lowest contractions in the cellular volumes of both the tegument and cotyledons occurred after drying at 35 and 45°C. The cytoplasm of the cotyledon cells contains oil drops and the protein bodies contain protein granules and starch grains. There were no changes in the cellular walls of the embryos of the fruits dried at different temperatures; however, ungluing of the medium lamella occurred. This damage occurred with greater intensity after drying at temperatures above 60°C. The form of the oil drops in the cytoplasm of the cotyledon cells was altered after drying. At temperatures above 60°C, the drops broke up and coalesced. After drying at 45 and 60°C, the form of some protein bodies was altered, whereas at 75 and 90°C coalescence of the protein bodies occurred in some cells. It was concluded that the identified alterations can affect the physiologic quality of crambe seeds. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Liposomal-praziquantel: Efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni in a preclinical assay

Currently, schistosomiasis mansoni is treated clinically with praziquantel (PZQ). Nevertheless, cases of tolerance and resistance to this drug have been reported, creating the need to develop new drugs or to improve existing drugs. Considering the small number of new drugs against Schistosoma mansoni, the design of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems is an important strategy in combating this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of PZQ containing liposome (lip.PZQ) on S. mansoni, BH strain. Mice were treated orally with different concentrations of PZQ and lip.PZQ 30 and 45 days following infection. The number of worms, recovered by perfusion of the hepatic portal system, and the number of eggs found in the intestine and liver were analysed. Parasite egg counts were also performed. The most active formulation for all parameters was 300. mg/kg of lip.PZQ, since as it decreased the total number of worms by 68.8%, the number of eggs in the intestine by 79%, and the number of hepatic granulomas by 98.4% compared to untreated controls. In addition, this concentration decreased egg counts by 55.5%. The improved efficacy of the treatment with lip.PZQ, especially when administered 45 days following infection, compared with the positive-control group (untreated) and the groups that received free PZQ, can be explained by greater bioavailability in the host organism; the preferred target of lip.PZQ is the liver, and lip.PZQ is better absorbed by the tegument of S. mansoni, which has an affinity for phospholipids. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Detecção do gene de peroxidase em sementes de soja pela reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR)

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

Avaliação radioisotópica da perfusão de retalhos cutâneos em ilha com descolamento prévio em relação ao músculo subjacente: estudo no rato

Pós-graduação em Bases Gerais da Cirurgia - FMB

Caracterização morfológica, citogenética e palinológica de genótipos de feijão-vagem (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) - Fabaceae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)