First assessment of the endoparasitic nematode fauna of four psammophilous species of Tropiduridae (Squamata: Iguania) endemic to north-eastern Brazil

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

Crescimento e desempenho de bertalha (Basella alba L.) em função do tipo de propagação

Malabar spinach is a non-conventional vegetable propagated mainly by seeds. This research evaluated the propagation by stem cuttings as an alternative method of propagation and verified its effect on growth of the vegetable. Plantlets propagated by seeds and stem cuttings were grown in greenhouse and their growth were evaluated in five successive intervals of 21 days each, with the first evaluation carried out 60 days after the transplanting. The results showed that the propagation methods have influence on the Malabar spinach growth. Plants propagated by seeds display slow, but vigorous growth, with larger relative yield of leaves and tender leaves, while plants propagated by cuttings showed fast initial growth, with rapid fruit formation. Thus, the propagation by cuttings is more suitable for seed production, while propagation by seeds is more profitable for leaves production.

Efeito do estresse mineral induzido por fontes e doses de potássio na produção de raízes em plantas de berinjela (Solanum melongena L.)

This study was carried out at the Department of Plant Production, Sector Horticulture, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu Campus, São Paulo State, Brazil in order to evaluate the effect of sources and increasing doses of potassium in roots of eggplant. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial scheme 2 x 4 (two sources of potassium: KCl and K(2)SO(4) and four doses of K(2)O, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 kg ha(-1)) and three replications. For the experiment, we used Oxisol medium texture (615 g of sand, 45 g of silt and 340 g of clay per kg soil). The soil passed through sieve of 5 mm and packed in plastic pots with a capacity of 32 liters of soil where plants were grown. The pots were distributed with a spacing of 0,63 m between plants and 1,0 m between rows each pot being grown with a plant. The evaluated characteristics were: root dry mass and volume of the root. It was concluded that sources and excessive doses of mineral K(2)O induces stress in eggplants and affect the roots being less harmful K(2)SO(4) source.

The use of biodiversity as source of new chemical entities against defined molecular targets for treatment of malaria, tuberculosis, and T-cell mediated diseases: a review

The modern approach to the development of new chemical entities against complex diseases, especially the neglected endemic diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, is based on the use of defined molecular targets. Among the advantages, this approach allows (i) the search and identification of lead compounds with defined molecular mechanisms against a defined target (e.g. enzymes from defined pathways), (ii) the analysis of a great number of compounds with a favorable cost/benefit ratio, (iii) the development even in the initial stages of compounds with selective toxicity (the fundamental principle of chemotherapy), (iv) the evaluation of plant extracts as well as of pure substances. The current use of such technology, unfortunately, is concentrated in developed countries, especially in the big pharma. This fact contributes in a significant way to hamper the development of innovative new compounds to treat neglected diseases. The large biodiversity within the territory of Brazil puts the country in a strategic position to develop the rational and sustained exploration of new metabolites of therapeutic value. The extension of the country covers a wide range of climates, soil types, and altitudes, providing a unique set of selective pressures for the adaptation of plant life in these scenarios. Chemical diversity is also driven by these forces, in an attempt to best fit the plant communities to the particular abiotic stresses, fauna, and microbes that co-exist with them. Certain areas of vegetation (Amazonian Forest, Atlantic Forest, Araucaria Forest, Cerrado-Brazilian Savanna, and Caatinga) are rich in species and types of environments to be used to search for natural compounds active against tuberculosis, malaria, and chronic-degenerative diseases. The present review describes some strategies to search for natural compounds, whose choice can be based on ethnobotanical and chemotaxonomical studies, and screen for their ability to bind to immobilized drug targets and to inhibit their activities. Molecular cloning, gene knockout, protein expression and purification, N-terminal sequencing, and mass spectrometry are the methods of choice to provide homogeneous drug targets for immobilization by optimized chemical reactions. Plant extract preparations, fractionation of promising plant extracts, propagation protocols and definition of in planta studies to maximize product yield of plant species producing active compounds have to be performed to provide a continuing supply of bioactive materials. Chemical characterization of natural compounds, determination of mode of action by kinetics and other spectroscopic methods (MS, X-ray, NMR), as well as in vitro and in vivo biological assays, chemical derivatization, and structure-activity relationships have to be carried out to provide a thorough knowledge on which to base the search for natural compounds or their derivatives with biological activity.

Invasive Africanized honeybees change the structure of native pollination networks in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Colony defensive behavior by the social wasp Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

This work aimed at evaluating the aggressive response of Polybia sericea, incited by mechanical means, as well as collecting information on the biological and population parameters of this species in Caatinga environments. There were positive correlations (P < 0.05) between the number of aggressors and the number of eggs, larvae and adults present in the nests. These results showed that the magnitude of the defense response exhibited by P. sericea is proportional to the energetic investment carried out by the colony in making young forms. The positive significant correlation between the number of aggressors and the total number of adults of the colony corroborates the hypothesis that colonies with a large population of adults have greater potential to perform what is called defensive altruism.

Revalidation and redescription of Elachistocleis cesarii (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Anura: Microhylidae)

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

Ocorrência de Zaprionus indianus gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) em frutos de juazeiro Ziziphus joazeiro mart. (rhamnaceae) no estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Systematic consideration of petiole anatomy of species of Echinodorus Richard (Alismataceae) from north-eastern Brazil

Petiole anatomy of the north-eastern Brazilian species Echinodorus glandulosus, E. palaefolius, E. pubescens, E subalatus, E lanceolatus and E paniculatus were examined. All species had petioles with an epidermis composed of tabular cells with thin walls. The chlorenchyma just below the epidermis alternates with collateral vascular bundles. The interior of the petiole is filled by aerenchyma with ample open spaces or lacunas. The lacunas are bridged at intervals by plates, or by diaphragm-like linkages. There are lactiferous ducts and groups of fibres throughout the entire length of the petiole, but more frequently in the chlorenchyma. Important taxonomic characteristics for the genus Echinodorus include the shape and outline of the petiole in transversal section, the presence of winged extensions, and the number of vascular bundle arcs. Exceptions occur in E. lanceolatus and E. paniculatus, whose petioles have similar anatomic patterns. A comparative chart of the petiole anatomic characteristics analyzed is presented. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Placentation in the rock cavy, Kerodon rupestris (Wied)

Rock cavies are rodents found in the semi-arid caatinga of Brazil. We studied the structure of the rock cavy placenta by light and transmission electron microscopy. The exchange area of the labyrinth was organized in lobes separated by interlobular areas. The interhaemal barrier was syncytial haemomonochorial. The syncytiotrophoblast had recesses in the basal membrane and some invaginations of the apical membrane, but transtrophoblastic channels could not be found. The interlobular regions comprised syncytiotrophoblast, enclosing maternal venous blood channels, and cytotrophoblast. There was a prominent subplacenta composed of cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. Microvilli projected into spaces between the cytotrophoblasts and into lacunae within the syncytiotrophoblast. The yolk sac epithelium exhibited coated pits, endocytotic vesicles and larger vacuoles, consistent with a role in protein uptake from the uterine lumen. Tight junctions between these cells provided a barrier to diffusion by the intercellular route. The reproductive biology of the rock cavy differs from other members of the family, including the guinea pig, but the architecture of the placenta remains remarkably constant. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Qualidade de pitaias de polpa branca armazenadas em diferentes temperaturas

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the quality of red pitaya of pulp white, produced in Itajobi city, São Paulo state. The pitayas were stored at room temperature, (21-27 degrees C with 44-63% de UR), at 18 +/- 1 degrees C, with 86-92% RH), 13 +/- 1 degrees C, with 85-90% RH and at 8 +/- 1 degrees C, with 85-95% RH. The quality was monitored during storage time through the parameters: fresh weight loss titleble acidity; soluble solids contents; vitamin C, external appearance, pH and fruit firmness. Through the results obtained may be concluded that the temperature at 8 +/- 1 degrees C it was proportioned the small fresh weight loss; the acidity, soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness were influenced by the storage temperature and storage time, but the temperature at 8 +/- 1 degrees C it was that occasioned the small change theses parameters. In general, it can be concluded that the temperature at 8 +/- 1 degrees C it was the best to maintenance the quality of pitaya fruit.

Mineral requirements for growth of Moxoto goats grazing in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desempenho do irrigâmetro no manejo da água de irrigação na cultura do feijoeiro

In this work, the aim was to evaluate the performance of Irrigameter in the management of the irrigation water, led in the culture of the bean plant, comparatively to the use of the methods standard of stove, tensiometers, Bouyoucos, automatic meteorological station and pan Class A. Irrigameter was adjusted to the soil characteristics, culture of the bean and irrigation equipment to confection the management ruler. For direct estimation of the evapotranspiration of the culture of the bean plant in your development stadiums, Irrigameter operated inside with heights of the levels of water of the evaporatorio same to 2, 3 and 5 cm, corresponding to the stadiums of initial development, vegetative development and flowering, respectively. The humidity obtained by the standard method of stove it was adopted as reference in the comparisons of the irrigation depth. Irrigameter can be used in the management of the irrigation to determine the consumption of water directly for a culture, in any development stadium; the methods that estimate the evapotranspiration of the culture overestimated the irrigation depth recommended by the standard method of stove, happening behavior contrary with the ones that determines the current humidity of the soil.

Efeito das condições climáticas do semiárido sobre o comportamento fisiológico de caprinos mestiços f1 saanen x boer

This research aimed at evaluating the effect of the semiarid climatic conditions on the physiological behavior of F1 Saanen x Boer crossbred goats, created at an intensive system. The experiment was carried out in the Health and Rural Technology Center, in the Federal University of Campina Grande, in the town of Patos, Paraiba. Twenty-four animals were used, with ages varying between three and four months, being 12 females and 12 males, weaned and prevented against worms, receiving ad libitum water and controlled concentrate and roughage. The environmental variables were checked inside and outside the experiment place, as well as the physiological variables of all animals. Except for the humid bulb temperature, the variance analysis revealed shift effect (P<0.05) for all environmental variables. There was merely shift effect (P<0.05) for Cardiac Frequency and Rectal Temperature, and the averages of both, in the afternoon, overcame those observed in the morning. The obtained results based on the studied physiological and environmental variables conclude that crossbred goats, resulting of Boer (paternal) and Saanen (maternal), present a good resistance to heat, permitting their indication for the meat production in confinement on semiarid conditions.

Evaluation of the components of production of the ricinus according of rates of calcareous rock and match

The soil of the Paraiba, in generality, are acid and with low levels of available match, seriously limiting the income of the plants. A research in vegetation house was lead, with the objective to evaluate doses of calcareous soil and match in the culture of ricinus. The treatments had been composites for five levels of match: 0.0; 80; 160; 240 and 360 kg ha(-1) of P(2)O(5) and four dosis of calcareous rock: 0.0; 2.5; 3.5 and 4.5 t ha(-1) in experimental delineation of blocks casualized with 4 factorial project x 3 (four levels of match and three doses of calcareous soil) more two treatments you add zero of match (0.0 P(2)O(5): 2,5 t ha(-1) of calcareous soil) and calcareous soil zero (240 P(2)O(5): 0.0 t ha(-1) of calcareous soil), with three repetitions. The calcareous soil reduced the acidity of the ground and effect of the application of the match (>= 80 kg ha(-1) of P(2)O(5)) in the presence of the collagen (>= 2.5 t ha(-1) of CaCO(3)) with of the calcareous soil (>= 2.5 t ha(-1) of CaCO(3)) in the presence of the match was not verified well (>= 80 kg ha(-1) of P(2)O(5)). The match applied in the absence of the calcareous soil was limited to the income of the culture of what the calcareous soil in the absence of the match.