Association of ABO gene mutations resulting in a rare B subgroup

Background and Objectives B subgroups are rare and the genetic analysis reported to date has been limited.Materials and Methods Serological and molecular investigations were performed in blood from a B-subgroup donor.Results Red cells did not react with anti-B and anti-AB reagents. However, cells absorbed anti-B. Red cells presented positive reactions with anti-H, and saliva secreted H substance. The molecular study demonstrated a B allele with the substitutions 467C>T, 646T>A, 681G>A, 771C>T, 796C>A, 803G>C, 829G>A and an 0 allele with the sequence of 002.Conclusions It is probable that the presence in exon 7 of some of the 002 substitutions could have weakened the enzymatic activity of the encoded B transferase.

Copia Retrotransposon in the Zaprionus Genus: Another Case of Transposable Element Sharing with the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Multiple invasions of Gypsy and Micropia retroelements in genus Zaprionus and melanogaster subgroup of the genus Drosophila

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Esterase patterns and phylogenetic relationships of Drosophila species in the saltans subgroup (saltans group)

The esterase patterns of sixteen strains from four species in the saltans subgroup were analyzed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thirty-four esterase bands were detected. By using alpha and beta naphthyl acetates as substrates, they were classified in 18 alpha-esterases (they hydrolyse the alpha-naphtyl substrate), 15 beta-esterases (they hydrolyse the beta-naphtyl substrate) and 1 alpha/beta-esterase (it hydrolyses the alpha and beta-naphtyl substrates). Among the alpha-esterases, three were detected exclusively in males. Malathion, Eserine and pCMB were used as inhibitors in order to characterize biochemically the esterases. The results indicated the presence of cholinesterases, carboxylesterases and acetylesterases. The degree of mobility of the bands in the gels, their specificity to alpha and beta naphthyl acetates and the results of the inhibition tests allowed us to recognize tentatively nine genetic loci. Phylogenetic relationships among species inferred on the basis of the esterase patterns by PAUP 4.0 b8, with neighbor-joining search and a bootstrap analysis showed that, although the four species are closely related, D. septentriosaltans, D. saltans and D. austrosaltans are closer to each other than to D. prosaltans. These results showed to be consistent with phylogenetic relationships previously inferred from inversion polymorphism.

Inversion polymorphism in laboratory strains and natural samples of Drosophila sturtevanti (saltans group, sturtevanti subgroup)

Drosophila sturtevanti (37 strains) showed eighteen inversions, five new and thirteen previously described. Among these strains, 24 were maintained for seven to 21 years under laboratory conditions, eight for less than 1 year, and six were natural samples analysed in the first generation after collection. Flies from natural samples were the most polymorphic in the number of different inversions as well as in the frequency of flies bearing heterozygous inversions. In all cases, chromosome III presented the greatest number of inversions, and most of them occurred in strains from the Amazonian region. The data obtained were consistent with the hypothesis that the inversion variability of a species is proportional to the variability of its habitats.

Nitrogen and potassium fertilization of 'Nanicao' banana (Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup) under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions

A field experiment was carried out in São Paulo State, Brazil, with the objective of investigating the response of 'Nanicao' banana (Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup) to nitrogen and potassium fertilization under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions during two crop seasons. The effects of cropping on some soil chemical properties were also investigated. A split-plot design was used with irrigation (micro-sprinkler) and no irrigation applied to main plots, and a combination of four rates of N (0, 200, 400 and 800 kg N ha-1) and K (0, 300, 600 and 900 kg K2O ha-1) as the sub-plot treatments. Irrigation caused a significant increase in fruit yield and determined the response to N and K fertilizers. In spite of a high level of exchangeable K, a positive response to K application was observed on the plant crop in non-irrigated plants. Fruit yield was impaired by N application in the plant crop (1st cycle). A positive response to N application was observed in the 2nd cycle. Soil pH decreased with increasing N rates. Exchangeable K was significantly reduced due to crop exhaustion.

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase production by the Bacillus sp., subgroup alcalophilus using a central composite design

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) activity was produced by the Bacillus sp., subgroup alcalophilus in a culture medium containing cassava starch. A central composite design and response surface methodology were used to study the influence of carbon source (cassava starch), nitrogen sources (yeast extract and tryptone) and sodium carbonate in the production medium. Assays were performed in 300 mL Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 mL of production medium maintained in a shaker at 150 rpm at 35±1°C for 72 h of fermentation. The independent variables [0.75% cassava starch, nitrogen sources (0.375% yeast extract and 0.375% tryptone) and 1% Na2CO3] produced an enzyme activity of 96.07 U mL-1.© Academic Journals Inc.

Variação sazonal da concentração de nutrientes em folhas de bananeiras, no Vale do Ribeira-SP

The Vale do Ribeira, SP, main agricultural activity is the banana crop, which accounts for most of this fruit production in the State of São Paulo. The nutritional balance of the plant is one of the most important factors for the banana plant can complete the cycle and achieve high productivity. Aiming to evaluate the seasonal variation of leaf nutrient concentration in banana plants in Vale do Ribeira-SP, we used the results of 252 chemical analyses of plant tissue, collected from August 2009 to September 2010, in the 18 representative properties for the region, ten cultivated with subgroup Cavendish banana plant and eight of subgroup Prata banana plant. The largest variation between the macronutrient occurred for K and S, and among the micronutrients, especially for Fe and B. In some dates of evaluation, there was a higher leaf concentration of P, K, Ca and Zn, in subgroup Cavendish banana plants, while the subgroup Prata banana plants showed higher leaf concentration, especially of Mn, B and N. Climatic conditions, especially rain, influenced the leaf nutrient content, especially for K, N, S, B and Fe.

Microscopia eletrônica de varredura de duas espécies de Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Fanniidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Amostragem foliar da bananeira 'Prata-Anã

Para diagnose nutricional da bananeira, é necessário padronizar a amostragem do tecido a ser utilizado, já que a composição mineral varia com a idade da planta, com a folha amostrada, entre as diversas partes da folha, ao que se somam as condições ecológicas, diferenças varietais e flutuações sazonais dos elementos. Portanto, a possibilidade de equívoco na interpretação é considerável. O Método de Amostragem Internacional de Referência (MEIR) para bananeira recomenda coletar a terceira folha de plantas com cachos que apresentem todas as pencas visíveis e não mais que três mãos de flores masculinas abertas, retirando-se a metade interna de uma faixa central do limbo, desprovida da nervura central. Há uma dificuldade em seguir tal recomendação para bananeira 'Prata-Anã' cultivada no norte de Minas Gerais, pois ela possui porte alto e roseta foliar muito densa, que confunde a localização da folha amostrada. Além disso, normalmente, as amostras são retiradas com largura diferente dos 10 cm recomendados. Dadas as dificuldades de amostragem da bananeira 'Prata-Anã' e o fato de besta cultivar sob irrigação ser pouco estudada, comparada àquelas do subgrupo Cavendish, o presente trabalho objetivou determinar o efeito da folha amostrada e da largura da amostra sobre os teores minerais de bananeira 'Prata-Anã' cultivada sob irrigação no norte de Minas Gerais. Apesar das variações estatísticas, os teores foliares mantiveram-se dentro da faixa de suficiência, independentemente da posição da folha amostra da- 2ª, 3ª ou 4ª folha - ou do tamanho da amostra - 10; 20 ou 30 cm de largura. Isto sugere que a coleta de folha na posição acima (segunda) ou abaixo (quarta) da folha recomendada terceira, numa largura foliar de 10 a 30 cm, pouco altera os teores foliares em relação à indicação pelo método MEIR, tolerando-se assim uma possível variação da amostra quanto à posição e à largura foliar testadas.

Crescimento, produção e qualidade de frutos da bananeira 'Figo cinza', em Botucatu-SP

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

Identification of Rhizoctonia solani AG 1-IB in lettuce, AG 4 HG-I in tomato and melon, and AG 4 HG-III in broccoli and spinach, in Brazil

Fungi isolated in Brazil, from lettuce, broccoli, spinach, melon and tomato, were identified as Rhizoctonia solani. All lettuce isolates anastomosed with both AG 1-IA and IB subgroups and all isolates from broccoli, spinach, melon and tomato anastomosed with AG 4 subgroup HG-I, as well as with subgroups HG-II and HG-III. DNA sequence analyses of ribosomal internal transcribed spacers showed that isolates from lettuce were AG 1-IB, isolates from tomato and melon were AG 4 HG-I, and isolates from broccoli and spinach were AG 4 HG-III. The tomato isolates caused stem rot symptoms, the spinach, broccoli and melon isolates caused hypocotyl and root rot symptoms on the respective host plants and the lettuce isolates caused bottom rot. This is the first report on the occurrence in Brazil of R. solani AG 4 HG-I in tomato and melon, of AG 4 HG-III in broccoli and spinach and of AG 1-IB in lettuce.

MYCELIAL DEVELOPMENT of Lentinula edodes IN CULTURE MEDIA WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

The radial mycelial growth of Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler, strain LE-96/13, was studied in culture media prepared with organic residues extract, by using substrates prepared with pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merril) crown, Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer peel, Theobroma grandiflorum Schum shell, Musa sp. (genomic group AAB, subgroup Pacovan) peel, and Musa sp. (genomic group AAB, subgroup Praia) peel, with three supplementation levels with wheat bran (0, 10 and 20%), and incubated at 25 degrees C. The experimental design was totally randomized, in a 5x3 factorial scheme, adding up 15 treatments with 4 repetitions, and each repetition corresponding to a Petri dish. The diameter of the colony was evaluated daily during nine days of incubation. After that period, it was verified that the highest mycelial growth averages of strain LE-96/13 of L. edodes were found in culture media prepared with T. grandiflorum Schum shell (whose supplementation with wheat bran was favorable for Mushroom development) and A. aculeatum Meyer peel (whose supplementation did not favor the mycelial growth of L. edodes in relation to the medium not supplemented).