Chemical control of Pileamicrophylla in cattleya seedlings (Cattleyatenebrosa x Cattleyaleopoldy)

Species of the orchidaceae family are grown for marketing flowers and among them the genus Cattleya stands out. However, due to its slow growth, the substrate is subjected to weed infestation. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the selectivity and efficiency of herbicides in controlling Pilea microphylla in Cattleya orchid seedlings (Cattleya tenebrosa x Cattleya leopoldy). We used a completely randomized design with four replications. The evaluated herbicides were oxyfluorfen (0, 120, 240 and 480 g ha-1), flumioxazin (0, 12.5, 25 and 40 g ha-1), nicosulfuron (0, 20, 40 and 80 g ha-1) mesotrione (0, 96, 144 and 192 g ha-1), clethodim (0, 60, 84 and 108 g ha-1) and metsulfuron-methyl (0, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 g ha-1). At post-emergence applying time, the Cattleya plants had three bulb sand were 10 cm tall, while P. microphylla, where 5 cm tall. Nicosulfuron, mesotrione and clethodim herbicides did not control P. microphylla, while oxyfluorfen and flumioxazin showed over 90% efficiency level sin controlling P. microphyllafrom 14 days after application (DAA). As to metsulfuron-methyl, it showed efficiency superior to 90% from the control dose of 1.8 g ha-1 at 28 DAA. All herbicides were selective plants of Cattleya, however, only oxyfluorfen, flumioxazin and metsulfuron-methyl were effective in controlling P. microphylla.

How glyphosate may affect transgenic soybean in different soil and phosphorus levels

The technology that employs genetic modifications brought a significant increase in the utilization of glyphosate. Transgenic soybean has been suffering injury, even though it possesses a resistance mechanism to glyphosate. Currently, there are only a few studies on the dynamics of glyphosate in transgenic soybean planted in soils with different textures interacting with phosphorus concentrations. This study focused on assessing the effects of glyphosate in transgenic soybean plants on different types of soil and at different phosphorus levels. The experimental design was completely randomized, in factorial design: 2 x 6 x 3, that being 2 soil types, 6 doses of glyphosate and 3 levels of phosphorus, and four replications. Plants were cultivated for thirty days in pots with two types of soil, one being clayey (Red-Yellow Latosol) and the other sandy (Quartzarenic Neosol). They received one, two, and three times the maintenance dose of fertilization of phosphorus, corresponding to: 170, 250 and 330 kg of P2O5 ha-1 to QN, and 380, 460 and 540 kg P2O5 ha-1 to RYL, respectively. Glyphosate was applied at six different doses: 0, 1,200, 2,400, 12,000, 60,000 and 120,000 g ha-1 of active ingredient. Plant height, a and b chlorophyll, and shoot were lower for the plants that received lower doses of glyphosate, regardless of the type of soil. Greater availability of phosphorus and lower amount of glyphosate used in Quartzarenic Neosol soil provided for less phytointoxication symptoms in transgenic soybean.

Application of Sulfentrazone in Stages of Germination of IAC 90 Cassava Cuttings in Clay Soils and Sandy

Weeds interfere dramatically in the productive potential of cassava; however, information regarding herbicides that are selective to crops is still scarce. Thus, the aim in this study was to assess the initial growth of IAC 90 cassava plants after the application of sulfentrazone at different stages of germination of cassava in clayey and sandy soils. Three experiments were simultaneously deployed: the first experiment consisted in the application of sulfentrazone in the non-germinated stage of cassava cuttings; the second one in the stage of germinated cassavas cuttings (0.9 cm shoots); and the third one in applications in the stage of cassava cuttings with buds emerging (6.5 cm shoots and emerging from the soil). For each experiment the experimental design in randomized blocks was used in the 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with four replications. The factors were composed of two soils (sandy and clayey) and five doses of sulfentrazone (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 g ha-1). It was found that depending on the herbicide dose, development stage of the buds of cassava cuttings and the type of soil, damage can occur in the initial development of the IAC 90 cassava plants. The greatest potential of sulfentrazone selectivity has occurred in applications in the non-germinated cassava cuttings stage and in doses lower than 500 g ha-1 in the clayey soil.

SELECTION OF HERBICIDES TARGETING THE USE IN CROP SYSTEMS CULTIVATED WITH SHOWY CROTALARIA

ABSTRACT The increase in the area planted with Crotalaria spectabilishas occurred by several factors, highlighting the potential to reduce the nematodes, nitrogen fixation and the high production of biomass. By becoming a species sown as a crop, it is necessary to control the weeds that coexist with showy crotalaria. This change in the use of this crop creates the possibility of this specie becoming a weed. The aim of this study was to assess the potential use of herbicides applied in preemergence and postemergence of C.spectabilisfor different purposes (control of volunteer and selectivity plants). Three experiments were installed in a greenhouse (two with herbicides applied in preemergence - in soils with distinct textural categories; and one experiment with herbicides applied in postemergence). The results of the experiments with herbicides applied in preemergence showed that: amicarbazone, atrazine, diuron, metribuzin, prometryn, fomesafen and sulfentrazone showed effectiveness for control of C.spectabilis in clayey soil. Besides these, flumioxazin and isoxaflutole also showed potential to be used in the control of showy crotalaria in soils with loam texture. In relation to the postemergence herbicides, atrazine, diuron, prometryn, flumioxazin, fomesafen, lactofen, saflufenacil, amonio-glufosinate and glyphosate can be used aiming the chemical control of C.spectabilis. Herbicides chlorimuron-ethyl, diclosulan, imazethapyr, pyrithiobac-sodium, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, clomazone, pendimethalin, S-metolachlor and trifluralin applied in preemergence, and imazethapyr, pyrithiobac-sodium, flumiclorac, bentazon and clethodim applied in postemergence caused low levels of injury to C.spectabilis plants, making necessary the development of new searches to ensure the selectivity of these products.

Changes in Photosynthesis and Oxidative Stress in Wheat Plants Submmited to Herbicides Application

The use of herbicides, even in tolerant crops, can cause stress evidenced by increase phytotoxicity affecting growth and development. The objectives of this study were to evaluate herbicides effect from different mechanisms of action in photosynthetic and oxidative stress parameters, as well visual phytotoxicity and wild radish control in wheat crop, cultivar Quartzo. Two trials were conducted where the first one evaluated the photosynthetic parameters on wheat plants in two seasons collection, following the application of herbicides bentazon, clodinafop, iodosulfuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron and 2,4-D; and the second one evaluated wild radish (Raphanus sativus) control, wheat phytotoxicity and yield due to bentazon, iodosulfuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron and 2,4-D herbicides application. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration were negatively affected by metribuzin, metsulfuron and 2,4-D herbicides at 24 and 120 HAS (hours after spraying) compared to control. Oxidative stress was similar or lower to control, when herbicide was applied and, in general, there was no difference between application times. Lipid peroxidation, catalase activity and phenols were higher in the first collection time. The application of herbicides iodosulfuron and 2,4-D reduces chlorophylls and carotenoids in wheat. Herbicides bentazon, iodosulfuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron and 2,4-D are selective to wheat, cultivar Quartzo and do not affect wheat yield. 2,4-D, metribuzin and iodosulfuron are more efficient for wild radish control.

Morfologia polínica da tribo Protieae (Burseraceae) na América do Sul

(Morfologia polínica da tribo Protieae (Burseraceae) na América do Sul). A tribo Protieae está representada na América do Sul pelos gêneros: Crepidospermum Hook. f., Protium Burm. f. e Tetragastris Gaertn. Crepidospermum compreende cinco espécies distribuídas principalmente na Amazônia. Protium é um gênero neotropical com aproximadamente 146 espécies. Tetragastris encontra-se quase que exclusivamente em altitudes baixas, nas florestas úmidas da América Central, norte da América do Sul e algumas partes do Caribe. Foram examinados os grãos de pólen de 177 exsicatas que representam 51 táxons. O material polínico foi acetolisado, medido, descrito e fotografado sob microscopia óptica e, na maioria dos casos, também em microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As medidas receberam tratamento estatístico adequado ao tamanho da amostra. As espécies de Crepidospermum e Tetragastris apresentam grãos de pólen médios, principalmente subprolatos, âmbito triangular, longicolpados, psilados, indicando a condição estenopolínica dos gêneros. As características das aberturas permitiram diferençar as espécies de Crepidospermum entre si; enquanto as espécies consideradas de Tetragastris são muito similares não permitindo sua separação. Protium é variável na forma (esférica, prolata-esferoidal, subprolata, prolata) e na ornamentação da exina (psilada, psilado-perfurada, estriada, microrreticulada); as medidas do diâmetro polar, a forma e o tamanho da endoabertura, o tamanho do colpo, a ornamentação da membrana do colpo e as medidas da espessura da exina também são características que poderão ser usadas para distinguir os táxons. Estas observações assinalam que Protium é um gênero euripolínico, de modo que a morfologia polínica pode, em muitos casos, subsidiar a delimitação taxonômica das espécies.

Palinologia de espécies da tribo Eupatorieae (Compositae Giseke) ocorrentes na Restinga de Carapebus, Carapebus, Rio de Janeiro

Foram estudados os grãos de pólen de sete táxons pertencentes à tribo Eupatorieae, ocorrentes na Restinga de Carapebus, Carapebus, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. São eles: Barrosoa atlantica King & Robins., B. betonicaeformis (DC.) King & Robins., Mikania belemii King & Robins., M. cordifolia Willd., M. glomerata Spreng., M. micrantha H.B.K., M. trinervis Hook & Arn. e Trichogoniopsis podocarpa (DC.) King & Robins. A tribo apresentou em comum, grãos de pólen pequenos a médios, oblato-esferoidais a prolato-esferoidais, tricolporados, sexina espinhosa e cavada. Os táxons puderam ser separados quando foram consideradas a forma polínica, as dimensões do espinho e a distância entre eles. Assim, foi possível formar dois conjuntos de espécies identificados pela forma polínica: o primeiro, com forma oblato-esferoidal, composto por Barrosoa atlantica, Mikania micrantha e M. trinervis e o segundo, com forma prolato-esferoidal, composto por Barrosoa betonicaeformis, Mikania belemii, M. cordifolia, M. glomerata e Trichogoniopsis podocarpa. Os resultados obtidos, em comparação à literatura corrente, permitem concluir que a tribo Eupatorieae é, palinologicamente, homogênea, porém algumas espécies podem ser separadas pelo grão de pólen, exceto M. glomerata de T. podocarpa e M. belemii de M. cordifolia.

Estrutura sinusial dos componentes herbáceo e arbustivo de uma floresta costeira subtropical

As sinúsias herbáceas e arbustivas são componentes de comunidades florestais pouco pesquisados nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais. Neste trabalho foram estudadas a composição florística e a estrutura fitossociológica destas sinúsias em uma floresta arenosa (restinga) da Planície Costeira do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados fitossociológicos foram obtidos em 30 parcelas de 2 x 2 m. Em cada parcela anotou-se a presença e a altura máxima das espécies herbáceas e arbutivas, e a cobertura foi estimada pela escala de Causton. A composição florística total da área compreende 61 espécies, 52 gêneros e 33 famílias. As famílias que apresentaram mais de duas espécies foram: Poaceae, Commelinaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae, Rubiaceae e Asteraceae. As formas de vida hemicriptófita e caméfita foram as mais representativas. A amostragem fitossociológica resultou em 26 espécies herbáceas e 10 arbustivas, pertencentes a 31 gêneros e 24 famílias. As espécies mais importantes foram Carex sellowiana Schlecht., Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv., Spathicarpa hastifolia Hook. (herbáceas), Pavonia sepium St.-Hil. e Justicia brasiliana Roth (arbustos). A diversidade e eqüidade específica, segundo os índices de Shannon (H') e Pielou (J) estimados pela freqüência, foram 2,98 e 0,84, respectivamente.

Crescimento inicial de três espécies arbóreas da Floresta Atlântica em resposta à variação na quantidade de luz

Verificou-se a resposta de crescimento à variação na intensidade de luz de plântulas de três espécies arbóreas da Floresta Tropical Atlântica, Cecropia glazioui Sneth., Cedrela fissilis Vell. e Bathysa australis (A. St.-Hil.) Hook. ex Sch., respectivamente de estádios inicial, intermediário e final de sucessão. As três espécies mostraram, dentro de um determinado gradiente de luz, plasticidade para aumentar a captação de luz quando em baixa irradiância (através de aumento da razão de área foliar -RAF e diminuição da razão entre raiz e parte aérea - R/PA) e plasticidade para aumentar o ganho de carbono e diminuir a transpiração quando em alta irradiância (através dos aumentos da razão R/PA e densidade estomática, e da diminuição da RAF). A plasticidade das espécies em variar determinado parâmetro em função da intensidade de luz foi dependente do gradiente de intensidade de luz aplicado. A plasticidade foi maior nas intensidades mais baixas de luz tanto para C. glazioui quanto para C. fissilis. Para a maior parte dos parâmetros analisados, C. glazioui mostrou maior parte plasticidade para aclimatar-se à maior irradiância, que C. fissilis. As variações apresentadas pelas espécies na morfologia e fisiologia em relação à variação na intensidade de luz são consistentes com o local de ocorrência de cada espécie.

Morphometric analysis of the Brasiliorchis picta complex (Orchidaceae)

One of the largest genera of Orchidaceae in the Neotropics with about 450 species, Maxillaria presents several taxonomic uncertainties about its generic circumscription and the delimitation of species groups, mainly due to the large variability of some species. The present study aims at verifying the morphological variation and species delimitation in the Brasiliorchis picta complex, a recent new genus derived from Maxillaria, using morphometric multivariate analysis. A total of 340 specimens belonging to six species (B. chrysantha (Barb. Rodr.) R.B. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali, B. gracilis (Lodd.) R.B. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali, B. marginata (Lindl.) R.B. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali, B. picta (Hook.) R. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali, B. porphyrostele (Rchb. f.) R.B. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali and B. ubatubana (Hoehne) R.B. Singer, S. Koehler & Carnevali) were analyzed using multivariate methods (PCA, CVA, DA, and Cluster Analysis with UPGMA). B. gracilis shows the largest morphological discontinuity, mainly due to its smaller size. The other species tend to form distinct groups, but intermediate characteristics between pairs of species induce overlaps among the individuals of different species and thus confuse the distinction of each one. Hybridization and geographic distribution can be involved in the differentiation of the species and lineages in this complex. Because the species classified a priori in this work cannot be recognized by the quantitative characters measured here, such other tools as geometric morphometry and molecular data should be employed in future works to clarify species relationships in this complex.

Poliporóides (Basidiomycota) em fragmentos de mata no perímetro urbano de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

Foi realizado levantamento das espécies de fungos poliporóides que ocorrem no perímetro urbano do município de São José do Rio Preto (20º49'12" S, 49º22'44" W), Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram identificadas 18 espécies pertencentes a 11 gêneros de Agaricales (Schizophyllaceae), Hymenochaetales (Hymenochaetaceae) e Polyporales (Ganodermataceae, Gloeophyllaceae, Meruliaceae e Polyporaceae): Coriolopsis floccosa (Jungh.) Ryvarden, C. polyzona (Pers.) Ryvarden, Datronia caperata (Berk.) Ryvarden, D. mollis (Somf.:Fr.) Donk., Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat., Gloeophyllum striatum (Sw.) Murrill, Gloeoporus thelephoroides (Hook.) G. Cunn., Hexagonia hirta (P. Beauv.) Fr., H. hydnoides (Sw.) M. Fidalgo, H. papyracea Berk., Polyporus tenuiculus (P. Beauv.) Fr., Phellinus callimorphus (Lév.) Ryvarden, P. gilvus (Schwein.) Pat., P. umbrinellus (Bres.) Herrera & Bondartseva, Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill, Schizophyllum commune Fr., S. umbrinum Berk. e Trametes modesta (Kunze:Fr.) Ryvarden. Datronia mollis é nova citação para o Estado de São Paulo. São apresentados chave de identificação, descrições e comentários para cada táxon estudado.

Novas ocorrências de musgos (Bryophyta) para o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Foram identificados 22 táxons que são novas citações para o Rio Grande do Sul e 4 táxons tiveram sua distribuição geográfica ampliada no Estado. Os mesmos estão distribuídos em 10 famílias e 16 gêneros, sendo que as famílias mais bem representadas neste estudo são Fissidentaceae, Bryaceae, Sematophyllaceae, Dicranaceae, Hypnaceae e Orthotrichaceae. Bryum chryseum Mitt. e Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb. são ocorrências novas para o Brasil. Fissidens rigidulus Hook. f. & Wilson, Fissidens submarginatus Bruch, Fissidens taxifolius Hedw. e Uleastrum palmicola (Müll. Hal.) R. H. Zander tiveram sua distribuição geográfica ampliada. São apresentadas ilustrações e distribuição geográfica para todos os táxons.

Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by tumor necrosis factor and butyrolactone, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases

Induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is modulated by changes in the expression and activity of several cell cycle regulatory proteins. We examined the effects of TNF (1-100 ng/ml) and butyrolactone I (100 µM), a specific inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) with high selectivity for CDK-1 and CDK-2, on three different cancer cell lines: WEHI, L929 and HeLa S3. Both compounds blocked cell growth, but only TNF induced the common events of apoptosis, i.e., chromatin condensation and ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation in these cell lines. The TNF-induced apoptosis events were increased in the presence of butyrolactone. In vitro phosphorylation assays for exogenous histone H1 and endogenous retinoblastoma protein (pRb) in the total cell lysates showed that treatment with both TNF and butyrolactone inhibited the histone H1 kinase (WEHI, L929 and HeLa) and pRb kinase (WEHI) activities of CDKs, as compared with the controls. The role of proteases in the TNF and butyrolactone-induced apoptosis was evaluated by comparing the number and expression of polypeptides in the cell lysates by gel electrophoresis. TNF and butyrolactone treatment caused the disappearance of several cellular protein bands in the region between 40-200 kDa, and the 110- 90- and 50-kDa proteins were identified as the major substrates, whose degradation was remarkably increased by the treatments. Interestingly, the loss of several cellular protein bands was associated with the marked accumulation of two proteins apparently of 60 and 70 kDa, which may be cleavage products of one or more proteins. These findings link the decrease of cyclin-dependent kinase activities to the increase of protease activities within the growth arrest and apoptosis pathways induced by TNF.

Measurement of intestinal permeability using mannitol and lactulose in children with diarrheal diseases

The excretion ratio of lactulose/mannitol in urine has been used to assess the extension of malabsorption and impairment of intestinal permeability. The recovery of lactulose and mannitol in urine was employed to evaluate intestinal permeability in children with and without diarrhea. Lactulose and mannitol probes were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPLC-PAD). Two groups of solutions containing 60 µM sugars were prepared. Group I consisted of glucosamine, mannitol, melibiose and lactulose, and group II of inositol, sorbitol, glucose and lactose. In the study of intra-experiment variation, a sample of 50 µl from each group was submitted to 4 successive determinations. The recovered amounts and retention times of each sugar showed a variation <2 and 1%, respectively. The estimated recovery was >97%. In the study of inter-experiment variation, we prepared 4 independent samples from groups I and II at the following concentrations: 1.0, 0.3, 0.1, 0.03 and 0.01 mM. The amounts of the sugars recovered varied by <10%, whereas the retention times showed an average variation <1%. The linear correlation coefficients were >99%. Retention (k'), selectivity (a) and efficiency (N) were used to assess the chromatographic conditions. All three parameters were in the normal range. Children with diarrhea presented a greater lactulose/mannitol ratio compared to children without diarrhea.

The molecular basis of selective permeability of connexins is complex and includes both size and charge

Although gap junction channels are still widely viewed as large, non-specific pores connecting cells, the diversity in the connexin family has led more attention to be focused on their permeability characteristics. We summarize here the current status of these investigations, both published and on-going, that reveal both charge and size selectivity between gap junction channels composed of different connexins. In particular, this review will focus on quantitative approaches that monitor the expression level of the connexins, so that it is clear that differences that are seen can be attributed to channel properties. The degree of selectivity that is observed is modest compared to other channels, but is likely to be significant for biological molecules that are labile within the cell. Of particular relevance to the in vivo function of gap junctions, recent studies are summarized that demonstrate that the connexin phenotype can control the nature of the endogenous traffic between cells, with consequent effects on biological effects of gap junctions such as tumor suppression.