Variations on the nutritional status of eucalypt as influenced by the genetic material and age of tree

The Diagnosis and Recommendation System (DRIS) was applied to eucalypt trees (hybrids of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla) with different ages and growing under different environmental conditions for three different clones. The basic data were obtained from 1,986 trees of commercial stands cultivated in the states of Espírito Santo and south Bahia, Brazil. The DRIS indices were calculated using the Beaufils' Range formula and grouped according to the Nutrient Application Potential Response method. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the N, P and Ca status in eucalypt trees, regarding the tree ages and genetic materials. The DRIS indices discriminated differences in the nutritional status of the trees, both in relation to age and the genetic materials (clones). The results indicated that the deficiency of N and Ca tended to decrease with tree age, whereas the P deficiency tended to increase. Furthermore, of the three evaluated clones, those numbered 00014 and 00034 showed opposite trends regarding to N, P, and Ca nutrition, and the clone numbered 00021, in general, presented the highest degree of unbalanced nutrition of N, P and Ca.

Divergence and genetic variability among superior rubber tree genotypes

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic variability and divergence among 22 superior rubber tree (Hevea sp.) genotypes of the IAC 400 series. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using eight quantitative traits (descriptors), including yield. In the univariate analyses, the estimated parameters were: genetic and environmental variances; genetic and environmental coefficients of variation; and the variation index. The Mahalanobis generalized distance, the Tocher agglomerative method and canonical variables were used for the multivariate analyses. In the univariate analyses, variability was verified among the genotypes for all the variables evaluated. The Tocher method grouped the genotypes into 11 clusters of dissimilarity. The first four canonical variables explained 87.93% of the cumulative variation. The highest genetic variability was found in rubber yield-related traits, which contributed the most to the genetic divergence. The most divergent pairs of genotypes are suggested for crossbreeding. The genotypes evaluated are suitable for breeding and may be used to continue the IAC rubber tree breeding program.

Prediction of direct and indirect genetic gains and genotypic correlations in rubber tree progenies

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters, genotypic and phenotypic correlations, and direct and indirect genetic gains among and within rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) progenies. The experiment was set up at the Municipality of Jaú, SP, Brazil. A randomized complete block design was used, with 22 treatments (progenies), 6 replicates, and 10 plants per plot at a spacing of 3x3 m. Three‑year‑old progenies were assessed for girth, rubber yield, and bark thickness by direct and indirect gains and genotypic correlations. The number of latex vessel rings showed the best correlations, correlating positively and significantly with girth and bark thickness. Selection gains among progenies were greater than within progeny for all the variables analyzed. Total gains obtained were high, especially for girth increase and rubber yield, which were 93.38 and 105.95%, respectively. Young progeny selection can maximize the expected genetic gains, reducing the rubber tree selection cycle.

Peaches tree genetic divergence for brown rot reaction

It was evaluated the genetic divergence in peach genotypes for brown rot reaction. It was evaluated 26 and 29 peach genotypes in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 production cycle, respectively. The experiment was carried out at the Laboratório de Fitossanidade, da UTFPR - Campus Dois Vizinhos. The experimental design was entirely randomized, considering each peach genotype a treatment, and it was use three replication of nine fruits. The treatment control use three replication of three peach. The fruit epidermis were inoculated individually with 0.15 mL of M. fructicola conidial suspension (1.0 x 10(5) spores mL-1). In the control treatment was sprayed with 0.15 mL of distilled water. The fruits were examined 72 and 120 hours after inoculation, and the incidence and severity disease were evaluated. These results allowed realized study for genetic divergence, used as dissimilarity measure the Generalized Mahalanobis distance. Cluster analysis using Tocher´s optimization method and distances in the plan were applied. There was smallest genetic divergence among peach trees evaluated for brown rot, what can difficult to obtain resistance in the genotypes.

Characterization of nutrient deficiency in Hancornia speciosa Gomes seedlings by omitting micronutrients from the nutrient solution

Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Mangaba tree) is a fruit tree belonging to the Apocynaceae family and is native to Brazil. The production of seedlings of this species is limited by a lack of technical and nutritional expertise. To address this deficiency, this study aimed to characterize the visual symptoms of micronutrient deficiency and to assess growth and leaf nutrient accumulation in H. speciosa seedlings supplied with nutrient solutions that lack individual micronutrients. H. speciosa plants were grown in nutrient solution in a greenhouse according to a randomized block design, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of a group receiving complete nutrient solution and groups treated with a nutrient solution lacking one of the following micronutrients: boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo). The visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency were generally easy to characterize. Dry matter production was affected by the omission of micronutrients, and the treatment lacking Fe most limited the stem length, stem diameter, root length, and number of leaves in H. speciosa seedlings as well as the dry weight of leaves, the total dry weight, and the relative growth in H. speciosa plants. The micronutrient contents of H. speciosa leaves from plants receiving the complete nutrient solution treatment were, in decreasing order, Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>B.

Inclusion complex of the antiviral drug acyclovir with cyclodextrin in aqueous solution and in solid phase

Complexation between acyclovir (ACV), an antiviral drug used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infection, and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was studied in solution and in solid states. Complexation in solution was evaluated using solubility studies and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). In the solid state, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dissolution studies were used. Solubility studies suggested the existence of a 1:1 complex between ACV and beta-CD. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy studies showed that the complex formed occurs with a stoichiometry ratio of 1:1. Powder X-ray diffraction indicated that ACV exists in a semicrystalline state in the complexed form with beta-CD. DSC studies showed the existence of a complex of ACV with beta-CD. The TGA studies confirmed the DSC results of the complex. Solubility of ACV in solid complexes was studied by the dissolution method and it was found to be much more soluble than the uncomplexed drug.

Development and validation of an alternative titration method for the determination of sulfate ion in indinavir sulfate

A simple and rapid precipitation titration method was developed and validated to determine sulfate ion content in indinavir sulfate raw material. 0.1 mol L-1 lead nitrate volumetric solution was used as titrant employing potentiometric endpoint determination using a lead-specific electrode. The United States Pharmacopoeia Forum indicates a potentiometric method for sulfate ion quantitation using 0.1 mol L-1 lead perchlorate as titrant. Both methods were validated concerning linearity, precision and accuracy, yielding good results. The sulfate ion content found by the two validated methods was compared by the statistical t-student test, indicating that there was no statistically significant difference between the methods.

pH effect on the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles by the chemical reduction-precipitation method

This work aimed at putting in evidence the influence of the pH on the chemical nature and properties of the synthesized magnetic nanocomposites. Saturation magnetization measurements evidenced a marked difference of the magnetic behavior of samples, depending on the final pH of the solution after reaction. Magnetite and maghemite in different proportions were the main magnetic iron oxides actually identified. Synthesis with final pH between 9.7-10.6 produced nearly pure magnetite with little or no other associated iron oxide. Under other synthetic conditions, goethite also appears in proportions that depended upon the pH of the synthesis medium.

Determination of traces of nitrate in water samples using spectrophotometric method after its preconcentration on microcrystalline naphthalene

Nitrate is quantitatively retained with 2,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl pyrylium perchlorate (PPP) on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range of 6.5-9.0 from a large volume of aqueous solutions of various samples. The method was based on the complexation between PPP and nitrate and then, extraction of the resulted complex from aqueous solution by microcrystalline naphthalene. The solid mass consisting of the nitrate complex and naphthalene was then dissolved in dimethyl formamide (DMF) and absorption of the resulted solution was obtained at 328 nm. The linear calibration range for the determination of nitrate was 15-135 μg L-1 with the detection limit of 10 μg L-1.

Development of a flotation-spectrophotometric method for determination of cetylpyridinium chloride in pharmaceutical products

A new simple and sensitive flotation-spectrophotometric method for the determination of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is reported. The method is based on the formation of an ion- associate between CPC and Orange II (OR) which is floated in the interface of aqueous phase and n-hexane by vigorous shaking. The aqueous solution was discarded and the adsorbed ion associate on to the wall of a separating funnel was dissolved in a small volume of methanol solvent and its absorbance was measured at 480 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity (Ε) of the ion associate was determined to be 4.12 x 10(5) L mol-1 cm-1. The calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 15-800 ng mL-1 of CPC with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988. The limit of detection (LOD) was 10.8 ng mL-1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for determination of 100 and 800 ng mL-1 of CPC was 3.47 and 2.04% (n=7), respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of CPC in a commercial mouth washer product.

Development of a simple UV-spectrophotometric method for the determination of lansoprazole and study of its degradation profile

A UV-spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of lansoprazole (LAN). The method is based on the measurement of the absorbance of LAN solution in acetonitrile at 281 nm. The system obeyed Beer's law over the concentration range of 1.25-25.0 µg/mL. The degradation behavior of LAN was investigated under dry heat treatment, UV-degradation, acid hydrolysis, alkali hydrolysis and oxidation; and found to degrade extensively under acid hydrolysis, alkali hydrolysis and oxidation. The method was applied to the determination of LAN in capsule and the results were statistically compared with those of the reference method by applying Student's t-test and F-test.

Development of a UV/Vis spectrophotometric method for analysis of total polyphenols from Caesalpinia peltophoroides Benth

Caesalpinia peltophoroides is a domesticated tree found in Brazil. It was necessary to develop an analytical method to determine the content of total polyphenols (TP) in this herbal drug. The pre-analytical method was standardized for analysis time, wavelength, and the best standard to use. The optimum conditions were: pyrogallol, 760 nm, and 30 min respectively. Under these conditions, validation by UV/Vis spectrophotometry proved to be reliable for TP of the crude extract and semipurified fractions from C. peltophoroides. Standardization is required for every herbal drug, and this method proved to be linear, precise, accurate, reproducible, robust, and easy to perform.

A reliable method of quantification of trace copper in beverages with and without alcohol by spectrophotometry after cloud point extraction

A new cloud point extraction (CPE) method was developed for the separation and preconcentration of copper (II) prior to spectrophotometric analysis. For this purpose, 1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl) azonapthalen-2-ol (Sudan II) was used as a chelating agent and the solution pH was adjusted to 10.0 with borate buffer. Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114) was used as an extracting agent in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS). After phase separation, based on the cloud point of the mixture, the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with acetone, and the enriched analyte was spectrophotometrically determined at 537 nm. The variables affecting CPE efficiency were optimized. The calibration curve was linear within the range 0.285-20 µg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.085 µg L-1. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of copper in different beverage samples.

Bioanalytical method for the quantification of the monastrol derivative anticancer candidate lasom 65 in pre-clinical pharmacokinetic investigations

A simple HPLC/UV method was developed for the determination of the anticancer candidate LaSOM 65 in rat plasma. Samples were cleaned by protein precipitation with acetonitrile (recovery > 95%), after which they were subjected to chromatography under the isocratic elution of an acetonitrile:water (45:55, ν/ν) solution with detection at 303 nm. The method was linear (r² > 0.98) over the concentration range (0.05-2 µg mL-1) with intra- and inter-day precision ranging from 9.6% to 13.6% and 4.3% to 5.4%, respectively. The accuracy of the method ranged from 85% to 113.6%, and it showed sufficient sensitivity to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of LaSOM 65 after intravenous administration to Wistar rats.

A simple square-wave voltammetric method for the determination of scopolamine in pharmaceuticals using a boron-doped diamond electrode

A simple procedure is described for the determination of scopolamine by square-wave voltammetry using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that the oxidation of scopolamine is irreversible at a peak potential of 1.59 V (vs. Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L-1 KCl)) in a 0.50 mol L-1 sulfuric acid solution. Under optimized conditions, the analytical curve obtained was linear (r = 0.9996) for the scopolamine concentration range of 1.0 to 110 µmol L-1, with a detection limit of 0.84 µmol L-1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of scopolamine in pharmaceutical formulations with minimum sample preparation.