Characterization of mandarin citrus germplasm from Southern Brazil by morphological and molecular analyses

The objective of this work was to characterize mandarin (Citrus spp.) germplasm from Southern Brazil by morphological and molecular analyses. Thirty seven cultivars from 34 distinct mandarin varieties were evaluated by morphological and agronomic traits of leaves, flowers and fruits, and by microsatellite markers. The morphological and agronomic characteristics suggested that almost all varieties can be produced for commercial use, and some, as the Satsuma variety, are recommended for breeding programs. Pooled DNA samples from 1-5 plants belonging to each cultivar were tested. Eight of the nine primers detected polymorphisms. Specific markers were found for some accessions. The dendrogram constructed with the morphological results divided the 37 cultivars into four groups, while that obtained with the microsatellites clustered 35 of the 37 cultivars into three groups only. Generally, intervarietal differences are not high, and this lack of agreement in the two multifactorial analyses indicates that diverse evolutionary factors are acting at these two levels of investigation.

Characterization of potato genotypes using molecular markers

The objective of this work was to characterize 27 potato genotypes, using molecular markers. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, RAPD techniques and isozymes of esterase, phosphoglucomutase and soluble proteins were analyzed in tubers, and isocitrate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, phosphoglucomutase and peroxidase, in leaves. Eighteen primers were tested and four were chosen, kits OPX (01, 04 and 09) and OPY (07), to analyze RAPD markers in leaf extracts. Similarity and cluster analysis were conducted using Jaccard coefficient and the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic average. Despite the differences detected in the analysis of proteins and isozymes in the tubers, as well as of isozymes in the leaves, the characterization of all genotypes through gel electrophoresis was not possible, while RAPD markers were efficient to characterize all the 27 genotypes.

Molecular and morphological characterization of hydrochar produced by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose

The objective of this work was to characterize the morphology and molecular composition of the hydrochar produced by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose. The produced hydrochar consists mainly of aggregate microspheres with about 2.0 µm in diameter, with aliphatic and aromatic structures and the presence of carbonyl functional groups. The aromatic groups are formed mainly by benzofuran-like structures, being chemically different from common cellulose char. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization yields a functionalized carbon-rich material similar to that produced by the conventional hydrothermal process.

Vanadium-modified molecular sieves: preparation, characterization and catalysis

Vanadium-containing molecular sieves are redox catalysts and are good candidates as substitutes for oxide-supported V2O5 in a number of reactions. These materials have the advantage of presenting better dispersion of vanadium species, as well as shape-selective properties and controllable acidities. They may be prepared by one-pot synthesis or by post-synthesis methods and a number of techniques such as diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy, 51V nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance, to name but a few, have been used to characterize these materials. In this review, methods of preparation of vanadium-modified molecular sieves, their characterization and applications in catalysis are discussed.