Growth responses and photosynthetic characteristics of wild and phycoerythrin-deficient strains of Hypnea musciformis (Rhodophyta)

The phycoerythrin-deficient strain (green phenotype) of Hypnea musciformis (Rhodophyta) originated from a green branch, which had arisen as a spontaneous mutation in a wild plant (brown phenotype) collected from the Brazilian coast. The present study describes the growth responses to irradiance, photoperiod and temperature variations, pigment contents, and photosynthetic characteristics of the brown and green strains of H. musciformis. The results showed that growth rates increased as a function of irradiance (up to 40 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) but, with further increase in irradiance (from 40 to 120 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)), became light-saturated and remained almost unchanged. The highest growth rates of the brown and green strains were observed in temperatures of 20-25 degrees C under long (14:10 h LD) and short (10:14 h LD) photoperiods. The brown strain had higher growth rates than the green strain in the short photoperiod, which could be related to the high concentrations of phycobiliproteins. Phycoerythrin was not detected in the green strain. The brown strain had higher concentrations of allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin in the short photoperiod while the green strain had higher concentrations of phycocyanin. The brown strain presented higher photosynthetic efficiency (alpha), and lower saturation parameter (I-k) and compensation irradiance (I-c) than the green strain. The brown strain exhibited the characteristics of shade-adapted plants, and its higher value of photosynthetic efficiency could be attributed to the higher phycoerythrin concentrations. Results of the present study indicate that both colour strains of H. musciformis could be selected for aquaculture, since growth rates were similar (although in different optimal light conditions), as the green strain seems to be adapted to higher light levels than the brown strain. Furthermore, these colour strains could be a useful experimental system to understand the regulation of biochemical processes of photosynthesis and metabolism of light-harvesting pigments in red algae.

Effect of Different Solvent Ratios (Water/Ethylene Glycol) on the Growth Process of CaMoO4 Crystals and Their Optical Properties

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

Synthesis, growth process and photoluminescence properties of SrWO4 powders

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of ambient colour on colour preference and growth of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Colour preference of individual juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was tested at 1 and 12 degrees C, and also at 12 degrees C after a 42 day growth experiment under white, blue, green, yellow or red ambient colour. All experiments were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions and the preference was assessed by the location of the fish in a preference tank with four chambers. Rainbow trout showed a preference for blue and green at 1 degrees C and for green at 12 degrees C. After the growth experiment the fish reared in blue tanks preferred blue and green but green was the most preferred colour for the fish reared in green, yellow and red tanks. Yellow and especially red chambers were avoided, irrespective of the ambient colour during the growth trial. The final mass of fish reared in the red aquaria was significantly smaller than that of the fish in green tanks. In addition, when the data of the preference tests were correlated with the data of the growth experiment using mean values of the four tested colours, a very good linear relationship was observed between the preference (i.e. visit frequency in coloured compartments) and growth rate as well as food intake. When considering the results both from the preference and growth trials it is suggested that green is the best environmental colour for rearing juvenile rainbow trout while rearing in a red environment cannot be recommended. (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Longer wavelengths of light improve the growth, intake and feed efficiency of individually reared juvenile pikeperch Sander lucioperca (L.)

We tested the effects of monochromatic light on the specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake and feed efficiency (FE) of juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.). Pikeperch were reared individually for 42 days in aquaria covered with blue, green, yellow or red gelatin filters or white paper (control; n=5). Linear regression analysis indicated a significant positive effect of longer wavelengths of light on the condition factor (CF), FE and SGR. The final weight, SGR and CF were significantly higher in fish reared under red than under white light, and FE was better under green, yellow and red light than under white light (Dunnett's post hoc test, P < 0.05) while blue was comparable to white light in terms of the measured parameters. After the growth trial, the spectral sensitivity of photoreceptor cells in the retina was tested using microspectrophotometry, which revealed the presence of rods with lambda(max) at ca. 530 nm and two cone classes, absorbing maximally at ca. 535 and 603 nm, all containing a porphyropsin-based pigment. These results suggest that the presence of mid and long wavelength-sensitive cones enhances visual sensitivity under mid-wavelength and long-wavelength environments, and thus supports the finding that longer wavelengths of incoming light can improve FE and SGR of the cultivated pikeperch.

Synthesis, Characterization, Anisotropic Growth and Photoluminescence of BaWO4

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of environmental colour on growth of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), maintained individually or in groups

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural refinement, growth process, photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of (Ba1-xPr2x/3)WO4 crystals synthesized by the coprecipitation method

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

Antibacterial activity of gels with pomegranate, apricot and green tea glycolic extracts

Pomegranate (PGE) and green tea (GTGE) glycolic extracts are being employed in formulations because of their antiseptic and astringent effects. Apricot (AGE) glycolic extract possesses function cooling and antibacterial. The aim was to verify the antibacterial activity of these extracts incorporated in gel base. The antibacterial activity was verified by diffusion in agar method, using cylinder in plate. Plates containing Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538p), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536) and Salmonella sp. (ATCC 19196) were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. After incubation, the results were analysed with a pachymeter, observing the bacterial growth inhibition halo diameter and the statistical significance level was determined. PGE presented activity only against P. aeruginosa; GTGE presented activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli; and AGE presented activity against P. aeruginosa and Salmonella sp. According to the experimental conditions, it is possible to conclude that GTGE presented the greater growth inhibition halo diameter when compared with other extracts, suggesting higher antibacterial action of this extract.

Red Light Stimulates Feeding Motivation in Fish but Does Not Improve Growth

Nile tilapia fish were individually reared under similar light levels for 8 weeks under five colored light spectra (maximum wavelength absorbance): white (full light spectrum), blue (~452 nm), green (~516 nm), yellow (~520 nm) or red (~628 nm). The effects of light on feeding, latency to begin feeding, growth and feed conversion were measured during the last 4 weeks of the study (i.e., after acclimation). We found that red light stimulates feeding, as in humans, most likely by affecting central control centers, but the extra feeding is not converted into growth. © 2013 Volpato et al.

Effect of plant regulators on growth and flowering of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass

This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of different plant regulators over growth and flower rachis emission of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica). The study was conducted on 15-month old green turfgrass under a randomized complete block design with four replications. The following plant regulator and doses were tested: trinexapac-ethyl (113+113, 226+113, 226+226, 452+113, 452+226, 452+452, 678+339 e 904+452 g a.i./ha-1), prohexadione-calcium (100+100 e 200+200 g a.i. ha-1) and bispyribac-sodium (40+40 e 60+60 g a.i. ha-1), as well as an untreated control. The turfgrass was mowed again at 3.0 cm aboveground and the second plant regulator was applied when 'Meyer' zoysiagrass was between 5.0 and 6.0 cm high. The effect of the treatments was visually rated for visual injury, plant height, height and number of flower rachis, and total dry mass production of clippings. Only bispyribac-sodium had visual symptoms of injury on 'Meyer' zoysiagrass, and no intoxication was observed at 28 days after the second application (DAAB). The sequential applications of trinexapac-ethyl, prohexadione-calcium and bispyribac-sodium reduced by more than 80% the total clipping dry mass produced by 'Meyer' zoysiagrass. All the plant regulators tested also showed promising results in reducing the height and emission of rachis, especially when trinexapac-ethyl was applied at the doses 452+452, 678+339 and 904+452 g a.i. ha-1. 'Meyer' zoysiagrass turfgrass can be handled with the sequential application of a plant regulator, which reduces the need for mowing over a period up to 110 days after the application of the second plant regulator, and it also avoids deleterious visual effects over turfgrass.

Iron oxides as proxies for characterizing anisotropy in soil CO2 emission in sugarcane areas under green harvest

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

Rice-Straw Mulch Reduces the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Populations on Kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala (Brassicaceae) Plants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fabrication of microenvironments with different geometrical features for cell growth studies

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

Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate and cranberry proanthocyanidins act in synergy with cathelicidin (LL-37) to reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory response in a three-dimensional co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts

Objectives: The human antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin (LL-37) possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may contribute to attenuating the inflammatory process associated with chronic periodontitis. Plant polyphenols, including those from cranberry and green tea, have been reported to reduce inflammatory cytokine secretion by host cells. In the present study, we hypothesized that A-type cranberry proanthocyanidins (AC-PACs) and green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) act in synergy with LL-37 to reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators by oral mucosal cells. Methods: A three-dimensional (3D) co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts treated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of AC-PACs (25 and 50 mg/ml), EGCG (1 and 5 mg/ml), and LL-37 (0.1 and 0.2 mM) individually and in combination (AC-PACs + LL-37 and EGCG + LL-37) were stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Multiplex ELISA assays were used to quantify the secretion of 54 host factors, including chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Results: LL-37, AC-PACs, and EGCG, individually or in combination, had no effect on the regulation of MMP and TIMP secretion but inhibited the secretion of several cytokines. ACPACs and LL-37 acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of CXC-chemokine ligand 1 (GRO-a), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and had an additive effect on reducing the secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interferon-g inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in response to LPS stimulation. EGCG and LL-37 acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of GRO-a, G-CSF, IL-6, IL-8, and IP-10, and had an additive effect on MCP-1 secretion. Conclusion: The combination of LL-37 and natural polyphenols from cranberry and green tea acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of several cytokines by an LPS-stimulated 3D coculture model of oral mucosal cells. Such combinations show promising results as potential adjunctive therapies for treating inflammatory periodontitis.