Effects of light quantity and quality on early seedling development in the red mangrove Rhizophora mangle L

Seedlings of the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L., were grown under light conditions differing in both photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and spectral quality (red:far-red ratio, R:FR). During the first 8 mo of development, parameters of stem, leaf, and root growth were affected by PPFD. Significant responses to lowered R:FR, however, were limited to internode extension. The results are moderately indicative of a strategy to persist in shade, but illustrate the complexity of light responses and suggest that precise categorization as shade-tolerant or -intolerant may be unbefitting for this species at this particular stage of development.

UV-Vis, FTIR and antioxidant study of Persea Americana (Avocado) leaf and fruit: A comparison

El aguacate (Persea americana Miller) es una conocida fruta arb´orea con un alto contenido nutricional que crece en varias partes del mundo. El presente estudio compara los espectros del UV-Vis y del espectr´ometro infrarrojo con transformada de Fourier (FTIR) de la fruta y de la hoja de aguacate (c´ascara, pulpa y aceite) cultivado en Ecuador y posteriormente eval´ua su actividad antioxidante empleando el 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH•). El estudio de los espctros UV-Vis y FTIR revel´o que el aguacate tiene predominantemente flavonoides. Entre la hoja y el fruto del aguacate, se comprob´o mediante el ensayo DPPH• (captura de radicales libres), que la hoja tuvo una mayor actividad antioxidante, la que oscila entre 84,46% y 80,12%, con valores de 32.60-32.73 μg equivalentes de ´acido g´alico por mL. Se demostr´o que el orden de la actividad antioxidante de los extractos es: hoja de aguacate > c´ascara > aceite > pulpa. La actividad antioxidante tuvo una correlaci´on positiva con el contenido total de flavonoides y estos extractos de plantas (especialmente de las hojas del aguacate) son ´utiles para el desarrollo de futuros productos antioxidantes.

Ambientes de cultivo, recipientes e substratos na produção de biomassa foliar e radicular em mudas de maracujazeiro amarelo em Aquidauana - MS

The objective of the work was to evaluate the effects of environment, recipients, and substrate compositions in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) seedlings biomass production in Pantanal region from September to November of 2006. Experimental trials were conducted in four protected environments, in two types of containers and three different substrate compositions. The environments were: A1 (greenhouse covered with low-density, 150-microns-thick polyethylene film), A2 (monofilament black screened with mesh for 50% of shade), A3 (aluminized screened with mesh for 50% of shade) and A4 (environment covered with straw of native coconut palm); the recipients were: polyethylene bags (R1) (15 x 25 cm) and polystyrene trays (R2) (with 72 cells). There substrates were: S1 (soil + organic compost + vermiculite, 1:1: 1 v/v), S2 (soil + organic compost + sawdust, 1:1: 1 v/v) and S3 (soil + organic compost + vermiculite + sawdust, 1:1: 1/2: 1/2 v/v). The experimental design was completely randomized statistical analysis in split-split-plot, with fifteen replications. The treatments in the plot were environments, in the subplots were pots, and subsubplots were substrates (4 x 2 x 3 = 24 treatments). Fresh and dry mass of aerial and root system parts were evaluated. Environments with screen showed better results for seedlings of yellow passion fruit biomass in polyethylene bags. Polyethylene bags promoted higher biomasses. The substrate with vermiculite showed better results for both types of containers. The substrate with a higher percentage of sawdust showed the worst result.

Screening of plants found in the State of Amazonas, Brazil for activity against Aedes aegypti larvae

Ethanol, methanol and water extracts representing mostly native plant species found in the Amazon region were prepared, respectively, by maceration, continuous liquid-solid extraction and infusion, followed by evaporation and freeze-drying. The freeze-dried extracts were tested for lethality toward Aedes aegypti larvae at test concentrations of 500 mg / mL. In general, methanol extracts exhibited the greatest larvicidal activity. The following 7 methanol extracts of (the parts of) the indicated plant species were the most active, resulting in 100% mortality in A. aegypti larvae: Tapura amazonica Poepp. (root), Piper aduncum L. (leaf and root), P. tuberculatum Jacq. (leaf, fruit and branch). and Simaba polyphylla (Cavalcante) W.W. Thomas (branch).

Cell size in trays for the production of strawberry plug transplants

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of cell sizes used for strawberry plug production in trays compared to bare root transplants, regarding initial plant size, harvest timing, and total strawberry fruit yield. Plug transplants were produced from runner tips rooted in trays with cell sizes of 26.5, 50, 100 and 150 cm³ filled with Plantmax HA organic substrate. Bare root transplants (control) were produced in a closed soilless system using sand as substrate. A randomized block design was used, with four replicates with 16 plants per plot. Bare root transplants and plug transplants from 100-cm³ cells had larger crown and higher leaf and root dry mass. Early fruit yield was higher in plants propagated from plugs than in those propagated from bare root transplants. Spring and total fruit yield did not differ among treatments, with an average yield of 435 and 874 g per plant, respectively. Earlier strawberry fruit yield was obtained by using plug transplants, even from trays with small cells of 26.5 or 50 cm³.

Rhizodeposition of organic carbon by plants with contrasting traits for resource acquisition: responses to different fertility regimes

Background and aims Rhizodeposition plays an important role in mediating soil nutrient availability in ecosystems. However, owing to methodological difficulties (i.e., narrow zone of soil around roots, rapid assimilation by soil microbes) fertility-induced changes in rhizodeposition remain mostly unknown. Methods We developed a novel long-term continuous 13C labelling method to address the effects of two levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization on rhizodeposited carbon (C) by species with different nutrient acquisition strategies. Results Fertility-induced changes in rhizodeposition were modulated by root responses to N availability rather than by changes in soil microbial biomass. Differences among species were mostly related to plant biomass: species with higher total leaf and root biomass also had higher total rhizodeposited C, whereas species with lower root biomass had higher specific rhizodeposited C (per gram root mass). Experimental controls demonstrated that most of the biases commonly associated with this type of experiment (i.e., long-term steady-state labelling) were avoided using our methodological approach. Conclusions These results suggest that the amount of rhizodeposited C from plants grown under different levels of N were driven mainly by plant biomass and root morphology rather than microbial biomass. They also underline the importance of plant characteristics (i.e., biomass allocation) as opposed to traits associated with plant resource acquisition strategies in predicting total C rhizodeposition.

A Brassica exon array for whole-transcript gene expression profiling

Affymetrix GeneChip (R) arrays are used widely to study transcriptional changes in response to developmental and environmental stimuli. GeneChip (R) arrays comprise multiple 25-mer oligonucleotide probes per gene and retain certain advantages over direct sequencing. For plants, there are several public GeneChip (R) arrays whose probes are localised primarily in 39 exons. Plant whole-transcript (WT) GeneChip (R) arrays are not yet publicly available, although WT resolution is needed to study complex crop genomes such as Brassica, which are typified by segmental duplications containing paralogous genes and/or allopolyploidy. Available sequence data were sampled from the Brassica A and C genomes, and 142,997 gene models identified. The assembled gene models were then used to establish a comprehensive public WT exon array for transcriptomics studies. The Affymetrix GeneChip (R) Brassica Exon 1.0 ST Array is a 5 mu M feature size array, containing 2.4 million 25-base oligonucleotide probes representing 135,201 gene models, with 15 probes per gene distributed among exons. Discrimination of the gene models was based on an E-value cut-off of 1E(-5), with <= 98 sequence identity. The 135 k Brassica Exon Array was validated by quantifying transcriptome differences between leaf and root tissue from a reference Brassica rapa line (R-o-18), and categorisation by Gene Ontologies (GO) based on gene orthology with Arabidopsis thaliana. Technical validation involved comparison of the exon array with a 60-mer array platform using the same starting RNA samples. The 135 k Brassica Exon Array is a robust platform. All data relating to the array design and probe identities are available in the public domain and are curated within the BrassEnsembl genome viewer at http://www.brassica.info/BrassEnsembl/index.html.

Avaliação das atividades antioxidante, anticoagulante e antiproliferativa de extratos aquosos de marsdenia megalantha

The species of the genus Marsdenia, Apocynaceae, are widely used in folk medicine of several countries. In Brazil is found several species belonging to this genus. The in vitro antioxidant, anticoagulant and antiproliferative activities were evaluated to aqueous extracts of stalk, leaf and root of Marsdenia megalantha. In the total antioxidant capacity assay (expressed as ascorbic acid equivalents) the stalk extract showed 76.0 mg/g, while leaf and root extracts 141.3 mg/g and 57.0 mg/g, respectively. The stalk and leaf extracts showed chelating activity around 40% at 1.5 mg/mL, while root extract, at the same concentration showed, 17%. Only the leaf extract showed a significant ability in superoxide scavenging (80% at 0.8 mg/mL). Any extract was able in scavenge hydroxyl, as well anticoagulant activity. The antiproliferative activity of the extracts was evaluated against HeLa tumor cell line. The extracts inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the cell growth. However, the leaf extract showed 80% of inhibition at 1.0 mg/mL, while stalk and root extracts inhibited 63% and 30%, respectively. To assess the mechanism of cell death caused by the leaf extract in HeLa, was performed flow cytometry and western blot. The results show that leaf extract induces cell death by apoptosis through an activation caspase-independent pathway. These data indicate that stalk and leaf extracts obtained have potential to be used as antioxidants and anticancer drugs

Infestation of froghopper nymphs changes the amounts of total phenolics in sugarcane

The increased rate of sugarcane harvest without previous burn has provided a very favorable environment to the froghopper Mahanarva fimbriolota (Stal, 1854), with high Moisture and low temperature variation. Few works have Studied the response of sugarcane to this pest, so little is known about resistant cultivars. Plant phenolics are widely studied compounds because of their known antifierbivore effect. This research aims to determine if the attack of M.fimbriolata nymphs stimulates the acccumulation of total phenolics in sugarcane. The experiment was carried Out in greenhouse and arranged in completely randomized design, in a 3 x 2 x 4 factorial with three replications. Second instar nymphs of M. fimbriolota were infested at the following rates: control, 2-4 and 4-8 nymphs per pot (first-second infestations, respectively). Pots were covered with nylon net and monitored daily to isolate the effect of leaf Sucking adults. Leaf and root samples were collected and kept frozen in liquid nitrogen until analyses. Infested plants showed higher levels of phenolics in both root and leaf tissues. In roots, the cultivar SP80-1816 accumulated more phenolic compounds in response to the infestation of M. fimbriolata. on the other hand, higher levels were found in leaves and roots of control plants of SP86-42, which might be an indication of a non-preference mechanism. The increase of total phenolics in sugarcane infested with root-sucking froghopper nymphs does not seem to be useful to detect the resistance to this pest.

Propagação vegetativa da alfavaca-cravo utilizando diferentes tipos de estacas e substratos

A propagação vegetativa é considerada importante ferramenta para o melhoramento de espécies lenhosas e herbáceas e vem sendo amplamente utilizada, visando melhorar e manter variedades de importância econômica e medicinal. Neste contexto utilizou-se estacas de alfavaca-cravo de 15 cm para apicais e 25 cm para as medianas, sendo estas com e sem folhas. As estacas foram plantadas em bandejas de isopor de 72 células, utilizando-se 10 substratos. Após 35 dias, as estacas foram retiradas com cuidado, sendo as partes aéreas e radiculares separadas e acondicionadas em saco de papel e mantidas em estufa a 70ºC por 48 h para posterior avaliação da matéria seca. Analisou-se a percentagem de enraizamento, número de folhas na estaca, peso de matéria seca de folha e de raiz. Não houve interação significativa entre os diferentes tipos de substrato e estaca para percentagem de enraizamento, sendo que os substratos de modo geral diferiram pouco entre si. Entre os tipos de estaca destacaram-se para esta variável a mediana sem folha e a apical com folha. Para as demais variáveis houve interação significativa entre o tipo de estaca e o substrato. A melhor estaca foi a mediana sem folhas plantadas em substrato arisco + esterco + húmus e vermiculita nas seguintes proporções: 20%:40%:40%; 40%:20%:40% e 40%:40%.

Propagação vegetativa de plantas de pariparoba [Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq.] em diferentes substratos e número de nós das estacas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Valor nutritivo da raiz e folhas da mandioca para a tilápia do nilo

The aim was to evaluate the nutritional value of the root and leaves of cassava (Manihot sculenta) for juveniles of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three diets were prepared, a reference and two test diets. The first tested diet contained 50.0% of cassava root and 50.0% of reference diet and the second one consisted of 30.0% of cassava leaf meal and 70.0% of reference diet. Moreover, in every diet was added 0.1% chromium oxide-III (Cr2O3) as inert marker. Sixty juveniles (100.0 +/- 9.0 g) were accommodated in cages (10 fish/cage) for feeding and feces collection. During the day these cages were maintained in a feeding tank (250 L), one tank for each treatment, where they were fed until apparent satiation. After the aforementioned feeding period they were transferred to a fecal collection tank, where they remained until next morning. The collected feces were frozen and dried for analyzes. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were calculated on basis of Cr2O3 concentration present in diets and feces. The ADC of reference diet for DM, cassava leaf and root were, respectively 85.23%, 81.22% and 91.44%; CP to 97.35%, 73.37% and 91.46% and for the GE to 87.70%, 64.70% and 92.20%, the values obtained for the diet with cassava root significantly higher (P<0.05). Summarizing, root and cassava leaves can be used as alternative ingredients for compose balanced diets for Nile tilapia juveniles.

Caracterização anatômica e química da folha e do sistema radicular de Hydrocotyle umbellata (Apiaceae)

A família Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), também denominada de pioneira das praias, é capaz de habitar locais de alto teor de salinidade, além de suportar a ação dos ventos e das ondas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da anatomia foliar e radicular e analisar constituintes químicos das folhas e do sistema radicular, caracterizando grupos químicos biologicamente ativos presentes nesses órgãos que permitam aplicações farmacológicas. O material foi coletado na região de Proteção Ambiental Iguape, Cananéia, Peruíbe. As folhas são dorsiventrais, com epiderme unisseriada, bordo regular, parênquima paliçádico com duas a três camadas e parênquima lacunoso com oito e nove camadas de células. É anfiestomática, apresentando grandes câmaras subestomáticas com maior incidência de estômatos na epiderme abaxial. O feixe vascular é colateral apresentando células de esclerênquima em forma de meia lua ao redor do xilema e do floema. O pecíolo apresenta contorno irregular, está envolvido por colênquima em toda sua extensão e apresenta grande quantidade de canais secretores entre os feixes vasculares. O rizoma apresenta contorno irregular com variação de 10 a 15 camadas de células de parênquima constituindo o córtex. O cilindro central é constituído por feixes colaterais delimitados pela endoderme. O periciclo é sinuoso e envolve totalmente os feixes vasculares. Sob a epiderme há uma faixa contínua de colênquima. A medula é constituída de células de parênquima de parede fina. H. umbellata apresentou triterpenos, saponinas, flavonóides, compostos poliacetilênicos e leucoceramidas. Folhas e rizomas apresentaram constituintes químicos semelhantes, com diferenças apenas na intensidade dos picos, o que denota diferença quantitativa entre as substâncias presentes. O rendimento do extrato do rizoma é menor que o rendimento das folhas.

Análise da expressão dos genes da subfamília DREB em resposta à seca em plantas de Coffea canephora Conilon

Coffea canephora is one of the most economically important coffee species and in Brazil, Conilon is the most widely cultivated plant of this species. Abiotic stresses such as temperature variations and drought periods are factors that significantly affect their production and tend to worsen with globally recognized climate changes. In an attempt to understand the molecular responses of coffee plants in water deficit conditions, recent studies have identified candidate genes (CGs) as CcDREB1D. This gene showed increased expression in response to drought in the leaves of clone 14 (drought tolerant) in relation to the clone 22 (sensitive to drought) of C. canephora Conilon. Based on these results, the identification of DREB genes and their subgroups (SGs) of C. canephora, the objective is to analyze in silico and also in vivo these genes expression in leaf and root of tolerant (14, 73 and 120) and sensitive clones (22) of C. canephora Conilon submitted or not to a water deficit. In silico expressions of all DREB genes were analyzed from the Coffee Genome Hub Database and in vivo expression was performed by the technique "reverse transcription-quantitative PCR" (RT-qPCR). In silico gene expression analysis was possible to identify DREB genes with potential responses to abiotic stresses, corroborating some validated in vivo results. In this analysis, several genes showed differential expression in response to drought among the SGs (IIV), the tolerant and sensitive clones and the leaf and root. These differentially expressed genes were identified as potential CGs and among them, it was found that most tolerant clones showed increased expression in relation to sensitive in response to drought, with higher expression levels for clones 14 and 73. These highest levels were observed in leaves compared to the roots and SG-I stood at greater number of genes expressed in response to drought. These results suggest that DREB CGs, as Cc05_g06840, Cc02_g03420 e Cc08_g13960, play an important role in the regulatory mechanisms of response to drought in C. canephora Conilon.