Qualidade fisiológica e armazenamento de sementes de ipê-verde (Cybistax antisyphilitica (Mart.) Mart.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Testes de vigor em sementes de quiabeiro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Piptadenia moniliformis Benth

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Soluble sugars and germination of Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer seeds submitted to immersion in GA3 up to different water contents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of the physiological potential of spinach seeds (Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze)

The efficiency of vigor tests in assessing the physiological potential of seeds depends on their standardization for different species. In this context, the research aimed to study specific methodologies to evaluate the vigor of spinach seeds (Tetragonia tetragonoides). For this purpose, five lots of spinach seed cv. New Zealand were submitted to germination, first count of germination, seedling emergence in the field, accelerated aging (with and without use of saturated solution of NaCl at 41and 45 ºC for 24,48 and 72 hours), controlled deterioration (18,21 and 24% seed water content adjustments for 24 hours at 45 ºC) and electrical conductivity tests with variations inwater volume (25, 50 and 75 mL), seed quantity (25 and 50) and soaking period (1, 2, 4, 8,12, 16 and 24 hours) at 25 ºC. The first count test allowed obtaining preliminary information about seed vigor, and other tests in general showed similarity with seedling emergence in the field. Thus, it was concluded that traditional accelerated aging test 24 h /41 ºC and accelerated aging test with saturated salt solution for 24 h at 41 ºC and 45 ºC, and controlled deterioration test with 21% seed water content / 24 h / 45 ºC were all efficient for evaluating the physiological potential of spinach seeds.

Testes para a seleção de populações de cenoura visando ao vigor e à longevidade das sementes

Populations of carrot seeds with superior physiological quality and storage potential are of interest to seed companies and growers. Thus, we verified the efficiency of some tests for the selection of carrot populations with greater vigor and longevity of seeds. Seeds of 50 carrots progenies of different half-brothers from Brasilia cultivar were evaluated for the mass of one hundred seeds, the first count, germination, dormancy, accelerated aging with water and saturated NaCl solution. The seeds were stored at moisture contents of 6.1±0.3% in hermetic packaging at temperatures of 15 and 25°C for 12 months and germination was evaluated quarterly. The experimental data were evaluated for variance and phenotypic, genotypic and environmental heritability, coefficient of variation and genetic gain from selection. Selection based on the mass should not be used because it would increase the occurrence of dormancy in seeds of the next generation. The test of the first count, germination and accelerated aging in water or saline solution saturated may be used to select populations of carrot seeds of higher vigor and longevity. The estimated gain genetic selection for germination after 12 months storage at 25°C was 14%.

Seasonal variation in the fate of seeds under contrasting logging regimes

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

Frugivory and the effects of ingestion by bats on the seed germination of three pioneering plants

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Feedbacks between vegetation and disturbance processes promote long-term persistence of forest-grassland mosaics in south Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparative floral micromorphology and anatomy of species of Bulbophyllum section Napelli (Orchidaceae), a Neotropical section widely distributed in forest habitats

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

Production, composition and processing of milk from ewes fed soybean seeds

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

Antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase and cytotoxic activities of ethanol extracts of peel, pulp and seeds of exotic Brazilian fruits Antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase and cytotoxic activities in fruits

Ethanol extracts of powdered genipap (Genipa americana L), umbu (Spondia tuberosa A.) and siriguela (Spondia purpurea L) prepared from separate pulp, seeds and peel were investigated for their (i) antioxidant capacity, which was evaluated by various known methods; (ii) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity; and (iii) cytotoxic effect on corneal epithelial cells of sheep. The highest values of total phenolic content were obtained with peel and seed extracts. Siriguela and umbu (seeds and peel) extracts displayed the highest antioxidant activities. Lipid peroxidation assays using mimetic biomembranes and mouse liver homogenates indicated that genipap pulp is a promising antioxidant. The investigation of phenols and organic acid contents revealed the presence of quercetin, citric and quinic acids, chlorogenic acid derivatives, among others, in several extracts, with the highest amount found in siriguela seeds. Genipap pulp and siriguela seed ethanol extracts presented an AChE inhibition zone similar to that of the positive control, carbachol. AChE inhibition assay with chlorogenic acid, one of the main constituents of siriguela seeds, revealed that this acid showed activity similar to that of the control physostigmine. These data suggest that these extracts are potentially important antioxidant supplements for the everyday human diet, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Variation in liana abundance and biomass along an elevational gradient in the tropical Atlantic Forest (Brazil)

Lianas play a key role in forest structure, species diversity, as well as functional aspects of tropical forests. Although the study of lianas in the tropics has increased dramatically in recent years, basic information on liana communities for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is still scarce. To understand general patterns of liana abundance and biomass along an elevational gradient (0-1,100 m asl) of coastal Atlantic Forest, we carried out a standard census for lianas a parts per thousand yen1 cm in five 1-ha plots distributed across different forest sites. On average, we found a twofold variation in liana abundance and biomass between lowland and other forest types. Large lianas (a parts per thousand yen10 cm) accounted for 26-35% of total liana biomass at lower elevations, but they were not recorded in montane forests. Although the abundance of lianas displayed strong spatial structure at short distances, the present local forest structure played a minor role structuring liana communities at the scale of 0.01 ha. Compared to similar moist and wet Neotropical forests, lianas are slightly less abundant in the Atlantic Forest, but the total biomass is similar. Our study highlights two important points: (1) despite some studies have shown the importance of small-scale canopy disturbance and support availability, the spatial scale of the relationships between lianas and forest structure can vary greatly among tropical forests; (2) our results add to the evidence that past canopy disturbance levels and minimum temperature variation exert influence on the structure of liana communities in tropical moist forests, particularly along short and steep elevational gradients.

Large Mammals in an Agroforestry Mosaic in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The forest-like characteristics of agroforestry systems create a unique opportunity to combine agricultural production with biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes. The cacao-growing region in southern Bahia, Brazil, encompasses Atlantic forest remnants and large extensions of agroforests, locally known as cabrucas, and harbors several endemic large mammals. Based on the differences between cabrucas and forests, we hypothesized that: (1) non-native and non-arboreal mammals are more frequent, whereas exclusively arboreal and hunted mammals are less frequent in cabrucas than forests; (2) the two systems differ in mammal assemblage structure, but not in species richness; and (3) mammal assemblage structure is more variable among cabrucas than forests. We used camera-traps to sample mammals in nine pairs of cabruca-forest sites. The high conservation value of agroforests was supported by the presence of species of conservation concern in cabrucas, and similar species richness and composition between forests and cabrucas. Arboreal species were less frequently recorded, however, and a non-native and a terrestrial species adapted to open environments (Cerdocyon thous) were more frequently recorded in cabrucas. Factors that may overestimate the conservation value of cabrucas are: the high proportion of total forest cover in the study landscape, the impoverishment of large mammal fauna in forest, and uncertainty about the long-term maintenance of agroforestry systems. Our results highlight the importance of agroforests and forest remnants for providing connectivity in human-modified tropical forest landscapes, and the importance of controlling hunting and dogs to increase the value of agroforestry mosaics.

Exposure of small mammals to ticks and rickettsiae in Atlantic Forest patches in the metropolitan area of Recife, North-eastern Brazil

Between December 2007 and March 2009, small mammals were captured in 6 Atlantic Forest patches in Brazil. We assessed tick-host associations and whether they differ among forest strata, sites, seasons, and host age classes or between sexes. Moreover, we assessed the exposure of animals to Rickettsia spp. In total, 432 animals were captured and 808 ticks were found on 32-9% of them. Significant differences were found among host species, collection sites, and forest strata; microhabitat preference was a strong risk factor for tick infestation. The highest tick density rates were recorded in forest fragments settled in rural areas; 91.3% of the ticks were collected from animals trapped in these forest fragments. A high prevalence (68.8%) of antibodies to Rickettsia spp. was detected among animals. This study suggests that disturbed Atlantic Forest fragments provide an environment for ticks and small mammals, which are highly exposed to rickettsiae. It also indicates that forest patches settled in rural areas are usually associated with higher small mammal diversity as well as with higher tick density rates.