Efeitos da adubação foliar em cultivares de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Estudou-se em condições de casa de vegetação, a ação de três adubos foliares comerciais (Rhodia, Colombina e Wuxal) em três cultivares de feijoeiro (Carioca, Rosinha e Goiano). As plantas receberam três aplicações dos produtos, respectivamente, 10, 25 e dias após a emergência. Foi determinado o efeito dos tratamentos no desenvolvimento e na produtividade das plantas. Verificou-se que os cultivares comportaram-se similarmente quanto aos parâmetros analisados, não ocorrendo interações significativas com os adubos utilizados. Apesar da redução na altura das plantas tratadas com Wuxal, a análise dos resultados referentes ao número de vagens e sementes, além do peso de sementes, não revelou efeito significativo da aplicação de Rhodia 0,2 ml/l, Colombina 3,0 ml/l e Wuxal 2,5 ml/l sobre os parâmetros estudados.

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do cafeeiro: XXXVIII. Efeitos da aplicação foliar de doses de sulfato de zinco na produção e na composição mineral das folhas do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) (Nota prévia)

Foi conduzido um ensaio de aplicação foliar de sulfato de zinco em cafeeiros de 8 anos de idade, cv. Mundo Novo, localizado em S. Sebastião do Paraíso, MG. A produção máxima foi obtida quando se aplicaram 9,4 kg de sulfato de zinco/ha divididos em três aplicações: 1647kg de café limpo por ha, 646 kg mais que a testemunha sem aplicação de zinco nas folhas. A maior colheita esteve associada com 21-25 ppm de Zn nas folhas e com um quociente P/Zn = 70-90.

Calagem e diagnose foliar em sorgo sacarino (Sorghum bicolor L. moench)

Os efeitos da aplicação de cinco níveis de calcário dolomítico (0 - 1,25 - 2,50-5,00 e 10,00 t/ha) foram estudados em um Latossol Vermelho Escuro textura média. A calagem aumentou a produção de colmos de sorgo sacarino, sendo que as produções mais elevadas foram obtidas quando a soma de cálcio e magnésio, saturação em bases e valor pH do solo eram, respectivamente, 2,93 meq/100 cm³, 59% e 5,71. Foram observados desequilíbrios na nutrição potássica com a aplicação de 10 t/ha de calcário dolomítico. Os níveis críticos de Mg nas folhas + 4e + 3, coletadas, respectivamente, aos 45e 83 dias, foram 0,19 e 0,31% A qualidade do caldo não foi alterada significativamente pelas doses de calcário dolomítico empregadas.

Efeito do NPK, via foliar, no conteúdo de nutrientes das folhas do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

O experimento foi conduzido em vasos, nas condições de casa de vegetação da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no período de 1975/76. O objetivo foi verificar a influência de pulverizações foliares com NPK na composição de N, P, K nas folhas velhas e folhas novas do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. IAC-13-1. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 3³, em três repetições; sendo dois números de pulverizações (4 e 8), três macronutrientes (N, P, K) em três dosagens (0, 1,2). Cada parcela foi constituída por um vaso com duas plantas. Os tratamentos utilizados constam da Tabela 1 . Os níveis com seus valores médios de N, P2O5 e K2O utilizados em 4 pulverizações: N0=0,N1=0,44,N2=0,84; P0=0, P1= 0,05, P2=0,09; K0=0,K1=0,33,K2=0,66, em 8 pulverizações, N0=0,N1=0,91,N2=1,87; P0=0,P1=0,10, P2=0,20; K0=0,K1=0,70, K2=1,40 em kg/ha, sendo fontes de nutrientes o NH4N0(3), NaH2P0(4)H(2)0 e KCl para N, P(2)0(5) e K(2)0 respectivamente. Os parâmetros empregados na avaliação dos tratamentos foram: teores de N, P, K em folhas velhas e novas do algodoeiro. Nas condições dos experimentos pode-se tirar as seguintes conclusões: A aplicação do efeito quadrático nos seus teores encontrados nas folhas novas apenas em 8 pulverizações, provocando aumento dos teores de P nas folhas velhas. Os algodoeiros não tratados com N revelaram maior teor de K na matéria seca das folhas velhas. O P causou diminuição dos teores de N nas folhas velhas e novas; aumentou os teores de P nas folhas velhas, quando em presença de N. O K aumentou o P nas folhas velhas e novas, diminuiu, porém, o seu teor nas folhas velhas.

Influência da adubação foliar com NPK nos teores de cálcio e magnésio encontrados em órgãos do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

O experimento foi conduzido em vasos, nas condições de casa de vegetação da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" em Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no ano de 1975/76; para estudar o efeito de pulverização foliares com N, P, K sobre os teores de Ca e Mg em órgãos do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L. raça Latifolium) Cv. IAC - 13-1. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, segundo esquena fatorial 2x3³ em três repetições. Sendo três os nutrientes (N, P, K) em três dosagens (0, 1, 2) aplicados em quatro (A1) e oito (A2) pulverizações foliares. As doses, com seus valores médios empregados em quatro pulverizações foram: N0=0; N1=0,44; N2=0,88; P0=0; P1=0,05; P2=0,10; K0=0; K1=0,33; K2=0,66; em oito pulverizações foram: N0=0; N1=0,91; N2=1,82; P0=0; P1=0,10; P2=0,20; K0=0; K1=0,70; K2=1,40 em kg/ha. Os produtos empregados foram: NH4NO3, NaH2PO4H2O e o KCl como fonte de N, P2O5 e K2O, respectivamente. A avaliação dos tratamentos foi feita baseando-se nos teores de cálcio e magnésio determinados nas raízes, caules, folhas velhas e folhas novas do algodoeiro. Pode-se concluir que: o nitrogênio aplicado via foliar provocou diminuição nos teores de cálcio e magnésio nas folhas velhas e folhas novas. As pulverizações foliares não afetaram os teores de magnésio dos caules. Quatro pulverizações foliares de nutrientes causaram maiores teores de cálcio nos caules e magnésio nas raízes, do que oito pulverizações.

Anatomia foliar e do pedúnculo floral de plantas de morangueiro (Fragaria x ananassa) "Sequoia" tratadas com fitoreguladores

O presente estudo teve por objetivo descrever a anatomia foliar e do pedúnculo floral do morangueiro "Sequóia" a fim de verificar os efeitos dos reguladores vegetais, ácido giberélico (GA3) e ácido naftalenoacético (NAA), e dos bioestimulantes Ergostim e Atonik, sobre as características anatômicas das plantas tratadas. A dose total empregada dos quatro produtos foi de 30 ppm, parcelada em três pulverizações, iniciadas após o início do florescimento. Foram analisadas amostras de folhas (limbo e pecíolo) e o pedúnculo floral de 3 repetições. As análises histológicas foram feitas mediante o preparo e observação de lâminas de material fresco ou fixado. A análise da folha adulta revela a presença de hidatódios nas extremidades denteadas do limbo. A lâmina foliar é anfiestomática, com estômatos do tipo anomocítico. Ocorrem dois tipos de tricomas: tectores e glandulares. Na epiderme abaxial podem estar presentes estruturas semelhantes à lenti-celas. O mesofilo é dorsiventral. O padrão de venação é do tipo nervatio camptodroma arqueada típica. O pecíolo apresenta estômatos e tricomas cujas características se assemelham ao do limbo; abaixo da epiderme há um colênquima do tipo anelar; no parênquima fundamental há idioblastos contendo drusas e outros que contém compostos fenólicos; o cilindro vascular é descontínuo formando um arco, constituído de feixes do tipo colateral aberto envolvido por uma bainha parenquimática amilífera. Os elementos traqueais do xilema são espiralados. O pedúnculo floral apresenta epiderme com tricomas, colênquima do tipo anelar, um anel contínuo de fibras perivasculares e cilindro vascular descontínuo interrompido por raios medulares estreitos. Os produtos testados não alteraram a estrutura anatômica dos morangueiros "Sequóia", na dose empregada.

New histochemical and morphological findings in the female genital tract of Boophilus microplus (Acari, Ixodidae): an attempt toward the elucidation of fertilization in ticks

At present not only is the site of fertilization in ticks still unknown but it is also unclear as to how this mystery can be solved. Signs of fertilization can be observed throughout the female genital tract and these can be clues for the elucidation of the unsolved questions relating to ticks fertilization. In Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) the most important signs are the following: the final eversion of the acrosomal canal in females ready for oviposition; the presence of small tubules, resembling the subplasmalemal process of the spermatozoon between the oviduct cells; budding nuclei throughout the female genital tract; and the two Feulgen and DAPI positive areas in the oocyte at vitelogenesis. These morphological characteristics suggest that fertilization takes place in the internal cylinder which extends from the uterus to the ovary itself.

Effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide fertilization on biomass and secondary metabolites of some plant species with pharmacological interes under greenhouse conditions

RESUMEN El aumento del CO2 atmosférico debido al cambio global y/o a las prácticas hortícolas promueve efectos directos sobre crecimiento vegetal y el desarrollo. Estas respuestas pueden ocurrir en ecosistemas naturales, pero también se pueden utilizar para aumentar la producción de algunas plantas y de algunos compuestos secundarios. El actual trabajo intenta estudiar los efectos del enriquecimiento atmosférico del CO2 bajo condiciones de invernadero en el crecimiento y la concentración y la composición de metabolitos secundarios de Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum y Echinacea purpurea en condiciones ambientales mediterráneas. La fertilización del CO2 muestra perspectivas interesantes para la mejorara y aplicabilidad de técnicas hortícolas para aumentar productividad de plantas medicinales, a pesar de diferencias claras entre la especie. En general esta técnica promueve aumentos importantes y significativos en producción primaria y, en algunos casos, también en compuestos secundarios. Esto tiene una gran importancia hortícola porque la productividad a nivel de cosecha total aumenta, directamente porque se aumenta la concentración e indirectamente porque se aumenta la biomasa. SUMMARY The increase of atmospheric CO2 due to global change and/or horticultural practices promotes direct effects on plant growth and development. These responses may occur in natural ecosystems, but also can be used to increase the production of some plants and some secondary compounds. Present work tries to study the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment under greenhouse conditions on growth and in the concentration and composition of secondary metabolites of Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea purpurea under Mediterranean environmental conditions. CO2 fertilization shows interesting perspectives to increase and improve horticultural techniques in order to increase plant medicinal productivity, in spite of clear differences among the species. In general this technique promotes important and significant increases in primary productivity and, in some cases, also in secondary compounds. This has a great horticultural relevance because the total productivity of this kind of products increase at crop level, directly because concentration is increased and /or indirectly because biomass is increased. RESUM L'augment del CO2 atmosfèric a causa del canvi global i/o a les pràctiques hortícoles promou efectes directes sobre creixement vegetal i el desenvolupament. Aquestes respostes poden ocórrer en ecosistemes naturals, però també es poden utilitzar per a augmentar la producció d'algunes plantes i d'alguns compostos secundaris. L'actual treball intenta estudiar els efectes de l'enriquiment atmosfèric del CO2 sota condicions d'hivernacle en el creixement i la concentració i la composició de metabòlits secundaris de Taxus bacatta, Hypericum perforatum i Echinacea purpurea en condicions ambientals mediterrànies. La fertilització del CO2 mostra perspectives interessants per a la millora i aplicabilitat de tècniques hortícoles per a augmentar productivitat de plantes medicinals, a pesar de diferències clares entre l'espècie. En general aquesta tècnica promou augments importants i significatius en producció primària i, en alguns casos, també en compostos secundaris. Això té una gran importància hortícola perquè la productivitat a nivell de collita total augmenta, directament perquè s'augmenta la concentració i indirectament perquè s'augmenta la biomassa.

Self-fertilization in the freshwater snails Helisoma duryi and Helisoma trivolvis

Fifty specimens of five strains (10 per strain) of Helisoma duryi from Lima (Peru), St. Croix (Virgin Islands), Formosa (Brazil), Cartago (Costa Rica) and St. Vincent (Lesser Antilles), reared in isolation for about 150 days, laid 103 eggs. The numbers of eggs laid by the 10 specimens of each strain were respectively (viable eggs in parenthesis): 44(26), 1 (1), 5(0), 15 (7) and 38 (0). Egg production widely varied between the individuals of each strain, there being in all strains,except St. Vincent, a number of specimens (3 to 9) which did not lay any eggs. After the observation period the isolated specimens, including those that laid no eggs, readily engaged in cross-breeding when mated and brought forfh large numbers of eggs. Self-fertilized F 1s are fully interfertile, producing normal cross-fertilized offspring. Ten specimens of Helisoma trivolvis (strain from Zempoala, Mexico), also reared in isolation for about 120 days, laid 646 eggs, of which 74 were inviable. our data, added to those from a few ´revious studies cited in the text, show that self-fertilization is not so efficient an alternative mode of reproduction in H. duryi as in many other planorbids (it is a little more efficient in H. trivolvis than in H. duryi). Thus, H. duryi benefits much less from functional hermaphroditism which, besides other advantages, enables a single virgin individual to found a new population.

The Influence of Self-fertilization performance and Copulation Behaviour in Reproduction by Cross-fertilization in Groups of Biomphalaria tenagophila (Mollusca, Planorbidae)

The following hypotheses were tested for groups of simultaneous hermaphrodites Biomphalaria tenagophila: (a) snails that have low reproductive success during the process of self-fertilization do not increase their reproductive success after the end of grouping; (b) the copulation behaviour and the presence of one snail whose eggs have a low viability rate influence the partner's reproductive success by cross-fertilization. Groups were constituted by a homozygous pigmented snail and two albinos: one with a viability rate higher than 70% ("good reproducers") and the other less than 10% ("bad reproducers"). All pigmented snails had viability rates higher than 70%. The "good" and "bad" reproducer albino snails had similar copulation behaviour. However, after the end of grouping, the "bad reproducers" continued to have viability rates less than 10% over 30 days. In 100% of the cases that pigmented snails copulated (performing either a male role or simultaneously male and female roles) exclusively with "good" reproducer albinos, they presented high reproductive success (producing, on average of 8.4 pigmented embryos/egg-mass). However, in 100% of the cases that pigmented snails copulated with both partners, the "good" reproducer albino snails produced none or very few embryos (the highest average was 2.2 pigmented embryos/egg-mass). Therefore, the production of viable embryos by cross-fertilization was more influenced by self-fertilization performance than by copulation behaviour. The presence of a snail whose eggs have a low viability rate could decrease their partners reproductive success

Condition-dependent genetic benefits of extrapair fertilization in female blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus.

In many socially monogamous birds, both partners perform extrapair copulations (EPC). As this behaviour potentially inflicts direct costs on females, they are currently hypothesized to search for genetic benefits for descendants, either as 'good' or 'complementary' genes. Although these hypotheses have found some support, several studies failed to find any beneficial consequence of EPC, and whether this behaviour is adaptive to females is subject to discussion. Here, we test these two hypotheses in a natural population of blue tits by accounting for the effect of most parameters known to potentially affect extrapair fertilization. Results suggest that female body mass affected the type of extrapair genetic benefits obtained. Heavy females obtained extrapair fertilizations when their social male was of low quality (as reflected by sexual display) and produced larger extrapair than within-pair chicks. Lean females obtained extrapair fertilizations when their social mate was genetically similar, thereby producing more heterozygous extrapair chicks. Our results suggest that mating patterns may be condition-dependent.

Couples' Resolution of an Infertility Diagnosis Before Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization

Although the use of assisted reproductive technology has today become more familiar, the suffering associated with the experience of infertility remains. This study assesses the emotional resolution of couples faced with an infertility diagnosis by examining their narratives. Fifty-seven couples were recruited from fertility clinics to participate in a semistructured interview prior to in vitro fertilization. Two aspects of the couples' reactions to the infertility diagnosis were assessed: (1) each individual's capacity to acknowledge the emotional reality of the diagnosis (diagnosis resolution) and (2) the couple's ability to construct a shared meaning of the infertility diagnosis experience (narrative co-construction). Associations between these aspects and self-reported marital satisfaction, infertility-related stress, and diagnosis-related variables were analyzed. 73.7% of women and 61.4% of men had acknowledged the emotional reality of the diagnosis, and their scores for narrative co-construction were comparable to reference samples. Marital satisfaction, but not infertility-related stress, was associated with diagnosis resolution and narrative co-construction. The results indicate the importance of detecting couples with fewer individual and marital resources needed to face the reality of the diagnosis. A couple's capacity to perceive the infertility diagnosis as a shared problem is also essential for dealing with this common life event.

Fécondation in vitro: intérêt et désavantage du remboursement par l'assurance maladie en Suisse [In-vitro fertilization: advantage and disadvantage of covering the costs of IVF/ICSI by the health insurance in Switzerland]

In-vitro fertilization: advantage and disadvantage of covering the costs of IVF/CSI by the health insurance in Switzerland The reimbursement of certain infertility treatments (stimulation with/without insemination) whereas IVF/ICSI is not leads patients with an indication of IVF to prefer treatments of low efficacy. The costs of multiple pregnancies issued by reimbursed or non-reimbursed fertility treatments are paid by the society. There should be measures to reduce these costs and to take the money used today to pay the complications of infertility treatments to reimburse IVF. The efficacy of such a system (single embryo transfer) has been proven in Belgium since several years. The dangers of complete reimbursement (IVF treatment in cases without any chances of success, only because it is for free) can be avoided by an Efficacy and Safety Board.

Non-random fertilization in mice correlates with the MHC and something else

One evolutionary explanation for the success of sexual reproduction assumes that sex is an advantage in the coevolutionary arms race between pathogens and hosts. Accordingly, an important criterion in mate choice and maternal selection thereafter could be the allelic specificity at polymorphic loci involved in parasite-host interactions, e.g. the MHC (major histocompatibility complex). The MHC has been found to influence mate choice and selective abortions in mice and humans. However, it could also influence the fertilization process itself, i.e. (i) the oocyte's choice for the fertilizing sperm, and (ii) the outcome of the second meiotic division after the sperm has entered the egg. We tested both hypotheses in an in vitro fertilization experiment with two inbred mouse strains congenic for their MHC. The genotypes of the resulting blastocysts were determined by polymerase chain reaction. We found nonrandom MHC combinations in the blastocysts which may result from both possible choice mechanisms. The outcome changed significantly over time, indicating that a choice for MHC combinations during fertilization may be influenced by one or several external factors.

Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) inhabiting foliar tanks of Guzmania brasiliensis Ule (Bromeliaceae) in central Amazonia, Brazil

Mosquitoes in the family Culicidae develop their immature forms in different environments depending on various circumstances. This study represents the first contribution to the ecological knowledge of culicids living in the bromeliad G. brasiliensis. The objectives of the study were to compare the Culicidae fauna of bromeliads in two seasonal periods, analyzing their abundance, richness and the influence of pH, conductivity and water volume, on the populations. Sampling was done at Reserva Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil between 2003 and 2005. Six samplings were done in the rainy season and six in the dry season. On each sampling day, six terrestrial and six epiphytic bromeliads, totaling 144 sampling units, were retrieved. A total of 444 immature mosquitoes were collected, distributed in the following species: Culex (Microculex) stonei Lane & Whitman, Culex (Microculex) chryselatus Dyar & Knab, Culex (Microculex) sp., Wyeomyia (Hystatomyia) autocratica Dyar & Knab and Wyeomyia (Hystatomyia) splendida Bonne-Wepster & Bonne. The relationship between abundance of Culicidae and sampling period was not significant, although abundance was higher in the dry period. There were significant correlations between water volume and the abundance (p = 0.003) and richness (p = 0.001) of culicids. The pH was positively related to the occurrence of the species Wy. autocratica (p= 0.010) and Wy. splendida (p= 0.006), demonstrating the influence of this factor in the structuring of bromeliad-inhabiting communities.