Germinação e vigor de sementes de Piper marginatum e Piper tuberculatum sob diferentes ambientes, recipientes e períodos de armazenamento.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a germinação e o vigor de sementes de P. marginatum e P. tuberculatum em função de um fatorial de 3x2x5 com três ambientes (câmara fria, galpão e laboratório) e dois tipos de recipiente (vidro e papel), armazenadas em diferentes períodos de armazenamento (0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses), sendo conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com parcela subdividida no fator período com quatro repetições.

Propagação vegetativa de Piper hispidum Sw. e Piper tuberculatum Jacq. em função de diferentes substratos e tipos de estaca.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a estaquia dessas espécies em função do tipo de substrato e estaca.

Enraizamento, aclimatização e produção de mudas de pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) via micropropagação.

A pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) é uma planta trepadeira originária da Índia. Tem grande valor econômico, pois é uma especiaria utilizada mundialmente em grandes escalas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a percentagem de enraizamento, aclimatização e produção de mudas de pimenteira-do-reino. Para o enraizamento in vitro de pimenteira-do-reino, gemas apicais e nodais (explante) foram inoculadas em meio MS (MURASHIGE; SKOOG, 1962) suplementado com 0,05 mg L-1 de ANA. Para a aclimatização, as plantas de pimenteira-do-reino proveniente do cultivo in vitro foram transferidas para substrato vermiculita em bandeja de polipropileno com 24 células, com duas plantas por células. Após 30 dias, houve a transferência do material para substrato (terra+esterco+calcário). A taxa de sobrevivência dessas plantas na fase de aclimatização foi de 97%, relevante desempenho da estratégia adotada. Considerando que esta fase é uma das mais críticas da formação de mudas micropropagadas. Na formação de mudas a taxa de sobrevivência das plantas foi de 100%. A micropropagação é uma alternativa para obter mudas de pimenteira-do-reino com qualidade fitossanitária, sendo que o meio de enraizamento dos brotos é eficiente e promove alta taxa de sobrevivência na aclimatização em substrato vermiculita e todas as plantas desenvolvem para a formação de mudas.

Ácido naftaleno acético na rizogênese in vitro de pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.).

O enraizamento in vitro é uma etapa importante no processo de micropropagação, por permitir a formação de plantas completas para posterior aclimatização às condições ex-vitro. Objetivou-se no trabalho verificar o efeito do ácido naftalenoacético (ANA) no enraizamento in vitro de dois híbridos de pimenteira-do reino, um proveniente do cruzamento entre Bento x Guajarina e o segundo do cruzamento entre Bragantina x Arborium. Foram usados os ápices caulinares e segmentos nodais com gemas laterais como explantes, inoculados em condições assépticas em frascos contendo 40 ml de meio básico de cultura de Murashige e Skoog (MS), sacarose a 3%, vitamina 0,2, phytagel a 0,2% e pH ajustado para 5,8 com dose de 0,05 mg L-1 ANA e o testemunha com ½ MS + 0 ANA para os dois genótipos. Ambos cultivados por seis semanas sob condições de fotoperíodo de 16 h.luz.dia-1, com intensidade luminosa de 3.000 lux e temperatura de 25 ± 3oC. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com 2 tratamentos e 5 repetições, sendo um frasco com cinco brotos por repetição. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: A percentagem de explante enraizados e o comprimento da raiz (mm) comprimento do broto (mm), número de raízes. Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância. Pode-se concluir com os resultados que não há diferença significativa no desenvolvimento entre os dois híbridos a partir de brotos em meio 1/2 MS com 0,05 mg L-1 de ANA.

Mercaptoetanol no controle da oxidação de meristema de pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) em cultivo in vitro.

A pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) é uma planta trepadeira originária da Índia, considerada a mais importante especiaria comercializada mundialmente e usada em larga escala como condimento, além das indústrias de carnes e conservas. Os maiores produtores mundiais da pimenta-do-reino são Índia, Vietnã, Indonésia, Malásia e Brasil, sendo que dos estados brasileiros produtores, o Pará é responsável por cerca de 80% da produção do país. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do ?-Mercaptoetanol no controle da oxidação em meristema de pimenteira-do-reino no estabelecimemto de cultura para o processo de micropropagação, segmentos de ramos contendo gemas apicais e laterais foram submetidos à assepsia e para a retirada dos meristemas ficaramimesos na solução de ?-Mercaptoetanol nas concentrações 5 mM , 10 mM e 15mM. Os meristemas inoculados nas concentrações de 5 e 10 mM apresentaram no final de 30 dias alto grau de oxidação, enquanto os meristemas inoculados na concentração de 15 mM, baixa oxidação. O antioxidante ?-mercaptoetanol na concentração de 15mM é eficiente para controlar a oxidação do meristema para o estabelecimento de cultura in vitro no processo de micropropagação.

Efeito da temperatura no desenvovimento in vitro de pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.).

A pimenteira-do-reino (Piper nigrum L.) é uma importante especiaria usada em diversas industriais e é um dos principais produtos agrícolas da pauta de exportações do estado do Pará. A propagação vegetativa, método comercial de produção de mudas de pimenteira-do-reino, se realizada a partir de plantas matrizes infectadas com vírus, promove à degenerescência da planta e prejuízos na produtividade. A temperatura elevada é uma alternativa para a limpeza clonal via micropropagação. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a termotolerância dos brotos cultivadas in vitro visando a limpeza clonal. Os explantes (gemas apicais e laterais) foram cultivados in vitro em experimentos preliminares de termotolerância. As temperaturas usadas foram: 32 ºC, 33 ºC, 34 ºC, 36 ºC e 38 ºC, com fotoperíodo de 16 h. luz. Foram avaliados: taxa de oxidação e desenvolvimento de novas folhas. Explantes de pimenteira-do-reino permaneceram incubadas em câmaras do tipo BOD com ajuste de temperatura por 30 dias em cada temperatura. À temperatura de 38 ºC ocorreu elevada taxa de oxidação dos explantes e sem desenvolvimento de brotos enquanto à temperatura de 32 ºC, os explantes diferenciaram in vitro com novas brotações e folhas, sem oxidação. A temperatura dos explantes in vitro influencia diretamente da taxa de sobrevivência e desenvolvimento de pimenteira-do-reino micropropagadas, sendo sugerida a temperatura de 32 ºC para auxiliar a limpeza clonal no processo de micropropagação.

Insect feeding preferences on Piperaceae species observed in São Paulo city, Brazil

Piperaceae species have been placed among the basal angiosperm and are adapted to a variety of habitats including moist forests, secondary vegetation and dry high lands. The major anatomical/morphology features are of small trees, vines, and shrubs for Piper species, while the epiphytic and succulent characteristics are predominant forms among Peperomia species. Their secondary chemistry can be mostly represented by amides, phenylpropanoids/lignoids, and chromenes in addition to a phletoria of biosynthetically mixed-origin secondary compounds. Although several amides and lignans are known as insecticides, several phytophagous insects, among which some considered pests of economic importance, have been observed feeding vigorously on Piperaceae species. Herein we describe the feeding preferences of fourteen phytophagous species of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera over approximately fifty Piperaceae species observed in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in a long-term basis.

The Missing Part of Seed Dispersal Networks: Structure and Robustness of Bat-Fruit Interactions

Mutualistic networks are crucial to the maintenance of ecosystem services. Unfortunately, what we know about seed dispersal networks is based only on bird-fruit interactions. Therefore, we aimed at filling part of this gap by investigating bat-fruit networks. It is known from population studies that: (i) some bat species depend more on fruits than others, and (ii) that some specialized frugivorous bats prefer particular plant genera. We tested whether those preferences affected the structure and robustness of the whole network and the functional roles of species. Nine bat-fruit datasets from the literature were analyzed and all networks showed lower complementary specialization (H(2)' = 0.3760.10, mean 6 SD) and similar nestedness (NODF = 0.5660.12) than pollination networks. All networks were modular (M=0.32 +/- 0.07), and had on average four cohesive subgroups (modules) of tightly connected bats and plants. The composition of those modules followed the genus-genus associations observed at population level (Artibeus-Ficus, Carollia-Piper, and Sturnira-Solanum), although a few of those plant genera were dispersed also by other bats. Bat-fruit networks showed high robustness to simulated cumulative removals of both bats (R = 0.55 +/- 0.10) and plants (R = 0.68 +/- 0.09). Primary frugivores interacted with a larger proportion of the plants available and also occupied more central positions; furthermore, their extinction caused larger changes in network structure. We conclude that bat-fruit networks are highly cohesive and robust mutualistic systems, in which redundancy is high within modules, although modules are complementary to each other. Dietary specialization seems to be an important structuring factor that affects the topology, the guild structure and functional roles in bat-fruit networks.

Molluscicidal and ovicidal activities of plant extracts of the Piperaceae on Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818)

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by Schistosoma and occurs in 54 countries, mainly in South America, the Caribbean region, Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Currently, 5 to 6 million Brazilian people are infected and 30,000 are under infection risk. Typical of poor regions, this disease is associated with the lack of basic sanitation and very frequently to the use of contaminated water in agriculture, housework and leisure. One of the most efficient methods of controlling the disease is application of molluscicides to eliminate or to reduce the population of the intermediate host snail Biomphalaria glabrata. Studies on molluscicidal activity of plant extracts have been stimulated by issues such as environmental preservation, high cost and recurrent resistance of snails to synthetic molluscicides. The aim of this study was to determine the molluscicide action of extracts from Piperaceae species on adult and embryonic stages of B. glabrata. Fifteen extracts from 13 Piperaceae species were obtained from stems, leaves and roots. Toxicity of extracts was evaluated against snails at two different concentrations (500 and 100 ppm) and those causing 100% mortality at 100 ppm concentration were selected to obtain the LC(90) (lethal concentration of 90% mortality). Piper aduncum, P. crassinervium, P. cuyabanum, P. diospyrifolium and P. hostmannianum gave 100% mortality of adult snails at concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 ppm. These extracts were also assayed on embryonic stages of B. glabrata and those from P. cuyabanum and P. hostmannianum showed 100% ovicidal action at 20 ppm.

Study of Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay of (E)-piplartine by the Ames test

Phytochemical studies carried out with Piperaceae species have shown great diversity of secondary metabolites among which are several displayed considerable biological activities. The species Piper tuberculatum has been intensively investigated and a series of amides have been described. For instance, (E)-piplartine showed significant cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines, especially human leukemia cell lines; antifungal activity against Cladosporium species; trypanocidal activity and others. Considering the popular use of P. tuberculatum and the lack of pharmacological studies regarding this plant species, the mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of (E)-piplartine was evaluated by the Ames test, using the strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 of Salmonella typhimurium. No mutagenic activity was observed for this compound.

Piperamides and their derivatives as potential anti-trypanosomal agents

We describe herein an evaluation of the trypanocidal effect of eight piperamides (1-8) isolated from Piper tuberculatum bearing dihydropyridone, piperidine, and isobutyl moieties against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas` disease. Based on such results, three hydrogenated and two hydrolyzed derivatives (10-14) were prepared and evaluated as well. The dihydropyridone amides (1-3) displayed higher anti-trypanosomal activity. The (Z)-piplartine (1) showed higher activity with a 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) value of 10.5 mu M, almost four times more potent than the positive control, benznidazole (IC(50) = 42.7 mu M), and should be further evaluated as a suitable hit for the design of new antiprotozoal agents.

Isobutyl amides - potent compounds for controlling Diatraea saccharalis

BACKGROUND: A dichloromethane-methanol extract of the seeds of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) and two isobutyl amides, 4,5-dihydropiperlonguminine (1) and pellitorine (2), which were isolated by chromatographic methods, were assayed for their lethality against the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). RESULTS: Bioassays were carried out with fourth-instar caterpillars through topical application of test solutions to the dorsal surface of the prothorax, and dose-response correlations were determined. Significant insect mortalities were observed 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment at concentrations of >= 100 mu g insect(-1). The LD(50) and LD(90) values for compound 1 were 92.83 and 176.50 mu g insect(-1), and for compound 2 they were 91.19 and 184.56 mu g insect(-1). CONCLUSION: According to the LD(50) and LD(90) for compounds 1 and 2, it can be inferred that the values reflect an acute lethal response to both compounds, based on interaction(s) of the toxicants with a primary target or series of targets. Thus, the amides were demonstrated to have potential value in the control of the sugarcane borer. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry

The effect of the dibenzylbutyrolactolic lignan (-)-cubebin on doxorubicin mutagenicity and recombinogenicity in wing somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

The dibenzylbutyrolactolic lignan (-)-cubebin was isolated from dry seeds of Piper cubeba L (Piperaceae). (-)-Cubebin possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial activities. Doxorubicin (DXR) is a topoisomerase-interactive agent that may induce single- and double-strand breaks, intercalate into the DNA and generate oxygen free radicals. Here, we examine the mutagenicity and recombinogenicity of different concentrations of (-)-cubebin alone or in combination with DXR using standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses of the wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test in Drosophila melanogaster. The results from both crosses were rather similar. (-)-Cubebin alone did not induce mutation or recombination. At lower concentrations, (-)-cubebin statistically reduced the frequencies of DXR-induced mutant spots. At higher concentrations, however, (-)-cubebin was found to potentiate the effects of DXR, leading to either an increase in the production of mutant spots or a reduction, due to toxicity. These results suggest that depending on the concentration, (-)-cubebin may interact with the enzymatic system that catalyzes the metabolic detoxification of DXR, inhibiting the activity of mitochondria! complex 1 and thereby scavenging free radicals. Recombination was found to be the major effect of the treatments with DXR alone. The combined treatments reduced DXR mutagenicity but did not affect DXR recombinogenicity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of the dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan (-)-hinokinin on doxorubicin and methyl methanesulfonate clastogenicity in V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts

The dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan (-)-hinokinin (HK) was obtained by partial synthesis from (-)-cubebin, isolated from the dry seeds of the pepper, Piper cubeba. In view of the trypanocidal activity of HK and its potential as a lead compound for drug development, evaluation of its possible genotoxic activity is required. We have tested HK for possible genotoxicity and evaluated the compound`s effect on the activity of the clastogens doxorubicin (DXR) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in the micronucleus (MN) assay with Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells. HK alone did not induce MN, at concentrations up to 128 mu M. In combined treatments, HK reduced the frequency of MN induced by MMS. With respect to DXR, HK exerted a protective effect at lower concentrations, but at higher concentrations it potentiated DXR clastogenicity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bernard Michael Bindon - reproductive physiologist, animal scientist, research leader

This paper is a foreword to a series of papers commissioned on 'the impact of science on the beef industry', where the Beef CRC-related collaborative scientific work of Professor Bernard Michael Bindon will be reviewed. These papers will be presented in March 2006, as part of a 'festschrift' to recognise his wider contributions to the Australian livestock industries for over 40 years. Bindon's career involved basic and applied research in many areas of reproductive physiology, genetics, immunology, nutrition, meat science and more recently genomics, in both sheep and cattle. Together with his collaborators, he made large contributions to animal science by improving the knowledge of mechanisms regulating reproductive functions and in elucidating the physiology and genetics of high fecundity livestock. His collaborative studies with many colleagues of the reproductive biology and genetics of the Booroola Merino were amongst the most extensive ever conducted on domestic livestock. He was instrumental in the development of immunological techniques to control ovulation rate and in examining the application of these and other techniques to increase beef cattle reproductive output. This paper tracks his investigations and achievements both within Australia and internationally. In the later stages of his career he was the major influence in attracting a large investment in Cooperative Research Centres for the Australian cattle industry, in which he directed a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate, develop and disseminate science and technology to improve commercial cattle productivity.