Produtividade, sazonalidade e análises tecnológicas de frutos de cultivares de mangueira em condições subtropicais

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Caracterização molecular e patogênica de isolados de Colletotrichum spp. associados a sintomas de antracnose em mangueiras

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Conservação pós-colheita de mangas produzidas na região de Jaboticabal-SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização morfométrica, patogênica e genética de isolados de Colletrotrichum gloeosporioides, agente causal da antracnose em manga (Mangifera indica L.)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Manejo da floração de mangueiras no Semi-árido do nordeste brasileiro com inibidores da síntese de giberelinas

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Methodological Difficulties of Conducting Agroecological Studies from a Statistical Perspective

Statistical methods for analyzing agroecological data might not be able to help agroecologists to solve all of the current problems concerning crop and animal husbandry, but such methods could well help them assess, tackle, and resolve several agroecological issues in a more reliable and accurate manner. Therefore, our goal in this article is to discuss the importance of statistical tools for alternative agronomic approaches, because alternative approaches, such as organic farming, should not only be promoted by encouraging farmers to deploy agroecological techniques, but also by providing agroecologists with robust analyses based on rigorous statistical procedures.

Growth and flowering of five mango cultivar under subtropics conditions of Brazil

The evaluation of the new cultivars adaptation and yield potential of Mangifera indica L. provides tools to assist and improve the mango production in different climates conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the phenological and reproductive development of five mango cultivars (Bourbon, Haden, Palmer, Parwin and Tommy Atkins), on climate conditions in dry land and four production cycles (from 08/2007 to 01/2011), at São Manuel, São Paulo state, Brazil. The variables were total plant height, trunk height, stem diameter and the first insertion diameter, fruits physical characteristics, yield and harvest period, flowering seasonality and morphological characterization of the inflorescences. It was found that the four-year-old plants of Haden cv. reach 4.0 m high and 0.20 m of trunk diameter. Bourbon cultivar had the highest flowering period, from April to October. Tommy Atkins cv. had productivities of 14779.07 kg∙ha−1 in the fourth cycle and the productivity of Bourbon, Haden and Palmer cultivars was alternated.

Experimental Bolbophorus damnificus (Digenea: Bolbophoridae) Infections in Piscivorous Birds

In order to determine potential definitive hosts of the digenetic trematode, Bolbophorus damnificus, two American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), two Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), two Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), and two Great Egrets (Ardea alba) were captured, treated with praziquantel, and fed channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) infected with B. damnificus metacercariae. Patent infections of B. damnificus, which developed in both American White Pelicans at 3 days post-infection, were confirmed by the presence of trematode ova in the feces. Mature B. damnificus trematodes were recovered from the intestines of both pelicans at 21 days post-infection, further confirming the establishment of infection. No evidence of B. damnificus infections was observed in the other bird species studied. This study provides further evidence that Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets do not serve as definitive hosts for B. damnificus.

Bird Depredation

A survey of catfish producers by the United States Department of Agriculture, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) in 1996 indicated that the two primary sources of catfish losses in commercial operations were disease (45%) and wildlife (37%) (CEAH 1997a). A variety of avian and mammalian predators are amracred to aquaculture facilities in the United States (Parkhurs: er al. 1992) because ponds and open raceways provide a constant and readily accessible food supply for these animals. However, the mere presence of these predators arcund aquaculture faciliries does not necessarily mean that significant depredation problems are occurring. At catfish farms, three species or species groups of birds are primarily cited by catfish producers as causing most depredation problems (Wywialowski 1999). These include doublecrested cormorants, wading birds (herons and egrets), and American white pelicans, in order of importance to catfish producers (Wywialowski 1993). Although all of these species consume catfish, their biology, distribution, dietary preferences dictare the extent of depredation problems they cause and the approaches needed to alleviate their depredations. With the exception of total bird exclusion from ponds, there are no simple solutions for resolving all bird depredation problems in catfish aquaculture. Thus, in most cases, an integrated management approach to alleviating bird depredations must be considered.

Studies on Transformations of H-Phosphonates into DNA Analogues Containing P-S or P-C Bonds

In this thesis, mechanistic and synthetic studies on transformations of H-phosphonates into DNA analogues containing P-S or P-C bonds are described. Configurational stability of dinucleoside H-phosphonates and the stereochemical course of their sulfurisation in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) were investigated. In light of these studies, the reported stereoselective sulfurisation of dinucleoside H-phosphonates and benzoylphosphonates in the presence of DBU was proved to be incorrect. Efficient protocols for the synthesis of new nucleotide analogues with non-ionic C-phosphonate internucleotide linkages were developed. The synthesis of dinucleoside 2-pyridylphosphonates was successfully performed by a DBU-promoted reaction of H-phosphonate diesters with N-methoxypyridinium salts. The thio analogues, 2-pyridyl- and 4-pyridyl phosphonothioate diesters, could be obtained by modifying the reactions developed for their oxo counterparts. Dinucleoside 3-pyridylphosphonates were prepared via a palladium(0)-catalysed cross coupling strategy that could be extended also to the synthesis of nucleotide analogues with metal-complexing properties, i.e. terpyridyl- and bipyridylphosphonate derivatives. Oligonucleotides modified with pyridylphosphonate internucleotide linkages have been prepared and preliminary studies on their hybridisation properties and resistance towards enzymatic degradation were performed. Finally, nucleotidic units for the incorporation of pyridylphosphonate groups at the 5’-terminus of oligonucleotides were designed. Condensations of such units with a suitably protected nucleoside afforded after oxidation the expected dinucleoside (3’-5’)-phosphates with pyridylphosphonate monoester functions at the 5’-ends.

Ctenidins: antimicrobial glycine-rich peptides from the hemocytes of the spider Cupiennius salei

Three novel glycine-rich peptides, named ctenidin 1-3, with activity against the Gram-negative bacterium E. coli, were isolated and characterized from hemocytes of the spider Cupiennius salei. Ctenidins have a high glycine content (>70%), similarly to other glycine-rich peptides, the acanthoscurrins, from another spider, Acanthoscurria gomesiana. A combination of mass spectrometry, Edman degradation, and cDNA cloning revealed the presence of three isoforms of ctenidin, at least two of them originating from simple, intronless genes. The full-length sequences of the ctenidins consist of a 19 amino acid residues signal peptide followed by the mature peptides of 109, 119, or 120 amino acid residues. The mature peptides are post-translationally modified by the cleavage of one or two C-terminal cationic amino acid residue(s) and amidation of the newly created mature C-terminus. Tissue expression analysis revealed that ctenidins are constitutively expressed in hemocytes and to a small extent also in the subesophageal nerve mass.

Expression of defensins in non-infected araneomorph spiders

Defensins are a major family of antimicrobial peptides found throughout the phylogenetic tree. From the spider species: Cupiennius salei, Phoneutria reidyi, Polybetes pythagoricus, Tegenaria atrica, and Meta menardi, defensins belonging to the 'ancestral' class of invertebrate defensins were cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences contain the characteristic six cysteines of this class of defensins and reveal precursors of 60 or 61 amino acid residues. The mature peptides consist of 37 amino acid residues, showing up to 70% identities with tick and scorpion defensins. In C. salei, defensin mRNA was found to be constitutively expressed in hemocytes, ovaries, subesophageal nerve mass, hepatopancreas, and muscle tissue. This is the first report presenting and comparing antimicrobial peptides belonging to the family of defensins from spiders.

Purification, cDNA structure and biological significance of a single insulin-like growth factor-binding domain protein (SIBD-1) identified in the hemocytes of the spider Cupiennius salei

Cupiennius salei single insulin-like growth factor-binding domain protein (SIBD-1), which exhibits an IGFBP N-terminal domain-like profile, was identified in the hemocytes of the spider C. salei. SIBD-1 was purified by RP-HPLC and the sequence determined by a combination of Edman degradation and 5'-3'- RACE PCR. The peptide (8676.08 Da) is composed of 78 amino acids, contains six intrachain disulphide bridges and carries a modified Thr residue at position 2. SIBD-1 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR mainly in hemocytes, but also in the subesophageal nerve mass and muscle. After infection, the SIBD-1 content in the hemocytes decreases and, simultaneously, the temporal SIBD-1 expression seems to be down-regulated. Two further peptides, SIBD-2 and IGFBP-rP1, also exhibiting IGFBP N-terminal domain variants with unknown functions, were identified on cDNA level in spider hemocytes and venom glands. We conclude that SIBD-1 may play an important role in the immune system of spiders.

Retrospective multicenter study of Solitaire FR for revascularization in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke

The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of the Solitaire FR device in the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to large artery occlusion.