Net melon cultivars productivity under different cultivation systems, during summer and winter

In order to access the effects of cultivation in soil, sand or a commercial substrate on the productivity of Bonus #2 cultivars, 'Don Carlos' and 'Hy Mark', two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal- SP, Brazil, 21° 15' 22 S, 48° 18'58 W, and altitude of 595 m, from November 1999 to April 2000 (summer), and from July to November 2000 (Winter). For cultivation in soil, chemical nutrients were added, and plants were irrigated with drip irrigation. Fertigation with recirculation of the nutrient solution was used on sand; slabs were used on commercial substrate with the fertigation with non circulating nutrient solution. Bonus #2 cultivar yielded the highest production of marketable fruit, but were later in production, while Hy Mark cultivar had early production but a lower number of fruit per plant. The winter planting yielded higher production of marketable fruit while summer plantings yielded lower number of fruit per plant, but with higher average weigh. The combination between cultivation systems and cultivars yielded higher fruit production in winter.

Estudos ecológicos sobre Puccinia psidii winter - ferrugem das mirtáceas

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Population dynamics of Aceodromus convolvuli (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) on spontaneous plants associated with Jatropha curcas in central Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The ecophysiological performance of Vernonia polyanthes Less. (Asteraceae) in conserved and degraded forests in the Brazilian Cerrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Seasonal fluctuation of soil carbon dioxide emission in differently managed pastures

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

Plant density in production of mini lettuce cultivars in organic system management

Production of mini vegetables in organic system is a good alternative to improve profit, but there are no researches about the optimum plant density for these cultivars in Brazilian conditions. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the production of mini lettuce cultivars in different plant densities. Experiment 1 was conducted from January 1th (sowing) to February 10th (harvesting), 2012. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with six treatments in factorial scheme, 3 mini lettuce cultivars (Tudela, Renoir and Sartre) x 2 spacing between plants (16 and 20 cm), with eight replications and plots (2.04 m(2)) with six rows, spaced 15 cm. Experiment 2 was conducted from June 6th (sowing) to July 18th (harvesting), 2012. The cultivars Sartre and Renoir were evaluated under four plant densities (444,444; 333,333; 266,667 and 200,000 plants ha(-1), corresponding to spacing of 15x15, 15x20, 25x15 and 25x20 cm, respectively). Eight treatments were defined by a factorial scheme 2 (cultivars) x 4 (plant densities) and arranged in a completely randomized block design, with nine replications and plots with 2.04 m2. The evaluated characteristics in both experiments were total and marketable fresh weight per plant, plant dry weight, plant diameter and height, marketable yield and discard percentage. In first experiment, during the summer, cultivar Sartre showed the highest marketable fresh weight (72 g plant(-1)). Heaviest plants (91.6 g plant(-1)) were obtained with the higher plant spacing, but the highest yield (2.51 kg m(-2)) was obtained with the smaller spacing. In winter, plants with higher total (190 g plant(-1)) and marketable (146 g planta(-1)) fresh weight were obtained with cultivar Sartre, and the same was observed in low plant density. However, the higher plant density, the higher the yield.

Cadmium stress antioxidant responses and root-to-shoot communication in grafted tomato plants

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

An ethnobotanical study of anti-malarial plants among indigenous people on the upper Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon

In this article we present the plants used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon. The region has important biological and cultural diversities including more than twenty indigenous ethnic groups and a strong history in traditional medicine. The aims of this study are to survey information in the Baniwa, Baré, Desana, Piratapuia, Tariana, Tukano, Tuyuca, Yanomami ethnic communities and among caboclos (mixed-ethnicity) on: a) plant species used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms; b) dosage forms and c) distribution of these anti-malarial plants in the Amazon. Information was obtained through classical ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological methods from interviews with 146 informants in Santa Isabel municipality on the upper Negro River, Brazil. Fifty-five mainly native neotropical plant species from 34 families were in use. The detailed uses of these plants were documented. The result was 187 records (64.4%) of plants for the specific treatment of malaria, 51 records (17.5%) of plants used in the treatment of liver problems and 28 records (9.6%) of plants used in the control of fevers associated with malaria. Other uses described were blood fortification ('dar sangue'), headache and prophylaxis. Most of the therapeutic preparations were decoctions and infusions based on stem bark, root bark and leaves. These were administered by mouth. In some cases, remedies were prepared with up to three different plant species. Also, plants were used together with other ingredients such as insects, mammals, gunpowder and milk. This is the first study on the anti-malarial plants from this region of the Amazon. Aspidosperma spp. and Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke were the most cited species in the communities surveyed. These species have experimental proof supporting their anti-malarial efficacy. The dosage of the therapeutic preparations depends on the kind of plant, quantity of plant material available, the patient's age (children and adults) and the local expert. The treatment time varies from a single dose to up to several weeks. Most anti-malarial plants are domesticated or grow spontaneously. They are grown in home gardens, open areas near the communities, clearings and secondary forests, and wild species grow in areas of seasonally flooded wetlands and terra firme (solid ground) forest, in some cases in locations that are hard to access. Traditional knowledge of plants was found to be falling into disuse presumably as a consequence of the local official health services that treat malaria in the communities using commercial drugs. Despite this, some species are used in the prevention of this disease and also in the recovery after using conventional anti-malarial drugs.

The occurrence of UV filters in natural and drinking water in São Paulo State (Brazil)

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in the formulation of personal care products (PCPs) to prevent damage to the skin, lips, and hair caused by excessive UV radiation. Therefore, large amounts of these substances are released daily into the aquatic environment through either recreational activities or the release of domestic sewage. The concern regarding the presence of such substances in the environment and the exposure of aquatic organisms is based on their potential for bioaccumulation and their potential as endocrine disruptors. Although there are several reports regarding the occurrence and fate of UV filters in the aquatic environment, these compounds are still overlooked in tropical areas. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of the organic UV filters benzophenone-3 (BP-3), ethylhexyl salicylate (ES), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), and octocrylene (OC) in six water treatment plants in various cities in Southeast Brazil over a period of 6 months to 1 year. All of the UV filters studied were detected at some time during the sampling period; however, only EHMC and BP-3 were found in quantifiable concentrations, ranging from 55 to 101 and 18 to 115 ng L(-1), respectively. Seasonal variation of BP-3 was most clearly noticed in the water treatment plant in Araraquara, São Paulo, where sampling was performed for 12 months. BP-3 was not quantifiable in winter but was quantifiable in summer. The levels of BP-3 were in the same range in raw, treated and chlorinated water, indicating that the compound was not removed by the water treatment process.

Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil from Antarctic vascular plants of Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica

The Antarctic is a pristine environment that contributes to the maintenance of the global climate equilibrium. The harsh conditions of this habitat are fundamental to selecting those organisms able to survive in such an extreme habitat and able to support the relatively simple ecosystems. The DNA of the microbial community associated with the rhizospheres of Deschampsia antarctica Desv (Poaceae) and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) BartI (Caryophyllaceae), the only two native vascular plants that are found in Antarctic ecosystems, was evaluated using a 16S rRNA multiplex 454 pyrosequencing approach. This analysis revealed similar patterns of bacterial diversity between the two plant species from different locations, arguing against the hypothesis that there would be differences between the rhizosphere communities of different plants. Furthermore, the phylum distribution presented a peculiar pattern, with a bacterial community structure different from those reported of many other soils. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum in almost all the analyzed samples, and there were high levels of anaerobic representatives. Also, some phyla that are dominant in most temperate and tropical soils, such as Acidobacteria, were rarely found in the analyzed samples. Analyzing all the sample libraries together, the predominant genera found were Bifidobacterium (phylum Actinobacteria), Arcobacter (phylum Proteobacteria) and Faecalibacterium (phylum Firmicutes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first major bacterial sequencing effort of this kind of soil, and it revealed more than expected diversity within these rhizospheres of both maritime Antarctica vascular plants in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, which is part of the South Shetlands archipelago. The ISME Journal (2010) 4, 989-1001; doi:10.1038/ismej.2010.35; published online 1 April 2010

Botanical Origin of Protein Sources Used by Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in an Atlantic Forest

Productive and reproductive traits of beehives are influenced by climate and food availability in the region where the bees are reared or maintained, thus honey and pollen storage, egg-laying conditions of the queen as well as comb occupation are subject to seasonal variations. The present study was conducted in the apiary of the Department of Entomology and Acarology, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, ESALQ/USP, in the municipality of Piracicaba, in an area containing fruit trees, ornamental plants and a fragment of a native forest. The objective was to identify protein sources used by honeybees (Apis mellifera) over a whole year (2010-2011) in remnants of the Atlantic forest, information that can be used in the conservation and restoration of degraded areas. For sample preparation, the acetolysis method was adopted (Eredtman 1952) and the quantitative analysis was performed by counting successive samples of 900 grains per sample which were grouped by botanical species and/or pollen types. The results show that the bees used various plant types in the area, including ruderal species, to maintain their colonies. Apis mellifera seeks food sources in all plants in the surroundings of the apiary, including herbaceous, shrubs, trees, native or introduced. Eucalyptus sp. played an important role as a food source in all seasons due to its wide availability around the apiary and its high flower production. The most frequent pollen types (greater than 10% of the sample) were Anadenanthera sp., Acacia sp, Miconia sp. and Eucalyptus sp. in winter; Philodendron sp., Mikania cordifolia, Parthenium and Eucalyptus sp. in spring; Alternanthera ficoidea, Chamissoa altissima and Eucalyptus sp. in summer; Philodendron sp., Raphanus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. in autumn.

Daily rhythms of native Brazilians in summer and winter

Access to electricity, granting relative independence of human activity on the dark phase of the day, has been pointed out as an important cause for the absence of seasonal changes in the daily rhythms of humans living in urban areas. Featuring a population of adult Guarani natives living without access to electricity, the present naturalistic study was designed to explore possible effects of different natural photoperiods and temperature on human circadian rhythms. We compared time series of wrist temperature (WT) and motor activity in winter and summer, respectively, 01 24 individuals aged 18 to 80. Twenty-four-hour rhythms of WT showed lower amplitudes and higher mean levels in summer, with no significant seasonal differences in acrophase. In contrast, rest-activity (RA) rhythms exhibited a significantly later rest on-and offset in summer, but no seasonal changes in duration, amplitude and mean level. We furthermore identified a phase advance of both the WT acrophase and rest onset with increasing age of the individuals. We concluded that in our study the effect of different seasons was reflected in the amplitude and mean level of the WT rhythm, as well the onset of nighttime rest, which was delayed in summer. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Growing degree-days for the 'Niagara Rosada' grapevine pruned in different seasons

Plant growth and development are proportional to biological time, or the thermal time of the species, which can be defined as the integral of the temperature over time between the lower and upper temperature developmental thresholds. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the growing degree-day (GDD) approach for vines of the 'Niagara Rosada' cultivar pruned in winter and summer seasons, and physiological phases (mobilisation and reserve accumulation) in a humid subtropical region. The experiment was carried out on 13-year-old plants in Piracicaba, So Paulo State-Brazil, evaluating 24 production cycles, 12 from the winter pruning, and 12 from the summer pruning. The statistical design was comprised of randomised blocks, using the pruning dates as treatment: 20 July, 4 August, 19 August, and 3 September (winter); 1 February, 15 February, 2 March, and 16 March (summer). Comparison of the mean values of GDD among pruning dates was evaluated by the Tukey test, and comparison between pruning seasons was made by the F test for orthogonal contrasts, both at the 5% probability level. The results showed good agreement between the values of GDD required to complete the cycle from the winter pruning until harvest when compared with other studies performed with the same cultivar grown in the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil. However, there was a consistent statistical difference between GDD computed for winter and summer pruning, which allowed us to conclude that this bio-meteorological index is not sufficient to distinguish vines pruned in different seasons and physiological phases applied in humid subtropical climates.

The meristematic activity of the endodermis and the pericycle and its role in the primary thickening of stems in monocotyledonous plants

Background: It had long been thought that a lateral meristem, the so-called primary thickening meristem (PTM) was responsible for stem thickening in monocotyledons. Recent work has shown that primary thickening in the stems of monocotyledons is due to the meristematic activity of both the endodermis and the pericycle. Aims: The aim of this work is to answer a set of questions about the developmental anatomy of monocotyledonous plants: (1) Do the stem apices of monocots have a special meristematic tissue, the PTM? (2) Are the primary tissues of the stem the same as those of the root? (3) Is there good evidence for the formation of both the cortex and the vascular tissue from a single meristem, the PTM, in the shoot and from two distinguishable meristems in the root? (4) If the PTM forms only the cortex, what kind of meristem forms the vascular tissue? Methods: Light microscopy was used to examine stem and root anatomy in 16 species from 10 monocotyledonous families. Results: It was observed that radially aligned cortical cells extend outwards from endodermal initial cells in the cortex of the roots and the stems in all the species. The radial gradation in size observed indicates that the cortical cells are derivatives of a meristematic endodermis. In addition, perfect continuity was observed between the endodermis of the root and that of the stem. Meristematic activity in the pericycle gives rise to cauline vascular bundles composed of metaxylem and metaphloem. Conclusion: No evidence was obtained for the existence in monocotyledons of a PTM. Monocotyledons appear to resemble other vascular plants in this respect.

Chemistry of aerosol particles and fog droplets during fall-winter season in the Po Valley

Air quality represents a key issue in the so-called pollution “hot spots”: environments in which anthropogenic sources are concentrated and dispersion of pollutants is limited. One of these environments, the Po Valley, normally experiences exceedances of PM10 and PM2.5 concentration limits, especially in winter when the ventilation of the lower layers of the atmosphere is reduced. This thesis provides a highlight of the chemical properties of particulate matter and fog droplets in the Po Valley during the cold season, when fog occurrence is very frequent. Fog-particles interactions were investigated with the aim to determine their impact on the regional air quality. Size-segregated aerosol samples were collected in Bologna, urban site, and San Pietro Capofiume (SPC), rural site, during two campaigns (November 2011; February 2013) in the frame of Supersito project. The comparison between particles size-distribution and chemical composition in both sites showed the relevant contribution of the regional background and secondary processes in determining the Po Valley aerosol concentration. Occurrence of fog in November 2011 campaign in SPC allowed to investigate the role of fog formation and fog chemistry in the formation, processing and deposition of PM10. Nucleation scavenging was investigated with relation to the size and the chemical composition of particles. We found that PM1 concentration is reduced up to 60% because of fog scavenging. Furthermore, aqueous-phase secondary aerosol formation mechanisms were investigated through time-resolved measurements. In SPC fog samples have been systematically collected and analysed since the nineties; a 20 years long database has been assembled. This thesis reports for the first time the results of this long time series of measurements, showing a decrease of sulphate and nitrate concentration and an increase of pH that reached values close to neutrality. A detailed discussion about the occurred changes in fog water composition over two decades is presented.