Structure, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the male reproductive accessory glands in the neotropical flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Chiroptera, the second largest mammalian order, presents different reproductive strategies and unique reproductive features. However, there are few reports regarding male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) in Chiroptera. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterise the RAGs of the exclusively neotropical bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) macroscopically, microscopically and ultrastructurally. The RAGs were composed of a prostatic complex with two regions (ventral and dorsal) and paraurethral and bulbourethral glands, but no seminal vesicles. The ventral region had an undefined epithelium, with secretory and basal cells, and its secretions were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive. The dorsal region received both deferens ducts, had a columnar pseudostratified epithelium with secretory and basal cells. There were two types of secretions from the dorsal region: one that was basophilic and another that was mixed PAS positive and PAS negative. The paraurethral glands were dispersed in the connective tissue of the urethra, whereas the bulbourethral glands were located in the penile root. Histological and ultrastructural data confirmed the prostatic nature of the ventral and dorsal regions and the holocrine nature of the ventral region, with the latter finding never having been described previously for the prostate gland. Our findings demonstrate the wide discrepancy of RAGs between A. planirostris and other mammals in terms of their composition, structure and morphology. © CSIRO 2013.

Improvement of grapevine iron nutrition by a bovine blood-derived compound

Iron (Fe) is essential for chlorophyll formation and plant growth. Irondeficiency chlorosis is a major nutritional disorder in several fruit trees cultivated in calcareous and alkaline soils, reducing fruit yield and quality and causing heavy economic losses. Since chelated Fe, the most widespread fertilizers used for preventing or curing Fe deficiency, pose risks of environmental pollution, the development of sustainable agronomic alternatives represents a priority for the fruit industry. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of a bovine blood-derived product (BB; 0,125% Fe) for preventing Fe-deficiency in grapevine plants. During the vegetative season 2011 potted plants of five graft combinations: Sangiovese/S4O, Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O and Cabernet Sauvignon/140 Ruggeri, 140 Ruggeri/Cabernet Sauvignon, Vitis riparia/Cabernet Sauvignon were grown on calcareous soil. Soil treatments included: 1) Control; 2) Fe-EDDHA (Fe 6%); 3) Bovine-Blood (5 g/L); 4) Bovine-Blood (20 g/L). With the exception of Cabernet Sauvignon/S4O plants, Fe-EDDHA increased SPAD units (leaf chlorophyll content). Bovine-blood at low concentrations had similar or higher SPAD units than Fe-EDDHA. Increasing concentration resulted in further increases in SPAD units only in some graft combinations. Data highlight the efficiency of Fe blood-compound in the prevention of grapevine Fe-deficiency over one growing season.

Allelopathic effect of the peel of coffee fruit

In coffee (Coffea arabica)-producing areas, particularly in the southeastern region of Brazil, it is part of the agricultural practice to incorporate coffee fruit peels in organic substrates for the production of vegetables, fruit trees, and even in the coffee cultures, for use not only as an organic amendment but also as a way to control weeds. This study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of dry and fresh coffee fruit peel extracts. Therefore, lettuce, Malaysian cabbage and beggar's tick seeds and seedlings were used as test subjects for the pre-emergence, post-emergence, and mitotic index of meristematic root cell tests. Additionally, the extracts' contents of phenols, flavonoids and caffeine, in addition to their antioxidant activity, were determined. The development of all the tested seedlings was inferred by the extracts from their roots and hypocotyls. The mitotic index was reduced in comparison to the negative control. A considerable quantity of phenols, flavonoids and caffeine was found in both of the extracts. A progressively growing antioxidant activity of the extracts was observed as their concentrations increased. Through the results obtained in this study, it is possible to conclude that C. arabica has allelopathic compounds. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Análise da expressão gênica global de mutantes de Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aplicação de ethephon em videira 'Niagara Rosada' (Vitis labrusca L.) visando produção na entressafra do Estado de São Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Planting coconuts in Indian villages: ethnoecological aspects and evaluation of a "sustainable development" project

Apesar de cientistas e tomadores de decisão abraçarem o conceito geral de "desenvolvimento sustentável", há pouco acordo sobre como se atingir esta meta em situações específicas. Assim, projetos de desenvolvimento sustentável são amplamente criticados por etno-cientistas quanto à forma como são inter-culturalmente formulados. Aqui reportamos um caso controverso de plantio de coco-da-Bahia em aldeias Kayapó do sul do Pará, e fazemos a nossa autocrítica. Nós partimos da premissa de que o reflorestamento e o estado geral de saúde/nutrição caminham lado a lado. Portanto, o desenvolvimento da cultura de cocos por si só deve contribuir para a conservação da floresta no longo prazo e, simultaneamente, contribuir para o bom estado nutricional do povo Kayapó que protege a floresta da ameaça de práticas não-sustentáveis. Nós buscamos descobrir como que o comportamento dos Kayapó afeta o desenvolvimento da cultura de cocos quando amparada com suporte externo. Nós apresentamos resultados de duas viagens de campo para a terra Kayapó, onde detectamos fatores sócio-ecológicos relevantes para o sucesso de nosso projeto de apoio à cultura de coqueiros nas aldeias indígenas. Primeiro, em novembro de 2007, nós visitamos as aldeias Kikretum, Moikarakô e Aukre (dentre 10 aldeias que receberam mudas de coqueiros de nosso programa de apoio) para entregar um segundo carregamento de mudas de coqueiro (o primeiro carregamento aconteceu em abril de 2006). E descrevemos quantitativamente um aspecto do comportamento dos dispersores de sementes de coco (os Kayapó). Especificamente, como as palmeiras pré-existentes nas aldeias são distribuídas dentre as famílias dos índios e como este carregamento sobreviveu a fatores etno-ecológicos. Segundo, em julho de 2008 nós visitamos as aldeias Kokraimoro e Pykararankre e estimamos a posição dos coqueiros pré-existentes e dos novos em relação a outras árvores cultivadas, fazendo uso de censos partindo do centro das aldeias para seus limites exteriores. Nas três aldeias indígenas visitadas em 2007, virtualmente todos os coqueiros pré-existentes pertenciam a poucas famílias e a distribuição de frutos era, na maior parte dos casos, altamente concentrada dentre os membros destas famílias. Entretanto, assumindo que todos os coqueiros jovens que sobreviveram ao primeiro ano chegarão à maturidade (do primeiro carregamento em abril de 2006), eles representam um aumento considerável no numero projetado de coqueiros adultos nas três aldeias visitadas (48, 195 e 101% em Kikretum, Moikarakô e Aukre, respectivamente). E uma redução substancial na desigualdade de acesso aos cocos. Na expedição de 2008, encontramos que os índios geralmente plantam coqueiros bem próximos das suas casas onde a competição com outras árvores cultivadas podem limitar o desenvolvimento das palmeiras.

Development and evolution of the gynoecium in Myrteae (Myrtaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

EFFECTS OF EMERGENCY IN BIOSTIMULANT SEEDLING OF PASSION FRUIT ROXINHO OF KENYA

The increase in market demand for fresh fruits along with the high price of passion fruit juice in domestic and international markets has increased the interest in fruit, especially the purple passion fruit in the center south of the country seeking to export. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulator on the emergence and development of seedlings of passion 'Roxinho of Kenya' when propagated sexually. The treatments consisted of concentrations of commercial product Stimulate (R): control (no biostimulant); 6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 mL. kg(-1) of seed. It were evaluated the percentage of seedling emergence, number of leaves, aerial part dry weight, stem and root (g), root length (mm), diameter and stem length (mm), leaf area and chlorophyll 'a' and 'b'. The application of bio-stimulant in doses of 6 and 12 mL. kg(-1) promotes increased percentage of seedling emergence of Passiflora edulis Sims in a shorter time. The use of it also promotes the development of seedlings, with better results for the dose of 12 and 24 mL. kg(-1) treated seeds.

A tecnologia de microarray no estudo do câncer de cabeça e pescoço

(Microarray technology in study of head neck cancer). The microarray technology is a tool for global analysis of gene expression that allows investigating hundreds or thousands of genes in a sample using a hybridization reaction. This technology is based on hybridization between labeled targets derived from biological samples and an array of many DNA probes immobilized on a solid matrix, representing the genes of interest. The simultaneous study of hundreds of genes became the microarray technique a very important tool of global analysis, with applications in several areas, including the study of the development of cancer. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with a global annual incidence of 780,000 new cases. Large-scale studies involving microarrays have identified specific gene expression signatures associated with expression changes in HNSCC samples compared to normal tissue, as well as genes involved in clinical outcome and metastasis. However, the considerable heterogeneity among these studies occurs due to experimental design, number of samples, disease sites and stage, choice of microarray platform and results validation. Thus, there is much to be validated, before the technique has clinical utility. In relation to head and neck neoplasia, the large-scale gene analysis is very important, since the clinical and histopathological methods currently used appear to be insufficient to predict clinical progression and response to treatment. Thus, this approach could result in more effective diagnostic and prognostic and most appropriate therapy for this neoplasia.

Differences in larval nutritional requirements and female oviposition preference reflect the order of fruit colonization of Zaprionus indianus and Drosophila simulans

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Carbohydrates, growth and production of -roxo de valinhos- fig tree in initial development under irrigation management

The carbohydrates translocation and consequently growth and production of fig tree (Ficuscarica L.) vary according to the different management on cultivation conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the levels and total carbohydrates accumulation together with growth and “Roxo de Valinhos” fig trees production onimplementation of orchards in initial phase, cultivated with and without irrigation. We adopted a factorial arrangement (2 x 7) with four repetitions distributed in installments (with and without irrigation) subdivided in time (collect time). Destructive analyzes were performed at 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 days after pruning (DAP) and are measured: stem diameter and branch, stem length and branch, number of leaves, internodes and fruit. Subsequently, the plant parts were sectioned to obtain the leaf area, length and roots volume, fresh and dry matter weight. The number, weight and total productivity of fruits were evaluated. The media of all growth attributes and production characteristics were higher in treatments with water irrigation. The total carbohydrate content was higher at 120 and 160 DAP and the carbohydrates accumulation was increasing for most institutions over the plants development, except for the leaves that showed a decrease in the levels at 160 DAP. The fruits showed greater carbohydrates accumulation in relation to the other evaluated organs.

2D-DIGE analysis of mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit reveals major proteomic changes associated with ripening

A comparative proteomic investigation between the pre-climacteric and climacteric mango fruits (cv. Keitt) was performed to identify protein species with variable abundance during ripening. Proteins were phenol-extracted from fruits, cyanine-dye-labeled, and separated on 2D gels at pH 4-7. Total spot count of about 373 proteins spots was detected in each gel and forty-seven were consistently different between pre-climacteric and climacteric fruits and were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis. Functional classification revealed that protein species involved in carbon fixation and hormone biosynthesis decreased during ripening, whereas those related to catabolism and the stress-response, including oxidative stress and abiotic and pathogen defense factors, accumulated. In relation to fruit quality, protein species putatively involved in color development and pulp softening were also identified. This study on mango proteomics provides an overview of the biological processes that occur during ripening. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anatomical and ultrastructural analyses of in vitro organogenesis from root explants of commercial passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims)

This study aimed to characterize the anatomical events and ultrastructural aspects of direct and indirect in vitro organogenesis in Passiflora edulis. Root explants were cultured on induction medium, supplemented with 4.44 mu M 6-benzyladenine. Roots at different stages of development were collected and processed for observation by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Patterns of direct and indirect regeneration were observed in the explants. During direct organogenesis, the organogenic buds and nodules, formed from meristemoids, originated from the pericycle regions distant from the cut surface. Completely differentiated buds were observed after 20 days of culture. During indirect organogenesis, bud formation occurred via meristemoids at the periphery of the calli, which differentiated from the cortical region of the initial explant. Regardless of the regeneration pattern, the meristemoids had similar ultrastructural characteristics; however, differences were reported in the nuclear shape of the cells of the meristemoids formed directly and indirectly. This study provides important information for enhancing the understanding and characterization of the organogenic process in non-meristematic explants and provides information on the use of roots as explants in genetic transformation protocols for this important tropical species.

Somatic embryogenesis of a wild passion fruit species Passiflora cincinnata Masters: histocytological and histochemical evidences

The characterization of cellular changes that occur during somatic embryogenesis is essential for understanding the factors involved in the transition of somatic cells into embryogenically competent cells and determination of cells and/or tissues involved. The present study describes the anatomical and ultrastructural events that lead to the formation of somatic embryos in the model system of the wild passion fruit (Passiflora cincinnata). Mature zygotic embryos were inoculated in Murashige and Skoog induction media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 6-benzyladenine. Zygotic embryo explants at different development stages were collected and processed by conventional methods for studies using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Histochemical tests were used to examine the mobilization of reserves. The differentiation of the somatic embryos began in the abaxial side of the cotyledon region. Protuberances were formed from the meristematic proliferation of the epidermal and mesophyll cells. These cells had large nuclei, dense cytoplasm with a predominance of mitochondria, and a few reserve compounds. The protuberances extended throughout the abaxial surface of the cotyledons. The ongoing differentiation of peripheral cells of these structures led to the formation of proembryogenic zones, which, in turn, dedifferentiated into somatic embryos of multicellular origin. In the initial stages of embryogenesis, the epidermal and mesophyll cells showed starch grains and less lipids and protein reserves than the starting explant. These results provide detailed information on anatomical and ultrastructural changes involved in the acquisition of embryogenic competence and embryo differentiation that has been lacking so far in Passiflora.

Evaluating different methods of microarray data normalization

Abstract Background With the development of DNA hybridization microarray technologies, nowadays it is possible to simultaneously assess the expression levels of thousands to tens of thousands of genes. Quantitative comparison of microarrays uncovers distinct patterns of gene expression, which define different cellular phenotypes or cellular responses to drugs. Due to technical biases, normalization of the intensity levels is a pre-requisite to performing further statistical analyses. Therefore, choosing a suitable approach for normalization can be critical, deserving judicious consideration. Results Here, we considered three commonly used normalization approaches, namely: Loess, Splines and Wavelets, and two non-parametric regression methods, which have yet to be used for normalization, namely, the Kernel smoothing and Support Vector Regression. The results obtained were compared using artificial microarray data and benchmark studies. The results indicate that the Support Vector Regression is the most robust to outliers and that Kernel is the worst normalization technique, while no practical differences were observed between Loess, Splines and Wavelets. Conclusion In face of our results, the Support Vector Regression is favored for microarray normalization due to its superiority when compared to the other methods for its robustness in estimating the normalization curve.