Nectaries and reproductive biology of Croton sarcopetalus (Euphorbiaceae)

Flower morphology, nectary structure, nectar chemical composition, breeding system, floral visitors and pollination were analysed in Croton sarcopetalus, a diclinous-monoecious shrub from Argentina. Male flowers have five receptacular nectaries, with no special vascular bundles, that consist of a uniserial epidermis with stomata subtended by a secretory parenchyma. Female flowers bear two different types of nectaries: inner (IN) and outer (ON) floral nectaries. IN, five in all, are structurally similar to the nectaries of male flowers. The five ON are vascularized, stalked, and composed of secretory, column-shaped epidermal cells without stomata subtended by secretory and ground parenchyma. In addition, ON act as post-floral nectaries secreting nectar during fruit ripening. Extrafloral nectaries (EFN) are located on petioles, stipules and leaf margins. Petiolar EFN are patelliform, stalked and anatomically similar to the ON of the female flower. Nectar sampled from all nectary types is hexose dominant, except for the ON of the female flower at the post-floral stage that is sucrose dominant. The species is self-compatible, but geitonogamous fertilization is rarely possible because male and female flowers are not usually open at the same time in the same individual, i.e. there is temporal dioecism. Flowers are visited by 22 insect species, wasps being the most important group of pollinators. No significant differences were found in fruit and seed set between natural and hand pollinated flowers. This pattern indicates that fruit production in this species is not pollen/pollinator limited and is mediated by a wide array of pollinators. (C) 2001 the Linnean Society of London.

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Anatomy of the pericarp and seed-coat of Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae) with taxonomic notes

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

Reproductive biology of Abolboda pulchella and A. poarchon (Xyridaceae: Poales)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Components of fecundity and abortion in a tropical tree, Dahlstedtia pentaphylla (Leguminosae)

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

Chemical and Antidiarrheal Studies of Plinia cauliflora

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

Utilização de biofilme comestível na conservação de pimentão 'Magali R' em duas condições de armazenamento

A fim de promover a conservação pós-colheita de frutas e hortaliças, as embalagens biodegradáveis à base de amido, pectinas, celulose e outros polímeros, revelam resultados variáveis a depender dos vegetais tratados. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de biofilme à base de fécula de mandioca na conservação dos frutos de pimentão 'Magali R', armazenados à temperatura ambiente e sob refrigeração. Os frutos foram selecionados, lavados, desinfetados, revestidos com biofilme de fécula de mandioca nas concentrações de 3%, 4% e 5% e armazenados por até 20 dias a 24,5 ± 3 ºC e 60,5 ± 12% UR e a 10 ± 1 ºC e 90 ± 5% UR. Os efeitos dos tratamentos foram avaliados por meio da perda de massa, da firmeza do fruto e do teor de sólidos solúveis, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições e dois frutos por parcela, no esquema fatorial 4 x 6 x 2. Pelos resultados, verifica-se que o uso de biofilme de fécula de mandioca nas concentrações utilizadas não foi eficiente em retardar o metabolismo pós-colheita e prolongar a conservação de pimentões 'Magali R' refrigerados ou não; o uso de refrigeração a 10 ± 1 ºC e 90 ± 5% UR, sem associação com biofilme, foi eficiente em manter os pimentões Magali R com perda de massa inferior aos 15%, estabelecido como limite para a vida útil, por até 20 dias de armazenamento, enquanto em temperatura ambiente a vida útil foi de apenas por oito dias.

Comparison between freeze and spray drying to obtain powder Rubrivivax gelatinosus biomass

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

Effects of irrigation and nitrogen levels on qualitative and nutritional aspects of fig-trees (Ficus carica L.)

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

Consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes associado à Síndrome Metabólica e seus componentes em amostra populacional adulta

A síndrome metabólica (SM) aumenta o risco de eventos cardiovasculares e o consumo adequado de frutas, verduras e legumes (FVL) está relacionado a sua prevenção. Objetivo: Identificar o consumo de FVL e sua relação com a SM e seus componentes em amostra populacional adulta. Estudo prospectivo de corte transversal com 636 indivíduos adultos, no período de 2004 a 2008. Foram realizadas avaliações antropométrica, clínica, dietética e bioquímica com todos participantes. A SM foi classificada pelo NCEP ATP-III, modificada para a glicose >100mg/dl. A regressão logística foi utilizada para verificar a razão de chance entre o consumo de FVL com a SM e seus componentes, e o nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. O consumo de frutas adequado se mostrou protetor para obesidade abdominal (OR: 0,77; IC: 0,38-0,93), hipertrigliceridemia (OR: 0,76; IC: 0,35-0,96) e presença de SM (OR: 0,78; IC: 0,39-0,96), e o consumo adequado de FVL apresentou efeito protetor para a presença de SM (OR: 0,79; IC: 0,41-0,95). A análise isolada do consumo adequado de verduras e legumes não mostrou efeitos de proteção/risco para a presença de SM e de seus componentes. O consumo adequado de FVL apresentou efeito protetor para a presença de SM e o consumo adequado de frutas exerceu efeito protetor tanto para a presença de SM e como de seus componentes.

Partial purification and characterization of pectin methylesterase from acerola (Malpighia glabra L.)

The enzyme pectin methylesterase (PME) is present in acerola fruit and was partially purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The results of gel filtration showed different PME isoforms. The total PME (precipitated by 70% salt saturation) and one of these isoforms (fraction from Sephadex G-100 elution) that showed a molecular mass of 15.5 +/- 1.0 kDa were studied. The optimum pH values of both forms were 9.0. The total and the partially purified PME showed that PME specific activity increases with temperature, the total acerola PME retained 13.5% of its specific activity after 90 min of incubation at 98 degreesC. The partially purified acerola (PME isoform) showed 125.5% of its specific activity after 90 min of incubation at 98 degreesC. The K-m values of the total PME and the partially purified PME isoform were 0.081 and 0.12 mg/mL, respectively. The V-max values of the total PME and the partially purified PME were 2.92 and 6.21 mumol/min/mL/mg of protein, respectively.

beta-carotene and other carotenoids as antioxidants

Carotenoids are natural pigments which are synthesized by plants and are responsible for the bright colors of various fruits and vegetables. There are several dozen carotenoids in the foods that we eat, and most of these carotenoids have antioxidant activity. beta-carotene has been best studied since, in most countries it is the most common carotenoid in fruits and vegetables. However, in the U.S., lycopene from tomatoes now is consumed in approximately the same amount as beta-carotene. Antioxidants (including carotenoids) have been studied for their ability to prevent chronic disease, beta-carotene and others carotenoids have antioxidant properties in vitro and in animal models. Mixtures of carotenoids or associations with others antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E) can increase their activity against free radicals. The use of animals models for studying carotenoids is limited since most of the animals do not absorb or metabolize carotenoids similarly to humans.Epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse relationship between presence of various cancers and dietary carotenoids or blood carotenoid levels. However, three out of four intervention trials using high dose beta-carotene supplements did not show protective effects against cancer or cardiovascular disease. Rather, the high risk population (smokers and asbestos workers) in these intervention trials showed an increase in cancer and angina cases. It appears that carotenoids (including beta-carotene) can promote health when taken at dietary levels, but may have adverse effects when taken in high dose by subjects who smoke or who have been exposed to asbestos. It will be the task of ongoing and future studies to define the populations that can benefit from carotenoids and to define the proper doses, lengths of treatment, and whether mixtures, lather than single carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene) are more advantageous.

Population variation in patch and party size in muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides)

We examined the relationship between food patch size and feeding party size with comparative data from two populations of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) in the 37,797-ha forest at the Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho (PECB), São Paulo, and the 800-ha forest at the Estacao Biologica de Caratinga (EBC), Minas Gerais. Precipitation Mins more abundant and less seasonal at PECB than EBC, and the density of large trees (>25.0 cm) was higher at PECB (206 ha(-1)) than at EBC (132 ha(-1)). At both sites, the size of feeding parties is positively related to the size of food patches, As predicted, food parches at PECB are significantly larger than those at EBC for both fruit and leaf sources. Contrary to expectations, feeding parties were larger at EEC than PECB, the higher population density of muriquis and sympatric primates at EBC may make large associations more advantageous to these muriquis than to muriquis living at lower population densities in PECB.

Food and dietary fiber intake by children with or without constipation. Assessment according to the food guide pyramid and the American Health Foundation (AHF)

We studied the ingestion of 54 children with functional constipation (CC) and 41 without (Control), according to the Food Pyramid. A food frequency questionnaire was used, analyzing fruits with or without peel/bagasse, grains whole or refined, and beans separately. Total subjects and 2-6y CC ingested less DF (g/day) than Control (p < 0.05). The majority had high n degrees of dairy and of the meat group servings, but most groups/subgroups did not meet recommendation for fruit and vegetable. A greater proportion of fruit with peel/bagasse in Control than in CC was almost the only difference for 6-12y. There was a discrepancy between the high percentage of children with DF above AHF recommendation and the high percentage of children who did not meet Pyramid recommendations.

Frutose em humanos: Efeitos metabólicos, utilização clínica e erros inatos associados

This article reviews the metabolism of fructose and sorbitol, their main clinical indications and the consequences of inadequate use. Fructose, an important carbohydrate in the diet, is present mostly in fruits and vegetables; it can also be synthesized from glucose in the organism, through the sorbitol. Fructose is known for its metabolism's inherent errors, whose clinical manifestations are potentially serious, as well as for its use as a glucose substitute in the diabetic patients' diet, due to its metabolism not being dependent from insulin. In the last years, especially in developed countries, the consumption of fructose has increased considerably, due to its use as a sweetener in industrialized foods. However, adverse side-effects may occur with the excessive ingestion of fructose, such as the increase in blood's triglycerides and cholesterol. Therefore, to know which are the patients' normal blood levels is quite important for establishing the safe amount of fructose to be prescribed, as well as for allowing the screening of metabolism diseases associated with fructose.