Flutuação populacional de moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) associadas a variedades de manga no município de José de Freitas-Piauí

O Piauí possui uma área considerável de manga, sendo um grande produtor dessa fruta no Brasil. Contudo, a presença de pragas, como as moscas-das-frutas, tem provocado grandes impactos na cadeia produtiva, pois estes insetos fazem parte de um grupo responsável por grandes prejuízos econômicos na cultura da mangueira. O conhecimento da flutuação populacional e a época de maior ocorrência de uma determinada espécie de inseto de importância econômica são requisitos indispensáveis para o estabelecimento de um controle eficiente e racional. O presente trabalho visou registrar a flutuação populacional das espécies de moscas-das-frutas associadas a variedades de manga, bem como correlacionar a ocorrência das moscas com as médias mensais de temperatura, precipitação e umidade relativa, e também avaliar os atrativos alimentares utilizados na captura dos insetos. A pesquisa foi conduzida de junho de 2004 a maio de 2005, em pomar comercial de manga (Mangifera indica L.-Anacardiaceae), das variedades Tommy Atkins, Keitt, Kent e Palmer, localizado no município de José de Freitas-Piauí-Brasil, na latitude 04º50'S e longitude 42º41'W. Anastrepha obliqua e Anastrepha serpentina são as espécies de tephritídeos predominantes na cultura da manga.

Quebra de dormência de pereira 'Hosui' com uso de óleo mineral em dois tipos de condução

Algumas cultivares de pereira asiática, quando plantadas em regiões onde ocorrem invernos com baixo número de horas de frio, comumente apresentam deficiência e desuniformidade na brotação e floração, necessitando de meios artificiais para a quebra de dormência. Visando a miminizar esse problema, foi instalado um experimento num pomar de 4 anos de pereiras 'Hosui' (Pyrus pyrifolia), em espaçamento 4,0m x 4,0m, na Estação Experimental do Canguiri-da Universidade Federal do Paraná, no município de Pinhais-PR (latitude 25º25' sul, longitude 49º08' e altitude 920m), onde a soma de horas de frio atingiu 141 horas abaixo de 7,2ºC durante o inverno de 2005. Os tratamentos foram aplicados quando as plantas estavam no estádio fenológico A1 (gema inchada), sendo o experimento realizado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com 4 repetições, em esquema fatorial 2x4x7, onde foram testados dois tipos de condução, em taça e em líder central modificado, três concentrações de óleo mineral a 4%, 6% e 8%, e uma testemunha, durante o período de agosto a novembro de 2005, e sete avaliações realizadas semanalmente pelo número de gemas em início de brotação, gemas brotadas e gemas mortas, em 4 ramos de um ano de idade e em posição inclinada, previamente marcados por planta. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a aplicação de óleo mineral, nas concentrações de 4%, 6% e 8%, anteciparam a brotação de gemas em relação à testemunha e aumentaram a porcentagem de gemas brotadas nos dois tipos de condução, sendo que as concentrações de 6% e 8% foram mais efetivas para antecipar a brotação do que a de 4%. A porcentagem de gemas brotadas aos 84 dias após a aplicação do óleo mineral não diferiu entre os sistemas de condução, em líder central modificado e em taça.

Spatially varying selection shapes life history clines among populations of Drosophila melanogaster from sub-Saharan Africa.

Clines in life history traits, presumably driven by spatially varying selection, are widespread. Major latitudinal clines have been observed, for example, in Drosophila melanogaster, an ancestrally tropical insect from Africa that has colonized temperate habitats on multiple continents. Yet, how geographic factors other than latitude, such as altitude or longitude, affect life history in this species remains poorly understood. Moreover, most previous work has been performed on derived European, American and Australian populations, but whether life history also varies predictably with geography in the ancestral Afro-tropical range has not been investigated systematically. Here, we have examined life history variation among populations of D. melanogaster from sub-Saharan Africa. Viability and reproductive diapause did not vary with geography, but body size increased with altitude, latitude and longitude. Early fecundity covaried positively with altitude and latitude, whereas lifespan showed the opposite trend. Examination of genetic variance-covariance matrices revealed geographic differentiation also in trade-off structure, and QST -FST analysis showed that life history differentiation among populations is likely shaped by selection. Together, our results suggest that geographic and/or climatic factors drive adaptive phenotypic differentiation among ancestral African populations and confirm the widely held notion that latitude and altitude represent parallel gradients.

Fenologia de espécies silvestres de macieira como polinizadora das cultivares gala e fuji

A escolha correta de cultivares polinizadoras na macieira é determinante para a obtenção de altos rendimentos. Muitas regiões produtoras de maçãs do mundo utilizam macieiras silvestres com o fim específico de polinização, porém existem poucas informações quanto ao uso dessas espécies nas condições climáticas do Sul do Brasil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento fenológico de espécies silvestres de macieira quanto à floração em comparação as cultivares comerciais 'Gala' e 'Fuji', nas condições climáticas do Sul do Brasil, em Caçador-SC (latitude 26º42'32" sul, longitude 51º00'50" oeste e altitude de 960 metros). As macieiras silvestres estudadas foram M. atrosanguinea, M. baccata, M. eleyi, M. floribunda, M. hopa, M. platycarpa, M. robusta, 'John Downil', 'Prof. Spengler', 'Milalew imuni', 'Profusion', 'Winter gold' e 'Yellow Siberian'. As espécies silvestres apresentaram grande variabilidade na época de florescimento e na duração do mesmo ao longo dos anos. A maior coincidência do período de floração e com maior regularidade ao longo dos anos foi obtido entre às cultivares Gala e Fuji. 'Prof. Spengler', 'Profusion', 'Winter gold' e 'John Downil' são as espécies silvestres de macieira com maior potencial de utilização como polinizadoras, podendo ser utilizadas complementarmente para polinização das cultivares Gala e Fuji. As espécies M. hopa, M. eleyi e M. atrosanguinea, devido à alta densidade de floração, podem ser utilizadas como segunda opção para a polinização das cultivares Gala e Fuji.

Sex-chromosome differentiation and 'sex races' in the common frog (Rana temporaria).

Sex-chromosome differentiation was recently shown to vary among common frog populations in Fennoscandia, suggesting a trend of increased differentiation with latitude. By rearing families from two contrasted populations (respectively, from northern and southern Sweden), we show this disparity to stem from differences in sex-determination mechanisms rather than in XY-recombination patterns. Offspring from the northern population display equal sex ratios at metamorphosis, with phenotypic sexes that correlate strongly with paternal LG2 haplotypes (the sex chromosome); accordingly, Y haplotypes are markedly differentiated, with male-specific alleles and depressed diversity testifying to their smaller effective population size. In the southern population, by contrast, a majority of juveniles present ovaries at metamorphosis; only later in development do sex ratios return to equilibrium. Even at these later stages, phenotypic sexes correlate only mildly with paternal LG2 haplotypes; accordingly, there are no recognizable Y haplotypes. These distinct patterns of gonadal development fit the concept of 'sex races' proposed in the 1930s, with our two populations assigned to the 'differentiated' and 'semi-differentiated' races, respectively. Our results support the suggestion that 'sex races' differ in the genetic versus epigenetic components of sex determination. Analysing populations from the 'undifferentiated race' with high-density genetic maps should help to further test this hypothesis.

The impact of breeding on fruit production in warm climates of Brazil

Brazil is a very large country with a diverse climate. This fact allows a diversity of plants to grow ranging from tropical rainforest in the Amazon, passing through Atlantic Forest along the coast, the cerrados (Brazilian savannah) in the Central West region, and semi-arid area in the Northeast. Latitude ranges from 5º N to 33º S, with most of this territory in the tropical region. There are enough reasons to plant breeders devoting great amount of their effort to improve plants suitable for warm climates, though. Among fruit crops, results of breeder's work have been noticed in several species, especially on peaches, grapes, citrus, apples, persimmons, figs, pears and others not so common, such as acerola, guava, annonas (sour sop, sugar apple, atemoya, cherimoya) and passion fruit. Peach tree introduced at low latitude (22 ± 2ºS) requires climatic adaptation to subtropical conditions of low chilling. In Brazil, the first peach breeding program aiming adaptation of cultivars to different habitats was developed by Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) beginning in the end of the 40's. Apple low chill requirement cultivars obtained in a South state, Paraná, are now been planted at low latitudes. Banana and pineapple breeding programs from Embrapa units along the country are successfully facing new sanitary problems. Petrolina/Juazeiro, in the Northeastern region (9ºS), is the main grape exporting region with more than 6,000 ha. Grape growing in the region is based in the so called "tropical" rootstocks released by IAC, namely: IAC 313 'Tropical', IAC 572 'Jales'. Recently, Embrapa Grape and Wine released tropical grape seedless cultivars that are changing table grape scenario in the country.

Flutuação populacional de adultos de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) em cultivo protegido e convencional de videira

A mosca-das-frutas sul-americana, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae), é considerada praga-chave das fruteiras de clima temperado na região Sul do Brasil. No entanto, poucas informações encontram-se disponíveis quando a espécie está associada à cultura da videira. Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o efeito da cobertura plástica sobre a população de adultos de A. fraterculus durante o ciclo de cultivo da videira cv. Moscato Giallo. O experimento foi conduzido nos ciclos de 2005/06 e 2006/07, em vinhedo comercial localizado em Flores da Cunha-RS (latitude 29° 06' sul, longitude 51° 20' oeste e altitude de 541 m), coberto com plástico impermeável tipo ráfia (160 µm) de 12 fileiras com 35 m, deixando-se cinco fileiras sem cobertura (controle). Os adultos foram monitorados nas duas áreas com armadilhas McPhail, utilizando-se como atrativo de proteína hidrolisada (BioAnastrepha®) a 5%, no período de outubro a abril, nos dois ciclos. O pico populacional da espécie, nos dois ciclos, foi observado no período de maturação da uva. Não foram registradas diferenças significativas nas capturas entre as áreas, concluindo-se que a cobertura plástica não afeta a mobilidade e a flutuação populacional de A. fraterculus em cultivo protegido de videira.

Mechanisms of action of brief alcohol interventions remain largely unknown - a narrative review.

A growing body of evidence has shown the efficacy of brief intervention (BI) for hazardous and harmful alcohol use in primary health care settings. Evidence for efficacy in other settings and effectiveness when implemented at larger scale are disappointing. Indeed, BI comprises varying content; exploring BI content and mechanisms of action may be a promising way to enhance efficacy and effectiveness. Medline and PsychInfo, as well as references of retrieved publications were searched for original research or review on active ingredients (components or mechanisms) of face-to-face BIs [and its subtypes, including brief advice and brief motivational interviewing (BMI)] for alcohol. Overall, BI active ingredients have been scarcely investigated, almost only within BMI, and mostly among patients in the emergency room, young adults, and US college students. This body of research has shown that personalized feedback may be an effective component; specific MI techniques showed mixed findings; decisional balance findings tended to suggest a potential detrimental effect; while change plan exercises, advice to reduce or stop drinking, presenting alternative change options, and moderation strategies are promising but need further study. Client change talk is a potential mediator of BMI effects; change in norm perceptions and enhanced discrepancy between current behavior and broader life goals and values have received preliminary support; readiness to change was only partially supported as a mediator; while enhanced awareness of drinking, perceived risks/benefits of alcohol use, alcohol treatment seeking, and self-efficacy were seldom studied and have as yet found no significant support as such. Research is obviously limited and has provided no clear and consistent evidence on the mechanisms of alcohol BI. How BI achieves the effects seen in randomized trials remains mostly unknown and should be investigated to inform the development of more effective interventions.

Vanishing chromosomal inversion clines in Drosophila subobscura from Chile: Is behavioral thermoregulation to blame?

Chromosomal inversion clines paralleling the long-standing ones in native Palearctic populations of Drosophila subobscura evolved swiftly after this species invaded the Americas in the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, the new clines did not consistently continue to converge on the Old World baseline. Our recent survey of Chilean populations of D. subobscura shows that inversion clines have faded or even changed sign with latitude. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that this fading of inversion clines might be due to the Bogert effect, namely, that flies' thermoregulatory behavior has eventually compensated for environmental variation in temperature, thus buffering selection on thermal-related traits. We show that latitudinal divergence in thermal preference (T-p) has evolved in Chile for females, with higher-latitude flies having a lower mean T-p. Plastic responses in T-p also lessen latitudinal thermal variation because flies developed at colder temperatures prefer warmer microclimates. Our results are consistent with the idea that active behavioral thermoregulation might buffer environmental variation and reduce the potential effect of thermal selection on other traits as chromosomal arrangements.

Comparação da disponibilidade de radiação solar global e fotoperíodo entre as regiões vinícolas de Campo Belo do Sul-SC, Brasil e Pech Rouge, França

Realizaram-se a caracterização e a comparação da disponibilidade de radiação solar global e do fotoperíodo para o Planalto de Santa Catarina, representado por Campo Belo do Sul (latitude -28º00'00'', longitude -51º00'00'' e altitude de 950 metros), e para a região Mediterrânea do Sul da França, representada por Pech Rouge (latitude 43º08'35'', longitude 03º07'59'' altitude de 1,5 metro). Este estudo foi realizado para a fase de maturação das variedades de videira Chardonnay, Portan, Syrah, Viognier, Carignan, Grenache, Marselan, Mourvèdre e Cabernet Sauvignon. Foram também avaliadas as durações do fotoperíodo anual, do período noturno, da radiação solar global, da radiação solar e da insolação máxima no período de maturação, para ambas as localidades. As diferenças de comportamento fenológico e das posições geográficas dos dois locais promoveram diferenças quanto à disponibilidade e intensidade da radiação solar global, assim como do fotoperíodo. Apesar da uma maior transmissividade da atmosfera para Pech Rouge, o Planalto Catarinense apresentou maior disponibilidade e intensidade de radiação solar durante a fase de maturação da videira. Também, o acúmulo de horas de fotoperíodo foi superior no Planalto Catarinense do que em Pech Rouge. Estas diferenças de disponibilidade de radiação solar e fotoperíodo foram provenientes da menor duração da fase de maturação para Pech Rouge, da declinação solar em relação aos dois locais por ocasião da ocorrência desta fase e da diferença da camada atmosférica resultante da diferença de altitude.

Excess winter deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases are associated with both mild winter temperature and socio-economic inequalities in the U.S.

Mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) exhibits seasonal variation. For example, 30% more deaths occurred in winter compared to summer in a multicountry study [1]. The effect of cold temperature on several CVD risk factors and on seasonal influenza infection may partially underlie this seasonal variation [2] and [3]. However an unexplained paradox has been observed: seasonality in CVD mortality is larger in temperate mid-latitude countries (e.g. Portugal) than in colder northern countries (e.g. Scandinavian countries) [1]. This paradox has also been previously observed in Europe for overall mortality, and it may relate to uneven proportions between countries of people who are unable to adequately protect themselves against cold due to low socio-economic status (SES), e.g. inadequate clothing, housing insulation and heating systems [4] and [5]. We hypothesized that the seasonal variability in CVD mortality is larger in low socio-economic U.S. states experiencing mild winters compared to high socio-economic states experiencing cold winters.

Fruit production in Chile: bright past, uncertain future

In 2007 (the last agricultural census), Chile had 308, 445 ha of fruit orchards: an increase of almost 32% from the previous census (1997). The most important species were table grapes (20%), avocados (13%) and apples (12%). Some 22% of the fruit crops growing area corresponded to juvenile orchards; within the species with higher proportion of juvenile orchards were prunes (42%) and blueberries (56%). Most orchards are located between latitude 27º18` S (Copiapó) and 40º36´S (Puerto Varas). The industry is driven by the export component which accounts for more than 50% of the fruits produced. In the crop season 2009-2010, approximately 254 million boxes (around 2.5 million tons) were exported, representing over US$ 3.5 million. Processed and fresh fruits represented 8.2 and 26.7% of the total forest and agricultural Chilean exports in 2008, respectively. The main markets for this fruits were USA/Canada (42%) and Europe (32%). The fruit grower receives, on average, 12-16% of the total price of the fruit in its final destination. Each year the fruit industry employs 450.000 people directly, of which 1/3 are permanent. Even though the fruit industry employs the highest proportion of the agricultural labor and the growing area has increased in the last 20 years, the proportion of agricultural employment has decreased from 19.5% in 1989 to 10.8% in 2008. It might also be noted that Chile invests only 0.7% of the GDP in research. In the last 40 years, the fruit industry has been a motor for the Chilean economic development, but the lower rates of currency exchange, the rising costs of energy (oil, electricity), and the increasing scarcity of hand labor have drastically reduced the profitability and are putting at risk the viability of a large proportion of the fruit orchards in Chile. It is estimated that this season around 65% of the orchards will have a negative economic balance in their operations. Higher investment in research, improvements in fruit quality and various orchard management practices, as well as higher financial support from the Government are needed for the long term viability of the fruit industry in Chile.

Produção e sazonalidade de pessegueiro e nectarineira sob florescimento espontâneo e com cianamida hidrogenada e óleo mineral

O trabalho avaliou a produção e a sazonalidade de cultivares de pessegueiro e nectarineira, com e sem o uso de cianamida hidrogenada, em dois ciclos de produção (2009 e 2010). O experimento foi desenvolvido na Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP, Câmpus de Botucatu-SP, localizado nas seguintes coordenadas geográficas: latitude 22º51' 55" S, longitude 48º26' 22" O e 810 m de altitude. O tipo climático predominante é o temperado quente (mesotérmico), com chuvas no verão e seca no inverno. A aplicação de cianamida hidrogenada e óleo mineral resultou numa antecipação na data do início da colheita para todas as cultivares. Também houve uma concentração no período produtivo, diminuição no ciclo de produção e aumento na produção. A avaliação do ciclo da poda à colheita sob florescimento espontâneo evidenciou que as cultivares mais precoces foram: Precocinho (81,5 dias) e Conserva 693 (87 dias). As mais tardias foram: Turmalina (141,5 dias) e CP 951 C (134,5 dias). Com o uso da cianamida hidrogenada e do óleo mineral, o ciclo da poda à colheita permitiu a caracterização das cultivares mais precoces: Precocinho (87,5 dias) e a nectarineira Sun Blaze (95,5 dias). As mais tardios foram: Diamante Mejorado (126,5 dias) e CP 951 C (120 dias). As cultivares Turmalina (20,2 kg planta-1), Conserva 693 (20,75 kg planta-1) e Aurora 1 (15,65 kg planta-1) foram as mais produtivas .

Daily precipitation concentration across Europe 1971-2010

Daily Precipitation Concentration Index (CI) was used in this paper to investigate the statistical structure of daily precipitation across Europe based on 530 daily rainfall series for the period 1971-2010. Annual CI shows a North- West to South-East gradient (excluding Turkey and Greece). The same gradient is also observed in winter, spring and autumn, while in summer the gradient is North-South. Highest annual and seasonal daily concentrations of rainfall were detected in the western Mediterranean basin, mainly along Spanish and French coastlands. Latitude and distance from the sea seems to play a major role on spatial CI distribution; at subregional scale also relief plays an important role. The Mann-Kendall test did not identify uniform significant pattern in temporal trend across Europe for 1971-2010 period. The only broad areas with increasing annual and seasonal CI values are located in northern and south-western France and northern coastlands of the Iberian Peninsula. This findings suggest that daily precipitation distribution has not significantly changed during the 1971-2010 over Europe.

Chistabino (Pyrenean Aragonese)

Chistabino is the variety of Aragonese, a Romance dialect descended from Latin, like Spanish, still spoken in the Valley of Gistau, bordering on France and formed by the River Cinqueta, in the central part of the Spanish Pyrenees (Province of Huesca). Although it is spoken mainly in the village of Gistaín (c. 240 inhabitants; c. 1400 m above sea-level, near latitude 42°35′), and is fairly well preserved by the older generations there, fluent speakers can still be found also in the nearby locality of San Juan. The other inhabited villages in the valley (Plan, Serveto, Sin and Saravillo) have suffered much greater degrees of erosion by Castilian (Standard Spanish), which has increased its influence through much improved communications, leading to the development of tourism in the area and emigration by the young in search of greater prosperity. The remaining village, Señes, has been uninhabited since 1970.