Ant exclusion and reproduction of Croton sarcopetalus (Euphorbiaceae)

A total of 20 insect species were observed on the extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Croton sarcopetalus. The most frequent ant species were Zacryptocerus sp., Crematogaster brevispinosa, C. scelerata, and Linepithema humile. Ants continuously patrolled the plants taking extrafloral nectar. Experimental data showed that there were no significant differences in either the degree of herbivory or in the reproductive output between control stems (with ants) and treated ones (without ants). We found no significant evidence of protection by ants mediated by EFNs in C. sarcopetalus. It is possible that the plant has other mechanisms than ant protection to prevent herbivore damage (e.g., hairs, latex, chemical defense). As this species occupies the southernmost distribution for the genus, the presence of EFNs in this species may be the remnant of a mutualistic interaction with the ants in tropical regions, where the abundance and diversity of ants and herbivores are comparatively higher. To draw accurate patterns in the genus Croton, further investigations in other species from tropical regions of South America are needed.

The ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) community in two species of the Euphorbiaceae, Alchornea sidifolia and Croton floribundus, in an area of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

The number of individuals and species richness of ants were investigated in two species of Euphorbiaceae found in three areas of differentiated flora. These areas form part of a fragment of the Atlantic Forest located in the Serra do Itapety, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Fifty eight ant species were sampled, belonging to 23 genera and 6 sub-families; 40% of the species are arboreal. The sub-family Myrmicinae was the richest in species, with Pheidole being the most diverse genus and Crematogaster the most commonly-occurring. In the three study areas, no significant differences were found between the number of individuals and the species richness of ants collected on the trunks of Euphorbiaceae. C. floribundus Spreng and A. sidifolia Muell. Arg. are similar with respect to the number of ant species sampled; the number collected being 40 and 47, respectively.

Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) Smith & Downs (branquilho - Euphorbiaceae) durante o armazenamento

This paper aims to evaluate the physiological quality of Sebastiania commersoniana seeds stored in cloth bag, plastic bag and glass container and kept in two conditions: laboratory workbench and cold chamber (4 ± 2°C e 80% relative humidity - RH) for 531 days. Periodically, samples were taken in order to determine the moisture content and to perform germination tests. The experimental design was completely randomized, in factorial scheme of 3 × 2 (wrappings × conditions), for each period of storage evaluated (0, 158, 271, 389 and 531 days of storage). Supplementary, a polynomial regression was adjusted in order to describe the physiological quality of the seeds for the different conditions during the experimental period. The results lead to the following considerations: a) storage under variable temperature and air humidity (laboratory workbench) can be used for periods of over five and a half months, with the seeds stored in cloth bag, plastic bag or glass container; b) the physiological quality of the seeds was not hardly altered when stored in cold chamber in cloth bag, plastic bag and glass container for over 18 months.

Fertilisation residues alter leaf scleromorphy in an evergreen savannah shrub (Maprounea brasiliensis, Euphorbiaceae)

In the present study, we examined how residues of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) fertilisers affect leaf anatomical traits in Maprounea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae), a typical and dominant cerrado (Brazilian savannah) species adapted to dystrophic soils. We predicted that fertiliser residues would alter qualitative and quantitative aspects of M. brasiliensis leaves and would decrease their scleromorphy. Leaves were sampled from plants that were growing in soils previously fertilised with N, P and Ca and in plants that were growing in soils without fertiliser residues. We measured the thickness of the cuticle, the epidermis of adaxial and abaxial surfaces, thickness of palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma, total thickness of the leaf, total area of the midrib and leaf mass per area (LMA). We found that plants under fertiliser residues produced fewer scleromorphic leaves with low LMA, thinner cuticle and epidermis and thicker palisade and spongy parenchyma. They also showed a decrease in the size and area occupied by the leaf midvein. However, plants under fertiliser residues produced similar leaf thickness as did the plants in the control group. Our results showed that residual effects of fertilisation changed structural patterns of a typical species of cerrado. Thus, further studies about fertilisation effects on leaf traits are needed because larger areas of the central cerrado are being occupied for agricultural production. © 2013 CSIRO.

Estudo da atividade acaricida de ésteres de sacarose em ácaros (Acari) de Hevea brasiliensis Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diversidade de ácaros em Mabea fistulifera Mart.(Euphorbiaceae) e eficiência de seu pólen como alimento fitoseídeos (Acari, Phytoseiidae)

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

Levantamento e aspectos ecológicos de ácaros (Acari) em Euphorbiaceae nativas de fragmento de Mata Estacional Semidecidual, no estado de São Paulo

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

Ácaros associados à Jatropha spp. (Euphorbiaceae) no Brasil

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Atividade gastroprotetora do óleo essencial de Citrus lemon (Rutaceae), de seus componentes principais Limoneno e β-pineno e do óleo essencial de Croton cajucara (Euphorbiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfologia, anatomia e desenvolvimento do fruto e semente de Manihot caerulescens Pohl. e M. tripartita Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo de Jatropha gossypifolia e J. multifida (Euphorbiaceae) aplicando métodos analíticos in silico e de desreplicação, visando a detecção e elucidação in situ dos constituintes micromoleculares com atividade acetilcolinesterásicas e antioxidante

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo fitoquímico e atividades biológicas preliminares de extratos de Polygonum Acre (Polygonaceae) H.B.K. e Synadenium Carinatum (Euphorbiaceae) Boiss

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfoanatomia do fruto, semente e plântulas de Acalypha gracilis (Spreng.) Müll. Arg., Euphorbia cotinifolia L. e Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ecofisiologia e aspectos morfológicos de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Alchornea triplinervia (Spreng.) Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) e Eugenia umbellifflora O. Berg. (Myrtaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfologia e desenvolvimento floral em Croton L. e Astraea Klotzsch (Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC