Caracterização espacial da atividade apícola na microrregião de Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brasil

This study aimed to generate a database related to the spatial distribution of hives and productivity of regional producers, through the Geographic Information System (GIS) using the Global Positioning System. To build the database of geographical information (GIS) software for processing of geo-referenced information was used. The microregion (4 municipalities and 54 beekeepers) shows concentrations (pockets) of beekeepers and hives in certain locations. Further studies are needed on the characteristics of the local flora for bees to infer about possible saturation of floral resources, since no differences were observed between honey production in apiaries isolated or inserted into the pockets. The GIS proved to be an efficient tool for monitoring the location and origin of regional production, and for planning the distribution of hives and apiaries and so, contribute to a better use of flora and improvement of productivity of the apiaries.

Influência de retardantes de crescimento no desenvolvimento de plantas de galdíolo (Gladiouls communis L. spp., Iridaceae)

Tratamentos com retardantes de crescimento vegetal foram estudados em plantas de Palma de Santa Rita (Gladiolus communis L. spp., Iridaceae) para avaliar a altura da planta, o número de folhas e botões florais, diâmetro do caule e comprimento da haste floral. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições e sete tratamentos (testemunha; aplicações de cloreto de mepiquat na concentração de 200mg.L-1, 3 e 6 vezes; cloreto de chlormequat na concentração de 200mg.L-1, 3 e 6 vezes e ethephon na concentração de 200mg.L-1, 3 e 6 vezes). Foram realizadas sete avaliações não destrutivas a cada sete dias e uma coleta final. Os tratamentos com ethephon proporcionaram redução da altura das plantas e do comprimento.

Polinização controlada em eucaliptos nas empresas florestais brasileiras

Controlled pollination is an important tool in a forest genetic improvement program, which permits to choose parents and make specific crosses maximizing gains and providing superior genotypes in less time than conventional pollination. To verify the needs of the forest companies regarding the conduction of controlled pollination orchards in the breeding program, a specific questionnaire was sent in September 2011 to companies associated to IPEF. The objective of the questionnaire was to collect basic information about the current situation of controlled pollination orchards and check the main difficulties and demands related. It was found that use of the controlled pollination orchard has begun to be used by companies in the Brazilian forest sector just a few years ago and is considered to be very important in breeding programs in order to shorten the time to obtain new genotypes; but there is still need of crucial information regarding the management of these orchards. The main demands are: Basic concepts of flowering induction; homogeneity of flowering; hormonal induction and alternative techniques for flowering; relationship between management and genotypes used; variations in the flowering of different genotypes; management of the orchard in the different phenological phases; process of grafting typesand interaction between graft and rootstock, irrigation systems; species identification and flowering map.

Variabilidade genética e alterações morfológicas em progênies de polinização aberta de Eucalyptus grandis sob o efeito do paclobutrazol

The research objective was to study the genetic diversity of morphological traits in Eucalyptus grandis progenies growing under paclobutrazol regulator effects. The progeny trail was set up through design of randomized blocks. The morphological changes occurred before and during the plant flowering were analyzed. The estimation of genetic parameters were for plant height and stem diameter. The paclobutrazol have caused changes on plant development being strong by the beginning and becoming lightening through the evaluations. The coefficients of variation have shown there is higher genetic diversity within than among progenies for the studied traits. Therefore, it can have high efficiency on selection within progenies in the Eucalyptus grandis breeding program.

Desempenho de variedades de mamoeiro em clima subtropical do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Solar Forcing of Gulf of California Climate During The Past 2000 Yr Suggested by Diatoms and Silicoflagellates

High-resolution records of the past 2000 yr are compared in a north–south transect (28° N to 24° N) of three cores from the eastern slopes of the Guaymas, Carmen, and Pescadero Basins of the Gulf of California (hereafter referred to as the “Gulf”). Evenly-spaced samples from the varved sediments in each core allow sample resolution ranging from ∼ 16 to ∼ 37 yr. Diatoms and silicoflagellates capture the seasonal variation between a late fall to early spring period of high biosiliceous productivity, that is driven by northwest winds, and a summer period of warmer, more stratified waters during which these winds slacken and/or reverse direction (monsoonal flow). As these winds decrease, tropical waters enter the Gulf and spread northward. Individual samples represent a composite of 7 to 23 yr of deposition and are assumed to record the relative dominance of the winter vs. summer floral components. Intervals of enhanced summer incursion of tropical waters, alternating with periods of increased late fall to early spring biosiliceous productivity are recorded in all three cores. Regularly spaced cycles (∼ 100 yr duration) of Octactis pulchra, a silicoflagellate proxy for lower SST and high productivity, and Azpeitia nodulifera, a tropical diatom, occur between ∼ A.D. 400 and ∼ 1700 in the more nearshore Carmen Basin core, NH01-21 (26.3° N), suggesting a possible solar influence on coastal upwelling. Cores BAM80 E-17 (27.9° N) and NH01-26 (24.3° N) contain longer-duration cycles of diatoms and silicoflagellates. The early part of Medieval Climate Anomaly (∼ A.D. 900 to 1200) is characterized by two periods of reduced productivity (warmer SST) with an intervening high productivity (cool) interval centered at ∼ A.D. 1050. Reduced productivity and higher SST also characterize the record of the last ∼ 100 to 200 yr in these cores. Solar variability appears to be driving productivity cycles, as intervals of increased radiocarbon production (sunspot minima) correlate with intervals of enhanced productivity. It is proposed that increased winter cooling of the atmosphere above southwest U.S. during sunspot minima causes intensification of the northwest winds that blow down the Gulf during the late fall to early spring, leading to intensified overturn of surface waters and enhanced productivity. A new silicoflagellate species, Dictyocha franshepardii Bukry, is described and illustrated.

Complexo Epidendrum secundum como modelo de estudo multidisciplinar na delimitação de espécies

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

Botanical Preferences of Africanized Bees (Apis mellifera) on the Coast and in the Atlantic Forest of Sergipe, Brazil

Pollen analysis in honey can be used as an alternative method to research into flowers visited by bees in an area. This study aimed to indentify the main floral families in honey from apiaries in the Atlantic Forest and Sergipe state coast. Honey samples from these apiaries were studied, as well as plants that grow around them, which can be used as a source of foraging for bees. The palynological technique was used to compare the pollen content of honey samples with the pollen grains from leaves of plants found in the vicinity of the apiaries to assess whether they had been visited by bees. The results of studies in both sites were similar in terms of incompatibility of families found in the apiary vicinity and honey. Thus, it was possible to observe that in honey samples from the coast and in the remaining Atlantic forest, the number of families was greater than the number of families found in the apiary vicinity, which highlights the diversity of plants visited by bees and a possible expansion of the visited area for food search. This diversity suggests an adaptive foraging behavior to plant resources available in the environment, which may facilitate the pollination of these botanical families and consequently improve their genetic quality.

Biotic versus abiotic pollination in Oeceoclades maculata (Lindl.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae)

Geographical variation in the reproductive biology of widespread species often occurs at their distributional boundaries. We sought to determine whether such variation has occurred in an invasive orchid, Oeceoclades maculata, across its naturalized range. We compared its reproductive biology in a Brazilian population with that published for a population on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. In the state of Sao Paulo, O. maculata flowers between December and February, at the height of the rainy season. Similar fruit sets were observed in manual self (76%) and cross (70.4%) pollination treatments. The fruit set of plants protected from both pollinators and rainfall was 6.1%, whereas plants exposed only to rainfall had a fruit set of 41.4%, slightly less than the controls (48.3%). Like the Puerto Rico population, reproduction is primarily through rain-assisted autogamy, but unlike observations made on the island, outcrossing can eventually occur. We observed two butterfly species (Heliconius ethilla narcaea and Heliconius erato phyllis) pollinating O. maculata. Secretory epidermal cells and trichomes of the spur lumen produced 0.7 mu L of 25% (sucrose equivalents) nectar per flower each morning, which was stored in a dilated basal portion of the spur and reabsorbed by the afternoon. Thus, geographical variation in reproductive biology exists across the broad invasive range of O. maculata.

Karyotype characterization reveals an up and down of 45S and 5S rDNA sites in Crotalaria (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) species of the section Hedriocarpae subsection Macrostachyae

The genus Crotalaria is one of the largest within the family Leguminosae-Papilionoideae, with more than 600 species. However, few karyotypes have been described. In the present paper, five species belonging to the section Hedriocarpae were studied (subsection Machrostachyae), in order to better understand chromosomal evolution in Crotalaria. The results reveals that all species presented 2n = 2x = 16 with symmetrical karyotypes, and slight differences in the chromosome morphology. A secondary constriction was identified at short arm of the pair 1. The 45S rDNA was mapped in the secondary constriction and adjacent heterochromatin (NOR-heterochromatin) and a minor site was identified in C. ochroleuca. The 5S rDNA was mapped linked to 45S rDNA at chromosome 1 short arm in all species. Additional sites for 5S rDNA were identified in C. pallida, C. striata and C. mucronata. Heterochromatin blocks around the centromeres are not CMA(+) neither DAPI(+). The karyotypes of the subsection Macrostachyae are characterized by an inversion at chromosome pair one in relation to previous specialized floral species analyzed. Additional sites of 45S and 5S rDNA were assumed to be a result of transposition events by different ways. The results suggest heterochromatin differentiation and the position of ribosomal genes indicates chromosomal rearrangements during evolution. Karyotype characteristics corroborate the morphological infrageneric classification.

Vertical distribution of biotic pollination systems in cerrado sensu stricto in the Triangulo Mineiro, MG, Brazil)

(Vertical distribution of biotic pollination systems in cerrado sensu stricto in the Triangulo Mineiro, MG, Brazil). Several factors can influence the distribution of floral resources and pollination systems in ecosystems, such as climate, altitude, geographic region, fragmentation of natural areas and differences in floristic composition along the vertical stratification. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of the vertical stratification of biotic pollination systems in cerrado (sensu stricto) fragments in the Triangulo Mineiro. There was no significant difference (chi(2)(0.05,9)=14.17; P = 0.12) in total plant species richness among fragments, nor in the species richness of each layer (trees, shrubs, herbs and lianas) and the shrub layer was the best represented. Likewise, there was no significant difference between fragments for the systems of pollination (chi(2)(0 05,21) =13.80; P = 0.8778). Pollination by bees was the most common, corresponding to 85% of species in each fragment. In relative terms, plants pollinated by bees were dominant in all strata, reaching 100% for the lianas in fragments 1, 3 and 4 and for the herbs in fragments 1 and 4. In this study, based on floristic composition and distribution of biotic pollination systems in the vertical stratification, we could define a vertical mosaic in the cerrado studied, which has implications for the sustainability of communities in the cerrado, as well as the horizontal mosaic of vegetation types.

Viability, production and morphology of pollen grains for different species in the genus Manihot (Euphorbiaceae)

(Viability, production and morphology of pollen grains for different species in the genus Manihot (Euphorbiaceae)). The objective of this work was to characterize the viability, production and morphology of pollen for different species in the genus Manihot. Floral buds from Manihot accessions were collected from two germplasm banks at Embrapa Cassava & Fruits. The viability of the pollen was assessed via colorimetric, in vitro and in vivo assays. The diameter of the pollen grains was determined by measuring the transversal length of the grain. The experimental design was entirely randomized. Studies on pollen ultrastructure were performed via scanning electron microscopy. Pollen viability was high in the colorimetric tests and intermediate in vivo tests; there was no germination in the in vitro tests. The average production for all accessions was 1,253 pollen grains per floral bud. The size of the pollen grains varied from 132 to 163 pm in the wild accessions, and 129 to 146 pm in the cultivated accessions. The pollen grains for all accessions were very large, apolar, spherical as well as inaperturate, with an exine ornamented with pila organized in a Croton pattern. The wild accessions, in general, produced more and larger pollen grains compared with the cultivated accessions.

New insights into Trimezieae (Iridaceae) phylogeny: what do molecular data tell us?

The Neotropical tribe Trimezieae are taxonomically difficult. They are generally characterized by the absence of the features used to delimit their sister group Tigridieae. Delimiting the four genera that make up Trimezieae is also problematic. Previous family-level phylogenetic analyses have not examined the monophyly of the tribe or relationships within it. Reconstructing the phylogeny of Trimezieae will allow us to evaluate the status of the tribe and genera and to examine the suitability of characters traditionally used in their taxonomy. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses are presented for 37 species representing all four genera of Trimezieae. Analyses were based on nrITS sequences and a combined plastid dataset. Ancestral character state reconstructions were used to investigate the evolution of ten morphological characters previously considered taxonomically useful. Analyses of nrITS and plastid datasets strongly support the monophyly of Trimezieae and recover four principal clades with varying levels of support; these clades do not correspond to the currently recognized genera. Relationships within the four clades are not consistently resolved, although the conflicting resolutions are not strongly supported in individual analyses. Ancestral character state reconstructions suggest considerable homoplasy, especially in the floral characters used to delimit Pseudotrimezia. The results strongly support recognition of Trimezieae as a tribe but suggest that both generic- and species-level taxonomy need revision. Further molecular analyses, with increased sampling of taxa and markers, are needed to support any revision. Such analyses will help determine the causes of discordance between the plastid and nuclear data and provide a framework for identifying potential morphological synapomorphies for infra-tribal groups. The results also suggest Trimezieae provide a promising model for evolutionary research.

Aerial organ anatomy of Smilax syphilitica (Smilacaceae)

Smilax L. in Brazil is represented by 32 taxa and it is a taxonomically difficult genus because the plants are dioecious and show wide phenotypic variation. The analysis and use of leaf anatomy characters is recognized as a frequently successful taxonomic method to distinguish between individual taxon, when floral material is absent or minute differences in flowers and foliage exist such as in Smilax. The aim of this study was to characterize the anatomical features of the aerial organs in Smilax syphilitica collected from the Atlantic Rainforest, in Santa Teresa-ES and the Smilax aff syphilitica from the Amazon Rainforest, in Manaus, Brazil. For this, a total of three samples of Smilax were collected per site. Sample leaves and stems were fixed with FAA 50, embedded in historesin, sectioned on a rotary microtome, stained and mounted in synthetic resin. Additionally, histochemical tests were performed and cuticle ornamentation was analyzed with standard scanning electron microscopy. S. syphilitica and S. aff syphilitica differed in cuticle ornamentation, epidermal cell arrangement and wall thickness, stomata type and orientation, calcium oxalate crystal type, and position of stem thorns. Leaf blades of S. syphilitica from the Amazon Rainforest have a network of rounded ridges on both sides, while in S. aff syphilitica, these ridges are parallel and the spaces between them are filled with numerous membranous platelets. Viewed from the front, the epidermal cells of S. syphilitica have sinuous walls (even more pronounced in samples from the Amazon); while in S. aff syphilitica, these cells are also sinuous but elongated in the cross-section of the blade and arranged in parallel. Stomata of S. syphilitica are paracytic, whereas in S. aff syphilitica, are both paracytic and anisocytic, and their polar axes are directed towards the mid-vein. Calcium oxalate crystals in S. syphilitica are prisms, whereas in S. aff syphilitica, crystal sand. Thorns occur in nodes and internodes in S. syphilitica but only in internodes in S. aff syphilitica. These features have proven to be of diagnostic value and may support a separation into two species, but future studies are needed to confirm that S. aff syphilitica is indeed a new taxon. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60(3): 1137-1148. Epub 2012 September 01.

Genetic variability of banana with ornamental potential

The Musa germplasm collection at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits detains accessions from different sections of the Musa genus. The objective of the present study was to identify and morphologically characterize banana accessions from the banana germplasm with ornamental potential, as well as to quantify their genetic variability; and identify possible progenitors to be used in breeding aiming to achieve ornamental crossbreeds. The accessions were evaluated with the use of 32 morphological descriptors. Then, they were the following grouped into categories: landscape plants, cut flower, potted plants, and male inflorescence minifruits. The pre-selected accessions presented great genetic variability and ornamental potential for different uses. The accessions of the Rhodochlamys and Callimusa sections were selected to be used as landscape plants, cut flowers, potted plants, male inflorescence and minifruits. Most of the diploids from the Eumusa section evaluated in this study are indicated for the production of ornamental minifruits, except for 'Lidi' and Cici, which can also be indicated as landscape plants. The BB diploids have great potential for the use of the male inflorescence in floral arrangements, and did not offer any other indication.