Xylarenones C-E from an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Alibertia macrophylla

Xylarenones C-E (2-4), three new eremophilane sesquiterpenes, have been isolated from solid substrate cultures of a Camarops-like endophytic fungus isolated from Alibertia macrophylla. The structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Compounds were evaluated in subtilisin and pepsin protease assays, and compound 2 showed potent inhibitory activity against both proteases.

Antiparasitic, antineuroinflammatory, and cytotoxic polyketides from the marine sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus collected in Brazil

Investigation of the bioactive crude extract from the sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus from Brazil led to the isolation of plakortenone (1) as a new polyketide, along with five known polyketides (2-6) previously isolated from other Plakortis sponges. The known polyketides were tested in antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal, antineuroinflammatory, and cytotoxicity assays. The results show that plakortide P (3) is a potent antiparasitic compound, against both Leishmania chagasi and Trypanosona cruzi, and exhibited antineuroinflammatory activity. The known polyketides 2-6 were tested for cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines, but displayed only moderate cytotoxic activity.

Oroidin Inhibits the Activity of the Multidrug Resistance Target Pdr5p from Yeast Plasma Membranes

Oroidin was isolated from the marine sponge Agelas sventres and inhibited the activity and function of Pdr5p, an enzyme responsible for the multidrug resistance phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This compound may help in the development of new drugs that reverse this dangerous phenotype of pathogenic yeast and fungi.

Use of Experimental Design for the Optimization of the Production of New Secondary Metabolites by Two Penicillium Species

A fractional factorial design approach has been used to enhance secondary metabolite production by two Penicillium strains. The method was initially used to improve the production of bioactive extracts as a whole and subsequently to optimize the production of particular bioactive metabolites. Enhancements of over 500% in secondary metabolite production were observed for both P. oxalicum and P. citrinum. Two new alkaloids, citrinalins A (5) and B (6), were isolated and identified from P. citrinum cultures optimized for production of minor metabolites.

Sesquiterpenes from Xylaria sp., an endophytic fungus associated with Piper aduncum (Piperaceae)

Two new presilphiperfolane sesquiterpenes, 1 and 2, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Xylaria sp., obtained from the leaves of Piper aduncum, along with two known eremophilane sesquiterpenes, phaseolinone (3) and phomenone (4). Chemical structures of 1 and 2 were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. The four compounds were tested in vitro for antifungal and cytotoxicity activities using CHO (Chinese hamster ovary). Compounds 1 and 2 did not show any antifungal and cytotoxic activity. Compounds 3 and 4 displayed moderate cytotoxic activities, as well as 4 antifungal activity. (C) 2010 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Pyrodysinoic Acid Derivatives from the Marine Sponge Dysidea robusta

Three new nitrogen-containing terpenes related to pyrodysinoic acid (1) have been isolated from the sponge Dysidea robusta collected in Brazil. Isopyrodysinoic acid (2), 13-hydroxyisopyrodysinoic acid (3), and pyrodysinoic acid B (4) were obtained from the crude extract of D. robusta and identified by analysis of spectroscopic data. Pyrodysinoic acid B (4) is the first furodysin or furodysinin sesquiterpene derivative with a trans junction between the two six-membered rings of the 1,2,3,4,4a,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,1,6-trimethylnaphthalene moiety.

Proteomic analysis reveals suppression of bark chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in citrus plants affected by the citrus sudden death disease

Citrus sudden death (CSD) is a disease of unknown etiology that greatly affects sweet oranges grafted on Rangpur lime rootstock, the most important rootstock in Brazilian citriculture. We performed a proteomic analysis to generate information related to this plant pathogen interaction. Protein profiles from healthy, CSD-affected and CSD-tolerant stem barks, were generated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein spots were well distributed over a pI range of 3.26 to 9.97 and a molecular weight (MW) range from 7.1 to 120 kDa. The patterns of expressed proteins on 2-DE gels made it possible to distinguish healthy barks from CSD-affected barks. Protein spots with MW around 30 kDa and pI values ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 were down-regulated in the CSD-affected rootstock bark. This set of protein spots was identified as chitinases. Another set of proteins, ranging in pI from 6.1 to 9.6 with an MW of about 20 kDa, were also suppressed in CSD-affected rootstock bark; these were identified as miraculin-like proteins, potential trypsin inhibitors. Downregulation of chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in CSD-affected plants is relevant since chitinases are well-known pathogenesis-related protein, and their activity against plant pathogens is largely accepted.

Nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of metabolite disorder in orange trees caused by citrus sudden death disease

Citrus sudden death (CSD) is a new disease of sweet orange and mandarin trees grafted on Rangpur lime and Citrus volkameriana rootstocks. It was first seen in Brazil in 1999, and has since been detected in more than four million trees. The CSD causal agent is unknown and the current hypothesis involves a virus similar to Citrus tristeza virus or a new virus named Citrus sudden death-associated virus. CSD symptoms include generalized foliar discoloration, defoliation and root death, and, in most cases, it can cause tree death. One of the unique characteristics of CSD disease is the presence of a yellow stain in the rootstock bark near the bud union. This region also undergoes profound anatomical changes. In this study, we analyse the metabolic disorder caused by CSD in the bark of sweet orange grafted on Rangpur lime by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging. The imaging results show the presence of a large amount of non-functional phloem in the rootstock bark of affected plants. The spectroscopic analysis shows a high content of triacylglyceride and sucrose, which may be related to phloem blockage close to the bud union. We also propose that, without knowing the causal CSD agent, the determination of oil content in rootstock bark by low-resolution NMR can be used as a complementary method for CSD diagnosis, screening about 300 samples per hour.

Uso da glicerina oriunda da síntese do biodiesel em sistemas microemulsionados visando aplicação de herbicidas

The program PROBIODIESEL from the Ministry of Science and Technology has substantially increased glycerine, obtained as a sub-product of biodiesel production process, making it necessary to seek alternatives for the use of this co-product. On the other hand, herbicides although play a role of fundamental importance in the agricultural production system in force, have been under growing concern among the various segments of society because of their potential environmental risk. In this work, we used glycerin in microemulsion systems for application of herbicides, to improve efficiency and lower environmental pollution caused by the loss of those products to the environment. To obtain the systems of microemulsinados were used Unitol L90 NP and Renex 40 as surfactants, butanol as co-surfactant, coconut oil as oil phase and aqueous phase as we used solutions of glycerin + water. Through the determination of phase diagrams, the microemulsion region was found in the system E (L90 Unitol, coconut oil and glycerin + water 1:1). Three points were chosen to the aqueous phase rich in characterization and application in the solubilization of glyphosate and atrazine. Three experiments were performed in Horta, Department of Plant Sciences, Plant Science Sector, UFERSA, Mossoró-RN. The first experiment was conducted in randomized complete blocks with 20 treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of five doses of the herbicide glyphosate (0.0, 0.45, 0.9, 1.35 and 1.8 L ha-1) diluted with four sauces: C1, C2, C3 (microemulsions) and C4 (water). The phytotoxicity of Brachiaria brizantha was measured at 7, 14, 28 and 60 DAA (days after application). At 60 DAA, we evaluated the biomass of plants. The second experiment was developed in randomized complete blocks with 20 treatments and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of five doses of the herbicide atrazine (0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 2.4 L ha-1) diluted with four sauces: C1, C2, C3 (microemulsions) and C4 (water). The phytotoxicity on Zea mays and Talinum paniculatum was evaluated at 2, 7, 20 DAA. The experiment III was developed in randomized complete blocks with 16 treatments and three repetitions. The treatments consisted of 16 combinations among the constituents of the microemulsion: Unitol L90 surfactant (0.0, 1.66, 5.0, 15 %) and glycerin (0.0, 4.44, 13.33 and 40.0 %). The phytotoxicity on Zea mays was evaluated at 1, 7 and 14 DAA. At 14 DAA, we evaluated the biomass of plants. The control plants using the microemulsions was lower than in the water due to the poisoning caused by the initial microemulsions in the leaves of the plants, a fact that hinders the absorption and translocation of the herbicide. There was no toxicity in Zea mays plants caused by the herbicide, however, were highly intoxicated by microemulsions. T. paniculatum was better controlled in spraying with the microemulsions, regardless of the dose of the herbicide. The glycerine did not cause plant damage. Higher poisoning the plants are caused by tensoactive Unitol L90 and higher rates occur with the use of higher concentrations of surfactant and glycerin, or microemulsion. The microemulsions used hampered the action of glyphosate in controlling B. brizantha and caused severe poisoning in corn, and these poisonings attributed mainly to the action of surfactant

OIL GLANDS IN PTERODON PUBESCENS BENTH. (LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE): DISTRIBUTION, STRUCTURE, and SECRETION MECHANISMS

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

EXCESSO HÍDRICO SOBRE OS COMPONENTES do RENDIMENTO da CULTURA da SOJA

O cultivo da soja em solos hidromórficos do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul vem sendo utilizado como opção em rotação com arroz e pastagens. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos determinar o comportamento dos componentes do rendimento de quatro cultivares de soja, para as condições dos solos hidromórficos, e verificar as variações de comportamento em função do estádio de desenvolvimento em que ocorre o estresse por excesso hídrico. O experimento foi conduzido em uma estrutura com cobertura plástica, em vasos de PVC, no ano agrícola de 1995/96, no Departamento de Fitotecnia da UFSM, em Santa Maria, RS. O solo utilizado foi um planossolo pertencente à unidade de mapeamento Vacacaí. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, fatorial (4 x 5) com três repetições. As cultivares Ocepar 14, FT Saray, IAS 5 e CEP 16 foram submetidas a tratamentos de saturação hídrica do solo por um período de 15 dias a partir dos estádios de desenvolvimento V2 e V6; e por um período de 10 dias a partir dos estádios R2, R3 e R4. Os resultados indicaram que as quatro cultivares de soja utilizadas apresentaram boa tolerância à saturação hídrica no solo e que, em termos de duração desse estresse, a tolerância à saturação hídrica no solo é maior no subperíodo vegetativo do que no subperíodo reprodutivo.

Floral development and embryology in the early-divergent grass Pharus

A detailed study of floral ontogeny, anatomy, and embryology in two (of six) species of Pharus is presented as part of a series of comparative investigations on early-divergent grasses. Pharus is a taxonomically isolated genus belonging to the earliest-diverging grass lineage with a true grass spikelet. It is unusual in possessing remarkably dimorphic florets: male florets possess two lodicules, six stamens, and a pistillode, whereas female florets lack lodicules entirely but possess six staminodes and a tricarpellary ovary with three stigmas. The rudimentary lodicules in male florets are initiated after the stamen whorls. There are most commonly six androecial organs, but in some florets, a five-staminate condition was observed, resulting from suppression of the abaxial stamen from the inner whorl, or even a four-staminate condition resulting from subsequent fusion of the two adaxial outer stamens (i.e., elements of both whorls). Thus, the pattern of floral zygomorphy in Pharus differs from that of many other grasses. Centrifixed anther attachment is reported for the first time in Pharus, resembling the condition in another early-divergent grass, Anomochloa, though anthers are introrse in Anomochloa compared with latrorse in Pharus. Anther wall development is of the reduced type in Pharus, in contrast to most other monocots. Microsporogenesis is of the successive type, as in many other monocots. The ovary develops from three distinct primordia and is unilocular with a single ovule and a pronounced ovary beak that is highly characteristic of Pharus. There is a hollow style, in contrast to the solid styles that are common in many other grasses. The embryo is highly differentiated, as in other grasses, with a distinct epiblast and a small cleft between the scutellum and the coleorhiza.

FLORAL ANATOMY of XYRIDS (POALES): CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY, TAXONOMY, and PHYLOGENY

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Systematic position of Xyris: Flower and seed anatomy

Flower anatomy, embryology, and seed anatomy are described for some Brazilian species of Xyris section Nematopus and reviewed with respect to the systematic position of Xyris and allied taxa in Commelinanae. Apart from tenuinucellate ovules (shared with Poales, Mayaca, and Eriocaulaceae), Xyris lacks some of the synapomorphies of other genera that are sometimes included in Xyridaceae (Aratitiyopea, Achlyphila, Abolboda, and Orectanthe), such as inaperturate spinulate pollen; Xyris has monosulcate reticulate pollen. There is an unusual degree of variation among different genera of Xyridaceae for characters such as tapetum type, indicating that the monophyly of the family requires testing. However, while several characters indicate two generic groups, there is much missing critical information for embryological and seed coat characters in other Xyridaceae.

Homologies of floral structures in velloziaceae with particular reference to the corona

New data on floral morphology, development, and vasculature in two Brazilian genera of the monocot family Velloziaceae (Pandanales) are used to explore the homologies of their unusual floral structures, especially the corona of Barbacenia and the corona-like appendages and multiple stamens of some Vellozia species. All Velloziaceae have epigynous flowers. Some species of Vellozia are polyandrous, and stamen number can be variable within species. In Vellozia jolyi, there is a single stamen opposite each sepal and a stamen fascicle (of three secondary stamens) opposite each petal. Each stamen possesses a single vascular bundle, and these are united into a single aggregate bundle in proximal regions of the fascicle. Stamens mature centripetally within each fascicle. The coronal appendages of both genera are closely associated with the stamens, but they share some vasculature with the tepals and develop late in ontogeny. The coronal organs cannot readily be homologized with any of the typical floral organs, but they show partial homology with both tepals and stamens. They are most readily interpreted as a late elaboration of the region between the petals and stamens associated with epigyny and the hypanthium. © 2010 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.