A phytophagous braconid, Allorhogas conostegia sp nov (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in the fruits of Conostegia xalapensis (Bonpl.) D. Don (Melastomataceae)

Before 1989 all braconid wasps were thought to be parasitoids, but in that year the first phytophagous species was reported. Subsequently, a few other examples of phytophagy have been discovered, most of which are species of Allorhogas in the subfamily Doryctinae. Until now, all demonstrated examples of phytophagy in this genus have been as gall inducers in the fruits of Fabaceae. Here we describe a new species from Costa Rica, Allorhogas conostegia Marsh and Shaw, and provide evidence that it forms galls in the fruits of Conostegia xalapensis (Melastomataceae). We also provide information on the phenology of the plant and of the galls and the effects of the galls on the host plant, and we discuss the potential species richness of Allorhogas in the Neotropics.

Germination of Jacaranda mimosifolia (D. Don - Bignoniaceae) seeds: effects of light, temperature and water stress

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

Nutrição mineral de plantas ornamentais XI: deficiências de macronutrientes e de boro em Catharanthus Roseus (L.) G. Don e Catharanthus roseus f. albus (sweet) G. Don

Plantas de duas formas botânicas de Catharanthus roseus, de flores lilases e de flores brancas foram cultivadas em soluções nutritivas deficientes em N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S e B, e em solução completa, a fim de se obter o quadro sintomatológico das deficiências, assim como os níveis analíticos de nutrientes nas folhas, caules, raízes e flores. Manifestaram-se sintomas de deficiência claros para todos os nutrientes estudados. Nas plantas de flores lilases, as concentrações de nutrientes na matéria seca de folhas de plantas normais e deficientes foram, respectivamente, para cada nutriente estudado: N(%): 3,53-1,20; P(%): 0,35-0,11; K(%): 2,45-0,76; Ca(%): 1,77-0,81; Mg(%): 0,55-0,46; S(%):0,21-0,12; B(ppm): 382-37. Nas plantas de flores brancas, estas concentrações foram: N(%): 3,78-0,92; P(%): 0,38-0,09; K(%): 2,60-0,86; Ca(%): 1,37-1,15; Mg(%): 0,56-0,44; S(%): 0,10-0,07; B(ppm):372-39.

Escritos de don Norberto González, 1958-1987: bibliografía existente en la Biblioteca CEPAL

Contiene artículos, comentarios, documentos, estudios e informes.

Anti-nociceptive effects of Carpolobia lutea G. Don (Polygalaceae) leaf fractions in animal models

Leaves from Carpolobia lutea (Polygalaceae) were screened to establish the antiulcer ethnomedicinal claim and to quantitatively isolate, elucidate the active compounds by semi-preparative HPLC. The anti-nociceptive effects of Carpolobia lutea (CL) G. Don (Polygalaceae) organic leaf extracts were tested in experimental models in mice. The anti-nociceptive mechanism was determined using tail-flick test, acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, formalin-induced hind paw licking and the hot plate test. The fractions (ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane) and crude ethyl acetate extract of CL (770 mg/kg, i.p.) produced significant inhibitions of both phases of the formalin-induced pain in mice, a reduction in acetic acid-induced writhing as well as and an elevation of the pain threshold in the hot plate test in mice. The inhibitions were greater to those produced by indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Ethyl acetate fraction revealed cinnamic and coumaric acids derivatives, which are described for the first time in literature. These cinnamalglucosides polyphenols characterised from CL may in part account for the pharmacological activities. These findings confirm its ethnomedical use in anti-inflammatory pain and in pains from gastric ulcer-associated symptoms. © 2011 Springer Basel AG.

External debt: why don't our governments do the obvious?

Examina el proceso de la renegociacion de la deuda externa y la necesidad de instaurar una logica mas compatible con los intereses de los paises latinoamericanos. Expone como condicion necesaria para lograrlo, la capacidad de los liderazgos politicos para presentar a sus pueblos las verdaderas opciones, asi como los costos y riesgos de cada una de ellas.

Characterization of proanthocyanidins from Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) G. Don. (Fabaceae) by flow injection analysis - Electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The present study investigates the chemical composition of the African plant Parkia biglobosa (Fabaceae) roots and barks by Liquid Chromatography - Electrospray Ionization and Direct Injection Tandem Mass Spectrometry analysis. Mass spectral data indicated that B-type oligomers are present, namely procyanidins and prodelphinidins, with their gallate and glucuronide derivatives, some of them in different isomeric forms. The analysis evidenced the presence of up to 40 proanthocyanidins, some of which are reported for the first time. In this study, the antiradical activity of extracts of roots and barks from Parkia biglobosa was evaluated using DPPH method and they showed satisfactory activities.