Crescimento e desenvolvimento de clones de cajazeira cultivados na chapada do Apodi, Ceará

O ensaio com clones de cajazeira foi avaliado, na chapada do Apodi, em Limoeiro do Norte - CE. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial (cinco copas x dois porta-enxertos), com quatro repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. As copas foram obtidas de plantas adultas produtivas das localidades de Capuan, Caucaia-CE; Curimatã, Pacajus-CE; Gereau e Ladeira Grande, Maranguape-CE e Lagoa Redonda, Fortaleza-CE e os porta-enxertos de sementes de cajazeira e de umbuzeiro. O objetivo foi caracterizar o crescimento vegetativo e a produção de frutos dos clones de cajazeira. Os clones Gereau e Lagoa Redonda foram os mais vigorosos, tiveram as maiores alturas de planta (390 cm) e espessuras de caule (57 cm). O Ladeira Grande foi o menos vigoroso, com altura (220 cm) e espessura de caule (49 cm), diferindo significativamente dos demais. O porta-enxerto de cajazeira formou caule mais espesso que o de umbuzeiro. A razão entre os perímetros de caule (enxerto e porta-enxerto) foi menor que 1,0 no porta-enxerto de cajazeira e maior no de umbuzeiro. O número de frutos por cacho variou de 8 a 76. Algumas plantas dos clones Lagoa Redonda e Gereau sobre umbuzeiro produziram de 100 a 300 cachos de frutos por planta. Os clones formam plantas de porte baixo, vigorosas, com aspectos fenotípicos e morfológicos distintos a cada clone, não alterando o padrão de crescimento do caule principal e do formato de copa; o porta-enxerto de cajazeira forma plantas com troncos mais vigorosos do que os de umbuzeiro; as razões de perímetros de caule, enxerto e porta-enxerto são maiores nas combinações com umbuzeiro, mas sem indícios de incompatibilidade; o porta-enxerto de umbuzeiro aumenta o porte, precocidade e produtividade dos clones, notadamente do Gereau e Lagoa Redonda sendo que o clone Ladeira Grande é o de menor porte.

Primeiro registro de galhas em panículas de cajazeira causadas por Clinodiplosis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) e avaliação de genótipos no estado do Piauí

A cajazeira (Spondias mombin L.) é uma Anacardiaceae que se destaca pela considerável importância social e econômica no Nordeste brasileiro. Vários autores mencionam insetos que atacam folhas, ramos e frutos de cajazeiras; no entanto, em relação às flores, as informações são limitadas. Cecidomyiidae é uma família bastante diversificada de Nematocera (Diptera). Cecidomyiinae têm hábitos variados e grande riqueza de espécies fitófagas. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se a identificação de uma espécie de Cecidimyiinae galhador em cajazeira, caracterização dos sintomas do ataque e avaliação do nível de infestação em panículas da cajazeira em diferentes genótipos. O experimento foi desenvolvido em pomar de cajazeira do Departamento de Fitotecnia do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí. Foram avaliados oito genótipos: JL 15, LA1, Fazenda Soares I, Fazenda Soares II, Fazenda Soares III, Major, Vagner e Jardim. O inseto foi identificado como Clinodiplosis sp. Considerando-se a alta especificidade de Cecidomyiinae (Clinodiplosini) na relação galhador X planta hospedeira, a espécie de Clinodiplosis associada a Spondias mombin provavelmente é nova. Os genótipos Major, LA 1, Soares I e Jardim apresentaram menor infestação. Já os genótipos JL 15, Vagner, Soares III e Soares II apresentaram maior infestação. Pode-se concluir que o nível de infestação das cajazeiras por Clinodiplosis sp. varia de acordo com o genótipo avaliado.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in fruits of clone and ungrafted genotypes of yellow mombin tree

Yellow mombin is a fruit tree that grows spontaneously in the Semi-Arid Northeastern Brazil. Its fruits are still extractively exploited. The pulp of yellow mombin fruit stands out regarding the commercial aspect due to the characteristic flavor and aroma felt when consumed in diverse ways. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of bioactive compounds, total extractable polyphenols, and antioxidant activity of yellow mombin fruits (Spondias mombin, L.), from clone and ungrafted genotypes. The fruits were harvested at commercial maturity from twelve yellow mombin tree genotypes from an experimental orchard located at the municipality of Joao Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and evaluated for chlorophyll, carotenoids, yellow flavonoids, total extractable polyphenols, and antioxidant activity, which was measured by the β-carotene/linoleic acid method. The antioxidant activity showed a percentage of inhibition of oxidation higher than 75% for all genotypes evaluated at the time of 120 minutes. The fruits from clone genotypes showed a higher percentage of antioxidant activity.

Effect of hydrocolloids on the physicochemical characteristics of yellow mombin structured fruit

The technology for the production of restructured fruit with high contents of fruit pulp using hydrocolloids as binding agents has not been fully developed. This study evaluated the effect of mixtures of sodium alginate, low methoxy pectin, and gelatin on the characteristics of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) fruit gels. The results of the central composite design showed that the models obtained, except for those of water activity and soluble solids, were predictive. Gelatin was the most important factor affecting firmness, pH, and the color parameters of the structured fruit pulp.

Caracterização dos marcadores químicos e avaliação de atividades biológicas do extrato de Spondias mombim

Spondias mombin is a fruitful species dispersed in tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia. In Brazil, the species can be found mainly in the northern and northeastern regions. Scarce chemical and pharmacological studies have been reported for S. mombin and until this moment studies about chemical markers were not developed. In this context, the aims of this study were to characterize the chemical markers from S. mombin leaves and evaluate their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials. The chemical profile of the hydroethanolic extract from S. mombin leaves analyzed by HPLC-DAD, through a validated method, allowed the identification and quantification of ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid. This extract showed anti-inflammatory potential in acute peritonitis model induced by carrageenan. The hydroethanolic extract from S. mombin leaves was subjected to a liquid-liquid partition with the solvents: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Regarding the anti-inflammatory potential of the fractions obtained they were active; however, ethyl acetate fraction at 200 mg/kg showed highlighted results. The compounds ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid also inhibited the leukocyte migration to the site of inflammation at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg. The hydroethanolic extract, fractions and the chemical markers showed significant antioxidant potential when evaluated in different assays: DPPH Free-Radical Scavenging, Superoxide Radical Scavenging, Hydroxyl Radicals Scavenging and Reducing Power. Taken together our results showed that hydroethanolic extract of S. mombin leaves has ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid as bioactive markers and it demonstrated antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties besides no cytotoxicity against 3T3 cells. It enables us to suggest S. mombin as an important species to develop herbal drugs

Avaliação da secagem do bagaço de cajá usando planejamento fatorial composto central

This work deals with the kinetics assay of Cajá (Spondias mombin L.) bagasse drying by an experimental design using a tray dryer. In order to add-value to this product a kinetic study has been carried out. A central composite experimental design has been carried out to evaluate the influence of the operational variables: input air temperature (55; 65 e 75ºC); the drying air velocity (3.2; 4.6 e 6.0 m/s) and the fixed bed thickness (0.8; 1.2 e 1.6 cm) and as response variable the the moisture content (dry basis). The results showed that the diffusional Fick model fitted quite well the experimental data. The best condition found has been input air temperature of 75ºC, drying air velocity of 6.0 m/s as well as fixed bed thickness of 0.8 cm. The experimental design assay showed that the main effects as well as the second ones were significant at 95% confindance level. The best operational condition according to statistical planning was 75 oC input air temperature, 6.0 m.s-1 drying air velocity and 0.8 cm fixed bed thickness. In this case, the equilibrium moisture content (1.3% dry basis) occured at 220 minutes

Comportamento reprodutivo de clones de cajazeira com sete anos de cultivo na Chapada do Apodi, Ceará.

A cajazeira (Spondias mombin L.) pertence à família Anacardiaceae e ao gênero Spondias (Airy Shaw & Forman, 1967). É uma árvore frutífera tropical lenhosa, caducifólia, de tronco longo e ereto, revestido por casca grossa e rugosa, que esgalha e ramifica na parte terminal, o que confere um porte alto à planta (SOUZA e BLEICHER, 2002). Os frutos cuja exploração é extrativista são perfumados, de sabor agridoce, contêm carotenóides, açúcares, vitaminas A e C. Daí, são muito procurados pelas agroindústrias, para o processamento de polpas, sucos, geléias, néctares e sorvetes de excelente qualidade e alto valor comercial. Para o cultivo comercial da cajazeira, os fatores mais limitantes são o alto porte e a longa fase juvenil das plantas de sementes, as variações em formato de copa, produtividade, tamanho, sabor dos frutos e as características físicas, físico-químicas e químicas dos frutos (SOARES et al. 2006). Assim, o cultivo de plantas clonadas poderá ser uma alternativa para superação desses problemas. Plantas de cajazeira enxertadas, cultivadas no sul da Bahia começaram a produzir no terceiro ano de cultivo, mas tinham alto porte, com altura média de 4,46 m (LEITE; MARTINS; RAMOS, 2003). Em Pacajus-CE, os clones cultivados também tiveram alto porte, troncos monopodiais (haste única) e tendência a formar copas altas, e algumas plantas produziram apenas no primeiro ano de cultivo (SOUZA e BLEICHER, 2002). De acordo com Hartmann et al. (2002), clones enxertados sofrem fortes influências das combinações entre os porta-enxertos e os clones copa, das técnicas de cultivo, das condições edafoclimáticas, ecológicas e das interações entre esses fatores, que afetam diretamente o comportamento fenotípico e produtivo dos clones. O tempo de transição entre XX Congresso Brasileiro de Fruticultura 54th Annual Meeting of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture 12 a 17 de Outubro de 2008 - Centro de Convenções ? Vitória/ES o crescimento vegetativo e o reprodutivo é de suma importância para a agricultura e o melhoramento de plantas, porque a floração é o primeiro passo da reprodução sexual. Os fatores ambientais (fotoperíodo, temperatura, disponibilidade de água e radiação solar) controlam a transição para a floração. O fato de tais fatores promotores da floração serem percebidos por diferentes partes da planta implica que essas partes interagem e que o destino do meristema apical ? permanecer vegetativo ou se tornar reprodutivo ? é controlado por um arranjo de sinais de longa distância em toda a planta (BERNIER et al., 1993). Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se dez combinações de cinco clones copa e dois porta-enxertos quanto à percentagem de plantas produtivas (PProd) em diferentes idades.

Comportamento vegetativo de clones de cajazeira com sete anos de cultivo na Chapada do Apodi, Ceará.

A cajazeira (Spondias mombin L.) pertence à família Anacardiaceae. É uma espécie selvagem, sendo a exploração de seus frutos extrativista. Pelas descrições de Harlan (1975), a espécie é classificada como encorajada, ou seja, é disseminada, colhida e selecionada sem nenhum plantio de sementes. Mesmo assim, tem considerável importância socioeconômica para as regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil. Para o seu cultivo comercial, os fatores mais limitantes são o alto porte e a longa fase juvenil das plantas obtidas de sementes (VILLACHICA, 1996) e a falta de clones recomendados para cultivo (Souza et al, 2006). Os clones enxertados são influenciados por porta-enxertos, clones copa, técnicas de cultivo, condições edafoclimáticas, ecológicas e pelas interações entre esses fatores, que afetam diretamente o comportamento fenotípico e produtivo do clone (HARTMANN et al, 2002). Clones de cajazeira enxertados sobre cajazeira, cultivados no sul da Bahia, apresentaram no terceiro ano de cultivo, alto porte, com altura média de 4,46 m (LEITE; MARTINS; RAMOS, 2003). Em Pacajus-CE, clones de cajazeira enxertados sobre umbuzeiro também tiveram porte alto, troncos monopodias, com haste única e tendência a formar copas altas (SOUZA e BLEICHER, 2002). Para caracterizar o crescimento vegetativo, avaliaram-se a altura de planta e perímetros dos caules do porta-enxerto e do enxerto dos clones de cajazeira enxertados sobre porta- enxertos de pé franco de umbuzeiro e da própria cajazeira.

Direct Visualization Of The Action Of Triton X-100 On Giant Vesicles Of Erythrocyte Membrane Lipids.

The raft hypothesis proposes that microdomains enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol, and specific proteins are transiently formed to accomplish important cellular tasks. Equivocally, detergent-resistant membranes were initially assumed to be identical to membrane rafts, because of similarities between their compositions. In fact, the impact of detergents in membrane organization is still controversial. Here, we use phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy to observe giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made of erythrocyte membrane lipids (erythro-GUVs) when exposed to the detergent Triton X-100 (TX-100). We clearly show that TX-100 has a restructuring action on biomembranes. Contact with TX-100 readily induces domain formation on the previously homogeneous membrane of erythro-GUVs at physiological and room temperatures. The shape and dynamics of the formed domains point to liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (Lo/Ld) phase separation, typically found in raft-like ternary lipid mixtures. The Ld domains are then separated from the original vesicle and completely solubilized by TX-100. The insoluble vesicle left, in the Lo phase, represents around 2/3 of the original vesicle surface at room temperature and decreases to almost 1/2 at physiological temperature. This chain of events could be entirely reproduced with biomimetic GUVs of a simple ternary lipid mixture, 2:1:2 POPC/SM/chol (phosphatidylcholine/sphyngomyelin/cholesterol), showing that this behavior will arise because of fundamental physicochemical properties of simple lipid mixtures. This work provides direct visualization of TX-100-induced domain formation followed by selective (Ld phase) solubilization in a model system with a complex biological lipid composition.

[the Use Of Fish On Buccal Smear To Investigate Mosaicism With A 45,x Cell Line: Study On Healthy Men And Patients With Disorders Of Sex Development].

To verify whether fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of cells from the buccal epithelium could be employed to detect cryptomosaicism with a 45,X lineage in 46,XY patients. Samples of nineteen 46,XY healthy young men and five patients with disorders of sex development (DSD), four 45,X/46,XY and one 46,XY were used. FISH analysis with X and Y specific probes on interphase nuclei from blood lymphocytes and buccal epithelium were analyzed to investigate the proportion of nuclei containing only the signal of the X chromosome. The frequency of nuclei containing only the X signal in the two tissues of healthy men did not differ (p = 0.69). In all patients with DSD this frequency was significantly higher, and there was no difference between the two tissues (p = 0.38), either. Investigation of mosaicism with a 45,X cell line in patients with 46,XY DSD or sterility can be done by FISH directly using cells from the buccal epithelium.

Monte Carlo Simulation Of The Response Functions Of Cdte Detectors To Be Applied In X-ray Spectroscopy.

In this work, the energy response functions of a CdTe detector were obtained by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation in the energy range from 5 to 160keV, using the PENELOPE code. In the response calculations the carrier transport features and the detector resolution were included. The computed energy response function was validated through comparison with experimental results obtained with (241)Am and (152)Eu sources. In order to investigate the influence of the correction by the detector response at diagnostic energy range, x-ray spectra were measured using a CdTe detector (model XR-100T, Amptek), and then corrected by the energy response of the detector using the stripping procedure. Results showed that the CdTe exhibits good energy response at low energies (below 40keV), showing only small distortions on the measured spectra. For energies below about 80keV, the contribution of the escape of Cd- and Te-K x-rays produce significant distortions on the measured x-ray spectra. For higher energies, the most important correction is the detector efficiency and the carrier trapping effects. The results showed that, after correction by the energy response, the measured spectra are in good agreement with those provided by a theoretical model of the literature. Finally, our results showed that the detailed knowledge of the response function and a proper correction procedure are fundamental for achieving more accurate spectra from which quality parameters (i.e., half-value layer and homogeneity coefficient) can be determined.

Fast And Direct Na And K Determination In Table, Marine, And Low-sodium Salts By X-ray Fluorescence And Chemometrics.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a fast, low-cost, nondestructive, and truly multielement analytical technique. The objectives of this study are to quantify the amount of Na(+) and K(+) in samples of table salt (refined, marine, and light) and to compare three different methodologies of quantification using XRF. A fundamental parameter method revealed difficulties in quantifying accurately lighter elements (Z < 22). A univariate methodology based on peak area calibration is an attractive alternative, even though additional steps of data manipulation might consume some time. Quantifications were performed with good correlations for both Na (r = 0.974) and K (r = 0.992). A partial least-squares (PLS) regression method with five latent variables was very fast. Na(+) quantifications provided calibration errors lower than 16% and a correlation of 0.995. Of great concern was the observation of high Na(+) levels in low-sodium salts. The presented application may be performed in a fast and multielement fashion, in accordance with Green Chemistry specifications.

Are Human Peripheral Nerves Sensitive To X-ray Imaging?

Diagnostic imaging techniques play an important role in assessing the exact location, cause, and extent of a nerve lesion, thus allowing clinicians to diagnose and manage more effectively a variety of pathological conditions, such as entrapment syndromes, traumatic injuries, and space-occupying lesions. Ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are becoming useful methods for this purpose, but they still lack spatial resolution. In this regard, recent phase contrast x-ray imaging experiments of peripheral nerve allowed the visualization of each nerve fiber surrounded by its myelin sheath as clearly as optical microscopy. In the present study, we attempted to produce high-resolution x-ray phase contrast images of a human sciatic nerve by using synchrotron radiation propagation-based imaging. The images showed high contrast and high spatial resolution, allowing clear identification of each fascicle structure and surrounding connective tissue. The outstanding result is the detection of such structures by phase contrast x-ray tomography of a thick human sciatic nerve section. This may further enable the identification of diverse pathological patterns, such as Wallerian degeneration, hypertrophic neuropathy, inflammatory infiltration, leprosy neuropathy and amyloid deposits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first successful phase contrast x-ray imaging experiment of a human peripheral nerve sample. Our long-term goal is to develop peripheral nerve imaging methods that could supersede biopsy procedures.

Emprego da fluorescência de raios X por dispersão de energia para o mapeamento de troncos de árvores em Campinas, São Paulo

Dendrochemistry is based on the determination of elements retained in tree rings, which can be useful to characterize environmental occurrences. This work shows elemental mappings obtained by EDXRF of the cross section of a tree stem. The tree is originated from a polluted area in Campinas, São Paulo. Some profiles, as the sulfur one, show variations that can be attributed to external contributions, whereas the silicon one can be inferred to a protection defense natural mechanism. Besides being simultaneous and multielementar, the main advantages here are its performance through a non-destructive sample treatment and the ease of operation of XRF equipments.

Quantificação de antimônio em garrafas de politereftalato de etileno (PET) brasileiras por fluorescência de raios-X e avaliação quimiométrica para verificar a presença de pet reciclado através do teor de ferro

Antimony is a common catalyst in the synthesis of polyethylene terephthalate used for food-grade bottles manufacturing. However, antimony residues in final products are transferred to juices, soft drinks or water. The literature reports mentions of toxicity associated to antimony. In this work, a green, fast and direct method to quantify antimony, sulfur, iron and copper, in PET bottles by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is presented. 2.4 to 11 mg Sb kg-1 were found in 20 samples analyzed. The coupling of the multielemental technique to chemometric treatment provided also the possibility to classify PET samples between bottle-grade PET/recycled PET blends by Fe content.