Typification of four North American club-chollas: the names of four Engelmannian species from Mexico and Southwestern United States

The names Opuntia bulbispina, O. clavata, O. emoryi and O. grahamii, originally proposed by George Engelmann between 1848 and 1856, are reviewed and typified after new findings of previously unknown voucher specimens. Original materials collected by some of the collaborators employed by Engelmann during the Mexican Boundary Survey were discovered in a loan from the Torrey Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden (NY). Many of the materials include fragments of stems and fruits, and others include only sectioned flowers and some seeds. Particularly good descriptions of the species here concerned were published in Engelmann’s “Synopsis of the Cactaceae” in 1857, and exceptional illustrations were produced by Paulus Roetter and printed in “Cactaceae of the Boundary” in 1859. The problems surrounding some previous typifications of these names range from typification of joint lectotypes to illegitimate typifications of illustrations when original material was known to exist. The materials selected for typification were collected by the Mexican Boundary Survey and are lodged at the herbaria of the Missouri Botanical Garden (MO) and the New York Botanical Garden (NY); some are illustrations published by Engelmann.

Wide-band tracheids (WBTs) of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic stems in species of Cactaceae

ARRUDA, E. AND G. F. A. MELO-DE-PINNA (Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biociencias. Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao, travessa 14, Cidade Universitaria, Butanta, Caixa Postal 11461, 05422-970. Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil). Wide-band tracheids (WBTs) of the photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic stems in species of Cactaceae. J. Torrey Bat. Soc. 137: 16-29. 2010.-The absence of WBTs and wood polymorphisms in some species of the Caryophyllales may be related to the particular area of plant analyzed. The present research has the objective of studying the photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic stems of different species and stages of differentiation to register wood polymorphisms and to understand the distribution and occurrence of WBTs. Wood polymorphism was observed in the non-photosynthetic stern of young and adult plants of Opuntioideae and Cactoideae and is also found in the photosynthetic stem of young plants of some species of Cactoideae. Cactoideae present WBT/fibrous dimorphic wood that can be related to cambial variation associated with growth habits and plant development. As expected, in the photosynthetic stem of the adult columnar cacti the wood is monomorphic fibrous in which WBTs were not found. This wood contains a great amount of fibers due to necessity of the mechanical support. In contrast, the globular species do not possess fibers in this area of the stem in either adult or young plants. Opuntia monacantha Haw. had non-fibrous wood in which WBTs were observed in the axial system and in the inner parts of the rays. Fiber clusters were present in the axial system. This wood represents a variation in the wood types described for Opuntioideae. Also, in O. monacantha, cells similar to the WBTs were observed in the pith, which can be interpreted as variation in the morphogenic processes during the ontogeny of the plant, probably a case of homeosis. Monomorphic fibrous wood without WBTs was found along the entire stem of Pereskia bahiensis Gurke. This feature has been observed in other pereskias, and in addition to the others, indicates its proximity to the ancestral cacti.

Avaliação das atividades antioxidantes e citotóxicas de extratos ricos em polissacarídeos extraídos das hastes de mandacaru (Cereus Jamacaru de Candolle, Cactaceae)

The use of medicinal plants to cure and treat various diseases is a common practice in the world and in Brazil. In several regions of the Brazil´s Northeast, the cactus Cereus jamacaru, known as mandacaru, is used popularly as a treatment to many diseases, including those related to heart respiratory diseases, gastric ulcers, scurvy, and kidney diseases. However, there is a scarcity in the scientific literature that proves scientifically the popular application of this cactus. Like other plants, Cereus jamacaru synthesizes several potentially bioactive molecules, like as polysaccharides. In this work, three polysaccharides-rich aqueous extracts, MCA80, MPM and MCP60, were obtained from this plant and analyzed chemically, as well as their cytotoxic and antioxidant potential. The data showed that all extracts consist mainly of polysaccharides (89.42 to 95.76%), but also protein (> 2%) and phenolic (3 to 8.87%) contaminants were detected. All extracts are rich in galactose, glucose and mannose. In addition, glucuronic acid was found in MCA80 and MCP60. The extracts showed total antioxidant capacity ranged from 55.21 to 68.13 of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE). Besides, they exhibited reducer power and cupric chelation in a dose-dependent manner. None of the extracts inhibited the MTT reduction in the presence of prostate tumor cells (PC-3). However, MCP60 was the most effective extract by preventing the reduction of MTT by about 80% in the presence of cells 786. Nuclear fragmentation tests showed that this extract induces cell death. The data indicated that mandacaru synthesizes bioactive polysaccharides with potential as antioxidant and antitumor agents. For future studies, it is intended to purify and characterize these polysaccharides and its antioxidant and antitumor mechanisms

Formas de preparo de figo-da-índia minimamente processado

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of methods of preparation in postharvest conservation of minimally processed products of cactus pear fruits. Ripe cactus pear fruits orange-fleshed, from a commercial orchard in the region of Valinhos, SP, Brazil, were used. After selection, the fruits were washed and the surface sanitized with a solution of dichloro s. triazinatriona sodium dihydrate (Sumaveg (R)) 200 mg 100g(-1) of free chlorine for 5 minutes. Fruits were then stored at 12 degrees C for 12 hours before processing. The first process was the removal of the shell and ends. Then, the fruits were cut longitudinally into two halves, peeled and sliced in 2 cm thick cross-sections. The whole fruit, halves and slices were packaged in polyethylene terephthalate containers (Neoforma (R) N-94). These units were stored at 3 degrees C for 16 days and analyses were performed every 4 days. The weight loss, the content of soluble solids (SS), the titratable acidity (TA), the ratio (SS / TA) and the ascorbic acid content were evaluated and the sensory analysis of products was performed. Whole fruits were preferred concerning the purchase intent and showed better results regarding the content of soluble solids, titratable acidity, soluble solids / titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content. The highest weight loss was observed in slices.

Palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica e Nopalea cochenillifera) como matéria-prima para produção de etanol celulósico e enzimas celulolíticas

The need for new sources of energy and the concern about the environment have pushed the search for renewable energy sources such as ethanol. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as substrate appears as an important alternative because of the abundance of this raw material and for it does not compete with food production. However, the process still meets difficulties of implementation, including the cost for production of enzymes that degrade cellulose to fermentable sugars. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the species of cactus pear Opuntia ficus indica and Nopalea cochenillifera, commonly found in northeastern Brazil, as raw materials for the production of: 1) cellulosic ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, using two different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PE-2 and LNF CA-11), and 2) cellulolytic enzymes by semi-solid state fermentation (SSSF) using the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Before alcoholic fermentation process, the material was conditioned and pretreated by three different strategies: alkaline hydrogen peroxide, alkaline using NaOH and acid using H2SO4 followed by alkaline delignification with NaOH. Analysis of composition, crystallinity and enzymatic digestibility were carried out with the material before and after pretreatment. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images were used to compare qualitatively the material and observe the effects of pretreatments. An experimental design 2² with triplicate at the central point was used to evaluate the influence of temperature (30, 40 and 45 °C) and the initial charge of substrate (3, 4 and 5% cellulose) in the SSF process using the material obtained through the best condition and testing both strains of S. cerevisiae, one of them flocculent (LNF CA-11). For cellulase production, the filamentous fungus P. chrysogenum was tested with N. cochenillifera in the raw condition (without pretreatment) and pretrated hydrothermically, varying the pH of the fermentative medium (3, 5 and 7). The characterization of cactus pear resulted in 31.55% cellulose, 17.12% hemicellulose and 10.25% lignin for N. cochenillifera and 34.86% cellulose, 19.97% hemicellulose and 15.72% lignin for O. ficus indica. It has also been determined, to N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, the content of pectin (5.44% and 5.55% of calcium pectate, respectively), extractives (26.90% and 9.69%, respectively) and ashes (5.40% and 5.95%). Pretreatment using alkaline hydrogen peroxide resulted in the best cellulose recovery results (86.16% for N. cochenillifera and 93.59% for O. ficus indica) and delignification (48.79% and 23.84% for N. cochenillifera and O. ficus indica, respectively). This pretreatment was also the only one which did not increase the crystallinity index of the samples, in the case of O. ficus indica. However, when analyzing the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose, alkali pretreatment was the one which showed the best yields and therefore it was chosen for the tests in SSF. The experiments showed higher yield of conversion of cellulose to ethanol by PE-2 strain using the pretreated N. cochenillifera (93.81%) at 40 °C using 4% initial charge of cellulose. N. cochenillifera gave better yields than O. ficus indica and PE-2 strain showed better performance than CA-11. N. cochenillifera proved to be a substrate that can be used in the SSSF for enzymes production, reaching values of 1.00 U/g of CMCase and 0.85 FPU/g. The pretreatment was not effective to increase the enzymatic activity values

Adequação da metodologia para o teste de germinação de sementes de pitaia vermelha

Hylocereus undatus (Haw.), popularmente conhecida como pitaia vermelha é uma cactácea para a qual se tem registrado um aumento de consumo nos últimos anos e, por ser ainda pouco explorada, vários aspectos referentes à sua propagação ainda são desconhecidos. Até o momento, não existem critérios para a execução de testes de germinação para sementes dessa espécie, publicados nas Regras para Análise de Sementes. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com este trabalho adequar a metodologia quanto ao substrato, temperatura e tempo de contagem inicial e final para o teste de germinação. Foram testados quatro substratos (rolo de papel, areia, vermiculita e solo) e quatro temperaturas (20, 25, 30 e 20-30°C). O efeito dos substratos no desempenho germinativo das sementes foi avaliado pelo teste de germinação e de primeira contagem instalado com quatro subamostras de 50 sementes. Foram feitas contagens diárias do número de plântulas emergidas até atingirem a estabilidade e, no final do experimento, foram avaliados a porcentagem de germinação das sementes, considerando as plântulas normais, anormais e sementes mortas. Concluiu-se que o teste de germinação de sementes de pitaia vermelha deve ser realizado à temperatura constante de 25°C em rolo de papel, com contagens inicial e final aos cinco e dez dias após a semeadura, respectivamente.

Fenologia da figueira-da-índia em Selvíria - MS

A figueira-da-índia é uma cactácea de origem mexicana, com grande potencial produtivo para as condições edafoclimáticas do Brasil, porém a falta de conhecimento faz com que a cultura seja pouco cultivada. Com o objetivo de avaliar a fenologia da figueira-da-índia, o presente trabalho foi realizado em plantas com 4 anos de idade, no espaçamento de 1,0 x 2,5 m, na área experimental da Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão da Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP, localizada no município de Selvíria - MS, de agosto de 2006 a janeiro de 2007. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com dez repetições, com uma planta por parcela experimental, ocasião em que foram avaliados a fenologia e o crescimento dos frutos. O período de emissão das gemas concentrou-se nos meses de setembro e outubro. O florescimento, ocorreu 30 dias após a emissão da gema florífera. Os frutos atingiram a maturidade fisiológica (ponto de colheita) aos 66 dias após o florescimento e aos 72 dias apresentavam-se maduros, aptos para o consumo. O período de desenvolvimento dos frutos, desde a emissão da gema florífera até a maturidade fisiológica, foi de 96 dias. A curva de crescimento dos frutos foi do tipo quadrática. A cultura da figueira-da-índia pode tornar-se uma alternativa principalmente para pequenos produtores, visto que não exige grandes investimentos para sua implantação e condução, além de se adaptar bem às condições ambientais de nosso País. Seus frutos possuem excelentes preços tanto no mercado nacional como no internacional, e o aproveitamento na forma de doces e geleias pode incrementar a renda dos produtores.

Influence of light and temperature on seed germination of Cereus pernambucensis Lemaire (Cactaceae)

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

The epiphytic Cactaceae Hylocereus setaceus (Salm-Dick ex DC.) ralf bauer seed germination is controlled by light and temperature

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

Morfometria e acúmulo de biomassa em palma forrageira sob doses de nitrogênio

Objetivou-se avaliar parâmetros morfológicos e de produção em Palma forrageira cv. Miúda, sob doses de adubo nitrogenado. Além disso, apontar características morfológicas que possam ser utilizadas como variáveis preditoras da massa fresca dos cladódios. O experimento foi conduzido num delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos (ausência de adubação nitrogenada, 100; 200 e 300kg/ha de nitrogênio) e quatro repetições. Não houve diferenças significativas (P>0,10) para as características morfogênicas e comprimento dos cladódios. A adubação nitrogenada exerceu efeito linear negativo para as características largura, espessura, volume e peso médio de cladódios e efeito linear positivo para número de cladódios. Houve correlação linear positiva entre a massa fresca e as características morfológicas dos cladódios. O uso da adubação nitrogenada não interfere nas características morfogênicas e na produção de biomassa da palma forrageira. O volume dos cladódios pode ser usado como variável preditora para a massa fresca dos cladódios.

Adubação orgânica e intensidade luminosa no crescimento e desenvolvimento inicial da Pitaya em Bom Jesus-PI

A pitaya é uma cactácea de sub-bosque, originária de florestas tropicais do México e das Américas Central e do Sul, pouco estudada no Brasil, principalmente quanto à sua resposta à intensidade luminosa e adubação. Nesse sentido, realizou-se um experimento objetivando avaliar crescimento e desenvolvimento inicial da pitaya em função da intensidade luminosa e adubação orgânica. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados, com tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 5 x 3, referentes, respectivamente, aos níveis de adubação orgânica (0; 5; 10; 20 e 30 L de esterco bovino cova-1) e aos percentuais de luz (0; 50 e 75% de sombreamento), com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados semanalmente diâmetro do cladódio (mm), altura de estacas (cm) e comprimento do ramo secundário (cm); ao final do experimento, massa fresca da parte aérea e massas secas de raiz e parte aérea (g), sendo que para as variáveis mensuradas, semanalmente, foram calculados os respectivos incrementos percentuais semanais. Segundo os resultados do presente trabalho, no cultivo da pitaya, é necessário o uso de cobertura contra a incidência direta dos raios solares, onde as estruturas com 50% ou 75% de luminosidade podem ser usadas. O fornecimento de 20 L cova-1 de esterco bovino pode ser adotado como quantitativo no preparo de covas de pitaya, nas condições de clima e solo de Bom Jesus-PI.

Efeito de substratos e boro no enraizamento de estacas de pitaya

A pitaya é uma espécie vegetal trepadeira e frutífera, pertencente à família das cactáceas e que vem se destacando no mercado de frutas exóticas no Brasil. Objetivou-se avaliar diferentes substratos no enraizamento de cladódios com a base imersa e não-imersa em solução com ácido bórico, na formação e no desenvolvimento inicial de raízes, visando à obtenção de mudas mais vigorosas, de melhor qualidade e com maiores chances de sobrevivência. O experimento foi conduzido sob ripado no Departamento de Produção Vegetal, setor de Horticultura da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas no campus de Botucatu, UNESP, São Paulo. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 (substratos x boro), com quatro repetições. Após 60 dias da instalação do experimento foram avaliados: massa de matérias fresca e seca da parte aérea, massa de matérias fresca e seca das raízes e comprimento da maior raiz. O crescimento e desenvolvimento radicular inicial de estacas são influenciados pelo tipo de substrato e pelo uso do micronutriente boro. A mistura areia + esterco proporciona maior acúmulo de fitomassa na parte aérea e no sistema radicular de pitaya vermelha. Dentre os substratos trabalhados, o mais indicado para a produção de mudas mais vigorosas e de boa qualidade é o preparado à base de mistura de areia + esterco bovino curtido.

A fast microwave-assisted, acid-vapor, steam-cleaning procedure for autosampler cups

A new and fast procedure is proposed for cleaning autosampler cups using acid-vapor steam-cleaning with a miniaturized assembly in a microwave-heated sealed Teflon vessel. A glass cactus-shaped holder was made to support six polyethylene autosampler cups (volume, 2.0 mt) inside a 100 mt microwave vessel. Regent-grade nitric acid was added to the vessels, and the system was heated in a microwave oven for 5 min at 300 W. Chromium was determined by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The blank values were lower with cleaned cups compared to untreated cups (i.e., as received from supplier). The quantification limits, estimated from detection limits established with Milli-Q water, were 0.66 and 0.95 mu g Cr L-1 for cleaned and untreated auto-sampler cups, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Intriguing thigmonastic (sensitive) stamens in the Plains Prickly Pear Opuntia polyacantha (Cactaceae)

The movement of sensitive stamens in flowers of the Plains Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha) is described in detail along with the external and internal filament anatomy. The goals of this investigation were: (1) to provide a synthesis of floral phenology and determine whether this rather unique stamen movement is nastic or a tropism and (2) to conduct macro- and micro-morphological analyses of filaments to determine if there are anatomical traits associated with this movement. To better understand the internal and external structure in sensitive filaments of O. polyacantha, we performed comparative anatomical analyses in two additional species from the Opuntioideae with stamens lacking such sensitivity. The consistent unidirectional movement of stamens, independent of the area stimulated, indicates a thigmonastic response. This movement serves multiple purposes, from enhancing pollen presentation to facilitating cross-pollination, protecting pollen and preventing insects from robbing pollen. Anatomically, the sensitive and non-sensitive filaments exhibit different tissue organization. Cuticle thickness, presence of capsular structures, two layers of curved cells, and more and larger intercellular spaces are characteristic of sensitive filaments. A thin unicellular epidermal layer is characteristic in sensitive filaments versus 2-3 epidermal layers in non-sensitive filaments. Another striking feature in sensitive filaments is the presence of papillae and capsular structures. We believe that these elements are related to water mobility with subsequent contraction during the thigmonastic response. Capsular structures might have a role in fluid mobility according to the stimulus of the filaments. We hypothesize that the thigmonastic response is controlled by cells with elastic properties, as evidenced by the plasmolyzed curved and contracted cells in the filaments and the fact that the movement is activated by changes in cell turgor followed by contraction as a result of plasmolysis. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH.