Anatomy of the frontal gland and ultramorphology of the frontal tube in the soldier caste of species of Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae)

is a predominant characteristic, conditioned by the presence of castes with different morphology, ontogeny, and development. The soldier caste is unique among social insects and it is responsible for colony defense. Soldiers belonging to the Nasutitermitinae subfamily are very peculiar, since they may be polymorphic and present a nasus in addition to either developed or vestigial mandibles. The defensive secretions of soldiers of the neotropical Nasutitermitinae have been the aim of several chemical studies, but few data exist concerning the anatomy and histology of the exocrine glands. This article presents a comparative study on the anatomy of the frontal gland of soldiers of several Nasutitermitinae species: Syntermes dirus (Burmeister), Syntermes nanus (Constantino), Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri), Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) and Velocitermes heteropterus (Silvestri), with emphasis on the ultramorphology and ultrastructure of the frontal tube.

Rooting of platanus-acerifolia stem cuttings treated with auxins

The objective of the present research was to study the effects of auxins and cumarin, in rooting of stem cuttings of Platanus acerifolia. The application of auxins and cumarin in the base of cuttings' was by means of talc application. The following treatments were applied: T1 (control); T2 (NAA 0,5% in talc); T3 (IBA 0,5% in talc) and T4 (cumarin 0,75% in talc). Three experiments were done with collected branches in different periods with the purpose, of determining the best period to take the cuttings. Sixty days after planting the following observations were made: root cuttings; length of root formation (cm.); total fresh weight (g.); average fresh weight (g.); total dry weight (g.); average dry weight (g.). It was concluded that the best period of taking the branches to make the cuttings was the spring time. It was also observed that the cuttings treated with NAA or IBA in talc enhanced the rooting.

Floral anatomy of Eriocaulon elichrysoides and Syngonanthus caulescens (Eriocaulaceae)

The floral anatomy of Eriocaulon elichrysoides Bong. and Syngonanthus caulescens (Poir.) Ruhland, from Brazilian mountain rock savannas (campos rupestres) was studied. The staminate flowers of E. elichrysoides present a diplostemonous androecium with six stamens, and those of S. caulescens present an isostemonous androecium with three stamens and three scalelike staminodes. Eriocaulon elichrysoides and S. caulescens have three nectariferous pistillodes located in the central portion of the receptacle. The pistillate flowers of E. elichrysoides present three simple styles while those of S. caulescens present three simple styles interspersed with three nectariferous appendices. Both the styles of E. elichrysoides and the nectariferous appendices of S. caulescens are vascularized by the dorsal vascular bundles of the carpels. The styles of S. caulescens lack vascularization. At the base of the gynoecium of E. elichrysoides there are six staminodes and there are three in the S. caulescens. Entomophily is suggested as the pollination syndrome in E. elichrysoides and S. caulescens as they present staminate and pistillate flowers with nectariferous structures. The ancestral character in Eriocaulon is probably given by the presence of the two staminal whorls. The staminate flowers of S. caulescens are probably derived from the reduction of a diplostemonous ancestral androecium. It remains open whether the pistillate flowers with nectariferous, appendices present an ancestral character or a derived one.

Gross anatomy of the portal vein and its tributaries in the opossum (Didelphis albiventris)

The gross anatomy of the portal vein (V. portae) and its tributaries was studied through anatomical methods, i.e. dissection, corrosion and diaphanization, in 45 opossums (Didelphis albiventris). In all animals the portal vein was formed by the junction of the cranial mesenteric, caudal mesenteric and lienal veins (V. mesenterica cranialis, V. mesenterica caudalis and V. lienalis, respectively). Many collateral tributaries were observed running into the portal venous trunk.

Effect of substrata on the development of stem cuttings of Lippia alba (Mill.) NEBR. - Limonene-carvone chemotype

Studies were conducted to show the effect of different substrata on the development of stem cuttings of Lippia alba made of limonene-carvone chemotype. The experiment was done in the College of Agronomical Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil in 2000. The cuttings were planted in polystyrene trays consisting of 72 cells. The cuttings had about 0.20 m of length and were put in the following substrata:Fine sand (T1), commercial substratum (T2), carbonised rice peel and local soil (T3), local soil, cow manure and carbonised rice peel (T4), vermiculite (T5), and carbonised rice peel (T6). After 40 days the development of stem cuttings were evaluated. High rate of rooting of stem cuttings was verified, with average of 95 10 and no significant difference between the treatments. In relation to dry mass of aerial parts and dry mass of roots, significant differences were found. For dry mass production of aerial parts the commercial substratum (T2) and the local soil, cow manure, carbonised rice peel (T4) were optimal. For mass of roots the local soil, cow manure, carbonised rice peel (T4) proved to be the best.

Roots, leaves and scapes anatomy of species of Paepalanthus subgenus Platycaulon (Eriocaulaceae)

The anatomical features of roots, leaves and scapes of the subgenus Platycaulon, genus Paepalanthus (Eriocaulaceae) that grow in the Brasilian rupestrian fields of Serra do Cipo - MG - Brazil were studied. The following main anatomical features were found: epidermis cells of varied thicknesses, chlorenchyma with compact or spread organization and leaf margin shape in the leaves; the scapes with continuous or discontinuous endodermis, divided or undivided pericycle, vascular bundles absent in the cortex and in the pith. These anatomical characteristics of the leaves and scapes occur in different species and can be used to separate them into Divise or Conferti sections. It was possible to confirm the proposed taxonomy based only on the morphological characteristics. Other anatomical features such as: presence or absence of air in the cortex roots and hypodermis which originate water parenchyma reserves in the mesophyll, can be an adaptative response that plants towards produce the environmental factors in this ecosystem.

Kinetics of zinc uptake and anatomy of roots and leaves of coffee trees as affected by zinc nutrition

Zinc (Zn) uptake kinetics and root and leaf anatomy were studied in coffee trees grown in nutrient solutions with or without Zn. Leaves and roots were sampled and cuts were made in the medium part of the leaves and in root tips and observed under an optical microscope. Plants grown without Zn showed an increase in root and in root stele diameter. There was also an increase in epidermis thickness and in the cross-sectional area of the cortex and stele due to Zn deficiency, but the diameter of xylem vessels was decreased. An increase in root cortex and stele diameter provided for an increased surface for nutrient uptake. Accordingly, C(min) was decreased from 13.8 to 3.4 mu mol L(-1) and V(max) increased from 0.50 to 2.1 mu mol cm(-2) h(-1) .

Anatomy of the oral cavity of hylid larvae from the genera Aplastodiscus, Bokermannohyla, and Hypsiboas (Amphibia, anura): Description and systematic implications

Internal larval oral anatomy was used to explore morphological diversity and its contribution to the systematics of the genera Aplastodiscus, Bokerinannohyla, and Hypsiboas, belonging to the tribe Cophomantini. Internal oral morphology was examined for tadpoles of 12 species. All species have a large pair of infralabial papillae on the buccal floor and other papillae on the prelingual region. In Aplastodiscus and Bokerinannohyla, the large infralabial papillae have digitiform secondary projections. The number and arrangement of the buccal floor papillae varies among species, but they are more numerous in Aplastodiscus and Bokerinannohyla. The arrangement of the postnarial papillae is variable, but in Aplastodiscus and Bokerinannohyla, they show a definite, inverted V-shape pattern. The lateral ridge papillae are more complex in larvae of Bokertnannohyla with long digitiform secondary projections. Tadpoles of only Aplastodiscus albofrenatus, Aplastodiscus eugenioi, and Bokerinannohyla luctuosa have papillae on the buccal roof arena and larvae of all species have lateral roof papillae except Hypsiboas albomarginatus and Hypsiboas cinerascens. Larvae of Aplastodiscus, Bokermannohyla, and Hypsiboas presumably share the presence of vacuities anterior to the internal nares; although this character state is clearly synapomorphic within hylids, it is still uncertain whether it is exclusive of these three genera or whether it is present in the other genera of the tribe Cophomantini (Hyloscirtus and Myersiohyla). The inclusion of internal oral anatomy characters, such as the narial vacuities, in systematic studies is certainly valuable because it will provide additional information toward the understanding of phylogenetic relationships.

Effects of auxins and boron on rooting of kiwi stem cuttings (Actinidia chinensis Pl cv Matua)

This work studies the effects of some synthetical auxins and boron in the rooting of stem cuttings of kiwi (Actinidia chinensis Planch cv Matua). The stems used had two nodes and two leaves cut in half. The auxin effect was observed through seven different treatments: T1 (H2O); T2 (NAA 300 ppm); T3 (IBA 300 ppm); T4 (NAA 300 ppm + B); T5 (IBA 300 ppm + B); T6 (NAA 0,5%-talc) and T7 (IBA 0,5%-talc), applied to the bases of stem cuttings. After these treatments, the cuttings were placed in suitable rooting dishes, with pure vermiculite in misty nebulization chamber for 120 days until collection day. The evaluation of auxin and boric acid effects were made based on the following observations: 1. The percentage of rooted stem cuttings; 2. reducing sugar and total sugar analyses; and 3. tryptophan analyses. The effects of such treatments were observed in the four seasons. The results showed that winter is best for rooting. Application of IBA talc 0,5% to the cuttings bases increased rooting.

Action of auxins, boron and harvest season on the rooting of kiwi fruit stem cuttings (Actinidia chinensis Pl cv Monty)

Action of auxins on the rooting of stem cuttings of kiwi (Actinidia chinensis P. cv Monty). This work studies the effects of some synthetic auxins and B in the rooting of kiwi (Actinidia chinensis Planch cv Monty) stem cuttings. The treatments used were as follows: T1 (H2O); T2 (NAA 300 ppm); T3 (IBA 300 ppm); T4 (NAA 300 ppm + B); T5 (IBA 300 ppm + B); T6 (NAA 0,5%-talc) and T7 (IBA 0,5%-talc), applied to the bases of the cuttings. These were then placed in rooting dishes with pure vermiculite in a misty nebulization chamber until collection day (120 days). The evaluation of auxin and boric acid effects on kiwi stem cuttings were made based on the following observations: 1. The percentage of rooted stem cuttings; 2. reducing sugars and total sugar analyses (in g/100 g of dry matter); and 3. tryptophan analyses (in mu g/100 mg of dry matter). The results show that summer is the best season for rooting Actinidia chinensis Planch cv Monty stem cuttings. The use of IBA talc 0,5% on the bases of the cuttings shamed positive results too.

Sterolic and triterpenoidic constituents of stem bark of Drypetes gossweileri

Four compounds have been identified from the stem bark of Drypetes gossweileri by means of H-1- and C-13-NMR spectroscopy, stearic acid, methyl putranjate, and two new compounds: stigmasterol stearate and beta-sitosterol stearate.