Quality control of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from different Brazilian bio-factories

The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality of Cotesia flavipes from different bio-factories as biological control agents. We evaluated biological characteristics of the parasitoids throughout their lifespan, and measured the body length and width, abdomen width, thorax width and width and length of the right forewing of female and male parasitoids. Our results showed that the number of males and pupal viability were similar among the bio-factories; the number of emerged females was greater in bio-factories I and II; the egg-pupa period and the pupal period were shorter in bio-factory IV; and a greater longevity was found in bio-factories II and III. Sex ratio (at approximately 60% females) was satisfactory (in terms of suitability for release) across all bio-factories. For morphometric measurements, the body, abdomen and wing widths were similar in males; however, thorax width was greater in the males from bio-factory I; bio-factory III produced females with the highest body length; bio-factory I produced females with the greatest abdomen width; bio-factories III and IV produced females with the greatest wing length. Among the bio-factories studied, bio-factory IV produced the best quality C. flavipes, with respect to the greatest number of parasitoids per pupal mass (a mean of 57% more parasitoids) in a satisfactory sex ratio, and with the shortest developmental time, which facilitates faster rearing in the laboratory. Studies such as this, which assess the quality of a mass-produced C. flavipes, are crucial for the continued use of this parasitoid in controlling Diatraea saccharalis in the field. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

FT-IR analysis of acid black dye biodegradation using saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized with treated sugarcane bagasse

Textile industries use large amounts of water in dyeing processes and a wide variety of synthetic dyes. A small concentration of these dyes in the environment can generate highly visible pollution and changes in aquatic ecosystems. Adsorption, biosorption, and biodegradation are the most advantageous dye removal processes. Biodegradation occurs when enzymes produced by certain microorganisms are capable of breaking down the dye molecule. To increase the efficiency of these processes, cell immobilization enables the reuse of the immobilized cells and offers a high degree of mechanical strength, allowing metabolic processes to take place under adverse conditions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in activated sugarcane bagasse for the degradation of Acid Black 48 dye in aqueous solutions. For such, sugarcane bagasse was treated with polyethyleneimine (PEI). Concentrations of a 1 % S. cerevisiae suspension were evaluated to determine cell immobilization rates. Once immobilization was established, biodegradation assays for 240 h with free and immobilized yeast in PEI-treated sugarcane bagasse were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry. The results indicated a probable change in the dye molecule and the possible formation of new metabolites. Thus, S. cerevisiae immobilized in sugarcane bagasse is very attractive for biodegradation processes in the treatment of textile effluents. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Determination of copper in different ethanolic matrices using a chloropropyl silica gel modified with a nanostructured cubic octa(3-aminopropyl)octasilsesquioxane

The chloropropyl silica gel was modified with octa(3-aminopropyl) octasilsesquioxane and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), spectroscopies, and surface and area porosity. The specific sorption capacity of metallic ions (Cu2+ and Ni2+) increases in the following solvent order: water < ethanol 42% < ethanol < ketone. The high values of the constant (K) in the order of 103 L mol-1 suggested the high adsorbent capacity of the modified silica (SGAPC) for Cu2+ and Ni2+. SGAPC was applied to a separation column and shows recoveries of around 100% of copper in samples of sugar cane spirit, vodka, ginger brandy, and ethanol fuel. © 2013 Devaney Ribeiro Do Carmo et al.

Variabilidade espacial da resistência mecânica do solo à penetração e umidade do solo em área cultivada com cana-de-açúcar na região de Humaitá, Amazonas, Brasil

The mechanical resistance to penetration (RP) is an attribute indicator of compaction was influenced by soil moisture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of soil resistance to penetration and soil moisture on area under cultivation of sugar cane in the region of Humaitá, Amazonas, Brazil. We conducted a sampling grid of 70x70 m where points were scored at regular intervals of 10 m, a total of 64 points. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.00 to 0.15 m, 0.15 to 0.30 I 0.30 to 0.45 m for determination of soil moisture and soil resistance to penetration in the field. After analysis of these data analyzes were descriptive statistics and geostatistics. We conclude that all the variables studied showed spatial dependence and range values were higher than stipulated by the sampling grid and the RP and soil moisture showed a spatial relationship where lower values of PR concentrated on smaller values of soil moisture.

Biomass-to-bio-products application of feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus clavatus

The structural polysaccharides contained in plant cell walls have been pointed to as a promising renewable alternative to petroleum and natural gas. Ferulic acid is a ubiquitous component of plant polysaccharides, which is found in either monomeric or dimeric forms and is covalently linked to arabinosyl residues. Ferulic acid has several commercial applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. The study herein introduces a novel feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus clavatus (AcFAE). Along with a comprehensive functional and biophysical characterization, the low-resolution structure of this enzyme was also determined by small-angle X-ray scattering. In addition, we described the production of phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity from wheat arabinoxylan and sugarcane bagasse using AcFAE. The ability to specifically cleave ester linkages in hemicellulose is useful in several biotechnological applications, including improved accessibility to lignocellulosic enzymes for biofuel production. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Sorption and desorption of phosphate on biochar and biochar-soil mixtures

The term biochar refers to materials with diverse chemical, physical and physicochemical characteristics that have potential as a soil amendment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the P sorption/desorption properties of various slow biochars and one fast pyrolysis biochar and to determine how a fast pyrolysis biochar influences these properties in a degraded tropical soil. The fast pyrolysis biochar was a mixture of three separate biochars: sawdust, elephant grass and sugar cane leaves. Three other biochars were made by slow pyrolysis from three Amazonian tree species (Lacre, Ingá and Embaúba) at three temperatures of formation (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C). Inorganic P was added to develop sorption curves and then desorbed to develop desorption curves for all biochar situations. For the slow pyrolysis, the 600 oC biochar had a reduced capacity to sorb P (4-10 times less) relative to those biochars formed at 400 °C and 500 °C. Conversely, biochar from Ingá desorbed the most P. The fast pyrolysis biochar, when mixed with degraded tropical mineral soil, decreased the soil's P sorption capacity by 55% presumably because of the high soluble, inorganic P prevalent in this biochar (909 mg P/kg of biochar). Phosphorus desorption from the fast pyrolysis biochar/soil mixture not only exhibited a common desorption curve but also buffered the soil solution at a value of ca. 0.2 mg/L. This study shows the diversity in P chemistry that can be expected when biochar is a soil amendment and suggests the potential to develop biochars with properties to meet specific objectives. © 2013 British Society of Soil Science.

Respostas fisiológicas de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar a herbicidas seletivos

The use of selective herbicides to control weeds has caused different responses in cultivars of sugar cane, and some products affect physiological characteristics and reduce the photosynthetic activity. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological traits in cultivars of sugar cane under the effect of applying post-emergence herbicides. The test was developed in Jau, SP. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial scheme 5 x 4 (cultivar x herbicide) with four replications. SP81-3250, RB855156, RB855453, RB867515, IACSP95-5000 were grown in this studied. Herbicides clomazone (1200 g i.a.ha-1); commercial mixture of clomazone + ametryn (1000 + 1500 g i.a.ha-1) and ametryn (3000 g i.a.ha-1) and a control were applied at 30 days after planting. Cultivars IACSP95-5000 and RB867515 were less affected physiologically and can be considered selective to these herbicides. The application of clomazone and ametryn affected negatively the traits maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), SPAD index and photosynthetic pigments, but the mixture of these herbicides caused higher reductions, indicating to be the more aggressive to the cultivars.

Stagnant effective thermal conductivity of agro-industrial residues for solid-state fermentation

The stagnant effective thermal conductivities (K0) of sugar cane bagasse (SCB), wheat bran (WB), orange pulp and peel (OPP) and their combination (weight proportion 1:2:2 SCB/OPP/WB) were obtained using the line heat source method. These solid materials were applied to pectinase production via solid-state fermentation. The moisture content ranged from 4 to 80% (w.b.). A conduction mechanism through the porous media was observed, along with conduction through a liquid film and contact thermal resistance between the samples and the probe. K0 was low for intermediate moisture contents and approached the molecular conductivity of water for high moisture contents. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Produção de etanol a partir de mosto hidrolisado hemicelulósico de ponta e palha de cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Eficácia do herbicida mesotrione aplicado no sistema de cana crua

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Seletividade do herbicida saflufenacil aplicado em pós-emergência em dez variedades de cana-de-açúcar na condição de soca

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Técnicas para acúmulo em plantas de substâncias fotossintetizantes de uso em terapia fotodinâmica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tolerância de Digitaria ciliaris, Digitaria horizontalis e Digitaria nuda à herbicidas usados em cana-de-açúcar

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Eficácia da mistura de glifosato a outros maturadores na cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thiametoxam em cana-de-açúcar manejada com maturadores

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)