Growth of populations and the fungus garden of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) response to foraged substrates

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

The nitrogen sufficiency index underlying estimates of nitrogen fertilization requirements of common bean

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

Efeitos do glyphosate e sulfometuron-methyl no crescimento e na qualidade tecnológica da cana-de-açúcar

Os herbicidas, mesmo quando usados em doses reduzidas ou utilizados como maturadores, podem alterar a morfofisiologia da planta, o que pode levar a modificações qualitativas e quantitativas na produção. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a eficiência agronômica e os efeitos, durante o crescimento da cana-soca, da aplicação de glyphosate e sulfometuron-methyl em baixas doses. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelos herbicidas sulfometuron-methyl e glyphosate em diferentes doses e misturas e por uma testemunha (sem aplicação dos produtos). Uma linha de plantas de cana-de-açúcar foi destinada à aferição da qualidade tecnológica, sendo estabelecido 1 m aleatório a cada época de amostragem. Os colmos coletados foram submetidos ao desponte na altura da gema apical e à desfolha; em seguida, foram encaminhados para processamento segundo a metodologia do Sistema de Pagamento de Cana pelo Teor de Sacarose (SPCTS), sendo considerados os parâmetros tecnológicos: pol cana (PCC), pureza do caldo (PUI), açúcar total recuperável (ATR) e Brix. Nas soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar, realizaram-se análises de crescimento (altura e perfilhos). As avaliações foram realizadas na pré-colheita (30 dias após aplicação dos maturadores) e 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 dias após a colheita. Os herbicidas glyphosate e sulfometuron-methyl propiciaram melhoria da qualidade tecnológica da matéria-prima,com incrementos significativos na pureza do caldo e no Brix. A aplicação dos produtos não interferiu na produtividade e no teor de açúcar. Houve efeito estimulante no perfilhamento quando se usou glyphosate na dose de 400 mL ha-1 e redução em crescimento (altura) no início do desenvolvimento da cana, porém, com o tempo, o efeito não se manteve.

Participação do colmo principal e dos afilhos na produtividade do arroz irrigado, em função da densidade de semeadura

Entre as práticas culturais a serem consideradas na implantação da cultura do arroz destaca-se a densidade de semeadura, que deve estabelecer, em grande parte, a participação do colmo principal e dos afilhos nos componentes da produção, possibilitando a obtenção da máxima produtividade. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a participação do colmo principal e dos afilhos na produtividade de grãos de arroz, cv. IAC 102, no sistema irrigado por inundação, em função da densidade de semeadura. O experimento foi desenvolvido sob túnel plástico, em Botucatu (SP), em caixas d'água de cimento amianto de 500 L, contendo Neossolo Flúvico Ta Eutrófico, com profundidade de 30 cm. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. As densidades de semeadura foram: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 e 600 sementes viáveis por m², em 4 linhas de 1 m por caixa, espaçadas com 20 cm. A elevação da densidade de semeadura diminui o afilhamento e proporciona a maior participação dos colmos principais, porém, não resultando em incremento de produtividade, devido à plasticidade das plantas de arroz, que proporciona o ajustamento dos componentes da produção.

Silicon leaf application and physiological quality of white oat and wheat seeds

Plant nutrition can positively influence quality of seeds by improving plant tolerance to adverse climate. In this context, silicon is currently considered a micronutrient and it is beneficial to plant growth, especially Poaceaes such as white oat and wheat, thereby improving physiological quality of seeds. This study had the objective of evaluating the effects of silicon leaf application on plant tillering, silicon levels and physiological quality of white oat and wheat seeds besides establishing correlations between them. Two experiments were carried out in winter with white oat and wheat. The experimental design was the completely randomized block with eight replications. Treatments consisted of foliar application of silicon (0.8% of soluble silicon, as stabilized orthosilicic acid) and a control (with no application). Silicon levels in leaves were determined at flowering whereas the number of plants and panicles/spikes per area was counted right before harvest. Seed quality was evaluated right after harvest through mass, germination and vigor tests. Data was submitted to variance analysis and means were compared by the Tukey test at a probability level of 5%. Person's linear correlation test was performed among silicon level in plants, tillering and seed quality data. Silicon leaf application increases root and total length of white oat seedlings as an effect of higher Si level in leaves. Silicon leaf application increases mass of wheat seeds without affecting germination or vigor.

Bee communities (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) of the Cerrado ecosystem in São Paulo State, Brazil

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

In vivo assessment of DNA damage and protective effects of extracts from Miconia species using the comet assay and micronucleus test

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

In vitro and in vivo safety evaluation of Dipteryx alata Vogel extract

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

Oleanane Saponins and Glycerogalactolipids from the Leaves of Guapira graciliflora

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

A novel intelligent system to nitrogen content prediction in plants using indirect chlorophyll measurements

The accurate identification of the nitrogen content in plants is extremely important since it involves economic aspects and environmental impacts, Several experimental tests have been carried out to obtain characteristics and parameters associated with the health of plants and its growing. The nitrogen content identification in plants involves a lot of non-linear parameters and complexes mathematical models. This paper describes a novel approach for identification of nitrogen content thought SPAD index using artificial neural networks (ANN). The network acts as identifier of relationships among, crop varieties, fertilizer treatments, type of leaf and nitrogen content in the plants (target). So, nitrogen content can be generalized and estimated and from an input parameter set. This approach can form the basis for development of an accurate real time system to predict nitrogen content in plants.

Nitrogen content identification in crop plants using spectral reflectance and artificial neural networks

The accurate identification of the nitrogen content in crop plants is extremely important since it involves economic aspects and environmental impacts. Several experimental tests have been carried out to obtain characteristics and parameters associated with the health of plants and its growing. The nitrogen content identification involves a lot of nonlinear parametes and complexes mathematical models. This paper describes a novel approach for identification of nitrogen content thought spectral reflectance of plant leaves using artificial neural networks. The network acts as identifier of relationships among pH of soil, fertilizer treatment, spectral reflectance and nitrogen content in the plants. So, nitrogen content can be estimated and generalized from an input parameter set. This approach can be form the basis for development of an accurate real time nitrogen applicator.

Recovery of soil physical properties by green manure, liming, gypsum and pasture and spontaneous native species

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

Effects of polymorphic microsatellites in the regulatory region of IGF1 and GHR on growth and carcass traits in beef cattle

Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF1 and IGF2) and their associated binding proteins and transmembrane receptors (GHR, IGF1R and IGF2R) play an important role in the physiology of mammalian growth. The objectives of the present study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies of microsatellite markers located in the 5'-regulatory region of the IGF1 and GHR genes in beef cattle belonging to different genetic groups and to determine effects of these markers on growth and carcass traits in these animals under an intensive production system. For this purpose, genotyping was performed on 384 bulls including 79 Nellore, 30 Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) and 275 crossbred animals originating from crosses of Simmental (1/2 Simmental, n = 30) and Angus (1/2 Angus, n = 245) sires with Nellore females. The effects of substituting L allele for S allele of GHR microsatellite across Nellore, Canchim and 1/2 Angus were significant for weight gain and body weight (P < 0.05). The IGF1 microsatellite allele substitutions of 229 for 225 within Nellore group and of 225 for 229 within 1/2 Angus were not significant for any of the traits.

Genetic diversity of three size classes of seeds of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus

Variation in seed size is often observed in samples of eucalypt seeds and this leads to heterogeneous populations of plants, principally through variation in the early stages of plant development. It follows that samples of seeds more uniform in size could produce more uniform populations of plants. In studies of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus it was of interest to determine whether or not the genetic diversity within a population, through the use of isozyme markers, was altered in the subpopulations developed from seeds of different size classes. A commercial sample of seed was separated by seed size into three subpopulations and the percentage germination and mean fresh weight of the seedlings were determined. Proteins extracted from leaves of the seedlings were separated by electrophoresis and tested for activity of eight different enzymes. These eight enzymes showed activity at 20 loci and mean genetic diversity and fixation index were determined using 13 of these loci. The subpopulation of the smallest seeds contained a greater proportion of abnormal seeds and had a lower percentage germination and plant weight compared to the other subpopulations. No significant differences were found in the number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, mean heterozygosity. The major part of the endogamy, indicated by F statistic, was found within the subpopulations: F-(IS) = 0.518; F-(ST) = 0.010 and F(IT) = 0.523. We conclude that the use of seeds of uniform size will lead to more uniform germination and plant growth without alteration in overall genetic diversity.

Recovery of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae from three grass species contaminated in the autumn

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