Absorption and translocation of 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina

The objective of this work was to evaluate absorption and translocation of the herbicide 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina. The herbicide 2,4-D was used alone with the formulation DMA 806 BR and associated with the herbicide picloram in the commercial product Padron. Levels of radioactivity on the treated leaves were determined in sample obtained after washing them with methanol and chloroform at different times after the application of the radiolabelled formulation (1, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h). Translocation was evaluated by cutting plants between stem and root. The parts obtained were: root, stem, leaf treated, leaves above the leaf treated, leaves below the leaf treated, and leaf opposite of the leaf treated. These parts were weighted, dried, ground, burnt, and radioactivity in the samples was determined. The results suggest that the translocation of the radioactive herbicide 2,4-D was insignificant in plants of M. peregrina in the two treatments evaluated. Absorption of 14C 2,4-D in the treatment with DMA 806 BR and the mixture of DMA 806 BR plus Padron had the same behavior. These observations explain the inefficient control obtained with this herbicide in plant species under study.

Desenvolvimento e produtividade da cúrcuma (Curcuma longa L.) em função de doses de nitrogênio e potássio

The objective of the experiment was evaluating the development and production of turmeric, it was carried out at FCAV-UNESP, in Jaboticabal-SP, during 11/18/ 1999 to 7/18/2000, in randomized blocks, with three replications, factorial scheme 5 × 5. The factors evaluated were doses of N (0, 68, 136, 170 and 204 kg.ha-1) and doses of K2O (0, 92, 184, 230 and 276 kg.ha-1). The potassium doses influenced plant-mother's height significantly, answering lineally to the increment in the potassium fertilization. There was significant interaction between nitrogen and potassium on the number of leaves of the sons and total-plant. In the doses of 0 and 92 kg of K2O.ha-1 a lineal increase was observed in the number of leaves with the increment of the applied nitrogen. The potassium doses also influenced the foliar area of the sons and total-plant, reaching values of 3260 and 4971 cm2 per plant, respectively, for the application of 276 kg K2O.ha1. The number of sons had a lineal increment with the growing fertilization of potassium, contemplating on the dry mass of the aerial part of the sons. The production of rhizomes per plant wasn't influenced for the factors evaluated.

Interference of epicuticular wax from leaves of grasses in selection and preparation of substrate for cultivation of symbiont fungus by Atta capiguara (Hym. Formicidae)

The selection of plants is one of the stages of foraging behavior, executed by leaf-cutting ants for the cultivation of symbiont fungus. Anatomical, biochemical and physiological characteristics of vegetal species are some of the factors that influence selection of substrate; however, most studies described in the literature refer to leaf-cutting ants. Due to the scarcity of studies on the role of epicuticular waxes of grasses in relation to foraging behavior of monocotyledonous leaf-cutters, we completed three experiments with the ant species Atta capiguara in which we analyzed: the attractiveness or selectivity of leaves of Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) and/or Hypharrenia rufa (capim jaraguá), with and without epicuticular wax in relation to the worker of this ant species, their processing and elimination in the form of pellets of epicuticular wax from the referred fragments removed by the workers for cultivation of symbiont fungus. We observed that vegetal fragments without wax were those most transported by workers to the inside of the nests; that they processed the fragments equally with as much as without wax, and eliminated, in the form of pellets, wax removed from the same into garbage chambers of the colonies, leading us to conclude that for monocotyledonous leaf-cutters, epicuticular wax from vegetal leaves has great importance in vegetal integrity by being used as substrate, representing a physical barrier to the growth of symbiont fungus.

Genetic variation in growth traits and yield of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) growing in the Brazilian state of São Paulo

Analysis of variance and covariance was preformed on growth traits (stem girth, bark thickness, total height gain and rubber yield) of 22 open-pollinated progenies of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis from an Asian Hevea collection introduced to Agronomic Institute (Instituto Agronômico, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; IAC) in 1952. This progeny trial was replicated at three sites in São Paulo state and it was found that at three years from sowing there was statistically significant variation for girth, bark thickness, height and rubber yield. An individual test sites, values of individual plant heritability for girth ranged from ĥ i 2 = 0.36 to ĥ i 2 = 0.89 whereas values for heritability for progeny means ranged from ĥ i 2 = 0.77 to ĥ i 2 = 0.87. These moderate and high heritabilities suggest that a combination of progeny and within-progeny selection would be effective at increasing girth in this population at individual sites. Across sites, values of individual-plant heritability for girth ranged from ĥ i 2 = 0.36 to ĥ i 2 = 0.47, whereas values for heritability of progeny means girth ranged from ĥ x̄ 2 = 0.77 to ĥ x̄ 2 = 0.87. There were high positive genetic correlations between increased girth and bark thickness suggesting that breeding aimed at increasing girth would also increase bark thickness and possibly height. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics.

The number of podocyte and slit diaphragm is decreased in experimental diabetic nephropathy

Purpose: To determine the number of podocyte, slit diaphragms, slit diaphragm extensions and GBM thickness in diabetic nephropathy. Methods: Sixty Rattus Wistarof both sexes weighing 200-300g were divided in two experimental groups: normal group 10 animals, and alloxan diabetic rats - 50 animals. Alloxan was administered in a single IV dose of 42mg/kg body weight. Body weight, water and food intake, diuresis, and blood and urine glucose were determined in both groups before alloxan injection and two weeks, six and twelve months after alloxan injection. Proteinuria was measured at 12 months in both groups. After 12 months animals were sacrificed, and the right kidney processed for electron microscopy. Results: Clear clinical and laboratory signs of severe diabetes were seen, in all alloxan-diabetic rats at all follow-up times. Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening, podocyte number, and slit diaphragm number and extension were determined. GBM of all diabetic rats was significantly thicker (median=0.29μm; semi-interquartile range=0.065μm) than in the normal rats (0.23μm; 0.035μm). Diabetic rat podocyte number (8; 1), slit diaphragm number (4; 1), and slit diaphragm extension (0.021μm; 0.00435μm) were significantly lower than in normal rats (11; 1) and (7; 1.5), and (0.031μm; 0.0058μm). Diabetic rat proteinuria (0.060mg/24h; 0.037mg/24h) was higher than in normal rats (0.00185mg/24h; 0.00055mg/24h). Conclusion: Experimental diabetes is associated with significant (p<0.05) changes in podocyte foot process, slit number, slit diaphragm extension, and GBM thickness.

Physical and chemical characterization of dovyalis fruits

The objective of this work was to establish physical and chemical characterizations of dovyalis hybrid fruits (Dovyalis abyssinica and D. hebecarpa). Samples of 25 fruits were characterized by evaluation of length and width, weight, percentage and number of seeds per fruit, peel percentage, pulp percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C and TSS/TA ratio. Dovyalis fruit has good physical quality for market with an average of 75% pulp. Vitamin C content averaged 120.3 mg/100 g of fresh fruit, characterizing dovyalis as a good source of vitamin C. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Uso racional de nutrientes no cultivo hidropônico de amorperfeito

The objective of this work was to evaluate different concentrations of nutritional solution in the hydroponic cultivation of Viola x wittrockiana Gams. The experiment was conducted in DFT hydroponic system, in a completely randomized design with a 5×4 factorial scheme and five nutrient solution concentrations (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150%), four evaluation periods with three replications of three plants for each treatment. Plant height, root length, number of leaves, flowers and floral buttons; fresh and dry weight of shoot and root were determined. The results were submitted to variance analysis, Tukey's test for evaluation periods and regression analysis for nutrient solution. A decrease in the development of the shoot and root was observed with an increase of the number of cultivation days; the greatest number of floral buttons occurred in the third week of cultivation. A reduction in the plant height, root system length, the number of leaves and the fresh and dry weight of shoot was observed generally with the increase of nutrient solution concentration.

Fatty acid production by four strains of Mucor hiemalis grown in plant oil and soluble carbohydrates

Four Mucor hiemalis strains (M1, M2, M3 and M4), isolated from soil at a depth of 0 - 15 cm in the Juréia-Itatins Ecology Station (JIES), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and were evaluated for the production of γ-linolenic (GLA) and other unsaturated fatty acids. Five growth variables (temperature, pH, carbon source, nitrogen source, and vegetable oils) were studied. Liquid media containing 2% vegetable oil (palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil) or 2% carbohydrate (fructose, galactose, glycerol, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, sorbitol or xylose) and 1% yeast extract as a nitrogen source were used. The greatest biomass production was observed with M3 and M4 strains in palm oil (91.5 g l -1) and sunflower oil (68.3 g l -1) media, respectively. Strain M4 produced greater quantities of polyunsaturated acids in medium containing glucose. The GLA production in the M4 biomass was 1,132.2 mg l -1 in glucose medium. Plant oils were inhibitors of fatty acid production by these strains. © 2007 Academic Journals.

Comparative study of LMI-based output feedback spr synthesis for plants with different numbers of inputs and outputs

New Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) conditions are proposed for the following problem, called Strictly Positive Real (SPR) synthesis: given a linear time-invariant plant, find a constant output feedback matrix Ko and a constant output tandem matrix F for the controlled system to be SPR. It is assumed that the plant has the number of outputs greater than the number of inputs. Some sufficient conditions for the solution of the problem are presented and compared. These results can be directly applied in the LMI-based design of Variable Structure Control (VSC) of uncertain plants. ©2008 IEEE.

Efecto de la fertirrigación con n y k en el crecimiento de la palma de coco enano Verde de jiqui

The coconut palm crop has increased with the use of the fertigation technique in Brazil in the last years. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of N and K rates via fertigation, on vegetative growth of three year old palms, cultivated in the littoral region of the Ceará State, Brazil, with tropical rainy climate. The study was conducted in a sandy soil using the variety of green dwarfed Jiqui coconut palm. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with 10 treatments, including five nitrogen and five of potassium rates, according to the model of the experimental matrix Plan Puebla III. The nitrogen and potassiun applications via fertigation influenced significantly the plant height, stem perimeter, and the number of leaves and folioles. © 2009 Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA).

Desenvolvimento e nutrição do capim-Tanzânia em função da aplicação de zinco

It was aimed to assess the effects of zinc in the development and nutrition of Tanzania grass. The experimental design used was fully randomized, consisting of six doses of zinc (0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 mg dm'3) and four repetitions. The experimental unit was formed in a vase filled with a Red Latosol dystrophic (Zn = 0.4 mg dm). There were two cuts, the first after 53 days of transplanting seedlings and the second 35 days after the first cut. Was evaluated the concentration of zinc in the soil, the content of zinc leaf, the number of tillers, number of leaves, plant height, the dry mass of the shoot, root system and the whole plant. The doses of zinc influenced the concentration of zinc in soil and plant, and production of dry mass of Tanzania grass, especially the first cut. The Tanzania grass shows high tolerance to the toxicity of zinc, and toxic critical level of 273 mg kg-1.

Soluções nutritivas no desenvolvimento do crisântemo cultivado em vaso

Although the information about nutritive solution for potted chrysanthemum is still incongruent, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nutritive solutions in the development of Miramar chrysanthemum cultivated in pots at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal-SP. The experiment had a randomized block design with split-plot evaluation and treatments corresponding to four nutritive solutions consisting of commercial fertilizers (S1, S2, S3, S4) evaluated at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after rooting (DAE), with five replications. The plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, stem diameter, total dry matter mass of aerial part and roots; number and diameter of inflorescences, and physiological indexes of growth analysis were evaluated. The nutritive solutions did not interfere significantly in stem diameter, number and diameter of inflorescences and dry matter of roots, although S3 and S4 provided the highest plants, leaf area, number of leaves, total dry matter of aerial part. The physiological indexes showed that plants presented an accelerated growth from 14 to 28 DAE with S4 and S3 solutions and therefore they were considered the best solutions.

Deficiências de macronutrientes em plantas de soja cv. BRSMG 68 (Vencedora) cultivada em solução nutritive

Soybean is a crop of great importance for Brazil, and knowledge of their nutritional status allows production and high quality products. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the culture of the soybean cv. BRSMG 68 (Vencedora), submitted to macronutrients omission on the development, nutritional status and the visual symptomatology of nutrient deficiency. The design used was completely randomized, with seven treatments that corresponded to the complete (macro and micronutrients) solution and the individual omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The treatments were applied two weeks after the emergency of the soybean. The nutrient solution was constantly oxygenated and replaced weekly, and the pH monitored daily remained around 5. After six weeks of application of the treatments, the height of the plants, number of leaves, stem diameter was evaluated, matter dry accumulated in the roots, it leaves aerial and the nutritional state and the characterization of the visual symptoms. The macronutrient deficiency promoted a decrease in production of root and shoot dry mass of soybean cultivar BRSMG 68 (Vencedora) in nutrient solution, for the full treatment. The most limiting nutrient for dry matter production of soybean compared to complete treatment were N, S and K, with decreases of 90, 76 and 73%, respectively. Individual omissions resulted in morphological changes, which were translated by characteristic visual symptoms of nutritional deficiency of the respective nutrient.

Dimensional alterations and solubility of new endodontic sealers

This study evaluated the dimensional alterations and the solubility of two experimental endodontic sealers based on Copaifera multijuga oil-resin (Biosealer) and castor oil bean cement (Poliquil), maintained in different storage solutions. Twenty specimens (3 mm diameter and 2 mm height) of each sealer were assigned to 2 groups (n=10) according to the storage solution: simulated tissue fluid (STF) or distilled water (DW). The specimens were stored in these solutions during 90 days, being removed every 30 days for weighting. The solutions were renewed every 15 days. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by Dunn's and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). The solubility of Poliquil was higher in STF (38.4 ± 36.0) than in DW (28.4 ± 15.0), while Biosealer showed higher solubility in DW (34.61 ± 6.0) than in STF (18.59 ± 8.0). The storage solution influenced the behavior of sealers in relation to the weight variation (p=0.0001). Poliquil presented higher variation of weight independent of the solution (p=0.239). Biosealer also presented higher variation of weight regardless of the solution (p=0.0001). The solubility of Biosealer was different from that of Poliquil, but both sealers showed low solubility in STF. Under the tested conditions, neither of the materials were according to the ADA'S specification.

Comparison of intestinal response of chicks from light and heavy eggs to posthatch fasting

The effects of posthatch fasting on villi height and number, crypt depth and number of globet cells in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broiler chicks from heavy and light eggs were compared. The 2×3×3 factorial design (egg weight: light and heavy eggs; treatments: with water and feed, with water, without water and feed; treatment duration: 24, 48 and 72 h) was used. The villi presented higher size in chicks from heavy than from light eggs. The fasting resulted in lower villi in duodenum (at 48 h), jejunum and ileum (at 72 h). The villi number increased in duodenum and jejunum of chicks from light eggs and only in jejunum of chicks from heavy eggs, but the increase was more accented in chicks from light ones. The fasting reduced the globet cells number in jejunum. Water intake avoided the fasting effects on villi height but had no effect on villi number. Chicks from heavy eggs fed with water and ration presented deeper crypts in all regions of the small intestine. The duodenum and ileum crypt depth of the chicks from heavy eggs reduced when they were submitted to fasting and when they were fed only with water. The results showed that chicks from light eggs were more affected than chicks from heavy eggs. The water intake partially avoided the fasting effects. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011.