Inorganic nitrogen requirements during shoot organogenesis in tobacco leaf discs

The role of nitrate, ammonium, and culture medium pH on shoot organogenesis in Nicotiana tabacum zz100 leaf discs was examined. The nitrogen composition of a basal liquid shoot induction medium (SIM) containing 39.4 mM NO3- and 20.6 mM NH4+ was altered whilst maintaining the overall ionic balance with Na+ and Cl- ions. Omission of total nitrogen and nitrate, but not ammonium, from SIM prevented the initiation and formation of shoots. When nitrate was used as the sole source of nitrogen, a high frequency of explants initiated and produced leafy shoots. However, the numbers of shoots produced were significantly fewer than the control SIM. Buffering nitrate-only media with the organic acid 2[N-morpholinol]thanesulphonic acid (MES) could not compensate for the omission of ammonium. Ammonium used as the sole source of nitrogen appeared to have a negative effect on explant growth and morphogenesis, with a significant lowering of media pH. Buffering ammonium-only media with MES stabilized pH and allowed a low frequency of explants to initiate shoot meristems. However, no further differentiation into leafy shoots was observed. The amount of available nitrogen appears to be less important than the ratio between nitrate and ammonium. Shoot formation was achieved with a wide range of ratios, but media containing 40 mM nitrate and 20 mM ammonium (70:30) produced the greatest number of shoots per explant. Results from this study indicate a synergistic effect between ammonium and nitrate on shoot organogenesis independent of culture medium pH.

Replication of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae following infection with BPV-1 virions

Saccharomyces cerevisiae protoplasts exposed to bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) virions demonstrated uptake of virions on electron microscopy. S. cerevisiae cells looked larger after exposure to BPV-1 virions, and cell wall regeneration was delayed. Southern blot hybridization of Hirt DNA from cells exposed to BPV-1 virions demonstrated BPV-1 DNA, which could be detected over 80 days of culture and at least 13 rounds of division. Two-dimensional gel analysis of Hirt DNA showed replicative intermediates, confirming that the BPV-1 genome was replicating within S. cerevisiae. Nicked circle, linear, and supercoiled BPV-1 DNA species were observed in Hirt DNA preparations from S. cerevisiae cells infected for over 50 days, and restriction digestion showed fragments hybridizing to BPV-1 in accord with the predicted restriction map for circular BPV-1 episomes. These data suggest that BPV-1 can infect S. cerevisiae and that BPV-1 episomes can replicate in the infected S. cerevisiae cells.

A test of the hypothesis of ecological equivalence in an Australian subtropical rain forest

We tested the hypothesis that tree species in a subtropical rain forest in south-east Queensland are ecologically equivalent and therefore have identical environmental requirements for their regeneration. We assessed the evidence that juveniles of species differed in their distributions in treefall gap microsites and along gradients of light availability, soil pH, soil PO4-P availability and soil NO3-N availability. Pairwise comparisons were made on a subset of the common species selected on the basis that they showed a relatively high level of positive association, and would therefore, a priori, be expected to have similar regeneration requirements. Detailed comparisons between the species failed to demonstrate evidence for species differentiation with respect to their tolerance of the disturbance associated with gap microsites or to the gradient of NO3-N availability. However, species differed markedly in their distributions along the soil pH gradient and along the gradients of light availability and soil PO4-P availability. The overall level of ecological differentiation between the species is high: seven out of the 10 possible species pairings showed evidence for ecological differentiation. Such niche differentiation amongst the juveniles of tree species may play an important role in maintaining the species richness of rain-forest communities.

Multiple shoot formation in lentil (Lens culinaris) seeds

A protocol based on seed culture was developed for efficient in vitro propagation of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik). Benzyladenine (BA), thidiazuron (TDZ), and kinetin all induced multiple shoot formation. In terms of the number of long shoots (>2.0 cm) produced per seed, BA and TDZ at optimum concentrations (0.2-0.4 and 0.1 mg/litre, respectively) had similar efficiency, whereas kinetin produced less shoots. Murashige and Skoog (MS) salt composition was better than that of Gamborge (B5) for shoot induction. Increasing calcium (Ca) concentration was necessary to overcome shoot-tip necrosis. For shoot elongation, fresh medium of the same composition of shoot induction medium could be used for stumps from medium with low BA (

Towards the clonal propagation of coconut

Past studies from our laboratory have shown that whole immature, or mature sliced, zygotic embryos are a very good starting explant for coconut somatic embryogenesis. The highest rate of somatic embryogenesis was obtained when certain polyamines were added into the culture medium as well as activated charcoal (AC) to absorb unwanted phenolics. These past studies also showed that the development and maturation of the somatic embryos produced could be improved by the addition of abscisic acid (ABA), alone or with one of several osmotically active agents, into the culture medium. In the present study this well characterised somatic embryogenic system for zygotic tissues is being modified and applied to somatic tissues. This recent approach should be a better method for the rapid production of clonal, true-to-type coconut palms. The present research approach is focused on young leaf section explants which have been found to be very responsive to callus production. Young leaf sections produced optimum callus when cultured on media containing 2,4-D (150 μM) and the amount produced could be increased by soaking the sections in sterile water (15 to 60 minutes) or ascorbic acid (15 to 30 minutes) prior to culturing. Further improvement in callus production, as well as a reduction in the time taken for callogenesis was obtained when casein hydrolysate and/or certain polyamines were added to the callus induction medium. The development of the somatic embryos was improved by using ABA and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the maturation medium. Despite these initial successes in improving coconut somatic embryogenesis, further studies are now being considered to shorten the time to achieve somatic embryogenesis, to better germinate somatic embryos and to improve the rate of somatic seedling conversion into plantlets.

Laminar disorganisation of mitral cells in the olfactory bulb does not affect topographic targeting of primary olfactory axons

Primary olfactory neurons expressing the same odorant receptor protein typically project to topographically fixed olfactory bulb sites. While cell adhesion molecules and odorant receptors have been implicated in guidance of primary olfactory axons. the postsynaptic mitral cells may also have a role in final target selection. We have examined the effect of disorganisation of the mitral cell soma layer in mutant mice heterozygous for the beta-subunit of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (Lis1(-/+)) on the targeting of primary olfactory axons. Lis1(-/+) mice display abnormal lamination of neurons in the olfactory bulb. Lis1(-/+) mice were crossed with the P2-IRES-tau:LacZ line of transgenic mice that selectively expresses beta-galactosidase in primary olfactory neurons expressing the P2 odorant receptor. LacZ histochemistry revealed blue-stained P2 axons that targeted topographically fixed glomeruli in these mice in a manner similar to that observed in the parent P2-IRES-tau:LacZ line. Thus, despite the aberrant organisation of postsynaptic mitral cells in Lis1(-/+) mice, primary olfactory axons continued to converge and form glomeruli at correct sites in the olfactory bulb. Next we examined whether challenging primary olfactory axons in adult Lis(-/+) mice with regeneration would affect their ability to converge and form glomeruli. Following partial chemical ablation of the olfactory neuroepithelium with dichlobenil, primary olfactory neurons die and are replaced by newly differentiating neurons that project axons to the olfactory bulb where they converge and form glomeruli. Despite the aberrant mitral cell layer in Lis(-/+) mice. primary olfactory axons continued to converge and form glomeruli during regeneration. Together these results demonstrate that the convergence of primary olfactory axons during development and regeneration is not affected by gross perturbations to the lamination of the mitral cell layer. Thus, these results support evidence from other studies indicating that mitral cells do not play a major role in the convergence and targeting of primary olfactory axons in the olfactory bulb. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Tracing the fate of N-15-enriched feed in an intensive shrimp system

The fate of N-15-nitrogen-enriched formulated feed fed to shrimp was traced through the food web in shallow, outdoor tank systems (1000 1) stocked with shrimp. Triplicate tanks containing shrimp water with and without sediment were used to identify the role of the natural biota in the water column and sediment in processing dietary nitrogen (N). A preliminary experiment demonstrated that N-15-nitrogen-enriched feed products could be detected in the food web. Based on this, a 15-day experiment was conducted. The ammonium (NH4+) pool in the water column became rapidly enriched (within one day) with N-15-nitrogen after shrimp were fed N-15-enriched feed. By day 15, 6% of the added N-15-nitrogen was in this fraction in the 'sediment' tanks compared with 0.4% in the 'no sediment' tanks. The particulate fraction in the water column, principally autotrophic nanoflagellates, accounted for 4-5% of the N-15-nitrogen fed to shrimp after one day. This increased to 16% in the 'no sediment' treatment, and decreased to 2% in the 'sediment' treatment by day 15. It appears that dietary N was more accessible to the phytoplankton community in the absence of sediment. The difference is possibly because a proportion of the dietary N was buried in the sediment in the 'sediment' treatment, making it unavailable to the phytoplankton. Alternatively, the dietary N was retained in the NH4+ pool in the water column since phytoplankton growth, and hence, N utilization was lower in the 'sediment' treatment. The lower growth of phytoplankton in the 'sediment' treatment appeared to be related to higher turbidity, and hence, lower light availability for growth. The percentage N-15-nitrogen detected in the sediment was only 6% despite the high capacity for sedimentation of the large biomass of plankton detritus and shrimp waste. This suggests rapid remineralization of organic waste by the microbial community in the sediment resulting in diffusion of inorganic N sources into the water column. It is likely that most of the dietary N will ultimately be removed from the tank system by water discharges. Our study showed that N-15-nitrogen derived from aquaculture feed can be processed by the microbial community in outdoor aquaculture systems and provides a method for determining the effect of dietary N on ecosystems. However, a significant amount of the dietary N was not retained by the natural biota and is likely to be present in the soluble organic fraction. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The 2000 Ogura Lecture: Olfactory neural cells: An untapped diagnostic and therapeutic resource

Objective. This is an over-view of the cellular biology of upper nasal mucosal cells that have special characteristics that enable them to be used to diagnose and study congenital neurological diseases and to aid neural repair. Study Design: After mapping the distribution of neural cells in the upper nose, the authors' investigations moved to the use of olfactory neurones to diagnose neurological diseases of development, especially schizophrenia. Olfactory-ensheating glial cells (OEGs) from the cranial cavity promote axonal penetration of the central nervous system and aid spinal cord repair in rodents. The authors sought to isolate these cells from the more accessible upper nasal cavity in rats and in humans and prove they could likewise promote neural regeneration, making these cells suitable for human spinal repair investigations. Methods: The schizophrenia-diagnosis aspect of the study entailed the biopsy of the olfactory areas of 10 schizophrenic patients and 10 control subjects. The tissue samples were sliced and grown in culture medium. The ease of cell attachment to fibronectin (artificial epithelial basement membrane), as well as the mitotic and apoptotic indices, was studied in the presence and absence of dopamine in those cell cultures. The neural repair part of the study entailed a harvesting and insertion of first rat olfactory lamina propria rich in OEGs between cut ends of the spinal cords and then later the microinjection of an OEG-rich suspension into rat spinal cords previously transected by open laminectomy. Further studies were done in which OEG insertion was performed up to 1 month after rat cord transection and also in monkeys. Results: Schizophrenic patients' olfactory tissues do not easily attach to basement membrane compared with control subjects, adding evidence to the theory that cell wall anomalies are part of the schizophrenic lesion of neurones. Schizophrenic patient cell cultures had higher mitotic and apoptotic indices compared with control subjects. The addition of dopamine altered these indices enough to allow accurate differentiation of schizophrenics from control patients, leading to, possibly for the first time, an early objective diagnosis of schizophrenia and possible assessment of preventive strategies. OEGs from the nose were shown to be as effective as those from the olfactory bulb in promoting axonal growth across transected spinal cords even when added I month after injury in the rat. These otherwise paraplegic rats grew motor and proprioceptive and fine touch fibers with corresponding behavioral improvement. Conclusions. The tissues of the olfactory mucosa are readily available to the otolaryngologist. Being surface cells, they must regenerate (called neurogenesis). Biopsy of this area and amplification of cells in culture gives the scientist a window to the developing brain, including early diagnosis of schizophrenia. The Holy Grail of neurological disease is the cure of traumatic paraplegia and OEGs from the nose promote that repair. The otolaryngologist may become the necessary partner of the neurophysiologist and spinal surgeon to take the laboratory potential of paraplegic cure into the day-to-day realm of clinical reality.

Immunohistochemical localization of fibromodulin in the periodontium during cementogenesis and root formation in the rat molar

Background: Cementum is essential for periodontal regeneration, as it provides anchorage between the root surface and the periodontal ligament. A variety of macromolecules present in the extracellular matrix of the periodontium, including proteoglycans, are likely to play a regulatory role in cementogenesis. Recently, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan, fibromodulin, has been isolated from bovine periodontal ligament and localized in bovine cementum, as well as in human periodontal ligament. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of fibromodulin during cementogenesis and root formation. Methods: A standard indirect immunoperoxidase technique was employed, using an antifibromodulin polyclonal antibody on sections of molar teeth from rats aged 3, 5 and 8 weeks. Results: Immunoreactivity to fibromodulin was evident in the periodontal ligament in all sections. An intense positive stain was observed in the extracellular matrix where the periodontal ligament fibers insert into the alveolar bone and where the Sharpey's fibers insert into the cementum. There was no staining evident in the mineralized cellular and acellular cementum. The intensity of immunoreactivity to the antifibromodulin antibody increased proportionally with increasing tissue maturation. Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that fibromodulin is a significant component of the extracellular matrix in the periodontal ligament during development, and may play a regulatory role in the mineralization process or maintaining homeostasis at the hard-soft tissue interface during cementogenesis.

High irradiance increases organogenesis in friable callus of Caustis blakei Kuk. (Cyperaceae)

Caustis blakei is an attractive cut foliage plant harvested from the wild in Australia and marketed under the name of koala fern. Previous attempts to propagate large numbers of this plant have been unsuccessful. The effect of four light irradiances on organogenesis from compact and friable callus of C. blakei was studied for 21 wk. Both callus types produced numerous primordial shoots but many failed to develop into green plantlets. However, significantly more primordial shoots and green plantlets developed on the friable callus than on the compact callus, and significantly more green plantlets were regenerated under the higher photon irradiances of 200 and 300 mumol m(-2) s(-1) than under the lower irradiances of 100 and 150 mumol m(-2) s(-1). The compact callus produced its maximum number of green plantlets early in the experiment (after 9 wk), while the friable callus continued to produce primordial shoots and green plantlets throughout the period of the experiment, and reached its maximum production of green plantlets at 21 wk under the irradiance of 300 mumol m(-2) s(-1). Organogenesis from friable callus under high irradiance (300 mumol m(-2) s(-1)) offers an efficient propagation method for C. blakei.

Sorting and convergence of primary olfactory axons are independent of the olfactory bulb

Primary olfactory axons expressing the same odorant receptor gene sort out and converge to fixed sites in the olfactory bulb. We examined the guidance of axons expressing the P2 odorant receptor when they were challenged with different cellular environments in vivo. In the mutant extratoes mouse, the olfactory bulb is lacking and is replaced by a fibrocellular mass. In these animals, primary olfactory axons form glomerular-like loci despite the absence of normal postsynaptic targets. P2 axons are able to sort out from other axons in this fibrocellular mass and converge to form loci of like axons. The sites of these loci along mediolateral and ventrodorsal axes were highly variable. Similar convergence was observed for larger subpopulations of axons expressing the same cell surface carbohydrates. The sorting out and convergence of like axons also occurred during regeneration following bulbectomy. Olfactory axon behaviour in these models demonstrates that sorting and convergence of axons are independent of the target, which instead provides distinct topographic cues for guidance. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Growth of papaya nodal and rooted shoot cultures as affected by ACC, STS, culture vessel size and incubation conditions

Nodal shoot cultures of 'Clone 003', a selected Australian papaya cultivar, were cultured on modified De Fossard medium supplemented with chemicals that either promote ethylene evolution or inhibit action while in culture. Nodal shoot cultures grown in the presence of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC, 1.0 mM) resulted in a significant reduction in percent fresh and dry weights, shoot length, leaf area, petiole length and chlorophyll content, but leaf development was significantly increased. In contrast, nodal cultures grown in the presence of silver thiosulphate (STS, 0.5 mM) significantly produced the highest percentage of fresh and dry weights, shoot length, leaf production, leaf area expansion, petiole length and leaf chlorophyll content. Nodal cultures and rooted whole plantlets placed in medium-sized (125 mL) culture vessels had significantly better growth than those cultures placed in small (70 mL) or in large (250 mL) vessels. Cultures grown in medium-sized vessels had higher fresh and dry weights, longer shoots, more leaves and larger leaf area than those cultures placed in smaller or larger vessels. Similarly, values for said growth parameters and for chlorophyll content of the nodal and rooted whole plantlets were higher when they were incubated under high light intensity of 120 mumol m(-2)s(-1) at a prevailing temperature of either 20+/-1 C or 25+/-1 C.

Indicadores de qualidade do solo e determinação de níveis de degradação de pastagens

A utilização do solo no Brasil foi realizada de forma exploratória, com a conversão de sistemas naturais em sistemas agrícolas extrativistas. Grande parte das áreas de sistemas naturais deu lugar às áreas de cultivo, posteriormente sucedidas por pastagens, encontrando-se boa parte em elevado estágio de degradação. Diante do exposto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a sensibilidade de alguns atributos físicos, químicos, compartimentos da matéria orgânica e determinações de campo como indicadores de qualidade do solo estabelecendo relações entre os mesmos. O estudo foi desenvolvido no município de Governador Valadares-MG, para tal foram escolhidos níveis de pastagens progressivamente degradadas observadas visualmente (pastagem 1, pastagem 2, pastagem 3 e pastagem 4), duas áreas de capoeira em estágios de regeneração natural (capoeira 1 e capoeira 2) e mata (referência). O solo em estudo foi um Argissolo Vermelho, textura argilosa. As determinações dos indicadores físicos, químicos e compartimentos da matéria orgânica foram realizadas em quatro profundidades (0-5, 5-10, 10-20 e 20-40 cm). Foram realizadas também determinações de campo, todos os atributos foram determinados no terço médio de uma pedoforma convexa, em dois períodos, chuvoso e seco. Através dos atributos do solo utilizados como indicadores do solo, foi possível separar dois níveis de pastagens degradadas, baixa degradação (pastagem 1 e pastagem 2) e elevada degradação (pastagem 3 e pastagem 4). A melhor qualidade do solo foi observada na área de mata. Entre os atributos do solo utilizados como indicadores de qualidade do solo os mais sensíveis aos níveis de pastagens degradadas são os atributos químicos pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, H+Al, saturação por bases (V), saturação por alumínio (m), seguidos pelos atributos físicos macroporosidade e porosidade total. Os compartimentos da matéria orgânica do solo, matéria orgânica particulada (MOP), matéria orgânica leve (MOL) e carbono solúvel em água (CSA) utilizados como indicadores de qualidade do solo são eficientes em diferenciar a qualidade do solo nas conversões de sistema, mata/pastagens e pastagens/capoeiras, não sendo sensível aos níveis de pastagens degradadas, o que sugere estudos futuros utilizado compartimentos mais sensíveis a pequenas variações. As determinações de campo espessura do horizonte “A”, profundidade do sistema radicular e taxa de cobertura do solo são sensíveis aos níveis de pastagens degradadas, e apresentam uma boa correlação com os indicadores de laboratório macroporosidade (Ma), matéria orgânica particulada (MOP), saturação por bases (V), saturação por alumínio (m) sugerindo assim a utilização dessas determinações como indicadores de qualidade do solo em pastagens degradadas, para o solo e a região estudados.

Cultivo in vitro de Crambe abyssinica Hochst. : germinação, micropropagação, estabilidade genética e anatomia foliar

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica) pertence à família Brassicaceae, originário da Etiópia e principalmente destinado à produção de forragem (30 a 32% de proteína bruta). Atualmente, tem sido bastante cultivado visando à extração de óleo vegetal. Com os atuais incentivos à busca de fontes de energias renováveis, o cultivo de crambe vem ganhando papel de destaque na produção de biodiesel por suas diversas vantagens, como: (a) rápido ciclo de vida (colhida em torno de 90 dias); (b) alta produção de biomassa; (c) alta produtividade de sementes (1000 e 1500 kg ha-1); (d) menor custo de produção em relação a outras fontes oleaginosas, como, canola, girassol e soja; (e) um percentual de óleo total na semente entre 32 e 38%, superando, por exemplo, a soja; (f) potencial de fitorremediação, eficiente na descontaminação de arsênio, cromo e outros metais pesados; e (g) elevado percentual de ácido erúcico (50 a 60%) sendo útil na indústria de plástico e lubrificante. Devido aos poucos trabalhos realizados com crambe, abre-se um vasto campo de investigações científicas que tenham como objetivo desenvolver as potencialidades dessa cultura e, consequentemente, melhorar os aspectos agronômicos e tecnológicos para seu emprego na indústria de biodiesel. Nesse contexto, as técnicas de cultivo in vitro foram importantes tanto para a propagação massal, quanto como ferramenta para uma possível aplicação de outras técnicas biotecnológicas, contribuindo para uma produção homogênea, fiel e em larga escala. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo geral avaliar as condições mais favoráveis à germinação, estabelecimento in vitro e micropropagação de Crambe abyssinica Hochst., além de verificar possíveis alterações genéticas e anatômicas, possibilitando a regeneração e produção de plântulas viáveis. Para a germinação e estabecimento in vitro de crambe, as condições mais favoráveis foram em meio B5 ou WPM, na presença ou ausência de pericarpo e na presença de luz. Na micropropagação dessa espécie, uma frequência satisfatória de regeneração de brotos foi obtida a partir de segmentos apicais utilizados como explante em meio contendo 5 μM de BAP (6- benzilaminopurina), e o alongamento foi satisfatório com 1 μM de GA3 (ácido giberélico). Os marcadores moleculares ISSR (Inter-Simples Sequence Repeats) utilizados para a análise da estabilidade genética indicaram que o segmento apical de crambe é um explante confiável para a micropropagação de plantas geneticamente verdadeiras (true-to-tipe), ou seja, mantém a estabilidade genética. As diversas fontes de citocininas e concentrações utilizadas neste trabalho não promoveram mudanças, no sentido de alterar a organização e/ou a espessura em relação ao controle, e as alterações observadas na estrutura e espessura das folhas dos tratamentos de aclimatização prejudicaram o processo de estabelecimento da plântula ex vitro. Contudo, existe a necessidade de um enraizamento e aclimatização eficiente para completa propagação in vitro de crambe. Portanto, este protocolo de regeneração de plantas in vitro de crambe pode ser útil no processo de criação e desenvolvimento de novas cultivares em um tempo mais curto e no melhoramento genético usando explantes apicais.

Utilização da lógica fuzzy na geração de zonas de manejo

Este trabalho teve como objetivo utilizar a lógica fuzzy para geração de zonas de manejo, na área agrária e ambiental. Uma das aplicações consistiu da utilização do método fuzzy C-means, para geração de zonas de manejo para a cultura do mamoeiro, em um plantio comercial localizado em São Mateus-ES, com base em determinações realizadas através de amostragens e análises químicas do solo, considerando os atributos: P, K, Ca, Mg, e Saturação por bases (V%). Aplicou-se também a lógica fuzzy para desenvolver e executar um procedimento para dar suporte ao processo de tomada de decisões, envolvendo análise multicritério, gerando mapas de adequabilidade ao uso público e a conservação no Parque Estadual da Cachoeira da Fumaça, no município de Alegre-ES, considerando como fatores a localização da cachoeira, o uso do solo, os recursos hídricos, as trilhas, os locais de acessos, a infraestrutura, a declividade da área, e utilizando a abordagem de Sistema de Informações Geográficas para análise e combinação da base de dados. A partir das zonas de manejo geradas, foi possível explicar a variabilidade espacial dos atributos do solo na área de estudo da cultura do mamoeiro, e observa-se que as similaridades entre as zonas geradas, a partir de diferentes atributos, mostrou variação, mas observa-se uma influência nos dados, principalmente pelos atributos P e V. A partir do zoneamento da Unidade de Conservação foi possível selecionar áreas mais aptas ao ecoturismo, sendo encontradas próximas da cachoeira, trilhas em zonas de reflorestamento e de Mata Atlântica. Quanto às áreas propensas a medidas de conservação localizam-se próximas à cachoeira e às estruturas do parque, devido à maior pressão antrópica exercida nesses locais. Outras áreas que se destacaram, foram as áreas de pastagem, por estarem em estágio de regeneração natural. Os resultados indicam áreas de mesmo potencial de produção do mamoeiro, ou quando aplicado à área ambiental, áreas que devem receber maior cuidado para utilização por ecoturismo e para preservação e servem de base para a tomada de decisões, visando melhor aproveitamento da área.