Energy substrate used by workers of leaf-cutting ants during nest excavation

Energy substrate used by workers of leaf-cutting ants during nest excavation. In this study we aimed to ascertain whether leaf-cutting ant workers lose body reserves (fat or sugars) as a function of nest excavation. For each treatment, we isolated 10 workers of Atta sexdens into two experimental groups, Control (C- without excavation) and Soil (S- with excavation), which were kept for different time intervals (0, 24, 48 or 72 hours), totaling 700 tested workers. We then determined the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and total lipid content in them. The total carbohydrates were determined colorimetrically, based on the reaction between carbohydrates and sulfuric acid-phenol. For determination of lipids, the insects were immersed in organic solvent until they reached a constant weight. Our results showed that carbohydrates are consumed during nest excavation activities. In the experimental groups S24, S48 and S72, there was an average reduction of 5.82 (20.42%), 14.31 (44.96%) and 13.27 (43.96%) µ.mg-1 in soluble sugar when compared with the experimental groups that did not excavate. Furthermore, the lipids were not used during this activity. With respect to dry mass of the workers, their values were C0 = 8%, C24 = 10.4%, C48 = 9.2%, C72 = 10%, S24 = 9.2%, S48 = 8.7% and S72 = 8.5%. Our results show experimentally that the source of energy for nest excavation is carbohydrates, whereas lipids are conserved for other activities.

Desenvolvimento de Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) em Brassicaceae ao longo de gerações

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Isolamento, identificação e caracterização de linhagem de levedura quanto ao crescimento e fermentação utilizando meios sintéticos com pentoses e hidrolisado de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar

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

Produção e purificação de L (+) ácido lático por Lactobacillus rhammosus utilizando processo de batelada alimentada

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

Hidrólise ácida de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar para produção de etanol por fermentação pelo consórcio Zymomonas mobilis CCT4494 e Pachysolen tannophilus CCT1891

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Desenvolvimento de néctar à base de mamão (Carica papaya L.) adicionado de inulina e oligofrutose

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Produção de etanol utilizando mix de sorgo sacarino e cana-de-açúcar em processo de maturação

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agropecuária - FCAV

Estudo genômico e transcritômico de isolados selecionados de alto rendimento de dorna de fermentação alcoólica de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dinâmica do metabolismo micromolecular da cana-de-açúcar em resposta à infecção com o fungo Puccinia kuehnii (ferrugem alaranjada)

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Qualidade do café em coco e em pergaminho armazenados em atmosfera modificada

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Conservação pós-colheita de mangaba (Hancornia Speciosa Gomes)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse with microwaves irradiation and its effects on the structure and on enzymatic hydrolysis

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

Sugar markers in aerosol particles from an agro-industrial region in Brazil

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

Metabolismo da videira ‘syrah’ no semiárido nordestino sob três estratégias hídricas

The almost complete absence or misdistribution of water as a natural resource frequently constitute a limiting factor for plant growth and development in the semi-arid northeastern Brazil. In this context, the use of appropriate irrigation techniques is an essential and indispensable factor for proper functioning of the primary and secondary metabolisms in plants. This study aimed to assess the metabolism of the Syrah grapevine in the semi-arid northeastern Brazil, by using three irrigation strategies (controlled deficit irrigation [CDI], deficit irrigation [DI], and full irrigation [FI]). The research was conducted at Embrapa Semiarid (Embrapa-Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Experimental Field of Bebedouro, municipality of Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The statistical design was randomized blocks, with a 3 x 6 factorial scheme. Six samplings were performed throughout the experiment cycle at 54, 60, 73, 87, 101, and 115 days after pruning (DAP). We analyzed the total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, total soluble protein, and invertase activity. Analysis of variance and the F test were performed for all analyzed variables. The means were compared using the Tukey test at 5% significance. At the end of the experiment cycle, DI was found to increase the average acid invertase activity in the plant cell wall. Further, by the end of the experiment cycle, the total soluble sugars and reducing sugars increased in all plants in the three irrigation strategies. Thus, we conclude that it is possible to reduce water consumption in vineyards of the semi-arid northeastern Brazil, without significantly affecting the protein and sugar metabolisms in the plants.

Multi-scale structural and chemical analysis of sugarcane bagasse in the process of sequential acid-base pretreatment and ethanol production by Scheffersomyces shehatae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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