Evaluation of morpho-anatomical and chemical differences between varieties of the medicinal plant Casearia sylvestris Swartz

Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) é uma planta utilizada na medicina tradicional, cujos extratos de folhas demonstraram importantes ações farmacológicas. A espécie apresenta variação morfológica, genética e química. Duas variedades são consideradas devido a diferenças morfológicas: C. sylvestris var. sylvestris e var. lingua. Há dificuldades na definição destas variedades. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar diferenças morfo-anatômicas e químicas entre as variedades de C. sylvestris que permitam sua diferenciação com aplicação farmacêutica ou botânica. Seções transversais e paradérmicas de folhas foram preparadas para análises morfo-anatômicas, histoquímicas e microscopia quantitativa (indices de estômatos e paliçada). Análises cromatográficas (CLAE-DAD e CCD) foram realizadas para obter o perfil de diterpenos clerodânicos. Os resultados das análises morfo-anatômicas demonstraram diferenças significativas entre as variedades somente em cortes paradérmicos: var. sylvestris - paredes celulares epidérmicas poligonais e hipoestomática, var. lingua - paredes celulares epidérmicas arredondadas e anfiestomática. Os índices de estômatos não revelaram diferenças; os valores dos índices de paliçada foram de 2,8 para var. lingua e 3,9 para var. sylvestris. As análises cromatográficas confirmaram resultados prévios, demonstrando predomínio de diterpenos na var. sylvestris. Este trabalho sugere que análises cromatográficas e morfo-anatômicas podem ser ferramentas aplicáveis na distinção das variedades da espécie.

Variação genética para caracteres silviculturais em progênies de polinização aberta de Astronium graveolens Jacq. (Anacardiaceae)

This study has investigated the genetic variation for silvicultural traits in an open-pollinated progeny test of Astronium graveolens Jacq., established at Luiz Antônio Experimental Station (State of São Paulo, Brazil). The trial was planted in a random block experimental design, containing 23 families, six replications and five plants per plot. The traits measured were diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and stem form. The assessments were taken at the age of 19 years. Significant differences were not detected by the analysis of variance, suggesting that the genetic variation was low, as well as the probability to raising genetic gains through selection among progenies. The coefficient of genetic variation was moderate for the traits height (8.2%) and DBH (21.2%) and low to stem form (4.0%). However, the average coefficient of heritability among progenies was low for all studied traits (ranging from 0.02 to 0.15), confirming the low probability of genetic improvement of this population by selection among progenies.

Parâmetros genéticos em progênies de polinização aberta de Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong em Luiz Antonio, SP, Brasil

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters on a progeny test of Enterolobium contortisiliquum, located at the Fazenda Experimental de Luíz Antônio (IF-SP), São Paulo State, Brazil, for genetic selection and seed production. The coefficients of genetic variation and heritability, as well as the genetic and phenotypic correlations for the silvicultural traits diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height of plants at the age of 19, 20, and 21 years and bifurcation (BIF) and stem straightness (RET), at the age of 19 years were estimated. The F test of analysis of variance detected significant variation among the progeny for the traits DBH, height in the three tested ages, and straightness of the trunk, which indicates that the tested population can be improved by selection among progenies. The estimation of heritability at the level of progeny (h²m, minimum of 0.50) for all traits was high and at the levels of individual plants (h²i, minimum 0.18) and within progenies (h²d, minimum of 0.14) was medium, indicating that the population can be improved by selection among and within progenies. Significant high genetic and phenotypic correlations among pairwise growth traits of the same age were detected as well as among those with different ages. Therefore, the direct selection, of a trait allows indirect selection of another. The results showed the potential of this progeny test to enhance a seed orchard by selection and seed production for commercial and environmental reforestation plans.

Produtividade, estabilidade e adaptabilidade em progênies de eucalyptus urophylla s.t. blake

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Caracterização das formas juvenis e adultas dos camarões-rosa Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (Latrelle, 1917) e F. paulensis (Perez-Farfante, 1967) (Decapoda: Penaeidae) por meio de técnicas moleculares e morfologia comparativa

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

Population Parameters Based on Known Pedigree Records from Brazilian Jaffarabadi Buffaloes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective number of founders and ancestors, generation intervals and completeness of pedigree in Jaffarabadi breed buffaloes raised in Brazil. Pedigree records of 1,272 animals born from 1966 were used. The parameters were estimated using ENDOG, computational population genetic software. The obtained value for completeness of pedigree was 99.5, 50.9, and 20.5 for, the first, second and third generations, respectively. Generation interval estimates expressed in years and considering different pathways were 12.28 +/- 6.90 (sire-son), 11.55 +/- 6.07 (sire-daughter), 8.20 +/- 2.63 (dam-son) and 8.794 +/-.33 (dam-daughter). The overall average generation interval was 10.17 +/- 5.43 years. The number of founders, equivalent founders and ancestor animals that contributed for the genetic diversity in the reference population (1059) were 136, 130 and 134, respectively. Effective number of founder (f(e)=8) and ancestors (f(a)=7) were small, and the calculated expected inbreeding increase per generation was 4.99%. Four ancestors explained 50% of the genetic variability in the population and the major ancestor contributed with approximately 33% of the total population genetic variation. The genetic diversity within the current population is low as a consequence of a reduced number of ancestors.

Euterpe edulis Seedlings in the Understory of Two Forest Fragments

The palm Euterpe edulis is one of the most exploited due the intense illegal extraction, which is very harmful because this species dies right after the cutting process. This study aimed to assess the palms' development as an enrichment plant in a forest fragment belonging to a Preservation Area and the Biosphere Reserve of the Green Belt of Sao Paulo State, in Embu das Artes city. The seeds were obtained from the Instituto Florestal, which follows all the regulations for seeds, in order to get seedlings with a high genetic variation. The seedlings were planted in two successional stages: secondary forest with low trees (SFLT) and secondary forest with medium trees (SFMT). The seedlings survival and growth were periodically assessed and the results were compared by the variance analysis. Both areas presented high rates of survival, which were superior comparing to other similar studies with Euterpe edulis. Despite the successional difference between the areas, the development of the seedlings did not show significant difference on the analysis of variance regarding leaf number, height growth, stem diameter and survival, except for plant height at 60 days after planting, when seedlings planted in SFLT reached higher height (21.38 cm) than when planted in SFMT (19.31 cm).

Variação, herdabilidade e ganhos genéticos em progênies de Eucalyptus tereticornis aos 25 anos de idade em Batatais-SP

The wood of Eucalyptus tereticornis is intensively used for timber, structures, buildings, poles, posts and coal. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and genetic and phenotypic correlations in growth and stem form traits of 52 open-pollinated progenies of E. tereticornis sampled from three Australian populations (20 progenies from Helenvale, 19 from Ravenshoe and 13 from Mt. Garnet). The progenies were compared with three commercial control also from Australian. The experimental design used was the compact family block, with the effect of provenance allocated in the plots and progenies within provenances in the subplots. Ten repetitions of the 52 treatments, sub-plots with six plants and the spacing of 3 x 2 m was used. At 25 years of age it was measured the diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, true volume and the stem form. We found genetic variation amon and within the three provenances and the possibility of obtaining high gains from mass selection and individual among and within progenies. The provenance Helenvale showed the best development for DBH, height and volume. The traits DBH, height and volume showed high genetic correlations (> 0.9), indicating the possibility to use the indirect selection. The coefficient of heritability on a progeny mean for the traits DBH and height was median, being 0.31 and 0.30, respectively. The expected genetic gain with the selection were estimated at 12.4% for DBH and 8.5 % for plant height. These results will subsidize the transformation of the provenance and progeny test in a seedling seed orchard and a clonal seed orchard.

Diagnostic tests for hepatitis C: Recent trends in electrochemical immunosensor and genosensor analysis

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

Enfermidades genéticas com mutações caracterizadas em bovinos

The genetic inheritance, beyond determining the regular features of all the live beings, can also be the cause of diseases, called as hereditary or genetic diseases. In the case of livestock, especially cattle, little genetic variation, by the use of the same sires for a long time, can facilitate the emergence of problems. In this study, we reviewed eight of the most important genetic diseases in cattle herds around the world, whose mutation has already been characterized. Some of these diseases are reported in Brazil, but there are few studies and articles on this subject, due to the difficulty of a definitive diagnosis, which often is only possible with the use of molecular biology techniques. The knowledge of the disorders and the correct diagnosis are essential to initiate an action plan aimed at eradicating them

Phylogeography of the freshwater red alga Sirodotia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in Brazil

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

Seleção de progênies de Myracrodruon urundeuva (F.F. & M.F. Allemão) baseada em caracteres fenológicos e de crescimento para reconstituição de áreas de reserva legal

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Produtividade, estabilidade e adaptabilidade em progênies de Myracrodruon urundeuva F.F. & M.F. Allemão – Anacardiaceae

The use and inadequate exploitation of natural resources is restricting the occurrence of aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva F.F. & M.F. Allemão), which now is on the FAO list of endangered species. This exploitation causes a decrease in the genetic base of M. urundeuva populations, which makes it difficult to find genotypes with stability and adaptability to different growing conditions. This study aimed at estimating the genetic variation and productivity, stability and adaptability of progenies of a M. urundeuva natural population, from the Ecological Station of Paulo de Faria-SP, under different planting systems. DBH (diameter at breast height) was evaluated in four progeny tests of M. urundeuva: i) planted with Anandenanthera falcata and Guazuma ulmifolia (TP-AMA); ii) single (TP-ASO); iii) planted with annual crops (TP-SAF) and iv) planted with Corymbia citriodora (TP-EUCA), installed in Selvíria-MS. The experimental design consisted of complete randomized blocks with three replications and a variable number of plants per plot in each of the four planting systems. From the joint analysis of the planting systems studied, it was found that: i) there were variations among planting systems particularly in TP-SAF; ii) only in TP-EUCA it was possible to detect variations among the progenies; iii) the effects of the genotype x environment interaction were not significant. Thereby, the harmonic mean of genotypic values (MHVG), the relative performance of genotypic values from the mean of each site (PRVG) and the harmonic mean of the relative performance of genotypic values (MHPRVG) for DBH showed, respectively: progenies with greater stability, adaptability, and stability and simultaneous adaptability within different planting systems. The use of these selection criteria provided a more refined selection of the best progenies of M. urundeuva under the different planting systems studied.

Heritability of Growth traits in fragmented popularions of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Fabaceae)

The aim of this study is to investigate the genetic control of growth traits in the initial phases of development in fragmented populations of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., using microsatellite markers. For the effect two populations of C. langsdorffii were used: a municipal park located in Sao Jose do Rio Preto (SJRP) and at Assis Ecological Station (AES), both in the state of sao Paulo, Brazil. The model to estimate the heritability coefficient is the method of regression of a measure of phenotypic similarity and an estimate of kinship between paired individuals. The coefficients of relatedness and heritability were estimated for three classes of distance (10, 20 and 30 m) within populations. Estimates of heritability were low (maximum 0.15) for all traits, ranging from positive values for regenerating individuals of the population SJRP and from negative to positive for the juvenile population AES. In evolutionary terms, these results indicate little chance of changing the population mean of the characters studied by natural selection; with strong random environmental effects changing this average. The results also suggest that the heritability for height to decrease between regenerating to juvenile stage and the natural selection in natural populations is stronger in the early stages of plant development.

Gene polymorphisms and increased DNA damage in morbidly obese women

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