The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the early-stage restoration of seasonally dry tropical forest in Chamela, Mexico

It was evaluated the effect of two different sources of local inocula from two contrasting sites (mature forest, pasture) of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) and a non-mycorrhizal control on the plant growth of six woody species differing in functional characteristics (slow-, intermediate- and fast-growth), when introduced in a seasonally tropical dry forest (STDF) converted into abandoned pasture. Six plots (12 X 12m) were set as AMF inoculum source. Six replicates of six different species arranged in a Latin Square design were set in each plot. Plant height, cover area and the number of leaves produced by individual plant was measured monthly during the first growing season in each treatment. Species differed in their ability to benefit from AMF and the largest responsiveness in plant height and leaf production was exhibited by the slow-growing species Swietenia humilis, Hintonia latiflora and Cordia alliodora. At the end of the growing season (November), the plant height of the fast growing species Tabebuia donnel-smithii, Ceiba pentandra and Guazuma ulmifolia were not influenced by AMF. However, inocula of AMF increased leaf production of all plant species regardless the functional characteristics of the species, suggesting a better exploitation of above-ground space and generating a light limited environment under the canopy, which contributed to pasture suppression. Inoculation of seedlings planted in abandoned pasture areas is recommended for ecological restoration due to the high responsiveness of seedling growth in most of species. Use of forest inoculum with its higher diversity of AMF could accelerate the ecological restoration of the above and below-ground comunities.

Levantamento fitossociológico e caráter sucessional de um trecho de floresta secundária ciliar em Juquitiba, SP, Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi levantar as estruturas horizontal e vertical da comunidade arbórea em regeneração de trecho de floresta secundária ciliar de aproximadamente trinta anos de idade e conhecer quais as espécies mais abundantes em cada estrato da floresta, para se conhecer o grau sucessional deste trecho florestal. Foram levantados 800 m² de área, sub-divididos em dezesseis parcelas de 10 x 5 m, no interior das quais todos os indivíduos com DAP ≥ 1 cm foram amostrados e identificados para as análises horizontal (DR, FR, DoR, IVC e IVI), vertical (PSR e RNT) e mista, a partir do índice de valor de importância ampliado (IVIa). Foram amostrados 689 indivíduos, pertencentes a 38 famílias, 74 gêneros e 109 espécies. A densidade total foi de 8.614 indivíduos/ha. O índice de diversidade de Shannon foi de 3,99 e o de eqüabilidade de Pielou, 0,85. Tibouchina pulchra, Psychotria suterella e Endlicheria paniculata se destacaram com elevados valores de IVIa. Guarea macrophylla, Gomidesia anacardiaefolia, Xylopia langsdorffiana e Endlicheria paniculata obtiveram elevados valores de RNT, indicando adequada regeneração natural no trecho. As espécies secundárias iniciais e umbrófilas apresentaram a maior importância ecológica nesse trecho de floresta com trinta anos de pousio, com os maiores valores de posição sociológica e índice de valor de importância. Além destas, as espécies secundárias tardias presentes em todos os estratos sugerem o grau sucessional intermediário para o trecho estudado.

Fitossociologia de um remanescente de floresta higrófila (mata de brejo) em Campinas, SP

Foi realizado um levantamento fitossociológico em dois fragmentos de floresta higrófila (mata de brejo) no município de Campinas, SP. Em cada fragmento foram alocadas 10 parcelas contíguas de 10 m x 10 m e amostrados todos os indivíduos com PAP (perímetro à altura do peito) ³ 10 cm. Os dados dos dois fragmentos foram agrupados e analisados em conjunto. Ao todo foram amostrados 955 indivíduos de 55 espécies, 44 gêneros e 29 famílias. Foi observada baixa diversidade em espécies (H’ = 2,80 nats/indivíduo). As espécies de maior IVI, em ordem decrescente, foram Calophyllum brasiliensis (Clusiaceae), Protium almecega (Burseraceae), Styrax pohlii (Styracaceae), Syagrus romanzoffiana (Arecaceae), Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae), Geonoma brevispatha (Arecaceae), Trichilia pallida (Meliaceae), Inga luschnathiana (Mimosaceae), Guarea macrophylla (Meliaceae) e Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae), representadas por grande número de indivíduos. As famílias mais ricas em espécies foram Myrtaceae (9 espécies), Lauraceae (6), Meliaceae (5), Euphorbiaceae (4) e Fabaceae (3). Essas matas são restritas a áreas de solo permanentemente encharcado e revelam um padrão florestal característico, com peculiaridades florísticas, estruturais e fisionômicas que as diferenciam das demais unidades florestais do estado de São Paulo.

Thelypteris subg. Meniscium (Thelypteridaceae - Pterophyta) no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Este trabalho trata das espécies pertencentes a Thelypteris subg. Meniscium (Thelypteridaceae) no Estado de São Paulo. O grupo está representado no estado por seis espécies e uma variedade: T. angustifolia (Willd.) Proctor, T. chrysodioides (Fée) C.V. Mortonvar. goyazensis (Maxon & C.V. Morton) C.V. Morton, T. longifolia (Desv.) R.M. Tryon, T. macrophylla (Kunze) C.V. Morton, T. maxoniana A.R. Sm., T. salzmannii (Fée) C.V. Morton e T. serrata (Cav.) Alston. São apresentadas descrições do subgênero e das espécies, chave de identificação para as espécies, bem como ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e comentários das espécies.

Floristic relationships among inland swamp forests of Southeastern and Central-Western Brazil

We evaluated the floristic relationships among 20 swamp forests of Southeastern and Central-Western Brazil using multivariate analyses. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and TWINSPAN (Two way indicator species analysis) indicated two distinct floristic groups among forests, according to the Phytogeographic Province (Paranaense or Cerrado) and their climate conditions, phytophysiognomies, and species composition. Within the same province, edaphic conditions and geographical distance, among other factors, may be responsible for similarities or dissimilarities among the forests floras. Our results indicated that, despite the low a diversity, γ diversity is high among the forests, as a result of the low floristic similarities among the remnants and the high number of unique species (55% of all species). Although floristically distinct, we concluded that the inland swamp forests of Southeastern Brazil and the gallery swamp forests of Central Brazil are part of the same forest formation. These forests have in common, in addition to the swampy environment, low plant species diversity and species that have high local densities, such as Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., Cecropia pachystachya Trécul, Dendropanax cuneatus Decne. & Planch., Guarea macrophylla Vahl, Magnolia ovata (A. St.-Hil.) Spreng., Protium spruceanum (Benth.) Engl. and Tapirira guianensis Aubl.

In vitro degradability of mature and immature leaves of tropical forage legumes differing in condensed tannin and non-starch polysaccharide content and composition

A study was designed to examine the relationships between protein, condensed tannin and cell wall carbohydrate content and composition and the nutritional quality of seven tropical legumes (Desmodium ovalifolium, Flemingia macrophylla, Leucaena leucocephala, L pallida, L macrophylla, Calliandra calothyrsus and Clitotia fairchildiana). Among the legume species studied, D ovalifolium showed the lowest concentration of nitrogen, while L leucocephala showed the highest. Fibre (NDF) content was lowest in C calothyrsus, L Leucocephala and L pallida and highest in L macrophylla, which had no measurable condensed tannins. The highest tannin concentration was found in C calothyrsus. Total non-structural polysaccharides (NSP) varied among legumes species (lowest in C calothyrsus and highest in D ovalifolium), and glucose and uronic acids were the most abundant carbohydrate constituents in all legumes. Total NSP losses were lowest in F macrophylla and highest in L leucocephala and L pallida. Gas accumulation and acetate and propionate levels were 50% less with F macrophylla and D ovalifolium as compared with L leucocephala. The highest levels of branched-chain fatty acids were observed with non-tanniniferous legumes, and negative concentrations were observed with some of the legumes with high tannin content (D ovalifolium and F macrophylla). Linear regression analysis showed that the presence of condensed tannins was more related to a reduction of the initial rate of gas production (0-48 h) than to the final amount of gas produced or the extent (144h) of dry matter degradation, which could be due to differences in tannin chemistry. Consequently, more attention should be given in the future to elucidating the impact of tannin structure on the nutritional quality of tropical forage legumes. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of condensed tannins from tropical legumes on the activity of fibrolytic enzymes from the rumen fungus Neocallimastyx hurleyensis

A study was conducted to assess the effect of condensed tannins on the activity of fibrolytic enzymes from the anaerobic rumen fungus, Neocallimastix hurleyensis and a recombinant ferulic acid esterase (FAE) from the aerobic fungus Aspergillus niger. Condensed tannins were extracted from the tropical legumes Desmodium ovalifolium, Flemingia macrophylla, Leucaena leticocephala, Leucaena pallida, Calliandra calothyrsus and Clitoria fairchildiana and incubated in fungal enzyme mixtures or with the recombinant FAE. In most cases, the greatest reductions in enzyme activities were observed with tannins purified from D. ovalifolium and F macrophylla and the least with tannins from L leucocephala. Thus, whereas 40 mu g ml(-1) of condensed tannins from C. calothyrsus and L. leucocephala were needed to halve the activity of N. hurleyensis carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), just 5.5 mu g ml(-1) of the same tannins were required to inhibit 50% of xylanase activity. The beta-D-glucosidase and beta-D-Xylosidase enzymes were less sensitive to tannin inhibition and concentrations greater than 100 mu g ml(-1) were required to reduce their activity by 50%. In other assays, the inhibitory effect of condensed tannins when added to incubation mixtures containing particulate substrates (the primary cell walls of E arundinacea) or when bound to these substrate was compared. Substrate-associated tannins were more effective in preventing fibrolytic activities than tannins added directly to incubations solutions. It was concluded that condensed tannins from tropical legumes can inhibit fibrolytic enzyme activities, although the extent of the effect was dependent on the tannin, the nature of its association with the substrate and the enzyme involved. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization of microsatellite markers for Sycoscapter nonpollinating fig wasps

We isolated 18 microsatellites from Sycoscapter australis, a nonpollinating fig wasp that develops in figs of Ficus macrophylla, and assessed their variability in 20 wasps. We further optimized nine of these loci for use in three other Sycoscapter species that develop in Ficus rubiginosa figs and assessed their variability in 47-140 wasps per species. These are the first microsatellites developed for nonpollinating fig wasps and show sufficient polymorphism to become important tools in evolutionary and genetical studies of Sycoscapter wasps.

Desafios do modelo de franquias no setor de perfumaria e cosméticos brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista de franqueados e franqueadores

O objetivo fundamental deste trabalho foi investigar e entender quais são os desafios para que o modelo de franquias possa crescer ainda mais e adquirir maior representatividade enquanto modelo de distribuição no setor de perfumaria e cosméticos brasileiro. Para isto, utilizou-se, além de uma revisão bibliográfica a partir do referencial teórico disponível, uma abordagem qualitativa, segundo a qual foram realizadas vinte e duas entrevistas com franqueados e franqueadores, no período compreendido entre setembro e novembro de 2010. As empresas representadas por estes entrevistados foram: Água de Cheiro, Antídoto, Contém 1g, Mahogany e O Boticário. A realização destas entrevistas revelou que, embora o modelo de franquias seja visto por franqueados e franqueadores como uma boa alternativa para a distribuição de produtos e para o aumento da capilaridade da marca, o modelo de franquias apresenta alguns desafios a serem alcançados, tais como maior participação ativa da rede franqueadora, melhoria no modelo de avaliação e seleção de franqueados, melhor suporte financeiro aos franqueados nos primeiros anos após a abertura da loja, melhor modelo para escolha da localização das lojas e, por fim, melhor modelo para definição de taxas de royalties.

Identificação e caracterização de um isolado de Hydrangea ringspot virus em hortênsia no Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Composição florística e estrutura fitossociológica de dois fragmentos de floresta de restinga no Município de Bertioga, SP, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Floristic relationships among inland swamp forests of Southeastern and Central-Western Brazil

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

Spatial patterns or trees in the Picinguara coastal sandy forest (state of Sao-Paulo, Brazil)

The species of the sandy plains forests (forests of the ''restingas'') have not yet had their spatial patterns studied as aids to the understanding of the diversity found in the different physiognomies along the Brazilian coast. In this paper a 10 x 10 m quadrat framework laid in a hectare of a tree dominant forest in the sandy plains of the Picinguaba area of the Serra do Mar State Park (municipality of Ubatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil) was used to assess the spatial pattern of distribution for the ten most important species : Pera glabrata, Euterpe edulis, Eugenia brasiliensis, Alchornea triplinervea, Guatteria australis, Myrcia racemosa, Jacaranda semiserrata, Guarea macrophylla, Euplassa cantareirae and Nectandra oppositifolia. The spatial patterns were inferred through the calculations of their T-Square Index (C) and Dispersal Distance Index (I). P. glabrata shows a random pattern, E. edulis aggregate, E. brasiliensis, A. triplinervia, G. australis, E. cantareirae and N. oppositifolia with a tendency between aggregate and uniform and, M. racemosa, J. semiserrata and G. macrophylla between aggregate and random. Although the indexes are dependent of the sample size and of the technique adjustments, the relationship of the pattern with the environmental factors is shown by clustering methods. The results give confirmation of how the spatial patterns bring associations between populations and shape of the vegetation physiognomy.

Enraizamento de plantas cultivadas in vitro

The adventitious rooting process of in vitro cultured plantlets is a technique that has been employed for the vegetative propagation of a significant number of native and exotic species. Many factors are associated with the rooting stage influencing positive and/or negatively the establishment of micropropagation protocols. The objective of this work was a literature review of the main inherent factors concerning in vitro rooting process including the correlation among others the endogenous and exogenous auxins levels, juvenility, genotype, mineral nutrition, culture medium conditions, addition of growth regulators and other substances as phenolic compounds and active coal besides growth environmental conditions of in vitro cultures. Although the complete elucidation of all processes involved with rooting of in vitro cultured plants has not been achieved so far, a comprehensive study of the main factors that interfere on rooting is fundamental for the establishment of new researches that might contribute for the rooting of economically important plants.

Caracterização morfológica do fruto, da semente e desenvolvimento pós-seminal do abacateiro

A propagação do abacateiro é comercialmente, realizada por enxertia da variedade desejada sobre porta-enxertos seminais. No entanto, a literatura é discordante sobre a ocorrência de poliembrionia e tipo de fruto, nesta espécie. Em função do exposto, o trabalho objetivou caracterizar o tipo de fruto, aspectos morfológicos da semente e da plântula, além de avaliar o número de embriões existente. O abacateiro possui frutos do tipo baga, as sementes são monoembriônicas e exalbuminosas, a germinação é hipógea e a emergência das plântulas ocorreu 33 dias após a semeadura. A raiz primária é longa e de coloração branca e as raízes secundárias são curtas e filiformes. Os cotilédones são maciços e de coloração rosada. Foi possível observar a presença de múltiplos caulículos na semente de abacate, originados do colo. As sementes apresentam policaulia; o início da estabilização da emergência de plântulas ocorreu na oitava semana, sendo inviável para a propagação da espécie, manter essas sementes no viveiro por mais tempo.