Seedling response to phosphate addition and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizas and the implications for old-field restoration in Western Australia

We predicted that P-fertiliser residues will limit the establishment of native plant species and their mycorrhizas to old-fields in the wheat-growing region (i.e. the wheatbelt) of Western Australia. To test this prediction, we assessed the growth and P uptake of seedlings of three native plant species to phosphate addition and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in a pot study. The native plant species were Acacia acuminata Benth. (Mimosaceae), Eucalyptus loxophleba Benth. subsp. loxophleba (Myrtaceae) and Hakea preissii Meisn. (Proteaceae); and each pot contained one seedling. P was added to field soil to mimic pre-agricultural (P0), old-field (P1) and 10 times old-field (P10) soils. AM inoculant, which was a mix of Scutellospora calospora (Nicolson and Gerdemann) Walker and Sanders, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith and Glomus mosseae (Nicolson and Gerdemann) Gerdemann and Trappe, was added to half of the pots. After 12 weeks, the biomass and P uptake of the mycorrhizal A. acuminata were greater than those of the non-mycorrhizal plants across all P treatments. Plant biomass decreased significantly with increasing P addition, yet this species was apparently unable to suppress its mycorrhizal colonisation at high P despite this reduction in growth. In contrast, mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal E. loxophleba subsp. loxophleba were of a similar biomass after 12 weeks; maximum biomass was attained at intermediate (old-field) levels of P. P uptake increased with increasing P supply, beyond that required to attain maximum biomass. AM did not form on H. preissii. P uptake increased with increasing P supply for this species also. Overall, it is the apparent inability of these species to down-regulate P uptake rather than a lack of mycorrhizal symbiosis that will constrain their establishment on wheatbelt old-fields.

A tillering inhibition gene influences root-shoot carbon partitioning and pattern of water use to improve wheat productivity in rainfed environments

Genetic modification of shoot and root morphology has potential to improve water and nutrient 19 uptake of wheat crops in rainfed environments. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) varying for a tillering 20 inhibition (tin) gene and representing multiple genetic backgrounds were investigated in contrasting 21 controlled environments for shoot and root growth. Leaf area, shoot and root biomass were similar 22 until tillering whereupon reduced tillering in tin-containing NILs produced reductions of up to 60% in 23 total leaf area and biomass, and increases in total root length of up to 120% and root biomass to 24 145%. Together, root-to-shoot ratio increased two-fold with the tin gene. The influence of tin on shoot 25 and root growth was greatest in the cv. Banks genetic background, particularly in the biculm-selected 26 NIL, and was typically strongest in cooler environments. A separate de-tillering study confirmed 27 greater root-to-shoot ratios with regular tiller removal in non-tin containing genotypes. In validating 28 these observations in a rainfed field study, the tin allele had a negligible effect on seedling growth but 29 was associated with significantly (P<0.05) reduced tiller number (-37%), leaf area index (-26%) and 30 spike number (-35%) to reduce plant biomass (-19%) at anthesis. Root biomass, root-to-shoot ratio at 31 early stem elongation and root depth at maturity were increased in tin-containing NILs. Soil water use 32 was slowed in tin-containing NILs resulting in greater water availability, greater stomatal 33 conductance, cooler canopy temperatures and maintenance of green leaf area during grain-filling. 34 Together these effects contributed to increases in harvest index and grain yield. In both the controlled 35 and field environments, the tin gene was commonly associated with increased root length and biomass 36 but the significant influence of genetic background and environment suggests careful assessment of 37 tin-containing progeny in selection for genotypic increases in root growth.

Desenvolvimento de uma unidade pirolítica com reator de cilindro rotativo: obtenção de bio-óleo

The demand for alternative sources of energy drives the technological development so that many fuels and energy conversion processes before judged as inadequate or even non-viable, are now competing fuels and so-called traditional processes. Thus, biomass plays an important role and is considered one of the sources of renewable energy most important of our planet. Biomass accounts for 29.2% of all renewable energy sources. The share of biomass energy from Brazil in the OIE is 13.6%, well above the world average of participation. Various types of pyrolysis processes have been studied in recent years, highlighting the process of fast pyrolysis of biomass to obtain bio-oil. The continuous fast pyrolysis, the most investigated and improved are the fluidized bed and ablative, but is being studied and developed other types in order to obtain Bio-oil a better quality, higher productivity, lower energy consumption, increased stability and process reliability and lower production cost. The stability of the product bio-oil is fundamental to designing consumer devices such as burners, engines and turbines. This study was motivated to produce Bio-oil, through the conversion of plant biomass or the use of its industrial and agricultural waste, presenting an alternative proposal for thermochemical pyrolysis process, taking advantage of particle dynamics in the rotating bed that favors the right gas-solid contact and heat transfer and mass. The pyrolyser designed to operate in a continuous process, a feeder containing two stages, a divisive system of biomass integrated with a tab of coal fines and a system of condensing steam pyrolytic. The prototype has been tested with sawdust, using a complete experimental design on two levels to investigate the sensitivity of factors: the process temperature, gas flow drag and spin speed compared to the mass yield of bio-oil. The best result was obtained in the condition of 570 oC, 25 Hz and 200 cm3/min, temperature being the parameter of greatest significance. The mass balance of the elementary stages presented in the order of 20% and 37% liquid pyrolytic carbon. We determined the properties of liquid and solid products of pyrolysis as density, viscosity, pH, PCI, and the composition characterized by chemical analysis, revealing the composition and properties of a Bio-oil.

Efeitos da calagem do solo no crescimento inicial e absorção de macronutrientes por plantas de trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis)

A presente pesquisa foi conduzida visando estudar os efeitos da calagem do solo sobre o crescimento inicial e absorção de macronutrientes por plantas de trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis L.). A fase experimental foi conduzida em casa de vegetação, em vasos de cinco litros e o substrato foi coletado na camada arável de um Latossolo Vermelho Escuro, distrófico, classe textural franco-argilo-arenosa e valor original de pH igual a 3,8. O experimento foi instalado no delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições e os tratamentos constaram da incorporação de quantidades correspondentes às doses 0, I, 2, 3, 4 e 5 t/ha de calcário dolomítico calcinado. Foi efetuada uma incubação por 15 dias antes do plantio das mudas da trapoeraba. Os resultados foram avaliados 49 dias após o transplante. A planta daninha respondeu intensamente à calagem incrementando a área foliar e os acúmulos de matéria seca e de N, P, Ca, Mg e S. Os padrões de distribuição dos diferentes macronutrientes nas diversas estruturas morfológicas da planta foram alterados. O acúmulo de K cresceu até a dose de 2 t/ha de calcário e depois decresceu, possivelmente devido ao antagonismo com Mg, adicionado através do calcário.

Determinantes locais da decomposição foliar e de raízes finais em um ecossistema semiárido do nordeste brasileiro

The decomposition process exercises an extensive control over the carbon cycle, affecting its availability and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The understanding of leaf decomposition patterns above the soil and fine roots decomposition below the soil is necessary and essential to identify and quantify more accurately the flow of energy and matter in forest systems. There is still a lack of studies and a large gap in the knowledge about what environmental variables act as local determinants over decomposition drivers. The knowledge about the decomposition process is still immature for Brazilian semiarid region. The aim of this study was to analyze the decomposition process (on leaves and fine roots) of a mixture of three native species for 12 months in a semiarid ecosystem in Northeast Brazil. We also examined whether the rate of decomposition can be explained by local environmental factors, specifically plant species richness, plant density and biomass, soil macro-arthropods species richness and abundance, amount of litterfall and fine root stock. Thirty sampling points were randomly distributed within an area of 2000 m x 500 m. To determine the decomposition rate, the litterbag technique was used and the data analysis were made with multiple regressions. There was a high degradation of dead organic matter along the experiment. Above ground plant biomass was the only environmental local factor significantly related to leaf decomposition. The density of vegetation and litter production were positively and negatively related to decay rates of fine roots, respectively. The results suggest that Caatinga spatial heterogeneity may exert strong influences over the decomposition process, taking into account the action of environmental factors related to organic matter exposure of and the consequent action of solar radiation as the decomposition process main controller in this region

Efeitos das variáveis ambientais locais sobre a abundância, a riqueza e a biomassa da macrofauna de solo em um ecossistema semiárido no estado do rio grande do norte, nordeste do brasil

The soil macrofauna is influenced to several biotic and abiotic environmental factors, from changes in the physical environment to a variety of interactions among the species involved, affecting the patterns of biodiversity of soil fauna. The power and specificity of the mechanisms that act on soil organisms vary greatly depending on environmental conditions at different scales of space and time. The Caatinga has great spatial heterogeneity of vegetation, climate and soil, so the soil macrofauna would follow this local spatial variation in the environment? This study aimed to investigate the effects of local environmental variables on biological parameters (taxa richness, total abundance and biomass) of soil macrofauna in a fragment of caatinga in João Câmara, Rio Grande Norte, Northeast Brazil. The study was conducted in the Cauaçu farm, where a grid of 2000m x 500m was drawn, and later, 30 sampling points were randomly selected. The methodology used to collect the macrofauna was the TSBF method. We tested the effects of 10 environmental variables on macrofauna across the plots and across the layers of soil. The hypothesis that macrofauna soil responds to changes in the environment was not supported throughout the plots, but was confirmed to soil layers. The soil macrofauna shows a pattern of concentration in the surface layer and decreases considerably in the deeper layers. This pattern had significant and positive relationship with the aerial plant biomass and fine root stock. The aerial plant biomass releases plant necromass that accumulates in the surface layer, providing an important source of resource and shelter for soil macrofauna, explaining their greater abundance in this layer. The roots are used as a means for the arrival of nutrients to the soil from the primary production, thus a greater amount of root conditions higher food intake for macrofauna, especially the herbivores

Emergência e crescimento inicial de plântulas de pimenta ornamental e celosia em substrato à base de composto de lodo de curtume

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sensores de reflectância e fluorescência na avaliação de teores de nitrogênio, produção de biomassa e produtividade do algodoeiro

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de utilização dos sensores de reflectância e fluorescência na avaliação de teores de N‑NO3‑ no pecíolo, na produção de biomassa e na produtividade do algodoeiro. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em arranjo fatorial 3x4, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de três variedades de algodão (ST‑4288‑B2RF, ST‑4498‑B2RF e DP-164‑B2RF) e quatro doses de N (0, 45, 90 e 135 kg ha‑1). Aos 120 dias após a semeadura, foram realizadas leituras com sensores ópticos de reflectância e fluorescência. Não houve correlação significativa dos teores de N‑NO3‑ no pecíolo com os índices de reflectância; porém, houve correlação destes com a produção de biomassa (0,39) e a produtividade (0,32 a 0,41). Os índices do sensor de fluorescência correlacionaram-se significativamente com teores de N‑NO3‑ no pecíolo (0,34 a 0,61), produção de biomassa (0,30 a 0,53) e produtividade (0,34). em comparação com os índices de reflectância, os de fluorescência apresentam maior capacidade de avaliar os teores de N‑NO3‑ no pecíolo, capacidade semelhante em detectar variação na biomassa e menor capacidade de detectar variação da produtividade do algodoeiro, quando se aplicam doses crescentes de N.

Mapping Macrophyte Species in the Amazon Floodplain Wetlands Using Fully Polarimetric ALOS/PALSAR Data

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate attributes derived from fully polarimetric PALSAR data to discriminate and map macrophyte species in the Amazon floodplain wetlands. Fieldwork was carried out almost simultaneously to the radar acquisition, and macrophyte biomass and morphological variables were measured in the field. Attributes were calculated from the covariance matrix [C] derived from the single-look complex data. Image attributes and macrophyte variables were compared and analyzed to investigate the sensitivity of the attributes for discriminating among species. Based on these analyses, a rule-based classification was applied to map macrophyte species. Other classification approaches were tested and compared to the rule-based method: a classification based on the Freeman-Durden and Cloude-Pottier decomposition models, a hybrid classification (Wishart classifier with the input classes based on the H/a plane), and a statistical-based classification (supervised classification using Wishart distance measures). The findings show that attributes derived from fully polarimetric L-band data have good potential for discriminating herbaceous plant species based on morphology and that estimation of plant biomass and productivity could be improved by using these polarimetric attributes.

Produtividade de cana soca sem queima em função do uso de gesso e vinhaça

A compreensão da influência da palhada de cana-de-açúcar sobre a dinâmica da aplicação de vinhaça e corretivos é essencial para o bom gerenciamento do sistema produtivo. O objetivo da realização deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores de nutrientes do solo, produtividade de colmos e a qualidade tecnológica da cana soca (2º ciclo), em função da aplicação de vinhaça e gesso, em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico do noroeste paulista. O trabalho foi desenvolvido com a cultivar RB867515 e o delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 2x3, ou seja, com e sem gessagem (1,0 t ha-1) e aplicação de vinhaça em três doses: 0,0 m³ ha-1 (testemunha), 100,0 m³ ha-1 e 200,0 m³ ha-1. O uso de gesso incrementou os teores de Ca2+, Mg2+ e SO4(2-) e valores de pH e V%, bem como reduziu os teores de Al3+, nas camadas de 0-0,20 m e 0,20-0,40 m, e aumentou o teor de SO4(2-), na camada de 0,40-0,60 m, aos 180 e 360 dias, respectivamente. A gessagem e a aplicação de vinhaça não resultaram em aumento na produtividade de colmos, ou melhoria da qualidade tecnológica.

Reproductive biology and recruitment of Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in a marine protected area in the Western Atlantic: implications for resource management

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

Functional characterization and target discovery of glycoside hydrolases from the digestome of the lower termite Coptotermes gestroi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Xylanase production by Aspergillus versicolor

The xylanolytic system of Aspergillus versicolor is controlled by induction and carbon catabolite repression. Carboxymethylcellulose and wheat bran were the best inducers of xylanolytic activity. When the fungus was grown for 5 days on VOGEL's liquid medium with wheat bran, the optimal pH and temperature for xylanase production were 6.5 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Optimal conditions for the xylanolytic activity assay were at pH 6.0 and 55 degrees C. The half-life at 60 degrees C of the crude enzyme was 6.5 and 21 minutes, in the absence or presence of substrate, respectively.Xylan is the main hemicellulosic component of plant biomass being present in appreciable quantities in agricultural and several agroindustrial wastes. From the products of xylan enzymatic hydrolysis it is possible to obtain cell protein, fuels and other chemicals. Xylanases combined with cellulase could have applications in food processing. Cellulase-free xylanases can be also utilized for preparation of cellulose pulps and liberation of textile fibres (WOODWARD 1984; BIELY 1985, WONG et al. 1988). In view of the potential applications of xylanases, a study of these enzymes from various sources and their multiplicity is desirable.Among xylanolytic microorganisms, filamentous fungi have been more extensively studied and the genus Aspergillus has been shown to be an efficient producer of xylanases. Preliminary observations from our laboratory have demonstrated that a strain of Aspergillus versicolor, isolated from Brazilian soil, produced high xylanase and low cellulase levels, which is an interesting characteristic for some industrial applications. In this report we describe the production and some properties of xylanase obtained from this fungus.

Peptídeos cíclicos de biomassa vegetal: características, diversidade, biossíntese e atividades biológicas

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

Investigations on the full polarimetric PALSAR data to discriminate macrophytes species in the Amazon floodplain wetland

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the capacity of full polarimetric L band data to discriminate macrophyte species in Amazon wetland. Fieldwork was carried out almost simultaneously to the acquisition of the full polarimetric PALSAR data. Coherent and incoherent attributes were extracted from the image, and macrophyte morphological variables were measured on the ground. The image attributes and the macrophyte variables were compared in order to evaluate their application for discriminating macrophytes species. The findings suggest that polarimetric information could be adopted to discriminate plant species based on morphology, and that estimation of plant biomass and productivity could be improved by using the polarimetric information. © 2010 IEEE.