Growth of lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) plants affected by salinity and substrate

The effects of 0, 30 and 60 mM NaCl and substrates (red peat, sand or 3:1:1 [w/w] mixture of peat, sand, or soil) on vegetative growth of lulo, an Andean fruit species, during 12 weeks were studied. The experiment was carried out by using 2000 cm³ of polypropylene plastic pots under greenhouse conditions. Plant height, number of leaves and nodes, leaf area, total plant dry matter (DM), and shoot/root ratio were evaluated. With the increase of salt concentration, the plant height, the number of leaves and nodes, the leaf areas and plant dry mass DM decreased, whereas shoot/root ratio increased. Sand grown lulo plants were most affected by salinity and presented total mortality at 60 mM NaCl. On the other hand, plants held either in peat or in substrate mixture developed larger height, greater leaf and node numbers, higher leaf area and dry matter content. Shoot/root ratio in control (soil) and sand-grown plants (30 mM NaCl) was lower.

Custo de produção e rentabilidade do maracujazeiro no mercado agroindustrial da Zona da Mata Mineira

O Brasil é o maior produtor e consumidor mundial de maracujá, porém, nos últimos anos, a agroindústria nacional passou a importar polpa para atender à crescente demanda de sucos (concentrado, integral e néctares). Considerando o polo agroindustrial processador de frutas da Zona da Mata Mineira, observa-se que a demanda de frutas não está sendo totalmente satisfeita, principalmente no caso do maracujá, que é importado in natura de outros estados ou já processado (polpa) de outros países, visando à fabricação de suco pronto para beber. Por ser uma cultura de rápido retorno econômico, o maracujazeiro vem despertando interesse dos produtores, mas ainda há carência de informações sobre os custos de produção e sua rentabilidade no mercado agroindustrial, impedindo a expansão da cultura. Com o objetivo de dar um respaldo técnico e econômico para o desenvolvimento da cultura na região, foram estimados os custos de produção e calculados os indicadores econômicos: Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) e Tempo de Retorno do Capital (TRC). Pelo modelo de análise adotado, pode-se inferir que o cultivo do maracujazeiro é uma atividade rentável e de retorno rápido, sendo considerada uma boa alternativa para investimento na região.

PEN as substrate for new solar cell technologies

The possible use of polyethylene naphthalate as substrate for low-temperature deposited solar cells has been studied in this paper. The transparency of this polymer makes it a candidate to be used in both substrate and superstrate configurations. ZnO:Al has been deposited at room temperature on top of PEN. The resulting structure PEN/ZnO:Al presented good optical and electrical properties. PEN has been successfully textured (nanometer and micrometer random roughness) using hot-embossing lithography. Reflector structures have been built depositing Ag and ZnO:Al on top of the stamped polymer. The deposition of these layers did not affect the final roughness of the whole. The reflector structure has been morphologically and optically analysed to verify its suitability to be used in solar cells.

Substrate and depth preferences of macroinvertebrates along a transect in a Pyrenean high mountain lake (Estanh Redo, NE Spain)

Se estudia la composiciÛn y estructura de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados a lo largo de un transecto en profundidad en el lago Redó (Pirineos). Este estudio se enmarca dentro del proyecto de ámbito europeo MOLAR (Mountain Lake Research). Un equipo de buceadores muestreo dos tipos de substrato, piedras y fondos blandos, cada 2 m desde los 2 a los 20 m de profundidad. En la parte m·s profunda del lago las muestras se tomaron con draga Ekman (tres rÈplicas). Todas las muestras se tomaron el mismo día, el 15 de Julio de 1997. Los resultados, mediante un análisis de autocorrelación de Mantel, muestran que no existe un gradiente continuo en la sustituciÛn de unas especies por otras en la comunidad sobre substrato rocoso, sino que se distinguen dos discontinuidades claras, una a los 4 metros y otra a los 14 metros. La primera separa las especies propias de la zona litoral respecto a las de la zona sublitoral, mientras que la segunda coincide con la parte inferior de la termoclina, una zona siempre mas frÌa, con menos luz y con mayor acumulación de material fino sobre los sustratos duros a la vez que desaparece la cobertura algal que cubrÌa las piedras hasta esta profundidad. Respecto al sustrato existen especies que claramente prefieren el sustrato blando (oligoquetos, o los quironÛmidos Micropsectra radialis y Pseudodiamesa nivosa), mientras que otras eran más abundantes o exclusivas de los sustratos duros (Radix peregra, Plectrocnemia laetabilis, Psectrocladius octomaculatus). Estos resultados seran muy útiles para la interpretaciÛn de los datos paleolimnolÛgicos de los cores que actualmente se est·n estudiando en el lago.

Structure of a-Si:H/a-Si1-xCx:H multilayers deposited in a reactor with automated substrate holder

This paper deals with the structural properties of a-Si:H/a-Si1-xCx: H multilayers deposited by glow-discharge decomposition of SiH4 and SiH4 and CH4 mixtures. The main feature of the rf plasma reactor is an automated substrate holder. The plasma stabilization time and its influence on the multilayer obtained is discussed. A series of a-Si:H/a-Si1-xCx: H multilayers has been deposited and characterized by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). No asymmetry between the two types of interface has been observed. The results show that the multilayers present a very good periodicity and low roughness. The difficulty of determining the abruptness of the multilayer at the nanometer scale is discussed.

Muscle Characteristics and Substrate Energetics in Lifelong Endurance Athletes.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to explore the effect of lifelong aerobic exercise (i.e., chronic training) on skeletal muscle substrate stores (intramyocellular triglyceride [IMTG] and glycogen), skeletal muscle phenotypes, and oxidative capacity (ox), in older endurance-trained master athletes (OA) compared with noncompetitive recreational younger (YA) athletes matched by frequency and mode of training. METHODS: Thirteen OA (64.8 ± 4.9 yr) exercising 5 times per week or more were compared with 14 YA (27.8 ± 4.9 yr) males and females. IMTG, glycogen, fiber types, succinate dehydrogenase, and capillarization were measured by immunohistochemistry in vastus lateralis biopsies. Fat-ox and carbohydrate (CHO)-ox were measured by indirect calorimetry before and after an insulin clamp and during a cycle ergometer graded maximal test. RESULTS: V˙O2peak was lower in OA than YA. The OA had greater IMTG in all fiber types and lower glycogen stores than YA. This was reflected in greater proportion of type I and less type II fibers in OA. Type I fibers were similar in size, whereas type II fibers were smaller in OA compared with YA. Both groups had similar succinate dehydrogenase content. Numbers of capillaries per fiber were reduced in OA but with a higher number of capillaries per area. Metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity were similar in both groups. Exercise metabolic efficiency was higher in OA. At moderate exercise intensities, carbohydrate-ox was lower in OA but with similar Fat-ox. CONCLUSIONS: Lifelong exercise is associated with higher IMTG content in all muscle fibers and higher metabolic efficiency during exercise that are not explained by differences in muscle fibers types and other muscle characteristics when comparing older with younger athletes matched by exercise mode and frequency.

Production of fungal protein by solid substrate fermentation of cactus Cereus peruvianus and Opuntia ficus indica

Agricultural wastes from cactus Cereus peruvianus and Opuntia ficus indica were investigated for protein production by solid substrate fermentation. Firstly, the polyelectrolytes were extracted and used in water cleaning as auxiliary of flocculation and coagulation. The remaining fibrous material and peels were used as substrate for fermentation with Aspergillus niger. Glucoamylase and cellulase were the main enzymes produced. Amino acids were determined by HPLC and protein by Lowry's method. After 120 hours of fermentation the protein increased by 12.8%. Aspartic acid (1.27%), threonine (0.97%), glutamic acid (0.88%), valine (0.70%), serine (0.68%), arginine (0.82%), and phenylalanine (0.51%) were the principal amino acids produced.

Elementos traço em material particulado atmosférico de uma região agroindustrial do sudeste do Brasil

Trace element concentrations were measured in atmospheric particulate matter collected in 2009 and 2010, in a Brazilian region influenced by pre-harvest burning of sugar cane crops. For coarse particles, high concentrations of Al, Fe, K and Ca suggested that re-suspended soil dust was the main source of aerosol trace elements, subsequently confirmed by XRD analysis. High levels of K, Zn, As, Cd and Pb were found in fine particles, confirming the contribution of biomass burning and vehicle emissions, whereas Na, Al, K, Fe and Zn were the representative elements in ultrafine particles, influenced by a diversity of sources.

Produção de lipases de Aspergillus niger e Aspergillus fumigatus através de fermentação em estado sólido, avaliação da especificidade do substrato e seu uso em reações de esterificação e alcoólise: evaluation of substrate specificity and use in esterification and alcoholysis reactions

Filamentous fungi were cultured under solid state fermentation of soybean residues to produce lipases. Enzymes produced by Aspergillus niger esterified oleic and butyric acids in the presence of ethanol, while enzymes produced by Aspergillus fumigatus demonstrated no esterification activity toward lauric acid. In case of A. niger, direct lyophilization of fermented bran led to higher esterification activity. The esterification of oleic acid by enzymes of A. fumigatus was neither influenced by pH adjustment nor by the extraction process. Conversions to ethyl esters were higher after pH adjustment with lyophilized liquid extract of A. niger.

Determinação de biureto em uréia agroindustrial por espectrofotometria

Foi desenvolvido um método espectrofotométrico para a determinação de biureto em fertilizantes à base de uréia empregando Cu(OH)2(s) como reagente analítico. O método se baseia na reação entre biureto e Cu(OH)2(s) e formação do complexo Cu(C2N3O2H5)2 de coloração violeta cujo espectro apresenta máximo de absorção em 510 nm. Após o estabelecimento das melhores condições analíticas, o método proposto foi aplicado na determinação de biureto em duas amostras comerciais de uréia, uma para pecuária e outra para agricultura. Curvas analíticas construídas no intervalo de concentrações de 0,1 a 0,5% (m/v) em biureto produziram coeficientes de correlação típicos > 0,9990. Os resultados obtidos pelo método proposto foram concordantes ao nível de 95% de confiança com os obtidos por um método alternativo empregando espectrometria de absorção atômica. A exatidão do método foi também avaliada por meio de testes de adição e recuperação de padrão. Recuperações de 92 a 100% foram obtidas e o desvio padrão relativo calculado para 12 medidas sucessivas de uma amostra contendo 0,31% (m/v) foi 2%.

In vitro effect of substrate, temperature and photoperiod on Phakopsora pachyrhizi urediniospore germination and germ tube growth

In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the effects of substrate, temperature and time of exposure to temperature and photoperiod on P. pachyrhizi uredospore germination and germ tube growth. The following substrates were tested: water-agar and soybean leaf extract-agar at different leaf concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g of leaves and 15g agar/L water), temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35oC) and times of exposure (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours) to temperature and 12 different photoperiods. The highest germination and germ tube length was found for the soybean leaf extract agar. Maximum P. pachyrhizi uredospore germination was obtained at 21.8 and 22.3°C, and maximum germ tube growth at 21.4 and 22.1°C. The maximum uredospore germination was found at 6.4 hours exposure, while the maximum germ tube length was obtained at 7.7 h exposure. Regarding photoperiod, the maximum spore germination and the maximum uredospore germ tube length were found in the dark. Neither spore germination nor uredospore germ tube growth was completely inhibited by the exposure to continuous light.

In vitro EVALUATION OF EUCALYPTUS ECTOMYCORRHIZAE ON SUBSTRATE WITH PHOSPHORUS DOSES FOR FUNGAL PRE-SELECTION

The benefit promoted by ectomycorrhizal depends on the interaction between symbionts and phosphorus (P) contents. Phosphorus effect on ectomycorrhizal formation and the effectiveness of these in promoting plant growth for fungal pre-selection were assessed under in vitro conditions. For P effect evaluation, Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings inoculated with four Pisolithus sp. isolates and others non-inoculated were grown on substrate containing 0.87, 1.16 and 1.72 mg P per plant. For evaluation of effectiveness and fungal pre-selection, other 30 isolates of Pisolithus sp., Pisolithus microcarpus ITA06 isolate, Amanita muscaria AM16 isolate, Scleroderma areolatum SC129 isolate were studied. D26 isolate promoted the highest plant heights for the three P doses, D51 at the lower dose and D72 at the intermediate dose. P doses did not influenced shoot fresh weight and fungal colonization. In the pre-selection of fungi, 14 isolates of Pisolithus sp., P. microcarpus ITA06 isolate and S. areolatum SC129isolate increased plant height and fresh weight. D82 isolate of Pisolithus sp. had effect singly on plant height while D17 and D58 on fresh weight. Of these, only D15, D17, D58 and ITA06 had typical ectomycorrhizae. The cultivation in vitro has shown adequate for pre-selection of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Colonization and benefits depend on species and isolate. D15, D17 and D58 of Pisolithus sp. and P. microcarpus isolate ITA06 are the most promising for nursery studies.

TEMPERATURE AND SUBSTRATE INFLUENCES ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING FORMATION IN Callisthene fasciculata Mart. (VOCHYSIACEAE) IN THE LABORATORY1

ABSTRACTCallisthene fasciculata Mart. is a tree belonging to the Vochysiaceae family. Its wood is moderately heavy and resistant and used to make poles, beams, and other structures. The aim of this work was to evaluate seed germination and the initial growth of seedlings of C. fasciculata at different temperatures and in different substrates. Seeds were collected from fruits in the Pantanal de Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. In one experiment, the seeds were subjected to constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C and to alternating temperatures of 20-30 and 25-35 °C (on paper substrate). In another experiment, the seeds were subjected to temperatures of 20 and 25 °C on three substrates (sand, vermiculite and between paper) in a germinator. The experiment had a randomized design, with four replicates of 25 seeds per treatment. The F-values obtained for germination indicated no significant effect of substrate or temperature on the final germination percentage. The analyses revealed no effect of a treatment interaction (temperature x substrate) on either germination or average germination time; however, a treatment interaction effect was observed on the germination speed index. The treatment combinations yielding the best performance were between paper substrate at 20 °C and sand substrate at 25 °C. There was a significant effect of the interaction between temperature and substrate on seedling growth, with increased root growth observed in the between paper substrate at 25 °C and increased aerial component growth in both sand at 20 °C and vermiculite at 25 °C. The between paper treatment at 25 °C yielded the greatest final seedling size. Between paper is the most recommended substrate for the production of seedlings due to its ease of handling and lower probability of contamination.