Mutagenicity of the Musa paradisiaca (Musaceae) fruit peel extract in mouse peripheral blood cells in vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Partilha de néctar de Musa paradisiaca (Musaceae) por três espécies de morcegos filostomideos na região Sudeste do Brasil

O genero Musa apresenta características em suas inflorescências como: grande tamanho, visibilidade, odor floral e fluxo de néctar abundante, que tornam o gênero um importante recurso para morcegos fitófagos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar as interações entre morcegos filostomideos e flores de M. paradisiaca no pomar da fazenda Santo Antônio dos Ipês, Município de Jaú, São Paulo. Três espécies (Glossophaga soricina, Anoura caudifer e Phyllostomus discolor) foram observadas alimentando-se do néctar das flores das bananeiras do pomar. Três formas distintas de comportamento de visita foram observadas: “adejo” para G. soricina e A. caudifer, “pouso de frente na inflorescência” para G. soricina e “pouso de cabeça para baixo na inflorescência” para P. discolor. As visitas ocorreram durante toda noite (das 18h00 às 6h00), com pico de vistas das 20h00 à 1h00. As visitas entre duas sub-famílias ocorriam de forma alternada nestes horários. Apesar das três espécies de filostomideos partilharem o néctar das bananeiras, os glossofagineos são os principais beneficiados por esse recurso alimentar, uma vez que cerca de 88% (N=694) das visitas registradas às suas flores foram realizadas por G. soricina e A. caudifer, enquanto apenas 12% (N=97) foram por P. discolor

Dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with one-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as a powerful tool to differentiate banana cultivars based on their volatile metabolite profile

In this study the effect of the cultivar on the volatile profile of five different banana varieties was evaluated and determined by dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction (dHS-SPME) combined with one-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (1D-GC–qMS). This approach allowed the definition of a volatile metabolite profile to each banana variety and can be used as pertinent criteria of differentiation. The investigated banana varieties (Dwarf Cavendish, Prata, Maçã, Ouro and Platano) have certified botanical origin and belong to the Musaceae family, the most common genomic group cultivated in Madeira Island (Portugal). The influence of dHS-SPME experimental factors, namely, fibre coating, extraction time and extraction temperature, on the equilibrium headspace analysis was investigated and optimised using univariate optimisation design. A total of 68 volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) were tentatively identified and used to profile the volatile composition in different banana cultivars, thus emphasising the sensitivity and applicability of SPME for establishment of the volatile metabolomic pattern of plant secondary metabolites. Ethyl esters were found to comprise the largest chemical class accounting 80.9%, 86.5%, 51.2%, 90.1% and 6.1% of total peak area for Dwarf Cavendish, Prata, Ouro, Maçã and Platano volatile fraction, respectively. Gas chromatographic peak areas were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis (principal component and stepwise linear discriminant analysis) in order to visualise clusters within samples and to detect the volatile metabolites able to differentiate banana cultivars. The application of the multivariate analysis on the VOMs data set resulted in predictive abilities of 90% as evaluated by the cross-validation procedure.

De Musaceis commentatio botanica sistens characteres hujus-ce familiæ generum /

Novorum actorum Academiæ Cæsareæ Leopoldino-Carolinæ Naturæ Curiosorum ; v. 15, suppl.

Das Pflanzenreich.

Heft 2 contains an unnumbered signature, separately paged (1-11), cntaining: I, Verzeichnis der anzuwendenden abkürzungen der autoren (p. [1]-6); II, Verzeichnis der abkürzungen für die haüfiger benutzten zeitschriften nebst beispielen für die angabe der bände und seitenzahlen (p. [7]-9); III, Verzeichnis der abkürzungen für einige hauptwerke nebst biespielen für die angabe der bände und seitenzahlen (p. [10]-11)

Natural parasitism of lepidopteran eggs by Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in agricultural crops in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The genus Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) includes insect egg parasitoids that are widely used throughout the world as control agents of pest insects. The aim of this study was to identify the species of Trichogramma naturally associated with the eggs of lepidopteran pests of the following agricultural and horticultural crops: collards, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae); papaya, Carica papaya L. (Capparales: Caricaceae); tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanales: Solanaceae); cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae); banana, Musa sp. L. (Zingiberales: Musaceae); passion fruit, Passiflora sp. Degener (Malpighiales: Passifloraceae); sugarcane, Saccharum sp. L. (Poales: Poaceae); and corn (maize), Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae); and an invasive species (Sodom?s apple milkweed, Calotropis procera Aiton; Gentianales: Apocynaceae) in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We report natural parasitism by Trichogramma in eggs of Agraulis vanillae vanillae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Antichloris eriphia F. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Danaus sp. (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Erinnyis ello L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae), and Protambulyx strigilis L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae). In total, 2,242 specimens of Trichogramma were obtained, belonging to the species T. pretiosum Riley, T. manicobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, T. marandobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, and T. galloi Zucchi. These species of Trichogramma may be candidates for biological control programs of lepidopteran pests in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais and in other semiarid regions.

Chemical Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Bananas and Postharvest Alterations

Bananas arise as one of the most popular fruits consumed all around the world. Banana belongs to the genus Musa from the family Musaceae. It is original from tropical regions and presents a strong ability to protect itself from the oxidative stress caused by extreme climatic conditions such as intense sunshine and high temperature. For this protection, bananas increase the production of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, which protect the fruit from the oxidative damage. Scientific studies have demonstrated that bananas (both in the pulp and peel) contain different antioxidant compounds, like vitamins (A, B, C and E), β-carotene and phenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, lignin, tannins, anthocyanins). Furthermore, banana is also notably rich in minerals, like potassium and phosphorus. The knowledge about the chemical composition and the contents in compounds with biological activity is of high interest given the importance of bananas as a valuable food all over the world. However, because bananas are perishable due to some factors like chemical reactions, including those that result in the production of ethylene, their postharvest conservation in pivotal for the commercialization. The effects of postharvest treatments and storage conditions on the composition of bananas are, therefore, essential. In this way, the present chapter focus on the composition of bananas, including macronutrients, micronutrients and bioactive compounds, as well as the effect of postharvest treatments and storage conditions in the quality of bananas.