Aspectos da Biologia e Etologia de Paulinia acuminata (De Geer), 1773 (Orthoptera: Pauliniidae), um gafanhoto semi-aquático, na Amazônia Central

Paulinia acuminata (Orthoptera: Pauliniidac) desenvolve todo seu ciclo vital em macrófitas aquáticas. Entre 17 macrófitas e 5 hortaliças testadas, a oviposição foi constatada somente em Salvinaceae (Salvinia auriculata, S. minima, S. sprucei, Azolla cf. microphylla e Araceae (Pistia stratiotes). O período médio de incubação, em laboratório, foi de 18,7 (+/- 1,8) dias, com uma média de 7,3 (+/- 2,8) ovos por postura. O desenvolvimento dos seis estádios ninfais durou 47,12 (+/-1,2) dias. O ciclo de vida completo, ovo-adulto, foi de 93,2 dias sob uma temperatura do ar em torno dc 29 °C. Observações etológicas de laboratório e de campo são apresentadas.

Aceitabilidade alimentar de Paulinia acuminata (De Geer, 1773) (Orthoptera: Pauliniidae) na Várzea da Amazônia Central

Ninfas e adultos do gafanhoto Paulinia acuminata aceitaram como alimento cinco (5) espécies de macrófitas aquáticas entre as 20 testadas, durante 12 dias: Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia auriculata, S. minima, Azolla sp. e Ludwigia natans. As baixas taxas de sobrevivência de adultos (26%) alimentados com Azolla sp. e de ninfas (40%) e adultos (30%) em L. natans indicam que estas plantas podem representar recursos alimentares alternativos. Experimentos com P. stratiotes e S. auriculata dentro de gaiolas flutuantes, no campo, sem P. acuminata, resultaram num aumento do peso fresco das plantas (51-64%). Com 20 gafanhotos (ninfas e adultos) houve decréscimo de peso (40-45%). Estes dados reforçam o potencial dc P. acuminata como agente de controle biológico de macrófitas aquáticas específicas.

Projeto Sol Morumbi - Paulinia : as lembranças da infancia e adolescencia pelos caminhos da Educação Fisica

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Fisica

Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Unripe Banana Flour (Musa acuminata, var. Nanico)

Banana flour obtained from unripe banana (Musa acuminata, var. Nanico) under specific drying conditions was evaluated regarding its chemical composition and nutritional value. Results are expressed in dry weight (dw). The unripe banana flour (UBF) presented a high amount of total dietary fiber (DF) (56.24 g/100 g), which consisted of resistant starch (RS) (48.99 g/100 g), fructans (0.05 g/100 g) and DF without RS or fructans (7.2 g/100 g). The contents of available starch (AS) (27.78 g/100 g) and soluble sugars (1.81 g/100 g) were low. The main phytosterols found were campesterol (4.1 mg/100 g), stigmasterol (2.5 mg/100 g) and beta-sitosterol (6.2 mg/100 g). The total polyphenol content was 50.65 mg GAE/100 g. Antioxidant activity, by the FRAP and ORAC methods, was moderated, being 358.67 and 261.00 mu mol of Trolox equivalent/100 g, respectively. The content of Zn, Ca and Fe and mineral dialyzability were low. The procedure used to obtain UBF resulted in the recovery of undamaged starch granules and in a low-energy product (597 kJ/100 g).

Non-starch polysaccharide composition of two cultivars of banana (Musa acuminata L.: cvs Mysore and Nanicao)

Fruits represent a rich source of soluble and insoluble fibre, and the pectin is the most common and known soluble fraction from the cell wall solubilization occurring during fruit ripening. Banana fruit, for example, is one of the most consumed fruits in the world, but its non-starch polysaccharide composition is almost unknown. Despite few works have been carried out about the enzymes concerning cell wall loosening focusing banana ripening, there is no knowledge about the composition of the banana cell wall. Moreover, there is no information about the influence of the cultivar in that composition. Nanicao and Mysore cultivars were chosen for this work because of their differential accumulation of both starch during development and amounts of total fibre in the ripe fruit. Nanicao and Mysore had their fibres subfractioned and their composition analysed. Results showed that the cultivars are distinct not only in terms of starch and soluble sugars accumulation, but also in non-starch polysaccharides amounts and composition. Non-starch polysaccharides are similar in total amounts in both banana cultivars (similar to 3.5), but substantially different in the content of CDTA and NaOH-4M soluble fractions and also in the molecular mass distribution of WSP and CDTA. Nanicao has more calcium-linked pectin than Mysore, which in turn is richer in hemicellulose-like polysaccharides. Both cultivars likewise cereals polysaccharides seem to be composed of galacturonans and arabinoxylans.(c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EIN3-like gene expression during fruit ripening of Cavendish banana (Musa acuminata cv. Grande naine)

Ethylene signal transduction initiates with ethylene binding at receptor proteins and terminates in a transcription cascade involving the EIN3/EIL transcription factors. Here, we have isolated four cDNAs homologs of the Arabidopsis EIN3/EIN3-like gene, MA-EILs (Musa acuminata ethylene insensitive 3-like) from banana fruit. Sequence comparison with other banana EIL gene already registered in the database led us to conclude that, at this day, at least five different genes namely MA-EIL1, MA-EIL2/AB266318, MA-EIL3/AB266319, MA-EIL4/AB266320 and AB266321 exist in banana. Phylogenetic analyses included all banana EIL genes within a same cluster consisting of rice OsEILs, a monocotyledonous plant as banana. However, MA-EIL1, MA-EIL2/AB266318, MA-EIL4/AB266320 and AB266321 on one side, and MA-EIL3/AB266319 on the other side, belong to two distant subclusters. MA-EIL mRNAs were detected in all examined banana tissues but at lower level in peel than in pulp. According to tissues, MA-EIL genes were differentially regulated by ripening and ethylene in mature green fruit and wounding in old and young leaves. MA-EIL2/AB266318 was the unique ripening- and ethylene-induced gene; MA-EIL1, MA-EIL4/Ab266320 and AB266321 genes were downregulated, while MA-EIL3/AB266319 presented an unusual pattern of expression. Interestingly, a marked change was observed mainly in MA-EIL1 and MA-EIL3/Ab266319 mRNA accumulation concomitantly with changes in ethylene responsiveness of fruit. Upon wounding, the main effect was observed in MA-EIL4/AB266320 and AB266321 mRNA levels, which presented a markedly increase in both young and old leaves, respectively. Data presented in this study suggest the importance of a transcriptionally step control in the regulation of EIL genes during banana fruit ripening.

Phenolics and Antioxidant Properties of Fruit Pulp and Cell Wall Fractions of Postharvest Banana (Musa acuminata Juss.) Cultivars

Banana fruits are important foods, but there have been very few studies evaluating the phenolics associated with their cell walls. In the present study, (+) catechin, gallocatechin, and (-) epicatechin, as well as condensed tannins, were detected in the soluble extract of the fruit pulp; neither soluble anthocyanidins nor anthocyanins were present. In the soluble cell wall fraction, two hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were predominant, whereas in the insoluble cell wall fraction, the anthocyanidin delphinidin, which is reported in banana cell walls for the first time, was predominant. Cell wall fractions showed remarkable antioxidant capacity, especially after acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, which was correlated with the total phenolic content released after the hydrolysis of the water-insoluble polymer, but not for the posthydrolysis water-soluble polymer. The acid hydrolysis released various monosaccharides, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis released one peak of oligosaccharides. These results indicate that banana cell walls could be a suitable source of natural antioxidants and that they could be bioaccessible in the human gut.

Impact of Taraxerol in combination with extract of Euphorbia tirucalli plant on biological parameters of Lymnaea acuminata

The present work was carried out to evaluate the molluscicidal activity of active ingredient Taraxerol with the acetone extract of Euphorbia tirucalli against Lymnaea acuminata snail. The (fecundity, hatchability and survivability) of snail L. acuminata exposed to this extract was studied. The effects of the tested extracts on life-history traits of harmful snail L. acuminata have also been evaluated, and this study also expounds the inhibitory effects of these extracts singly as well as in binary combination (1:1 ratio). It concluded that these herbal products act as a potential source of molluscicides, and that they would also have the advantage of easy availability, low cost, biodegradability and greater acceptance amongst users than synthetic pesticide.

Bait formulations of molluscicides and their effects on biochemical changes in the ovotestis of snail Lymnaea acuminata (Mollusca; Gastropoda:Lymnaeidae)

The effect of sub-lethal feeding of bait formulations containing molluscicidal component of Ferula asafoetida (ferulic acid, umbelliferone), Syzygium aromaticum (eugenol) and Carum carvi (limonene) on biochemical changes in the ovotestis of snail Lymnaea acuminata were studied. Bait formulations feeding to L. acuminata were studied in clear glass aquaria having diameter of 30 cm. Baits were prepared from different binary combinations of attractant amino acid (valine, aspartic acid, lysine and alanine 10 mM) in 100 mL of 2% agar solution + sub-lethal (20% and 60% of 24h LC50) doses of different molluscicides (ferulic acid, umbelliferone, eugenol and limonene). These baits caused maximum significant reduction in free amino acid, protein, DNA, RNA levels i.e. 41.37, 23.56, 48.36 and 14.29% of control in the ovotestis of the snail, respectively. Discontinuation of feeding after treatment of 60% of 96h LC50 of molluscicide containing bait for next 72h caused a significant recovery in free amino acid, protein, DNA and RNA levels in the ovotestis of L. acuminata.

Characterization of the molluscicidal activity of Bauhinia variegata and Mimusops elengi plant extracts against the fasciola vector lymnaea acuminata

The molluscicidal activity of Bauhinia variegata leaf and Mimusops elengi bark was studied against vector snail Lymnaea acuminata. The toxicity of both plants was time and concentration-dependent. Among organic extracts, ethanol extracts of both plants were more toxic. Toxicity of B. variegata leaf ethanolic extract (96h LC50- 14.4 mg/L) was more pronounced than M. elengi bark ethanolic extract (96h LC50-15.0 mg/L). The 24h LC50 of column purified fraction of B. variegata and M. elengi bark were 20.3 mg/L and 18.3 mg/L, respectively. Saponin and quercetin were characterized and identified as active molluscicidal component. Co-migration of saponin (Rf 0.48) and quercetin (Rf 0.52) with column purified bark of M. elengi and leaf of B. variegata on thin layer chromatography demonstrate same Rf value i.e. 0.48 and 0.52, respectively. The present study clearly indicates the possibility of using M. elengi and/or B. variegata as potent molluscicide.

CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLLUSCICIDAL COMPONENT OF Moringa oleifera LEAF AND Momordica charantia FRUITS AND THEIR MODES OF ACTION IN SNAIL Lymnaea acuminata

SUMMARY The molluscicidal activity of the leaf powder of Moringa oleifera and lyophilized fruit powder of Momordica charantia against the snail Lymnaea acuminata was time and concentration dependent. M. oleifera leaf powder (96 h LC50: 197.59 ppm) was more toxic than M. charantia lyophilized fruit powder (96 h LC50: 318.29 ppm). The ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera leaf powder and Momordica charantia lyophilized fruit powder were more toxic than other organic solvent extracts. The 96 h LC50 of the column purified fraction of M. oleifera leaf powder was 22.52 ppm, while that of M. charantia lyophilized fruit powder was 6.21 ppm. Column, thin layer and high performance liquid chromatography analysis show that the active molluscicidal components in M. oleifera leaf powder and lyophilized fruit of M. charantia are benzylamine (96 h LC50: 2.3 ppm) and momordicine (96 h LC50: 1.2 ppm), respectively. Benzylamine and momordicine significantly inhibited, in vivo and in vitro, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acid and alkaline phosphatase (ACP/ALP) activities in the nervous tissues of L. acuminata. Inhibition of AChE, ACP and ALP activity in the nervous tissues of L. acuminata by benzylamine and momordicine may be responsible for the molluscicidal activity of M. oleifera and M. charantia fruits, respectively.

EFFECTS OF SINGLE, BINARY AND TERTIARY COMBINATIONS WITH Jatropha gossypifolia AND OTHER PLANT-DERIVED MOLLUSCICIDES ON REPRODUCTION AND SURVIVAL OF THE SNAIL Lymnaea acuminata

The effect of sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC50/24h) of plant derived molluscicides of singly, binary (1:1) and tertiary (1:1:1) combinations of the Rutin, Ellagic acid, Betulin and taraxerol with J. gossypifolia latex, leaf and stem bark powder extracts and their active component on the reproduction of freshwater snail Lymnaea acuminata have been studied. It was observed that the J. gossypifolia latex, stem bark, individual leaf and their combinations with other plant derived active molluscicidal components caused a significant reduction in fecundity, hatchability and survival of young snails. It is believed that sub-lethal exposure of these molluscicides on snail reproduction is a complex process involving more than one factor in reducing the reproductive capacity.

PRENYLATED XANTHONES FROM Rheedia acuminata

Pyranojacareubin; 1,5-dihydroxy-6',6'-dimethyl-2H-pyran(2',3':6,7) -6",6"-dim-ethyI-2H,4H-pyran(2",3":2,3)xanthone and a new xanthone l,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-6',6'-dim-ethyl-2H-pyran(2',3':3,2)-7-(3,3-dimethylprop-2-enyl)xanthone were isolated from the ether extract of the root bark of Rheedia acuminata together with friedelin and friedelanol.

PRENYLATED XANTHONES FROM Rheedia acuminata (reprinted from Acta Amazônica, 23(2/3):181-185)

Pyranojacareubin; 1,5-dihydroxy-6',6'-dimethyl-2H-pyran(2,,3':6,7) -6",6"-dime-thyl-2H,4H-pyran(2",3":2,3)xanthone and a new xanthone l,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-6',6'-dime-thyl-2H-pyran(2',3':3,2)-7-(3,3-dimethylprop-2-enyl)xanthone were isolated from the ether extract of the root bark of Rheedia acuminata together with friedelin and friedelanol.

Heliconia acuminata reproductive success is independent of local floral density

Reproductive plants in tropical forests are patchily distributed, with some in large aggregations of reproductive consepecifics while others are relatively isolated. This variation in floral density is hypothesized to have a major effect on plant reproductive success, since individuals in higher density neighborhoods can attract more or higher quality pollinators. We experimentally tested this hypothesis with populations of the understory herb Heliconia acuminata in central Amazonia. We created replicated plots in which reproductive plant density spanned the range of naturally occurring floral neighborhood size, then measured three surrogates of plant fitness in focal plants in each array. There was no significant difference between any of the three floral neighborhood treatments in total seed production, fruit set, or the number of seeds produced per fruit. Pollinator visitation rates to plants in all treatments were extremely low, with many plants not visited at all during the observation period. This could be because H. acuminata's hummingbird pollinators are unable to find the widely scattered reproductive plants, however this hypothesis appears unlikely. Instead, natural flowering plant densities may simply be below the threshold value at which neighborhood effects become important, even in "high-density" aggregations. Nutrient limitation, selective fruit abortion, and reproduction via male rather than female function may also be playing a role. We argue the absence of neighborhood effects may be a general phenomenon in central Amazonian forests, though additional experiments with other plant-pollinator systems are needed to determine the extent to which this hypothesis is supported.