Availability and toxicity of cadmium to forage grasses grown in contaminated soil

It is important to know the mechanisms for forage development, especially those related to the tolerance of potentially toxic elements, when considering their use in phytoremediation in heavy metal contaminated areas. In this study, we evaluated plant growth, concentration, and the availability of cadmium (Cd) for forage grasses (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana and cv. Tanzânia; Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés and cv. Marandu) cultivated in Cd contaminated soils. The experiments were performed under greenhouse conditions over a 90-day evaluation period, and the Cd rates were 2, 4, and 12 mg/kg of soil. The relative growth rate of the forage grasses decreased as Cd rates increased, and the following descending order of susceptibility was observed: Marandu > Xaraés > Aruana > Tanzânia > Basilisk, with regard to phytotoxicity in these plants. The forage Cd concentration increased in line with increases in the Cd rates. Cd contents extracted by Mehlich-1 and by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid presented high positive correlation with forage relative growth. The forage plants did not block Cd entry into the food chain because they were not capable of limiting Cd absorption.     

Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 are Biocontrol Agents that act against Cassava Root rot through different Mechanisms

Trichoderma has been used to manage a large number of pathogens, but there is a gap in the mechanisms used by these biocontrol agents regarding the physiological response of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) when it is subjected to cassava root rot. The aims of this study were to investigate the antagonist activity of ten Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium solani on potato dextrose Agar (PDA), to quantify the chitinase production, to select and test in vivo the best isolate from each experiment and to assess the physiological response of cassava to the production of oxidative enzyme complex production (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase). All Trichoderma isolates have shown competitive capability against F. solani, and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 showed the highest inhibition of pathogen growth (88.91%). All isolates have shown chitinase activity, but Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 produced the highest amount of chitinase. T. hamatum URM 6656 and T. aureoviride URM 5158 were selected to be applied in vivo. The two Trichoderma strains reduced 64 and 60% of the disease severity in the shoot and 82 and 84% in the root. Cassava plants infected with Trichoderma have shown the highest peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase production. Our results have indicated that T. aureoviride URM 5158 is an effective biocontrol agent against cassava root rot caused by F. solani, because it presented competitive antagonist capability in vitro, the highest chitinase production, and reduced the cassava root rot severity. The application of T. aureoviride has led to the maximum enzyme activity of reactive oxygen species group in cassava plants.     

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Brazilian propolis

Biological methods have been used to synthesize silver nanoparticles through materials such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and propolis due to their reducing properties, stabilizer role and environmentally friendly characteristic. Considering the antimicrobial activity of propolis as well as the broad-spectrum antibacterial effects of silver nanoparticles, this study aim to describe the use of Brazilian propolis to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNP-P) and investigate its antimicrobial activity. The synthesis was optimized by factorial design, choosing the best conditions for smaller size particles. AgNP-P demonstrated a maximum absorbance at 412 nm in ultraviolet-visible spectra, which indicated a spherical format and its formation. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated a hydrodynamic size of 109 nm and polydispersity index less than 0.3, showing a good size distribution and stability. After its purification via centrifugation, microscopy analysis corroborates the format and showed the presence of propolis around silver nanoparticle. X-ray diffraction peaks were attributed to the main planes of the metallic silver crystalline structure; meanwhile infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the main groups responsible for silver reduction, represented by ∼22% of AgNP-P indicates by thermal analysis. Our product revealed an important antimicrobial activity indicating a synergism between propolis and silver nanoparticles as expected and promising to be an effective antimicrobial product to be used in infections.     

A new 5-deoxyflavone glycoside from the aerial parts of Calea clausseniana

A new 5-deoxyflavone glycoside, identified as 7-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Calea clausseniana. Its structure was determined by spectral analysis.     

Habitat fragmentation, variable edge effects, and the landscape-divergence hypothesis

Edge effects are major drivers of change in many fragmented landscapes, but are often highly variable in space and time. Here we assess variability in edge effects altering Amazon forest dynamics, plant community composition, invading species, and carbon storage, in the world's largest and longest-running experimental study of habitat fragmentation. Despite detailed knowledge of local landscape conditions, spatial variability in edge effects was only partially foreseeable: relatively predictable effects were caused by the differing proximity of plots to forest edge and varying matrix vegetation, but windstorms generated much random variability. Temporal variability in edge phenomena was also only partially predictable: forest dynamics varied somewhat with fragment age, but also fluctuated markedly over time, evidently because of sporadic droughts and windstorms. Given the acute sensitivity of habitat fragments to local landscape and weather dynamics, we predict that fragments within the same landscape will tend to converge in species composition, whereas those in different landscapes will diverge in composition. This 'landscape-divergence hypothesis', if generally valid, will have key implications for biodiversity-conservation strategies and for understanding the dynamics of fragmented ecosystems.     

Occurrence of Amblycerus species in Cordia trichotoma seeds and their influence on germination

Forest species can have their seeds damaged by granivorous insects, especially by those in their larval stage. In this context, this study aims to report the occurrence of Amblycerus species in Cordia trichotoma seeds, to describe their main damage to seeds and effects on germination, as well as their associated hymenopteran parasitoids. Therefore, seven trees were selected in the municipality of Taquaruçu do Sul, RS, Brazil. Fruits were collected weekly from the medium third of the tree crown, from the beginning of their formation until total dehiscence. To examine the damage caused by granivorous insects within the fruits, 15 fruits from each tree were sectioned with a scalpel. Furthermore, 10 fruits from each tree were stored individually in clear plates to verify the occurrence and identification of granivorous insect species. Evidence of the damage caused to seeds was verified through the germination test by comparing preserved and damaged seeds, with four repetitions of 25 seeds each. The species Amblycerus longesuturalis and Amblycerus profaupar (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) were found associated with fruits of C. trichotoma. Female insects predominantly laid eggs on the superior part between the marcescent calyx and the fruit, and larvae perforated the fruit tegument to start consuming seed embryos and reserves. Bruquine larvae are parasitized by Hymenoptera of Bracon, Mirax, Omeganastatus and Triapsis genera. In conclusion, the germination of C. trichotoma seeds is significantly affected by emergence orifices caused by granivorous species.     

Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) from four protected areas in the state of Pernambuco,Brazil

New records and distributional notes of Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) are provided for four protected areas in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Additionally, we also present new records and update of distributional ranges from Brazil and the Neotropical Region. In total, 810 specimens belonging to 35 genera within the subfamilies Chironominae (22 taxa), Tanypodinae (11 taxa) and Orthocladiinae (2 taxa) were found. The subfamilies Chironominae and Tanypodinae predominated. Axarus Roback, 1980 Roback, S.S. (1980), ‘New name for Anceus Roback nec Anceus Risso’, Entomological News, 91, 32.[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and the Tanytarsus ortoni-group were recorded for the first time in the state of Pernambuco, while Nanocladius Kieffer, 1913a Kieffer, J.J. (1913b), ‘Nouvelle étude sur les Chironomides de l'Indian Museum de Calcutta’, Records of the Indian Museum, 9, 119–197. [Google Scholar] was recorded for the first time in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Our results make evident how much and where current knowledge of the northeastern Brazil chironomids remains fragmentary.     

Coupling physiological analysis with proteomic profile to understand the photosynthetic responses of young Euterpe oleracea palms to drought

Photosynthesis Research - This study examined whether drought sensitivity in açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is associated with reductions in photosynthesis and increasing oxidative stress...     

Sperm cryopreservation of Prochilodus brevis using different concentrations of non-permeable cryoprotectants

The action of substances with non-permeable cryoprotectant potential, besides glucose, has not yet been studied for the species Prochilodus brevis. The objective of this work was to evaluate the action of four non-permeable cryoprotectants on this species sperm cryopreservation. Five pools were cryopreserved in a solution of 5% glucose and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) associated or not (control) with cryoprotectants egg yolk (5, 10 or 12%), soy lecithin (2.5, 7.5 or 10%), sucrose (5, 10 or 20%) and lactose (5, 8 or 15%). After thawing, samples were evaluated for sperm kinetics (total motility, motility duration, velocities, and wobble - WOB), morphology and membrane and DNA integrity. The treatments containing egg yolk improved significantly (P<0.05) results when compared the control for the membrane integrity parameter. When compared to other treatments, egg yolk, at any concentration, presented higher results (P<0.05) for membrane integrity, total motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL) and average path velocity (VAP) parameters. Egg yolk also showed the best results for WOB, but it did not differ from 5% and 8% lactose and 5% and 20% sucrose. Soy lecithin had the lowest percentages of morphologically normal sperm (P<0.05), while the other treatments did not differ from each other. There was no difference regarding DNA integrity data. Thus, 5% egg yolk is indicated as a non-permeable cryoprotectant for P. brevis, in association with 5% glucose and 10% Me₂SO.     

Bothrops moojeni venom kills Leishmania spp. with hydrogen peroxide generated by its L-amino acid oxidase

Leishmaniasis is an endemic tropical disease in South America, with few therapeutic approaches. Snake venoms are complex protein mixtures with biological actions that could be used as tools for drug development. Here we show that Bothrops moojeni crude venom presented a killing effect in vitro against Leishmania spp. promastigotes, but not with amastigotes, as determined by a viability assay using the mitochondrial oxidative function. Purification of active fractions from crude venom was performed by molecular exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. Anti-Leishmania and l-amino acid oxidase (L-AAO, EC.1.4.3.2.) activities co-eluted in the same fractions. The molecular weight of the active enzyme was estimated to be 140 kDa by molecular exclusion chromatography, and 69 kDa by SDS--PAGE, with a 4.8 isoelectric point. Using substrate subtraction and catalase for scavenging, the action of L-AAO was demonstrated to be hydrogen-peroxide-dependent.