Alelopatia de extratos aquosos de canela-sassafrás ( Ocotea odorifera ( Vell.) Rohwer)

Estudos de alelopatia investigam os efeitos positivos e negativos que metabólitos secundários de plantas, microrganismos ou fungos exercem sobre o desenvolvimento de indivíduos vizinhos. Nesse trabalho foram investigados os efeitos de extratos aquosos de folhas, cascas de tronco e cascas de raízes de canela-sassafrás (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rowher) sobre a germinabilidade das sementes, desenvolvimento do sistema radicular e da parte aérea, teor de clorofila da parte aérea e respiração das células radiculares de plântulas de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. Embrapa BR 303). Os extratos foram preparados adicionando o material vegetal seco e moído oriundo de cada órgão à água destilada e deionizada na proporção 1:10 (p/v). Após agitação constante por 24 h, as soluções foram decantadas e filtradas através de papel de filtro sob vácuo, constituindo os extratos testados. Os extratos aquosos de cascas de tronco e de raízes causaram inibição do desenvolvimento do sistema radicular das plântulas de sorgo e a sua parte aérea teve o crescimento estimulado pelo extrato de cascas de raízes. Os extratos de folhas e de cascas de tronco induziram aumento da biomassa fresca do sistema radicular e diminuição significativa do teor de clorofila. Todos os extratos causaram efeitos negativos sobre a respiração radicular das plântulas de sorgo. Concluiu-se que metabólitos secundários da canela-sassafrás causaram alterações metabólicas e morfológicas nas plantas de sorgo e que, portanto, a presença de canela-sassafrás no ambiente pode desencadear efeitos similares sobre outras espécies vegetais na sua vizinhança.Allelopathic studies investigate the positive and negative effects of secondary metabolites of plants, microorganisms and fungi on the development of neighboring individuals. In this work, the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of leaves, bark and root bark of Brazilian sassafras (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rowher) on seed germination, root and shoot growth, chlorophyll content and respiratory activity of the root cells of sorghum seedlings (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench cv. Embrapa BR 303) were analyzed. The extracts were prepared by adding dried, powdered plant material to distilled non-ionized water at 1:10 (w/v). After continuous agitation for 24 h, these solutions were decanted and vacuum-filtered through filter paper, thus constituting the tested extracts. Bark and root bark aqueous extracts caused root growth inhibition in sorghum seedlings while shoot growth was stimulated by the root bark extract. Leaf and bark extracts induced an increase in wet root biomass and a decrease in chlorophyll content. All extracts caused negative effects on sorghum seedling root cell respiration. We concluded that secondary metabolites from Brazilian sassafras caused metabolic and morphological alterations in the sorghum seedlings and the presence of these plants in the environment can cause similar effects on other neighboring plant species

Diversity and distribution Patterns of the infralittoral green macroalgae from Potiguar basin, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil

Diversity and distribution pattern of the infralittoral green macroalgae at Potiguar basin, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil were analyzed from material collected at depths varying from 2 to 100 m. Collections were carried out with two types of dredges during four campaigns: July 2002, May and November 2003 and May 2004 at 43 stations. Chlorophyta is represented by 54 species, five varieties and three forms. The most representative family is Caulerpaceae, and the most diverse genus is Caulerpa, with 11 species. The results showed that most taxa (89%) are rare, and 10% are present at low frequencies. The most frequent species was Caulerpaprolifera (Forssk.) J.V. Lamour. occurring at almost all coastal and inner shelf stations, recorded in all campaigns. Species distribution by depth range showed that higher species number occurred on the inner shelf from 10 to 20 m, and a wide vertical distribution pattern was registered for Anadyomenestellata (Wulfen in Jacq.) C. Agardh,Chamaedoris peniculum (J. Ellis & Solander) Kuntze, Codium isthmocladum Vickers, Microdictyon sp., Udoteaoccidentalis A. Gepp & E. Gepp and Ventricaria ventricosa (J. Agardh) J.L. Olsen & J.A. West. Four species, Cladophoracoelothrix Kütz., C.ordinata (Børgensen) C. Hoek, Caulerpellaambigua (Okamura) Prud'homme & Lokhorst and Halimedasimulans M. Howe, were recorded for the first time in Rio Grande do Norte