Homeopathic solutions induce production of winged forms in aphid

The aphids control (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) is one of the main challenges for its production. This obstacle becomes greater in agroecological production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the formation of winged individuals in colonies of B. brassicae aphids, when exposed to kale treated with homeopathic solutions. The treatments were resistant 5CH, susceptible attacked 5CH, aphid nosode 30CH, and the controls that are water (without dynamization) and distilled water + 70% ethanol 5CH, being applied every day for 15 days. Kale plants were inoculated with aphids and irrigated using homeopathic solutions. After 15 days of inoculation, the plants were removed from the bag and the number of winged forms and nymphs of B. brassicae was counted. Homeopathic preparation Resistant 5CH provided a smaller number of winged individuals and a larger number of nymphs per colony. The plants treated with the susceptible attacked 5CH homeopathy showed a higher number of winged aphids, but a reduced number of nymphs. Aphid nosode 30CH treatment was promising to Brevicoryne brassicae control in kale plants, as it induced polymorphism, presenting a greater number of winged aphids and a reduced number of nymphs per colony.The aphids control (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) is one of the main challenges for its production. This obstacle becomes greater in agroecological production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the formation of winged individuals in colonies of B. brassicae aphids, when exposed to kale treated with homeopathic solutions. The treatments were resistant 5CH, susceptible attacked 5CH, aphid nosode 30CH, and the controls that are water (without dynamization) and distilled water + 70% ethanol 5CH, being applied every day for 15 days. Kale plants were inoculated with aphids and irrigated using homeopathic solutions. After 15 days of inoculation, the plants were removed from the bag and the number of winged forms and nymphs of B. brassicae was counted. Homeopathic preparation Resistant 5CH provided a smaller number of winged individuals and a larger number of nymphs per colony. The plants treated with the susceptible attacked 5CH homeopathy showed a higher number of winged aphids, but a reduced number of nymphs. Aphid nosode 30CH treatment was promising to Brevicoryne brassicae control in kale plants, as it induced polymorphism, presenting a greater number of winged aphids and a reduced number of nymphs per colony

Productivity of soybean as a function of soil compaction and doses of phosphorus / Produtividade de soja em função da compactação do solo e doses de fósforo

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril) is one of main responsible for Brazilian economic performance, however, compaction and soil phosphorus deficiency can drastically affect its development and productivity. In view of this our aim of this research was to evaluate root development and productivity of soybean in compacted soil and with different doses of P2O5. The experiment was done in a randomized block design, in a split plot scheme, with three replicates. We tested four compaction levels (0, 2, 4 and 8 number of tractor strokes) and four doses of P2O5 (0, 100, 250 and 500 kg ha-1). Compaction with 4 and 8 tractor strokes reduced the root distribution in soil depth of 0-0.05m. Increase in doses of phosphorus reduced proportionally to the height of the first pod. Dose of 500 kg ha-1 of P provided increased productivity in treatment with 2 tractor strokes. And doses of 100 and 250 kg ha-1 of P provided increases in productivity of 9.53% and 79.12%, respectively, in soils with 2 of tractor strokes.

Fosfatagem corretiva e adubação em cobertura na produção de mudas de Tamarindus indica L/Correct phosphating and top dressing fertilization in the production of Tamarindus indica L. seedlings

A nutrição adequada de mudas durante a fase de viveiro promove melhor adaptação no local de plantio, tornando-se necessário o conhecimento das exigências de cada espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da fosfatagem corretiva e da adubação nitrogenada e potássica em cobertura na produção de mudas de tamarindo. A fosfatagem corretiva promoveu maior incremento em diâmetro de colo das mudas quando associada à adubação nitrogenada em cobertura

Polimorfismos gênicos e danos no DNA em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida

A obesidade é uma desordem multifatorial que envolve fatores hereditários, ambiente e estilo de vida, e suas consequências não são apenas sociais ou psicológicas, mas estão também relacionadas à presença de co-morbidades como a hipertensão arterial, diabetes tipo 2, doenças cardiovasculares e vários tipos de câncer. Sabe-se, hoje, que há genes relacionados ao peso corporal, embora as relações entre genética e obesidade sejam ainda questões de muito debate. Portanto, o presente estudo teve como objetivos avaliar os níveis de danos no DNA (teste cometa) em linfócitos de pacientes obesas (n=300) e mulheres eutróficas (n=300); a frequência de polimorfismos dos genes FTO (rs9939609) e APM1: 45T/G (rs2241766) e a existência de associação entre essas variantes gênicas e a incidência de lesões genotóxicas nessas populações. Os dados obtidos evidenciaram que as mulheres obesas possuem maiores níveis de lesões primárias no DNA de linfócitos, incluindo purinas e pirimidinas oxidadas, independentemente de seus genótipos para os genes FTO e APM1. A avaliação das variantes do gene FTO mostrou que os genótipos AA e TT foram, respectivamente, mais e menos frequentes nas pacientes obesas do que nas mulheres do grupo controle e que aquelas com a variante AA em ambos os grupos apresentaram maiores níveis de lesões nos DNA. Para o gene APM1, o genótipo TT foi o mais frequente em ambos os grupos, mas as mulheres com as variantes TG+GG foram as que apresentaram níveis mais elevados de lesões genotóxicas. Esses resultados indicaram, portanto, que a obesidade está relacionada a níveis mais altos de lesões genotóxicas em linfócitos de sangue periférico e que o genótipo AA do gene FTO, além de ser mais frequente em mulheres com obesidade mórbida está associado a maiores níveis de danos no DNA, assim como o alelo G do gene APM1. Assim sendo, pode-se...Obesity is a multifactorial disorder which involves heredity, environment and lifestyle. Its consequences are not just social or psychological, but also related to the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer. Although some genes have been associated to body weight, the relationship between genetics and obesity are still object of debate. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of DNA damage (comet assay) in lymphocytes from morbid obese patients (n=300) and normal weight women (n=300); the frequencies of FTO (rs9939609) and APM1: 45T/G (rs2241766) gene polymorphisms and the relationship between these gene variants and the amount of genotoxic damage were also investigated. Data showed higher level of DNA primary lesions, including oxidized purines and pyrimidines, in lymphocytes of obese than in eutrophic women, regardless their FTO and APM1 genotypes. The AA and TT FTO genotypes were respectively more and less frequents in obese patients than in the control population. Those women with the AA variant, in both groups, presented the highest levels of DNA damage. For APM1 gene, TT genotype was the most frequent in both groups, however women with the allele G (TG+GG variants) presented the highest levels of genotoxic damage. These results indicated that obesity is associated to high levels of genotoxic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and that the AA genotype of the FTO gene is related to morbid obesity and to the highest levels of DNA damage, as well as the G allele of the APM1 gene. In conclusion, obese patients with FTO AA genotypes are at higher risk... (Complete abstract, click access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Relação entre a ingestão de micronutrientes e alterações citogenéticas e genômicas na obesidade mórbida

A obesidade é uma desordem multifatorial que envolve agentes hereditários, ambientais e estilo de vida, e suas consequências não são apenas sociais ou psicológicas, mas estão também relacionadas à presença de comorbidades como hipertensão arterial, diabetes tipo 2, doenças cardiovasculares e vários tipos de câncer. Considerando que as alterações genéticas relacionadas à obesidade não são totalmente conhecidas, assim como não se sabe a possível ação da suplementação nutricional sobre tais alterações, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre a ingestão de micronutrientes, alterações genéticas e perfil inflamatório em um grupo de 30 mulheres com obesidade mórbida, com idade entre 20 e 45 anos e submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica. A suplementação nutricional consistiu da ingestão (pó diluído em água) de vitaminas e micronutrientes correspondentes a duas DRIs (Ingestão Dietética de Referência) por dia, durante 10 semanas antes e 24 após a cirurgia bariátrica. O total de 30 mulheres eutróficas saudáveis, não fumantes e pareadas por idade às obesas, constituiu o grupo de referência. Todos os parâmetros avaliados nas mulheres obesas foram mensurados em três momentos: antes da suplementação nutricional (M1); 8 semanas após o início da suplementação e uma semana antes da cirurgia bariátrica (M2); e seis meses após o procedimento cirúrgico (M3). Os testes do cometa e do micronúcleo foram utilizados para medir, respectivamente, os níveis de danos primários no DNA e as frequências de alterações citogenéticas em células do sangue periférico. As mulheres obesas, nos três momentos mensurados, apresentaram maiores níveis (p < 0,05) de danos no DNA que as eutróficas (grupo controle). No entanto, seis meses após a cirurgia bariátrica, foi significativa a redução dos danos, quando consideradas apenas as obesas, muito embora os níveis não voltassem a atingir valores próximos ao do grupo controle. Frequências aumentadas de células micronucleadas foram detectas nas mulheres obesas antes da cirurgia bariátrica em relação as eutróficas. Contudo, seis meses após a cirurgia a frequência diminuiu significativamente, ficando semelhante à do grupo controle. Diminuições significativas de citocinas inflamatórias foram observadas nas mulheres obesas, tanto após o início da suplementação de micronutrientes, como após a cirurgia. A avaliação do perfil de expressão gênica pela técnica de microarranjos de DNA mostrou que as mulheres obesas, antes da suplementação nutricional, apresentavam hiperexpressão de genes relacionados a vias de metabolismo energético e lipídico e perfil inflamatório. Após a suplementação, foram observadas modificações no perfil de expressão desses genes, além da modulação de genes de vias como viabilidade celular e reparo de DNA. Por outro lado, após o procedimento cirúrgico e a concomitante suplementação nutricional ocorreu modulação de genes envolvidos em vias de metabolismo energético e processos inflamatórios, possivelmente devido à significativa perda de peso e consequente diminuição do IMC. Concluindo, do ponto de vista genético, este estudo demonstrou a importância da suplementação nutricional em mulheres com obesidade mórbida, antes e após a cirurgia bariátrica, embora não tivesse sido possível discriminar a extensão dos seus efeitos frente à perda de peso ocorrida após o procedimento cirúrgico.Obesity is a complex disease that originates from a combination of social, environmental and genetic factors. Furthermore, it is associated with comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and various types of cancers. Since the relationship among genetic alterations, nutritional supplementation and obesity are not fully understood, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of micronutrient intake on genetic and inflammatory profile in a group of 30 morbidly obese women, aged between 20 and 45 years and undergoing bariatric surgery. The nutritional intervention consisted of two recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamins and micronutrients per day, for 10 weeks before and 24 after the bariatric surgery. A total of 30 healthy normal-weight, non-smokers and matched for age to the obese women were recruited as a control group. All the checked endpoints in obese the women were measured at three moments: before nutritional supplementation (M1); 8 weeks after beginning of supplementation and one week before bariatric surgery (M2); and six months after surgery with simultaneous nutritional supplementation (M3). The comet and micronucleus tests were used to measure the levels of primary DNA damage and the frequency of cytogenetic changes in peripheral blood cells, respectively. Obese women at the three measured moments, presented higher levels (p <0.05) of DNA damage than the control group. However, six months after the bariatric surgery the genetic damage was significantly reduced compared to the obese women before nutritional supplementation, but the amount did not reached the control group level. Similarly, increased frequencies of micronucleated cells were detected in obese women before bariatric surgery compared to the control group. However, six months after surgery this frequency decreased significantly, being similar to that in the control group. Significant reduction of inflammatory cytokines was observed in obese women after four weeks after the beginning of nutritional, as well as after surgery. Gene expression profiling was investigated using DNA microarrays. Data showed upregulation of genes related to energy and lipid metabolism, and also to inflammatory pathways in obese women before nutritional supplementation. Changes in these gene expression and also modulation of gene associated to cell viability and DNA repair pathways were observed after the nutritional supplementation. Six month after the surgical procedure and nutritional supplementation genes involved in energy metabolism and inflammatory pathways were modulated, probably due to the significant weight loss. In conclusion, this study showed the importance of nutritional supplementation, both before and after bariatric surgery. However, it was not possible to distinguish the extension of its effects after surgery because of the weight loss.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Homeopathic Solutions as a Tool for the Agroecological Management of Velvetbean Caterpillar

Abstract Soybean is the main oilseed crop in the world, and one of the main challenges for its production is the Anticarsia gemmatalis management, especially in agroecological production systems. In this study, it was analyzed the impact of dynamized solutions applied to soybean plants and pro-vided as food to A. gemmatalis on insect biology. Solutions tested include: Calcarea carbonica 4CH, Carbo vegetabilis 12CH, Staphysagria 4CH, A. gemmatalis nosode 12CH, Soybean nosode 4CH, and control of distilled water. Biological characteristics analyzed include: weight of caterpillars at the beginning and end of the 4th instar, dry weight of pupa, caterpillar length at 4th instar, duration of cycle, emergence of adults, fecundity of females, and ingestion, ingested food conversion efficiency, and efficiency of digested food conversion. At the beginning and at the end of the 4th instar, caterpillars fed soybean leaves treated with homeopathic substances showed reduced body weight relative to the distilled water control. The dynamized solutions tested are promising as an efficient alternative method for the control of A. gemmatalis, promoting lower conversion of food into biological efficiency and biomass

Citral and eugenol modulate DNA damage and pro-inflammatory mediator genes in murine peritoneal macrophages

Citral and eugenol have been broadly studied because of their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiparasitic potentials. In this study, the effects of citral (25, 50 and 100 mu g/mL) and eugenol (0.31, 0.62, 1.24 and 2.48 mu g/mL) on the expression (RT-PCR) of the pro-inflammatory mediator genes NF-kappa B1, COX-2 and TNF-alpha were evaluated in mouse peritoneal macrophages with or without activation by a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Additionally, the genotoxic potentials of two compounds and their capacities to modulate the DNA damage induced by doxorubicin (DXR) were investigated using the comet assay. The data revealed that neither citral nor eugenol changed COX-2, NF-kappa B1 or TNF-alpha expression in resting macrophages. However, in LPS-activated cells, citral induced the hypoexpression of COX-2 (100 mu g/mL) and TNF-a (50 and 100 mu g/mL). Hypoexpression of TNF-alpha was also detected after cellular exposure to eugenol at the highest concentration (2.48 mu g/mL). Both compounds exhibited genotoxic potential (citral at 50 and 100 mu g/mL and eugenol at all concentrations) but also showed chemopreventive effects, in various treatment protocols. Both citral and eugenol might modulate inflammatory processes and DXR-induced DNA damage, but the use of these compounds must be viewed with caution because they are also able to induce primary DNA lesions.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Soil&mdash;Plant Relationships in Soybean Cultivated under Conventional Tillage and Long-Term No-Tillage

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] have great economic prominence in the world, and soil management systems can directly interfere with their yield through changes in soil physical-hydric properties. Thus, the aim of this research was to verify the relationship between yield components, physiological traits, root development, and soil physical-hydric properties in soybean yields grown under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, SP, Brazil, with two treatments: soybeans grown under conventional tillage and no tillage. It is a long-term experiment, conducted since 1986. The main variables that influenced soybean yield were plant height, relative leaf water content, root dry matter, soil penetration resistance, and soil accumulated water infiltration. Physiological components of the plant and soil water showed a significant and negative correlation with soybean yield. On the other hand, the root development and soil physical components were positively correlated with soybean yield. However, the yield components were not significant. The no-tillage system resulted in 7.8% more soybean productivity compared to conventional tillage. Soybean yield depends on the physical properties and the water storage capacity of the soil, as well as on the physiological traits and the root development of the plant