Influence of solar radiation on the production of secondary metabolites in three rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most produced and consumed cereals worldwide and has its importance highlighted mainly in developing countries, where it plays a strategic economic and social role. Due to the importance of rice in the diet, its composition and nutritional characteristics are directly related to the health of the population. In the rice production systems, some climatic factors are determinants for the good performance of the crop, inducing the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites. The present study determined the metabolic profiles through UV-visible spectrophotometry of leaf samples of three rice cultivars (Marques -- white, \\^Onix -- black, and Rubi -- red pericarp) throughout the rice's vegetative stages in two experimental times, from September to December 2015 and from January to April 2016. Solar radiation was recorded along the experimental period. To the organosolvent extracts of leaf samples, UV-vis spectrophotometric techniques were applied and the quantitative results of certain metabolites, e.g., chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, and sugars, as well the antioxidant activity, which were analyzed by chemometrics tools. The results showed that biochemical parameters carotenoids, chlorophylls and sugars are more affected by the intensity of the radiation do que as vari\\'\a\veis phenolics, flavonoids and these alterations may be detected through statistical analysis of biochemical concentrations and UV-vis spectra.CAPES -Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(407323/2013-9)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) J. V. Lamour. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) responses to gasoline short-term exposure: biochemical and cellular alterations

ABSTRACT Presence of toxic compounds in marine coastal waters has increased exponentially since Industrial Revolution. In this way, we aimed to evaluate biochemical and physiological changes occurring within Hypnea musciformis after short-term exposure to gasoline. Hypnea musciformis was cultivated without gasoline and then exposed to various concentrations of it (0.001 % - 1.0 %, v/v) for periods of 30 min, 1 h, 12 h and 24 h. A Pricncipal Compound Analysis of UV-vis spectral window (200-700 nm) was able to discriminate gasoline-exposed samples according to both exposure time and gasoline concentration. Changes in carotenoid profile composition were observed. Decreased carotenoid content was associated to gasoline exposure time, being lutein and trans-β-carotene the major compounds found. Higher gasoline concentrations negatively interfered with phenolic compounds accumulation. In addition, increased gasoline concentrations corresponded to decreased intracellular starch grains content as well as increased its deposition on cell wall external surface. Data obtained allow us to conclude that gasoline can damage Hypnea musciformis physiology and cell morphology. This is important, considering Hypnea musciformis carotenoids and phenolics are potential biomarkers of environmental stress investigated, as well as its increased cell wall thickness to avoid gasoline diffusion

Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable

Brazil, home to one of the planet's last great forests, is currently in trade negotiations with its second largest trading partner, the European Union (EU). We urge the EU to seize this critical opportunity to ensure that Brazil protects human rights and the environment

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora