The Genera Vicia and Lathyrus in Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil): Cytogenetic and Isozymic Evaluation as Support for Plant Breeding

Native, naturalized and exotic Vicia and l.atliyrus species of Rio Grande do Sul were studied for chromosome numbers and meiotic behaviour, All species were diploid, with essentially regular meiosis and high pollen stainability. Interspecific differences for chiasma frequencies, chromosome and pollen grain size were detected. Polymorphism for chromosome number was observed in Vicia anguslilolia (2n = 10, 12, 14). Bsterase isozyme patterns are being analysed

Micronutrientes no solo sob floresta nativa e pastagens no Pantanal da Nhecolândia.

A substituição de fitofisionomias nativas do Pantanal por sistemas de pastagens cultivadas podem causar alterações da disponibilidade de micronutrientes do solo, pois esta relaciona-se ao teor de matéria orgânica, umidade, pH, condições de oxi-redução e interação entre nutrientes. Com isto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da substituição da vegetação arbórea nativa por pastagem cultivada, bem como a submissão da pastagem nativa ao pastejo contínuo sobre o teor de micronutrientes no solo da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul. The replacement of native vegetation types of the Pantanal by cultivated pasture systems can cause changes in the availability of soil micronutrients, as it relates to the organic matter content, moisture, pH, redox conditions and interaction between nutrients. With this, the objective was to evaluate the effect of the replacement of native trees for pasture, and the subjugation of native pasture to continuous grazing on the content of micronutrients in the soil of the Nhecolandia sub-region, Mato Grosso do Sul

Sintomas visuais de deficiências nutricionais em grama-do-cerrado (Mesosetum chaseae).

Em experimento de casa de vegetação, cultivou-se Mesosetum chaseae Luces (grama-do-cerrado) em soluçãonutritiva, tendo como tratamentos a solução completa, as omissões individuais dos macronutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S e micronutrientes B, Zn, Fe e Mn. Fez-se o acompanhamento semanal da manifestação dos sintomas visuais de deficiência após o transplantio, além de medições biométricas tais como altura máxima, número de perfilhos e produção da matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA) e da raiz (MSR) da grama-do-cerrado. A forrageira grama-do-cerrado mostrou-se mais exigente em N, P e Fe demonstrando sintomas de deficiência na fase inicial de crescimento. Para os índices biométricos e de produção analisados, todos apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos. O Ca e o Mg foram os nutrientes menos limitantes para o crescimento e desenvolvimento da grama-do-cerrado.bitstream/item/157942/1/BP110.pd

Traditional fabric and medicinal use are the leading factors of in situ conservation of Gossypium barbadense in Central Brazil.

ABSTRACT - The Sea Island cotton Gossypium barbadense has been present in Brazil for at least 750 years. Cultivated worldwide, the fibres present superior quality; therefore, farmers’ seeds are an important genetic resource and in situ maintenance is essential to complement ex situ conservation. To understand how the species has been conserved in situ and investigate the socio-economic aspects which may ensure the continuity of its conservation, we conducted expeditions to three different municipalities situated in Brazilian Cerrado, Goiás state, Brazil—one of which is a traditional community, the quilombo Kalunga community—interviewed plant maintainers and compared our results with data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. There is hand spinning and hand weaving for home uses and commercialization within and outside the traditional community, which contribute to the continuity of the in situ conservation of Gossypium barbadense. Medicinal use is more determinant than hand weaving in deciding to keep plants and seeds. Fabric handicraft is a predominantly female, low-income activity. Interviews with cotton hand spinners indicated that in situ maintenance may be favoured by access to weaving looms and improvement in the marketing and sale of their products. Policies valuing handicrafts can ensure the continuity of biodiversity and disseminate and vivify traditions in addition to maintaining an income for the artisans

The influence of salinity on the effects of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes on polychaetes

Salinity shifts in estuarine and coastal areas are becoming a topic of concern and are one of the main factors influencing nanoparticles behaviour in the environment. For this reason, the impacts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under different seawater salinity conditions were evaluated on the common ragworm Hediste diversicolor, a polychaete species widely used as bioindicator of estuarine environmental quality. An innovative method to assess the presence of MWCNT aggregates in the sediments was used for the first time. Biomarkers approach was used to evaluate the metabolic capacity, oxidative status and neurotoxicity of polychaetes after long-term exposure. The results revealed an alteration of energy-related responses in contaminated polychaetes under both salinity conditions, resulting in an increase of metabolism and expenditure of their energy reserves (lower glycogen and protein contents). Moreover, a concentration-dependent toxicity (higher lipid peroxidation, lower ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione and activation of antioxidant defences and biotransformation mechanisms) was observed in H. diversicolor, especially when exposed to low salinity. Additionally, neurotoxicity was observed by inhibition of Cholinesterases activity in organisms exposed to MWCNTs at both salinities.publishe