Morphophenological characterization of ornamental ginger and selection for landscape use

Many species of Zingiber have great ornamental potential, due to durability and exotic appearance of the inflorescences. Despite its large phenotypic variability, they are scarcely exploited or not yet exploited regarding the ornamental potential. To conserve potential ornamental genotypes, and subsidize breeding program, the Agronomic Institute (IAC) maintain a Germoplasm Collection of Ornamental Zingiberales with promising accessions, including Zingiber. The aim was the morphophenological characterization of ten Zingiber accessions and the indication for landscape purposes. A large variation was observed to the evaluated characters: Clump height (CH); Inflorescence visualization (IV); Clump area (CA); Clump density (CD); Leaf stem Firmness (LSF); Number of leaf stems per clump (NLSC); Number of leaves per stem (NLS); Leaf color (LCol); Evergreen tendency (ET); Flower stem growth (FSG); Flower stem length (FSLe); Flower stem diameter (FSD); Flower stem per clump (FSC); Color sensorial perception (CSP); Flower stem weight (FSW); Inflorescence length (IL); Inflorescence diameter (ID); Bracts aspects (BAs); and Flowering season (FSe). The accessions very suitable and with the best performance to use for landscape purpose were Z. spectabile, IAC Anchieta (Z. spectabile), Z. newmanii

Zingiber zerumbet flower stem postharvest characterization

About the Zingiber zerumbet little is known about its cut flower postharvest and market, despite its high ornamental potential. The inflorescences, which resemble a compact cone, emerge from the base of the plants and start with green color changing to red with the age. This study objective was to characterize floral stem of ornamental ginger in two cultivate conditions and to evaluate the longevity of those submitted to post-harvest treatments. Flower stems were harvest from clumps cultivated under full sun and partial shade area, and were submitted to the postharvest treatments: complete flower immersion in tap water (CFI) or only the base stem immersion (BSI). The flower stems harvested from clumps at partial shade presented higher fresh weight, length and diameter of the inflorescences compared to flower stems harvested from clumps at full sun area. The flower stem bracts cultivated in full sun area changed the color from green to red 10.69 and 11.94 days after BSI and CFI postharvest treatments, and the vase life were 22.94 and 28.19 days, respectively. Flower stem harvest in partial shade area change the color only after 18.94 and 18.43 days and the vase life durability was 27.56 and 31.81, respectively. The complete immersion of the flower stem increase the vase life durability in 5.25 and 4.25 days compared to flowers kept with the stem base immersed only, in flower stems harvested from clumps cultivated in full sun area and partial shade area, respectively. Flower stems harvested from clumps cultivated in partial shade area and completely immerse in tap water during 3 hours increase the vase life durability in 8.87 days compared to flowers harvested from clumps cultivated in full sun area and base immersed only

Zingiber: synonymy, accepted and excluded species

Among the species of the Zingiberaceae family, ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is the best known and studied species, with several reported ornamental, medicinal and culinary properties. Many ornamental species of the genus Zingiber are commonly treated as gingers by analogy. This study provides a list of species of the genus Zingiber, information on synonyms and comments on ornamental aspects

Characterization and selection of torch ginger for cut flower

Torch ginger, Etlingera elatior, is among the most cultivated tropical flower of its genus. Its great acceptability in the market led researchers to improve production characteristics and to adapt it for commercialization. This study aimed to characterize 10 genotypes of torch ginger in order to select and recommend them as cut flower. The experiment ran from Jan 2014 to Dec 2016 in Paulista, Brazil and nine agro-morphological characteristics were evaluated to build a grading system that determined their suitability for cut flower. The IAC 26 and IAC 34 genotypes were classified as poorly suitable, for they presented fresh mass exceeding 237 g. They also presented less than 19 flower stems per clump and only one month with ≥1 floral stem produced in 2015. The genotypes IAC 1, IAC 2, IAC 3, IAC 11, IAC 13 and the cultivar IAC Prumirim were classified as suitable, although they obtained intermediate scores for most of the evaluated criteria. The genotype IAC 41 and the cultivar IAC Camburi were classified as very suitable for cut flower, beginning of flowering period at 12 months, produce 33.25 and 41.20 flower stem per clump, respectively, and present seven months with production of more than one floral stem per clump in 2016, achieving maximum scores from most of the evaluated characteristics

Whole-genome sequencing resolves a polyclonal outbreak by extended-spectrum beta-lactam and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Portuguese tertiary-care hospital.

Klebsiella pneumoniae has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen, with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) significantly improving our ability to characterize associated outbreaks. Our study sought to perform a genome-wide analysis of multiclonal K. pneumoniae isolates (n=39; 23 patients) producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases and/or carbapenemases sourced between 2011 and 2016 in a Portuguese tertiary-care hospital. All isolates showed resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and six isolates (five patients) were also carbapenem resistant. Genome-wide-based phylogenetic analysis revealed a topology representing ongoing dissemination of three main sequence-type (ST) clades (ST15, ST147 and ST307) and transmission across different wards, compatible with missing links that can take the form of undetected colonized patients. Two carbapenemase-coding genes were detected: blaKPC-3, located on a Tn4401d transposon, and blaGES-5 on a novel class 3 integron. Additionally, four genes coding for ESBLs (blaBEL-1, blaCTX-M-8, blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-32) were also detected. ESBL horizontal dissemination across five clades is highlighted by the similar genetic environments of blaCTX-M-15 gene upstream of ISEcp1 on a Tn3-like transposon. Overall, this study provides a high-resolution genome-wide perspective on the epidemiology of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in a healthcare setting while contributing for the adoption of appropriate intervention and prevention strategies

Histology of 24 organs from Asian elephant calves (Elephas maximus)

Background Elephants are the largest and heaviest living terrestrial animals, but information on their histology is still lacking. This study provides a unique insight into the elephant’s organs and also provides a comparison between juvenile Asian elephants and adult Asian elephants or other species. Here we report on the histological structure of 24 organs, including the skin, brain (cerebrum, cerebellar hemisphere, vermis, thalamus, midbrain), spinal cord, sciatic nerve, striated skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, bone (flat bone and long bone), cartilage (hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage), heart (right atrium, right ventricle), blood vessels (aorta, pulmonary artery and caudal vena cava), trunk, trachea, lung, tongue, esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), large intestine (cecum, colon, rectum), liver and pancreas, kidney, ovary, uterus (body and horn) and spleen of two juvenile Asian elephants. Methods Tissue sections were stained with Harris’s hematoxylin and eosin Y. Results While almost all structures were similar to those of other species or adult elephants, some structures were different from other mammalian species, such as: plexiform bone was found in flat bone only; a thin trachealismuscle was observed in the trachea; and no serous or mucinous glands were found in the submucosa of the trachea. Discussion Histological information from various organs can serve as an important foundation of basal data for future microanatomical studies, and help in the diagnosis and pathogenesis in sick elephants or those with an unknown cause of death

Genetic divergence of Etlingera elatior based on agro-morphological features for cut flowers

Despite the wide acceptability Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) by the consumer market and its cultivation are still restrict­ed due to the high mass of inflorescences (over 1 kg), which complicates the process of harvesting, handling, packaging and transportation. The objective of this work was to characterize agromorphological and estimate the genetic divergence among Etlingera elatior ( Jack) R.M. Sm. with standard cut flower. A stand of 75 genotypes resulting from crosses between genotypes at random from the collection of germplasm with variability inflorescences of commercial interest, they keep on growing in the Research and Development of Ubatuba. Seventeen descriptors were evaluated on the leaf, inflorescence and infrutescence. The inflorescence mass, length and diameter of the flowering stem, height and flower diameter were selected as the most important descriptors for selecting accessions with standard marketing as cut flower. We selected 12 promising accessions, with characteristics appropriate to the market and with good combination of shapes and coloring bracts

Espécies de helicônia como flores de corte.

Embora sejam inúmeras as espécies de helicônias nativas do rasil, poucas têm sido comercializadas como flor de corte, mesmo com a facilidade de aclimatação de algumas delas àscondições ambientais predominantes em muitas regiões do País. A oferta, desse modo, fica restrita às mais cultivadas, como algumas cultivares de H. bihai, H. psittacorum, H. wagneriana, H. rostrata, H. stricta e as cultivares do grupo Torch. Visando diversificar as espécies ofertadas ao mercado interno de flores de corte, foi objetivo desta pesquisa avaliar 30 genótipos de helicônias quanto à adequação para esse fim. Para tanto foram aprimorados e ampliados os indicadores utilizados para a caracterização de inflorescências adequadas ao uso como flor de corte, possibilitando a recomendação de espécies dessas plantas ainda pouco difundidas no País. A escala de pontos utilizada considerou o período de florescimento, a produção por touceira, a rigidez da haste, a durabilidade póscolheita, as facilidades de manuseio, de embalamento e transporte, bem como a resistência a esse processo e o valor de mercado. As espécies consideradas moderadamente adequadas, com pontuação entre 25 e 35, foram por ordem crescente, H. hirsuta, H. bourgaeana, H. foreroi, H. rauliniana, H. angusta var. flava, H. caribaea, H. chartaceae, H. latispatha, H. angusta ‘Holiday´, H. episcopalis, H. rostrata, H. angusta var. aurorea, H. sampaioana, H. librata e H. velloziana. As espécies enquadradas como muito adequadas, por suplantarem o limite mínimo de 35 pontos, foram, por ordem decrescente de pontuação, H. orthotricha, H. bihai e H.stricta, H.psittacorum, H. aurea e H. wagneriana. Conclui-se que a oferta de helicônias no País pode ser expandida, introduzindo-se espécies adequadas ao uso, como flores de corte, ainda pouco ou não cultivadas no Brasil. Entre essas espécies podem ser destacadas as H. orthotricha, a H. aurea, a H. velloziana, a H. librata e a H. foreroi. O uso de escala de pontos, atribuídas a características específicas de inflorescências e ciclo de produção, produtividade, longevidade pós-colheita e valor de mercado, constitui-se em excelente ferramenta para definição, do potencial das espécies estudadas, para o uso como flor de corte

Atualização da nomenclatura de espécies do gênero Heliconia (Heliconiaceae).

As helicônias constituem um grupo de plantas cujo cultivo vem se intensificando devido ao crescente mercado. Porém, o uso incorreto da denominação para as espécies que vêm sendo cultivadas tem ocasionado alguns problemas ao produtor, como a decisão sobre adequadas técnicas de cultivo e manejo fitossanitário a serem adotadas, uma vez que o grupo é muito extenso e as exigências de nutrição mineral, espaçamento, condições de cultivo e ocorrência de pragas e doenças variam conforme a espécie considerada. Essa incorreção tem também ocasionado alguns entraves referentes às relações comerciais que envolvem a venda de mudas. Muitas vezes, seguindo nomenclaturas inadequadas ou nomes populares e/ou de variedades, o produtor rural pensa estar adquirindo mudas de determinada espécie, adaptada à sua região de cultivo e recebe um outro produto que poderá não ter uma produção satisfatória, ocorrendo prejuízos. O estudo baseou-se principalmente em informações obtidas em trabalhos originais publicados em periódicos nacionais e internacionais e livros sobre helicônias publicados entre 1880 e 2002 com descrições de espécies de helicônias. A interpretação dos dados compilados permitiu estipular 176 espécies de helicônias, de ocorrência na região neotropical e seis espécies nas Ilhas do Pacífico, perfazendo 182 espécies. O maior número de espécies e subespécies descritas tem ocorrência natural na Colômbia (94), seguindo em ordem decrescente Equador (60) Panamá (56), Costa Rica (47), Brasil (37), Peru (32), Venezuela (26), Nicarágua (22), Guatemala (16), Bolívia (15), Honduras e México (14) e Suriname (13). Das 182 espécies elencadas, 94 são registradas como endêmicas de determinada região, o que aponta uma grande fragilidade do gênero com relação à conservação de germoplasma. Face ao elevado grau de endemismo recomenda-se urgência no estabelecimento de um programa nacional/internacional que vise à coleta e manutenção de germoplasma de espécies do gênero