Glutamine synthetase gene expression during the regeneration of the annelid Enchytraeus japonensis

Enchytraeus japonensis is a highly regenerative oligochaete annelid that can regenerate a complete individual from a small body fragment in 4–5 days. In our previous study, we performed complementary deoxyribonucleic acid subtraction cloning to isolate genes that are upregulated during E. japonensis regeneration and identified glutamine synthetase (gs) as one of the most abundantly expressed genes during this process. In the present study, we show that the full-length sequence of E. japonensis glutamine synthetase (EjGS), which is the first reported annelid glutamine synthetase, is highly similar to other known class II glutamine synthetases. EjGS shows a 61–71% overall amino acid sequence identity with its counterparts in various other animal species, including Drosophila and mouse. We performed detailed expression analysis by in situ hybridization and reveal that strong gs expression occurs in the blastemal regions of regenerating E. japonensis soon after amputation. gs expression was detectable at the cell layer covering the wound and was found to persist in the epidermal cells during the formation and elongation of the blastema. Furthermore, in the elongated blastema, gs expression was detectable also in the presumptive regions of the brain, ventral nerve cord, and stomodeum. In the fully formed intact head, gs expression was also evident in the prostomium, brain, the anterior end of the ventral nerve cord, the epithelium of buccal and pharyngeal cavities, the pharyngeal pad, and in the esophageal appendages. In intact E. japonensis tails, gs expression was found in the growth zone in actively growing worms but not in full-grown individuals. In the nonblastemal regions of regenerating fragments and in intact worms, gs expression was also detected in the nephridia, chloragocytes, gut epithelium, epidermis, spermatids, and oocytes. These results suggest that EjGS may play roles in regeneration, nerve function, cell proliferation, nitrogenous waste excretion, macromolecule synthesis, and gametogenesis

Avaliação ecotoxicológica de fertilizantes de rocha de silicato com uso de invertebrados de solo

The objective of this work was to evaluate the possible adverse effects of rock dusts on the avoidance behavior of earthworms and collembolans, as well as on the survival and reproduction of enchytraeids, in ecotoxicological tests using artificial and natural soils. The tests were performed following international guidelines (ISO 17512-2/2011, ISO 11267/1999, and NBR ISO 16387/2012), with some adaptations, in order to evaluate the effect of dusts from two silicate rocks, biotite schist and phonolite, at the concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100%, in artificial and natural (Arenosol and Ferralsol) soils. The avoidance behavior of the earthworm Eisenia andrei and the collembolan Folsomia candida was evaluated, as well as the survival and reproduction of the enchytraeid Enchytraeus sp. Biotite schist and phonolite affected negatively earthworms when applied to the soil at concentrations equal to or higher than 1.0%. The observed effect was associated to the greater presence of salts, especially in the phonolite, and to changes in soil texture when higher concentrations were used. Negative effects on collembolans and enchytraeids were verified at concentrations of 10% or using pure rock dusts. Agronomic rates smaller than 1.0% (approximately 20 Mg ha-1) rock dusts do not cause avoidance behavior or reduction in the survival and reproduction of invertebrates in the soil. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos adversos potenciais de agrominerais sobre o comportamento de fuga de minhocas e colêmbolos, bem como a sobrevivência e a reprodução de enquitreídeos, em testes ecotoxicológicos com solos artificial e natural. Os testes foram realizados seguindo normas internacionais (ISO 17512-2/2011, ISO 11267/1999 e NBR ISO 16387/2012), com algumas adaptações, para avaliar o efeito de pós de duas rochas silicáticas, biotita xisto e fonolito, nas concentrações de 0, 0,1, 1,0, 10 e 100%, em solos artificial e naturais (Neossolo e Latossolo). Foram avaliados o comportamento de fuga da minhoca Eisenia andrei e do colêmbola Folsomia candida, além da sobrevivência e da reprodução do enquitreídeo Enchytraeus sp. Biotita xisto e fonolito afetaram negativamente o comportamento das minhocas quando aplicados no solo, em concentrações iguais ou superiores a 1,0%. O efeito observado foi associado à maior presença de sais, principalmente no fonolito, e a mudanças na textura do solo quando concentrações maiores foram usadas. Efeitos negativos em colêmbolos e enquitreídeos foram verificados em concentrações de 10% ou com pós de rocha puros. Doses agronômicas com concentrações menores que 1,0% de pós de rocha (aproximadamente20 Mg ha-1) não causam comportamento de fuga ou redução na sobrevivência e na reprodução de invertebrados no solo

Soil macrofauna associated with cover crops in an Oxisol from the southwest of Piauí state, Brazil

ABSTRACT: The soil macrofauna is fundamental for the maintenance of soil quality. The aim of this study was to characterize the soil macrofauna under different species of cover crops, including monoculture or intercropping associated to two types of soil management in the southwest region of Piauí state. The study was carried out in an Oxisol (Latossolo Amarelo, according to Brazilian Soil Classification System) in the municipality of Bom Jesus, Piauí, distributed in 30 m2 plots. Testing and evaluation of the soil macrofauna were conducted in a 9 × 2 strip factorial design, with combinations between cover crops/consortia and soil management (with or without tillage), with four replications. Soil monoliths (0.25 × 0.25 m) were randomly sampled in each plot for macrofauna at 0‒0.1, 0.1‒0.2, and 0.2‒0.3 m depth, including surface litter. After identification and counting of soil organims, the relative density of each taxon in each depth was determined. The total abundance of soil macrofauna quantified under cover crops in the conventional and no-tillage system was 2,408 ind. m-2, distributed in 6 classes, 16 orders, and 31 families. The results of multivariate analysis show that grass species in sole cropping systems and no-tillage presents higher macrofauna density, in particular the taxonomic group Isoptera. No-tillage also provided higher richness of families, where Coleoptera adult were the second more abundant group in no-tillage and Hemiptera in conventional tillage