Morphological and molecular diversity among cassava genotypes.

The objective of this work was to characterize morphologically and molecularly the genetic diversity of cassava accessions, collected from different regions in Brazil. A descriptive analysis was made for 12 morphological traits in 419 accessions. Data was transformed into binary data for cluster analysis and analysis of molecular variance. A higher proportion of white or cream (71%) root cortex color was found, while flesh colors were predominantly white (49%) and cream (42%). Four accession groups were classified by the cluster analysis, but they were not grouped according to their origin, which indicates that diversity is not structured in space. The variation was greater within regions (95.6%). Sixty genotypes were also evaluated using 14 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Molecular results corroborated the morphological ones, showing the same random distribution of genotypes, with no grouping according to origin. Diversity indices were high for each region, and a greater diversity was found within regions, with: a mean number of alleles per locus of 3.530; observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.499 and 0.642, respectively; and Shannon index of 1.03. The absence of spatial structure among cassava genotypes according to their origins shows the anthropic influence in the distribution and movement of germplasm, both within and among regions.Título em português: Diversidade morfológica e molecular entre genótipos de mandioca

Biochemical and Isoenzyme Analysis of Seven Pennisetum Purpureum (schum.) Cultivars

This study characterized seven Pennisetum purpureum cultivars, namely cv. Anão, Bajra, Cameroon, Guaçu, Roxo, Taiwan A-144 and Uruckwami, through biochemical analysis, including protein, glucose and fructose contents, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using the esterase system, by sampling 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 dayold leaves. Cultivar Taiwan A-144 presented the highest number of nodes per stem and percentage of emerging buds. Protein concentration decreased gradually after 60 days for all cultivars, except for Anão. Cultivar Guaçu presented the highest level of glucose in 90 day old plants, whereas Cameroon presented the highest levels at 120 and 150 days. The esterase band patterns changed with plant age for all cultivars, showing a tendency to increase the number of bands with time. The best age for discriminating between esterase bands of P. purpureum cultivars was at 120 days, when most variation could be seen

Diversidade genética de populações de andiroba no Baixo Acre.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética em duas populações de Carapa guianensis Aubl. (andiroba), no Estado do Acre, e comparar os parâmetros de diversidade com os observados em outras populações da espécie (no Brasil: Flona Tapajós, PA, Porto Acre, AC; e na Costa Rica). Foram avaliados 77 indivíduos adultos com sete locos polimórficos de microssatélites. Observaram-se 51 alelos nas duas populações, em que o número efetivo de alelos por loco (Âe = 3,2) foi inferior ao número médio de alelos por loco (Â = 7,3), o que indica elevado número de alelos com baixa freqüência. Os valores estimados de f não diferiram de zero, o que mostra que não ocorre endogamia nas populações. A taxa de cruzamento aparente foi alta (ta = 1,11 na população Porto Acre, e ta= 0,88 na de Rio Branco), resultado indicador de que a espécie se reproduz por alogamia. Foi observado, por meio das estimativas de Â, He (diversidade gênica) e Ne (número efetivo populacional) que as populações de andiroba, comparadas neste trabalho, tiveram padrões de diversidade semelhantes, porém, proporções de alelos raros diferentes

Isoenzymatic variability of cassava accessions from different regions in Brazil.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) pertence à família Euphorbiaceae, gênero Manihot, cultivada em todo o país. É a única do gênero utilizada na alimentação. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da variabilidade isoenzimática de 200 acessos de mandioca obtidos junto ao banco de germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. Os acessos foram agrupados de acordo com o local de origem, obtendo-se desta forma sete grupos: 1-Amazonas, 2-Amapa, 3-Bahia, 4-Para, 5-Rondonia, 6-Diversos, incluindo-se neste grupo os acessos que se apresentavam em pequena quantidade por local de origem (um ou no máximo dois indivíduos), e 7- Acessos de origem desconhecida. Os acessos foram também avaliados como um todo. Para a corrida eletroforética, foram utilizadas amostras de folhas jovens em gel de amido a 12%. Foram avaliados oito sistemas isoenzimáticos: glutamato desidrogenase (GTDH), fosfatase ácida (ACP), leucina aminopeptidase (LAP), isocitrato desidrogenase (IDH), xiquimato desidrogenase (SKDH), enzima málica (ME), malato desidrogenase (MDH) e glucose-6-fosfato desidrogenase (G6PDH). A análise revelou um loco polimórfico por sistema. O material avaliado apresentou grande variabilidade isoenzimática. O número médio de alelos por loco variou de 2,3 a 2,5, a heterozigosidade média observada ( ) variou de 0,381 a 0,615, e o índice de diversidade de 0,479 a 0,559. Observou-se maior variabilidade genética dentro dos grupos do que entre grupos, sugerindo um padrão de distribuição de variabilidade genética semelhante ao esperado para populações naturais de espécies alógamas

Pollen and seed flow patterns of Carapa guianensis Aublet. (Meliaceae) in two types of Amazonian forest.

Various factors affect spatial genetic structure in plant populations, including adult density and primary and second-ary seed dispersal mechanisms. We evaluated pollen and seed dispersal distances and spatial genetic structure of Carapa guianensisAublet. (Meliaceae) in occasionally inundated andterra firmeforest environments that differed in tree densities and secondary seed dispersal agents. We used parentage analysis to obtain contemporary gene flow estimates and assessed the spatial genetic structure of adults and juveniles. Despite the higher density of adults (di-ameter at breast height25 cm) and spatial aggregation in occasionally inundated forest, the average pollen dis-persal distance was similar in both types of forest (195106minterra firme and 17587 m in occasionally inundated plots). Higher seed flow rates (36.7% of juveniles were from outside the plot) and distances (155 84 m) were found interra firme compared to the occasionally inundated plot (25.4% and 11469 m). There was a weak spatial genetic structure in juveniles and interra firme adults. These results indicate that inundation may not have had a significant role in seed dispersal in the occasionally inundated plot, probably because of the higher levels of seedling mortality

Influence of the use of manioc on its genetic diversity conservation in a quilombo community in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Local cassava varieties play an important role in food security and the autonomy of subsistence farmers. They can be important resources for breeding and conservation programs. We examined the genetic diversity of cassava through ethnobotanical knowledge and microsatellite markers to understand the dynamics of conservation and management of the varieties used local small-scale farmers of a rural quilombo (a slave-descendant community) in Mato Grosso, Brazil. To obtain ethnobotanical information, semi-structured interviews were applied to 10 family units who cultivated cassava. Each family cultivated from one to five varieties, with 2.3 ± 1.16 varieties/farmer, on average. Genetic analysis was was made of the 11 local varieties with microsatellite markers (12 loci). Despite low ethnobotanical diversity (H' = 2.05), high genetic diversity was found (Na = 6.75, HO = 0.92, HE = 0.75, on average) in these local varieties. These farmers, who derive their income mainly from cassava cultivation and flour production for the market, direct their variety choices to those that are most productive. Brava variety was the most frequent (found in eight family units) and was considered the most profitable for the production of flour Network analysis showed that propagule circulation and information occurs between the residents and also with other communities of the region, which are important sources of new varieties. Two farmers were identified as the most active in this network, showing potential as key elements for the circulation of propagating material. According to the cluster analysis using the genetic data, the most recently introduced varieties (Baixinha, Liberatona, Broto roxo, Mansa, Ramo branco, Carneiro and Cuiabana) are separated from those introduced a long time ago. The varieties pointed out as bitter by the farmers were also grouped together. The results showed the importance of traditional farmers in maintaining a high genetic diversity of manioc varieties, despite the directing of the choice of varieties to meet market needs

A REPORT BY THE ALL - PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON A FIT AND HEALTHY CHILDHOOD THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH

A child born into circumstances of social and economic inequality in the 21st century United Kingdom will start life with one hand tied behind their back. Nowhere is the disparity of experience more marked than in that of health and this, in turn, impacts the entire life course. In the same way that priority is given to securing the national infrastructure, prioritising the health of children from all areas and in all circumstances from the outset would therefore seem to be prudent rather than profligate. Yet as this Report demonstrates,successive Governments have skimped rather thansaved; failedto build upon existing policy and played a costly policy game of ‘catching up later’ instead of deploying the early ntervention me asures that are cheaper andmore effective in the long term