Níveis tóxicos de ferro em lavouras de café conilon (Coffea canephora L.) em solos de tabuleiros costeiros

The crops conilon coffee in Espírito Santo concentrate on soils with high redox potential, in these soils predominates the Fe in reduced form and more soluble (Fe2+) which can cause interferences in development and productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of iron concentration in plant tissues and the productivity of crops conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) grown in soils of coastal tablelands in the State of Espírito Santo. The study was conducted in three producing properties conilon coffee located in the South of the Espírito Santo, three areas in lowland environment and three areas in the hillside environment, to compare the influence of local. We evaluated the physical and chemical composition of the soil, the concentration of nutrients in roots, stems, leaves, grains and fruit peel and productivity in two seasons. The results evidenced that the concentration of iron in all evaluated organs was higher in lowland crops and that productivity has been significantly higher in the hillside fields. We conclude that the high concentration of iron in the soil and plant organs evaluated the lowland crops may be negatively influence the productivity of crops.Os plantios de café conilon no estado do Espírito Santo concentram-se em solos com elevado potencial de oxirredução, nestes solos predomina o Fe na forma reduzida e mais solúvel (Fe2+), o que pode causar interferências no desenvolvimento e na produtividade. Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar os impactos da concentração de ferro nos tecidos vegetais e a produtividade de lavouras de café conilon (Coffea canephora), cultivadas nos solos dos tabuleiros costeiros do Estado. O estudo foi realizado em três propriedades produtoras de café conilon, localizadas no Sul do Espírito Santo, sendo três áreas em ambiente de baixada e outras três em ambiente de encosta, para comparar a influência dos locais. Foram avaliadas a composição físico-química dos solos, a concentração dos nutrientes em raízes, caules, folhas, grãos e casca das plantas e a produtividade em duas safras. Os resultados sugerem que a concentração de ferro, em todos os órgãos avaliados, foi maior nas lavouras de baixada e que a produtividade foi significativamente maior nas lavouras de encosta. Conclui-se que a alta concentração de ferro no solo e nos órgãos vegetais avaliados das lavouras de baixada pode influenciar negativamente na produtividade das lavouras

Growth of lettuce cultivars in beds covered with differing materials

In commercial lettuce growing, the intensive cultivation of the soil results in an increase in weed populations, making it difficult to fully exploit the area and increasing production costs. Under such circumstances, the use of soil covers can minimize this problem. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different materials as soil covers on the agronomic performance of three lettuce cultivars. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks, with treatments set in a subdivided plot scheme. Five types of soil cover (plots) were tested: no cover, black plastic, double white faced plastic, straw mulching and kraft paper and three Lettuce cultivars (subplots): loose-crested leaf group, iceberg lettuce group, with four replicates. Number of leaves per plant, stem length and diameter, head diameter, mass of fresh and total dry matter, fresh matter mass of leaves and stem were evaluated. For the Lisa and Americana lettuce groups, bed soil cover materials were more efficient when compared to the uncovered beds. For economic and environmental reasons, kraft paper is recommended as a bedding cover material for these cultivars. Variation in growth occurred between the lettuce cultivars, independently of the use of bedding cover. This occurred in the sequence: loose leaf > iceberg lettuce> loose-crested leaf group

First record of Amphipoda Talitroides topitotum (Burt, 1934) (Gammaridea, Talitridae) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i1.12447

Talitroides topitotum (Amphipoda) was introduced in Brazil by silviculture activities. Currently the species is distributed in the states of Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. This paper describes the species’ occurrence in the state of Espírito Santo. The objective of this study was to determine the interference of the edge effect on community structure of macroinvertebrates associated with leaf litter, where a T. topitotum female specimen was observed in coffee cultivations in March 2008.

Color and odor of artificial fruit used to signal potential dispersers in the Atlantic forest in Brazil

Fruit color and odor are the main features regulating the rate of fruit predation and dispersal. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of odor and color on fruit predators and dispersers. The present study was conducted in a 30ha area of secondary forest in Southeastern Atlantic Brazil. This area was divided into two transects, in which four points were marked with a 30m distance from each other. Each sampling point contained a total of 30 artificial fruit which belong to six different treatment groups, with five artificial fruit per group. Each group was randomly placed on the ground and that artificial fruit was checked every seven days. For each group of five fruit, 5mL of essence (vanilla or pineapple) were placed, and no essence was used in the control group. Artificial fruit was made with green and red nontoxic modeling clay, as well as artificial essences (vanilla and pineapple). A total of 960 fruits were used. Predated fruit equaled 26.9% (258 units), from which the red/pineapple had the highest predation rate (81.9%), followed by red/vanilla (46.3%), while green/control fruits were not predated. Throughout the experiment, bitten fruit and pecked fruit equaled 58.3% and 41.7%, respectively. No significant differences were recorded (x²=7.57, df=5, p=0.182) between bitten and pecked fruit. Fruit color and odor are important in attracting predators and dispersers, which explains the high rate of predation of red/vanilla and red/pineapple, and the absence of predated fruits in the green/control group. Regarding the potential disperser, there was no statistically significant difference between pecked fruit and bitten fruit. As a result, it should be taken into consideration that zoochory (mammalochory and ornithochory) is the most important dispersal; therefore, it should be concluded that birds are more attracted by color and mammals by odor. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 925-931. Epub 2012 June 01

<b>Population parameters of the shrimp <i>Xiphopenaeus kroyeri</i> (Heller, 1862) (Crustacea, Penaeidae), caught by artisanal fisheries in Anchieta, Espírito Santo State</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i2.13408

The fishery on Penaeidae shrimp is done all over the Brazilian coast, especially the seabob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri). It is captured in large quantities in the Southeast and Southern Brazil. In order to study the population structure of X. kroyeri from Anchieta Municipality, Espírito Santo State, during the period from January to December 2008, monthly samplings with one-hour-long were conducted to verify the number of individuals, biomass, sex, total length and gonad maturity stage. The specimens had total length ranging from 2.96 to 9.96 cm, and females were larger than males. It is suggested that the population of X. kroyeri presents patterns of recruitment and reproduction similar to those of the Northeast region. The estimated size of first gonadal maturation was 4.5 and 6.9 cm for males and females, respectively. The fishing operates on a stock composed of predominantly adult males and juveniles and adult females. The mesh size of the nets and the high plant biomass in the fishing areas may be contributing to the increased catch of juveniles, undermining the recruitment of X. kroyeri

Biochemical and ecophysiological responses to manganese stress by ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and in association with Eucalyptus grandis.

At relatively low concentrations, the element manganese (Mn) is essential for plant metabolism, especially for photosynthesis and as an enzyme antioxidant cofactor. However, industrial and agricultural activities have greatly increased Mn concentrations, and thereby contamination, in soils. We tested whether and how growth of Pisolithus tinctorius is influenced by Mn and glucose and compare the activities of oxidative stress enzymes as biochemical markers of Mn stress. We also compared nutrient accumulation, ecophysiology, and biochemical responses in Eucalyptus grandis which had been colonized by the ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus tinctorius with those which had not, when both were exposed to increasing Mn concentrations. In vitro experiments comprised six concentrations of Mn in three concentrations of glucose. In vivo experiments used plants colonized by Pisolithus tinctorius, or not colonized, grown with three concentrations of Mn (0, 200, and 1000 μM). We found that fungal growth and glucose concentration were correlated, but these were not influenced by Mn levels in the medium. The anti-oxidative enzymes catalase and glutathione S-transferase were both activated when the fungus was exposed to Mn. Also, mycorrhizal plants grew more and faster than non-mycorrhizal plants, whatever Mn exposure. Photosynthesis rate, intrinsic water use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency were all inversely correlated with Mn concentration. Thus, we originally show that the ectomycorrhizal fungus provides protection for its host plants against varying and potentially toxic concentrations of Mn