Pollination of Pagamea duckei Standl. (Rubiaceae): a functionally dioecious species

The floral biology, pollination and breeding system of Pagamea duckei Standl. (Rubiaceae) were studied at the Reserva Biológica da Campina, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Floral morphology suggested that P. duckei is a distylous species. However, crossing experiments revealed that it is functionally dioecious. The flowers are actinomorphic, yellowish, produce nectar and a sweet odor, which is more intense in the morning. Anthesis started in the morning between 5.00 and 6.00 AM and extended until dusk, when the corolla tube abscissed. The flowers were visited mostly by bees of the genus Melipona. Pagamea duckei is not agamospermic and thus needs pollen vectors for effective pollination. The results of this study strengthen the idea that, in Pagamea, species with distylous flower morphology are actually functionally dioecious

Tamanho de amostras para a determinação de parâmetros físicos em planossolo por tomografia computadorizada

A técnica da tomografia computadorizada (TC) permite medir a densidade e a umidade de amostras de solo, constituindo uma importante ferramenta na Ciência do Solo. Este trabalho tem como objetivos descrever os aspectos da adequação do tamanho de amostras de um Planossolo e os procedimentos de avaliação e estudos por análise estatística, empregando-se um minitomógrafo computadorizado de raios gama com fonte de 241Am. O valor do erro atribuído ao equipamento são 0,051 e 0,046 Mg m-3, respectivamente, para os horizontes A e B. O valor teórico da espessura da amostra do Planossolo para uso na técnica de TC com fonte de 241Am é, aproximadamente, 4,0 cm para os horizontes A e B. Já a espessura ideal de amostras é de aproximadamente 6,0 cm, sendo menor para amostras do horizonte B em relação ao A. Obteve-se boa precisão e adaptabilidade no emprego da TC para estudos de Planossolos._________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Computerized tomography (CT) is an important tool in Soil Science for noninvasive measurement of density and water content of soil samples. This work aims to describe the aspects of sample size adequacy for Planosol (Albaqualf) and to evaluate procedures for statistical analysis, using a CT scanner with a 241Am source. Density errors attributed to the equipment are 0.051 and 0.046 Mg m-3 for horizons A and B, respectively. The theoretical value for sample thickness for the Planosol, using this equipment, is 4.0 cm for the horizons A and B. The ideal thickness of samples is approximately 6.0 cm, being smaller for samples of the horizon B in relation to A. Alternatives for the improvement of the efficiency analysis and the reliability of the results obtained by CT are also discussed, and indicate good precision and adaptability of the application of this technology in Planosol (Albaqualf) studies