Reproductive biology of Cattleya eldorado, a species of Orchidaceae from the Amazonian white sand campinas

The orchid plants are highly prized for their lush exotic flowers. It is the largest plant family with more than 24000 species, which indicates a high diversity of forms and adaptations to different environments, including the capacity to attract, deceive and manipulate visitors involved in cross-pollination. Cattleya eldorado occurs in areas of white sand campinas, a typical vegetation type of the Amazon region, which is under strong anthropogenic pressure. This work's main objectives to know the biological processes of C. eldorado providing subsidies to maintain and manage it in its natural habitat. This study was conducted from 2000 to 2006 in the Campina Biological Reserve, during its flowering period. C. eldorado is an epiphytic orchid species that has the melittophyly syndrome and is adapted to its pollinator, the bee Eulaema mocsaryi recognizing their flowers by smell and by visual stimuli, through their color and reflection of ultraviolet light. C. eldorado is self-compatible, even if it requires a pollinating agent for the transfer of the pollinarium until its deposition in the stigmatic cavity of the flower.", 'enAs Orchidaceae são muito apreciadas por suas flores exóticas e exuberantes. É a maior família de plantas apresentando mais de 24000 espécies, o que denota uma alta diversidade de formas e adaptações a diferentes ambientes, como também para atração, engano e manipulação de visitantes na realização da polinização cruzada. Cattleya eldorado ocorre em áreas de campinas, que são formações vegetais típicas da região amazônica, que se encontram sob forte ação antrópica. Este trabalho tem como um de seus principais objetivos conhecer parte dos processos biológicos de C. eldorado fornecendo subsídios para conservá-la e manejá-la em seu habitat natural. Este estudo foi desenvolvido na Reserva Biológica de Campina, de 2000 a 2006, durante a sua floração. C. eldorado é uma espécie epifítica que apresenta a síndrome de melitofilia, estando adaptada ao seu polinizador, a abelha Eulaema mocsaryi, que reconhece suas flores pelo odor e pelo estímulo visual através de sua coloração e reflexão de luz ultravioleta. C. eldorado é uma espécie autocompatível, embora necessite de um agente polinizador para a transferência do polinário até sua deposição na cavidade estigmática da flor

Genetic analysis of species in the Genus Catasetum (ORCHIDACEAE) using RAPD markers

In this work, RAPD molecular markers were used to access the genetic variability and to study the inter and intraespecifc relationship in a group of 37 species, including 56 individuals. A total of 15 RAPD primers were selected for DNA amplification. From a total of 221 bands analyzed, 209 (95%) were polymorphics. The level of interespecifc genetic similarity ranged from 37% between Catasetum complanatum and Catasetum laminatum to 83% between Catasetum triodon and Catasetum uncatum. The intraspecifc genetic similarity varied 88% for the individuals of Catasetum triodon to 93% between the individuals of Catasetum atratum and Catasetum macrocarpum. These results would contribute to understand the genetic relationship in Catasetum, to define the strategies to establish a germplasm core collection for the genus and to provide support for breeding programs.Luciana do Valle Rego Oliveira, Ricardo Tadeu de Faria, Claudete de Fátima Ruas, Paulo Maurício Ruas, Melissa de Oliveira Santos and Valdemar P. Carvalh

Distribuição espacial, sazonal e estrutura populacional do caranguejo Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Sesarmidae) do manguezal de Itacuruçá, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Spatial and seasonal distribution and population structure of the crab Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Sesarmidae) in Itacuruçá mangrove, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a distribuição espacial e sazonal e a estrutura populacional do caranguejo arborícula Aratuspisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837). O trabalho foi realizado através de coletas mensais de junho de 2000 a maio de 2001, para estudo da estrutura populacional e coletas sazonais de janeiro a outubro de 2002 para o estudo da distribuição espacial e sazonal, dividiu-se o manguezal em três áreas. Para a distribuição espacial e sazonal foram capturados 694 indivíduos sendo 45% na área 1, 36% na área 2 e 19% na área 3. O número de indivíduos apresentou diferença significativa na distribuição espacial entre as áreas 2 e 3. Para o estudo da estrutura populacional foi capturado um total de 742 caranguejos, sendo 59% machos, 32,7% fêmeas e 8,3% fêmeas ovígeras. A razãosexual obtida foi de 1: 0,69 (macho:fêmea) e a largura da carapaça variou de 9,6 a 25,0 mm em machos e de 5,5 a 24,9 mm em fêmeas. A distribuição da freqüência em classes de tamanho foi unimodal e os machos foram mais freqüentes entre as classes de 19,1 a 21,0 mm LC, enquanto as fêmeas entre 17,1 a 19,0 mm LC. A razão sexual ao longo de cada classe de tamanho demonstrou predominância de machos em quase todas as classes, exceto entre as classes de 5,1 a 7,0 e 7,1 a 9,0 mm de LC.<br>This work was performed by monthly sampling from June 2000 to May 2001 for population structure studies and by seasonal sampling from January to October 2002 for space and seasonal distribution studies, dividing the mangrove in three different areas. On the space-seasonal distribution study, 694 crabs were caught, where 45% was captured in area 1,36% in area 2 and 19% in area 3. There were significant differences between the number of individuals between area 2 and 3. For the population structure study a total of 742 crabs were captured, being 59% male, 32.7% female and 8.3% ovigerous females. The sex ratio was 1:0.69 (male:female), and the carapace width ranged from 9.6 to 25.0 mm CW in males and from 5.5 to 24.9 mm CW in females. The size class distribution was unimodal and the males were more frequent between 19.1 to 21.0 mm CW, while females between 17.1 to 19 mm CW. The sex ratio along each size class showed the male predominance in almost all classes except between the classes of 5.1 to 7.0 and 7.1 to 9.0 mm CW

Molecular characterization of hairy fleabane using RAPD.

ABSTRACT With the increase of glyphosate resistance evolution in hairy fleabane, the knowledge of genetic diversity is essential to assist in the weed management. The objective was to characterize the genetic diversity of glyphosate resistant Conyza species in Rio Grande do Sul. Hairy fleabane biotype seeds were collected in fields of glyphosate-resistant soybean, generating seedlings used for extracting DNA from the leaves to perform a genetic diversity analysis, using the RAPD technique. The DNA was used in polymerase chain reaction and DNA fragments were assessed for polymorphism bands in electrophoresis. Biotypes were identified as Conyza bonariensis and microcephala varieties. In molecular analysis, among 25 primers RAPD, eight were reproducible generating polymorphisms of high intensity for the separation of biotypes. Cluster analysis revealed five groups, which had a genetic similarity of 53%. The results indicate that all known biotypes are of the same species, but exhibit different varieties. RAPD presents itself as an important tool for characterizing Conyza species