Riqueza em óleo nas sementes, amêndoas e cascas das bagas de mamona

This paper is a joined publication of the Depts. of Genetics and of Technology, of the E. S. A. "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, and deals with the variation of the percentage oil content in the whole seeds, the embryos and the seed-coat of 28 varieties of castor-beans (Ricinus communis, L.). Primarily, the authors, as a justification of this paper, make reference to the applications which castor-oil has in industry, medicine, etc. In accordance with the weight of 100 seeds, the varieties of castor-beans were classified into 3 classes : small seeds (100 seeds less than 30 g), medium seeds (100 seeds between 30 g and 60) and large seeds (100 seeds more than 60 g). The percentage of oil in the seed, embryo and seed-coat, the dimensions of the seeds and the weight of 100 seeds are given for every variety in table 1. In order to obtain an estimate of the variability for the methods of determination of the oil percentage, in the 3 differents parts of the seeds and also in the 3 groups of seeds, the coefficient of variability was calculate (table 2). It is showed that the variation in the seed and embryo is low and that in the seed-coat is very high. The analysis of variance, with regard to the difference among the 3 types of seeds (small, medium and large), among the 3 parts of the seed (whole seed, embryo and seed-coat) and residual error, is given in table 3. Only, the oil content of whole seeds among types of seeds was significant at the 5% level. The t test among the correspondent means is not significant for the difference between medium and large seeds is significant between both these types (medium and large) and small seeds. The fiducial limits in relation to the mean of the oil percentage in the 3 differents types of seed, show that there is one variety (n. 1013-2), which has a percentage of oil, in the medium type of seed, significantly at the 5% level (table 4), higher than the general mean. Since the distribution of the percentage of oil in the seedcoat is discontinuous, 5 groups were established (table 5). All the differences between groups are significant (table 6). For practical purposes, when we have to remove the seed coat, one should eliminate those varieties which loose at least 3% of oil by this procedure. There is a significant linear correlation at 5% level between the percentage of oil in the seed and in the embryo, of the smali and medium type of seeds (table 7), and also, when taking the 3 types together (lower part of table 7), one finds that the same is true. Also, the correlation between the percentages of oil in the embryo and in the seed-coat of the 3 types together is significant at 5% level. According to the results obtained in relation to the percentage in 28 varieties studied, it can be recommended, for breeding purposes, to work only with those varieties which belong to the medium and the large types of seeds

Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil

Global interest in sugarcane has increased significantly in recent years due to its economic impact on sustainable energy production. Sugarcane breeding and better agronomic practices have contributed to a huge increase in sugarcane yield in the last 30 years. Additional increases in sugarcane yield are expected to result from the use of biotechnology tools in the near future. Genetically modified (GM) sugarcane that incorporates genes to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses could play a major role in achieving this goal. However, to bring GM sugarcane to the market, it is necessary to follow a regulatory process that will evaluate the environmental and health impacts of this crop. The regulatory review process is usually accomplished through a comparison of the biology and composition of the GM cultivar and a non-GM counterpart. This review intends to provide information on non-GM sugarcane biology, genetics, breeding, agronomic management, processing, products and byproducts, as well as the current technologies used to develop GM sugarcane, with the aim of assisting regulators in the decision-making process regarding the commercial release of GM sugarcane cultivars

Alterações de características químicas de um Latossolo Roxo distrófico incubado com resíduos da indústria álcool-açucareira Effects of sugar-alcohol industry residues on the chemical characteristics of a dystrophic Dusky Red Latosol in incubation

Foi feito um estudo de incubação (3, 7, 14, 30 e 60 dias), num Latossolo Roxo distrófico, com o objetivo de verificar os efeitos da adição de vinhaça "in natura", vinhaça concentrada, vinhaça seca, torta de filtro e cinza de caldeira em algumas características químicas desse solo com o tempo de incubação. Usaram-se os referidos resíduos como fonte de potássio e aplicaram-se quantidades correspondentes a 300 e 750kg/ha de K. Em todos os tratamentos, exceto nos incubados com cinza de caldeira, houve um abaixamento do pH entre o 3.º e o 60.º dia de incubação; no entanto, todos eles apresentaram pH mais elevado que o da testemunha no fim do ensaio, 60&deg; dia. O teor de nitrato diminuiu, com o tempo, para os tratamentos com vinhaça seca, torta de filtro e cinza de caldeira, sendo que o P solúvel em H2SO4 0,05N só aumentou nesses dois últimos tratamentos. Praticamente, todo o K, Ca e Mg colocados apareceram em forma solúvel em HNO3 0,05N, com exceção do K para a cinza de caldeira e Ca e Mg para a torta de filtro.<br>A study in incubation (3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days) was carried out in a Dusky Red Latosol in order to evaluate the effects of stillage, filter cake, and boiler ash for some chemical characteristics of that soil. All residues were used as potassium source and it was applied at the rate of 300 and 750kg/ha of K. After 60 days of incubation electrical conductivity and pH of all treatments showed to be higher than the control. The nitrate content decreased with time for the dry stillage, filter cake and boiler ash and H2SO4 0.05N soluble in the last two treatments. Practically all applied K, Ca and Mg, were recovered in the HNO3 0.05N soluble form, with the exception of K from boiler ash (50%) and Ca and Mg from the filter cake (57 and 64% respectively)

Soil macrofauna density and diversity across a chronosequence of tropical forest restoration in Southeastern Brazil

<div><p>Abstract Edaphic macrofauna must be better studied if we want to take advantage of their full potential for the restoration of tropical ecosystems. We investigated changes in edaphic macrofauna density and diversity along a secondary succession chronosequence in the Atlantic Forest. Our results show some clear patterns of change in soil macrofauna along the chronosequence. Density did not increase along secondary succession, but was correlated with canopy cover. Diversity was characterized by high dominance of social insects and evenness among other groups. We conclude soil macrofauna has a high capacity to recolonize young forests and that its recovery is considerably fast compared to other ecosystem transformations.</p></div