EFEITO DA APLICAÇÃO DE POTÁSSIO E SÓDIO NAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DO LENHO DE ÁRVORES DE Eucalyptus grandis W.HILL, AOS 24 MESES DE IDADE

The present work had as objective to evaluate the wood anatomical characteristics and the wood apparent and basic density of Eucalyptus grandis 24 months old-trees, planted in the spacing of 3x2 m, without fertilization (control) and fertilized with potassium (T2) and sodium (T3). For each treatment they cut 8 eucalyptus trees, acoording to basal area distribution, and collected wood samples at different percentages of tree heights. In the evaluation of the vessel and fiber dimensions and the wood apparent density by X- ray densitometry they were used wood samples at DBH and for wood basic density they were used all the wood samples. The results showed that the apparent and basic wood density values were not significant in the 3 treatments, and the radial wood density profiles were characteristic of juvenile wood of eucalyptus trees. The application of mineral fertilizers (potassium and sodium) induced alterations in the fiber dimensions, responsible for the eucalypt tree sustentation and not significant differences for the vessels elements were detected.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características anatômicas e a densidade aparente e básica do lenho de árvores de Eucalyptus grandis com 24 meses de idade, plantadas no espaçamento de 3x2 m, sem fertilização (testemunha) e fertilizadas com potássio (T2) e sódio (T3). De cada tratamento foram cortadas 8 árvores de eucalipto, de acordo com a distribuição de área basal, e coletadas amostras do lenho em diferentes porcentagens da sua altura total. Na avaliação das dimensões dos vasos e fibras e da densidade aparente por densitometria de raios X, foram utilizadas as amostras do lenho do DAP, e para a densidade básica todas as amostras do lenho. Os resultados mostraram que as densidades aparente e básica média do lenho das árvores de eucalipto não foram significativas nos 3 tratamentos, sendo os perfis radiais de densidade aparente característicos de madeira juvenil de árvores de eucalipto. A aplicação dos fertilizantes minerais (potássio e sódio) induziu alterações nas dimensões das fibras, responsáveis pela sustentação do tronco das árvores de eucalipto, não sendo detectadas diferenças significativas para os elementos de vaso

Growth differential related to wood structure and function of Eucalyptus spp. clones adapted to seasonal drought stress

Aim of the study: To evaluate the growth performance, wood density and anatomical features of four drought-tolerant Eucalyptus spp. clones, at 4 years, and to examine the relationships between these characteristics and some functional parameters. Area of study: The analyzed trees were from a clonal test installed in a region characterized by seasonal drought stress in central-western Brazil. Methods: Trees were felled, followed by obtaining dendrometric parameters and wood disk sampling to determine wood bulk density by x-ray densitometry, and morphometric parameters of fibers and vessels in order to evaluate the xylem hydraulic architecture. Lumen fraction (F), vessel composition (S) and hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were estimated. Results: Clone D (E. urophylla x E grandis) presented the highest growth rates, which was related to anatomical characteristics such as low relative frequency of wide vessels. High theoretical Ks does not necessarily imply higher growth rates and were related to lower wood densities. It is possible to infer that the better xylem adjustability of Eucalyptus trees in response to drought stress conditions is associated with increased vessel composition to the detriment of higher hydraulic conductivity. Research highlights: Vessel composition showed a greater variation among Eucalyptus genotypes and was positively associated with growth performance. Keywords: wood anatomy; dendrometry; X-ray densitometry; water stress; hydraulic conductivity. Abbreviations used: F: lumen fraction; S: vessel composition; Ks: theoretical xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity

Brazilian cerrado species: wood characteristics

The characterization of wood anatomy and proprieties can provide subsidies for rational use of tree species. Enables, oftentimes, the definition of technological potential of wood - and wood products -   through the assessment of quality information and also allows it´s correct identification, contributing to the timber production chain.  The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge about wood properties of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna) species trough the anatomical characterization and determination of density profile. Twenty trees species belonging to thirteen families occurring in Pirenópolis, Goiás and Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, was selected and radial samples were removed from the tree trunks at the DBH (1.30 m) in a non-destructive way using an incremental probe and a motorized extractor. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical parameters of vessels and fibers and the wood density were determined in the collected samples. Species presented fibers with mean values between 900.5 and 2052.9 µm for the length; 18.1 and 27.7 µm for the diameter; and 4.4 to 9.4 µm for the wall thickness. The species presented a variation in the vessel dimensions from 29.2 to 155.6 µm for the diameter; 17.7 to 32.5% for occupied area; and 2.6 to 165 to vessels.mm-2. The apparent density presented mean values between 0.36 and 1.21 g cm-3. The specie that presented the highest variation of wood density was A. fraxinifolium. According to the radial profiles two patterns of increasing and stable variation in the apparent density of the pith to bark were defined as a function of the wood anatomical characteristics

Wood Quality and Pulping Process Efficiency of Elite <em>Eucalyptus</em> spp. Clones Field-Grown under Seasonal Drought Stress

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the wood quality of five elite Eucalyptus spp. clones at 4 years of age from a clonal test installed in a region of seasonal drought stress in central-western Brazil focusing on pulp production. A total of 25 trees were systematically felled and disks and logs were obtained along the trunk. Wooden disks were used for density and fiber analyses and the logs were converted into chips for application in the pulping process. For the denser genotype, clone D (E. grandis x E. urophylla x Eucalyptus tereticornis), a thicker cell wall associated to thinner fibers results in a negative effect on the fiber quality. In contrast, clone B (Eucalyptus pellita x E. grandis), which has relatively inferior pulping performance, displayed the lowest wood density associated to wider lumen and fibers. The best growth performances in response to acclimatization and adaptation to the site strongly influences the pulp productivity, which is identified as the parameter of greatest variance between genotypes, and highlighting clone E (E. grandis x E. urophylla)

Avaliação da suscetibilidade in vitro de Pseudomonas aeruginosa a métodos alternativos de terapias antimicrobianas

O aumento da prevalência de bactérias multirresistentes, fundamentalmente em unidades de terapia intensiva, é preocupação constante órgãos internacionais de saúde pública. O impacto causado esta relacionado diretamente a aumento de morbimortalidade, além de causar elevação de gastos à assistência à saúde por aumentar o tempo de internação. Com isso, desenvolver métodos alternativos de controlar o crescimento bacteriano sem gerar resistência adicional é de fundamental importância. Assim, devido características físico-químicas de ozônio, extratos essenciais de plantas e terapia fotodinâmica ganham destaque. Foi possível avaliar, in vitro, que ozônio diluído em óleos de dendê e girassol apresentou-se com atividade bactericida e capaz de inibir crescimento bacteriano da Pseudomonas aeruginosa, assim como extratos naturais de limão taiti e laranja amarga. Apesar de haver diferença na eficácia entre eles, principalmente devido a grande variabilidade de compostos bioativos existentes em cada um particularmente, todos apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana. Em relação à terapia fotodinâmica, através da utilização de fotossensibilizador (azul de metileno), gerou impacto significativo, reduzindo 80% da quantidade de colônias bacterianas existentes, mostrando-se promissor no controle de crescimento bacteriano. A partir dos resultados obtidos, foi evidenciado que as terapias utilizadas, de forma in vitro, corroboram o estimulo ao desenvolvimento de terapias alternativas no controle bacteriano

LEVANTAMENTO DO POTENCIAL DE ARBORIZAÇÃO E PROPOSTA PARA TRÊS BAIRROS NO MUNICÍPIO DE PIRACICABA/SP, BRASIL.

A maioria dos municípios do Brasil apresenta grande déficit de indivíduos arbóreos urbanos, o que acarreta problemas ambientais diversos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o potencial e propor desenhos alternativos de arborização urbana para três bairros com situação de cobertura arbórea crítica na cidade de Piracicaba/SP. Cada bairro foi avaliado pelo processamento, com uso do software TNT Mips 7.2, de imagens aéreas obtidas por videografia multiespectral e pelo reconhecimento em campo. Com base nas informações geradas e considerando a baixa ocorrência de indivíduos arbóreos, foram selecionadas, de forma sistemática, 10 quadras de cada bairro, para a realização das propostas de intervenção. As alternativas de desenho propostas, para os três bairros, foram arborização de: (i) calçadas, sempre que as condições de fiação, rede de esgoto e entrada de garagem permitissem, (ii) canteiros centrais em ruas com leito carroçável largo, situação comumente encontrada nos bairros, (iii) rotatórias e (iv) praças e áreas verdes. Os bairros estudados apresentaram condições de intervenção paisagística e implementação de arborização (novas árvores), o que proporcionaria uma melhoria das condições ambientais futuras, com a previsão de um efetivo aumento da cobertura arbórea destes bairros e, conseqüentemente, do bem estar de sua comunidade

Imidazolium salts as an alternative for anti-Leishmania drugs: Oxidative and immunomodulatory activities

In this study we explored the previously established leishmanicidal activity of a complementary set of 24 imidazolium salts (IS), 1-hexadecylimidazole (C16Im) and 1-hexadecylpyridinium chloride (C16PyrCl) against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. Promastigotes of L. amazonensis and L. infantum chagasi were incubated with 0.1 to 100 μM of the compounds and eight of them demonstrated leishmanicidal activity after 48 h – C10MImMeS (IC50L. amazonensis = 11.6), C16MImPF6(IC50L. amazonensis = 6.9), C16MImBr (IC50L. amazonensis = 6), C16M2ImCl (IC50L. amazonensis = 4.1), C16M4ImCl (IC50L. amazonensis = 1.8), (C10)2MImCl (IC50L. amazonensis = 1.9), C16Im (IC50L. amazonensis = 14.6), and C16PyrCl (IC50L. amazonensis = 4).The effect of IS on reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, membrane integrity and morphological alterations of promastigotes was determined, as well as on L. amazonensis-infected macrophages. Their cytotoxicity against macrophages and human erythrocytes was also evaluated. The IS C10MImMeS, C16MImPF6, C16MImBr, C16M2ImCl, C16M4ImCl and (C10)2MImCl, and the compounds C16Im and C16PyrCl killed and inhibited the growth of promastigote forms of L. amazonensis and L. infantum chagasi in a concentration-dependent manner, contributing to a better understanding of the structure-activity relationship of IS against Leishmania. These IS induced ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane disruption and morphological alterations in infective forms of L. amazonensis and killed intracellular amastigote forms in very low concentrations (IC50 amastigotes ≤ 0.3), being potential drug candidates against L. amazonensis

Tree rings characterization and dendrocrhronology of Grevillea robusta A. Cunn, Hoven dulcis Thunb., Persea americana Mill., Tabebuia pentaphylla Hemsl. and Terminalia catappa L. trees at Piracicaba and Paulinia cities, São Paulo State

Árvores de espécies exóticas foram plantadas em espaços urbanos e rurais, constituindo parte da paisagem e da cobertura vegetal das cidades brasileiras. As árvores de inúmeras dessas espécies apresentam fenologia característica e atividade cambial sazonal, formando anéis de crescimento anuais, que têm ampla aplicação na silvicultura, como indicadores ambientais e na detecção de espécies bioacumuladoras. No presente trabalho foram caracterizados os anéis de crescimento, a idade, a taxa de crescimento e o teor de Hg no lenho de Grevillea robusta, Hovenia dulcis, Persea americana, Tabebuia pentaphylla e Terminalia catappa, no município de Paulínia (com registro de contaminação por Hg) e de Piracicaba, SP. Do tronco das árvores foram extraídas amostras do lenho e (i) caracterizados e mensurados os anéis de crescimento, (ii) sincronizados, construídas as séries cronológicas com os programas COFECHA e ARSTAN, (iii) obtidas as funções de resposta dos anéis de crescimento em relação ao clima, com o programa RESPO; (iv) construídas as curvas variação da densidade do lenho, do crescimento do tronco e determinado o seu incremento médio anual. Através de análises químicas foi determinado o teor de Hg nas amostras do lenho e no solo. Houve diferenças significativas nas amostras de solo de Paulínia (pátio da empresa e outro distante de 350 m) e de Piracicaba, sendo de 21,5, 0,14 e <0,023 mg/kg, respectivamente. No lenho de G. robusta, H. dulcis, T. pentaphylla e T. catappa, do pátio da empresa em Paulínia, foram determinados 4,95, 1,98, 0,97 e 4,70 µg/g de Hg; no lenho das árvores de P. americana, distante 350 m, não foi detectada a presença do Hg. Os anéis de crescimento têm marcante anatomia, correlacionada com a delimitação dos anéis e valores de densidade. Os perfis radiais de densidade do lenho mostraram similaridades e diferenças entre as árvores e locais. Foram construídas séries padronizadas de anéis de crescimento de H. dulcis, P. americana, T. pentaphylla e de T. catappa, para os sítios A e B e A-B (agrupados), obtendo-se séries temporais de largura dos anéis de crescimento, representando um padrão comum de variabilidade. As correlações entre as séries cronológicas dos anéis de crescimento das árvores nos sítios A e B e a temperatura média e precipitação mensal, foram significativas e consideradas determinantes no crescimento do tronco. Com relação ao incremento médio anual do tronco detectaram-se comportamentos diferenciados das árvores das 4 espécies, em relação aos 2 sítios. Os resultados indicaram que a presença de Hg no solo e no lenho das árvores localizadas na área da empresa, parece não afetar o seu crescimento. Indicam, também, que as condições dos sítios e as inerentes as árvores das espécies devem estar influenciando o crescimento do tronco.Exotic tree species were planted in urban and rural areas, constituting part of the landscape and the vegetal covering of Brazilian cities. The countless trees of those species present characteristic phenology and seasonal cambium activity, forming annual tree-rings. The tree-rings have wide application in the silviculture and as environmental indicators (evaluating the contamination for heavy metals) and detecting bioaccumulators species. In the present work the tree-rings were characterized, as well as the age, the growth rate and Hg content in the trunk of Grevillea robusta, Hovenia dulcis, Persea americana, Tabebuia pentaphylla and Terminalia catappa trees, planted in Paulínia (with registration of Hg contamination) and in Piracicaba cities, São Paulo State. From the tree trunks were extracted wood samples and (i) characterized and evaluated the tree-rings, (ii) synchronized, built the chronological series with the programs COFECHA and ARSTAN, (iii) obtained the response functions of the treerings in relation to the climate, with the program RESPO; (iv) built the curves of the wood density, of the pole growth and annual increment. Through chemical analyses was evaluated the Hg content in the trees wood samples and in the soil collected near of the trees trunk base. There were significant differences in the soil samples of Paulínia (site from the patio of the Hg emission company and other site distant of 350 m) and Piracicaba, being of 21,5, 0,14 and <0,023 mg/kg, respectively. In the wood samples of G. robusta, H. dulcis, T. pentaphylla and T. catappa, from the patio of the company in Paulínia, were detected 4.95, 1.98, 0.97 and 4.70 µg/g of Hg, respectively; in the trees wood samples of P. americana, distant 350 m, the presence of Hg was not detected. The tree-rings have a characteristic anatomy, correlated with its boundaries and density values. The wood density radial profiles showed similarities and differences between the trees and sites. Tree-rings standardized series of H. dulcis, P. americana, T. pentaphylla and of T. catappa trees were built, to the sites A and A-B (grouped), being obtained temporal series of tree-rings width, representing a common model of variability. The correlations among the chronological series of the tree-rings of sites A and B and monthly mean temperature and precipitation accumulated, were significant and considered decisive in the trunk growth. With relationship to the pole annual mean increment, particular behavior of the 4 tree species were detected, in relation to the 2 sites. The presence of Hg in the soil and in the wood of tree species located close to the industrial company seems to not affect the trunk growth. Indicated, also, that the site conditions (planting spacing; competition for the growth factors; water soil saturated; urbanized area and street covered with asphalt, proximity and shadow among trees, etc.) and the inherent characteristic of the species trees should be influencing the tree growth