Disponibilidade hídrica e sazonalidade afetam a fitomassa e pigmentos fotossintéticos de Aloysia citrodora Paláu

Vegetative growth can be affected by different environmental factors. The objective of this work was to evaluate phytomass production and photosynthetic pigments of Aloysia citrodora plants submitted to different irrigation levels and seasons. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment from August 2015 to March 2017, in an experimental randomized blocks design, 4x4 factorial scheme, with four blocks with four plants each. The irrigation levels tested were 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the field capacity, in the four seasons of the year (autumn, winter, spring and summer). Plant height, fresh and dry mass of branches, fresh and dry mass of leaves, leaf area and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) were evaluated. It was observed that water availability and seasons influence phytomass production as well as the photosynthetic pigment analyzes. Low irrigation levels and cultivation during autumn and winter adversely affect vegetative growth. Furthermore, our results indicate that for higher phytomass production, it is recommended to cultivate Aloysia citrodora during spring and summer under irrigation levels of 75% and 100% of field capacity. Spring season promotes higher content of photosynthetic pigments. This study will open new avenues and perspectives to elucidate possible changes in secondary metabolites of Aloysia citrodora, a medicinal plant, in the presence of changes in the growing seasons and different stress conditions, including water stress.O crescimento vegetativo pode ser afetado por diferentes fatores ambientais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de fitomassa e pigmentos fotossintéticos de plantas de Aloysia citrodora submetidas a diferentes níveis de irrigação e estações do ano. O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido, no período de agosto de 2015 a março de 2017, em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4x4, com quatro blocos com quatro plantas cada. Os níveis de irrigação testados foram de 25%, 50%, 75% e 100% da capacidade de campo, nas quatro estações do ano (outono, inverno, primavera e verão). Foram avaliadas a altura das plantas, massa fresca e seca de ramos, massa fresca e seca de folhas, área foliar e pigmentos fotossintéticos (clorofila a, clorofila b e carotenoides). Observou-se que a disponibilidade hídrica e as estações do ano influenciam a produção de fitomassa e as análises de pigmentos fotossintéticos. Baixos níveis de irrigação e cultivo durante o outono e inverno afetam adversamente o crescimento vegetativo. Portanto, nossos resultados indicam que para maior produção de fitomassa, recomenda-se o cultivo de Aloysia citrodora durante a primavera e o verão sob níveis de irrigação de 75% e 100% da capacidade de campo. A estação da primavera promove maior conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos. Este estudo abrirá novos caminhos e perspectivas para elucidar possíveis alterações nos metabólitos secundários de Aloysia citrodora, uma planta medicinal, quando submetida a mudanças nas estações de cultivo e nas diferentes condições de estresse, como o estresse hídrico

Growth analysis of lettuce under different substrate compositions

The objective of this work was to evaluate lettuce growth in greenhouseunder different types of substrates. The experiment was conducted in agreenhouse, under randomized block design, with six treatments and three replicates. The compositions of the substrates were: T1= 100% organic compound; T2= 75% organic compound plus 25% substrate Plantmax®; T3= 50% organic compound plus 50% substrate Plantmax®; T4= 25% organic compound plus 75% substrate Plantmax®; T5= 100% substrate Plantmax®; T6= vermiculite. The number of leaves, dry mass, leaf area index, culture growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, specific foliar area, foliar area ratio and foliar weight ratio were evaluated. Higher growth of lettuce plants are produced by mixture of organic compound and substrate Plantmax®. The isolated use of vermiculite does not give good results for the growth of lettuce plants, but is an alternative for mixing with other substrates

Olanzapine plus fluoxetine treatment increases Nt-3 protein levels in the rat prefrontal cortex

AbstractEvidence is emerging for a role for neurotrophins in the treatment of mood disorders. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chronic administration of fluoxetine, olanzapine and the combination of fluoxetine/olanzapine on the brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the rat brain. Wistar rats received daily injections of olanzapine (3 or 6mg/kg) and/or fluoxetine (12.5 or 25mg/kg) for 28 days, and we evaluated for BDNF, NGF and NT-3 protein levels in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Our results showed that treatment with fluoxetine and olanzapine alone or in combination did not alter BDNF in the prefrontal cortex (p=0.37), hippocampus (p=0.98) and amygdala (p=0.57) or NGF protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (p=0.72), hippocampus (p=0.23) and amygdala (p=0.64), but NT-3 protein levels were increased by olanzapine 6mg/kg/fluoxetine 25mg/kg combination in the prefrontal cortex (p=0.03), in the hippocampus (p=0.83) and amygdala (p=0.88) NT-3 protein levels did not alter. Finally, these findings further support the hypothesis that NT-3 could be involved in the effect of treatment with antipsychotic and antidepressant combination in mood disorders

Viabilidade do extrato aquoso de Cyperus rotundus como indutor de enraizamento em estacas de videira em comparação com hormônios sintéticos

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do extrato aquoso de tubérculos de tiririca (Cyperus rotundus), comparando-o com a ação dos hormônios vegetais ácido indolbutírico e ácido naftalenoacético, em estacas de videira (Vitis vinifera L. [var. Bordô e Niágara]). O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, sendo duas variedades (Bordô e Niágara) e quatro indutores de enraizamento (ácido indolbutírico, ácido naftalenoacético, extrato aquoso de tiririca e água destilada – controle). Após 125 dias de condução do experimento, foram avaliados: número de folhas, número de raízes, número de brotos, comprimento da raiz, comprimento da parte aérea e massa seca da raiz e das folhas. O extrato aquoso de tiririca promoveu resultados satisfatórios sobre o número de brotos e o comprimento de raízes, não diferindo estatisticamente dos hormônios vegetais sintéticos. Entretanto a resposta foi diferente entre as variedades, não ocasionando incremento significativo de massa seca de raiz e de folhas. O número de folhas das variedades de videira é dependente do genótipo, assim como a matéria seca de raiz e de folhas. O extrato aquoso de tiririca pode ser uma alternativa sustentável para promover o enraizamento de estacas, em função da presença de substâncias que estimulam o enraizamento.

Desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de Eugenia involucrata DC. sob diferentes substratos

A qualidade da produção de mudas de espécies florestais é afetada pela composição do substrato. Diante disso, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de cerejeira (Eugenia involucrata DC.) sob diferentes composições de substrato. O experimento foi conduzido em vasos no interior de ambiente protegido da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Campus Frederico Westphalen, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituído de cinco tratamentos com seis repetições.  Os tratamentos consistiram de diferentes composições de substratos, sendo: T1- 45% de solo + 45% de areia + 10% de vermiculita; T2- 45% de solo + 45% de areia + 10% de vermiculita + 108 g de Osmocote®; T3- 35% de solo + 35% de areia + 10% de vermiculita + 20% de cama de aves; T4- 35% de solo + 35% de areia + 10% de vermiculita + 20% de esterco bovino; T5- 35% de solo + 35% de areia + 10% de vermiculita + 20% de composto suíno. As variáveis avaliadas foram altura de plantas, diâmetro de caule, massa fresca e seca de raiz e massa fresca e seca de parte aérea. Os resultados demonstraram que a composição dos substratos influenciou sobre o desenvolvimento inicial das mudas de cerejeira, apresentando variações em relação as variáveis avaliadas. Por fim, conclui-se que o substrato composto por 45% de solo + 45% de areia + 10% de vermiculita + 108 gramas de Osmocote® proporciona maiores incrementos de fitomassa nas plantas, sendo recomendado para produção de mudas de cerejeira

Chemical composition of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla (L'Hér) Britton due to water deficit and seasonality

The essential oil has change in relation to environmental variations with changes according to exposure to stress and seasonal period. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential oil of the Aloysia triphylla subjected to different periods of drought in the four seasons. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, in randomized block design in a bifactorial 5x4. The treatments consisted of five periods of water deficit (3, 6, 9, 12 days without irrigation and daily irrigation) and four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), with five repetitions. The evaluations were conducted in the middle of each season. The essential oil components showed changes only in relation to the seasons, did not differ between periods of water deficit. Citral decreased concentration in winter and increased in the fall and summer. The winter season favored minority components

Technical feasibility of minicutting of different portions of the branch to produce clonal seedlings of Aloysia citrodora

Seedling production using the minicutting technique enables quick and efficient plants formation. However, there are no reports of application for Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) and the ideal portion of the branch. This study aimed to evaluate the production of seedlings from minicuttings taken from different parts of the branch.The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design. Three treatments consisted of minicuttings taken from other branch portions (basal, median, and apical), divided into two experiments (Exp1 and Exp2).Exp1 was carried out in a sub-irrigation system in phenolic foam, evaluating rooting percentage, length of the longest root, root number, number of shoots, number of leaves, and total dry mass. Exp2 used the minicuttings from the previous experiment, kept for another 35 days in pots to assess the quality of the seedlings, evaluating plant length, number of shoots, and leaves. For Exp1, 35 days after cutting, there was a higher percentage of survival, size of the longest root, number of the root, number of shoots, number of leaves, and total dry mass, in those minicuttings produced from the basal and median portions, being the exact behavior of Exp2, 35 days after transplantation to pots. The minicutting proved to be an efficient method for producing Aloysia citrodoraseedlings, when removed from the basal or median portion, standing out for a higher percentage of survival, better growth, and initial development and post-transplantation of the produced seedlings.Seedling production using the minicutting technique enables quick and efficient plants formation. However, there are no reports of application for Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) and the ideal portion of the branch. This study aimed to evaluate the production of seedlings from minicuttings taken from different parts of the branch.The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design. Three treatments consisted of minicuttings taken from other branch portions (basal, median, and apical), divided into two experiments (Exp1 and Exp2).Exp1 was carried out in a sub-irrigation system in phenolic foam, evaluating rooting percentage, length of the longest root, root number, number of shoots, number of leaves, and total dry mass. Exp2 used the minicuttings from the previous experiment, kept for another 35 days in pots to assess the quality of the seedlings, evaluating plant length, number of shoots, and leaves. For Exp1, 35 days after cutting, there was a higher percentage of survival, size of the longest root, number of the root, number of shoots, number of leaves, and total dry mass, in those minicuttings produced from the basal and median portions, being the exact behavior of Exp2, 35 days after transplantation to pots. The minicutting proved to be an efficient method for producing Aloysia citrodoraseedlings, when removed from the basal or median portion, standing out for a higher percentage of survival, better growth, and initial development and post-transplantation of the produced seedlings

Cultivation of strawberry in substrate: Productivity and fruit quality are affected by the cultivar origin and substrates

ABSTRACT The production and quality of strawberries may vary according to cultivar, transplant origin, and the system of plant cultivation. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different organic substrates and different transplant origins on strawberry production and fruit quality. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with a 2x2x4 factorial scheme using two cultivars (Albion and Camarosa) obtained from different origins (National-Brazilian and Imported-Argentine) and four combinations of substrates: (crushed sugarcane bagasse [70%] + organic compost [30%], crushed sugarcane bagasse [70%] + Carolina® commercial substrate [30%], burnt rice husks [70%] + organic compost [30%], and burnt rice husks [70%] + Carolina® commercial substrate [30%]). The experimental unit was composed of eight plants, with repetition in four blocks. The quality parameters of titrable total acidity, total soluble solids, ratio of sugar / acidity, firmness, and pulp coloration (chroma, hue angle, and L*, a* and b*) were evaluated, as were the production parameters of total number of fruits, total fruit production, average fruit mass, non-commercial fruit production, commercial fruit production and total productivity. The substrate influences the strawberry production variables. Fruit yield was highest in the Camarosa cultivar grown on the S3 substrate mixture. The cultivar, the transplant origin and the cultivation substrate influence fruit AT. SST and AT / SST are influenced only by cultivar and transplant origin. Chroma differs between plants with different transplant origins. Camarosa of National origin cultivated in burnt rice husks + organic compost presented the best production results and fruit quality

Harmine and imipramine promote antioxidant activities in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

A growing body of evidence has suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play an important role in the physiopathology of depression. Evidence has pointed to the beta-carboline harmine as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of depression. The present study we evaluated the effects of acute and chronic administration of harmine (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) and imipramine (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) or saline in lipid and protein oxidation levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in rat prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Acute and chronic treatments with imipramine and harmine reduced lipid and protein oxidation, compared to control group in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The SOD and CAT activities increased with acute and chronic treatments with imipramine and harmine, compared to control group in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In conclusion, our results indicate positive effects of imipramine antidepressant and beta-carboline harmine of oxidative stress parameters, increasing SOD and CAT activities and decreasing lipid and protein oxidation.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico' (CNPq-Brazil)'Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo fellowship' (FAPESP)FAPESCInstituto Cerebro e MenteUNESCFAPESC/CAPESTHC-Pharm (Frankfurt, Germany)STI-Pharm (UK