The karyotype of Nothoscordum arenarium Herter (Gilliesioideae, Alliaceae): A populational and cytomolecular analysis

The genus Nothoscordum Kunth comprises approximately 20 species native to South America. Karyologically, the genus is remarkable for its large chromosomes and Robertsonian translocations. Variation in chromosome number has been recorded in a few polyploid species and it is unknown among diploids. This study presents the chromosome number and morphology of 53 individuals of seven populations of N. arenarium Herter (2n = 10). In addition, karyotype analyses after C-banding, staining with CMA and DAPI, and in situ hybridization with 5S and 45S rDNA probes were performed in six individuals from one population. All individuals exhibited 2n = 10 (6M + 4A), except for one tetraploid (2n = 20, 12M + 8A) and one triploid (2n = 15, 9M + 6A) plant. C-banding revealed the presence of CMA+ /DAPI - heterochromatin in the short arm and in the proximal region of the long arm of all acrocentric chromosomes. The 45S rDNA sites co-localized with the CMA + regions of the acrocentrics short arms, while the 5S rDNA probe only hybridized with the subterminal region of a pair of metacentric chromosomes. A change in the pattern of CMA bands and rDNA sites was observed in only one individual bearing a reciprocal translocation involving the long arm of a metacentric and the long arm of an acrocentric chromosome. These data suggest that, despite isolated cases of polyploidy and translocation, the karyotype of N. arenarium is very stable and the karyotypic instability described for other species may be associated with their polyploid condition

Gastroprotective Effects (in Rodents) Of A Flavonoid Rich Fraction Obtained From Syngonanthus Macrolepsis

Objectives Syngonanthus macrolepis, popularly known in Brazil as 'sempre-vivas', is a plant from the family Eriocaulaceae, it is found in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The species contains a variety of constituents, including flavonoids with gastroprotective effect. In this work, a flavonoid-rich fraction (Sm-FRF) obtained from scapes of S. macrolepis was investigated for preventing gastric ulceration in mice and rats. Methods The activity was evaluated in models of induced gastric ulcer (absolute ethanol, stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pylorus ligation). The cytoprotective mechanisms of the Sm-FRF in relation to sulfhydryl (SH) groups, nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated. Key findings The Sm-FRF (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced gastric injury in all models, and did not alter gastric juice parameters after pylorus ligation. 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Holocene paleo-redox conditions in a microbial dolomitic lake using benthic foraminifera as bioindicators

Brejo do Espinho coastal lake (LBE) is one of the few places in the world where dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] is precipitating in the modern environment under microbially induced processes and low oxygen conditions. We use pore morphometry of the foraminifera Ammonia cf. A. veneta to evaluate paleo-O2 dynamics during the dolomitic depositional phase that took place at LBE in the late Holocene. Foraminiferal community structure was also investigated, and results were compared to bulk isotopic composition of carbonates, total organic carbon (TOC), and X-ray Diffraction of sediments (XRD). The correlation matrix (Spearman method) showed that Ammonia test pores morphometric parameters displayed significant correlations with overall biotic and geochemical data, with pore area presenting a relatively higher association. Ammonia test pores were primarily controlled by the degradation of organic matter (Pore area-TOC, r = −0.84), and foraminifera density appeared to be influenced by oxygen changes, with a higher abundance in the highest porosity intervals (Pore area-N, r = 0.82), indicating a direct effect of oxygen penetration on species dominance. These data also reveal a tolerant behavior of the low-O2 bioindicator species Quinqueloculina laevigata and A. veneta. Understanding microbe-mineral interactions is critical for interpreting paleo records, and our data provide strong support for coupling assemblage and pores analysis as paleo-O2 bioindicators for paleo-redox coastal settings.</p