Comunicata Scientiae

Glycoalkaloids as medicinal agents from callus and regenerated plants of Solanum nigrum var. judaicum

2019-11-01T17:17:25+00:00

The target of this study is production of glycoalkaloids from cultures of Solanum nigrum var. judaicum Besser. Further, to evaluate their therapeutic effects. S. nigrum var. judaicum leaves were implanted in MS media containing growth regulators for in vitro study. HPLC analyses were applied for qualitative and quantitative determination of glycoalkaloids. Cytotoxic effects against human carcinoma cell lines were evaluated. In addition, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic activities of the formed glycoalkaloids were estimated. HPLC data indicated the success of in vitro solasodine and solanidine glycosides production. Solasonine represented the highest concentration. Biological assays illustrated that obtained glycoalkaloids exhibited cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cell lines that may be attributed to free radical scavenging activity (69.98%). Strong antiherps performance was observed (94%). In addition, the glycoalkaloids showed in vitro schistomicidal (IC₅₀ 76.4 ppm) and fasciolicidal (IC₅₀ 76.6 ppm) activities. In vivo anti-inflammatory assay revealed potent activity against carrageenan induced edema. Glycoalkaloids were formed 2-5 folds that of intact plant pointed to the efficiency of the cultures. The present findings referred to the pronounced biological performance of the produced glycoalkaloids including antiviral, cytotoxic anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic activities. Botanical derived medication from S. nigrum var. judaicum could be accomplished guided with the present data.

Antifungal efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles against phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of zearalenone production by Fusarium graminearum

2019-11-02T15:48:07+00:00

Chitosan (COS) is a natural safe biopolymer that received great attention in agriculture, food, biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental industries because their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic natures. The aims of the current study were to synthesize and characterize chitosan nanoparticles (COS-NPs), to evaluate their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi and inhibition of zearalenone (ZEN) production by Fusarium graminearum. The results revealed that the deacetylation degree of COS was 86.9 0.44 %, the average of molar mass was 171.41 ± 0.29 g/mol, molecular weight was 244 ± 7 kDa and the concentration of free amino groups was 0.05 ± 0.019 mol L-1. COS-NPs showed the nanorod form with rough nature and particle size was around 180 nm. COS-NPs showed an excellent antifungal activity against Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Baeuvaria bassiana, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii in dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 800 ppm, it inhibits ZEN production by Fusarium graminearum. It could be concluded that COS-NPs are promise candidate as safe antifungal capable for the prevention of ZEN production.

Biology of Diadiplosis multifila (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Planococcus citri under constant temperatures

2019-11-01T17:17:28+00:00

Diadiplosis multifila was recently discovered feeding on Planococcus citri eggs in vineyards in the semi-arid northeast region of Brazil. The objective of the present paper was to study the biology of D. multifila in P. citri under constant temperatures of 22, 25, 28, and 31 °C. We evaluated its embryonic stage, egg viability, development period, survival of larva and pupa, longevity, average number of eggs, and sex ratio. D. multifila completed its life cycle in all temperatures except for 31 °C. The length of the embryonic period ranged from 4 to 7 days. The larval stage was longer at a temperature of 22 °C (8.6 days) and shorter at 28 °C (6.4). The pupal stage exhibited durations of 12.9, 10.4, and 8.2 days for temperatures of 22, 25, and 28 °C, respectively. The average viability in the larval stage was 97% and 83% in the pupal stage. The total life cycle took 16.7 (28 °C), 20 (25 °C), and 27 (22 °C) days to complete. The adults lived for approximately 2 days and the females produced on average 34, 25, and 19 eggs at temperatures of 22, 25, and 28 °C, respectively. The sex ratio varied from 0.46 to 0.54.

Management of tillering in the production of flower stems of heliconia cultivated in pots

2019-11-01T17:17:29+00:00

Potted cultivation of tropical flowers presents good projections for the northeastern region of Brazil; however, it still faces some peculiarities regarding conduction and management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillering on the production of Heliconia psittacorum L.f. cv. Red Opal, grown in flowerpot. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment at the Campus of Agricultural Sciences (CCA) of UNIVASF, Petrolina - PE, Brazil, between 2014 and 2016. A completely randomized design was used, with four tiller densities per pot (4, 8, 12 and 16 tillers) and eight replications, totaling 32 plots. The irrigation system was automated and monitored by weighing lysimetry. Were evaluated: efficiency of water use (EUA); harvested flower stems (HC); ratio of harvested stems and number of tillers (HC / NP); number of leaves (NF); duration of vegetative (DFV) and productive phases (DFP); total cycle (CT); floral stem length (CHF); floral stem diameter (DH), bracts length (CB) and equivalent diameter of the collar (DECH). The results were subjected to regression test. The EUA was higher in the density of 16 tillers pot-1; the HC variable presented an increasing linear trend; a decreasing linear trend was detected for HC/NP, NF, DFP, DH, CB and DECH. The number of tillers in the pot does not limit the emission of floral stems. However, the quality of these is inversely proportional to the tiller density.

Genetic diversity in ornamental pepper plants

2019-11-01T17:17:30+00:00

The genus Capsicum comprises a wide variety of peppers and peppers, with different sizes, colors and flavors. The present work had the objective to characterize and evaluate the genetic divergence among eight accessions of pepper (Capsicum annuum). The experiment was developed at the Federal University of Paraíba, Areia - PB. Eight accessions of pepper belonging to the germplasm bank of the CCA-UFPB were used. The experimental design was completely randomized. Data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test at a level of 5% and 1% significance and the means were grouped by the Scott Knott test at 5% and 1% significance. For the analysis of genetic divergence, the Tocher grouping method and canonical variables were used. The treatment effects were significant, by the F test, at a level of 1% for all the characteristics evaluated, except for crown width and stem diameter, which were significant at 5% probability. According to the results obtained in the Scott & Knott test at 5% and 1% probability, the accessions were differentiated into two to six different classes. According to Tocher’s methodology the accessions were grouped into two groups. In the analysis of the canonical variables, the first three variables explained 94.18% of the total variance, and four different groups were formed according to the graphical dispersion.

Phenology and production of guava tree cv. “Paluma” pruned at different seasons in Mossoro – RN, Brazil.

2019-11-01T17:17:31+00:00

The pruning allows fruit harvest in different periods, according to the grower decision, being economically viable. The harvest can be scheduled according to the agronomical traits and due to the market price. The experiment was conducted in the didactic orchard of the Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA), from April 2013 to December 2014, in the municipality of Mossoro-RN. It was carried out in a randomized block design, with treatments arranged in a split-plot, which were composed by pruning periods, conducted in April (2013), November (2013) and July (2014). The subplots consisted of pruning intensities (short, medium and long); with four repetitions, where the experimental unit consisted of two plants that was pruned with 8 marked branches. From pruning to harvest, the the following botanical characteristics were evaluated in the marked branches: number of emitted sprouts by branches pruned at the day 15th (NBE); number of established branches by branches pruned at the day 50th (NRE); number of productive branches (NRP); vegetative number (VRN) and the total number of fruits (NFT). The evaluated characteristics presented a significant effect. The long pruning resulted in a higher number of fruits for all evaluated seasons. The best months for pruning was November and July. The guava tree ‘Paluma’ cycle, from pruning to harvest can vary according to the period of pruning, with 132 days in July and 150 days in April.

Partition and macronutrients accumulation in pineapple under nitrogen doses and plant density

2019-11-01T17:17:33+00:00

Studies related to the absorption and exportation capacity of macronutrients by irrigated pineapple are essential for the definition of adequate doses and fertilization management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of biomass and macronutrients in the compartments (leaves, shoot, root, seedlings/slip, crown/top, and fruit) of ‘Vitória’ pineapple irrigated in the semiarid region after the use of nitrogen doses and population densities. The treatments, arranged in randomized blocks with three replicates, arranged in a 5x4 factorial scheme, consisted of five nitrogen doses (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g per plant) and four population densities (51,282, 76,923, 90,909, and 126,984 plants ha-1). The accumulation of biomass and macronutrients in the pineapple compartments was evaluated at the end of the growing cycle. The increase of N doses combined with the increase of the plant population promoted a linear increase in the accumulation of biomass and macronutrients by the pineapple plants. The leaves presented greater accumulation of macronutrients, followed by the seedlings, shoot, fruit, crown, and roots. The pineapple presented the following decreasing order of macronutrient absorption: K> N> Ca> P> Mg>S. At the dose of 20 g per plant of N and population of 126,984 plants ha-1 were exported from the area by fruits, 1,311 (12%), 150 (9%), 144 (11%), 52 (11%), 46 (12%) and 36 (12%) kg ha-1 of K, N, Ca, P, Mg, and S, respectively; and by the shoots, 2,426 (22%), 480 (29%), 147 (11%), 101 (21%), 67 (18%), and 45 (15%) kg ha-1 of K, N, Ca, P, Mg, and S, respectively.

Production of fig seedlings in alternative substrates in the Upper-Middle Gurgueia region

2019-11-01T17:17:34+00:00

Given the importance of determining which substrate source attends to the need of each fruit species and at the same reducing production costs, this work aimed to evaluate the quality of fig seedlings, cultivar ‘Roxo de Valinhos’, in alternative substrates in the Upper-Middle Gurgueia region, Piauí state. The treatments consisted of Sand (SND), Decomposed Moriche Palm Stem (DMT); Goat+Sheep Manure (GSM), Ravine Soil (TBA), and Commercial Substrate (COM). A Randomized Block Design (RBD) was adopted, with 4 replications and 5 experimental units. The analyzed variables were: Sprouting rate index (SRI), branch length (BRL), branch diameter (BRD), number of leaves in the branch (NLB), chlorophyll A (CLA), chlorophyll B (CLB), shoot fresh matter (SFM), root fresh matter (RFM), shoot dry matter, (SDM) root dry matter (RDM), rooted cuttings (ENR), root length (RL) and volume of the root system (VRS). A significant effect of the substrates was verified for all variables, except chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, number of branches, and branch diameter. Due to the chemical characteristics of the goat+sheep manure, it provided the necessary conditions for the growth and development of the shoot part and root system, revealing to be superior to the remaining substrates. Therefore, it may be concluded that the goat+sheep manure provides all the essential nutrients for the quality production of fig seedlings, cultivar ‘Roxo de Valinhos’, allowing the rooting of 100% of the cuttings.

Does the irrigated mango cultivation in the semiarid change the Physical and chemical attributes of the soil?

2019-11-01T17:17:36+00:00

The replacement of native vegetation by crops may result in changes in the chemical and physical attributes of the soil, preventing the sustainability of the agricultural production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate, in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015), the effect of irrigated mango cultivation in some physical and chemical attributes of the soil in relation to Caatinga in Petrolina-PE, Brazil. In areas under irrigated mango (under the canopy region and the row spacing) and Caatinga (taken as reference), soil samples were collected at the 0-10 and 10-20 cm depths. The chemical and physical analyzes were performed, and were calculated bases sum (BS), cations exchangeable capacity (CEC) and base saturation (V, %). The irrigate mango cultivation (canopy region) increased the macronutrients content (P, K, Ca and Mg), BS and V (%) for both evaluated years at the 0-10 and 10-20 cm depths. In soil under irrigated mango cultivation (under the canopy region and in the row spacing), the macronutrient contents presented a stochastic pattern in the years of 2014 and 2015. The change of land use, from Caatinga to irrigated mango cultivation, does not induce a negative impact in the soil chemical attributes under the adopted management conditions.