RESUMO

Saddleback toads (Brachycephalidae: Brachycephalus) are a remarkable group of highly endemic species from the southern Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. They are brightly colored, diurnal, minute frogs that live in the leaf litter of high-elevation cloud forests. Little is known about the natural history of these frogs, particularly their diet. In the present study we provide the first published account of a Brachycephalus species diet. Specimens of Brachycephalus brunneus Ribeiro, Alves, Haddad & Reis, 2005 (N = 20) were collected from two locations in the Serra do Mar mountain range in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A total of 137 food items were recorded, with Acari being the most common item (62.4%). This prevalence is much higher than the actual availability of Acari in their environments (37.7% of all items in leaf litter samples) and therefore indicate their preference for this food item.

RESUMO

Saddleback toads (Brachycephalidae: Brachycephalus) are a remarkable group of highly endemic species from the southern Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. They are brightly colored, diurnal, minute frogs that live in the leaf litter of high-elevation cloud forests. Little is known about the natural history of these frogs, particularly their diet. In the present study we provide the first published account of a Brachycephalus species diet. Specimens of Brachycephalus brunneus Ribeiro, Alves, Haddad & Reis, 2005 (N = 20) were collected from two locations in the Serra do Mar mountain range in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A total of 137 food items were recorded, with Acari being the most common item (62.4%). This prevalence is much higher than the actual availability of Acari in their environments (37.7% of all items in leaf litter samples) and therefore indicate their preference for this food item.

RESUMO

Saddleback toads (Brachycephalidae: Brachycephalus) are a remarkable group of highly endemic species from the southern Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. They are brightly colored, diurnal, minute frogs that live in the leaf litter of high-elevation cloud forests. Little is known about the natural history of these frogs, particularly their diet. In the present study we provide the first published account of a Brachycephalus species diet. Specimens of Brachycephalus brunneus Ribeiro, Alves, Haddad & Reis, 2005 (N = 20) were collected from two locations in the Serra do Mar mountain range in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A total of 137 food items were recorded, with Acari being the most common item (62.4%). This prevalence is much higher than the actual availability of Acari in their environments (37.7% of all items in leaf litter samples) and therefore indicate their preference for this food item.

RESUMO

To evaluate the effect of plant extracts on the growth and the sporulation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, aqueous extracts from garlic, pippermint, castor bean and pepper were obtained and incorporated into potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) at concentrations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000 mg/g. Micelial growth and the conidium production were evaluated in these media. All extracts exhibited inhibitory effect at the concentration of 200 mg/g and above. Garlic extracts inhibited micelial growth in the range of 5.3 to 67.6%, it had, however no effect on sporulation. Peppermint, castor bean and pepper extracts promoted micelium inhibition and reduced the conidium production in the range of 41 to 84%, according to the extract concentrations. It was demonstrated that the different extracts have antifungal activities and that they have a potential use as an alternative control in relation to physical or chemical methods.

Extratos aquosos foram obtidos a partir de bulbilhos de alho, folhas de hortelã e mamona e frutos de pimenta. Após a incorporação destes extratos em BDA, obtendo-se concentrações de 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 e 10000 ppm, foi avaliado o crescimento e a produção de conídios de um isolado de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, agente de podridão em frutos de mamoeiro. Os resultados demonstraram o efeito inibitório dos diferentes extratos a partir da concentração de 200 ppm. O extrato de alho inibiu o crescimento micelial, em porcentagens variáveis de 5,3 a 67,6%, porém não atuou de modo expressivo sobre a produção de conídios. Em contraposição, os extratos de hortelã, mamona e pimenta promoveram inibição menos acentuada do crescimento de micélio, porém reduziram drasticamente a produção de conídios em níveis variáveis de 41 a 84%, de acordo com as concentrações crescentes dos mesmos. As propriedades fungitóxicas detectadas nos extratos utilizados no ensaio evidenciaram o uso potencial dos mesmos como alternativa aos métodos físicos e químicos convencionalmente usados para o controle da doença.

RESUMO

To evaluate the effect of plant extracts on the growth and the sporulation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, aqueous extracts from garlic, pippermint, castor bean and pepper were obtained and incorporated into potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) at concentrations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000 mg/g. Micelial growth and the conidium production were evaluated in these media. All extracts exhibited inhibitory effect at the concentration of 200 mg/g and above. Garlic extracts inhibited micelial growth in the range of 5.3 to 67.6%, it had, however no effect on sporulation. Peppermint, castor bean and pepper extracts promoted micelium inhibition and reduced the conidium production in the range of 41 to 84%, according to the extract concentrations. It was demonstrated that the different extracts have antifungal activities and that they have a potential use as an alternative control in relation to physical or chemical methods.

Extratos aquosos foram obtidos a partir de bulbilhos de alho, folhas de hortelã e mamona e frutos de pimenta. Após a incorporação destes extratos em BDA, obtendo-se concentrações de 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 e 10000 ppm, foi avaliado o crescimento e a produção de conídios de um isolado de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, agente de podridão em frutos de mamoeiro. Os resultados demonstraram o efeito inibitório dos diferentes extratos a partir da concentração de 200 ppm. O extrato de alho inibiu o crescimento micelial, em porcentagens variáveis de 5,3 a 67,6%, porém não atuou de modo expressivo sobre a produção de conídios. Em contraposição, os extratos de hortelã, mamona e pimenta promoveram inibição menos acentuada do crescimento de micélio, porém reduziram drasticamente a produção de conídios em níveis variáveis de 41 a 84%, de acordo com as concentrações crescentes dos mesmos. As propriedades fungitóxicas detectadas nos extratos utilizados no ensaio evidenciaram o uso potencial dos mesmos como alternativa aos métodos físicos e químicos convencionalmente usados para o controle da doença.