RESUMO
Juglans regia L. are nutritious fruit bearing plants mostly found in Northern areas of Pakistan. The population of walnuts was explored from district Dir and Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan for their geographical, climatic and chemical divergence. The geographical differences such as altitude, latitude and longitude whereas climatic differences viz. soil EC, soil pH, precipitations, intensity of light, temperature and soil temperature. In both districts TPC ranged from 211.2±0.6 to 227.8±0.4 mg/100g, RSA ranged from 43.32±1.5% to 52.18±0.4%, conductivity ranged from 296.43±0.6 to 312.22±0.3 S/m and elemental composition such as iron, copper, calcium, zinc and magnesium in Dir differs from 0.312±0.032, 0.209±0.13, 20.0±0.313, 0.406±0.10 and 10.2±0.030 mg/L to 0.543±0.65, 0.698±0.82, 28.7±0.234, 0.685±0.15 and 17.6±0.015 mg/L respectively. Altitude and temperature showed a correlation with total phenolics contents and radical scavenging activity while soil pH, precipitations, soil temperature, soil Ec and light intensity indicated a weak correlation with chemical traits of walnuts. Further studies of walnuts are needed to explore their therapeutically important phytochemicals to succeed naturally pharmaceutical nutrients of the maximum significance for the health of human beings.
Juglans regia L. são plantas frutíferas nutritivas encontradas nas áreas do norte do Paquistão. A população de nozes foi explorada do distrito de Dir e Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão por sua divergência geográfica, climática e química. As diferenças geográficas, como altitude, latitude e longitude, enquanto as diferenças climáticas viz. Ec do solo, pH do solo, precipitações, intensidade de luz, temperatura e temperatura do solo. Em ambos os distritos, o TPC variou de 211,2±0,6 a 227,8±0,4 mg/100g, o RSA variou de 43,32±1,5% a 52,18±0,4%, a condutividade variou de 296,43±0,6 a 312,22±0,3 S/m e composição elementar como ferro, cobre, cálcio, zinco e magnésio em Dir difere de 0,312±0,032, 0,209±0,13, 20,0±0,313, 0,406±0,10 e 10,2±0,030 mg/L a 0,543±0,65, 0,698±0,82, 28,7±0,234, 0,685±0,15 e 17,6±0,015 mg/L respectivamente. A altitude e a temperatura mostraram correlação com os teores de fenólicos totais e atividade de eliminação de radicais, enquanto o pH do solo, precipitações, temperatura do solo, Ec do solo e intensidade de luz indicaram uma correlação fraca com características químicas das nozes. Mais estudos de nozes são necessários para explorar seus fitoquímicos terapeuticamente importantes para obter naturalmente nutrientes farmacêuticos de máxima importância para a saúde dos seres humanos.
Assuntos
Nutrientes , Juglans/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fitoterapia , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , PaquistãoRESUMO
The scarcity of information on the maturation physiology of the peanut seed (Arachis hypogaea L.; Virgínia group) makes harvesting high quality seeds a challenge for the seed industry. During two consecutive crop seasons, we studied the acquisition of physiological quality of peanut seeds during maturation in tropical conditions. We bring new insights about the period of late maturation of seeds and the influence of the maternal environment on physiological quality. We monitored water content, dry weight, ability of germination, desiccation tolerance, vigor and longevity. In addition, we monitored temperature and precipitation throughout plant growth. We demonstrate that the physiological quality of peanut seeds is acquired during development, with a maximum between 57 and 76 days after flowering in the late stage of maturation. This final period represents about 25% of the development, considered the best time to harvest peanut seeds with the highest quality. Our findings also support the idea that the adequate proportion of rainfall and thermal sum in the maternal environment are factors that favor the acquisition of peanut seed longevity.
Assuntos
Arachis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Produção Agrícola/métodos , Nozes/normas , Aclimatação , Arachis/fisiologia , Meio Ambiente , Germinação , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Nozes/fisiologia , Pressão OsmóticaRESUMO
The Bolivian Amazon holds a complex configuration of people and forested landscapes in which communities hold secure tenure rights over a rich ecosystem offering a range of livelihood income opportunities. A large share of this income is derived from Amazon nut (Bertholletia excelsa). Many communities also have long-standing experience with community timber management plans. However, livelihood needs and desires for better living conditions may continue to place these resources under considerable stress as income needs and opportunities intensify and diversify. We aim to identify the socioeconomic and biophysical factors determining the income from forests, husbandry, off-farm and two keystone forest products (i.e., Amazon nut and timber) in the Bolivian Amazon region. We used structural equation modelling tools to account for the complex inter-relationships between socioeconomic and biophysical factors in predicting each source of income. The potential exists to increase incomes from existing livelihood activities in ways that reduce dependency upon forest resources. For example, changes in off-farm income sources can act to increase or decrease forest incomes. Market accessibility, social, financial, and natural and physical assets determined the amount of income community households could derive from Amazon nut and timber. Factors related to community households' local ecological knowledge, such as the number of non-timber forest products harvested and the number of management practices applied to enhance Amazon nut production, defined the amount of income these households could derive from Amazon nut and timber, respectively. The (inter) relationships found among socioeconomic and biophysical factors over income shed light on ways to improve forest-dependent livelihoods in the Bolivian Amazon. We believe that our analysis could be applicable to other contexts throughout the tropics as well.
Assuntos
Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Florestas , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Árvores/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Bolívia , Ecossistema , Características da Família , Humanos , Renda , Nozes/economia , Características de Residência , Rios , Condições Sociais/economia , Clima TropicalRESUMO
Abstract In this study, I tested the effect of Syagrus loefgrenii nut number on the removal intensity by rodents across seasons. Also, I assessed both S. loefgrenii fruit production, and dispersion pattern to analyze the relationship between these parameters and nut removal. Trials were performed (autumn, winter, spring, and summer), in which endocarps were placed inside trays (5, 15, and 40 endocarps) in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna). Syagrus loefgrenii exhibited clumped distribution, although its local density had no correlation with endocarp removal rate. Despite of variations, S. loefgrenii fruit production had no seasonal difference, although, high proportions of endocarps were year round removed. This mostly results from nearly complete endocarp loss in depots of 5 and 15, while the opposite occurred in those of 40. Hence, the intensity of removal consistently decreases with endocarp number, so that endocarp removal conformed to negative distance-dependence. As this palm exhibit clumped distribution and, in principle, fruit asynchronously, if, at least, a group of neighboring stems bore fruits simultaneously, an enhanced number of nuts might be available at a given site. Therefore, seeds within a dense S. loefgrenii fruit patch might experience high survival rates due to satiation of post dispersal seed predators.
Resumo Neste estudo, testei o efeito da densidade de endocarpos de Syagrus loefgrenii sobre a intensidade de remoção por roedores conforme a estação do ano. Também, avaliei tanto a produção de frutos, quanto o padrão de dispersão dessa palmeira em relação à intensidade de remoção de endocarpos. Executei experimentos no Cerrado (outono, inverno, primavera e verão), nos quais acondicionei 5, 15 e 40 endocarpos em pratos plásticos perfurados (pilhas experimentais). Syagrus loefgrenii exibiu distribuição agrupada. Apesar disso, a densidade local dessa palmeira em nenhuma estação esteve correlacionada com a taxa de remoção de endocarpos. Não ocorreram diferenças temporais significativas quanto aos níveis de frutificação, e, simultaneamente, documentei intensa remoção de endocarpos. Isso ocorreu, sobretudo, nas pilhas com 5 e 15 endocarpos, as quais, na maioria dos casos, perderam quase todos endocarpos. No entanto, as pilhas com 40 perderam poucos diásporos. Nesse sentido a intensidade de remoção decresceu consistentemente conforme o número de endocarpos, tal que esse processo mostrou ser negativamente dependente da distância. Syagrus loefgrenii exibiu padrão agrupado de distribuição, além de produzir frutos assincronicamente. Nesse sentido, caso um grupo de palmeiras vizinhas frutifique simultaneamente, uma grande quantidade de diásporos estará disponível em um dado local. Portanto, sementes em meio a uma densa carga de frutos podem ser favorecidas, uma vez que predadores pós-dispersão seriam saciados.
Assuntos
Animais , Roedores , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Arecaceae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estações do Ano , Brasil , Dispersão de SementesRESUMO
In this study, I tested the effect of Syagrus loefgrenii nut number on the removal intensity by rodents across seasons. Also, I assessed both S. loefgrenii fruit production, and dispersion pattern to analyze the relationship between these parameters and nut removal. Trials were performed (autumn, winter, spring, and summer), in which endocarps were placed inside trays (5, 15, and 40 endocarps) in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna). Syagrus loefgrenii exhibited clumped distribution, although its local density had no correlation with endocarp removal rate. Despite of variations, S. loefgrenii fruit production had no seasonal difference, although, high proportions of endocarps were year round removed. This mostly results from nearly complete endocarp loss in depots of 5 and 15, while the opposite occurred in those of 40. Hence, the intensity of removal consistently decreases with endocarp number, so that endocarp removal conformed to negative distance-dependence. As this palm exhibit clumped distribution and, in principle, fruit asynchronously, if, at least, a group of neighboring stems bore fruits simultaneously, an enhanced number of nuts might be available at a given site. Therefore, seeds within a dense S. loefgrenii fruit patch might experience high survival rates due to satiation of post dispersal seed predators.
Assuntos
Arecaceae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Roedores/fisiologia , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Brasil , Estações do Ano , Dispersão de SementesRESUMO
Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Euseius alatus De Leon (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are predatory mites that are mostly found on leaves and on the exposed fruit surface of coconut plants. Their morphology hampers the access to the microhabitat occupied by Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), the most important pest of coconut fruits throughout the world. However, it was suggested that they can prey on A. guerreronis under natural conditions when this pest leaves its refuge to disperse. Since the trophic interactions between A. largoensis or E. alatus and A. guerreronis are unknown, we compare the frequencies of occurrence of A. largoensis and E. alatus under the bracts of coconut fruits and on coconut leaflets. In addition, because phytoseiids feed by liquid ingestion, we used molecular analysis to confirm the potential role of A. largoensis or E. alatus as predators of A. guerreronis and to assess how fast the A. guerreronis DNA fragment is degradated in the A. largoensis digestive tract. Our study demonstrated that E. alatus was only present on coconut leaflets whereas A. largoensis was found mostly on leaflets and, to a much lesser extent, under the bracts of coconuts. Species-specific ITS primers designed for A. guerreronis were shown to have a high degree of specificity for A. guerreronis DNA and did not produce any PCR product from DNA templates of the other insects and mites associated with the coconut agroecosystem. Based on molecular analysis, we confirmed that the predatory mites, A. largoensis and E. alatus, had preyed on the coconut mite in the field. Overall the predatory mites collected in the field exhibited low levels of predation (26.7% of A. largoensis and 8.9% of E. alatus tested positive for A. guerreronis DNA). The fragment of A. guerreronis DNA remained intact for a very short time (no more than 6 h after feeding) in the digestive tract of A. largoensis.
Assuntos
Ácaros/fisiologia , Controle Biológico de Vetores , Comportamento Predatório , Animais , Agentes de Controle Biológico , Brasil , Cocos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Reação em Cadeia da PolimeraseRESUMO
Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a major pathogen of many different crop cultures, including cashew nut plants. This paper describes an efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system for the successful delivery of T-DNA, transferring the genes of green fluorescent protein (gfp) and hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) to L. theobromae. When the fungal pycnidiospores were co-cultured with A. tumefaciens harboring the binary vector with hph-gfp gene, hygromycin-resistant fungus only developed with acetosyringone supplementation. The cashew plants inoculated with the fungus expressing GFP revealed characteristic pathogen colonization by epifluorescence microscopy. Intense and bright green hyphae were observed for transformants in all extensions of mycelium cultures. The penetration of parenchyma cells near to the inoculation site, beneath the epicuticle surface, was observed prior to 25 dpi. Penetration was followed by the development of hyphae within invaded host cells. These findings provide a rapid and reproducible ATMT method for L. theobromae transformation.
Assuntos
Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genética , Anacardium/genética , Ascomicetos/genética , Nozes/genética , Anacardium/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Anacardium/microbiologia , Ascomicetos/patogenicidade , Técnicas de Transferência de Genes , Vetores Genéticos , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde , Hifas/genética , Hifas/patogenicidade , Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Doenças das Plantas/genética , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genética , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Transformação GenéticaRESUMO
The spatial context in which seed predation occurs may modify the spatial structure of recruitment generated by seed dispersal. The Janzen-Connell (J-C) model predicts that granivores will exert greater pressure on the parent plant or at those sites where the density of dispersed seeds is higher. We have investigated how the probability of post-dispersal survival of Juglans australis varies with nut density across a hierarchy of spatial scales. We experimentally evaluated the survival of 3,120 nuts at three spatial scales: meso-scale (Assuntos
Ecossistema
, Comportamento Alimentar/fisiologia
, Geografia
, Nozes/crescimento & desenvolvimento
, Comportamento Predatório/fisiologia
, Roedores/fisiologia
, Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento
, Animais
, Argentina
, Juglans/crescimento & desenvolvimento
, Juglans/fisiologia
, Densidade Demográfica
, Árvores/crescimento & desenvolvimento
, Árvores/fisiologia
, Clima Tropical
RESUMO
The expression of Brazil nut storage albumin genes is highly regulated during seed development. Several sequences in the promoter of one of these genes show homologies with the target sites of the maize O2 bZIP regulatory protein. We therefore asked whether the O2 protein would recognize these promoter sequences. We show that the O2 protein binds to three different sequences (F1, F2 and F3). F1 and F3 are hybrid C/G and A/G boxes, respectively, that are homologous to the O2-binding site of a maize alpha-zein gene. F2 is a new O2-binding sequence related to the O2 target sites of the Coix alpha-coxin, the maize b-32 genes and the AP-1 pseudopalindrome. Molecular modelling showed that an Asn and a Ser in the 02 DNA binding domain make different base-specific contacts with each operator. 5' Promoter deletions of the be2S1 gene showed that the domain containing the O2 target sites F1 and F2 is required for detectable reporter gene expression in transgenic tobacco seeds. Moreover, the homologous coix O2 protein was shown to in situ transactivate the promoter region encompassing the three O2-binding sites F1, F2 and F3. Thus, these sites may be in vivo regulatory sequences mediating activation by bZIP regulatory proteins.