Alice Battistin

Atividade antibacteriana de extrato hidro-alcoólico de folhas de jambolão (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skells)

The antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants has been searched in diverse species, as much in Brazil as in other countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the existence of hydro-alcoholic extract jambolan leaves 10% (w/v) antibacterial effect. Seventeen Gram positive and Gram negative isolated bacterial were used. The antibacterial action was evaluated through the inoculation of Mueller Hinton agar plates, with a bacterial inoculate of 3x10 8 cell/ mL, with four paper discs, being the first of commercial antimicrobial and the others embedded with 25µL of the extract, saline or ethanol. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, and their reading of inhibition hales diameter was done. The extract inhibited the growth of 100% of the tested bacteria; the Gram positive isolates had presented an average hale of 19.5mm, while of the Gram negative was of 18.8mm. There was not significant inhibition of growth in treatments with saline and ethanol. As verified in this study, the tested extract presents antibacterial activity against all the isolates, without sensitivity difference among Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms.

Chromosomal characterization of three native and one cultivated species of Lathyrus L. in southern Brazil

Mitotic metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei of nine populations of three South American species of Lathyrus (L. pubescens, L. nervosus and L. crassipes) and six populations of the cultivated species L. odoratus were analyzed. All populations had 2n = 2x = 14 chromosomes. There were significant differences among populations within each species and among species in the number of metacentric, submetacentric and subtelocentric chromosomes, the number and location of secondary constrictions, chromosome length (longest and shortest), total haploid complement, arm ratio, and centromeric index. L. odoratus showed the highest tendency towards karyotype symmetry whereas the three South American species showed a moderate tendency towards asymmetry, with L. pubescens being the most asymmetrical. Silver staining was used to identify the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) and the number of nucleoli per interphase nucleus in each species. In L. pubescens and L. nervosus, the NORs were located on the secondary constriction of the long arm of pair 7, in L. crassipes, the NOR was proximal being located in the pair of metacentric chromosomes, and in L. odoratus there were four terminal NORs on the short arms of pairs 4 and 5. The four species had a maximum of four nucleoli per interphase nucleus, indicating the presence of four regions with active ribosomal genes in each case.

Meiotic behavior of Adesmia DC. (Leguminosae-Faboideae) species native to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Meiotic behavior in Adesmia DC. is described for the first time. The study encompassed twelve populations of seven Adesmia DC. species native to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Populations with 2n = 2x = 20 are A. securigerifolia 9615, A. riograndensis 9590 (subnudae), A. latifolia 1568, 1775, 15025, A. bicolor JB-UFSM, A. incana var. incana 9636, 10288, A. punctata var. hilariana 6885, 10812, and A. tristis 10757. A. incana var. incana 9637 is a tetraploid with 2n = 4x = 40. The material was stained with 1% acetic orcein. The meiotic behavior of the populations studied was considered normal. The meiotic index (MI) and the estimates of pollen grain viability were above 95%, except for A. latifolia 1568 (MI = 89%). The present data indicate that these plants are meiotically stable and potentially fertile, apparently with no problems for use in programs of selection, crossing and viable seed production.

Citogenética em cinco espécies ornamentais de liliales

Mitotic metaphases and interphase nuclei were analyzed in five ornamental species of Liliales order. Lilium longiflorum (2n = 2x = 24), Hemerocallis flava (2n = 2x = 22) and Hemerocallis fulva var. Kwanso (2n = 3x = 33) are Liliaceae. Crinum crispum (2n = 2x = 22) and Hipeastrum parodii (2n=4x=44) are Amaryllidaceae. The differences observed among the species were: metacentric, submetacentric, subtelocentric and telocentric chromose numbers; number and position of secondary constrictions; chromosome size; total length of chromosomes; maximum number of nucleolus by interphasic nucleus and percentage of fusioned nucleolus.

Análise do cariótipo de Apuleia leiocarpa (Vog.) Macbr.

Cytogenetic studies of Apuleia leiocarpa were carried out in order to determine and arrange the species karyotype. Seeds were collected in Cerrito, Santa Maria - RS. The research was developed at the Laboratory of Vegetal Cytogenetics and Biotechnology of the Biology Department at the Federal University of Santa Maria - RS, during 1996 and 1997. A variation in the number of chromosomes from 20 to 28 was found in metaphases of mitosis. Such variation suggests that Apuleia leiocarpa is a leguminous with polysomy capacity. The chromosomal number of the species is 2n = 2x = 26, distributed in the karyotypic formula 20m + 4 sm + 2 t.

Diâmetro dos grãos de pólen e tamanho dos estômatos em acessos diplóides e tetraplóides de Hemarthria altissima (Poiret) Stapf & Hubbard (Gramineae)

Seven accessions of african diploid and tetraploid and brazilian tetraploid plants of Hemarthria altissima were studied to distinguish, in each ploidy level, the characters of pollen grain diameter and stomatal size. Measurements were performed with ocular micrometer microscope. Results demonstrated that pollen grain diameter can be used to characterize different ploidy levels, but the stomatal size is not a reliable criterion in this species.

Citogenética de seis genótipos naturais e introduzidos de Hemarthria altissima (Poiret) Stapf & Hubbard (Gramineae)

Quatro genotipos africanos e dois genotipos brasileiros da graminea forrageira Hemarthria altissima foram estudados quanto ao numero de cromossomos e comportamento meiotico. Foi constatado que o numero basico de cromossomos nos genotipos estudados e x=9. Dois genotipos africanos: PI 364878 e UF 553 sao diploides com 2n=2x=18; dois genotipos africanos: PI 347238, GL 460-76 e dois genotipos brasileiros sao tetraploides com 2n=:4x=36 cromossomos. A distribuicao dos cromossomos na meiose foi normal em todos os genotipos estudados.

Estudos citogenéticos em cinco espécies de Adesmia DC. (Leguminosae-Faboideae) nativas no Rio Grande do Sul

Populations of Adesmia DC. species bicolores and psoraleoides series, nativo from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were studied to determine the chromosome numbers (in 11 populations of 5 species) and Karyotypes (in 5 of these population in 4 species). All species studied regarding to the chromosome numbers were diploid (2n=2x=20) and in A. incana var. incana besides two diploid races there was one tetraploid race (2n=4x=40). A. incana should not be considered as a tetraploid species, as has been considered in the literature. A. bicolor 9614 seemed to be more ancient among the analized populations due to the high Karyotype symmetry. A. tristis seemed be more recent among the analysed populations due to the karyotype was highly asymmetry.

Análise bromatológica comparativa entre acessos diplóides, tetraplóides africanos e tetraplóides brasileiros de Hemarthria altissima (Poiret) Stapf & Hubbard

This study evaluated the quality among african dipoloid, tetraploid and brazilian tetraploid accessions Hemarthria altissima, the Experiment was conducted in greenhouse at the Federal University of Santa Maria. Results suggested that in vitro organic matter digestibility was satisfactory for tetraploid brazilian and african accessions, crude protein volues obtained for brazilian accessions were significantly higher than the african accessions. The tetraploids from Rio Grande do Sul region presented higher crude protein level.

BIOLOGIA DA REPRODUÇÃO EM QUATRO ESPÉCIES DE Centrosema (DC.) BENTH

SUMMARY In order to obtain basic information about floral biology of the species: C. brasilianum (L) Benth., C. virginianum (L.) Benth., C. shottii (Mill.) K. Sch. and C. pascuorum (Mart.) Benth., three biological parameters were studied comparatively: number of ovules per ovary, number of seeds per pod that reached maturity and, viable pollen grains. Datas were collected at ESALQ/USP -Experimental camp of Genetics Instituto, Piracicaba -SP and at the Botanic Garden of the Biology Department of UFSM (Federal University of Santa Maria), Santa Maria, RS. The differences which occured in the analyzed parameters showed, in a way, the behavior individuality of each species, resulting from specific sensitiveness and variability. All of studied species, had a production of fertile ovules over 78% and viable pollen over 95%, which reflected a high percentage of viable seeds (except C. shottii and C. pascuorum, Santa Maria-RS), assuring, this way. the species perpectuation.