Diolina Moura Silva

Atividade da pectinametilesterase e sua relação com a perda de firmeza da polpa de mamão cv. Sunrise Solo e Tainung

The objective of this work was to evaluate the pectinmethylesterase (PME) activity in papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruits cv. Sunrise Solo and Tainung, and to correlate its changes with the pulp firmness loss during fruit ripening. Fruits were collected daily from a commercial farm localized in Aracruz - ES, and stored under room temperature (approximately 25 °C) until the period of analysis. The pulp firmness loss of the fruits in both cultivars began at the 4th day after harvest (DAH); however, the cv. Sunrise Solo presented highest reduction than the cv. Tainung. The PME activity of cv. Sunrise Solo was higher at the 1st DAH, and decreased slowly at the 4th DAH, reaching its smallest value. At the 5th DAH the activity increased, remaining practically the same at the 8th DAH. In the cv. Tainung, the PME activity increased until the 3rd DAH and decreased at the 4th DAH. In the 5th DAH, its activity increased again reaching its higher value at the 6th DAH. From this on, the enzyme activity decreased significantly, maintaining the same value until the last day of analysis (8th DAH). The correlation coefficient obtained between the PME activity and the pulp firmness in the cv. Sunrise Solo after the 4th DAH was R = - 0,84, indicating that during this period, the pulp firmness of the fruits decreased when the PME activity increased. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between these two characteristics in the cv. Tainung.

Morphological and physiological adjustments of Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata Lam.) to direct solar radiation

This study aimed to characterize the alarm and resistance phases of stress of Caesalpinia echinata under intense irradiance in order to better define its position on forest succession. The alarm phase was identified by rapid reduction in the maximum quantum yield of PSII primary photochemical reactions (ΦP0 = FV/FM) and Performance Index (PIABS) followed by total leaf abscission in the first week of exposure to direct sunlight. The new leaves grown showed recovery of chlorophyll a parameters, increase in blade thickness, elongation of the palisade and spongy parenchymas, higher water content, and reduction of specific leaf area. These changes were associated with the osmoprotector of sucrose and antioxidative of raffinose effects, which indicate an efficient adjustment system to intense irradiance in the resistance phase of stress. However, the continuous decrease in photosynthetic pigments in the resistance phase combined with the photodamage in the fluorescence of Chl a and total abscission of leaves in the alarm phase are strong indications that C. echinata is a shade and late or climax species in forest succession.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence study revealing effects of flooding in canola hybrids

By generating stress conditions soil flooding can induce alterations in the cell metabolism and thus is detrimental to plant growth. This study was done under the greenhouse conditions to determine the effect of soil flooding on the chlorophyll fluorescence of some hybrids of canola (Brassica napus L.). Fifty five days old plants were subjected to flooding for six days. There was no difference in the parameters modulate chlorophyll fluorescence, in contrast, some the parameters related to the energy flux in photosystem II varied due to flooding stress. At the end of the six days, the performance indexes (PItotal and PIABS) decreased, in all hybrids except in ‘Hyola 420’. The difference kinetics of the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient showed different effects on different sites of the photosynthetic machinery. It could be concluded that compared to the other hybrids, ‘Hyola 420’ was less sensitive to flooding.

Crescimento e fotossíntese de plantas de pinhão-manso cultivadas em diferentes condições de luminosidade

Jatropha curcas L. has been prominent in the scenario of biodiesel due to the percentage of oil contained in the seeds and its adaptive capacity. The cultivation of J. curcas in the country has as proposal the agronomic development and its consortium may be important for small producers. This study aimed to characterize the phenological behavior of J. curcas grown under different light conditions, full sun and 50% shade, relating them to the climatic seasonality, comparing their development with chlorophyll a fluorescence and gas exchange. Plants showed vegetative growth with seasonal pattern, with growth peak at the beginning of March, when the leaf senescence began. The analysis of the kinetic of the transient fluorescence of chlorophyll presented a relationship between certain parameters of the test JIP and the environmental fluctuations. The PIABS and the PItotal demonstrated that in the shaded treatment plants were sensitive to luminosity reduction. The liquid assimilation rate and the carboxylation efficiency decreased throughout the experiment, accompanying the decline of the solar radiation. J. curcas plants respond negatively to these shaded conditions.

Alterações fisiológicas após aplicação de silício em cacau e sua influência na preferência por pulgões

The physiological and biochemical aspects influenced by silicon and that influence reactions of resistance to pests in cocoa are still poorly understood. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of silicon application on photosynthesis, the leaf content of total soluble phenols and preference of Toxoptera aurantii in cocoa genotypes. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized block design with four replications in a factorial 3 x 3, consisting of three genotypes (TSH 1188, CCN 51 and Catongo), two doses of potassium silicate (3 and 6 mL L-1) applied to the leaves and a control sprayed with water. Evaluations were conducted for gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and phenolic content in leaf level, besides a preference test with a chance of free choice with T. aurantii. The genotypes TSH 1188 and CCN 51 had higher photochemical efficiency and photosynthesis compared with Catongo. Regardless of genotype, the application of potassium silicate did not affect the performance index of the plants (and PIABS PITOTAL), however, the dose 3 mL L-1 increased net photosynthesis and total soluble phenol content. The dose 6 mL L-1 reduced the preference of T. aurantii to the leaves of genotype TSH 1188. The application of potassium silicate is promising to increase the resistance of cacao to T. aurantii.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence as indicative of the salt stress on Brassica napus L.

The effects of salinity stress on chlorophyll fluorescence and the growth of Brassica napus L were investigated. The chlorophyll a fluorescence transient were recorded and analyzed according to the JIP-test which can quantify PSII performance. Salt stress resulted in decreased leaf area and dry matter compared with the control treatment (0 mM NaCl). The most pronounced effects of salt stress were observed with 200 mM NaCl, and the hybrids displayed different levels of sensitivity to stress. The Performance Index (PIABS) was the most sensitive parameter to salt stress, which suggests that this parameter can be used to screen genotypes for salt tolerance.

Fluorescência da clorofila a em plantas de pessegueiro da cultivar maciel enxertada sobre diferentes porta-enxertos

The objective of this study was to evaluate characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence in peach trees cv. Maciel grafted on six rootstocks. The analysis of the chlorophyll a fluorescence, the chlorophyll content and length of the leaves began after the winter period and were repeated until approximately 150 days, totaling six samples. The early ontogeny of the leaves was characterized by some higher fluorescence parameters. High rainfall, which occurred between 61 and 112 days of the beginning of the experiment, was the environmental factor that caused the greatest change in the parameters of the JIP Test, especially those related to photosystem I. The chlorophyll content was not influenced by the effect of associations cup x rootstock. Fall in the PITOTAL were in the period of highest rainfall, behavior that was independent of the rootstock, except for plants grafted on rootstock Rubira, who had minor damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. In general, rootstocks studied in combination with cv. Maciel did not affect the absorption and utilization of light energy by photosynthetic system.

Different planting spacings and fertilization levels on the activity of nitrate reductase in leaves of papaya hybrid UENF/CALIMAN-01

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different planting spacings and levels of NPK manuring on the activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) in the leaves of the papaya hybrid UENF/ CALIMAN-01, aiming to suggest possible adjustment in the handling of nitrogen fertilization, in the sense of maximizing the efficiency of the use of the nitrogen. The experiment was driven in the Caliman Agricola S.A. farm, in the municipal district of Linhares- ES. A complete block design, factorial, with three planting spacings among plants (E1 = 1.8 m, E2 = 2.25 m and E3 = 2.7 m), five levels of NPK conventional manuring (A1 = 80% of the standard, A2 = 100% of the company standard, A3 = 120% of the standard, A4 = 140% of the standard and A5 = 160% of the standard) and five evaluation periods ( from March to July) was used. The standard of the company NPK manuring consists of 350, 105 and 660 Kg ha -1 year -1 of sulfate of am- monium (20% of N), simple superphosphate (18% of P) and potassium chloride (60% of K), respectively. The data obtained for the activity of NR were submitted to a variance analysis and average test. Among the tested treatments, A1 (80% of standard), independent of the spacing, could be indicated in the handling of the hybrid UENF/CALIMAN-01, because in all of them the activity of the nitrate reductase in, practically, all of the appraised periods, presented appropriate values, or even, superiors to the ones found in the literature for the papaya tree. The reduction of NPK fertilization could be justified, once that did not have difference in the productivity of the plants among the evaluated treatments. Index terms: papaya, spacing, fertilizer, reductase of the nitrate.

Nitrate reductase activity and chlorophyll a fluorescence in papaya

The objective of the present work was to connect the nitrate reductase activity and the photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (PSII), measured as FV/FM, in papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Tainung 01 and Sunrise Solo 72/12 in field conditions. The photochemical potential of PSII was measured in situ on attached leaves that had been dark adapted, prior to the fluorescence measurement. After, in same leaves, the enzyme activity was measured. There was not significant difference among the photochemical efficiency of PSII between cv. Tainung 01 and Sunrise Solo 72/12, even so, the activity of the enzyme was markedly higher in cv. Tainung 01 than in cv. Sunrise Solo 72/12. The nitrate redutase activity was highly correlated with the photochemical efficiency of the PSII in both cv. Tainung 01 (coefficient of correlation r= 0,740 and coefficient of determination r2= 0,706) and Sunrise Solo 72/12 (coefficient of correlation r= 0,960 and coefficient of determination r2= 0,945). These results suggest that there is a correlation between chlorophyll a fluorescence and nitrate reductase activity in these plants.

Photosynthetic performance of mangroves Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa under field conditions

In mature mangrove plants Rhizophora mangle L. and Laguncularia racemosa Gaerth. growing under field conditions, photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency, determined by the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (F v /F m ), increased during the day in response to salinity in the rainy seasons. During the dry season, fluorescence values ( Fo) were higher than those observed in rainy season. In addition, Fo decreased during the day in both season and species, except for R. mangle during the dry season. A positive correlation among F v /F m and salinity values was obtained for R. mangle and L. Racemosa during the dry and rainy seasons, showing that photosynthetic performance is maintained in both species under high salinities. Carotenoid content was higher in L. Racemosa in both seasons, which represents an additional mechanism against damage to the photosynthetic machinery. The chlorophyll content was not affected by salinity in either species.