Evaristo Mauro de Castro

Aspectos fisioanatômicos de plantas jovens de Cupania vernalis camb. submetidas a diferentes níveis de sombreamento

Cupania vernalis camb. (Sapindaceae) is a species commonly found in almost all forest associations, mainly in savanna-like vegetation (cerrado) and galeria woods, spreading over the states of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Sao Paulo and reaching as far as Rio Grande do Sul. The species stands out mainly by its use in mixed planting to recover degraded areas of permanent preservation, for its fruits being much appreciated and consumed by birds and, still used in folk medicine against asthma and convulsive coughs. Leaf anatomy studies are highly important for the understanding of the adaptive plasticity of a species subjected to different environmental conditions, as it is correlated with processes such as gas exchanges and CO2 assimilation, as well as other processes inherent to plant growth. This work aimed to study the effect of different shading levels (full sunshine, 30%, 50% and 70%) on leaf anatomy and gas exchanges of Cupania vernalis camb plantlets. The results showed greater photosynthetic rate, increase in stomatal conductance, blade thickness, number of stomata per area and thickness of cell wall on leaves of plants grown under full sunshine and 30% shading. Positive correlations were observed between gas exchange traits and leaf anatomy. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that the species used in this study has a great anatomic plasticity in relation to the tested shading levels, supporting in this way a better development of the seedlings under different environmental conditions.

Ecophysiological and anatomical changes due to uptake and accumulation of heavy metal in Brachiaria decumbens

The growth and developmental characteristics of grasses and their high biodiversity make such plants suitable for remediation of areas contaminated by heavy metals. Nevertheless, heavy metal toxic effect on the plants may cause alteration in their metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and growth, modifying plant anatomy. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of levels of soil contamination (0, 7.5 % and 15 % m3 m-3) on biomass production, on photosynthetic characteristics and on anatomical changes in roots and leaves of brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.). After seeds were planted, seedlings were uprooted and replanted in vases containing soil at different contamination levels, being left to rest for 120 days. At the end of that time, plants presented reduced yield of root and shoot dry matter, contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and potential photosynthesis with increased of soil contamination. The cell layers of endodermis and exodermis in the root tissues and the cell walls of the xylem and cortical parenchyma all thickened as contamination increased. In the leaf tissues, the adaxial and abaxial epidermis presented increased thickness while the leaf blade presented reduced thickness as contamination increased with consequent change in the root growth rate. In general, the effects of heavy metal increased with the metal concentration. Some results indicate that B. decumbens seems to have some degree of heavy metal tolerance.

Effects of different light levels on the initial growth and photosynthesis of croton urucurana baill. in southeastern Brazil

Four levels of shading (full sunlight (0%), 30, 50, 70% of solar radiation interception on growth, chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic rate were studied in Croton urucurana Baill., a pioneer plant species. This species seedlings are of potential interest for reforestation projects and recovery of degraded areas. The seedlings were grown in pots containing soil and sand (2:1) and later transferred to plastic bags of 3 dm3 and submitted to different levels of shading (30, 50, 70%) of solar radiation and full sunlight, as control. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates and each experimental unit was composed of five plants. The results suggest that plants submitted to 70% shading showed higher dry weight accumulation in leaf and root, and higher plant height and leaf area. However, the seedlings root system showed higher dry biomass under full sunlight. It was observed a tendency to increase chlorophyll concentration and to decrease photosynthetic rate with the increase of the shading level.

Alterações anatômicas e fisiológicas em Setaria anceps Stapf ex Massey e Paspalum paniculatum L. sob condições de déficit hídrico

Both Setaria anceps (setaria) and Paspalum paniculatum (paspalo) species are tolerant to soil drought water deficiency and flooding. The aim of this work was evaluate anatomical, ecophysiological and metabolic alterations on setaria and paspalo leaves and roots when submitted to soil water deficit conditions. Eleven days after the beginning of water restriction, few variations were observed in density and size of stomata in setaria, but there was decreasing in thickness of mesophyll, vascular bundle, root cortex and transpiration rate. Protein (P), total soluble sugars (AST), reducing sugars (AR) and starch content decreased in leaves and AST and starch content decrease in roots. In paspalo, varations on density and size of the stomatal cells, reduction of the metaxylem diameter and root cortex, increasing of bulliform cells size, leaf concentration of amino acid, AST, AR, and starch were observed.

Crescimento inicial de plantas de Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. submetidas a níveis de radiação solar

The cultivation of native essences with economical or conservacionist purpose needs a serie of cares that need some previous knowledgment of the physiological and ecologic characteristics of the diverses phases of the life cycle. The study of the growth and development of a plant under different environmental conditions offers to the researcher a good clue on which the best conditions to grow a particular species. It was aimed at to evaluate the initial growth and the concentration of chlorophylls in young plants of Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha) submitted to levels of reduction of solar radiation: 0% (full sunlight), or 30, or 50 or 70%. The results demonstrate that the concentration of total chlorophyll was larger in the plants grown under 70% of shading, the same happened with the ratio of chlorophyll a/b. The greatest plant height was observed in the plants grown in 50% of shading. From the standpoint of total biomass accumulated and root dry matter, the best performance was observed in the plants under 30% of shading and the higher leaves dry matter accumulation was verified in the plants grown under 30 and 50% shading. It is ended that the best ones growing conditions for seedlings of Cryptocaria aschersoniana Mez. (Canela-Batalha) were the levels of 30 and 50% of reduction of the incident solar radiation.

Aspectos morfofisiológicos e conteúdo de óleo essencial de plantas de alfazema-do-Brasil em função de níveis de sombreamento

Changes in the anatomical and physiologic characteristics and in the production of essential oil of medicinal plants under influence of different radiation conditions have been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to characterize the variation in the anatomical and physiologic characteristics, and in the essential oil content of the Brazilian-lavender (Aloysia gratissima [Gilles & Hook.] Tronc., verbenaceae), grown in different shading levels, characterized by the reduction of 0; 40, and 80% of the incident solar radiation. For growth analyses we used a completely randomized design (CRD), with three levels of light and five replicates of three plants. The analyses of chlorophyll content and leaf anatomy were performed in CRD, with three replicates of three plants, while the analyses of essential oil content was carried out in CRD, with three replicates of five plants for each light level. The results showed that 40% of shading was the best condition for plant growth. Dry matter from different organs of the plant did not differ in the treatments 40% of shading (total dry matter 201 g) and at full sunlight (148 g), both significantly higher than 80% of shading (68.6 g). Plants cultivated in full sunlight showed leaves with adaxial epidermic tissue, palisade, and spongy parenchyma and limb significantly thicker than other treatments; however plants grew at 80% shading showed leaves with abaxial epidermic tissue significantly thicker. Shadowing did not significantly interfere with the essential oil content, which ranged from 2.1 to 2.2%.; Nevertheless, the essential oil yield was significantly higher in plants grew in full sunlight (0.73 g plant-1) and 40% shading (0.88), than on those grew at 80% shading (0.26). There was significant increase of chlorophyll a and b concentration in function of the decrease in light intensity (20.7 mg total chlorophyll per g fresh matter at full sunlight; and 23.7 and 32.0 with 40% and 80% shading respectively), as well as significant reduction in ratio a/b (3.13 at full sunlight and 2.94 and 2.69 at 40% and 80% shading respectively).

Anatomia foliar de plantas de alfavaca-cravo cultivadas sob malhas coloridas

In the present research, the effect of spectral control of light was evaluated on anatomical characteristics of Ocimum gratissimum L. leaves. The plants were cultivated during four months under black, red and blue nets with 50% of shade, and full sunlight. Plants grown under full sunlight showed higher leaf thickness, higher stomatal density and higher density of no-glandular and glandular trichomes on the adaxial epidermis. Plants cultivated under colored nets did not show differences in leaf thickness or leaf area. Plants maintained under red net had the lowest stomatal density in adaxial epidermis, as the plants cultivated under blue and red nets exhibited the largest leaf area. The plants maintained under red net showed the smallest stomatal density and the smallest non-glandular and glandular trichomes density in the adaxial epidermis. Such results show that the spectral quality and intensity of light can be modulated during the cultivation of Ocimum gratissimum L. plants in order to obtain desirable anatomical characteristics.

Relação entre zingibereno, tricomas foliares e repelência de tomateiros a Tetranychus evansi

The objective of this work was to quantify zingiberene contents in a segregating population (F2) of the second backcross generation to Lycopersicon esculentum after the initial cross with the wild species L. hirsutum var. hirsutum, and to analyse the relationship between zingiberene and both glandular trichome density on tomato leaves and levels of repellence to spider mites Tetranychus evansi. A spectrophotometric assay was used to quantify zingiberene in leaf disks. Trichome counting was made in paradermic preparations of leaf and mite repellence was accessed by a quick thumbtack assay. Indirect selection for high zingiberene contents increased both glandular trichome density and the level of mite repellence. Zingiberene in glandular trichomes therefore mediates mite repellence in the tomato population. Glandular trichome densities, especially that of type VI trichomes, were highly and positively correlated with zingiberene contents. High zingiberene levels and their relationship with both glandular trichome densities and resistance (repellence) to spider mites remained significant after two backcross generations, indicating an indirect selection for high zingiberene as an effective way of selecting mite resistant tomato genotypes.

Alterações morfológicas e alocação de biomassa em plantas jovens de espécies florestais sob diferentes condições de sombreamento

The selection of native and/or exotic species for recovery of degraded or perturbed environment can be associated with the acclimatation potential of species in different conditions of shading. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of shading (0%, 30% and 50% of interception of the incident solar radiation) on growth, biomass allocation and chlorophyll levels in young plants of forestry species from different ecological groups: Maclura tinctoria (L.) D. Don ex Steud. (moreira), Senna macranthera (Collad.) Irwin et Barn. (fedegoso), Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang. (jatoba) e Acacia mangium Willd. (acacia). The results obtained showed that the higher chlorophyll levels were observed in shaded conditions for all species. The climax lighting demanding specie (moreira) showed the highest growth. In sunny conditions, the pioneer species (acacia) produced more leaves while the climax light demanding species (moreira) produced more roots. These observations indicated that these species are capable of acclimation to different conditions of radiation availability, a result that should be considered in regeneration programs of degraded environment and management of natural areas.

Plasticidade anatômica das folhas de Xylopia brasiliensis Sprengel (Annonaceae)

Leaf anatomy of Xylopia is still poorly explored. The species Xylopia brasiliensis Sprengel, commonly known as pindaiba occurs in primary forest and in modified vegetation in a wide range of environmental conditions. The present study describes some leaf anatomical characteristics of this species and quantitatively evaluates them in function of environmental, seasonal and plant height differences. This species has anatomical plasticity.