Natoniel Franklin de Melo

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the acclimatization of micropropagated banana plantlets

Abstract The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on micropropagated banana plantlets was evaluated during the acclimatization period. Plants were inoculated with Acaulospora scrobiculata, Glomus clarum or Glomus etunicatum. After cultivation in a greenhouse for 3 months, height, leaf area, fresh weight and dry matter of root and shoots, level of AMF colonization, nutrient level, photosynthesis and transpiration rate, water potential and stomatal conductance were measured. The number of AMF spores produced in each treatment was also determined. Plantlets inoculated with AMF had greater height, leaf area and fresh weight of shoots and roots, as well as higher rates of photosynthesis and transpiration than controls. Plants inoculated with Glomus were superior in most of the evaluated parameters.

Cytogenetics and cytotaxonomy ofVelloziaceae

Chromosome number and other cytological features are reported from 35 species ofVelloziaceae, including several African and Brazilian populations. All analyzed species show areticulate interphase nuclei and prophase/prometaphase chromosomes with proximal early condensation. Most heteropycnotic blocks do not seem to correspond to heterochromatin since, at least inVellozia patens, they do not stain differentially after C-banding procedures. Regarding the chromosome number, three main groups could be identified. The first comprised diploid species of the generaNanuza, Vellozia and the Brazilian species ofXerophyta with 2n = 14 or 16; the second comprised tetraploid species with 2n = 34, and included all Brazilian species of subfam.Barbacenioideae; the third group, of hexaploid species, comprised the African representatives of the genusXerophyta. A single population ofVellozia, possibly of hybrid origin, had 2n ≅ 32. A basic number of x = 8 is proposed for the family. The karyological information supports the hypothesis that theVelloziaceae originated on the South American, rather than on the African continent.

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil

The Sao Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO 2 ). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO 2 . Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g -1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm -3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm -3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO 2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards

Karyotype, C- and fluorescence banding patterns, NOR location and FISH in the grasshopper Xestotrachelus robustus (Romaleidae)

Abstract Different techniques involving fluorochrome staining, C-banding, NOR location and FISH were used in order to characterize the karyotype and to determine the characteristics of the constitutive heterochromatin in the genome of grasshopper Xestotrachelus robustus. This species presents uniform karyotype in terms of chromosome number (2n=23,XO in males) but differed in the morphology of some chromosomes of the complement. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to the location of 45S genes. The results of FISH are compared with those coming from classical cytogenetics (C, AgNO3 and CMA3) banding procedures.

Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus spp. from small ruminant mastitis in Brazil

The study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns and to identify molecular resistance markers in Staphylococcus spp. (n=210) isolated from small ruminant mastitis in Brazil. The antimicrobial resistance patterns were evaluated by the disk diffusion test and by detection of the presence of mecA, blaZ, ermA, ermB, ermC and msrA genes by PCR. The efflux pump test was performed using ethidium bromide and biofilm production was determined by Congo red agar test along with PCR for detection of the icaD gene. The isolates were most resistant to amoxicillin (50.0%), streptomycin (42.8%), tetracycline (40.4%), lincomycin (39.0%) and erythromycin (33.8%). Pan-susceptibility to all tested drugs was observed in 71 (33.8%) isolates and 41 Staphylococcus isolates were positive for the efflux pump. Although phenotypic resistance to oxacillin was observed in 12.8% of the isolates, none harbored the mecA gene. However, 45.7% of the isolates harbored blaZ indicating that beta-lactamase production was the main mechanism associated with staphylococci resistance to beta-lactams in the present study. The other determinants of resistance to antimicrobial agents ermA, ermB, ermC, and msrA were observed in 1.4%, 10.4%, 16.2%, and 0.9% of the isolates, respectively. In addition, the icaD gen was detected in 32.9% of the isolates. Seventy three isolates (54 from goats and 19 from sheep) were negative for all resistance genes tested and 69 isolates presented two or more resistance genes. Association among blaZ, ermA, ermB, ermC and efflux pump were observed in 17 isolates, 14 of which originated from goats and three from sheep. The data obtained in this study show the resistance of the isolates to beta-lactamics, which may be associated with the use of antimicrobial drugs without veterinary control.

Interaction between sucrose and pH during in vitro culture of Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott (Pteridophyta)

O presente trabalho relata o efeito de diferentes valores de pH e concentracoes de sacarose na propagacao in vitro de Nephrolepis biserrata. Frondes obtidas assepticamente a partir do cultivo de estoloes foram inoculadas em meio semi-solido MS, suplementado com 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60g.L-1 de sacarose e pH ajustado para 3, 5, 7 e 9, em arranjo fatorial. Foram avaliados: numero e comprimento das frondes, numero de pinas, comprimento e diâmetro da raque e biomassa fresca e seca da parte aerea. Em geral, houve inibicao da regeneracao de brotos e folhas em todos os tratamentos de pH na ausencia de sacarose. Por outro lado, a presenca de sacarose no meio induziu 51,25 e 38,25 brotos por explante no pH 5 e 7, respectivamente. Concentracoes entre 15 e 45g.L-1 de sacarose aumentaram o comprimento e o diâmetro das folhas e o pH 9 nao afetou o peso foliar seco, sendo inadequado para o desenvolvimento de novas frondes. Os esporofitos jovens foram submetidos, com sucesso, ao processo de aclimatacao.

Chromosome study in Schistocerca (Orthoptera-Acrididae-Cyrtacanthacridinae): karyotypes and distribution patterns of constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer regions (NORs)

Chromosome analyses were performed in two grasshopper species of the genus Schistocerca, S. pallens and S. flavofasciata. Both species shared the same diploid number (2n = 23, X in males; 2n = 24, XX in females);and a conserved karyotype composed exclusively of acrocentric chromosomes, but differed in their distribution patterns of constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). Constitutive heterochromatin was located in the pericentromeric region of all chromosomes in both species. S. flavofasciata presented an additional C-band on the distal region of the long arm of a small autosome pair (S9). Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), revealed by silver nitrate staining (Ag-NORs), were observed on a medium autosome pair (M5) in both species. S. pallens presented an additional NOR-bearing autosome (M6). The same sites were labeled after FISH with an rDNA probe in S. pallens cells.

Fungos micorrízicos arbusculares e vermicomposto na aclimatação de Alpinia purpurata (Viell.) Schum e Zingiber spectabile Griff. (Zingiberaceae)

To select AMF and substrates that enhance production of micropropagated seedlings of Alpinia purpurata and Zingiber spectabile, tropical ornamental species, seedlings were inoculated with 1,500 infective propagules of Gigaspora albida, Glomus etunicatum and Acaulospora longula, in pots containing: (a) soil; (b) soil and vermicompost (3:1); (c) soil, sand and vermicompost (2:2:1). The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial of: four inoculation treatments (three with AMF and uninoculated control), three substrates, with eight replicates for each plant species. After 70 (Z. spectabile) and 100 (A. purpurata) days of inoculation, plant growth parameters such as height, leaf and offshoots number, dry mass of shoots and roots, leaf area, as well as mycorrhizal colonization, AMF sporulation were evaluated. Significant interactions were not observed between AMF and substrates. In A. purpurata, the two substrates with vermicompost promoted growth, while in Z. spectabile only the substrate with higher proportion of this compound enhanced plant growth. Use of vermicompost reduced mycorrhizal colonization in both hosts and the sporulation of A. longula. During the acclimatization period, application of organic amendment is useful to induce formation of healthy seedlings of A. purpurata and Z. spectabile but it may be harmful to the AMF community.

Comparative cytogenetic analysis of two grasshopper species of the tribe Abracrini (Ommatolampinae, Acrididae)

The grasshopper species Orthoscapheus rufipes and Eujivarus fusiformis were analyzed using several cytogenetic techniques. The karyotype of O. rufipes, described here for the first time, had a diploid number of 2n = 23, whereas E. fusiformis had a karyotype with 2n = 21. The two species showed the same mechanism of sex determination (XO type) but differed in chromosome morphology. Pericentromeric blocks of constitutive heterochromatin (CH) were detected in the chromosome complement of both species. CMA3/DA/DAPI staining revealed CMA3-positive blocks in CH regions in four autosomal bivalents of O. rufipes and in two of E. fusiformis. The location of active NORs differed between the two species, occurring in bivalents M6 and S9 of O. rufipes and M6 and M7 of E. fusiformsi. The rDNA sites revealed by FISH coincided with the number and position of the active NORs detected by AgNO3 staining. The variability in chromosomal markers accounted for the karyotype differentiation observed in the tribe Abracrini.The grasshopper species Orthoscapheus rufipes and Eujivarus fusiformis were analyzed using several cytogenetic techniques. The karyotype of O. rufipes, described here for the first time, had a diploid number of 2n = 23, whereas E. fusiformis had a karyotype with 2n = 21. The two species showed the same mechanism of sex determination (XO type) but differed in chromosome morphology. Pericentromeric blocks of constitutive heterochromatin (CH) were detected in the chromosome complement of both species. CMA3/DA/DAPI staining revealed CMA3-positive blocks in CH regions in four autosomal bivalents of O. rufipes and in two of E. fusiformis. The location of active NORs differed between the two species, occurring in bivalents M6 and S9 of O. rufipes and M6 and M7 of E. fusiformsi. The rDNA sites revealed by FISH coincided with the number and position of the active NORs detected by AgNO3 staining. The variability in chromosomal markers accounted for the karyotype differentiation observed in the tribe Abracrini.

Acclimatization of Tapeinochilos ananassae plantlets in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

o , Centro, CEP 56304‑917 Petrolina, PE, Brazil. E‑mail: amymelo17@hotmail.com Abstract - The objective of this work was to assess the potential of three isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to promote growth of micropropagated plantlets of Tapeinochilos ananassae during acclimatization. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, in a completely randomized block design, with four inoculation treatments: non-inoculated control and plants inoculated with Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora longula or Gigaspora albida, with ten replicates. After 90 days, the following parameters were evaluated: survival rate, height, leaf and tiller number, leaf area, fresh and dry biomass, contents of macro- and micronutrients in the root and shoot, glomerospore number, and mycorrhizal colonization. The survival percentage was 100%, except for plants inoculated with G. albida (80%). The isolate G. etunicatum is more suitable for plant development, since it improves survival, growth, dry matter production, nutritional status, and vigor of T. ananassae micropropagated plants.