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RESUMO Óleos essenciais (EO) e extratos brutos aquosos (EBA) de Syzygium aromaticum e Cymbopogon nardus, e seus principais componentes químicos foram investigados para controle in vitro e in vivo de doenças causadas por Phytophthora nicotianae em tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) e berinjela (Solanum melongena). Experimentos in vitro foram conduzidos pelo método de diluição em ágar com diferentes concentrações de óleos essenciais (OE’s) (0,1; 0,5; 1,0 ?L/mL) e extratos aquosos brutos (EBA’s) (1,0; 10,0 20,0%) para avaliar o potencial inibitório sobre o crescimento micelial e germinação de zoósporos. Com as porcentagens de inibição e concentrações inibitórias mínimas encontradas, realizou-se testes em frutos e plântulas sob ambiente controlado. As variáveis avaliadas foram o diâmetro médio das lesões formadas na superfície dos frutos e a incidência e morte de plântulas ao longo de seis e 15 dias de avaliação, respectivamente. Os produtos que mais inibiram o crescimento micelial e a germinação de zoósporos foram obtidos de S. aromaticum, nas concentrações de 0,5 ?L/mL e 10% de OE e EBA, respectivamente. Os tratamentos que mais retardaram a progressão da doença em frutos e plântulas, em comparação com o controle, foram o OE e EBA de C. nardus a 1,0 ?L/mL e 20%, respectivamente. Portanto, os produtos obtidos de S. aromaticum e C. nardus, têm potencial para reduzir o ataque deste patógeno em tomate e berinjela. ABSTRACT Essential oils (OE) and crude aqueous extracts (EBA) from apple-style-spanSyzygiumapple-style-spanapple-style-spanapple-style-span apple-style-spanaromaticumapple-style-span and apple-style-spanCymbopogonapple-style-spanapple-style-spanapple-style-span apple-style-spannardusapple-style-span and their major chemical components were investigated for in vitro and in vivo control of diseases caused by Phytophthora nicotianae in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena). In vitro experiments were conducted using the agar dilution method with different concentrations of OE (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 ?L/mL) and EBA (1.0, 10.0, 20.0%) to evaluate their inhibitory potential on mycelial growth and zoospore germination. The obtained percent inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentrations were used to performed tests in fruits and seedlings under controlled conditions. The evaluated variables were mean lesion diameter on the surface of fruits and incidence and death of seedlings over six and 15 days of evaluation, respectively. The products that most inhibited mycelial growth and zoospore germination were obtained from S. aromaticum, at the concentrations of 0.5 ?L/mL and 10% OE and EBA, respectively. The treatments that most delayed the disease progress in fruits and seedlings, compared to control, were OE and EBA of C. naudus at 1.0 ?L/mL and 20%, respectively. Thus, products obtained from S. aromaticum and C. nardus have the potential to reduce the attack by this pathogen in tomato and eggplant.

The objective of this study was to optimize the enzymatic pretreatment process of extracting menthol, a major component of the essential oil stored in the trichomes of fresh leaves of Mentha arvens...

Colleters are structures functionally active in the secretion of sticky substances, occurring in 67 angiosperm families, which not includes Rutaceae, a diverse family with pharmacological and ecological importance but poorly characterized structurally and histochemically. The main purpose of this study was to characterize the leaf colleters observed for the first time for Rutaceae species. Leaves at several developmental stages were obtained from naturally growing specimens of Zanthoxylum minutiflorum Tul. and Z. nemorale Mart. Fresh and fixed samples were structurally studied using both light, and scanning electron microscopes. The main chemical compounds of the colleter were recognized using specific tests and their controls. In both Zanthoxylum species, the colleters were exclusively epidermal in origin. They were composed of a non-secretory stalk and a lobed secretory head which contains a mixture of hydrophilic and lipophilic substances, mainly pectin and oleoresin. Their secretory phase was restricted to the early developmental stages of the leaves and leaflets, after which they became senescent and shrink. Besides the structural and histochemical characterization of a secretory structure new to Rutaceae, our findings emphasize the importance of an integrative interpretation of ontogenetic and chemical data for both structural and functional aspects of the species-rich plant families.

The quality and content of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants can be affected by storage conditions. The present work evaluated the influence of different storage conditions of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on essential oils. The study was conducted in two environments (controlled and natural), in two types of packaging (plastic and paper) during five storage times (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months). Also evaluated was the damage caused to the glandular trichomes and the fungal contamination of the stored leaves. For this data set, the study was done using multivariate exploratory analysis PCA, HCA and K-means. Among the environments, the use of paper storage in a natural environment presented a reduction of up to 74.3% in essential oil content and greater damage to the trichomes. The plastic packaging prevented the proliferation of fungi. The best storage condition proved to be a controlled environment from 6 months to 9 months in plastic packaging.

EnglishMedicinal plants are generally commercialized dried. However, temperatures used in their drying processes may interfere with the content and chemical composition of their essential oils. The Lippia origanoides possesses thymol in the essential oil that is stored in glandular trichomes. Thymol is a major component of economic importance in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the drying temperatures of L. origanoides leaves regarding trichome integrity, content, and chemical composition of the essential oil. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments defined by oven drying temperatures (40, 50, 60, and 70oC) and four replications. Essential oil was extracted by hydro distillation and the essential oil contents were determined (%). Chemical composition of the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to determine trichome integrity. Drying the L. origanoides leaves in a forced ventilation oven at 40°C minimized the loss of extracted essential oil content (17.5g kg-1) and relative thymol percentage. Leaves dried at the temperatures of 60 and 70oC exhibited a higher percentage of ruptured trichomes and reduced essential oil content to 13.7g kg-1 and 11.8g kg-1, respectively. Key words: Lippia origanoides; medicinal plant; secretory structures; drying; thymol portuguesAs plantas medicinais sao geralmente comercializadas secas, no entanto, as temperaturas utilizadas nos processos de secagem podem interferir no teor e composicao quimica dos oleos essenciais destas plantas. A Lippia origanoides possui timol em seu oleo essencial, que se encontra armazenado em tricomas glandulares. O timol e um componente majoritario de importância economica na industria quimica e farmaceutica. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar o efeito das temperaturas de secagem de folhas de L. origanoides na integridade dos tricomas, teor e composicao quimica do oleo essencial. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos definidos por temperaturas de secagem em estufa (40oC, 50oC, 60oC e 70oC) e quatro repeticoes. Foram realizadas extracoes por hidrodestilacao e determinacao dos teores dos oleos essenciais (%), analise de composicao quimica do oleo por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas e microscopia eletronica de varredura para determinacao da integridade dos tricomas. A secagem das folhas de L. origanoides em estufa de ventilacao forcada a 40oC minimizou a perda do teor de oleo essencial extraido (17,5g kg-1) e porcentagem relativa de timol. Folhas secas em temperatura de 60 e 70oC exibiram maior porcentagem de tricomas rompidos e reducao do teor de oleo essencial para 13,7g kg-1 e 11,8g kg-1, respectivamente. Palavras-chave: Lippia origanoides; planta medicinal; estruturas secretoras; secagem; timol

Este artigo tem como objetivo central analisar os principais desafios ao desenvolvimento do Assentamento Rural Coroa Verde. Associado a esse objetivo geral tem-se os seguintes objetivos específicos: caracterizar socioeconomicamente o assentamento; identificar as principais dificuldades do assentamento no âmbito produtivo; analisar os principais desafios ao desenvolvimento do assentamento no âmbito econômico (produtivo) e social. A pergunta de investigação que norteou a pesquisa se concentra na seguinte questão: quais os principais desafios atuais existentes para o desenvolvimento do Assentamento Rural Coroa Verde? Como metodologia utilizou-se de técnicas de documentação direta (pesquisa de campo), e técnicas de documentação indireta (pesquisa bibliográfica e documental). Fez-se levantamento do índice pluviométrico da região de inserção do assentamento correspondente aos anos de 2010 a 2014, através de dados levantados junto ao INMET – Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, e levantamento de dados em campo e observações in loco.Como tratamento dos dados e informações, procedeu-se a construção de gráficos, quadros e tabelas – e posterior análise e interpretação.A partir dos resultados puderam-se constatar desafios a serem superados no assentamento no que se refere ao processo produtivo, dentre os quais a substituição de práticas prejudiciais como a utilização de fertilizantes, adubos químicos e inseticidas, por práticas consideradas limpas (manejo natural). Constatou-se a necessidade de se trabalhar o cooperativismo entre os assentados tanto no processo de produção quanto de comercialização dos produtos e, também, a adoção de artifícios para melhor aproveitamento do recurso “água”, de forma especial a água da chuva, através do desenvolvimento de sistemas de captação e armazenamento nas áreas produtivas. Importante se faz ainda o acompanhamento aos assentados desde o apoio técnico à produção, à capacitação, ao acesso a crédito, e para a agregação de valor aos seus produtos, e melhorar o senso de coletivismo e cooperação, além de mais oportunidades aos jovens.Palavras chave: Desenvolvimento Rural. Sustentabilidade. Produção Agrícola. Cooperativismo. Realidade Socioeconômica

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Brazilian red pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) essential oil and an antimicrobial agent on weanling pig growth performance, diarrhea occurrence, pH of the digestive content, small intestine histology, and intestine microbial counts. Ninety weanling castrated male pigs (5.6±0.78 kg BW and 21-d old) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment with five treatments, six replications per treatment, and three animals per experimental unit (pen). The treatments were a basal diet supplemented with 0 (negative control), 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg Brazilian red pepper essential oil vs with 120 mg/kg chlorohydroxyquinoline (antibiotic treatment). At the end of the experimental period one animal from each pen was slaughtered to record the pH of digestive contents, small intestine histology, and intestine microbial counts. Treatments had no effect ( P> 0.05) on growth performance, diarrhea occurrence, pH of the digestive content, villus height, crypt depth, and intestinal microbial counts of weanling pigs. However, pigs fed the diet containing 500 mg/kg essential oil had greater villi density ( P 0.05) than those fed diets containing the antibiotic or 1000 and 1500 mg/kg essential oil. Thus, both Brazilian red pepper essential oil and the antibiotic are of limited benefit for enhancing the growth of weanling pigs. However, the effectiveness of growth enhancer additives may be reduced in low challenging situations as demonstrated by the current study.

One feature of the Protium genus is the presence of secretory ducts associated with the phloem. These ducts are characterized by the production of essential oils with different classes of secondary metabolites. In light of this observation, the purpose of this study was to determine which secondary metabolites are present in the secretory ducts of P. aracouchini, P. heptaphyllum, P. icicariba and P. warmingianum using histochemical tests and essential oil chemical analysis. The essential oils are present at different levels and compositions in the four studied species; other metabolites also varied from species to species. Variation was observed among the essential oil classes with oxygenated sesquiterpenes being the most representative class found in the species studied. The major component of all species was caryophyllene oxide; thus, it may be regarded as a genus characteristic. Through the results obtained, characteristics common to all species were defined, enabling the segregation of the spe...

Contamination of medicinal plants with heavy metals as Pb and Cd can affect the growth and the essential oil production of the plants and represent a risk to those who consume as medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of absorption and localization of Pb and Cd on growth, ultrastructural aspects of leaves and essential oil yield and composition of Mentha arvensis, applied on the soil with increasing concentrations (8, 16, 32, 64 and 128mg kg-1). There was a differential absorption of Pb and Cd by M. arvensis mainly concentrated in the roots. Pb was found in small amounts in the leaves while Cd largely exceeded the safety limit without symptoms of toxicity. The ultrastructural analysis revealed the metal accumulation on vesicles surrounding the mitochondria and the presence of electron dense deposits surrounding the mitochondria, nucleus and chloroplasts. Little changes caused by Pb and Cd application were not enough to affect the growth and essential oil yield and composition of M. arvensis

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Acaulospora morrowiae, Rhizophagus clarus and Scutellospora calospora on the growth and essential oil production of Mentha × piperita L. var. citrata plants. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a 5 × 2 factorial design with five mycorrhizal treatments (uninoculated control, Acaulospora morrowiae, Rhizophagus clarus and Scutellospora calospora, and mixture of inocula) and two P levels (60 and 120 mg P dm-3 soil) with six replicates. Plants were harvested after 75 days of growth for evaluation of dry biomass, mycorrhizal colonization of roots, number of spores in soil, nutrient content of leaves, and composition, content and yield of essential oil. The mycorrhizal treatments influenced all the characteristics evaluated, except the number of spores in soil. AMF colonization was most evident at the lowest dose of phosphate fertilizer applied, except for R. clarus, and in all treatments mycorrhizal colonization was above 45%. Colonization also influenced the nutrient content of the leaves of M. piperita var citrata and increased leaf dry biomass. The content and yield of essential oils were higher in plants colonized by AMF fungi with the 60 mg P fertilization dose, except those colonized by R. clarus which had higher essential oil production only with the 120 mg dm-3 P treatment. The two major components in the essential oils for the plants in all the treatments were linalool and linalyl acetate. Key words: Acaulospora, Rhizophagus, Scutellospora, linalool, linalyl acetate, phosphorus fertilization.

Espécies vegetais são capazes de ajustar suas características fisiológicas, anatômicas e ultraestruturais aos fatores ambientais, como, por exemplo, a disponibilidade de radiação luminosa incidente. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes níveis de radiação luminosa na anatomia e ultraestrutura foliar de Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae). As plantas foram cultivadas por 93 dias em quatro níveis de radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (20, 11, 7 e 4mol m-2 d-1). O incremento da intensidade de luz proporcionou aumento no espessamento dos parênquimas paliçádico e esponjoso e do limbo foliar, entretanto, a espessura da epiderme não foi alterada. Em relação aos aspectos ultraestruturais, verificou-se aumento no tamanho dos cloroplastos e grãos de amido e um aumento do empilhamento dos tilacoides com a redução da intensidade de luz. As variações anatômicas e ultraestruturais verificadas confirmam a plasticidade fenotípica dessa espécie em função da intensidade de radiação luminosa.

Alpinia zerumbet is a medicinal plant from Asian origin used in folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension, which effect is attributed to terpinen-4-ol, the major component of the essential oil. The objective of this work was to identify the essential oil secretory structures in the leaf, flower, root and rhizome of this plant, and analyze the content and the chemical composition of the oil in the different organs of the plant. Sections were subjected to histochemical test with Nadi reagent for in situ localization of secretion. The essential oil extraction was performed by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and the compounds were identified in CG-EM/FID. The histochemical test was positive for terpenoids, confirming the presence of essential oil stored in secretory structures named oils cells present in all analyzed organs. The higher essential oil content was found on the leaf (0.30%), while the petal and the rhizome presented content of 0.10% and 0.06%, respectively. It was not possible to determine essential oil content of the root due to the low amount of biomass produced. There were qualitative and quantitative differences in the chemical composition of the essential oil in the different plant organs, but the major constituent in all of them was the terpinen-4-ol, followed by 1,8 cineol in the leaf and by the α-terpineol in the flower and rhizome.

Light conditions can promote the growth and development of plants and contribute to increase the essential oil production of commercially cultivated medicinal and aromatic species. In view of the great importance of Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae, as an aromatic plant, the objective of this work was to determine the effect of light intensities (approximately 4, 7, 11 and 20 mol m−2 d−1) on growth, foliar micromorphology, essential oil content, yield and chemical composition of O. gratissimum. Biomass production of different organs, root:shoot ratio and leaf mass per area were found to linearly increase with increased light availability, whereas stem dry matter fraction, number of leaves, leaf area and plant height have increased up to 10 mol m−2 d−1 and decreased from this value. The tector trichomes density increased with increased light availability, but there was no effect of light treatments on the glandular trichomes density and essential oil content. Regardless of the light level, the major component of the essential oil was eugenol. The essential oil yield per plant increased linearly with light intensity as a direct effect of increased leaf biomass under similar conditions. Keywords: eugenol, medicinal plant, photosynthetically active radiation

The aim of this study was to provide scientific knowledge to support the use of Vernonia condensata Baker, Asteraceae, beverages for their alleged hypocholesterolemic properties by testing their action as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and their capacity to lower dietary cholesterol permeation. Chlorogenic acid, and other caffeoylquinic acids derivatives were identified as the main components of these beverages by LC–MS/MS. No changes in the composition were notice after the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and no toxicity against Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines was detected. Cholesterol permeation through Caco-2 monolayers was reduced in 37% in the presence of these herbal teas, and the caffeoylquinic acids permeated the monolayers in 30–40% of their initial amount in 6 h. HMG-CoA reductase activity was reduced with these beverages, showing an IC50 of 217 μg ml−1. It was concluded that caffeoylquinic acids, the major components, justified 98% of the enzyme inhibition measured. Keywords: Vernonia condensata, HMG-CoA reductase, Chlorogenic acid, Cynarin, Cholesterol, Caco-2 cells

The objective of the present work was to determine the effects of colored shading on the density of glandular and tectorial trichomes, and on the yield, productivity and composition of the essential oil of Ocimum selloi Benth. Plants were cultivated for 90 days under full sunlight or under ChromatiNet 50% red or blue netting. The highest density of glandular trichomes was observed in plants that had received full sunlight. None of the light treatments altered the yield of oil, although productivity was higher in plants grown under full sunlight by virtue of the greater leaf biomass that accumulated under such conditions. The compositions of the oils varied according to the quality of light. Although the qualitative profiles of the oils of plants grown under full sunlight or red shading were similar, that obtained from plants grown under blue shading presented a larger number of constituents. The highest level of methyl chavicol (93.2%), the major component of the oil, was observed in plants grown under full sunlight.

Ocimum selloi essential oil (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg; p.o.) reduced, in a dose-dependent way, the abdominal contraction induced by acetic acid (0.6%; i.p.) and the diarrhea episodes induced by castor oil in mice. At the higher dose (200 mg/kg; p.o.), the essential oil significantly reduced intestinal transit (P

A prática da adubação orgânica, além de fornecer nutrientes para as plantas, proporciona a melhoria da estrutura física do solo, aumenta a retenção de água, diminui as perdas por erosão e favorece o controle biológico. O elixir paregórico (Ocimum selloi Benth.) é uma espécie medicinal nativa das regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil onde é utilizada popularmente como antidiarréico, antiespasmódico e antiinflamatório. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o efeito de diferentes doses de dois adubos orgânicos no crescimento, no rendimento e na composição do óleo essencial de elixir paregórico. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em Lavras, MG, em estufa plástica com os seguintes tratamentos de adubação: ensaio A - esterco bovino: 1) sem adubação (controle); 2) solo + 3kg m-2 de esterco; 3) solo+ 6kg m-2 de esterco; 4) solo+ 9kg m-2 de esterco; 5) solo + 12kg m-2 de esterco; ensaio B - Esterco avícola: 1) sem adubação (controle); 2) solo + 1,5kg m-2 de esterco; 3) solo + 3kg m-2 de esterco; 4) solo + 4,5kg m-2 de esterco e 5) solo + 6kg m-2 de esterco. Foi verificada a influência das doses de adubação com esterco bovino e galinha sobre o crescimento da planta em altura e diâmetro do caule, acúmulo de biomassa seca, AF, AFE, RPF, teor de clorofilas, espessura do limbo foliar, rendimento e composição química do óleo essencial. The organic fertilization provides nutrients for the plants, improves the soil physical structure, increases the water retention, reduces the erosion losses and favors the biological control. Ocimum selloi is a native medicinal plant of south and southeast of Brazil where is used popularly as antidiarrhetic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. This research aimed to verify the effect of different doses of two organic fertilizers souces in O. selloi growth, essential oil yield and chemical composition. The experiments were carried out in Lavras, MG, with pots in polyethylene greenhouse with two manuring treatments: Test A - Cattle manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 3kg m-2 cattle manure; 3) Soil + 6kg m-2 cattle manure; 4) Soil + 9kg m-2 cattle manure; 5) Soil + 12kg m-2 cattle manure; Test B - Chicken manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 1.5kg m-2 chicken manure; 3) Soil + 3 kg m-2 chicken manure; 4) Soil + 4.5kg m-2 chicken manure and 5) Soil + 6kg m-2 chicken manure. The influence of cattle and chicken manuring doses was verified on plant height, stem diameter, dry biomass weight, TLA, SLA, LWR, chlorophylls content, leaf thickness, essential oil yield and composition.

Additional index words. arnica, acclimatization, organogenesis, rooting, seed germination, shoots Abstract. Lychnophora pinaster, known as arnica, is a medicinal plant of the Cerrado ecosystem in Brazil. It is widely used in the form of alcoholic extract for its anti- inflammatory and anesthetic and healing effects on sprains, bruises, and inflammation. Owing to the great difficulty of propagation, it is listed by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis in the category of plants vulnerable to extinction. Micropropagation offers a solution to this problem by allowing the preser- vation and expansion of germplasm. The objective of this research was to establish a protocol for in vitro propagation of arnica. The best medium for germination of arnica embryos and plantlet growth was a quarter strength semisolid Murashige and Skoog medium (MS/4) containing 0.75% (w/v) sucrose. For shoot induction, the best results were obtained on MS/4 with 2.76 mM of benzylaminopurine. Maximum shoot elongation before rooting occurred in the presence of 8.67 mM of gibberellic acid for 19 d. Microshoots were successfully rooted in the presence of 10.7 mM of naphthalene acetic acid for 15 d. After rooted plantlets were acclimatized in a greenhouse for 20 d, the survival rate was 100% when planted in a soil from the area of occurrence of the species, whereas 0% survived when planted in Plantmax.

The aim of the present work was to establish appropriate conditions for the in vitro micropropagation of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish through shoot multiplication on apical and nodal bud explants. Explants were excised from in vitro- grown seedlings and incubated on Murashige and Skoog medium containing different combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (for apical buds) and gibberellic acid and NAA (for nodal segments). Proliferation of apical shoots was successfully achieved in the presence of BAP and NAA, each at 1.0 mg L -1 , while the elongation of apical shoots could only be attained on medium containing NAA at 1.0 mg L -1 . Elongation of nodal shoots was induced in the presence of NAA at 2.0 mg L -1 . The most suitable medium for inducing root proliferation on explants of E. erythropappus was NAA at 1.0 mg L -1 . Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish (Asteraceae), known in Brazil by the common name candeia, is an arboreous pioneer species distributed from the northeast of Argentina to the northern and eastern regions of Paraguay and Brazil (Carvalho, 1994). The wood of E. erythropappus is physically strong (hard) and is widely employed in the manufacture of stakes, fence posts, timber supports, and boats. The oil of the plant is also of commercial importance, being rich in the sesquiterpene a-bisabolol, and has a market value in the order of USD 60/kg (Perez, 2001). Candeia oil has anti- inflammatory properties and is also used in the production of a number of pharmaceut- icals employed in dermatology for the treat- ment of fungal and bacterial infections. Moreover, a-bisabolol can replace azulene, a monoterpene found in Chamomilla recu- tita, as a fixing agent in cosmetic products. The efficient multiplication and preserva- tion of valuable plants such as E. erythro- pappus can be achieved through in vitro micropropagation. Micropropagation of wild plants, however, can be labor-intensive and time-consuming owing to the difficulties of removing microbial contamination and of avoiding extensive oxidation of the explants. To overcome such problems, it is preferable to use explants derived from seedlings grown under aseptic conditions (Mantell et al., 1994). Because no reports are available concerning the in vitro micropropagation of E. erythropappus, we have investigated the conditions required for efficient shoot multiplication on apical bud and nodal explants obtained from seedlings cultivated aseptically.

Este estudo foi conduzido com objetivo de determinar o tipo de secagem e a fragmentação das folhas de capim-limão para otimizar o rendimento extrativo do óleo essencial. Foram estabelecidos 6 tratamentos com 2 tipos de secagem (estufa de ventilação forçada a 40ºC e sala com desumidificador) e 3 tamanhos de fragmentos das folhas secas (pulverização em moinho, fragmentos com 1 e com 20 cm de comprimento), com 4 repetições. O óleo essencial foi extraído por hidrodestilação durante 2 horas. O maior rendimento de óleo essencial foi obtido com o material seco na sala com desumidificador, não havendo diferenças significativas para os tamanhos da folha. O componente mais abundante no óleo essencial foi o citral que também apresentou as maiores concentrações nas folhas secas em desumidificador.

The ef ficacy of Ocimum selloi essential oil was evaluated for controlling the growth of mycelia and spores germination Moniliophthora perniciosa. Six compounds (99.89%) of the total oil were identified by GC-MS, of which methyl chavicol, methyl eugenol, �� -caryophyllene, germacrene-D, bicyclogermacrene and spathulenol. Essential oil was tested for anti- fungal activity, which was determined by disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination methods. Application of the oil reduced mycelial growth in a dose dependent manner, with maximum inhibition being observed at concentration of 1,000 ppm. Such antifungal activity could be attributed to methyl chavicol since the pure compound was shown to be similarly effective against Moniliophthora perniciosa at 1,000 ppm. The oil when applied at a concentration of 1,000 ppm, reduced the spore germination of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and M. perniciosa by 93 and 87%, respectively, but had no effect on the Alternaria alternata. It is concluded that the oil from O. selloi and its major constituent, methyl chavicol, are efficient in inhibiting M. perniciosa, but less effective against C. gloeosporioides and A. alternata. The results obtained from this work may contribute to the development of alternative anti-fungal agents to protect the cacao crop from fungal disease.

Medicinal and aromatic plants are commonly sold dried; however, it is necessary to understand the effects different drying methods have on these materials, to ensure their efficiency and quality. Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae, is an aromatic plant whose essential oil is stored in glandular trichomes. This study aimed to confirm the effects of different drying temperatures and methods of O. gratissimum leaves on trichome integrity and essential oil content. Leaves dried in a forced ventilation oven at 60oC display damaged trichomes and a reduction in the essential oil content. The different drying methods (oven, dehumidification and air drying) were not identified to elicit changes in the essential oil content or damage to trichomes. All of the drying methods showed a reduction in fungal contamination in a logarithmic cycle. Keywords: Basilicum, Eugenol, Lamiaceae, Micromorphological analysis

O teor de óleo essencial e a sua composição química são características genéticas e podem ser influenciados pelo ambiente e pelo estádio de desenvolvimento ou idade da planta. Dessa forma, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a influência da idade da planta sobre a produção e a qualidade do óleo essencial de alevante. O experimento foi conduzido em Ilhéus, BA, no período de maio a dezembro de 2009. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da colheita, em seis idades da planta (60, 90, 120, 150, 180 e 210 dias após o transplante), utilizando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação, em aparelho de Clevenger modificado. A identificação dos constituintes químicos foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massas (CG-EM). O maior teor do óleo essencial (1%) ocorreu aos 120 dias e o maior teor dos compostos majoritários α-fenchol (49,92%) e cis-mirtanol (30,03%), aos 120 e 150 dias após o transplante, respectivamente. The essential oil content and chemical composition are genetic characteristics and can be influenced by the environment and the developmental stage or age of the plant. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the plant age on production and quality of essential oil of peppermint. The experiment was conducted in Ilhéus, BA from May to December 2009. The treatments consisted of harvesting the plant at six ages (60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 days after transplantation) using completely randomized design with four replications. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger modified apparatus. The identification of chemical constituents was performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest content of essential oil (1%) was obtained at 120 days while the highest content the majority compounds α-fenchol (49.92%) and cis-myrtanol (30.03%) reached its highest value at 120 and 150 days after transplanting, respectively.

O atroveran ou elixir-paregórico (Ocimum selloi Benth.) é uma espécie aromática nativa do Brasil, produtora de óleo essencial rico em metil-chavicol. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a influência da temperatura, luz e tempo de armazenamento em diferentes ambientes sobre a germinação e o vigor de sementes de O. selloi. Inicialmente, testou-se o efeito da presença e ausência de luz branca sob fotoperíodo de 12 horas para determinar o fotoblastismo das sementes em diferentes temperaturas (20, 25, 30 e 35ºC). Em seguida, testou-se a germinação e emergência no armazenamento sob duas temperaturas (ambiente e câmara fria) aos 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 10 e 12 meses de armazenamento. A espécie foi classificada como fotoblástica neutra, apresentando germinação em ampla faixa de temperatura (20 a 30ºC). A germinação das sementes manteve-se por doze meses de armazenamento em câmara fria e à temperatura ambiente, entretanto, o vigor decresce a partir de seis meses em armazenamento sob temperatura ambiente. "Atroveran" or "elixir-paregórico" (Ocimum selloi Benth.) is a Brazilian species that produces an essential oil rich in methyl chavicol. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of light, temperature and time of storage in different environments on the germination and vigor of O. selloi seeds. We initially tested the influence of presence and absence of white light in a 12-hour photoperiod to determine the photoblastism of the seeds under different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35ºC). The physiological quality of seeds conserved under two temperatures (room temperature and cold chamber) was tested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 10 and 12 months of storage. The species was classified as neutral photoblastic with germination at a wide temperature range (20ºC-30°C). Germination was maintained for twelve months of storage in cold chamber at room temperature, but the vigor was reduced in seeds kept at room temperature after the sixth month of storage.

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of shading on the growth and development of the medicinal plant Ocimum selloi after 90 days. Seedlings were maintained under three different light treatments, namely, full sunlight vs coloured shade treatments provided by red and blue ChromatiNet® 50% coloured netting. After 90 days of cultivation, height, stem diameter, petiole length, total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR) and leaf weight ratio (LWR) of each plant hare measured. Microscopic examination of leaf sections were conducted in order to determine the leaf blade thicknesses, together with the size and density of the stomata, the number and area of chloroplasts, and chloroplast starch grains present in the palisade parenchyma cells. Although coloured shade-grown plants were taller in comparison with those grown in full sunlight, total dry biomass together with root, stem and leaf tissue biomasses were lower. Plants exhibited phenotypic plasticity, as demonstrated by the different TLA, SLA, LAR and LWR values that were recorded under the various light treatments. Stomatal density and leaf thickness was increased in plants maintained in full sunlight owing to the expansion of the abaxial epidermis and the spongy parenchyma. Chloroplasts were more numerous and larger in plants grown under shading, whilst the accumulation of chloroplastic starch grains was greater in plants grown under red shading or in full sunlight. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito do sombreamento de Ocimum selloi com telas coloridas do tipo Cromatinet® (50%) vermelha, azul e a condição natural de pleno sol (sem tela) sobre as características biométricas, fisiológicas, anatômicas e ultraestruturais da planta após 90 dias. As plantas nas telas coloridas tiveram maior crescimento em altura, mas o maior acúmulo de biomassa seca total e particionada e relação raiz: parte aérea (R:PA) ocorreram na condição de pleno sol. A espécie proporcionou plasticidade fenotípica, verificada pelos ajustes das variáveis área foliar total (AFT), área foliar específica (AFE), razão de área foliar (RAF) e razão de massa foliar (RPF) em função dos tratamentos. Ocorreu maior espessamento foliar na condição de pleno sol pelo somatório do maior espessamento da epiderme abaxial e do parênquima esponjoso. A densidade estomática foi maior nas plantas a pleno sol. O número de cloroplastos e seu tamanho foi maior nas telas coloridas, enquanto o maior acúmulo de amido ocorreu a pleno sol e tela vermelha.

A propagação vegetativa de espécies medicinais vem despertando interesse das pesquisas agronômicas, uma vez que se constitui no ponto de partida e em ferramenta básica para qualquer cultivo em escala comercial. Este trabalho objetivou determinar o comprimento de estaca e o tipo de substrato mais adequados para a propagação vegetativa de atroveran. Em condições de casa de vegetação sob nebulização intermitente, foram testados dois comprimentos de estacas (10 e 20cm) e três substratos (areia lavada, casca de arroz carbonizada e substrato comercial Plantmax®), em delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e cinco estacas por parcela. Aos trinta e cinco dias, foram avaliados a porcentagem de enraizamento, o comprimento da maior raiz (cm) e a biomassa seca das folhas e das raízes (mg). Os resultados indicaram que a propagação vegetativa de atroveran por meio de estaquia é viável, uma vez que o seu enraizamento médio ficou acima de 70%. As mudas de atroveran obtidas de estacas com 20cm apresentaram maior biomassa seca das folhas e das raízes, apesar de o comprimento da estaca não ter afetado a porcentagem de enraizamento e o comprimento da raiz. Os tipos de substrato não proporcionaram efeito sobre o desenvolvimento das estacas de atroveran. Recomenda-se a produção de mudas de atroveran com estacas de 20cm de comprimento, utilizando-se qualquer um dos três substratos testados.

Pseudocercospora ocimicola leaf spot on Ocimum selloi Ocimum selloi is reported for the first time as a host of Pseudocercospora ocimicola. Ocimum selloi Benth. e uma especie medicinal da familia Lamiaceae conhecida popularmente como alfavaquinha, atroveran ou elixir-paregorico. Na medicina caseira, e empregada para o controle de gases intestinais, gastrites, vomitos, tosses, bronquites, gripes, febres e resfriados (Lorenzi & Matos, Plantas medicinais no Brasil: nativas e exoticas cultivadas 2002). Resultados preliminares confirmaram a sua atividade antiespasmodica, analgesica, antiinflamatoria (Vanderlinde et al., Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil, 1�, 1��4) e o seu efeito como repelente contra mosquitos (Paula et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology 88: 25�. 200�). Folhas amarelas com manchas foliares foram observadas em plantas de O. selloi cultivadas no Horto de Plantas Medicinais da Universidade Federal de Lavras. Os sintomas caracterizaram-se pela presenca de lesoes foliares castanho-claras isoladas ou coalescentes, dispersas, subcirculares, de bordos irregulares com dimensoes variando de � a 5 mm de diâmetro ocorrendo, principalmente, em folhas maduras situadas ate o terco inferior da planta (Figura 1A). Quanto as caracteristicas morfologicas do fungo, observaramse estromas intraestomaticos (Figura 1E), castanhos, cilindraceos, pseudo-parenquimaticos, irrompentes, 1424 μm de diâmetro. Micelio interno escasso formado de hifas inter e intracelulares. Conidios filiformes, hialinos, 5-� septados, �7-�10 x 2-� μm (Figuras 1B, C e D). Conidioforos subhialinos, septados, geniculados, simples ou ramificados na base, 58-178 μm de comprimento e 2,5-5 μm de diâmetro na parte mediana (Figuras 1B -E). Estas caracteristicas conferem com a descricao da especie P. ocimicola (Petr. & Cif.) Deighton que ja foi descrita sobre Ocimum sp. (Brasil), Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Vahl) Kuntze (Brasil), O. americanum L. (Myanmar), O. basilicum L. (China, Taiwan), O. gratissimum L. (Cuba), O. sanctum L. (Cuba, Myanmar) (Braun & Freire, Cryptogamie Mycologie, 2�:2�5. 2002), O. kilimandscharicum Gurke e O. micranthum Willd. em outros paises como Republica Dominicana, Fiji, India, Nova Zelândia, Taiwan e Vanuatu (Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs: 1. Names published in Cercospora and Passalora. 200�). O comprimento dos conidios em O. selloi excede aquele apresentado por F.C. Deighton (Mycological Papers 140:1-168. 1�76). Este e o primeiro relato de P. ocimicola em O. selloi. FIG. 1 – A. Folha de Ocimum selloi com sintomas de Pseudocercospora ocimicola a esquerda e sem sintomas a direita; eletromicrografias de varredura: B. superficie foliar evidenciando celula conidiogenica (cabeca de seta) e conidios (seta); C. conidios; fotomicrografias: D. conidios e E. conidioforos.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson, Verbenaceae, is widely used in traditional Brazilian medicine for the treatment of abdominal distress. The species exhibits considerable chemical and morphological diversity, and various chemotypes have been characterized. A comparative study of L. alba, has been carried out of the morphoanatomical characteristics of the leaves and the profi les of the essential oils of the morphotypes cidreira and melissa grown in the Medicinal Plant Garden of the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. The mean plant height of cidreira was 1.80 m and the stems and branches were fairly erect, while melissa plants were smaller (1.60 m) and presented prostrate stems and branches. Although the leaf of the morphotypes look were similar, the mean values of length, width and area of the leaves of cidreira (respectively, 7.42 cm, 3.32 cm and 17.31 cm2) differed signifi cantly from those of melissa (4.68 cm, 2.35 cm and 7.32 cm2). The morphotypes presented amphistomatic leaves with uniseriate epidermis on both surfaces. The mesophyll was dorsiventral, but in cidreira the palisade parenchyma was biseriate while in melissa it was uniseriate. Simple tector and capitate glandular trichomes were present on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf blades of both morphotypes. Six distinct types of glandular trichomes could be distinguished: types I and II were present in both morphotypes, while type III was detected only in cidreira, and types IV to VI were present only in melissa. The two morphotypes also differed with respect to the composition of the essential oil, cidreira produced oil composed mainly of citral, while the oil from melissa was rich in citral, limonene and carvone. Keywords: carvone, citral essential oil composition, leaf morphology, limonene, Lippia alba

Light can act on essential oil yield directly on synthesis of secondary metabolites, or indirectly on plant growth. Varronia curassavica Jacq., Boraginaceae, is a native medicinal species from Brazil known as “erva-baleeira”, with anti-inflammatory activity related to its essential oil. Despite pharmacological evidences of this species and its economic importance for herbal medicine production, little is known about the effect of light on growth and essential oil production. This study aimed to analyze the influence of different irradiances on growth, frequency of trichomes, essential oil yield and composition of V. curassavica. The irradiance affected plant growth, but no significant alteration on leaf biomass was detected. The increase in essential oil content under higher irradiance reflected on essential oil yield, and is associated with higher frequency of glandular, globular trichomes. The essential oil composition, rich in caryophyllene derivatives was affected by irradiance, but α-humulene, the constituent of pharmaceutical interest, remained unchanged. Keywords: Cordia verbenacea, Irradiance, Medicinal plant, Caryophyllene oxide