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Current climate change scenarios require strategies that mitigate the effects of water deficits. Given that chitosan stimulates induced resistance responses, we tested the hypothesis that foliar application of this polysaccharide can have positive effects on the primary metabolite, antioxidant, and osmoregulatory metabolisms of sorghum, mitigating the effects of water deficit on grain yield. Sorghum plants were cultivated under either irrigated or water-deficit conditions and were either treated or untreated with chitosan, and we assessed the following responses: water potential, gas exchange, nutritional status, biosynthesis of primary and osmoregulatory metabolites, the activity of the antioxidant system constituents, and hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents. An active methodology was used to impose water stress on plants grown in pots with 20 kg of soil, 06 replications per treatment. Sorghum plants subjected to water deficit that were treated with chitosan exhibited higher stomatal conductance and transpiration than the untreated plants. Water restriction reduced the nutrient contents of leaves, but in the irrigated plants, chitosan treatment increased the tissue contents of certain nutrients and leaf concentrations of total proteins and total amino acids. In the plants under water-deficit conditions that were treated with chitosan, an elevated photosynthetic rate contributed to an increase in carbohydrate accumulation and a higher production of panicle and grain dry biomass compared with the untreated plants. The activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase also increased in response to chitosan. Overall, chitosan was effective in enhancing the water deficit tolerance of sorghum plants cultivated under water-deficit conditions by 57%. With this work, we generate perspectives for studies focusing on the development of water-deficit-resistant sorghum lineages, by means of chitosan elicitation.

Although sugarcane yield is directly influenced by the availability of nitrogen (N), the efficiency of mineral N (MN) fertilization is considered to be low due to nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization. Thus, the search for alternative sources of N that are cheaper and more consistent with sustainable farming practices has been stimulated. As chicken litter is an organic waste with the potential to supply N to major crops, we tested the hypothesis that the use of this litter as a source of organic N (ON) is as efficient as the application of MN (ammonium nitrate) in promoting the growth, nutrition, and yield of sugarcane plants grown during both plant cane and ratoon cane seasons. Experiments were conducted in a 5 × 5 × 2 subdivided plot scheme in the growing area of the Denusa Mill, Destilaria Nova União S/A, located in the midwest region of Brazil, with treatments consisting of five doses each of MN (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha−1) and ON (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 T ha−1), evaluated in two crop seasons (plant cane-2019/2020 and ratoon cane-2020/2021). The application of different doses of MN or ON influenced the height and number of tillers of sugar cane plants, and the application of ON, supplied by chicken litter, to this crop was as efficient as that of MN in promoting plant growth. MN and ON also increased the leaf content of N, P, and K; moreover, the absence of one source of nitrogen was compensated by the other. ON application (up to 4.8 T ha−1) also increased sugarcane yield in addition to promoting growth. Furthermore, this study highlighted the superior quality of the regrowth observed in the IACSP95-5094 cultivar, which manifested in increased tillering and stem diameter, resulting in consistently higher yields in the ratoon crop.

Treatments that increase the germination potential and vigor of Glycine max seedlings are continuously being stimulated, with the aim of achieving a higher percentage of emergence and better performance in the field. Considering the relationship of tryptophan with germination-associated phytohormones, this study tested the hypothesis that exogenous supply of tryptophan to soybean seeds can affect germination, physiological vigor, and the accumulation of primary and oxidative metabolism molecules in seedlings. Soybean seeds were exposed to soaking solutions containing different concentrations of the amino acid (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µM), and the seedlings were evaluated at three time periods, at 8 h after sowing (HAS), and 5 and 14 days after sowing (DAS). Treated seeds showed better germination fitness and seedlings showed greater vigor, and these parameters increased with increasing concentrations of tryptophan. In the initial hours and days of germination process evaluation (14 HAS and 5 DAS), the activities of starch metabolism enzymes (α- and β-amylase) tended to be higher, resulting in increased contents of sucrose, reducing sugars, and total soluble solids at 8 DAS, constituting an important metabolic effect for seedling growth. On the other hand, the induction of germination and vigor promoted by exogenous tryptophan in soybean seedlings occurred by stimulating the metabolic pathways of oxidative stress, resulting in increased concentrations of H2O2, malondialdehyde, and proline in the tissues. Additionally, it led to increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase. These parameters were responsive to increasing supplied concentrations of tryptophan. Thus, the metabolic stress in soybean seeds induced by auxin seems to be an important inductive pathway for germination and vigor of G. max seeds.

Pollutants inhibit thallus growth and development or alter the metabolism and associated anatomical and morphophysiological characteristics of lichens. Since agricultural matrices can act as sources of pollution by dispersing agrochemicals to vegetation fragments, this study tested the hypothesis that Parmotrema tinctorum can serve as the indicator of edge effect in such fragments. In other words, we assumed the impact of pollutant accumulation to be greater at the vegetation edges and explored the utility of this lichen as a bioindicator of pollutants dispersed from agricultural matrices. Differences in the anatomical layers of P. tinctorum thalli sampled from the edge and center of four vegetation fragments (CER, SSF, SSC, and ENP) were evaluated, and the effects of agricultural matrices on macro- and micronutrient levels, heavy metal levels, and photosynthetic pigment content were analyzed. Anatomical layers were thicker in P. tinctorum thalli from the edges of SSC and ENP, indicating the need for photobiont protection at these sites. Edge effect was observed on Al accumulation in the thallus, indicating dispersion of this metal from agricultural matrices and its greater impact in the edge populations. Edge effect was also evident on photosynthetic pigment content, macro- and micronutrient levels, and heavy metal concentration in the thallus, and the values reflected high ecological imbalance currently verified at the edge of ENP, an area of permanent protection. In areas within ENP, chlorophyll a/b ratio reflected stress factors acting on the thallus, indicating that even legally protected areas are not free from the impact of atmospheric pollutants. P. tinctorum may serve as an effective indicator of edge effects and may be used for biomonitoring pollutant dispersion from agricultural matrices.

Plants receiving insufficient concentrations of the different essential nutrients may respond symptomatically to this stress. However, when the first visible symptoms of nutritional deficiency appear, plants already exhibit significant changes in their structure. As seedlings of E. dysenterica are important for the recovery of degraded areas and as the fruits of this species are widely exploited commercially, we decided to evaluate whether the omission of nutrients may affect the leaf anatomical ultrastructure, dry matter production and the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in this plant, in an attempt to use data of this nature to predict symptoms of nutritional deficiency in seedlings of this species. For this purpose, we grow seedlings in a hydroponic system, offering all nutrients and also omitting each nutrient individually. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the omission of each nutrient on the anatomical leaf structure, dry mass production and the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. Seedlings that grew in the absence of Ca and Mn exhibited compromised spongy parenchyma and mesophyll development, while the omission of K and Mg increased the number of epidermal cells and stomata. Low dry mass production in E. dysenterica was related to the omission of S and Mn, while P, N and Fe deficiencies directly affected the synthesis of pigments. Thus, leaf anatomical and physiological data can predict nutritional deficiency conditions, enabling the user to diagnose the deficiency before the onset of symptoms in E. dysenterica seedlings. Our results may help investigators to understand the effects of nutritional omissions on other native Cerrado plants

A levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae é comumente utilizada em bioensaios de toxicidade por ser um modelo eucariótico de fácil acesso e cultivo. Assim, este trabalho propõe um protocolo experimental de fácil replicação, utilizando esta levedura e químicos facilmente adquiridos no mercado, para possibilitar que o professor introduza, de forma prática, conceitos de toxicologia para estudantes do ensino médio. Para tanto, foi avaliado o percentual de mortalidade dessa levedura na presença de formulações comerciais de etanol e H2O2 e observado um comportamento linear da mortalidade com o aumento gradual da concentração dos químicos. Foi verificada toxicidade superior do peróxido, possivelmente associada ao estresse oxidativo. Este protocolo permite ao professor, demonstrar que a toxicidade está intimamente relacionada à concentração dos químicos e abre perspectivas para testes com outras amostras, sendo elas biológicas, como extratos vegetais ou químicas como águas residuais, agrotóxicos e outros.

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) plants are highly dependent on the micronutrient iron during their early development stages. Given this, we tested the hypothesis that initial seedling development is affected by a lack of specific micronutrients. We planted seedlings of this species in standard hydroponic solution, and in individual treatments, in which B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn or Mo were omitted. The development of symptoms of micronutrient deficiency in response to the different treatment solutions was monitored visually for 120 days after transplantation, and growth parameters and the content of different nutrients in the plant tissue were determined. The deficiency of the micronutrient Mo was the treatment with the greatest effect on seedling growth. The most commonly observed symptoms of nutrient deficiency were chlorosis and necrosis (Cu and Zn deprivation) and impaired root hair development (Fe and Cu deprivation). Overall, Fe was the micronutrient that accumulated most in the stems and roots of the seedlings exposed to the standard nutrient solution, which confirms the importance of the availability of this nutrient in the initial stages of seedling development for the production of healthy cagaita plants, with greater viability. Las plantas de Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) Dependen en gran medida del hierro micronutriente durante sus primeras etapas de desarrollo. Ante esto, probamos la hipótesis de que el desarrollo inicial de las plántulas se ve afectado por la falta de micronutrientes específicos. Sembraron plántulas de esta especie en solución hidropónica estándar y en tratamientos individuales, en los que se omitieron B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn o Mo. El desarrollo de síntomas de deficiencia de micronutrientes en respuesta a las diferentes soluciones de tratamiento se monitoreó visualmente durante 120 días después del trasplante, y se determinaron los parámetros de crecimiento y el contenido de diferentes nutrientes en el tejido vegetal. La deficiencia del micronutriente Mo fue el tratamiento con el mayor efecto en el crecimiento de las plántulas. Los síntomas más comúnmente observados de deficiencia de nutrientes fueron clorosis y necrosis (privación de Cu y Zn) y el desarrollo del vello radicular deteriorado (privación de Fe y Cu). En general, el Fe fue el micronutriente que más se acumuló en los tallos y raíces de las plántulas expuestas a la solución nutritiva estándar, lo que confirma la importancia de la disponibilidad de este nutriente en las etapas iniciales del desarrollo de las plántulas para la producción de plantas de cagaita saludables. As plantas de cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) são altamente dependentes do micronutriente ferro durante seus estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento. Diante disso, testamos a hipótese de que o desenvolvimento inicial das mudas é afetado pela falta de micronutrientes específicos. Cultivamos mudas dessa espécie em solução hidropônica completa e em tratamentos individuais, nos quais B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn ou Mo foram omitidos. O aparecimento de sintomas de deficiência de micronutrientes em resposta às diferentes soluções de tratamento foi monitorado visualmente por 120 dias após o transplantio, sendo determinados os parâmetros de crescimento e o conteúdo de diferentes nutrientes nos tecidos vegetais. A deficiência do micronutriente Mo foi o tratamento que mais afetou o no crescimento das mudas. Os sintomas mais comumente observados de deficiência de nutrientes foram clorose e necrose (privação de Cu e Zn) e comprometimento do desenvolvimento dos pêlos radiculares (privação de Fe e Cu). De maneira geral, o Fe foi o micronutriente que mais se acumulou no caule e nas raízes das mudas expostas à solução nutritiva padrão, o que confirma a importância da disponibilidade desse nutriente nos estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento das mudas para a produção de plantas saudáveis de cagaita, com maior viabilidade.

The novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has been spreading through all the world fastly leading to a massive public reaction. The knowledge and attitude toward measures for prevention are essential in the control of pandemic infection. Pandemics may contribute to intensified levels of stress, and anxiety is a natural reaction to any stressful situation. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes towards, anxiety and perceive mental health care among Brazilian Population from Goiás State during COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted, and a total of 251 responses were received. The participants were older than 18 years, with an average of 33.95. The participants demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge about the COVID-19 infection and its preventive aspects with more than 92% believing that social distance is essential to stop the virus spread and 93.2% agreeing to quarantine or isolate themselves if they present symptoms. Sleep difficulties and distress related to social media were reported in 20.8% and 48.6% of participants, respectively. Most agreed on the need for mental healthcare and assistance from professionals during the pandemic. Our results reflect the need to raise awareness and discuss people's mental health concerns and highlights the urgent need for the government and professional associations be prepared to deal with the psychological effects of the pandemic.

Current Quilombola communities are remnants of Brazilian slave communities. The community of Cedro, municipality of Mineiros – GO, uses botanical resources from the Cerrado biome to compose herb-based remedies, that constitute an important source of income for residents. The aim of this work was to evaluate this slave tradition considering i. the pattern of plant use; ii. the relationship between origin and compound taxonomic richness; and iii. the consensus on plant use X pharmacological actions proposed in local medicine. Data were obtained using free listing and snowball techniques, semistructured interviews and guided tours. The results indicated that the community presents a wide pattern of species use; in 380 ethno-references, 166 species were mentioned. The families Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were richer in species and ethno-references; most of the plants are native and were collected in backyards or a typical Cerrado. Infused and decocted teas were the most diverse preparation methods (H' = 2.6201), and they were primarily used to address diseases of the digestive and metabolic system. The species with higher use values (UV) were Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus limon, Hymenaea courbaril, Dysphania ambrosioides and Baccharis trimera (UV>1). This work constitutes an important survey about the ethnobotanical knowledge of descendants of slaves and demonstrates the importance of the resources of the Cerrado biome for therapy in Quilombola communities that developed in the center of this biome. Las comunidades actuales de quilombolas son restos de aldeas esclavistas brasileñas. La comunidad Cedro, ubicada en el municipio de Mineiros – GO, utiliza recursos botánicos del bioma Cerrado para componer remedios herbales, que son una fuente importante de ingresos para los residentes. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar esta tradición esclava considerando i. el patrón de uso de la planta; ii) la relación entre origen y riqueza taxonómica compuesta; y iii. El consenso sobre el uso de plantas versus acciones farmacológicas propuestas en la medicina local. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante listas gratuitas y técnicas de bola de nieve, entrevistas semiestructuradas y visitas guiadas. Los resultados indicaron que la comunidad tiene un amplio patrón de uso de las especies; en 380 etno-referencias, se citaron 166 especies. Las familias Fabaceae, Asteraceae y Lamiaceae eran más ricas en especies y etno-referencias; La mayoría de las plantas mencionadas son nativas, recolectadas en patios o en un Cerrado típico. La infusión y la decocción fueron los métodos de preparación más diversos (H' = 2.6201) y se utilizaron principalmente para tratar enfermedades del sistema digestivo y metabólico. Las especies con mayor valor de uso (UV) fueron Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus limon, Hymenaea courbaril, Dysphania ambrosioides y Baccharis trimera (UV> 1). Este trabajo constituye una investigación importante sobre el conocimiento etnobotánico de los descendientes de esclavos y demuestra la importancia de los recursos del bioma Cerrado para las fitoterapias en las comunidades quilombolas que se desarrollaron en el centro de este bioma. As atuais comunidades quilombolas são remanescentes das aldeias escravas brasileiras. A comunidade de Cedro, município de Mineiros – GO, utiliza recursos botânicos do bioma Cerrado para compor remédios à base de ervas, que constituem uma importante fonte de renda para os moradores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar essa tradição escrava considerando i. o padrão de uso da planta; ii. a relação entre origem e riqueza taxonômica composta; e iii. o consenso sobre o uso de plantas X ações farmacológicas propostas na medicina local. Os dados foram obtidos utilizando técnicas gratuitas de listagem e bola de neve, entrevistas semiestruturadas e visitas guiadas. Os resultados indicaram que a comunidade apresenta um amplo padrão de uso das espécies; em 380 etno-referências, 166 espécies foram citadas. As famílias Fabaceae, Asteraceae e Lamiaceae foram mais ricas em espécies e etno-referências; a maioria das plantas citadas são nativas, coletadas em quintais ou em um Cerrado típico. Infusão e decocção foram os métodos de preparação mais diversos (H' = 2.6201) e foram utilizados principalmente para tratar doenças do sistema digestivo e metabólico. As espécies com maior valor de uso (UV) foram Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus limon, Hymenaea courbaril, Dysphania ambrosioides e Baccharis trimera (UV> 1). Este trabalho constitui uma importante pesquisa sobre o conhecimento etnobotânico de descendentes de escravos e demonstra a importância dos recursos do bioma Cerrado para fitoterapias em comunidades quilombolas que se desenvolveram no centro desse bioma.

Stryphnodendron adstringens, commonly known as “barbatimão”, is a native Brazilian savannah tree that has been long used in folk medicine due to its phytotherapy properties. The aim of the present study was to perform a scientometric analysis based on articles published in journals indexed in Web of Science database. Seventy publications on barbatimão were found and included in this scientometric research, most of which were published in English. The temporal trend analysis in the number of publications showed that the number of scientific articles about S. adstringens had increased significantly over the years. The papers found were published in 51 scientific journals, most of which are international. The main knowledge gaps relating to S. adstringens were in the fields of environmental sciences, evolutionary biology and genetics. The mains trends in barbatimão studies involves pharmacology pharmacy, forestry and medicinal chemistry. Tannin and medicinal plant were the most frequent keywords, showing its importance as a phytotherapeutic resource. Brazil was responsible for 92.96% of the knowledge about this species, obtained through scientific production. The analysis of the publications found made it possible to understand the current knowledge about the species S. adstringens.

The lack of sufficient knowledge on nutritional requirements, as well as efficiency parameters, in the use, absorption, and translocation of nutrients by seedlings in developmental stages may lead to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, which end up contaminating the environment. Therefore, this research adopted the hydroponic system to elucidate the nutritional requirements of Hymenaea courbaril L. seedlings, a fruit tree of neotropical importance, throughout its development (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after transplantation). Consequently, biometric data on growth and mineral nutrition were obtained and utilized to determine efficiency parameters in the use, absorption, and translocation of nutrients. Although H. courbaril leaves functioned as efficient drains throughout the development, S and Fe accumulated in the roots, owing to their not very mobile nature. The macro and micronutrients that were accumulated the most in the tissues were N and Mn, which even suggested a tendency for H. courbaril to tolerate Mn concentrations that are naturally toxic. The most efficient adoption was observed for the S and Cu nutrients, whereas the most efficiently absorbed nutrients were N (the macro and micronutrient with the greatest accumulation) and Fe (the second micronutrient with the greatest accumulation). However, the seedlings efficiently translocated Ca-N and Mn, i.e., the most accumulated nutrients. Positive effects on growth were correlated with increases in P, Ca, and Mg levels, thus signaling the importance of an optimal supply of these nutrients in obtaining healthy seedlings of this species. This work suggests that to obtain seedlings of H. courbaril in practice, the availability of N, Mn, P, Ca and Mg should be reviewed.

Rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms compete with phytopathogens for ecological niches, which led us to hypothesise that bacteria symbiotic with the palm Butia archeri may influence the germination of the seeds of Glycine max and provide effective biocontrol against phytopathogens. We evaluated seed biopriming with rhizospheric strains of the bacteria Enterobacter asburiae and Bacillus cereus, and endophytic strains of Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp. and Pantoea agglomerans. Seeds treated with E. cloacae and Enterobacter sp. presented higher germination potential, germination velocity index and accumulation of fresh biomass in the radicle than seeds that were untreated or treated with other bacteria. Seeds that were not treated were also most affected by fungi, in particular Fusarium and Penicillium, during storage. When treated with B. cereus and E. asburiae, fungal infestation of the stored seeds was reduced to levels similar to those found in seeds treated with chemical fungicide. Our combined analysis of the influence of these strains on radicular growth and the control of phytopathogens, indicates that the rhizospheric strains of B. cereus and E. asburiae may have the best potential for biocontrol. The present study also demonstrated that the microbiota associated with plants native to the Brazilian Cerrado may be a promising source of species or biomolecules with potential for the biocontrol of plant pathogens.

Eucalyptus cultivation has expanded considerably in Brazilian systems, leading to the current search for technologies to optimize growing conditions and the production of seedlings in nurseries. Based on the understanding that the development of tree species such as Eucalyptus sp. can be influenced by endophytic fungi that act directly as plant growth-promoting species, cloned seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla hybrids grown from minicuttings we stimulated with three species of endophytic fungi and the effects of inoculation on seedling growth was evaluated. Strains of Trichoderma sp., Fusarium sp. and Papulaspora sp. were forced to colonize the root system of the plants, which were continuously maintained under protected cultivation. Inoculation of the symbionts had positive effects on stem length, stem diameter and the fresh and dry biomass of the treated plants. Non-inoculated plants presented a shorter stem length than the plants treated with any of the endophytic species. The cloned seedlings inoculated with Trichoderma sp. exhibited the greatest stem measurements at 120 days after transplanting. The seedlings inoculated with Fusarium sp. displayed a greater number of leaves than the other seedlings as well as greater amounts of fresh and dry biomass. The authors also conducted quarterly evaluations of the increment in seedling growth promoted by the inoculants, which were more effective in the early stages, up to 60 days after transplanting. Keywords: Inoculants, microorganisms, minicutting, tree species

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) is a native fruit tree with high economical potential from the Brazilian Cerrado. However, little is known about the essential nutritional demands of its seedlings. To determine the nutrient demands of Cagaita, a greenhouse experiment was performed, in which plants were grown under hydroponic condition to assess the growth (length and diameter of stems, number of leaves, number of nodes, volume and length of roots, area of the leaf and crown and total dry weight of the leaves, stems and roots) and nutrient concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) at different time points after the plant were transferred into a nutrient solution. The seedling growth presented linear behavior until 180 days after transplantation. The total plant dry weight was 6.54 g after 180 days of transfer into the nutrient solution. The N content was positively correlated with the total dry weight and leaf area, whereas B was negatively correlated with the length of the stem and number of leaves. Macro and micronutrient concentrations presented the following order: N >Ca >K >P >Mg >S, Fe >Mn >B >Zn >Cu. A principal component analysis of the different sampling times provided important information used to define the growth variables.

Understanding the plastid genome is extremely important for the interpretation of the genetic mechanisms associated with essential physiological and metabolic functions, the identification of possible marker regions for phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses, and the elucidation of the modes through which natural selection operates in different regions of this genome. In the present study, we assembled the plastid genome of Artocarpus camansi, compared its repetitive structures with Artocarpus heterophyllus, and searched for evidence of synteny within the family Moraceae. We also constructed a phylogeny based on 56 chloroplast genes to assess the relationships among three families of the order Rosales, that is, the Moraceae, Rhamnaceae, and Cannabaceae. The plastid genome of A. camansi has 160,096 bp, and presents the typical circular quadripartite structure of the Angiosperms, comprising a large single copy (LSC) of 88,745 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 19,883 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions each with a length of 25,734 bp. The total GC content was 36.0%, which is very similar to Artocarpus heterophyllus (36.1%) and other moraceous species. A total of 23,068 codons and 80 SSRs were identified in the A. camansi plastid genome, with the majority of the SSRs being mononucleotide (70.0%). A total of 50 repeat structures were observed in the A. camansi plastid genome, in contrast with 61 repeats in A. heterophyllus. A purifying selection signal was found in 70 of the 79 protein-coding genes, indicating that they have all been highly conserved throughout the evolutionary history of the genus. The comparative analysis of the structural characteristics of the chloroplast among different moraceous species found a high degree of similarity in the sequences, which indicates a highly conserved evolutionary model in these plastid genomes. The phylogenetic analysis also recovered a high degree of similarity between the chloroplast genes of A. camansi and A. heterophyllus, and reconfirmed the hypothesis of the intense conservation of the plastome in the family Moraceae.

The anthropization of the landscape of the Cerrado biome that has occurred over the past few decades has fragmented its natural environments, impacting the connectivity of the plant populations and altering their gene flow. Plant species may also reduce population size in response to sub-optimal climatic and environmental conditions, and observed distribution patterns may align with theoretical schemes, such as the center&ndash, periphery model, that is, it is possible that populations on the edge have lower genetic diversity than center populations, theoretically submitted to environmental conditions closer to the optimum. In this context, we evaluate whether the genetic diversity and inbreeding coefficients of Cerrado plant species are affected by landscape features and climate characteristics, and in particular, if the distribution of the genetic diversity of these plants is consistent with the center&ndash, periphery model. To do this, we conducted a literature search for genetic studies of Cerrado plant populations using Scopus, Web of Science, and Scielo databases and the species found were used as a proxy to explore patterns throughout the biome. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and multiple matrix regressions (MMRRs) to evaluate the effects of landscape features and climatic variables on the observed (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE), allelic richness (AR) and inbreeding (Fis) patterns of the local populations. The landscape was evaluated in terms of the percentage land cover of agriculture (AG), forestry (FO), remnant vegetation (RV), urban areas (UA), pasture (PA), and water (WA) within buffers of 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km around the study populations. We analyzed 121 populations of 31 plant species. The GLMMs showed that HO was affected by FO regardless of buffer size, while HE was also affected by FO, but also by WA and UA. AR was affected by WA and UA in all three buffer zones while the Fis was affected by FO and AU. The MMRRs showed that WA may affect HO, HE, and Fis within the 1 km buffer, while FO affects HO and UA affects AR within the 5 km buffer. In the case of the 1 km and 3 km buffers, however, the geographic distance between populations was identified as a factor determining the genetic diversity and inbreeding indices, indicating that isolation by distance may be an important factor defining the breeding patterns of the Cerrado plant populations. The GLMMs and MMRRs also showed that the mean annual temperature (MAT) and, to a lesser extent, isothermality (ISO) can explain the variation in genetic diversity observed in the Cerrado plant populations. We also found that the center&ndash, periphery model fits the distribution pattern observed in most of the species evaluated, including Annona crassiflora,Annona coriacea, Copaifera langsdorffii, and Eugenia dysenterica. Our results indicate that changes in the climate and the landscape of Brazilian Cerrado must be considered carefully to guarantee minimizing the impacts of these processes on the genetic diversity of Cerrado plant species and ensuring the long-term conservation of these species in this biome.

Habitat fragmentation affects lichen communities by inducing edge effects, although the dispersal of pollutants by pesticide drift from commercial crops may also provoke alterations in community structure, due to the varying sensitivity of lichen morphotypes to pollutants. In this context, we tested the hypothesis that lichen morphotype richness and diversity, and the percentage area of the trunks covered by different lichen morphotypes are modified significantly at the edges of fragments of Cerrado vegetation inserted within the agricultural matrix. We evaluated habitat fragments representing different Cerrado formations (Cerrad&atilde, o, Cerrado sensu stricto, and seasonal semi-deciduous forest) as well as the Emas National Park, a prominent Cerrado conservation unit. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) to test the potential of the models compiled using a mixture of phytosociological and environmental parameters, including the species, the height of the host plant (H), the circumference of its stem at breast height (CBH), total chlorophyll (TC), bark fissuring (BF) and pH, and illuminance (Lum), to explain the observed variation in the lichen morphotype richness and the percentage cover of the trunks by corticolous lichen morphotypes at the center and edge of the fragments. The central areas invariably had a greater diversity of morphotypes in all the fragments. The morphotypes considered highly sensitive to disturbance were not observed in edge areas, confirming a clear edge effect, as well as the influence of pesticide drift from the adjacent farmland matrix, on the structure of the lichen community. At both the edge and center sites, the larger trees (higher CBH) with less fissured bark tended to have the greatest diversity of lichen morphotypes, and more acidic barks had the greatest lichen cover. The models tested indicated that the variable tree species is an important determinant of the observed patterns of lichen morphotype richness and cover, either on its own or in association with pH or CBH + pH. The analyses also indicated that all the variables tested are important in some way for the definition of the percentage cover of the host trunks. The present study contributes to the understanding of the diversity of the corticolous lichen communities in the remaining fragments of Cerrado vegetation and the effects of the agricultural matrix on this community. The lichen may thus play a role as indicators of impact on other species, these organisms may provide important insights for the further investigation of the disturbance caused by the agricultural matrix on the communities of other groups of organisms.

Hydroponics is an excellent alternative approach for the production of seedlings, given the growing demand for fruiting trees for the reforestation or recuperation of degraded natural landscapes. In most cases, however, little is known about the optimal period for the maintenance of the seedling in the hydroponic system. Given this, we decided to investigate the hypothesis that morpho-anatomical and physiological alterations can be used to predict the optimal timing for the transplantation of the seedlings to the soil substrate, thereby guaranteeing the most cost-effective application of the hydroponic system. We selected Hymenaea courbaril L., an important Neotropical fruit tree, as the model for this study. We cultivated H. courbaril seedlings in a static hydroponic system and evaluated morpho-anatomical, physiological, and growth parameters over the course of seedling development (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after transplantation, DAT). We observed an interesting relationship between the increase in the density (SD) and conductance (gsw) of the stomata up to 120 DAT, which reflected higher rates of photosynthesis (A), but also a reduced efficiency in the use of water. In the subsequent intervals, the SD of the plants and the diameter of the radicular xylemic vessels elements (RVE) decreased, in an attempt to increase the efficiency of the use of this resource. We also observed an increase in the thickness of the palisade parenchyma (PP) prior to 120 DAT, which did not reflect a general increase in the thickness of the mesophyll, indicating an adjustment in the thickness of the spongiform parenchyma (SP). We also observed a progressive increase in photosynthetic efficiency up to 120 DAT, based on parameters such as the absorption flux energy per active reaction center (ABS/RC) and the photosynthetic performance index (PIABS), but after this period these indices decreased progressively. However, as the PIABS is an indicator of the plant&rsquo, s tolerance, its decline was associated with an increase in the dissipation of energy (DI0/RC), which indicates that, after 120 DAT, the plant pots may become a stress factor that limit the growth of H. courbaril seedlings. The results of the present study indicate conclusively that a 120-day period is the optimum for the maintenance of the H. courbaril seedlings in the hydroponic system, and also confirm the hypothesis that the morpho-anatomical and physiological responses observed in the plants can be used to predict the ideal period for the transplantation of the seedlings, contributing to a reduction in production time of the hydroponic system.

Over thousands of years, modernization could be predicted for the use of microorganisms in the production of foods and beverages. However, the current accelerated pace of new food production is due to the rapid incorporation of biotechnological techniques that allow the rapid identification of new molecules and microorganisms or even the genetic improvement of known species. At no other time in history have microorganisms been so present in areas such as agriculture and medicine, except as recognized villains. Currently, however, beneficial microorganisms such as plant growth promoters and phytopathogen controllers are required by various agricultural crops, and many species are being used as biofactories of important pharmacological molecules. The use of biofactories does not end there: microorganisms have been explored for the synthesis of diverse chemicals, fuel molecules, and industrial polymers, and strains environmentally important due to their biodecomposing or biosorption capacity have gained interest in research laboratories and in industrial activities. We call this new microbiology Technological Microbiology, and we believe that complex techniques, such as heterologous expression and metabolic engineering, can be increasingly incorporated into this applied science, allowing the generation of new and improved products and services.

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) seedling production is currently important for the restoration of degraded areas of the Cerrado biome and to supply the demand for its fruits for regional food production. The plants of Cagaita have been described in the literature as resistant to nutrient-poor soils, but the studies remain inconclusive. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that initial E. dysenterica seedling development could be affected by the lack of specific nutrients. We planted seedlings of this species in complete hydroponic solution and under individual macronutrient omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The development of macronutrient deficiency symptoms was visually monitored for 120 days after transplantation in response to the treatment solution, and growth characteristics and tissue contents of different macronutrients were determined. The omissions of Mg and P were the treatments with the strongest effects on seedling growth. The most commonly observed deficiency symptoms were chlorosis and necrosis, in addition to leaf purpling (P deprivation), impaired root hair development (Ca and S deprivation) and a reduced number of leaves (Mg and P deprivation). The macronutrients Ca and N were most accumulated in the shoots and roots of plants subjected to complete nutrient solution, showing the importance of the availability of these nutrients in the initial stages of seedling development for the production of healthy Cagaita plants, with greater viability in the field.

Genetic diversity and its distribution, both within and between populations, may be determined by micro-evolutionary processes, such as the demographic history of populations, natural selection, and gene flow. In plants, indices of genetic diversity (e.g., k, h and &pi, ) and structure (e.g., FST) are typically inferred from sequences of chloroplast markers. Given the recent advances and popularization of molecular techniques for research in population genetics, phylogenetics, phylogeography, and ecology, we adopted a scientometric approach to compile evidence on the recent trends in the use of cpDNA sequences as markers for the analysis of genetic diversity in botanical studies, over the years. We also used phylogenetic modeling to assess the relative contribution of relatedness or ecological and reproductive characters to the genetic diversity of plants. We postulated that genetic diversity could be defined not only by microevolutionary factors and life history traits, but also by relatedness, so that species more closely related phylogenetically would have similar genetic diversities. We found a clear tendency for an increase in the number of studies over time, confirming the hypothesis that the advances in the area of molecular genetics have supported the accumulation of data on the genetic diversity of plants. However, we found that the vast majority of these data have been produced by Chinese authors, and refer specifically to populations of Chinese plants. Most of the data on genetic diversity have been obtained for species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category NE (Not Evaluated), which indicates a relative lack of attention on threatened species. In general, we observed very high FST values in the groups analyzed and, as we focused primarily on species that have not been evaluated by the IUCN, the number of plant species that are threatened with extinction may be much greater than that indicated by the listing of this organization. We also found that the number of haplotypes (k) was influenced by the type of geographic distribution of the plant, while haplotype diversity (h) was affected by the type of flower, and the fixation index (FST), by the type of habitat. The plant species most closely-related phylogenetically have similar levels of genetic diversity. Overall, then, it will important to consider phylogenetic dependence in future studies that evaluate the effects of life-history traits on plant genetic diversity.

Knowledge about the growth and nutritional aspects of Anacardium othonianum Rizz. (’caju-de-arvore-do-cerrado’), which is a native fruit of the Brazilian Cerrado (savannah), is still incipient. The objectives of the present study were to characterize growth and nutrient accumulation of A. othonianum seedlings grown in a nutrient solution. The experiment was designed in randomized complete blocks with four replicates and six treatments, and the experimental period was 180 d after transplanting (DAT). Each treatment corresponded to an evaluation period that was performed every 30 d. During each sampling period, characteristics related to growth and nutrient accumulation in the plant were evaluated. Plant growth was continuous throughout the cycle with the following maximum values at 180 DAT: 16.76 cm for stem length, 8.09 mm for stem, 11.27 leaves per plant for the number of leaves, and 329.60 cm² for leaf area. The monthly rates of plant fresh matter and DM accumulation were 3.15 and 1.05 g, respectively. The accumulation of nutrients in A. othonianum seedlings had the following order: Ca > N > K > P > Mg > S for macronutrients and Fe > Mn > B > Zn > Cu for micronutrients.

Knowledge of the mineral nutrition requirements of mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) is relatively scarce and rudimentary because there is a lack of consistent data concerning its nutritional demands at different developmental stages. The aim of this research was to characterize the visual symptoms of macronutrient deficiencies and to evaluate the effects of these deficiencies on the growth, the production of dry matter, and the leaf content of mangabeira. To achieve this goal, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Goiano Federal Institute (Instituto Federal Goiano) in Rio Verde - GO, from January to June 2011 in which mangabeira plants were arranged in a random block design and grown in nutrient solutions. This experiment was replicated four times. The plants were treated with either a complete nutrient solution or a nutrient solution from which the individual macronutrient of interest (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), or sulfur (S) had been omitted. The omission of a macronutrient from the nutrient solution resulted in morphological alterations that were characteristic symptoms of the particular nutritional deficiency and caused decreases in growth and dry matter mass production. The accumulation of macronutrients displayed the following order in mangabeira leaves: N>K>Ca>P>S>Mg. Os conhecimentos de nutrição mineral da mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) são relativamente escassos e incipientes, faltando dados consistentes sobre sua demanda nutricional desde a fase de viveiro até a fase de produção. Com o objetivo de caracterizar os sintomas visuais de carências de macronutrientes, avaliar os efeitos da deficiência no crescimento, produção de massa da matéria seca e conteúdo foliar de mangabeira, foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação no IF Goiano em Rio Verde - GO, nos períodos de janeiro a junho de 2011, onde plantas de mangaba foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva, no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de solução nutritiva completa e omissão individual de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P), potássio (K), magnésio (Mg), cálcio (Ca) e enxofre (S). A omissão dos nutrientes na solução nutritiva resultou em alterações morfológicas, traduzidas como sintomas característicos de deficiência nutricional, diminuição no crescimento e produção de massa da matéria seca, e o acúmulo de nutrientes apresentou a seguinte ordem decrescente para os macronutrientes: N>K>Ca>P>S>Mg em folhas de mangabeira.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that plants generally require in large amounts. Knowing the nitrogen dose that stimulates primary and secondary metabolic pathways is important for the management of nitrogen fertilisation in plants in general; however, this information is still unavailable for seedlings of the cerrado cashew tree. Based on the hypothesis that the availability of nitrogen for Anacardium othonianum Rizz. seedlings can affect can affect the development of anatomical structures, as well as the synthesis of secondary metabolism compounds in leaves, an experiment was conducted to determine the qualitative and quantitative anatomy this tissue collected from plants of this species subjected to N doses of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 15.0 mmol L−1 in nutrient solution and evaluated the effect at 30 and 90 days after transplanting (DAT). The largest leaf morphoanatomical changes were observed under the doses of 0 and 15.0 mmol L−1 of N. The lowest stomatal density being observed in the plants exposed to an N dose of 15 mmol L−1. The level of flavonoids was not influenced by the availability of N in the solution; however, the absence of nitrogen directly affected the accumulation of phenolic compounds, alkaloids and polysaccharides present in the leaves, whereas the doses of 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mmol L−1 were essential to stimulate the presence of this latter compound in cerrado-cashew-tree seedlings maintained in nutrient solution. Regarding the epochs of evaluation, effect was observed only for the thickness of the adaxial epidermis. These data confirm the hypothesis that the leaf anatomy as well as the accumulation of secondary metabolism compounds in leaves of A. ohonianum can be modified because of the availability of N to the plant.