Bunchosia glanduliera stands out because of the high content of flavonoid compounds in the pulp, contributing to the antioxidant potential of fruit extracts. Another plant species rich in flavonoid compounds is Markha...Bunchosia glanduliera stands out because of the high content of flavonoid compounds in the pulp, contributing to the antioxidant potential of fruit extracts. Another plant species rich in flavonoid compounds is Markhamia tomentosa. However, to perform such an assay, a high-cost instrument is needed. To develop a simple and low-cost method for the determination of flavonoid compounds in M. tomentosa and B. glandulifera with PhotoMetrix<sup>®</sup> program application use pixels of digital imaging as an alternative method and linear correlation techniques for univariate analysis implementing systems of RGB colors (red, green, and blue). To determine the total flavonoids, the reaction with ferric chloride and quercetin was used as a control. For the acquisition of data or smartphones, low-cost materials were used, demonstrating the applicability of this analytical tool while comparing its cost to other analytical instrumentation. The total flavonoid content was also determined using a spectrophotometry technique in the visible ultraviolet spectrum (UV-Vis). The pulp of B. glandulifera showed the highest content of flavonoid compounds. The content of flavonoid compounds found in the fruit of B. glandulifera was 259.54 mg 100 g<sup>-1</sup>. In relation to the results found in the analysis of total flavonoids of M. tomentosa can be observed in the flower in natura has a higher content of these compounds. The use of PhotoMetrix<sup>®</sup> for the determination of flavonoid compounds in M. tomentosa and B. glandulifera reduced expense and analysis time. The method is reproducible and efficient. The proposed method can be adopted in different species.展开更多
Sound contains mechanical signals that can promote physiological and biochemical changes in plants.Insects produce different sounds in the environment,which may be relevant to plant behavior.Thus,we evaluated whether ...Sound contains mechanical signals that can promote physiological and biochemical changes in plants.Insects produce different sounds in the environment,which may be relevant to plant behavior.Thus,we evaluated whether signaling cascades are regulated differently by ecological sounds and whether they trigger molecular responses following those produced by herbivorous insects.Soybean plants were treated with two different sounds:chewing herbivore and forest ambient.The responses were markedly distinct,indicating that sound signals may also trigger specific cascades.Enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism were responsive to both sounds,while salicylic acid(SA)was responsive only to the chewing sound.In contrast,lipoxygenase(LOX)activity and jasmonic acid(JA)did not change.Soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor gene(SKTI)and Bowman-Birk(BBI)genes,encoding for protease inhibitors,were induced by chewing sound.Chewing sound-induced high expression of the pathogenesis-related protein(PR1)gene,confirming the activation of SA-dependent cascades.In contrast,the sound treatments promoted modifications in different branches of the phenylpropanoid pathway,highlighting a tendency for increased flavonols for plants under chewing sounds.Accordingly,chewing sounds induced pathogenesis-related protein(PR10/Bet v-1)and gmFLS1 flavonol synthase(FLS1)genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and flavonols.Finally,our results propose that plants may recognize herbivores by their chewing sound and that different ecological sounds can trigger distinct signaling cascades.展开更多
Growing climate change concerns have intensified the focus on agribusiness sustainability,driving an urgent energy transition to improve production efficiency and mitigate environmental harm.The complex interplay betw...Growing climate change concerns have intensified the focus on agribusiness sustainability,driving an urgent energy transition to improve production efficiency and mitigate environmental harm.The complex interplay between energy efficiency and energy consumption highlights the essential role of strategic energy policies in ensuring sustainable development.This study used the Double-Log regression model with bootstrap resampling to examine the rebound effect in the energy transition of agribusiness focusing on five Latin American countries including Brazil,Argentina,Uruguay,Colombia,and Mexico based on the agricultural sector data during 2010–2022.The findings revealed that the rebound effect significantly influences energy transition,with varying degrees of impact across agricultural sectors.This study identified partial rebound effect across all five countries,with elasticity coefficient varying from 9.63%(Colombia’s coffee sector)to 89.12%(Brazil’s livestock sector).In Brazil’s sugarcane sector,nonrenewable energy,agricultural employment,and irrigation efficiency were identified as key factors influencing energy consumption,while in livestock sector,energy consumption was affected by CH_(4)emissions,income and well-being of farmers,water consumption,and water conservation practices.In Mexico’s livestock sector,CH_(4)emissions,nonrenewable energy,and water conservation practices were the key factors affecting energy consumption.In Argentina’s sugarcane sector,pesticides,NO_(2)emissions,renewable energy,and agricultural employment were the key factors affecting energy consumption,while renewable energy,income and well-being of farmers,and water consumption were the key factors affecting energy consumption in livestock sector.In Uruguay’s livestock sector,non-renewable energy,income and well-being of farmers,and irrigation efficiency were the key factors affecting energy consumption.In Colombia’coffee sector,NO_(2)emissions and irrigation efficiency were identified as key factors influencing energy consumption.Finally,this study reinforces the importance of aligning energy transition with Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),ensuring that energy efficiency gains do not inadvertently increase energy consumption or environmental degradation.展开更多
Global change threatens mountainous plant communities,causing habitat displacement.Phylogenetic studies reveal evolutionary and ecological processes in community assembly.We examined taxonomic and phylogenetic diversi...Global change threatens mountainous plant communities,causing habitat displacement.Phylogenetic studies reveal evolutionary and ecological processes in community assembly.We examined taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in Andean Páramos across altitudes.Our hypotheses were that increasing altitude is an environmental filter,as altitude is expected to be a stronger variable than soil depth.The Páramos,alpine vegetation in the Andes,range from 3,000 to 4,700 meters,with our plots spanning 3,200 to 4,100 meters.Sampling was conducted at six altitudinal levels,measuring soil depth,taxonomic,and phylogenetic diversity.Data analysis employed multiple linear regressions and mixed-effects models to assess the effects of soil depth and altitude.We sampled 110 angiosperm species from 70 genera,30 families,and 18 orders.Asterales and Poales were prominent.Species richness generally decreased with altitude but increased at the summit.Soil depth affected species richness and taxonomic diversity,while altitude did not.Phylogenetic diversity increased with soil depth and decreased with altitude.Phylogenetic turnover increased with altitude differences.The hypothesis that increasing altitude intensifies environmental filtering in the altitudeadapted Páramos resulting in lower species richness and more clustered phylogenetic structures,was rejected.Although species richness,Shannon diversity,and Simpson diversity decreased initially with increasing altitude,this trend was not linear because the summit presented intermediate species richness.The hypothesis that altitude is a stronger explanatory variable than soil depth was also rejected.Despite expectations,taxonomic results did not support altitude as an environmental filter,but soil depth.Greater altitude differences increased beta phylogenetic dissimilarity,supporting niche conservatism.展开更多
Background Zonal application maps are designed to represent field variability using key variables that can be translated into tailored management practices.For cotton,zonal maps for crop growth regulator(CGR)applicati...Background Zonal application maps are designed to represent field variability using key variables that can be translated into tailored management practices.For cotton,zonal maps for crop growth regulator(CGR)applications under variable-rate(VR)strategies are commonly based exclusively on vegetation indices(VIs)variability.However,VIs often saturate in dense crop vegetation areas,limiting their effectiveness in distinguishing variability in crop growth.This study aimed to compare unsupervised framework(UF)and supervised framework(SUF)approaches for generat-ing zonal application maps for CGR under VR conditions.During 2022-2023 agricultural seasons,an UF was employed to generate zonal maps based on locally collected field data on plant height of cotton,satellite imagery,soil texture,and phenology data.Subsequently,a SUF(based on historical data between 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 agricultural seasons)was developed to predict plant height using remote sensing and phenology data,aiming to replicate same zonal maps but without relying on direct field measurements of plant height.Both approaches were tested in three fields and on two different dates per field.Results The predictive model for plant height of SUF performed well,as indicated by the model metrics.However,when comparing zonal application maps for specific field-date combinations,the predicted plant height exhibited lower variability compared with field measurements.This led to variable compatibility between SUF maps,which utilized the model predictions,and the UF maps,which were based on the real field data.Fields characterized by much pronounced soil texture variability yielded the highest compatibility between the zonal application maps produced by both SUF and UF approaches.This was predominantly due to the greater consistency in estimating plant development patterns within these heterogeneous field environments.While VR application approach can facilitate product savings during the application operation,other key factors must be considered.These include the availability of specialized machinery required for this type of applications,as well as the inherent operational costs associated with applying a single CGR product which differs from the typical uniform rate applications that often integrate multi-ple inputs.Conclusion Predictive modeling shows promise for assisting in the creation of zonal application maps for VR of CGR applications.However,the degree of agreement with the actual variability in crop growth found in the field should be evaluated on a field-by-field basis.The SUF approach,which is based on plant heigh prediction,demonstrated potential for supporting the development of zonal application maps for VR of CGR applications.However,the degree to which this approach aligns itself with the actual variability in crop growth observed in the field may vary,necessi-tating field-by-field evaluation.展开更多
This work shows that despite a lattice mismatch of almost 20%, CdMnTe/CdTe/CdMnTe heterostructures grown directly on Si(111) have surprisingly good optical emission properties. The investigated structures were grown b...This work shows that despite a lattice mismatch of almost 20%, CdMnTe/CdTe/CdMnTe heterostructures grown directly on Si(111) have surprisingly good optical emission properties. The investigated structures were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy, macro-and micro-photoluminescence. Low temperature macro-photoluminescence experiments indicate three emission bands which depend on the CdTe layer thickness and have different confinement characteristics. Temperature measurements reveal that the lower energy emission band (at 1.48 eV)is associated to defects and bound exciton states, while the main emission at 1.61 eV has a weak 2D character and the higher energy one at 1.71 eV has a well-defined (zero-dimensional, 0D) 0D nature. Micro-photoluminescence measurements show the existence of sharp and strongly circularly polarized (up to 40%) emission lines which can be related to the presence of Mn in the heterostructure. This result opens the possibility of producing photon sources with the typical spin control of the diluted magnetic semiconductors using the low-cost silicon technology.展开更多
Background Anthonomus grandis grandis is the main cotton pest in the Americas,with the potential to become a pest in other continents.The insect uses the plant's reproductive organs for feeding,oviposition,and sur...Background Anthonomus grandis grandis is the main cotton pest in the Americas,with the potential to become a pest in other continents.The insect uses the plant's reproductive organs for feeding,oviposition,and survival strategies in the off-season,sheltering in dry bolls.This study aimed to know the reproductive potential,feeding,longevity,and morphometric characteristics of boll weevils from dry bolls,squares,and traps.Adults were obtained from infested squares,dry bolls,and traps installed in cotton fields and the Caatinga area.Thirty weevil pairs were maintained in the laboratory to assess the oviposition,feeding holes,longevity,and morphometric measurements of the parental and F_(1) generations.Results In the parental generation,boll weevils from traps(the Caatinga area and cotton cultivation)showed greater reproductive potential.Boll weevils from squares and the Caatinga area showed greater feeding activity compared with those from cotton cultivation.Greater rostrum length,thorax+abdomen length,and abdomen width were observed in boll weevils from cotton cultivation and dry bolls.The origin of boll weevils parental generation did not affect progeny emergence time.The F_(1) generation of boll weevils showed significant differences in average longevity depending on the origin of different microhabitats.Furthermore,differences in rostrum lengths were observed,with the boll weevils coming from traps installed in cotton cultivation,the Caatinga area,and dry bolls being the largest.Regarding thorax+abdomen length and abdomen width,the highest values were observed in those from the Caatinga area and cotton cultivation.Conclusion It was proven that dry bolls did not affect the reproductive,feeding,and longevity performance of boll weevils,enabling better insect fitness(reproduction and size)in relation to those coming from squares.The use of dry bolls as off-season shelter is an important survival strategy for the boll weevil.展开更多
1背景儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(obstructive sleep apnea,OSA)是指儿童睡眠过程中频繁发生部分或完全上气道阻塞,干扰儿童的正常通气和睡眠结构而引起的一系列病理生理变化[1]。OSA作为儿童睡眠呼吸障碍(sleep-disordered breathing,SDB...1背景儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(obstructive sleep apnea,OSA)是指儿童睡眠过程中频繁发生部分或完全上气道阻塞,干扰儿童的正常通气和睡眠结构而引起的一系列病理生理变化[1]。OSA作为儿童睡眠呼吸障碍(sleep-disordered breathing,SDB)疾病中危害最为严重的疾病,因其较高的患病率和严重的远期并发症,越来越受到家长和社会的重视。2012年美国儿科学会(American Academy of Pediatrics,AAP)指南指出儿童OSA患病率为1.2%~5.7%[2],2010年中国香港地区报道儿童OSA的患病率为4.8%[3]。展开更多
Elucidating how multiple factors affect biodiversity and plant community assembly is a central issue in ecology,especially in vulnerable ecosystems such as tropical mountains.These studies are more relevant in global ...Elucidating how multiple factors affect biodiversity and plant community assembly is a central issue in ecology,especially in vulnerable ecosystems such as tropical mountains.These studies are more relevant in global warming scenarios that induce the upward displacement of plant species towards reduced habitats and hostile environments in tropical mountains.This study aimed to analyze how altitude affects taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in plant communities of tropical mountains.Thus,we tested if(i)increased altitude works as an environmental filtering promoting decreased species richness,decreased phylogenetic diversity,and increased phylogenetic clustering in these tropical mountains;and if(ii)plant communities of high altitude in tropical mountains are also result of recent diversification with plant species recently split shortening phylogenetic distances between closest related species.We tested effects of altitude on species richness and phylogenetic metrics using linear mixed-effects models.Mount Haleakala presented 114 species,Mount Kilimanjaro presented 231 species and Mount Purace presented 280 species.We found an environmental filtering effect with increasing altitude causing phylogenetic clustering,decreased phylogenetic diversity and decreased species richness.The decreasing phylogenetic distances between closest relatives are congruent with neo-endemics,suggesting recent plant diversification in high altitudes of tropical mountains,possibly driven by geographic isolation and environmental heterogeneity.Consequences of global warming should be monitored in tropical mountains focusing on distribution shifts.展开更多
Background:Ruminants rely upon a complex community of microbes in their rumen to convert host-indigestible feed into nutrients.However,little is known about the association between the rumen microbiota and feed effici...Background:Ruminants rely upon a complex community of microbes in their rumen to convert host-indigestible feed into nutrients.However,little is known about the association between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency traits in Nellore(Bos indicus)cattle,a breed of major economic importance to the global beef market.Here,we compare the composition of the bacterial,archaeal and fungal communities in the rumen of Nellore steers with high and low feed efficiency(FE)phenotypes,as measured by residual feed intake(RFI).Results:The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly higher(P<0.05)in positive-RFI steers(p-RFI,low feed efficiency)than in negative-RFI(n-RFI,high feed efficiency)steers.The differences in bacterial composition from steers with high and low FE were mainly associated with members of the families Lachnospiraceae,Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae,as well as the genus Prevotella.Archaeal community richness was lower(P<0.05)in p-RFI than in n-RFI steers and the genus Methanobrevibacter was either increased or exclusive of p-RFI steers.The fungal genus Buwchfawromyces was more abundant in the rumen solid fraction of n-RFI steers(P<0.05)and a highly abundant OTU belonging to the genus Piromyces was also increased in the rumen microbiota of highefficiency steers.However,analysis of rumen fermentation variables and functional predictions indicated similar metabolic outputs for the microbiota of distinct FE groups.Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that differences in the ruminal microbiota of high and low FE Nellore steers comprise specific taxa from the bacterial,archaeal and fungal communities.Biomarker OTUs belonging to the genus Piromyces were identified in animals showing high feed efficiency,whereas among archaea,Methanobrevibacter was associated with steers classified as p-RFI.The identification of specific RFI-associated microorganisms in Nellore steers could guide further studies targeting the isolation and functional characterization of rumen microbes potentially important for the energy-harvesting efficiency of ruminants.展开更多
Understanding how soil fertility changes due to environmental conditions and stand-age-dependent forest attributes is important for local-scale forest restoration.We evaluated the effects of stand-age-dependent forest...Understanding how soil fertility changes due to environmental conditions and stand-age-dependent forest attributes is important for local-scale forest restoration.We evaluated the effects of stand-age-dependent forest attributes(plant community composition and litter stock)on soil and technosol fertility across two second-growth Atlantic forests(SGF)after the deposition of mining tailings in Mariana,southeastern Brazil.We hypothesized that technosol fertility in the SGF tailings is positively affected by plant community composition variability,stand age,and litter stock.We used total exchangeable bases and organic matter as fertility indicators for technosol and soil,and species composition and litter stock as stand-age-dependent forest attributes.Our results showed significant differences in the stand-age-dependent forest attributes and soil chemical properties between the two forest patches(SGF tailing and SGF non-tailing)evaluated.Thus,there was a marked gradient of litter storage and fertility between soil and technosol that can be important forest recovery indicators for the affected plant communities.Furthermore,according to the tested models,we corroborated the hypothesis that technosol fertility is positively affected by stand age,plant community composition variability,and litter stock,which may contribute considerably to forest recovery on tailings.Our results demonstrate that the fertility predictors analyzed to explain the forest recovery on tailings can also be considered as ecological indicators for assessing forest restoration in areas impacted by mining tailings in Mariana.展开更多
Elucidating woody community diversity and structure change along environmental gradients is still a central issue of tropical forest ecology. We have evaluated changes in alpha and beta diversity, community compositio...Elucidating woody community diversity and structure change along environmental gradients is still a central issue of tropical forest ecology. We have evaluated changes in alpha and beta diversity, community composition and structure of woody communities along an elevational gradient in Dwarf Cloud Forests, Southeast Brazil. We selected five areas along an elevational gradient(1,300-1,600 m asl), and randomly allocated 10 plots(10 m × 20 m) in each area in the Ibitipoca State Park(ISP), Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil. All woody species(diameter at breast height ≥ 5.0 cm) were collected for taxonomic identification. Thus, we analysed the woody communities based on a phytosociological approach. Overall, 147 species and 37 families were recorded, distributed in 2,303 individuals. No differences in the species richness pattern were observed between areas using the rarefaction and extrapolation curves. Significant differences in species composition and structure between areas were observed. The high beta diversity observed, corroborated by the Jaccard coefficient, increases with decreasing altitude. Our results showed that woody communities in the studied Dwarf Cloud Forests have a higher diversity and structural variability along elevational gradient.展开更多
Proteomics techniques were used to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the defense of tomato against late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Proteins were extracted from resistant access BGH-2127 and susceptible ...Proteomics techniques were used to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the defense of tomato against late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Proteins were extracted from resistant access BGH-2127 and susceptible cultivar “Santa Clara”. Leaves of the inoculated and non-inoculated (control) genotypes were collected at 0, 2, and 48 h after inoculation and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), followed by identification with mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-TOF). A total of 56 differentially abundant proteins were identified, of which 39 were resistant genotypes and 17 were susceptible. These proteins were categorized into functional groups of energy and metabolism, photosynthesis, stress and defense, transcription, other proteins, and as un-characterized ones. For access BGH-2127, oxidative stress proteins (2-cis peroxiedoxin BAS1 and 2-cis peroxiredoxin) and thaumatin-like protein showed increase in the relative abundance at 0 and 48 h of inoculation, respectively, and were therefore considered important for the defense mechanism of this genotype. The expression standards evaluated by real-time PCR differed from the results of the proteomic analysis. The protein-protein interaction networks provided important information on the cellular activities involved in the resistance of BGH-2127 late blight.展开更多
Identification and deployment of high-yielding and stress-tolerant maize hybrids adapted to stress-prone agro-ecologies is important for improving the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in eastern Af...Identification and deployment of high-yielding and stress-tolerant maize hybrids adapted to stress-prone agro-ecologies is important for improving the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in eastern Africa.The objectives of this study were to(i)assess the performance of maize hybrids under well-watered and drought stress conditions;(ii)evaluate grain yield stability of 65 intermediate-maturing and 55 early-maturing hybrids in 24 well-watered locations and seven drought stress locations;and(iii)identify representative and/or discriminative testing locations for increasing genetic gains for the target traits.There were significant differences for grain yield among early-and intermediatematuring hybrids tested under well-watered and drought stress environments.Among the early-maturing hybrids,the top 10 hybrids produced 46.8%–73.9%and 31.2%–42.1%higher mean grain yields than the best commercial check under drought and well-watered conditions,respectively.Among the intermediate-maturing hybrids,the top 10 hybrids produced 25.2%–47.7%and 8.5%–13.5%higher grain yield than commercial checks under drought stress and well-watered conditions,respectively,suggesting improvement in the levels of drought tolerance in both early-and intermediate-maturing hybrids.GGE biplot analysis and a bi-segmented regression linear method identified specific early-maturing and intermediate-maturing hybrids that performed well under both well-watered and drought stress conditions.These hybrids could be recommended for commercial production in eastern Africa.Kakamega in Kenya was found to be the most representative and highly discriminating site among well-watered testing locations,while Kabuku in Tanzania was the least representative of test locations.For testing under drought stress conditions,Kiboko in Kenya was identified as the most representative location.This information could be useful for allocating resources and streamlining CIMMYT maize hybrid testing in eastern Africa.展开更多
Evaluating the influences of fine-scale habitat heterogeneity on the composition,diversity,structure and functioning of forests is critical to understand how tropical forests will respond to climate change and devise ...Evaluating the influences of fine-scale habitat heterogeneity on the composition,diversity,structure and functioning of forests is critical to understand how tropical forests will respond to climate change and devise forest management strategies that will enhance biodiversity conservation and aboveground biomass stock.Here,we hypothesized that topographic and soil factors determine fine-scale habitat differentiation,which in turn shape community composition,species richness,structure and aboveground biomass at the local scale in tropical forests.To test this hypothesis,we selected two areas(each 100×100 m)with contrasting fine-scale topographic conditions where all trees,palms and lianas with a diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm were tagged and identified to species.In each selected area,100 subplots of 10×10 m were established.We mainly found that higher topographic variability caused higher habitat differentiation with changes in species composition and community structure,but did not change species richness.Our habitat-scale analyses indicated that,in the less heterogeneous area,the distribution of species was more uniform along a fine-scale topographical gradient with no variation in convexity,which induced changes in structure and aboveground biomass,but not in species richness.The nonsignificant relationship between species richness and aboveground biomass may be attributable to species redundancy or functional dominance.This study suggests that environmental filtering is a fundamental process for shaping community assembly and forest functioning along a local topographical gradient in tropical forests.展开更多
New variola(NV)-mpox(monkeypox)-is a zoonosis caused by the mpox virus,which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae.This disease,in the present year(2022),has caused several cases and deaths aroun...New variola(NV)-mpox(monkeypox)-is a zoonosis caused by the mpox virus,which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae.This disease,in the present year(2022),has caused several cases and deaths around the world,including Brazil[1].The group of poxviruses,in which the species that causes NV is included,consists of agents widely distributed in nature.Due to their considerably large size,they were among the first viruses to be microscopically visualized.The Poxviridae family is capable of infecting epithelial and connective tissue cells.Currently,such a viral family is classified as a genome lineage composed of doublestranded DNA,completely independent of the host nucleus[1].展开更多
文摘Bunchosia glanduliera stands out because of the high content of flavonoid compounds in the pulp, contributing to the antioxidant potential of fruit extracts. Another plant species rich in flavonoid compounds is Markhamia tomentosa. However, to perform such an assay, a high-cost instrument is needed. To develop a simple and low-cost method for the determination of flavonoid compounds in M. tomentosa and B. glandulifera with PhotoMetrix<sup>®</sup> program application use pixels of digital imaging as an alternative method and linear correlation techniques for univariate analysis implementing systems of RGB colors (red, green, and blue). To determine the total flavonoids, the reaction with ferric chloride and quercetin was used as a control. For the acquisition of data or smartphones, low-cost materials were used, demonstrating the applicability of this analytical tool while comparing its cost to other analytical instrumentation. The total flavonoid content was also determined using a spectrophotometry technique in the visible ultraviolet spectrum (UV-Vis). The pulp of B. glandulifera showed the highest content of flavonoid compounds. The content of flavonoid compounds found in the fruit of B. glandulifera was 259.54 mg 100 g<sup>-1</sup>. In relation to the results found in the analysis of total flavonoids of M. tomentosa can be observed in the flower in natura has a higher content of these compounds. The use of PhotoMetrix<sup>®</sup> for the determination of flavonoid compounds in M. tomentosa and B. glandulifera reduced expense and analysis time. The method is reproducible and efficient. The proposed method can be adopted in different species.
文摘Sound contains mechanical signals that can promote physiological and biochemical changes in plants.Insects produce different sounds in the environment,which may be relevant to plant behavior.Thus,we evaluated whether signaling cascades are regulated differently by ecological sounds and whether they trigger molecular responses following those produced by herbivorous insects.Soybean plants were treated with two different sounds:chewing herbivore and forest ambient.The responses were markedly distinct,indicating that sound signals may also trigger specific cascades.Enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism were responsive to both sounds,while salicylic acid(SA)was responsive only to the chewing sound.In contrast,lipoxygenase(LOX)activity and jasmonic acid(JA)did not change.Soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor gene(SKTI)and Bowman-Birk(BBI)genes,encoding for protease inhibitors,were induced by chewing sound.Chewing sound-induced high expression of the pathogenesis-related protein(PR1)gene,confirming the activation of SA-dependent cascades.In contrast,the sound treatments promoted modifications in different branches of the phenylpropanoid pathway,highlighting a tendency for increased flavonols for plants under chewing sounds.Accordingly,chewing sounds induced pathogenesis-related protein(PR10/Bet v-1)and gmFLS1 flavonol synthase(FLS1)genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and flavonols.Finally,our results propose that plants may recognize herbivores by their chewing sound and that different ecological sounds can trigger distinct signaling cascades.
文摘Growing climate change concerns have intensified the focus on agribusiness sustainability,driving an urgent energy transition to improve production efficiency and mitigate environmental harm.The complex interplay between energy efficiency and energy consumption highlights the essential role of strategic energy policies in ensuring sustainable development.This study used the Double-Log regression model with bootstrap resampling to examine the rebound effect in the energy transition of agribusiness focusing on five Latin American countries including Brazil,Argentina,Uruguay,Colombia,and Mexico based on the agricultural sector data during 2010–2022.The findings revealed that the rebound effect significantly influences energy transition,with varying degrees of impact across agricultural sectors.This study identified partial rebound effect across all five countries,with elasticity coefficient varying from 9.63%(Colombia’s coffee sector)to 89.12%(Brazil’s livestock sector).In Brazil’s sugarcane sector,nonrenewable energy,agricultural employment,and irrigation efficiency were identified as key factors influencing energy consumption,while in livestock sector,energy consumption was affected by CH_(4)emissions,income and well-being of farmers,water consumption,and water conservation practices.In Mexico’s livestock sector,CH_(4)emissions,nonrenewable energy,and water conservation practices were the key factors affecting energy consumption.In Argentina’s sugarcane sector,pesticides,NO_(2)emissions,renewable energy,and agricultural employment were the key factors affecting energy consumption,while renewable energy,income and well-being of farmers,and water consumption were the key factors affecting energy consumption in livestock sector.In Uruguay’s livestock sector,non-renewable energy,income and well-being of farmers,and irrigation efficiency were the key factors affecting energy consumption.In Colombia’coffee sector,NO_(2)emissions and irrigation efficiency were identified as key factors influencing energy consumption.Finally,this study reinforces the importance of aligning energy transition with Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),ensuring that energy efficiency gains do not inadvertently increase energy consumption or environmental degradation.
基金the Botany Graduate Program of Universidade Federal de Vicosa - PPGBot-UFV for the infrastructure and scholarshipsprovided by FAPEMIG (FORTIS/PPGBot-UFV, PPM00584-16, APQ-01309-16)+1 种基金CAPES (PROAP and Pr Int/PPGBot-UFV)CNPq (307591/2016-6, 306335/2020-4)
文摘Global change threatens mountainous plant communities,causing habitat displacement.Phylogenetic studies reveal evolutionary and ecological processes in community assembly.We examined taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in Andean Páramos across altitudes.Our hypotheses were that increasing altitude is an environmental filter,as altitude is expected to be a stronger variable than soil depth.The Páramos,alpine vegetation in the Andes,range from 3,000 to 4,700 meters,with our plots spanning 3,200 to 4,100 meters.Sampling was conducted at six altitudinal levels,measuring soil depth,taxonomic,and phylogenetic diversity.Data analysis employed multiple linear regressions and mixed-effects models to assess the effects of soil depth and altitude.We sampled 110 angiosperm species from 70 genera,30 families,and 18 orders.Asterales and Poales were prominent.Species richness generally decreased with altitude but increased at the summit.Soil depth affected species richness and taxonomic diversity,while altitude did not.Phylogenetic diversity increased with soil depth and decreased with altitude.Phylogenetic turnover increased with altitude differences.The hypothesis that increasing altitude intensifies environmental filtering in the altitudeadapted Páramos resulting in lower species richness and more clustered phylogenetic structures,was rejected.Although species richness,Shannon diversity,and Simpson diversity decreased initially with increasing altitude,this trend was not linear because the summit presented intermediate species richness.The hypothesis that altitude is a stronger explanatory variable than soil depth was also rejected.Despite expectations,taxonomic results did not support altitude as an environmental filter,but soil depth.Greater altitude differences increased beta phylogenetic dissimilarity,supporting niche conservatism.
文摘Background Zonal application maps are designed to represent field variability using key variables that can be translated into tailored management practices.For cotton,zonal maps for crop growth regulator(CGR)applications under variable-rate(VR)strategies are commonly based exclusively on vegetation indices(VIs)variability.However,VIs often saturate in dense crop vegetation areas,limiting their effectiveness in distinguishing variability in crop growth.This study aimed to compare unsupervised framework(UF)and supervised framework(SUF)approaches for generat-ing zonal application maps for CGR under VR conditions.During 2022-2023 agricultural seasons,an UF was employed to generate zonal maps based on locally collected field data on plant height of cotton,satellite imagery,soil texture,and phenology data.Subsequently,a SUF(based on historical data between 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 agricultural seasons)was developed to predict plant height using remote sensing and phenology data,aiming to replicate same zonal maps but without relying on direct field measurements of plant height.Both approaches were tested in three fields and on two different dates per field.Results The predictive model for plant height of SUF performed well,as indicated by the model metrics.However,when comparing zonal application maps for specific field-date combinations,the predicted plant height exhibited lower variability compared with field measurements.This led to variable compatibility between SUF maps,which utilized the model predictions,and the UF maps,which were based on the real field data.Fields characterized by much pronounced soil texture variability yielded the highest compatibility between the zonal application maps produced by both SUF and UF approaches.This was predominantly due to the greater consistency in estimating plant development patterns within these heterogeneous field environments.While VR application approach can facilitate product savings during the application operation,other key factors must be considered.These include the availability of specialized machinery required for this type of applications,as well as the inherent operational costs associated with applying a single CGR product which differs from the typical uniform rate applications that often integrate multi-ple inputs.Conclusion Predictive modeling shows promise for assisting in the creation of zonal application maps for VR of CGR applications.However,the degree of agreement with the actual variability in crop growth found in the field should be evaluated on a field-by-field basis.The SUF approach,which is based on plant heigh prediction,demonstrated potential for supporting the development of zonal application maps for VR of CGR applications.However,the degree to which this approach aligns itself with the actual variability in crop growth observed in the field may vary,necessi-tating field-by-field evaluation.
基金the financial support by the Brazilian funding agencies CAPES, CNPq (306201/2022-4)FAPEMIG (APQ-00371-17, APQ-02500-22, APQ-00388-22, and RED00223-23)FAPESP (2021/06803-4)。
文摘This work shows that despite a lattice mismatch of almost 20%, CdMnTe/CdTe/CdMnTe heterostructures grown directly on Si(111) have surprisingly good optical emission properties. The investigated structures were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy, macro-and micro-photoluminescence. Low temperature macro-photoluminescence experiments indicate three emission bands which depend on the CdTe layer thickness and have different confinement characteristics. Temperature measurements reveal that the lower energy emission band (at 1.48 eV)is associated to defects and bound exciton states, while the main emission at 1.61 eV has a weak 2D character and the higher energy one at 1.71 eV has a well-defined (zero-dimensional, 0D) 0D nature. Micro-photoluminescence measurements show the existence of sharp and strongly circularly polarized (up to 40%) emission lines which can be related to the presence of Mn in the heterostructure. This result opens the possibility of producing photon sources with the typical spin control of the diluted magnetic semiconductors using the low-cost silicon technology.
基金supported by Fundacao de Amparoà Pesquisa do Estado da Bahiathe Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Foundation(Finance Code 001)for financial supportBahia Association of Cotton Producers。
文摘Background Anthonomus grandis grandis is the main cotton pest in the Americas,with the potential to become a pest in other continents.The insect uses the plant's reproductive organs for feeding,oviposition,and survival strategies in the off-season,sheltering in dry bolls.This study aimed to know the reproductive potential,feeding,longevity,and morphometric characteristics of boll weevils from dry bolls,squares,and traps.Adults were obtained from infested squares,dry bolls,and traps installed in cotton fields and the Caatinga area.Thirty weevil pairs were maintained in the laboratory to assess the oviposition,feeding holes,longevity,and morphometric measurements of the parental and F_(1) generations.Results In the parental generation,boll weevils from traps(the Caatinga area and cotton cultivation)showed greater reproductive potential.Boll weevils from squares and the Caatinga area showed greater feeding activity compared with those from cotton cultivation.Greater rostrum length,thorax+abdomen length,and abdomen width were observed in boll weevils from cotton cultivation and dry bolls.The origin of boll weevils parental generation did not affect progeny emergence time.The F_(1) generation of boll weevils showed significant differences in average longevity depending on the origin of different microhabitats.Furthermore,differences in rostrum lengths were observed,with the boll weevils coming from traps installed in cotton cultivation,the Caatinga area,and dry bolls being the largest.Regarding thorax+abdomen length and abdomen width,the highest values were observed in those from the Caatinga area and cotton cultivation.Conclusion It was proven that dry bolls did not affect the reproductive,feeding,and longevity performance of boll weevils,enabling better insect fitness(reproduction and size)in relation to those coming from squares.The use of dry bolls as off-season shelter is an important survival strategy for the boll weevil.
文摘1背景儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(obstructive sleep apnea,OSA)是指儿童睡眠过程中频繁发生部分或完全上气道阻塞,干扰儿童的正常通气和睡眠结构而引起的一系列病理生理变化[1]。OSA作为儿童睡眠呼吸障碍(sleep-disordered breathing,SDB)疾病中危害最为严重的疾病,因其较高的患病率和严重的远期并发症,越来越受到家长和社会的重视。2012年美国儿科学会(American Academy of Pediatrics,AAP)指南指出儿童OSA患病率为1.2%~5.7%[2],2010年中国香港地区报道儿童OSA的患病率为4.8%[3]。
基金provided by FAPEMIG(FORTIS/PPGBot-UFV,PPM-00584-16,APQ‐01309‐16)CAPES(PROAP and PrInt/PPGBot-UFV),CNPq(307591/2016‐6,306335/2020-4).
文摘Elucidating how multiple factors affect biodiversity and plant community assembly is a central issue in ecology,especially in vulnerable ecosystems such as tropical mountains.These studies are more relevant in global warming scenarios that induce the upward displacement of plant species towards reduced habitats and hostile environments in tropical mountains.This study aimed to analyze how altitude affects taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in plant communities of tropical mountains.Thus,we tested if(i)increased altitude works as an environmental filtering promoting decreased species richness,decreased phylogenetic diversity,and increased phylogenetic clustering in these tropical mountains;and if(ii)plant communities of high altitude in tropical mountains are also result of recent diversification with plant species recently split shortening phylogenetic distances between closest related species.We tested effects of altitude on species richness and phylogenetic metrics using linear mixed-effects models.Mount Haleakala presented 114 species,Mount Kilimanjaro presented 231 species and Mount Purace presented 280 species.We found an environmental filtering effect with increasing altitude causing phylogenetic clustering,decreased phylogenetic diversity and decreased species richness.The decreasing phylogenetic distances between closest relatives are congruent with neo-endemics,suggesting recent plant diversification in high altitudes of tropical mountains,possibly driven by geographic isolation and environmental heterogeneity.Consequences of global warming should be monitored in tropical mountains focusing on distribution shifts.
基金supported by Fundação de AmparoàPesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais-FAPEMIG[grant number APQ-02171-15]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq[grant number PVE 313792/2014-3]+3 种基金Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES/Proex PPGMBA/UFV[grant number 0001]the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Ciência Animal-INCT-CAThis work was also supported by a traineeship from the National Institute of AllergyInfectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health[grant number T32AI55397]to ALR.
文摘Background:Ruminants rely upon a complex community of microbes in their rumen to convert host-indigestible feed into nutrients.However,little is known about the association between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency traits in Nellore(Bos indicus)cattle,a breed of major economic importance to the global beef market.Here,we compare the composition of the bacterial,archaeal and fungal communities in the rumen of Nellore steers with high and low feed efficiency(FE)phenotypes,as measured by residual feed intake(RFI).Results:The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly higher(P<0.05)in positive-RFI steers(p-RFI,low feed efficiency)than in negative-RFI(n-RFI,high feed efficiency)steers.The differences in bacterial composition from steers with high and low FE were mainly associated with members of the families Lachnospiraceae,Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae,as well as the genus Prevotella.Archaeal community richness was lower(P<0.05)in p-RFI than in n-RFI steers and the genus Methanobrevibacter was either increased or exclusive of p-RFI steers.The fungal genus Buwchfawromyces was more abundant in the rumen solid fraction of n-RFI steers(P<0.05)and a highly abundant OTU belonging to the genus Piromyces was also increased in the rumen microbiota of highefficiency steers.However,analysis of rumen fermentation variables and functional predictions indicated similar metabolic outputs for the microbiota of distinct FE groups.Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that differences in the ruminal microbiota of high and low FE Nellore steers comprise specific taxa from the bacterial,archaeal and fungal communities.Biomarker OTUs belonging to the genus Piromyces were identified in animals showing high feed efficiency,whereas among archaea,Methanobrevibacter was associated with steers classified as p-RFI.The identification of specific RFI-associated microorganisms in Nellore steers could guide further studies targeting the isolation and functional characterization of rumen microbes potentially important for the energy-harvesting efficiency of ruminants.
文摘Understanding how soil fertility changes due to environmental conditions and stand-age-dependent forest attributes is important for local-scale forest restoration.We evaluated the effects of stand-age-dependent forest attributes(plant community composition and litter stock)on soil and technosol fertility across two second-growth Atlantic forests(SGF)after the deposition of mining tailings in Mariana,southeastern Brazil.We hypothesized that technosol fertility in the SGF tailings is positively affected by plant community composition variability,stand age,and litter stock.We used total exchangeable bases and organic matter as fertility indicators for technosol and soil,and species composition and litter stock as stand-age-dependent forest attributes.Our results showed significant differences in the stand-age-dependent forest attributes and soil chemical properties between the two forest patches(SGF tailing and SGF non-tailing)evaluated.Thus,there was a marked gradient of litter storage and fertility between soil and technosol that can be important forest recovery indicators for the affected plant communities.Furthermore,according to the tested models,we corroborated the hypothesis that technosol fertility is positively affected by stand age,plant community composition variability,and litter stock,which may contribute considerably to forest recovery on tailings.Our results demonstrate that the fertility predictors analyzed to explain the forest recovery on tailings can also be considered as ecological indicators for assessing forest restoration in areas impacted by mining tailings in Mariana.
基金This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq(grants 454008/2014-7 and 435598/2018-0)Fundação de ApoioàPesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais—FAPEMIG(grant APQ 2165/14)F.A.C.holds a CNPq productivity fellowship.
文摘Elucidating woody community diversity and structure change along environmental gradients is still a central issue of tropical forest ecology. We have evaluated changes in alpha and beta diversity, community composition and structure of woody communities along an elevational gradient in Dwarf Cloud Forests, Southeast Brazil. We selected five areas along an elevational gradient(1,300-1,600 m asl), and randomly allocated 10 plots(10 m × 20 m) in each area in the Ibitipoca State Park(ISP), Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil. All woody species(diameter at breast height ≥ 5.0 cm) were collected for taxonomic identification. Thus, we analysed the woody communities based on a phytosociological approach. Overall, 147 species and 37 families were recorded, distributed in 2,303 individuals. No differences in the species richness pattern were observed between areas using the rarefaction and extrapolation curves. Significant differences in species composition and structure between areas were observed. The high beta diversity observed, corroborated by the Jaccard coefficient, increases with decreasing altitude. Our results showed that woody communities in the studied Dwarf Cloud Forests have a higher diversity and structural variability along elevational gradient.
文摘Proteomics techniques were used to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the defense of tomato against late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Proteins were extracted from resistant access BGH-2127 and susceptible cultivar “Santa Clara”. Leaves of the inoculated and non-inoculated (control) genotypes were collected at 0, 2, and 48 h after inoculation and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), followed by identification with mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-TOF). A total of 56 differentially abundant proteins were identified, of which 39 were resistant genotypes and 17 were susceptible. These proteins were categorized into functional groups of energy and metabolism, photosynthesis, stress and defense, transcription, other proteins, and as un-characterized ones. For access BGH-2127, oxidative stress proteins (2-cis peroxiedoxin BAS1 and 2-cis peroxiredoxin) and thaumatin-like protein showed increase in the relative abundance at 0 and 48 h of inoculation, respectively, and were therefore considered important for the defense mechanism of this genotype. The expression standards evaluated by real-time PCR differed from the results of the proteomic analysis. The protein-protein interaction networks provided important information on the cellular activities involved in the resistance of BGH-2127 late blight.
基金supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationthe Howard G.Buffett Foundation+4 种基金the United States Agency for International Development(USAID)through the Water Efficient Maize for Africa(WEMA)projectthe Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa(STMA)projectthe CGIAR Research Program MAIZEThe CGIAR Research Program MAIZE receives W1&W2 support from the Governments of Australia,Belgium,Canada,China,France,India,Japan,the Republic of Korea,Mexico,the Netherlands,New Zealand,Norway,Sweden,Switzerland,United Kingdom,the United States,and the World BankBrazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES)for a scholarship supporting Wender Rezende
文摘Identification and deployment of high-yielding and stress-tolerant maize hybrids adapted to stress-prone agro-ecologies is important for improving the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in eastern Africa.The objectives of this study were to(i)assess the performance of maize hybrids under well-watered and drought stress conditions;(ii)evaluate grain yield stability of 65 intermediate-maturing and 55 early-maturing hybrids in 24 well-watered locations and seven drought stress locations;and(iii)identify representative and/or discriminative testing locations for increasing genetic gains for the target traits.There were significant differences for grain yield among early-and intermediatematuring hybrids tested under well-watered and drought stress environments.Among the early-maturing hybrids,the top 10 hybrids produced 46.8%–73.9%and 31.2%–42.1%higher mean grain yields than the best commercial check under drought and well-watered conditions,respectively.Among the intermediate-maturing hybrids,the top 10 hybrids produced 25.2%–47.7%and 8.5%–13.5%higher grain yield than commercial checks under drought stress and well-watered conditions,respectively,suggesting improvement in the levels of drought tolerance in both early-and intermediate-maturing hybrids.GGE biplot analysis and a bi-segmented regression linear method identified specific early-maturing and intermediate-maturing hybrids that performed well under both well-watered and drought stress conditions.These hybrids could be recommended for commercial production in eastern Africa.Kakamega in Kenya was found to be the most representative and highly discriminating site among well-watered testing locations,while Kabuku in Tanzania was the least representative of test locations.For testing under drought stress conditions,Kiboko in Kenya was identified as the most representative location.This information could be useful for allocating resources and streamlining CIMMYT maize hybrid testing in eastern Africa.
基金financially supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2018M643117)for ecological research at South China Normal University。
文摘Evaluating the influences of fine-scale habitat heterogeneity on the composition,diversity,structure and functioning of forests is critical to understand how tropical forests will respond to climate change and devise forest management strategies that will enhance biodiversity conservation and aboveground biomass stock.Here,we hypothesized that topographic and soil factors determine fine-scale habitat differentiation,which in turn shape community composition,species richness,structure and aboveground biomass at the local scale in tropical forests.To test this hypothesis,we selected two areas(each 100×100 m)with contrasting fine-scale topographic conditions where all trees,palms and lianas with a diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm were tagged and identified to species.In each selected area,100 subplots of 10×10 m were established.We mainly found that higher topographic variability caused higher habitat differentiation with changes in species composition and community structure,but did not change species richness.Our habitat-scale analyses indicated that,in the less heterogeneous area,the distribution of species was more uniform along a fine-scale topographical gradient with no variation in convexity,which induced changes in structure and aboveground biomass,but not in species richness.The nonsignificant relationship between species richness and aboveground biomass may be attributable to species redundancy or functional dominance.This study suggests that environmental filtering is a fundamental process for shaping community assembly and forest functioning along a local topographical gradient in tropical forests.
文摘New variola(NV)-mpox(monkeypox)-is a zoonosis caused by the mpox virus,which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae.This disease,in the present year(2022),has caused several cases and deaths around the world,including Brazil[1].The group of poxviruses,in which the species that causes NV is included,consists of agents widely distributed in nature.Due to their considerably large size,they were among the first viruses to be microscopically visualized.The Poxviridae family is capable of infecting epithelial and connective tissue cells.Currently,such a viral family is classified as a genome lineage composed of doublestranded DNA,completely independent of the host nucleus[1].
