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Homalolepis was described by Turczaninow in 1848 and reestablished by Devecchi et al. in 2018, enclosing mostly the extra-Amazonian species previously included in two sections of Simaba Aubl.. We performed the first cytogenetic analysis in Homalolepis and, by surveying chromosome numbers of other Simaroubaceae representatives, reconstructed the evolution of chromosome numbers in the family, using ChromEvol software. The four Homalolepis species showed 2n = 32 and two or four CMA+ bands. In situ hybridization showed a diverse distribution of ribosomal DNA sites (5S and 18S), positioned on the same chromosome pair in H. floribunda (A. St.-Hil.) Devecchi & Pirani or on different chromosome pairs in H. arenaria (Devecchi & Pirani) Devecchi & Pirani. The basic chromosome number here indicated for Simaroubaceae is x = 12, from which chromosome numbers of other genera were derived by ascending dysploidy, with polyploidy occurring in Ailanthus Desf. only. Homalolepis presents x = 16, derived by ascending disploidy.

The fruit of Cactaceas from northeastern Brazil have been the object of many ethnobotanical and functional quality studies. However, a considerable number of species remain poorly exploited, such as the facheiro (Pilosocereus pachycladus Ritter), a native Brazilian plant widely occurring and used in the Caatinga. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the quality, and antioxidant and enzymatic activities of the facheiro fruit during maturation. Fruits were harvested from areas of occurrence of plants in the Paraíba State, Brazil, at three maturity stages, which were determined based on the color of the epicarp (G - green, IP – green with purple traces, and R - completely purple). It was carried out a survey of terms sensorial descriptor terms for fruit appearance and then evaluated the physical, physicochemical, bioactive compounds, antioxidant and peroxidase (POD) activities during maturation. The fruit were described as fleshy berries, with a smooth epicarp; a round, flat shape; opaque purple color; and juicy and soft pulp when ripe. Quality varied during maturation, with the most significant changes being in coloration: the fruit became more purple over time, providing a clear indicator of maturity. With maturation, there was an increase in the content of betalains and total extractable polyphenols, as well as antioxidant activity, by DPPH radical capture method, mainly in the pulp. The pulp of the Pilosocereus pachycladus fruit is an important source of betalains, primarily betacyanins. During maturation, POD activity decreased in the pericarp and increased in the pulp and was strongly correlated with the presence of betalains and with antioxidant activity. Os frutos de Cactaceas do Nordeste Brasileiro têm sido alvo de muitos estudos etnobotânicos e de qualidade funcional. No entanto, ainda há um número considerável de espécies pouco exploradas, como o facheiro (Pilosocereus pachycladus Ritter), planta nativa e de ampla ocorrência e uso na Caatinga. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a qualidade, atividade antioxidante e da peroxidase (POD) de frutos do facheiro durante a maturação. Os frutos foram colhidos de áreas de ocorrência de plantas em três estádios de maturação, com base na coloração do epicarpo (V – verde, IP – verde com início de coloração roxa e R – completamente roxo), do município de Pocinhos, Paraíba. Foi realizado um levantamento de termos descritores sensoriais de aparência dos frutos e, em seguida, avaliações físicas, físico-químicas, compostos bioativos, atividade antioxidante e da POD durante a maturação. Os frutos foram descritos como bagas carnosas, com epicarpo liso, formato redondo-achatado, cor roxa opaca, polpa suculenta e macia quando maduros. A qualidade variou durante a maturação, sendo as mudanças mais expressivas as de coloração: tornou-se mais roxa com o avanço da maturação, proporcionando um claro indicador de maturidade. Com a maturação, observou-se um aumento nos conteúdos de betalaínas e polifenóis extraíveis totais, bem como a atividade antioxidante, pela captura do radical DPPH, principalmente na polpa, A polpa do fruto de Pilosocereus pachycladus é uma fonte importante de betalaínas, principalmente betacianinas. Durante a maturação, a atividade da POD diminuiu no pericarpo e aumentou na polpa e foi fortemente correlacionada com a presença de betalaínas e com a atividade antioxidante.

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) belongs to the Asteraceae family, adapts to different edaphoclimatic conditions, where, in this way, it is possible to grow in all regions of Brazil. In the Northeast of Brazil, an establishment of cultivation practices related to sunflower was sought, which makes it possible to exploit this crop under economic techniques, mainly because it is a plant that has a great nutritional use. The use of organic fertilizer as cattle manure becomes a very interesting alternative, considering the ease of use and the relatively low use. The objective of this work was to evaluate the development of sunflower in different types of treatment with bovine manure to determine the best composition of the substrate. 120 seeded plastic bags were used, 10 repetitions of 3 seeds, selected in four movements: (T1) 100% soil (control), and the controls (T2, T3 and T4), which are characterized by the different proportions of bovine and soil manure, 25, 50 and 75% of bovine manure, respectively. For a height (cm) of the sunflower plants, no statistical difference was observed between the procedures. Controls using less bovine manure had smaller diameters. The number of leaves presented was higher in plants submitted to (T1), which shows an average of 13.9, differing from the other parameters that did not show any difference between them. The controls used in this work made it possible to observe that the best development of sunflower plants was the result of a material rich in organic materials and nutrients necessary for the plant. KEYWORDS: Helianthus annuus L.; Organic matter. RESUMO O girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) pertence à família Asteraceae se adapta a condições edafoclimáticas diferentes, onde, dessa forma possibilita ser cultivado em todas as regiões do Brasil. No Nordeste do Brasil, tem sido buscado um estabelecimento de práticas de cultivo relacionadas ao girassol que permitam tornar viável a exploração dessa cultura sob técnicas econômicas, principalmente, por essa ser uma planta que apresenta uma exigência nutricional grande. A utilização de adubação orgânica como esterco de bovinos torna-se uma alternativa bastante interessante, tendo em vista a facilidade da obtenção e do custo relativamente baixo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento do girassol em diferentes tipos de tratamentos com esterco bovino para determinar a melhor composição do substrato. Foram utilizadas 120 sacos plásticos semeados, sendo 10 repetições de 3 sementes, separadas em quatro tratamentos: (T1) 100% solo (controle), e os tratamentos (T2, T3 e T4), que se caracterizaram pelas diferentes proporções de esterco bovino e solo, sendo 25, 50 e 75% de esterco bovino, respectivamente. Para a altura (cm) das plantas de girassol não foi observado diferença estatística entre os tratamentos. Os tratamentos utilizando menos esterco bovino apresentaram diâmetros menores. O número de folhas apresentado foi superior em plantas submetidas ao (T1), o qual apresentou média de 13,9, diferindo dos demais tratamentos que não apresentaram diferença entre si. Os tratamentos utilizados nesse trabalho, possibilitaram observar que o melhor desenvolvimento das plantas de girassol foi resultado de um material rico em matéria orgânica e de nutrientes considerados necessários à planta. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Helianthus annuus L.; Matéria orgânica.

International audience; Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is highly polyploid and aneuploid. Modern cultivars are derived from hybridization between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. This combination results in a genome exhibiting variable ploidy among different loci, a huge genome size (similar to 10 Gb) and a high content of repetitive regions. An approach using genomic, transcriptomic, and genetic mapping can improve our knowledge of the behavior of genetics in sugarcane. The hypothetical HP600 and Centromere Protein C (CENP-C) genes from sugarcane were used to elucidate the allelic expression and genomic and genetic behaviors of this complex polyploid. The physically linked side-by-side genes HP600 and CENP-C were found in two different homeologous chromosome groups with ploidies of eight and ten. The first region (Region01) was a Sorghum bicolor ortholog region with all haplotypes of HP600 and CENP-C expressed, but HP600 exhibited an unbalanced haplotype expression. The second region (Region02) was a scrambled sugarcane sequence formed from different noncollinear genes containing partial duplications of HP600 and CENP-C (paralogs). This duplication resulted in a non-expressed HP600 pseudogene and a recombined fusion version of CENP-C and the orthologous gene Sobic. 003G299500 with at least two chimeric gene haplotypes expressed. It was also determined that it occurred before Saccharum genus formation and after the separation of sorghum and sugarcane. A linkage map was constructed using markers from nonduplicated Region01 and for the duplication (Region01 and Region02). We compare the physical and linkage maps, demonstrating the possibility of mapping markers located in duplicated regions with markers in nonduplicated region. Our results contribute directly to the improvement of linkage mapping in complex polyploids and improve the integration of physical and genetic data for sugarcane breeding programs. Thus, we describe the complexity involved in sugarcane genetics and genomics and allelic dynamics, which can be useful for understanding complex polyploid genomes.

The demand for vegetables was reinforced by the search for healthier foods, favoring increased sales of fresh products. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) are the most cultivated vegetables in Brazil, thus being economically important. This study evaluates the allelopathic effect of aqueous extract of nutgrass ( Cyperus rotundus ) on lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ) and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) plants, aiming to ana­lyze its influence on species development. Two trials were conducted in the premises of the Taquaritinguense Institute of Higher Education (ITES) in Taquaritinga city, Sao Paulo State, under temperatures ranging from 14 oC to 28 oC, in a greenhouse. The variables analyzed were: fresh shoot and root weight (g), using a semianalytical scale; and root length (cm), using a ruler. Cyperus rotundus leaf extract at higher concentrations positively affected the early growth of vegetables. Studies on allelopathic effects between plants are extremely important because the use of this extract can contribute to seedling growth. The 200% concentration of Cyperus rotundus extract increased root and shoot development in tomato crop.

The photooxidation mechanism of bovine serum albumin (BSA), L-tryptophan (Trp) and red blood cells (RBC) by chloro(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato)indium(III) (InTPP) was investigated. The photooxidation rate of Trp, BSA and RBC by InTPP was decreased in the presence of NaN3. The presence of D2O increases the photooxidation rate of Trp and BSA and decreases that of RBC. This decrease is probably related to a reduction of the binding constant between InTPP and RBC in the presence of D2O. No significant change in biomolecule fluorescence or in the percent of hemolysis was observed when radical quenchers (ferricyanide, mannitol and dismutase superoxide) were used. Experiments using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) show that only ¹O2 was generated by InTPP. A mechanistic model based on the preferential oxidation of Trp and BSA by singlet oxygen is proposed. The agreement between the experimental data and the kinetic model gives additional support to the predominance of a mechanism via ¹O2 in biomolecule photooxidation by InTPP. Foi determinado o mecanismo de fotooxidação de albumina de soro bovino (BSA), L-triptofano (Trp) e células vermelhas do sangue (RBC) por cloro(5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirinato) de índio(III) (InTPP). A velocidade de fotooxidação de Trp, BSA e RBC por InTPP foi diminuída na presença de NaN3. A presença de D2O aumentou a velocidade de fotooxidação de Trp e BSA e diminuiu a de RBC. Esta diminuição provavelmente está correlacionada com a redução da constante de associação entre InTPP e RBC na presença de D2O. Não foi observada variação significativa na fluorescência das biomoléculas ou sobre a porcentagem de hemólise quando supressores de radicais (ferricianeto, manitol e superóxido dismutase) foram usados. Experimentos usando espectroscopia de ressonância paramagnética (EPR) mostraram que somente o ¹O2 foi gerado por InTPP. Foi proposto um modelo cinético para a fotooxidação de Trp e BSA. A concordância entre os resultados experimentais e este modelo corrobora a predominância do mecanismo via ¹O2 na fotooxidação das biomoléculas pelo InTPP.

Simaba Aubl. e o maior genero da familia Simaroubaceae e possui cerca de 25 especies distribuidas principalmente na America do Sul. As especies de Simaba sao ecologica e morfologicamente diversas e a maioria ocorre no Brasil, sendo varias delas endemicas. Tem sido registrada a presenca destas especies nos mais diversos ambientes, desde o dominio da Amazonia, Cerrado, Mata Atlântica ate a Caatinga. Existem duas classificacoes infragenericas contrastantes, mas estudos filogeneticos e morfologicos sugerem uma reavaliacao das secoes. A citogenetica e em particular o numero cromossomico sao ferramentas de grande utilidade na determinacao da evolucao de um grupo. Em Simaroubacea poucos sao os estudos cromossomicos e Simaba , particularmente, carece deles. Ate o momento para a familia os registros indicam numeros basicos de x = 8-16. Deste modo, o presente trabalho objetivou averiguar o numero cromossomico das seguintes especies endemicas do Brasil: S. arenaria Devecchi & Pirani (sem sect. definida), S. floribunda A.St.-Hil. e S. bahiensis Moric. (ambas, S. sect. Floribundae Engl.) e o padrao de bandamento CMA/DAPI (regioes ricas em CG e AT, respectivamente) nas duas ultimas. Os dados cromossomicos foram obtidos por meio de analise de celulas mitoticas de raiz secundaria. Apos o bandamento, as lâminas foram envelhecidas por 5-7 dias em estufa a 37°C para o registro das imagens. As tres especies analisadas apresentaram 2n = 32. Em relacao ao padrao de bandas CMA/DAPI, S. bahiensis e S. floribunda apresentaram quatro bandas CMA + /DAPI - em posicao terminal. De acordo com os dados presentes na familia, Simaba poderia apresentar o numero basico x = 8 ou x = 16. Em Simaroubaceae, igual numero cromossomico (2n = 32) tem sido observado em Simarouba glauca (x = 8) e Leitneria floridana (x = 16). Simaba e Leitneria se encontram em clados distantes e o posicionamento da ultima dentro da familia e recente e ainda muito controvertido. A analise de um maior numero de especies e tambem da obtencao de dados adicionais, como tamanho do genoma, podera contribuir para uma melhor circunscricao do genero e da familia como um todo.

Pecluma recurvata (Kaulf.) M. G. Price has been recorded in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil (Atlantic Forest). Our work further extends the distribution of P. recurvata to northeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil, in state of Pernambuco, representing a range extension of ca. 880 Km north.

Little knowledge has been gathered on ferns and lycophytes occurring in the semi-arid region of Brazil known as the Caatinga, perhaps due to the widespread idea that a semi-arid climate would be incompatible with environmental demands of ferns and lycophytes (high humidity and shade). Ferns and lycophytes are represented in the semi-arid region of Brazil by at least 41 species, 20 genera and 11 families, distributed in the northeastern states (except Maranhão) and Minas Gerais. In this region, most of the species were recorded in moist, shaded microhabitats: cracks in rocks, ravines in shaded areas, springs, temporary lakes or areas with temporarily flooded soil. Although the majority of species recorded are widely distributed throughout Brazil, the high representation of aquatic species and low representation of epiphytes demonstrate the unique identity of the fern and lycophyte flora of the semi-arid region.