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Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is an important disease in strawberries. This fungus causes significant economic losses since it attacks plants and fruits. In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and Harpin protein in pre- and post-harvest as inducers of resistance in strawberries to B. cinerea. Strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa) from ‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars were grown in greenhouse and evaluated in laboratory. Doses of Harpin and ASM in pre- and post-harvest applications were assessed. Yield parameters of strawberry, B. cinerea incidence and injured area in fruit, fruit firmness, CO2 assimilation rate, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity were analyzed. Elicitors application in pre- and post-harvest conditions promoted a decrease of B. cinerea incidence and injured area in strawberry fruits. The results suggest that Harpin and ASM treatment show a significant impact on strawberry fruit disease. The control may be associated with the PAL induction, responsible for inducing defense responses. Harpin and ASM represent a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides for B. cinerea control during post-harvest storage.

Artemisia annua L. is the main artemisinin source, a sesquiterpene lactone used in the treatment against cancer and malaria, whose demand is high and the costs involving its production must be feasible. The main objective of the present work was to define a industrially and economically viable technology to obtain artemisinin. The experimental conditions of temperature, pressure and co-solvent use for obtaining extracts enriched in artemisinin by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were investigated, and an economic evaluation of the SFE was performed in comparison with the conventional extraction using ethanol. The techno-economic analysis showed that among the conditions evaluated in the present study, SFE at 60 °C and 250 bar, without co-solvent, was the most promising production condition. Nevertheless, for the commercial viability of the arteminisin extraction using SFE it is indicated to use A. annua rigorously selected, and to reduce costs of raw material.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and harpin protein, applied pre-harvest, in the induction of resistance in strawberry to pathogens and mites. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments with harpin protein and ASM were established through biweekly applications of these elicitors in plants of strawberry, from 60 to 120 days after transplanting of seedlings. The application of ASM and harpin protein induced resistance in the strawberry plants, resulting in an increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and total phenol production, while reducing leaf blight and grey mould. The application of harpin protein also caused a reduction in mite damage, while increasing photosynthetic rate and the production of marketable fruits. The elicitors ASM and harpin, applied pre-harvest, can be used as part of the integrated pest management of diseases and pests of strawberry.

Varronia curassavica Jacq. is a native medicinal plant from Brazil, its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and healing properties are mainly due to the presence of α-humulene and β-cariophyllene on the essential oil extracted from the leaves. The study aimed to evaluate parameters related to the production, harvest and extraction and their effects on the quality/quantity of the V. curassavica essential oil under field conditions. For the drying experiment it was used natural drying in greenhouse and an artificial one with forced ventilation using the temperature of 40 °C until constant weight with six replications per treatment. For the harvest daytime experiment, five harvest different times were evaluated (6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m.) with five replications per treatment. In both experiments it was used the completely randomized design. The effect of two natural elicitors on the sesquiterpene content of V. curassavica was also evaluated, where field grown plants received the application of acibenzolar-S-methyl (500 mg/L), 1,6 β- d -glucan obtained from Lasiodiplodia theobromae (50 mg/L) and distilled water as a control, where gas exchange rate, terpene enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and catalase activity and essential oil content in leaves were measured. The exhaustion time for the extraction of the V. curassavica essential oil by hydrodistillation was determined for whole and ground leaves. To evaluate and compare the extraction techniques performance, it was used a conventional and a green technology, it was evaluated the essential oil yield and α-humulene content in the volatile oil. Finally, a study of economic viability of the implantation of an agroindustry to obtain V. curassavica essential oil was performed using Expanded Multi-index Methodology (EMIM). The essential oil yielding was determined through hydrodistillation, using a Clevenger device, and the essential oil quality was measure by Gas Chromatography. There was not statistical difference between the drying methods tested regarding the essential oil production but the highest values of α-humulene and β-caryophyllene were obtained when artificial drying at 40 °C was adopted. It is possible to indicate a harvesting daytime around 11–12 a.m., resulting not only in higher yield of essential oil but also a higher content of the desired anti-inflammatory compounds. The acibenzolar-S-methyl reduced significantly the net carbon assimilation rate and the intercellular CO2 concentration, while1,6 β- d -glucan reduced significantly only the intercellular CO2 concentration. The essential oil analysis reveals that elicitation was not efficient to increase the yield of V. curassavica essential oil or to change relative rate among the oil chemical constituents, especially α-humulene and β-caryophyllene. The determined exhaustion time was 1.5 h for both treatments, and the conventional extraction technology (steam distillation) is the best option for extraction of the essential oil. At last, according to the economic study, it is recommended the implementation of the investment project.

Commercial Artemisia annua crops are the sole source of artemisinin (ART) worldwide. Data on seasonal accumulation and peak of sesquiterpenes, especially ART in commercial A. annua, is lacking while current breeding programs focus only on ART and plant biomass, but ignores dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) and artemisinic acid (AA). Despite past breeding successes, plants richer in ART are needed to decrease prices of artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT). Our results show that sesquiterpene concentrations vary greatly along the growing season and that sesquiterpene profiles differ widely among chemotypes. Field studies with elite Brazilian, Chinese, and Swiss germplasms established that ART peaked in vegetative plants from late August to early September, suggesting that ART is related to the photoperiod, not flowering. DHAA peaks with ART in Chinese and Swiss plants, but decreases, as ART increases, in Brazilian plants, while AA remained stable through the season in these genotypes. Chinese plants peaked at 0.9% ART, 1.6% DHAA; Brazilian plants at 0.9% ART, with less than 0.4% DHAA; Swiss plants at 0.8% ART and 1% DHAA. At single-date harvests, seeded Swiss plants produced 0.55-1.2% ART, with plants being higher in DHAA than ART; Brazilian plants produced 0.33-1.5% ART, with most having higher ART than DHAA. Elite germplasms produced from 0.02-0.43% AA, except Sandeman-UK (0.4-1.1% AA). Our data suggest that different chemotypes, high in ART and DHAA, have complementary pathways, while competing with AA. Crossing plants high in ART and DHAA may generate hybrids with higher ART than currently available in commercial germplasms. Selecting for high ART and DHAA (and low AA) can be a valuable approach for future selection and breeding to produce plants more efficient in transforming DHAA into ART in planta and during post-harvest. This novel approach could change the breeding focus of A. annua and other pharmaceutical species that produce more than one desired metabolite in the same pathway. Obtaining natural variants with high ART content will empower countries and farmers who select, improve, and cultivate A. annua as a commercial pharmaceutical crop. This selection approach could enable ART to be produced locally where it is most needed to fight malaria and other parasitic neglected diseases.

Soybean genotypes grown in sub-tropical climate may exhibit lodging. The plant lodging is influenced by soil type and fertility level, sowing date, latitude and altitude of the location, plant population and conditions of crop development. Plant regulators and herbicides are able to avoid or reduce plant lodging. This study aimed to verify the effects of the growth regulators TIBA and daminozide on vegetative growth and yield of soybean cultivar CD 214 RR. The experiment was carried out at a field in randomized block design with four replications in a factorial scheme. The A factor was represented by the combination of regulators TIBA and daminozide and its concentrations, and the Factor B was seven times of evaluation of injury and plant height or eight times of evaluation of lodging. In the range of doses used, the application of daminozide resulted in greater injury to soybean plants than TIBA. The smaller plant height was achieved by the application of 6 g ha-1 of TIBA and 1200 g ha-¹ of daminozide. Treatments with daminozide (100 g ha-¹) and TIBA (10 g ha-1) stood out due to the reduced lodging of soybean plants. Grain weight increased linearly when the levels of TIBA increased. There was a negative correlation between lodging and grain yield and a positive correlation between plant height and lodging. There was also a negative correlation between injury caused by the application of plant regulators and lodging. Genótipos de plantas de soja, cultivados em regiões de clima subtropical, podem apresentar acamamento acentuado. O acamamento de plantas é influenciado pelo tipo de solo e pela fertilidade, época de semeadura, latitude e altitude do local, população de plantas e condições gerais de desenvolvimento do cultivo. Reguladores vegetais e alguns herbicidas são capazes de evitar ou reduzir o acamamento. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da aplicação dos reguladores de crescimento TIBA e daminozide sobre o desenvolvimento vegetativo e o rendimento de grãos do cultivar de soja CD 214 RR. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em esquema bifatorial, sendo o fator A os reguladores TIBA e daminozide e suas concentrações e, o fator B, sete épocas de avaliação da injúria e altura de planta, ou oito épocas de avaliação do acamamento. Na faixa de doses utilizada, a aplicação de daminozide resultou em maior injúria às plantas de soja do que a aplicação de TIBA. As menores alturas de plantas foram alcançadas com a aplicação de 6 g ha-¹ de TIBA e 1200 g ha-¹ de daminozide. Os tratamentos com daminozide (100 g ha-¹) e TIBA (10 g ha-¹) destacaram-se pela redução do acamamento de plantas de soja. O peso de grãos aumentou linearmente com a elevação das doses de TIBA. Houve correlação negativa entre acamamento e rendimento de grãos de soja, e positiva, entre altura de planta e acamamento. Também foi constatada correlação negativa entre injúria à soja, causada pela aplicação dos reguladores vegetais, e peso de grão.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses do regulador de crescimento trinexapac-ethyl e níveis de adubação nitrogenada sobre o desempenho agronômico e rendimento de grãos de três cultivares de trigo. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial, com três repetições, sendo: duas doses de adubação nitrogenada (60 e 120 kg ha-1), três cultivares de trigo (BRS 208, BRS 220 e BRS Guamirim), quatro doses de trinexapac-ethyl (0, 70, 140 e 210 g i.a. ha-1) e duas safras agrícolas (2008 e 2009). Na microrregião de Pato Branco, a dose de 60 kg ha-1 é suficiente para maximizar o potencial de rendimento de grãos dos cultivares avaliados. Independentemente da estatura dos cultivares, o regulador de crescimento não apresentou efeito positivo sobre o rendimento de grãos, com efeito negativo na presença de menor disponibilidade hídrica. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of trinexapac-ethyl and nitrogen doses on the agronomic performance and grain yield of three wheat cultivars. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments were two nitrogen fertilization doses (60 and 20 kg ha-1), three wheat cultivars (BRS 208, BRS 220, and BRS Guamirim), four trinexapac-ethyl doses (0, 70, 140, and 210 g a.i. ha-1) and two harvest years (2008 and 2009). In the Pato Branco microregion, the nitrogen rate of 60 kg ha-1 was sufficient to maximize the yield potential of the evaluated cultivars. Regardless of the height of the cultivar plants, trinexapac-ethyl showed no positive effect on grain yield, with negative effect under water-deficit stress.

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:26:15Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:36:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-84860715853.pdf: 104673 bytes, checksum: 83517ecf4d3b7957622030cbda8fa85e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:26:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-12-01 The metabolic effects caused by hydric deficiency (HD) on Eucalyptus grandis clones were assessed by an experiment where plants were cultivated in four blocks. The first was the control block, normally irrigated, whereas the other three blocks were submitted to cycles of hydric deficiency. Analysis of photosynthetic efficiency, enzymatic activity of antioxidant response system, level of pigments and L-proline concentration were performed to evaluate the HD effects. Results showed that HD altered some parameters related to photosynthetic activity, pigments accumulation, proline and enzymatic activity. Clone 433 of E. grandis presented higher response ability to HD. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (Unesp), 18618-000, Botucatu, São Paulo Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Department of Agronomy Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), 85503-390, Pato Branco, Paraná Departamento de Riego Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CSIC), P.O. Box 164, E-30100 Murcia Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (Unesp), 18618-000, Botucatu, São Paulo

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:21:15Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:39:53Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-18444399306.pdf: 117433 bytes, checksum: 65b6e2183e9543e563858c0210a43cf5 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:21:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-01-01 Leaves of Artemisia annua L. are a plentiful source of artemisinin, a drug with proven effectiveness against malaria. The aim of this study was to classify the photosynthetic mechanism of A. annua through studies of the carbon isotope composition (δ 13C) and the leaf anatomy. A. annua presented a δ 13C value of - 31.76 ± 0.07, which characterizes the plants as a typical species of the C3 photosynthethic mechanism, considering that the average δ 13C values for C3 and C4 species are -28 and -14, respectively. The leaf anatomy studies were consistent with the δ 13C results, where, in spite of the existence of parenchymatic cells forming a sheath surrounding the vascular tissue, the cells do not contain chloroplasts or starch. This characteristic is clearly different from that of the Kranz anatomy found in C4 species. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Plant Physiology Agronomy College CEFET-PR, Pato Branco 85503-390 Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-000 Agronomic Sciences College São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18603-970 Plant Biology Department Viçosa Federal University, Viçosa 36570-000 Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-000 Agronomic Sciences College São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18603-970

The effect of different doses of nitrogen (N) on gas exchange, relative chlorophyll (Chl) amount, and the content of N in the aerial biomass of lisianthus was evaluated. The treatments consisted of six different concentrations of N (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 g m−3 noted as N50, N100, N150, N200, N250, and N300, respectively), applied through the fertirrigation technique. N250 and N300 induced increase in the contents of foliar Chl and N in the aerial biomass, that in turn contributed to an increase of photosynthetic activity in lisianthus.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dos eliciadores acibenzolar‑S‑metílico (ASM) e proteína harpina, aplicados em pós‑colheita, na indução de resistência sistêmica à podridão‑amarga em maçãs. Realizaram-se ferimentos mecânicos em maçãs 'Royal Gala' seguidos da aplicação dos eliciadores. Doze horas depois, procedeu-se à inoculação do fungo Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Após 72 horas, realizaram-se as avaliações quanto à área lesionada e ao número de esporos, bem como a coleta de tecido dos frutos para quantificação de proteínas, açúcares totais e redutores, fenóis totais, e para determinação da atividade das enzimas fenilalanina amônia‑liase, superóxido dismutase, catalase, peroxidase e ascorbato peroxidase. A harpina e, em menor grau, o ASM proporcionaram aumento da atividade da enzima peroxidase e a consequente redução da área lesionada e da esporulação de C. gloeosporioides nas maçãs. Esses eliciadores podem ser utilizados como ferramenta de controle no manejo integrado da podridão‑amarga, em pós‑colheita de maçãs 'Royal Gala'.

We evaluated the growth and development of the medicinal species Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq. under different shade levels (full sun and 30, 50, and 70 % shade, marked as I100, I70, I50, and I30, respectively) and their effects on gas exchange and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Photosynthetically active radiation varied from 1 254 µmol m−2 s−1 at I100 to 285 µmol m−2 s−1 at I30. Stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, and relative chlorophyll (Chl) content were maximal in I70 plants. Plants grown under I100 produced leaves with lower Chl content and signs of chlorosis and necrosis. These symptoms indicated Chl degradation induced by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Stress related antioxidant enzyme activities (Mn-SOD, Fe-SOD, and Cu/Zn-SOD) were highest in I100 plants, whereas catalase activity was the lowest. Hence P. umbellata is a shade species (sciophyte), a feature that should be considered in reforestation programs or in field plantings for production of medicinal constituents.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dos eliciadores acibenzolar-S-metil e proteína harpina, aplicados em pós-colheita, na indução de resistência sistêmica à podridão-parda em pêssegos. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em parcelas subdivididas - com e sem ferimentos provocados aos frutos -, e os tratamentos foram constituídos por: acibenzolar-S-metil (50 mg do i.a. L-1), dois produtos comerciais com proteína harpina (80 mg do i.a. L-1) e uma testemunha (água destilada). Os frutos foram pulverizados, individualmente, com 1 mL de solução aquosa com os tratamentos e, após 12 horas, efetuou-se a inoculação com Monilinia fructicola (0,2 mL da suspensão com concentração de 10(5) esporos mL-1, em cada lado do fruto). Após 60 horas da inoculação, avaliaram-se: a área lesionada, a esporulação e o percentual de controle. Determinaram-se os teores de proteínas totais, açúcares redutores e totais, fenóis, além da atividade da enzima fenilalanina amônia-liase (FAL). Os eliciadores induziram resistência dos frutos a M. fructicola, com redução do desenvolvimento do fungo. O uso dos eliciadores aumentou os teores dos parâmetros bioquímicos avaliados e a atividade da FAL, que esteve relacionada à redução da área lesionada em pêssegos. Os indutores podem contribuir para o manejo integrado da podridão-parda em pêssegos, em pós-colheita. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of acibenzolar-S-methyl and harpin protein elicitors, applied in post-harvest, in systemic resistance induction to brown-rot, on peaches. A completely randomized design was utilized, with four replicates, in a split plot scheme - injured or noninjured peaches -, and treatments were constituted of : acibenzolar-S-methyl (50 mg of a.i. L-1), two commercial products with harpin protein (80 mg of a.i. L-1); and control (distilled water). Peaches were sprayed individually with 1 mL of aqueous solution containing the treatments and, after 12 hours, the inoculation of Monilinia fructicola was carried out (0.2 mL of spore suspension with 10(5) spores mL-1, in each side of the fruit). Sixty hours past inoculation, the size of lesions, esporulation and percentage of control were evaluated. The contents of total protein, total phenol, total and reducing sugar, besides activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), were determined. The elicitors induce resistance to M. fructicola, with reduction in fungal development. Elicitor's increased the evaluated biochemical parameters and the activity of PAL, which was related to the size reduction of lesions in peaches. The elicitors could be used in integrated management of brown-rot, in post-harvest applications.