Biophysical parameters of coffee crop estimated by UAV RGB images

Precision Agriculture - The advance of digital agriculture combined with computational tools and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has enabled the collection of data for reliably extracting...     

Chromomycin A2 Induces Autophagy in Melanoma Cells

The present study highlights the biological effects of chromomycin A2 toward metastatic melanoma cells in culture. Besides chromomycin A2, chromomycin A3 and demethylchromomycin A2 were also identified from the extract derived from Streptomyces sp., recovered from Paracuru Beach, located in the northeast region of Brazil. The cytotoxic activity of chromomycin A2 was evaluated across a panel of human tumor cell lines, which found IC₅₀ values in the nM-range for exposures of 48 and 72 h. MALME-3M, a metastatic melanoma cell line, showed the highest sensitivity to chromomycin A2 after 48h incubation, and was chosen as a model to investigate this potent cytotoxic effect. Treatment with chromomycin A2 at 30 nM reduced cell proliferation, but had no significant effect upon cell viability. Additionally, chromomycin A2 induced accumulation of cells in G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle, with consequent reduction of S and G₂/M and unbalanced expression of cyclins. Chromomycin A2 treated cells depicted several cellular fragments resembling autophagosomes and increased expression of proteins LC3-A and LC3-B. Moreover, exposure to chromomycin A2 also induced the appearance of acidic vacuolar organelles in treated cells. These features combined are suggestive of the induction of autophagy promoted by chromomycin A2, a feature not previously described for chromomycins.     

Growth,flowering and fruiting of Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess) O. Berg intercropped with green manure species in Agroforestry Systems

Agroforestry Systems - Besides enabling economic activity, the domestication of indigenous species in situ configures a strategy for the conservation of genetic resources in Agroforestry Systems...     

Quantitative ultrasound elastography and biometry of the bitch uterus in the early puerperium after vaginal delivery and caesarean section

Elastography is an actual imaging method used to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the elastic properties of tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare uterine tissue biometry and stiffness during post-partum period in brachycephalic bitches (n = 12) after c-section (GCS; n = 8) or normal delivery (GNB; n = 4). These animals were evaluated daily by abdominal ultrasound from the day of delivery until the 10th day post-partum; measuring uterine diameter, myometrial and endometrial thickness (mm) and shear wave velocity (SWV; m/s), by B-mode and ARFI (acoustic radiation force impulse) elastography, respectively. Uterine diameter was higher (p = .012) in animals submitted to c-section (15.26 ± 4.73 mm) than in normal birth (12.53 ± 2.64 mm) during the first 7 days post-partum. Uterine thickness gradually involuted in both groups (p < .0001), the myometrium during the first 9 days (p = .005) and the endometrium during the first 6 days (p = .003). The myometrial and endometrial SWVs were similar between types of delivery (p = .7846 and .8273) and presented a gradual increase (p = .411; .0043, respectively), during the first 10 days post-partum. It was concluded that bitches with normal delivery had smaller uterine thickness and faster puerperal involution than submitted to c-section, while uterine tissue stiffness was similar between delivery types and increased gradually during post-partum.     

Diversity of native rhizobia isolated in south Brazil and their growth promotion effect on white clover (Trifolium repens) and rice (Oryza sativa) plants

In this study, rhizobia strains isolated from white clover (Trifolium repens) root nodules were evaluated in an effort to identify an efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia strain that can also improve the growth of rice plants (Oryza sativa). White clover plants were collected from seven sites in south Brazil, and 78 native rhizobia isolates were obtained. The genetic diversity analysis of those isolates was carried out by BOX-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, the native rhizobia isolated showed a high genetic diversity, but when the bacterial isolates from the same site were compared, the diversity was lower. One native rhizobia, POA3 (isolated from the Porto Alegre locality), was able to promote the growth of both plants and is therefore a good candidate for new inoculant formulation. Finally, we can conclude that the community of native rhizobia symbiont of white clover plants in southern Brazil is highly diverse and the growth promotion effect of rhizobia inoculation on rice plants was more pronounced in a poor nutrient substrate condition than in a rich nutrient substrate condition.     

Collection,ex situ conservation and characterization of mangaba (Hancornia speciose Gomes) germplasm in coastal lowland of Northeastern Brazil

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - This study aimed to evaluate the Mangaba Genebank of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Brazil, since its implementation in 2006 and characterize the accessions in...     

Survival of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in weeds

Weeds are important alternative hosts of pathogens, responsible for the survival and spread of phytopathogenic bacteria. Our study evaluated the potential of weeds as hosts of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff), causal agent of bacterial wilt, one of the main diseases of common beans. Cff survival was evaluated in the phyllosphere and in the rhizosphere of 21 weeds, in four experiments under field conditions, during the years 2018 and 2019. The aerial part of the plant was inoculated by spraying bacterial suspension (10⁷ cfu/ml) of Cff, while the soil of the growing pots was infested with the same suspension. Cff survival was evaluated every 7 days, for 70 days. The identity of the bacterium was confirmed by PCR with the specific primers CffFOR2 and CffREV4, from strains recovered from all samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that high temperatures and rainfall reduced Cff survival in the phyllosphere, while high temperatures reduced the survival of the bacterium in the rhizosphere. Our results demonstrated that Amaranthus viridis (family Amaranthaceae), Conyza bonariensis, Emilia fosbergii, Galinsoga parviflora, Gnaphalium purpureum (Asteraceae), Raphanus sativus, Lepidium virginicum (Brassicaceae), Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae), Ipomoea triloba (Convolvulaceae), Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae), Senna obtusifolia (Fabaceae), Digitaria insularis (Poaceae), Nicandra physalodes, and Solanum americanum (Solanaceae) are potential hosts for Cff. Their eradication in common bean fields is recommended, especially in fields with a history of bacterial wilt occurrence.     

真鲷（Pagrosomus major）苗种生产技术的开发研究↑（*）

１９９１－１９９３年在中国青岛市对真鲷苗种生产技术进行了连续三年的开发研究，通过改善亲鱼培育及采卵技术、提高轮虫连续培养及稳定供应技术、提高仔鱼开鳔率、加强饵料的营养强化、设置环流及水面集污器等技术措施、改进和完善了真鲷苗种生产工艺。利用 １７５ｍ３培育水体，三年中共育出真鲷苗种 ２９１． ６万尾，各年度的苗种生产量分别为 ５１．８万尾、１１６．４万尾、１２３．４万尾；培苗成活率分别为２５．６％、３２．８％、６２．５％；平均单位水体出苗量分别为２９６０尾／ｍ３、６６５１尾／ｍ３、９８７２尾／ｍ３。在国内首次实现苗种生产三年连续成功，并连续突破百万尾大关。同时试验证明利用对虾育苗池进行真纲苗种生产是可行的。     

几种生物混合制剂在古柏复壮中的作用

在古柏复壮试验中，用“５４０６”细胞分裂素、农抗１２０、农丰菌、增产菌、生物固氮肥的混合制剂进行叶面喷施和灌根处理，取得了良好效果，明显地促进了古柏枝叶及根系的生长；增加了枝叶叶绿素及磷的含量；增强了耐旱力；刺激了外生菌根的形成。     

恢复塔里木河下游绿色走廊的措施

塔里木河干流及源流流域灌溉面积不断扩大；引水灌溉方法落后；超量引水；源流流入干流的水量大量减少，造成塔里木河下游河道部分干涸，致使沿河绿色植被不断减少，弃耕地逐年增加。利用膜上灌和渠道薄膜防渗等方法所节省的水，可缓解下游用水要求，且投资少，见效快。