RESUMO

Background: Urban gardens, despite their transformed nature, serve as invaluable microcosms for a quantitative examination of floral resource provision to urban pollinators, considering the plant's origin. Thus, knowledge has increased, emphasizing the importance of these green areas for hosting and conserving pollinator communities. However, there is a significant knowledge gap concerning the changing availability of these native and exotic floral resources over time and their impact on structuring interaction networks with specific pollinators. Methods: Over a year-long period, monthly surveys were conducted to record both native and exotic plant species visited by hummingbirds in an urban garden at Tlaxcala, Mexico. Flower visits were recorded, and the total flowers on each plant visited were tallied. Additionally, all observed hummingbirds were recorded during the transect walks, regardless of plant visits, to determine hummingbird abundance. The interactions were summarized using matrices, and network descriptors like connectance, specializacion, nestedness, and modularity were computed. Plant and hummingbird species in the core and periphery of the network were also identified. Lastly, simulations were performed to assess the network's resilience to the extinction of highly connected native and exotic plant species, including those previously situated in the network's core. Results: We recorded 4,674 interactions between 28 plant species, and eight hummingbird species. The majority of plants showed an ornithophilic syndrome, with 20 species considered exotic. Despite asynchronous flowering, there was overlap observed across different plant species throughout the year. Exotic plants like Jacaranda mimosifolia and Nicotiana glauca produced more flowers annually than native species. The abundance of hummingbirds varied throughout the study, with Saucerottia berillyna being the most abundant species. The plant-hummingbird network displayed high connectance, indicating generalization in their interaction. Significant nestedness was observed, mainly influenced by exotic plant species. The core of the network was enriched with exotic plants, while Basilinna leucotis and Cynanthus latirostris played central roles among hummingbirds. Network resilience to species extinction remained generally high. Conclusions: Our findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics and structure of plant-hummingbird interactions in urban gardens, emphasizing the influence of exotic plant species and the network's resilience to perturbations. Understanding and managing the impact of exotic plants on such networks is crucial for the conservation and sustainable functioning of urban ecosystems.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Lactation curves are a valuable tool for improving flock production efficiency, adjusting flock sizes, and improving farmers' income in grazing-based livestock production. Therefore, we used natural cubic splines to estimate (a) a general flock production pattern throughout a year, (b) an average lactation curve, and (c) patterns of milk chemical components in dual-purpose goats grazing in arid plant communities in the Sierra de San Francisco, Baja California Peninsula, during years of abundant precipitation. Also, milk chemical composition was compared between flocks. Annual flock milk production showed a wiggly pattern with two greater waves in summer and spring. The average individual lactation curve (kg/doe/day) and production curves of fat, protein, lactose, and ashes (g/doe/day) showed a decreasing and wiggly pattern across 35-week lactation; the greatest average daily production was in week 2. Milk, protein, lactose, and ash production curves had similar persistency values that were greater than those of the fat production curve. Milk production had a high-positive correlation with fat production and very high-positive correlations with protein, lactose, and ash production. Density (g/ml) and fat, protein, lactose, and ash contents (%) showed a ditch-shaped pattern across lactation, with greater values at the end. Goat flocks grazing across plant communities produced different quality milk. Thus, native plant communities are a valuable resource that favors a great fat content and moderate protein content in local goat milk. Also, breeding programs must pay attention that an increment in individual milk production could decrease fat and protein production, which are valuable for cheesemaking.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Metal contamination is a recurring problem in Peru, caused mainly by mine tailings from a past active mining activity. The Ancash region has the largest number of environmental liabilities, which mobilizes high levels of metals and acid drainages into soils and freshwater sources, posing a standing risk on human and environmental health. Native plant species spontaneously growing on naturally acidified soils and acid mine tailings show a unique tolerance to high metal concentrations and are thus potential candidates for soil phytoremediation. However, little is known about their propagation capacity and metal accumulation under controlled conditions. In this study, we aimed at characterizing nine native plant species, previously identified as potential hyperaccumulators, from areas impacted by mine tailings in the Ancash region. Plants were grown on mine soils under greenhouse conditions during 5 months, after which the concentration of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was analyzed in roots, shoots, and soils. The bioaccumulation (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated to determine the amount of each metal accumulated in the roots and shoots and to identify which species could be better suited for phytoremediation purposes. Soil samples contained high Cd (6.50-49.80 mg/kg), Cu (159.50-1187.00 mg/kg), Ni (3.50-8.70 mg/kg), Pb (1707.00-4243.00 mg/kg), and Zn (909.00-7100.00 mg/kg) concentrations exceeding national environmental quality standards. After exposure to mine tailings, concentrations of metals in shoots were highest in Werneria nubigena (Cd, 16.68 mg/kg; Cu, 41.36 mg/kg; Ni, 26.85 mg/kg; Zn, 1691.03 mg/kg), Pennisetum clandestinum (Pb, 236.86 mg/kg), and Medicago lupulina (Zn, 1078.10 mg/kg). Metal concentrations in the roots were highest in Juncus bufonius (Cd, 34.34 mg/kg; Cu, 251.07 mg/kg; Ni, 6.60 mg/kg; Pb, 718.44 mg/kg) and M. lupulina (Zn, 2415.73 mg/kg). The greatest BAF was calculated for W. nubigena (Cd, 1.92; Cu, 1.20; Ni, 6.50; Zn, 3.50) and J. bufonius (Ni, 3.02; Zn, 1.30); BCF for Calamagrostis recta (Cd, 1.09; Cu, 1.80; Ni, 1.09), J. bufonius (Cd, 3.91; Cu, 1.79; Ni, 18.36), and Achyrocline alata (Ni, 137; Zn, 1.85); and TF for W. nubigena (Cd, 2.36; Cu, 1.70; Ni, 2.42; Pb, 1.17; Zn, 1.43), A. alata (Cd, 1.14; Pb, 1.94), J. bufonius (Ni, 2.72; Zn, 1.63), and P. clandestinum (Zn, 1.14). Our results suggest that these plant species have a great potential for soil phytoremediation, given their capability to accumulate and transfer metals and their tolerance to highly metal-polluted environments in the Andean region.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Vegetation associated with lacustrine systems in Northern Patagonia was studied for heavy metal and trace element contents, regarding their elemental contribution to these aquatic ecosystems. The research focused on native species and exotic vascular plant Salix spp. potential for absorbing heavy metals and trace elements. The native species studied were riparian Amomyrtus luma, Austrocedrus chilensis, Chusquea culeou, Desfontainia fulgens, Escallonia rubra, Gaultheria mucronata, Lomatia hirsuta, Luma apiculata, Maytenus boaria, Myrceugenia exsucca, Nothofagus antarctica, Nothofagus dombeyi, Schinus patagonicus, and Weinmannia trichosperma, and macrophytes Hydrocotyle chamaemorus, Isöetes chubutiana, Galium sp., Myriophyllum quitense, Nitella sp. (algae), Potamogeton linguatus, Ranunculus sp., and Schoenoplectus californicus. Fresh leaves were analyzed as well as leaves decomposing within the aquatic bodies, collected from lakes Futalaufquen and Rivadavia (Los Alerces National Park), and lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi (Nahuel Huapi National Park). The elements studied were heavy metals Ag, As, Cd, Hg, and U, major elements Ca, K, and Fe, and trace elements Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Na, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn. Geochemical tracers La and Sm were also determined to evaluate contamination of the biological tissues by geological particulate (sediment, soil, dust) and to implement concentration corrections.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss. é uma planta medicinal e frutífera do Cerrado, cuja propagação convencional é difícil, devido à presença do endocarpo extremamente lignificado. Embora o hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) seja amplamente utilizado para a desinfestação superficial, existem poucos relatos de seus efeitos sobre o crescimento do explante. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi estudar o efeito de diferentes pHs e períodos de exposição de sementes de B. intermedia em uma solução de NaOCl. As sementes foram submetidas a diferentes tempos de exposição (1, 5 e 10 minutos) numa solução de NaOCl com diferentes pHs (5, 7, 10 e 12) e, após o tratamento com hipoclorito de sódio, os embriões foram inoculados em meio WPM com a concentração de 50% de sais sem sacarose, ágar a 0,5% e pH 5,8 e, depois de 75 dias de cultivo, o crescimento das plântulas foi avaliado. A utilização de NaOCl é eficaz na desinfestação de sementes de B. intermedia, independente da variação do pH ou dos períodos de exposição. A porcentagem de plântulas normais, o comprimento da parte aérea e o número de folhas são positivamente afetados pela utilização de solução de NaOCl a pH de 8,5-8,9 ou pelo aumento do período de exposição, enquanto o número de raízes é afetado apenas pelo aumento do período de exposição na solução NaOCl.(AU)

Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss., is a medicinal and fruit plant of the Cerrado in which the conventional propagation is difficult due to the presence of extremely lignified endocarps. Although sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in the surface decontamination, there are few reports of its effects on explant growth. The aim of this work was to study the effect of different pH and exposure periods of B. intermedia seeds to a NaOCl solution. Seeds were subjected to different exposure periods (1, 5 and 10 minutes) to a NaOCl solution at different pH (5, 7, 10 and 12) and after treatment with NaOCl, embryos were inoculated in a WPM medium with 50% concentration of salts without sucrose, 0.5% agar and pH 5.8 and after 75 days of culture the growth of seedlings was evaluated. The use of NaOCl is effective in the decontamination of B. intermedia seeds, independent of pH variation and exposure periods and the parameters such as percentage of normal seedlings, shoot length, and number of leaves are positively affected by the use of NaOCl solution at pH 8.5-8.9 and by increasing the exposure period, however, the number of roots is affected only by increasing the exposure period in the NaOCl solution.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss. é uma planta medicinal e frutífera do Cerrado, cuja propagação convencional é difícil, devido à presença do endocarpo extremamente lignificado. Embora o hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) seja amplamente utilizado para a desinfestação superficial, existem poucos relatos de seus efeitos sobre o crescimento do explante. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi estudar o efeito de diferentes pHs e períodos de exposição de sementes de B. intermedia em uma solução de NaOCl. As sementes foram submetidas a diferentes tempos de exposição (1, 5 e 10 minutos) numa solução de NaOCl com diferentes pHs (5, 7, 10 e 12) e, após o tratamento com hipoclorito de sódio, os embriões foram inoculados em meio WPM com a concentração de 50% de sais sem sacarose, ágar a 0,5% e pH 5,8 e, depois de 75 dias de cultivo, o crescimento das plântulas foi avaliado. A utilização de NaOCl é eficaz na desinfestação de sementes de B. intermedia, independente da variação do pH ou dos períodos de exposição. A porcentagem de plântulas normais, o comprimento da parte aérea e o número de folhas são positivamente afetados pela utilização de solução de NaOCl a pH de 8,5-8,9 ou pelo aumento do período de exposição, enquanto o número de raízes é afetado apenas pelo aumento do período de exposição na solução NaOCl.

Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss., is a medicinal and fruit plant of the Cerrado in which the conventional propagation is difficult due to the presence of extremely lignified endocarps. Although sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in the surface decontamination, there are few reports of its effects on explant growth. The aim of this work was to study the effect of different pH and exposure periods of B. intermedia seeds to a NaOCl solution. Seeds were subjected to different exposure periods (1, 5 and 10 minutes) to a NaOCl solution at different pH (5, 7, 10 and 12) and after treatment with NaOCl, embryos were inoculated in a WPM medium with 50% concentration of salts without sucrose, 0.5% agar and pH 5.8 and after 75 days of culture the growth of seedlings was evaluated. The use of NaOCl is effective in the decontamination of B. intermedia seeds, independent of pH variation and exposure periods and the parameters such as percentage of normal seedlings, shoot length, and number of leaves are positively affected by the use of NaOCl solution at pH 8.5-8.9 and by increasing the exposure period, however, the number of roots is affected only by increasing the exposure period in the NaOCl solution.

RESUMO

Carobinha (Jacaranda decurrens Cham. ssp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proença) é uma planta medicinal que ocorre no Cerrado de Mato Grosso do Sul. A espécie vem sendo amplamente utilizada pela medicina popular como depurativa do sangue e cicatrizante de feridas uterinas e dos ovários, resultando na sua exploração predatória. Por ser uma espécie identificada recentemente, os estudos sobre adaptação ex situ são ainda escassos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento, o desenvolvimento, e a produção da carobinha cultivada ex situ em cinco espaçamentos entre plantas dentro das fileiras, em parcelas adubadas com e sem cama semidecomposta de frango de corte. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Horto de Plantas Medicinais (HPM) da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, em Dourados-MS, de abril de 2006 a outubro de 2007. Os espaçamentos entre plantas foram: 0,30; 0,35; 0,40; 0,45 e 0,50 m, sendo a cama de frango aplicada na dose de 10 t ha-1 nas parcelas com este tratamento. O ensaio fatorial 5x2, foi conduzido no delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, sendo a parcela constituída de 4,5 m², com quatro repetições. As mudas foram obtidas a partir de sementes coletadas de uma população de 40 plantas nativas, distribuídas ao acaso, em área de cerca de 100 m² com vegetação característica de Cerrado. Durante o cultivo avaliou-se a altura das plantas a cada 30 dias a partir de 150 até 480 dias após o transplante (DAT). As plantas foram colhidas aos 480 DAT, quando avaliou-se as massas fresca e seca da parte aérea, raízes, área foliar, e o comprimento e o diâmetro da maior raiz. A altura máxima (1,58 m) foi alcançada aos 471 DAT no espaçamento de 0,50 m entre plantas, tratadas com a cama de frango. Os dados de produtividade foram influenciados significativamente pelos espaçamentos, mas não pela adição da cama. O rendimento de massa seca das folhas por hectare não foi influenciado pelo espaçamento. A máxima área foliar foi obtida no espaçamento 0,50 m. Os maiores valores de massa seca de caules por hectare ocorreram no espaçamento de 0,30 m. Os maiores diâmetros de raiz, de xilopódio, e de caule, ocorreram no espaçamento 0,30 m, sendo os máximos valores de comprimento de raiz e de xilopódio também observados neste espaçamento. Os maiores rendimentos de massa seca de raiz (4,564 t ha-1) e de xilopódio (2,102 t ha-1) foram obtidos no espaçamento 0,30 m. Pelos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que para se obter maiores produções de carobinha ela deve ser cultivada no espaçamento de 0,30 m, independente da cama de frango.

Jacaranda decurrens Cham. ssp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proenca, commonly known as carobinha, is a medicinal plant which occurs in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul. The species is widely used in folk medicine as a blood purifying and for healing wounds of uterine and ovarian cancers, which leads to its extensive and predatory exploitation. As it is a newly identified species, studies on its adaptation ex situ are still rare. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the early development and yield of the species cultivated ex situ using five different plant spacing within the ranks and applying semicomposed broiler litter in the plots. The experiment took place at the Garden of Medicinal Plants from the Federal University of Grande Dourados ( UFGD), between April 2006 and October 2007. Plant spacings were: 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50 m, with broiler litter applied at 10 ton ha-1 in plots. The 5x2 factorial trial was designed as randomized blocks, with 4.5 m² plot area and four replications each. The seedlings were obtained from seeds collected in a natural germoplasm bank of 40 plants, randomly distributed in an area of about 100 m² with typical Cerrado vegetation. During cultivation, the height of the plants was evaluated every 30 days from 150 to 480 days after transplanting (DAT). Plants were harvested at 480 DAT, when fresh and dry matter of shoots, roots, leaf area and length and diameter of the largest root were assessed. The maximum height (1.58 m) was reached at 471 DAT at 0.50 m spacing between plants when poultry litter was applied. The yield data were influenced significantly by the spacing, but not by the addition of the broiler litter. The yield per hectare of dry mass of leaves was not influenced by plant spacing, however maximum leaf area was also obtained at 0.50 m spacing. The highest values of dry mass of stems per hectare were obtained at 0.30 m between plants, as well as the largest diameters of root, xylopodium and stem and the maximum length of root and xylopodium was also observed under this plant spacing. Someway, the highest yields of dry mass of root (4.564 t ha-1) and xylopodium (2.102 t ha-1) occurred when used 0.30 m plant spacing. Based on these results, we concluded the species achieves higher yields when grown in 0.30 m plant spacing, independent of the addition of poultry litter.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Centaurium cachanlahuen (Mol.) Robinson is a chilean native plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. Studies carried out in normal and hypertensive rats suggested that extract of Centaurium cachanlahuen has antihypertensive effect. In this work, we aim to evaluate the effect of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Centaurium cachanlahuen on the vascular reactivity using rat aorta rings precontrated with phenylephrine (0.1 uM). Results showed that both aqueous (3 mg/mL) and hydroalcoholic extracts (3 mg/mL) produced rat aorta vasodilatation that was higher (P < 0.001) in the hydroalcoholic extract compared to the aqueous extract. This effect had an important endothelium-dependent component that was mediated by nitric oxide (NO), as supported by the inhibition of the response in the presence of N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 uM), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. We suggest that xanthones present in the plant may play a key role in the vasodilator effect of Centaurium cachanlahuen extracts. The present study provides experimental evidence supporting the folkloric use of Centaurium cachanlahuen as hypotensive agent.

Centaurium cachanlahuen (Mol) Robinson es una planta nativa chilena ampliamente utilizada en medicina tradicional para el tratamiento de varias enfermedades, que incluyen alteraciones cardiovasculares. Estudios llevados a cabo en ratas normales e hipertensas sugieren que el extracto de Centaurium cachanlahuen tiene efecto antihipertensivo. El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de extractos acuosos e hidroalcohólicos de Centaurium cachanlahuen sobre la reactividad vascular de aorta de rata precontraída con fenilefrina (0.1 uM). Tanto el extracto acuoso (3 mg/mL) como el extracto hidroalcohólico (3 mg/mL) produjeron relajación de aorta de rata, la cual fue de mayor magnitud (P < 0.001) con el extracto hidroalcohólico respecto del extracto acuoso. El efecto observado tuvo un importante componente mediado por óxido nítrico (NO), tal como lo demuestra la inhibición de esta respuesta en presencia de N-nitro-L-arginina (L-NNA, 100 uM), un inhibidor de la óxido nítrico sintasa (NOS). Se sugiere que las xantonas presente en la planta pueden jugar un papel clave en el efecto vasodilatador observado por los extractos de Centaurium cachanlahuen. Este estudio constituye una evidencia experimental que apoya el uso popular de Centaurium cachanlahuen como agente hipotensor.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a produção da carobinha (Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata) cultivada ex situ sob dois arranjos de plantas, sem ou com cama-de-frango semidecomposta. O trabalho foi desenvolvido sob condições de campo, no Horto de Plantas Medicinais (HPM), da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD) em solo tipo Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico. Estudaram-se os arranjos em fileiras simples e duplas e o uso ou não de cama-de-frango de corte semidecomposta em cobertura, dispostos como fatorial 2 x 2, no delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. As maiores alturas máximas das plantas (61,3 cm planta-1) aos 555 dias após o transplante foram daquelas cultivadas sob fileira dupla com cama-de-frango. Os números médios de folhas e de ramificações por planta ao longo do ciclo foram de onze e duas, respectivamente. O diâmetro médio do caule de plantas cultivadas em fileiras simples foi de 8,3 mm, enquanto sob fileiras duplas, foi de 10,8 mm, ambos aos 552 dias de ciclo. As características avaliadas, na colheita, aos 555 dias após o transplante não foram influenciadas pela interação entre arranjos de plantas e o uso da cama-de-frango nem pelos fatores isoladamente. Dessa forma, concluiu-se que o cultivo em fileiras duplas foi favorável à produtividade da carobinha, por possibilitar maior produção por área.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development and yield of "carobinha" (Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata) cultivated ex situ under two plant arrangements, with or without semi-decomposed chicken manure. This study was carried out under field conditions at the Medicinal Plant Garden (HPM), Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), in Distroferric Red Latossol. Arrangements with simple and double rows and the use or not of semi-decomposed chicken manure as covering were studied as 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a randomized block experimental design, with six replicates. The highest maximum heights (61.3 cm plant-1) at 555 days after transplant were obtained by plants cultivated under double rows with chicken manure. The mean numbers of leaves and branches per plant during the cycle were eleven and two, respectively. The mean stem diameter of plants that were cultivated in simple rows was 8.3 mm, while that of plants cultivated in double rows was 10.8 mm, both at 552 days of the cycle. The evaluated characteristics, in the harvest at 555 days after transplant, were not influenced by the interaction between plant arrangements and use of chicken manure or by factors in an isolated way. Thus, cultivation in double rows was favorable to "carobinha" yield for allowing the highest yield per area.

Assuntos