DNA and coding/non-coding RNA methylation analysis provide insights into tomato fruit ripening.

Ripening is the last, irreversible developmental stage during which fruit become palatable, thus promoting seed dispersal by frugivory. In Alisa Craig fruit, mRNAs with increasing m5C levels, such as STPK and WRKY 40, were identified as being involved in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, two mRNAs involved in cell wall metabolism, PG and EXP-B1, also presented increased m5C levels. In the Nr mutant, several m5C-modified mRNAs involved in fruit ripening, including those encoding WRKY and MADS-box proteins, were found. Targets of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs with different m5C sites were also found; these targets included 2-alkenal reductase, soluble starch synthase 1, WRKY, MADS-box, and F-box/ketch-repeat protein SKIP11. A combined analysis of changes in 5mC methylation and mRNA revealed many differentially expressed genes with differentially methylated regions encoding transcription factors and key enzymes related to ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction; these included ERF084, EIN3, AP2/ERF, ACO5, ACS7, EIN3/4, EBF1, MADS-box, AP2/ERF, and ETR1. Taken together, our findings contribute to the global understanding of the mechanisms underlying fruit ripening, thereby providing new information for both fruit and post-harvest behavior.

Phenolic Compound Profile by UPLC-MS/MS and Encapsulation with Chitosan of Spondias mombin L. Fruit Peel Extract from Cerrado Hotspot-Brazil.

Taperebá (Spondias mombin L.) is a native species of the Brazilian Cerrado that has shown important characteristics such as a significant phenolic compound content and biological activities. The present study aimed to characterize the phenolic compound profile and antioxidant activity in taperebá peel extract, as well as microencapsulating the extract with chitosan and evaluating the stability of the microparticles. The evaluation of the profile of phenolic compounds was carried out by UPLC-MS/MS. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS methods. The microparticles were obtained by spray drying and were submitted to a stability study under different temperatures. In general, the results showed a significant content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The results of UPLC-MS/MS demonstrated a significant content of polyphenols in taperebá peel, highlighting the high content of ellagic acid and quercetin compounds. There was significant retention of phenolic compounds when microencapsulated, demonstrating high retention at all evaluated temperatures. This study is the first to microencapsulate the extract of taperebá peel, in addition to identifying and quantifying some compounds in this fruit.

Plastid genome evolution in Amazonian açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and Atlantic forest açaí palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.).

KEY MESSAGE: The plastomes of E. edulis and E. oleracea revealed several molecular markers useful for genetic studies in natural populations and indicate specific evolutionary features determined by vicariant speciation. Arecaceae is a large and diverse family occurring in tropical and subtropical ecosystems worldwide. E. oleracea is a hyperdominant species of the Amazon forest, while E. edulis is a keystone species of the Atlantic forest. It has reported that E. edulis arose from vicariant speciation after the emergence of the belt barrier of dry environment (Cerrado and Caatinga biomes) between Amazon and Atlantic forests, isolating the E. edulis in the Atlantic forest. We sequenced the complete plastomes of E. edulis and E. oleracea and compared them concerning plastome structure, SSRs, tandem repeats, SNPs, indels, hotspots of nucleotide polymorphism, codon Ka/Ks ratios and RNA editing sites aiming to investigate evolutionary traits possibly affected by distinct environments. Our analyses revealed 303 SNPs, 91 indels, and 82 polymorphic SSRs among both species. Curiously, the narrow correlation among localization of repetitive sequences and indels strongly suggests that replication slippage is involved in plastid DNA mutations in Euterpe. Moreover, most non-synonymous substitutions represent amino acid variants in E. edulis that evolved specifically or in a convergent manner across the palm phylogeny. Amino acid variants observed in several plastid proteins in E. edulis were also identified as positive signatures across palm phylogeny. The higher incidence of specific amino acid changes in plastid genes of E. edulis in comparison with E. oleracea probably configures adaptive genetic variations determined by vicariant speciation. Our data indicate that the environment generates a selective pressure on the plastome making it more adapted to specific conditions.

Effects of ambient climate and three warming treatments on fruit production in an alpine, subarctic meadow community.

PREMISE: Climate change is having major impacts on alpine and arctic regions, and inter-annual variations in temperature are likely to increase. How increased climate variability will impact plant reproduction is unclear. METHODS: In a 4-year study on fruit production by an alpine plant community in northern Sweden, we applied three warming regimes: (1) a static level of warming with open-top chambers (OTC), (2) press warming, a yearly stepwise increase in warming, and (3) pulse warming, a single-year pulse event of higher warming. We analyzed the relationship between fruit production and monthly temperatures during the budding period, fruiting period, and whole fruit production period and the effect of winter and summer precipitation on fruit production. RESULTS: Year and treatment had a significant effect on total fruit production by evergreen shrubs, Cassiope tetragona, and Dryas octopetala, with large variations between treatments and years. Year, but not treatment, had a significant effect on deciduous shrubs and graminoids, both of which increased fruit production over the 4 years, while forbs were negatively affected by the press warming, but not by year. Fruit production was influenced by ambient temperature during the previous-year budding period, current-year fruiting period, and whole fruit production period. Minimum and average temperatures were more important than maximum temperature. In general, fruit production was negatively correlated with increased precipitation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that predicted increased climate variability and increased precipitation due to climate change may affect plant reproductive output and long-term community dynamics in alpine meadow communities.

Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of the Edible Fruits of Brosimun gaudichaudii Trécul, a Native Plant of the Cerrado Biome.

In Brazil, there is a large diversity of species of small edible fruits that are considered sources of nutrients and functional properties. They present a high innovation domain for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries due to their health-promoting properties. Edible fruits from Brosimum gaudichaudii (Moraceae) are widely consumed and used in folk medicine and in feed by the population of the Brazilian Cerrado. Nevertheless, detailed information on the chemical fingerprint, antiradical activity and safety aspects of these fruits is still unknown. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the bioactive compounds of hydroethanolic extracts of fruits from Brosimum gaudichaudii using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization (HPLC ESI-MS). Eighteen different compounds, including flavonoids, coumarins, arylbenzofurans, terpenoids, stilbenes, xanthones and esters, were detected. Moreover, the study indicated that the hydroethanolic extract of fruits from B. gaudichaudii presented low scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals (IC50 >800 µg mL-1 ) and was cytotoxic (IC50 <30 µg mL-1 ) in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) by an in vitro assay. This is the first report of the chemical profile, antioxidant activity and cytotoxic properties of the hydroethanolic extract of fruits from B. gaudichaudii.

Vinegar from Anacardium othonianum Rizzini using submerged fermentation.

BACKGROUND: Anacardium othonianum Rizzini is a native Cerrado fruit, recently described in the literature. Its use is restricted to its native region and there is a lack of studies regarding production of vinegar from the pulp. This work aims to investigate the production of A. othonianum Rizzini vinegar using submerged fermentation. RESULTS: The density, alcohol content, proximal composition, pH, color coordinates, and chromatographic profile of the volatile compounds were analyzed in the slurry, fermented juice, and vinegar produced from the corpulent parts of A. othonianum Rizz. Sensory acceptance and willingness to pay were also assessed with vinegar at 4% and 6% of total acidity. The results indicated compliance with European legislation and the presence of volatile compounds such as carbon dioxide, acetic acid, ethanol, and acetaldehyde in the analyzed vinegars. Our results indicate the potential of vinegar production from A. othonianum, with 74% and 86% willingness to pay. CONCLUSIONS: The process of transformation of the fruit pulp into new products can contribute to fruit valorization and consequent preservation of the plant in the Cerrado biome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of volatile compounds and minerals in A. othonianum Rizz. slurry. Our observations can be used as a basis for future studies regarding the preparation of vinegars from this species and for investigating their application in cooking and guiding consumer perception. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy in Brazilian savanna: two solutions to face seasonality.

Background and Aims: The relationship between fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndrome is widely recognized; however, the interaction of dormancy classes and plant life-history traits in relation to fruiting phenology and seed dispersal is understudied. Here we examined the relationship between fruiting season and seed dormancy and how this relationship is modulated by dormancy classes, dispersal syndromes, seed mass and seed moisture content in a Brazilian savanna (cerrado). Methods: Dormancy classes (non-dormancy and physical, morphological, morphophysiological, physiological and physiophysical dormancy) of 34 cerrado species were experimentally determined. Their seed dispersal syndrome (autochory, anemochory, zoochory), dispersal season (rainy, dry, rainy-to-dry and dry-to-rainy transitions), seed mass and moisture contents, and the estimated germination date were also determined. Log-linear models were used to evaluate how dormancy and dormancy classes are related to dispersal season and syndrome. Key Results: The proportions of dormant and non-dormant species were similar in cerrado. The community-estimated germination date was seasonal, occurring at the onset of rainy season. Overall, anemochorous non-dormant species released seeds during the dry-to-rainy transition; autochorous physically dormant species dispersed seeds during the dry season and rainy-to-dry transition; zoochorous species dispersed non-dormant seeds during the dry and rainy seasons, while species with morphological, morphophysiological or physiological dormancy dispersed seeds in the transitional seasons. Seed mass differed among dispersal seasons and dormancy classes, but seed moisture content did not vary with dispersal syndrome, season or dormancy class. Conclusions: The beginning of the rainy season was the most favourable period for seed germination in cerrado, and the germination phenology was controlled by both the timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy. Dormancy class was influenced by dispersal syndrome and season. Moreover, dormancy avoided seed germination during the rainy-to-dry transition, independently of dispersal syndrome. The variability of dormancy classes with dispersal syndrome allowed animal-dispersed species to fruit all year round, but seeds germinated only during the rainy season. Conversely, seasonally restricted wind-dispersal species dispersed and germinated their non-dormant seeds only in the rainy season.

Bark and latex harvesting short-term impact on native tree species reproduction.

The bark and the latex of plants constitute non-timber forest products (NTFPs) of medicinal and economic value that are widely harvested throughout the world. Bark and latex harvesting impacts on plant reproduction are controversial in the literature. Some species are negatively impacted, some do not show any response, and others may exhibit higher flower and fruit production after harvesting. In areas of rainforests and cerrado (tropical savanna) in northeastern Brazil, local people intensely remove the bark of Himatanthus drasticus (for latex collection) and Stryphnodendron rotundifolium for medicinal purposes. We aimed to investigate the short-term impact of harvesting upon reproductive effort of tree species, using those species as models. We assumed that bark harvesting negatively interferes in the reproductive capacity of plant species. Individuals of both species were harvested 2 months before blooming (treated) and the production of reproductive structures, physical characteristics of fruits and seeds, and the pre-emergent reproductive success were compared between treated and control (intact) individuals. All parameters of H. drasticus declined after bark removal, except pollen and ovule production. The only reproductive parameters of S. rotundifolium that were negatively affected were pollen and ovule production, and the pre-emergent reproductive success was higher in treatment individuals. We discuss the differences found between the species regarding responses to harvesting. Our results show that harvesting have short-term effects upon reproduction and may impair gene flow by affecting pollination and seed dispersal of tree species.

Integrative analysis of circRNAs acting as ceRNAs involved in ethylene pathway in tomato.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of non-coding endogenous RNAs that could act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to terminate the mRNA targets' suppression of miRNAs. To elucidate the intricate regulatory roles of circRNAs in the ethylene pathway in tomato fruit, deep sequencing and bioinformatics methods were performed. After strict screening, a total of 318 circRNAs were identified. Among these circRNAs, 282 were significantly differentially expressed among wild-type and sense-/antisense-LeERF1 transgenic tomato fruits. Besides, 1254 target genes were identified and a large amount of them were found to be involved in ethylene pathway. In addition, a sophisticated regulatory model consisting of circRNAs, target genes and ethylene was set up. Importantly, 61 circRNAs were found to be potential ceRNAs to combine with miRNAs and some of the miRNAs had been revealed to participate in the ethylene signaling pathway. This research further raised the possibility that the ethylene pathway in tomato fruit may be under the regulation of various circRNAs and provided a new perspective of the roles of circRNAs.

Peel of araticum fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.) as a source of antioxidant compounds with α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activities.

Annona crassiflora Mart., whose fruit is popularly known as araticum, is a member of the Annonaceae family found in the Brazilian Cerrado. Although this plant has several medicinal uses, its bioactive molecules are not fully understood. A bioguided assay was performed to identify the main bioactive compounds of A. crassiflora fruit peel from the ethanol extract fractions with antioxidant capacity and α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activities. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed, respectively, higher antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 1.5±0.1 and 0.8±0.1µgmL-1, ORAC 3355±164 and 2714±79µmoltroloxeq/g, and FRAP 888±16 and 921±9µmoltroloxeq/g) and inhibitory activities against α-amylase (IC50 4.5±0.8 and 1.7±0.3µgmL-1), α-glucosidase (IC50 554.5±158.6 and 787.8±140.6µgmL-1) and glycation (IC50 14.3±3.3 and 16.0±4.2µgmL-1), and lower cytotoxicity, compared to the other fractions and crude ethanol extract. The HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified various biomolecules known as potent antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid, (epi)catechin, procyanidins, caffeoyl-hexosides, quercetin-glucosides and kaempferol. The fruit peel of A. crassiflora, a specie from Cerrado, the Brazilian Savanna, provided a source of antioxidant compounds with properties to block carbohydrate digestive enzymes and formation of glycation products. Thus, there is potential to use the by-products of araticum in order to identify and isolate phytochemicals for application in nutraceutical supplements, food additives and pharmaceuticals products.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of Caryocar brasiliense supercritical carbon dioxide extract.

BACKGROUND: Caryocar brasiliense Camb (Pequi) is a typical Brazilian Cerrado fruit tree. Its fruit is used as a vitamin source for culinary purposes and as a source of oil for the manufacture of cosmetics. C. brasiliense supercritical CO2 extracts exhibit antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus and also possess antioxidant activity. This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the supercritical CO2 extract obtained from the leaves of this species. METHODS: In vitro cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of C. brasiliense supercritical CO2 extracts were assessed using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (XTT) and Neutral Red methods. RESULTS: We found that the C. brasiliense (Pequi) extract obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction did not present cytotoxic and phototoxic hazards. CONCLUSIONS: This finding suggests that the extract may be useful for the development of cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical products.

Anthropogenic edges, isolation and the flowering time and fruit set of Anadenanthera peregrina, a cerrado savanna tree.

Fragmentation exposes plants to extreme environmental conditions with implications for species phenology and reproduction.We investigated whether isolation and edge effects influence size, flowering time, fruit set, and seedling establishment of Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata. We compared trees in the interior (n =85), and on the edge (n =74) of a cerrado savanna fragment as well as in a pasture (n =26) with respect to size, flowering phenology, flower and fruit production, fruit and seed set, predispersal seed predation, and seedling establishment. Trees in the pasture were larger and produced a higher number of flowers and fruits than trees on the edge and interior, yet seed set did not differ across environments. The plant size structure explained the flower and fruit production, and the self-compatibility breeding system caused a similar seed set regardless of the environment. First flowering was later and fruit set higher in the interior. We argue that time of first flower influenced the fruit set of Anadenathera. Edge and isolated trees started to flower earlier as a response to microclimatic conditions--mainly temperature--reducing the fruit set. Predispersal seed predation was lower among pasture trees. Conversely, we found seedlings only on the edge and in the interior of cerrado, suggesting that the pasture was of poor quality habitat for Anadenanthera recruitment. Isolation affected the plant size structure and reproduction of Anadenanthera trees. Studies comparing plant phenology under contrasting environmental conditions may offer clues on how global change may affect plant reproduction in the tropics.

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.): A critical review for the food industry.

This review aimed to critically and comparatively analyze the physicochemical, proximate, nutritional, phytochemical composition, and bioactivities of araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) (AAc), a fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado. Additionally, the potential applications of this fruit in the food industry were reviewed. Data and information were collected from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. AAc, a fruit mainly studied in the Brazilian regions of Minas Gerais and Goiás, has well-documented physicochemical, proximate, and nutritional characteristics. It is rich in fiber, sugars, vitamins A and C, minerals, and oil, making it attractive to the food industry. However, there are research gaps, such as the impact of climatic conditions on the AAc chemical composition. Additional studies are needed, especially for the peel and seeds, and investigations of pre-treatments effect on the chemical composition are recommended. The application of AAc in food products is mainly limited to pulp, but there is potential for using peels and seeds. AAc is a rich source of phytochemical compounds with various biological properties, such as antioxidants, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial activities. Future studies should explore other phytochemicals present in the fruit beyond phenolic compounds. The consumption of AAc can contribute to combating food insecurity malnutrition, and promoting the conservation of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Protective effects of steroidal alkaloids isolated from Solanum paniculatum L. against mitomycin cytotoxic and genotoxic actions.

Solanum paniculatum L. is a plant species widespread throughout tropical America, especially in the Brazilian Cerrado region. It is used in Brazil for culinary purposes and in folk medicine to treat liver and gastric dysfunctions, as well as hangovers. Previous studies with S. paniculatum ethanolic leaf extract or ethanolic fruit extract demonstrated that they have no genotoxic activity neither in mice nor in bacterial strains, although their cytotoxicity and antigenotoxicity were demonstrated in higher doses. In order to assess the possible compounds responsible for the activities observed, we fractionated the ethanolic fruit extract of S. paniculatum, characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, and evaluated two fractions containing steroidal alkaloids against mitomycin C (MMC) using the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. Swiss mice were orally treated with different concentrations (25, 50, or 100 mg.kg-1) of each fraction simultaneously with a single intraperitonial dose of MMC (4 mg.kg-1). Antigenotoxicity was evaluated by using the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), whereas anticytotoxicity was assessed by the polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes ratio (PCE/NCE). Our results demonstrated that steroidal alkaloids isolated from S. paniculatum strongly protected cells against MMC aneugenic and/or clastogenic activities as well as modulated MMC cytotoxic action.

Efficacy of Strychnos spinosa (Lam.) and Solanum incanum L. aqueous fruit extracts against cattle ticks.

The efficacy of Solanum incanum and Strychnos spinosa aqueous fruit extracts was evaluated against cattle ticks in on-station experiments and laboratory tick bioassays. In the on-station experiment using cattle, fruit extracts were applied at three concentrations 5, 10, and 20 % (w/v) and compared with a commercial acaricide, Tickbuster (amitraz) spray (positive control) and no treatment (negative control). The treatments were applied at weekly intervals for 6 weeks as surface sprays on 32 Mashona cattle in a completely randomized design experiment. Ticks on individual cattle were identified, counted, and recorded daily. Peripheral blood samples were collected for parasite screening. In the laboratory, tick bioassays were conducted at four concentrations, 5, 10, 20, and 40% (w/v) fruit extracts compared to Tickbuster (amitraz) spray (positive control) and distilled water (negative control). The extracts were incubated with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus tick larvae and mortalities for each treatment level recorded after 24 and 48 h. The 5% Solanum incanum treatment had higher efficacy ratio (P < 0.05) than the other fruit extract concentrations of the same plant species. Efficacy ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in the 5% S. spinosa-treated cattle than in the untreated control but lower (P < 0.05) than that for the amitraz treatment. The bioassays indicated that there was a high efficacy ratio for the lowest fruit extract concentrations when ticks were exposed to acaricidal treatments for 48 h compared to 24 h. Overall, the results indicate that Solanum incanum and Strychnos spinosa individually have some acaricidal effect.

Multivariate analysis of agronomic, physicochemical, and physiological characters of passion fruit hybrids cultivated at different environments.

Simultaneous analysis studies of several agronomic traits in cultivated plants make it possible to identify phenotypic and genotypic differences due to environmental variations, such as altitude. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate, through multivariate analysis of agronomic, physicochemical and physiological characters, passion fruit hybrids cultivated in different environments. The hybrids used were Gigante Amarelo, Rubi do Cerrado and Sol do Cerrado, cultivated in the southern region of Espírito Santo in four municipalities/environments: Marataízes (41 m), Jerônimo Monteiro (104 m), Alegre (711 m), and Ibitirama (1016 m). The agronomic characters of the plants, the physical-chemical characteristics of the fruits and the physical, biochemical and physiological qualities of the seeds were analyzed. The Singh method was used to determine the most important differentiating characters between hybrids growing in different environments. Based on these characters, a dissimilarity matrix was generated and a principal coordinate analysis was performed. It was observed that the pulp yield was influenced by altitude. The three hybrids showed greater performance in terms of agronomic characters at altitude (41 m) than at altitude (104 m). The Sol do Cerrado hybrid showed high performance in the physical-chemical characteristics of the fruits at altitude (104 m).

Evaluation of the total phenolic content, antioxidative capacity, and chemical fingerprint of Annona crassiflora Mart. Bioaccessible molecules.

Annona crassiflora Mart. (araticum) is an exotic fruit native to the Brazilian Cerrado that stands out for its phytochemical profile, especially for the presence of bioactive compounds. The health-related benefits promoted by these metabolites are widely explored. It is known that the biological activity of bioactive compounds is directly dependent on the availability of the molecules, and their bioaccessibility after the digestion process is one of the main limiting factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds in some parts of araticum (peel, pulp and seeds) fruits obtained from different regions through the in vitro digestion process simulating the gastrointestinal tract. The total phenolic content ranged from 480.81 to 1007.62 for pulp; 837.53 to 1926.56 for peel; and 358.28 to 1186.07 for seeds (mg GAE.100 g-1 of sample). The highest antioxidant activity was observed for the seeds by the DPPH method, the peel by the ABTS method, and most of the peel, except for the Cordisburgo sample, by the FRAP method. Through the research of the chemical profile, it was possible to list up to 35 compounds, including the nutrients, in this identification attempt. It was observed that some compounds were listed only in natura samples (epicatechin and procyanidin) and others only for the bioaccessible fraction (quercetin-3-O-dipentoside), which is justified by the different gastrointestinal tract conditions. Thus, the present study elucidates that the food matrix will directly influence the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds. In addition, it highlights the potential of unconventionally used or consumed parts that can be used as sources of substances with biological activities, increasing the sustainability by reducing waste.

Establishment and Expansion Scenario of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Central Brazil.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), also known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is an important pest that damages various wild and cultivated soft fruits worldwide, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. In Brazil, it occurs mainly in the subtropical climates of the southern and southeastern regions. However, SWD has also been sporadically found in the central region of the country in the natural vegetation of the tropical Brazilian Savanna. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of SWD at the northern limit of its range in South America - the central region of Brazil - by monitoring an established drosophilid community in an orchard located in the Brazilian Federal District. We also investigated the current geographical distribution of this pest in Brazil and its potential geographical distribution using species distribution models under two different future shared socioeconomic pathways scenarios (2040 and 2060, optimist and pessimist). Twenty drosophilid species were detected among the 6,396 captured specimens, most of which are exotic in the Neotropical region. The fly community greatly fluctuated throughout the year, and the highest abundance of SWD (3.5% relative abundance and 1.38 flies/trap/day) was recorded in April during the rainy season. Potential distribution models indicate that suitable areas for SWD spread will decrease in the south and southeast but increase in the central region of Brazil. We recommend continuous SWD monitoring and improving bioclimatic forecast models for mitigating damage to local fruit production.

Compounds of tucum-do-cerrado (Bactris setosa) fruit with antioxidant activity.

'Tucum-do-cerrado' (Bactris setosa) is an edible fruit from the Brazilian 'Cerrado' biome marked by a high antioxidant potential and polyphenol content when compared to other fruits from the same biome. Its antioxidant activity is higher in the peel than in the pulp. Ethanolic and aqueous peel extracts were analyzed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. We also investigated the aqueous peel extract for its antioxidant mechanism and isolated some of its compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography. Among the extracts tested, the aqueous peel extract exhibited the highest FRAP values, with a predominant free radical scavenger activity. The isolated compounds were identified as two catechins, a cyanidin, a peonidin, and a quercetin. Testing the antioxidant potential of the isolated compounds using the 2-deoxyribose degradation assay revealed that catechin and quercetin showed the highest antioxidant activity. Thus, our results advance the identification of 'tucum-do-cerrado' compounds with antioxidant activity.

Annual reproductive cycle of males of the great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus: Testicular variations, abiotic regulation and sperm analysis.

Artibeus lituratus is one of the most well-known bat species in the Neotropics, probably due to its high abundance and the ability to inhabit urban areas. It plays an important ecological role in the ecosystem due to its ability to disperse seeds, which contributes to the regeneration of degraded areas. Actually, the species has been used as an important experimental model for ecotoxicological studies of the impact of pesticides on male reproduction. Despite that, the reproductive pattern of A. lituratus is still controversial due to inconsistent descriptions of the reproductive cycle. Thus, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the annual variations of the testicular parameters and sperm quality of A. lituratus and analyze their responses to annual variations in abiotic factors in the Cerrado area in Brazil. Testes of five specimens were collected each month for one year (12 sample groups) and submitted to histological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses. Analyses of the sperm quality were also performed. Results demonstrate that A. lituratus presents a continuously active process of spermatogenesis throughout the year, with two significant peaks in spermatogenic production (September-October and March), which indicates a bimodal polyestric pattern of reproduction. These reproductive peaks seem to be related to an increase in proliferation and, consequently, in the number of spermatogonia. Conversely, seasonal variations in testicular parameters are correlated with annual fluctuations in rainfall and photoperiod but not with temperature. In general, the species presents smaller spermatogenic indexes with a similar sperm quantity and quality to other bat species.