Residential proximity to pesticide applications in Argentine Patagonia: impact on pregnancy and newborn parameters.

Among residents living close to agricultural fields who are potentially exposed to pesticides, pregnant women and their fetuses are of particular concern for their vulnerability to environmental chemicals. In this collaborative multicenter study, we covered a wide distribution of participants in the most important fruit production zone of north Patagonia (Argentina) to investigate whether maternal residential proximity to fruit croplands with intense pesticide applications (rural group -RG-) is associated with pregnancy complications and alterations in their newborn parameters compared to the urban population (urban group -UG-). A total of 776 pregnant women met the inclusion criteria. The percentage of threatened miscarriage was significantly higher in the RG than in the UG. The percentage of miscarriage, threat of premature labor, intrauterine fetal death, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth retardation were similar in both groups. Newborn anthropometric parameters were corrected by sex and gestational age prior to statistical analysis. Length at birth and head circumference were lower in the RG than in the UG. Birth weight was similar in both groups. The percentage of head circumference less than the 5th percentile and the ponderal index were greater in the RG than in the UG. Our results suggest that proximity to pesticide applications may increase the risk of pregnancy complications and altered newborn parameters.

Effect of light and sucrose on photoautotrophic and photomixotrophic micropropagation of Physalis angulata / Efeito da luz e sacarose na micropropagação fotoautotrófica e fotomixotrófica de Physalis angulata

The biotechnological interest in genus Physalis has increased in the last decades, however, there are still few micropropagation studies of this genus. The objective of this study was to evaluate P. angulata photoautotrophic and photomixotrophic micropropagation with gas exchange under seven light spectra and five concentrations of sucrose. Lighting were yellow, blue, white, red, green, red + blue LEDs and natural light filtered by mesh. Sucrose concentrations were 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30 g.L-1. Phytotechnical, anatomical features and photopigment contents were evaluated through stem and root segment length, leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll a and b contents, carotenoids, adaxial epidermis, palisadic and spongy parenchyma and abaxial epidermis. The data were compared by Scott-Knott's mean test and principal components analysis using the R software. Comparing the variables within lighting types, it was observed that only the screen treatment, screen-filtered natural illumination, obtained assessment in all variables. Comparing the levels of sucrose, it was observed that the treatment 15 g.L-1 sucrose obtained the highest number of averages with maximum evaluation. It was concluded that the natural light filtered by screen with 50% of shading allowed the photoautotrophic micropropagation of P. angulata. Better development results were observed in photomixotrophic micropropagation with 15 g.L-1 of sucrose.

O interesse biotecnológico em Physalis aumentou nas últimas décadas, porém, ainda existem poucos trabalhos de micropropagação desse gênero. Objetivou-se avaliar sua micropropagação fotoautotrófica e fotomixotrófica com troca gasosa sob sete tipos de iluminação e cinco concentrações de sacarose. Foram utilizados LEDs amarelo, azul, branco, vermelho, verde, vermelho + azul e luz natural filtrada por malha. As concentrações de sacarose foram 0, 7,5, 15, 22,5 e 30 g.L-1. Características fitotécnicas, anatômicas e teor de fotopigmentos foram avaliados através de comprimento de segmento de caule e raíz, número de folhas, área foliar, teores de clorofilas a e b, carotenoides, epiderme adaxial, parênquimas paliçádico e esponjoso e epiderme abaxial. Os dados foram comparados por teste de média Scott-Knott e análise de componentes principais utilizando-se o software R. Comparando-se as variáveis dentro de tipos de iluminação, observou-se que apenas o tratamento screen, iluminação natural filtrada por malha, obteve avaliação máxima em todas as variáveis. Comparando-se os níveis de sucrose, observou-se que o tratamento 15 g.L-1 sacarose obteve o maior número de médias com avaliação máxima. Concluiu-se que a luz natural filtrada por tela com 50% de sombreamento permitiu a micropropagação fotoautotrófica de P. angulata. Observou-se melhores resultados de desenvolvimento na micropropagação fotomixotrófica com 15 g.L-1 de sacarose.

Seasonal Variation of Plant Mineral Nutrition in Fruit Trees

Abstract This research evaluated the monthly variation of plant mineral nutrition in six species of fruit trees over a year. Leaf samples were taken from the fruit trees and nutritional status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Mo) was determined in the leaves in a month basis from April until November for apple, persimmon and peach. Mandarin mineral nutrition was monitored for one year, and grape and fig from May to November. Using this data, the Diagnosis Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) was also calculated to evaluate the nutrient balance in the plants. The concentration of N and P had seasonal differences, especially in apple and peach, which reached the peak during the summer. Apple, fig, and grape trees had large ranging on their mineral contents over the year, especially with the P and K levels reaching the minimum during the harvesting season. However, the seasonal changes in leaf micronutrient concentrations were not uniform and not affected by phenological stage. The DRIS data demonstrated that mandarin had the best nutrient balance compared to others and that K was the most limiting element among the fruit trees. In summary, the current data suggest the occurrence of a significant seasonality in mineral nutrition in these six fruit trees, especially in temperate ones.

DRIS: concepts and applications on nutritional diagnosis in fruit crops

Nutrition and fertilization are important factors in determining fruit yield and fruit quality. There are several methods for plant nutritional status diagnosis, among them, two are relevant and named as Sufficiency Range Approach (SRA) and Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). This research reports the main concepts and applications of DRIS in nutritional diagnosis of fruit crops, comparing it with current nutritional diagnosis methods, indicating advantages and disadvantages, and possible limitations to be investigated.

A nutrição e a adubação são fatores determinantes na produtividade dos pomares e na qualidade de frutos. Dentre os diversos métodos de diagnose nutricional das plantas, destacam-se o critério de faixas de suficiência (CFS) e o sistema integrado de diagnose e recomendação (DRIS "Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System"). São relatados neste trabalho os principais conceitos e aplicações do método DRIS na diagnose nutricional em fruteiras, comparando-o com os sistemas atuais de diagnose nutricional, apontando vantagens e desvantagens, e possíveis limitações a serem investigadas.

DRIS: concepts and applications on nutritional diagnosis in fruit crops

Nutrition and fertilization are important factors in determining fruit yield and fruit quality. There are several methods for plant nutritional status diagnosis, among them, two are relevant and named as Sufficiency Range Approach (SRA) and Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). This research reports the main concepts and applications of DRIS in nutritional diagnosis of fruit crops, comparing it with current nutritional diagnosis methods, indicating advantages and disadvantages, and possible limitations to be investigated.

A nutrição e a adubação são fatores determinantes na produtividade dos pomares e na qualidade de frutos. Dentre os diversos métodos de diagnose nutricional das plantas, destacam-se o critério de faixas de suficiência (CFS) e o sistema integrado de diagnose e recomendação (DRIS "Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System"). São relatados neste trabalho os principais conceitos e aplicações do método DRIS na diagnose nutricional em fruteiras, comparando-o com os sistemas atuais de diagnose nutricional, apontando vantagens e desvantagens, e possíveis limitações a serem investigadas.