Bees biodiversity, forage behavior and fruit production in gherkin crop (Cucumis anguria L)

The objectives were to evaluate the biodiversity of bees, forage behavior and their effect on fruit production in the gherkin crop (Cucumis anguria L.) in the campus of the University Center Moura Lacerda in two years. The frequency and type of collection of the insects in the flowers was observed by counting from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the first 10 minutes of each time, for three distinct days in each year. The percentage of fruiting was quantified in 25 female flowers covered with nylon compared to the 25 female flowers uncovered in the two years. The flowers were visited by the Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera and the native bees Plebeia sp., Exomalopsis sp. and Melissodes sp., and the Africanized honey bees presented higher frequency and constancy with a higher number of visits in the male flowers compared to the female ones and these visits occurred between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Without the visitation of the bees there was no fruit production, and both the Africanized honey bee and the native ones when collecting nectar and pollen, visited both female and male flowers, carrying pollen in their body, being considered important pollinators of this culture.(AU)

Bees biodiversity, forage behavior and fruit production in gherkin crop (Cucumis anguria L)

The objectives were to evaluate the biodiversity of bees, forage behavior and their effect on fruit production in the gherkin crop (Cucumis anguria L.) in the campus of the University Center Moura Lacerda in two years. The frequency and type of collection of the insects in the flowers was observed by counting from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the first 10 minutes of each time, for three distinct days in each year. The percentage of fruiting was quantified in 25 female flowers covered with nylon compared to the 25 female flowers uncovered in the two years. The flowers were visited by the Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera and the native bees Plebeia sp., Exomalopsis sp. and Melissodes sp., and the Africanized honey bees presented higher frequency and constancy with a higher number of visits in the male flowers compared to the female ones and these visits occurred between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Without the visitation of the bees there was no fruit production, and both the Africanized honey bee and the native ones when collecting nectar and pollen, visited both female and male flowers, carrying pollen in their body, being considered important pollinators of this culture.

Comparative analysis of polygalacturonase in the fruit of strawberry cultivars.

The role of polygalacturonase (PG) in the development, ripening, and softening of fruit from two strawberry cultivars with different flesh firmness and softening characteristics was compared. Changes in PG activity and gene expression during development, ripening and softening were measured. The PG genes from each cultivar were cloned and analyzed, and were classified with other PG genes using phylogenetic analysis. In Toyonoka fruit, PG activity increased gradually, reaching a peak during the pink stage, and remained at this level during post-harvest softening. Changes in PG gene expression were consistent with PG activity in these softer fruits. In the firmer Sweet Charlie fruits, PG activity was detected during the initial development stage, reaching a peak at the white stage, thereafter decreasing gradually with ripening and remaining at this lower level throughout softening. Changes in PG gene expression and PG activity were not consistent in these fruit. For both Toyonoka and Sweet Charlie PG genes (FaTPG and FaSCPG, respectively), the open reading frame was 1218 bp, encoding 405 amino acids. Five different nucleotide sites were observed between the two sequences, leading to two amino acid sequence mutations. FaTPG, FaSCPG, and PG genes from the Fragaria vesca genome were classified into three clades using phylogenetic analysis. The clade containing PG genes involved in fruit softening had functional similarity but there were no functional differences between FaTPG and FaSCPG. Differences in PG activity, gene sequence, and gene expression may have led to different roles of PG during ripening and softening in strawberries with different textures.

The capuchin, the howler, and the Caatinga: seed dispersal by monkeys in a threatened Brazilian forest.

Regeneration of the Brazilian Caatinga forest may be restricted by the naturally low diversity and density of fruit-eating animals, which has been aggravated by local faunal extinction induced by human activities. We made a preliminary evaluation of the potential seed-dispersal role of capuchin (Cebus apella libidinosus) and howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in Serra da Capivara National Park. The monkeys dispersed at least 26 species. Alouatta dispersed larger seeds than Cebus, and the two species apparently dispersed seeds in different local habitats. Seed dispersal by monkeys potentially makes a significant contribution to Caatinga regeneration.

[Morphology and anatomy of the fruit and seed in development of Guarea macrophylla Vahl. (Meltaceae)]. / Morfo-anatomia do fruto e da semente em desenvolvimento de Guarea macrophylla Vahl. (Meliaceae).

Morphology and anatomy of the fruit and seed in development of Guarea macrophylla Vahl. were studied in flowers and fruits collected in secondary forests of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Pericarp originates from the wall of the ovary and is constituted of epidermic exocarp, parenchymatous mesocarp with brachysclereids and fibrous and lignified endocarp. The seed develops from the hemianatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate ovule and it is classified as an exotegmic and exalbuminous one. Exotesta and mesotesta constitute the red sarcotesta, with oily content.

[Morphology and anatomy od the development of the anthocarp and fruit of Pisonia aculeata L. (Nyctaginaceae)]. / Morfo-anatomia do desenvolvimento do antocarpo e do fruto de Pisonia aculeata L. (Nyctaginaceae).

Pisonia aculeata L. is a widespread species that occurs frequently in tropical and subtropical forests in the South of Brazil. This paper presents a morphological and anatomical study of the development of its anthocarps and the fruits. Flowers in pre and post anthesis and fruits in different stages of development were collected in the Horto Florestal of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil. The anthocarp originates in the perigone and it can be characterized by the presence of an uniseriate epidermis on the abaxial surface, presence of glandular emergences, a glabrous epidermis on the adaxial surface and a parenchymatous mesophyll. This last tissue presents a great number of cellular strata due to the action of a ventral meristema installed still in the perigone phase. The pericarp develops from the wall of the ovary. The ovule is anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. The mature seed presents a thin testa with thickened cell walls just in the rafe region, perisperm and endosperm with nuclear origin, without development of tegmen. The anthocarp has great importance in the process of dispersion of this species (epizoochory). This study confirms that the fruit is an achene and not a caryopsis as affirmed in the literature.

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae).

Morphological, structural and developmental features of fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. are here studied, with the purpose to give a proper classification of their fruit and embryo type and to contribute to future taxonomical and ecological studies. The fruit is a berry and the "rind" consists of the exocarp, represented by a periderm with lenticels, and by the parenchymatic mesocarp, with branched secretory ducts and vascular bundles. The edible pulpy is formed by the endocarp, destituted of secretory ducts, and derived from the activity of a ventral meristem, which emerges early in the fruit development. The inner endocarp cell layers undergo a radial elongation and become firmly attached to the testal outer layers. At maturation the endocarp may be released from the rest of the pericarp. The ovules are unitegmic and they turn into unitegmic and exalbuminous seeds. The multiseriate testa consists of thick-walled cells and sclerenchymatous fibers. This last features have carried out to a wrong interpretation that the fruit of this species is a drupe. The embryo is pseudo-conferruminate, with two massive foodstoring cotyledons, rich in starch, firmly attached.