Reassessment of the Genome Size in Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera, and Its Interspecific Hybrid.

Aiming at generating a comprehensive genomic database on Elaeis spp., our group is leading several R&D initiatives with Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm) and Elaeis oleifera (American oil palm), including the whole-genome sequencing of the last. Genome size estimates currently available for this genus are controversial, as they indicate that American oil palm genome is about half the size of the African oil palm genome and that the genome of the interspecific hybrid is bigger than both the parental species genomes. We estimated the genome size of three E. guineensis genotypes, five E. oleifera genotypes, and two interspecific hybrids genotypes. On average, the genome size of E. guineensis is 4.32 ± 0.173 pg, while that of E. oleifera is 4.43 ± 0.018 pg. This indicates that both genomes are similar in size, even though E. oleifera is in fact bigger. As expected, the hybrid genome size is around the average of the two genomes, 4.40 ± 0.016 pg. Additionally, we demonstrate that both species present around 38% of GC content. As our results contradict the currently available data on Elaeis spp. genome sizes, we propose that the actual genome size of the Elaeis species is around 4 pg and that American oil palm possesses a larger genome than African oil palm.

Morphology, distribution and abundance of antennal sensilla in three stink bug species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

The neotropical stink bugs, Euschistus heros, Piezodorus guildinii and Edessa meditabunda, are important pests of soybean and other crops throughout Central America and in South America from Northern Argentina to Brazil. Mate finding and host plant location in these species depend largely on their chemical communication, and semiochemicals are important mediators of these behaviors. In this study scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the external morphology, distribution and abundance of antennal sensilla on males, females and 5th instar nymphs of these species. Nine morphologically different sensilla types were found: trichod sensilla, type 1 and 2 (ST1 and ST2), long and short basiconic sensilla (SB1, SB2, and SB3), slit-tipped and knob-shaped basiconic sensilla, long chaetic sensilla (Sch) and coeloconic sensilla (Sco). Differences were detected in the abundance and arrangement of the sensilla over the antennal segments in individuals of the same species and among the species studied. The Sch, Sco and the slit-tipped and knob-shaped basiconic sensilla accounted for the major difference in sensilla types among the species. The ST1 was the most abundant type and was restricted to the flagellum. The pedicel of E. heros differs from the pedicels of P. guildinii and E. meditabunda mainly by the absence of Sch. There was a sexual dimorphism in ST1, SB1 and SB2, and this may be an indicative of their roles in detection of male-produced sex pheromone and odors derived from the host plants. The SB2 was lacking in the antennal tip of both sexes and 5th instar nymphs, but was abundant on the second flagellar segment of females of the three species. The same types of sensilla were found on 5th instar nymphs, but always in significantly lower numbers. The morphology and putative functions of each sensilla were compared and discussed.

Translocation and insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis living inside of plants.

The major biological pesticide for the control of insect infestations of crops, Bacillus thuringiensis was found to be present naturally within cotton plants from fields that had never been treated with commercial formulations of this bacterium. The ability of B. thuringiensis to colonize plants as an endophyte was further established by the introduction of a strain marked by production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). After inoculation of this preparation close to the roots of cotton and cabbage seedlings, GFP-marked bacteria could be re-isolated from all parts of the plant, having entered the roots and migrated through the xylem. Leaves taken from the treated plants were able to cause toxicity when fed to the Lepidoptera Spodoptera frugiperda (cotton) and Plutella xylostella (cabbage). These results open up new horizons for understanding the natural ecology and evolution of B. thuringiensis and use of B. thuringiensis in insect control.

RNAi-mediated silencing of the myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase gene (GmMIPS1) in transgenic soybean inhibited seed development and reduced phytate content.

Inositol plays a role in membrane trafficking and signaling in addition to regulating cellular metabolism and controlling growth. In plants, the myo-inositol-1-phosphate is synthesized from glucose 6-phosphate in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4). Inositol can be converted into phytic acid (phytate), the most abundant form of phosphate in seeds. The path to phytate has been suggested to proceed via the sequential phosphorylation of inositol phosphates, and/or in part via phosphatidylinositol phosphate. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] lines were produced using interfering RNA (RNAi) construct in order to silence the myo-inositol-1-phosphate (GmMIPS1) gene. We have observed an absence of seed development in lines in which the presence of GmMIPS1 transcripts was not detected. In addition, a drastic reduction of phytate (InsP6) content was achieved in transgenic lines (up to 94.5%). Our results demonstrated an important correlation between GmMIPS1 gene expression and seed development.

Pre- and Post-harvest Harpin Treatments of Apples Induce Resistance to Blue Mold.

Harpin was studied for its ability to induce resistance in apple fruit to blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum after harvest. Red Delicious fruit were harvested and sprayed with harpin at 0, 40, 80, and 160 mg/liter applied as a commercial formulation. At 48, 96, and 144 h after treatment, fruit were wound inoculated with spore suspensions of P. expansum at 103, 5 × 103, or 104 spores/ml. The diameters of the resulting lesions were directly proportional to the inoculum concentration. Fewer fruit treated with harpin became infected relative to the controls, and disease progress was considerably reduced. In a second experiment, apple trees of the cultivars McIntosh, Empire, and Red Delicious were sprayed with different concentrations of harpin 8 or 4 days before harvest. Fruit were harvested, wounded, inoculated with the fungus, and stored in a commercial cold room. Fewer fruit treated with harpin became infected compared with the controls. Greater control resulted from the higher concentrations of harpin, but no difference in control occurred as a function of interval between the spray time and harvest. Spraying apple trees with harpin a few days before harvest is a promising strategy for reducing blue mold decay in storage.

Alternative disease control agents induce resistance to blue mold in harvested 'red delicious' apple fruit.

ABSTRACT Alternative control agents, including UV-type C (254 nm) irradiation, yeasts antagonistic to fungal growth, chitosan and harpin, were evaluated for their ability to induce resistance in cv. Red Delicious apple fruit against postharvest blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum. Freshly harvested and controlled atmosphere (CA)-stored fruit were treated with these agents at different doses and concentrations or with paired combinations of the agents. Treated fruit were inoculated with P. expansum 24, 48, or 96 h following treatment, and stored at 24 degrees C in the dark. The fruit were evaluated for development of disease every 2 days for 14 days by measuring the diameter of lesions that formed. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated and analyzed statistically. All treatments were effective in reducing the AUDPC; UV-C was most effective, followed by harpin, chitosan, and the yeasts, respectively. Regardless of treatment, fresh fruit were more responsive to treatments than CA-stored fruit. There was a clear time-dependent response of the fruit to the treatments, in which treatments applied 96 h before inoculation provided the best results. In a few situations, the combinations of agents did provide an additive effect, but no synergistic effects were detected. Moreover, disease severity in fruit treated by any combination was markedly better than that in the controls. Although the combinations of treatments was overall less effective than the single treatments, they did provide significant reductions of the progress of disease in comparison with the controls. Because the fungus did not come into contact with any of the control agents, this study showed conclusively that the agents studied were able to induce resistance in the fruit rather than merely inhibit the pathogen directly. It also showed, for the first time, that harpin is able to induce resistance in harvested apple fruit. The use of these control agents may minimize the costs of control strategies and reduce the risks associated with the excessive use of fungicides in harvested apple fruit.

O ensino superior agricola no Brasil

Historia o surgimento e a evolucao do ensino superior agricola no Brasil. Em 15 de fevereiro de 1877, instalava-se, no Brasil, o primeiro curso superior da area de ciencias agrarias - o Curso de Agronomia da Imperial Escola Agricola da Bahia. Dessa data ate 1910 - ano em que se faz a primeira regulamentacao oficial desse tipo de ensino - funcionaram, no Brasil, oito cursos de Agrnomia. Embora os estatutos da Imperial Escola Agricola da Bahia (1875) previssem, no seu Art. 5o, alem do curso de Agronomia, os cursos superiores de Engenharia Agricola, Silvicultura e Veterinaria, o primeiro curso de Medicina Veterinaria so foi inaugurada em 1913, no Rio de Janeiro. Em 1960, criou-se o primeiro curso de Engenharia Florestal (Vicosa-MG); em 1966, o primeiro de Zootecnia (Uruguaiana-RS) e, em 1973, o primeiro de Engenharia Agricola (Pelotas-RS). Em janeiro de 1990, eram 72 os cursos de Agronomia; os de Veterinaria, 43; os de Engenharia Florestal, 14; os de Zootecnia, 16; e os de Engenharia Agricola, 8. Em marco de 1961, foi inaugurado, na entao Universidade Rural do Estado de Minas Gerais, hoje Universidade Federal de Vicosa, o primeiro curso de pos-graduacao, no Brasil, no modelo norte-americano do Master of Science ou Magister Scientiae. Em janeiro de 1990, havia 108 cursos de mestrado e 28 de doutorado em Ciencia Agrarias, no Brasil. Acredita-se que a formacao de profissionais agricolas de nivel superior e uma das areas bem sucedidas da educacao brasileira.