Beneficial Effect of Exogenously Applied Calcium Pyruvate in Alleviating Water Deficit in Sugarcane as Assessed by Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Technique.

The growing demand for food production has led to an increase in agricultural areas, including many with low and irregular rainfall, stressing the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of water stress. From this perspective, the objective of this study was to evaluate calcium pyruvate as an attenuator of water deficit on chlorophyll a fluorescence of five sugarcane genotypes. The experiment was conducted in a plant nursery where three management strategies (E1-full irrigation, E2-water deficit with the application of 30 mM calcium pyruvate, and E3-water deficit without the application of calcium pyruvate) and five sugarcane genotypes (RB863129, RB92579, RB962962, RB021754, and RB041443) were tested, distributed in randomized blocks, in a 3 × 5 factorial design with three replications. There is dissimilarity in the fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments of the RB863129 genotype in relation to those of the RB041443, RB96262, RB021754, and RB92579 genotypes. Foliar application of calcium pyruvate alleviates the effects of water deficit on the fluorescence parameters of chlorophyll a and photosynthetic pigments in sugarcane, without interaction with the genotypes. However, subsequent validation tests will be necessary to test and validate the adoption of this technology under field conditions.

Marine invertebrates associated with rhodoliths/maërl beds from northeast Brazil (State of Paraíba).

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the marine macroinvertebrate fauna of rhodolith beds (non-geniculated red corallinaceaous algae) in northeast Brazilian. A total of 57 species were identified, belonging to six phyla (Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Sipuncula, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata), of which 50 are considered here as new records for the Paraíba State. Annelids (Class Polychaeta) were the most representative taxa in Miramar and Seixas Beaches, while molluscs were dominant in Maceió Beach. NEW INFORMATION: This is the first study that includes an identification key, diagnostic features and distribution patterns worldwide and local (including new records) of the marine invertebrate fauna associated with rhodolith beds in northeast Brazil (State of Paraíba). Sampling events were performed in 2018, at low tide in the intertidal to shallow subtidal zones (1.5 and 4.0 m depth), in Miramar, Seixas and Maceió Beaches. A total of 17 species were found for the first time on Seixas Beach, as well as all identified species for Miramar and Maceió. This study tries to contribute to the knowledge of marine invertebrates in northeast Brazilian shallow habitats, providing a baseline for future environmental studies.

Is tourism affecting polychaete assemblages associated with rhodolith beds in Northeastern Brazil?

Introduction: Rhodoliths are biogenic structures distributed worldwide, formed by several types of calcareous algae. They may host a great diversity of marine invertebrates, among which polychaetes are conspicuous and diversified representatives. Rhodolith beds are notwithstanding vulnerable to several human activities (e.g. exploitation of commercial species associated with rhodoliths, petroleum exploration, fishing activities, effluent discharges, and tourism), which may compromise that diversity. Tourism is presently increasing its impact on rhodolith beds. Global warming and ocean acidification are also determinant factors in faunal change. Objective: to analyse the polychaete assemblages associated with rhodolith beds subject to different intensities of touristic pressure at Seixas Beach (NE Brazil), where tourism is gradually increasing over time. Methods: Effects were evaluated at two depths, 1.5 m and 4.0 m. Sampling was done every two months during 2015, encompassing the two marked seasons of the year in the region (rainy and dry). Quadrats of 15 x 15 cm were placed in each depth during sampling. All rhodoliths present within the quadrat were collected (usually four to five rhodoliths). Our hypothesis was that the deeper depth and the samples from the dry season months would be increasingly subject to the impact of tourism. Results: Overall, 49 species were found (from 21 different families), and a total of 733 individuals were collected. The most abundant species was Eunice wasinensis (280 individuals, 38.2% of total abundance). The species Eurythoe complanata, Eunice biannulata, E. wasinensis, Lysidice ninetta, Oxydromus pugettensis and Ceratonereis (Ceratonereis) singularis appeared in all months. The study detected a tendency for higher diversity to occur at the depth of 1.5 m for all indices, but only the Shannon-Wiener values were significantly higher there (p < 0.05). No clear differences were found regarding months or season. Conclusions: These results suggest that a higher potential pressure due to tourism may occur at 4.0 m due to more intense craft shipping activities (traffic of catamaran boats transporting tourists to and from the reefs) in that area.

Introducción: Rodolitos son estructuras biogénicas distribuidas en todo el mundo, formadas por varios tipos de algas calcáreas. Pueden albergar una gran diversidad de invertebrados marinos, entre los cuales los poliquetas son representantes conspicuos y diversificados. No obstante, los fondos de los rodolitos son vulnerables a varias actividades humanas (por ejemplo, la explotación de especies comerciales asociadas con rodolitos, exploración petrolera, actividades de pesca, descargas de efluentes y turismo), que pueden comprometer esa diversidad. El turismo está aumentando su impacto en los fondos de rodolitos. El calentamiento global y la acidificación de los océanos también son factores determinantes en el cambio de fauna. Objetivo: El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar los conjuntos de poliquetos asociados con fondos de rodolitos sujetos a diferentes intensidades de presión turística en la playa de Seixas (Nordeste de Brasil), donde el turismo está aumentando gradualmente con el tiempo. Métodos: Los efectos fueron evaluados a dos profundidades, 1.5 m y 4.0 m. El muestreo se realizó cada dos meses durante 2015, abarcando las dos estaciones marcadas del año en la región (lluviosa y seca). Se colocaron cuadrantes de 15 x 15 cm en cada profundidad durante el muestreo. Se recolectaron todos los rodolitos presentes dentro del cuadrante (generalmente de four a five rodolitos). Nuestra hipótesis era que la mayor profundidad y las muestras de la estación seca estarían cada vez más sujetas al impacto del turismo. Resultados: En total, se encontraron 49 especies (de 21 familias diferentes) y se recolectó un total de 733 individuos. La especie más abundante fue Eunice wasinensis (280 individuos, 38.2 % de la abundancia total). La especie Eurythoe complanata, Eunice biannulata, E. wasinensis, Lysidice ninetta, Oxydromus pugettensis y Ceratonereis (Ceratonereis) singularis aparecieron en todos los meses. El estudio detectó una tendencia a mayor diversidad en la profundidad de 1,5 m para todos los índices, pero solo los valores de Shannon-Wiener fueron significativamente mayores allí (p < 0.05). No se encontraron diferencias con respecto a los meses. Conclusiones: Estos resultados sugieren que puede haber una mayor presión potencial debido al turismo a 4.0 m debido a actividades de embarcaciones más intensas (tráfico de catamaranes que transportan turistas hacia y desde los arrecifes) en esa área. Nuestros resultados aumentan nuestro conocimiento sobre la diversidad de poliquetos asociados con los fondos de rodolitos en áreas tropicales, y resaltan la necesidad de estudios de monitoreo para probar el impacto de los factores de estrés locales en estos conjuntos.

Seed oil of Joannesia princeps improves cutaneous wound closure in experimental mice.

Joannesia princeps (Cotieira) is a well known medicinal plant in Brazil, however, the therapeutic effects of oil obtained from its seeds have still not been demonstrated. The beneficial effects of J. princeps seed oil on cutaneous wound healing on the back of experimental mice were investigated. An excisional lesion in male Swiss mice (n=20 per group) was topically treated with mineral oil or J. princeps seed oil once a day beginning on the day of lesion until the third day after wounding. Animals were killed and lesions collected after 14 days. Murine skin fibroblast cultures were treated with J. princeps seed oil and fibroblast activity was evaluated. In the in vivo assay, J. princeps seed oil increased wound contraction and migratory tongue length, but reduced neutrophil and macrophage number when compared with the control group. Blood vessel number, collagen deposition, and VEGF levels were increased in treated lesions when compared with control lesions. However, J. princeps seed oil reduced myofibroblast density and carbonyl protein levels when compared with the control group. In the in vitro assay, treatment with J. princeps seed oil increased fibroblast migration and proliferation, but reduced myofibroblastic differentiation in vitro. In conclusion, J. princeps seed oil accelerates wound closure increasing angiogenesis, keratinocyte migration, and fibroblast activity while reducing inflammatory response and oxidative damage.