Development of Canavalia ensiformis in soil contaminated with diesel oil.

Hydrocarbons are the main components of diesel oil and are toxic for the majority of plants. A few plant species, known as phytoremediators, are tolerant of hydrocarbons and can survive the stressful conditions of soils contaminated with diesel oil. Canavalia ensiformis, a plant species that is well distributed throughout the tropics, possesses advantageous features for a potential resistance to soil contamination, such as fast growth and a deep root system. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the tolerance of C. ensiformis when it was exposed to soil contaminated with diesel oil. Seedlings were subjected to two treatments: contaminated soil (CS) (95 ml/kg of diesel oil) and non-contaminated soil (NCS) for a period of 30 days; its growth, morphology, anatomy, and physiology were analyzed. Despite the high level of toxicity, some individuals were able to survive in CS. These plants had root apical meristems with high levels of mitosis and were able to issue new roots with more developed aerenchyma tissue. Because the surviving plants presented no marks of cellular damage on the organs formed (root and leaves) during the experiment, the species capacity of growth on CS was confirmed. Although, long-term field experiments, applying different contaminant concentrations, should be considered to infer about the species resistance and use as phytoremediator.

Influence of cutting type and size on rooting of Lavandula dentata L / Influência do tipo e tamanho de estaca no enraizamento de Lavandula dentata L

Even though the Lavandula species may be propagated by seeds, it should not be the preferred propagation method because it causes a great lack of uniformity. On the other hand, asexually propagated lavender crops would provide more homogeneous crops, and clones from high quality plant material would increase the odds for obtaining a higher quality essential oil. However, problems such as poor rooting and restrict market availability for superior clones have been a problem in vegetative propagation of the Lavandula species. The objective of this work was to define which type and size of cutting is more adequate for cutting propagation of L. dentata, a very productive Lavandula species. Cuttings with 5, 8, 10 or 13 cm and from the apical or basal parts of stems cut from L. dentata stock plants were placed in Plantmax HT® filled polystyrene foam trays and kept under intermittent mist system for two months. Averages of root number, length of the longest root, fresh and dry root weight, and percentage of rooting were evaluated. Apical cuttings combined 97.9% rooting with an average of 13.2 roots per cutting and basal cuttings 93.7% rooting with 2.98 roots per cutting. Apical cuttings with at least 10 cm in length were considered the most adequate for cutting propagation of L. dentata.

Apesar de serem propagadas por sementes, as espécies de Lavandula deveriam ser preferencialmente propagadas por estaquia devido a grande falta de uniformidade causada pela primeira, enquanto que a propagação assexual da alfazema permite maior homogeneidade da lavoura e o uso de clones de alta qualidade aumentaria as chances de se obter óleo essencial de alta qualidade. No entanto, o baixo poder de enraizamento e o mercado restrito de clones superiores têm sido problemas para a propagação vegetativa de espécies de alfazema. O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir qual tipo e tamanho de estaca seriam mais adequados para a propagação de L. dentata, espécie muito produtiva de Lavandula, por estaquia. Estacas com 5, 8, 10 ou 13 cm das partes apical e basal de ramos de plantas matrizes de L. dentata foram colocados em bandejas de isopor com o substrato Plantmax HT® e mantidas em casa de vegetação sob nebulização por dois meses. As médias de número de raízes, comprimento da raiz mais longa, massa fresca e seca de raízes e porcentagem de enraizamento foram avaliadas. Estacas apicais apresentaram enraizamento de 97,9% e 13,2 raízes por estaca em média e as estacas basais 93,7% de enraizamento e 2,98 raízes por estaca. Estacas apicais com pelo menos 10 cm de comprimento foram consideradas as mais adequadas para a propagação da L. dentata por estaquia.

Capacidade de enraizamento de estacas de Maytenus muelleri Schwacke com a aplicação de ácido indol butírico relacionada aos aspectos anatômicos / Rooting capacity of Maytenus muelleri Schwacke cuttings with indolebutyric acid application related to anatomical aspects

A espinheira-santa (Maytenus muelleri - Celastraceae) é a planta medicinal nativa do Sul do Brasil, cujas folhas são tradicionalmente utilizadas pela medicina popular para o tratamento de úlceras e outros problemas gástricos. Existem poucos trabalhos publicados sobre a produção de mudas e técnicas de propagação vegetativa da espécie. A propagação de espinheira-santa por estaquia poderia ser um método eficiente para obtenção de material homogêneo, com características genéticas desejáveis, produzido a partir de plantas matrizes selecionadas. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar os efeitos da aplicação de ácido indol butírico (AIB), em solução e em pó, no enraizamento de estacas de espinheira-santa coletadas nas quatro estações do ano (abril/2005 a janeiro/2006), bem como averiguar, por meio de análises anatômicas e histoquímicas das estacas, a presença de possíveis impedimentos à iniciação do enraizamento adventício. Estacas provenientes de ramos de plantas matrizes de seis anos cultivadas da Estação Experimental do Canguiri, Pinhais, PR, foram coletadas e tratadas com AIB (0, 1500, 3000 mg L-1 ou mg kg-1), em solução alcoólica (50 por cento v/v) e em talco. Aos 365 dias foram avaliadas as porcentagens de estacas enraizadas e mortas, número e comprimento médio de raízes formadas por estaca. Análises anatômicas e histoquímicas com lugol e cloreto férrico foram realizadas. A estação mais promissora para o enraizamento foi o verão/2006 com 62,50 por cento para o tratamento controle, devido à menor lignficação dos ramos no período de intenso crescimento vegetativo. O número médio de raízes formadas por estaca foi de 6,94 (solução) e o comprimento médio de raízes formadas/estaca chegou a 4,82 cm nesta mesma estação. As concentrações de AIB aplicadas não foram eficientes na indução radicial, independentemente do modo de aplicação. Foi detectada a presença de uma camada quase contínua de fibras e braquiesclereídes, a qual constitui barreira anatômica à indução radicial. Os testes histoquímicos revelaram a presença de amido e de compostos fenólicos nas estacas, em todas as estações do ano. A dificuldade ou demora no enraizamento não pode ser justificada pela falta de reservas de amido nos tecidos das estacas, mas pode ser justificada pela presença de compostos fenólicos, possivelmente do grupo dos monofenóis, que causam a degradação do AIA, interferindo negativamente na indução do enraizamento.

"Espinheira-santa" (Maytenus muelleri - Celastraceae) is a medicinal plant native to Southern Brazil, the leaves of which are traditionally used in popular medicine for the treatment of stomach ulcers and other gastric problems. There are few published studies about seedling production and vegetative propagation techniques for this species. The propagation of "espinheira-santa" by cuttings could be an efficient method to obtain homogeneous material, with desirable genetic characteristics, produced from selected mother plants. This paper aimed to study the effects of indolebutyric acid (IBA) application, in solution and in powder, on the rooting of "espinheira-santa" cuttings, collected in four seasons (April/2005 to January/2006), as well as to investigate, by means of cutting anatomical and histochemical analyses, the presence of possible impediments to adventitious rooting initiation. Cuttings from branches of six-year mother plants grown at "Estação Experimental do Canguiri", Pinhais, Paraná State, Brazil, were collected and treated with IBA (0, 1500, 3000 mg L-1 or mg kg-1) in alcoholic solution (50 percent v/v) and in powder. After 365 days, the percentages of rooted and dead cuttings, the number and mean length of roots/cutting were evaluated. Anatomical and histochemical analyses were performed with lugol and ferric chloride. The most promising season for rooting was Summer/2006, with 62.50 percent of rooting for the control treatment, due to the lesser lignification degree of branches in intense vegetative growth period. The mean number of roots/cutting was 6.94 (solution) and the mean length of roots/cutting was 4.82 cm in that same season. The applied IBA concentrations were not efficient in inducing root growth, regardless of the application method. An almost continuous layer of fibers and stone cells was detected, constituting an anatomical barrier for rooting induction. The histochemical tests revealed the presence of starch and phenolic compounds in cuttings, in all seasons. The difficulty or delay in rooting cannot be justified by the absence of starch reserve in the cutting tissues but by the presence of phenolic compounds, possibly of the group of monophenols, which cause IAA degradation, negatively affecting rooting induction.

Germination and initial growth of Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. (Myrtaceae), in petroleum-contaminated soil and bioremediated soil.

In 2000 there was an oil spill at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (REPAR) in Paraná. Nearly five years after contamination and the use of bioremediation, a study was carried out to identify the effects of the contaminated soil and the bioremediated soil on the germination and initial growth of C. xanthocarpa. The experiment was established with soil from REPAR, with three treatment groups: contaminated soil (C), bioremediated soil (B) and uncontaminated soil (U); with five repetitions of 50 seeds each. There was no significant difference in the percentage of germination and the speed of germination index. The production of total biomass (30 - 60 days) and shoot biomass (60 days) was greater in the bioremediated soil compared to the other treatments. The averages for the root biomass were lower in the contaminated soil than in the bioremediated soil. The shoot length and the total length of the seedling in the contaminated soil and uncontaminated soil were lower than in the bioremediated soil.

Germination and initial growth of Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. (Myrtaceae), in petroleum-contaminated soil and bioremediated soil / Germinação e crescimento inicial de Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. (Myrtaceae), em solo contaminado com petróleo e solo biorremediado

In 2000 there was an oil spill at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (REPAR) in Paraná. Nearly five years after contamination and the use of bioremediation, a study was carried out to identify the effects of the contaminated soil and the bioremediated soil on the germination and initial growth of C. xanthocarpa. The experiment was established with soil from REPAR, with three treatment groups: contaminated soil (C), bioremediated soil (B) and uncontaminated soil (U); with five repetitions of 50 seeds each. There was no significant difference in the percentage of germination and the speed of germination index. The production of total biomass (30 - 60 days) and shoot biomass (60 days) was greater in the bioremediated soil compared to the other treatments. The averages for the root biomass were lower in the contaminated soil than in the bioremediated soil. The shoot length and the total length of the seedling in the contaminated soil and uncontaminated soil were lower than in the bioremediated soil.

Em 2000, ocorreu um vazamento de petróleo na área da Refinaria Getúlio Vargas (REPAR), no Paraná. Após cerca de cinco anos da contaminação e utilização do processo de biorremediação, pretendeu-se identificar os efeitos do solo contaminado e do solo biorremediado na germinação e no crescimento inicial de C. xanthocarpa. O experimento foi montado com solo da REPAR, com três tratamentos - solo contaminado (C), solo biorremediado (B), solo não contaminado (U) - e cinco repetições com 50 sementes cada. Não houve diferença significativa na porcentagem e no índice de velocidade de germinação. A produção de biomassa total (30 - 60 dias) e biomassa da parte aérea (60 dias) foram maiores no tratamento biorremediado em relação aos demais tratamentos. As médias para a biomassa da raiz foram menores no solo contaminado do que no solo biorremediado. O comprimento da parte aérea e o comprimento total da plântula no solo contaminado e no não contaminado foram menores do que no biorremediado.

Germination and initial growth of Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. (Myrtaceae), in petroleum-contaminated soil and bioremediated soil

In 2000 there was an oil spill at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (REPAR) in Paraná. Nearly five years after contamination and the use of bioremediation, a study was carried out to identify the effects of the contaminated soil and the bioremediated soil on the germination and initial growth of C. xanthocarpa. The experiment was established with soil from REPAR, with three treatment groups: contaminated soil (C), bioremediated soil (B) and uncontaminated soil (U); with five repetitions of 50 seeds each. There was no significant difference in the percentage of germination and the speed of germination index. The production of total biomass (30 - 60 days) and shoot biomass (60 days) was greater in the bioremediated soil compared to the other treatments. The averages for the root biomass were lower in the contaminated soil than in the bioremediated soil. The shoot length and the total length of the seedling in the contaminated soil and uncontaminated soil were lower than in the bioremediated soil.

Em 2000, ocorreu um vazamento de petróleo na área da Refinaria Getúlio Vargas (REPAR), no Paraná. Após cerca de cinco anos da contaminação e utilização do processo de biorremediação, pretendeu-se identificar os efeitos do solo contaminado e do solo biorremediado na germinação e no crescimento inicial de C. xanthocarpa. O experimento foi montado com solo da REPAR, com três tratamentos - solo contaminado (C), solo biorremediado (B), solo não contaminado (U) - e cinco repetições com 50 sementes cada. Não houve diferença significativa na porcentagem e no índice de velocidade de germinação. A produção de biomassa total (30 - 60 dias) e biomassa da parte aérea (60 dias) foram maiores no tratamento biorremediado em relação aos demais tratamentos. As médias para a biomassa da raiz foram menores no solo contaminado do que no solo biorremediado. O comprimento da parte aérea e o comprimento total da plântula no solo contaminado e no não contaminado foram menores do que no biorremediado.