Rock n' Seeds: A database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation.

Advancing functional ecology depends fundamentally on the availability of data on reproductive traits, including those from tropical plants, which have been historically underrepresented in global trait databases. Although some valuable databases have been created recently, they are mainly restricted to temperate areas and vegetative traits such as leaf and wood traits. Here, we present Rock n' Seeds, a database of seed functional traits and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation, recognized as outstanding centers of diversity and endemism. Data were compiled through a systematic literature search, resulting in 103 publications from which seed functional traits were extracted. The database includes information on 16 functional traits for 383 taxa from 148 genera, 50 families, and 25 orders. These 16 traits include two dispersal, six production, four morphological, two biophysical, and two germination traits-the major axes of the seed ecological spectrum. The database also provides raw data for 48 germination experiments, for a total of 10,187 records for 281 taxa. Germination experiments in the database assessed the effect of a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors on germination and different dormancy-breaking treatments. Notably, 8255 of these records include daily germination counts. This input will facilitate synthesizing germination data and using this database for a myriad of ecological questions. Given the variety of seed traits and the extensive germination information made available by this database, we expect it to be a valuable resource advancing comparative functional ecology and guiding seed-based restoration and biodiversity conservation in tropical megadiverse ecosystems. There are no copyright restrictions on the data; please cite this paper when using the current data in publications; also the authors would appreciate notification of how the data are used in publications.

O avanço da ecologia funcional depende fundamentalmente da disponibilidade de dados sobre traços reprodutivos, incluindo dados de plantas tropicais, que têm sido historicamente subrepresentados em bancos de dados de traços funcionais globais. Embora alguns bancos de dados valiosos tenham sido criados recentemente, eles são restritos principalmente a áreas temperadas e a traços vegetativos, como traços de folhas e madeira. Neste artigo apresentamos Rock n' Seeds, um banco de dados de traços funcionais de sementes e experimentos de germinação de vegetações associadas a afloramentos rochosos do Brasil, os quais são reconhecidos como centros notáveis de diversidade e endemismo. Os dados foram compilados através de uma revisão sistemática na literatura, resultando em 103 publicações das quais foram extraídos os traços funcionais das sementes. O banco de dados inclui informações de 16 traços funcionais para 383 taxa de 148 gêneros, 50 famílias e 25 ordens. Estes dezesseis traços incluem dois traços de dispersão, seis de produção, quatro morfológicos, dois biofísicos e dois germinativos; os eixos principais do espectro ecológico da semente. O banco de dados também fornece os dados brutos para 48 experimentos de germinação para um total de 10.187 registros para 281 taxa. Os experimentos de germinação no banco de dados avaliaram o efeito de uma ampla gama de fatores abióticos e bióticos sobre a germinação e diferentes tratamentos de quebra de dormência. Particularmente, 8.255 desses registros incluem a contagem diária da germinação. Estas informações facilitarão a síntese de dados de germinação e a utilização deste banco de dados para uma grande variedade de questões ecológicas. Dada a variedade de traços das sementes e as amplas informações sobre germinação disponibilizadas por este banco de dados, esperamos que ele seja um recurso valioso para o avanço da ecologia funcional comparativa e para orientar a restauração baseada em sementes e a conservação da biodiversidade em ecossistemas tropicais megadiversos. Não há restrições de direitos autorais sobre os dados; favor citar este artigo ao utilizar os dados nas publicações e os autores agradeceriam uma notificação de como os dados são utilizados nas publicações.

El avance de la ecología funcional depende fundamentalmente de la disponibilidad de datos sobre rasgos reproductivos-incluyendo los de las plantas tropicales-los cuales han estado poco representados en las bases de datos globales de rasgos. Aunque recientemente se han creado algunas bases de datos valiosas, estas se encuentran restringidas principalmente a las zonas templadas y a los rasgos vegetativos, como los de las hojas y la madera. En este artículo presentamos Rock n' Seeds, una base de datos de rasgos funcionales de semillas y experimentos de germinación de la vegetación asociada a afloramientos rocosos de Brasil, los cuales son destacados centros de diversidad y endemismo. Los datos se recopilaron mediante una búsqueda bibliográfica sistemática, que dio como resultado 103 publicaciones de las que se extrajeron los rasgos funcionales de las semillas. La base de datos incluye información de dieciséis rasgos funcionales para 383 taxones de 148 géneros, 50 familias y 25 órdenes. Estos rasgos incluyen dos rasgos de dispersión, seis de producción, cuatro morfológicos, dos biofísicos y dos de germinación; siendo estos los principales ejes del espectro ecológico de las semillas. La base de datos también proporciona los datos brutos de 48 experimentos de germinación, para un total de 10.187 registros de 281 taxones. Dichos experimentos de germinación evaluaron el efecto de una amplia gama de factores abióticos y bióticos sobre la germinación y de diferentes tratamientos para romper la dormancia. En particular, 8.255 de estos registros cuentan con conteos diarios de germinación. Esto facilitará la síntesis de los datos de germinación y el uso de esta base de datos para una gran diversidad de preguntas ecológicas. Dada la variedad de rasgos de las semillas y la amplia información sobre germinación que ofrece esta base de datos, esperamos que sea un recurso valioso para el avance de la ecología funcional comparativa y para orientar la restauración basada en semillas y la conservación de la biodiversidad en ecosistemas tropicales megadiversos. No hay restricciones de derechos de autor sobre los datos; se solicita citar este documento cuando se utilicen los datos en publicaciones y los autores agradecerán ser notificados sobre cómo se utilizan los datos en las publicaciones.

Plant growth-promoting traits of yeasts isolated from the tank bromeliad Vriesea minarum L.B. Smith and the effectiveness of Carlosrosaea vrieseae for promoting bromeliad growth.

Yeasts can play important roles in promoting plant growth; however, little information is available in this regard for yeasts in water of bromeliad tanks. Here, we characterize the ability of 79 yeast isolates from tank bromeliad Vriesea minarum, an endangered species, to solubilize phosphate, secrete siderophores, and synthesize indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The results showed that 67.8% of all assayed yeast isolates mobilized inorganic phosphate; 40.0% secreted siderophores; and 89.9% synthetized IAA and IAA-like compounds. Among the species studied, Carlosrosaea vrieseae UFMG-CM-Y6724 is highlighted for producing IAA (76.1 µg mL-1) and siderophores, and solubilizing phosphate. In addition, evaluation of the effects of filtrate containing IAA-like compounds produced by the C. vrieseae on the development and photosynthetic performance of V. minarum seedlings found it to improve seedling growth equal to that of commercial IAA. These results demonstrate that C. vrieseae can produce compounds with great potential for future use as biofertilizer agents.

Relation of micronutrients with antioxidant properties in patients with chronic diseases and exclusive enteral nutrition

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the intake of micronutrients with antioxidant properties through exclusive enteral nutrition therapy (ENT) in hospitalized patients with chronic diseases compared to the estimated average requirement (EAR). Methods: This prospective, longitudinal, descriptive, observational study was performed in a public hospital, with adult and elderly patients. The adequacy of the volume of ENT prescribed and offered was considered satisfactory when >80%. The adequacy of micronutrients with antioxidant properties was performed according to the estimated average need (EAR). Data were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. Results: Of the 53 included patients, 58.5% were male. Most of patients (45.3%) were in the neurology clinic, and the main cause was cerebral vascular accident (18.9%). The volume administered was less than the prescribed volume of ENT in both male and female patients. However, recommendations for micronutrients with antioxidant properties, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper and iron, are according to EAR and did not exceed the tolerable intake limit (upper limit, UL), (p<0.05). The present study shows a very large variability in the concentration of micronutrients in each enteral diet. It is necessary to consider the pathologies that affect the patient, as some health conditions may be able to require specific amounts of micronutrients. Conclusions: Patients received a lower volume of enteral nutrition therapy compared to the prescribed volume. The micronutrient concentrations were consistent with daily EAR recommendations and did not exceed the tolerable intake limit (UL) for healthy individuals.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la ingesta de micronutrientes con propiedades antioxidantes a través de la terapia de nutrición enteral exclusiva (ENT) en pacientes hospitalizados con enfermedades crónicas en comparación con el requerimiento promedio estimado (RPE). Métodos: Prospectivo, longitudinal, descriptivo y de observación, se realizó en un hospital público con pacientes adultos y ancianos. La adecuación del volumen de ENT prescrito y ofrecido se consideró satisfactoria cuando fue >80%. La adecuación de micronutrientes con propiedades antioxidantes se realizó de acuerdo con la RPE. Se consideraron estadísticamente significativos p<0,05. Resultados: De los 53 pacientes incluidos, 58,5% eran hombres. La mayoría de los pacientes (45,3%) se encontraban en la consulta de neurología y la principal causa fue el accidente vascular cerebral (18,9%). El volumen administrado fue menor que el volumen prescrito de ENT tanto en pacientes masculinos como femeninos. Sin embargo, las recomendaciones de micronutrientes con propiedades antioxidantes, como vitamina A, vitamina C, vitamina E, zinc, selenio, cobre y hierro, están de acuerdo con la RPE y no superan el límite de ingesta tolerable (UL), (p<0,05). El presente estudio muestra una variabilidad muy grande en la concentración de micronutrientes en cada dieta enteral. Es necesario considerar las patologías que afectan al paciente, ya que algunas condiciones de salud pueden requerir cantidades específicas de micronutrientes. Conclusiones: Los pacientes recibieron un volumen menor de ENT en comparación con el volumen prescrito. Las concentraciones de micronutrientes fueron consistentes con las recomendaciones diarias de la RPE y no excedieron el límite de ingesta tolerable (UL) para individuos sanos.

The diversity and extracellular enzymatic activities of yeasts isolated from water tanks of Vriesea minarum, an endangered bromeliad species in Brazil, and the description of Occultifur brasiliensis f.a., sp. nov.

The diversity of yeast species collected from the bromeliad tanks of Vriesea minarum, an endangered bromeliad species, and their ability to produce extracellular enzymes were studied. Water samples were collected from 30 tanks of bromeliads living in a rupestrian field site located at Serrada Piedade, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, during both the dry and rainy seasons. Thirty-six species were isolated, representing 22 basidiomycetous and 14 ascomycetous species. Occultifur sp., Cryptococcus podzolicus and Cryptococcus sp. 1 were the prevalent basidiomycetous species. The yeast-like fungus from the order Myriangiales, Candida silvae and Aureobasidium pullulans were the most frequent ascomycetous species. The diversity of the yeast communities obtained between seasons was not significantly different, but the yeast composition per bromeliad was different between seasons. These results suggest that there is significant spatial heterogeneity in the composition of populations of the yeast communities within bromeliad tanks, independent of the season. Among the 352 yeast isolates tested, 282 showed at least one enzymatic activity. Protease activity was the most widely expressed extracellular enzymatic activity, followed by xylanase, amylase, pectinase and cellulase activities. These enzymes may increase the carbon and nitrogen availability for the microbial food web in the bromeliad tank of V. minarum. Sequence analyses revealed the existence of 10 new species, indicating that bromeliad tanks are important sources of new yeasts. The novel species Occultifur brasiliensis, f.a., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the most frequently isolated yeast associated with V. minarum. The type strain of O. brasiliensis, f.a., sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y375(T) (= CBS 12687(T)). The Mycobank number is MB 809816.

Kazachstania rupicola sp. nov., a yeast species isolated from water tanks of a bromeliad in Brazil.

Two isolates of a novel yeast species were obtained from water tanks (phytotelmata) of the bromeliad Vriesea minarum collected in a tableland ('campo rupestre') ecosystem in Brazil. The sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit rRNA gene showed that this species is related to Kazachstania exigua and others, from which it differs by 8-10 nucleotide substitutions. The novel species Kazachstania rupicola sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain is UFMG-BRO-80(T) ( = CBS 12684(T)  = CBMAI 1466(T)).