Common bean seeds quality during storage under treatments with potential repellent of aromatic plants / Qualidade de sementes de feijão carioca armazenado sob tratamentos com plantas aromáticas de potencial repelente

ABSTRACT ndustrial chemicals that control pests in stored seed can cause damage to health by residual effects remaining in the grains. Studies of products with potential insecticide and repellent properties are required to decrease post-harvest losses. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and efficiency of seed treatment in beans stored under the following treatments: dried leaves and crushed laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn) and ground cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L.) over eight months. An untreated control and a treatment with diatomaceous earth were used to compare the results. At the beginning and at 30 days, percentages of normal and abnormal seedlings as well as seeds that did not germinate, mass of onehundred seeds, water content and infested seeds were analyzed. At 210 and 240 days, free choice arena and repellency testswere conducted. Treatments did not affect germination, mass of 100 seeds or water content; however, all plants tested showed a repellent effect on the bean weevil.

RESUMO Produtos químicos industriais que controlam pragas de sementes e grãos armazenados podem causar danos à saúde pelo efeito residual que proporcionam. Assim, são necessários estudos de produtos que apresentem repelência e potencial inseticida e reduzam perdas pós-colheita sem causar danos à saúde. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade e eficiência do tratamento com plantas aromáticas: folhas desidratadas e moídas de louro (Laurus nobilis), alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis) e manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.), canela em pó (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn) e cravo moído (Syzygium aromaticum L.), em sementes de feijão carioca armazenadas durante oito meses. Uma testemunha sem tratamento e outra com terra de diatomáceas foram utilizadas para comparação dos resultados. No início e a cada 30 dias foram realizadas as determinações de plântulas normais, anormais, sementes não germinadas, massa de cem sementes, teor de água e sementes infestadas. Os testes de arena de livre escolha e repelência foram realizados aos 210 e 240 dias. Os tratamentos não influenciaram a germinação, massa de cem sementes, teor de água. Entretanto, todas as plantas testadas apresentaram efeito repelente sobre o caruncho do feijão.

Asymptomatic carriers and gender differences in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is an autosomal dominant muscle disorder, mapped to 4q35. It is characterized by remarkable inter- and intrafamilial clinical variability ranging from severe phenotype to asymptomatic carriers. The aim of the present study was to assess the size of the Eco RI fragment in a large sample of asymptomatic or minimally affected carriers as well as symptomatic patients, comparing both sexes, in order to verify if asymptomatic carriers are randomly distributed or concentrated in some particular families and if there is preferential parental transmission (maternal or paternal) resulting in non-penetrant carriers. We have analysed a total of 506 individuals from 106 unrelated families with at least one affected facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy proband. In all patients the molecular diagnosis was confirmed following double digestion (Eco RI/Bln I fragment <35 kb). About 20% among probands' relatives who were found to carry the small fragment were asymptomatic or minimally affected, without preferential parental transmission, but with a significantly higher proportion of females (n=37) than males (n=14). Although asymptomatic carriers were found in about 30% of the families, some genealogies seem to concentrate more non-penetrant cases. A significant correlation between the size of the Eco RI fragment and severity of the phenotype was observed in the total sample but surprisingly this correlation is significant only among affected females. The gender difference in clinical manifestation as well as the observation that asymptomatic carriers are not rare should be taken into consideration in genetic counseling of affected patients or 'at-risk' relatives.

Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD1) and other forms of muscular dystrophy in the same family: is there more in muscular dystrophy than meets the eye?

We report on two unrelated Brazilian families with members affected by two different forms of muscular dystrophy. In the first one, the 35-year-old male proband has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy with proximal weakness, elevated creatine kinase and a myopathic muscle biopsy. All the proteins known to be associated with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy were normal. Two of his sisters also complained of muscle weakness. The oldest sister showed clinical signs consistent with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, confirmed through molecular analysis. She presented a 30 kb EcoRI/BlnI fragment which was found in another six relatives, but surprisingly not in the affected proband or the other sister. In the second family, a 57-year-old male with a typical facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy phenotype has a 17 kb EcoRI/BlnI fragment, which was also present in other affected relatives. However in a 14-year-old severely affected male cousin, confined to a wheelchair since age 12, but without facial weakness, the small fragment was absent. These families illustrate the importance of testing all affected individuals in a family.