Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen that is capable of causing superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. Extracts of Sapindus saponaria have been used as antimicrobial agents against various organisms. In the present study, we used a combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify the changes in protein abundance of C. albicans after exposure to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of the butanolic extract (BUTE) of S. saponaria and also to fluconazole. A total of six different proteins with greater than 1.5 fold induction or repression relative to the untreated control cells were identified among the three treatments. In general, proteins/enzymes involved with the glycolysis (GPM1, ENO1, FBA1), amino acid metabolism (ILV5, PDC11) and protein synthesis (ASC1) pathways were detected. In conclusion, our findings reveal antifungal-induced changes in protein abundance of C. albicans. By using the previously identified components of the BUTE of S. saponaria (e.g., saponins and sesquiterpene oligoglycosides), it will be possible to compare the behavior of compounds with unknown mechanisms of action, and this knowledge will help to focus the subsequent biochemical work aimed at defining the effects of these compounds.

Apesar das variedades crioulas favorecerem a autonomia no processo produtivo na agricultura familiar, tem-se observado o seu abandono ao elevar-se o nível tecnológico empregado na lavoura, acreditando-se que apenas os cultivares modernos apresentam retorno econômico. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a influência de diferentes sistemas tecnológicos de manejo sobre os caracteres agronômicos de milho, provenientes de duas variedades crioulas ('Argentino' e 'BR da Várzea') e de dois híbridos. Os sistemas de manejo foram classificados como baixo, médio e alto nível tecnológico. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial 4x3 (quatro genótipos de milho e três sistemas tecnológicos de manejo), em delineamento em blocos completos casualizados, em faixas, com três repetições. Avaliaram-se a emergência, a incidência de Spodoptera frugiperda (lagarta-do-cartucho), a precocidade e a sincronia do florescimento, plantas acamadas, o diâmetro do colmo, a altura da planta e da inserção da espiga, o estande final e a produtividade. O desempenho agronômico das variedades crioulas foi maximizado pelo incremento tecnológico, tanto quanto os híbridos. Práticas de manejo acessíveis, como a utilização de adubação orgânica e o controle alternativo de pragas, são capazes de maximizar a produção de grãos de milho.

Despite landrace varieties favouring autonomy in the production process in family farming, their use has been neglected with the rise in the level of technology employed in agriculture, where it is believed that only modern cultivars present an economic return. The objective of this study therefore was to investigate the influence of different technological management systems on the agronomical characteristics of maize from two landrace varieties ('Argentine' and 'BR da Várzea') and from two hybrids. The management systems were classified as being of a low, medium and high technological level. The experiment was carried out in a 4x3 factorial (four maize genotypes and three technological management systems) in a complete randomized block design, in strips and with three replications. The following were evaluated: emergence, incidence of Spodoptera frugiperda (armyworm), flowering precocity and synchrony, plant bedding, stem diameter, plant and ear height, final growth and productivity. The agronomical performance of both the landrace varieties and the hybrids were maximized by technological advances. Affordable management practices, such as the use of organic fertilizers and alternative pest-control, are able to maximize the production of maize.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar os efeitos da cobertura do solo e da adubação orgânica sobre a temperatura e a umidade do solo, a incidência de plantas daninhas e a produtividade da alface. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial (3 x 3), em que o primeiro fator corresponde aos tipos de cobertura morta (capim tifton, capim napier e ausência de cobertura) e, o segundo, aos adubos (esterco bovino, esterco de galinhas e ausência de adubação). Analisaram-se as variáveis temperatura e umidade do solo, o número de folhas produzidas pela alface, as massas de matéria fresca e seca da parte aérea, das plantas de alface e daninhas, e o levantamento fitossociológico das plantas infestantes. As plantas adubadas com esterco de galinhas apresentaram massas de matéria fresca e seca superiores às das plantas não adubadas. A cobertura morta com capim tifton proporcionou aumento da massa de matéria seca das plantas de alface, o que pode estar relacionado com a menor temperatura dos canteiros que receberam esse material como cobertura. Commelina benghalensis foi a planta infestante mais importante no cultivo orgânico de alface. A aplicação de adubos orgânicos e a cobertura morta com capins não foram capazes de suprimir plantas daninhas e manter a umidade do solo, em áreas de cultivo de alface.

This study aimed to assess the effects of mulch and organic fertilization on soil temperature and moisture, the incidence of weeds and yield of lettuce. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 3 x 3 factorial, including tifton, napier grass and lack of covering combined with cattle manure, chicken manure and no fertilizer. We analyzed the variables temperature and soil moisture, number of leaves produced per lettuce head, fresh weight and dry weight of lettuce shoots and weeds, and the phytosociological survey of infesting weed. Plants fertilized with chicken manure had greater fresh and dry weights compared to unfertilized plants. The application of tifton provided increased dry weight of lettuce, which may be associated with the lower temperature of plots that received this material as mulch. The species Commelina benghalensis was the most relevant weed in the organic cultivation. The application of organic fertilizers and mulch with grass was not able to suppress weeds and maintain soil moisture in areas of cultivation of lettuce.

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram verificar os artrópodes fitófagos e seus predadores em 20 acessos de bucha vegetal Luffa sp. (Cucurbitaceae), a distribuição destes no dossel das plantas em cultivo orgânico e a produção de frutos dos acessos. O experimento foi em blocos casualizados com 20 tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram os acessos P159, P304, P466, P03, P570, P569, P467, P30, P446, P495, P125, P263, P644 e P32, provenientes da Embrapa (CENARGEN, DF), e P01, P02, P04, P05, P06 e P07, obtidos em Porteirinha-MG. As parcelas foram compostas por quatro plantas de Luffa sp. A maior abundância de Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) foi observada nas folhas do acesso P467 em referência aos demais acessos de Luffa sp. Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) foi mais observada nas flores dos acessos P01, P03, P30, P32, P263 e P569 e menos abundantes nos acessos P05, P125, P159, P304, P446 e P570. Os acessos de Luffa sp. com maior número de frutos/planta foram P01, P03, P05, P06, P07, P30, P32, P125, P263, P446 e P570. Os predadores aranhas e Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) bem como o fitófago Cicadellidae (Hemiptera) preferiram atacar a face adaxial, sendo que não se detectou diferença estatística entre as faces para os demais artrópodes. T. spinipes esteve mais presente na parte apical do dossel das plantas. Com esses resultados, o acesso P06 é o mais indicado para o cultivo, pois foi um dos que apresentou maiores produtividades e menores taxas de ataque de insetos.

The objectives of this research were to verify the phytophagous arthropods and their predators in 20 accesses of vegetable loofah Luffa sp. (Cucurbitaceae), the distribution of the canopy of the plants in organic system and the production of fruits of the accesses. The experiment was in randomized blocks designed with 20 treatments and four replicates. The treatments were the accesses P159, P304, P466, P03, P570, P569, P467, P30, P446, P495, P125, P263, P644 and P32, from Embrapa (CENARGEN, DF, Brazil) and P01, P02, P04, P05, P06 and P07, obtained in Porteirinha, MG, Brazil. Each plot consisted of four plants Luffa sp. The greatest abundance of Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was observed in leaves of the access P467 in reference to the others accessions of Luffa sp.. Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was observed in most flowers of accesses P01, P03, P30, P32, P263 and P569 and less abundant in accesses P05, P125, P159, P304, P446 and P570. The accesses of Luffa sp. highest number of fruits per plant were P01, P03, P05, P06, P07, P30, P32, P125, P263, P446 and P570. The spiders and predatory Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) and the phytophagous Cicadellidae (Hemiptera) preferred to attack the adaxial side, but no statistical difference was detected between the faces to the other arthropods. T. spinipes was present in the apical part of the plant canopy. With these results, access P06 is the most suitable for cultivation, because it was one of those with higher yields and lower rates of insect attack.

The dichloromethane extract of Almeidea coerulea stems yielded the (11-hydroxyrutaecarpine alkaloid reported for the first time from this species) and the triterpene (28-hydroxy-28, 29-dihydrolupeol). The dictamine, skimianine, sitosterol and stigmasterol were also isolated from methanol extract. Extracellular forms of Leishmania amazonensis (promastigotes) was tested with dichloromethane extract and 28-hydroxy-28, 29-dihydrolupeol with showed anti-leishmanial activity above 0.1 mg/mL and 75µg/mL (inhibited 50% promastigote growth), respectively.

Neste trabalho estamos portando o isolamento dos policetídeos citreoserina (1), emodina (2), janthinona (3), dihidrocitrinona (4) e citrinina H-1 (5). Os compostos foram isolados por procedimentos cromatográficos e identificados por métodos espectrais de RMN 1D e 2D e EM. Os compostos 1, 2 e 3 foram testados sobre promastigotas de Leishmania brasiliensis.

In this work we are reporting the isolation of polyketides citreoserine (1), emodin (2), janthinone (3), dihydrocitrinone (4) and citrinin H-1 (5). The compounds were isolated by chromatographic procedures and identified by spectral methods of NMR 1D and 2D and MS. The compounds 1, 2 and 3 were tested against promastigotes of Leishmania brasiliensis.

A expansão das áreas para o cultivo de grão-de-bico depende da produção de sementes detentoras de qualidade superior. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas as principais características físicas, fisiológicas e sanitárias em sementes de seis genótipos de grão-de-bico produzidas em Montes Claros, Norte de Minas Gerias. As variáveis analisadas foram o grau de umidade, a pureza física, a massa de mil sementes, a uniformidade, a porcentagem de germinação, a primeira contagem do teste de germinação, o índice de velocidade de germinação e de emergência, a massa seca da parte aérea das plântulas e a ocorrência de microrganismos e de pragas de armazenamento nas sementes. A qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária das sementes foi afetada pelos diferentes genótipos de grão-de-bico analisados. As variações quanto à qualidade física das sementes entre os genótipos de grão-de-bico não estão relacionadas à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária destas. De maneira geral, as sementes do genótipo CNPH 08-04 apresentaram qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária superior à qualidade das sementes dos demais genótipos.

The expansion of the areas for chickpea culture depends on the production of seeds of superior quality. In this study, it was evaluated the main physical, physiological and sanitary characteristics in seeds of six genotypes of chickpea produced in Montes Claros, North of Minas Gerais. The analyzed variables were the moisture content, the physical purity, the mass of a thousand seeds, the uniformity, the percentage of germination, the first count of the test germination, the rate of speed germination and emergency, the dry mass of the aerial part of the seedling and the occurrence of microorganisms and plagues in seed storage. The physical, physiological and sanitary quality of the seeds was affected by different genotypes of the chickpea analyzed. The variations in relation to the physical quality of the seeds between the genotypes of chickpea are not related to sanitary and physiological quality of them. In general, the seeds of genotype CNPH 08-04 showed physical, physiological and sanitary superior quality in relation to the seeds of other genotypes.

Infections due to protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials (SbV), which present renal and cardiac toxicity. Besides, the precise chemical structure and mechanism of action of these drugs are unknown up to date. In order to find new drugs against leishmaniasis, we have been studying extracts of Brazilian trees. In the present study, we have evaluated the effectiveness of an alkaloid extract of Aspidosperma ramiflorum Muell. Arg. (Apocynaceae), against the extracellular forms promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) braziliensis. The alkaloid extract of A. ramiflorum was much more effective against L. (L.) amazonensis (LD50 < 47 µg/ml) than L. (V.) braziliensis. Based on these in vitro results against L. (L.) amazonensis new studies should be made to find the compounds with anti-leishmanial activity.