A proposta deste estudo foi avaliar diferenças químicas, fisiológicas e genéticas em sementes de cactos do gênero Cereus (mandacaru) cultivadas nas regiões Nordeste (Picos, Estado do Piauí) e Sul (Maringá, Estado do Paraná) do Brasil. No período de oito dias, as temperaturas de 25°C e 30°C foram igualmente adequadas para a germinação de todas as sementes. O ácido oleico (C18:1) foi o ácido graxo mais comum encontrado nas sementes coletadas nas regiões Sul (41%) e Nordeste (45,5%). A análise de lipases indicou que as sementes de Maringá têm alta heterozigosidade média observada e esperada e que as sementes de Picos têm número mais alto de alelos por locos. Portanto, as sementes de mandacaru da região semiárida do Nordeste assim como as sementes do Sul (as duas regiões contrastantes do Brasil) são promissoras para a preservação da biodiversidade no genoma de mandacaru. A baixa identidade genética entre as sementes de Maringá e de Picos na análise do loco Lipase-5 (I = 0,77) sugere que as plantas de mandacaru de Maringá e de Picos podem corresponder a duas espécies: C. peruvianus e C. jamacaru, respectivamente.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical, physiological and genetic differences in seeds of cactus of the Cereus genus (mandacaru) cultivated in the Northeast (Picos, State of Piauí) and Southern (Maringá, State of Paraná) regions of Brazil. Over a period of eight days, temperatures of 25°C and 30°C were equally efficient for the germination of all the seeds. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the most common fatty acid found in the seeds collected in the Southern (41%) and Northeast (45.5%) regions. The analysis of lipases indicated that seeds from Maringá have high mean observed and expected heterozygosities and that seeds from Picos have a higher number of alleles per loci. Therefore, the seeds of mandacaru from the semiarid region of Northeast as well as the seeds from the South (the two contrasting regions of Brazil) are promising with regards to the preservation of the biodiversity in the genome of mandacaru. The low genetic identity between mandacaru seeds from Maringá and Picos at Lipase-5 locus analysis (I = 0.77) suggests that the mandacaru plants from Maringá and Picos may correspond to two species: C. peruvianus and C. jamacaru, respectively.

This study was carried out to analyze the genetic population structure of Atta capiguara from 12 nests collected in Tapejara in the state of Paraná, Brazil, using isoenzyme polymorphisms. The analyzed isoenzymes were esterases (EST - EC 3.1.1.1), acid phosphatase (ACP - EC 3.1.3.2) and carbonic anhydrase (CA - EC 4.2.1.1). Ten loci were found in A.capiguara and four polymorphic loci were detected. The observed heterozigosity (0.0296) was low when compared to the expected heterozigosity (0.1461). The high value of F IS (0.7954) shows an excess of homozygous genotypes probably caused by inbreeding.

Alteraciones ambientales causadas por el calentamiento global y principalmente causa-das por la acción del hombre, han reducido poblaciones naturales de peces. Como forma de conservación, programas de repoblamiento han sido utilizados; sin embargo, sin una debida orientación científica, estas medidas pueden generar disturbios genéticos sobre la diversidad genética de poblaciones de peces naturales y sobre el ecosistema. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar y analizar la variabilidad genética de dos lotes y una progenie de Brycon orbignyanus utilizados en programas de repoblamiento, utilizando el marcador molecular RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA). Cincuenta y ocho reproductores de dos lotes (A y C) y 30 larvas de la progenie del lote A (B) pertenecientes a la Estação de Aqüicultura e Hidrologia da Duke Energy Internacional (Geração Parana-panema; São Paulo, Brasil) fueron analizados. Los resultados de variabilidad genética estimados por el índice de diversidad de Shannon (A: 0,3184; B: 0,3433 y C: 0,3687) y por el porcentaje de fragmentos polimórficos (A: 54,02%; B: 57,47% y C: 58,62%) mostraron que la variabilidad genética fue mantenida en la progenie, debido posiblemente al adecuado manejo reproductivo y al efecto fundador. Por el contrario, la variabilidad encontrada entre los dos lotes de reproductores indica una similaridad genética, a pesar de ser originarios de diferentes pisciculturas. Este resultado es comprobado en el valor moderado de diferenciación genética encontrado (0,0968), en el alto Nm (4,67) y en el dendrograma, que sugieren que los lotes poseen un pool genético similar.

Environmental alterations caused by the global heating and mainly caused by man's action, have reduced natural fish populations. As a conservation measure, stocking programs have been used; however, without scientific orientation these measures can generate genetic disturbances on the genetic diversity of natural fish populations and the ecosystem. The objective of this study was to estimate and analyze the genetic variability of Brycon orbignyanus stocks and offspring used in stocking programs, using the molecular marker RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA). Fifty eight broodstocks of two stocks (A and C) and thirty offspring larvae of the stock A (B) belonging to the Estação de Aqüiicultura e Hidrologia da Duke Energy International (Geração Paranapanema; São Paulo, Brazil ) were analyzed. The results of genetic variability estimated by the Shannon Index diversity (A: 0.3184; B: 0.3433 and C: 0.3687) and for the percentage of polymorphic fragments (A: 54.02%; B: 57.47% and C: 58.62%) showed that the genetic variability was maintained in the offspring, due possibly to the appropriate reproductive management and the founder effect. On the contrary, the variability found among the two broodstocks indicates a genetic similarity, in spite of being natives of different fish farming's. This result is verified in the moderate value of genetic differentiation found (0.0968), in the high Nm (4.67) and the dendrogram, which suggests that the stocks hold a similar genetic pool.