Abstract Microsatellite primers pairs were developed for the Neotropical tree Roupala montana var. brasiliensis for use in studies on genetic diversity, mating system, and gene flow. Forty-two primer pairs were developed, resulting in 27 polymorphic loci, with two to 27 alleles per locus. The primer pairs were validated against 34 R. montana var. brasiliensis adult trees from four populations. The observed (H o) and expected (H e)heterozygosities ranged among loci from 0.061 to 0.930 (mean of 0.544) and from 0.116 to 0.950 (mean of 0.700), respectively. Null alleles were observed for ten loci. No genotypic linkage disequilibrium was detected in any pair of loci. This set of loci is suitable for population genetic studies of the species.

Resumen Introducción: La fibra de Gynerium sagittatum Aubl. P. Beauv, es materia prima esencial para la elaboración de varias artesanías, que son símbolos de la identidad cultural colombiana. En el proceso de fabricación, se utilizan diferentes genotipos de acuerdo con la calidad de la fibra y el tipo de artesanía, pero se cree que Gynerium es una especie compleja y hasta la fecha, no hay un consenso sobre si estos genotipos pertenecen a la misma especie o especies diferentes. Objetivo: Identificar de forma rápida y precisa plantas de caña silvestre utilizando el espaciador transcrito interno ribosomal nuclear (ITS1+ITS2), tres regiones de cloroplasto (matK, rbcL, ycf1) y sus combinaciones. Métodos: Se utilizaron diferentes pruebas para la discriminación: (1) distancias inter e intraespecíficas, (2) Prueba Best Match (BM), Best Close Match (BCM) y método basado en árboles (3) Neighbor Joining (NJ) y (4) Probabilidad de inferencia bayesiana mediante datos moleculares. Resultados: Los resultadosmostraron que los enfoques BM y BCM revelaron una baja tasa de identificación correcta de especies para los loci ITS+matK (33.3 %) e ITS (28.6 %), mostrando similitud entre las secuencias. Estos resultados fueron respaldados por análisis basados en árboles, donde todas las regiones individuales y las diferentes combinaciones de genes tuvieron una tasa de discriminación de cero (0 %). Conclusiones: los genotipos evaluados pertenecen a la misma especie de caña flecha y las diferencias morfológicas existentes pueden estar relacionadas con plasticidad fenotípica.

Abstract Introduction: The fiber of the Gynerium sagittatum Aubl. P. Beauv is raw material for the elaboration of several handcrafts, which are symbols of Colombian cultural identity. In the manufacture process, different genotypes are used according to the fiber quality and the type of craftsmanship, but it is believed that Gynerium is a complex species, and to date, there is no agreement on whether these genotypes belong to the same species or to different species. Objective: The aim of this study was to quickly and accurately identify wild cane plants using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1+ITS2), three chloroplast regions (matK, rbcL, ycf1), and their combinations. Methods: Different tests were used for discrimination: (1) inter and intraspecific distances, (2) Best Match (BM), Best Close Match (BCM), and tree-based method (3) Neighbor Joining (NJ) and (4) maximum likelihood and bayesian inference in molecular data. Results: The results showed that BM and BCM approaches revealed the low rate of correct species identification for ITS+matK (33.3 %) and ITS (28.6 %) loci, showing similarity among sequences. These results were further supported by tree-based analyses, where all individual regions and the different gene combinations had a zero discrimination rate. Conclusions: all genotypes belong to the same species of wild cane, therefore existing morphological differences can be related to phenotypic plasticity.

The aquatic plant species Egeria densa (Planch.) Casp and E. najas Planchon occur naturally in the Paraná River Basin of southeastern Brazil. Hydroelectric dam construction in the river basin has created several lakes, changing the ecology of the river and altering the population ecology of Egeria. Large, dense populations of Egeria now grow in Jupiá Lake and its tributaries, occasionally blocking hydroelectric turbines. This study is part of a larger project examining environmental changes associated with large dam projects; the research objective of this study was to assess patterns of genetic diversity in Egeria populations growing in Jupiá and Três Irmãos Lakes and their Paraná River tributaries using genetic markers. Forty-two plants of E. najas and 46 of E. densa (for a total of 88 samples) were collected from 13 sites. Genotypes were identified by isoenzymes and Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA RAPD markers. Using a genetic distance dendrogram we grouped all E. densa plants into one set and all E. najas plants into another set. The plant sample 8a, which presented intermediary morphological characteristics of both species, also presented intermediary genetic characteristics, indicating the possibility that gene introgression between these Egeria species may occur. The creation of Três Irmãos Lake appears to have increased some measures of genetic diversity in Egeria populations by facilitating outcrossing among previously semi-isolated genotypes. Increased migration of large numbers of seeds and vegetative branches of E. densa and E. najas into Jupiá Lake and its tributaries can account for most of the changes in patterning of genetic diversity observed in these populations of Egeria.

Las especies acuáticas de Egeria densa y E. najas ocurren naturalmente en la Cuenca del Río Paraná, sudeste del Brasil. La construcción de una represa hidroeléctrica en la cuenca de este río, creó varios lagos, cambiando la ecología del río y alterando la populación ecológica de Egeria. Grandes y densas poblaciones de Egeria crecen hoy en día en el lago de Jupiá y sus afluentes, bloqueando de vez en cuando las turbinas de la hidroeléctrica. Como parte de un estudio de cambios ambientales, asociados a grandes proyectos de represas, fueron usados marcadores moleculares para determinar patrones de diversidad genética en las poblaciones de Egeria que crecen en los lagos de Jupiá, Três Irmãos y sus afluentes del Río Paraná. En un total de 13 sitios, fueran colectadas 42 plantas de E. najas y 46 de E. densa, que suman un total de 88 muestras. Los genotipos fueron identificados por marcadores de isoenzimas y RAPD. A través de dendrogramas de distancia genética se agruparon por separado todas las plantas de E. densa y de E. najas. La muestra 8a presentó plantas con características morfológicas e genéticas intermediarias de ambas las especies, indicando haber posibilidades de introgresión de genes entre ambas las especies de Egeria. La creación del lago de Três Irmãos parece haber aumentado, en alguna medida, la diversidad genética de las populaciones de Egeria por la facilidad de cruzamientos entre genotipos, hasta entonces semi-aislados. La migración creciente de grandes cantidades de semillas y de partes vegetativas de Egeria densa y Egeria najas dentro del Lago Jupiá y sus afluentes, pueden explicar los cambios observados en los patrones de diversidad genética en estas populaciones de Egeria.

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates stress responses in plants, and genomic tools can help us to understand the mechanisms involved in that process. FAPESP, a Brazilian research foundation, in association with four private forestry companies, has established the FORESTs database (<A HREF="https://forests.esalq.usp.br">https://forests.esalq.usp.br</A>). A search was carried out in the Eucalyptus expressed sequence tag database to find ESTs involved with 9-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), the regulatory enzyme for ABA biosynthesis, using the basic local BLAST alignment tool. We found four clusters (EGEZLV2206B11.g, EGJMWD2252H08.g, EGBFRT3107F10.g, and EGEQFB1200H10.g), which represent similar sequences of the gene that produces NCED. Data showed that the EGBFRT3107F10.g cluster was similar to the maize (Zea mays) NCED enzyme, while EGEZLV2206B11.g and EGJMWD2252H08.g clusters were similar to the avocado (Persea americana) NCED enzyme. All Eucalyptus clusters were expressed in several tissues, especially in flower buds, where ABA has a special participation during the floral development process.

A Egeria najas é uma espécie aquática submersa nativa da bacia hidrográfica do rio Paraná. Com o represamento das águas do rio para geração de energia elétrica a espécie tem mudado seu comportamento de colonização dos leitos dos rios e ocorrido em grandes maciços dentro da represa de Jupiá e rios afluentes. Essa planta tem causado problemas por obstruir a passagem de água para as turbinas de geração de energia elétrica. Coletas de material vegetativo foram realizadas na represa e afluentes do rio Paraná para análise da variabilidade isoenzimática e de DNA. A análise isoenzimática mostrou haver somente quatro classes de diferentes biotipos. No entanto, utilizando-se os procedimentos de RAPD, observou-se que a espécie possui grande variabilidade genética. O represamento das águas também está permitindo o acumulo de variabilidade no local e promovendo um aumento de variabilidade por meio de possíveis cruzamentos entre genótipos diferentes. Os resultados também possibilitaram inferir sobre as possíveis rotas de migração de material genético para colonização da represa e rios afluentes.

The submerged aquatic species Egeria najas occurs naturally in the Parana River Basin - Brazil. Several lakes have been constructed by CESP - Centrais Elétricas do Estado de São Paulo S.A. in the river basin, changing the ecology of the region. The species have altered their establishment strategy, and now grows in large, dense populations on the floor of Jupia Lake and its tributaries. This has had a negative impact on electricity generation as the branches of these species routinely block the hydroelectric turbines. We used genetic markers to study the pattern of genetic diversity in the species using plant material collected along Jupia Lake and the Paraná River Tributaries. Isoenzymes have shown four different biotypes, however, the RAPD technique has demonstrated greater genetic variability among individuals. The creation of Jupia Lake has resulted in an increase in genetic variability probably by migration of large amount of seeds and vegetative branches. These materials are increasing the genetic diversity in populations in the lake by favoring outcrossing among different genotypes. Results also present a possible understanding of Egeria najas genotype migrations in populations in the Jupia Lake and its tributaries.