Abstract There is an increasing interest in essential oils extracted from Verbenaceae plant species as potential sources of biologically active compounds that could provide a starting point for designing novel phyto-pharmaceuticals in aquaculture. The present study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, acute toxicity and antimicrobial effects against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of essential oils extracted from Lippia alba and L. origanoides. Approximately 23 components were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection in each species’ essential oil. The most predominant compounds were geranial (23.0%), limonene (17.0%) and neral (15.5%) in L. alba, and thymol (47.2%), p-cymene (16.0%) and E-caryophyllene (11.3%) in L. origanoides. The essential oils have antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus presenting Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values between 156-625 µg mL-1. The essential oils also show antioxidant potential estimated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, presenting IC50 of 60.16 mg mL-1 and 0.22 mg mL-1 for L. alba and L. origanoides EO, respectively. Both oils were classified as toxic to Artemia salina nauplii. Therefore, these essential oils may be useful for controlling pathogenic bacteria important to the aquaculture industry.

RESUMO O gênero Melocactus (cabeça-de-frade) possui 32 espécies no Brasil, das quais M. glaucescens e M. paucispinus estão ameaçadas de extinção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de sais do meio Murashige e Skoog (MS, MS/2 e MS/4) e sacarose (15 g L-1 e 30 g L-1) na germinação de sementes e crescimento de plantas in vitro de M. glaucescens e a eficiência da esterilização do meio de cultura com hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) na germinação de sementes e crescimento de plantas in vitro de M. glaucescens ao utilizar sementes, M. glaucescens e M. paucispinus ao utilizar o segmento apical do cladódio. Para M. glaucescens a germinação final nas diferentes concentrações de MS e sacarose, variou de 53,5 a 68.1% e os melhores resultados para o crescimento in vitro foram observados nas menores concentrações de sais (MS/2 e MS/4) e de sacarose (15 g L-1) com valores de comprimento da parte aérea de 9,70 e 10,76 mm, respectivamente. Não houve diferença na germinação das sementes e crescimento das plantas em meio químico e autoclavado. Conclui-se que, o uso da esterilização química com NaOCl em baixas concentrações de sais (MS/2 e MS/4) e sacarose (15 g L-1) são as mais indicadas para produção de plantas ornamentais germinadas in vitro e /ou segmento apical do cladódio de M. glaucescens e M. paucispinus, o que representa uma redução de custo no cultivo in vitro dessas espécies.

ABSTRACT The genus Melocactus (“cabeça-de-frade”) comprises 32 species in Brazil, of which M. glaucescens and M. paucispinus are threatened with extinction. The present work evaluated the effects of different concentrations of Murashige & Skoog (MS, MS/2 and MS/4) culture medium and sucrose (15 g L-1 and 30 g L-1) on in vitro seed germination and plant growth of M. glaucescens and the efficiency of sterilization with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on in vitro seed germination and plant growth of M. glaucescens when using seeds and M. glaucescens and M. paucispinus when using apical segment of cladode. In M. glaucescens, the final germination at the different MS and sucrose concentrations varied between 53.5 and 68.1% and the best results for in vitro growth were observed with the lowest mineral salt (MS/2 and MS/4) and sucrose (15 g L-1) concentrations, with lengths of the aerial portion of 9.70 and 10.76 mm, respectively. There was no difference in seed germination and plant growth in chemical and autoclave medium. It is concluded that the use of chemical sterilization with NaOCl at low concentrations of salts (MS/2 and MS/4) and sucrose (15 g L-1) are quite advantageous for producing ornamental plants germinated in vitro and/or apical segment of cladode of M. glaucescens andM. paucispinus, representing a reduction of costs for in vitro cultivation of this species.

ABSTRACT This study discusses the climatological aspects of the most severe drought ever recorded in the semiarid region Northeast Brazil. Droughts are recurrent in the region and while El Nino has driven some of these events others are more dependent on the tropical North Atlantic sea surface temperature fields. The drought affecting this region during the last 5 years shows an intensity and impact not seen in several decades in the regional economy and society. The analysis of this event using drought indicators as well as meteorological fields shows that since the middle 1990s to 2016, 16 out of 25 years experienced rainfall below normal. This suggests that the recent drought may have in fact started in the middle-late 1990s, with the intense droughts of 1993 and 1998, and then the sequence of dry years (interrupted by relatively wet years in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011) after that may have affected the levels of reservoirs in the region, leading to a real water crisis that was magnified by the negative rainfall anomalies since 2010.

Melocactus glaucescens (Cactaceae) é espécie endêmica da Bahia e está incluída na lista da IUCN e MMA como ameaçada de extinção. A transferência da condição in vitro para o ambiente ex vitro é uma etapa crítica, podendo ser um fator limitante para a produção das mudas micropropagadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito de diferentes substratos e do enraizamento na aclimatização de Melocactus glaucescens. As plantas propagadas in vitro foram mantidas sob 100% de luminosidade, com regas diárias por 75 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que o substrato adequado para a aclimatização deve conter 50% de terra vegetal e 50% de areia lavada; o tamanho mínimo do diâmetro e do comprimento da parte aérea para transferência para as condições ex vitro é de 5 mm e que as etapas de enraizamento in vitro e rustificação podem ser eliminadas da micropropagação de M. glaucescens. Estudos para demonstrar tempos de dessecação dos brotos acima de 5 mm são necessários, para se eliminar completamente a etapa do enraizamento in vitro para esta espécie.

Melocactus glaucescens (Cactaceae) is endemic to Bahia and is included in the IUCN and MMA lists as endangered species. Transference of in vitro cultures to ex vitro environment is critical and can become limiting for the production of micropropagated scions. The main objective of this work was to examine the effect of different substrates and rooting during acclimatization of Melocactus glaucescens. The plants were in vitro propagated and kept in 100 % light, on daily cycles for 75 days. The results suggested that the best substrate should consist of 50 % soil and 50 % sand; plantlets should be at least 5mm in diameter and height before being transferred; and that both steps in vitro rooting and harding could be eliminated from micropropagation of M. glaucescens. Further studies are still needed on desiccation time of shoots above 5 mm so that the step of in vitro rooting can be completely eliminated.

OBJETIVO: Descrever e comparar a percepção materna e a autopercepção da criança/adolescente do seu estado nutricional, identificando fatores associados a erro na percepção. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado em Salvador (BA) com 1.741 estudantes entre 6 e 19 anos, classificados de acordo com os percentis do índice de massa corporal (IMC) em baixo peso (IMC < p5), eutróficos (p5 ≤ IMC < p85), risco para sobrepeso (p85 ≤ IMC < p95) e sobrepeso (IMC > p95). Perguntas acerca da percepção do peso, padrão de atividade física e realização de dieta foram respondidas por alunos e genitoras. Foram avaliados, através de análise multivariada, fatores associados a erro na autopercepção e percepção materna. RESULTADOS: Houve acerto de 64,7% para a autopercepção e de 75,3% para a percepção das genitoras. O principal fator associado a erro na autopercepção foi a faixa etária entre 6 e 9 anos (OR = 1,59; IC95% 1,15-2,20). Entre as meninas, ter excesso de peso e fazer atividade física foram as características associadas à melhor percepção. Para os meninos, a presença de excesso de peso resultou em maior risco de erro na autopercepção. Entre as genitoras, filho com excesso de peso (OR = 3,02; IC95% 2,05-4,46) e faixa etária de 6 a 9 anos (OR = 1,88; IC95% 1,28-2,76) foram os fatores associados a erro na percepção. CONCLUSÃO: A falta de percepção adequada do peso ocorreu com muita freqüência entre as crianças e suas genitoras, em especial quando havia excesso de peso, fatores que podem representar obstáculos ao correto reconhecimento de alterações nutricionais.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare maternal perception and the self-perception of children/adolescents of their nutritional status, identifying factors associated with incorrect perceptions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in Salvador, BA, Brazil with 1,741 students aged 6 to 19 years, classified according to body mass index (BMI) percentiles as underweight (BMI < p5), well-nourished (p5 ≤ BMI < p85), at risk of overweight (p85 ≤ BMI < p95) or overweight (BMI > p95). Students and their mothers answered questions on perception of weight, patterns of physical exercise and dieting. By means of multivariate analysis, factors associated with incorrect maternal and self- perceptions were analyzed. RESULTS: Self-perceptions were correct in 64.7% of cases and 75.3% of maternal perceptions were correct. The principal factor associated with incorrect self-perception was age between 6 and 9 years (OR = 1.59; 95%CI 1.15-2.20). Among girls, being overweight and practicing physical exercise were characteristics associated with better perception. For boys, the presence of overweight resulted in an increased risk of incorrect self-perception. Among mothers, having an overweight child (OR = 3.02; 95%CI 2.05-4.46) and a child aged from 6 to 9 years (OR = 1.88; 95%CI 1.28-2.76) were associated with incorrect perception. CONCLUSIONS: A failure to correctly perceive weight was very frequent among children and their mothers, especially when children were overweight. These factors could represent obstacles to correctly recognizing nutritional abnormalities.