RESUMO Os micro-organismos endofíticos podem estimular o crescimento a depender da interação com a planta hospedeira e da disponibilidade de nutrientes no solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento de plantas de arroz BRS Tropical cultivadas com fungos endofíticos e níveis de adubo nitrogenado em estufa agrícola. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso no esquema fatorial de 4 x 4, correspondentes a quatro tratamentos (controle - sem inóculo fúngico e três isolados micorrízicos: UFLA351 - Rhizoglomus clarum, UFLA372 - Claroideoglomus etunicatum e UFLA401 - Acaulospora morrowiae) e quatro níveis de ureia (0, 100, 300 e 600 mg Kg-1 de N) com quatro repeticões. O arroz BRS Tropical foi colonizado por fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) e por fungos endofíticos “dark septate” (DSE). A adubação nitrogenada à base de ureia não influenciou na colonização por isolados UFLAs e por fungos endofíticos DSE em plantas de arroz. A adubação nitrogenada inibiu a formação de hifas, mas não a produção de vesículas e de arbúsculos dos isoladods UFLAs. A esporulação micorrízica foi inibida por adubação nitrogenada, a depender do isolado fúngico. No controle, sem FMA, a colonização das plantas de arroz por fungos endofíticos DSE foi inibida pela adubação nitrogenada. Os fungos endofíticos DSE não interferiram na colonização micorrízica pelos isolados UFLAs. As plantas de arroz BRS Tropical foram responsivas a inoculação dos isolados UFLA351 e UFLA401 com 600 mg Kg-1 N. As plantas de arroz BRS Tropical cultivadas sem AMF e 600 mg Kg-1 N foram responsivas à adubação nitrogenada.

ABSTRACT Endophytic microorganisms can stimulate growth depending on the interaction between the host plant and soil nutrients availability. This work aimed to evaluate the growth of rice BRS Tropical plants cultivated with endophytic microorganisms and nitrogen levels in greenhouse. The experimental design was 4 x 4 factorial scheme completely randomized, corresponding to four treatments (control - without fungal inoculum and three mycorrhizal isolates: UFLA351 - Rhizoglomus clarum, UFLA372 - Claroideoglomus etunicatum and UFLA401 - Acaulospora morrowiae) and four doses of urea (0, 100, 300 and 600 mg Kg-1 N), with four replications. Rice BRS Tropical plants were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endophytic fungi dark septate (DSE). Nitrogen fertilization based on urea does not influenced colonization by UFLAs and by endophytic fungi DSE in rice plants. Nitrogen fertilization inhibited the formation of hyphae, but does not the production of vesicles and arbuscules of the UFLAs isolates. Mycorrhizal sporulation was inhibited by nitrogen fertilization, depending on the fungi isolate. The control treatment rice plants colonization by endophytic fungi DSE, without AMF, was inhibited by nitrogen fertilization. The colonization by endophytic fungi DSE do not interfered in the mycorrhizal colonization by UFLA isolates. Rice BRS Tropical plants were responsive to the inoculation of isolates UFLA351 and UFLA401 with 600 mg Kg-1 N. Rice BRS Tropical plants cultivated without AMF and with 600 mg Kg-1 N were responsive to nitrogen fertilization.

O estudo teve como objetivo analisar o efeito de dois diferentes volumes de alongamento, 90 ou 180 segundos, na capacidade funcional (CF) de idosas. Participaram deste estudo, 43 mulheres idosas divididas em três grupos: Grupo Controle inativo (GC, n=14), Grupo Treinamento com três séries de 30 segundos (GT90, n=15) e Grupo Treinamento com três séries de 60 segundos (GT180, n=14). Os grupos GT90 e GT180 frequentaram a universidade durante 16 semanas, três vezes por semana. O protocolo de treinamento consistiu em sete diferentes exercícios de alongamento estático, realizados de forma ativa. O GC frequentou a universidade apenas nos períodos de avaliação. As avaliações dos componentes da CF e do Índice de Aptidão Funcional Geral (IAFG), dos três grupos, foram realizadas tanto no momento pré, quanto após oito e 16 semanas de experimento, por meio de uma bateria de testes motores. A ANOVA two-way apontou interação grupo x momento significante para os componentes flexibilidade, resistência de força muscular e resistência aeróbia, e para valores do IAFG (p < 0,05). O teste post hoc de Scheffé apontou diferença entre os grupos treinamento e o GC, sem nenhuma diferença entre GT90 e GT180. Houve, também, melhora na classificação geral do IAFG para o GT90 e GT180, que passaram de "regular" para "bom", enquanto o GC manteve-se classificado em "regular". Pode-se concluir que os dois volumes de alongamento empregados foram igualmente eficazes na melhora da flexibilidade, resistência de força muscular, resistência aeróbia e nos níveis da CF de mulheres idosas.

The study aimed to analyze the effect of two different durations of stretching exercises, 90 or 180 seconds, on the functional capacity (FC) of elderly women. Forty-three older women were assigned into three groups: inactive Control Group (CG, n. = 14), Training Group with three sets of 30 seconds (TG90, n. = 15) and Training Group with three sets of 60 seconds (TG180, n = 14). The TG90 and TG180 groups attended the university for 16 weeks, three times a week. The training protocol consisted of seven different static stretching exercises, performed in an active way. The CG attended the university only in periods of evaluations. Evaluations of the FC components and the Global Functional Fitness Index (GFFI), from the three groups, were both conducted before, and after 8 and 16 weeks of experiment, using a motor tests battery. The two-way ANOVA showed significant group x time interaction for the components flexibility, muscle strength and aerobic endurance, and for the GFFI values (p <0.05). The Scheffé post hoc test pointed difference between the two training groups and the CG, with no difference between TF90 and TG180. There was also improvement in the general classification of GFFI for the TG90 and TG180, which went from "fair" to "good", while CG remained classified as "fair." It was concluded that the two durations of stretching exercises were equally effective in improving flexibility, muscle strength, aerobic endurance and levels of FC in elderly women.

In the Patagonian Andean forests, wildfires principally have an anthropic origin and constitute one of the most important disturbances. They lead to severe losses of soil fertility and vegetation; particularly compromising the regeneration of native vegetation. Organic amendments can facilitate the regeneration of vegetation, enhancing principally soil fertility conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of biosolids compost application as a tool for recovering soil fertility and regenerating vegetation in burnt areas of a Nothofagus pumilio forest along two growing seasons. Considering the National Park status of the study area, low rates (2 kg m-2) of biosolids compost application were used to minimize the polluting effect of this amendment. We considered two types of microsites, with and without litter accumulation, in order to test whether biosolids application had a differential effect related to microsite type. Soil properties, composition and cover vegetation were evaluated. We concluded that biosolids compost application improved some of the physical-chemical, chemical and biological soil properties but did not contribute, over a period of almost two growing seasons, to vegetation recovery. These results confirm that organic amendment application may be used as an initial restoration strategy at microsite level in burnt N. pumilio forests related principally to a beneficial effect on soil fertility. The creation of fertility islands can be a valid restoration strategy, but mechanisms to increase the reinstallation of native vegetation should be also applied.

En los bosques andinos patagónicos los incendios de origen antrópico son uno de los principales disturbios. Estos conducen a pérdidas de fertilidad del suelo y de vegetación, y comprometen, particularmente, la regeneración de la vegetación nativa. La aplicación de enmiendas orgánicas podría facilitar la regeneración de dicha vegetación, mejorando principalmente la fertilidad del suelo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los efectos de la aplicación de compost de biosólidos en la recuperación de la fertilidad del suelo y la regeneración de vegetación durante dos estaciones de crecimiento en áreas quemadas de bosque de Nothofagus pumilio. Considerando el estatus de Parque Nacional del área de estudio, la aplicación de compost se realizó en dosis bajas (2 kg m-2). Se consideraron micrositios con y sin acumulación de hojarasca, en función de registrar si la aplicación de compost de biosólidos generaba efectos diferenciales por micrositio. Se evaluaron características de fertilidad del suelo, composición y cobertura de especies vegetales luego de la aplicación. El compost de biosólidos mejoró algunas características fisicoquímicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo pero no promovió la recuperación de la cubierta vegetal. Estos resultados confirman que la aplicación de enmiendas orgánicas puede ser utilizada como una estrategia de restauración a nivel de micrositio en bosques quemados de N. pumilio, relacionada principalmente con un efecto benéfico en la fertilidad del suelo. La creación de islas de fertilidad puede ser una estrategia de restauración de la vegetación, si se asegura la aplicación de mecanismos para incrementar la reinstalación de especies vegetales nativas.

Post fire Nothofagus pumilio forests of NW Patagonia are characterized by a low regeneration. The restoration of native vegetation mainly depends on the type and history of disturbance, the size and composition of the seed bank, the sprouting capacity of species and the environmental conditions, which allow species expression. Management practices aiming to recover soil organic matter concentration may increase nutrient availability, water storage capacity, size and composition of seed banks and seedling survival. Therefore, they might be an important tool to be used in the recovery of these ecosystems. The objective of this work was to study the seed bank in different microsites of a burned Nothofagus pumilio forest and the effect of biosolids compost application on its size and composition. The valuation of compost is mainly referred to its capacity to improve the quality and quantity of soil organic matter (amendment value) and nutrient content (fertilizer value) of degraded soils. The study was carried out in a forest that burned in 1996, located at Challhuaco valley in the Reserve of Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina. This valley represents a typical transitional zone between forest and ecotone and it is characterized by a high impact of human activities. Sampling was performed in two seasons (end of winter and start of summer 2002) at three microsites (litter and soils with and without litter accumulation). The seedling emergence technique was used to determine the size and composition of seed banks. Exotic and herbaceous species with a transient seed bank strategy prevailed. This strategy increased the susceptibility to adverse climatic conditions and did not contribute to system stability. Litter constituted an important reservoir of the persistent seed bank but did not promote high species diversity. Biosolids compost application added viable seeds, favored seedling abundance (end of winter) and enhanced species richness (end of winter and start of summer), mainly due to exotic species. It had different effect on several species and produced low benefit in native vegetation recovery. Apparently, the seed bank strategy did not constitute an effective tool in vegetation recovery. These results confirm the need to apply restoration strategies that promote the re-vegetation in burned N. pumilio forests.

Los bosques quemados de Nothofagus pumilio (lenga) del noroeste de la Patagonia se caracterizan por una baja regeneración post fuego. Las prácticas de manejo que impliquen una recuperación del contenido de materia orgánica, con el consecuente aumento en la disponibilidad de nutrientes y capacidad de almacenamiento de agua, facilitarían la expresión del banco de semillas y la supervivencia de plántulas, constituyendo una herramienta importante para la restauración de estos sistemas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el banco de semillas de diferentes micrositios de un bosque quemado de N. pumilio y el efecto de la aplicación del compost de biosólidos sobre la composición y tamaño de los mismos. El estudio se realizó en un bosque que fue quemado en 1996, ubicado en la Reserva del Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Argentina. Los muestreos se realizaron en dos épocas del año, en tres micrositios (mantillo, y suelos con y sin acumulación de mantillo) utilizando la técnica de emergencia de plántulas en condiciones ambientales semicontroladas. En el banco de semillas predominaron las especies exóticas y herbáceas, con estrategia de banco transitorio el cual no garantiza la estabilidad de estos sistemas y aumenta la susceptibilidad a las condiciones climáticas en años desfavorables. El mantillo constituyó un importante reservorio del banco persistente, pero no propició una mayor diversidad de especies. La aplicación de compost de biosólidos incorporó semillas viables, favoreció el aumento del número de plántulas (a fines de invierno) e incrementó el número de especies (fines de invierno y principios de verano), principalmente por el aporte de especies exóticas; tuvo un efecto diferencial sobre distintas especies y favoreció pobremente la recuperación de la vegetación nativa. La estrategia de banco de semillas parece no constituir una herramienta efectiva en la recuperación de la vegetación. Estos resultados confirman la necesidad de profundizar los estudios sobre prácticas de restauración que faciliten la re-vegetación de los bosques quemados de N. pumilio.

Large scale mass rearing of natural enemies has been a mean of improving biological control in the sugarcane intensive agriculture. Among them, Cotesia flavipes, a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid, was imported by Brasil to control caterpillars of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis. The C. flavipes larval development depends on its association with polydnavirus, which blocks the host defense reaction. To verify if the oviposition sequence (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and the female condition (mated or virgin) interfere in the number of C. flavipes descendents, 4th instar caterpillars of D. saccharalis were parasitized. Analysis of the data showed that: a) there is an inverse correlation between the parasitism efficiency and the host reaction (encapsulation); b) the number of caterpillars parasitized by virgin females that released parasitoid larvae in the period from 12 to 15 days was higher than that of caterpillars parasitized by mated females; c) a slight difference between mated and virgin females in relation to the parasitim success was observed; and d) the number of encapsulated parasitoid larvae was higher than that of eggs, suggesting that eggs have a better capacity to overcome the host reaction. In this study, the viability of C. flavipes eggs and larvae in the non-specific host D. saccharalis could be correlated with the oviposition sequence and the female condition.

As argilas encontradas em amostras de solos, provenientes de Terras Indígenas do planalto médio do Rio Grande do Sul, foram caracterizadas com o intuito de fornecer dados e parâmetros técnicos para seu uso como matéria prima de produtos cerâmicos. O estudo mineralógico efetuado nas amostras utilizando a técnica de difração de raios X demonstrou que o argilomineral predominante é a caulinita. Outros minerais, como quartzo e rutilo, encontram-se presentes em menor quantidade. As análises químicas demonstram que as quantidades de óxido de Mg, Mn, K, Na, Ca, Cu e Zn são baixas (a soma das porcentagens é menor que 0,97 %). As amostras foram analisadas por espectroscopia Mössbauer de 57Fe. Os espectros Mössbauer obtidos na temperatura ambiente confirmam a presença do mineral caulinita. Os espectros a 77 K revelam a existência dos minerais goetita e hematita, na forma de partículas magnéticas ultrafinas (nanopartículas) em estado superparamagnético. Os testes físicos efetuados nas amostras indicam que os solos são finos e apresentam características granulométricas e de plasticidade, que podem ser aproveitadas para a produção de materiais cerâmicos para construção ou objetos ornamentais.

Clay samples collected from soils of indian territories of the middle plateau in Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed with the aim to obtain characterization data and technical parameters for their potential use as raw material for ceramic products. The mineralogical study in samples by using the X-ray diffraction technique demonstrated that the predominant clay mineral is kaolinite. Others minerals as quartz and rutile also are present in small amounts. Chemical analysis shows low percentages for oxides of Mg, Mn, K, Na, Ca, Cu and Zn (overall percentages smaller than 0.97%). The samples also were analyzed with the 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer spectra at room temperature confirm the presence of the mineral kaolinite. At 77 K they reveal the existence of the minerals goethite and hematite as ultrafine magnetic particles in a superparamagnetic state. The physical tests performed in the samples show that these soils are very fine material and present appropriate granulometric characteristics and plasticity, which can be taken in advantage for the production of materials for construction or production of ornamental artifacts.

Cotesia glomerata is a natural enemy of the vegetable plague Ascia monuste orseis and preferably parasites 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae. Parasitism effects on the haemolymph protein profile of Ascia monuste orseis larvae from the 2nd to 7th days were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie-Blue binding methods. Quantitative analysis showed a progressive increase in the protein content of about 6.5 and 12.5 times in parasitized and non-parasitized larvae from the 2nd to 5th days, respectively. On the 6th day, a decrease in protein content was observed in both groups, although this decrease was significantly less than the control group that continued to metamorphosis. Meanwhile, parasitized larvae had one more day (7th day) in their larval period to complete parasitoid development, justified by the fact that parasitoid is koinobiont and allows host feeding. On this day, a drastic increase in protein content was detected when the parasitoids left the host. The SDS-PAGE showed proteins of high molecular weight (>120 kDa) on the 5th day of the non-parasitized larvae when they entered pre-pupa stage and on the 7th day of parasitized larvae. Proteins with MW lower than 62 kDa and higher than 27 kDa were absent on the 5th day in control larvae (pre-pupa phase), but present in parasitized larvae. This could indicate a possible relation between these proteins and the host juvenile hormone. Therefore, the presence of C. glomerata influences Ascia monuste orseis development, but its own physiological development is apparently independent of the host, which tends to die when parasitism succeeds.

This study was undertaken to develop an experimental protocol using insects as biological models to assay venom toxicity of the following spiders Loxosceles gaucho, Phoneutria nigriventer, Nephilengys cruentata and Tityus serrulatus scorpion. Three different insect species were bioassayed: Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera), Grillus assimilis (Orthoptera), and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera). Venoms were injected into the hemocele of insects with a microsyringe at concentrations that caused dose/weight-dependent effects; doses causing either paralysis (ED50) or death (LD50) were recorded for each venom and insect test-species. T. serrulatus and L. gaucho venoms were lethal to all tested species, while P. nigriventer venom caused paralysis and death, and N. cruentata venom caused only paralysis at the doses assayed. A comparison between the insect test species described above revealed that A. mellifera was highly sensitive to all venoms tested; even a tiny amount of N. cruentata non-lethal venom caused a change in the walking pattern leading to transient paralysis. D. saccharalis larvae were very resistant to all four venoms.

Field bioassays were used to demonstrate that aggressive behavior of Polybia paulista (Ihering) workers is elicited by alarm pheromones present in the venom reservoirs of nest defenders and that the brood care pheromone (pupal odor) produced by the young inside the nest also plays an important defensive role. Pupal odor was extracted from the surface of pupa bodies with methanol. When bioassayed alone, the pupal odor elicited only attractiveness of workers towards the odor source, but no stinging attacks were observed. However, in the presence of alarm pheromones, the brood care pheromone potentiated the effect caused by the pupal odors, increasing the number of stinging attacks during an action of colony defense. Thus, the presence of pupae within the nest evidently not only releases brood care but also enhances the aggressiveness of workers in P. paulista colonies.

Fêmeas de Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) foram introduzidas, individualmente, em placas de Petri contendo uma larva de seu hospedeiro Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.). Permitiu-se que cada fêmea de C. flavipes realizasse posturas uma ou duas vezes em uma mesma larva. O período de emergência das larvas e dos adultos, a razão sexual, o número de larvas e pupas inviáveis e a longevidade dos adultos de C. flavipes registrados nas duas condições experimentais (uma ou duas posturas) foram comparados. Os resultados revelaram que duas oviposições sucessivas no hospedeiro não alteraram a razão sexual na descendência, mas aumentaram o número de parasitóides e também o número de larvas e pupas inviáveis.

Females of Cotesia flavipes (Cam.) were individually introduced into Petri dishes containing one larva of its host Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.). Each C. flavipes female was allowed to oviposit once or twice in the same larva. Time of emergence of larvae and adults, sex-ratio, number of non-viable larvae and pupae, and longevity of adults of C. flavipes were recorded. Data revealed that two successive ovipositions in the host did not affect sex-ratio, but increased number of parasitoids and number of non-viable larvae and pupae.

The profiles of high-performance gel filtration of venoms from Polybia paulista, Polybia ignobilis and Polybia occidentalis occidentalis showed 13 peaks distributed among the three species. These profiles presented similarities that permitted the chromatographic characterization of the genus Polybia and differences that permitted the identification of each species studied. Thus, the comparative analysis of chromatographic profiles of high-performance gel filtration of venoms may be used as an auxiliary tool in taxonomic studies of Polybia wasps.

The present paper aimed at testing the action of non-lyophilized venom of Africanized bees Apis mellifera through topical applications on Diatraea saccharalis egg masses. The CL50, DL50 and the most susceptible age of eggs to the venom topic application were also determined. Three-day-old eggs were the most susceptible to the venom action with CL50 equal to 8.6 mg/ml and DL50 equal to 0.173 mg/mass. The venom loses its action after being stored for 15 days.

The presence of a polydnavirus in the ovary of the microhymenoptera Apanteles galleriae was detected. This wasp parasites the larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella. To study the possible viral effects on the total protein of G.mellonella, hemolymph extracts of the ovary calyxes of parasitized A. galleriae were injected into 6th and 7th instar cells of G.mellonella larvae. Protein profiles on polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) of host cell extracts showed a suppression of several protein bands when infection occurred in the 6th instar. However, in the 7th instar, parasitism caused an amplification in the synthesis of most proteins with some changes in the electrophoretic profile.