Abstract The mixed wheat and bocaiuva (Acrocomia totai) flour allow the development of new products to meet the consumer demand for foods with a healthy and functional appeal. Our study aimed to evaluate the physical-chemical and rheological quality of mixed flours during storage. Mixed flours with 10 and 20% replacement of wheat flour with bocaiuva flour were conditioned in impermeable films to water vapor, oxygen and light and stored at ambient temperature for up to 120 days. Flours were submitted to periodical physical-chemical and rheological analyses. Moisture stayed within the legal limit, and water activity was considered adequate to inhibit microbial growth. Titrable acidity increased in the first 30 days of storage. Adding 20% of bocaiuva to the wheat flour enriched the mixture with twice the carotenoids and higher total phenol content. The bioactive compounds showed a slight reduction during storage. The mixed flour can be indicated for elaborating bread, loaf, pasta, cakes and biscuits. The falling numbers point to the need for correcting the flour by adding enzymes to produce fermented foods.

ABSTRACT Exotic grasses have been introduced into wetlands and can compete with native plants due to their high tolerance of flood and dry periods. Flooding can facilitate seed dispersal of exotic species and reduce the diversity of native species. We compared two grasslands to assess whether seed banks can maintain the diversity of native plants in wetlands with introduced exotic plants. We recorded a total of 136 species and a predominance of annual plants in the seed bank and vegetation together. The seed bank had high species diversity independently of the dominance of the exotic Urochloa humidicola in the vegetation. The seed banks of the native and cultivated grasslands differed significantly with a positive correlation for aquatic plants in the native grassland and negative correlation in the cultivated grassland. The seed bank revealed potential to maintain the diversity of native species in the cultivated grassland since the flood and dry seasons promoted the presence of distinct species in the seed bank, but lower richness in the vegetation reflects a dependence on the germination stage. The seasonality of flood and dry periods influences distinct growth forms, increasing the diversity of the seed bank and the vegetation.

ABSTRACT Until the mid-XX century, little awareness on the ecological services or socio-environmental problems and benefits related to aquatic plants culminated in bottlenecks on their natural history, especially for the Neotropics. In this context, Acta Botanica Brasilica (ABB) organized this special issue to promote the advancement of knowledge on this ecological group in the Neotropics, supported by Sociedade Botânica do Brasil’s group of aquatic plants specialists. We selected and evaluated manuscripts gathering unprecedented findings, resulting from studies on aquatic plants, with little investigated or documented approaches, such as the improper use of methodological paradigms and aspects of biogeography, ecophysiology, morphoanatomy, structuration of communities, functional ecology, and human use. Here we present a synthesis of these reports’ findings that shall contribute to deepening the knowledge on the natural history, sustainable use, and conservation of aquatic plants and guide future research, mainly in Neotropical aquatic ecosystems. The publication of special issues on themes with insufficient knowledge to Science can reduce such gaps and expand the journal’s perspectives. Therefore, we believe that this special issue of ABB will boost the understanding of aquatic plants’ natural history as much as incentivizing journals with specific scopes of the area of Plant Biology to similar initiatives.

ABSTRACT Studies of plant phenology have been performed predominantly with terrestrial species and rarely so with aquatic communities. Such plants are fundamental for the aquatic ecosystems, representing a valuable source of resources when they are scarce in terrestrial environments for the fauna. Studies of phenology help to understand the reproduction rhythms of plant communities and provide fundamental support to management and conservation. This study aimed to describe the reproductive phenology of 15 species of aquatic plants and determine how it is related to climatic factors and physicochemical variables of water. Plants were collected every 15 days throughout a single year, from two ponds in the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone, Central-West Brazil. Species were observed in flower and fruit throughout the year with varying phenophases among life forms (amphibious, emergent, rooted, floating and rooted submerged). Photoperiod stood out among climatic variables for flowering and fruiting times. Phenophases were explained by climatic factors, as well as by physicochemical variables of the water. Nitrogen and pH were the variables most related to the highest number of phenophases of different life forms. Such information is relevant to understanding how physicochemical alterations to water by pollution, eutrophication and siltation, among others, can change the phenology of aquatic macrophytes.

Resumo A palmeira Acrocomia totai pode ser encontrada em áreas do Cerrado e Pantanal, no Brasil, Argentina, Bolívia e Paraguai. Seus frutos são utilizados por comunidades tradicionais e rurais como meio de subsistência ou como fonte de renda. Da importância deste recurso genético, foram realizadas a avaliação de caracteres morfológicos e agronômicos, e a estimativa da densidade populacional em duas fisionomias do Pantanal. Foi encontrada variação em todos os caracteres analisados, tais como: a densidade de espinhos no estipe, a coloração das folhas, do epicarpo e do mesocarpo. O número médio de frutos por cacho foi de 392.30±134.53, massa fresca (g) de um fruto inteiro de 15.50±3.87 e teor de óleo (%) no mesocarpo de 14.94±8.06. A densidade populacional variou de 48 pls.ha-1 em área de ‘campo sujo’ a 287 pls.ha-1 em áreas de ‘campo limpo’. Estima-se a produção por hectare de 8.65 t de frutos, 4.77 t de polpa e 270 kg de óleo, em áreas de ‘campo sujo’, e 1.45 t de frutos, 0.8 t de polpa e 50 kg de óleo, em áreas de ‘campo limpo’. Os dados demonstram a possibilidade de exploração rentável da espécie via extrativismo ou cultivo. A variação encontrada pode ser útil à taxonomia do gênero, a programas de melhoramento e à conservação.

Abstract The Acrocomia totai palm can be found in areas of Cerrado and Pantanal in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. Its fruits are used by traditional and rural communities for subsistence or income source. Given the relevance of this genetic resource, we assessed the morphological and agronomic characters and estimated the population density in two physiognomies of the Pantanal. We found variation in all analyzed characters, such as the density of spines on the stipe, coloration of leaves, epicarp and mesocarp. The average number of fruits per bunch was 392.30±134.53, fresh mass (g) of the whole fruit of 15.50±3.87 and, the mesocarp oil content (%) of 14.94±8.06. The population density varied between 48 pls.ha-1 in area of shrubby grassland to 287 pls.ha-1 in open grassland. We estimated yields per hectare of 8.65 t of fruits, 4.77 t of pulp and 270 kg of oil in areas of shrubby grassland and 1.45 t of fruits, 0.8 t of pulp and 50 kg of oil in areas of open grassland. The data demonstrate the potential of profitable exploitation of the species in extractive or cultivation. The variation found can be useful for the genus taxonomy, breeding and conservation programs.

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the oil obtained from seeds of Campomanesia adamantium by physicochemical quality parameters, oxidative stability, antioxidant activity, quality indexes, optical and thermal stability and its fatty acid profile. These seeds were a relevant source of oil (83 mg g-1) with high potential antioxidant activity (IC50 = 25.32 μg mL-1) evaluated by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) with induction period above of 50 hours. In addition, palmitic (53%) and oleic (34%) are the primary saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. This oil showed excellent quality for edible vegetable oil and bioctive compounds. The thermal stability of this oil by thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) started at 154 and 231 °C under synthetic air and nitrogen atmospheres, respectively, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) crystallization was onset at 4.94 °C. This study revealed as a novelty that the C. adamantium seeds are an excellent source of oil that presents best qualities, which makes it a great candidate for edible vegetable oil, as well as for production of soap, lotions and biofuel.

Abstract Resistant bacterial infections represent one of the major threats in worldwide health services. In this scenario, plant essential oils are considered promising antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Pectis substriata essential oil alone and in combination with antibiotics, against clinical drug-resistant bacterial strains. The essential oil from the plant aerial parts was obtained by hydrodistillation. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against standard and clinical bacterial strains by broth microdilution method, and the synergistic effect was evaluated by checkerboard microtiter assay. The oil alone showed significant activity against clinical Staphylococcus warneri (62.5 µg.mL-1), and was moderately active on Staphylococcus aureus (standard strain) and clinical Staphylococcus intermedius (125 and 250 µg.mL-1, respectively). Synergism was achieved for the combinations of essential oil and ampicillin on S. warneri and of oil and kanamycin on S. intermedius. Additive effects were also observed. This is the first report of the chemical composition of P. substriata essential oil, and the results revealed the presence of compounds with proven antimicrobial activity. The oil proved active against resistant Gram-positive cocci, and showed synergism with antibiotics, revealing its potential use as adjuvant or in the development of new alternative treatments of drug-resistant antimicrobial infections.

Resumo Espécies vegetais sujeitas a Inundação e fogo podem manifestar estratégias de sobrevivência como o banco de sementes do solo. Pretendemos determinar a influência de fogo e inundação na riqueza, abundância e diversidade do banco de sementes. Realizamos amostragens em um ano mais seco (outubro/2013) e em um de maior inundação (outubro/2014), em dez áreas ao longo do rio Paraguai. Selecionamos 5 áreas com históricos de fogo antigo (2010, 4 anos antes da amostragem) e 5 recente (2013, 1 ano antes da amostragem). Nas áreas, marcamos transectos de 20 m, nos quais coletamos 10 amostras de solo (20 × 20 × 5 cm), cinco com e cinco sem serrapilheira. Composição e abundância do banco de sementes foram estimadas por meio de emergência de plântulas. Áreas de fogo antigo apresentaram maior abundância que áreas de fogo recente. O ano de seca apresentou maiores abundância e riqueza do que o de inundação. A remoção da serrapilheira reduziu a riqueza no ano de inundação. Não houve diferença em riqueza no ano seco. A abundância nas amostras com e sem serrapilheira foram similares. A interação entre fogo e inundação não afetou a abundancia, riqueza e diversidade do banco de sementes.

Abstract Flood and fire can harm plants but they can have survival strategies, such as the seed bank. We aimed to determine the influence of fire and flood on the richness, abundance and diversity of the seed bank. Sampling was carried out in October/2013, year of prolonged drought, and October/2014, year of a heavy flood, in ten areas along the Paraguay River. The areas were selected in satellite images, five with old burn (2010, three years before sampling) and five with recent burn (2013, three months before sampling). In each area, we marked a 20 m long transect with ten 20 × 20 cm quadrats where we collected 5 cm deep topsoil samples, five with and five without litter. Seed bank richness and abundance were determined by seedling emergence. Old burn areas presented greater abundance than recent burn. The drier year presented greater abundance, richness and diversity than flood year. Removal of litter reduced the richness only in the wetter year. There was no difference in richness in the drier year. The removal of the litter did not affect the abundance and diversity. Interaction between fire and flood did not affect richness, abundance and diversity of the seed bank.

ABSTRACT Initiatives directed at managing information on aquatic plants can support different areas of scientific research, educational practices and political decisions for sustainable management and protection of wetlands and natural resources, as well as reveal knowledge gaps regarding aquatic plants and wetlands. Furthermore, such initiatives can contribute directly to consolidating wetland classification systems in Brazil. The objectives of this work are to present and explore the use of a data repository and online platform created specifically for the management of data on aquatic plants in Brazil. The data repository for aquatic plants was developed to store information on species occurrence records in a standardized form considering: systematics, taxonomy, habit, life form, geographic distribution, hydrographic basin, wetland, bibliographic references and herbarium material. A total of 3,903 records referring to the Southeast Region of Brazil were generated for the data repository. This total encompassed 1,036 species distributed among 132 families and 466 genera. Our results illustrate the diversity of information available regarding aquatic plants, circumscribe this group of species and serve as a source of data about them. Similar databases and electronic infrastructures can be developed for other flora in the future.

ABSTRACT The Brazilian Pantanal is an extensive wetland with heterogeneous habitats, primarily due to the river-floodplain system and plants with differential adaptations and reproductive strategies. Factors such as altitude, distance among plant formations, and flood pulse must be considered to better understand its diversity. Aiming to assess the influence of biogeographic patterns in this system, we analyzed the floristic composition of six areas along the Paraguay River, including residual relieves, verifying the pattern of similarity, and effects of distance and altitude. We recorded 356 species in 87 families, mostly perennial (75%), and some annuals (15%) and pluriannuals (5%). Herbaceous plants were the most represented (48%), followed by arboreal (23%), shrubby (15%) and epiphytic (14%) habits, only 12% being endemic to Brazil. The studied areas showed low floristic similarity, but higher resemblance of species between neighboring areas, and no relation with altitude. The upper Paraguay River is diverse, with high spatial variability of species, predominantly perennial. The river-floodplain connectivity may be a determinant factor in species richness and occurrence of endemic species.

O Pantanal brasileiro sofre alterações em sua paisagem que podem provocar impactos sobre os processos hidrológicos, afetando os pulsos de inundação. O objetivo do trabalho é analisar a cobertura vegetal do Pantanal no período de 2000, 2008 e 2015 e realizar a projeção quantitativa para 2030. Portanto, foram analisados dados NDVI do sensor MODIS e a análise da matriz de transição foi calculada pelo DINAMICA EGO. Os métodos utilizados foram todos em softwares livres. Os resultados foram preocupantes, indicando alteração da cobertura vegetal do Pantanal, com o aumento da vegetação rasteira (campos ou pastagens) no período avaliado. A projeção apontou que em 2030 a área do Pantanal será coberta por 78% de vegetação rasteira e apenas 14% de vegetação densa (arbóreo-arbustiva). A abordagem apresentada pode ser uma ferramenta útil para a conservação do Pantanal.

The Brazilian Pantanal wetland undergoes landscape alterations that can cause impacts on hydrological processes, changing the flood pulse. The objective of this work is to analyse the vegetation cover of the Pantanal in the period of 2000, 2008 and 2015, and to make a projection for 2030. Therefore, NDVI from the sensor MODIS was analysed and the transition matrix was calculated by the DINAMICA EGO. The methods adopted were open sources. The results were worrisome, indicating alterations of the vegetation cover of the Pantanal, with an increase of short vegetation (grasslands or pastures) in the evaluated period. The projection pointed out that in 2030 the Brazilian Pantanal wetland area will be covered by 78% of short vegetation and only 14% of dense (arboreal-shrubby) vegetation. The approach can be a useful tool for conservation of the Brazilian Pantanal wetland.

Resumo Este estudo consiste no tratamento florístico-taxonômico de táxons de Mimosoideae ocorrentes no Chaco brasileiro. Os espécimes analisados são oriundos de coletas realizadas de 2004 a 2012, em remanescentes de Chaco localizados no sudoeste de Mato Grosso do Sul, no município de Porto Murtinho. Mimosoideae encontra-se representada por 39 táxons distribuídos em 14 gêneros. Dentre os gêneros mais representativos destacam-se Mimosa (16 táxons) e Prosopis (quatro táxons). Os registros de Chloroleucon chacoense, Mimosa centurionis e Prosopis alba no Chaco brasileiro configuram dados inéditos de ocorrência para a Flora do Brasil. Prosopis nigra tem com este estudo sua ocorrência ampliada. Mimosoideae é a segunda subfamília com elevada riqueza quando comparada às demais de Leguminosae estudadas no Chaco brasileiro. O estudo inclui descrições morfológicas, chaves de identificação, ilustrações e comentários taxonômicos.

Abstract This research consists of the taxonomic-floristic treatment of taxa of Mimosoideae occurring in the Brazilian Chaco. The specimens analyzed were collected from 2004 to 2012 in Chaco remnants located in southwestern Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Mimosoideae is represented by 39 taxa belonging to 14 genera; among the most representative, Mimosa (16 taxa) and Prosopis (4 taxa) are highlighted. Chloroleucon chacoense, Mimosa centurionis and Prosopis alba are new records for the Brazilian Flora. Prosopis nigra has its occurrence expanded. Mimosoideae is the second subfamily in species richness compared with other subfamilies of Leguminosae studied in the Brazilian Chaco. This work includes morphological descriptions, identification keys, illustrations and taxonomic comments.

ABSTRACT Evaluation of the effects of flooding on seedling recruitment from seed banks helps in understanding vegetation regeneration in floodplains. We studied the effects of simulated flooding on richness and abundance of, and temporal variation in, seedling recruitment from the soil seed bank of a floodable savanna of the Pantanal wetland, under two conditions: 1) Post-flood = inundated for 30 days followed by irrigation; 2) Non-flooded = only irrigated. We recorded emerged seedlings biweekly for 120 days and found a total of 124 species for the two treatments, the most abundant species were annual herbs (e.g., Richardia grandiflora and Euploca procumbens) and annual graminoids (e.g., Digitaria ciliaris and Cyperus haspan). Flooding positively influenced seedling richness and abundance, while seedling emergence from the non-flooded soil was slower, but continued during all periods. The different temporal patterns between treatments showed that flooding increases the abundance of emerged seedlings and acts as a trigger for explosive recruitment shortly after water depletion.

Resumo Tipos florais de plantas como potenciais indicadores da ocorrência de polinização vs. pilhagem. A visitação floral não é sinônimo de polinização, vários animais utilizam recursos florais sem transferir pólen. Essas visitas podem ser consideradas pilhagem. Polinizadores e pilhadores podem afetar a diversificação morfológica, taxonômica e reprodutiva das espécies de plantas, e nós investigamos se os atributos florais e de floração das espécies de plantas amostradas em vegetação de vereda nos dariam evidência de visitas de polinização (transporte de pólen) ou de pilhagem (roubo de néctar/pólen). Esperamos que as flores não especializadas tenham uma maior incidência de pilhagem, enquanto flores especializadas, por exemplo com tamanho grande e médio e corolas longas, com néctar menos acessível, tenderiam a ser polinizadas e menos pilhadas. Quatro atributos foram associados principalmente com visitas ilegítimas, tamanho da flor (pequeno), quantidade de flores por planta (muitas flores), tempo de floração (<10 meses) e tipo floral (inconspícuo). Os grupos mais ricos e mais abundantes de visitantes, incluindo abelhas, moscas e vespas, atuaram principalmente como potenciais polinizadores, enquanto baratas, borboletas, besouros, formigas e hemípteros atuaram como pilhadores. No entanto, mais estudos são necessários para confirmar se esse padrão se repete em outras comunidades maiores e mais diversificadas, confirmando assim a eventual preferência dos pilhadores.

Abstract Floral visitation does not necessarily mean pollination, as several animals utilize floral resources without transferring pollen. Since pollinators and thieves can affect the reproduction, morphology and diversification of flowering plants, we here investigated if attributes of flowers and flowering of plant species collected in the central Brazilian vereda would predict the pollination (pollen seeking) or theft (pollen/nectar theft) during the visits. It was hypothesized that non specialized flowers would have a higher incidence of thievery, where as specialization, for example, the presence of large and medium flowers with long corolla, making it difficult to access nectar, would lead to increased pollination. As a result, four attributes were mainly associated with illegitimate visits, and in order of importance, they are size (small), quantity of flowers per plant (large), flowering time (< 10 months) and floral type (inconspicuous). The richest and most abundant visitor groups, including bees, flies and wasps, acted mainly as potential pollinators, while cockroaches, butterflies, beetles, ants and hemipterans acted as thieves. However, further studies are required to confirm that this pattern is repeated in other larger and more diverse communities, thus confirming the possible preference for floral thieves.

Vegetação ripária de Floresta Atlântica de interior no sudoeste do Brasil. A flora da Mata Atlântica de Mato Grosso do Sul, sudoeste do Brasil, tem sido muito pouco estudada, embora represente a porção mais oeste e continental deste domínio. Descrevemos aqui a flora de matas ciliares na região de Mata Atlântica de Mato Grosso do Sul, e a distribuição das espécies em três habitas classificados segundo a ocorrência de inundação como: floresta não inundável, floresta sazonalmente inundável, e floresta inundada. O inventário consistiu de um ano de amostragens mensais de todos os indivíduos reprodutivos em 1,12 ha de parcelas em 24 ha. Encontramos 1967 indivíduos de 253 espécies e 72 famílias. As famílias mais representativas foram Asteraceae (27), Fabaceae (19), Myrtaceae (17), Cyperaceae (12), Rubiaceae, Solanaceae e Orchidaceae (10 espécies cada). As espécies reprodutivas mais abundantes foram Guarea macrophylla (169), Miconia chamissois (85) e Conyza bonariensis (80). Onze espécies de seis famílias foram registradas pela primeira vez em Mato Grosso do Sul, duas delas endêmicas da Mata Atlântica - Passiflora jilekii e Capanema micromera. Encontramos 119 espécies apenas na floresta não inundável, 19 na floresta sazonalmente inundável, e 31 na floresta inundada. Guarea macrophylla foi a espécie mais comum na floresta inundada e Gochnatia polymorpha, na floresta não inundável. A flora das matas ciliares estudadas assemelha-se è da Mata Atlântica e apresenta espécies ripárias de ampla distribuição; a variação do regime de inundação entre os habitats favorece sua riqueza. Nossos registros adicionam novas ocorrências para Mato Grosso do Sul e novos limites de distribuição para algumas espécies, fatos que trazem preocupação quanto è conservação da biodiversidade local.

The flora of the Atlantic Rainforest of Mato Grosso do Sul, southwestern Brazil, has not been inventoried in spite of being the westernmost inland region of this domain. We present an inventory of the riparian flora of inland Atlantic Forest in Mato Grosso do Sul. We describe the species distribution along three habitats with contrasting flood conditions: non-flooded, seasonally flooded, and swampy forests. The inventory consisted of sampling every reproductive individual, during 12 months on 1.12 ha of plots inside a 24 ha study area. We recorded 1967 individuals of 253 species and 72 families. The most representative families in number of species were Asteraceae (27), Fabaceae (19), Myrtaceae (17), Cyperaceae (12), Rubiaceae, Solanaceae and Orchidaceae (10 each). The most abundant reproductive species were Guarea macrophylla (169 individuals), Miconia chamissois (85) and Conyza bonariensis (80). Eleven species of six families were recorded for the first time in Mato Grosso do Sul, two of them endemic to the Atlantic Forest - Passiflora jilekii and Capanema micromera. We found 119 species exclusively in non-flooded habitat, 19 in seasonally flooded habitat, and 31 in swampy forest. Guarea macrophylla was the most frequent species in swampy forest, and Gochnatia polymorpha in non-flooded. The riparian forest flora at the study site resembles the Atlantic Forest and includes wide distribution riparian species; the variation of flood conditions among habitats favors its richness. Our records add new occurrences for Mato Grosso do Sul and new distribution ranges for some plant species, what arises concern upon the local biodiversity conservation.