Storage lipids and proteins of Euterpe edulis seeds

Comparative studies on fatty acid and protein composition of the endosperm and embryo of palmito (Euterpe edulis Martius) were conducted using gas-liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. On a dry weight basis, the embryo contained extremely lower amounts of lipids and proteins than did the endosperm, which was associated with the scarce lipid and protein bodies previously reported in axis and cotyledon. The fatty acid composition also exhibited differences between both tissues: (I) the fatty acid diversity was greater in embryo than in endosperm; (II) embryo and endosperm contained predominantly linoleic, palmitic, oleic and stearic acids even though the relative values were different for each tissue. As compared to other palm species, the higher fatty acid unsaturation in Euterpe edulis seed could be involved in the previously reported short longevity and recalcitrant behavior during storage. Proteins of both tissues were heterogeneous in molecular mass. Some proteins were tissue-specific, but other were common, among them a highly glycosylated protein which migrated at about 55 kDa. We hypothesize that the latter, also reported in all previously studied palm species, is one of the proteins characterizing the Arecaceae family.

Effects of desiccation on Euterpe edulis Martius seeds

Information on desiccation sensitivity of Euterpe edulis seeds under two drying rates is presented. The sensitivity was studied during the course of germination and normal germination. The water content was evaluated for both seeds and embryos. Results showed the following: (a) For both drying treatments and for both germination and normal germination, desiccation sensitivity values were higher for measurements based on the water content of the embryo than for those of the seed. (b) For both drying treatments, desiccation sensitivity were higher for normal germination than for germination based on both the embryo and seed water contents. (c) Under the slow drying treatment and for measurements based on the seed water content, critical water content was visible for normal germination but not for germination; (d) Critical water contents for germination and normal germination were more clearly established in the fast drying treatment than they were in the slow drying method based on both the embryo and seed water contents. Critical water contents were not associated with changes in electrolyte leakage, which suggests that conductivity is not a good indicator of physiological seed quality. From the beginning of both drying treatments, changes in nuclei and vacuoles were observed, but, when seed water content was reduced to below critical values, the cells became severely plasmolyzed, the vacuoles highly distorted, and the nuclei formed an almost homogeneous mass with the chromatin and the nucleoplasm, which suggests irreversible DNA damages.

Effect of carbon source on morphology and histodifferentiation of Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cultures

No presente trabalho foram investigadas as condições para a indução, estabilização e proliferação de culturas embriogênicas de A. angustifolia. Foram também descritos os padrões de morfogênese e histodiferenciação de culturas embriogênicas e embriões somáticos desta espécie em resposta a diferentes fontes e concentrações de carboidratos. Embriões zigóticos no estágio pré-cotiledonar, inoculados em meio de cultura BM, suplementados com 5 µM de 2,4-D, 2 µM de BAP e Kin e 3% de maltose ou sacarose resultaram em uma taxa de indução de 66,7%. A fonte de carbono afetou a taxa de indução, a multiplicação e a morfologia das culturas. Culturas embriogênicas mantidas em meio de cultura BM suplementado com maltose apresentaram morfologia bipolar. Embriões somáticos globulares foram obtidos em meio de cultura BM suplementado com PEG e maltose. Os resultados obtidos permitirão avançar na direção de um protocolo regenerativo in vitro visando à conservação e o melhoramento genético desta espécie.

Evaluación inmunológica y parámetros de nutrición en niños alérgicos a leche de vaca, alimentados con fórmulas alternativas / Nutritional and inmunological evaluation of cow´s milk allergic children feed with alternetive formulas

Antecedentes: Las fórmulas lácteas alternativas de infantes alérgicos a leche de vaca (LV) pueden modificar los parámetros de crecimiento e inmunológicos. Objetivos: Determinar las ventajas o desventajas que las leches y fórmulas lácteos podrían presentar sobre la nutrición y el desarrollo del sistema inmune. Diseño: Se estudiaron 52 infantes de 1 a 4 años de edad. De ellos, 44 eran alérgicos a LV, tenían peso por debajo del percentillo 25 y eran alimentados de la siguiente manera: 9 con leche materna (LM), 11 con fórmula de soja (So), 8 con fórmulas de bajo contenido de lactosa (SL), 8 con fórmulas de caseína(Cas), 8 con leche de yegua (LY). Los otros ocho niños, no alérgicos a LV, conformaron el grupo control. La edad ósea se determinó por radiografías de centros de osificación de carpo y dedos. Se evaluaron calcemia y hematocrito por métodos colorimétricos. Se determinaron Acs-LV por IDR y HAP. Los niveles de IgE total, IgE-LV, IgE-LY y de sCD23 se cuantificaron por EIA. Sed identificaron fracciones proteicas de LV, So y LY por SDS-PAGE. La presencia de proteínas fitina y fitoferritina en semillas de soja se investigó por microspcopia electrónica de transmisión (MET). Resultados: El promedio en meses de retardo de edad ósea fue: 3,72±5,21 en el grupo de LM; 18±9,68 en el grupo de So y 8,72±2,26 en el grupo de LY. Se registraron diferencias entre LM y So, así como entre So y LV (p < 0,01). Los niveles de hematocrito fueron más elevados en los niños de los grupos LM, LY y controles. Los niveles de calcemia fueron mas reducidos en el grupo So. Los niños alimentados con LY tenían niveles normales de calcemia. Se hallaron Acs-LV por IDR y/o por HAP. IgE total e IgE-LV se detectaron poco elevadas en los grupos LM y LY. sCD23 guardó correlación positiva con los niveles de IgE (r=+0,79). En LY se identificaron proteínas ß-lactoglobulina y caseína; estas bandas desaparecieron después de 20 minutos de ebullición. La presencia IgE-LV se determinó en el 80 por ciento, mientras que IgE-LY en el 16 por ciento de los pacientes. En cortes de semillas de So se observaron cuerpos de fitina y cristales de fitoferritina por MET. Conclusiones: Los infantes alérgicos a leche de vaca alimentados principalmente con So podrían tener mayor retraso de parámetros de crecimiento. La leche de yegua sería un alimento adecuado elegible para reemplazar y completar la dieta infantil con ventajas en el desarrollo pondoestatural e inmunológico