Conidial germination in Scedosporium apiospermum, S. aurantiacum, S. minutisporum and Lomentospora prolificans: influence of growth conditions and antifungal susceptibility profiles

In the present study, we have investigated some growth conditions capable of inducing the conidial germination in Scedosporium apiospermum, S. aurantiacum, S. minutisporum and Lomentospora prolificans. Germination in Sabouraud medium (pH 7.0, 37ºC, 5% CO2) showed to be a typically time-dependent event, reaching ~75% in S. minutisporum and > 90% in S. apiospermum, S. aurantiacum and L. prolificans after 4 h. Similar germination rate was observed when conidia were incubated under different media and pHs. Contrarily, temperature and CO2 tension modulated the germination. The isotropic conidial growth (swelling) and germ tube-like projection were evidenced by microscopy and cytometry. Morphometric parameters augmented in a time-dependent fashion, evidencing changes in size and granularity of fungal cells compared with dormant 0 h conidia. In parallel, a clear increase in the mitochondrial activity was measured during the transformation of conidia-into-germinated conidia. Susceptibility profiles to itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin varied regarding each morphotype and each fungal species. Overall, the minimal inhibitory concentrations for hyphae were higher than conidia and germinated conidia, except for caspofungin. Collectively, our study add new data about the conidia-into-hyphae transformation in Scedosporium and Lomentospora species, which is a relevant biological process of these molds directly connected to their antifungal resistance and pathogenicity mechanisms.

Estabelecimento e crescimento in vitro de plantas de grápia / In vitro establishment and growth of apuleia seedlings

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o estabelecimento e crescimento in vitro de plantas de grápia (Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J. F. Macbr.) em diferentes condições de cultivo. Sementes de grápia tratadas com ácido sulfúrico (H2SO4) por 20min foram imersas em etanol a 70% por 30s e em hipoclorito de sódio (0; 2,5 ou 5,0% de cloro ativo) por 5, 10 ou 15min. Aos 30 dias de cultivo, as sementes foram avaliadas quanto às porcentagens de desinfestação e germinação. As plantas assépticas foram transferidas para os meios de cultura WPM, MS e ½MS e avaliadas quanto ao comprimento (cm) da parte aérea e total das raízes e ao número de segmentos nodais e folhas aos 15 dias. Sementes de grápia também foram semeadas em meio de cultura WPM, suplementado com 4, 5 ou 6g L-1 de agar combinado com 10, 20 ou 30g L-1 de sacarose, e mantidos sob duas condições de luminosidade: luz durante todo o período de estabelecimento e escuro durante sete dias após a semeadura. Foram avaliados a porcentagem de germinação das sementes, o comprimento (cm) da parte aérea e total das raízes e o número de segmentos nodais e folhas aos 15 dias. Concluiu-se que os tratamentos com ácido sulfúrico e etanol foram suficientes para o estabelecimento in vitro de plantas assépticas de grápia. Plantas assépticas podem ser cultivadas em meio de cultura WPM ou MS, suplementados com 10g L-1 de sacarose e 4g L-1 de agar.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro establishment and growth of apuleia (Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J. F. Macbr.) seedlings under different culture conditions. Apuleia seeds were treated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 20min and disinfected by the immersion in 70% of ethanol for 30s and sodium hypochlorite with 0, 2.5 and 5.0% of active chlorine for 5, 10 and 15min. The percentage of disinfection and germination were evaluated at 30 days. Aseptic seedlings were transferred to WPM, MS and ½ MS culture medium and evaluated for shoot and root (cm) growth and number of nodal segments and leaves at 15 days. Apuleia seeds were also sown in WPM medium supplemented with 4, 5 or 6g L-1 of agar combined with 10, 20 or 30g L-1 of sucrose. The cultures were kept under two luminescence conditions: light throughout the establishment period and dark during the first seven days. The percentage of germination, shoot and root (cm) growth and number of nodal segments and leaves were evaluated at 15 days. In conclusion, the sulfuric acid and ethanol treatments were enough for the in vitro production of apuleia aseptic seedlings. The aseptic seedlings can grow in both WPM and MS medium, supplemented with 10g L-1 of sucrose and 4g L-1 of agar.

Stem anatomical characteristics of the climbing palm Desmoncus orthacanthos (Arecaceae) under two natural growth conditions in a tropical forest

Desmoncus orthacanthos is a Neotropical climbing palm that resembles rattan and therefore has similar potential applications. The genus Desmoncus (subfamily Arecoideae, subtribe Bactridinae) is distributed throughout the Americas, from veracruz, Mexico, to Brazil and Bolivia. The anatomical characteristics of its support tissue have not been thoroughly studied, although some observations from Central American artisans suggest that the stems collected from undisturbed sites possess better characteristics; these include a good capacity to withstand bending without breaking (i.e. higher fracture strength than plants from disturbed sites). Stem samples were collected from individuals from disturbed and undisturbed sites, at three points along the length of the stem (basal, medium and apical). Collections were made of one ramet from five individuals (n=5) at both sites. Each ramet was divided into three sections: basal, from soil surface to a height of 0.5 m; medium, from a height of 0.5 to 5.0 m; and apical, from a height 5.0 to 10.0 m. An anatomical analysis including vascular bundles, parenchyma elements and fibers was performed in the radial direction and also along the longitudinal direction of the stems. The amount of vascular bundles was greater for samples from undisturbed site stems; the amount of parenchyma cells differ between samples from both sites and the amount of fibers was greater for samples from disturbed site stems. The anatomical structural dimensions were smaller for samples from the undisturbed site stems. These findings partially confirm the artisans’ belief and supports the conclusion that microclimatic conditions affect plant anatomical structure. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (2): 937-949. Epub 2008 June 30.

Desmoncus orthacanthos es una palmera trepadora neotropical que puede, potencialmente, utilizarse en usos similares a los del ratán. El género Desmoncus (subfamilia Arecoideae, subtribu Bactridinae) se distribuye en América desde Veracruz, Mexico, hasta Brasil y Bolivia. Esta especie posee características anatómicas que no han sido ampliamente estudiadas pero observaciones hechas por artesanos centroamericanos sugieren que los tallos de sitios no perturbados por actividades humanas presentan mayor resistencia al doblado y menos tallos fracturados en el manejo. Las muestras de tallos fueron recolectadas de individuos que crecen en un sitio conservado y uno perturbado por actividades humanas, a tres alturas de la longitud del tallo (basal, media y apical). Se recolectó una rama de cada uno de cinco individuos (n=5) en ambos sitios. Cada rama fue dividida en tres secciones: basal, desde el nivel del suelo hasta los 0.5 m; medio, desde 0.5 a 5.0 m; y apical, desde 5.0 a 10.0 m. Se midió la cantidad por unidad de área y las dimensiones o tamaño (i.e. diámetro radial y diámetro perpendicular) de paquetes vasculares, células de parénquima y fibras. La cantidad de paquetes vasculares fue mayor en los tallos del sitio conservado, la cantidad de células de parénquima fue diferente entre sitios y la cantidad de fibras fue mayor en los tallos del sitio perturbado por actividades humanas. Estas características muestran cierta relación con los resultados mecánicos en otro estudio de los autores, los cuales confirman parcialmente las observaciones de los artesanos, lo que puede estar estrechamente relacionado con las características microclimáticas de los sitios de crecimiento.