Effect of modifying concentrations of calcium and magnesium on in vitro development of banana CV. Prata-Anã (Genomic group AAB) / Efeito da modificação das concentrações de cálcio e magnésio no desenvolvimento in vitro de bananeira CV. Prata-Anã (Grupo genômico AAB)

Research suggests that the development of micropropagated banana plants can be improved by altering nutrient concentrations in the culture medium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro development of banana plants exposed to varying concentrations of calcium and magnesium sulfate. The shoot tips of banana cv. Prata- Anã were inoculated in flasks (volume, 250 cm3) containing 50 mL of MS culture medium. The culture medium contained varying concentrations of CaCl2 (0, 220, 440, 880 mg L-1) and MgSO4 (0, 185, 370, 740 mg L-1. A completely randomized experimental design was employed, based on a 4 × 4 factorial scheme (four levels of CaCl2 concentration, and four of MgSO4). The MS culture medium containing 880 mg L-1 of CaCl2 but no MgSO4 showed the highest increment in the number of leaves (6.0). The highest number of roots was observed in the absence of CaCl2 and MgSO4 in the medium. Additionally, the shoot length was longer (5.05 cm) when the MS medium was supplemented with 185 mg L-1 of MgSO4. The optimum in vitro development of banana cv. Prata-Anã was obtained when the MS medium was supplemented with 880 mg L-1 of CaCl2 and 370 mg L-1 of MgSO4.

Pesquisas sugerem que o desenvolvimento de plantas de bananeira podem ser melhoradas pela alteração das concentrações no meio de cultura. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desenvolvimento in vitro de bananeira submetida a diferentes concentrações de cloreto de cálcio e sulfato de magnésio. Ápices caulinares de bananeira cv. Prata-Anã foram inoculados em frascos (volume, 250 cm3) contendo 50 mL de meio de cultura MS. O meio de cultura contendo diferentes concentrações de CaCl2 (0, 220, 440 e 880 mg L-1) e MgSO4 (0, 185, 370, 740 mg L-1). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 × 4 (quatro concentrações de CaCl2 e quatro de MgSO4). O meio MS contendo 880 mg L-1 de CaCl2 na ausência de MgSO4 proporcionou maior incremento no número de folhas (6,0). Maior número de raiz foi observado na ausência de CaCl2 e MgSO4 no meio. Além disso, maior comprimento de parte aérea (5,05 cm) foi obtido em meio MS suplementado com 185 mg L-1 de MgSO4. O melhor desenvolvimento in vitro de bananeira cv. Prata-Anã foi obtido em meio MS suplementado com 880 mg L-1 de CaCl2 e 370 mg L-1 de MgSO4.

Efficient regeneration and genetic transformation platform applicable to five Musa varieties

Background: Banana (Musa spp.) is an important staple food, economic crop, and nutritional fruit worldwide. Conventional breeding has been seriously hampered by their long generation time, polyploidy, and sterility of most cultivated varieties. Establishment of an efficient regeneration and transformation system for banana is critical to its genetic improvement and functional genomics. Results: In this study, a vigorous and repeatable transformation system for banana using direct organogenesis was developed. The greatest number of shoots per explant for all five Musa varieties was obtained using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 8.9 µM benzylaminopurine and 9.1 µM thidiazuron. One immature male flower could regenerate 380­456, 310­372, 200­240, 130­156, and 100­130 well-developed shoots in only 240­270 d for Gongjiao, Red banana, Rose banana, Baxi, and Xinglongnaijiao, respectively. Longitudinal sections of buds were transformed through particle bombardment combined with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using a promoterless ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene; the highest transformation efficiency was 9.81% in regenerated Gongjiao plantlets in an optimized selection medium. Transgenic plants were confirmed by a histochemical assay of GUS, polymerase chain reaction, and Southern blot. Conclusions: Our robust transformation platform successfully generated hundreds of transgenic plants. Such a platform will facilitate molecular breeding and functional genomics of banana.

Phenylpropanoid enzymes, phenolic polymers and metabolites as chemical defenses to infection of Pratylenchus coffeae in roots of resistant and susceptible bananas (Musa spp.).

Activity differences of the first (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, PAL) and the last (cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD) enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway in the roots of resistant (Yangambi Km5 and Anaikomban) and susceptible (Nendran and Robusta) banana cultivars caused by root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, were investigated. Also, the accumulation of phenolics and deposition of lignin polymers in cell walls in relation to resistance of the banana cultivars to the nematode were analyzed. Compared to the susceptible cultivars, the resistant cultivars had constitutively significantly higher PAL activity and total soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics than in susceptible cultivars. The resistant cultivars responded strongly to the infection of the nematode by induction of several-time higher PAL and CAD enzymes activities, soluble and wall-bound phenolics and enrichment of lignin polymers in cell wall and these biochemical parameters reached maximum at 7th day postinoculation. In addition, profiles of phenolic acid metabolites in roots of Yangambi Km5 and Nendran were analyzed by HPLC to ascertain the underlying biochemical mechanism of bananas resistance to the nematode. Identification and quantification of soluble and cell wall-bound phenolic acids showed six metabolites and only quantitative, no qualitative, differences occurred between the resistant and susceptible cvs. and between constitutive and induced contents. A very prominent increase of p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic acids, which are precursors of monolignols of lignin, in resistant cv. was found. These constitutive and induced biochemical alterations are definitely the chemical defenses of resistant cvs. to the nematode infection.

Deficiências de macronutrientes no estado nutricional de mudas de bananeira tipo prata / Deficiencies of macronutrients on nutritional status of prata type bananas seedlings

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da deficiência dos macronutrientes no crescimento e estado nutricional de mudas de bananeira tipo Prata. Os tratamentos foram dois genótipos Prata-Anã e seu híbrido PA42-44 cultivados em solução nutritiva na presença e ausência dos macronutrientes. Após 100 dias foram avaliados a área foliar, a massa seca das raízes, rizoma e folhas e, os teores de macronutrientes na massa seca de cada parte da planta. Com esses resultados calcularam-se os índices: eficiência de absorção, de transporte e de utilização dos macronutrientes. As deficiências de N para Prata-Anã e Mg para híbrido PA42-44 foram as que mais limitaram o crescimento dos genótipos. O acúmulo de nutrientes correspondeu à seguinte ordem N > K > Ca > P > Mg > S para Prata-Anã e N > K > Ca > P > S > Mg para o híbrido PA42-44, o que reflete as exigências da planta. O híbrido PA42-44 apresentou maior eficiência de absorção de todos macronutrientes, em solução completa. Os tratamentos não diferiram quanto a eficiência de transporte dos macronutrientes, exceto na omissão de Mg, onde a maior eficiência ocorreu no híbrido PA 42-44. A omissão de P, K, Ca, Mg e S na nutrição dos dois genótipos de banana resulta em maior eficiência de utilização, comparado com as plantas nutridas adequadamente.

This work objective to evaluate the effect of macronutrient deficiencies no growth and nutritional status of banana seedlings type Prata. The treatments were two genotypes Prata-Anã and its hybrid PA42-44 grown in nutrient solution in the presence and absence of macronutrients. Leaf area, dry matter of roots, rhizome and leaves, and the macronutrient dry mass of each plant were evaluated after 100 days. With these results was calculated the indices: absorption, transport and utilization efficiency of macronutrientes. The deficiencies of N for Prata-Anã and Mg for PA42- 44 hybrid were most limited the growth of genotypes. The nutrient accumulation corresponded to the following order N > K > Ca > P > Mg > S for the Prata-Anã and N > K > Ca > P > S > Mg for the PA42-44 hybrid, which reflect the plant requirements. The PA 42-44 hybrid showed higher absorption efficiency of all macronutrients, in complete solution. The treatments no differ regarding to the macronutrients transport efficiency, except the omission of Mg, where higher efficiency occurred in hybrid PA 42-44. The P, K, Ca, Mg and S omission in the nutrition of two banana genotypes results in increased utilization efficiency, compared with plants growing adequately.

Perfis de compostos voláteis de banana submetidos a diferentes tratamentos pós-colheita e suas correlações com a expressão diferencial dos receptores de etileno / Volatile compounds profile of bananas submitted to different post-harvest treatments and its correlations to differential expression of ethylene receptors

O aroma de frutos é um atributo fortemente associado à qualidade, e quaisquer alterações ambientais ou tratamentos pós-colheita podem alterar a sua composição. Acredita-se que a biossíntese de voláteis seja um dos processos regulados pelo etileno. Estudos indicam que a expressão diferencial dos elementos que compõem os receptores de etileno desempenha importante papel na sinalização dos processos ligados ao amadurecimento, entre eles a formação do aroma. Os objetivos deste trabalho são: caracterizar as alterações decorrentes de tratamentos pós-colheita no aroma de banana durante o amadurecimento, e correlacionar com as variações nos padrões de expressão gênica diferencial dos receptores de etileno. Bananas pré-climatéricas variedade Nanicão foram divididas em quatro grupos: controle (não tratado), etileno (100ppm/12h), 1-MCP (100ppb/12h), armazenados a 20°C, e grupo frio (armazenado por 15 dias a 13°C). Foram analisados diariamente a produção de etileno e de CO2 por CG. Foram analisadas a cor da casca, açúcares solúveis e amido. Os compostos voláteis foram isolados por microextração em fase sólida (SPME) em frutos inteiros e polpas e analisados em CG-MS. Para confirmar os resultados e verificar se as alterações encontradas se repetem em outras variedades de bananas, o estudo foi repetido no Horticultural Sciences Department, na Universidade da Florida (EUA), em bananas var. 'Grand Naine'. Em paralelo, realizou-se a quantificação relativa da expressão dos receptores de etileno (ETR1, ERS1, ERS2 e ERS3) por PCR em tempo real. Com relação ao perfil de voláteis, os resultados indicam que os frutos não se diferenciam no período pré-climatérico. Porém, o perfil de voláteis do grupo controle foi significativamente diferente do grupo frio, tanto na polpa quanto no fruto inteiro no período climatérico. Esse efeito foi mais pronunciado na Nanicão do que na 'Grand Naine'. Compostos típicos como o acetato de isoamila foram drasticamente reduzidos nos frutos submetidos ao frio, e não foram encontrados na Nanicão. Não houve diferenças significativas com relação ao perfil de aromas entre o grupo controle e o grupo etileno. Com relação aos frutos tratados com 1-MCP observou-se o atraso na formação de alguns compostos sem alterar, contudo, o perfil final de voláteis. Com relação ao padrão de transcrição dos receptores de etileno, o frio reduziu o acúmulo dos transcritos do ETR1, ERS2 e ERS3 em todos os pontos. ERS1 parece estar correlacionado com a síntese de esteres. Os resultados sugerem que o mecanismo pelo qual o etileno regula o metabolismo de biossíntese de aromas parece contar com a participação relevante de determinados tipos de receptores. A correlação temporal encontrada entre as alterações no perfil de transcritos de três destes e os efeitos sobre a produção de compostos voláteis reforçam esta hipótese

Fruit aroma is an attribute strongly associated to quality, and any change in the environment or post-harvest treatment could affect its composition. Volatile biosynthesis is a process that is believed to be regulated by ethylene. Studies demonstrate that differential expression of ethylene receptors have an important role in fruit ripening processes, including aroma synthesis. The aims of this study are: evaluate modifications due to post-harvest treatment on the aroma of banana fruit during ripening, and correlate to variations on differential expression of ethylene receptors. Pre climacteric bananas of 'Nanicão' variety were divides in four groups: control (without treatment), ethylene (100ppm/12h), 1-MCP (100ppb/12h), stored at 20°C, and cold storage group (stored for 15 days at 13°C). Daily measurements were conducted of ethylene production and respiration using GC. Peel color, soluble sugars and starch were analyzed. Volatile compounds were isolated by solid phase microextraction (SPME) in whole fruits and pulp and analyzed by GCMS. To confirm the results ant to verify if the findings repeat in another banana variety, this study was repeated at Horticultural Sciences Department, at University of Florida (EUA), under supervision of Dr. Jeffrey K. Brecht, in bananas Cavendish cv. 'Grand Naine'. Also, relative quantification of the expression of ethylene receptors (ETR1, ERS1, ERS2 and ERS3) was analyzed using real time PCR. Regarding the volatile profile, groups did not differentiated in pre-climacteric period. But the volatile profile of control group significantly differentiates from cold storage group, in both pulp and whole fruit, in post climacteric period. This effect was more pronounced in bananas 'Nanicão' than 'Grand Naine'. Typical banana aroma compounds like isoamyl acetate were drastically reduced in fruits under cold storage, and were not found in 'Nanicão'. There were not any significant differences between control group and ethylene treated. Regarding 1-MCP treated fruits, there was a delay on the synthesis of some compounds without affecting the final volatile profile. Regarding the transcription pattern of ethylene receptors, cold storage reduced mRNA of ETR1, ERS2 and ERS3 in all samples. ERS1 receptor seems to be correlated to ester synthesis. These results suggest that the mechanism whereby the ethylene regulates the biosynthesis of aroma, seems to count with relevant participation of some receptors. The temporal correlation found in the differential expression of three receptors and the effect on volatile compounds synthesis reinforces this hypothesis

Efficiency of boron application in an Oxisol cultivated with banana in the Central Amazon

In the Amazon region, there is no information on the fertilization of banana plants with boron (B). Besides this, the extractant (hot water) currently used to test B concentrations has many limitations. The aim of this work was to study the effect of B on the fruit yield and quality of banana plants of the Cavendish (AAA) sub-group, grown in dystrophic Yellow Latosol (Oxisol or Xanthic Ferralsol), in the Amazonas State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized split plot in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, composed of four B rates (0, 4, 8 and 12 kg ha-1) and two harvest cycles (sub-treatments), with four replicates. The B availability in the soil was determined by three extractants: Mehlich 3, hot water and KCl 1.0 mol L-1. The application of B influences the fruit yield, pulp/peel ratio, pulp resistance and B content in the leaves and fruits. The KCl 1.0 mol L-1 extractant was similar to the hot water in the evaluation of available B. To obtain maximum yield, it is necessary to apply 4.1 and 6.1 kg ha-1 of B in the first and second cycles, respectively.

Na Amazônia não existem informações sobre adubação com boro (B) na bananeira, além disso, o extrator água quente, que é atualmente o mais utilizado, apresenta inúmeras limitações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito do B sobre a produção e qualidade dos frutos da bananeira do subgrupo Cavendish (AAA), cultivada em Latossolo Amarelo distrófico, no Estado do Amazonas, Brasil. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado em parcela subdividida em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, constituído por quatro doses de B (0, 4, 8 e 12 kg ha-1) e dois ciclos de colheita - sub-parcelas (primeiro e segundo ciclo), com quatro repetições. A disponibilidade de B no solo foi determinada pelos extratores Mehlich 3, água quente e KCl 1,0 mol L-1. A aplicação de B influenciou a produção, relação polpa e casca, resistência da polpa e o teor de B nas folhas e nos frutos. O extrator KCl 1,0 mol L-1 foi semelhante ao água quente na avaliação do B disponível. Para obtenção do máximo potencial de produção é necessário aplicar 4,1 e 6,1 kg ha-1 de B no primeiro e no segundo ciclo, respectivamente.

Development of the banana plants 'Prata Anã' and 'FHIA-01' under the effect of paclobutrazol applied on the soil

Under some cultivation conditions, excessive growth of the pseudostem of banana plants can be considered a limiting factor, and thus, the use of growth regulators can constitute a valid alternative. This work aimed to evaluate the action of paclobutrazol on the growth of the pseudostem of banana plants and other characteristics of their development. An experiment was installed with five paclobutrazol doses (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; and 2.0 g of a.i. plant-1) combined with two banana plant cultivars ('Prata Anã' and 'FHIA-01'). Paclobutrazol did not affect the number of days from planting to flowering, total leaf area and leaf emission rate. However, it increased leaf permanence on the plants and sucker number, reduced the foliar area of the leaves emitted after its application and provided an average reduction in pseudostem height of 26 percent.

Em algumas condições de cultivo o crescimento excessivo do pseudocaule de bananeiras pode ser considerado um fator limitante, assim a utilização de reguladores de crescimento pode constituir uma alternativa. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a ação do paclobutrazol sobre o crescimento do pseudocaule de bananeiras e outras características do seu desenvolvimento. Para isso foi instalado um experimento com cinco doses do paclobutrazol (0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; e 2,0 g de i.a.planta-1) combinadas com dois cultivares de bananeira ('Prata Anã' e 'FHIA-01'). O paclobutrazol não afetou o número dedias do plantio ao florescimento, a área foliar total e a taxade emissão de folhas. Contudo, aumentou a permanência das folhas nas plantas e o número de perfilhos, reduziu a área foliar das folhas emitidas após a sua aplicação e proporcionou uma redução média de 26 por cento na altura do pseudocaule.

[ study of some chemical changes in banana fruit during ripening]

This study was conducted in the years 2005 and 2006. The study aims to investigate some chemical changes which occur in banana fruit during ripening in two different ripening 1-The artificial ripening method in a cold storage room with temperature 2 1 +/- 1°C, after dipping the fruits in Ethrel solution [1000ppm] for 5 minutes. 2-The traditional method, in which the fruits are put in plastic boxes and enrolled with journals. Then these bananas are kept in normal room temperature about 36°C and 30°C for the 2005 and 2006 experiments, respectively. In addition, the study also includes investigation of the changes which occur during different ripening periods[3,6 and 9 days]. From the results of this study, we can see that the difference between the two ripening methods in total sugars[TS], reducing sugars[RS], sucrose, and total soluble solids[TSS] were not significant in 2005 and 2006, the six day ripening period showed the highest significant increasing rates for [TS], [RS], sucrose and [TSS] in both years compared to the other ripening period whereas the artificial ripening method showed significant decrease in chlorophyll content in comparison with the normal room ripening method in both years

Aspectos ecológicos da população de Cosmopolites sordidus, (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em São Miguel do Iguaçu, PR / Ecological aspects of a Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) population in São Miguel do Iguaçu, PR.

Estudou-se a dinâmica populacional de Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) em cultivo de banana (cultivar Nanicão), em São Miguel do Iguaçu, PR, através de iscas do tipo telha, entre junho/2003 a maio/2004. Atribuiu-se conceito ao estado de conservação da isca, visando observar sua durabilidade e atratividade. Registraram-se adultos infectados por fungos entomopatogênicos, sendo também encontrados predadores nas iscas. Realizou-se um bioensaio com isolados de Beauveria bassiana da área experimental e de Centros de Pesquisa do Brasil, para avaliar a patogenicidade em C. sordidus. Verificou-se que os picos populacionais de adultos de C. sordidus ocorreram em junho e julho, período de temperaturas amenas e baixas precipitações, enquanto que as larvas foram mais abundantes em dezembro. Os insetos predadores encontrados na área pertenciam às ordens: Coleoptera (Carabidae), Dermaptera (Forficulidae), Hemiptera (Reduviidae), Hymenoptera (Formicidae) e aranhas das famílias Ctebidae, Clubionidae e Lycosidae, com pico populacional dois meses após o pico da população da praga. O número de adultos de C. sordidus infectados por B. bassiana foi baixo, com média anual de 0,44. Em laboratório, os isolados de B. bassiana mostraram-se patogênicos aos insetos.

The population dynamics of Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) was studied in banana crops (cultivarNanicão) at São Miguel do Iguaçu, PR, using roof-tile-like baits, between June/2003 and May/2004.Adults infected by entomopathogenic fungi were recorded, and predators were also found on the baits.A comparative bioassay was carried out between the Beauveria bassiana isolate obtained from theexperiment area and from other regions in Brazil against C. sordidus adults.The population peaks of C.sordidus adults occurred in June and July, a period with mild temperatures and low precipitation. Thepopulation of C. sordidus larvae, however, was concentrated in December. The insect predators found inthe area were insects of the following orders: Coleoptera (Carabidae), Dermaptera (Forficulidae), Hemiptera(Reduviidae), Hymenoptera (Formicidae), and spiders of the families Ctenidae, Clubionidae, and Lycosidae,with a population peak two months after the pest population peak.A low number of C. sordidus adultsinfected by B. bassiana was found, with an annual mean of 0.44%. In the laboratory, the B. bassianaisolates were pathogenic to the insects

Características físicas y nutricionales de extrudidos de plátano verde (Musa spp), ocumo chino (Colocasia esculenta) y maíz (Zea mays L) / Physical and nutritional characteristics of green plantain (Musa spp), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and corn (Zea mays L) extrudates

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar las propiedades físicas y nutricionales de las harinas extrudidas de plátano verde, ocumo chino o taro y sus mezclas con maíz, para diversificar la producción y el uso potencial en la agroindustria. El plan de investigación se realizó con un extrusor de laboratorio, tipo monotornillo a una temperatura de alimentación 75 ºC, temperatura del barril y de la matriz 180 ºC, velocidad del tornillo 120 rpm y 16 por ciento en el contenido de humedad de las harinas. Bajo estas condiciones, se obtuvo a partir de la harina de plátano verde un extrudido de alta densidad y bajo índice de expansión, mientras que con las mezclas por separado de la harina de ocumo chino y de plátano verde con un 80 por ciento de la harina de maíz blanco, resultaron extrudidos con baja densidad y alto índice de expansión, encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p< 0,05) en las medidas del color (“L”). Con relación a la composición nutricional, se determino que todos los extrudidos presentaron un alto contenido de almidón resistente (22 por ciento) y variaciones en el contenido de fibra dietética en el intervalo de 8,4 por ciento a 2,88 por ciento. En conclusión los extrudidos de plátano verde por su aporte en almidón resistente, fibra dietética y una digestión lenta del almidón, se podrían recomendar en alimentos precocidos para regimenes especiales de alimentación. La obtención de extrudidos de ocumo chino permitiría diversificar el uso potencial de este rubro en la industria de alimentos.

The object of the present study, was to evaluate the physical and nutritional properties of the extruded flours ofgreen plantain, taro, and their mixture with corn, to diversify the production and the potential use in the agro industry The researching plan was made with a laboratory extruder single screwed type; to a feeding temperature of 75 ºC, barrel and matrix temperature of 180 ºC, screw speed of 120 rpm, and an humidity content of 16 percent in the flours. Under these conditions, it was obtained an green plantain flour based extrusion, of high density and low ratio of expansion; in the meantime, the separated mixtures of taro and green plantain with an 80 percent white corn flour, gave as results extrudates with low density and high level of expansion, and statistically significant differences were found (p< 0,05) in the color measure (“L”). In relation with the nutritional composition, it was determined that all the extrudates presented a high content of resistant starch (22 percent), and variations in the content of dietary fiber in the interval from 8,4 percent to 2,88 percent. Finally, the green plantain extrudates, for their contribution in resistant starch, dietary fiber and slow digestion of starch; could be recommended in precooked foods for special nutrition regimes. The obtention of taro extrudates, would allow to diversify the potential use of this product in the food industry.

The effects of compost prepared from waste material of banana on the growth, yield and quality properties of banana plants.

Three doses (15-30-45 kg plant(-1)) of the compost prepared from the clone of Dwarf cavendish banana were compared with farmyard manure (50 kg plant(-1)), mineral fertilizers (180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) and farmyard manure+ mineral fertilizers (25 kg FM+ 180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) which determined positive effects on the growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics of banana plants. The banana plants were grown under a heated glasshouse and in a soil with physical and chemical properties are suitable for banana growing. The contents of N, P, K and Mg in compost and in farmyard manure were found to be similar. Farmyard manure, farmyard manure + mineral fertilizers and 45 kg plant(-1) of compost increased growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics. According to obtained results, 45 kg plant(-1) of compost was determined more suitable in terms of economical production and organic farming than the other fertilizer types.