CO2 Fertilizer Effect on Growth, Polyphenols, and Endophytes in Two Baccharis Species

Abstract In a climate change context, the buildup of CO2 will affect plant communities worldwide. This study evaluated the effects of CO2 enrichment on the development and defense of two Cerrado native species Baccharis dracunculifolia and B. platypoda and their associated endophytic fungi richness. The study took place in Open-Top Chambers, two with ambient CO2 concentration (~400 ppm) and two in an enriched environment (~800 ppm). Baccharis platypoda developed 20% more leaves under enriched CO2 conditions, whereas B. dracunculifolia was 30% taller and showed 27% more leaves than those under ambient conditions. In both species, leaf polyphenol concentration did not differ between treatments. Nevertheless, polyphenol content had a positive correlation with plant height on both species' individuals grown under CO2 enriched conditions. Endophytic fungi richness and colonization rate on both plant species did not differ between ambient and enriched conditions. Our results show the positive effect of CO2 fertilizer in at least one of the measured growth parameters. An important new finding was a synergistic increase in growth and chemical defense in both studied species under enriched CO2 conditions, suggesting higher carbon assimilation and accumulation. This study suggests that the effects on primary productivity and secondary metabolites of Baccharis species will potentially reflect on the diversity and distribution of Cerrado plants and their associated animal communities.

Anatomia da lâmina foliar de onze espécies lenhosas dominantes nas savanas de Roraima / Leaf anatomy of eleven dominant woody species in the savannas of Roraima

O conhecimento da anatomia da folha é crucial para o entendimento da adaptação das plantas ao ambiente. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a anatomia da lâmina foliar de 11 espécies lenhosas, frequentes nas savanas do extremo norte da Amazônia, com ênfase na identificação de atributos adaptativos a ecossistemas abertos, sujeitos a forte insolação e déficit hídrico sazonal. Amostras de folhas foram coletadas e processadas segundo técnicas usuais para estudos de anatomia e histoquímica. Bowdichia virgilioides, Byrsonima coccolobifolia, By. crassifolia, By. verbascifolia, Casearia sylvestris, Curatella americana, Erythroxylum suberosum, Himatanthus articulatus, Miconia albicans, Roupala montana e Xylopia aromatica apresentaram caracteres típicos de plantas heliófilas e xerófilas, como cutícula espessa e estômatos predominantes na face abaxial, além de forte investimento em tecido fotossintético. Em oito das onze espécies, o parênquima paliçádico (PP) ocupa 50% ou mais do espaço do mesofilo. Curatella americana, mesofilo isobilateral, e Bo. virgilioides, mesofilo homogêneo, foram as espécies com maior investimento em PP (~80% e 100%, respectivamente). Além disso, destaca-se a presença de hipoderme (Bo. virgilioides e X. aromatica) ou de epiderme estratificada, densos indumentos, idioblastos cristalíferos e extensões da bainha de feixes. Em síntese, este conjunto de atributos estruturais protege a lâmina foliar contra o excesso de luminosidade, aumenta a resistência mecânica, minimiza a transpiração e contribui para manutenção do balanço hídrico da planta, favorecendo, portanto, o estabelecimento destas espécies nas savanas sazonais do norte da Amazônia.

Knowledge of the anatomical characteristics of the leaf blade is crucial to the understanding of plant adaptation to the environment. The objective of this study was to describe the leaf anatomy of 11 woody species of common occurrence in the open savannas of the northern edge of the Amazon. The focus of the study was on the identification of leaf adaptive features to cope with high irradiances and seasonal water deficits. Leaf samples were fixed and processed by the usual methods for anatomical and histochemical studies. Bowdichia virgilioides, Byrsonima coccolobifolia, By. crassifolia, By. verbascifolia, Casearia sylvestris, Curatella americana, Erythroxylum suberosum, Himatanthus articulatus, Miconia albicans, Roupala montana and Xylopia aromatica showed leaf anatomical traits typical of heliophilous and xerophilous plants such as thick cuticle, stomata prevailing on the abaxial surface, strong investment in photosynthetic tissue. In eight of the eleven species the palisade parenchyma (PP) occupied 50% or more of the mesophyll. Curatella americana, with isobilateral mesophyll, and Bo. virgilioides, with homogeneous mesophyll were the species with the highest investment in PP (~80% and 100%, respectively). Leaves were also characterized by the presence of hypodermis (Bo. virgilioides and X. aromatica) or stratified epidermis, dense indumenta, crystalliferous idioblasts and bundle sheath extensions. This distinctive assortment of anatomical traits helps protecting the leaf blade against excessive irradiances, increases mechanical strength, minimize transpiration and contribute to the maintenance of leaf water balance. Overall they favor the establishment of these species in the seasonal savannas of northern Amazon.

Comunidade solidária: um projeto que tem tudo para não dar 'certo' / Solidary community: a project without results

Aborda o programa Comunidade Solidária, numa tentativa de promover uma nova relação entre Estado e sociedade para o enfrentamento da fome, da miséria, da pobreza e da exclusão social.

Eficacia de la bacampicilina en fiebre tifoidea / Efficiency of bacampicililin in typhoid fever

Cincuenta y siete pacientes cuyas edades fluctuaban entre 14 a 60 años de edad y en quienes se aisló Salmonella typhi o Salmonella paratyphi fueron incluidos en un estudio abierto para valorar la eficacia de clorhidrato de bacampicilina oral en el tratamiento de fiebre tifoidea, en especial causado por S. typhi. Los pacientes fueron valorados tanto clínica como bacteriológicamente y dividios en tres grupos de tratamiento para recibir bacampicilina oral de acuerdo a uno de los tres esquemas de dosis, durante 14 días. Cuarenta y nueve de los 57 (86.0%) pacientes fueron tratados de manera satisfactoria, tres (5.3%) se consideraron como fallas de tratamiento, y cinco (8.8%) experimentaron efectos indeseables que requirieron la descontinuación del fármaco. No hubo recaídas en un periodo de dos meses de seguimiento en 47 pacientes que fueron tratados de manera satisfactoria con bacampicilina. Los datos de cultivos negativos de heces y bilis en la fase temprana del tratamiento y la ausencia de recaídas, muestran que la terapéutica con clorhidrato de bacampicilina es eficaz en este padecimiento