Organic gladiolus cultivation in first-year no-tillage system / Cultivo de gladíolo em sistema de plantio direto orgânico

Cut flowers are considered an important alternative for property diversification, especially in family farming. The culture of gladiolus (Gladiolus x grandiflorus Hort.) is easy to conduct and has good added value. The traditional way of cultivating gladiolus is carried out with intense soil revolution, which can generatelosses in the system. Thus, the adoption of sustainable systems becomes important for the balance of agroecosystems, with the No-Till System being one of these options. The objective of this work is to evaluate the agronomic performance of gladiolus in the organic no-tillage system. The experiment was carried out in the Horticulture sector of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Laranjeiras do Sul-PR campus. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized blocks with plots containing a mix of ground cover plants composed of black oat (Avena strigosaSchreb) + Vetch (Vicia sativaL.) + forage turnip (Raphanus sativusL.)and cultivation without cover, followed by cultivation of gladiolus. The gladiolus cultivar used was Yester intermediate cycle II. The evaluations carried out were: phenological and morphological characteristics of the crop, physical and biological characteristics of the soil, incidence of phytophagous insects, diseases and weeds, post-harvest viability and productivity. The results of basal soil respiration, soil temperature, weed incidence, total chlorophyll, rod length, largest leaf length, classification of floral stems classification and productivity showed significant differences between the systems. Cultivation with ground cover obtained higher productivity, with an average of 79,666 stems per hectare. The no-tillage system with organic management showed satisfactory agronomic results, being indicated for the cultivation of gladioli.(AU)

As flores de corte são consideradas uma importante alternativa para diversificação da propriedade, principalmente na agricultura familiar. A cultura do gladíolo (Gladiolus x grandiflorusHort.) possui fácil condução e tem bom valor agregado. A forma tradicional de cultivar o gladíolo é realizada com intenso revolvimento do solo, o que pode gerar perdas nosistema. Assim, a adoção de sistemas sustentáveis torna-se importante para o equilíbrio dos agroecossistemas, sendo o Sistema dePlantio Direto uma destas opções. O objetivo nesse trabalho é avaliar o desempenho agronômico de gladíolo em sistema de plantiodireto orgânico. O experimento foi realizado no setor de Horticultura da Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, campus Laranjeiras do Sul-PR. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos completamente casualizados com parcelas contendo mix de plantas de cobertura de solo composto por aveia preta (Avena strigosaSchreb) + ervilhaca (Vicia sativaL.) + nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativusL.)e cultivo sem cobertura, seguido do cultivo do gladíolo. A cultivar de gladíolo utilizada foi Yester ciclo intermediário II. Asavaliações realizadas foram: características fenológicas e morfológicas da cultura, características físicas e biológicas do solo, incidência de insetos fitófagos, doenças e plantas espontâneas, qualidade das hastes florais e produtividade. Os resultados de respiração basal do solo, temperatura do solo, incidência de plantas espontâneas, clorofila total, comprimento da haste, comprimento da maior folha, classificação das hastes florais e produtividade apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os sistemas. O cultivo com cobertura de solo obteve maior produtividade, apresentando a média de 79.666 hastes por hectare. O sistema de plantio direto com manejo orgânico demonstrou resultados agronômicos satisfatórios sendo indicado para o cultivo de gladíolos.(AU)

Evolutionary lability in floral ontogeny affects pollination biology in Trimezieae.

PREMISE: There is little direct evidence linking floral development and pollination biology in plants. We characterize both aspects in plain and ornamented flowers of Trimezieae (Iridaceae) to investigate how changes in floral ontogeny may affect their interactions with pollinators through time. METHODS: We examined floral ontogeny in 11 species and documented pollination biology in five species displaying a wide range of floral morphologies. We coded and reconstructed ancestral states of flower types over the tribal phylogeny to estimate the frequency of transition between different floral types. RESULTS: All Trimezieae flowers are similar in early floral development, but ornamented flowers have additional ontogenetic steps compared with plain flowers, indicating heterochrony. Ornamented flowers have a hinge pollination mechanism (newly described here) and attract more pollinator guilds, while plain flowers offer less variety of resources for a shorter time. Although the ornamented condition is plesiomorphic in this clade, shifts to plain flowers have occurred frequently and abruptly during the past 5 million years, with some subsequent reversals. CONCLUSIONS: Heterochrony has resulted in labile morphological changes during flower evolution in Trimezieae. Counterintuitively, species with plain flowers, which are endemic to the campo rupestre, are derived within the tribe and show a higher specialization than the ornamented species, with the former being visited by pollen-collecting bees only.

Morphological and physicochemical characterization of starches from underground stems of Trimezia juncifolia collected in different phenological stages.

In this study, starches from underground stems of Trimezia juncifolia were evaluated during dry season (DSS), wet season (WSS) and sprouting (SS). Results evidenced that drought stress did not interfere with the yield, amylose content and degree of polymerization (DP) of amylopectin. However, the extraction yield in SS was 58% lower, being observed and increase of 7.5% in the content of amylose, and 13.5% in DP values for SS amylopectin, with a predominance of A-chains. The amount of total sugar, the starch granules size as well as solubility and swelling properties varied as function of the phenological status. Also, starch granules changed from A-type polymorph in DSS and SS to a CA-type in WSS. Nevertheless, it was observed a crystallinity reduction from 56% in DSS to 37.1% in SS. In addition, thermograms evidenced the presence of amylose-lipid complexes, with endothermic transition temperatures being affected by drought stress and sprouting. Finally, results demonstrate that underground stems from T. juncifolia have adaptative strategies involving changes in the morphological and physicochemical properties of the starch granules.

Assessing climate change effects on gladiola in Southern Brazil

Gladiola ( Gladiolus × grandiflorus Hort.) is an important cut flower for small farmers in Brazil. While the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which causes interannual variability to air temperature in Southern Brazil, can shift the optimum planting window of gladiola, an increase in temperature due to climate change can accelerate gladiola flowering and cause injuries by heat. The objective of this study was to assess the potential climate change effects on gladiola optimum planting date for specific market dates and investigate injuries occurrence on spikes in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Field experiments were conducted from 2016 to 2018 at four different locations across the Rio Grande do Sul State to evaluate the performance of the PhenoGlad model in simulating the developmental stages of gladiola. The PhenoGlad model was run on climate scenarios of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) named RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The climate change scenarios caused a delay in the optimum planting date to harvest gladiola for All Souls’ Day across the Rio Grande do Sul State. For harvesting spikes for Mother’s Day, negative anomalies (earliest planting date) occurred in the warmest regions, because the very high temperature extended the crop development. Injuries by heat on spikes reached positive anomalies in 70 % of the years in the warmest regions for scenario RCP8.5. To harvest spikes for Mother’s Day, heat injury did not exceed 20 % of the years. Mitigation strategies for farmers to deal with climate change and keep their gladiola production include adjusting the optimum planting date.

Assessing climate change effects on gladiola in Southern Brazil

Gladiola ( Gladiolus × grandiflorus Hort.) is an important cut flower for small farmers in Brazil. While the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which causes interannual variability to air temperature in Southern Brazil, can shift the optimum planting window of gladiola, an increase in temperature due to climate change can accelerate gladiola flowering and cause injuries by heat. The objective of this study was to assess the potential climate change effects on gladiola optimum planting date for specific market dates and investigate injuries occurrence on spikes in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Field experiments were conducted from 2016 to 2018 at four different locations across the Rio Grande do Sul State to evaluate the performance of the PhenoGlad model in simulating the developmental stages of gladiola. The PhenoGlad model was run on climate scenarios of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) named RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The climate change scenarios caused a delay in the optimum planting date to harvest gladiola for All Souls Day across the Rio Grande do Sul State. For harvesting spikes for Mothers Day, negative anomalies (earliest planting date) occurred in the warmest regions, because the very high temperature extended the crop development. Injuries by heat on spikes reached positive anomalies in 70 % of the years in the warmest regions for scenario RCP8.5. To harvest spikes for Mothers Day, heat injury did not exceed 20 % of the years. Mitigation strategies for farmers to deal with climate change and keep their gladiola production include adjusting the optimum planting date.(AU)

Vertical flow wetlands and hybrid systems for the treatment of landfill leachate.

Landfill leachates contain a variety of toxic compounds, which makes them one of the most difficult types of wastewater to be treated. An alternative "green" technology for leachate treatment is the use of constructed wetlands (CWs). The aims of this study were to select macrophytes and substrates to be used in vertical flow wetlands (VFWs) and to evaluate the performance of hybrid systems composed by a VFW and a horizontal subsurface flow (HSSW) or a free water surface flow (FWSW) wetlands for the treatment of a high ammonium concentration landfill leachate. In microcosms scale experiments, Typha domingensis, Scirpus californicus, and Iris pseudacorus were studied to assess their tolerance to raw and diluted leachate. Substrate selection for VFWs was evaluated using different layers of light expanded clay aggregate (LECA), coarse sand, fine sand, and gravel. Contaminant removals were higher in planted than in unplanted wetlands. Plants did not tolerate the raw effluent but showed a positive effect on plant growth when exposed to the diluted leachate. T. domingensis and I. pseudacorus showed higher contaminant removal ability and tolerance to landfill leachate than S. californicus. VFW with LECA + coarse sand showed the best performance in removal efficiencies. Hybrid system composed by VFW-FWSW planted with T. domingensis presented the best performance for the treatment of landfill leachate with high concentrations of ammonium.

Evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum encapsulated with Eleutherine americana oligosaccharide extract as food additive in yoghurt.

This study aimed to determine the survival and antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus plantarum TISTR1465 encapsulated with Eleutherine americana oligosaccharide extract. Capsules were stored at 4 °C for 0, 2, and 4 weeks. The encapsulated cells were evaluated for their survival after sequential exposure to simulated gastric and intestinal juices, then evaluated in terms of their antibacterial activity. Survival of the encapsulated cells was higher than that of free cells at weeks 2 and 4. Highest levels of viable cells were observed with encapsulation in E. americana oligosaccharide extract. No surviving free cells were found in week 4. Yoghurt prepared with encapsulated cells showed less acidification than with free cells. Antibacterial activity of L. plantarum TISTR1465 before pH neutralisation against Clostridium perfringens ATCC13124, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC13311 was higher than after pH neutralisation. Encapsulation by extrusion enhanced antibacterial activity of the cells against enteropathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial activity of encapsulated cells against Gram-positive bacteria was higher than that against Gram-negative bacteria. Results indicates that L. plantarum TISTR1465 encapsulated with E. americana oligosaccharide extract showed potential for application as a functional food additive.

Dayak onions ( Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb. ) bulbs extracts reduces blood pressure of hypoestrogen model rats by controlling lipids profile / El extracto de bulbos de cebollas dayak ( Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill. ) Urb. ) reduce la presión sanguínea en un modelo hipoestrogénico en ratas controlando el perfil lipídico

To determine the effects of 70 % ethanolic extract of Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) L. bulbs contained naphtoquinone in blood pressure and lipids profile level of ovariectomized rats. Thin layer chromatography was performed to analyze the content of the Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) bulbs extracts using Chloroform : Methanol (7:1) as eluent. This study used white female Sprague-Dawley rats which were divided into 6 groups: SHAM and OVX, both given 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose; the positive control group that was given tamoxifen (0.36 mg/200 g B.W.); the three various of doses of extract namely dose 1, 2, and 3 that were given 8, 12, and 18 mg/200 g BW respectively on day 29 until 50. All groups were ovariectomized on day 1, except sham group. Measurement of blood pressure were performed on the day before ovariectomy using non-invasive tool CODA®; and on the second, third, and fourth weeks post-ovariectomy. Three weeks after treatment of hypoestrogen rats by the dose 18 mg/200 g B.W, Eleutherine bulbosa extracts could decrease the systolic blood pressure level to 28.06 %, the diastolic to 30.47 %. Lipid profile of Dose 3 also showed recovery of Triglyceride, LDL and also Total Cholesterol. Eleutherine bulbosa extracts could improve blood pressure of ovariectomized rats by controlling lipids profile level.

Para determinar los efectos del 70 % de extracto etanólico de Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) L. en bulbos que contenían naftoquinona, se analizó la presión arterial de ratas ovariectomizadas. Se realizó un estudio de cromatografía de capa fina para analizar el contenido de los extractos de bulbos de Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) usando cloroformo:metanol (7:1) como diluyente. En este estudio se utilizaron ratas blancas Sprague-Dawley hembras, que se dividieron en 6 grupos: SHAM y OVX, ambos grupos fueron administrados con carboximetilcelulosa al 0,5 %; grupo control positivo, recibió tamoxifeno (0,36 mg / 200 g de B.W.); y tres grupos restantes, que recibieron tres dosis diferentes de extracto, es decir, dosis 1, 2 y 3 a las que se les administró 8, 12 y 18 mg / 200 g de por peso, respectivamente el día 29 hasta el día 50. Todos los grupos fueron sometidos a ovariectomía en el día 1, excepto el grupo simulado. La medición de la presión arterial se realizó el día anterior a la ovariectomía con la herramienta no invasiva CODA®, y, posteriormente, en la segunda, tercera y cuarta semanas de realizada la ovariectomía. Tres semanas después del tratamiento aplicado a las ratas hipoestrógenas, con la dosis de 18 mg / 200 g por peso, los extractos de Eleutherine bulbosa podrían disminuir el nivel de presión arterial sistólica al 28,06 %, y la diastólica al 30,47 %. La dosis 3 del perfil lipídico mostró mejoría en los niveles de Triglicéridos, LDL y Colesterol Total. Los extractos de Eleutherine bulbosa podrían mejorar la presión sanguínea de ratas ovariectomizadas controlando el nivel del perfil lipídico.

Vase life and rehydration capacity of dry-stored gladiolus flowers at low temperature / Vida de vaso e capacidade de reidratação de flores de gladíolo armazenadas a seco em baixa temperatura

Normally, it is not recommended the conditioning of gladiolus stems in water during storage or transport. Hydration of petals may accelerate flower opening, even at a low temperature, which compromises quality at marketing moment. However, for this species, neither the effect of prolonged dry cold storage nor its behavior when transferred to water at room temperature has been evaluated. The present study aimed to evaluate the vase life and the rehydration capacity of gladiolus flowers ( Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.) after dry storage at low temperature. Flower stems of cultivars Blue Frost, Gold Field, Traderhorn, and Jester were dry-stored at a temperature of 5 ± 1 ºC and relative humidity of 85% for 12, 24, 36, and 48h. Control stems remained always in deionized water. After storage, they were returned to the water at room temperature and evaluated for vase life (adopting the discard criterion when 50% of the basal flowers displayed loss of color and wilting), fresh weight change (%), water uptake rate and transpiration rate, as well as relative water content of the petals (%). In dry cold storage conditions, for up to 36h, the vase life was not affected although incomplete rehydration of the flowers. Rehydration capacity of the stem is linked to the staggered opening of flowers along the inflorescence. (AU)

Normalmente, não é recomendado o condicionamento de hastes de gladíolo em água durante o armazenamento ou transporte. A hidratação das pétalas acelera a abertura das flores, mesmo em baixa temperatura, o que compromete a qualidade no momento da comercialização. No entanto, para essa espécie, ainda não foi estudado o efeito do armazenamento refrigerado prolongado a seco e nem o seu comportamento quando transferida para a água em temperatura ambiente. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a vida de vaso e a capacidade de reidratação de hastes florais de gladíolo após armazenamento a seco em baixa temperatura ( Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.). As hastes das cultivares Blue Frost, Gold Field, Traderhorn e Jester foram armazenadas a seco em temperatura de 5 ± 1 ºC e umidade relativa de 85% por 12, 24, 36 e 48 horas. As hastes controle permaneceram sempre em água deionizada. Após armazenamento, retornaram a água sob condição de temperatura ambiente (22 ± 1 ºC) e foram avaliadas quanto à vida de vaso (adotando o critério de descarte quando 50% das flores basais apresentaram perda de coloração e murcha), variação da massa de matéria fresca (%), taxa de absorção de água e taxa transpiratória, bem como o teor relativo de água das pétalas (%). Em condições de armazenamento a seco em baixa temperatura, por até 36 horas, a vida de vaso não foi afetada, embora tenha ocorrido reidratação incompleta das flores. A capacidade de reidratação da haste está relacionada com a abertura escalonada das flores ao longo da inflorescência. (AU)

Vase life and rehydration capacity of dry-stored gladiolus flowers at low temperature / Vida de vaso e capacidade de reidratação de flores de gladíolo armazenadas a seco em baixa temperatura

Normally, it is not recommended the conditioning of gladiolus stems in water during storage or transport. Hydration of petals may accelerate flower opening, even at a low temperature, which compromises quality at marketing moment. However, for this species, neither the effect of prolonged dry cold storage nor its behavior when transferred to water at room temperature has been evaluated. The present study aimed to evaluate the vase life and the rehydration capacity of gladiolus flowers ( Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.) after dry storage at low temperature. Flower stems of cultivars Blue Frost, Gold Field, Traderhorn, and Jester were dry-stored at a temperature of 5 ± 1 ºC and relative humidity of 85% for 12, 24, 36, and 48h. Control stems remained always in deionized water. After storage, they were returned to the water at room temperature and evaluated for vase life (adopting the discard criterion when 50% of the basal flowers displayed loss of color and wilting), fresh weight change (%), water uptake rate and transpiration rate, as well as relative water content of the petals (%). In dry cold storage conditions, for up to 36h, the vase life was not affected although incomplete rehydration of the flowers. Rehydration capacity of the stem is linked to the staggered opening of flowers along the inflorescence.

Normalmente, não é recomendado o condicionamento de hastes de gladíolo em água durante o armazenamento ou transporte. A hidratação das pétalas acelera a abertura das flores, mesmo em baixa temperatura, o que compromete a qualidade no momento da comercialização. No entanto, para essa espécie, ainda não foi estudado o efeito do armazenamento refrigerado prolongado a seco e nem o seu comportamento quando transferida para a água em temperatura ambiente. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a vida de vaso e a capacidade de reidratação de hastes florais de gladíolo após armazenamento a seco em baixa temperatura ( Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.). As hastes das cultivares Blue Frost, Gold Field, Traderhorn e Jester foram armazenadas a seco em temperatura de 5 ± 1 ºC e umidade relativa de 85% por 12, 24, 36 e 48 horas. As hastes controle permaneceram sempre em água deionizada. Após armazenamento, retornaram a água sob condição de temperatura ambiente (22 ± 1 ºC) e foram avaliadas quanto à vida de vaso (adotando o critério de descarte quando 50% das flores basais apresentaram perda de coloração e murcha), variação da massa de matéria fresca (%), taxa de absorção de água e taxa transpiratória, bem como o teor relativo de água das pétalas (%). Em condições de armazenamento a seco em baixa temperatura, por até 36 horas, a vida de vaso não foi afetada, embora tenha ocorrido reidratação incompleta das flores. A capacidade de reidratação da haste está relacionada com a abertura escalonada das flores ao longo da inflorescência.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae) and cross amplification in other genera.

Recent phylogenetic studies on Sisyrinchium strongly suggest that species classified in section Hydastylus and section Viperella belong to a single group of plants in recent adaptive radiation (Clade IV). These species neither present clear morphological differentiation among them nor show clear identification using DNA barcode markers. Thus, the main goal of this study was to develop a set of polymorphic microsatellite markers compatible for representative species of both sections to ensure variability that could be revealed by SSR markers. Therefore, microsatellite primers were isolated and characterized for Sisyrinchium palmifolium and S. marchioides. In addition, transferability of the developed primers was tested in Iridoideae, primarily in closely related species of Sisyrinchium. Sixteen microsatellite loci were developed from enriched genomic libraries, of which ten were polymorphic. GST values indicated higher differentiation among subpopulations of S. palmifolium than those from S. marchioides. Major transferability was obtained using primers isolated from S. marchioides. All primers exhibited higher rates of cross-amplification for species belonging to Clade IV of Sisyrinchium, as well as to the genera Calydorea and Herbertia. These developed microsatellite markers can be used as an efficient tool for characterization of genetic variability in species belonging to Iridoideae, as well as for studies on population dynamics, genetic structure, and mating system in other Sisyrinchium species.

Antiproliferative effect of extracts and pyranonaphthoquinones obtained from Cipura paludosa bulbs.

CONTEXT: Cipura paludosa Aubl. (Iridaceae) is widely used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. Experimental studies have confirmed its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective effects. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the possible antiproliferative potential of the crude methanol extract and three isolated compounds from the bulbs of C. paludosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytochemical analysis was carried out by conventional chromatographic techniques, and the resulting compounds were identified by NMR (1)H and (13)C. The antiproliferative activity was analysed using the sulforhodamine B assay. RESULTS: Crude methanol extract of C. paludosa bulbs showed GI50 values of between 1.6 and 30.8 µg/mL. The naphthoquinone derivatives (eleutherine, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol) isolated from the bulbs of C. paludosa exhibited promising cytotoxicity against several human tumour cell lines, especially the two main compounds, eleutherine and isoeleutherine, against glioma and breast cancer cell lines, with TGI values of between 2.6 and 13.8 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Cipura paludosa bulbs produce active principles with relevant antiproliferative potential, such as naphthoquinone derivatives, identified as eleutherine, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol. This is the first report indicating C. paludosa with antiproliferative potential.

Evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the topical preparation of Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae) / Avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória de preparação tópica de Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae)

Alho do mato (Cipura paludosa, Iridaceae) is a medicinal plant found in the Amazon rain forest, North of Brazil. It has been used to treat algic, inflammatory and infectious processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive action of the crude Cipura paludosa ethanolic extract at concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 4.0% in Oil and Water cream formulations for topical use. The physical-chemical stability of the formulations was monitored over a six-month period with the use of accelerated stability tests. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, we used a paw edema test induced by carrageenan and a formalin test, respectively. The paw edema test showed that there was a statistical difference in the control group in relation to the treatments. The formalin test did not confirm antinociceptive action of the treatments with the extract in the early phase of the test. However, statistical difference was confirmed for the treatments in relation to the control in the late phase. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Cipura paludosa preparations, as demonstrated in the results, at least partially support the ethno-medical uses of this plant.

Allho do mato (Cipura paludosa, Iridaceae) é uma planta medicinal encontrada na floresta Amazônica, norte do Brasil. Essa planta tem sido usada para tratar dores, processos inflamatórios e infecciosos. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a ação anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva do extrato bruto etanólico de Cipura paludosa, nas concentrações que variaram entre 2,0 e 4,0%, em formulações de cremes óleo e água de uso tópico. A estabilidade físico-química das formulações foi monitorada ao longo de um período de seis meses, com a aplicação de ensaios de estabilidade acelerada. A fim de avaliar as atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva, utilizou-se um teste de edema de pata induzido por carragenina e um teste de formalina, respectivamente. O teste de edema de pata mostrou que houve uma diferença significativa no grupo controle em relação aos tratamentos. O teste da formalina não confirmou efeito antinociceptivo dos tratamentos com o extrato, na primeira fase do ensaio. No entanto, a diferença estatística foi confirmada para os tratamentos em relação ao controle na segunda fase. As atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória das preparações com Cipura paludosa confirmam de forma parcial o uso etno-médico desta planta.

Evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the topical preparation of Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae) / Avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória de preparação tópica de Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae)

Alho do mato (Cipura paludosa, Iridaceae) is a medicinal plant found in the Amazon rain forest, North of Brazil. It has been used to treat algic, inflammatory and infectious processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive action of the crude Cipura paludosa ethanolic extract at concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 4.0% in Oil and Water cream formulations for topical use. The physical-chemical stability of the formulations was monitored over a six-month period with the use of accelerated stability tests. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, we used a paw edema test induced by carrageenan and a formalin test, respectively. The paw edema test showed that there was a statistical difference in the control group in relation to the treatments. The formalin test did not confirm antinociceptive action of the treatments with the extract in the early phase of the test. However, statistical difference was confirmed for the treatments in relation to the control in the late phase. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Cipura paludosa preparations, as demonstrated in the results, at least partially support the ethno-medical uses of this plant.(AU)

Allho do mato (Cipura paludosa, Iridaceae) é uma planta medicinal encontrada na floresta Amazônica, norte do Brasil. Essa planta tem sido usada para tratar dores, processos inflamatórios e infecciosos. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a ação anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva do extrato bruto etanólico de Cipura paludosa, nas concentrações que variaram entre 2,0 e 4,0%, em formulações de cremes óleo e água de uso tópico. A estabilidade físico-química das formulações foi monitorada ao longo de um período de seis meses, com a aplicação de ensaios de estabilidade acelerada. A fim de avaliar as atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva, utilizou-se um teste de edema de pata induzido por carragenina e um teste de formalina, respectivamente. O teste de edema de pata mostrou que houve uma diferença significativa no grupo controle em relação aos tratamentos. O teste da formalina não confirmou efeito antinociceptivo dos tratamentos com o extrato, na primeira fase do ensaio. No entanto, a diferença estatística foi confirmada para os tratamentos em relação ao controle na segunda fase. As atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória das preparações com Cipura paludosa confirmam de forma parcial o uso etno-médico desta planta.(AU)

Species discrimination in Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae): assessment of DNA barcodes in a taxonomically challenging genus.

DNA barcoding aims to develop an efficient tool for species identification based on short and standardized DNA sequences. In this study, the DNA barcode paradigm was tested among the genera of the tribe Sisyrinchieae (Iridoideae). Sisyrinchium, with more than 77% of the species richness in the tribe, is a taxonomically complex genus. A total of 185 samples belonging to 98 species of Sisyrinchium, Olsynium, Orthrosanthus and Solenomelus were tested using matK, trnH-psbA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Candidate DNA barcodes were analysed either as single markers or in combination. Detection of a barcoding gap, similarity-based methods and tree-based analyses were used to assess the discrimination efficiency of DNA barcodes. The levels of species identification obtained from plastid barcodes were low and ranged from 17.35% to 20.41% for matK and 5.11% to 7.14% for trnH-psbA. The ITS provided better results with 30.61-38.78% of species identified. The analyses of the combined data sets did not result in a significant improvement in the discrimination rate. Among the tree-based methods, the best taxonomic resolution was obtained with Bayesian inference, particularly when the three data sets were combined. The study illustrates the difficulties for DNA barcoding to identify species in evolutionary complex lineages. Plastid markers are not recommended for barcoding Sisyrinchium due to the low discrimination power observed. ITS gave better results and may be used as a starting point for species identification.

Effects of ethanolic extract and naphthoquinones obtained from the bulbs of Cipura paludosa on short-term and long-term memory: involvement of adenosine A1 and A2A receptors.

Previous studies from our group have indicated important biological properties of the ethanolic extract and isolated compounds from the bulbs of Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae), a native plant widely distributed in northern Brazil, including antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-nociceptive activities. In the present study, the effects of the ethanolic extract and its two naphthoquinones (eleutherine and isoeleutherine) on the short- and long-term memory of adult rodents were assessed in social recognition and inhibitory avoidance tasks. Acute pre-training oral administration of the ethanolic extract improved the short-term social memory in rats as well as facilitated the step-down inhibitory avoidance short- and long-term memory in mice. Moreover, the co-administration of 'non-effective' doses of the extract of Cipura paludosa and the adenosine receptor antagonists caffeine (non-selective), DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist) and ZM241385 (adenosine A2A receptor antagonist) improved the social recognition memory of rats. In the inhibitory avoidance task, the co-administration of sub-effective doses of the extract with caffeine or ZM241385, but not with DPCPX, improved the short- and long-term memory of mice. Finally, the acute oral administration of eleutherine and isoeleutherine facilitated the inhibitory avoidance short- and long-term memory in mice. These results demonstrate for the first time the cognitive-enhancing properties of the extract and isolated compounds from the bulbs of Cipura paludosa in rodents and suggest a possible involvement of adenosine A1 and A2A receptors in these effects.

Ethanolic extract from bulbs of Cipura paludosa reduced long-lasting learning and memory deficits induced by prenatal methylmercury exposure in rats.

Previous studies from our group have indicated important biological properties of the ethanolic extract (EE) and isolated compounds from the bulbs of Cipura paludosa (Iridaceae), a native plant widely distributed in northern Brazil. In the present study, the effects of chronic treatment with the EE on the memory of adult rats exposed to methylmercury (MeHg) during early development were assessed. Pregnant rats were treated by gavage with a single dose of MeHg (8 mg/kg) on gestational day 15, the developmental stage critical for cortical neuron proliferation. Adult offspring were administered orally with the EE of C. paludosa (1, 10 or 100mg/kg) over 14 consecutive days. EE improved short-term social memory in a specific manner and facilitated the step-down inhibitory avoidance of short- and long-term memory. MeHg exposure induced pronounced long-lasting impairments in social recognition memory that were improved by EE. Moreover, EE significantly increased the step-down latencies specifically during the short-term session in prenatal MeHg-exposed rats. These results demonstrate that EE reduced the long-lasting short-term learning and memory deficits induced by MeHg exposure. These findings may encourage further studies evaluating the cognitive enhancing properties of C. paludosa and its components on neuropathological conditions associated with exposure to environmental contaminants.

Floral rewards in the tribe Sisyrinchieae (Iridaceae): oil as an alternative to pollen and nectar?

Iridaceae is one of the few families in which floral oils are produced and collected by pollinators as a resource. Perigonal nectaries and trichomal elaiophores are highly unusual within the tribe Sisyrinchieae. Both structures occur mainly on the staminal column, while they are usually distributed on the tepals in the other tribes of the subfamily Iridoideae. Sisyrinchieae is the largest tribe of Iridaceae present on the American continent, and the diversity observed may be related to the exceptional development of trichomal elaiophores within the genus Sisyrinchium, but knowledge concerning the other types of nuptial glandular structures within the tribe is still limited, preventing us from estimating their implication for species diversity. Structural observations and histochemical tests were performed to identify and characterize glandular structures and pollen rewards within the flowers of the genera Orthrosanthus, Sisyrinchium and Solenomelus. Perigonal nectaries were detected only in Solenomelus segethi, and trichomal elaiophores were characterized only within Sisyrinchium. All species showed large amounts of additional resources available for pollinators in the form of pollenkitt and polysaccharides present in the cytoplasm of the pollen grains. The results are discussed in a phylogenetic context, with regard to pollinators and floral rewards reported for the tribe Sisyrinchieae.

New insights into Trimezieae (Iridaceae) phylogeny: what do molecular data tell us?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Neotropical tribe Trimezieae are taxonomically difficult. They are generally characterized by the absence of the features used to delimit their sister group Tigridieae. Delimiting the four genera that make up Trimezieae is also problematic. Previous family-level phylogenetic analyses have not examined the monophyly of the tribe or relationships within it. Reconstructing the phylogeny of Trimezieae will allow us to evaluate the status of the tribe and genera and to examine the suitability of characters traditionally used in their taxonomy. METHODS: Maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses are presented for 37 species representing all four genera of Trimezieae. Analyses were based on nrITS sequences and a combined plastid dataset. Ancestral character state reconstructions were used to investigate the evolution of ten morphological characters previously considered taxonomically useful. KEY RESULTS: Analyses of nrITS and plastid datasets strongly support the monophyly of Trimezieae and recover four principal clades with varying levels of support; these clades do not correspond to the currently recognized genera. Relationships within the four clades are not consistently resolved, although the conflicting resolutions are not strongly supported in individual analyses. Ancestral character state reconstructions suggest considerable homoplasy, especially in the floral characters used to delimit Pseudotrimezia. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly support recognition of Trimezieae as a tribe but suggest that both generic- and species-level taxonomy need revision. Further molecular analyses, with increased sampling of taxa and markers, are needed to support any revision. Such analyses will help determine the causes of discordance between the plastid and nuclear data and provide a framework for identifying potential morphological synapomorphies for infra-tribal groups. The results also suggest Trimezieae provide a promising model for evolutionary research.

Population genetic structure of Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. (Iridaceae) in Itapuã State Park, Southern Brazil

Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. is a member of the family Iridaceae, which is distributed over the American continent. In Brazil, this species is found, not only in disturbed areas and coastal regions, but is also very common in urban centers, such as public parks, during the spring. Chromosome counts for North American specimens are 2n = 32 and 2n = 48, whereas in southern Brazil, there is a polyploidy series with three chromosome numbers, 2n = 16, 2n = 32, and 2n = 48. Population analyses using DNA molecular markers are inexistent for this species, in spite of its wide distribution and morphological variation. To study the genetic population structure of S. micranthum, five natural populations were accessed in a conservation park within the Atlantic Rain Forest Biome in southern Brazil. Here, the chromosome numbers 2n = 16 and 2n = 48 had already been described. Molecular analysis showed that the populations are highly structured with low gene flow among them. The population with 2n = 48 was genetically less variable than and distinct from the other populations. Population genetics in relation to cytogenetic data provided new insights regarding the genetic diversification and mating system of S. micranthum.