From the dual cyclone harvest performance of single conidium powder to the effect of Metarhizium anisopliae on the management of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae).

Insect pests introduced in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are mostly of Australian origin, but native microorganisms have potential for their management. High quality biopesticide production based on entomopathogenic fungi depends on adequate technologies. The objective of this study was to evaluate Mycoharvester® equipment to harvest and separating particles to obtain pure Metarhizium anisopliae conidia to manage Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae). The Mycoharvester® version 5b harvested and separated M. anisopliae spores. The pure conidia were suspended in Tween 80® (0.1%) and calibrated to the concentrations of 1 x 106, 107, 108 and 109 conidia/ml to evaluate the pathogenicity, lethal concentration 50 and 90 (LC50, LC90) and lethal time 50 and 90 (LT50, LT90) of this fungus to T. peregrinus. This equipment harvested 85% of the conidia from rice, with production of 4.8 ± 0.38 x 109 conidia/g dry mass of substrate + fungus. The water content of 6.36% of the single spore powder (pure conidia) separated by the Mycoharvester® was lower than that of the agglomerated product. The product harvested at the concentrations of 108 and 109 conidia/ml caused high mortality to T. peregrinus third instar nymphs and adults. The separation of conidia produced by solid-state fermentation with the Mycoharvester® is an important step toward optimizing the fungal production system of pure conidia, and to formulate biopesticides for insect pest management.

How temperature variation affects white-rot fungi mycelial growth dynamics: a nonlinear mixed models approach.

This study aimed to model mycelial growth in a factorial experiment with two species of white rot fungi growing at five temperatures. The nonlinear models evaluated were logistic, Gompertz, Weibull and von Bertalanffy. The adjustments were performed first by evaluating the fixed and mixed-effects models with random effects, added to the fixed parameters. Then, the best adjusted model was improved by an adequated covariance structure, and dummy variables were added to the parameters asymptote (α) and abscissa of the inflection point (ß) in the model in order to verify the effect of the experiment factors, species and temperatures on the regression parameters. The criteria used to compare models were residual variance and Akaike information criterion. Gompertz and von Bertalanffy mixed-effects models were better adjusted. The parameters differed between species. Moreover, the linear and quadratic effects of temperature evaluated in each species were significant. The models were reparametrized in order to consider two parameters of interest: velocity (µ) at the inflection point and lag time (λ). The maximum growth velocity was obtained at 25.4 °C by S. ostrea, while T. villosa was achieved at 30.5 °C; both fungi suffered less lag time by increasing the temperature.

Survival of thermotolerant coliforms in municipal biosolids after application in tropical soil cultivated with Eucalyptus.

The increasing production of biosolids in urban areas has been led to a search for alternative disposal avenues of this residue, which is rich in organic matter and nutrients. Agricultural land application of biosolids, motivated by its fertilizing power, is a widespread practice in many countries, but there are safety and regulatory concerns regarding the presence of pathogens in Class B biosolids. In addition, the scarcity of studies under tropical climate conditions raises questions that impede the agricultural use of this residue in some regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of thermotolerant coliforms over 12 months (52 weeks) after biosolids application on the surface of a Quartzipsamment neosol cultivated with Eucalyptus. Two different biosolids were studied: those generated by a biological treatment system with complete mixing aeration ponds followed by decantation ponds (Treatment A) and biosolids from a biological treatment system with conventional activated biosolids reactors (Treatment B), both delineated in randomized blocks with four replicates. After application on the forest soil, we estimated an average survival time of 54 weeks for thermotolerant coliforms present in Treatment A biosolids and 93 weeks in Treatment B biosolids. Thermotolerant coliforms persist much longer under tropical climate conditions in Brazil than in comparable studies under temperate climate conditions. This reaffirms the need to carry out studies covering the full range of moisture and temperature regimes in which biosolids are applied as fertilizer.

Persistence of Fecal Contamination Indicators and Pathogens in Class B Biosolids Applied to Sugarcane Fields.

Agricultural recycling of human Class B biosolids in sugarcane ( spp.) crop is a promising alternative to reduce the costs of biosolids disposal. However, the presence of fecal contamination indicators such as thermotolerant coliforms and pathogenic organisms such as enterovirus and spp. in biosolids impose barriers to effective and widespread use of biosolids as fertilizer. In addition, there is a scarcity of studies that investigate the persistence of these organisms in tropical soils. This study aimed to evaluate the persistence of pathogenic and fecal indicators for 258 d in a tropical clayey soil amended with human Class B biosolids and cultivated with sugarcane. Treatments were immediate incorporation of biosolids into soil after application (T1) or superficial application of biosolids followed by incorporation after 35 d (T2), emulating the typical procedure in sugarcane fields. Thermotolerant coliforms were estimated to persist for 437 d in T1 and 398 d in T2. For enterovirus, mean estimated persistence time in soil was 26 d for T1, but the sampling frequency was insufficient in T2 for persistence analysis. After 35 d, no enterovirus was detected in any sample. Mean estimated persistence time for viable spp. eggs in soil was 22 d in T1 and 41 d in T2.

Longevity and survival of Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an invasive gall inducer on Eucalyptus, with different diets and temperatures.

The blue gum chalcid, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causes galls on Eucalyptus spp. leaf midribs, petioles and stems. Biological aspects need to be studied to assist in developing management strategies and to maintain this insect in the laboratory to rear the parasitoid Selitrichodes neseri Kelly & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) that depends on having a supply of Eucalyptus seedlings infested by L. invasa. We evaluated the longevity and survival of L. invasa individual non reproductive females fed with six different diets (pure honey, 50% honey solution, pure honey plus eucalyptus leaves, eucalyptus leaves, distilled water, or no food) and seven different temperatures (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 and 34 °C). Leptocybe invasa fed with 50% honey solution and reared at 14 or 18 °C showed the greatest longevity and survival.

Persistence of Ascaris spp. Ova in Tropical Soil Cultivated with Eucalyptus and Fertilized with Municipal Biosolids.

In many countries, the main reason for severely restricting or outright banning the land application of class B biosolids is the lack of risk assessment for adverse human health impacts. Among pathogens that are not often studied are helminth ova, including that of the spp. Almost all of the knowledge about the persistence of spp. ova in soils fertilized with biosolids is based on studies developed in North America, Europe, and Asia. These studies have almost always been conducted under temperate climate conditions, which may cause erroneous interpretations when the conclusions are extrapolated to tropical regions such as those found in Brazil. This team evaluated the persistence of viable spp. ova in a sandy Quartzipsamment tropical soil, previously planted with × hybrid () and fertilized with biosolids, over a 52-wk period. During the reporting period, the average temperature of soil and biosolids fluctuated between 15 and 30°C, and the average moisture of biosolids fluctuated between 60 and 90%. The estimated persistence time of viable spp. ova after land application was estimated at close to 7 wk, indicating that ova may not be viable for as long as it has been shown to be in studies of more temperate areas. The relationship of temperature with persistence of viable spp. ova in a tropical soil was stronger than moisture content, suggesting that temperature substantially contributed to their nonviability over the course of the experiment.

Ocorrência de epidemia do mal das folhas em regiões de "escape" do Brasil / Occurrence of South American leaf blight epidemic in escape zones of the Brazil

Entre janeiro e fevereiro de 2013 ocorreu uma epidemia de mal das folhas em regiões consideradas como de "escape" à doença, causando preocupações e indagações nos produtores de borracha e ao setor heveícola como um todo. Uma possível adaptação do fungo a essas zonas foi levantada e a consistência do controle da doença pela utilização do binômio plantas com troca uniforme das folhas + período seco, típicos de regiões de "escape", foi questionada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi trazer informações importantes aos heveicultores sobre a interação clima-patógeno-hospedeiro e comparar variáveis de normais climatológicas (média histórica) e dados climáticos deste período de ocorrência da epidemia (janeiro e fevereiro de 2013). Concluiu-se que não foi o patógeno que se adaptou às plantas de seringueira em clima mais seco, nas regiões de "escape", mas que o clima mais úmido ocorreu nessas regiões mais secas, nesse período.(AU)

In January and February 2013 occurred a South American leaf blight epidemic in regions considered as escape zones, causing concern to rubber tree growers and throughout the rubber industry. A possible adaptation of the fungus to escape zones was raised and the consistency of disease control by the use of the binomial: plants with uniform renewal of leaves + dry season, typical of the escape zones, was questioned. The aim of this work was to bring relevant information to the rubber growers about the interaction climate-pathogen-host and to compare normal climate (historical average) and climatic data of the occurrence period of epidemic (January and February 2013). We conclude that was not the pathogen that has adapted to rubber tree in drier conditions, typical in escape regions, but a more humid climate occurred in these drier regions during this period.(AU)

A curva de regressão da gonadotrofina coriônica humana é útil no diagnóstico precoce da neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional pós-molar? / Are curves of human chorionic gonadotropin useful in the early diagnosis of post-molar trophoblastic neoplasia?

OBJETIVO: avaliar a utilidade da curva de regressão normal da gonadotrofina coriônica humana (hCG) no diagnóstico precoce de neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional pós-molar (NTG). MÉTODOS: estudo longitudinal, incluindo 105 pacientes com mola hidatiforme completa (MHC) acompanhadas no Centro de Doenças Trofoblásticas de Botucatu, entre 1998 e 2005. Os títulos da hCG sérica foram mensurados quinzenalmente em todas as pacientes. Curvas individuais de regressão da hCG das 105 pacientes foram estabelecidas. A comparação entre a curva de regressão normal estabelecida em nosso serviço com as curvas individuais da hCG foi usada no rastreamento e diagnóstico (platô/ascensão) de NTG. O número de semanas pós-esvaziamento quando a hCG excedeu o limite normal foi comparado com o número semanas em que a hCG apresentou platô/ascensão. RESULTADOS: das 105 pacientes com MHC, 80 apresentaram remissão espontânea (RE) e 25 desenvolveram NTG. Das 80 pacientes com RE, 7 (8,7 por cento) apresentaram, inicialmente, dosagem da hCG acima do normal, mas, no devido tempo, alcançaram a remissão. Todas as 25 pacientes com NTG apresentaram desvio da curva normal da hCG em 3,8±2,5 semanas e mostraram platô ou ascensão em 8,4±2,9 semanas (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: a curva de regressão normal da hCG pós-molar pode ser útil para diagnóstico de NTG.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the usefulness of the normal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regression curve in the early diagnosis of post-molar trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). METHODS: a longitudinal study including 105 patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) followed up at the Botucatu Center of Trophoblastic Diseases from 1998 to 2005. Serial serum hCG titers were measured fortnightly in all patients. Individual curves of the 105 patients were built. Comparison between the normal regression curve established at our center with individual hCG curves was used to screen and diagnose (plateau/rise) GTN. The number of weeks postevacuation when hCG levels exceeded the normal limits was compared with the number of weeks when hCG reached plateau/rise. RESULTS: among the 105 patients with CHM, 80 reached spontaneous remission (SR) and 25 developed GTN. Among the 80 SR patients, 7 (8.7 percent) initially showed hCG concentrations above normal but eventually achieved remission. All the 25 GTN patients showed deviation from the normal hCG curve at 3.84±2.57 weeks and reached plateau or rise at 8.40±2.94 weeks (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the normal regression curve of post-molar hCG is useful in the early diagnosis of GTN.

Digital monitoring of mycelium growth kinetics and vigor of shiitake ( Lentinula edodes ( Berk. ) Pegler ) on agar medium

Avaliou-se o crescimento e vigor das linhagens LE 96/17, LE 98/51, LE 98/53 e LE 98/56 de Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler em diferentes composições de meio de cultura. As linhagens foram provenientes da Micoteca do Módulo de Cogumelos da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Unesp, Campus de Botucatu. Os isolados foram obtidos por propagação vegetativa, pela transferência asséptica do micélio para o meio de cultura de extrato de serragem-dextrose-ágar. O crescimento e vigor do micélio foi fotografado diariamente com uma câmera digital, durante a incubação, até a colonização total da placa de Petri. As imagens foram analisadas pelo programa UTHSCSA ImageTool (freeware), versão 2.0, desenvolvido pela University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. O modelo estatístico que melhor explicou a cinética de crescimento miceliano em área (mm2), das linhagens de cogumelos L. edodes, tem como componente determinístico a exponencial de uma função Gompertz. O vigor, avaliado através da cor do micélio (em escala de tons do cinza), revelou um comportamento similar entre as linhagens, com valor máximo entre o 4º e 5º dia e, em seguida apresentou declínio. Em meios de cultura mais enriquecidos, a velocidade de crescimento das linhagens de L. edodes foi menor e o vigor maior. O monitoramento digital permite uma avaliação objetiva do crescimento e vigor do L. edodes in vitro.

Mola hidatiforme completa e eclâmpsia: relato de caso / Complete hydatidiform mole and eclampsia: a case report

O desenvolvimento de pré-eclâmpsia ou eclâmpsia antes da 20ª semana deve levar à suspeita de mola hidatiforme. Descrevemos um caso de mola hidatiforme completa (MHC) e eclâmpsia concomitante em paciente com 20 anos que apresentava sangramento genital, anemia, tamanho uterino excessivo e cistos de ovário, associados a hipertensäo arterial e proteinúria. Os níveis de b-hCG estavam elevados e a funçäo tiroidiana, alterada. A ultra-sonografia mostrou-se compatível com MHC. Após o esvaziamento uterino apresentou cefaléia e alteraçöes visuais, seguidas por convulsöes tônico-clônicas que cessaram com sulfato de magnésio hepta-hidratado a 50 por cento. No seguimento pós-molar foi diagnosticado tumor trofoblástico gestacional (TTG) prontamente tratado com quimioterapia. A associaçäo de MHC e eclâmpsia determina esvaziamento uterino imediato e seguimento pós-molar rigoroso, pelo risco aumentado de desenvolvimento de TTG

Effects of some phenolic compounds on soybean seed germination and on seed-borne fungi

Studies were carried out on the effects of coumarin, ferulic acid and naringenin on soybean seed germination and on the growth of seed-borne fungi at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg.L-1. The compounds showed good inhibition of seed germination, especially at 50 mg.L-1, but little fungistatic activity. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed

Características das curvas de regressão da gonadotrofina coriônica pós-mola hidatiforme completa / Characteristics of ß-hCG regression cruves following complete hydatidiform mole

Objetivos: construir a curva de regressão do ß-hCG pós-mola hidatiforme completa (MHC) com remissão espontânea e comparar com a curva de regressão pós-MHC com tumor trofoblástico gestacional (TTG). Análise comparativa da curva de regressão do ß-hCG das portadoras de MHC, acompanhadas no Serviço, com a curva de regressão observada por outros autores. Métodos: foi realizada avaliação clínica e laboratorial (dosagem sérica de ß-hCG), na admissão e no segmento pós-molar, de todas as pacientes com MHC, atendidas entre 1990 e 1998 no Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu - Unesp. O resultado da determinação seriada do ß-hCG foi analisado em curvas log de regressão. A evolução da curva de regressão do ß-hCG foi analisada e comparada em MHC com remissão espontânea e MHC com TTG numa curva log de regressão, com intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento. A curva log de regressão do grupo de remissão espontânea foi comparada com curvas consideradas padrão. Foram construídas curvas log individuais de todas as pacientes e classificadas de acordo com os quatro tipos de curva (I, lI, III e IV), propostos para o seguimento pós-molar. Resultados: 61 pacientes com MHC tiveram seguimento pós-molar completo, 50 (82 por cento) apresentaram remissão espontânea e 11 (18 por cento) desenvolveram TTG. No grupo de pacientes com MHC e remissão espontânea, o tempo para alcançar a normalização dos níveis do ß-hCG, após o esvaziamento molar, foi até 20 semanas. As pacientes que desenvolveram TTG apresentaram desvio precoce da curva de regressão normal do ß-hCG, 4 a 6 semanas após o esvaziamento molar. Nestas pacientes, a quimioterapia foi introduzida em média na 9ª semana pós- esvaziamento molar. Conclusões: a curva de regressão do ß-hCG pós-MHC com remissão espontânea apresentou declínio log exponencial, semelhante ao observado por outros autores, e diferente das MHC com TTG. Foram identificados três tipos de curvas de regressão do ß-hCG, semelhantes aos de Goldstein, I, II e IV, e outros dois tipos diferentes de regressão do ß-hCG: V (regressão normal) e VI (regressão anormal).