RESUMO -(Anatomia foliar como subsídio à taxonomia de espécies do Complexo Briza L. (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae)). O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a importância da anatomia foliar, visando a fornecer subsídios para a taxonomia do Complexo Briza, cuja circunscrição vem sendo objeto de discussão. Porções medianas da segunda folha abaixo da inflorescência de 21 táxons do Complexo Briza e um de Erianthecium Parodi foram coletadas, fixadas e processadas de acordo com a metodologia usual em microscopia óptica. Todas as espécies estudadas apresentam padrão anatômico festucóide, característico de gramíneas C 3 . Os resultados mostram que os caracteres da face abaxial da epiderme relativos à presença/ausência de células suberosas e à forma dos corpos silicosos são úteis para compreender as relações taxonômicas no Complexo Briza, distinguindo as espécies eurasiáticas das americanas. Da mesma forma, alguns caracteres da secção transversal da lâmina foliar como forma da lâmina, quantidade de esclerênquima e estrutura do mesofilo. Por outro lado, com relação às espécies americanas do Complexo Briza, os três agrupamentos aqui obtidos não correspondem a nenhuma proposta anterior de categorias taxonômicas genéricas ou infragenéricas. Palavras-chave: anatomia foliar, Complexo Briza, Erianthecium bulbosum, Gramineae, Poeae ABSTRACT -(Leaf anatomy as a taxonomic tool for Briza Complex species (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae)). The aim of this study was to analyze leaf anatomy of selected taxa of the Briza Complex and also of a related genus, Erianthecium Parodi, to provide data for the taxonomy of the Complex, whose circumscription is being discussed. Middle portions of the second leaf below the inflorescence of 21 taxa of the Briza Complex and of Erianthecium bulbosum were collected, fixed and processed according to conventional methodology for light microscopy. All species present anatomical patterns typical of festucoid and C3 grasses. The results suggest that the characters of the abaxial surface of the epidermis such as presence/absence of cork cells and shape of silica bodies are useful for understanding the taxonomic relationships within the Briza Complex, distinguishing Eurasiatic species from American species. The same applies to several characters of the leaf blade in cross-section, e.g. blade shape, amount of sclerenchyma and structure of the mesophyll. On the other hand, in the American species of the "Briza Complex", the three groups obtained here do not agree with any previous proposal of generic or infrageneric taxonomic categories. O gênero Briza s. l. é morfologicamente heterogêneo, o que em parte explica as diferentes circunscrições até hoje a ele propostas. A variação encontrada se refere especialmente às formas do lema e da pálea, às dimensões das espiguetas e à coloração do lema (Longhi-Wagner 1987). Além do problema da circunscrição genérica do Complexo, algumas espécies possuem variações morfológicas infraespecíficas que suscitam dúvidas sobre a sua circunscrição. Este é o caso de B. subaristata Lam., para a...

The potential of a plant with medicinal and nutritional properties, Anredera cordifolia, is reviewed. Its common names include “Bertalha” and “folha gorda” and it is popularly used for wound healing and against fungal infections and other types of infection. Its pharmacological properties have been widely investigated and acknowledged, especially with regard to its antibacterial activity, which improves the healing of wounds infected by Staphylococcus aureus, and to its antifungal activity against Candida albicans. It is an unconventional food plant, with leaves and aerial tubers used as food prepared in varied ways. It is also considered an invasive plant in several countries and thus classified as a weed. Its characteristics of a Brazilian native plant, with proven medicinal properties and unconventional use as food, underlie our study on its ecology and botanical classification, as well as the pharmacological assays and screening of chemical constituents.

In this study, the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on plant growth, histology of roots, photosynthetic pigments content, δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D; E.C. 4.2.1.24) and acid phosphatase activities (AP; E.C. 3.1.3.2), soluble phosphorus (Pi) measurement and mineral nutrients content in cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.) were investigated. Cucumber seedlings were grown in vitro in an agar-solidified substrate containing four CdCl2 treatments (0, 100, 400, and 1000 µM) for ten days. Cd was readily absorbed by seedlings and its content was greater in the roots than in the shoot. Cd reduced shoot and root length, and fresh and dry biomass of seedlings. Inhibition of root cell elongation in Cd-treated seedlings was observed by the increase of the mean radial size of cells belonging to three zones of the root tip. The highest level of Cd reduced in a similar manner chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents. Increasing concentrations of Cd resulted in a linear decrease in carotenoids levels of cotyledons. Interestingly, the ALA-D activity in cotyledons was inhibited only at the highest level of Cd. Root and shoot AP activities were, respectively, activated and inhibited at all CdCl2 concentrations. Root Pi concentration was increased in all Cd treatments and it was not altered in the shoot tissues. Moreover, in general, the nutrient contents were increased in the root and decreased in the shoot. Therefore, we suggest that Cd affects negatively growth, photosynthetic pigments, ALA-D and AP activities and partition of mineral nutrients in cucumber seedlings.

-(Agaricomycetes fungi community at different forest systems in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: seasonal deciduous forest and eucalypt monoculture). Monocultures differ from native forests in relation to plant heterogeneity, variety of substrates, and soil humidity, possibly altering the diversity of organisms, such as the fungi. This study aimed to compare the richness, abundance, and composition of Agaricomycetes fungi in a native forest and in a eucalypt monoculture. The fungi were collected in a seasonal deciduous forest area and in a Eucalyptus grandis monoculture, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The abundance and richness of fungi were significantly lower in the eucalypt plantation than in the native forest and the species composition differed between the areas. Thus, it was concluded that the eucalypt monoculture negatively affects the Agaricomycetes fungi community. Keywords: Basidiomycota, Eucalyptus grandis, native forest RESUMO -(Comunidade de fungos Agaricomycetes em diferentes sistemas florestais no noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: Floresta Estacional Decídua e monocultura de eucalipto). As monoculturas diferem de matas nativas em relação à heterogeneidade vegetal, variedade de substratos e umidade do solo, podendo afetar a diversidade de organismos, tais como os fungos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a riqueza, abundância e composição de fungos Agaricomycetes em uma mata nativa e em uma monocultura de eucalipto. As coletas dos fungos foram realizadas em uma área de Floresta Estacional Decídua e em uma monocultura de Eucalyptus grandis, no noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A abundância e riqueza de fungos na monocultura de eucalipto foram significativamente inferiores às encontradas na mata nativa, assim como a composição de espécies diferiu entre as áreas. Portanto, a monocultura de eucalipto afeta negativamente a comunidade de fungos Agaricomycetes. Palavras-chave: Basidiomycota, Eucalyptus grandis, mata nativa

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the solvent retention capacity of wheat flour from three genotypes when nitrogenous fertilizer is applied at different stages of crop growth; and (ii) to evaluate the possible existence of correlations between different solvents when nitrogenous fertilizer is applied at different stages of crop growth. The experiment was conducted from June to November 2013 in Plant Breeding Laboratory and Plant Production, Federal University of Santa Maria, the experimental area is located at Frederico Westphalen, southern Brazil. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations (3 genotypes and application of nitrogenous fertilizer at 4 crop growth stages) of a 3x4 factorial (genotype x nitrogenous fertilizer application) arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The genotypes Fundacep 52, TBIO Mestre and TBIO Itaipu were arranged with the tested nitrogenous fertilizer applications (I = no nitrogen, II = tillering, III = tillering and flowering and IV = tillering, booting and flowering). Greater levels of solvent retention capacity were observed in TBIO Mestre, suggesting that the genotype has good baking quality. The amount of glutenin was not affected by the stage of nitrogenous fertilization application. The water retention capacity of the flour has a strong and positive correlation with the retention capacity of the sodium carbonate and sucrose, along with the associations between the solvents sodium carbonate and sucrose.