Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was employed to show the highest number of esterase loci and to detect alpha- and beta-esterase polymorphisms in leaf buds of Vitis vinifera cultivars. A total of 16 esterase isozymes were detected in leaf buds from 235 plants including Italia, Rubi, Benitaka, and Brasil cultivars. Biochemical characterization of the grape esterases using ester substrates revealed alpha-, beta-, and alpha/beta-esterases with inhibitor tests distinguishing both carboxylesterases (EST-2, EST-3, EST-5, EST-6, EST-7, EST-8, EST-9, EST-10, and EST-16 isozymes) and acetylesterases (EST-4, EST-11, EST-12, EST-13, EST-14, EST-15 isozymes). No allele variation for alpha-, beta-, and alpha/beta-esterases was detected; however, EST-3 alpha-carboxylesterase was absent in 61.7% of vines, and EST-4 alpha/beta-acetylesterase was absent in one vine of Rubi cv. Null EST-3 carboxylesterase phenotype (61.7%) cannot be explained in this article, but the high genetic polymorphism in four V. vinifera clones is a positive aspect for genetic selection and development of new clones with different characteristics.

a b s t r a c tMicrosatellite transferability was used as a method to examine the genetic diversity and structure of populations in Pilosocereus gounellei seedling samples that have potential to implement effective restoration strategies for degraded and disturbed areas of the Caatinga biome. Genomic DNA was extracted from 85 seedlings obtained from fruit collected from plants growing in native areas in the Brazilian states of Piaui (PI), Rio Grande do Norte (RN), and Bahia (BA). Six microsatellite primers were polymorphic. AMOVA showed higher genetic variation within (72%) than among (28%) the samples from the three states. The high level of similarity between the seedlings from PI, BA, and RN indicated that samples collected at any of the three sites can be used to represent the genetic diversity of the species. Seeds of plants from the three States are recommended as samples for germplasm banks and/or the production of plantlets to i) plant in areas of strategic reserves for forage, ii) deploy new cultivation areas, iii) restore degraded areas in the semi-arid Northeast, and iv) maintain ecological reserve banks and fodder with genetically divergent plants.

ABSTRACT. Current analysis characterizes the effect of different fungicides often applied for pest control on α−and β-esterase patterns of four economically important table-wine grape cultivars (Italia, Rubi, Benitaka and Brasil) of Vitis vinifera. The α-and β-esterase patterns in bud leaves of the cultivars were assessed by native PAGE analysis. Cabrio Top ®

ABSTRACT. Genetic diversity and structure were analyzed in 10 accessions belonging to Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Capsicum located at Federal University of Piauí in northwestern Brazil that receives pepper samples grown in community gardens in various regions and Brazilian states. Selections were made from seeds of C. chinense (4 accessions), C. annuum (5 accessions), and C. baccatum (1 accession). Samples consisting of leaves were collected from 4-10 plants of each accession (a total of 85 plants). Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to identify α-and β-esterase polymorphisms. Polymorphism was clearly detected in 5 loci. Sixteen alleles were found at 5 α/β-esterase loci of the three Capsicum species. In the C. chinense samples, the highest H O and H E values were 0.3625 and 0.4395, respectively, whereas in C. annuum samples, H O and H E values were 0.2980 and 0.3310, respectively; the estimated H O and H E values in C. chinense samples were higher than those detected in C. annuum samples. A deficit of homozygous individuals was found in C. chinense (F IS = -0.6978) and C. annuum (F IS = 0.7750). Genetic differentiation between C. chinense and C. annuum at these loci was high (F ST = 0.1867) indicating that C. chinense and C. annuum are genetically structured species for α/β-esterase isozymes. The esterase analysis showed high genetic diversity among the C. chinense and C. annuum samples and very high genetic differentiation (F ST = 0.6321) among the C. chinense and C. annuum samples and the C. baccatum accession.

ABSTRACT. Isozyme electrophoresis was used as a method in the identification of biochemical markers for genotype discrimination and for genetic diversity determination in five varieties of sugarcane, Saccharum spp. (Poaceae) cultivated in the northern Paraná, Southern Brazil. The five RB (Republic of Brazil) varieties represent improved genetic material, useful for sugar and alcohol production. SOD isozyme pattern can be used as biochemical markers to discriminate the sugarcane RB (72454, 835089, 845257, 855156 and 855536) varieties. The proportion of polymorphic loci was 25% for the RB835089, RB855156, RB855536, and RB72454 varieties and 18.8% for the RB845257 variety. Genetic diversity showed high I values; however, the levels of intervariety genetic divergence demonstrated by the F-statistic values indicated a deficit of heterozygotes for the cPer-2 locus (F (IS) = 0.743). The standardized variance in allele frequency among the five RB varieties was F (ST) = 0.434 for the cPer-2 locus, and the value calculated for the mean standardized variance in allele frequency among the five RB varieties for the 4 loci was F (ST) = 0.182. Thus, the directional selection process for the development of the sugarcane RB varieties seems to have played a major role in determining selection of homozygous plants.Key words: genetic diversity, isozymes, sugarcane. RESUMO. Diversidade isozímica em variedades RB (República do Brasil) de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp).A eletroforese de isoenzimas foi usada como um método para encontrar marcadores bioquímicos para a identificação de genótipos e para determinar a diversidade genética em cinco variedades de cana-de-açúcar, Saccharum spp. (Poaceae) cultivadas na região norte do estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. As cinco variedades RB (República do Brasil) representam um material genético melhorado, usado para a produção de açúcar e de álcool. O padrão de isoenzimas SOD pode ser usado como um marcador bioquímico para discriminar as variedades RB (72454, 835089, 845257, 855156 e 855536) de cana-de-açúcar. A proporção de loci polimórficos foi de 25% para as variedades RB835089, RB855156, RB855536 e RB72454, e de 18.8% para a variedade RB845257. A diversidade genética mostrou valores altos para I, entretanto, os níveis de divergência intervariedades demonstrados pelos valores de F-estatístico indicaram um deficit de heterozigotos para o locus cPer-2 (F (IS) = 0.743). A variância na freqüência dos alelos entre as cinco variedades RB para o locus cPer-2 foi F (ST) = 0.434, e o valor calculado para a variância média na freqüência dos alelos para os 4 loci entre as cinco variedades RB foi F (ST) = 0.182. Assim, o processo de seleção direcional usado para o desenvolvimento das variedades de cana-de-açúcar RB parece exercer um papel significativo, determinando a seleção de plantas homozigotas.Palavras-chave: isoenzimas, cana-de-açúcar, diversidade genética, melhoramento genético.