SummaryThe gum exudate of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) was shown to inhibit growth of some fungi and bacteria. The gum also prevented oviposition and reduced the number of surviving adults of the Bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus. The feeding of larvae of the Chrysomelid Crimissa cruralis was also strongly affected by the gum. These results suggest an active role for the gum in the defence mechanisms of the plant.

No abstract

In an experimental microcosm, an analysis was performed of the influence exerted by freshwater Mesocyclops longisetus copepods on the survival of Vibrio cholerae O1 serovar Inaba. In the State of Ceará, copepods are used in the control of Aedes aegypti larvae. The system consisted of water with a salinity of 0.27 per 10,000 habitants and pH 7.5, which after sterilizing filtration was distributed into seven flasks with a volume of 400 ml; in each of six flasks, 10 live copepods were inoculated along with 1 ml of an 8-hour culture of Vibrio cholerae O1 at 37oC in Alkaline Peptone Water, resulting in a concentration of 3.80x10(4) colony-forming units. The control flask contained only the water with the same bacterial suspension. The system was maintained for six days at room temperature (25-28oC), and daily duplicate counts were performed in TCBS Agar. Results confirmed a clear association between Vibrio cholerae O1 and the live copepods, based on survival of the bacteria at compatible levels with the initial inoculation until the sixth day of the analysis.