Search Results (3)

Conservation and recovery of degraded areas generate great demand for seeds of native tree species. The development and/or improvement of efficient techniques for the evaluation of forest-seed quality is important for the production and establishment of high-quality seedlings for restoration. In this study, the tissue density of radiographic images of Senna macranthera seeds was related to their physiological quality. Moreover, biomass, carbon stock, seedling survival, and X-ray technique costs were estimated for S. macranthera. Collected seeds were analyzed using digital radiography to measure relative and integrated density. The physical integrity of seed tissues was visually evaluated. Seeds were then germination tested to assess seedling development-related traits. Semiautomated radiography allowed for visualizing internal seed structures and observing their density and physical-integrity differences as well as physiological quality. Moreover, seed lots with lower relative and integrated densities had more physical damage and/or malformation, thus producing less vigorous seedlings. The average carbon stock was 21.42 kg per tree. The seed selection cost was USD 0.0132/seed at an 81% germination rate. The annual cost of planting S. macranthera seedlings was USD 7500 per hectare during the establishment year and averaged USD 1562 per year for replanting lost transplants over the eight years after initial planting. Applying these techniques may enhance the seedling production of this species, contributing to reforestation programs in Brazil. Full article

Conservation biological control of pests may be achieved using a variety of integrated strategies based on crop diversification. We investigated whether the insertion of the intercropped plants species (IPS) Inga edulis, Senna macranthera, and Varronia curassavica modified the abundance of mites, their feeding behavior, and the dissimilarity of predator and herbivore mites over a gradient of distance from the IPS on coffee. To accomplish this, we recorded the mite species on coffee plants along transects of 16 m extending from the IPS, including on the IPS. A total of 8946 specimens were sampled. Tenuipalpidae was the most abundant family on coffee, followed by Tydeidae, while Eriophyidae was the most abundant on the IPS, followed by Phytoseiidae. The abundance and richness of mites differed between their feeding behavior and distance. The dissimilarity of predators and herbivores increased along a gradient of distance. Furthermore, the IPS harbored several mite species and the diversity of predator and herbivore mites among the IPS was different. The findings suggest that the intercropped plant species can attract and serve as a reservoir of predatory mites on coffee crops, which could improve the biocontrol of pest mites on coffee. Full article

Background: Bacterial resistance requires new treatments for infections. In this context, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an effective and promising option. Objectives: Three plant extracts (Senna splendida, Senna alata, and Senna macranthera) were evaluated as photosensitizers for aPDT. Methods: Cutibacterium acnes (ATCC 6919), Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 35668), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) were evaluated. Reactive oxygen species production was also verified. Oral keratinocytes assessed cytotoxicity. LC-DAD-MS analysis identified the chemical components of the evaluated extracts. Results: Most species cultured in the planktonic phase showed total microbial reduction (>6 log10 CFU/mL/p < 0.0001) for all extracts. C. albicans cultured in biofilm showed total microbial reduction (7.68 log10 CFU/mL/p < 0.0001) for aPDT mediated by all extracts. Extracts from S. macranthera and S. alata produced the highest number of reactive oxygen species (p < 0.0001). The S. alata extract had the highest cell viability. The LC-DAD-MS analysis of active extracts showed one naphthopyrone and seven anthraquinones as potential candidates for photoactive compounds. Conclusion: This study showed that aPDT mediated by Senna spp. was efficient in microbial suspension and biofilm of microorganisms of medical and dental interest. Full article