<p>We hypothesize that South African medicinal plants contain compounds that can act in synergism with synthetic antifungal compounds. Four fungicides - Sporekill&trade / , Rovral&trade / , Terminator&trade / and Teldor&trade / at doses 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mL L-1 and plant species Galenia africana, Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Tulbaghia violacea were tested aloneand in different combinations for their potency (efficacy) on radial growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea strains on potato dextrose plates. Four doses of plant extract for each of the respective plant species were used. A total of 48 combinations were tested for each strain. Mixtures of plant extracts were far more effective in controlling strains compared to the individual components alone, representing significant levels of in vitro synergistic interactions. Combinations of these components represent an attractive future prospect for the development of new management strategies for controlling B. cinerea. Since the in vitro tests of these mixtures showed inhibitory activity, the mixtures were tested for activity in assays on Granny Smith apples. In vitro tests can be used to screen mixtures to obtain information on their inhibitory activity on a pathogen, however, the environmental conditions of the fruit and the ability of the pathogen to grow into the fruit cannot be simulated in vivo. A series of two-fold doses of medicinal plant extracts were combined with fungicides to conduct decay inhibition studies. The incidence of gray mold was significantly reduced by mixtures of plant extracts and fungicides. Under conditions similar to those in commercial storage, a drench treatment with G. africana and Rovral&trade / significantly (p=0.05) inhibit gray mold on the apples and was more effective than the plant extract and fungicide alone. The treatments exerted synergistic effects and were markedly better than the components applied alone. The wound colonization assay was used for optimal decay control. In a drench, much higher volumes of the treatments are used to ensure that the components of the suspension are deposited evenly over the entire fruit surface. Drenching of fruit to apply other chemicals is an established practise in the pome (fleshy) fruit industry, and simplifies the commercial application of the mixtures, as no additional infrastructure at commercial packing houses will be required. This approach not only makes it possible to reduce fungicide concentrations while maintaining adequate decay control, but also ensures a reduction of the chemical residue on the fruit.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:57:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6260.pdf: 1745400 bytes, checksum: 87ca153ad8aa5416213c367810bb3f5e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-08 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two organic liquid fertilizeres made from fresh cattle manure, produced under anaerobic digestion or forced oxygenation, for the control of Phytophthora nicotianae. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate separately the effect of the components in these products over the pathogen. For so, we tested the effect of cultivable microorganisms and the filtered fraction over the pathogen, targeting to identify the role of this factors in the disease control. It was found that biofertilizers have substances and microorganisms present in its composition capable of operating in the pathosystem in question, highlighting the role of baciliform heat resistant bacteria. It was observed that the effect of the filtered fraction of the anaerobic biofertilizer was effective on the mycelial growth of the pathogen and significantly higher than the filtered fraction of the aerobic biofertilizer, and had higher levels of some nutrients, especially calcium, copper and iron. The aerobic biofertilizer showed greater quantity and diversity of microorganisms antagonistic to P. nicotianae. The application of both biofertilizers reduced the number of infected roots of two citrus rootstocks (Citrus limonia and Citrus sunki) Both biofertilizers also reduced the amount of pathogen inoculum in the soil. In high concentrations biofertilizers cause phytotoxicity on young citrus plants, but in moderate concentrations, the products increased the number of germinated seeds of Rangpur lime and mandarin Sunki sown on soil inoculated with the pathogen. This makes the use of biofertilizers an option to be integrated in the disease management of P. nicotianae in citrus, however, more studies are require to investigate other issues, such as the risks related to the application of this products. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de um biofertilizante feito à base de esterco bovino, produzido sob digestão anaeróbica ou oxigenação forçada, no controle de Phytophthora nicotianae, mediante técnicas de avaliação in vitro e in vivo. Além disso, buscou-se investigar separadamente o efeito dos componentes presentes nestes produtos sobre o patógeno. Para tal, testou-se o efeito de microrganismos cultiváveis e da fração filtrada, visando identificar o papel dos fatores responsáveis pelo controle da doença. Verificouse que os biofertilizantes possuem substâncias e microrganismos presentes em sua composição capazes de atuar no patossistema em questão, havendo destaque para bactérias baciliformes termorresistentes. Observou-se que, o efeito da fração filtrada do biofertilizante anaeróbico foi efetivo sobre o crescimento micelial do patógeno e significativamente superior à fração filtrada do biofertilizante aeróbico, este, apresentou teores mais elevados de alguns nutrientes minerais, com destaque para cálcio, cobre e ferro. Já o biofertilizante aeróbico apresentou maior quantidade e diversidade de microrganismos antagônicos à P. nicotianae. A aplicação de ambos os biofertilizantes reduziu o número de raízes de porta-enxerto de citros (Citrus limonia e Citrus sunki) infectadas, assim como, a quantidade de inóculo do patógeno no substrato de plantio utilizado. Em concentrações elevadas os biofertilizantes causaram fitotoxicidade em plantas jovens de citros, mas em concentrações moderadas, os biofertilizantes elevaram o número de sementes germinadas de limão Cravo e tangerina Sunki, semeadas em substrato inoculado com o fitopatógeno. Isso faz do uso de biofertilizantes, uma opção para o manejo de P. nicotianae em citros, contudo novas pesquisas são necessárias para elucidar questões referentes ao seu uso prático e riscos referentes à sua aplicação.

As águas residuárias provenientes da indústria do charque são conhecidas por apresentarem elevado teor de cloreto de sódio, aliado a grandes concentrações de matéria orgânica proveniente do sangue liberado ao longo do processo industrial. Esse tipo de água residuária apresenta potencial para degradação biológica, contudo, o cloreto de sódio, em concentração elevada, pode inibir a atividade dos microrganismos e, em alguns casos, levar sistemas biológicos à falência. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada a viabilidade de degradação anaeróbia de efluente sintético de Charqueada contendo elevado teor de cloreto de sódio, em reator anaeróbio tipo UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), em escala de laboratório. Foram utilizados 4 reatores, alimentados com água residuária sintética com características similares à água residuária de Charqueada. O reator 1 foi utilizado como controle, o reator 2 recebeu NaCl e os demais (3 e 4) foram operados na presença de NaCl acrescidos de: betaína e potássio com cálcio, respectivamente. Os compostos citados são conhecidos como antagonizantes, por possuirem capacidade de minimizar o efeito inibitório do sódio sobre o processo de digestão anaeróbia. Os reatores foram inoculados com lodo de reator UASB e submetidos à concentração de 5000 mg/L de matéria orgânica, como DQO. A carga orgânica aplicada foi de 5 Kg/m3.d e os reatores não suportaram tal carga. Reiniciou-se a operação com aumento progressivo da DQO de 500 a 2000 mg/L resultando em cargas orgânicas de 0,5 a 2,0 Kg/m3.d, respectivamente. Após estabilização dos reatores, iniciou-se a fase de introdução de cloreto de sódio (1.500 a 13.500 mg/L) e antagonizantes com aumento progressivo a cada fase. Na presença ou ausência de antagonizantes, os reatores 2, 3 e 4 não tiveram o desempenho alterado até a concentração de NaCl de 6000 mg/L. Na presença de 9000 mg/L de NaCl, a betaína se mostrou pouco efetiva como soluto compatível no reator 3 e os antagonizantes do reator 4, potássio e cálcio, apresentaram efeitos estimulatórios. As morfologias encontradas ao longo do experimento foram cocos, víbrios, bacilos, sarcinas, além de morfologias semelhantes a Methanosarcina sp. e Methanosaeta sp. O aumento da concentração de cloreto de sódio provocou a redição da população de Arqueas. / Wastewaters from the charque industry (salted and dried meat) are known for their high levels of sodium chloride, allied to high organic concentrations originary from blood which is disposed along the industrial process. That kind of wastewater presents good potential for biological degradation (relationship DBO/DQO aproximately 0,5). However, the high concentration of sodium chloride can inhibit microorganisms activity and in some cases, take the biological systems to failure. The present work studied the viability of anaerobic degradation of synthetic charqueada wastewater, containing high salinity, in reactor UASB, at laboratory scale. Four reactors were used. Reactor 1 was used as control, reactor 2 received just NaCl and the two others (3 and 4) were operated in the presence of NaCl in increased with betaine and potassium with calcium, respectively. The mentioned compounds are known to be antagonists, for they possess capacity to minimize the inhibitory effect of sodium in the anaerobic digestion process. The reactors were inoculated with UASB sludge and the operation began with concentration from 5000 mg/L of organic matter, expressed as DQO. The organic load applied from 5,0 Kg/m3.d and the reactors did not support such load. The operation was restarted with progressive increase of 500 to 2000 mg/L of DQO, resulting in organic load from 0,5 to 2,0 Kg/m3.d, respectively. After reactors stabilization, the phase of introduction of NaCl (1500 to 13500 mg/L) and antagonists was started, with the progressive increase of sodium chloride and antagonists. In presence or absence of antagonists, reactors 2, 3 and 4 did not present performance alterations until the concentration of NaCl of 6000 mg/L was reached. When NaCl concentrations were from 9000 to 13500 mg/L, betaine was shown to have small effects in the reactor 3 and the antagonists of reactor 4, potassium and calcium, presented stimulant effects. The morphologies found along the experiment were: coconuts, víbrios, bacilli, sarcinas, besides morphologies similar to the Methanosarcina sp. and Methanosaeta sp. When concentrations of sodium chloride were increased the population of Arqueas were reduced.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / We hypothesize that South African medicinal plants contain compounds that can act in synergism with synthetic antifungal compounds. Four fungicides - Sporekill™, Rovral™, Terminator™ and Teldor™ at doses 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mL L-1 and plant species Galenia africana, Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Tulbaghia violacea were tested aloneand in different combinations for their potency (efficacy) on radial growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea strains on potato dextrose plates. Four doses of plant extract for each of the respective plant species were used. A total of 48 combinations were tested for each strain. Mixtures of plant extracts were far more effective in controlling strains compared to the individual components alone, representing significant levels of in vitro synergistic interactions. Combinations of these components represent an attractive future prospect for the development of new management strategies for controlling B. cinerea. Since the in vitro tests of these mixtures showed inhibitory activity, the mixtures were tested for activity in assays on Granny Smith apples. In vitro tests can be used to screen mixtures to obtain information on their inhibitory activity on a pathogen, however, the environmental conditions of the fruit and the ability of the pathogen to grow into the fruit cannot be simulated in vivo. A series of two-fold doses of medicinal plant extracts were combined with fungicides to conduct decay inhibition studies. The incidence of gray mold was significantly reduced by mixtures of plant extracts and fungicides. Under conditions similar to those in commercial storage, a drench treatment with G. africana and Rovral™ significantly (p=0.05) inhibit gray mold on the apples and was more effective than the plant extract and fungicide alone. The treatments exerted synergistic effects and were markedly better than the components applied alone. The wound colonization assay was used for optimal decay control. In a drench, much higher volumes of the treatments are used to ensure that the components of the suspension are deposited evenly over the entire fruit surface. Drenching of fruit to apply other chemicals is an established practise in the pome (fleshy) fruit industry, and simplifies the commercial application of the mixtures, as no additional infrastructure at commercial packing houses will be required. This approach not only makes it possible to reduce fungicide concentrations while maintaining adequate decay control, but also ensures a reduction of the chemical residue on the fruit. / South Africa

Abstract Sexual selection results from competition between individuals over access to gametes of the opposite sex. Starting with anisogamy, with females producing larger and fewer gametes than males, females usually invest more in reproduction and thus have lower potential reproductive rates than males. Therefore males are traditionally suggested to compete over females whereas females are choosy. The different evolutionary interests between the sexes result in different selection regimes considering e.g. mating rates. In some species, this conflict is even seen as apparent struggles between males and females over mating decision and/or duration, resulting in antagonistic coevolution with both sexes evolving adaptations to gain more control over the other sex. In this thesis, I studied the role of A. paludum female abdominal spines as an adaptation to reject male mating attempts. I studied both the effect of polyandry and multiple matings on female fecundity to distinguish between the potential material and genetic benefits from mating to females. I also explored the role of various male and female morphological traits on precopulatory sexual selection and the consequent female reproductive output. My results show that female abdominal spines are likely evolved through arms races between the sexes to increase female control over mating decision but according to my studies, female spines are not under active selection. Instead, certain male morphological types were more successful in achieving matings, and mating with these males also increased female fecundity. I found that multiple matings increase female fecundity up to a point, supporting a theory of optimal female mating rate. According to my results, the benefits from multiple mating to A. paludum females result from material origin whereas polyandry per se is even detrimental to female fecundity. / Tiivistelmä Seksuaalivalinta on pohjimmiltaan seurausta yksilöiden välisestä, lisääntymiseen liittyvästä kilpailusta toisen sukupuolen sukusoluista. Seksuaalivalinta on evoluutiomekanismi, joka osaltaan on johtanut sukupuolten välisiin eroihin monissa morfologisissa ja käyttäytymiseen liittyvissä ominaisuuksissa. Sukupuolet eroavat jo siinä, että naaraat tuottavat vähemmän mutta suurempia sukusoluja kuin koiraat. Koska sukupuolet siis investoivat lisääntymiseen jo alkuvaiheessa eri tavalla, niiden välillä on aina jonkin asteinen seksuaalikonflikti. Konfliktin taustalla on sukupuoliin kohdistuva erilainen valintapaine; koiraat saavuttavat usein optimaalisen hedelmällisyytensä suuremmilla parittelujen määrällä kuin naaraat. Joillakin eläinlajeilla seksuaalikonflikti on niin ilmeinen, että se ilmenee koiraan ja naaraan välisinä kamppailutilanteina parittelupäätöksen ja/tai parittelun keston suhteen. Seksuaalikonflikti voi johtaa molemmilla sukupuolilla erilaisiin sopeumiin, jotka lisäävät yksilön kontrollia parittelujen suhteen. Tässä väitöskirjatyössä tutkin naaraan takapäässä sijaitsevien abdominaalisten piikkien merkitystä järvivesimittari A. paludum-naaraiden kyvyssä torjua parittelemaan pyrkiviä koiraita. Tutkin myös polyandrian ja toistuvien parittelujen vaikutusta naaraan hedelmällisyyteen saadakseni selville, lisäävätkö koiraasta johtuvat mahdolliset materiaaliset tai geneettiset tekijät naaraan hedelmällisyyttä. Lisäksi selvitin useiden koiraan ja naaraan morfologisten ominaisuuksien yhteyttä parittelua edeltävään seksuaalivalintaan sekä naaraan hedelmällisyyteen. Tulokseni osoittavat, että naaraan abdominaaliset piikit ovat todennäköisesti kehittyneet seksuaalikonfliktin seurauksena lisäämään naaraan kontrollia parittelupäätöksen suhteen. Niihin ei kuitenkaan nykyisellään näytä kohdistuvan merkittävää valintapainetta. Sen sijaan morfologialtaan tietynlaiset koirastyypit vaikuttavat olevan aktiivisen valinnan kohteena ja parittelu tällaisten koiraiden kanssa lisää myös naaraan hedelmällisyyttä. Toistuvat parittelut saman koiraan kanssa lisäävät naaraan hedelmällisyyttä tiettyyn optimiin asti, mikä tukee teoriaa optimaalisesta parittelujen määrästä. Sen sijaan polyandria itsessään vaikuttaa naaraan hedelmällisyyteen jopa heikentävästi. Niinpä A. paludum-naaraiden saama hyöty useista paritteluista näyttää olevan materiaalista, kun taas polyandriasta saatavia geneettisiä etuja ei tässä tutkimuksessa tullut ilmi.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / We hypothesize that South African medicinal plants contain compounds that can act in synergism with synthetic antifungal compounds. Four fungicides - Sporekill™, Rovral™, Terminator™ and Teldor™ at doses 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mL L-1 and plant species Galenia africana, Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Tulbaghia violacea were tested alone and in different combinations for their potency (efficacy) on radial growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea strains on potato dextrose plates. Four doses of plant extract for each of the respective plant species were used. A total of 48 combinations were tested for each strain. Mixtures of plant extracts were far more effective in controlling strains compared to the individual components alone, representing significant levels of in vitro synergistic interactions. Combinations of these components represent an attractive future prospect for the development of new management strategies for controlling B. cinerea. Since the in vitro tests of these mixtures showed inhibitory activity, the mixtures were tested for activity in assays on Granny Smith apples. In vitro tests can be used to screen mixtures to obtain information on their inhibitory activity on a pathogen, however, the environmental conditions of the fruit and the ability of the pathogen to grow into the fruit cannot be simulated in vivo. A series of two-fold doses of medicinal plant extracts were combined with fungicides to conduct decay inhibition studies. The incidence of gray mold was significantly reduced by mixtures of plant extracts and fungicides. Under conditions similar to those in commercial storage, a drench treatment with G. Africana and Rovral™ significantly (p=0.05) inhibit gray mold on the apples and was more effective than the plant extract and fungicide alone. The treatments exerted synergistic effects and were markedly better than the components applied alone. The wound colonization assay was used for optimal decay control. In a drench, much higher volumes of the treatments are used to ensure that the components of the suspension are deposited evenly over the entire fruit surface

This investigation has had for its primary purpose the noting of the incidence of antagonists as occurring in a Denton County, Texas, Norfolk Fine Sand. A further interest has been the determination of the effect of these antagonists upon known beneficial soil organisms.

Under the Dobzhansky-Muller model, postzygotic isolation results from incompatibility between interacting genes. Evidence points to regulatory networks as a rich source of incompatibilities that impact hybrid fitness. Pleiotropy is a natural feature of regulatory networks because regulatory elements generally have multiple targets. Both pleiotropy and hybrid incompatibility arise due to genetic interactions; therefore we can expect an intimate association between them. In the following chapters, I investigate the relationship between pleiotropy and hybrid incompatibility in the context of regulatory networks. In chapter one, I extend a general network-based study of hybrid incompatibility by incorporating a sequence-based thermodynamic model of transcriptional regulation. In the absence of pleiotropy, hybrid misregulation of a positively selected trait evolves quickly as a consequence of non-recognition or spurious binding in regulatory interactions across species boundaries. In a conserved trait, hybrid incompatibility evolves much slower as a product of compensatory drift. In chapter two, I show that pleiotropy can promote or constrain the evolution of hybrid incompatibility in a regulatory network depending on its fitness landscape, which emerges from the thermodynamic properties of molecular binding. Pleiotropy may promote hybrid incompatibility in accordance with the "selection, pleiotropy, and compensation model" of evolution, in which compensation for the pleiotropic side-effects of adaptation accelerates incompatibility in conserved traits. Pleiotropy can limit the evolution of hybrid incompatibility by constraining change in trans-acting regulatory elements in favor of adaptation at less pleiotropic downstream cis-regulatory targets. Without change in both interactors, incompatibility does not occur under the Dobzhansky-Muller model. In chapter three, I evaluate the hypothesis that pleiotropy facilitates the onset of hybrid incompatibility under antagonistic coevolution, an ubiquitous and persistent source of natural selection. When infectivity and resistance in a host-parasite system are determined epistatically by network interactions, reciprocal selective pressure results in a genotypic chase. This causes pleiotropic mutations to accumulate and be compensated over time, producing intrinsic hybrid incompatibility in both species independent of local adaptation. Thus, cyclical antagonistic coevolution eventually overcomes constraint on pleiotropic loci, facilitating the evolution of regulatory incompatibilities commonly observed in hybrids.

This qualitative study examines risk assessment, communication and trust among the Church of Sweden's priests. The implementation is based on eleven semi-structured interviews with priests who are employed in Örebro County. The analysis has been carried out with a theoretical framework that is based on the concepts of risk perception, trust and risk communication to see how priests relate to risks. The result showed that priests do not assess antagonistic threats as a greater risk. Communication within the Church of Sweden regarding antagonistic threats is minimal, the communication that takes place regarding risk mainly applies to the church's premises such as fire alarms and evacuation points. Trust in the priests is built through conversation, and the maintenance of relationships. The priests' trust in God is part of what contributes to the priests' moral trust, which leads to a calmness in times of anxiety. We urge future research to explore more within the context of risk within faith communities. Quantitative research and comparative design would contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge in the research area. / Denna kvalitativa studie undersöker riskbedömning, kommunikation och tillit hos Svenska kyrkans präster. Genomförandet bygger på elva semistrukturerade intervjuer med präster som är anställda i Örebro län. Analysen har genomförts med ett teoretiskt ramverk som är baserat på begreppen riskperception, tillit och riskkommunikation för att se hur präster förhåller sig till risker. Resultatet visade att präster inte bedömer antagonistiska hot som en större risk. Kommunikationen inom Svenska kyrkan gällande antagonistiska hot är minimal, den kommunikation som sker kring risk avser främst gälla kyrkans lokaler som brandlarm och utrymningsplats. Tillit till prästerna byggs genom samtal, och upprätthållandet av relationer. Prästernas tillit till Gud är en del som bidrar till att prästerna besitter moralisk tillit, som leder till ett lugn i tider av oro. Vi uppmanar framtida forskning att utforska mer inom ramen för risk inom trossamfund. Kvantitativ forskning och jämförande design skulle bidra till en mer omfattande kunskap i forskningsområdet.

Esse trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da toxicidade aguda e crônica da ação isolada e de misturas binárias de três medicamentos veterinários (Monensina, Sulfametazina e Enrofloxacina) para o organismo teste Daphnia magna. A toxicidade aguda da enrofloxacina determinada foi de CE50 - 54.36 mgL-1, da monensina CE50 - 15.11mgL-1 e da sulfametazina CE50 - 183.80 mgL-1. Para os ensaios de toxicidade crônica foram determinados 3 \"endpoints\" (sobrevivência, reprodução e tamanho do adulto) e foi determinado o CEO para a enrofloxacina de 0,33 mgL-1, da monensina 0,09 mgL-1 e da sulfametazina de 6,8 mgL-1. Para fazer uma comparação entre os testes das substâncias isoladas e das misturas binárias foi utilizado o conceito de unidade tóxica (UT), essa comparação foi feita através da soma das UT dos ensaios individuais e comparando com os resultados dos ensaios de misturas para determinar se houve ação sinérgica, aditiva ou antagônica. O ensaio agudo de mistura monensina/enrofloxacina apresentou ação sinérgica já os ensaios monensina/sulfametazina e sulfametazina/enrofloxacina apresentaram ação antagônica. Os ensaios crônicos de mistura monensina/enrofloxacina e monensina/sulfametazina apresentaram ação sinérgica, porém não foram dosedependente e o ensaio sulfametazina/enrofloxacina apresentou ação antagônica. Com base nesse estudo é possível concluir que a mistura desses medicamentos interfere na sua toxicidade, podendo causar efeitos sinérgicos ou antagônicos / This work aims to study the acute and chronic toxicity of the isolated and binary mixtures action of three veterinary drugs (Monensin, Sulfamethazine and Enrofloxacin) for the test organism Daphnia magna. The determined acute toxicity of enrofloxacin was EC50 - 54.36 mgL-1, monensin EC50 - 15.11 mgL-1 and sulfamethazine EC50 - 183.80 mgL-1. In the chronic toxicity tests were determined 3 endpoints (survival, reproduction and adult size) and the LOEC determined for enrofloxacina was 0.33 mgL-1, monensin 0.09 mgL-1 and sulfamethazine 6.8 mgL-1. To make a comparison between the tests of isolated substances and binary mixtures it was used the concept of toxic unit (TU), this comparison was made by adding the UT of individual studies and comparing the test results of mixtures to determine whether there was a synergistic action, additive or antagonistic. The acute mixture assay monensin/enrofloxacin showed synergistic action yet the assays monensin/sulfamethazine and sulfamethazine/enrofloxacin showed antagonistic action. The chronic mixing assays monensin / enrofloxacin and monensin / sulfamethazine showed synergistic action, but were not dose-dependent and testing sulfamethazine / enrofloxacin present antagonistic action. Based on this study it can be concluded that the mixing of these drugs interferes with its toxicity, and may cause synergistic or antagonistic effect