Les symbiotes d'insectes peuvent considérablement influencer leurs hôtes de diverses manières. Nous avons étudié ici la communauté de microbes de la mouche du chou (Delia radicum) et plus particulièrement le rôle de son microbiote intestinal et de Wolbachia, une bactérie intracellulaire. La transmission verticale et maternelle de Wolbachia était de 100% et nous n’avons trouvé aucune preuve de manipulation de la reproduction telles que l’incompatibilité cytoplasmique, la parthénogenèse thélytoque, la féminisation ou la dégénérescence des embryons mâles. Les effets de Wolbachia sur D. radicum étaient significatifs mais modérés, et se compensaient mutuellement (réduction du taux d’éclosion, meilleure survie larvo-nymphale, temps de développement plus long et augmentation de la mortalité des femelles en conditions de stress), ce qui suggère une infection quasi neutre chez cette espèce, même si nous avons observé une augmentation de la fréquence d’infection en conditions idéales. L'influence du microbiote intestinal a été étudiée en utilisant un antibiotique, la tétracycline, avec un protocole sur trois générations, ce qui a permis de discerner l’effet direct (toxique) de la tétracycline de ses effets indirects (perte de symbiotes) sur l’hôte. Le traitement antibiotique de D. radicum a eu de multiples effets, généralement négatifs, sur les traits d’histoire de vie des descendants, ces effets pouvant être détectés jusqu'à deux générations après le traitement. La perturbation du microbiote intestinal semble avoir un rôle plus important qu'un simple effet toxique de la tétracycline elle-même. De plus, l’étude suggère que le microbiote semble avoir un rôle bénéfique chez cette espèce, et qu’il est au moins partiellement hérité de la mère. Pour finir, nous avons étudié si Wolbachia pouvait modifier le dialogue plante-insecte entre D. radicum et l’une de ses plantes-hôtes, le colza (Brassica napus). La présence du symbiote a diminué les concentrations de glucosinolates dans les feuilles, ce qui suggère que Wolbachia pourrait améliorer la fitness de son hôte en diminuant les signaux chimiques de la plante pouvant être utilisés par les conspécifiques et/ou ennemis naturels de D. radicum. Cette étude a montré le potentiel d'une bactérie intracellulaire à influencer les relations plantes-insectes et a permis de discuter des interactions tri-trophiques entre les symbiotes, leurs insectes-hôtes et un troisième niveau trophique : la plante. Cette thèse démontre qu'il est maintenant nécessaire de prendre en compte les symbiotes dans de prochaines études, afin de mieux comprendre les relations possibles entre différents partenaires, ainsi que leurs implications écologiques ou évolutives. / Microbial symbionts can deeply influence their animal hosts in various ways. Here, we studied the community of microbes of the cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) and more precisely the role of its gut microbiota and of Wolbachia, an intracellular bacterium. The vertical maternal transmission of Wolbachia was perfect, and we found no evidence of manipulation of reproduction such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, thelytokous parthenogenesis, feminization nor male killing. Wolbachia infection had significant but moderate and mutually compensating effects on D. radicum (reduced hatch rate, improved larvo-nymphal viability, longer development time and increased female mortality in stress conditions), suggesting that infection might be nearly neutral in this strain, although we observed an increase in infection frequency in ideal rearing conditions. The influence of the gut microbiota was studied using an antibiotic, tetracycline, with a protocol spanning three generations, which allowed to discriminate the possible direct (toxic) effect of tetracycline from its indirect effects (due to the loss of gut symbionts). Antibiotic treatment of adults led to multiple and mostly negative effects on life history traits of their offspring and grandchildren. Data suggested a larger role of gut microbiota perturbation than of a toxic effect, that the microbiota was partially inherited maternally, and that the “wild-type” gut microbiota was beneficial in this species. Finally, we investigated whether Wolbachia could modify the insect-plant dialogue between D. radicum larvae feeding on roots of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The presence of the symbiont decreased glucosinolate concentrations in the leaves, suggesting that Wolbachia could increase the fitness of its host by decreasing plant cues used by D. radicum conspecifics and/or natural enemies. This study showed the potential of an intracellular bacteria to influence plant-insect relationships, and allowed to discuss the tri-trophic interactions between symbionts, their insect hosts and a third trophic level: the plant. This thesis demonstrates the necessity to consider intracellular and extracellular symbionts in further studies, in order to unravel all the possible relationships between different partners, as well as their ecological or evolutionary implications.

One main goal of ecological research is to understand nature´s complexity, in order to predict the potential impact of environmental perturbations. In this thesis, I investigate the ecological interactions between some of the most ancient organisms living on our planet: plants and insects. Focus of my research is the interaction between the wild brassicaceous plant black mustard (Brassica nigra L.) and its specialist insect herbivore, the large white cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae L). Both organisms are well characterized model species used in chemical ecology research. Using different analytical techniques, such as liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass-spectrometry (LC- and GC-MS) and headspace collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), I apply the approach of metabolomics and systems biology to the field of ecology to explore the metabolic changes occurring inside the plants exposed to biotic and abiotic stresses. Particularly, I study the plant metabolic responses against P. brassicae chewing caterpillars during sequential treatment exposure to: abiotic stress by the oxidative air pollutant ozone (O3); dual herbivory with specialist Brevicoryne brassicae piercing-sucking aphids; and chemical induction of plant defences with the oxylipin phytohormone methyl-jasmonate (MeJA). Results show how during herbivore-induced responses, changes in defence- and growth-metabolic processes are tightly connected to stress protection mechanisms, indicating that plants actively reprogram their inner metabolic networks in order to adapt to consecutive changes in the environment. This thesis illustrates how evaluating the plant metabolome in its entirety rather than single metabolites, can help us understanding plant responses towards abiotic and biotic stresses, and improve our ability to predict how constant shifts in the environment affect plant physiology and ecology. / Ett huvudsyfte för ekologisk forskning är att förstå naturens komplexitet för att kunna förutse effekter av störningar i miljön. I min avhandling har jag fokuserat på ekologiska interaktioner mellan växter och insekter, två av de äldsta terrestra organismgrupperna på jorden. I mina studier har jag undersökt interaktioner mellan den korsblommiga växten svartsenap (Brassica nigra L.) och den specifika herbivoren kålfjäril (Pieris brassicae L.). Båda är väl karaktäriserade modellarter i kemisk-ekologisk forskning. De metaboliska förändringar som sker när växten utsätts för biotisk och abiotisk stress har analyserats hjälp av metabolomik, det vill säga analyser av metabolomet i sin helhet med hjälp av tekniker som vätske- och gaskromatografi kopplad till masspektrometri (LC- och GC-MS), och så kallad headspace-uppsamling av flyktiga organiska föreningar (VOCs). Jag har särskilt undersökt de metaboliska förändringar som sker när växten betas av kålfjärilslarver vid samtidig exponering för: abiotisk stress i form av ozon (O3), en oxidativ luftförorening; ytterligare betning i form av stickande och sugande bladlus (Brevicoryne brassicae); tillsats av oxylipinfytohormon metyl-jasmonat (MeJA), ett ämne som inducerar växtens försvar. Resultaten visar att de metaboliska förändringar som sker i växten vid herbivori med konsekvenser för dess försvar och tillväxt är nära kopplade till de metaboliska förändringar som sker vid stress, vilket visar att växten kan fortlöpande och aktivt omprogrammera sina metaboliska nätverk för att anpassa sig till förändringar i miljön. Avhandlingen visar att genom att utvärdera växtmetabolomet i sin helhet, snarare än att studera enskilda metaboliter, vi kan få bättre förståelse för hur växter reagerar på olika former av stress och därmed också bidra till att vi kan göra förutsägelser för hur förändringar i miljön kan påverka växters fysiologi och ekologi.

Due to the immense utilization in food and industry, there is enormous commercial and scientific interest to manipulate canola (Brassica napus L.) seed oil. Seed oil accretions are influenced by genes involved in embryo and seed development. FUSCA3 (FUS3) and LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) are well-known transcription factors involved during seed and embryo development. The main objective of this project was to evaluate the role of these genes during seed storage deposition and microspore-derived embryogenesis in B. napus. For this purpose, six BnLEC1 transgenic lines and three BnFUS3 TILLING mutant lines were generated. The over expression of BnLEC1 significantly increased the seed oil content, while the down regulation of BnLEC1 or mutation of BnFUS3 reduced the level of seed oil. Experimental alterations of BnLEC1 and BnFUS3 triggered transcriptional modifications in enzymes taking part in sucrose transport and metabolism, glycolysis, and fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis. These changes are suggestive of a greater carbon pool to FA biosynthesis in tissues over-expressing BnLEC1, and a reduced carbon flux available for the synthesis of FA in BnLEC1 down regulators and BnFUS3 tilling mutants. While the elevated oil content induced by BnLEC1 was not accompanied by alterations in FA composition, oil nutritional value, or glucosinolate (GLS) levels, suppression of BnLEC1 reduced seed oil accumulation and raised levels of GLS, possibly through the transcriptional regulation of BnST5a (Sulphotransferase5a), the last GLS biosynthetic enzyme. BnFUS3 tilling mutant seeds had increased levels of linoleic acid, possibly due to the reduced expression of ω-3 FA DESATURASE (FAD3). The effects of altered expression of BnLEC1 and BnFUS3 were also assessed during microspore-derived embryogenesis. Substantial structural abnormalities, accompanied by changes in transcript levels of several embryo marker genes were observed in embryos in which the expression of BnLEC1 or BnFUS3 was altered. The changes in oil level and FA profiles observed in the transformed microspore-derived embryos followed a similar trend to that described in seeds. Collectively, these observations suggest that manipulation of BnLEC1 and BnFUS3 can be employed as a tool to enhance seed oil production and quality in B. napus. / February 2017

As formigas da tribo Attini são obrigatoriamente dependentes da simbiose que mantêm com fungos cultivados no interior de suas colônias.N as Attini mais derivadas (gêneros Atta e Acromyrmex)esse fungo é cultivado com substratos vegetais frescos cortados pelas formigas, constituindo a única fonte de nutrientes durante os estágios imaturos (larvas e pupas) e fonte parcial de nutrientes durante a fase adulta. N esta fase, as formigas obtêm grande parte de seus nutrientes através da ingestão de seivas foliares durante o corte e o processamento do materiala ser incorporado ao fungo.Assim,dado o duplo destino que os produtos vegetais têm nessa relação simbiótica entre fungos e formigas, os metabólitos secundários contidos nas plantas cortadas pelas formigas são também capazes de atuar nessas duas instâncias.D entre os metabólitos secundários, os glucosinolatos são conhecidos por intermediarem muitas das interações das plantas que os contêm e por possuírem um mecanismo de ação envolvendo a hidrólise pela enzima mirosinase. O presente estudo avaliou os efeitos da sinigrina sobre o crescimento radialdo fungo mutualista de Atta sexdens e sobre a mortalidade das operárias isoladas das colônias.Para isso os fungos foram cultivados in vitro em meio de cultura M EA-LP contendo sinigrina e incubados a 25° C em BO D .A mortalidade dos insetos foi avaliada de duas maneiras:com o oferecimento sinigrina em dietas sólidas ou em solução aquosa.O s resultados mostraram que a sinigrina intacta não apresentou efeitos sobre qualquer um dos dois. Porém, apresentou indícios de que os produtos de hidrólise podem vir a inibir o crescimento do fungo. Também foram analisadas as composições de glucosinolatos em plântulas de 6 variedades de B. oleraceae utilizando-se Cromatagrafia Líquida de Alta Eficiência com detecção em U V (CLAE) e em espectrômetro de massas (CLAE/M S).Dez glucosinolatos foram encontrados,dentre os quais glucoiberina, sinigrina e progoitrina foram os mais abundantes. O s resultados também apontaram que, apesar de se tratarem da mesma espécie, o conteúdo de glucosinolatos é bastante distinto entre as variedades. Entretanto, as amostras da mesma variedade mostraram um padrão relativamente bem estável, apresentando sempre os mesmos glucosinolatos em proporções relativas semelhantes. / vide dissertação

Multi-services cover crops (MSCC) grown during fallow period between two cash crops provide various ecosystem services. Among species used as MSCC, crucifers can efficiently prevent nitrate and sulphate leaching by catching residual soil mineral nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) afterthe preceding cash crop (N and S catch crop services). Crucifers also have a unique capacity to suppress pathogens due to the biocidal hydrolysis products of endogenous secondary metabolites called glucosinolates (GSL). The aim of our study was to assess the provision of various ecosystem services linked to N, S cycles and biocontrol potential for a wide range of bispecific crucifer-legume mixtures in comparison to sole cover crops of legume and crucifer. We carried out experiments in 2 contrasted sites (Toulouse and Orléans regions, France) during 2 years in order to assess these services and the compatibility of various bi-specific crucifer-legume mixtures. We tested a great diversity of species, such as i) crucifers : rape, white mustard, Indian mustard, Ethiopian mustard, turnip, turnip rape, radish and rocket, and ii) legumes: Egyptian clover, crimson clover, common vetch, purple vetch, hairy vetch, pea, soya bean, faba bean, and white lupin. Our study demonstrated that crucifer-legume mixtures can provide and mutualize various ecosystem services by reaching from 2 thirds (GSL production, S and N green manure) to the same level ofservice (N and S catch crop) than the best sole family of species. GSL profile and concentration did not change in mixtures meaning that crucifer-pests interactions were identical. Through a literature review we also illustrated that biocontrol services of crucifers could be largely maintained in crucifer-legume mixtures for a wide range of pathogens and weeds while reducing potential disservices on beneficials and increasing N related service

Lymphomas and leukemias are the most common cancer in children and young adults and in utero exposure to carcinogens may contribute to the etiology of these cancers. A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP), was administered to pregnant mice (15 mg/Kg b.w., gavage) on gestation day 17. Significant mortalities in young offspring were observed due to T-cell lymphoma. Lung and liver tumors also were observed in survivors at 10 months of age. To assess the role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR), we utilized crosses of B6129SF1/J (responsive) mice with strain 129S1/SvImJ (non-responsive). Offspring born to AHR non-responsive mothers had greater susceptibility to lymphoma, irrespective of offspring genotype. Responsive offspring displayed increased mortality if the mother was responsive. Lung adenomas showed Ki-ras mutations and exhibited a 50% decrease and a 35-fold increase in expression of Rb and p19/ARF mRNA, respectively. To examine the risk/benefit of maternal dietary phytochemical treatment against transplacental cancer, 2000 ppm indole-3-carbinol (I3C) was given to pregnant mice through diet from gestation day 9 till weaning. I3C significantly lowered mortality caused by lymphomas regardless of the maternal genotype, and also reduced lung tumor multiplicity in offspring born to AHR [superscript b-l/d] dams. Distribution of I3C in most maternal and fetal tissues was quantified following a single gavage of [¹⁴C]-I3C to the pregnant mice. DBP-DNA adducts were observed in both maternal and fetal tissues by ³³P postlabeling and HPLC analysis and were modulated by I3C and AHR genotype. I3C also modulated phase I and phase II enzyme protein expression in dams and gene expression in newborn thymus. I3C chemoprotection may involve modification of the bioavailability of DBP to the fetus and/or modulation of gene expression in the fetus as well. This is the first demonstration that transplacental exposure to an environmental PAH can induce a highly aggressive lymphoma in mice. These results raise the possibility that PAH exposures to pregnant women could contribute to similar cancers in children and young adults and, that the addition of chemoprotective agents to the maternal diet may reduce cancer risk among offspring. / Graduation date: 2006

E. coli O157:H7 has been found to survive in dry sausages and cause disease. Isothiocyanates have been studied for their capacity to eliminate pathogens from foods and are attractive from the consumer perspective because of their natural origin. There is a need to better understand how isothiocyanates kill microorganisms and their behaviour in food matrices. It was found that glutathione and cysteine naturally present in meat can react with AIT, forming a conjugate with no or low bactericidal activity against an E. coli O157:H7. In addition, AIT presented higher anti-E. coli activity at lower pH values; therefore, it should be more efficient in acid foods. AIT was also found to inhibit the activity of thioredoxin reductase and acetate kinase; hence, enzymatic inhibition may represent a way in which AIT kills E. coli O157:H7. Mustard powder is used as a spice (active myrosinase) and/or binder (inactive myrosinase) in meat products. Both of these powders killed E. coli O157:H7 in dry fermented sausage. This was not expected since the powder lacking myrosinase is not able to produce isothiocyanates. Starter cultures and E. coli were found to consume significant amounts of glucosinolates. Pediococcus pentosaceus UM 121P and Staphylococcus carnosus UM 123M (higher myrosinase-like activity) were compared against P. pentosaceus UM 116P + S. carnosus UM 109M for their ability in reducing E. coli viability in dry sausage. Sausage batches containing powders of hot mustard, cold mustard, autoclaved mustard and no powder were prepared. Both pairs of starters yielded similar results. Reduction >5 log CFU/g of E. coli O157:H7 occurred after 31 d for hot powder and 38 d for cold powder; there was no reduction in the control. E. coli O157:H7 itself has greater effect on glucosinolate degradation than either pair of starters, which may be more important in determining its survival. Autoclaved powder caused >5 log CFU/g reduction after 18 d. This may be the result of synergistic/additive interaction among E. coli O157:H7 myrosinase-like activity, the presence of newly formed/released antimicrobials in the autoclaved powder and the multiple hurdles present in the dry sausage. Autoclaved mustard powder has potential as a novel food ingredient for the meat industry.

No description available.

E. coli O157:H7 has been found to survive in dry sausages and cause disease. Isothiocyanates have been studied for their capacity to eliminate pathogens from foods and are attractive from the consumer perspective because of their natural origin. There is a need to better understand how isothiocyanates kill microorganisms and their behaviour in food matrices. It was found that glutathione and cysteine naturally present in meat can react with AIT, forming a conjugate with no or low bactericidal activity against an E. coli O157:H7. In addition, AIT presented higher anti-E. coli activity at lower pH values; therefore, it should be more efficient in acid foods. AIT was also found to inhibit the activity of thioredoxin reductase and acetate kinase; hence, enzymatic inhibition may represent a way in which AIT kills E. coli O157:H7. Mustard powder is used as a spice (active myrosinase) and/or binder (inactive myrosinase) in meat products. Both of these powders killed E. coli O157:H7 in dry fermented sausage. This was not expected since the powder lacking myrosinase is not able to produce isothiocyanates. Starter cultures and E. coli were found to consume significant amounts of glucosinolates. Pediococcus pentosaceus UM 121P and Staphylococcus carnosus UM 123M (higher myrosinase-like activity) were compared against P. pentosaceus UM 116P + S. carnosus UM 109M for their ability in reducing E. coli viability in dry sausage. Sausage batches containing powders of hot mustard, cold mustard, autoclaved mustard and no powder were prepared. Both pairs of starters yielded similar results. Reduction >5 log CFU/g of E. coli O157:H7 occurred after 31 d for hot powder and 38 d for cold powder; there was no reduction in the control. E. coli O157:H7 itself has greater effect on glucosinolate degradation than either pair of starters, which may be more important in determining its survival. Autoclaved powder caused >5 log CFU/g reduction after 18 d. This may be the result of synergistic/additive interaction among E. coli O157:H7 myrosinase-like activity, the presence of newly formed/released antimicrobials in the autoclaved powder and the multiple hurdles present in the dry sausage. Autoclaved mustard powder has potential as a novel food ingredient for the meat industry.

Submitted by M?rden L?les (marden.inacio@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2016-07-22T18:15:31Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dayane_Josiane_Vieira.pdf: 476245 bytes, checksum: 1c7586583cc65ebc0c54eb11a8f56b98 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2016-07-25T17:33:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dayane_Josiane_Vieira.pdf: 476245 bytes, checksum: 1c7586583cc65ebc0c54eb11a8f56b98 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-25T17:33:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dayane_Josiane_Vieira.pdf: 476245 bytes, checksum: 1c7586583cc65ebc0c54eb11a8f56b98 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Funda??o de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) / Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar nutricionalmente o farelo de crambe em ra??es para frangos de corte. O primeiro experimento foi realizado para avaliar o coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da mat?ria seca (MS), da prote?na bruta (PB), da mat?ria mineral (MM), o coeficiente de metaboliza??o aparente da energia bruta (CMAEB), a energia metaboliz?vel aparente (EMA) e a energia metaboliz?vel aparente corrigida para o balan?o de nitrog?nio (EMAn) do farelo de crambe para frangos de corte, empregando-se o m?todo de coleta total de excretas. Para o primeiro experimento foram utilizados 140 pintos de corte da linhagem Cobb 500 em crescimento de 14 a 24 dias de idade, alimentados com duas ra??es, sendo T1= refer?ncia (RR) e T2= uma ra??o teste (RT), que consiste em 80% (RR) + 20% (inclus?o do farelo de crambe), com sete repeti??es e 10 aves por unidade experimental. No segundo experimento foi avaliado o desempenho dos frangos nas fases inicial (8 a 21 dias) e final (22 a 42 dias), o rendimento de carca?a e cortes e a an?lise econ?mica da substitui??o de parte da prote?na bruta total da ra??o pela prote?na bruta do farelo de crambe. As aves foram distribu?das em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos, seis repeti??es de 21 aves por unidade experimental. Os n?veis de substitui??o de parte da prote?na bruta total da ra??o pela prote?na bruta do farelo de crambe avaliados foram: 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12%. Avaliou-se o consumo de ra??o, o ganho de peso, a convers?o alimentar, peso e rendimento de carca?a e de cortes nobres (peito, coxa e sobrecoxa). O farelo de crambe apresentou 2262,03 kcal/kg de EMA e 2262,19 kcal/kg de EMAn. Os valores de coeficientes de digestibilidade foram: CDAMS 69,14%, CDAPB 60,38%, CDAMM 58,86% e o CMAEB foi de 53,51% na MS do alimento. Observou-se que a prote?na bruta do farelo de crambe pode substituir em at? 12% de parte da prote?na bruta total da ra??o, em ambas as fases, por n?o acarretar em baixo desempenho e rendimento de carca?a e de cortes. Pela an?lise econ?mica ? vi?vel a substitui??o de parte da prote?na da ra??o em at? 6% pela prote?na do farelo de crambe. / Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Zootecnia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2015. / ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to nutritionally evaluate crambe meal in diets for broilers. The first experiment was conducted to evaluate the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and mineral matter (MM), the apparent metabolizing coefficient of crude energy (AMCCE), the apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and the apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (cAME) of the crambe meal for broilers, using the total excreta collection method. For the first experiment, 140, Cobb 500 strain, growing broilers of 14 to 24 days of age were utilized, fed two rations: T1 = reference (RR) and T2 = a test ration (TR), consisting of 80% RR + 20% (inclusion of crambe meal) with seven replicates and 10 broilers per experimental unit. In the second experiment, performance of broilers during the initial phase (8 to 21 days of age) and final phase (22 to 42 days of age), carcass and cuts yields, and economic analysis of partial substitution of the total crude protein from the ration for crude protein from crambe meal were evaluated. Broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and six replicates of 21 broilers per experimental unit. The evaluated levels of partial substitution of crude protein from ration for crude protein from crambe meal were 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%. Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion, carcass and prime cuts (breast, thigh and drumstick) weights and yields were evaluated. Crambe meal showed 2262.03 kcal / kg of AME and 2262.19 kcal/kg of cAME. Values of digestibility coefficients were: DCDM 69.14%, DCCP 60.38%, DCMM 58.86% and AMCCE 53.51%, DM of feed. It was observed that the crude protein from crambe meal can partially substitute up to 12% of the total dietary crude protein, in both phases, for not resulting in impaired performance and carcass and cuts yield. Thru the economic analysis, it is feasible the partial substitution of crude protein from the ration up to 6% by the protein from crambe meal.