Genomic imprinting is the epigenetic modification of loci, primarily by DNA methylation, which results in parent-of-origin-specific monoallelic expression of a small subset of genes. In plants, imprinting occurs during endosperm development and a balance of maternally- and paternally-expressed imprinted genes is essential for normal seed development. Dependence on DNA methylation for imprinting highlights the potential to manipulate seed development, and consequently seed size, by altering DNA methyltransferase activity. DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (MET1) is the primary plant maintenance DNA methyltransferase and plays a significant role in imprinting. However, no evaluation of the potential role for other MET1 family members in genomic imprinting has been reported. The current model for the control of imprinting in plants suggests that maintenance DNA methyltransferases are required throughout development, yet the tissue-specific requirement of these enzymes is unconfirmed as analysis has relied solely on constitutive DNA methyltransferase mutants. To address these problems and to evaluate the potential to alter seed size, the work reported in this thesis investigated the potential involvement of putative maintenance DNA methyltransferases MET2a, MET2b and MET3 and the tissue-specific role of MET1 in imprinting. Imprinting was not significantly altered in met2a-1, met2b-1 and met3-1 mutants, indicating that MET1 is the sole DNA methyltransferase required for imprinting. Transcriptional analysis suggested MET1 is expressed throughout floral organ development and in the male and female gametophyte generation indicating that MET1 is potentially available to maintain imprinting-dependent methylation in these tissues. Tools to suppress MET1 tissuespecifically were developed to investigate the tissue-specific requirement of MET1 for imprinting. Analysis indicates that such tools could also be used to alter seed size by manipulating imprinting in commercially important species. Further work is needed to validate this approach.

Orientador: Carlos Roberto Daleck / Coorientador: Lucia Ferreira Rosa Sobreira / Banca: Andrigo Barboza de Nardi / Banca: Paola Castro Moraes / Resumo: A cicatrização constitui um conjunto dinâmico de alterações teciduais importantes na manutenção da integridade do organismo, que abrange inflamação, quimiotaxia, proliferação celular, diferenciação e remodelação. A reparação das feridas cutâneas pode ser feita por dois diferentes procedimentos, ou seja, métodos cirúrgicos (dermorrafia ou enxertos de pele) ou por meio de métodos clínicos. Os fitoterápicos constituem uma forma de terapia medicinal que vem crescendo notadamente nestes últimos anos, principalmente dentro das indústrias farmacêuticas. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a evolução cicatricial e o efeito cicatrizante da pomada formulada à base de óleo de semente de maracujá em três concentrações diferentes, sobre lesões realizadas experimentalmente em coelhos. Foram utilizados 18 coelhos, machos ou fêmeas, com peso entre 2kg e 2,5kg, adultos, subdivididos igualmente em três grupos A, B e C. As lesões induzidas do lado esquerdo foram tratadas com pomada a base de óleo de semente de maracujá, nas concentrações de 30% (Grupo A), 15% (Grupo B) e 7,5% (Grupo C), as lesões induzidas do lado direito foram tratadas com placebo (lanolina). As feridas foram avaliadas macroscópica e microscopicamente quanta à evolução do processo de regeneração cicatricial, durante 30 dias. Os resultados obtidos indicam que as lesões tratadas com pomada a base de óleo de semente de maracujá apresentaram resultados benéficos e rapidez no processo cicatricial. Nas lesões controle não foram obtidos os mesmo resultados / Abstract: Wound healing is a dynamic set of tissue alterations important in maintaining the integrity of the body, which includes inflammation, chemotaxis, cell proliferation, differentiation and remodeling. The repair of skin wounds can be made by two different procedures, surgical methods (dermorrafia or skin grafting) or by means of clinical methods. The herbal drugs are a form of medical therapy that has been growing remarkably in recent years, especially within the pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study to evaluate the evolution of healing and the healing effect of ointment formulated on the basis of passion fruit seed oil at three different concentrations, performed on lesions in rabbits experimentally. 18 rabbits were used, males and females, weighing between 2 kg and 2.5 kg, adults, divided into three groups A, B and C. Induced lesions of the left side was treated with ointment base seed oil, passion fruit, in concentrations of 30% (Group A), 15% (Group B) and 7.5% (Group C), the lesions induced side right were treated with placebo (lanolin). The wounds were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically how the evolution of the regeneration process of healing, for 30 days. The results indicate that the lesions treated with ointment base passion fruit seed oil showed beneficial results and speed the healing process. Control lesions were not obtained the same results / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2002-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:48:50Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 castro_mm_me_botfca.pdf: 150858 bytes, checksum: 3e6978ae5432a5cb4791f195f37f671c (MD5) / Este trabalho foi conduzido no Laboratório de Análise de sementes do Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu-SP, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de temperaturas no teste de submersão para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho. Foram utilizados 9 lotes de sementes do híbrido CO-32, caracterizados pelas seguintes determinações: teor de água, germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, teste frio, envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica, matéria seca das plântulas, índice de velocidade de emergência e emergência de plântulas no campo. As sementes foram submetidas a tratamentos de submersão por períodos de 48 horas a 20oC, 25oC, 30oC e35oC. Após os tratamentos foi realizado o teste de germinação e as plântulas normais foram computadas após quatro dias. Constatou-se que o teste de submersão em água pode ser uma alternativa viável para avaliação do vigor em sementes de milho. As temperaturas de 20ºC e de 25oC mostraram-se mais promissoras para avaliação do vigor de sementes de milho. A tolerância das sementes a submersão em água reduziu com o aumento da temperatura de embebição. / This work was carried out at the Seed Analysis Laboratory at the plant Production Department of the São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu – SP, aiming to evaluate the effects caused by flooding shortage and temperature on maize seed germination and physiological quality. The seeds were subjected to flooding for 48 hours at 20oC, 25oC, 30oC e 35oC for two days. After that were evaluated germination, first counting and drift water. Other tests for lot characterization were conducted before the flooding (germination, first counting, cold test, accelerated ageing, electrolytic leakage, dry matter of seedling, velocity of seedling emergence and field emergence. The flooding test could be a feasible alternative to evaluate the vigor on the corn seeds. The temperatures 20oC and 25oC were more adequate to evaluate the vigor on the corn seeds. The seeds tolerance to the test was reduced with the increase of soaking temperature.

by Yubing Li. / "September 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-190). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Orientador: Claudio José Barbedo / Banca: Jose Maria Rocha Faria / Banca: João Rodrigues Domingos / Resumo: A aquisição da tolerância à dessecação ocorre durante a maturação da semente, após acúmulo de reservas e antes do início do processo natural de secagem, porém, com o avanço da germinação a sensibilidade a dessecação aumenta. Estresses hídricos podem induzir ou restabelecer a tolerância à dessecação em sementes, porém, não se sabe em quais processos ele atua, como na ativação de genes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aquisição e perda de tolerância à dessecação em sementes de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (pau-brasil), e a possibilidade de indução deste processo avaliando as modificações nos carboidratos solúveis e de ciclitóis, nos níveis endógenos de ABA e na expressão de aquaporinas. Foram observadas diferenças na aquisição de tolerância em sementes imaturas de mesma idade, produzidas nas mesmas matrizes em 2007 e 2008, com diferentes composições de carboidratos solúveis. Sementes maduras perdem a tolerância à dessecação logo após protrusão da raiz primária, em comprimentos dependentes do grau de deterioração da semente. Sementes imaturas e maduras tolerantes de C. echinata suportaram a desidratação de formas diferentes, utilizando reservas de amido e ciclitóis, com papel da sacarose quando secas. Esses resultados foram comparados com sementes de Caesalpinia peltophoroides Benth (sibipiruna), demonstrando comportamentos fisiológicos distintos, provavelmente relacionados com o tipo de reserva que acumulam / Abstract: The acquisition of desiccation tolerance occurs during seed maturation, after reserves accumulation and before the natural process of drying, however, with seed germination the desiccation sensitivity increases. Water stress can induce or restore the desiccation tolerance in seeds, but it is unclear what processes it acts, like activation of genes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance in Caesalpinia echinata Lam (brazil-wood) seeds, and the possibility to induction this process, evaluating the soluble carbohydrates and cyclitols changes, the ABA endogenous levels and expression of aquaporins. Differences were observed in the tolerance acquisition in immature seeds of the same age, produced by the same trees in 2007 and 2008, showing different compositions of soluble carbohydrates. Mature seeds lose desiccation tolerance soon after radicle protrusion in length depending on the degree of seed deterioration lot. Immature and mature tolerant seeds of C. echinata support the dehydration by different ways, using starch reserves and cyclitols, seen sucrose when the seed dry. These results were compared with seeds of Caesalpinia peltophoroides (sibipiruna), showing different physiological parameters, probably related to the type of reserves that they accumulate / Mestre

O Brasil é o 9° produtor mundial de arroz e o primeiro fora do continente asiático, com produção de 12,2 milhões de toneladas em 2,4 milhões de hectares na safra 2013/14. A incidência de doenças é um dos principais fatores que afeta a produção do arroz (Oryza sativa L.) no Brasil e o tratamento de sementes com fungicidas é atividade recente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a interferência da aplicação de fungicidas na qualidade das sementes de arroz, em função do período e do ambiente de armazenamento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes, Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, sendo utilizadas sementes de arroz dos cultivares SCS 118, BRS Pampa e IRGA 424, 3 lotes de cada cultivar, representadas pelo controle e pelas aplicações dos fungicidas Penflufem + Trifloxistrobina, Metalaxil + Tiabendazol + Fludioxonil e Piraclostrobina + Tiofanato-metílico + Fipronil, nas doses de 50, 100 e 150 ml / 100 kg de sementes de arroz, respectivamente; as sementes foram avaliadas 1, 15, 30, 60 e 120 dias após o tratamento. O armazenamento das sementes foi realizado por 120 dias, em ambientes natural e controlado (10ºC e 20% UR). Para determinar a qualidade das sementes foram avaliados o teor de água, a germinação, o vigor (primeira contagem da germinação, comprimento de plântula e testes de envelhecimento acelerado e de frio) e a sanidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com análise de variância para cada cultivar e a comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey (5%). Os resultados permitem concluir: a) O tratamento das sementes de arroz com fungicidas, independente do genótipo, é adequado para manter a qualidade das sementes, por um período de armazenamento de até cento e vinte dias; b) Há influência do fungicida, do ambiente e do período de armazenamento na germinação e no vigor das sementes de arroz; c) A interferência do fungicida na qualidade da semente de arroz varia de acordo com o lote e com o cultivar; d) Os três fungicidas são eficientes para o controle dos principais fungos associados às sementes de arroz, com destaque para Tiabendazol + Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil para o controle de Microdochium oryzae e Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina para o controle de Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp. / Brazil is the 9th largest producer of rice and the first outside Asia, with production of 12.3 million tonnes at 2.4 million hectares in harvest 2013/14. The incidence of disease is a major factor affecting rice production in Brazil and the seed treatment with fungicides is a recent study. This research has the purpose to evaluate the interference of fungicide application on the quality of rice seeds, according to the environment and period of storage. The research was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory, Crop Science Department, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, being used rice seeds of the cultivars SCS 118, BRS Pampa and IRGA 424, three seed lots from each cultivar, were represented by the control and the applications of fungicides Penflufem + Trifloxystrobin, Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl + Fludioxonil and Pyraclostrobin + Thiophanate-methyl + Fipronil, at doses of 50, 100 and 150 ml / 100 kg seed of rice, respectively; the seeds were evaluated 1, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after treatment. These seeds were stored for 120 days in two environments: natural and dry cold room (10 °C and 20% RH). To determine the seed quality were evaluated water content, germination, vigor (first count of germination, seedling length, accelerated aging and cold tests) and sanity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with analysis of variance for each cultivar and comparison of average by Tukey test (5%). The results indicate: a) The treatment of rice seeds with fungicides, regardless of genotype, it is appropriate to maintain the quality of the seeds, for a storage period of one hundred and twenty days; b) There is influence of fungicide, environment and storage period on the germination and vigor of rice seeds; c) The interference of the fungicide varies according to the genotype and seed quality; d) The three fungicides are effective for the control of major fungi associated with rice seeds, especially Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil in control of Microdochium oryzae and Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina in control of Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp.

O Brasil é o 9° produtor mundial de arroz e o primeiro fora do continente asiático, com produção de 12,2 milhões de toneladas em 2,4 milhões de hectares na safra 2013/14. A incidência de doenças é um dos principais fatores que afeta a produção do arroz (Oryza sativa L.) no Brasil e o tratamento de sementes com fungicidas é atividade recente. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a interferência da aplicação de fungicidas na qualidade das sementes de arroz, em função do período e do ambiente de armazenamento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes, Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, sendo utilizadas sementes de arroz dos cultivares SCS 118, BRS Pampa e IRGA 424, 3 lotes de cada cultivar, representadas pelo controle e pelas aplicações dos fungicidas Penflufem + Trifloxistrobina, Metalaxil + Tiabendazol + Fludioxonil e Piraclostrobina + Tiofanato-metílico + Fipronil, nas doses de 50, 100 e 150 ml / 100 kg de sementes de arroz, respectivamente; as sementes foram avaliadas 1, 15, 30, 60 e 120 dias após o tratamento. O armazenamento das sementes foi realizado por 120 dias, em ambientes natural e controlado (10ºC e 20% UR). Para determinar a qualidade das sementes foram avaliados o teor de água, a germinação, o vigor (primeira contagem da germinação, comprimento de plântula e testes de envelhecimento acelerado e de frio) e a sanidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com análise de variância para cada cultivar e a comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey (5%). Os resultados permitem concluir: a) O tratamento das sementes de arroz com fungicidas, independente do genótipo, é adequado para manter a qualidade das sementes, por um período de armazenamento de até cento e vinte dias; b) Há influência do fungicida, do ambiente e do período de armazenamento na germinação e no vigor das sementes de arroz; c) A interferência do fungicida na qualidade da semente de arroz varia de acordo com o lote e com o cultivar; d) Os três fungicidas são eficientes para o controle dos principais fungos associados às sementes de arroz, com destaque para Tiabendazol + Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil para o controle de Microdochium oryzae e Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina para o controle de Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp. / Brazil is the 9th largest producer of rice and the first outside Asia, with production of 12.3 million tonnes at 2.4 million hectares in harvest 2013/14. The incidence of disease is a major factor affecting rice production in Brazil and the seed treatment with fungicides is a recent study. This research has the purpose to evaluate the interference of fungicide application on the quality of rice seeds, according to the environment and period of storage. The research was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory, Crop Science Department, Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" - Universidade de São Paulo, being used rice seeds of the cultivars SCS 118, BRS Pampa and IRGA 424, three seed lots from each cultivar, were represented by the control and the applications of fungicides Penflufem + Trifloxystrobin, Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl + Fludioxonil and Pyraclostrobin + Thiophanate-methyl + Fipronil, at doses of 50, 100 and 150 ml / 100 kg seed of rice, respectively; the seeds were evaluated 1, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after treatment. These seeds were stored for 120 days in two environments: natural and dry cold room (10 °C and 20% RH). To determine the seed quality were evaluated water content, germination, vigor (first count of germination, seedling length, accelerated aging and cold tests) and sanity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with analysis of variance for each cultivar and comparison of average by Tukey test (5%). The results indicate: a) The treatment of rice seeds with fungicides, regardless of genotype, it is appropriate to maintain the quality of the seeds, for a storage period of one hundred and twenty days; b) There is influence of fungicide, environment and storage period on the germination and vigor of rice seeds; c) The interference of the fungicide varies according to the genotype and seed quality; d) The three fungicides are effective for the control of major fungi associated with rice seeds, especially Thiabendazole + Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil in control of Microdochium oryzae and Penflufen + Trifloxistrobina in control of Trichoconiella padwickii, Bipolaris oryzae, Phoma sp. e Penicillium sp.

Animals’ personality traits are defined as consistent behavior tendencies and the function of them in life-history strategy and reproductive success has been given a lot of explanations in a large amount of research. However, the behavior consistency of individuals in different sexes, mating status and selection regimes is rarely mentioned. In this research, we were interested in personality traits and their consistency in inter-individuals and intra-individuals, and proposed that with the removal of fecundity selection males would evolve to be more female-like and decrease their locomotor activity, and copulation would change the physiological status of females and thus alter their levels of activity.   In the experiment, seed beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus) that were artificially selected in monogamy, polygamy and male-limited selection regimes were weighed, dropped in a designed arena and their behaviors were recorded with a camera for four minutes in the first day when they were newborn and virgin. In the next day, the virgin beetles were randomly paired to mate, weighed afterwards, and dropped in the arena again for videoing the same setting as yesterday. In data collection step, with these videos four behaviors types including walking, entering squares, time spent on roof and entering a new area were observed, scored and noted down. To process the data, we made correlation analysis and it was found that walking, entering square and a new area were positively correlated. After building the linear mixed effect models we found that sex together with mating significantly act in modifying beetles’ behaviors, males were more active than females but the difference was narrowed after mating, and copulation caused a significant increase in the level of locomotor activity in females. To our disappointment, selection regimes did not have any significant impact on locomotor activity. Our work gave an insight that copulation changed individuals’ behaviors more in females than in males and dimorphic expression of sex-biased genes differed due to mating effect.

The widespread use of chemicals for the control of diseases, insects, and weeds in the production of alfalfa seed has caused concern with regards to what effect these materials may have on the inherent reproductive potential of the plants. It has been reported that captan (N- (trichloromethylthio)-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide) has both a morphological and physiological effect on some plants. The action of this chemical with regards to alfalfa reproduction has not been reported. Demeton (0,0- diethyl O(and S)-2-(ethylthio) ethylphosphorodithioate) is another chemical used in alfalfa seed production for which the direct effects on reproduction have not been studied. Adverse effects have been reported on a number of plant species with the use of organic phosphate insecticides. A selective herbicide, 4(2,4-DB), (2,4-dichlorophenoxybatyric acid) shows promise of being satisfactory for the control of broad-leaf weeds in alfalfa. Work reported on studies of forage and seed yields is quite varied as to the effect of 4(2,4-DB) on alfalfa.

The infestation of twelve selected clones of alfalfa by the alfalfa seed chalcid was measured. The free sterol content of the stems, leaves, f lowers and pods of these clones was determined. A check was made to see if there was a correlation between the sterol content and the chalcid infestation. Differences were found among t he clones in the sterol content for each plant part. There were also significant differences in percent chalcid infestation in the 12 clones. Duncan ' s New Multiple Range Test pointed out which clones differed Significantly from the others. Using linear regression analysis, the correlation coefficient of the comparison between the sterol content and the chalcid infestation was obtained. There was a signtflcant negative correlation between the sterol content of the flower and the percent chalcid infestation. No significant correlation was found between t he sterol content of the stems, leaves or pods and the percent chalcid infestation.