Many coastal plant species thrive across a range of environmental conditions, often displaying dramatic phenotypic variation in response to environmental variation. We characterized the response of the critical foundation species Rhizophora mangle L. to full factorial combinations of salt and nitrogen (N). We used seedlings collected from five populations and measured traits related to salt tolerance and N amendment. The response to increasing salt included significant plasticity in succulence, leaf mass area (LMA), and root to shoot ratio (R:S). Seedlings also showed overall reduced maximum photosynthetic rate in response to N amendment, but this response depended on the level of salt and varied by site of origin of the seedlings. Seedlings from different sites also differed in height growth, LMA, R:S, and total dry biomass. Generally, survival was lower in high salt and high N, but the impact varied among sites. Overall, this study revealed significant trait plasticity in response to salt and N level, and differentiation of responses of seedlings among different sites. Seedling survival depended on maternal family for 3 of 5 sites showing variation within and among sites. Variation in trait plasticity and seedling survival in R. mangle may be important for future adaptation to a complex mosaic of environmental conditions.

La régénération in vitro est un processus complexe largement utilisé pour la multiplication végétative ainsi qu'en recherche fondamentale pour étudier l'organogenèse. Malgré les diverses applications de la caulogenèse in vitro, les mécanismes de régulation impliqués restent mal caractérisés. Avant le début de mon doctorat, nous avons identifié un mutant d'Arabidopsis thaliana chez lequel un défaut du complexe I de la chaîne de transport d'électrons mitochondriale (CTEm) entraîne une augmentation du taux de régénération comparé au sauvage, mesurée sur des cals issus de protoplastes. Au début de mon projet doctoral, j'ai confirmé le lien entre le dysfonctionnement respiratoire et l'augmentation des taux de régénération en utilisant un inhibiteur spécifique du complexe I appelé roténone. Pour comprendre ce phénomène, j'ai étudié les mécanismes moléculaires et biochimiques liant la respiration mitochondriale et l'organogenèse in vitro. J'ai analysé différents mutants affectés dans l'activité du complexe I et conclu que le retard de croissance qui en découle est positivement corrélé avec le taux de régénération. Pour comprendre comment les perturbations de la CTEm affectent la formation des bourgeons, j'ai comparé les profils d'expression des gènes dans des tissus mutants du complexe I et dans des cals traités avec la roténone. Les résultats obtenus montrent, d’une part, que le profil d’expression des gènes est différent chez le sauvage et chez les mutants du complexe I et, d’autre part, que la roténone induit un stress oxydatif, inhibe la prolifération cellulaire et module les régulations hormonales. J'ai confirmé que la réponse oxydative induite par la roténone est rapidement relayée dans le cytosol en utilisant un bio-senseur de l’état redox cellulaire. Nos résultats suggèrent un lien de causalité entre un stress oxydatif induit par des perturbations respiratoires et la hausse du taux de régénération. Nos travaux pointent vers des méthodes alternatives pour améliorer l'efficacité de l'organogenèse in vitro par inhibition transitoire d'activités mitochondriales. / In vitro shoot regeneration is a complex process routinely used for vegetative propagation and to study plant organogenesis. Despite multiple applications of in vitro shoot initiation, the regulatory mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Prior to the beginning of my PhD thesis, we identified an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant in which a defect in the complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) results in a higher shoot regeneration rate compared to wild type, measured on protoplast-derived calli. At the beginning of my PhD project, I confirmed the link between the respiratory defect and the shoot regeneration boost with a specific complex I inhibitor called rotenone. To understand this phenomenon, I investigated the molecular and biochemical mechanisms linking mitochondrial respiration and shoot organogenesis. For this purpose, I analyzed different mutants affected in the complex I activity and concluded that the resulting growth retardation is positively correlated with the regeneration rate. To understand how mETC perturbations promote shoot regeneration, I compared gene expression profiles in complex I mutant tissues and in calli treated with rotenone. Our data show, on the one hand, that gene expression profiles are different in complex I mutants and, on the other hand, that rotenone induces an oxidative stress, inhibits cell proliferation, and modulate hormonal regulations. I confirmed that the oxidative response induced by rotenone is rapidly relayed in the cytosol with a redox- sensitive biosensor. Altogether, our results suggest a causal link between an oxidative stress caused by respiratory impairments and shoot regeneration enhancement. Our findings point to alternative methods to promote in vitro organogenesis via transient inhibition of mitochondrial activities.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Generation of narrow segments is a matter of concern in step-and-shoot intensity modulated radiotherapy for several reasons. The measurement, calculation and delivery of dose from narrow segments may be complicated due to: the dosimetric properties of the detector; the effect of beam penumbra and heterogeneities within the patient; and the requirement for high geometric delivery precision respectively. The main purpose of this thesis was to investigate the parameters affecting the generation of narrow beam segments in IMRT optimization. Parameters such as effective source size, Gaussian height and width, density of the target volume, and gap between the tumor and normal tissue were varied to determine their influence on the number of narrow leaf pair separations. The gradient and penumbra were also examined. Two simple geometric models (thick model and thin model) with different dimensions were used. In the thick model, two 6-MV photon beams were incident on the target at right angles. A rectangular target was centered in a phantom with dimensions 20.25 cm×5.25 cm×20.25 cm. In the thin model, one 6-MV photon beam was normally incident on a 20.25 cm×1.25 cm×20.25 cm slab phantom. The relationship between the penumbra and number of narrow separated leaf pairs were examined for the thick model. The results did not show a consistent pattern. For the thin model, creating a gap between the target and the OAR decreased the total number of narrowly separated leaf pairs along the interface but increased the average dose delivered to the OAR. By varying the OAR max dose or the gap between the target and OAR, a peak was created in the dose profiles to compensate the penumbra. As gradient increased the peak height increased to compensate the dose fall-off. The width of the peak at half maximum changed with gradient but not in a predictable fashion.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

The weaver ant is a promising biological control agent of a shoot borer, <i>Hypsipyla robusta</i> Moore, on mahogany, but techniques to conserve ant colonies redistributed to mahogany plantations have not yet been developed. The effect of food supplementation and host plant species preference of the weaver ant, <i>Oecophylla smaragdina</i> F., was evaluated in a series of field studies. A simple model was developed to estimate the number of ants within nests on <i>Khaya ivorensis</i> A. Chev. (Meliaceae): log₁₀ (Number of ants) = - 1.16 + 1.09 log₁₀ (Nest size). Nest size is calculated from estimated nest height <i>(&#293;)</i> and length <i>(à )</i> using the formula = π;r²⁺; <i>à </i>, where r = ½ <i>&#293;</i>. This model was useful for repeated assessments of ant population levels to evaluate treatment effects. It provides better estimates than previous indirect methods based on nest counts and ant trail counts on plant parts. Colonies that were relocated without their queens and very small colonies (< 10,000 ants) failed to establish on new host trees, indicating that a minimum ant population and queen needs to be transferred for colony survival. Established colonies consumed more high-protein foods (live mealworms and fish) than high-carbohydrate liquid foods (honey and –weaver ant formula–, which contained sucrose and human muscle-training powder (Enerpro™)). Relocated colonies consumed more weaver ant formula and as many mealworms as established colonies, indicating that existing and relocated colonies require different food supplementation strategies. Decreasing consumption over time and preferential consumption among high-protein food choices (i.e., of mealworms over fish) indicated that ants select and regulate food consumption based on colony needs. Therefore, food supplementation should be as needed. Preliminary indications were that self-sufficiency in trophobiont (honeydew) levels may be achieved in two months after colony relocation. The optimal colony density that would protect <i>K. ivorensis</i> was estimated to be within the range of 6 – 48 colonies per ha based on previous reports for cocoa and cashew, and a consideration of the low damage threshold for mahogany. Substituting chemical control with weaver ants at those application rates gave similar IRRs (Internal rate of return; 11.6 – 12.2 vs. 12.0%) in preliminary financial analyses, and was preferable from an ecological standpoint. Twenty-nine host plant species were found for Malaysian <i>O. smaragdina</i>, of which 11 were new species records for <i>Oecophylla</i> spp. Also, there were two new genera and eight new species records for Malaysian <i>O. smaragdina</i>. Of eight trophobiont families collected, six species were identified, yielding new trophobiont-host plant species records for four coccoid species and two membracid genera. Screening of several ant-abundant plant species that included preliminary pest risk analyses for trophobionts on <i>K. ivorensis</i>, identified <i>M. citrifolia</i> as a promising candidate for mixed-planting with this mahogany species. / Ph. D.

<p dir="ltr"><a href="" target="_blank">Shoot architecture in plants refers to the spatial layout of the above-ground organs, which develops through complicated networks of genetic and environmental interactions. Modification of shoot architecture has been a major driver of yield increases in many crop species, but knowledge of the genetic control of shoot architectural traits in soybeans remains incomplete. Chapter 1 provides an overview of soybean shoot architecture traits, encompassing stem growth habit, plant height, branch number, branch angle, petiole angle, leaf size, and leaf shape. The review not only delves into the genetic basis of these traits but also underscores their importance, identifies knowledge gaps, and outlines avenues for future research leveraging cutting-edge technologies in gene editing, phenomics, and genomics. Chapter 2 describes the identification and mapping of a novel locus modulating semideterminate and indeterminate stem growth habits, <i>dt3</i>, on chromosome 10. Allelic and haplotypic analysis of the USDA soybean germplasm collection was conducted to find semideterminate soybean accessions which did not carry known stem termination alleles at the <i>dt1</i> and <i>Dt2 </i>loci. Mapping populations were developed by crossing several of these accessions to indeterminate cultivars, and initial mapping revealed a region on chromosome 10 common to all populations. <i>dt3</i> is a recessive mutation resulting in semideterminate growth habits, and this locus displays a unique pattern of inheritance compared with known stem growth habit genes in soybean or other plant species. Chapter 3 describes the identification of <i>Dt4</i>, a novel semideterminacy allele of <i>FT5a</i> originating from wild soybean. <i>Dt4</i> was identified by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping using a population developed by crossing LD00-3309, an indeterminate cultivar with a semideterminate recombinant inbred line (RIL1890) originating from a cross between wild and domesticated soybean. A combination of fine mapping and candidate gene expression analysis pinpointed the allele of the floral inducer <i>FT5a</i> in RIL1890 as <i>Dt4 </i>for semideterminacy. Intriguingly, when the <i>Dt4 </i>allele was transformed into LD00-3309, it resulted in not only semideterminate stem growth habit but also narrowed leaf shape. Chapter 4 describes the identification and mapping of <i>GmBa1</i>, a novel locus specifying soybean branch angle, in which wide branch angle is completely dominant over narrow branch angle. This locus was identified in two distinct biparental mapping populations. The findings described in this dissertation deepen our understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying shoot architecture traits and provide a valuable resource for breeders looking to modify these traits for soybean improvement.</a></p>

International protection of civil aviation safety(in particular against acts endangering the safety of aviation). This work deals with issues of the current scope of the international means of protection of civil aviation safety against acts which immediately threaten the safety of air transport. The work is based on the thesis that, through the available international instruments, the safety of civil aviation cannot be ensured. It seems that in practice the appropriate permission takes over UN Security Council, which its resolutions shall establish appropriate sanctions against States that support terrorism are guilty. The UN Security Council by its resolutions No. 731, 748 and 883 and 1192 created a precedent for the avoidance of any negotiations with terrorists, as provided for in the Montreal Convention. Through article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations is entitled to accept the UN Security Council resolution, which opposed the established multilateral antiterrorism Convention in the background. International protection of the safety of civil aviation is fragmented and does not meet the conditions of civil aviation in the atmosphere of 21 st. century. The optimal solution would be that States have established definitively, universally accepted definition of terrorism, which would become even...

Os microRNAs (miRNAs) são pequenos RNAs endógenos não codantes de 21-24 nucleotídeos (nt) que regulam a expressão gênica de genes-alvos. Eles estão envolvidos em diversos aspectos de desenvolvimento da planta, tanto na parte aérea, quanto no sistema radicular. Entre os miRNAs, o miRNA156 (miR156) regula a família de fatores de transcrição SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) afetando diferentes processos do desenvolvimento vegetal. Estudos recentes mostram que a via gênica miR156/SPL apresenta efeito positivo tanto no aumento da formação de raízes laterais, quanto no aumento de regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de folhas e hipocótilos em Arabidopsis thaliana. Devido ao fato de que a origem da formação de raiz lateral e a regeneração in vitro de brotos a partir de raiz principal compartilham semelhanças anatômicas e moleculares, avaliou-se no presente estudo se a via miR156/SPL, da mesma forma que a partir de explantes aéreos, também é capaz de influenciar na regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de explantes radiculares. Para tanto foram comparados taxa de regeneração, padrão de distribuição de auxina e citocinina, análises histológicas e histoquímicas das estruturas regeneradas em plantas com via miR156/SPL alterada, incluindo planta mutante hyl1, na qual a produção desse miRNA é severamente reduzida. Além disso, foi avaliado o padrão de expressão do miR156 e específicos genes SPL durante a regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir da raiz principal de Arabidopsis thaliana. No presente trabalho observou-se que a alteração da via gênica miR156/SPL é capaz de modular a capacidade de regeneração de brotos in vitro a partir de raiz principal de Arabidopsis thaliana e a distribuição de auxina e citocinina presente nas células e tecidos envolvidos no processo de regeneração. Plantas superexpressando o miR156 apresentaram redução no número de brotos regenerados, além de ter o plastochron reduzido quando comparado com plantas controle. Adicionalmente, plantas contento o gene SPL9 resistente à clivagem pelo miR156 (rSPL9) apresentaram severa redução na quantidade de brotos, além de terem o plastochron alongado. Interessantemente, plantas mutantes hyl1-2 e plantas rSPL10 não apresentaram regeneração de brotos ao longo da raiz principal, mas sim intensa formação de raízes laterais e protuberâncias, respectivamente, tendo essa última apresentado indícios de diferenciação celular precoce. Tomados em conjunto os dados sugerem que o miR156 apresenta importante papel no controle do processo de regeneração de brotos in vitro. Entretanto, esse efeito é mais complexo em regeneração in vitro a partir de raízes do que a partir de cotilédones ou hipocótilos. / MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs of 21-24 nucleotides (nt) in length that regulate target gene expression. They are involved in many aspects of plant development, both in the shoot and in the root systems. Among miRNAs, miRNA156 (miR156) regulates SQUAMOSA Promoter Binding-Like (SPL) transcription factor family affecting different plant development processes. Recent studies have shown that the miR156/SPL pathway has a positive effect both in the increase of lateral root formation and regeneration of shoots from leaves and hypocotyls in Arabidopsis thaliana. Because the origin of lateral root formation and in vitro shoot regeneration from primary root share similar anatomical and molecular features, in the present study was evaluated whether the miR156/SPL pathway, in the same manner that from aerial explants, is also able to influence the in vitro shoot regeneration from root explants. For this, it was compared regeneration rates, distribution pattern of auxin and cytokinin, histological and histochemical analyses of the structures regenerated in plants in with the miR156/SPL pathway is modified, including the mutant hyl1-1, in which the biosynthesis of this miRNA is severely reduced. Besides that, it was evaluated the expression pattern of miR156 and specific SPL target genes during in vitro shoot regeneration from primary roots of Arabidopsis it was observed that the alteration on the miR156/SPL pathway is capable to modulate in vitro shoot regeneration from the primary root of Arabidopsis and the distribution of auxin and cytokinin at the tissues and cells involved in the regeneration process. Plants overexpressing the miR156a have shown reduction in the number of regenerated shoots, and displayed a reduction in plastochron when compared with wild type plants. Additionally, plants expressing cleavage-resistant form of SPL9 (rSPL9) presented severe reduction in the amount of shoots, and extended plastochron. Interestingly, mutant hyl1-2 and plants rSPL10 did not show any shoot regeneration along the root, but high formation of lateral roots and protuberances, respectively, having rSPL10 presented evidence of precocious cell differentiation. Taken together, these data suggest that de miR156 and SPLs have an important role in the control the in vitro shoot regeneration process. However, its effect is somehow more complex in roots than in cotyledons or hypocotyls.

Atualmente, o termo sustentabilidade vem ganhando destaque dentro das atividades agrícolas e para a produção animal em pastagens não é diferente. As leguminosas forrageiras são conhecidas por algumas características peculiares como grande capacidade de fixação do nitrogênio atmosférico e elevado valor nutritivo, surgindo assim como uma alternativa viável nesse novo modelo de produção. Entretanto, muitas vezes práticas de manejo inadequadas acabam não permitindo a exploração do potencial dessas espécies, levando-as ao desuso. Dessa forma, conhecer a resposta de plantas (alterações em forma e função) a intensidades de pastejo é imprescindível para permitir a idealização de estratégias de manejo eficientes que possam contribuir para a otimização do processo produtivo em sistemas pastoris. Este trabalho fez parte de uma série de experimentos delineados com o propósito de avaliar aspectos gerais de crescimento e desenvolvimento do amendoim forrageiro sob pastejo e suas implicações sobre a produção de forragem e potencial de consumo pelos animais. Seu objetivo específico foi avaliar as características produtivas de Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte submetido a intensidades de pastejo sob lotação contínua. O experimento foi conduzido na Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, de janeiro a dezembro de 2013. Os tratamentos corresponderam a intensidades de pastejo determinadas por alturas de manejo do pasto (5, 10, 15 e 20 cm), e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de aproximadamente 200 m²) segundo delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram caracterizadas e determinadas as seguintes variáveis-resposta: índice de área foliar, ângulo da folhagem, interceptação luminosa do dossel, massa de forragem e sua composição botânica e morfológica, número e massa de nódulos radiculares, massa de raízes e acúmulo de forragem. As intensidades de pastejo promoveram alterações no crescimento e desenvolvimento do Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte. Pastos manejados com intensidade de pastejo mais leniente (15 e 20 cm) apresentaram maior índice de área foliar, ângulo da folhagem, massa de forragem, porcentagem de plantas invasoras e taxa de acúmulo de forragem (exceto no inverno). Em contrapartida, pastejos severos (5 e 10 cm) proporcionaram maiores valores de porcentagem de folíolos e pecíolos, relação folíolo/estolão, número e massa de nódulos, massa de raízes e taxa de acúmulo de forragem durante o inverno. A intensidade de pastejo não afetou o peso médio dos nódulos, somente o seu número e massa total. Outros aspectos produtivos apresentaram efeitos isolados de época do ano como porcentagem de estolão e de material morto, com maiores valores registrados no verão e no inverno, respectivamente. Estolões assim como folhas (folíolos e pecíolos) corresponderam às principais estruturas na determinação do crescimento das plantas, tendo sido afetados de forma direta pela intensidade de pastejo e época do ano. A intensidade de pastejo interferiu com a relação parte aérea/raízes, de forma que maior massa de raízes e de nódulos foram registradas nos pastos manejados a 5 e 10 cm e o maior IAF, interceptação de luz e acúmulo de forragem foram registrados nos pastos manejados a 15 e 20 cm. O fato indica uma relação de compensação entre número e massa de nódulos/raízes e IAF controlando o acúmulo de forragem, revelando grande plasticidade fenotípica potencial dessa planta forrageira e potencial de uso em pastagens. / In recent years the term sustainability is becoming increasingly important in agriculture, including animal production from pastoral systems. Forage legumes are known for some particular characteristics like large capacity for capturing atmospheric nitrogen and high nutritive value of the produced herbage, and for that reason is being considered as a viable alternative in this new production model. However, inadequate management practices often result in no realisation and exploitation of their production potential, resulting in low use of these plant species. For that reason, understanding of plant responses (modifications in form and function) to intensities of grazing is essential for allowing planning of efficient management practices aiming at optimising productivity in pastoral systems of animal production. This study was part of a series of experiments conceived with the purpose of evaluating general aspects of growth and development of forage peanut under grazing and their implications to herbage production and potential of herbage intake by grazing animals. The specific objective was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte subjected to intensities of grazing under continuous stocking. The experiment was carried out at Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, from January to December 2013. Treatments corresponded to four intensities of grazing characterised by the sward management heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm. These were allocated to the experimental units (200 m2 paddocks) according to a randomised complete block design, with four replications. The following response variables were evaluated: sward leaf area index (LAI), foliage angle, canopy light interception (LI), herbage mass and its morphological and botanical composition, number and mass of root nodules, root mass and herbage accumulation. The grazing intensities interfered with growth and development of Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte. Swards managed at 15 and 20 cm showed higher LAI, foliage angle, herbage mass, percentage of weeds and herbage accumulation rates (except in winter) than those managed at 5 and 10 cm. On the other hand, swards managed at 5 and 10 cm showed higher percentage of leaf, leaf-to-stolon ratio, number and mass of root nodules, root mass and winter herbage accumulation rates. Grazing intensity did not affect average nodule weight, only nodule number and total mass. Other productive aspects revealed isolated effects of season of the year like percentages of stolon and dead material, with larger values recorded during summer and winter, respectively. Stolons as well as leaves corresponded to the main structures determining plant growth, and were directly affected by grazing intensity and season of the year. Grazing intensity interfered with the shoot-to-root ratio, with larger root and nodule mass being recorded on swards managed at 5 and 10 cm and larger LAI, LI and herbage accumulation recorded on swards managed at 15 and 20 cm. The fact indicates a compensating relationship between number and mass of nodules/roots and LAI controlling herbage accumulation, highlighting the large potential phonotypical plasticity of this forage plant and potential of use in pastures.