Living cells accumulate compensatory solutes for protection against the harmful effects of extreme environmental conditions such as high salinity, temperature and desiccation. Even at high concentrations these solutes do not disrupt the normal cellular functions and at times counteract by stabilizing the cellular components. These properties of compensatory solutes have been exploited for stabilizing proteins and cells in vitro. Betaines are widespread natural compensatory solutes that have also been used in other applications such as therapeutic agents and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enhancers. Some biomedical applications of novel synthetic analogues of natural betaines were investigated. Natural compensatory solutes are either dipolar zwitterionic compounds or polyhydroxyl compounds, and the physical basis of compensation may differ between these, so one focus was on synthetic betaines with hydroxyl substituents. The majority of the synthetic solutes stabilized different model proteins against stress factors such as high and low temperatures. The presence of hydroxyl groups improved protection against desiccation. The observed stabilization effect is not just on the catalytic activity of the enzyme, but also on its structural conformation. Synthetic compensatory solutes have a potential application as protein stabilizers. Dimethylthetin was evaluated as a therapeutic agent and found to be harmful in a sheep model. However, from the study we were able to generate a large-animal continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) model and showed that glycine betaine could be added to the dialysis fluid in chronic renal failure. Some synthetic compensatory solutes reduce the melting temperatures of DNA better than most natural solutes. Synthetic solutes were identified that have potential to enhance PCR and could replace some reagents marketed by commercial suppliers. Density, viscosity and molecular model data on the solutes showed correlations with the biochemical effects of the solutes, but no physical measurements were found that reliably predicted their potential for biotechnological applications.

The crop productivity increase is often associated with an increase in the use of agricultural products, including herbicides. When these products are applied in an untidy way, leaching may occur and cause environmental contamination either at the soil or at the groundwater. Regarding herbicides, atrazine is widely used in Brazil and around the world. It is also considered as the main organic pollutant, and a potential contaminant of the water table. According to that, it is necessary to build a detailed knowledge about the dynamics of these molecules through the soil with the objective to better control the contamination risks. Thus, the main goal of this research was to simulate the atrazine\'s movement through both tropical and temperate soils under corn cultivation using HYDRUS package models, and to obtain equation parameters to transform electromagnetic induction (EMI) signal data in atrazine\'s movement parameters. Thus, the research was conducted in two different places: 1 - \"Luiz de Queiroz\" College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP) at the Biosystems Engineering Department and at the Ecotoxicology Laboratory (CENA/USP) both in Piracicaba, SP (Brazil), and 2 - at the Meat Animal Research Center (MARC/ARS) from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Clay Center, NE (US). In Brazil, a corn crop using three treatments of atrazine was conducted in a greenhouse to obtain the herbicide concentration data from the soil solution. Then, soil samples were collected to run breakthrough curves (BTC) to obtain atrazine\'s movement parameters through STANMOD model. After that, atrazine\'s movement simulations were taken through the HYDRUS 2D model. In the end, statistical indexes were used to compare observed and modeled data aiming the evaluation of HYDRUS 2D model for the movement of atrazine. In US, EMI data were collected in a corn field before atrazine application. Then, soil samples from this field were collected for BTC\'s to obtain atrazine\'s movement parameters. After obtaining such parameters, models were generated correlating EMI signal data with atrazine\'s movement parameters. Subsequently, statistical comparison indexes were used to compare the actual data obtained with the data obtained by the new model generated. Finally, simulations of the movement of atrazine were made with the purpose of evaluating the contamination of the subsoil. In addition, maps with interpolated data were generated, facilitating the visualization of sites most susceptible to contamination. In Brazil, the atrazine\'s movement parameters were R = 1.604, β = 0.82 e ω = 2.5 h-1. Then, HYDRUS 2D simulations were precise (r = 0.9815) and accuracy (d = 0.9906) when the corn plant is not in the system. However, with the presence of the corn, HYDRUS 2D still predicted atrazine with precision (r = 0.8609) but the accuracy was low (d = 0.4449). In US, the atrazine\'s movement parameters were R = 7.45, β = 0.47, and ω = 5.56 h-1. Further, models using EMI signal data to predict atrazine\'s movement parameters were generated. The statistical indexes to these models were R2 = 0.9012, r = 0.9311, and d = 0.9589. Overall, HYDRUS 2D is a model to predict atrazine\'s movement through the soil. However, more researches need to be carried out considering the plant as part of the system and the parameters which account water and solutes absorption need to be improved. The EMI technique to obtain atrazine\'s movement parameters was also well succeeded. Thus, it should be broadly used to monitor atrazine and other contaminants. / O aumento de produtividade dos cultivos, na maioria das vezes, está associado a um aumento na utilização de insumos agrícolas, dentre eles, os herbicidas. Quando esses produtos são aplicados de uma maneira desordenada ao solo, processos de lixiviação podem ocorrer e, dessa forma, provocar algum tipo de contaminação ambiental, alcançando, assim, águas subterrâneas. Nesse sentido, em termos de aplicação de herbicidas, a atrazina é um exemplo dessa classe, que é intensamente utilizada no Brasil e no mundo e é frequentemente considerada como sendo um dos principais poluentes orgânicos, revelando-se, também, como um dos potenciais contaminantes do lençol freático. Visando maior controle de riscos de um possível impacto ambiental aliado à necessidade de aumento de produtividade, faz-se necessário o conhecimento com maior detalhamento sobre a dinâmica desses elementos no perfil do solo. Dessa forma, buscou-se como objetivo principal dessa pesquisa, simular a dinâmica da atrazina em um perfil de solo utilizando-se, para tal, o modelo HYDRUS 2D, sob condições de cultivo de milho, em regiões de solos tropicais e temperados e obter parâmetros de uma equação que transforme dados de indução eletromagnética (EMI) em parâmetros do movimento da atrazina. Deste modo, a pesquisa foi conduzida em dois locais distintos: Local 1 - Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\" (ESALQ/USP), junto ao Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas e Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia (CENA/USP) ambos em Piracicaba, SP (Brasil) e Local 2 - U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC/ARS/USDA), em Clay Center, Nebraska (EUA). No Brasil, um cultivo de milho usando-se três tratamentos de atrazina foi conduzido em estufa experimental a fim de se obter dados de concentração do herbicida na solução do solo. Em seguida, amostras do mesmo solo foram coletadas para realização de curvas de eluição (BTC) para se obter os parâmetros de movimento da atrazina através do software STANMOD. Após a obtenção de tais parâmetros, simulações de movimento da atrazina no solo foram realizadas através do modelo HYDRUS 2D. Por fim, índices estatísticos de comparação foram utilizados para avaliar este software. Nos Estados Unidos, dados de EMI foram coletados num campo de cultivo de milho antes da aplicação de atrazina. Em seguida, amostras de solo deste campo foram coletadas para realização de BTC\'s para se obter os parâmetros do movimento da atrazina. Após a obtenção de tais parâmetros, foram gerados modelos correlacionando dados de EMI com os parâmetros do movimento do herbicida. Posteriormente, índices estatísticos de comparação foram utilizados com o objetivo de se comparar os dados reais obtidos com os dados obtidos pelo novo modelo gerado. Por fim, simulações do movimento da atrazina foram feitas com o intuito de avaliar a contaminação do subsolo. Além disso, mapas com dados interpolados foram gerados, facilitando a visualização dos locais mais suscetíveis à contaminação. No experimento realizado no Brasil, os parâmetros do movimento da atrazina encontrados foram: R = 1,604, β = 0,82 e ω = 2,5 h-1. Com tais parâmetros, o modelo HYDRUS 2D simulou o movimento da atrazina com precisão (r = 0,9815) e acurácia (d = 0,9906), quando a planta de milho não está inclusa no sistema. Quando a planta é considerada, o modelo prevê o movimento da atrazina com precisão (r = 0,8609), porém sem precisão (d = 0,4449). No experimentos realizado nos EUA, os parâmetros do movimento da atrazina encontrados foram: R = 7,45, β = 0,47 e ω = 5,56 h-1. Modelos para obtenção dos parâmetros de movimento da atrazina utilizando-se EMI como dado de entrada foram gerados e seus índices estatísticos de comparação foram: R2 = 0,9012, r = 0,9311 e d = 0,9589. Deste modo, o modelo HYDRUS 2D é uma ferramenta para simular o movimento da atrazina no solo. No entanto, mais pesquisas devem ser feitas no que se refere à presença da planta no sistema solo-planta-atmosfera, pois os parâmetros que controlam a absorção de água e solutos podem estar obsoletos. A técnica de obtenção de EMI também foi bem sucedida na previsão dos parâmetros do movimento da atrazina e, portanto, deve ser utilizada para monitoramento, não só da própria atrazina, mas também de outros contaminantes.

Diffusion plays an important role in a number of processes like heterogeneous catalysis, corrosion, separation and purification of chemicals of industrial importance, steel hardening, fuel cells, and solid electrolytes for batteries. It also plays a vital role in several biological processes like transport across biomembranes, nerve impulse, flow of blood and permeation of ingested drug. The elementary process of diffusion in solids is quite different from those in liquids. Similarly, the mode of diffusion in porous solid where different regimes such Knudsen regime exists bears little similarity to those in a dense close-packed crystalline solid. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to basics of diffusion in different phases of condensed matter. Among the various phases discussed are liquids, close-packed crystalline solids (e.g., body-centered cubic solids), amorphous solids (e.g. glasses) and microporous crystalline solids (e.g., zeolites). Diffusion in these widely differing phases often bears no resemblance to each other; the rate of diffusion in these phases varies over many orders of magnitude and the elementary step and mechanism in the diffusion process are very different. Brief introduction to theories for diffusion in these phases is provided. Various experimental techniques to measure diffusivities are discussed. Different microscopic models to explain the Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) spectra of these phases yield an insight into the elementary step of the diffusion process. Notwithstanding the fact that completely different models are invoked to explain diffusion in different phases, there are certain underlying generic behaviour across these widely differing phases as the recent work on size dependence of diffusion in these phases demonstrate. Diffusion of a molecule or species (in the context of diffusion within condensed phases) without loss of generality may be said to occur in a medium. A universal behaviour observed is that self diffusivity exhibits a maximum as a function of the size of the diffusant when the diffusant is confined to a medium, as a result of what is known as the Levitation Effect. Such a maximum in self diffusivity has been seen in widely differing medium: microporous solids, dense liquids, ions in polar solvents, etc. The aim of the thesis is to investigate and further explore such universal behaviour and demonstrate for the first time the existence of common trends across different condensed phases in spite of difference in the detail at the microscopic level. In Chapter 2, we report a molecular dynamics study of diffusion of diatomic species AB within zeolite Y. The bond length of A-B as well as the interaction of A and B with the host zeolite atoms are varied. The results demonstrate that for the symmetric case (when A=B or AA), there exists a preferred bond length (determined by the bottleneck or window diameter) when the diffusivity is maximum. This is in agreement with previous results on monatomic species which also exhibit a similar diffusivity maximum. More importantly, no such maximum is seen when the interaction asymmetric is introduced in AB. Slight asymmetry in the interaction gives rise to a weak maximum while large asymmetry in interaction obliterates the diffusivity maximum. These results suggest that the importance of interaction between the diffusant and the medium in Levitation Effect or size-dependent diffusivity maximum. Further, it also demonstrates for the first time the close association between an inversion centre (in a statistical sense and not in the crystallographic sense) and the Levitation Effect. In Chapter 3, a study of size dependence of solutes in a Lennard-Jones liquid is reported. Einstein and others derived the reciprocal dependence of the self-diffusivity D on the solute radius ru for large solutes based on kinetic theory. We examine here (a) the range of ru over which Stokes-Einstein (SE) dependence is valid and (b) the precise dependence for small solutes outside of the SE regime. We show through molecular dynamics simulations that there are two distinct regimes for smaller solutes: (i) the interaction or Levitation Effect (LE) regime for solutes of intermediate sizes and (ii) the D 1/ru2 for still smaller solutes. We show that as the solute-solvent size ratio decreases, the breakdown in the Stokes-Einstein relationship leading to the LE regime has its origin in dispersion interaction between the solute and the solvent. These results explain reports of enhanced solute diffusion in solvents existing in the literature seen for small solutes for which no explanation exists. Several properties have been computed to understand the nature of solute motion in different regimes. We investigate in Chapter 4, the dependence of self diffusivity on the size of the diffusant in a disordered medium with the objective of understanding the experimentally observed correlation between self diffusivity and activation energy seen in a wide variety of glasses. Typically, it is found in many ionic glasses that a higher conductivity is associated with lower activation energy and vice versa. Our understanding of transport in glasses as provided by existing theories does not offer an explanation of this correlation. We have carried out molecular dynamics simulation as a function of the size of the impurity atom or diffusant (both neutral and charged) in a model host amorphous matrix. We find that there is a maximum in self diffusivity as a function of the size of the impurity atom suggesting that there is an appropriate size for which the diffusivity is maximum. The activation energy is found to be the lowest for this size of the impurity. A similar maximum has previously been found in other condensed phases such as confined fluids and dense liquids and has its origin in the Levitation Effect. The implications of this result for understanding ionic conductivity in glasses are discussed. Our result suggests that there is a relation between microscopic structure of the amorphous solid, diffusivity or conductivity and activation energy. The nature of this relationship is discussed in terms of the Levitation parameter showing that diffusivity is maximum when the size of the neck or doorway radius is comparable with the size of the diffusant. Our computational results here are in excellent agreement with independent experimental results which show that structural features of the glass are important in determining the ionic conductivity. In Chapter 5, we report results of molecular dynamics investigations into neutral impurity diffusing within an amorphous solid as a function of the size of the diffusant and density of the host amorphous matrix. We find that self diffusivity exhibits an anomalous maximum as a function of the size of the impurity species. An analysis of properties of the impurity atom with maximum diffusivity shows that it is associated with lower mean square force, reduced backscattering of velocity autocorrelation function, near-exponential decay of the intermediate scattering function (as compared to stretched-exponential decay for other sizes of the impurity species) and lower activation energy. These results demonstrate the existence of well known size-dependent diffusivity maximum in disordered solids. Further, we show that the diffusivity maximum is observed at lower impurity diameters with increase in density. This is explained in terms of the levitation parameter and the void structure of the amorphous solid. We demonstrate that these results imply contrasting dependence of self diffusivity (D) on the density of the amorphous matrix, . D increases with  for small sizes of the impurity but shows an increase followed by a decrease for intermediate sizes of the impurity atom. For large sizes of the impurity atom, D decreases with increase in . These contrasting dependence arises naturally from the existence of Levitation Effect. In Chapter 6, we discuss size dependence of impurity diffusion in an ordered system. We report molecular dynamics simulation studies to understand the role of impurity size and impurity-host interaction on impurity diffusivity in a body centered cubic solid. The simulation studies have been performed for a set of impurity-host interaction parameter ih (i=impurity, h=host atom) for a range of impurity sizes in rigid and flexible bcc solids. A double maximum is seen corresponding to two different sizes of the impurity species. Anomalous maximum is seen for a larger size of the impurity species in the case of the rigid host as compared to flexible host. The second anomalous diffusivity disappears with decrease in ih in flexible bcc solid. For one of the ih where double diffusivity maxima are observed, various properties are analysed to understand the anomalous diffusion behaviour. The impurity with anomalous diffusion has lower activation energy as compared to other impurities. Among the two anomalous impurities, the impurity with higher diffusivity has lower activation energy. The anomalous regime impurities as associated with velocity autocorrelation function with little or no backscattering, minimum average mean square force due to host atoms, lower activation energy. The self intermediate scattering function shows faster decay and a single relaxation time for anomalous regime impurity and two relaxation times for other impurity sizes. The wavenumber dependence of diffusivity of impurities shows oscillatory behaviour except for the anomalous regime impurities which show monotonic dependence on wavenumber. Chapter 7 discusses the influence of temperature induced solid-liquid phase transition on the size-dependent diffusivity. We report results for two distinct cases: (a) when the phase change is associated with corresponding changes in density and (b) when the phase change occurs at constant density. The latter is carried out so as to obtain the influence of disorder on the size-dependent diffusion or Levitation Effect. Studies with variable density are useful to understand the effect of disorder as well as change in density on size-dependent diffusivity. Two diffusivity maxima in the solid face-centred cubic phase is seen when the impurity-medium interaction is sufficiently large. One of these diffusivity maximum disappears with decrease in h. The impurities near the diffusivity maximum show velocity autocorrelation function with little backscattering, minimum in the average mean square force, lower activation energy, faster decay of self intermediate scattering function with a single relaxation time and a monotonic decay in wavevector dependence of diffusivity. Chapter 8 reports molecular dynamics simulations of a model guest tetrahedral molecule AX4 with differing bond lengths lAX have been carried out in a sphere with different surface roughness. The rotational-diffusion coefficient Dr shows a maximum for a particular value of lAX. This corresponds to the distance at which the interaction of the guest with the atoms of the host is most favourable. Although, the intensity of the maximum decreases with increase in the roughness of the confining surface, it is seen that the maximum exists even for a reasonably high degree of roughness. The observed maximum arises from the minimum in the torque on the tetrahedral molecule from its interaction with the confining medium due to mutual cancellation of forces. Activation energy for rotation is seen to be also a minimum for the bond length for which Dr is a maximum. These results suggest that there is a maximum in the rotational-diffusion coefficient when the rotating molecule is confined to a sphere of comparable size similar to the maximum in translational diffusion coefficient seen in porous solids and known as the Levitation Effect. On increase in the roughness of the sphere surface, the value of lAX at which the maximum in Dr is seen decreases. This is similar to the shift seen in the size of the diffusant corresponding to maximum diffusivity in the case of translational diffusivity. In Chapter 9 possible extensions to the work reported in the previous chapters and the directions to take are discussed. Symmetry plays an important role in size dependent diffusivity maximum in microporous crystalline solids; it would be interesting to investigate if similar role of symmetry exists in case of liquids and other disordered solids. Previous work from this laboratory on ions in water has shown the importance of electrostatic interactions. In the light of this, it would be interesting to see the influence of long-range interactions in breakdown of Stokes-Einstein relationship in liquids. Effect of density of the medium on impurity diffusion can be studied over a wide range of densities in case of supercritical fluids such as ions in water (where electrostatic interactions are present) and these can provide greater insight into dependence of diffusion on density. The origin of two diffusivity maxima in case of body-centered and face-centred cubic solids needs a detailed investigation to understand its origin. Quantification of disorder and its effect on size dependence of diffusion would be of interest. A detailed comparison with experimental data of matrix isolated molecules to understand and verify the dependence of rotational diffusivity on the size of the molecule as well as the cavity radius would be instructive.

"2003". / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Environmental & Life Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 136-160. / Introduction: The Antarctic environment; Antarctic inhabitants; Microfungi; Identification of microfungi; Physiological factors affecting Antactic microfungi; Flow cytometry and microfungi; Hydrolytic enzymes of industrial interest; Isolation of genes from microfungi; Aims of this study -- Materials and methods: Fungal strains and cultivation conditions; Molecular identification of fungal isolates; Fungal physiology; Hydrolase activity of secreted proteins; Gene cloning and expression -- Results and discussion: Microfungal identification; Physiological factors affecting Antarctic microfungi; Activity in microfungi when grown on solid media; Characterisation of hemicellulases from selected Antarctic microfungi; Cloning of an Antarctic Penicillium allii lipase gene and its expression in Trichoderma reesei -- Conclusions and future prospects. / The Antarctic occupies that region of the planet that falls below the 60th parallel of South latitude. Although it has been frequented by adventurers, journeyman scientists and tourists for the past 100 years, the Continent has remained virtually unoccupied. The intense cold, the absence of human occupation and the limited range of local higher animal species have combined to create the impression that the Continent is virtually devoid of life. -- Although the microbiota of the Antarctic has attracted some small level of attention in the past, the examination of filamentous microfungi has been largely overlooked and fallen to a small group of dedicated investigators. In this study it will be shown that far from being an insignificant component of the Antarctic network, microfungi represent a potentially large and so far untapped bioresource. -- From just 11 bryophyte samples collected at four sites in the Ross Sea/Dry Valleys region of Southern Antarctica, some 30 microfungal isolates were recovered. Using molecular techniques, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced to reveal no less than nine unique microfungal species. For only two of these species did the ITS sequence data produce a 100% match with records held on the public databases. This investigation also highlighted the problems inherent in the traditional morphological identification system which are now being perpetuated in the molecular database records. -- A set of seven notionally identified isolates obtained from ornithogenic soil samples gathered in the Windmill Islands in Eastern Antarctica (offshore from the Australian Antarctic Division's Casey Station) were also subjected to molecular identification based on ITS sequence data. Each of the seven isolates was identified as a unique species; six were cosmopolitan in nature and the one remaining bore very little resemblance at the molecular level to any of the recorded species although it was provided with an epithet commonly used in the identification of Antarctic microfungal species. -- To evaluate their potential as a bioresource, samples of Antarctic microfungi were examined to determine if the same physiological factors common to mesophilic species also applied to their Antarctic analogues. It is known that when placed under stress, trehalose can act as a protectant against cold (cryoprotection) and dehydration in mesophilic yeasts and fungi. The level of trehalose produced by the Antarctic isolates and their mesophilic analogues when subjected to stress was compared. A similar comparison was made for the production of glycerol which is well established as a compatible solute providing protection to mesophilic species against osmotic stress. Only in the case of trehalose production by an Antarctic Embellisia was there any indication that either of these two compounds could play a significant role in providing protection to the Antarctic fungi against the rigours of their environment, which leaves open to question what in fact does. -- In the course of investigating the means by which Antarctic microfungi guard against the damage which can ensue when subjected to oxidative stress, flow cytometry was introduced as an investigatory tool. It was established that there is a window of opportunity during which flow cytometry can be used to undertake a detailed analysis of the early stages of fungal growth from germination through hyphal development. -- Of major significance in determining the potential of Antarctic microfungi as a resource is their ability to produce new and novel enzymes and proteins. The microfungal isolates were screened for hydrolytic activity on solid media containing indicative substrates and proved to be a fruitful source of enzymes active over a range of temperatures. A detailed characterisation of two hemicellulases, β-mannanase and xylanase, secreted into a liquid medium by a subset of the Antarctic fungi and a high producing mesophilic reference strain permitted direct comparisons to be made. It was shown that the maximum hemicellulase activity of the Antarctic strains occurred at least 10°C and as much as 30°C lower than that of the reference strain and that mannanase activity for two of the Antarctic isolates exceeded 40% of their maximum at 0°C. These assay results highlight the potential of Antarctic microfungi to yield novel cold-active enzymes. -- As a final measure of the capacity of the Antarctic to yield novel enzymes from its microfungal stock, a lipase gene was selected as a target for isolation and expression in a heterologous fungal host. Using PCR techniques, the gene of interest was isolated from an Antarctic isolate of Penicillium allii, transformed into the mesophilic production host Trichoderma reesei and the active protein successfully produced in the growth medium. The recombinant lipase was assayed and found to exhibit novel characteristics consistent with a cold-adapted enzyme. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 186 leaves ill

GONDIM, Franklin Aragão. Efeitos do peróxido de hidrogênio sobre a germinação e na aclimatação de plantas de milho à salinidade, Fortaleza - CE, 2008. 116 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Bioquímica) - Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2008. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-05-20T12:26:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_fagondim.pdf: 2614140 bytes, checksum: 6acc0bd93625516278dbfcd0d8714f5d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-05-20T12:38:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_fagondim.pdf: 2614140 bytes, checksum: 6acc0bd93625516278dbfcd0d8714f5d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-20T12:38:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_fagondim.pdf: 2614140 bytes, checksum: 6acc0bd93625516278dbfcd0d8714f5d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on germination and acclimation of maize plants subject to the saline stress, in order to better understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved. In the three experiments the triple hybrid of maize (Zea mays L) BRS 3003 was used. In the first experiment, the effects of H2O2 on germination of the maize seeds were evaluated; in the second, the effects of pre-treating by soaking maize seeds in H2O2 solution on the activities of antioxidative enzymes and isoenzymes; and as, the effects of the pre-treatment of maize seeds with H2O2 on acclimation of the plants to salinity and the possible mechanisms involved with this process. In the first experiment, which was carried out in a growth room, H2O2 accelerated the germination rate of maize seeds at 100 mM, but, not at 500 mM. In the second experiment, also carried out in growth room, it was observed that the pre-treatment of the seeds induced a pronounced increase in the activities of the enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT), after 30 h of soaking in H2O2. It was also observed that the activity of the Guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) was smaller in the seeds soaked in H2O2 for 12, 24, 30, 36 and 42 h, in relation to those soaked in distilled water (control). However, H2O2 treatment for 48 h showed no significant differences as compared with control. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not affected by the pre-treatment of the seeds, except for the 24 h treatment. In the seeds, it was detected only one isoform of CAT and six of SOD. The pre-treatment of the seeds did not cause great changes in those isoforms, except for the intensity of the band of activity of CAT visualized in the polyacrylamide gel, which was very superior to that of the control, when the seeds were soaked by 36 and 48 h with H2O2. The increases in the activities of APX and, especially, of CAT, could be associated with the acceleration of the germination process. In the third experiment, which was carried out initially at growth room and, later, at the glasshouse, maize seeds were pre-treated for 36 h by soaking in solution of H2O2 100 mM or in distilled water. Those seeds were germinated on filter paper moistened with nutrient solution in the presence or absence of NaCl 80 mM, in a growth room. After six days, the seedling were transferred to the glasshouse and cultivated in trays containing only nutrient solution (control treatment) or nutrient solution with NaCl at 80 mM. Plants were harvest with 6, 11 and 16 days old. The results showed the pre-treatment of the seeds with H2O2 induced acclimation of the plants to the salinity. It decreased the deleterious effects of salt stress on the growth (biomass production and leaf area) of maize. This fact was associated with a higher efficiency of the antioxidative system of plants pre-treated with H2O2. CAT was the most important among the H2O2 scavenging enzymes in leaves, but, its activity was strongly reduced by salinity in plants 6 and 11 days old, however, this effect was totally reverted in the stressed plants originated from seeds pre-treated with H2O2. On the other hand, in the roots of plants submitted to saline stress, the activity of SOD was stimulated by the pre-treatment of the seeds with H2O2, in the three periods of harvest. In general, salinity reduced the photosynthetic parameters (stomatal conductance, net CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration and intracellular CO2 concentration) and the H2O2 pre-treatment of seeds was not capable to revert that effect. In terms of osmotic adjustment, the contents of organic solutes were not positively correlated to the process of acclimation to salt stress of the plants pre-treated with H2O2 to the salinity. However, the smallest values of the Na+/K+ ratio in roots and in leaves were found for the pre-treated plants submitted to salinity, when compared to those originated from of seeds pre-treated with water (control) and submitted to that same treatment, and it may also be a responsible factor for the acclimation of the maize plants to the salinity. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) sobre a germinação e a aclimatação de plantas de milho ao estresse salino, estudando os mecanismos fisiológicos e bioquímicos envolvidos. Nos experimentos, em número de três, foi utilizado o híbrido triplo de milho (Zea mays L), o BRS 3003. No primeiro experimento, foram avaliados os efeitos do H2O2 na germinação das sementes de milho; no segundo, foram avaliados os efeitos do pré-tratamento de embebição das sementes de milho com H2O2 nas atividades das enzimas e isoenzimas antioxidativas e, no terceiro, foram avaliados os efeitos do pré-tratamento de sementes de milho com H2O2 sobre a aclimatação das plantas de milho à salinidade e os mecanismos possivelmente envolvidos. No primeiro experimento, o qual foi realizado em sala da germinação, observou-se que o H2O2 na concentração de 100 mM acelerou o processo de germinação das sementes de milho, o mesmo não ocorrendo na concentração de 500 mM. No segundo experimento, o qual também foi realizado em sala de germinação, observou-se que o pré-tratamento das sementes induziu forte aumento nas atividades das enzimas peroxidase do ascorbato (APX) e catalase (CAT), desde o tempo de embebição de 30 h das sementes com H2O2. Já com relação à peroxidase do guaiacol (GPX), observou-se que a atividade dessa enzima foi menor nas sementes embebidas com H2O2 nos tempos de 12, 24, 30, 36 e 42 h, em relação àquelas embebidas em água destilada (controle), porém, nas pré-tratadas por um tempo de 48 h não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos. A dismutase do superóxido (SOD), por sua vez, não foi afetada pelo pré-tratamento das sementes, exceto no tratamento de embebição das sementes com H2O2 por 24 h. Nas sementes, foi detectada apenas uma isoenzima de CAT e seis de SOD. O pré-tratamento das sementes não provocou alterações nessas isoformas, exceto com relação à intensidade da banda de atividade da CAT visualizada no gel de poliacrilamida, que se mostrou muito superior àquela do controle, quando as sementes foram embebidas por 36 e 48 h com H2O2. É possível que os aumentos nas atividades da APX e, especialmente, da CAT, tenham sido responsáveis pela aceleração do processo de germinação. No terceiro experimento, o qual foi conduzido inicialmente em Sala de germinação e, em seguida, em casa de vegetação, foram utilizadas sementes de milho prétratadas por 36 h de embebição em solução de H2O2 a 100 mM ou em água destilada. Essas sementes foram postas para germinar em folhas de papel de filtro umedecidas com solução nutritiva em presença ou ausência de NaCl a 80 mM em sala de germinação. Decorridos seis dias, as plântulas foram transferidas para a casa de vegetação e cultivadas hidroponicamente em presença ou ausência de NaCl a 80 mM, sendo feitas coletas das plantas aos 6, 11 e 16 dias de idade. Como resultado, observou-se que o pré-tratamento das sementes com H2O2 induziu a aclimatação das plantas à salinidade, reduzindo parcialmente os efeitos deletérios da salinidade na produção de matéria e na área foliar. Esse resultado pode ser atribuído, pelo menos em parte, a uma maior eficiência do sistema antioxidativo das plantas oriundas de sementes pré-tratadas com H2O2. A CAT, que se mostrou a principal enzima eliminadora de H2O2, teve sua atividade nas folhas fortemente reduzida pela salinidade, nas plantas com seis dias de idade, sendo este efeito totalmente revertido nas plantas provenientes de sementes pré-tratadas com H2O2. Por outro lado, nas raízes das plantas submetidas ao estresse salino, a atividade da SOD foi estimulada pelo pré-tratamento das sementes com H2O2, nos três tempos de coleta. De modo geral, a salinidade reduziu os parâmetros fotossintéticos (condutância estomática, transpiração, fotossíntese e concentração interna de CO2) e o pré-tratamento das sementes não foi capaz de reverter esse efeito. Não foi possível estabelecer-se uma correlação precisa entre os teores de solutos orgânicos e o processo de aclimatação das plantas pré-tratadas com H2O2 à salinidade, em termos de ajustamento osmótico. No entanto, os menores valores da razão Na+/K+ nas raízes e, especialmente, nas folhas das plantas pré-tratadas e submetidas à salinidade, em relação àquelas oriundas de sementes pré-tratadas com água (controle) e submetidas a esse mesmo tratamento, aos 16 dias de idade, pode também ter sido um fator responsável, pelo menos em parte, pela aclimatação das plantas de milho à salinidade.

La maîtrise du développement des moisissures retrouvées dans le contexte agro-alimentaire parmi les flores microbiennes d'altération ou technologiques répond à des enjeux économiques et sanitaires importants. Le développement des moisissures peut être affecté par des facteurs abiotiques comme la température, l'activité de l'eau (aw) ou la composition gazeuse. L'évaluation de l'effet de ces facteurs via des outils de mycologie prévisionnelle vise à prévoir l'altération fongique des aliments. Ce travail a pour objectif d'explorer l'impact des conditions environnementales sur la physiologie de moisissures d'intérêt pour l'industrie agro-alimentaire.L'effet de la température, de l'aw ajustée par du glycérol ou du chlorure de sodium (NaCl) du pH et de la composition gazeuse a été évalué sur la germination des spores et/ou la croissance radiale de cinq moisissures: Paecilomyces niveus, Mucor lanceolatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium expansum et Penicillium roqueforti. Au niveau appliqué, ces travaux ont montré que l'effet du NaCl ou de la composition gazeuse peuvent être inclus dans une approche de mycologie prévisionnelle. Le choix des souches représentatives d'une espèce fongique et l'état physiologique des spores utilisées comme inoculum ont un impact significatif sur les modèles prédictifs.Au niveau fondamental, des marqueurs ont été recherchés pour évaluer l'effet des facteurs abiotiques sur la physiologie des spores. La température et l'aw ont un effet significatif sur l'état physiologique des spores et leur germination. La recherche de marqueurs moléculaire, contribuera aux connaissances de l'effet des facteurs abiotiques sur la physiologie des moisissures. / In the food processing industry, controlling the development of filamentous fungi encountered as spoilers or technological cultures address significant economic and sanitary issues. Fungal development in foods is mainly determined by abiotic factors including temperature, water activity (aw) or the headspace gas composition. The quantification of these respective effects through a predictive mycology approach aims at preventing fungal food spoilage. The present work aims at exploring the effect of environmental conditions on the physiology of filamentous fungi of interest in the food processing industry.The effect of temperature, aw (adjusted with glycerol of sodium chloride), pH and headspace gas composition was evaluated on conidial germination and/or radial growth of five fungi isolated from dairy products: Paecilomyces niveus, Mucor lanceolatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium expansum and Penicillium roqueforti. The present work suggests that the specific effects of sodium chloride or gas composition could be included in predictive mycology approaches. It was also demonstrated that the selection of strains representative of a fungal species and the physiological state of conidia utilized as inoculum have a significant effect on the final predictive models.At the fundamental level, markers were investigated to study the effect of abitoic factors on the physiological state of spores. The temperature and aw significantly affected the physiological state of spores and their germination kinetics. The investigation of markers at the molecular level could provide better knowledges on the effect of abiotic factors on the physiology of filamentous fungi.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do prÃ-tratamento de pulverizaÃÃo foliar das plantas de milho com perÃxido de hidrogÃnio (H2O2) sobre a aclimataÃÃo ao estresse salino, estudando os mecanismos fisiolÃgicos e bioquÃmicos envolvidos. A presente tese foi dividida em trÃs experimentos independentes que resultaram na produÃÃo de trÃs capÃtulos, cada um correspondendo a um artigo cientÃfico. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetaÃÃo, sob condiÃÃes hidropÃnicas, utilizando o hÃbrido triplo de milho (Zea mays L), BRS 3003. Oito dias apÃs a semeadura, as plÃntulas foram pulverizadas com Ãgua destilada (controle) ou soluÃÃo aquosa de H2O2 na concentraÃÃo de 10 mM e, 48 h apÃs o inÃcio da pulverizaÃÃo, foram submetidas ao tratamento com NaCl a 80 mM. No primeiro trabalho, foram estudados os efeitos da aplicaÃÃo foliar de H2O2 no crescimento e nos teores de solutos orgÃnicos e inorgÃnicos de plantas de milho crescendo sob condiÃÃes salinas. Verificou-se que o prÃ-tratamento de pulverizaÃÃo das plantas de milho com H2O2 induziu aclimataÃÃo das plantas de milho ao estresse salino, revertendo parcialmente os efeitos deletÃrios da salinidade no crescimento. Este efeito foi atribuÃdo, pelo menos em parte, a um maior acÃmulo de proteÃnas solÃveis, carboidratos solÃveis e NO3-, bem como a um menor acÃmulo de Ãons tÃxicos (Na+ e Cl-) nas folhas. O segundo trabalho avaliou os efeitos da aplicaÃÃo foliar de H2O2 no crescimento, na atividade das enzimas antioxidativas, na peroxidaÃÃo dos lipÃdios (teores de malondialdeÃdo-MDA) e na expressÃo da enzima catalase (CAT) em plantas de milho sob condiÃÃes de estresse salino. Constatou-se que a salinidade reduziu o crescimento das plantas e que a aplicaÃÃo foliar de H2O2 minimizou este efeito. Observou-se tambÃm que as enzimas antioxidativas estudadas (catalase, peroxidase do guaiacol, perdoxidase do ascorbato e dismutase do superÃxido) tiveram suas atividades aumentadas pela aplicaÃÃo foliar de H2O2. A CAT se mostrou a principal enzima responsiva ao H2O2 e seu aumento de atividade parace estar relacionado à regulaÃÃo da expressÃo gÃnica. Sob condiÃÃes salinas, a menor peroxidaÃÃo de lipÃdios foi encontrada nas plantas que apresentaram maiores atividades da CAT. De modo geral, concluiu-se que a pulverizaÃÃo foliar das plantas de milho com H2O2 foi capaz de reduzir os efeitos deletÃrios da salinidade no crescimento das plantas e na peroxidaÃÃo dos lipÃdios. Essas respostas podem ser atribuÃdas, pelo menos em parte, à capacidade do H2O2 de induzir aumento na atividade e/ou expressÃo das enzimas antioxidativas, especialmente a CAT. O terceiro trabalho analisou os efeitos da aplicaÃÃo foliar de H2O2 na Ãrea foliar, nos teores relativos de clorofila, nos teores relativos de Ãgua, nas trocas gasosas e nos teores de H2O2, ascorbato e glutationa de plantas de milho crescendo sob condiÃÃes salinas. De modo geral, a salinidade reduziu a Ãrea foliar, os teores relativos de clorofila e os teores relativos de Ãgua e a pulverizaÃÃo foliar com H2O2 foi eficaz em minimizar esse efeito. A salinidade reduziu os parÃmetros fotossintÃticos (condutÃncia estomÃtica, transpiraÃÃo, fotossÃntese e concentraÃÃo interna de CO2) e o prÃ-tratamento de pulverizaÃÃo das plantas com H2O2 foi capaz de reverter parcialmente esse efeito. Os teores de H2O2 foram aumentados pela salinidade tanto nas folhas como nas raÃzes e a pulverizaÃÃo foliar com H2O2 mostrou-se eficiente em reduzir este efeito, sem, contudo, alterar o estado redox dos antioxidantes analisados (ascorbato e glutationa). / This study evaluated the effects of H2O2 leaf spraying pretreatment on the maize plant acclimation to salt stress, studying the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved. The present thesis was divided into three independent experiments that resulted in three chapters, each one corresponding to a scientific article. The experiments were conducted under hydroponic conditions and maintained in greenhouse, the plant model used was triple hybrid of maize (Zea mays L.), BRS 3003. Eight days after sowing (DAS), the seedlings were sprayed with 10 mM H2O2 solution or distilled water (as a control). Forty-eight hours after the spraying beginning, the seedlings were subjected to treatment with NaCl at 80 mM. In the first study, we analyzed the effects of H2O2 leaf spraying pretreatment on the growth and on the levels of organic and inorganic solutes in maize plants under salt stress. It was observed that H2O2 leaf spraying pretreatment promoted plant acclimation to salt stress, reducing the deleterious effects of salinity on the maize growth. This effect can be attributed, at least partially, to a great production of proteins, and soluble carbohydrates and NO3- as well as lower levels of Cl- and Na+ in leaves. The second study evaluated the effects of H2O2 leaf spraying pretreatment on growth, antioxidative enzymes activity, lipid peroxidation (levels of malondialdehyde - MDA) and on the catalase expression (CAT) in maize plants under salt stress. It was observed that salinity reduced maize seedling growth when compared to control conditions, and H2O2 foliar spraying was effective in minimizing this effect. Analysis of the antioxidative enzymes (catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) revealed that H2O2 leaf spraying increased antioxidant enzyme activities. CAT was the most responsive of these enzymes to H2O2, with higher activity since the beginning of the treatment (48 h), while guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were responsive only at later stages (240 h) of treatment. Increased CAT activity appears linked to gene expression regulation. Lower MDA levels were detected in plants with higher CAT activity, which may result from the protective function of this enzyme. Overall, we can conclude that pretreatment with H2O2 leaf spraying was able to reduce the deleterious salinity effects on seedling growth and lipid peroxidation. These responses could be attributed to the H2O2 ability to induce antioxidant defenses, especially CAT activity. The third study evaluated the effects of H2O2 leaf spraying pretreatment on leaf area, relative chlorophyll content, relative water content, gas exchange and on the H2O2, ascorbate and glutathione contents in salt-stressed maize plants. In general, the salinity reduced leaf area, relative chlorophyll content and relative water content of the maize plants in comparison to the plants that grew under control conditions, moreover H2O2 leaf spraying was effective in minimize this effect. The salt treatment reduced photosynthetic parameters and, the H2O2 leaf spray was able to partially reverse this effect. The H2O2 content was increased by salinity in both, leaves and roots, and H2O2 leaf spray was effective in reducing this negative effect. The H2O2 foliar application did not alter the redox state of the antioxidants studied (ascorbate and glutathione).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Many studies have shown that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved plant growth under salt stress. Considering that the salinity is a serious problem that directly affects the productivity of plants, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation of AMF in maize plants under salt stress in the presence or absence of phosphorus. The experiment was run in a greenhouse of the Department of Biochemist and Molecular Biology of the Federal University of the Cearà (Campus of the Pici, Fortaleza - CearÃ), with four replicates per treatment. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial arrangement 2 (inoculated and not inoculated plants) x 3 (levels of salinity 0.5, 4.0 and 8.0 dS m-1) x 2 (presence or absence of phosphorus), total of 48 experimental units. During the experiment measurements were made of net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and SPAD index. At 40 days after sowing the plants, they were collected, and determined leaf area, shoot dry matter (after drying the material under glass), the relative water content, the osmotic potential, microbiological variables (dependency and mycorrhizal colonization), mineral levels (N, P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl-) and organic solutes (soluble carbohydrates, N-aminosolubles, proline and soluble protein). The mycorrhizal fungi did not provide an increase in the growth of corn plants, but elevated levels of salinity reduced leaf area and shoot dry matter of plants. Generally, the salinity reduced the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration in all treatments. The relative water content was not influenced by any of the factors studied. The SPAD index and relative water content were not influenced by any of the factors studied. The osmotic potential was significantly reduced in treatments with 4.0 and 8.0 dS m-1 salinity compared with the level of 0.5 dS m-1. Mycorrhizal colonization decreased with increasing levels of saline. The levels of glomalin were not influenced by the presence of P and not by increasing levels of salinity. The mycorrhizal fungi did not cause increases in levels of inorganic solutes. The presence of P promoted maize cultivation in non-inoculated plants, increased levels of phosphorus in the leaves and stems, at all levels of salinity. Increased salinity levels decreased the levels of N and Mg2+, but promoted increased levels of Na+ and Cl- in corn plants. The water-soluble carbohydrate showed no significant differences for any of the factors. In general, the levels of N-aminosolubles and proline increased with increasing salinity. Since the levels of soluble proteins showed different responses according to the factors. These results suggest that the mycorrhizal fungi did not minimize the effects of salinity in maize plants (hybrid AG 1051), at least under the conditions employed here. / Muitos estudos tÃm demonstrado que a inoculaÃÃo de plantas com fungos micorrÃzicos arbusculares (FMA) melhora o crescimento das plantas sob estresse salino. Tendo em vista que a salinidade à um problema sÃrio e que afeta de forma direta a produtividade das plantas, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da inoculaÃÃo dos FMA em plantas de milho sob estresse salino, na presenÃa ou ausÃncia de fÃsforo. O experimento foi conduzido na casa de vegetaÃÃo do Departamento de BioquÃmica e Biologia Molecular da Universidade Federal do Cearà (Campus do Pici, Fortaleza - CearÃ), com quatro repetiÃÃes. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 (plantas inoculadas e nÃo inoculadas) x 3 (nÃveis de salinidade 0,5; 4,0 e 8,0 dS m-1) x 2 (presenÃa ou ausÃncia de fÃsforo), totalizando 48 unidades experimentais. Durante a conduÃÃo do experimento foram realizadas mediÃÃes da fotossÃntese lÃquida, da taxa de transpiraÃÃo, da condutÃncia estomÃtica e do Ãndice SPAD. Aos 40 dias apÃs a semeadura das plantas, as mesmas foram coletadas, sendo determinados a Ãrea foliar, a matÃria seca da parte aÃrea (apÃs secagem do material em estufa), o teor relativo de Ãgua, o potencial osmÃtico, as variÃveis microbiolÃgicas (dependÃncia e colonizaÃÃo micorrÃzica), os teores de alguns elementos minerais (N, P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ e Cl-) e solutos orgÃnicos (carboidratos solÃveis, N-aminossolÃveis, proteÃna solÃvel e prolina). A associaÃÃo micorrÃzica nÃo proporcionou incremento no crescimento das plantas de milho, porÃm os aumentos nos nÃveis de salinidade reduziram a Ãrea foliar e a matÃria seca da parte aÃrea das plantas. De maneira geral, a salinidade reduziu a fotossÃntese, a condutÃncia estomÃtica e a transpiraÃÃo em todos os tratamentos. O Ãndice SPAD e o teor relativo de Ãgua nÃo foram influenciados por nenhum dos fatores estudados. O potencial osmÃtico foi significativamente reduzido nos tratamentos com 4,0 e 8,0 dS m-1 de CE em comparaÃÃo com o nÃvel de 0,5 dS m-1. A colonizaÃÃo micorrÃzica decresceu com o incremento dos nÃveis salinos. Os teores de glomalina nÃo foram influenciados pela presenÃa de P e nem pelos nÃveis crescentes de salinidade. A associaÃÃo micorrÃzica nÃo acarretou incrementos nos teores de solutos inorgÃnicos. A presenÃa de P no cultivo do milho promoveu, nas plantas nÃo inoculadas, aumento nos teores de fÃsforo nas folhas e nos colmos, em todos os nÃveis de salinidade. O aumento dos nÃveis de salinidade reduziu os teores de N e Mg2+, porÃm promoveram o aumento nos teores de Na+ e Cl- nas plantas de milho. Os teores de carboidratos solÃveis nÃo apresentaram diferenÃas significativas para nenhum dos fatores analisados. De modo geral, os teores de N-aminossolÃveis e de prolina aumentaram com o incremento da salinidade. Jà os teores de proteÃnas solÃveis apresentaram respostas diferenciadas de acordo com os fatores analisados. Esses resultados sugerem que a associaÃÃo micorrÃzica nÃo minimizou os efeitos da salinidade nas plantas de milho (hÃbrido AG 1051), pelo menos nas condiÃÃes aqui empregadas.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2016-08-31T10:53:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Alice Vasconcelos da Silva (1).pdf: 762537 bytes, checksum: c100c2c556639aa3d440082da1ef7bb5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-31T10:53:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Alice Vasconcelos da Silva (1).pdf: 762537 bytes, checksum: c100c2c556639aa3d440082da1ef7bb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-08-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work aimed to study the effect of water deficit on gas exchange, leaf water potential, dry matter production, and some biochemical aspects of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi. young plants. A research project was developed, under greenhouse conditions, at the Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal, Departamento of Biologia of Universidade Rural de Pernambuco between November, 2005 to February, 2006. Seedlings with 3 month-old and sexually propagated were cultivated in containers containing 5.5 kg of soil. The entirely randomized experimental design was used, with four water treatments (100%, 75%, 50% and 25% to field capacity-FC), with four replicates. Plants under 25% FC were re-watered to 100% FC once after stomatal closure. After 15 days of acclimation period have started the water treatments. The experimental period lasted for 74 days. Transpiration (E), diffusive resistance (Rs), leaf temperature (Tfol), air temperature (Tar), relative humidity of the air (UR), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were evaluated at midday each seven days. At the end of the experimental period, leaf water potential (Yf) was measured at midday. Leaves (LDM), stems (SDM), roots (RDM), and total dry masses (TDM), root to shoot ratio (R/Sh), and leaves (LBA), stems (SBA) and roots biomass allocation (RBA) were determined. In addition, carbohydrates, free proline, soluble protein and free amino acids contents were analyzed. In plants under 25% field capacity, stomatal closure was observed after 11 days of water treatments. At the time plants were re-watered to 100% FC. After 24 h plants re-watered recovered the stomatal aperture, which remained open until the end of the experimental period. Water deficit decreased the leaf water potential (Yf) in plants grown at 25% FC (-2.2 MPa) when compared with the 100% FC treatment (-1.1 MPa). Plants grown under 75% FC producted higher LDM, SDM and RDM than the other treatments. Differences among treatments to biomass allocation were not observed, but there was a tendency to plants grown under 25% of FC to increase more biomass allocation than the other treatments. The water stress reduced carbohydrates contents and increased soluble protein and amino acids. However, differences to proline content were not verified among water treatments. These results suggest that this species is tolerate to low humidity levels in the soil and that the level of 75% of FC is the best to cultivate it in the initial fase of development. / Com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos do déficit hídrico sobre as trocas gasosas, o potencial hídrico foliar, a produção de matéria seca e alguns aspectos bioquímicos de plantas jovens de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, foi desenvolvido um trabalho em casa de vegetação do Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, no período de novembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006. Utilizaram-se mudas com três meses de idade, propagadas sexuadamente, as quais foram transferidas para vasos de polietileno contendo 5,5 kg de solo. Adotou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, representado por quatro tratamentos hídricos (100% da Capacidade de pote; 75% CP; 50% CP; 25% CP) com quatro repetições. Após 15 dias sob aclimatação, procedeu-se o início dos tratamentos hídricos. Durante o período experimental foram efetuadas medições das trocas gasosas do vapor d’água às 12 horas em intervalos de 7 dias. Avaliou-se a transpiração (E), a resistência difusiva (Rs), a temperatura foliar (Tf), a temperatura do ar (Tar), a umidade relativa do ar (UR), a radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (RFA) e o déficit de pressão de vapor (DPV). No final do período experimental foi mensurado o potencial de água da folha (Yf) às 12 horas e determinado o peso da matéria seca das folhas (MSF), dos caules (MSC), das raízes (MSR), a matéria seca total (MST), a relação raiz/parte aérea (R/Pa) e a alocação de biomassa para as folhas (ABF), caules (ABC) e para as raízes (ABR). Além disso, foram analisados os teores de carboidratos, de prolina livre, proteínas solúveis e aminoácidos livres. O fechamento estomático ocorreu em plantas submetidas a 25% CP, aos 11 dias após a diferenciação dos tratamentos hídricos quando as plantas foram reirrigadas para 100% CP. Após 24 horas houve recuperação da abertura estomática mantendo-se até o final do experimento. O déficit hídrico reduziu o potencial hídrico foliar (Yf) nas plantas do tratamento estresse moderado (–2,2 MPa) quando comparado com o controle (-1,1 MPa). As plantas do tratamento 75% CP se destacaram em relação aos demais tratamentos, por produzirem mais matéria seca para as folhas (MSF), caule (MSC) e raízes (MSR). Com relação à alocação de biomassa, não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos, porém houve uma tendência do tratamento 25% CP alocar mais biomassa para do que os demais tratamentos. Em relação aos solutos orgânicos, o déficit hídrico provocou reduções nos teores de carboidratos e aumento no teor de proteínas e aminoácidos, não havendo diferença entre os tratamentos para os teores de prolina. Os resultados sugerem que a aroeira é tolerante a baixos níveis de umidade no solo e que o nível de 75%CP é o mais indicado para o cultivo desta espécie na fase de muda.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:37:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ANGELO ANTONIO CAMPOS.pdf: 660395 bytes, checksum: 449c13f957ade5ea58be1aee63b345e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-30 / The interest in studying problems of underground drainage and solutos transport not in soils saturated it has been increasing significantly in the last years, mainly because of the growing concern with the quality of the soil and of the environment in general. Applied fertilizers in agricultural lands move below the zone radicular of the plants and they can contaminate underground water tables and aqüíferos. One of the most significant challenges of the current agriculture is the increase of the competitiveness associated to the preservation of the environment, allowing maintainable benefits in the agricultural explorations. The impact of pollutants in the quality of the underground water has been research object and of public health, especially in areas where she is to main source of drinking water. The mathematical models appear as useful tool in the prediction of as and when she should proceed the irrigation and the behavior of the solutos in solo.Devido to the complexity involved in these physical phenomena, it is used now beside the experimental work, the numeric simulation as forecast tool. The numeric simulation of the problem of infiltration of water and solutos in soil not saturated it is of great importance, because the growth of the agricultural production demands transformations with technological innovations that allow the improvement of the productivity of the cultures. To simulate the transport transiente of fertilizers, defensive, herbicidas and pollutant in an agricultural soil not saturated it is necessary the solution of two equations you not differentiate lineal. One of them is the equation of Richards, that governs the movement of water in the soil and, after your solution for a certain time, the results obtained for humidity, they are used for the solution of the other equation that treats of the transport of a certain soluto in matter. This work had for objective, to solve the proposed model of infiltration of water and soluto in the soil for the method of finite volumes, being used programming FORTRAN 90, to treat the case of the non linearidade of the movement of the water and a certain soluto not in soils saturated. Among the analyzed solutos, we used samples of abrasive mud coming of the sawmills and politrizes of the companies of marbles and granites of the municipal district of Cachoeiro of Itapemirim, where several rehearsals and analyses were accomplished, to feed the program and to evaluate the material in subject it is a pollutant in potential of the soil. The proposed method was shown appropriate to solve problems of infiltration of water and solutos transport not in soils saturated. / O interesse em estudar problemas de escoamento subterrâneo e transporte de solutos em solos não saturados tem aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos, principalmente por causa da preocupação crescente com a qualidade do solo e do meio ambiente em geral. Fertilizantes aplicados em terras agrícolas movem-se abaixo da zona radicular das plantas e podem contaminar lençóis de água subterrâneos e aqüíferos. Um dos desafios mais significativos da agricultura atual é o aumento da competitividade associada à preservação do meio ambiente, permitindo benefícios sustentáveis nas explorações agrícolas. O impacto de contaminantes na qualidade da água subterrânea tem sido objeto de pesquisa e de saúde pública, especialmente em regiões onde ela é a principal fonte de água potável. Os modelos matemáticos surgem como ferramenta útil na predição de quanto e quando se deve proceder a irrigação e o comportamento dos solutos no solo.Devido à complexidade envolvida nestes fenômenos físicos, utiliza-se atualmente ao lado do trabalho experimental, a simulação numérica como ferramenta de previsão. A simulação numérica do problema de infiltração de água e solutos em solo não saturado é de grande importância, pois o crescimento da produção agrícola exige transformações com inovações tecnológicas que permitam a melhoria da produtividade das culturas. Para simular o transporte transiente de fertilizantes, defensivos, herbicidas e poluentes num solo agrícola não saturado é necessária a solução de duas equações diferenciais não lineares. Uma delas é a equação de Richards, que governa o movimento de água no solo e, após a sua solução para um determinado tempo, os resultados obtidos para umidade, são empregados para a solução da outra equação que trata do transporte de um determinado soluto em particular. Este trabalho teve por objetivo, resolver o modelo proposto de infiltração de água e soluto no solo pelo método de volumes finitos, utilizando-se programação FORTRAN 90, para tratar o caso da não inearidade da movimentação da água e um determinado soluto em solos não saturados. Dentre os solutos analisados, utilizamos amostras de lama abrasiva provenientes das serrarias e politrizes das empresas de mármores e granitos do município de Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, onde foram realizados vários ensaios e análises, para alimentar o x programa e avaliar se o material em questão é um contaminante em potencial do solo. O método proposto mostrou-se adequado para resolver problemas de infiltração de água e transporte de solutos em solos não saturados.