Orientador: Ladaslav Sodek / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T20:25:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Justino_GilbertoCosta_D.pdf: 606492 bytes, checksum: 35435d72746a933ca3e5638239810593 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Muitos solos, principalmente aqueles com baixa capacidade de drenagem, ficam sujeitos ao alagamento após pequenos ou grandes períodos de chuva. Nestas condições, o sistema radicular das plantas sofre estresse por deficiência de O2 em função da baixa taxa de difusão deste gás na água. Quando o teor de O2 no meio fica abaixo do necessário para manter a taxa normal de respiração das raízes ocorre a hipoxia. O sistema radicular das leguminosas que possuem nódulos formados pela associação simbiótica com bactérias do gênero Rhizobium, responsáveis pela fixação de N2 atmosférico, é também adversamente afetado por hipoxia. Muitos estudos sobre alterações metabólicas em raízes, em resposta a hipoxia, têm sido feitos, porém, no caso dos nódulos e da fixação simbiótica de N2 os estudos são escassos. Há evidências de que plantas noduladas sob condições de alagamento apresentam baixas taxas de fixação, o que é atribuído principalmente à baixa disponibilidade de O2, necessário para a produção do ATP usado na fixação de N2, catalisada pela enzima nitrogenase. As técnicas disponíveis para medir a atividade da nitrogenase são inviáveis com os nódulos mantidos submersos na água, pois envolvem a passagem de substratos da enzima pelo sistema radicular, em forma gasosa. Por outro lado, estudos recentes indicam a possibilidade de usar o teor de GLN do xilema como indicador da eficiência da fixação de N2. A vantagem desta técnica é que a seiva pode ser coletada enquanto o sistema radicular permanece submerso. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se o teor de GLN, na seiva do xilema, poderia ser utilizado como indicador da eficiência da fixação de N2 em condições de alagamento. Para alcançar este objetivo foi realizado um estudo da dinâmica da resposta de GLN ao estresse durante e após alagamento (recuperação). Estudou-se, também, uma possível relação da resposta da GLN do xilema com a atividade da nitrogenase nos nódulos e a com incorporação de 15N2 na GLN transportada pela seiva do xilema. A resposta da GLN da seiva do xilema ao estresse de alagamento e à recuperação do estresse foi bastante nítida. O transporte de GLN foi reduzido imediatamente após a inundação do sistema radicular e a intensidade do efeito foi dependente do tempo em que as plantas permaneceram nesta condição. Este efeito foi verificado minutos após o alagamento, o que demonstra alta sensibilidade do nódulo à disponibilidade de O2. GLN foi o único aminoácido que respondeu desta maneira. Outros aminoácidos como ALA, GABA, ASN e SER respondem mais tardiamente ao efeito provocado pelo alagamento, pois estão relacionados a respostas associadas à hipoxia da raíz, uma condição mais demorada para ser alcançada após o alagamento. Da mesma forma, a GLN responde rapidamente à supressão do estresse, pois o transporte começou a recuperar-se rapidamente após a drenagem da solução nutritiva. No entanto, esta recuperação foi fortemente dependente da duração do estresse, pois estresses longos parecem ter alterado acentuadamente o metabolismo do nódulo. Contudo, após a retirada do estresse, uma recuperação parcial ou total foi verificada em todos os tratamentos. Nos tecidos como nódulos e raízes, os teores de GLN e ASN diminuíram bastante uma hora após a inundação. No caso dos nódulos, os teores de ASN chegaram próximo de zero embora, na seiva do xilema, o transporte deste aminoácido tenha sido mantido mesmo durante 48 horas de inundação. Neste caso, ocorreu redução de metade do valor transportado, sendo que, provavelmente, o transporte foi sustentado pelo sistema radicular. A atividade da nitrogenase comprovou os dados verificados para GLN obtidos pela análise da seiva. A atividade foi afetada pelo alagamento e a recuperação ocorreu, na maioria dos tratamentos, após a interrupção do estresse, com exceção das plantas inundadas por 48 horas. A incorporação do gás 15N2 ocorreu tanto em plantas controle como em inundadas e comprovou que a GLN sintetizada nos nódulos é imediatamente transportada para a parte aérea. Estes dados foram obtidos pelo acompanhamento de GLN na seiva do xilema, mas a incorporação em ASN ocorreu apenas em plantas controle. Isto reforça a teoria de que a GLN seja um produto direto da fixação biológica e que o seu transporte para a parte aérea seja suprido diretamente pelos nódulos, imediatamente após a fixação. Como a redução de GLN nas raízes foi de 50%, chegou-se à conclusão de que o transporte deste aminoácido para a parte aérea não é abastecido pelo sistema radicular. O retorno às condições de aeração re-estabeleceram os níveis de GLN da seiva do xilema, imediatamente após estresses relativamente curtos, sendo que a recuperação foi mais lenta a partir de 12 horas de inundação. Os níveis de ASN, um produto da fixação biológica que depende de GLN como doador do grupo amida, não responderam imediatamente ao estresse conforme verificado pela coleta da seiva do xilema, mesmo quando os seus valores foram reduzidos a valores próximos de zero que, no caso dos nódulos, ocorreu uma hora após a inundação. Concluiu-se que a GLN encontrada na seiva do xilema é produto direto da fixação de nitrogênio e que variações no transporte pelo xilema estão estreitamente relacionadas à atividade da nitrogenase e, portanto, é um ótimo indicador da eficiência da fixação de N2. O alagamento do sistema radicular nodulado de plantas de soja tem um efeito adverso e imediato sobre a fixação de nitrogênio, conforme verificado pela redução rápida no teor de GLN no xilema. A drenagem do sistema radicular alagado permite uma recuperação da fixação de N2, embora a resposta seja mais lenta em função da duração do estresse de alagamento. / Abstract: Many soils, especially those with a low drainage capacity, are subject to flooding after short or long periods of rain. Under such conditions, the root system of plants suffers a stress condition due to O2 deficiency because of the low diffusion rate of O2 in water. When the level of O2 in the medium drops below that required to maintain the normal rate of respiration in the roots, hypoxia occurs. The nodulated root system of legumes, where nodules are the result of the symbiotic association with bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, responsible for nitrogen fixation, is also adversely affected by flooding. Many studies have been made showing metabolic changes in roots due to hypoxia, but with regard to nodules and N2 fixation information is scarce. There is evidence that nodulated plants show low levels of fixation under flooding conditions, attributed mainly to low levels of O2 which is required for the production of ATP consumed during N2 fixation catalized by the enzyme nitrogenase. The techniques available for the assay of nitrogenase are inviable for nodules submersed in water, since the methods require that the gaseous substrates of the enzyme flow around the root system. On the other hand, recent studies have opened the possibility of measuring the level of GLN in the xylem sap as an indicator of the efficiency of N2 fixation. The advantage of this technique is that the xylem sap can be collected while the root system remains waterlogged. The objective of the present study was to verify whether the level of xylem sap GLN might be used as an indicator of N2 fixation under flooding conditions. In order to reach this objective, a study was made of the dynamics of the GLN response to the stress both during and following (recovery) flooding. A study was also made of the xylem GLN response in relation to nitrogenase activity of the nodules as well as a study of the incorporation of 15N2 in GLN transported in the xylem sap. The response of xylem sap GLN to the stress caused by flooding as well as recovery post-stress was very clear. Transport of GLN in the xylem was immediately reduced after flooding of the root system and the intensity of the effect was dependent on the length of time that plants remained in this condition. The response was verified minutes after flooding, which indicates the high sensitivity of the nodule to O2 availability. GLN was the only amino acid to respond in this way. Other amino acids such as ALA, GABA, ASN, and SER only showed changes later on, consistent with these amino acids being associated with the response given by the roots to hypoxia, a condition that takes much longer to be reached after flooding. Similarly, GLN responded rapidly to the suppression of the stress, since its transport began to recover after the root system was drained. Nevertheless, this recovery was strongly dependent on the duration of the stress, since prolonged periods of flooding appeared to have a more profound effect of nodule metabolism. After removal of the stress, a total or partial recovery was recorded in all treatments. In tissues such as nodules and roots, the levels of GLN and ASN declined markedly 1 hour after flooding. In nodules, the levels of ASN fell close to zero, in contrast to the xylem sap where they still remained high even after 48 hours of flooding. In the latter case, ASN declined to about half its normal level and probably this transport was sustained by the roots. Variations in the activity of nitrogenase closely followed those of GLN in the xylem sap. Activity was affected by flooding and recovery was observed, in the majority of cases, after the interruption of the stress, with the exception of plants flooded for 48 hours. The incorporation of 15N2 gas in GLN was found both for control and flooded plants which proves that GLN is an immediate product of nitrogen fixation that is transported to the shoot. Incorporation of the label in ASN, on the other hand, was only seen in the control plants. This reforces the idea that GLN is a direct product of nitrogen fixation and that the nodule is the source of its transport via the xylem. Since in roots GLN was reduced by only about 50%, it was concluded that the roots were not an important source of the amino acid in the xylem. The return to normoxia reestablished the high levels of GLN in the xylem, where recovery occurred immediately after relatively short stress periods and more slowly after flooding for 12 hours or more. The levels of ASN, a product of biological nitrogen fixation that depends on GLN as the donor of the amide group, did not respond immediately to the stress when measured in the xylem sap, even though its level was reduced to near zero in the nodules 1 hour after flooding. It is concluded that GLN of the xylem sap arises directly from nitrogen fixation and that the changes found were closely related to the activity of nitrogenase. It may be considered, therefore, a good indicator of nitrogen fixation. Flooding of the nodulated soybean root system has an immediate adverse effect on nitrogen fixation, as revealed by the rapid decline in GLN levels in the xylem. Draining the flooded root system permits the recovery of nitrogen fixation, though this response becomes slower the longer the period of flooding. / Doutorado / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

Orientador: Ladaslav Sodek / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Esstadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T18:53:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lanza_LucianaNunesMenolli_D.pdf: 7782960 bytes, checksum: 92b0ce21151564c79758f7150c4afd6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A soja é a leguminosa de maior importância econômica no Brasil com produção de 72,23 milhões de toneladas na safra de 2010/2011. O cultivo de soja em regiões que sofrem alagamento é uma das principais causas de perda de produtividade no Brasil. Nestas condições, ocorre redução na taxa de oxigênio do solo, e o sistema radicular da planta entra em hipoxia prejudicando o desenvolvimento e a produtividade das plantas. Existem evidências de que a adição de nitrato em condições de alagamento do sistema radicular (hipoxia) promove tolerância ao estresse, entretanto os mecanismos bioquímicos que envolvem essa tolerância ainda não estão totalmente elucidados. Analisando as alterações no metabolismo de nitrogênio em hipoxia, em plantas submetidas a diferentes condições experimentais, observou-se redução do conteúdo de nitrato dentro da planta, aumento no teor de aminoácidos solúveis totais, aumento na composição dos aminoácidos livres: Ala e Gaba, e redução de Asn, em plantas não noduladas e noduladas, além de redução no conteúdo de ureídeos totais em plantas noduladas. A adição de nitrato promoveu maior conteúdo de nitrato nas raízes, seiva do xilema e nódulos, maior teor de aminoácidos solúveis totais, maior conteúdo de proteínas solúveis totais nas raízes e menor nas folhas. A atividade da enzima redutase do nitrato in vivo em condições de hipoxia reduziu nas raízes das plantas não noduladas e nas raízes e folhas das plantas noduladas. A inclusão de K15NO3 no meio demonstrou que o nitrato é, de fato, absorvido em condições de hipoxia, pois as raízes, folhas e nódulos todos incorporaram o 15N. Entretanto, absorção do nitrato sob hipoxia foi bem menor do que sob normoxia. Tanto em normoxia como hipoxia as raízes apresentaram o maior grau de enriquecimento com 15N enquanto que a incorporação nos nódulos foi menor. Houve incorporação de 15N em aminoácidos em todos os tecidos, o que permite concluir que o nitrato não é apenas absorvido pelas raízes sob hipoxia mas também assimilado e transportado para a parte aérea. Os aminoácidos mais próximos ao processo de assimilação de nitrato, Asp, Glu, Ala e Asn, foram os que mais incorporaram o 15N. No entanto, em geral um grau menor de incorporação foi encontrado sob hipoxia. A adição de nitrato, no dia 7, na solução do vaso de cinco cultivares de soja cujo sistema radicular estava alagado promoveu, na cultivar IAC Foscarin-31, maior crescimento da planta quando comparada às plantas com nitrato desde o início do experimento; na cultivar IAC-23, maior massa seca do sistema radicular; nas cultivares IAC-17 e IAC-18 foi evidenciado o mesmo crescimento da planta que as demais com nitrato; e na cultivar IAC-24, houve menor crescimento da planta. A adição também promoveu maior formação de aerênquima no caule, na raiz principal e adventícia, além de estimular a maior formação de raízes adventícias. Os dados sugerem que em condições de hipoxia, embora em quantidades bastante reduzidas e num processo mais lento, o nitrato é absorvido pelas raízes, sendo parte, convertida a aminoácidos e menos de 40% convertidos a nitrito, o qual é eliminado para o meio. A redução do nitrato via redutase do nitrato, passo inicial de sua metabolização, não é um passo limitante, uma vez que há produção de nitrito, produto da atividade da enzima. Com a adição de nitrato na solução do vaso de cinco cultivares de soja foram observadas tendências para suprir a ausência de nitrogênio e manter o desenvolvimento da plantas em condições de alagamento. A cultivar IAC Foscarin-31 e IAC-24 apresentaram crescimento geral da planta, sendo maior o crescimento observado na cultivar IAC Foscarin-31. Na cultivar IAC-23 houve maior crescimento do sistema radicular; na cultivar IAC-17, da parte aérea, assim como na IAC-18 / Abstract: Soybean is a legume of great economic importance in Brazil with a production of some 72.23 million tons (2010/2011 harvest). One of the main causes of diminished yields of the cultivars produced in Brazil is their cultivation in regions subject to flooding. Under such conditions reduced availability of oxygen in the soil leads to hypoxia of the root system which impairs plant development and yield. There is evidence that the presence of nitrate during flooding can improve tolerance to hypoxic stress. However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully elucidated. After analysis of the changes in nitrogen metabolism that occur under hypoxia, in plants subjected to a variety of experimental conditions, it was observed that there was a reduction in plant nitrate content, an increase in total soluble amino acids, an increase in the relative abundance of free Ala, Gaba, and a reduction in Asn, in both nodulated and non-nodulated plants, as well as a reduction of ureides in nodulated plants. The addition of nitrate during flooding resulted in a higher nitrate content of the root, nodule and xylem sap. Total soluble amino acids and soluble proteins also increased in the root under these conditions but decreased in the leaf. Under hypoxia the in vivo nitrate reductase activity declined in the roots of non-nodulated plants and in both the roots and leaves of nodulated plants. The inclusion of K15NO3 in the nutrient solution confirmed the uptake of nitrate under hypoxia, since roots, leaves and nodules became labelled. However, uptake under hypoxia was much lower than that observed under normoxia. Under both normoxia and hypoxia the roots showed the highest degree of 15N enrichment while the nodules showed the weakest. Incorporation of 15N in amino acids of all tissues shows that 15NO3 was not only taken up by the roots under hypoxia but that it was assimilated and transported to the shoot. The amino acids considered closest to N assimilation, Asp, Glu, Ala and Asn, were the most highly labelled. Nevertheless, lower levels of incorporation were generally found under hypoxia. The addition of nitrate to the hydroponic nutrient solution of five soybean cultivars, 7 days after flooding the root system, stimulated greater growth of the cultivar IAC Foscarin-31 as compared to plants with nitrate from the beginning of the experiment. It also stimulated greater root dry mass of the cultivar IAC-23, produced a similar growth increase of cultivars IAC-17 and IAC-18 compared to those with nitrate from the beginning, but resulted in less growth for the cultivar IAC-24. The addition of nitrate also stimulated formation of adventitious roots as well as aerenchyma which formed on both the stem and the main and adventitious roots. The data show that under conditions of hypoxia, nitrate is taken up by the roots although at a much lower rate than under normoxia, and in part is assimilated into amino acids while nearly 40% is reduced to nitrite which is excreted to the surrounding medium. The reduction of nitrate by the enzyme NR, the first step of nitrate metabolism, does not appear to be limiting since large quantities of the reaction product, nitrite, accumulate. With the addition of nitrate to the flooding medium of five soybean cultivars there was a tendency to overcome the absence of nitrogen and maintain plant development under flooded conditions. Of the five cultivars studied, IAC Foscarin-31 and IAC-24 responded positively through overall plant growth, with Foscarin-31 showing the greatest growth. Cultivar IAC-23 responded with greater root growth while IAC-17 and IAC-18 presented greater shoot growth / Doutorado / Biologia Vegetal / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

The progressive increase in the global population and the rapidly changing climate have put unprecedented pressure on crop production. Cowpea is one of the world’s most important leguminous crops, contributing to food security and environmental sustainability. However, cowpea productivity is limited due to waterlogging stress. The main objective of this study was to explore physiological and biochemical mechanisms to understand how cowpea genotypes respond to waterlogging stress. Four studies were conducted in controlled and field conditions to achieve these objectives. Study 1 characterized the waterlogging tolerance of 30 cowpea genotypes in a controlled environment using 24 morphophysiological parameters with waterlogging tolerance coefficients and multivariate analysis methods. 10% of the genotypes exhibited high tolerance to waterlogging stress, and the genotypes UCR 369 and EpicSelect.4 were identified as the most and least waterlogging tolerant, respectively. Study 2 evaluated the key parameters influencing carbon fixation of UCR 369 and EpicSelect.4 at the reproductive stage. The less tolerant EpicSelect.4 experienced high downregulation of stomatal and non-stomatal limiting factors during waterlogging and recovery, resulting in decreased carbon assimilation rates. UCR 369 rapidly developed adventitious roots, maintained biomass, and restored pigments and metabolites to sustain photosynthesis. A two-year field experiment was conducted in study 3 to quantify the effects of waterlogging on the yields, physiology, and biochemistry of cowpeas at different growth stages. The most apparent impact of waterlogging stress occurred at the reproductive stage, followed by the vegetative and maturity growth stages. Studies suggest that diverse cowpea genotypes have distinct physiological and biochemical mechanisms in response to waterlogging stress. In addition, the tolerant genotypes and traits identified herein can be used in genetic engineering and cowpea breeding programs that integrate increased yield with waterlogging stress tolerance.

Corn is one of American agriculture's greatest success stories, where we have witnessed incredible increases in yield potential over the last half-century. However, abiotic stress is still the primary limiting factor preventing plants from reaching their true yield potential. In addition, agriculture is not exempt from the deleterious effects of changing weather patterns and the altered climate our world will face as time progresses. Thus, increasing our understanding of how crops interact with their environment both above and below the soil will be crucial to increasing production on a global scale while maximizing profitability at a local level. Five studies were carried out to quantify the relationship between corn and multiple abiotic factors, including temperature, moisture, and nitrogen. In study one, Corn seed germination as a function of temperature was quantified, and the effects were compared between soybean and cotton, both major agronomic crops in Mississippi. Study two determined the effects of osmotic stress on corn seed germination, and commercial corn hybrids' variability was explored. In study three, functional relationships between temperature and early season growth and development were quantified, and the concept of a simple mathematical model for predicting growth as a function of temperature was explored. Study four exemplified the effects of increasing waterlogging durations from 0 to 14 days and determined critical limits for above and below-ground growth. Finally, in study five, growth, development, and physiology were determined as a function of nitrogen concentration. In addition, optimum concentrations to maximize vigor were estimated. Data generated from these studies exemplify how abiotic stress significantly affects corn during germination and early season growth and development. These datasets will be valuable foundations to build on as we explore how abiotic stress affects all growth stages of corn and other important agronomic crops. Functional relationships generated from these studies will be useful to update crop simulation models. Both simple and complex mathematical models have promising implications in emerging and developing precision and predictive agricultural technologies.

No / Archaeological work in advance of construction at a site on the edge of York, UK, yielded human remains of prehistoric to Romano-British date. Amongst these was a mandible and cranium, the intra-cranial space of which contained shrunken but macroscopically recognizable remains of a brain. Although the distinctive surface morphology of the organ is preserved, little recognizable brain histology survives. Though rare, the survival of brain tissue in otherwise skeletalised human remains from wet burial environments is not unique. A survey of the literature shows that similar brain masses have been previously reported in diverse circumstances. We argue for a greater awareness of these brain masses and for more attention to be paid to their detection and identification in order to improve the reporting rate and to allow a more comprehensive study of this rare archaeological survival.

A field-based project was undertaken to develop and test a mechanism which would allow for the correlation of the health of vegetation surrounding playa lakes in south-west Australia with the natural variation in salinity and waterlogging that occurs spatially and temporally in natural systems. The study was designed to determine threshold ranges of vegetation communities using moderately extensive data over short temporal periods which will guide the design of potential engineering solutions that manipulate hydrological regimes to ultimately conserve and protect native vegetation. A pair of playa lake ecosystems, surrounded by primary production land, was modelled with hydro-geological data collected from March 2006 to March 2007. The data was used to determine the hydroperiods of vegetation communities fringing playa lakes and provide insight into the areas and species that are most affected by extreme rainfall events which are hypothesised to have a significant, rapid deleterious effect on the ecosystems. The methodology was multi-faceted and included; a detailed topographical survey; vegetation surveys; hydrological and hydro-geological monitoring over a 12 month period. 4 The hydro-geological data and vegetation data was linked with the topographical survey at a high resolution for spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine the degree of waterlogging experienced by vegetation communities over the monitoring period. The study has found that the spatial and temporal variability of hydroperiods has been reduced by rising groundwater levels, a result of extensive clearing of native vegetation. Consequently populations are becoming extinct locally resulting in a shift in community composition. Extreme summer rainfall events also have a significant impact on the health of vegetation communities by increasing the duration of waterlogging over an annual cycle and in some areas expanding the littoral zone. Vegetation is most degraded at lower positions in the landscape where communities are becoming less diverse and dominated by salt tolerant halophytic species as a result of altered hydrological regimes. Some species appear to be able to tolerate groundwater depths of less than 2.0 m from the surface, however there are thresholds related to the duration at which groundwater is maintained at this depth. Potential engineering solutions include groundwater pumping and diverting water through drains to maintain sustainable hydroperiods for vegetation in areas with conservation value. The effectiveness and efficiency of the engineering solutions can be maximised by quantifying thresholds for vegetation that include sustainable durations of waterlogging. The study has quantified tolerance ranges to salinity and waterlogging with data collected over 12 months but species may be experiencing a transition period where they have 5 sustained irreversible damage that will result in their eventual mortality. With long-term monitoring, the methodology developed and tested in the study can be used to quantify the long-term tolerance ranges that are important for the application of conservation approaches that include engineering solutions.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:32:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissPKA.pdf: 490127 bytes, checksum: 18f6cf8d6514765ac9c01c7df71da800 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-23 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The Cerrado Domain occupied formerly 2 million km2 of the Brazilian territory, especially in the Central Plateau. The cerrado vegetation is not uniform in physiognomy, ranging from grassland to tall woodland, but with most of its physiognomies within the range defined as tropical savanna. In cerrado, there are few areas that become waterlogged during the rainy season due to the poor drainage of the soil, allowing the appearance of a hyperseasonal cerrado, characterized by two contrasting stresses, one induced by drought and fire during the winter, the other by soil saturation in the summer. As long as soil is important in the ecology of the cerrado, limiting the cerrado distribution and the occurrence of its physiognomies, we investigated the soil-vegetation relationships in a cerrado core area in Emas National Park, in three vegetation forms: hyperseasonal cerrado, seasonal cerrado, and wet grassland. We collected vegetation and soil samples in these three vegetation forms and submitted obtained data to a canonical correspondence analysis. Our results showed a distinction among hyperseasonal cerrado, seasonal cerrado and wet grassland, which presented different floristic compositions and species abundances. The edaphic variables best related to the hyperseasonal and seasonal cerrados were sand, base saturation, pH, and magnesium. The wet grassland was related to higher concentrations of clay, organic matter, aluminium saturation, aluminium, phosphorus, and potassium. We also investigated the relationships between number of species and soil characteristics, with simple multiple linear regressions, and found that aluminium and pH were the best predictors of species density, the former positively related to species density and the latter negatively related. / O Domínio do Cerrado ocupava aproximadamente dois milhões de km2 do território brasileiro, especialmente no Planalto Central. A vegetação de cerrado não é uniforme em sua fisionomia, pois varia desde o campo limpo até o cerradão, mas a maior parte de suas fisionomias podem ser definidas como savana. Em algumas raras áreas de cerrado, a drenagem do solo é muito baixa, provocando o seu alagamento na estação chuvosa e favorecendo o surgimento de cerrados hiperestacionais, em que há dois períodos de estresse, um induzido pela seca e pelo fogo no inverno, e outro induzido pelo alagamento no verão. Como o solo é um dos principais fatores que controlam a distribuição do cerrado, além de ser determinante para a ocorrência das diferentes fisionomias que o compõem, nosso objetivo neste trabalho foi estudar a relação solo-vegetação em uma área nuclear de cerrado, no Parque Nacional das Emas (GO), em três ambientes: cerrado hiperestacional, cerrado estacional e campo úmido. Amostramos o solo e a vegetação desses três ambientes e comparamos algumas variáveis edáficas e vegetacionais por meio de análise de correspondência canônica. Nossos resultados apresentaram uma distinção florística entre o cerrado hiperestacional, o cerrado estacional e o campo úmido. As variáveis edáficas mais relacionadas com os cerrados hiperestacional e estacional foram porcentagem de areia, saturação por bases, pH e magnésio, enquanto que com o campo úmido foram argila, matéria orgânica, alumínio, saturação por alumínio e potássio. Também relacionamos o número de espécies em cada parcela com algumas variáveis edáficas, por meio de análises de regressão, e encontramos que o pH foi relacionado negativamente, e o alumínio, positivamente, com o número de espécies.

A ocupação territorial do município de Francisco Beltrão foi realizada pensando apenas nas necessidades emergenciais, sem pensar na degradação que esta ocupação sem o planejamento adequado transferiria ao meio ambiente e aos seus habitantes. O processo de urbanização intenso impermeabilizou massivamente o solo, assoreou os rios e removeu grande parte da mata ciliar, fatores estes que fazem elevar a vulnerabilidade em relação às inundações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi fazer a espacialização dos resultados de ensaios de caracterização de 24 amostras de solo em mapas temáticos, bem como fazer mapas temáticos para caracterizar o relevo e o uso e ocupação do solo. O SIG utilizado foi o SPRING. Para análise dos resultados foram realizados diversas tabulações cruzadas entre os mapas. A classificação do solo foi realizada de acordo com a Classificação Unificada e com a textura. Determinou-se a infiltração do solo em diversos pontos através do método de anéis concêntricos. A densidade do solo, em geral, se mostrou mais preponderante nas interferências na taxa de infiltração que a textura do solo. Através do mapa de uso e ocupação de solo verificou-se a elevada impermeabilização do território e a falta de áreas verdes para amortecimento da águas de chuva, assim como a escassez de mata ciliar. Através do cruzamento de informações entre o mapa de uso e ocupação do solo com o mapa de hipsometria constatou-se que uma área construída correspondente a 18,75% da área urbana encontra-se em local de risco de inundação. Quatro mapas de manchas de inundação foram obtidos através do reconhecimento do alcance das manchas de inundação dos períodos de 2011, 2013, 2014 e 2015. De acordo com os levantamentos realizados a cota máxima de inundação determinada foi de 548m. Foi realizada a tabulação cruzada entre o mapa de declividade com os mapas de mancha de inundação que demonstram que as áreas mais afetadas pelas inundações são as de menor declividade (0 a 3%) que totalizam 53,58% das áreas inundadas. Os mapas temáticos gerados fornecem informações importantes sobre as características do território urbano. Os resultados apresentados podem auxiliar no planejamento e readequação do espaço urbano. / Land occupation in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, was carried out bearing in mind only emergency needs, without considering the impact this unplanned occupation would have on the environment and on its inhabitants. The intense urbanization process waterproofed the soil, silted the rivers and removed the riparian forests, factors that increase vulnerability to flooding. The objective of this paper has been to spatialize the results of characterization tests of 24 soil samples in thematic maps, as well as making thematic maps to characterize the relief and the use and occupation of the soil, as well as maps with the floods that occurred in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The GIS - Geographic Information System used was SPRING. In order to analyze the results, there have been several cross-checks of data between the maps. Soil classification was performed according to the Unified Classification and with the texture. Soil infiltration at 23 points was determined by the concentric ring method. Soil density, in general, showed to be more preponderant in the interferences in the infiltration rate than the soil texture. The land use and occupation map showed the high waterproofing condition of the territory and the lack of green areas to cushion the rainwater, as well as the scarcity of ciliary forest. Through the cross-linking of the map of land use and occupation with the map of hypsometry, it was verified that a constructed area corresponding to 18.75% of the urban area is located at a risk of flood area. Four maps of flood spots were obtained by recognizing the extent of flood spots in the periods of 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. According to the surveys, the maximum flood level determined was 548m. Crossing between the declivity map and the floodplain maps shows that the areas most affected by the floods are those with the lowest slope (0 to 3%), which total 53.58% of the flooded areas. The resulting thematic maps provide important information about the characteristics of the urban territory. The presented results can help in the planning and re-adaptation of the urban space.

Peatlands provide multiple ecosystem services, including extensive carbon sequestration and storage, yet many peatlands have been degraded or destroyed. Peatlands carbon storage capacity is connected to inherently low decomposition rates, causing the build-up of organic matter. Reasons suggested for this include waterlogged conditions that reduce the amount of available oxygen for the decomposer community, a low pH that inhibits bacterial decomposition, and colder temperatures lowering metabolic rates. This study focused on edge effects on decomposition in the transition zone between Sphagnum bogs and surrounding forest, with the expectation that decomposition is lowest in the bog and highest in the forest, but with a mix of factors causing intermediate decomposition rates near the bog edge. Transitional decomposition rates were measured across six bogs in central Sweden during the summer of 2021, using the tea bag index. Three 20 meter transects, each containing seven pairs of tea bags, were buried across the margins of each bog, centred at the edge of the Sphagnum moss. Soil moisture content, pH, and plant composition was also recorded at each burial site, and with 12 temperature loggers placed evenly among four of the bogs. The results confirmed the hypothesis regarding edge effects, and soil moisture was the dominant factor affecting the decomposition rate, having a strong significant negative correlation. The interaction of pH was significant but with an unexpected negative correlation, most likely due to the low pH in the surrounding forest. Temperature displayed no significance, and plants indicative of low decomposition rates included Vaccinium oxycoccos, Drosera rotundifolia, and especially Sphagnum species. The conclusions are that there is an edge effect on decomposition, and maintaining, or restoring, the hydrology of a peatland is the most important factor for continued carbon storage, with a rough estimation of an areas decomposition rate possible to estimate based on its vegetation. / Torvmarker bidrar med flera ekosystemtjänster, däribland utbrett koldioxidupptag och kollagring, trots detta har många torvmarker idag antingen skadats eller förstörts. Torvmarkers förmåga att lagra kol beror på en låg nedbrytningstakt, vilket gör att organiskt material ackumuleras; möjliga förklaringar som föreslagits till detta är vattensjuk mark som minskar syretillgången för nedbrytarsamhället, ett surt pH som missgynnar bakteriell nedbrytning, samt lägre temperaturer vilket sänker metabolismen generellt. Den här studien fokuserade på hur kanteffekter påverkar nedbrytningen i övergångszonen mellan vitmossemyrar och skog, med förväntningen att nedbrytningen är lägst ute i myren och högst i skogen, men att flera olika faktorer orsakar en intermediär nedbrytningshastighet i myrkanten. Nedbrytningshastigheten i 6 myrars övergångszoner, belägna i centrala Sverige, uppskattades under sommaren 2021 med hjälp av tepåseindexet (tea bag index). Tre 20 meters transekter med 7 par tepåsar vardera begravdes vid varje myr, med mitten vid kanten på vitmossan. Mätningar gjordes vid varje tepåsepar gällande markfuktighet, pH, och växtsamhälle, samt vid 4 myrar så placerades totalt 12 temperaturloggrar. Resultaten bekräftar hypotesen om kanteffekter och markfuktighet framträdde som den dominerande faktorn, med en signifikant negativ effekt på nedbrytningshastigheten. Effekten av pH var också signifikant men med en oväntad negativ korrelation, förmodligen på grund av den sura jorden i omgivande tallskog (Pinus sylvestris). Temperatur hade inte någon signifikant effekt, och växter som indikerade låg nedbrytning var Vaccinium oxycoccos, Drosera rotundifolia, samt framförallt Sphagnum spp.. Slutsatsen är att det finns en kanteffekt och att bevara, eller återskapa, hydrologin av en vitmossemyr är den viktigaste faktorn för fortsatt kolinlagring, med en grov skattning av ett områdes nedbrytningshastighet möjlig att basera på markernas växtlighet.

Submitted by Maria Beatriz Vieira (mbeatriz.vieira@gmail.com) on 2017-06-22T16:51:34Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_junior_borella.pdf: 3753354 bytes, checksum: 6f336478c32b30a019b543871b0367e6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-06-22T20:38:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_junior_borella.pdf: 3753354 bytes, checksum: 6f336478c32b30a019b543871b0367e6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-22T20:38:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) tese_junior_borella.pdf: 3753354 bytes, checksum: 6f336478c32b30a019b543871b0367e6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / O alagamento é um fator ambiental comum que causa deficiência de oxigênio às plantas, levando a uma inibição da respiração e redução do status energético celular, desencadeando uma série de mudanças no metabolismo do carbono e do nitrogênio. Além disso, alterações no fluxo de elétrons da cadeia de transporte de elétrons mitocondrial e cloroplastídica levam a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) que podem ocasionar vários danos ao metabolismo celular. No entanto, a aplicação exógena de nitrato tem sido reportada por promover efeitos benéficos em muitas espécies de plantas sob condições de hipóxia. Embora muitos estudos tenham sido envidados com soja, pouco se sabe a respeito das alterações metabólicas primárias do carbono e do nitrogênio que permitem diferenciar genótipos contrastantes ao alagamento e os efeitos no sistema antioxidante pela aplicação exógena de nitrato nas plantas. Considerando o exposto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: I – avaliar mudanças no metabolismo do carbono e do nitrogênio e sua relação com a enzima alanina aminotransferase (AlaAT) em genótipos de soja nodulada; II – verificar possíveis efeitos benéficos no metabolismo antioxidante em plantas cultivadas na presença de nitrato (plantas não-noduladas) e na ausência de nitrato (plantas noduladas). Para isso, dois experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação com plantas de soja (Glycine max (L.) Merril) sob condições naturais de luz e temperatura. Experimento I: plantas noduladas de soja, nutridas na ausência de N mineral (Fundacep 53 RR – tolerante e BRS Macota – sensível) foram cultivadas em vermiculita e transferidas para sistema hidropônico, no estádio reprodutivo R2. O sistema radicular das plantas foi submetido à hipóxia pelo borbulhamento de nitrogênio gasoso na solução nutritiva diluída 1/3 da concentração normal, por 24 e 72 h. Para recuperação, após 72 h de hipóxia as plantas retornaram para vermiculita por 24 e 72 h. Foram avaliados, em raízes e nódulos, metabólitos fermentativos e ácidos orgânicos (GC-MS), aminoácidos (HPLC), expressão relativa dos genes (RT-PCR) e atividade da enzima AlaAT. Fundacep 53 RR acumulou mais teores de piruvato e lactato que BRS Macota e embora a composição de aminoácidos não tenha diferido entre os genótipos, foi observado uma ligação entre a glicólise e o ciclo dos ácidos tricarboxílicos via indução dos genes e atividade da AlaAT, que, posteriormente, levou ao acúmulo de succinato em raízes de Fundacep 53 RR, podendo aumentar o ganho energético em relação à BRS Macota sob hipóxia. Experimento II: A condução experimental adotada foi semelhante ao experimento I, no entanto conduzido com plantas noduladas e não-noduladas (nutridas com nitrato) de soja, de ambos os genótipos. Foi avaliado o sistema antioxidante em raízes e folhas através da atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (SOD), ascorbato peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), glutationa redutase (GR), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) e glutationa S-transferase (GST), o conteúdo de ascorbato reduzido e ascorbato total, bem como conteúdo de superóxido (O2), peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) e peroxidação de lipídeos. O sistema antioxidante foi fortemente induzido nas raízes das plantas nutridas com nitrato de ambos os genótipos, com elevada atividade de SOD, APX, CAT, GR e GPOD, bem como o aumento do conteúdo de ascorbado reduzido e total e diminuição da produção de EROs em condições de hipóxia e de recuperação, enquanto que nas folhas de plantas noduladas e não-noduladas foi observado um ligeiro aumento nos componentes enzimáticos e não enzimáticos antioxidantes. O nitrato exerce efeitos benéficos em plantas de soja em condições de hipóxia e consequentemente na recuperação por induzir o sistema antioxidante nas raízes, permitindo modular os possíveis danos oxidativos causados pela produção de EROs, além de poder prolongar a tolerância dessas plantas. / Waterlogging is a common environmental stress which causes oxygen deprivation in plants leading to an inhibition of the mitochondrial respiration. It leads to a reduction of cellular energy status triggering changes at different levels of carbon and nitrogen metabolism. In addition, it leads to electron scape from the mitochondrial and chloroplast electron transport chain, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) which cause severe oxidative damage to cells. However, exogenous nitrate supply has been reported to promoting beneficial effects in several plant species under hypoxic conditions. Although many studies have been carried out with soybean, a little is known about the primary metabolic changes in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, which may differ between tolerant and sensitive plant genotypes in response to waterlogging and the effects on antioxidant system in nitrate-supplied plants in comparison to non-nitrate-supplied plants. Thus, the aims of this study were: I – to evaluate the hypoxia-induced alterations of carbon and nitrogen metabolism and its relation with alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) enzyme in nodulated soybean genotypes; II – to verify possible beneficial effects on antioxidant metabolism in nitrate-supplied plants (non-nodulated plants) in comparison to plants growing in absence of nitrate (nodulated plants). For that, two experiments were carried out in greenhouse under natural light and temperature conditions. Experiment I: Nodulated soybean plants (Fundacep 53 RR – tolerant and BRS Macota – sensitive) were grown in vermiculite and transferred to hydroponic system at reproductive stage. Root system was subjected to hypoxia by flushing N2 gas into the solution for 24 or 72 h. For the recovery, after 72 h in hypoxia, plants returned to normoxic conditions by transferring back to vermiculite for 24 and 72 h. Root and nodule organic acids and amino acids were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Relative expression of AlaAT (qRT-PCR) and AlaAT activity were also verified in both genotypes. Plants of Fundacep 53 RR and BRS Macota genotypes responded distinctly upon hypoxia. Fundacep 53 RR presented higher pyruvate and lactate accumulation than BRS Macota, which is indicative of higher glycolytic and fermentation rates in root tissues. Furthermore, Fundacep 53 RR responds more effectively to the recovery by restoring pre-hypoxic levels of the metabolites. Although the amino acid composition did not differ between the genotypes, there was a clear link between glycolysis and the TCA via increase of gene expression and activity of AlaAT enzyme by leading a succinate accumulation in Fundacep 53 RR, wich represents a metabolic advantage compared to BRS Macota under hypoxic stress. Experiment II: was carried out in a similar way of Experiment I, however with plants growing in presence (non-nodulated) and absence (nodulated) of nitrate, for both soybean genotypes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), guayacol peroxidase (GPOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes; reduced ascorbate and ascorbate redox state; superoxide content (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation were analysed in roots and leaves of both soybean genotypes. Antioxidative system was strongly induced in roots of nitrate-supplied plants of both genotypes, with high activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and guayacol peroxidase (GPOD), as well as increased ascorbate reduced and ascorbate redox state and decreased ROS production under hypoxia and recovery, while in leaves of nodulated and non-nodulated plants a slight increase on antioxidant system was observed. Furthermore, the results did not show tolerance differences between the genotypes. Nitrate exerts beneficial effects in soybean plants under hypoxic conditions and consequent recovery by inducing the antioxidant system manly in roots, to cope possible oxidative damage caused by ROS production and also can postpone the effects of hypoxia in both genotypes.