Memoria para optar al título profesional de Ingeniero Agrónomo / Los bajos niveles de cuajado en cranberries han motivado el estudio de distintos aspectos relacionados con la biología reproductiva de la especie. Dichos estudios indican que el factor limitante que induciría estos bajos niveles de cuajado, sería la disponibilidad de carbohidratos durante el período que abarca desde inicio de floración al cuajado. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del sombreamiento, y de aplicaciones de sacarosa en cinco distintos estados de floración sobre el cuajado y el rendimiento del cranberry var. Stevens e identificar el periodo en que la disponibilidad de carbohidratos es limitante en el cuajado de frutos. Con este fin se realizaron mediciones de carga frutal, rendimiento, repartición de biomasa vegetativa y calidad de frutos y jugo en una plantación adulta de cranberry en la Región de la Araucanía. Los resultados permitieron identificar un periodo común en que la aplicación de sombreamiento afectó negativamente el cuajado y el rendimiento del cranberry, mientras que la aplicación de sacarosa afectó positivamente estas variables. Este período corresponde al estado de final de plena flor e inicios de cuajado de frutos. La distribución de materia seca no mostró diferencias significativas para ninguno de los dos ensayos, mientras que las variables de calidad de fruta (peso individual y distribución de calibres) y la intensidad colorante del jugo solamente fueron afectadas en el caso del ensayo de sombreamiento. Se concluye que el período de fines de plena flor - inicios de cuajado de frutos, corresponde a un período crítico para el cultivo del cranberry var. “Stevens” durante el cual se determina la carga frutal de la planta. Bajo las condiciones del presente estudio, las aplicaciones de sacarosa durante dicho período aumentaron el cuajado y el rendimiento de este frutal sin afectar la calidad de los frutos y del jugo. / The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of shading and sucrose sprays at five different flowering stages of the cranberry cultivar “Stevens” on fruit set and yield. Additionally the study aimed at identifying the period during which the plant’s carbohydrate availability is a limiting factor for fruit set. Fruit set, yield, vegetative biomass as well as fruit and juice quality measurements were conducted on a cranberry farm in the Araucanía Region of Chile. A common period during which fruit set and yield were negatively affected by shading and positively affected by sucrose application was identified. This period corresponded to end of full bloom and onset of fruits. Vegetative biomass distribution was not affected by neither shading nor sucrose applications whereas quality traits such as individual fruit weight and size distribution, as well as juice color intensity were only affected by shading. The period during which the plant carbohydrate status is crucial could be identified and, under the trial’s conditions, sucrose sprays during this period enhance fruit seat and yield of cranberry cv. Stevens without affecting fruit and juice quality.

Cranberry tipworm, Dasineura oxycoccana Johnson (a gall‐making fly), disrupts normal growth of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) by injuring the apical meristem of shoots or uprights. The impact of larval feeding injury on reproductive parameters of cranberry was determined, from one growing season to next, at upright (Maine and Massachusetts, 2008 ‐ 2009) and plot levels (Massachusetts, 2009 – 2010 and 2010 ‐ 2011). I also estimated the proportions of uprights injured because of tipworm feeding at several cranberry production sites (Massachusetts and Maine) and the proportions of uprights that produced flowers and fruits in the next growing season. Tipworm‐injured uprights tagged at the end of the growing season did not produce floral‐units (following year) across sites in both Massachusetts and Maine. There was significant variation among the sampled sites in the proportions of tipworm‐injured uprights and also in the proportions of uprights with flowers in the next growing season (Massachusetts and Maine). A trend was apparent wherein sites with higher tipworm injury levels had relatively lower flowering proportions in the next growing season. However, sites in Massachusetts did not differ in the proportions of uprights that set fruit and in a replicated study, significant reduction in tipworm injury at plot level (using insecticide) did not impact flower and fruit production in the next growing season. A two‐year field study was carried out at three different locations to determine the impact of tipworm feeding injury on the reproductive and vegetative growth of two cranberry cultivars (‘Howes’ and ‘Stevens’) in Massachusetts. Individual uprights of cranberry exhibited tolerance to natural (tipworm) and simulated apical meristem injury in the current growing season (fruit production) and results were corroborated by a greenhouse study. In the field study, weight of fruit was higher intipworm‐injured uprights as compared with intact control uprights at the sites with Howes. However, majority of injured uprights (tipworm and simulated) did not produce new growth from lateral buds (side‐shoots) before the onset of dormancy. In the next growing season, fewer injured uprights resumed growth and produced flowers as compared with intact uprights at two of the three sites.

"American cranberry (Vacciniumm macrocarpon) has been long known for its benefits in maintaining urinary tract health. Clinical trials have shown that drinking cranberry juice can prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in various subpopulations that are prone to UTIs, especially women, but the mechanisms by which cranberry acts against uropathogenic bacteria are still unclear. Studies showed that when exposed to cranberry juice or A- PACs, a group of tannins that are unique to cranberry, the adhesion activity and biofilm formation of uropathogenic bacteria were reduced. However, the metabolism of cranberry juice has not be elucidated, therefore further study is needed to find out whether the anti-bacterial components in cranberry could survive the digestive system and reach the urinary tract, and how the components or metabolites remaining in urine act against uropathogenic bacteria. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the surface adhesion force of uropathogenic E. coli incubated with urine samples that were collected from volunteers after drinking 16 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail (CJC) or water. The urine samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after CJC or water consumption. When incubated with post-water urine, the adhesion forces of pathogenic bacteria that have fimbriae (E. coli B37, B73, B78, BF1023, CFT 073, and J96) did not change; whereas the adhesion forces of these strains decreased over the 8 hour period after CJC consumption. The control strain that does not have frimbriae, E. coli HB101, showed low adhesion force when incubated with post-water and post-CJC urine. In a human red blood cell agglutination (HRBC) assay, the attachment of pathogenic E. coli to red blood cells was significantly lower after exposed to post-CJC urine, compared to those exposed to post-water urine. These results indicate the anti-bacteria components or metabolites of CJC stay active in urine, and these compounds prevent adhesion of E. coli by reducing fimbriae-mediated adhesion. We also examined the effects of drinking CJC on biofilm formation of uropathogenic bacteria. Female volunteers were given 16 oz. of CJC or placebo, and their urine was collected at 0, 2, 8, 24, and 48 hours after consumption. Bacteria (E. coli B37, CFT073, BF1023, HB101, and S. aureus ATCC43866) were cultured in a mixture of urine and growth media in 96 well microtiters. The biofilm formed was quantified by staining the biofilm dissolved in a solvent with crystal violet and measuring the absorbance at 600 nm. The results showed that biofilm formation was reduced within 24 hours after CJC consumption, and it started to increase after 48 hours, possibly due to the washout of CJC in the system. These studies suggest that CJC can be an effective preventive measure for UTIs as it inhibits adhesion and biofilm formation of uropathogenic bacteria."

Ph.D.

Nosocomial, or hospital acquired, infections, are ubiquitous within the modern clinical setting leading to over $5 billion annually of related healthcare costs in North America. All indwelling devices are highly susceptible to bacterial colonization where physico-chemical interactions between bacteria and biomaterial surfaces have been implicated as determinant factors in the fate of the initial adhesion processes. It has been proposed that by exploiting interference strategies within this critical step of infection the ability to create 'non-infective' biomaterials may be developed. / This thesis demonstrates the effectivity of North American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) derived proanthocyanidins in preventing the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to biomaterial surfaces. Specifically, using a model of catheter associated urinary tract infection, significant reductions in initial adhesion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis to PVC and PTFE were observed. With the application of colloidal theory, a mechanism of steric interference was determined as responsible for these effects. / The evidence presented implicates PAC as a molecule of interest for the development of novel biomaterials with increased resistance to bacteria colonization.

Aspidosperma species belonging to the Apocynaceae family are restricted to the Americas. Ethnopharmacological studies have shown the use of these species as a potential agent against malaria and trypanosomatids, also used as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antitumor. The search for new chemical entities with antimicrobial activity has significant importance due to the versatility of microorganisms to acquire resistance to the therapeutic arsenal, and due to the prevalence of neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis. These are endemic in developing countries have few therapeutic options, which are toxic and have limited effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the crude extracts and fractions from different parts of the species A. macrocarpon, A. tomentosum and A. pyrifolium, as the antimicrobial action and realize bioguided chemical study of the species with high activity against the microorganisms tested, and less toxic to mammalian cells. About antibacterial activity alkaloidal fraction from A. pyrifolium stem presented moderate minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): 125 and 250 g/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of A. macrocarpon stem had a weak MIC of 250 g/mL on Candida parapsilosis. The activity of the extract of the stem bark of A. macrocapon against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes showed inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 151.5 g/mL and selectivity index (SI) of 6.52 on LLCMK2 cells, this species were considered the most promising for the bioguided chemical study. The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of the A. macrocarpon stem bark showed IC50 29.00  1.65 and 29.50  0.95 g/mL, respectively on promastigotes forms of L. amazonensis. The bioguided study with chloroform fraction led to subfraction of monoacylglycerols, wich were the most active on L. amazonensis, with IC50 2.31  0.08 and 2.29  0.14 g/mL on promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, respectively. SI showed that this fraction were 42 fold more toxic to L. amazonensis than to macrophages. Studies related to the mechanism of action of monoacylglycerols evaluated by optical microscopy, scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed abnormalities such as mitochondrial swelling, concentric membranes inside the mitochondria, presence of perforations on the cell surface of the parasite and autophagic vacuoles. These data together with results of flow cytometry showed necrosis and autophagy as a possible mechanism of cell death. Quercetin was identified as the active substance of the ethyl acetate fraction against evolutionary forms of L. amazonensis. This substance had, IC50 of 61.93  1.36 and 63.86  3.25 M/mL on promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, respectively. Quercetin was evaluated in combination with amphotericin B (Q + A) and miltefosine (Q + M), the combinatorial effect of both was considered synergistic against all forms of L. amazonensis. The combinations Q+A and Q+M showed antagonistic action on macrophages and human erythrocytes. Evaluation of the combination using SEM and TEM associated with literature data indicate apoptotic cell death after treatment with both combinations. These findings are relevant as a first step in the search for new therapies for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / As espécies do gênero Aspidosperma pertencentes à família Apocynaceae são restritas às Américas. Estudos etnofarmacológicos revelaram a utilização destas espécies como agente potencial contra a malária e tripanosomatídeos, como antimicrobianos, anti-inflamatórios e antitumorais. A pesquisa em busca de novas entidades químicas com ação antimicrobiana apresenta significativa importância devido à versatilidade dos micro-organismos em adquirir resistência ao arsenal terapêutico, e devido à prevalência de doenças consideradas negligenciadas, como as leishmanioses. Estas são endêmicas nos países em desenvolvimento e possuem poucas opções terapêuticas, sendo estas tóxicas e de eficácia limitada. O objetivo do estudo consistiu em avaliar os extratos brutos e frações de diferentes partes das espécies de A. macrocarpon, A. tomentosum e A. pyrifolium, quanto à ação antimicrobiana e realizar o estudo químico bioguiado da espécie mais ativa sobre os micro-organismos testados e menos tóxica para células de mamíferos. Sobre a atividade antibacteriana a fração alcaloídica da casca de A. pyrifolium apresentou concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) moderada de 125 e 250 μg/mL para Staphylococcus aureus e Bacillus subtilis, respectivamente. A fração acetato de etila do caule de A. macrocarpon apresentou CIM fraca de 250 μg/mL sobre Candida parapsilosis. A atividade do extrato da casca do caule de A. macrocapon contra formas promastigotas de Leishmania amazonensis apresentou concentração inibitória (CI50) de 151,5 g/mL e índice de seletividade (IS) de 6,52 sobre células LLCMK2, sendo a espécie mais promissora para a realização do estudo químico bioguiado. As frações de clorofórmio e acetato de etila obtidas da casca do caule de A. macrocarpon demonstraram CI50 de 29,00  1,65 e 29,50  0,95 g/mL respectivamente, sobre as formas promastigotas de L. amazonensis. O estudo bioguiado do fracionamento da fração clorofórmio conduziu à obtenção da subfração com monoacilglicerois (MAG) como a mais ativa sobre as formas evolutivas de L. amazonensis, com CI50 2,31  0,08 e 2,29  0,14 g/mL sobre promastigotas e amastigotas intracelulares, respectivamente e IS sobre macrófagos J774-A1 de 42, para ambas as formas evolutivas. Estudos relacionados ao mecanismo de ação da fração MAG avaliados por microscopia óptica, eletrônica de varredura (MEV), e transmissão (MET) evidenciaram alterações como inchaço mitocondrial, membranas concêntricas dentro da mitocôndria, presença de perfurações na superfície celular do parasito e vacúolos autofágicos. Estes dados quando analisados em conjunto com resultados da citometria de fluxo indicaram a autofagia e necrose como provável mecanismo de morte celular. Após o fracionamento da fração acetato de etila foi identificada a quercetina como substância ativa sobre as formas evolutivas de L. amazonensis, com CI50 de 61,93  1,36 e 63,86  3,25 M/mL sobre promastigotas e amastigotas intracelulares, respectivamente. A quercetina foi avaliada em combinação com anfotericina B (Q+A) e miltefosina (Q+M), o efeito combinatório de ambas foi considerado sinérgico sobre as formas evolutivas de L. amazonensis. As combinações Q+A e Q+M demonstraram ação antagônica sobre macrófagos e eritrócitos humanos. A avaliação da combinação por MEV e MET associada aos dados da literatura indicaram provável morte celular por apoptose de ambas as combinações. Estes achados nos ensaios in vitro são relevantes como primeiro passo na busca por novas terapias para o tratamento da leishmaniose cutânea.

The growth and yield response of strawberry (Fragaria X annassa Duch.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) to various growth inhibitors, but especially to paclobutrazol (PP333), and fertilizers were investigated in glasshouse and field studies. PP333 decreased vegetative growth in a rate-dependent manner in both strawberry and cranberry. PP333 delayed fruit ripening in strawberry and decreased fruit set and fruit size in cranberry. PP333 decreased pollen germination of strawberry. Soil residues of PP333 were biologically active when measured 11 weeks after application in the strawberry study and when measured after 50 weeks in a cranberry study. In a field study with cranberry, PP333 caused a decrease in vegetative growth and an increase in flowering in the next season after treatment. Two-dimensional partitioning was used to account for yield variation from treatment effects on adjusted yield variates. The truss number was the most important contributor to yield variation in the strawberry, but was not affected by treatments. PP333 made a substantial contribution to yield variation in strawberry through its effect on fruit development and ripening. In the cranberry, fruit set was the major contributor to yield variation and PP333 influenced yield substantially through its effect on fruit set. In glasshouse studies, PP333 decreased shoot elongation in cranberry within 3 weeks of application, and increased the number of branches on primary shoots. Buds were formed within 7 weeks of treatment and some of the buds contained flowers. Shoot growth was greater with a high rate of NPK fertilizer than with the low fertilizer rate and was greater in peaty soil than in sandy soil. While bud set was not modified by soil type or fertilizer rate, high NPK fertilizer decreased floral induction. Some effects of PP333 treatment were decreased by gibberellic acid, but generally these effects here not reversed. In a field study with the cranberry, PP333 increased flower bud set for flowering and non-flowering uprights but slightly decreased floral induction for non-flowering uprights. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Sanding and pruning are two practices used in the cranberry industry for vine management and yield stimulation. This study compared the effects of varying levels of sanding and pruning in April 2006 on vine canopy characteristics and yield over the course of two growing seasons. Each practice was applied at four levels: sanding at four depths: control (0 cm), light (1.5 cm), moderate (3.0 cm), or heavy (4.5 cm) of sand; pruning at four numbers of passes with a commercial pruner: control (0 passes), light (1 pass), moderate (2 passes), and heavy (3 passes). Pruning levels had no affect on upright density over the two seasons whereas heavy sanding treatment decreased the number of uprights per unit area significantly. A linear increase in light penetration was observed for the first season only as intensities increased for both pruning and sanding. Number of fruiting uprights relative to total uprights decreased in the first year as intensity increased for sanding and pruning. This effect continued in the second year for sanding treatments. Yield and net returns averaged over the two years were greatest in lightly pruned plots, followed by lightly sanded plots. Moderate and heavy treatments were associated with lower yields and net returns than those for the controls.

Thesis (M.S.B.E.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 108 pages. Includes bibliographical references.