Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Ingeniero Agrónomo Mención: Sanidad Vegetal / Durante la temporada 2011, se estudió el efecto de la concentración del aceite mineral (Elf Purespray 15E) sobre la incidencia del daño producido por el trips occidental de las flores, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, sobre cerezas (Prunus avium L.) variedad Sweetheart en etapa de precosecha. El ensayo se realizó en el huerto de cerezos “Agrícola Río Cipreses” en la Comuna de Requínoa, VI Región del Libertador Bernardo O´Higgins. El aceite se aplicó en tratamientos a concentraciones del 0,5; 0,7 y 1% Para el ensayo se seleccionaron grupos de cerezas contiguas a mediados de la etapa de coloración clasificada por la Fundación para el Desarrollo Frutícola (FDF) como “rojo claro”, y se sumergieron en una solución de cada tratamiento durante 5 seg. Posteriormente, fueron infestados con 30 individuos adultos de trips occidental y encerrados en bolsas de tela. La evaluación se realizó a la cosecha, considerando la superficie dañada de cada fruto. Los resultados promedio de las repeticiones por cada tratamiento se clasificaron en una escala que consideró 5 categorías de daño: nulo, bajo, leve, moderado y alto. Se empleó un diseño de bloques completos aleatorizados con 4 tratamientos, 4 repeticiones y 15 cerezas por unidad experimental. Los resultados se normalizaron mediante la transformación angular de Bliss y posteriormente se sometieron a un análisis de varianza y a una prueba de rango múltiple de Tukey. Se concluyó que las aplicaciones de aceite mineral a concentraciones iguales o superiores al 0,7% en precosecha reducen la incidencia de daño de trips en cerezas. / The effect of mineral oil (Elf Purespray 15E) applied at concentrations of 0.5, 0.7 and 1% on the incidence of western flower thrips in Sweetheart cherries was studied during the 2011 season. The trial was done in the Agrícola Rio Cipreses cherry orchard at the Requínoa locality, in the Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins VI Region of Chile. For the trial, groups of adjacent cherries at the middle of the light red coloration stage (as classified by de Chilean Fruit Growing Foundation) were chosen and each group was dipped in its respective treatment for 5 sec. Later they were infested with 30 western flower adult individuals and enclosed in cloth bags. The assessment was conducted at harvest, considering the damaged surface of each fruit. Average replication results per each treatment were classified on a scale considering five damage categories: nule, low, mild, moderate, and high. A randomized complete block design with four treatments was used, with four replications and 15 cherries as the experimental unit. Results were normalized by angular transformation of Bliss before subjecting them to ANOVA test and Tukey’s multiple range test for mean separation. It was concluded that mineral oil applications at concentrations equal to or greater than 0.7% before harvest reduce thrips damage incidence in cherries.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-11-08T15:55:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanda Lucia da Cunha Monteiro.pdf: 2562841 bytes, checksum: a00a188e7c5dc2c8b041adfbeca80f48 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-08T15:55:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanda Lucia da Cunha Monteiro.pdf: 2562841 bytes, checksum: a00a188e7c5dc2c8b041adfbeca80f48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-08 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The bovine viral papillomatosis is an infect-contagious disease with high prevalence in dairy bovines, causing considerable economical losses in this sector. Aiming to contribute with therapeutic research for this pathology, this work had as objective evaluating the efficacy of Thuya occidentalis in the treatment of cutaneous papillomatosis in dairy bovines by the clinical, histopathological and molecular aspects. This research was divided in 4 experiments. Were used in the experiments females of Holstein Friesian crossbred, nuliparous, primiparous and multiparous, exhibiting different types of cutaneous papilloma (typical, atypical, engastated atypical, filamentous and mixing) and of degrees defined for this study: light (25% of the body affected), moderate (with 50% of the body affected) and intensive (with more than 50% of affected body). The animals were kept in a semi intensive system of raising and were randomly distributed in groups with tem animals each. In the experiments I and II the animals were divided into 4 groups, were the groups 1 and 2 received solution of sodium chloride at 0.9% and cereal alcohol, respectively, being these considered controls, and the groups 3 and 4 received the phytotherapic medicines Thuya occidentalis (Simões®) mothre tincture (T.M.) at 30% and Thuya occidentalis mother tincture at 30% with propolis, respectively. The animals received, daily by oral via, 10mL of the products during 63 days. For histopathological evaluation, 50% of the animals were submitted to cutaneous biopsy of the lesions on the zero moment (M0) and the final moment (FM). In the present experiments, the partial and total regression were not observed in any group, once during the clinical and histopathological evaluations, in all moments and groups, the papillomas did not presented macroscopic alterations of remission, color and consistence. In the histopathological analysis it was observed epithelial and conjunctive hyperplasic alterations, with extensive vegetative growth of the epithelium with wide and deep epidermal crest, results that characterize development phase with viral replication and synthesis, being a characteristic finding of papillomatosis. It may be concluded that cutaneous papillomatosis in dairy bovines shows predilection for specific areas. The papillomas were most present on lateral abdomen, dewlap and snout, showing mixing lesions followed by basal and that the use of tinctures at 30% of Thuya occidentalis (Simões®) and Thuya occidentalis with propolis, on the experimental conditions used in this studies, do not cause remission of papillomas in dairy bovines. In experiment III there was used the homeopathic medicine Thuya occidentallis CH6. The animals were distributed at random in 3 groups. The groups 1 and 2 received NaCl 0.9% solution and alcohol cereal, respectively, being these considered controls, and the 3rd group received Thuya occidentalis CH6 in the treatment formula. For the three groups the administration was daily, being 10mL by oral via during 63 days. For histopathologycal evaluation, the animals were submitted to cutaneous biopsy of the papilloma lesions in the zero moment (0M) and final moment (FM). According to the achieved data, the partial or total remission occurred only in group 3 (Thuya occidentalis CH6), where were observed warts fall in 20% of the animals of this group, besides partial regression of the remaining animals, with macroscopic alterations of color and size, findings confirmed by the histopathological exam. In the histopathological analysis there was observed reduction of the thorny layer in all animals of the treated group (G3), showing reduction of epithelial layers with conjunctive tissue of dermal papilla showing active fibroblast and capillaries and rare lymphocytic inflammatory cells. Concluding that Thuya occidentallis CH6 contributes to the treatment of pedunculated papiloma in bovine, being indicated in the presence of this infection. Studies with Thuya occidentalis CH6 must have continuity with bovine carrying basal papillomas in a period of treatment superior to 63 days. The experiment IV had as objective to identify the Bthe Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Using the general (FAP59/64 e MY 11/09) and the specific primers for BPV-2 there was obtained an assertiveness of 33 (82.5%) of the 40 analyzed samples. According to the obtained results it is concluded that the presence of BPV in Pernambuco State-Brazil is in agreement with the world findings, enhancing the importance of the diagnose and control of the infection and, consequently, adoption of an specific therapy. These results emphasize the therapeutic properties of the homeopathic medicine Thuya occidentallis CH6, concluding that its use contributes to the treatment of cutaneous papillomatosis in bovine, emphasizing the necessity of studies for period superior to 63 days with the phytotherapic Thuya occidentalis in bovine carrying cutaneous papilllomatosis, and the serum dosage of AST, GGT, urea and creatinine showed that the plant used in this study, during 63 days, was not able to cause hepatic and renal alterations in bovine with cutaneous papillomatosis. / A papilomatose viral bovina é uma enfermidade infecto-contagiosa que apresenta alta prevalência em bovinos leiteiros, causando consideráveis perdas econômicas para este setor. Com o objetivo de contribuir com a pesquisa terapêutica para esta virose, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia de Thuya occidentalis, no tratamento da papilomatose cutânea em bovinos leiteiros, por meio dos aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e moleculares. Esta pesquisa foi dividida em 4 experimentos. Foram incluídas nos experimentos fêmeas mestiças de holandês nulíparas, primíparas e multíparas, apresentando diferentes tipos de papilomas cutâneos (típicos, atípicos, atípicos engastados, filamentosos e mistos) e de graus assim definidos para este estudo: leve (25% do corpo acometido), moderado (50% do corpo acometido) e intenso (mais de 50% do corpo acometido). Os animais mantiveram-se em sistema semi-intensivo de criação e foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em grupos, com dez animais cada. Nos experimentos I e II, os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos, onde os grupos 1 e 2 receberam solução de cloreto de sódio a 0.9% e álcool de cereal, respectivamente, sendo estes considerados controles, e os grupos 3 e 4 receberam os medicamentos fitoterápicos Thuya occidentalis (Simões®) tintura mãe (T.M.) a 30% e Thuya occidentalis tintura mãe a 30% com própolis, respectivamente. Os animais receberam, diariamente por via oral, 10mL dos produtos durante 63 dias. Para avaliação histopatológica, 50% dos animais foram submetidos à biópsia cutânea das lesões no momento zero (M0) e no momento final (MF). Nos presentes experimentos, as regressões parcial e total não foram observadas em nenhum grupo, uma vez que durante as avaliações clínicas e histopatológicas, em todos os momentos e grupos, os papilomas não apresentaram alterações macroscópicas de remissão, coloração e consistência. Nas análises histopatológicas verificaram-se alterações hiperplásicas epiteliais e conjuntivas, com extenso crescimento vegetativo do epitélio com cristas epidérmicas extensas e profundas, estes resultados caracterizam fase de desenvolvimento com replicação e síntese viral, sendo um achado característico de papilomatose. Pode-se concluir que a papilomatose cutânea em bovinos leiteiros apresenta predileção por áreas específicas. Os papilomas estavam mais presentes no abdômen lateral, barbela e focinho,apresentando lesões mistas seguidas de basais e que o uso das tinturas a 30% de Thuya occidentalis (Simões®) e Thuya occidentalis com própolis, nas condições experimentais utilizadas nestes estudos, não provocam remissão de papilomas em bovinos leiteiros. No experimento III utilizou-se o medicamento homeopático Thuya occidentallis CH6. Os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 3 grupos. Os grupos 1 e 2 receberam solução de NaCl 0.9% e álcool de cereal, respectivamente, sendo estes considerados controles, e o grupo 3 recebeu a Thuya occidentalis CH6 na forma de tratamento. Para os três grupos a administração foi diária, sendo 10 mL por via oral, durante 63 dias. Para avaliação histopatológica, os animais foram submetidos à biópsia cutânea dos papilomas, no momento zero (M0) e no momento final (MF). De acordo com os dados obtidos, as regressões parcial e total ocorreram apenas no grupo 3 (Thuya occidentalis CH6), observando-se queda das verrugas em 20% dos animais deste grupo, além de regressão parcial em 80% nos animais restantes, com alterações macroscópicas de coloração e tamanho, achado este confirmado pelo exame histopatológico. Na análise histológica observou-se redução da camada espinhosa em todos os animais do grupo tratado (G3), evidenciando-se redução nas camadas epiteliais, com tecido conjuntivo da papila dérmica apresentado fibroblastos ativos e capilares e raras células inflamatórias linfocitárias. Concluindo-se que a Thuya occidentalis CH6 contribuiu no tratamento de papilomas pedunculados em bovinos, podendo ser indicada na presença desta infecção. Estudos com a Thuya occidentalis CH6 devem ter continuidade com bovinos portadores de papilomas basais, com período de tratamento superior a 63 dias. O experimento IV teve como objetivo identificar o BPV-2 em amostras de verrugas cutâneas de bovinos, utilizando a Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR). Utilizando-se os primers gerais (FAP59/64 e MY 11/09) e específico para BPV-2 obteve-se uma positividade de 33 (82,5%) das 40 amostras analisadas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a presença da BPV no Estado de Pernambuco está em concordância com os achados mundiais, destacando-se a importância do diagnóstico no controle da infecção e, conseqüentemente, adoção de uma terapia específica. Estes resultados enfatizam as propriedades terapêuticas do medicamento homeopático Thuya occidentallis CH6, concluindo-se que o seu uso contribuiu no tratamento da papilomatose cutânea em bovinos, ressaltando a necessidade de estudos por períodos superiores a 63 dias com a Thuya occidentalis fitoterápica em bovinos portadores de papilomatose cutânea, e as dosagens séricas de AST, GGT, uréia e creatinina revelaram que a planta utilizada neste estudo, durante 63 dias, não foi capaz de causar alterações hepáticas e renais em bovinos com papilomatose cutânea.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T16:29:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo2108_1.pdf: 1017199 bytes, checksum: 172eb2d0f5a24a140eaf978df346f816 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Cassia occidentalis L., conhecida popularmente como Fedegoso, é amplamente utilizada como medicamento natural em regiões de florestas e outras áreas tropicais ao redor do mundo, para o tratamento de cólicas intestinais e uterinas, estados febris, processos inflamatórios e como diurético, laxante, expectorante e abortivo. O fitoterápico CASSIA VIRGÍNICA®, comercializado pelo Laboratório Pernambucano (LAPERLI), preparado a partir de caules e folhas de Cassia occidentalis, tem sido indicado para o tratamento de gripes, febres, úlceras varicosas e erisipelas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de efeitos antiinflamatório, analgésico, antipirético e antiulcerogênico, bem como o potencial toxicológico reprodutivo do fitoterápico CASSIA VIRGÍNICA®. Foram usados ratos Wistar e camundongos, de ambos os sexos, adultos, tratados oralmente com o extrato seco de CASSIA VIRGÍNICA® em diferentes doses, 50, 100, 200, 250, 400 e 500mg/kg, na dependência do ensaio realizado. O estudo farmacológico foi realizado utilizando o modelo de edema de pata induzido por injeção subplantar de carragenina, dextrana e histamina, para avaliar a atividade antiinflamatória aguda; o modelo de analgesia utilizando o ácido acético para indução de contorções abdominais; o modelo de febre induzida por levedura de cerveja e o modelo de úlcera induzida pela administração de etanol. Para avaliar a toxicidade reprodutiva, ratas Wistar prenhes foram tratadas oralmente, durante os períodos de pré-implantação (1º ao 6º dia de gestação) e organogênese (7º ao 14º dia de gestação), nas doses de 250mg/kg e 500mg/kg. No 20º dia de gestação, as ratas foram sacrificadas, laparotomizadas e avaliadas quanto a parâmetros reprodutivos (número de fetos vivos e mortos, relação feto/mãe, massa dos fetos, das placentas e dos ovários, número de corpos lúteos, relação corpo lúteo/mãe, número de sítios de implantação, índice de implantação, número de sítios de reabsorção, perda pré e pósimplantação). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o extrato seco de CASSIA VIRGÍNICA® produziu uma redução máxima aproximada de 55% e 41% no edema de pata induzido pela carragenina e dextrana, respectivamente, porém não, no edema induzido pela histamina. Houve diminuição significativa das contorções abdominais nos animais tratados com o fitoterápico de 71, 60 e 62%, respectivamente nas doses de 100, 200 e 400mg/kg. Com relação à atividade antipirética, o fitoterápico na dose de 400mg/kg produziu redução significativa da temperatura, maior do que 1°C (36,58±0,19 para 35,32±0,48), a partir da primeira hora de administração, de maneira semelhante à produzida pela dipirona (35,23±0,23). O extrato protegeu a mucosa gástrica contra lesões induzidas por etanol nas doses de 100 e 200mg/kg com percentual de área ulcerada igual a 8,52±1,34% e 11,62±1,24% correspondendo a uma redução em relação ao controle (19,73±2,41), de 56 e 41% da área ulcerada. Os resultados mostraram que não ocorreram diferenças estatisticamente significantes quanto aos parâmetros reprodutivos avaliados. Porém, foi constatada a presença de feto morto, tanto na dose de 250 quanto de 500mg/kg do extrato seco de CASSIA VIRGÍNICA®. Os resultados indicam que o fitoterápico possui atividades antiedematogênica, analgésica e antipirética, porém, mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer os mecanismos envolvidos nestas atividades. A vantagem do fitoterápico em relação aos antiinflamatórios atuais é que esta não apresenta propriedade irritante de mucosa gástrica, pelo contrário, possui um efeito gastroprotetor. A constatação de feto morto sugere que os estudos devem ser ampliados para melhor caracterizar os efeitos tóxicos do fitoterápico e seu uso não deve ser recomendado durante o período de gestação

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T16:30:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo2749_1.pdf: 901608 bytes, checksum: 234b55ed0b952e4bac3bc42e613e2668 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco / O aumento na incidência de doenças neurodegenerativas em todo o mundo tem proporcionado um interesse cada vez maior nos estudos que visam novas estratégias para a prevenção e cura destas patologias. Várias evidências têm demonstrado que alterações mitocondriais e elevados níveis de estresse oxidativo estão fortemente associados ao desenvolvimento de muitas doenças típicas do envelhecimento como Alzheimer, Parkinson e Huntington. Vários modelos animais vêm sendo utilizados para estudar as características neuropatológicas e bioquímicas dessas doenças e determinar novas abordagens terapêuticas. O ácido 3- nitropropiônico (3-NP) é uma neurotoxina que inibe a succinato desidrogenase (SDH), uma enzima do complexo II da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial, que leva a déficit energético, liberação de cálcio mitocondrial, estresse oxidativo e morte celular, mimetizando muitos dos sintomas motores, cognitivos e psiquiátricos da doença de Huntington (DH). Embora não tenha sido encontrada uma terapêutica que cure ou impeça, de forma efetiva, a progressão destas doenças, compostos naturais com atividade antioxidante têm demonstrado efeito neuroprotetor. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a atividade neuroprotetora do extrato seco da casca do caule de Schinus terebinthifolius (ST) e do extrato seco de caules e folhas de Cassia occidentalis (CO) sobre parâmetros comportamentais e bioquímicos induzidos pela administração intraperitoneal de 3-NP. Avaliações comportamentais foram realizadas utilizando os modelos de campo aberto, rotarod e labirinto em cruz elevado. A atividade antioxidante in vitro foi determinada através do método de captura do radical livre DPPH˙. A atividade antioxidante in vivo, por meio da peroxidação lidipídica (dosagem das substancias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico TBARS), e da atividade enzimática da superóxido dismutase (SOD) foi avaliada na região estriatal após os testes comportamentais. A administração intraperitoneal de 3-NP (30 mg/kg por 5 dias) causou significativa perda de peso corporal, déficit motor (performance no campo aberto e rotarod) e perda de retenção de memória (performance no labirinto em cruz elevado) quando comparado aos animais controle. Além disso, análises bioquímicas revelaram significativo aumento na peroxidação lipídica e diminuição da atividade da SOD na região estriatal. O tratamento diário com ST (300 e 600 mg/kg, oral) e CO (400 e 800 mg/kg, oral) por um período de 14 dias melhorou significativamente o peso corporal, o desempenho motor e cognitivo quando comparado ao grupo doente (3-NP). Além disso, o tratamento com ST e CO significativamente atenuou a peroxidação lipídica e a diminuição da atividade da SOD. Foi observado que ST e CO apresentaram expressiva atividade antioxidante in vitro (IC50 8,81 e 53,66 μg/ml) em comparação com o padrão (BHT- butil-hidroxitolueno). Estes resultados sugerem que o efeito protetor do extrato de Schinus terebinthifolius e Cassia occidentalis contra degeneração induzida pela neurotoxina 3-NP seja mediado por sua atividade antioxidante, relacionada provavelmente à presença de polifenóis, sendo por isso um possível agente terapêutico para a DH

An experimental study has been conducted to develop a process allowing the creation of biologically accurate aerodynamic test models mimicking the slotted primary feather geometry of the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Preserved examples of both a full Brown Pelican wing and a single primary feather were 3D scanned and digitally reconstructed using a combination of MATLAB and CAD software. The final model was then 3D printed as a collection of smaller components using a LulzBot TAZ 6 printer and Taulman3D T-Glase PET filament. After using various surface finishing techniques to improve the finish of all 3D printed parts, an assembly was designed to mount the model in the low speed wind tunnel at the California Polytechnic State University. Prior to aerodynamic testing, airfoil sections of the pelican wing were generated in CAD and several common airfoil measurements and characteristics were investigated. At a flow velocity of 5 m/s (Re ~1.21 x 105), wind tunnel smoke and laser visualization testing highlighted the vortex generation of multiple primary feathers, as well as large-scale flow deviations in the vicinity of the feathers. A total pressure rake and total pressure probe were used to create detailed plots of the ratio of the local velocity to free-stream velocity (Vx/Vx∞) at two planes downstream of the model, which revealed vortex positioning consistent with that predicted by smoke visualization testing and provided a metric by which to evaluate the relative strength of each vortex. The model creation process and wind tunnel testing results outlined here provide a strong foundation for future investigations into the potential aerodynamic benefits provided by the slotted primary feather geometry employed by the Brown Pelican and other large gliding avian species.

Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Ingeniero Agrónomo / Durante la temporada 2013-2014 se estudió el efecto de la aplicación de aceite mineral (Purespray 15E) y aceite vegetal (Protek) sobre la incidencia de la mancha anular marrón producida por el Trips de California, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, en uva de mesa variedad Thompson seedless durante el periodo de cierre de racimo. Se realizó un ensayo en un huerto comercial ubicado en la comuna de Buin, Región Metropolitana, en el que se evaluó tratamientos de aceites mineral y vegetal con diferentes concentraciones y número de inmersiones. Para el ensayo se seleccionaron racimos sanos y homogéneos de 150 bayas aproximadamente, los que se sumergieron en cada tratamiento durante 5 segundos. Posteriormente se infestaron con 50 adultos de Trips de California y fueron encerrados en bolsas de tul; transcurrida una semana se realizó una segunda inmersión en los tratamientos que correspondía y se repitió la infestación en las unidades experimentales. Los racimos se encerraron nuevamente en bolsas de tul hasta la evaluación. La evaluación se realizó en periodo de cosecha, considerando el porcentaje de bayas que presentaban daño por Trips de California, caracterizado como mancha anular marrón. Se empleó un diseño de bloques completamente aleatorizados con 10 tratamientos y 8 repeticiones, siendo la unidad experimental un racimo. Se consideró cada planta como un bloque independiente. Los resultados se normalizaron mediante la transformación angular de Bliss. Posteriormente se sometieron a un análisis de varianza y prueba de comparaciones múltiples DGC. Los tratamientos de Aceite Mineral (Purespray 15E) al 0.5% y al 0.75% reducen efectivamente el daño causado por F. occidentalis durante el periodo de cierre de racimo. Los tratamientos con Aceite Vegetal (Protek) al 0.5% y al 0,75% reducen parcialmente el daño causado por F. occidentalis durante el periodo de cierre de racimo. / During the 2013-2014 season, the effect of the application of mineral oil (Purespray 15E) and vegetable oil (Protek) on the incidence of brown ringspot caused by the Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) on table grape was studied, focusing on the Thompson seedless variety during cluster closing time. Trials were conducted in a commercial orchard located in the commune of Buin, Metropolitan Region, treatments mineral and vegetable oils with different concentrations and number of dives were evaluated. For the test, healthy and homogeneous clusters of approximately 150 berries were selected, and immersed in each treatment for 5 seconds. Then, they were infested with 50 adults of Western Flower Thrips and locked in tulle bags; after a week, a second application was performed of the corresponding treatments and the infestation was repeated in all experimental units. The clusters were again locked in tulle bags until evaluation. The evaluation was conducted in harvest period, considering the percentage of berries that showed damage from Western Flower Thrips, characterized as brown ringspot. Design of completely randomized blocks of 10 treatments and 8 repetitions were used. The experimental unit being a cluster. Each plant is considered as a separate block. The results were normalized by Bliss' angular transformation. Subsequently, they were subjected to a variance analysis and DGC multiple comparisons tests. Treatments with Mineral Oil (Pure Spray 15E) at 0.5% and 0.75% effectively reduce the damage caused by F. occidentalis during cluster closing time. Vegetable oil treatments (Protek) at 0.5% and 0.75% only partially reduced the damage caused by F. occidentalis during the cluster closing.

Chapter 1: Animals can respond to extreme climate by behaviorally avoiding it, or by physiologically coping with it. We understand behavioral thermoregulation and physiological thermal tolerances, but water balance has largely been neglected. Climate change includes both global warming and changes in precipitation regimes, so improving our understanding of organismal water balance is increasingly urgent. We assessed the hydric physiology of endangered Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) by measuring cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL), plasma osmolality, body mass, and body condition throughout their active season. On average, G. sila had low CEWL that is likely desert-adaptive, and high plasma osmolality that is indicative of dehydration. Given that our study was in a drought year, it is reasonable to believe that every lizard measured was dehydrated to a degree. We hypothesized that throughout the G. sila active season, as their habitat got hotter and drier, G. sila would become increasingly dehydrated and watertight. Instead, CEWL and plasma osmolality showed minimal change for females and nonlinear change for males, which we hypothesize is connected to sex-specific reproductive behaviors and changes in food availability. We also measured thermoregulation and microhabitat use, expecting that more hydrated lizards would have higher body temperature, better thermoregulatory accuracy, and spend more time aboveground. However, we found no effect of CEWL, plasma osmolality, body mass, or body condition on these thermal and behavioral metrics. We posit either that G. sila tolerate dehydration to maintain activity during their brief active season, or that because every lizard was dehydrated due to the drought, they all experienced equally constrained thermoregulation and microhabitat use. Finally, G. sila spend considerable time underground in burrows, and we believe burrows serve as essential hydric, not only thermal, refugia. Our findings suggest that these lizards might benefit from artificial humid refugia and supplemental hydration, especially during drought. Chapter 2: Testing acclimation plasticity informs our understanding of functional biodiversity and applies to conservation management amidst our rapidly changing climate. While there is a wealth of research on the plasticity of thermal and hydric physiology in response to temperature acclimation, there is a comparative gap for research on acclimation to different hydric regimes, as well as the interaction between water and temperature. We sought to fill this gap by acclimating Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) to experimental climate conditions (crossed design of Hot or Cool, Dry or Humid) for eight days, and measuring cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL), plasma osmolality, hematocrit, and body condition before and after acclimation under common conditions. CEWL changed plastically in response to the different climates, with lizards acclimated to Hot Humid conditions experiencing the greatest increase in CEWL. Change in CEWL among individuals was negatively related to treatment vapor pressure deficit. Plasma osmolality, hematocrit, and body condition all showed greater changes in response to temperature than to humidity or vapor pressure deficit. CEWL and plasma osmolality were positively related across treatment groups before acclimation and within treatment groups after acclimation, but the two variables showed different responses to acclimation, suggesting that they are interrelated but governed by different mechanisms. This study is among just a small number of studies that assess more than one metric of hydric physiology and that test the interactive effects of temperature and humidity. Such measurements will be essential for predictive models of activity and survival for animals under climate change.

Understanding the effects of natural variation in environmental temperature on organisms and how those organisms evolve to live in different thermal environments is a central tenet of evolutionary physiology. Phenotypic differences among populations are the result of local adaptation, innate genetic differences between populations, and phenotypic plasticity, differential responses to the environment. Although not mutually exclusive, distinguishing between these paradigms can help illuminate species boundaries resulting from thermal limitations in physiology. For my dissertation, I examined geographic variation in measures of thermal physiology of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis to understand the relative role of adaptation and acclimation in determining the thermal biology of populations of this species living in different thermal environments. To achieve this goal I measured three indices of physiological function; body temperature, thermal tolerance and heat shock protein (Hsp70) abundance, across geographic and seasonal variation in temperature. Furthermore, I examined variation in sprint speed performance before and after heat stress and its relationship to Hsp70 to determine if stress protein expression is a reliable indicator of whole organism physiological stress. I found that geographic location can have a major effect on thermal physiology and performance in S. occidentalis in that thermal tolerance, Hsp70, and sprint speed varied with site and season with warmer southern sites typically more heat adapted than cooler northern sites. I also found a trade off in thermal tolerance suggesting that specialization to temperature was occurring in these lizards. Finally, lizards with increased Hsp70 were typically slower after heat stress indicating that Hsp70 is a reliable indicator of organism stress. Despite these findings, there was no difference in body temperature among sites and seasonal patterns in thermal tolerance suggest that during certain times of the year plastic responses to temperature may mask adaptive differences. Here, I argue that temperature differences between sites has resulted in temperature adaptation at these sites, but that plastic responses to seasonal variation in temperature can become more important during certain times of the year. Although these relationships have been thoroughly studied in invertebrate organisms, further research should examine whether these patterns exist in other vertebrate ectotherm species.

Thrips are pests in a variety of crops and are responsible for millions of dollars in damage worldwide. In Virginia there are a few key thrips species that cause a large portion of damage to both vegetable and floricultural crops. Three prominent pests include Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Significant yield losses in row crops such as cotton, peanuts and vegetables have been attributed to feeding and oviposition of these insects in high densities. In addition, both F. fusca and F. occidentalis can transmit plant pathogenic tospoviruses, such as tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), in certain susceptible crops. While all of these thrips species are difficult to detect due to their cryptic lifestyles, F. occidentalis is a particularly challenging pest to manage due to its resistance to many insecticides commonly used for thrips treatment. Early spring weeds were sampled for the presence of F. occidentalis in 2008 and 2009 in eastern Virginia. Weed samples consisted of mustard, henbit and wild radish and were collected from several different sites on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. During the summer of 2008, 2009 and 2010 various agroecosystems were sampled for the relative incidence of F. occidentalis. Overall, thrips numbers were very low in weed samples. F. occidentalis was detected in early spring weed samples in 2009 at a few of the sites sampled. In nearly every habitat, the species composition was dominated by F. fusca and F. tritici, with F. occidentalis occurring in very low numbers. Two different lures were evaluated in their ability to attract Frankliniella spp. thrips. The lures included Chemtica P-178 floral kairomone (AgBio Inc., Westminster, CO), a floral iii kairomone lure composed of a proprietary floral compound mixture, and ThriplineAMS (Syngenta Bioline Ltd., Oxnard, CA) pheromone lure, containing the aggregation pheromone of F. occidentalis. In spring 2009 and 2010 lure experiments were conducted in several different agroecosystems including: a tomato and potato field in Painter, VA, a cotton and peanut field in Suffolk, VA, and grass fields near a greenhouse in Virginia Beach, VA, and a high tunnel in Chesapeake, VA, as well as within these structures. Baited and non-baited sticky cards were arranged in a completely randomized design, with a pan trap located in the center of each plot. Traps were collected approximately twice weekly. F. fusca numbers were low and catches on sticky cards were not significantly affected by either lure. Sticky cards baited with the kairomone caught more flower thrips than traps baited with the pheromone, or the non-baited traps, especially when thrips numbers were high. Several biologically derived insecticides including: essential oils, spinetoram, spinosad, pyrethrins, and azadirachtin, were evaluated in their efficacy against thrips in several different crops. Randomized complete block design experiments were carried out in: tomatoes, snap beans, collards, soybeans, cotton and peanuts grown in several locations in southeastern Virginia in 2009 and 2010. Both spinetoram and spinosad reduced thrips numbers the most effectively compared with the untreated control. Peanut and cotton treated with spinosad, and treatments containing spinetoram suffered less thrips injury compared with the control, and yield was higher in cotton plots treated with spinetoram. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

La caractérisation chimique des bois raméaux fragmentés (BRF) et du bois de tronc de Trema orientalis et de Leucaena leucocephala a révélé un plus fort degré de lignification dans les branches de Trema que dans le tronc, alors que le résultat inverse a été observé pour le Leucaena. De même des plus forts taux en cendres ont été trouvés dans les branches que dans le tronc, avec des valeurs globalement plus élevées pour le Trema. Par ailleurs, le ratio C/N déterminé par analyse élémentaire, a révélé des valeurs plus élevées pour le bois de tronc que pour les BRF des deux essences. En revanche, le ratio lignine/N des branches, naturellement plus faible, a conduit à la prédiction selon laquelle la décomposition de la matière ligno-cellulosique des branches serait plus rapide que celle du bois de tronc. De plus, les meilleurs ratios C/N et lignine/N ont été trouvés pour Leucaena. Enfin plusieurs composés identiques, dérivés de la lignine, ont été majoritairement identifiés par pyrolyse-GC-MS dans le bois de tronc comme dans les BRF. / The chemical characterization of ramial chipped wood (RCW) and of the T. orientalis and the L. leucocephala stem woods has shown a higher degree of lignification in the branches of Trema than in the stem woods whereas reverse results have been found for the Leucaena. Besides, higher rates in ashes have been found in the branches than in the trunk, with values globally higher for Trema. The C/N ratio, determined by elementary analysis, has revealed higher values for stem wood than for the RCW of the two species. In contrast, the lignin/N ratio of the branches, naturally low, for the two species, has led to the prediction stating that the decomposition of the lignin-cellulosic matter of the branches would be faster than that of the stem wood. Besides, best ratio C/N and lignin/N have been found for Leucaena. At last, several identical compounds, derivatives of the lignin, have been mostly identified in the stem wood as in the RCW.