A introdução de leguminosas em pastagens contribui para a produção animal sustentável, proporcionada pela fixação biológica do nitrogênio atmosférico e elevado valor nutritivo da forragem produzida. O conhecimento da estrutura do dossel forrageiro é fundamental para o manejo adequado de sistemas pastoris, uma vez que determina as respostas de plantas e de animais. Estudos com gramíneas tropicais evidenciaram a importância e a praticidade do uso da altura do pasto como guia de manejo eficiente para explicar variações em comportamento ingestivo de animais, permitindo a definição de metas ou alvos de manejo de pasto que maximizam a velocidade de ingestão de forragem. Entretanto, estudos dessa natureza são escassos com leguminosas tropicais. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a estrutura do dossel forrageiro e a taxa de consumo de forragem em amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) submetido a intensidades de pastejo. O experimento foi conduzido na Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, de fevereiro a novembro de 2013. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro intensidades de pastejo representadas pelas alturas de 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm, e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 200 m²) segundo delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis-resposta: distribuição vertical dos componentes morfológicos da massa de forragem dos pastos, massa e densidade volumétrica da forragem, composição morfológica de amostras de simulação de pastejo, taxa de bocados, massa do bocado e taxa de consumo. A estrutura do dossel influenciou a massa do bocado, a taxa de bocados e a taxa de consumo, assim como reportado na literatura para gramíneas forrageiras. No outono e na primavera as respostas foram semelhantes, com diminuição da taxa de bocados e aumento da massa do bocado com o aumento da altura de manejo, sem diferenças em massa do bocado entre as alturas de 15 e 20 cm. A taxa de consumo apresentou o mesmo padrão de resposta descrito para massa do bocado, aumentando com o incremento em altura dos pastos, porém sem diferença entre as alturas de manejo de 15 e 20 cm. No inverno a taxa de bocados seguiu o mesmo padrão do outono e da primavera, porém houve maior presença de invasoras e menor altura efetiva de manejo para os tratamentos de 15 e 20 cm, fato que resultou em menor massa de bocado para esses tratamentos. O fato resultou em taxa de consumo estável para as alturas de manejo nessa época do ano. A massa do bocado foi a variável mais sensível às variações em estrutura do dossel forrageiro, tendo sido determinante das taxas de consumo mensuradas. Maior taxa de consumo de forragem em pastos de amendoim forrageiro sob lotação contínua é obtida com alturas de manejo entre 15 e 20 cm. / The introduction of forage legumes in pastures favours sustainable animal production because of the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and high nutritive value of the produced herbage. Knowledge about sward structure is essential for adequate management of pastoral systems, since it is determinant of plant and animal responses. Previous studies with tropical forage grasses highlighted the importance and the potential of sward height as an efficient management guide to explain variations in the ingestive behaviour of grazing animals, allowing the definition of sward targets that maximise the rate of herbage intake. However, for tropical forage legumes similar studies are scarce. Against that background, the objective of this study was to evaluate the sward structure and the rate of herbage intake in forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) subjected to intensities of grazing. The experiment was carried out at Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, from February to November 2013. Treatments corresponded to four grazing intensities represented by the sward heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and were allocated to experimental units (200 m2 paddocks) according to a randomised complete block design, with four replications. The following response-variables were evaluated: vertical distribution of morphological components in the sward herbage mass, herbage mass and bulk density, morphological composition in samples of simulated grazing, bite rate, bite mass and intake rate. The sward structure interfered with bite mass, bite rate and intake rate as reported in literature for forage grasses. During autumn and spring, pattern of responses were similar, with reduction in bite rate and increase in bite mass with increasing sward management height, with no difference in bite mass recorded between the 15 and 20 cm targets. The rate of herbage intake showed the same pattern of response described for bite mass, increasing with increasing sward management height, with no difference between the 15 and 20 cm targets. During winter, bite rate followed the same pattern of variation described for autumn and spring, but there was a larger percentage of weeds and lower sward heights than the 15 and 20 cm targets, resulting in smaller bite mass under those conditions. Consequently, there was no difference in intake rate among treatments at that time of the year. Bite mass was the response-variable most sensible to variations in sward structure, being determinant of the rate of herbage intake. Higher rates of herbage intake in continuously stocked forage peanut swards is obtained with management heights between 15 and 20 cm.

Os endoparasitas têm demonstrado resistência aos principais anti-helmínticos. Por isso é necessário investigar estratégias sustentáveis, sendo uma das alternativas a utilização de plantas leguminosas (Fabaceae) no controle de nematóides. Objetivou-se avaliar a atividade anti-helmíntica de 17 extratos de plantas no teste de inibição da eclodibilidade dos ovos, teste de inibição de desembainhamento de larvas de Haemonchus contortus e o teste de motilidade do Caenorhabditis elegans, in vitro. As duas melhores plantas foram levadas para teste in vivo (Arachis pintoi cv Amarillo e Caesalpinia echinata). Os extratos foram feitos a partir das folhas de Arachis pintoi cv Amarillo, Caesalpinia echinata, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium velutinum, Canavalia ensiformis, Centrosema pubencens cv Cardillo, Cratylia mollis, Dipteryx alata, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala cv Cunningham, Leucaena pulverulenta, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Neonotonia wighiti cv Cianova, Noenotonia wighiti cv Tinaroo, Piptadenia colubrina, Stylosanthes guianensis e Styzolobium aterrimun, as quais foram coletadas no campo agrostológico do Instituto de Zootecnia em Nova Odessa/SP. Seus princípios ativos foram extraídos em solução de acetona:água 70:30, solvente retirado por rotaevaporação, seguido por lavagem com diclorometano e liofilizado. Os resultados obtidos para o TIEO, TIDL e para o TMCE foram baseados na concentração letal de 50% (CL50), maior concentração testada 50 mg/mL e a menor 0,0975 mg/mL nos TIEO e TIDL, e TMCE a maior foi 50 mg/mL e a menor 0,039 mg/mL. Em ordem da maior para menor eficácia no TIEO foram para o extrato de P. colubrina (0,10 mg/mL), extrato de C. echinata (0,17 mg/mL) e extrato M. caesalpiniaefolia (0,53 mg/mL). Os resultados do TIDL em ordem da maior para menor eficácia foram para o extrato de S. guianensis (0,51 mg/mL), extrato de A. pintoi cv Amarillo (1,04 mg/mL) e extrato de C. echinata (1,25 mg/mL). O resultado obtido com maior eficiência na CL50 do TMCE foi o extrato de C. echinata (0,49 mg/mL), o extrato de M. caesalpiniaefolia (1,03 mg/mL), extrato de Dipteryx alata (1,50 mg/mL) e extrato de P. colubrina (1,56 mg/mL). Para o experimento in vivo utilizou-se 30 ovinos, PV médio de 32 kg (+/- 0,59), mestiços Dorper/Santa Inês, machos, não castrados. Animais foram divididos em três tratamentos: A. pintoi (A), C. echinata (B) e controle (C) infectados sem tratamento, cada tratamento continha 10 animais. Animais dos tratamentos A e B foram tratados com 10 g da planta moída juntamente no concentrado. Foram colhidos sangue e fezes para análises. Final do experimento os animais foram abatidos e abomaso lavado para a recuperação dos H. contortus. O tratamento A obteve resultado significativo de OPG (1015) quando comparado com OPG dos tratamentos B (1244) e C (1537). O comprimento dos nematóides machos (A = 1,24 cm; B = 1,31 e C = 1,35) e fêmeas (A = 1,83 cm; B = 1,91 e C = 1,97) encontrados em cada tratamento teve diferença significativa, sendo a quantidade de nematóides do tratamento A menores. Conclui-se que o experimento com a planta A. pintoi foi que propiciou redução no OPG e comprimento dos nematóides sugerindo ação anti-helmíntica com potencial de uso no controle sustentável desta verminose / Endoparasites have demonstrated resistance to the main anthelmintics found in the Market and new sustainable strategies are needed to control them. This work aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of 17 extracts of taniniferous plants that belongs to the Fabaceae family by in vitro egg hatch test (EHT), larval exsheathment test (LET) with Haemonchus contortus and larval motility test (LMT) with Caenorhabditis elegans. Arachis pintoi cv Amarillo and Caesalpinia echinata. Arachis pintoi cv Amarillo, Caesalpinia echinata, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium velutinum, Canavalia ensiformis, Centrosema pubencens cv Cardillo, Cratylia mollis, Dipteryx alata, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala cv Cunningham, Leucaena pulverulenta, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Neonotonia wighiti cv Cianova, Noenotonia wighiti cv Tinaroo, Piptadenia colubrina, Stylosanthes guianensis and Styzolobium aterrimun were collected from Agrostological field from Instituto de Zootecnia (Nova Odessa/SP). The phytochemicals were extracted by maceration in acetone:water (70:30). The acetone was rotoevaporated and the aqueous extract was cleared with dicloromethane. The remaining extract was liofilized and kept frozen until the use in vitro tests. EHT, LET were performed with doses ranging from 50 mg/mL to 0.0975 mg/mL and LMT with doses ranging from 50 mg/mL to 0.039 mg/mL. LC50 were calculated to compare efficacies. The extracts P. colubrina (0.1 mg/mL), C. echinata (0.17 mg/mL) and M. caesalpiniaefolia (0.53 mg/mL) presented the best results in EHT. L. pulverulenta, C. cajan, C. mollis and S. aterrimun were not effective at the higher dose in EHT (50 mg/mL). In the LET the extracts of S. guianensis (0.51mg/mL), A. pintoi cv Amarillo (1.04 mg/mL) and C. echinata (1.25 mg/mL) had the best results. In LMT, the extracts of C. echinata (0.49 mg/mL), M. caesalpiniaefolia (1.03 mg/mL), D. alata (1.5 mg/mL) and P. colubrina (1.56 mg/mL) had the best results. A. pintoi and C. echinata were chosen to be tested in vivo. In order to evaluate the plants over lambs infected with parasites, 30 lambs with average body weight of 32 kg (+/- 0,59 kg), Dorper x Santa Ines, male and not castrated were divided equaly in 3 treatments: (A) A. pintoi 10 g/day, (B) C. echinata 10 g/day and (C) control. The plants were grinded and mixed with concentrate and offered during all experiment. Blood and feces were collected for analysis. At the end of experimental period, animals were slaughtered and H. contortus were recovered from abomasum for counts, measurements and evaluation of female fertility (count of eggs). Treatment (A) with A. pintoi had lower FEC (1015) when compared with (B) C. echinata with FEC of 1244 and (C) Control with FEC of 1537 (P<0.05). The length of male worms (A = 1,24 cm; B = 1,31 cm e C = 1,35 cm) and female (A = 1,83 cm; B = 1,91 cm e C = 1,97 cm) presented differences (P<0.05), as the (A) group present smaller length. It was concluded that A. pintoi cv Amarillo reduced FEC and the size of the worms suggesting potencial anthelmintic effect in the sustainable control of parasites

A introdução de leguminosas em pastagens contribui para a produção animal sustentável, proporcionada pela fixação biológica do nitrogênio atmosférico e elevado valor nutritivo da forragem produzida. O conhecimento da estrutura do dossel forrageiro é fundamental para o manejo adequado de sistemas pastoris, uma vez que determina as respostas de plantas e de animais. Estudos com gramíneas tropicais evidenciaram a importância e a praticidade do uso da altura do pasto como guia de manejo eficiente para explicar variações em comportamento ingestivo de animais, permitindo a definição de metas ou alvos de manejo de pasto que maximizam a velocidade de ingestão de forragem. Entretanto, estudos dessa natureza são escassos com leguminosas tropicais. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a estrutura do dossel forrageiro e a taxa de consumo de forragem em amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) submetido a intensidades de pastejo. O experimento foi conduzido na Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, de fevereiro a novembro de 2013. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro intensidades de pastejo representadas pelas alturas de 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm, e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 200 m²) segundo delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis-resposta: distribuição vertical dos componentes morfológicos da massa de forragem dos pastos, massa e densidade volumétrica da forragem, composição morfológica de amostras de simulação de pastejo, taxa de bocados, massa do bocado e taxa de consumo. A estrutura do dossel influenciou a massa do bocado, a taxa de bocados e a taxa de consumo, assim como reportado na literatura para gramíneas forrageiras. No outono e na primavera as respostas foram semelhantes, com diminuição da taxa de bocados e aumento da massa do bocado com o aumento da altura de manejo, sem diferenças em massa do bocado entre as alturas de 15 e 20 cm. A taxa de consumo apresentou o mesmo padrão de resposta descrito para massa do bocado, aumentando com o incremento em altura dos pastos, porém sem diferença entre as alturas de manejo de 15 e 20 cm. No inverno a taxa de bocados seguiu o mesmo padrão do outono e da primavera, porém houve maior presença de invasoras e menor altura efetiva de manejo para os tratamentos de 15 e 20 cm, fato que resultou em menor massa de bocado para esses tratamentos. O fato resultou em taxa de consumo estável para as alturas de manejo nessa época do ano. A massa do bocado foi a variável mais sensível às variações em estrutura do dossel forrageiro, tendo sido determinante das taxas de consumo mensuradas. Maior taxa de consumo de forragem em pastos de amendoim forrageiro sob lotação contínua é obtida com alturas de manejo entre 15 e 20 cm. / The introduction of forage legumes in pastures favours sustainable animal production because of the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and high nutritive value of the produced herbage. Knowledge about sward structure is essential for adequate management of pastoral systems, since it is determinant of plant and animal responses. Previous studies with tropical forage grasses highlighted the importance and the potential of sward height as an efficient management guide to explain variations in the ingestive behaviour of grazing animals, allowing the definition of sward targets that maximise the rate of herbage intake. However, for tropical forage legumes similar studies are scarce. Against that background, the objective of this study was to evaluate the sward structure and the rate of herbage intake in forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) subjected to intensities of grazing. The experiment was carried out at Escola Superior de Agricultura \"Luiz de Queiroz\", Piracicaba, SP, from February to November 2013. Treatments corresponded to four grazing intensities represented by the sward heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and were allocated to experimental units (200 m2 paddocks) according to a randomised complete block design, with four replications. The following response-variables were evaluated: vertical distribution of morphological components in the sward herbage mass, herbage mass and bulk density, morphological composition in samples of simulated grazing, bite rate, bite mass and intake rate. The sward structure interfered with bite mass, bite rate and intake rate as reported in literature for forage grasses. During autumn and spring, pattern of responses were similar, with reduction in bite rate and increase in bite mass with increasing sward management height, with no difference in bite mass recorded between the 15 and 20 cm targets. The rate of herbage intake showed the same pattern of response described for bite mass, increasing with increasing sward management height, with no difference between the 15 and 20 cm targets. During winter, bite rate followed the same pattern of variation described for autumn and spring, but there was a larger percentage of weeds and lower sward heights than the 15 and 20 cm targets, resulting in smaller bite mass under those conditions. Consequently, there was no difference in intake rate among treatments at that time of the year. Bite mass was the response-variable most sensible to variations in sward structure, being determinant of the rate of herbage intake. Higher rates of herbage intake in continuously stocked forage peanut swards is obtained with management heights between 15 and 20 cm.

O amendoim é uma cultura de grande importância econômica que apresenta facilidade na sua condução e é cultivada em diversas regiões do Brasil como também no exterior. Portanto, objetivou-se com a presente pesquisa verificar a influência de ambientes protegido de cultivo e aplicações, via fertirrigação, de íons cálcio e potássio, sobre a cultura do amendoim, em dois ciclos distintos. O experimento foi instalado no posto agrometeorológico da ESALQ/USP, do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas, e dividido em dois ciclos vegetativos, onde foram utilizados doze lisímetros, preenchidos com solo Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo. Foram considerados sobre os lisímetros três ambientes: a céu aberto e utilizando filmes plásticos (75 e 150 micrometros de espessura). Cada ambiente foi constituído por 4 lisímetros. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas separadamente, a saber: ambientes protegidos diferenciados pela espessura do filme plástico; ambiente a céu aberto. Para o manejo da irrigação a fertirrigação foi determinada em função do período das aplicações e do turno de rega. As variáveis climáticas foram coletadas por data logger (Hobbo) (temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar, temperatura do ponto de orvalho, densidade de fluxo radiante) e precipitação pluvial. Foram avaliados os parâmetros altura da planta e diâmetro do caule. Os parâmetros de pós-colheita avaliados foram produção, produtividade, número de vagens e umidade do grão. Foram determinadas as concentrações dos íons Ca++ e K+ e o potencial hidrogeniônico (pH). Pôde-se concluir que o íon potássio apresentou, no ciclo mais seco, uma baixa mobilidade no solo para os três ambientes estudados e o íon cálcio também apresentou baixa mobilidade no solo para os três ambientes, porém, para os dois ciclos da cultura. Dos três ambientes avaliados, o mais indicado para o cultivo do amendoim foi o instalado a céu aberto, no ciclo mais chuvoso da cultura. Em termos de ambiente protegido, o mais indicado para o cultivo e condução da cultura foi o de 75 µm. Os parâmetros vegetativos altura da planta e diâmetro de caule obtiveram resultados expressivos somente no primeiro ciclo da cultura nos três ambientes avaliados. Entre os ambientes protegidos, no qual foi instalado o filme plástico de 75 µm, para obtenção de uma boa produtividade no primeiro ciclo da cultura, deve ser aplicada uma faixa média de temperatura de ponto de orvalho de 20,1 0C; no ambiente a céu aberto, a faixa média de temperatura de ponto de orvalho deve estar em torno de 20,79 0C para obtenção de uma boa produtividade no ciclo mais chuvoso, ao passo que uma temperatura média de 6,22 0C no ciclo mais seco torna-se um fator limitante a não realização do plantio. A melhor época para o cultivo e condução do amendoim, seja num ambiente a céu aberto como num ambiente protegido, é a denominada amendoim das águas, compreendida geralmente entre setembro ou outubro até fevereiro do próximo ano. A concentração para uma aplicação ideal dos nutrientes estudados foi a de 100% da demanda requerida pela cultura, no período normal de cultivo do amendoim (ciclo chuvoso), considerando o fator pós-colheita. / The peanut is a crop of great economic importance that is easy to grow and is cultivated in several areas of Brazil and the world. The aim was to verify the influence of different environments and applications of calcium and potassium ions by fertigation on the peanut crop. The research was carried out at ESALQ/USP, of Biosystems Engineering Department. This was divided in two vegetative cycles, in which twelve lysimeters were used and filled with an Arenic Abruptic Paleudult soil. The treatments considered for the lysimeters was three solar environments of open sky and using two thicknesses of plastic films (75 and 150 micrometers of thickness). Each environment was replicated by 4 lysimeters. Irrigation management for the fertigation was determined as a function of the period of applications and the interval of irrigation. Climatic variables were collected by data logger (Hobo) (air temperature, air humidity, dew point temperature, density of radiant flow and precipitation. Crop height and stem diameter were evaluated as growth parameters. The parameters after harvest were total yield, number of nuts, and kernel moisture. Calcium and Potassium concentrations were also obtained as well as hydrogenionic potential. It was determine that the potassium ion presented in driest cycle with low mobility in soil for the three studied environments and the calcium ion also had low mobility in soil for the three environments for both cycles of the crop. Of the three evaluated environments, the best for tillage of peanut was that installed to open sky in the rainiest cycle of the crop. When considering the two protected environments, the best for tillage and growth of the crop was that of 75 µm. The vegetative parameters, plant height and stem diameter, only obtained expressive results in first cycle of the crop in the three evaluated environments. For protected environments, in which plastic film of 75 µm was installed, a good yield in first cycle of the crop required a medium value of dew point temperature of 20.1 oC, in the environment to open sky, the medium value of dew point temperature should be around 20.79 oC for obtaining of a good yield in the rainiest cycle. A medium temperature of 6.22 oC in the driest cycle becomes a limiting factor to the non development of the crop. The best time for tillage and growth of peanut in an environment to open sky and in a protected environment, is denominated \"waters peanut\", generally occurred between September or October through February of the following year. An ideal application of nutrients was 100% of the demand required by the crop, in normal period of peanuts tillage (raining cycle) considering factor after harvest.

Os objetivos foram: identificar a microbiota fúngica e a ocorrência de aflatoxinas em cultivar de amendoim, identificar a microbiota fúngica do solo e correlacionar os resultados obtidos com os níveis de atividade de água encontrados. As amostras (solo e amendoim) foram provenientes de: Jaboticabal, Rosália, Tupã e Cafelândia (SP). A microbiota fúngica do solo revelou que o fungo do gênero Penicillium foi o mais frequente (52,1 %) nas quatro regiões durante as duas coletas (após a emergência das plantas e duas semanas antes do arranquio). Dentro do gênero Aspergillus, A. flavus foi a espécie mais frequente (13,5 %). A microbiota fúngica dos grãos e das cascas, das quatro regiões, nas duas coletas (duas semanas antes do arranquio e após o arranquio), demonstrou maior frequência de isolamento do fungo do gênero Fusarium (70,2 %). Do gênero Aspergillus, a espécie A. flavus foi a mais frequente (9,8 %). A análise de aflatoxinas revelou a presença de aflatoxinas em 5 % das amostras de grãos analisadas. Nas cascas, 13,75 % das amostras apresentaram contaminação por aflatoxinas. / The objectives were: to identify the mycoflora and the occurrence of aflatoxins in a peanut variety, identify the soil mycoflora and compare the acquired results with the levels of water activity found. The samples (peanut and soil) were collected from: Jaboticabal, Rosália, Tupã and Cafelândia (SP/Brazil). The mycoflora of the soil revealed that the genus Penicillium was the most frequent (52.1 %) in the four regions during the two trials (after the emergence of the plants and two weeks before the uprooting). Within the genus Aspergillus, A. flavus was the most frequent specie (13.5 %). The mycoflora of the kernels and peanut hulls, from the four regions in the two trials (two weeks before the uprooting and after the uprooting), demonstrated greater frequency of isolation of the genus Fusarium (70.2 %). Within the genus Aspergillus, A. flavus was the most frequent specie (9.8 %). The analysis of aflatoxins revealed the presence of aflatoxins in 5 % of the kernels samples analyzed. In peanut hulls, 13.75 % of the samples presented aflatoxin contamination.

Orientador: Rouverson Pereira Silva / Resumo: A utilização de técnicas de sensoriamento remoto teve expressivo aumento na agricultura nos últimos anos para muitas culturas, contudo, ainda são escassos os trabalhos que envolvem a cultura de amendoim, principalmente os que visam solucionar um dos seus principais problemas, a predição da maturação. Dessa forma, foram desenvolvidos trabalhos no Brasil e nos EUA visando verificar o potencial uso do sensoriamento aéreo e orbital na predição da maturação de amendoim. No primeiro capítulo desta tese, encontra-se a revisão de literatura. No segundo, realizou-se uma análise de variabilidade utilizando cartas de controle para identificar diferenças no comportamento da reflectância espectral e dos índices de vegetação obtidos por imagens de drone e do satélite PlanetScope, em que se chegou à conclusão que as duas plataformas apresentam comportamento similares ao longo do tempo. No terceiro capítulo, foram utilizadas duas áreas comerciais nos EUA, irrigada e não irrigada, e as imagens foram obtidas por meio de drone. Observou-se que os índices de vegetação que tiveram comportamento similar nas duas áreas foram aqueles em que se modificou a equação original, substituindo a banda do red pelo red edge (NLI e MNLI). No quarto capítulo, utilizou-se uma área comercial no Brasil, sendo as imagens utilizadas para extrair a reflectância obtidas do satélite PlanetScope. Os melhores índices de vegetação, com menores erros na predição da maturação foram o NDVI e o SR. Por fim, no capítulo cinco,... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The use of remote sensing techniques has had a significant increase in agriculture in recent years for many crops; however, the work involving peanut cultivation is still scarce, mainly to solve one of the main problems of the crop, the prediction of maturity. Thus, work was developed in Brazil and the USA to verify the potential use of aerial and orbital remote sensing in the prediction of peanut maturity. The first chapter of this thesis is the literature review. In the second, a variability analysis was performed using control charts to identify differences in reflectance response and vegetation indices obtained by drone images and PlanetScope satellite, in which it was concluded that the two platforms have similar responses over the period. In the third, two commercial areas were used in the USA, irrigated and non-irrigated, and the images were obtained by drone. It was observed that the vegetation indices that had similar responses in both areas were those in which the original equation was modified, replacing the red band by the red edge (NLI and MNLI). In the fourth chapter, a commercial area was used in Brazil, with the images used to extract the reflectance obtained from the PlanetScope satellite. The best vegetation indices, with the lowest errors in the prediction of maturity, were NDVI and SR. Finally, in chapter five, final considerations with some recommendations and the next steps of the research are stated. / Doutor

Starting with the structure analysis of ConA in the 70s, the crystal structures of hundreds of different lectins and their carbohydrate complexes have been determined. Lectins, multivalent carbohydrate-binding proteins which specifically bind different sugar structures, have received considerable attention in recent times on account of the realization of the importance of protein−sugar interactions, especially at the cell surface, in biological recognition. They occur in plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Plant lectins constitute about 40% of the lectins of known structure. They can be classified into five structural groups, each characterized by a specific fold. Among them, legume lectins constitute the most extensively investigated group. Peanut lectin is a legume lectin which has been studied thoroughly in this laboratory. These studies have provided a wealth of structural and functional information. However, some gaps still exist in our understanding of the structure, interactions and multivalency of peanut lectin. The work presented here addresses these gaps. The hanging drop method was used for crystallizing PNA and its complexes. Intensity data were collected on Mar Research imaging plates mounted on Rigaku RU-200 or ULTRAX-18 X-ray generators. The Oxford cryosystem was used when collecting data at low temperature. The data were processed using DENZO and SCALEPACK of HKL suite of programs. The structure factors from the processed data were calculated using TRUCATE of CCP4 suite of programs. The molecular replacement program AMoRe was used for structure solutions. Structure refinements were carried out using the CNS software package and REFMAC of CCP4. Model building was done using the molecular graphics program FRODO. INSIGHT II, ALIGN, CONTACT and PROCHECK of CCP4 were used for the analysis and validation of the refined structure. Dynamic light scattering experiments were carried out using a Dyanpro Molecular Sizing Instrument, and the collected data were analyzed using Dynamic V6 software. Until recently, it has been possible to grow crystals of peanut lectin only when complexed with sugar ligands. It has now been possible to grow them at acidic pH in the presence of oligopeptides corresponding to a loop in the lectin molecule. Crystals have also been prepared in the presence of the peptides as well as lactose. Low pH crystal forms of the lectin−lactose complex similar to those obtained at neutral pH could also been grown. Thus, crystals of peanut lectin grown in different environmental conditions, at two pHs with and without sugars bound to the lectin, are now available. They have been used to explore the plasticity and hydration of the molecule. A detailed comparison among different structures shows that the lectin molecule is sturdy and the effect of changes in pH, ligand-binding and environment on it is small. The region involving the curved front β-sheet and loops around the second hydrophobic core is comparatively rigid. The back β-sheet involved in quaternary association, which exhibits considerable variability, is substantially flexible. So is the sugar-binding region. The numbers of invariant water molecules in the hydration shell are small and they are mainly involved in metal coordination or in stabilizing rare structural features. Small, consistent movements occur in the combining site on sugar-binding, although the site is essentially preformed. Crystal structures of peanut lectin complexed with Galβ1-3Gal, methyl-T-antigen, Galβ1-6GalNAc, Galα1-3Gal and Galα1-6Glc and that of a crystal grown in the presence of Galα1-3Galβ1-4Gal have been determined using data collected at 100 K. Use of water bridges as a strategy for generating carbohydrate specificity was earlier deduced from the complexes of the lectin with lactose (Galβ1-4Glc) and T-antigen (Galβ1- 3GalNAc). This has been confirmed through the analysis of the complexes with Galβ1-3Gal and methyl-T-antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAc-α-OMe). A detailed analysis of lectin−sugar interactions in the complexes shows that they are more extensive when β-anomer is involved in the linkage. As expected, the second sugar residue is ill defined when the linkage is 1-6. There are more than two-dozen water molecules, which occur in the hydration shells of all structures determined at resolutions better than 2.5 Å. Most of them are involved in stabilizing the structure, particularly loops. Water molecules involved in lectin−sugar interactions are also substantially conserved. The lectin molecule is robust and does not appear to be affected by change in temperature. Multivalency is believed to be important in the activity of lectins, although definitive structural studies on it have been few and far between. A study has been carried out on the complexation of tetravalent peanut lectin with a synthetic compound containing two terminal lactose moieties, using a combination of crystallography, dynamic light scattering and modelling. Light scattering indicates the formation of an apparent dimeric species and also larger aggregates of the tetrameric lectin in the presence of the bivalent ligand. The crystals of presumably crosslinked lectin molecules could be obtained. They diffract very poorly, but the X-ray data from them are good enough to define the positions of the lectin molecules. Extensive modelling on possible crosslinking modes of protein molecules by the ligand indicated that systematic crosslinking could lead to crystalline arrays. The studies also provided a rationale for the crosslinking in the observed crystal structure. The results obtained provide further insights into the general problem of multivalency in lectins. They indicate that crosslinking involving multivalent lectins and multivalent carbohydrates is likely to lead to an ensemble of a finite number of distinct periodic arrays rather than a unique array. PNA is among the most thoroughly studied lectins. Its structure demonstrated that open structures without point group symmetry cannot be ruled out for oligomeric proteins. It also contributed to the identification of legume lectins as a family of proteins in which small alterations in essentially the same tertiary structure lead to large changes in the quaternary association. Among other things, studies on PNA−sugar complexes led to the identification of water bridges as a strategy for generating carbohydrate specificity in addition to providing detailed information on PNA−sugar interactions. The work reported here significantly added to the information on this important lectin provided by earlier studies. On the basis of a detailed examination of structures of crystals grown under different environmental conditions, the relatively rigid and flexible regions of the molecule could be delineated. The picture that emerges is that of a robust protein with a substantially preformed combining site. The work also added to the information on the dependence of protein−sugar interactions on the different glycosidic linkages in disaccharides. The investigations reported here also provided further insights into the multivalency of peanut lectin.

Oral tolerance is the state of immunologic non-responsiveness that is established following oral antigen consumption. Failures of oral tolerance can result in food allergy. The mechanisms regulating oral tolerance are not well understood, but similar mechanisms may control tolerance to foods and commensal microbes in the intestine. The specific roles of many pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and innate cells have not been examined in the context of oral tolerance. Mast cells are innate sentinel cells positioned at mucosal surfaces, and have been identified as key regulators of peripheral tolerance to allografts. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a PRR involved in bacterial responses and the regulation of intestinal inflammation. We evaluated the impact of mast cells, TLR2, immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated mast cell activation, TLR2 activation, and histamine receptor blockade in the development of oral tolerance in mice. Models of tolerance to ovalbumin, peanut butter, and cow’s milk were established. Oral tolerance was assessed in wild type, TLR2-deficient, or mast cell-deficient mice and was measured primarily by analysis of antigen-specific antibody levels after a systemic antigen challenge. The development of antigen-specific Tregs was also assessed. We observed that neither mast cells nor TLR2 were necessary for oral tolerance induction. Moreover, IgE-mediated mast cell activation and antihistamine treatment did not significantly alter oral tolerance induction. TLR2 activators, notably Pam3CSK4, were administered orally concurrent with food antigen and were found to impair oral tolerance to a later systemic antigen challenge. When Pam3CSK4 was administered as an oral adjuvant with ovalbumin, a profound selective enhancement of the IgA response to oral challenge was observed. These results highlight an important differential regulation of oral tolerance by TLR2. Oral TLR2 activation selectively promotes IgA responses to antigen upon repeated oral challenge but prevents the maintenance of oral tolerance upon a systemic challenge. Taken together these results suggest that mast cells are not essential regulators of oral tolerance, but TLR2 is involved in regulating IgA and IgE responses during oral and systemic challenges. These findings inform mechanisms of commensal tolerance and have implications for the potential therapeutic manipulation of oral tolerance to foods.

The objective of this research was to determine the acceptability and preference of peanut butter and three different flavors of soynut butter among humans. Six hundred and sixty-two volunteers (401 females, 258 males and 3 unknown) between the ages of 18 and up were randomly asked to fill out a demographic survey and taste 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of three different soynut butters (creamy, creamy with honey, and creamy with chocolate) and 1 tsp. (5.33 g) of peanut butter on saltine crackers. After taste testing the soynut butters/peanut butter, volunteers were asked to rate each product on a 9-point hedonic rating scale based on appearance, texture, and flavor; the subjects were also asked as to whether they would purchase the nut butters. Demographic information such as participants' age, gender, year in school, and ethnicity were collected, along with questions concerning their frequency of exercise, eating and smoking habits, and health status of themselves and their families.The creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were rated highest by both genders for all variables (i.e., appearance, texture, flavor, purchase). The purchase variable determined statistical significance between females and males. The females indicated by their rating that they would be more likely to purchase the chocolate soynut butter vs. the peanut butter, while the males indicated purchasing preference of peanut butter over the chocolate soynut butter.Given that both creamy with honey and creamy soynut butters were accepted by this population based on appearance, texture, and flavor, future research in this area should focus on soy foods in humans and biochemical parameters, marketing niches, specific ethnic or age preferences, and education of the health benefits of soy. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Gary Peterson, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains v, 64 pages. Includes bibliographical references.