Communication between humans and interactive robots will benefit if people have a clear mental model of the robots' intent and awareness. The aim with this thesis was to investigate how human-robot interaction is affected by manipulation of social cues on the robot. The research questions were: How do social cues affect mental models of the Pepper robot, and how can a participatory design method be used for investigating how the Pepper robot could communicate intent and awareness? The hypothesis for the second question was that nonverbal cues would be preferred over verbal cues. An existing standard platform was used, Softbank's Pepper, as well as state-of-the-art tasks from the RoboCup@Home challenge. The rule book and observations from the 2018 competition were thematically coded and the themes created eight scenarios. A participatory design method called PICTIVE was used in a design study, where five student participants went through three phases, label, sketch and interview, to create a design for how the robot should communicate intent and awareness. The use of PICTIVE was a suitable way to extract a lot of design ideas. However, not all scenarios were optimal for the task. The design study confirmed the use of mediating physical attributes to alter the mental model of a humanoid robot to reach common ground. Further, it did not confirm the hypothesis that nonverbal cues would be preferred over verbal cues, though it did show that verbal cues would not be enough. This, however, needs to be further tested in live interactions.

Este trabalho está inserido no programa de melhoramento genético de Capsicum da Embrapa Hortaliças. Teve como principal objetivo investigar a base genética e a variabilidade de uma população segregante de Capsicum em relação à pungência e a alguns caracteres do fruto para, fornecer informações úteis ao programa. Os genótipos utilizados compreenderam dois genitores homozigóticos contrastantes para o caráter principal, a pungência, bem como as respectivas gerações F1, RC11 e progênies F4.3. Estas últimas num total de 100, foram obtidas pelo método SSD (single seed descent). Empregou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repetições e dez plantas por parcela. As análises biométricas foram feitas com base em médias de parcelas. Os caracteres avaliados foram: pungência, produtividade, largura, comprimento, número e peso médio dos frutos e espessura da polpa. Investigou-se a segregação fenotípica das progênies F4.3, classificando-as em pungentes e doces. Estimou-se o coeficiente de herdabilidade na base de médias de progênies em todos os caracteres. Simulando uma seleção entre progênies somente para a pungência, tanto para aumento como redução deste caráter, estimou-se o ganho esperado (Gs) sob intensidades de 20%, 10% e 5%. Calculou-se a resposta correlacionada desta seleção sobre os demais caracteres. Paralelamente verificou-se a acuidade de avaliar a pungência utilizando métodos sensoriais, em comparação com o processo cromatográfico (CLAE). Estimaram-se os componentes genéticos das médias dos caracteres nas cinco gerações, considerando modelo aditivo-dominante e, quando necessário, incluindo componente epistático aditivo x aditivo. Verificou-se que, os genitores são contrastantes para todos os caracteres com exceção da espessura da polpa. O genitor doce deve conter genes para pungência não expressos. Os dados sugerem que, na população estudada, este caráter deve ser controlado por dois locos epistáticos, duplo-dominantes (9 pungentes : 7 doces em F2) e genes modificadores. Os coeficientes de herdabilidade variaram de intermediários (66%) a altos (92%). Isso explicou os elevados ganhos esperados com a seleção para incrementar ou diminuir a pungência. Pelas respostas correlacionadas, verificou-se que, uma seleção para aumento da pungência deverá levar a uma redução na produtividade, sendo a recíproca também verdadeira. A avaliação da pungência por método cromatográfico foi de aproximadamente 30% mais eficiente do que o método sensorial. Pelos componentes de média observou-se a existência de heterose em todos os caracteres avaliados. O modelo incluindo efeitos epistáticos foi o mais adequado para explicar as médias das gerações, na maioria dos caracteres. Podem surgir indivíduos com frutos pungentes ao cruzar genitores doces. A segregação transgressiva em F4 é indicador de que tipos mais pungentes que o genitor pungente podem ser selecionados a partir desta população segregante. O melhoramento genético deste caráter pode ser estruturado tanto para explorar as variâncias genéticas aditiva e aditiva x aditiva em linhagens superiores como pode ser conduzido para capitalizar a heterose em híbridos de linhagens. Em programas iniciados cruzando-se linhagens, é fundamental identificar a constituição alélica dos genitores. É preciso monitorar a pressão seletiva numa seleção visando a pungência para evitar repostas correlacionadas indesejáveis. Para atingir máximos seletivos, para este caráter, é necessário levar em conta a existência de genes modificadores. / This work is part of the Capsicum plant breeding program at Embrapa Hortaliças. The main objective was to investigate the genetic basis and variability of a segregating population of Capsicum, related to pungency and to some characteristics of the fruit, to provide information for the program. The genotypes that were used had two homozygotic parents, contrasting in their main characteristic, pungency, as well as the respective generations F1, RC11 and progenies F3.4. The latter, totaling 100, were obtained using the SSD method (single seed descent). Randomized complete block design was used with three repetitions and ten plants per plots. The biometric analyses were based on a plot mean basis. The characters evaluated were pungency, productivity, width, length, number and average weight of the fruits and the thickness of the pulp. The fenotypical segregation of the F3.4 progenies were studied, being classified in pungent and sweet. The coefficient of heritability on a progeny mean basis were estimated in all the characters. Simulating a selection among progenies, only for pungency, for the increase as well as the reduction of this character, the expected gain (Gs) was estimated under intensities of 20%, 10% and 5%. The correlated response of this selection was calculated over the remaining characters. Parallel to this, the acuity of evaluating the pungency, using sensorial methods, in comparison to the high pressure liquid chromatographic process (HPLC) was investigated. The genetic components of the trait means of the five generations, were estimated considering the additive dominant model, and, when necessary, including an additive x additive epistatic component. Results indicated that the parents are contrasting for all characters, with the exception of pulp thickness. The sweet parent should contain genes for pungency wich are not expressed. The data suggests that, in the population studied, this character is controlled by two doubly dominant epistatic loci, (9 pungent ones : 7 sweet ones in F2) and modifier genes. Coefficients of heritabilty varied from intermediate (66%) to high (92%). This explained the elevated expected gains from selection, to increase or decrease pungency. From the correlated responses, one could see that, selecting to increase pungency should lead to a reduction in productivity, being the reciprocal also true. The evaluation of pungency by a chromatographic method was approximately 30% more efficient than the sensorial method. By the genetic components of means, the existence of heterosis was observed in all the characters evaluated. The model which included epistatic effects was the most adequate to explain the average generation means in most of the characters. Individuals with pungent fruits can appear on crossing sweet parents. The transgressive segregation in F4 is an indicator that more pungent types than the pungent parent can be selected from this segregating population. Plant breeding of this character can be structured for the exploration of additive and additive x additive genetic variances in superior lines, or to capitalize the heterosis in hybrid of inbred lines. In programs initiated by crossing lines, it is fundamental to identify the allelic constitution of the parents. It is necessary to monitor the selective pressure in selection aiming at pungency, to avoid undesired correlated responses. To attain selective maximums, for this character, it is necessary to take into account the existence of modifier genes.

Este trabalho está inserido no programa de melhoramento genético de Capsicum da Embrapa Hortaliças. Teve como principal objetivo investigar a base genética e a variabilidade de uma população segregante de Capsicum em relação à pungência e a alguns caracteres do fruto para, fornecer informações úteis ao programa. Os genótipos utilizados compreenderam dois genitores homozigóticos contrastantes para o caráter principal, a pungência, bem como as respectivas gerações F1, RC11 e progênies F4.3. Estas últimas num total de 100, foram obtidas pelo método SSD (single seed descent). Empregou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repetições e dez plantas por parcela. As análises biométricas foram feitas com base em médias de parcelas. Os caracteres avaliados foram: pungência, produtividade, largura, comprimento, número e peso médio dos frutos e espessura da polpa. Investigou-se a segregação fenotípica das progênies F4.3, classificando-as em pungentes e doces. Estimou-se o coeficiente de herdabilidade na base de médias de progênies em todos os caracteres. Simulando uma seleção entre progênies somente para a pungência, tanto para aumento como redução deste caráter, estimou-se o ganho esperado (Gs) sob intensidades de 20%, 10% e 5%. Calculou-se a resposta correlacionada desta seleção sobre os demais caracteres. Paralelamente verificou-se a acuidade de avaliar a pungência utilizando métodos sensoriais, em comparação com o processo cromatográfico (CLAE). Estimaram-se os componentes genéticos das médias dos caracteres nas cinco gerações, considerando modelo aditivo-dominante e, quando necessário, incluindo componente epistático aditivo x aditivo. Verificou-se que, os genitores são contrastantes para todos os caracteres com exceção da espessura da polpa. O genitor doce deve conter genes para pungência não expressos. Os dados sugerem que, na população estudada, este caráter deve ser controlado por dois locos epistáticos, duplo-dominantes (9 pungentes : 7 doces em F2) e genes modificadores. Os coeficientes de herdabilidade variaram de intermediários (66%) a altos (92%). Isso explicou os elevados ganhos esperados com a seleção para incrementar ou diminuir a pungência. Pelas respostas correlacionadas, verificou-se que, uma seleção para aumento da pungência deverá levar a uma redução na produtividade, sendo a recíproca também verdadeira. A avaliação da pungência por método cromatográfico foi de aproximadamente 30% mais eficiente do que o método sensorial. Pelos componentes de média observou-se a existência de heterose em todos os caracteres avaliados. O modelo incluindo efeitos epistáticos foi o mais adequado para explicar as médias das gerações, na maioria dos caracteres. Podem surgir indivíduos com frutos pungentes ao cruzar genitores doces. A segregação transgressiva em F4 é indicador de que tipos mais pungentes que o genitor pungente podem ser selecionados a partir desta população segregante. O melhoramento genético deste caráter pode ser estruturado tanto para explorar as variâncias genéticas aditiva e aditiva x aditiva em linhagens superiores como pode ser conduzido para capitalizar a heterose em híbridos de linhagens. Em programas iniciados cruzando-se linhagens, é fundamental identificar a constituição alélica dos genitores. É preciso monitorar a pressão seletiva numa seleção visando a pungência para evitar repostas correlacionadas indesejáveis. Para atingir máximos seletivos, para este caráter, é necessário levar em conta a existência de genes modificadores. / This work is part of the Capsicum plant breeding program at Embrapa Hortaliças. The main objective was to investigate the genetic basis and variability of a segregating population of Capsicum, related to pungency and to some characteristics of the fruit, to provide information for the program. The genotypes that were used had two homozygotic parents, contrasting in their main characteristic, pungency, as well as the respective generations F1, RC11 and progenies F3.4. The latter, totaling 100, were obtained using the SSD method (single seed descent). Randomized complete block design was used with three repetitions and ten plants per plots. The biometric analyses were based on a plot mean basis. The characters evaluated were pungency, productivity, width, length, number and average weight of the fruits and the thickness of the pulp. The fenotypical segregation of the F3.4 progenies were studied, being classified in pungent and sweet. The coefficient of heritability on a progeny mean basis were estimated in all the characters. Simulating a selection among progenies, only for pungency, for the increase as well as the reduction of this character, the expected gain (Gs) was estimated under intensities of 20%, 10% and 5%. The correlated response of this selection was calculated over the remaining characters. Parallel to this, the acuity of evaluating the pungency, using sensorial methods, in comparison to the high pressure liquid chromatographic process (HPLC) was investigated. The genetic components of the trait means of the five generations, were estimated considering the additive dominant model, and, when necessary, including an additive x additive epistatic component. Results indicated that the parents are contrasting for all characters, with the exception of pulp thickness. The sweet parent should contain genes for pungency wich are not expressed. The data suggests that, in the population studied, this character is controlled by two doubly dominant epistatic loci, (9 pungent ones : 7 sweet ones in F2) and modifier genes. Coefficients of heritabilty varied from intermediate (66%) to high (92%). This explained the elevated expected gains from selection, to increase or decrease pungency. From the correlated responses, one could see that, selecting to increase pungency should lead to a reduction in productivity, being the reciprocal also true. The evaluation of pungency by a chromatographic method was approximately 30% more efficient than the sensorial method. By the genetic components of means, the existence of heterosis was observed in all the characters evaluated. The model which included epistatic effects was the most adequate to explain the average generation means in most of the characters. Individuals with pungent fruits can appear on crossing sweet parents. The transgressive segregation in F4 is an indicator that more pungent types than the pungent parent can be selected from this segregating population. Plant breeding of this character can be structured for the exploration of additive and additive x additive genetic variances in superior lines, or to capitalize the heterosis in hybrid of inbred lines. In programs initiated by crossing lines, it is fundamental to identify the allelic constitution of the parents. It is necessary to monitor the selective pressure in selection aiming at pungency, to avoid undesired correlated responses. To attain selective maximums, for this character, it is necessary to take into account the existence of modifier genes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:58:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006-Joao Batista Alves Pereira.pdf: 1832144 bytes, checksum: 36798c7d302cc3a5d500e230c9f5af03 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-02-21 / Evaluation of the vegetal growth, hydric necessity and water use efficiency by bell pepper crop (Capsicum annum. L.) under organic management in system of seeding with prepare soil and no till cropping system. This work was conducted in the experimental area of SIPA (Integrated system of agro ecological production), at the county of Serop?dica RJ, with the aim of valuate the growth , the water needs, and the efficiency of the use of the water by the bell pepper culture (Capsicum annuum. L ), at the conventional (PC) and the direct systems of soiling. The conventional system consisted of soil prepare with rotational hoe tied to a micro tractor, and the direct soiling, being done after the occupation of the area with a combination of Sorghum bicolor and Crotal?ria acroleura, that was grazed at the transplantation of the bell pepper s seedlings without previous soil preparation. The same fertilization and cultural practices permitted by the agro ecological handling, was used in both systems. The two systems tested, received sprinkler irrigation, and the determination of the water s blade, was made by monitoring with TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), calibrated for the soil conditions of the experimental area. The splits were also monitorated by a tensiometer at a 50 cm. deep. Collects were made at intervals of 14 days, with the aim of foliar area evaluation, biomass accumulation by the parts of the plant, along the entire cycle, being also evaluated the crop production at the two systems of soiling. By the adjustment of the IAF (Foliar Area Indices ) and the biomass accumulated by the plant at the two systems of planting in function of accumulated day-degree (GDA), was verified that 1533 GDA was necessary to complete the productive cycle, reaching the top of accumulated biomass at 1059 and 1148 GDA, at PC and PD respectivement. There were no differences between the systems of planting, in respect of the growth rate and the productivity, however the PD system gave less competition between spontaneous vegetation and the bell pepper crop, reducing in 60% the necessity of hand labor at the firsts weddings. The PD system raise the efficiency of the use of water (EUA) by the crop reducing in 47,5 mm. the blade applied during its cycle, in relation of PC. The irrigation handling using TDR, provide an meaning EUA of 4,4 Kg.m-3, above the means of 1,5 to 3,0Kg.m-3, recommended by Doorenbos & Kassam (1994). The culture coefficients (Kc) recommended for the bell pepper crop, were evaluated together with the calculated coefficients using some methodologies proposed in this work, and was noted that the estimated Kc s values of the production cycles (ETc cycle) and by the Kc curve (graphic ETc) estimated during the culture cycle, were more appropriated for the calculation of the evapotranspiration of the crop. The estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo), by the pan class A method, made possible means close to those estimated by the Penman-Monteith model witch is recommended by FAO as standard. Therefore, the pan class A method, can be utilized in the estimated ETo, at same conditions of the experiment when there are no data of climate for the Penman-Monteith model use. Associated tensiometry and TDR for irrigation management, showed to be an essential practice when looking for raising the efficiency of the use of water. / Este trabalho foi realizado na ?rea experimental do SIPA (Sistema Integrado de produ??o Agroecol?gica), localizada no munic?pio de Serop?dica-RJ, com o objetivo de avaliar o crescimento, as necessidades h?dricas e a efici?ncia no uso da ?gua pela cultura do piment?o (Capsicum annuum. L), nos sistemas de plantio convencional (PC) e direto (PD). O sistema convencional consistiu de preparo de solo com enxada rotativa acoplada a micro-trator e o plantio direto, na ocupa??o da ?rea com pr?-cultivo, utilizando o cons?rcio Sorghum bicolor e Crotal?ria acroleura, os quais foram ro?ados por ocasi?o do transplante das mudas de piment?o, sem o preparo pr?vio do solo. Em ambos os tratamentos a cultura recebeu a mesma aduba??o de cova e tratos culturais permitidos pelo manejo agroecol?gico. Nos dois sistemas de plantio a cultura foi irrigada por aspers?o, e a determina??o das l?minas aplicadas, foi realizada atrav?s do monitoramento com TDR (Reflectometria no dom?nio do tempo), calibrado para as condi??es de solo da ?rea experimental. As parcelas foram monitoradas tamb?m por tensi?metro no perfil de 50cm de profundidade. Foram realizadas coletas em intervalos de 14 dias com a finalidade de avaliar a ?rea foliar e acumulo de biomassa pelas partes da planta, durante todo o seu ciclo, sendo avaliado tamb?m a produ??o pela cultura nos dois sistemas de plantio. Por meio do ajuste do IAF e da biomassa acumulada pela planta nos dois sistemas de plantio em fun??o de graus-dia acumulado (GDA), constatou-se que s?o necess?rios 1533 GDA para que a planta complete o seu ciclo produtivo, atingindo o m?ximo de biomassa acumulada aos 1059 e 1148 GDA, no PC e PD, respectivamente. Os sistemas de plantio n?o diferiram significativamente entre si com rela??o ?s taxas de crescimento e produtividade, entretanto o plantio direto proporcionou menor competi??o da vegeta??o espont?nea com a cultura, reduzindo em 60 % a necessidade de m?o-de-obra nas primeiras capinas. O PD aumentou a efici?ncia no uso da ?gua (EUA), pela cultura, reduzindo em 47,5mm a l?mina aplicada durante o seu ciclo, em rela??o ao PC. O manejo da irriga??o utilizando o TDR, proporcionou a EUA m?dia de 4,4kg.m-3, acima dos valores 1,5 a 3,0kg.m-3 propostos por Doorenbos e Kassam (1994). Os Coeficientes de cultivo (Kc) recomendados para a cultura, foram avaliados juntamente com os calculados por v?rias metodologias propostas neste trabalho, verificando-se que os valores de Kc estimados em fun??o dos ciclos de produ??o (ETc ciclo) e pela curva de Kc (ETc gr?fico) estimados durante o ciclo da cultura, se mostraram mais adequados ao c?lculo da evapotranspira??o da cultura. A estimativa da evapotranspira??o refer?ncia (ETo), pelo m?todo do tanque classe A , possibilitou valores pr?ximos aos estimados pelo modelo de Penman-Monteith recomendado pela FAO como padr?o. Portanto o m?todo do tanque classe A poder? ser utilizado na estimativa da ETo, em condi??es semelhantes a do experimento, quando n?o houver disponibilidade de dados clim?ticos para o uso do modelo de Penman- Monteith. O uso da tensiometria associado ao TDR no manejo de irriga??o revelou ser uma pr?tica indispens?vel, quando se almeja aumentar a efici?ncia no uso da ?gua.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde mit Hilfe von Gefäßversuchen der Transfer von ausgewählten organischen (m-Kresol, Simazin, Lindan, Anthracen, Galaxolid) und anorganischen Umweltschadstoffen (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni) aus dotiertem Substrat in Nutzpflanzen (Tomaten, Paprika) untersucht. Zum besseren Verständnis des Schadstofftransfers der organischen Verbindungen und als Möglichkeit einer kosten- und zeitsparenden Alternative zu den herkömmlichen Untersuchungsverfahren, wurden ergänzend in vivo – Experimente durchgeführt. Weitere Schwerpunkte der Arbeit waren Untersuchungen zur Schadstoffaufnahme durch Pflanzen in Abhängigkeit von der Substratkonzentration sowie der Vegetationsdauer. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt der Arbeiten waren Studien über mögliche Einflüsse eines neuartigen Bodenverbesserungsmaterials auf die Schadstoffmobilität und Bioverfügbarkeit der oben genannten potentiellen Schadstoffe sowie die damit verbundene mögliche Aufnahme durch die Untersuchungspflanzen.

Red Pepper has been the subject of much discussion in Uganda, with some accounts describing it as a liberal mouthpiece, and others as pornography. This case study, therefore, sought to investigate Red Pepper as a media phenomenon in Uganda in the 21st century, specifically between 2001 and 2004. Employing quantitative and qualitative methodologies, it focused on the production process and the text. Although sexualised content dominate its pages, and news about issues such as the environment and education are near-absent, its managers describe the publication as legitimate, normative and consistent with liberal media standards. Accordingly, to interrogate Red Pepper in terms of its journalistic functions, selected debates associated with liberal approaches to news media, media political economy, tabloidisation, pornography and gendered relations were reviewed. The analysis entailed five phases. The first was a denotative or descriptive analysis, which focused on the publication's structure and content focus. This was followed by an interview with management, a broad content analysis to establish the incidence of predefined content categories expected of the tabloid, pornographic and liberal press and, lastly, a theme-based content analysis that sought to establish the potential meanings and framing of the dominant content categories of gossip and sexualised copy. Overall, the study found Red Pepper to be a misogynistic tabloid, having elements said to belong to pornography and homophobia. According to the findings, not only does Red Pepper fall short of a liberal understanding of a newspaper in terms of diversity of topics, provision of information and professional practice, it also does not fit the understanding of an alternative public sphere, mainly because it fails to challenge the patriarchal framing of sex, sexuality and gendered relations. This framing is undertaken deliberately as a means to securing economic rather than journalistic ideals to which the editors pay lip service. Consequently, the gossip and sexualised content are not problematised and as such discourses and power relations therein are not interrogated. Neither are inadequacies in local systems addressed nor corrective action mobilised as expected of some tabloids. All in all, the publication fronts superficial entertainment content that echoes particular gender constructions and patriarchal commonsense and entrenches the (undesirable) status quo which, ironically, it claims to challenge.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T14:52:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WALDIR CAMARGOS JuNIOR.pdf: 2631108 bytes, checksum: c08dda26b9fe6ea085335d05b2827a16 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-05 / The plant genetic diversity is a valuable guarantee for possible adversities that can be risking the survival of biological species. Brazil is one of the richest countries in biodiversity of plants, with about 20% of all the existing biodiversity on Earth and around 19% of the agricultural lands in the world. Genetic resources are studied in well-defined stages, such as collecting or introduction, multiplication, preservation/conservation, evaluation/characterization and use. In Brazil, the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária manages a national system of curatorship of genetic resources in which more than 250 thousand samples of plants, animals and microorganisms are preserved. The plants of the genus Capsicum (chilli and sweet peppers) are found throughout the national territory, presenting countless kinds, with a great phenotypic and genotypic diversity. Practically all the brazilian states have their own cultivars, but some of them, can be in fact, considered a mere duplicate because, sometimes, the same cultivar is known under different names. Thus, the morphological characterization is a task of great importance to this plant genus so, it is possible to avoid the conservation and maintenance of accessions of similar genomic patterns in germplasm banks. Embrapa Hortaliças has a collection of germplasm of sweet and chilli peppers (Capsicum spp.), which amounts to about 2,500 accessions. These mainly belong to the species C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense and C. frutescens. The morphological characterization of most of these acessions (893) have been carried out in recent years for a series of characters (descriptors) which allow the investigation of the structure of their genetic variability and, from then the proposition of strategies to handle the collection. Considering the need of studies aiming to know, value and use the accessions of the Capsicum spp. Embrapa Hortaliças collection, this research was developed with the objective of describing the accessions and the descriptors available in this collection, in order to search for minimum descriptors and propose core collections for this germplasm bank. The study demonstrated that it is possible to reduce around 50% the number of descriptors currently used in the characterization of the accessions, without significant harm to the representation of the genetic variability of the collection. The factorial correspondence analysis showed to be appropriate for the selection of minimum descriptors, as well as to the proposition of core collections from germplasm banks, characterized, predominantly, by qualitative data. Variables related to the fruit showed great variability in all the germplasm collection, demonstrating that these attributes are important in the genetic discrimination among the accessions. The study also showed that the geographical origin, regardless of the species, is directly associated with the genetic divergence among the accessions in Capsicum spp. / A diversidade genética vegetal representa uma inestimável garantia às possíveis adversidades que estejam colocando em risco a sobrevivência das espécies biológicas. O Brasil é um dos países mais ricos em diversidade biológica de plantas, possuindo cerca de 20% de toda a biodiversidade existente no planeta e cerca de 19% dos solos agricultáveis do mundo. Os recursos genéticos são estudados em etapas bem definidas, tais como, coleta ou introdução, multiplicação, preservação/conservação, avaliação/caracterização e uso. No Brasil, a Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária gerencia um sistema nacional de curadoria de recursos genéticos, em que mais de 250 mil amostras de plantas, animais e microrganismos são conservadas. As plantas do gênero Capsicum (pimentas e pimentões) são encontradas em todo território nacional, apresentando uma infinidade de formas, com grande diversidade fenotípica e genotípica. Praticamente todos os estados brasileiros possuem cultivares próprias, porém, muito provavelmente, parte do que se conhece pode tratar-se de mera duplicata, visto ocorrerem diversas cultivares iguais com nomes diferentes. Dessa forma, a caracterização morfológica constitui uma tarefa de grande importância para esse gênero vegetal, para evitar a conservação e manutenção de acessos de formas genômicas semelhantes em bancos de germoplasma. A Embrapa Hortaliças possui uma coleção de germoplasma de pimentas e pimentões (Capsicum spp.) que conta, atualmente, com cerca de dois mil e quinhentos acessos. Estes pertencem principalmente às espécies C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense e C. frutescens. A caracterização morfológica de grande parte desses acessos (893 acessos) tem sido feita ao longo dos últimos anos, para uma série de caracteres (descritores) que permitem investigar a estrutura de sua variabilidade genética e, a partir daí, propor estratégias de manejo da coleção. Considerando-se a necessidade de estudos visando conhecer, valorizar e utilizar os acessos da coleção de Capsicum spp. da Embrapa Hortaliças, desenvolveu-se este trabalho com o objetivo de descrever os acessos e os descritores disponíveis nessa coleção, de forma a buscar descritores mínimos e propor coleções nucleares para o banco de germoplasma. O estudo demonstrou que é possível reduzir, em cerca de 50%, o número de descritores atualmente utilizados na caracterização dos acessos, sem prejuízo significativo à representação da variabilidade genética da coleção. A análise fatorial de correspondência demonstrou ser apropriada para a seleção de descritores mínimos, bem como para a proposição de coleções nucleares a partir de bancos de germoplasma que se encontram caracterizados, predominantemente, com dados de natureza qualitativa. As variáveis relacionadas ao fruto apresentaram grande variabilidade em toda a coleção de germoplasma, demonstrando-se que esses atributos são importantes na discriminação genética entre os acessos. O estudo revelou, também, que a origem geográfica, independentemente da espécie, tem associação direta com a divergência genética entre os acessos em Capsicum spp.

In the present thesis, two positive sense single-stranded RNA viruses have been used as models to understand the structure and function of viral-encoded proteins. One of them, Pepper Vein Banding Virus (PVBV; genus Potyvirus; family Potyviridae) is a flexuous, rod-shaped virus that encodes for a polyprotein of size ~340 kDa. The polyprotein undergoes proteolytic processing by viral-encoded proteases, of which Nuclear Inclusion-a Protease (NIa-Pro) is the major protease. It is a serine-like cysteine protease which cleaves between a Q/A or Q/S, present in the context of the heptapeptide recognition sequence. The temporal regulation of intermediates and mature proteins released by NIa-Pro cleavage is crucial for a successful infection. In the present study, histidine-tagged NIa-Pro, Viral Protein genome-linked (VPg), and the cleavage site mutant (E191A) VPg-Pro were over-expressed in E. coli and purified. The protease activity of NIa-Pro was monitored using an HPLC-based protease assay developed using a peptide substrate. NIa-Pro protease activity was found to get modulated upon interaction with VPg and upon undergoing phosphorylation. Both these events have been found to involve the face of NIa-Pro which contains the solvent-exposed Trp143. Mutational studies and molecular dynamics analyses provide evidence that this residue is buried upon interaction of NIa-Pro with VPg, and any perturbation of its orientation influences the active site Cys151 via an extensive interaction network. This interaction was found to enhance the velocity of NIa-Pro protease activity, especially if the two domains were present in trans (VPg+Pro). In addition, the main-chain –NH2 group of Trp143 was found to be hydrogen-bonded to the side chain –OH group of Ser129, the residue which was identified to undergo phosphorylation by host plant kinases. Interestingly, when the two domains were present in cis (E191A VPg-Pro), no phosphorylation was observed. Mutations of Ser129 (to phosphorylation-mimic Asp or phosphorylation-deficient Ala residues) which affected this H-bond were found to disturb Trp143 and Cys151 orientation, which drastically reduced the protease activity of NIa-Pro. Within the polyprotein, VPg is present at the N-terminus of NIa-Pro and the cleavage site between them is suboptimal (E/A). In the present study, VPg-Pro was shown to be covalently linked to the genomic RNA present in the virions. Interestingly, during purification, VPg could only be purified from the soluble when it was expressed at the N-terminus of NIa-Pro. A series of bioinformatics and biophysical analysis of VPg showed that PVBV VPg, like other potyviral VPgs, exists as a molten-globule. Moreover, while VPg was shown to harbour the Walker motifs, it was found to exhibit an ATPase activity only when it was present with the NIa-Pro (especially in cis). Lys47 and Asp88:Glu89 were found crucial for optimal activity. Over all the results demonstrated that there is a reciprocal modulation of structure and function of the VPg and NIa-Pro domains. These results can explain the possible significance of an impeded cleavage rate between the two domains of VPg-Pro during PVBV infection. The precursor, VPg-Pro, could offer the advantage of evading the inhibitory phosphorylation of NIa-Pro by the host, as well as drive certain viral processes by virtue of its ATPase activity. And subsequent cleavage of the domains and their trans interaction could offer a higher turnover rate which might assist sufficient CP production required for viral morphogenesis. Another virus, Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) that belongs to the Ilarvirus genus of the Bromoviridae family is a spherical virus which forms pleiomorphic icosahedral virus particles. It has a tripartite genome and each RNA is encapsidated individually. In the present thesis, TSV was used as a model to understand the properties of its structural protein-the coat protein (CP), with the aim of deciphering TSV assembly process. Thus, the CP gene from TSV RNA 3 was cloned and over-expressed in E. coli. The coat protein thus expressed formed virus-like particles (VLPs), which could be disassembled into dimers using high CaCl2 concentrations. Reassembly of VLPs was possible from dimers even in the absence of any nucleic acid. Mutational analysis of the N-terminal disordered domain showed that 26 amino acid residues from the amino-terminus could be crucial for capsid heterogeneity while, zinc-binding domain was essential for assembly. Overall, the present study shows that the flexible W-C loop of PVBV NIa-Pro, the disordered N-terminal region of PVBV VPg and the disordered N-terminal region of TSV CP harbour residues crucial for regulation of protein function. Such regulatory elements would ultimately allow viruses to maintain a smaller protein number, and thus a smaller genome size.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde mit Hilfe von Gefäßversuchen der Transfer von ausgewählten organischen (m-Kresol, Simazin, Lindan, Anthracen, Galaxolid) und anorganischen Umweltschadstoffen (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni) aus dotiertem Substrat in Nutzpflanzen (Tomaten, Paprika) untersucht. Zum besseren Verständnis des Schadstofftransfers der organischen Verbindungen und als Möglichkeit einer kosten- und zeitsparenden Alternative zu den herkömmlichen Untersuchungsverfahren, wurden ergänzend in vivo – Experimente durchgeführt. Weitere Schwerpunkte der Arbeit waren Untersuchungen zur Schadstoffaufnahme durch Pflanzen in Abhängigkeit von der Substratkonzentration sowie der Vegetationsdauer. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt der Arbeiten waren Studien über mögliche Einflüsse eines neuartigen Bodenverbesserungsmaterials auf die Schadstoffmobilität und Bioverfügbarkeit der oben genannten potentiellen Schadstoffe sowie die damit verbundene mögliche Aufnahme durch die Untersuchungspflanzen.

<p>Cilj istraživanja u ovom radu bilo je ispitivanje uticaja<br />različitih vidova ekstrakcije (konvencionalna ekstrakcija<br />organskim rastvaračem i superkritična ekstrakcija ugljendioksidom)<br />na kvalitet oleorizina začinske paprike u pogledu<br />kvalitativnog i kvantitativnog sadržaja bojenih materija,<br />sastava masnih kiselina i antioksidativnih svojstava. Po&scaron;to u<br />Vojvodini postoje značajni kapaciteti za proizvodnju i preradu<br />začinske paprike, smatramo da će rezultati ovih ispitivanja<br />dati uvid u kinetiku različitih tipova ekstrakcije i pružiti<br />informacije o uslovima potrebnim za dobijanje proizvoda<br />vrhunskog kvaliteta.</p> / <p>The aim of the work was to investigate the influence of<br />different extraction methods (conventional extraction using<br />organic solvent and supercritical carbon-dioxide extraction)<br />to qualitative and quantitative pigment content, fatty acid<br />content and antioxidant properties of oleoresins. As there<br />have been significant production and processing capacities of<br />spice pepper in Vojvodina, the results of these investigations<br />will give a closer insight into the kinetics of different types of<br />extraction and conditions for obtaining the high quality<br />product.</p>