Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a estrutura populacional e o progresso genético e fenotípico de características de desenvolvimento ponderal, em bovinos da raça Nelore, no Estado da Bahia. Foram utilizadas informações de pedigree de animais nascidos no período de 1955 a 2007, e dados dos pesos ajustados aos 205, 365 e 550 dias de idade, de bovinos nascidos de 1970 a 2006. As estimavas dos coefi cientes de herdabilidade foram de moderadas a altas, quanto aos pesos ajustados nas três idades. Os rebanhos apresentaram ganho genético positivo nas três características, porém, de baixa magnitude. A mudança fenotípica no decorrer dos anos foi quase exclusivamente relacionada à melhoria ambiental. O tamanho efetivo da população de Nelore do Estado da Bahia tem sido alto em alguns períodos, o que tem levado a menor incremento de endogamia e maiores ganhos genéticos. O intervalo de geração é alto e sua redução é importante para que se possa alcançar maior ganho genético anual.Termos para indexação: endogamia, intervalo de geração, ganho genético, pedigree, seleção, tamanho efetivo. Genetic progress and population structure in Nellore cattle in Bahia State, BrazilAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the population structure as well as the genetic and phenotypic progress in growth development traits of Nellore cattle raised in Bahia state, Brazil. Pedigree data of bovines, born between 1955 and 2007, and weight values adjusted to 205, 365, and 550 days of age, from 1970 to 2006, were used. The heritability coeffi cients were moderate to high for the adjusted weights, in all three ages. The herds presented a positive but small genetic gain. The phenotypic changes over years were almost exclusively related to environmental improvements. The effective size of the Nellore population raised in Bahia state has increased over some periods, thereby decreasing the inbreeding rate and leading to higher genetic gains. The generation interval is high and its reduction is important, in order to increase the annual genetic gain.

Some species are characterized by a high content of tannins, alkaloids, and phenols in their leaves. These secondary metabolites are released during DNA extraction and might hinder molecular studies based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction). To provide an efficient method to extract DNA, Mimosa tenuiflora, an important leguminous plant from Brazilian semiarid region used in popular medicine and as a source of fuelwood or forage, was used. Eight procedures previously reported for plants were tested and adapted from leaf tissues of M. tenuiflora stored at -20°C. The optimized procedure in this study encompassed the utilization of phenol during deproteinization, increased concentrations of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium chloride, and a shorter period and lower temperature of incubation concerning other methods. The extracted DNA did not present degradation, and amplification via PCR was successful using ISSR, trnL, ITS, and ETS primers. Besides M. tenuiflora, this procedure was also tested and proved to be efficient in genetic studies of other plant species.

INovas características para diferenciação de cultivares de soja pela análise discriminante New traits for differentiation of soybeans using discriminant analysis

INovas características para diferenciação de cultivares de soja pela análise discriminante New traits for differentiation of soybeans using discriminant analysis

ABSTRACT. Melanoxylon brauna (Fabaceae -Caesalpinioideae) is an endemic and valuable hardwood tree species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest; it is comparable to African ebony wood. We tested three protocols of DNA extraction based on the citrimonium bromide (CTAB) method and evaluated the quantity, purity and integrity of the DNA. We also determined whether these procedures interfere with PCR amplification in order to develop a protocol for M. brauna. We found that the quality and integrity of DNA were improved with the use of proteinase K in the extraction buffer and by modifications in the centrifugation speed. The lowest concentration of DNA was obtained with Doyle and Doyle's protocol (5.42 ng/μL). Ferreira and Grattapaglia's protocol modified for M. brauna provided the most DNA (36.89 ng/μL) and the highest quality DNA (purity ratio of 1.80 nm). The original Ferreira and Grattapaglia protocol provided 13.42 ng/μL DNA; however, the purity ratio (1.44 nm) indicates protein contamination. PCR results showed that Ferreira and Grattapaglia's protocol modified for M. brauna gave satisfactory quantity and purity of DNA for molecular studies.

Fusarium wilt is a serious soil disease affecting common bean cultivation, especially crops under a central pivot irrigation system. Our objective was to identify bean lines that combine resistance to Fusarium wilt in the field with other desirable traits. Twenty-eight randomized block trials with three replicates were conducted in the rainy, winter, and dry seasons from 2009 to 2012 in the states of Goiás, Federal District, and Paraná. The trials were composed of six elite lines (one carioca and five black grain type) selected in a previous study as resistant to Fusarium wilt under controlled conditions and five cultivars (three carioca two black grain type). Variance analysis demonstrated variability for reaction to Fusarium wilt and anthracnose, yield, architecture, and lodging tolerance. The interaction among the lines/cultivars and environments was significant for all traits. Five black bean lines were resistant to Fusarium wilt (grades <3.0) in the field; however, none of these lines outperformed the best controls in other traits, especially anthracnose resistance (grades >4.0). The Carioca line (CNFC 15872) was susceptible to fusarium wilt (5.6). Thus, these lines should not be indicated as suitable cultivars. Cultivars BRS Esplendor and BRS Notável exhibited excellent yield (2144 and 2200 kg.ha -1, D.G. Pereira et al. 2 respectively), high stability, erect architecture (3.4 and 4.1), lodging tolerance (3.3 and 4.0), anthracnose resistance (1.0 and 1.7), and high fusarium wilt resistance (2.0 and 2.6). These cultivars are still excellent options for planting in areas with Fusarium wilt.

Melipona mondury Smith 1863 is an important stingless bee species pollinator and honey/pollen producer, but threatened by fragmentation of habitats throughout its range. This article presents the identification and partial characterization of nesting substrates, bionomic including population features of M. mondury by comparing data between nest architecture of natural beehive and boxes colonies. Nineteen colonies (13 in boxes and six in beehives) were analyzed with regards to substrate nesting, nest characteristics (e.g. length and width of the combs, height and diameter of the pollen and honey jar) and bee population. The average volume and diameter of the trunks cavities used for nesting of M.mondury were18.4 L and 15.8 cm; the average number of combs was 9.26; the average diameter and height of the honey pots were 2.81 cm and 3.29 cm, and the average volume of honey stored was 15.85 mL; the average height and diameter of pollen pots was 3.21 cm and 2.93 cm, respectively, while the average mass of pollen deposited was equal to 12.56 g. The population ranged from 3537 to 10281 individuals between colonies. The results suggest that the conservation of M. mondury should involve reforestation with native species from Atlantic Forest, and the dimensions of boxes should be based on the average size of the nests in the natural environment in order to support strategies of conservation and sustainable management of this species. Keywords: Conservation, nest architecture, nesting substrate, rational management, stingless bees. Resumo: Melipona mondury Smith 1863 é uma espécie de abelha sem ferrã o, importante polinizadora, produtora de mel e de pó len, mas ameac¸ada pela fragmentac¸ã o dos habitats ao longo de sua á rea de ocorrência. Este artigo apresenta a identificac¸ã o e a caracterizac¸ã o parcial dos substratos de nidificac¸ão e as características bionô micas, incluindo as populacionais, de M. mondury, comparando os dados de arquitetura do ninho entre colô nias de cortic¸o e caixas rú sticas. Dezenove colô nias (13 em caixas rú sticas e seis em cortic¸os) foram analisadas em relac¸ã o aos substratos de nidificac¸ã o, características do ninho (e.g.: comprimento e largura dos favos de cria, altura e diâ metro dos potes de pó len e mel) e populac¸ão das abelhas. Foram encontrados volume e diâ metro médios da cavidade dos troncos nidificados por M. mondury, de 18,4 L e 15,8 cm; nú mero médio de favos de cria de 9,26; diâ metro e altura médios dos potes de mel de 2,81 cm e 3,29 cm, sendo o volume médio de mel armazenado de 15,85 mL; altura e diâ metro médios dos potes de pó len de 3,21 cm e 2,93 cm, enquanto a massa média de pó len depositado foi de 12,56 g. A populac¸ã o variou de 3 537 a 10 281 indivíduos entre as colô nias. Os resultados sugerem que a conservac¸ão de M. mondury deve envolver o reflorestamento com espécies nativas da Mata Atlâ ntica; e as dimensõ es das caixas racionais foram definidas com base no tamanho médio dos ninhos no ambiente natural, para subsidiar estratégias conservacionistas e ...

The licuri palm Syagrus coronata plays a key role in the ecology and economy of Brazilian semiarid region. Nonetheless, genetic data about populations of this species are absent even though the intensive and uncontrolled exploitation since colonial periods has threatened the sustainability and viability of licuri populations. Therefore, we attempted to test the efficacy of transferability of microsatellite loci isolated from three palm tree species to S. coronata to analyze the population of this species throughout their range. A set of 19 heterologous microsatellite loci was tested in three native populations of S. coronata from the State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, which amplified using distinct annealing temperatures (50°-60°C). Based on the 10 most polymorphic loci, the selected populations exhibited a mean number of alleles per locus of 9.8, and high genetic diversity values since the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.573 to 0.754, while the observed heterozygosity varied from 0.785 to 1.000. In conclusion, the tested loci are transferrable and highly efficient to population studies in S. coronata, thus minimizing the lack of species-specific loci to the genetic monitoring of licuri populations.