Oil palm is one of the most economically valuable oil seed plants, but the expansion of plantations has been limited by availability of seedlings, as the conventional propagation is through seeds, which have low germination rates. One possible solution for the large-scale production is the use of somatic embryogenesis. The aim of this study was evaluate the effects auxins 2,4-D and picloram on the induction of pro-embryogenic masses in E.guineenesis hybrid leaf explants and characterize, regarding embryogenic characteristics, with cytochemical and ultrastructural analisys. Specifically, in vitro plantlets leaves fragments were inoculated in ). After 90 days the presence/ absence of cell masses were evaluated. Both growth regulators efficiently induced cellular masses regardless of the concentrations applied. As the cell masses were not homogeneously formed, they were classified according to color and shape into four types: TYPE 1 -elongated and translucent, TyPE 2 -uneven and translucent, TyPE 3 -globular and beige TyPE 4 -globular and white. Based on the anatomical and ultrastructural features, TyPE 2, 3 and 4 cell masses were considered to have the highest embryogenic potential and therefore may be most suited to large-scale vegetative propagation of oil palm.

The a im of this research was to characterize and compare two types of calli from leaf explants of Coffea arabica (cultivar Catiguá

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity in vitro of ethanolic extracts of Banisteriopsis anisandra. Tests were performed using the extracts overlay method in the culture medium for phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum, and disk diffusion for the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Ethanolic extracts from leaves were prepared by maceration (extract I) and decoction (extract II) at 430.0, 215.0 and 107.5 mg/mL. The growth inhibition of R. solani and F. oxysporum was determined by calculating the mycelia growth speed rate (MGSR) and, in relation C. albicans and S. aureus, it was determined by measuring the inhibition halos. Extracts that caused significant inhibition were also tested at 86.0, 64.5, 43.0 and 21.5 mg/mL for C. albicans and S. aureus. Both extracts showed inhibitory activity on the microorganisms studied. Rizoctonia solani showed lower MGSR in the presence of extract II (107.5 mg/mL) and Fusarium oxysporum showed slight MGSR reduction in the presence of extract I (107.5 mg/mL) and II (107.5 and 215 mg/mL). Ethanolic extracts I and II inhibited the growth of C. albicans, with the highest rates of inhibition observed in the presence of extract II (215.0 mg/mL). For S. aureus, the highest inhibitory activity was observed in the presence of ethanolic extract II, prepared by decoction at 430.0 mg/mL. Results showed a promising antimicrobial activity of extracts of B. anisandra, which may contribute to further studies leading to a future development of medicines to treat human and plant diseases caused by these organisms.Keywords: Banisteriopsis anisandra, antimicrobial activity, ethanolic extracts. RESUMO: Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extratos etanólicos deBanisteriopsis anisandra (A. Juss.) B. Gates (Malpighiaceae). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extratos etanólicos de Banisteriopsis anisandra. Os testes foram realizados utilizando o método de sobreposição de extratos em meio de cultura para fungos fitopatogênicos Rhizoctonia solani e Fusarium oxysporum e de difusão em disco para os microrganismos Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans. Foram testados de extratos etanólicos de folhas preparados por maceração (extrato I) e decocção (extrato II), nas concentrações de 430,0; 215,0 e 107,5 mg/mL. A inibição do crescimento de R. solani e F. oxysporum foi determinada pelo cálculo do índice de velocidade de crescimento micelial (IVCM) e de C. albicans e S. aureus, por meio da medida da halos de inibição. Os extratos que causaram inibição significativa também foram testados nas concentrações de 86,0; 64,5; 43,0 e 21,5 mg/mL para C. albicans e S. aureus. Ambos os extratos mostraram atividade inibitória sobre os microrganismos estudados. Rizoctonia solani apresentou menor IVCM na presença do extrato II (107,5 mg/mL) e Fusarium oxysporum apresentou discreta redução no IVCM na presença do extrato I (107,5 mg/mL) e II (107,5 e 215 mg/mL). Extratos etanólicos I e II inib...

Large-scale propagation of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq.) is difficult due to its single apical meristem. Thus, obtaining plants is mainly through seed germination, and a long growing period is required before oil production is possible. An alternative to large-scale seedling production is indirect somatic embryogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the somatic embryogenesis process in oil palm (E. guineensis Jacq.) with amino acids and low concentrations of auxins. The Tenera hybrid was analyzed by cytochemical and ultrastructural methods and was used to regenerate oil palm plants. First, calli were induced in MS culture media supplemented with 2,4-D and picloram. Two types of calli were obtained, characterized by beige or translucent color. Beige calli had embryogenic characteristics, such as large nuclei with prominent nucleoli, and they were multiplied for 8 months in MM culture (half strength MS, 1 mg L 2,4-D, 2 mg L 2iP, 1 mg L IBA, 250 mg L citric acid, 10 mg L cysteine, 100 mg L inositol, 1 mg L thiamine, 1 mg L pyridoxine, 1 mg L nicotinic acid, 1 mg L glycine, 200 mg L malt extract, and 100 mg L casein hydrolysate). After multiplication, the MCB culture medium (half strength MS, supplemented with 0.25 mg L NAA, 2 mg L BAP, MM vitamins and 200 mg L malt extract, and 100 mg L casein hydrolysate) was the most efficient for embryo formation, showing meristematic centers with totipotent cells in histochemical analyses. The somatic embryos were developed and germinated in MG medium (half strength MS, 0.45 mg L IAA, 0.25 mg L BAP, and MM vitamins), transplanted into polyethylene tubes containing pine bark substrates, and acclimatized in a greenhouse, achieving a 97% survival rate. The use of picloram for callus induction and somatic embryogenesis is advantageous and multiplication in MM medium is an important step for increasing cell mass. The calli with light beige color and nodular structures have meristematic cells with dense cytoplasm and totipotential features that later give rise to protoderm, procambium, and ground meristem during the globular, cordiform, and torpedo embryogenesis phases. In MCB medium, the concentration of vitamins and amino acids are crucial for somatic embryogenesis.

Oil palm cultivation has acquired economic importance due to rising demand for vegetable oils used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and most recently, in biofuel industries. However, the commercial production increase of oil palm is limited by plantlet production, as it primarily uses seeds that require a long germination period and have low germination rates. In this study we evaluated the effect of embryo age (time after pollination), culture media and presence of carbohydrates on in vitro germination of zygotic embryos of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Manicoré hybrid. Embryos at 80, 90, 100 and 110 days post-anthesis were inoculated in MS medium or modified Y3 medium, with or without 3% sucrose. Media were renewed after 30 days of inoculation, and plantlets were kept for 45 days until collection for histological analyses. The embryos did not germinate in medium without sucrose. Embryos of 100 days post-anthesis in MS medium showed the best result for germination rate (88%), which did not differ statistically from Y3 medium. As for the parameters, 90-day embryos showed better results for number and length of roots in Y3 medium. It was concluded that 90-day embryos cultivated in Y3 medium generate plantlets in better conditions to be transferred to acclimatization.

As plantas medicinais possuem tradição de uso como alternativa de tratamento medicinal para diversas enfermidades. Atualmente, a fitoterapia e o uso das plantas medicinais em forma de chá, têm sido recursos utilizados para tratar o transtorno de ansiedade e contribuir no processo de emagrecimento por diversas pessoas. Sendo assim, esse artigo tem por objetivo apresentar as plantas medicinais mais utilizadas para os fins mencionados. Metodologia: foram selecionadas 17 espécies a partir de uma revisão bibliográfica dos últimos 15 anos, onde foi pesquisado a sua aplicabilidade, benefícios e contraindicações de uso.  Resultado: as pesquisas evidenciaram a atuação dos princípios ativos das plantas em humanos e camundongos, e demonstram um desempenho favorável á atividade ansiolítica e atividade enzimática que contribui para o emagrecimento com as plantas medicinais.  Conclusão: com este estudo foi possível identificar o que existe de conhecimento científico sobre as plantas medicinais utilizadas para tratar o transtorno de ansiedade e contribuir no processo de emagrecimento.

ABSTRACT. This work was carried out to characterise morphologically and ultrastructurally the banana callus, obtained from the scalp method. Genotypes of banana, cv. Prata anã, cultivated in vitro were used to induce meristems at the leaf base; subsequently, structures known as scalps were formed. For ultrastructural analysis, five samples of callus were collected, fixed in Karnovsky solution and analysed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The formation of three types of callus was observed: Type 1 -transparent watery callus, Type 2 -yellow callus with small clusters, Type 3 -yellow callus with large clusters. SEM analysis showed that Type 1 callus cells were elongated and that Type 2 and Type 3 callus cells were isodiametric, which is a characteristic of embryogenic cells. The TEM analysis showed that Type 1 callus cells had thin walls, a large number of small vacuoles and dispersed cytoplasm. The Type 2 callus cells showed dense cytoplasm, large vacuoles and a large amount of mitochondria. The Type 3 callus cells had thick and intercellular spaces. Thus, the Type 2 callus cells had characteristics consistent with embryogenic callus cells.Keywords: scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Musa sp., cytology, embryogenesis.Análise morfológica e ultra-estrutural de diferentes calos de bananeira, cv. Prata anã RESUMO. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de caracterizar morfologicamente e ultraestuturalmente calos (scalp method) de bananeira. Genótipos de bananeira, cv. Prata anã, cultivadas in vitro, foram utilizados para indução de meristemas na base das folhas e formação de estruturas conhecidas como scalp, que foram transferidas para meio ZZs. Os calos obtidos foram caracterizados morfológica e ultraestruturalmente. Para as análises ultra-estruturais, foram coletadas, fixadas em Karnovsky e preparadas cinco amostras, que foram analisadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura e de transmissão. Foi verificado formação de 3 tipos de calos (Tipo 1-calo transparente aquoso; Tipo 2-calo com glomérulos amarelos menores; Tipo 3-calo com glomérulos amarelos maiores). A análise por MEV mostrou que os calos Tipo1 apresentaram células alongadas; os calos Tipo 2 e Tipo 3 apresentaram células com formato isodiamétrico que condizem com características de calos embriogênicos. A análise por MET mostrou que os calos Tipo1 apresentaram parede delgada, grande quantidade de pequenos vacúolos e citoplasma disperso. Os calos Tipo 2 apresentaram citoplasma denso, vacúolos grandes e presença de mitocôndrias. Os calos Tipo 3 apresentaram parede espessa e espaços intercelulares. Assim, os calos Tipo 2 evidenciam características de calos embriogênicos.Palavras-chave: microscopia eletrônica de varredura, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, Musa sp., citologia, embriogênese.

ABSTRACT.A study on the leaf anatomy of Cordiera sessilis (Rubiaceae), a native medicinal shrub from Brazilian Cerrado was carried out to identify features that may be useful in species recognition. Leaves were collected, fixed and processed by usual techniques, and studied by light and electron microscopy. Quantitative analyzes of stomata and trichomes were performed. In addition to the typical anatomical characteristics of Rubiaceae leaves, two types of vascular patterns were identified in the petiole: in distal part, the vascular system is arranged cylindrically surrounded by sclerenchyma sheath and in proximal part the vascular system is arranged in U-shape coupled to sclerified cells. The micromorphological organization of leaf surface, epicuticular wax types, the petiole pattern and histochemical characteristics as the presence of druses, crystal sand and alkaloids and absence of raphides in the mesophyll, midrib and petiole are considerate representative characteristics of C. sessilis and may be useful in the species recognition.Keywords: "Marmelinho", plant anatomy, histochemical tests, Cerrado, medicinal plant.Anatomia foliar de Cordiera sessilis (Vell.) Kuntze (Rubiaceae) RESUMO. Um estudo da anatomia foliar de Cordiera sessilis (Rubiaceae), um arbusto medicinal nativo do Cerrado brasileiro foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar características úteis no reconhecimento da espécie. As folhas foram coletadas, fixadas e processadas por meio de técnicas usuais e estudadas em microscopia de luz e eletrônica. As análises quantitativas dos estômatos e tricomas foram realizadas. Além das características anatômicas típicas das folhas de Rubiaceae, dois padrões vasculares foram identificados no pecíolo: na porção distal, o sistema vascular disposto cilindricamente, contornado por uma bainha esclerenquimática e na porção proximal, o sistema vascular organizado em forma de U associado a células esclerenquimáticas. A organização micromorfológica da superfície foliar e da cera epicuticular, o padrão do pecíolo e as características histoquímicas como a presença de drusas, areia cristalina e alcaloides e a ausência de cristais do tipo ráfides no mesofilo, nervura central e pecíolo são consideradas características representativas de C. sessilis e podem ser úteis para o reconhecimento da espécie.Palavras-chave: Marmelinho, anatomia vegetal, testes histoquímicos, Cerrado, planta medicinal.