Lukas Allayn Diniz Corrêa

Morphological studies on the oropharyngeal cavity of turtles are an interesting tool in understanding evolutionary processes associated with feeding habits. There is paucity of morphological information on the oropharyngeal cavity of the Trachemys adiutrix turtle. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the tongue and palate morphology of T. adiutrix to establish a standard model for the species, providing information that may improve knowledge on the species feeding habits. Gross dissection, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy assessments of 11 specimens were carried out. The tongue of T. adiutrix is triangular with a slightly rounded apex and broad base and lingual papillae widely distributed throughout the entire dorsal surface. The palate is composed of bony structures, displaying a triangular apex with one pair of choanae and palatine raphe that begin in the middle region, dividing the two openings. The body was elongated and smooth. The root was wrinkled and opened into the oesophagus. The tongue was lined by non‐keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, rich in mucous cells and a large number of different‐shaped papillae and taste buds. The palate was mainly lined by a pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated epithelium rich in mucous cells. In conclusion, the tongue and palate characteristics of T. adiutrix include evidence that these animals are semiaquatic, displaying morphological characteristics associated with aquatic and terrestrial trophic ecology, similar to that observed in other semiaquatic and terrestrial chelonian species.

Cowpea is one of the main crops in family agriculture, especially in the Northeastern region of Brazil, and it is expanding to other regions in Brazil. The use of seeds with low physiological and health quality is reflected in the plant development and consequently yield, making it important to study the seed physiological and health quality. The objective of the present study was to assess the physiology and health of traditional and biofortified cowpea seeds. The traditional cowpea varieties (Angelim, Mercado and Manteguinha) and the biofortified cowpea cultivars (BRS Aracê, BRS Xique-Xique and BRS Tumucumaque) were assessed for the following physiological parameters: water content (WC), first count (FC), germination test (G), germination speed index (GSI), seedling emergence in the greenhouse (E), emergence speed index (ESI), seedling aerial part and root length (APL and RL) and electric conductivity test (EC). The seed health quality was assessed by the Blotter Test. The water content present in the seeds of the traditional and biofortified varieties ranged from 10% to 14%. All the traditional and biofortified varieties showed high germination and emergence value in the greenhouse. The germination and emergence speed indexes indicated the BRS Aracê and BRS Xique-Xique cultivars as the most vigorous. In the health tests the highest indexes were the storage fungi Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp., with the highest prevalence in the BRS Tumucumaque variety, which was probably related to the higher water content present in this variety.

Essential oils have been widely studied because they are natural sources of substances that have antimicrobial properties. In fruit growing, especially in mango crop, anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is considered the main disease because it causes series of damages in the fruit production chain and, in this sense, essential oils can be an option in this disease control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oils obtained from the leaves of Chá-de-moça (Pectis brevipedunculata) and Melosa (Dizygostemon riparius) in the in vitro and in vivo control of the C. gloeosporioides fungus, in seedlings and mango fruits. The in vitro bioassays were performed by testing the effect of different concentrations of essential oils (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 µl/mL) on the reduction of mycelial growth of the C. gloeosporioides fungus. Additionally, the anthracnose control in mango seedlings (Tommy Atkins, Constantina, Comum and Rosa cultivars) was evaluated by foliar application of essential oils at 4 µl/mL concentration. Disease control in fruits of the same mango cultivars was evaluated at 3 µl/mL concentration of essential oils. The evaluation was carried out by measuring the average diameter of the colonies, for the in vitro treatment, and the lesions for the in vivo treatments, in two diametrically opposite directions. There was a decrease in the fungus mycelial growth in all tested concentrations. There was a decrease in the disease severity from the sixth day after the oils application in Tommy Atkins cultivar seedlings, when treated with both essential oils at 4 µl/mL concentration. As for preventive treatments with fruits, it was observed that all cultivars achieved a reduction in severity from 54.83% at 3 µl/mL concentration with the use of both essential oils. Given the results obtained, it was observed that the essential oils P. brevipedunculata and D. riparius can be a viable alternative in the anthracnose control in mango culture.