Los espartillares de Spartina argentinensis (Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina) se encuentran en suelos salinos pobremente drenados y con frecuencia sufren incendios. En estudios previos se observó que parcelas con distintas historias de fuego se agrupaban de acuerdo a este factor en función de la abundancia-cobertura de las especies presentes. El objeto de este trabajo fue analizar a qué especies respondían estos agrupamientos, para lo cual se usó análisis discriminante. Se utilizaron los datos de abundancia-cobertura de la Reserva Federico Wildermuth (Santa Fe), en parcelas quemadas y sin quemar, la mitad de las cuales se volvieron a quemar en agosto de 1999, con datos de tres años: 1998: A (quemada en 1996) y D (nunca quemada); 1999 y 2000: A; B (quemada en 1996 y 1999); C (quemada solo en 1999) y D. En 1998, la función discriminante incluyó a 13 de las 38 especies presentes, siendo Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata y S. argentinensis las de mayor peso. Las variables que quedaron en la función en 1999, 16 sobre un total de 57, fueron S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, y Pluchea saggitalis, mientras que en el 2000, 16 dentro de 68 especies incluyeron a I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis y M. alba. A relativo corto plazo, el sistema tiende a igualarse al original sin perturbación por fuego.

The "espartillares" of Spartina argentinensis (Santa Fe province, Argentina) thrive on saline poorly drained soils with frequent natural or man-made fires. Previous data showed that plots with different fire histories were clustered according to fire and the cover-abundance of the species of the community. Our aim was to analyze which species were responsible of the clustering using discriminant analysis of cover-abundance data of burnt and non burnt plots of the Federico Wildermuth Reserve: (A) burned in July 1996, (B) burned in July 1996 and August 1999, (C) burned in August 1999, and (D) never burned. In 1998, the discriminant function included 13 out of 38 species, being Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata y S. argentinensis the most important. S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, and Pluchea saggitalis were the most important variables (16 out of 57 species) in 1999 while in 2000 I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis and M. alba were considered by the function (16 out of 68 species). The effect of fire on the "espartillar" was not long-lasting and burned and non-burned plots are much alike a few years after.

Os prados de capim marinho Spartina argentinensis (província de Santa Fe, Argentina) se encontram em solos salinos pobremente drenados e com frequência sofrem incêndios. Em estudos prévios foi observado que parcelas com distintas histórias de fogo se agrupavam de acordo a este fator em função da abundância-cobertura das espécies presentes. O objeto de este trabalho foi analisar quais as espécies a que respondiam estes agrupamentos, para o qual foi usada a análise discriminante. Utilizaram-se os dados de abundância-cobertura da Reserva Federico Wildermuth (Santa Fe), em parcelas queimadas e sem queimar, a metade das quais se voltaram a ser queimadas em agosto de 1999, com dados de três anos: 1998: A (queimada em 1996) e D (nunca queimada); 1999 e 2000: A; B (queimada em 1996 e 1999); C (queimada somente em 1999) e D. Em 1998, a função discriminante incluiu 13 das 38 espécies presentes, sendo Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata e S. argentinensis as de maior peso. As variáveis que ficaram na função em 1999, 16 de um total de 57, foram S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, e Pluchea saggitalis, enquanto que em 2000, 16 de 68 espécies incluiram a I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis e M. alba. Em relativo curto prazo, o sistema tende a se igualar ao original sem perturbação por fogo.

Effect of water quality in mosquito breeding sites on the pathogenicity and infectivity of zoospores from the fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes). The fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii is highly pathogenic to mosquito larvae in Argentina. We studied if physical and chemical characteristics of the water from mosquito breeding sites affect pathogenicity, and the infectivity of zoospores of L. chapmanii. Water samples were taken from pools filled by rains, urban ditches with domestic waste water, pools filled by overflow from Río de la Plata, and flower vases from the Cemetery of La Plata city. Sub-samples of water were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, while other sub-samples were used for laboratory bioassays. Containers with 150 ml of water samples, 25 Aedes aegypti larvae, and 2.8 x 105 zoospores of L. chapmanii, were incubated under controlled environment, and larval mortality was recorded after 48 h. There were highly significant differences among mortalities in water from cemetery vases (70.2%), rain pools water (99.5%), and pools with water from Rio de la Plata (95%). There were no significant differences among larval mortalities in water from ditches, rain pools and Río de la Plata pools. Leptolegnia chapmanii was successful as a biological control agent in all kinds of tested water qualities, producing high larval mortality. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 371-380. Epub 2009 June 30.

The microstructure and the organic matter of the upper part of the A horizon of a silty-loamy Typic Argiudoll in two non cultivated situations (NLp: park in an Experimental Station; NLv: preserved area close to a railroad) and under two agricultural management systems (SD: no-till; LR:disk ploughing), are compared. In all cases micromorphological analyses revealed a marked vertical anisotropy constituted by at least three microstructural levels in the first 10 cm of the soil, though the characteristics of those layers differ among the studied situations. Synthetically, NL situations showed a predominance of packing voids and biological features; the SD treatment is characterized by a subsurface layer with laminar aggregates and a predominance of horizontal planar voids; the LR treatment shows a crust development at the surface, low porosity determined by horizontal planar voids and vesicles, together with a lower content of organic residues. There were no significative differences in the quantity and quality of organic matter in the soil comparing SD and LR systems. In this context, it is considered that the long lasting laminar structure developed in the SD system and the temporary surface crust in the LR system are acting in a converging way, both restricting the mixing of organic and mineral phases of the soil. In SD a high accumulation and conservation of the organic compounds occur at the surface, but the biological activity after 10 years of cultivation was not strong enough to incorporate it at more than a few mm of depth. In LR, after ploughing, there is a deeper incorporation of OM, but collaterally a higher degradation occurs. In this way the final balance of the OM in the A horizon appears to be similar in both systems. The similarity in the organic pool between both situations seems to be reflected also by a similar aggregate stability obtained with the Henin method.

En este trabajo se comparan la microestructura y la materia orgánica del estrato superior del horizonte A de un Argiudol típico franco limoso en dos situaciones no laboreadas (NLp: parque en Estación Experimental; NLv: área preservada próxima a vía de ferrocarril) con dos sistemas de manejo agrícola: con residuos incorporados (LR: labranza reducida con discos) y con residuos superficiales (SD: siembra directa). Los análisis micromorfológicos evidenciaron en todos los casos una marcada anisotropía vertical con al menos tres niveles microestructurales dentro de los primeros 10 cm de suelo, siendo sus características notoriamente diferentes entre las situaciones estudiadas. Las situaciones NL evidenciaron la predominancia de huecos de empaquetamiento y rasgos biológicos. La SD se caracteriza por la aparición de agregados laminares subsuperficiales, con predominio de huecos horizontales. Por su parte, la LR se caracteriza por la aparición de costras superficiales, escasa porosidad (representada por fisuras horizontales y vesículas) y escasos restos orgánicos vegetales o animales en superficie. En este trabajo no se detectaron diferencias importantes en cantidad y calidad de la materia orgánica entre las situaciones agrícolas, no existiendo evidencia de una degradación o protección diferente del carbono entre ellas. La estructura laminar permanente en la SD y la costra superficial temporaria en LR actuarían de manera convergente restringiendo la mezcla de las fases orgánica y mineral del suelo. En SD resultaría una mayor conservación de la materia orgánica superficial, pero la actividad biológica no sería suficiente para incorporarla mas allá de unos pocos milímetros de profundidad. En LR hay una incorporación más profunda de la materia orgánica, pero con una mayor degradación; de este modo el balance final de la materia orgánica del horizonte superficial sería similar entre ambos tratamientos. La similitud en el "pool orgánico" entre las situaciones agrícolas se refleja también en los resultados del análisis de estabilidad de los agregados mediante el método de Henin.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a incidência da largura e do comprimento numa única fração de sementes de aveia [Avena sativa (L.)] cv. Cristal. Essa fração de sementes foi selecionada por um divisor mecânico e seleção manual e sua correspondência com imagens radiográficas em sementes com glumas e seus cariopses. Foram medidos a largura e o comprimento das sementes com glumas e seus cariopses com um calibrador eletrônico, e seu peso, com o emprego de uma balança de precisão. As imagens radiográficas das sementes com glumas foram tomadas com um equipamento experimental de raios X. O analista escolheu sementes com glumas de largura e comprimento previamente determinado, e, portanto, com peso maior do que o das obtidas pela separação manual, as quais foram menos largas, mais compridas e mais leves. A presença das glumas mascarou as dimensões reais dos cariopses (largura e comprimento), conduzindo o analista a selecionar sementes que diferiram mais pela largura que pelo comprimento. As imagens radiográficas mostraram a presença, ou não, dos cariopses no interior das sementes e suas reais dimensões. Os métodos de seleção mecânica de sementes mostraram ser os mais eficientes, pois não foi considerada a subjetividade do analista quando a seleção foi feita por suas dimensões. As análises por raios X foram um instrumento útil que complementou a seleção da fração pura como outro fator da qualidade da semente.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the width and length incidence in a single seed fraction of oat [Avena sativa (L.)] cv. Cristal. The seeds were selected by a mechanical divider and by hand, and their correspondence to radiographic images in seeds with glumes and their caryopses. The width and length of the seeds with glumes and their caryopses were measured with electronic calliper, and their weight, with precision balance. Radiographic images of seeds with glumes were taken with an X-ray experimental equipment. The analyst selected seeds with glumes by the width and by the length previously determined and so with more weight, than that obtained by hand selection was slightly narrower, larger and lighter. The presence of the glumes masked the caryopses real dimensions (width and length), and conduced the analyst to select seeds that differed more by the width than by the length. The radiographic images showed the presence, or not, of caryopses inside the seed and its real dimensions. The mechanical partition method for seeds showed to be more efficient because the analyst subjectivity was not considered when the selection upon its dimensions was done. The X-ray analysis was a useful tool that complements the pure seed fraction selection as another factor of seed quality.

The objective of this research was to study the behaviour of the storage proteins glycinin and beta-conglycinin and the alpha-amylase activity in artificially deteriorated and not deteriorated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds of 10 cultivars. The seeds were submitted to two treatments: deteriorated by accelerated aging and not deteriorated seeds. The presence of glycinin and beta-conglycinin were determined in seeds with 0, 3 and 8 days of germination using polyacrylamid gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The alpha-amylase activity was biochemically determined in seeds with 0, 3, 8 and 12 days of germination. There were no differences in the presence of glycinin and beta-conglycinin electrophoretic bands in not deteriorated seeds until 8 days of germination. The deteriorated seeds showed a similar behaviour to the not deteriorated seeds. The alpha-amylase activity increased in seeds until the eighth day of germination and decreased to the twelfth day. The enzymatic activity of the deteriorated seeds decreased with respect to that not deteriorated. The artificially deterioration did not affect the presence of glycinin and beta-conglycinin but modified the alpha-amylase activity until the twelfth day of germination. The studied cultivars showed a differential behaviour to the activity of this enzyme.

El objetivo del trabajo fue estudiar el comportamiento de glicinina y beta-conglicinina y la actividad de alfa-amilasa en semillas deterioradas y no deterioradas de 10 cultivares de soja [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Las semillas se sometieron a dos tratamientos: deterioradas por envejecimiento acelerado y no deterioradas. Se determinó la presencia de las proteínas de reserva a partir de semillas con 0, 3 y 8 días de germinadas por electroforesis en geles de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE). La actividad de la alfa-amilasa se determinó bioquímicamente en semillas con 0, 3, 8 y 12 días de germinadas. No hubo diferencias en la presencia de bandas de glicinina y beta-conglicinina en semillas no deterioradas hasta los 8 días de germinadas. Las semillas deterioradas se comportaron en forma similar a las no deterioradas. La actividad de la alfa-amilasa aumentó en semillas germinadas hasta 8 días y disminuyó a los 12 días. En semillas deterioradas la actividad enzimática disminuyó con respecto a las no deterioradas. El deterioro artificial no afectó la presencia de glicinina y beta-conglicinina pero alteró la actividad de la alfa-amilasa hasta los 12 días de germinación. Los cultivares estudiados mostraron comportamiento diferencial frente a la actividad de esta enzima.

The objective of this work was to study soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) seed alterations produced by deterioration using different vigor tests. Soybean seeds of different cultivars were used in 1997 and 1998, which were submitted to standard germination test and the vigor tests: accelerated aging; electric conductivity; controlled deterioration and tetrazolium. The controlled deterioration with an elevation of the seed humidity to 22%, showed to be a better indicator of the diminishing of soybean seed vigor than the accelerated aging. The electric conductivity in individual seeds would be considered a good vigor test to detect the alterations produced in the cytoplasmic membranes in an early stage of the seed deterioration. The tetrazolium test by the evaluation of the different kinds of injuries suffered by the seeds, depends on the place where the seed is damaged not on the kind of injury suffered by the seed.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las alteraciones producidas por el deterioro en semillas de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) utilizando diferentes pruebas de vigor. Se utilizaron semillas de soja de diferentes cultivares en 1997 y 1998, las cuales fueron sometidas a la prueba de germinación y diferentes pruebas de vigor: envejecimiento acelerado; conductividad eléctrica; deterioro controlado y tetrazolio. El deterioro controlado en semillas con 22% de humedad mostró ser un mejor indicador de la disminución del vigor de la semilla de soja que el envejecimiento acelerado. La conductividad eléctrica en semillas individuales podría ser considerada una buena prueba de vigor para detectar alteraciones producidas en las membranas citoplasmáticas en un estadio temprano del deterioro de las semillas. La clasificación de la viabilidad y el vigor a través de la prueba de tetrazolio está dada por el lugar donde se produce el daño y no por el tipo de daño que sufre la semilla.