Genetic damage caused by ionizing radiation and repair capacity of blood lymphocytes from 3 breast cancer patients and 3 healthy donors were investigated using the comet assay. The comets were analyzed by two parameters: comet tail length and visual classification. Blood samples from the donors were irradiated in vitro with a 60Co source at a dose rate of 0.722 Gy/min, with a dose range of 0.2 to 4.0 Gy and analyzed immediately after the procedure and 3 and 24 h later. The basal level of damage and the radioinduced damage were higher in lymphocytes from breast cancer patients than in lymphocytes from healthy donors. The radioinduced damage showed that the two groups had a similar response when analyzed immediately after the irradiations. Therefore, while the healthy donors presented a considerable reduction of damage after 3 h, the patients had a higher residual damage even 24 h after exposure. The repair capacity of blood lymphocytes from the patients was slower than that of lymphocytes from healthy donors. The possible influence of age, disease stage and mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are discussed. Both parameters adopted proved to be sensitive and reproducible: the dose-response curves for DNA migration can be used not only for the analysis of cellular response but also for monitoring therapeutic interventions. Lymphocytes from the breast cancer patients presented an initial radiosensitivity similar to that of healthy subjects but a deficient repair mechanism made them more vulnerable to the genotoxic action of ionizing radiation. However, since lymphocytes from only 3 patients and 3 normal subjects were analyzed in the present paper, additional donors will be necessary for a more accurate evaluation.

Para avaliar aspectos qualitativos e nutricionais da figueira em relação a seis níveis de irrigação e de nitrogênio, desenvolveu-se um experimento em blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas e com quatro repetições, em Ilha Solteira,SP. Os resultados mostraram que em quatro datas de colheita, apenas a primeira análise (2 de janeiro de 91) mostrou influência da fertilização nitrogenada sobre os sólidos solúveis (brix) dos frutos. Não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos sobre a relação polpa/casca, nas quatro colheitas. Com relação à concentração de macronutrientes nas folhas na época de florescimento, o suprimento de água influenciou as concentrações de N, P e Ca e a aplicação de nitrogênio influenciou apenas a concentração de Ca. Para uma produção média de 10 t.ha-1 de frutos maduros e de 1,3 t.ha-1 de frutos verdes, observou-se uma exportação de aproximadamente 65 kg.ha-1 de N; 10 kg.ha-1 de P2O5 ; 44 kg.ha-1 de K2O; 35 kg.ha-1 de Ca e 9 kg.ha-1 de Mg.

In order to evaluate qualitative and nutritional aspects of fig-trees with respect to six irrigation and six nitrogen levels, at Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil, an experiment was carried out in randomized blocks, with subdivided plots, and four replications. Results showed that in four dates during harvest, only the first analysis (January 2, 1991) showed influence of nitrogen fertilization on fruit soluble solids (brix). There was no significant effect of treatments on pulp/peel relation for the four harvestings. In relation to leaf macronutrient concentration at flowering, water supply influenced N, P and Ca concentrations, and nitrogen influenced only Ca concentration. For an average of 10 t.ha-1 of mature fruit and 1.3 t.ha-1 of immature fruit production, there was a nutrient export of about 65 kg.ha-1 of N; 10 kg.ha-1 of P2O5; 44 kg.ha-1 of K2O; 35 kg.ha-1 of Ca and 9 kg.ha-1 of Mg.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a resposta da cultura da figueira (safra 91/92) à aplicação de lâminas de irrigação e adubação nitrogenada realizou-se um experimento com seis lâminas de irrigação (O, 25, 50, 75,100 e 125% da evaporação do Tanque Classe A) e seis níveis de nitrogênio (0,150,300,450,600 e 750 g/planta), instalado de acordo com um delineamento de blocos casualizados, em um esquema de parcelas sub-divididas, com quatro repetições. Com base na análise estatística realizada, verificou-se efeito significativo da irrigação sobre a produtividade de frutos maduros, produtividade total, comprimento de ramos e altura e diâmetro de frutos maduros. A adubação nitrogenada mostrou efeito significativo sobre a produtividade de frutos maduros e comprimento de ramos.

The study had the purpose of evaluating the effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization levels upon fig-tree orchards (harvest 1991/1992). A randomized split-plot block design was installed with six irrigation levels (0, 25, 50, 75,100 and 125% of Class A Pan Evaporation) and six nitrogen levels (0, 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 g/plant), with four repetitions. According to the statistical analysis, significant effects of water supply were verified on ripe fruit harvest, total productivity, branch lenght and ripe fruit heigth and diameter. Nitrogen fertilization effects on ripe fruit harvest and branch lenght were also detected.

O presente trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de se estudar 3 doses de N e 3 doses de K2O, combinadas entre si e aplicadas em cobertura aos 15, 30 e 45 dias após a emergência das plântulas, na eficiência do uso da água e na qualidade de frutos de melão. Utilizou-se um Podzólico Vermelho Escuro, eutrófíco, textura média/argilosa, do município de Ilha Solteira(SP). O experimento foi implantado no ano de 1991 fazendo-se uso dos cultivares Valenciano Amarelo e Eldorado 300, em espaçamento de 2,0m entre linhas e 0,75m entre covas. A cultura foi conduzida sem capação e desbrota e os tratamentos fítossanitários procedidos de acordo com a necessidade. Pelos resultados obtidos verificou-se que o N ou o K2O influenciaram alguns parâmetros no cultivar Eldorado 300: peso da casca, peso de sementes com mucilagem e acidez titulável, além do rendimento de polpa no cultivar Valenciano Amarelo.

The present work was developed with the objective of studying 3 combined doses of N and K2O, applied as cover dressings within 15, 30 and 45 days after seedling emergence, in the water efficience use and fruit quality of muskmelons grown on a Dark Red Podzolic soil. The experiment was carried in Ilha Solteira, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The experiment was carried out in 1991 with the Valenciano Amarelo and Eldorado 300 cultivars, in a 2.0 x 0.75m spacing. The results showed that N and K2O influenced some parameters of the Eldorado 300 cultivar: peel weight, seed weight and acidity; pulp yield in Valenciano Amarelo cultivar.