Comportamiento forrajeo de avispas sociales en jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora) en área urbana del sureste de Brasil

Fruits are not only important for the plants but also for ensuring sustainable food security of the burgeoning global population. Considering the huge nutritional and ecological importance of fruits, investigation of mechanisms, and factors governing their development and ripening is crucial. The investigation of fruit development in several economically important crops such as tomato, strawberry, grape, and banana includingCapsicumsuggest that early fruit development is largely dependent on auxins and gibberellins (GAs) whereas later ripening is dependent on ethylene or abscisic acid (ABA). The initial development is relatively conserved whereas the ripening of fruits can be either climacteric or non‐climacteric depending on the presence or absence of respiratory burst and ethylene production respectively. Climacteric fruit ripening is mediated by ethylene, and it is well studied in tomato and banana, whereas non‐climacteric fruit ripening requires ABA and much of the information on it comes from strawberry and grape. The genusCapsicumL. shows rich diversity in fruit traits such as shape, colour, size, and even in its ripening behaviour. Early fruit development in different species ofCapsicumappears similar to other fruit crops, whereas later fruit ripening behaviour in different species ofCapsicumcan be either climacteric or non‐climacteric depending upon evolution of ethylene and respiratory burst. It has been found that, even different cultivars of the same species ofCapsicumshow variation in ripening behaviour suggesting interspecific and intraspecific complexities in fruit ripening responses. Until a few years, a majority of the papers have focussed on the non‐climacteric nature of fruit ripening inCapsicum. However, recent studies have shown substantial involvement of ethylene and ethylene related genes in fruit ripening ofCapsicumsuggesting the existence of extensive common regulons between climacteric and non‐climacteric fruits. Recent studies have also suggested the involvement of several epigenetic mechanisms such as non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and cytosine methylation in regulating fruit development and ripening. With the advent of new tools in the omics field such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics, there is considerable progress in understanding the fruit development and complex nature of ripening inCapsicum. Nevertheless, consolidated information onCapsicumfruit development and its complex nature of ripening is not available. In this article, an attempt is made to present up to date consolidated information on the development and ripening ofCapsicumfruit with an emphasis on its genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal regulation.

The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the content of ellagic acid in fruits consumed by the Brazilian population, including native ones; (2) to further characterize rich sources in relation to ascorbic acid, phenolics contents and in vitro antioxidant capacity; and (3) to study the distribution and effect of ripening stage on ellagitannins content of jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba). The content of free ellagic acid and ellagic acid derivatives such as ellagitannins was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ellagic acid was detected in 10 out of a total of 35 fruits analyzed. The content of free ellagic acid in fruits varied from 0.0028 to 0.085 g kg(-1) (FW) and total ellagic acid varied from 0.215 to 3.11 g kg(-1) (FW). All the seven fruits belonging to the Myrtaceae family evaluated in this study presented high contents of ellagitannins in their composition, with jabuticaba, grumixama and cambuci (all native from Brazil) showing the highest total ellagic acid contents. Jabuticaba, the most consumed in Brazil among those and already adapted to commercial plantations, contained concentrated phenolics compounds, including ellagitannins, in the peel. Anthocyanins (cyanidin derivatives) increased significantly through ripening of jabuticaba and were not present in the pulp or seeds. Samples collected from three different locations during summer, winter and spring had total ellagic contents varying from 1.88 to 3.31 g kg(-1) (FW). The decrease in ellagic acid content with ripening was more accentuated for pulp (eight times) compared to seeds (2.3 times) and peel (2.0 times). These results showed the potential of jabuticaba as dietary source of ellagic acid and reinforced consumption of the whole fruit by the population.

Aethalion reticulatum frequently forms symbiotic interactions with hymenopteran insects, however, there is little information involving social wasps. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide ecological and ethological information regarding the use of honeydew produced by A. reticulatum as a food resource for different species of social wasps in an urban environment, in an ecotonal region between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. During the study, 54 individuals of 10 species of social wasps were recorded consuming honeydew produced by A. reticulatum. It is likely that generalizing and standardizing classifications of interactions between social wasp-hemipteran will not be possible. Nevertheless, our study provides important information: first, different species of Polistinae can simultaneously use honeydew produced by A. reticulatum as a food source in urban environments, and second, it contributes ethological information, with newly behavioral acts, regarding the use and competition for this food resource among social wasps.

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) and false jaboticaba (Myrciaria vexator) fruits are two pleasant-tasting, dark-colored fruits, native to Brazil. They are rich sources of bioactive phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, as well as less well-known polyphenols like depsides. Jaboticabin, a depside originally we identified from jaboticaba fruits, is being explored a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These two Myciaria fruits are similar in morphology, but their taste profiles differ markedly. This study was focused on identifying the marker compounds between them using HPLC-PDA, LC-TOF-MS, combined with principal component analysis. As a result, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was found as the major anthocyanin in Myrciaria fruits. Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside was found to be the marker compound for jaboticaba, while cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinose were two marker compounds distinguishing false jaboticaba. In addition, two ellagitannins, iso-oenothein C and oenothein C, were isolated and identified from both of these fruits for the first time. Jaboticabin occurred in both fruits, and because of its potential to treat COPD, was synthesized in the laboratory for the first time. (This work was supported by NIH-NHLBI, grant 5SC1HL096016).

Insects and animals are attracted to, and feed on ripe fruit, thereby promoting seed dispersal. As a vital vitamin and nutrient source, fruit make up an indispensable and enjoyable component of the human diet. Fruit ripening involves a series of physiological and biochemical changes in, among others, pigmentation, chlorophyll (Chl) degradation, texture, sugar accumulation, and flavor. Growing evidence indicates that the coordinated and ordered trait changes during fruit ripening depend on a complex regulatory network consisting of transcription factors, co-regulators, hormonal signals, and epigenetic modifications. As one of the predominant transcription factor families in plants and a downstream component of ethylene signaling, more and more studies are showing that APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) family transcription factors act as critical regulators in fruit ripening. In this review, we focus on the regulatory mechanisms of AP2/ERFs in fruit ripening, and in particular the recent results on their target genes and co-regulators. We summarize and discuss the role of AP2/ERFs in the formation of key fruit-ripening attributes, the enactment of their regulatory mechanisms by interaction with other proteins, their role in the orchestration of phytohormone-signaling networks, and the epigenetic modifications associated with their gene expression. Our aim is to provide a multidimensional perspective on the regulatory mechanisms of AP2/ERFs in fruit ripening, and a reference for understanding and furthering research on the roles of AP2/ERF in fruit ripening.

The ability of insects to associate olfactory cues with food from their environment has been well documented with various insect orders. However, these studies were based on prior training of insects to associate odors with food sources in the laboratory or in the field with almost no evidence for the development of this phenomenon in natural ecosystems. In New Zealand's ancient Fuscospora spp. or beech forests, invasive Vespula social wasps were attracted to odor from honeydew (benzaldehyde and n-octanol) but did not respond to a known wasp attractant (isobutanol and acetic acid). On the other hand, wasps in a rural/suburban area in New Zealand did not respond to honeydew odor but responded instead to the known wasp attractant. Similarly, social wasps in Hungary did not respond to honeydew odor, but responded to the known wasp attractant. DNA sequences of Vespula vulgaris from the two locations in New Zealand were 100% identical. Similarly, DNA sequences of V. germanica from the two locations in New Zealand were 100% identical, indicating little or no intra-specific variation. On the other hand, DNA sequences of V. vulgaris and V. germanica from New Zealand were 99.56 and 99.78% matches with V. vulgaris and V. germanica samples from Hungary, respectively. Electroantennogram (EAG) response profiles of wasps from the three locations to benzaldehyde, isobutanol, acetic acid, n-octanol and heptyl butyrate were similar. The high similarity in DNA sequences and EAG profiles, with only a behavioral difference in the response to odor sources, suggests that social wasps in New Zealand's beech forest have naturally developed associative learning for the odor of the carbohydrate-rich honeydew. This is the first study to provide conclusive evidence of the occurrence and the development of associative learning of food odor by social insects in a natural ecosystem free of human interference. The ability of social wasps to naturally develop associative learning of food odor might in part explain why they are extremely successful invaders of new ecosystems, especially those with rich honeydew resources. The finding of our study will have significant implications for the use of attractants in wasp monitoring and control in different habitats.

Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of the subfamily Polistinae, being biological pest control agents, can effectively participate in ongoing efforts to limit the use of chemical agents used in combating insect pests in urban forestry. The objective of the study, conducted in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in May 2011, was aimed at identifying species of this group foraging on Eugenia uniflora Linnaeus (Myrtaceae) plants. The study area was monitored once a week, even as data on social wasps foraging on plants of E. uniflora were collected. The data collected included study of their daily activity pattern, diversity, dominance and overlap of temporal niches relating to species of this group. Data analysis revealed that E. uniflora plants were visited by 217 individuals of 16 species of the subfamily Polistinae. Foraging behavior of social wasps bore no relationship with sampling time, but overlap of temporal niche was high. It was observed that the species of social wasps did not damage healthy fruits, but they were probably searching for Lonchaeidae and Tephritidae larvae. It is important to preserve the diversity of these predators, since they are potentially important as a partial alternative to environmentally degrading chemical pesticides currently used in urban forestry for pest control.

NIRS and iSPA-PLS for predicting total anthocyanin content in jaboticaba fruit

Use of a crosslinked casein micelle hydrogel as a carrier for jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) extract

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) is a recognizable and unique crop from Brazil. The fruit’s byproducts are currently being studied, given their bioactive composition and promising anti-cancer potential. It is not evident, however, if different harvesting seasons can modify the chemical profile and antioxidant capacity of jaboticaba fruit fractions. Furthermore, as there is limited data for jaboticaba’s anti-proliferative effects, additional assessments are required to improve the robustness of these findings. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the composition of the peel of jaboticaba collected in two periods (May—off-season, sample 1—and August–October—peak season, sample 2) and test the peel’s richest anthocyanin sample against colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. To accomplish this, proximate, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analyses were performed in two freeze-dried samples; and anti-proliferative and/or colony-forming assays were carried out in Caco-2, HT29, and HT29-MTX cells. As a result, sample 2 showed the highest levels of polyphenols overall, including flavonoids and anthocyanins. This sample displayed significative higher contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (48%) and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (105%), in addition to a superior antioxidant capacity (23% higher). Sample 1 showed higher amounts of total protein, gallic acid (20% higher), and specific carotenoids. An aqueous extract from sample 2 was tested against CRC, showing anti-proliferative effects for Caco-2 cells at 1 and 2 mg/mL concentrations, with IC50 values of 1.2–1.3 mg/mL. Additionally, the extract was able to inhibit cell colony formation when tested at both low and high concentrations. In conclusion, jaboticaba collected in the main season stands out regarding its polyphenol composition and holds potential against cancer cell growth.

Social wasps stand out due to their role in the trophic balance of the ecosystems. These insects can get nutrients by preying on other insects, such as Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and the decomposing remains of vertebrates. Some species, such as Polybia scutellaris, can also use pollen and nectar stored in their nests to produce honey. Some studies lay emphasis on the prey captured by social wasps, showing that predation, in some conditions, is directed to Lepidoptera larvae, such as for Polybia occidentalis, Polybia paulista and Polybia ignobilis. Other species like P. scutellaris focus on flies of the Tabanidae, Syrphidae, Muscidae and Anthomyiidae families. There are few studies with social wasps that feed on animal carcasses; this way, our study aims to report the predation on individuals of the Sarcophagidae family, which use Rattus norvegicus carcasses as a food source, by the social wasp Polybia scutellari

Flood risk analysis for metropolitan areas – a case study for Shanghai

Social wasps capture adult and/or immature insects to feed their larvae. Frequent observations indicate mainly small or immature insects as their prey. However, there are very few records of social wasps as predators of larger living insects. Herein, we report a predation event carried out by an understory social wasp Agelaia testacea (Fabricius, 1804) (Vespidae: Polistinae) on an adult katydid Parascudderia sp. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae), visibly larger than the wasp. This fact is added to a previous internet record of the same type of predation (Agelaia testacea in Tettigoniidae) for French Guiana in the Parc amazonien de Guyane. Studies like this contribute to understanding the trophic networks and hunting behavior of social wasps.

Identification of candidate genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation in the peel of jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) fruits by transcriptomic analysis

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) and false jaboticaba (Myrciaria vexator) fruits are two pleasant-tasting, dark-colored fruits, native to Brazil. They are rich sources of phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins, as well as less well known polyphenols such as depsides. These two fruits are very similar in morphology, but their taste profiles differ markedly. This study was focused on identifying the marker compounds between them using HPLC-PDA and LC-TOF-MS, combined with principal component analysis. As a result, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was found as the major anthocyanin in Myrciaria fruits. Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside was found to be the marker compound for jaboticaba, while cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinose were two marker compounds distinguishing false jaboticaba. In addition, two ellagitannins, iso-oenothein C and oenothein C, were isolated and identified from both of these fruits for the first time. Jaboticabin, a minor bioactive depside, occurred in both fruits and, because of its potential to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was successfully synthesized in the laboratory.