Cereus Jamacaru Research Articles

Record of Neosilba zadolicha Mcalpine & Steyskal (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) in Mandacaru fruits

ABSTRACT: For the first time, the presence of Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal is being recorded in mandacaru fruits [Cereus jamacaru DC.], in the municipality of Alvorada do Gurgueia, in the south-central region of the State of Piauí, Brazil (8º22’35.63” S, 43º51’25,96” W). Eleven specimens were obtained from mandacaru fruits in an area of native forest between February and May of 2016. This is the first record of N. zadolicha in a Cactaceae species.

Resistance of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in the Brazilian semiarid environment

ABSTRACT: The semiarid northeast of Brazil contains a unique biome known as caatinga, with a maximum temperature of 40 ºC and a relativity humidity of 56%. The caatinga is characterized by a variety of plants, including Cereus jamacaru Dc (mandacaru), Poincianella microphylla Mart. ex G. Don (catingueira), Pilosocereus gounellei FAC Weber (xique-xique) and Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir (jurema preta). Sheep and goat industries are economically strong in that region, despite the fact that caseous lymphadenitis is highly prevalent. The aim of the present study was to assess the survival and biofilm production of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates in the environment and under controlled temperatures (28°C, 37°C and 42°C) under different surfaces (plants, soil, wood, wire and thorns). In addition, we investigated the effects of applying the disinfectants chlorhexidine, hypochlorite and quaternary ammonia in soil, tiles, wood and vegetation cover. Four strains of C. pseudotuberculosis were selected (two from goats and two from sheep) for inoculation according to their in vitro biofilm production. Adherence to microplates was used to assess the biofilm-forming ability of the bacteria. Lower survival rates were observed when isolates of C. pseudotuberculosis were subjected to a temperature of 42°C. In terms of caatinga biome plants, contamination of jurema-preta plants resulted in the lowest survival rates. The disinfectant quaternary ammonia promoted a lower inoculum survival in all surfaces. The disinfectants and the higher temperature contributed to the reduction of biofilm production in isolates of C. pseudotuberculosis. knowledge of these patterns is important for the establishment of disease control measures, given the questionable efficacy of the treatment and the immuno-prophylaxis of caseous lymphadenitis.

Evaluating the efficacy of Hypogeococcus sp. as a biological control agent of the cactaceous weed Cereus jamacaru in South Africa

We evaluated the efficacy of Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) as a biological control agent of the cactaceous weed Cereus jamacaru De Candolle (Queen of the Night cactus) in South Africa. This weed has been described as being under complete biological control due to the action of Hypogeococcus sp., although no formal post-release evaluation had been conducted prior to this study. Biological control was associated with significant reductions in fruiting, plant survival and plant densities, while plant population age structures were negatively affected. Weed populations infected by Hypogeococcus sp. were typified by low or non-existent recruitment and are expected to diminish with time. Populations where Hypogeococcus sp. was absent displayed extensive recruitment, and are predicted to expand or self-replace, if left unchecked. These data indicate that Hypogeococcus sp. has a significant negative effect on C. jamacaru at the individual plant and population level, and given sufficient time provides complete biological control over this weed in South Africa.

The role of species turnover in structuring bacterial communities in a local scale in the cactus rhizosphere

Cereus jamacaru is a native cactus in the semiarid biome caatinga able to withstand long periods of drought. Here, we studied the rhizosphere microbiome of this cactus to understand how precipitation affects the assembly of bacterial communities from the taxonomical and functional perspectives. We selected three C. jamacaru plants in the caatinga biome, sampled the rhizosphere soil from the same plants during rainy and dry seasons and performed shotgun sequencing from total DNA isolated from rhizosphere using Ion Torrent technology. Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria showed increase in relative abundance during the rainy season when compared to dry season. Five major functional groups were significantly different, including differences in amino acids and derivatives, carbohydrates, protein metabolism, respiration, and RNA metabolism. Taxonomically, the assembly of bacterial communities follows a neutral model. The assembly of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of C. jamacaru is affected by precipitation resulting in different taxonomical and functional community patterns during dry and rainy seasons. We attribute these differences on rhizosphere communities composition to dispersal limitation of microorganisms caused by low pore connectivity due to low water content in the soil, which leads to spatially isolate communities during the dry season.

ESTRUTURA POPULACIONAL E ESPACIAL DE<i> Cereus jamacaru</i> DC. EM DUAS ÁREAS DE CAATINGA DO AGRESTE DA PARAÍBA, BRASIL

As cactáceas nativas ainda constituem um grupo de plantas que necessita de estudos sobre sua ocorrência, distribuição e dinâmica para subsidiar ações de manejo e conservação da família na região de inserção. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a estrutura e distribuição espacial de Cereus jamacaru DC. em uma mata de cipó (município de Campina Grande) e em uma caatinga arbórea (município de Monteiro) no semiárido da Paraíba, Brasil. Foram plotadas 100 parcelas com dimensões de 10 m x 10 m em cada área. Dentro das parcelas, todos os indivíduos foram etiquetados e mensurados na circunferência da base do caule com auxílio de uma fita métrica e a altura total com auxílio de tubos de PVC graduados. A estrutura espacial das populações foi obtida pela coleta da coordenada geográfica de cada indivíduo em cada área e expressa por meio de mapas de distribuição espacial. Foram amostrados 39 espécimes em Campina Grande, apresentando área basal (AB) de 0,69 m2, densidade absoluta (DA) de 39 ind. ha-1, frequência absoluta (FA) de 32% e tendência ao agrupamento (IGA=1,01). Em Monteiro, foram amostrados 38 indivíduos, AB = 0,47 m2, DA = 38 ind. ha-1, FA = 29% e tendência ao agrupamento (IGA=1,11). Os indivíduos de C. jamacaru apresentam padrão de distribuição agrupado em ambas as caatingas secundárias, sendo que a população de Monteiro enfrenta problemas de recrutamento, o que poderá implicar no insucesso reprodutivo da população futura. A espécie apresenta padrão de distribuição similar a outras cactáceas colunares.

Extraction and characterization of cellulose nanowhiskers from Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.) spines

Cellulose nanowhiskers were extracted from the spines of Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.), a cactus native to the Caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil, using sulfuric acid hydrolysis preceded by alkaline treatment and bleaching. Results showed that three bleaching steps were required to remove most of the non-cellulosic constituents of the spines that yielded 77.4% cellulose. Nanowhiskers size decreased from about 400 to 260 nm when extraction time varied from 60 to 120 min, this was also evidenced by X-ray diffraction. Alkaline treated and bleached samples had lower thermal stability as compared to untreated spines due to removal of lignin and increased surface area. The amount of time samples were treated with sulfuric acid influenced the thermal stability and consequently the degree of crystallinity of the nanowhiskers. Cellulose nanowhiskers were obtained from Mandacaru spines providing a new renewable source of reinforcement with potential applications in nanocomposites.

Cactus survey at the Floresta Nacional of Contendas do Sincorá, Bahia, Brazil

The Brazilian state of Bahia is home to 98 out of 260 species of the country's native Cactaceae. The Floresta Nacional Contendas do Sincora (FLONA Sincora), in the Municipio de Contendas do Sincora has vegetation, climate and temperatures typical of the Caatinga biome. The survey intended to increase the knowledge regarding the cacti of protected areas within the state of Bahia and was based on fieldwork carried out in April and July 2014 and February 2015, complemented by studies of herbarium material. The FLONA Sincora harbours 11 genera and 14 species within its area: Arrojadoa penicillata (Gurke) Britton & Rose; Brasilicereus phaeacanthus (Gurke) Backeb; Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis (Willd.) A. Berger; Cereus jamacaru DC.; Espostoopsis dybowskii (Rol.-Goss.) Buxb; Hylocereus setaceus (Salm-Dyck) R. Bauer; Melocactus concinnus Buining & Brederoo; Pereskia aureiflora F. Ritter; Pereskia bahiensis Gurke; Pilosocereus catingicola (Gurke) Byles & G.D. Rowley ssp catingicola; Stephanocereus leucostele (Gurke) A. Berger; Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy; Tacinga funalis Britton & Rose; and Tacinga palmadora (Britton & Rose) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy. Of these, Espostoopsis dybowskii, Pereskia bahiensis and Stephanocereus leucostele are endemic to Bahia. The east Brazilian genus Tacinga was the largest, with three species. An identification key for all taxa, together with descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic and conservation and threat statements are presented.

Patterns of species richness and abundance among cactus communities receiving different rainfall levels in the semiarid region of Brazil

This study examines the variation in cacti species richness and abundance among sites with different average rainfall and soil types. We assessed a total of 3,660 individuals of six species of Cactaceae: Cereus jamacaru, Melocactus zehntneri, Pilosocereus gounellei, Pilosocereus pachycladus, Tacinga inamoena, and Tacinga palmadora. The greatest species richness and abundance of cacti were at locations with low rainfall and more clayey soils. The species studied differed in multidimensional representation, with some species being more positively related to soils with a higher proportion of fine particles (M. zehntneri and P. gounellei), while others were negatively related to soils with a higher proportion of coarser particles (T. inamoena) or positively related to areas with higher rainfall and vegetation cover (C. jamacaru and P. pachycladus). The differential responses of the species of Cactaceae studied in relation to the gradients analyzed demonstrates the need for more research into the relationship between cacti and environmental variables in semiarid ecosystems with high environmental heterogeneity.

Gross composition, fatty acid profile and sensory characteristics of Saanen goat milk fed with Cacti varieties.

The use of cactus is an alternative for sustainable production systems in Northeast Brazil. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of supplying five cacti species from the Brazilian semi-arid northeast region on the physical-chemical sensory characteristics and the profile of fatty acids of Saanen goat milk. Five multiparous goats were used, confined, and distributed in a Latin square 5 × 5 design, with five experimental diets and five periods. Treatments consisted of 473 to 501g/kg of a cactaceous mix (Pilosocereus gounellei, Cereus jamacaru, Cereus squamosus, Nopalea cochenillifera, or Opuntia stricta) added to 187.8 to 197.9g/kg of "Sabiá" (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) hay and 311 to 329g/kg of concentrate. No effects of experimental diets (P > 0.05) were evidenced in the physical and chemical composition of milk for fat, total solids, or salt levels. However, protein, lactose, solids-not-fat levels, and cryoscopy point were influenced by diet (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the profile of fatty acids between treatments for all acids found, except for butyric acid. Diets also did not (P > 0.05) confer sensory changes in milk characteristics. The use of the native cacti in the dairy goats' diet did not influence the sensory characteristics or lipid profile of milk.

Endophytic bacteria in cacti native to a Brazilian semi-arid region

To identify endophytic bacteria in Brazilian cacti, and to evaluate the effects of those bacteria on the growth of Cereus jamacaru seedlings and phosphate solubilization in vitro. Samples of roots and stems of C. jamacaru and Melocactus zehntneri were collected from the Aiuaba ecological Station in Brazilian semi-arid region. Bacterial isolates were cultured in semi-solid N-free media and grown in Pikoskaya’s and GL media phosphate solubilizing. In seedling assays, strains of Rhizobium (CAC 01), Enterobacter (CAC 02 and CAC 11), Pseudomonas (CAC 03) and Burkholderia (CAC 07 and CAC 10) were tested. Culturable endophytic bacteria were observed in all samples from cacti, but the populations were low. Representatives of eight groups were identified based on partial sequences of 16S rDNA and were related to Rhizobium, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea species. The colonization of seedlings with endophytic bacteria was observed, but biomass accumulation did not show a significant increase. All strains were able to grow on solid Pikoskaya’s medium. The bacterial strains didn’t increase significantly the cactus biomass during 6 months of cultivation, but showing potential phosphate solubilizing activity.

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Cereus jamacaru DC. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae) in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil.

Studies of the dispersal modes of plants aid our understanding of the dynamics of resource and its availability for dispersal agents. The present work sought to characterize the fruiting patterns of the native Caatinga (dryland) cactus Cereus jamacaru, identify its principal dispersers, and evaluate the effects of seed passage through digestive tract of dispersers on its germination. Cereus jamacaru present an annual fruiting pattern and fruiting peaks occurred during June/2009 and February/2010. A total of 135 visits by nine species of resident Caatinga bird species were recorded. The most frequent visiting bird species were Paroaria dominicana and Euphonia chlorotica. Length of bird visits varied from 15 seconds to 4 minutes and seeds removed by birds travelled 10.6 ± 11.2 m until dispersers make the first landing perch, in some cases more than 40 meters away. Germination tests show birds had a high quantity of viable seeds of C. jamacaru in its feces. Seeds that passed through the digestive tract of birds showed a similar germinability of the seeds of the control group. However, the seeds dispersed by birds showed lowest mean germination time related to the control group seeds. This study highlights the potential role of birds as seed dispersers of C. jamacaru, swallowing the whole seeds and defecating intact seeds, accelerating the germination process and transporting seeds away from the mother plant.

English

In this study, an extensive investigation was conducted to determine if declared weeds could be used as a source of water for agricultural practices in dry areas. The objective of this study was to determineif declared weeds could successfully be used as a source of water for agricultural practices in dry areas by extracting the water by means of mechanical and chemical methods. The Cereus jamacura cactus, also known as Queen of the Night, with a moisture content of 91 wt%, was selected for this study. Both mechanical and chemical extraction methods were used to determine the maximum water yield possible. Juicing, pressing with a hydraulic cold press and pressing with rollers were used as mechanical methods to extract water from the cacti and water yields of 7.0, 4.9 and 2.9 wt% were obtained respectively. The chemical extraction processes entailed the pulping of the cacti and the filtering off of the water. The effect of pectinase, cellulase and a surfactant at a fixed dosage on the amount of water extracted (mass of water per mass of cacti used) was investigated. The quality of the water was also determined. Temperature (30 to 50°C) and pH (2.5 to 6.5) were varied to find the optimum extraction conditions. The highest water yield (55 wt% of total cacti mass) was obtained using pectinase enzymes at a temperature of 40°C and a pH of 3.5 and cellulose enzymes at a temperature of 35°C and a pH of 5.5. This relates to a yield of 550 L of water per ton of cacti, making chemical water extraction a viable option if compared to the pollution created by the annual burning of the cacti. It was concluded from this study that the water that was extracted from the C. jamacaru cacti would not be suitable for either domestic or industrial application due to the high levels of potassium (up to 2,650 ppm), phosphates (up to 2,200 ppm), sulphates (up to 3,800 ppm) and nitrates (up to 670 ppm) in the water. The high concentration of phosphates and nitrates, however, makes the extracted water an excellent fertiliser for crops requiring high nitrate and phosphate dosages. Small community farmers could thus benefit by using cacti as a source of water for small scale biofuels production plants while also obtaining an excellent additional fertiliser for crop cultivation. Keywords: Cereus jamacaru , water yield, water quality. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5926-5932

Water Regime Influences Bulk Soil and Rhizosphere of Cereus jamacaru Bacterial Communities in the Brazilian Caatinga Biome

We used the T-RFLP technique combined with Ion Torrent (PGM) sequencing of 16S rRNA and multivariate analysis to study the structure of bulk soil and rhizosphere bacterial communities of a cactus, Cereus jamacaru, from the Brazilian Caatinga biome, which is unique to Brazil. The availability of water shapes the rhizosphere communities, resulting in different patterns during the rainy and dry seasons. Taxonomic approaches and statistical analysis revealed that the phylum Actinobacteria strongly correlated with the dry season, while samples from the rainy season exhibited a strong correlation with the phylum Proteobacteria for rhizosphere samples and with the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Lentisphaerae, and Tenericutes for bulk soil samples. The STAMP software also indicated that the phylum Bacteroidetes, as well as two classes in the Proteobacteria phylum (γ and δ), were the most significant ones during the rainy season. The average abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria and the genus Bacillus was significantly greater during the dry season. Some significant genera found during the dry season might reflect their tolerance to the extreme conditions found in the Caatinga biome. They may also indicate the ecological function that microorganisms play in providing plants with some degree of tolerance to water stress or in assisting in their development through mechanisms of growth promotion. Alterations in microbial communities can be due to the different abilities of native microorganisms to resist and adapt to environmental changes.

Use and knowledge of Cactaceae in Northeastern Brazil

BackgroundThis study aimed to record the use, and knowledge that residents from São Francisco community (Paraiba, Brazil) have regarding the Cactaceae.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with 118 informants; 50 men and 68 women. The cacti cited in this study were organised into use categories and use values were calculated. Differences in the values applied to species and use categories by men and women were compared via a G test (Williams).ResultsThe nine species identified were: Cereus jamacaru DC., Melocactus bahiensis (Brtitton & Rose) Luetzelb., Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck., Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill, Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Pilosocereus gounellei (F.A.C. Weber) Byles & Rowley, Pilosocereus pachycladus F. Ritter, Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy, Tacinga palmadora (Britton & Rose) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy. In total, 1,129 use citations were recorded, divided into 11 categories. The use value categories with the highest scores were forage (0.42), food (0.30) and construction (building) (0.25). P. pachycladus showed the greatest use value, versatility and number of plant parts used.ConclusionThe survey showed that the Cactaceae is extremely important for several uses and categories attributed to different species. Apart from contributing to the ethnobotanical knowledge of the Cactaceae, another important focus of this study was to reinforce the necessity for further studies that record the traditional knowledge about this plant family, which has been lost in younger generations.

Fungal endophytes from cactus Cereus jamacaru in Brazilian tropical dry forest: a first study

Endophytic fungi live within the healthy tissues of plants and can promote host species tolerance to different environmental stresses. However, most studies have been of plants in humid environments, and there are few reports of the benefits of such associations for plants of extreme environments. Our aims were to identify endophytic fungi using morphological taxonomy, to explore richness and estimate species frequency in a cactus, C. jamacaru, in Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga). We thus identified 59 taxa, corresponding to 69.7 % of the total number of isolates; the other 30.3 % were sterile mycelia. Cladosporium cladosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum were the species most commonly isolated, followed by Acremonium implicatum, Aureobasidium pullulans, Trichoderma viride, Chrysonilia sitophila, and Aspergillus flavus. Forty-seven species are recorded for the first time as endophytic fungi of cacti, and 18 others as endophytes for Brazil; this suggests that C. jamacaru harbors a highly diverse fungal community as measured by a diversity index. However, species accumulation curves suggest that our study still underestimates endophyte diversity because it does not provide an exhaustive sample. To our knowledge, this is the first report of endophytic fungi from C. jamacaru in tropical dry forests.

Genetic relationships among accessions of mandacaru (Cereus spp.: Cactaceae) using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP)

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to evaluate the genetic diversity at the DNA level of mandacaru (genus Cereus ) and to differentiate between 17 accessions grown in different regions of Brazil. The six primer pairs used amplified 348 AFLP markers, of which 282 (81%) were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic fragments ranged from 62.5% for the primer combination E-AAC × M-CAG to 91.7% for E-ACT × M-CAC. The largest number of informative markers (67) was detected using the primer combination E-ACA × M-CAG, while the E-AGC × M-CTC combination revealed the lowest number of polymorphic fragments (46) in the mandacaru plantlets. The Nei's identity value between the accessions of mandacaru was 0.6348–0.8343 for plants from the Southern and Northeastern regions, 0.6348–0.6529 between accessions from the Southwestern and Northeastern regions, and 0.6193–0.6944 between accessions from the Southern and Southwestern regions. The similarity among the Southern, Northeastern, and Southwestern regions indicates that the plants of the three regions may be different species of the Cereus genus: Cereus peruvianus or Cereus repandus (Southern region), Cereus jamacaru (Northeastern region), and Cereus hildmaniannus (Southwestern region). Alternatively, the accessions may belong to one species in the process of speciation. ► Molecular markers in cactus. ► AFLP for an adequate classification of the Cereus genus. ► Genetic diversity in plants of the Cereus genus. ► AFLP for differentiation of plants showing similar morphological characteristics. ► AFLP analysis for differentiate mandacaru plants grown in different regions of Brazil.

Genetic diversity of spineless Cereus jamacaru accessions using morphological and molecular markers

This is the first study to examine the genetic diversity of mandacaru cactus (Cereus jamacaru P. DC.). Plants of spineless mandacaru are commonly found in gardens and parks of urban areas in northeastern Brazil. In addition to exploring their ornamental potential, morphological, and genetic characterization may contribute to the development of plant materials that can be used as a source of macromolecules of potential economic interest. The goal of this study was to estimate the genetic variability of spineless mandacaru accessions using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers, and to characterize their morphology. Ten samples of newly emitted shoots with differentiated areolas and ribs were collected from each accession from the Cactaceous Germplasm Collection of Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical, in Fortaleza, CE. Shoot shape and aspects of spine primordia (presence, location, grouping, and size of spines) were evaluated. The morphological analysis showed that the spineless mandacaru presented spine primordia. Twenty-six RAPD and 15 ISSR primers were polymorphic. A total of 262 markers were obtained, 129 of which were polymorphic. The average polymorphism of ISSR markers was higher than that of RAPD markers. The dendrograms for both analyses showed differentiation between accessions. Nevertheless, the molecular markers detected higher levels of diversity and a different pattern of diversity than those found using morphological markers. The molecular results revealed significant genetic variability both within and between groups.

Germination and morphology of fruits, seeds and plants of Cereus jamacaru DC

This work aimed to evaluate the germination and morphology of fruits, seeds and description of plant growth stages of mandacaru. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of combinations of two light conditions and three temperature regimes. A daily count of the number of germinated seeds was performed until the 16th day after sowing in order to determine the percentage, speed and time of germination. External and internal aspects were considered for the morphological description. The germination and the development of plants were evaluated for 150 days and featured eight stages of growth, based on morphological differentiation. The fruit has 154,66 ± 40,01 g mass, 82,26 ± 5,78 mm length, 62,63 ± 6,63 mm diameter and 1439 ± 189,78 seeds. The temperature of 25 °C under a photoperiod of 12 h provides the highest rate of seed germination and the seeds behave as neutral photoblastic. The germination is epigeal and fanerocotyledonary. The growth is slow and after 150 days of sowing the plant presents epicotyl with a large amount of thorns, where the whole plant is 325.30 mm in length.

First Report of the Cactus Cyst Nematode, Cactodera cacti, on Cactus in Northern China.

During a survey for cyst nematodes from August to September 2011, nearly 15% of cactus (Cereus jamacaru) plants exhibited yellowing and wilting symptoms in greenhouses from Shenyang Botanical Garden, Liaoning Province, China. Cysts (averaging 50 per 100 g of samples) were detected by the sieving-decanting method on the roots and in rhizospheric soil. Second stage juveniles and eggs were isolated directly from cysts. Cysts, juveniles, and eggs were identified by morphology. Cysts (n = 12) were rounded to lemon-shaped with a protruding neck and vulva. The cyst wall had a zig-zag pattern. The vulval cone was circumfenestrate without underbridge and bullae but generally with vulval denticles. The cysts were characterized by body length excluding neck (range = 399.5 to 622.0 μm, mean = 524.9), body width (300.4 to 469.9 μm, 383.4), length to width ratio (1.1 to 1.7, 1.4), neck length (41.0 to 130.9 μm, 61.5) and width (55.0 to 98.7 μm, 76), and circumfenestral diameter length (24.6 to 30.2 μm, 28.4). Measurements of second-stage juveniles (n = 20) included length of body (range = 467.3 to 542.5 μm, mean = 513.8), stylet (23.0 to 25.8 μm, 24.6) with knobs rounded to slightly projecting anteriorly and concave on anterior surface, tail (45.9 to 59.5 μm, 52.2), and hyaline tail terminal (16.3 to 23.2 μm, 19.1). Eggs (n = 20) had heavy punctations on the shell surface. All morphological data and characteristics were consistent with Cactodera cacti (3). Molecular evidence confirmed the identification. DNA from a single cyst was extracted by using the protocol described by Subbotin et al. (2), the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D2-D3 fragments of the 28S rDNA were amplified with universal primers TW81 (5'-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC-3') and AB28 (5'-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3'), D2A(5'-ACAAGTACCGTGAGGGAAAGTTG-3') and D3B(5'-TCGGAAGGAACCAGCTACTA-3'), respectively. The ITS PCR product was digested with eight restriction enzymes (AluI, AvaI, Bsh1236I, BsuRI, CfoI, MvaI, PstI, and RsaI) to obtain restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles (4). The ITS and D2D3 sequences were cloned and assayed using an ABI-PRISM 3730 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Sangon, Shanghai, China) and were subjected to a database search using BLAST (National Centre for Biotechnology Information). The 980-bp ITS sequence exhibited 99% similarity with that of a C. cacti isolate from Iran (GenBank Accession No. AF498393.1) and the 787-bp D2D3 sequence exhibited 99% similarity with a C. cacti isolate from Germany (GenBank Accession No. DQ328702.1). Cactus cyst nematode has been mainly reported on ornamental plants of the family Cactaceae grown in greenhouses. Infested plants become reddish brown to yellow in color, wilted, stunted, with reduced flower production and shortening flower period. With high population densities of C. cacti, death of plants may occur (1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cacti in northern China.

Seed reserve composition and mobilization during germination and early seedling establishment of Cereus jamacaru D.C. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae)

Cereus jamacaru, a Cactaceae found throughout northeast Brazil, is widely used as cattle food and as an ornamental and medicinal plant. However, there has been little information about the physiological and biochemical aspects involved in its germination. The aim of this study was to investigate its reserve mobilization during germination and early seedling growth. For this, C. jamacaru seeds were germinated in a growth chamber and collected at 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 12 days after imbibition for morphological and biochemical analyses. Dry seeds had wrinkled seed coats and large, curved embryos. Lipids were the most abundant reserve, comprising approximately 55% and 65% of the dry mass for cotyledons and the hypocotylradicle axis, respectively. Soluble sugars and starch were the minor reserves, corresponding to approximately 2.2% of the cotyledons' dry mass, although their levels showed significant changes during germination. Soluble proteins corresponded to 40% of the cotyledons' dry mass, which was reduced by 81% at the final period of germination compared to dry seeds. C. jamacaru seed can be classified as an oil seed due to its high lipid content. Moreover, lipids were the main reserve mobilized during germination because their levels were strongly reduced after seed germination, while proteins were the second most utilized reserve in this process.