Cerrado Research Articles

Evaluation of chickpea genotypes in Cerrado conditions in the South of the state of Tocantins

The chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) has potential for cultivation in the Brazilian cerrado region, its sowing supplies both the domestic market and exports, bringing benefits to the economy. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate morphophysiological and yield parameters in six genotypes of chickpeas with different genetic basis, which make it possible to select materials suitable for commercial cultivation under the conditions of the cerrado in the south of the state of Tocantins. Six treatments were used to carry out the experiment, each one characterized by one of the following: BRS Cícero; BRS Aleppo; BRS Khalifa; BRS Cristalino; Jamu 96 and BRS Toro. To define the best genotypes, morphophysiological characteristics of the crop were evaluated, namely: grain yield, weight of a thousand grains, plant height, number of days until flowering, number of days until maturation, chlorophyll a and b index, internal concentration of CO2, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration. The cultivation of chickpeas in the cerrado is viable for the region. The Jamu 96 genotype stands out among the others, in the main morphophysiological characteristics, being the one that obtained the highest production averages. The genotypes BRS Cícero, BRS Aleppo and BRS Khalifa showed potential for improvement in production, due to their thousand-grain weight being similar to Jamu 96, making evident the need for genetic improvement in order to obtain genotypes more adapted to the soil and climate conditions of southern Brazil. Tocantins, making them more adapted to the region and thus increasing the production potential.

Diversity of insect galls in veredas of the Brazilian Cerrado in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Brazilian veredas are hygrophilous communities with high species diversity, featuring many floristic studies but a still incipient number of faunistic studies. In the present study, we conducted an inventory of insect galls in four different veredas located in the Northern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Overall, we found 75 gall morphotypes, distributed across 50 host species representing 37 plant genera and 22 families. Fabaceae was the plant family with the greatest number of insect gall morphotypes (n = 21), followed by Malpighiaceae (n = 10). The plant genera that supported the highest diversity of insect galls were Copaifera (n = 8) and Byrsomima (n = 5). The plant species Copaifera oblongifolia (n = 6) and Anacardium humile (n = 4) exhibited the highest richness of insect galls. The leaves were the most attacked organs (89% of all galls). Most morphotypes are glabrous (83%), green (69%) and lenticular (60%). The taxa of gall-inducing insects were identified for 46 morphotypes (80%), and were recorded inducers from the orders Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) was the most representative galling group, with 42 morphotypes, making up 93.3% of the recorded inducers. Among the sampled veredas areas, the Vereda do Peruaçu presented the highest richness of insect gall morphotypes and host plant species. The faunistic similarity was higher in the Pedras and Tiririca veredas, followed by Almescla and Peruaçu veredas. This is the first systematic inventory of insect galls and their host plant in Brazilian veredas. The diversity of insect galls in the studied veredas is relatively high when compared to other Brazilian Cerrado vegetation types.

Development and Rapid Sensory Descriptive Characterization of Cereal Bars Made with Brazilian Licuri Nut (Syagrus coronata)

Licuri (Syagrus coronata) is an oilseed fruit common in the Brazilian caatinga and cerrado biomes. This fruit has high socioeconomic importance in the regions where it grows, being incorporated into exported animal feed and also into gastronomic preparations. Cereal bars are ready-to-eat highly consumed products with increased demand, commonly made with cereals and oilseeds such as licuri. In this sense, the incorporation of licuri in cereal bars may increase its socioeconomic value and expand its potential use. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze acceptance and describe the sensory characteristics of cereal bars incorporated with licuri nuts. This study was conducted in four stages: (1) development of samples; (2) chemical composition analysis; (3) sensory analysis; and (4) statistical analysis. Cereal bars with licuri presented proportionally lower carbohydrate and protein content as the incorporation of licuri nut increased. However, the dietary fiber content increased. Further, 122 untrained panelists participated in the analysis. The results showed that samples with all proportions of incorporation of licuri nuts were acceptable. Furthermore, the sensory descriptors related to the presence of licuri were positively associated with product acceptance. In this way, this study demonstrates yet another possibility for use of the fruit, increasing its socioeconomic potential.

The first microcaddisflies Metrichia Ross, 1938 recorded in Tocantins State, northern Brazil (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae): Metrichia elongata sp. nov. and Metrichia vulgaris Santos, Takiya & Nessimian 2016.

The microcaddisfly Neotropical genus Metrichia Ross, is recorded for the first time from the state of Tocantins, northern Brazil, through the discovery of two species: Metrichia elongata sp. nov. and Metrichia vulgaris Santos, Takiya & Nessimian 2016. Herein, the new species is described and illustrated based on males collected in a protected and preserved area in Cerrado biome of Tocantins. Metrichia elongata sp. nov. can be recognized mainly by the type and position of setae on the inferior appendages and morphology of the dorsolateral hook. The discovery of these species increases the number of Metrichia species in the Brazilian Cerrado from seven to eight and are only the eleventh and twelfth caddisfly species reported for Tocantins State.

Limed in sandy soils for soybean cultivation: A mini-review

Liming is the method in which limestone is applied to regulate the pH of the soil reducing its acidity and making the minerals labile. This study aimed to evaluate the management of liming using dolomitic limestone in sandy textured soils, on the development of soybean cultivation through a bibliographical survey. Sandy soil also, known as “light soil” is largely composed of sand and a smaller proportion of clay around 70% and 15% respectively, its grain size is higher, and the presence of nutrients is very scarce. Correcting soil acidity through liming is the first step towards obtaining a considerably productive crop, especially in recently cleared areas. Since in acidic soils, the limitation to plant development arises mainly from the indirect effects of pH. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the soil continuously as well as the weather conditions in order to obtain the desired result. Several results have been observed in which the use of liming in acidic soils, mainly in the Brazilian Cerrado, reduces the toxic action of aluminum on the plant and promotes greater absorption of nutrients and micronutrients for the plants, in addition to maintaining the soil microbiota.

First report of Laternea dringii, Phallales (Agaricomycetes) in the Central-West, State of Goiás, Brazil

Laternea dringii, a species of the phylum Basidiomycota, is notable for its distribution in tropical and neotropical regions. This study, conducted in the Cerrado area of Central-West Brazil, State of Goiás, reports the first record of L. dringii in this region. The study site, a farm with over 90 years of agricultural production, features moist soils rich in organic matter. In January 2024, specimens of L. dringii were collected, photographed, and identified using microscopic data and a key for the genus Laternea. This finding represents a significant expansion in the known distribution of L. dringii, previously documented only in Mexico and some Brazilian states. The discovery underscores the mycological diversity of the Brazilian Cerrado and contributes to a better understanding of the geographical distribution of fungi from the phylum Basidiomycota in Brazil.

Unravelling unique responses of mammal abundance to road proximity in agricultural landscapes

AbstractRoads can impact population abundance due to mortality from collisions with vehicles, habitat degradation and loss of connectivity. Some species, however, can be unaffected or even positively affected by roads and roadside environments. Despite this, there is scarce information on population‐level responses to roads. To fill this knowledge gap, we sampled medium and large mammals with camera traps near two paved roads with low and high traffic volumes in agricultural landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado. We used Royle‐Nichols' occupancy models to investigate the effects of road proximity on the local abundance of 12 mammal species with varying susceptibility to roadkill. We found that road proximity affected only three species, all of which had high roadkill rates. While two of these species exhibited lower abundance near roads, the third showed the opposite response. For most species, irrespective of their roadkill rates, variations in local abundance were strongly correlated with habitat quality and connectivity. Species' life‐history traits, individual behaviour and the impact of roads and traffic on populations over time may explain these idiosyncratic responses.

A dataset of new occurrence records of primates from the arc of deforestation, Brazil.

​​​​​​​The so-called arc of deforestation is a major agricultural and industrial frontier in southern Amazonia and northern Cerrado of Brazil. As arboreal mammals, the primates in this region are therefore threatened by forest loss and fragmentation. At the same time, knowledge about the taxonomic diversity and distribution ranges of these taxa is incomplete, which might hamper efficient conservation measurements. New species have been recently discovered in this region, and their ranges remain imprecise because only a few occurrence records are available for each species. Here we present 192 new records of 22 species and subspecies of Alouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Leontocebus, Pithecia, Plecturocebus, Saimiri, and Sapajus, collected in 56 different localities during 10 field expeditions across the arc of deforestation between 2015 and 2018. Based on these new records, we extend the ranges of Alouatta puruensis, Ateles chamek, and Saimiri collinsi; identify potential hybridization zones between A. puruensis and A. discolor, and between At. chamek and At. marginatus; redefine the range of Plecturocebus moloch; and clarify the ranges of P. baptista and P. hoffmannsi. Moreover, these results and the dataset are valuable for further research on, for example, species distribution and habitat use modeling, for assessing species extinction risks, and for supporting efforts for the conservation of species increasingly threatened on a global deforestation frontier.

Wood Ash as a Liming Material for Production of Paiaguás Grass Pasture in the Brazilian Cerrado

ABSTRACT Soil fertility is essential for maintaining pastures. For this reason, fertilizer alternatives are being sought for more sustainable production, such as using wood ash, which has potential as a fertilizer alternative. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the use of wood ash as a liming material associated with two application strategies to the soil. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Rondonópolis, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and conducted in two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) corresponding to maintenance periods of grass pasture. The experimental design was a strip-plot design with randomized blocks. Treatments were five rates of wood ash (0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 t ha−1) and two application strategies of wood ash (incorporated and not incorporated into the soil), with four replications. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression (p ≤ .05). The increment of wood ash doses positively affected the soil pH. In the second maintenance period (2021) a dry mass (DM) yield was found the highest for the incorporated application of 15.49 t DM ha−1, while the not-incorporated application strategy provided a productivity of 14.02 t DM ha−1. The wood ash doses that provided the highest yield of pasture ranged from 16 to 32 t ha−1. In the evaluated period (2021–2022), the grass pasture was more affected by wood ash doses than by application strategies to the soil.

Perception of grain farmers in the brazilian Cerrado regarding the consumption of bioinputs: a case study

Sustainable agricultural practices aim to improve soil quality, promote biodiversity, preserve the water cycle, capture carbon, and promote the welfare of the rural-workers and an-imals, while producing foods with profitability. However, little is known about the conditions and motivations that lead the farmers to know, adopt and implement these sustainable practices, such as, for example, the use of bioinputs. Thus, the objective of this study was to qualitatively analyze the perceptions of grain farmers of the Brazilian Cerrado regarding the use of bioinputs on their properties. For that, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with farmers from the Rio Verde region, in the state of Goiás. After transcribing the audio of the interviews, the texts obtained were analyzed by Atlas TI software. Content analysis was performed through the elaboration of codes created by deduction and induction. Thereby, concepts such as knowledge, long-term vision, experimentation, cost-benefit ratio, asset specificity, influencers, regulation, and independence were indicated by the interviewed farmers as important opportunities and/or limitations for the adoption of bioinputs.

Soil macrofauna communities in Brazilian land-use systems.

Soil animal communities include more than 40 higher-order taxa, representing over 23% of all described species. These animals have a wide range of feeding sources and contribute to several important soil functions and ecosystem services. Although many studies have assessed macroinvertebrate communities in Brazil, few of them have been published in journals and even fewer have made the data openly available for consultation and further use. As part of ongoing efforts to synthesise the global soil macrofauna communities and to increase the amount of openly-accessible data in GBIF and other repositories related to soil biodiversity, the present paper provides links to 29 soil macroinvertebrate datasets covering 42 soil fauna taxa, collected in various land-use systems in Brazil. A total of 83,085 georeferenced occurrences of these taxa are presented, based on quantitative estimates performed using a standardised sampling method commonly adopted worldwide to collect soil macrofauna populations, i.e. the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme) protocol. This consists of digging soil monoliths of 25 x 25 cm area, with handsorting of the macroinvertebrates visible to the naked eye from the surface litter and from within the soil, typically in the upper 0-20 cm layer (but sometimes shallower, i.e. top 0-10 cm or deeper to 0-40 cm, depending on the site). The land-use systems included anthropogenic sites managed with agricultural systems (e.g. pastures, annual and perennial crops, agroforestry), as well as planted forests and native vegetation located mostly in the southern Brazilian State of Paraná (96 sites), with a few additional sites in the neighbouring states of São Paulo (21 sites) and Santa Catarina (five sites). Important metadata on soil properties, particularly soil chemical parameters (mainly pH, C, P, Ca, K, Mg, Al contents, exchangeable acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, Base Saturation and, infrequently, total N), particle size distribution (mainly % sand, silt and clay) and, infrequently, soil moisture and bulk density, as well as on human management practices (land use and vegetation cover) are provided. These data will be particularly useful for those interested in estimating land-use change impacts on soil biodiversity and its implications for below-ground foodwebs, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem service delivery. Quantitative estimates are provided for 42 soil animal taxa, for two biodiversity hotspots: the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Data are provided at the individual monolith level, representing sampling events ranging from February 2001 up to September 2016 in 122 sampling sites and over 1800 samples, for a total of 83,085 ocurrences.

Physicochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of stem and leaf extracts from Ocimum basilicum grow under in different cultivation conditions

The Ocimum basilicum species is widely used in folk medicine, as well as by the pharmaceutical industry and in the production of essential oils. Considering these aspects and highlighting the good adaptability of the species in the Brazilian Cerrado which originated from Asia, analysis of its physicochemical properties can lead to better product quality through improved physical-chemical and even microbiological stability, as well as the application of compounds that capture free radicals. Given this, physicochemical analyses regulated by the Adolfo Lutz Institute (2008), such as pH, titratable acidity, moisture, ash content, proteins, vitamin C, and lipids were performed; these analyses yielded unprecedented results, confirming its microbiological stability and promising results for antioxidant activities through crude extracts from both the leaf and stem, as well as ethyl acetate extracts from the leaf and methanol extracts from the stem, with over 90% activity.

Poaching and hunting, conflicts and health: human dimensions of wildlife conservation in the Brazilian Cerrado

IntroductionUnderstanding human-wildlife interactions is critical to overcoming the socio-environmental crises we face worldwide. Among these interactions, poaching and hunting, human-wildlife conflict, and transmission of zoonotic diseases are major causes of biodiversity loss and detrimental to human well-being. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze wildlife poaching, feral pig hunting, human-wildlife conflict, and health issues in a region of the Brazilian Cerrado, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The study also focused on the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), a poached species listed as vulnerable to extinction.MethodsFrom October 2016 to September 2017, we conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 51 local people from nine stakeholder groups. Interview answers and additional information compiled during the study were evaluated using coding, narrative, and co-occurrence analyses.Results and discussionWe found that the main human-wildlife conflict in the region involves feral pigs, and hunting is practiced as a population control strategy. The lowland tapir is not considered a conflictual species, as it is beloved by most people. However, tapirs are still poached, although less so than in the past, mainly for cultural reasons. Culture was the main motivation behind wildlife poaching in general. We identified 28 species and five taxa currently poached in this Cerrado region, of which 11 are used for medical and aphrodisiac purposes. Historically, wildlife poaching was linked to poor livelihood conditions and lack of support from governmental institutions during the Agrarian Reform process, becoming a cultural habit over the years. Nevertheless, wildlife poaching is less frequent than in the past, and its main barriers are surveillance, poaching prohibition by landowners, and social norm. Therefore, promoting a change in the way people relate to nature, meeting socioeconomic needs, and increasing surveillance appear to be important conservation strategies. Although feral pig hunting may replace wildlife poaching, some hunters still poach wild species, especially peccaries. Hence, it is necessary to keep hunters under surveillance, raise awareness among them, and make them allies in conservation strategies. We found a worryingly low level of awareness about disease transmission risk through bushmeat manipulation and consumption, highlighting the importance of One Health approaches.

Chiropterofauna (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from the Altamiro de Moura Pacheco State Park, Goiás, Brazil

The Brazilian Cerrado is undergoing important changes. It is estimated that 70% of its natural area has converted to human use. The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is considered the main cause of species loss in ecosystems. However, the lack of knowledge of biodiversity makes it difficult to design effective conservation measures. This article presents a list and an estimate of the richness of bats in the Parque Estadual Altamiro de Moura Pacheco (PEAMP) in Goiás. All collected bats belong to the Phyllostomidae family, with Carollia perspicillata (67%) and Artibeus planirostris (18%) representing 86% of the captured individuals.

Heterogeneity in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities of the Brazilian Cerrado, Transitional Areas toward the Caatinga, and the Atlantic Forest.

The Cerrado is the most diverse tropical savanna worldwide and the second-largest biome in South America. The objective of this study was to understand the heterogeneity and dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in different types of natural Cerrado vegetation and areas that are transitioning to dryer savannas or tropical rainforests and to elucidate the driving factors responsible for the differences between these ecosystems. Twenty-one natural sites were investigated, including typical Cerrado forest, typical Caatinga, Atlantic Rainforest, transitions between Cerrado and Caatinga, Cerrado areas near Caatinga or rainforest, and Carrasco sites. Spores were extracted from the soils, counted, and morphologically analyzed. In total, 82 AMF species were detected. AMF species richness varied between 36 and 51, with the highest richness found in the area transitioning between Cerrado and Caatinga, followed by areas of Cerrado close to Caatinga and typical Cerrado forest. The types of Cerrado vegetation and the areas transitioning to the Caatinga shared the highest numbers of AMF species (32-38). Vegetation, along with chemical and physical soil parameters, affected the AMF communities, which may also result from seasonal rainfall patterns. The Cerrado has a great AMF diversity and is, consequently, a natural refuge for AMF. The plant and microbial communities as well as the diversity of habitats require urgent protection within the Cerrado, as it represents a key AMF hotspot.

Comprehensive evaluation of the chemical profile and antioxidant potential of buritirana (Mauritiella armata) an underexplored fruit from Brazilian Cerrado

Buritirana (Mauritella armata) is a fruit from a native Brazilian palm tree whose economic and industrial potential is still little explored. The nutritional composition and carbohydrates; organic acids; fatty acids; triacylglycerol; and phenolics profile of buritirana pulp, shells, and seeds were performed in this study. In addition, pH, color, ant total carotenoid, phenolic, flavonoids, flavonols, tannins, and antioxidant potential (ABTS, DPPH, ILP, FRAP, CUPRAC, and TRC) were determined in these parts of the fruit. The results indicated high lipid content and energy value for pulp (30.53 g 100 g−1, and 351.21 kcal 100 g−1, respectively) and shells (18.41 g 100 g−1, and 276.73 kcal 100 g−1, respectively). On the other hand, high fiber (63.09 g 100 g−1), starch (2.66 g 100 g−1), and carbohydrates (28.60 g 100 g−1) contents were observed for the seeds. Glucose was the main carbohydrate found in pulp and seed, while sucrose was the main sugar in shells. Tartaric acid was the predominant organic acid in pulp and shells (16.60 and 10.96 mg 100 g−1, respectively), while malic acid was the main organic acid in seeds (58.78 mg 100 g−1). Oleic and palmitic acid were the main fatty acids detected in buritirana pulp, shells, and seeds. Buritirana pulp and shells showed a high content of total phenolic and total flavonoid (918.58 and 940.63 mg GAE 100 g−1; and 679.31 and 444.94 mg CE 100 g−1, respectively). Moreover, a high antioxidant potential (DPPH•, CUPRAC, and ILP) was observed in the extracts obtained from pulp and shells. The pulp showed a significant content of carotenoids (270.23 μg g−1). Among the 28 phenolic compounds determined in buritirana pulp and seeds, and 27 in shells, 22 (pulp and seeds), and 21 (shells) were reported by first time in the literature. Ferulic acid in pulp and shells (99.39 and 111.69 μg g−1) and pinocembrin in seeds (19.21 μg g−1) were the main phenolic compounds identified in buritirana. Multivariate analysis showed high correlation of phenolic compounds on antioxidant potential. The results showed that buritirana is rich in nutrients and bioactive products and can be fully utilized. The products resulting from buritirana processing can be applied in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Cladocera (Crustacea; Branchiopoda) from the Brazilian Cerrado – the richness and species composition for Goiás state

Goiás state, situated in the Cerrado biome harbors several water bodies belonging to the Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins-Araguaia hydrographic regions. However, there are several gaps in the knowledge about the diversity and geographic distribution of aquatic invertebrates in the state, including microcrustaceans of the Superorder Cladocera. Thus, this study aims to elaborate an updated list of cladoceran species occurring in Goiás, using data from 37 literature sources and original samples from different ecosystems and localities. The history and type of publications were evaluated. The number of studies between 1988 and 2022 and the type of publications and species richness were listed. The literature data indicated that most studies reporting or describing species for Goiás were found in papers published in indexed journals (75%). Tocantins-Araguaia was the hydrographic region with the highest number of studies (20). The number of observed species was strongly related to the number of studies (r2 = 0.59; p < 0.0001). When observing literature data and findings from sampling, 92 species were recorded with five news reports: Scapholeberis freyi, Grimaldina freyi, Parvalona parva, Chydorus brevilabris, and Picripleuroxus quasidenticulatus. The number and composition of species in Goiás state should be considered relevant. However, the observed richness is lower than expected (114 spp), suggesting the need for increased sampling effort. The focus of this sampling should preferably occur in areas lacking information.

Genomic selection for tolerance to aluminum toxicity in a synthetic population of upland rice.

Over half of the world's arable land is acidic, which constrains cereal production. In South America, different rice-growing regions (Cerrado in Brazil and Llanos in Colombia and Venezuela) are particularly affected due to high aluminum toxicity levels. For this reason, efforts have been made to breed for tolerance to aluminum toxicity using synthetic populations. The breeding program of CIAT-CIRAD is a good example of the use of recurrent selection to increase productivity for the Llanos in Colombia. In this study, we evaluated the performance of genomic prediction models to optimize the breeding scheme by hastening the development of an improved synthetic population and elite lines. We characterized 334 families at the S0:4 generation in two conditions. One condition was the control, managed with liming, while the other had high aluminum toxicity. Four traits were considered: days to flowering (FL), plant height (PH), grain yield (YLD), and zinc concentration in the polished grain (ZN). The population presented a high tolerance to aluminum toxicity, with more than 72% of the families showing a higher yield under aluminum conditions. The performance of the families under the aluminum toxicity condition was predicted using four different models: a single-environment model and three multi-environment models. The multi-environment models differed in the way they integrated genotype-by-environment interactions. The best predictive abilities were achieved using multi-environment models: 0.67 for FL, 0.60 for PH, 0.53 for YLD, and 0.65 for ZN. The gain of multi-environment over single-environment models ranged from 71% for YLD to 430% for FL. The selection of the best-performing families based on multi-trait indices, including the four traits mentioned above, facilitated the identification of suitable families for recombination. This information will be used to develop a new cycle of recurrent selection through genomic selection.

Free-feeding organisms and galling insects (Hymenoptera) interactions on Caryocar brasiliense (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees, a savanna plant from Brazil.

Galling insects are abundant in nature, found in many ecosystems globally, with species attacking plants of economic importance. We studied the effects of free-feeding organisms on the abundance of galling insects on Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae) trees in the Brazilian Cerrado (Savanna). Percentage of defoliation and the number of phytophagous mites or number of phytophagous Hemiptera correlated negatively with percentage of galled leaves and the parasitoid Eurytoma sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) adults, respectively. Percentage of galled leaves and the numbers of Eurytoma sp. adults and phytophagous mites correlated positively with spiders. Numbers of mites and Hemiptera phytophagous correlated positively with those of lady beetles and Sycophila sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), respectively. The number of Ablerus magistretti Blanchard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) adults correlated negatively with Sycophila sp. The number of Agistemus sp. (Acari: Stigmaeidae) correlated, negatively and positively, with those of lady beetles and phytophagous mites, respectively. Free-feeding herbivores affected the presence of galling insects (Hymenoptera) on C. brasiliense trees, competing for food and space. The same was observed between two parasitoids of Eurytoma sp. galling insect, which can reduce the natural biological control of this pest.

In silico analysis of the biodiversity of endophytic fungi isolated from the Brazilian Cerrado

In silico analysis of the biodiversity of endophytic fungi isolated from the Brazilian Cerrado