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Habitat fragmentation affects lichen communities by inducing edge effects, although the dispersal of pollutants by pesticide drift from commercial crops may also provoke alterations in community structure, due to the varying sensitivity of lichen morphotypes to pollutants. In this context, we tested the hypothesis that lichen morphotype richness and diversity, and the percentage area of the trunks covered by different lichen morphotypes are modified significantly at the edges of fragments of Cerrado vegetation inserted within the agricultural matrix. We evaluated habitat fragments representing different Cerrado formations (Cerradão, Cerrado sensu stricto, and seasonal semi-deciduous forest) as well as the Emas National Park, a prominent Cerrado conservation unit. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) to test the potential of the models compiled using a mixture of phytosociological and environmental parameters, including the species, the height of the host plant (H), the circumference of its stem at breast height (CBH), total chlorophyll (TC), bark fissuring (BF) and pH, and illuminance (Lum), to explain the observed variation in the lichen morphotype richness and the percentage cover of the trunks by corticolous lichen morphotypes at the center and edge of the fragments. The central areas invariably had a greater diversity of morphotypes in all the fragments. The morphotypes considered highly sensitive to disturbance were not observed in edge areas, confirming a clear edge effect, as well as the influence of pesticide drift from the adjacent farmland matrix, on the structure of the lichen community. At both the edge and center sites, the larger trees (higher CBH) with less fissured bark tended to have the greatest diversity of lichen morphotypes, and more acidic barks had the greatest lichen cover. The models tested indicated that the variable tree species is an important determinant of the observed patterns of lichen morphotype richness and cover, either on its own or in association with pH or CBH + pH. The analyses also indicated that all the variables tested are important in some way for the definition of the percentage cover of the host trunks. The present study contributes to the understanding of the diversity of the corticolous lichen communities in the remaining fragments of Cerrado vegetation and the effects of the agricultural matrix on this community. The lichen may thus play a role as indicators of impact on other species, these organisms may provide important insights for the further investigation of the disturbance caused by the agricultural matrix on the communities of other groups of organisms.

Tropical biomes are species rich, but some biomes such as seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) are still inadequately studied compared to their co-occurring rain forest and savanna. SDTFs occur in areas of high environmental heterogeneity, resulting in high beta (β)-diversity or species turnover, but this has so far only been accessed using a single β-diversity measure, and at a spatial scale that is of limited applicability for reserve planning. The Caatinga Biogeographic Domain in Brazil contains the largest known extent of SDTF which are poorly studied and inadequately reserved. We therefore studied the variation in species richness and species turnover among SDTF between localities and between known floristic communities. From six localities within the Caatinga Biogeographic Domain we recorded all tree species with a circumference at breast height equaling or exceeding 10 cm within 106 400 m 2 survey plots. From the species presence/absence data we calculated three measures of β-diversity between pairs of study localities and between different floristic communities representing: (i) species similarity, (ii) differences between species richness, and (iii) species gain and loss. Our results confirm the high β-diversity of SDTFs and species turnover between localities and also between floristic communities. The three indices were also complementary to each other and can be used to maximize accuracy in β-diversity studies. The implications of our study for conservation and reserve planning of SDTFs are discussed.

The soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens , is a primary soybean pest that reduces crop productivity. This work examined control of C. includens populations with methanolic extract of Serjania erecta , a native Cerrado plant, while minimizing risks to pollinators, natural enemies and the environment. Serjania erecta specimens were collected, identified, and subjected to methanol extraction. Bioassays were performed using newly hatched and second-instar caterpillars and different extract concentrations on the diet surface to obtain IC 50 values. Two replicates, containing 10 caterpillars, were established in triplicate. The IC 50 values were 4.15 and 6.24 mg of extract mL −1 for first-instar and second-instar caterpillars, respectively. These growth inhibition results informed the extract concentrations assessed in subsequent development inhibition assays, in which the pupal weight was higher under the control than under the treatments. Extract treatments increased the duration of the larval, pupal and total development. The potential of different concentrations of S. erecta extract to inhibit the enzymes carboxylesterases was also evaluated. Carboxylesterases activity decreased by 41.96 and 43.43% at 7.8 and 15.6 μg mL −1 extract, respectively. At 31.3 μg mL −1 extract, enzymatic activity was not detected. Overall, S. erecta leaf methanolic extract showed inhibitory potential against carboxylesterases.

This study aimed to quantify and compare the effects of Mi gene, high leaf levels of acylsugars (AA), and zingiberene (ZGB) individually and in combination, regarding resistance of tomato lines to Bemisia argentifolii. The experiment included 21 genotypes selected simultaneously for high AA and ZGB content, cloned through rooting of axillary shoots with homogeneous sizes, and seven control lines produced from seeds, including 2 genotypes rich in AA (TOM-687 and TOM-688), two genotypes rich in ZGB (TOM-703 and TOM-704), and three lines with low levels of allelochemicals (cv. Santa Clara, TOM-584, and TOM-684), where the TOM-684 line carried the Mi gene. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a randomized complete block design, comprising 28 treatments with 4 replications and 1 plant per plot. The AA and ZGB-rich lines showed higher resistance compared to the other control lines with low levels of allelochemicals, but the TOM-684 control line carrying the Mi gene was more resistant than the non-carriers ('Santa Clara' and TOM-584). The level of resistance conferred by ZGB was similar to that presented by AA. Both ZGB and AA provided higher levels of resistance compared to the Mi gene. The clones selected for both ZGB and AA simultaneously exhibited lower numbers of eggs and nymphs compared to the susceptible controls and were more resistant than the TOM-684 treatment. Overall, the clones even outperformed the lines rich in only one of the allelochemicals, demonstrating a synergistic effect between AA and ZGB for resistance when combined in the same tomato line.

Knowing the regeneration and structure of a species in different phytophysiognomies is extremely important to understand its pattern of occurrence. In spite of its importance, this type of study is still scarce in the Cerrado biome. In this perspective, this work aimed to compare the structure of the arboreal and regenerating strata of Annona coriacea in the cerrado sensu stricto and in the cerradão (savanna woodland). For that purpose, 13 plots of 400m² were installed in each physiognomy. All individuals of A. coriacea were sampled and had their diameter and height measured. The individuals were divided into regenerating and arboreal and were distributed in classes of height and diameter. Furthermore, the absolute density and the basal area of each extract were calculated in each physiognomy. The parameters were compared using the T-test. In total, 130 individuals of A. Coriacea were sampled, with 42 regenerating individuals in the cerrado sensu stricto and 49 in the cerradão. As for the arboreal individuals, 33 were sampled in the cerrado sensu stricto and 6 in the cerradão. All evaluated parameters revealed to be significantly different for the physiognomies. Based on these results, it is possible to affirm that A. coriacea did not present a distribution pattern in the two physiognomies, although it presents a better establishment success in the cerrado sensu stricto. In the cerradão, although the seeds can germinate, the seedlings fail to develop and reach the adult age.

This study aimed to quantify and compare the effects of Mi gene, high leaf levels of acylsugars (AA), and zingiberene (ZGB) individually and in combination, regarding resistance of tomato lines to Bemisia argentifolii. The experiment included 21 genotypes selected simultaneously for high AA and ZGB content, cloned through rooting of axillary shoots with homogeneous sizes, and seven control lines produced from seeds, including 2 genotypes rich in AA (TOM-687 and TOM-688), two genotypes rich in ZGB (TOM-703 and TOM-704), and three lines with low levels of allelochemicals (cv. Santa Clara, TOM-584, and TOM-684), where the TOM-684 line carried the Mi gene. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a randomized complete block design, comprising 28 treatments with 4 replications and 1 plant per plot. The AA and ZGB-rich lines showed higher resistance compared to the other control lines with low levels of allelochemicals, but the TOM-684 control line carrying the Mi gene was more resistant than the non-carriers (Santa Clara' and TOM-584). The level of resistance conferred by ZGB was similar to that presented by AA. Both ZGB and AA provided higher levels of resistance compared to the Mi gene. The clones selected for both ZGB and AA simultaneously exhibited lower numbers of eggs and nymphs compared to the susceptible controls and were more resistant than the TOM-684 treatment. Overall, the clones even outperformed the lines rich in only one of the allelochemicals, demonstrating a synergistic effect between AA and ZGB for resistance when combined in the same tomato line.