| Grant number: | 11/11860-5 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | November 01, 2011 - October 31, 2013 |
| Field of knowledge: | Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry |
| Principal Investigator: | Moacir Rossi Forim |
| Grantee: | Moacir Rossi Forim |
| Host Institution: | Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil |
| Associated researchers: | Arlindo Leal Boica Junior ; Edson Rodrigues Filho ; Maria Fátima das Graças Fernandes da Silva |
Abstract
Nature is plentiful of organic compounds of almost all conceivable kinds of chemical structures. Brazilian Cerrado (savannah) biome solely has nearly 160,000 species of plants, animals and fungi, which through its history has been exposed to complex interactions. These interactions have created a complex system of chemical communication intra and inter species, thus constituting a fascinating and fertile area to scientific investigation. The campus of UFSCar holds a physical area of 643.08 ha, from which 83% of extension of its Legal Reserve area of preservation is covered with native Cerrado vegetation that is available for study. Every plant of this micro biome constitutes an important "source" of extracts and molecules, which may be utilized as models for the development of new insecticides, collaborating this way with the increase in the agricultural production indexes and, at the same time, minimizing both environmental and social problems of large repercussion. In view of these facts, the main aim of this project is to develop phytochemical studies on the species from Cerrado, introducing a new line of research and conscientizing work towards the conservation of UFSCar biome. The extracts, fractions and the isolated and identified molecules are going to be assayed in biological experiments to control the larvae and adult phases of the Diabrotica speciosa, an important soil pest. Furthermore, a new and important innovative study of this project is to carry out biological investigations into the action of such extracts, fractions and isolated molecules against endosymbiotic microorganisms which are going to be isolated from the digestive tract of D. speciosa, thus proposing a new field of research in the natural products area to control insect pests. (AU)
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