NEW RECORD OF CALYPTRAEID HOSTS FOR THE PEA CRAB CALYPTRAEOTHERES GARTHI (FENUCCI, 1975) (DECAPODA, PINNOTHERIDAE) IN ARGENTINA

Calyptraeotheres garthi (Fenucci, 1975) is one of nine species of Pinnotheridae occurring in Argentina and the only species of that genus located in this region. This species can be found from the San Maths Gulf, Argentina to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil where it lives in symbiotic association with limpets of the family Calyptraeidae. Currently, two species of limpets have been reported as hosts of this species: Crepidula protea (d'Orbigny, 1841) and Crepidula argentina Simone, Pastorino & Penchaszadeh, 2000. We report here four more species of limpets serving as hosts of C. garthi, namely Bostrycapulus odites Collin, 2005, Crepidula cachimilla Cledon, Simone & Penchaszadeh, 2004, Crepidula plana Say, 1822 and Trochita pileus (Lamarck, 1822). Thus, this pinnotherid appears to be, as others members of the family, a generalist symbiotic species since it dwells on almost all the potential limpet species reported for Argentina. However, there are notable differences in prevalence of C. garthi on each host, which suggest that the symbiont might prefer species of Crepidula over the others genera (Trochita and Bostrycapulus). Additionally, there exists an apparent relationship between host size and prevalence (e.g., Crepidula cachimilla, the limpet with the highest prevalence, is clearly larger than the others hosts). Perhaps it is premature to conclude that the size of the host might be of benefit for the symbiont, but it is a hypothesis worthy of being explored.

Habitat alteration and community-level effects of an invasive ecosystem engineer: a case study along the coast of NSW, Australia

We investigated the effects of the habitat-modifying green algae Caulerpa taxifolia on meiobenthic communities along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Samples were taken from unvegetated sediments, sediments underneath the native seagrass Zostera capricorni, and sediments invaded by C. taxifolia at 3 sites along the coast. Meiofaunal responses to invasion varied in type and magnitude depending on the site, ranging from a slight increase to a substantial reduction in meiofauna and nematode abundances and diversity. The multivariate structure of meiofauna communities and nematode assemblages, in particular, differed significantly in sediments invaded by C. taxifolia when compared to native habitats, but the magnitude of this dissimilarity differed between the sites. These differential responses of meiofauna to C. taxifolia were explained by different sediment redox potentials. Sediments with low redox potential showed significantly lower fauna abundances, lower numbers of meiofaunal taxa and nematode species and more distinct assemblages. The response of meiofauna to C. taxifolia also depended on spatial scale. Whereas significant loss of benthic biodiversity was observed locally at one of the sites, at the larger scale C. taxifolia promoted an overall increase in nematode species richness by favouring species that were absent from the native environments. Finally, we suggest there might be some time-lags associated with the impacts of C. taxifolia and point to the importance of considering the time since invasion when evaluating the impact of invasive species.

Development and optimization of biodegradable films based on achira flour

The influence of glycerol concentration (C-g), process temperature (T-p), drying temperature (T-s), and relative humidity (RH) on the properties of achira flour films was initially assessed. The optimized process conditions were C-g of 17g glycerol/100g flour, T-p of 90 degrees C, T-s of 44.8 degrees C, and RH of 36.4%. The films produced under these conditions displayed high mechanical strength (7.0 MPa), low solubility (38.3%). and satisfactory elongation values (14.6%). This study showed that achira flour is a promising source for the development of biodegradable films with good mechanical properties, low water vapor permeability, and solubility compared to films based on other tubers. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cassava starch biodegradable films: Influence of glycerol and clay nanoparticles content on tensile and barrier properties and glass transition temperature

In this this study, glycerol content and its incorporation method on tensile and barrier properties of biodegradable films (BF) based on cassava starch were analyzed. ANOVA showed that the glycerol incorporation method did not influence the results (P > 0.05), however the glycerol content influenced significantly the tensile and barrier properties of the films (P < 0.05). Films prepared with lower glycerol content presented better tensile and barrier properties than films with higher content. Films were then prepared with addition of clay nanoparticles and their tensile and barrier properties and glass transition temperature were measured. ANOVA indicated that both glycerol and clay nanoparticles influenced significantly the tensile and barrier properties (P < 0.05), diminishing film permeability when clay nanoparticles were present, while the glass transition temperature was not influenced (P > 0.05). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cadmium Uptake by Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as Basis for Derivation of Risk Limits in Soils

The availability and uptake of Cd by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in two common tropical soils (before and after liming) were studied in order to derive human health-based risk soil concentration. Cadmium concentrations ranging from 1 to 12 mg kg(-1) were added to samples from a clayey Oxisol and a sandy-loam Ultisol under glasshouse conditions. After incubation, a soil sample was taken from each pot, the concentration of Cd in the soil was determined, lettuce was grown during 36 d, and the edible parts were harvested and analyzed for Cd. A positive linear correlation was observed between total soil Cd and the Cd concentration in lettuce. The amount of Cd absorbed by lettuce grown in the Ultisol was about twice the amount absorbed in the Oxisol. Liming increased the soil pH and slightly reduced Cd availability and uptake. CaCl2 extraction was better than DTPA to reflect differences in binding strength of Cd between limed and unlimed soils. Risk Cd concentrations in the Ultisol were lower than in the Oxisol, reflecting the greater degree of uptake from the Ultisol. The derived risk Cd values were dependent on soil type and the exposure scenario.

Validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR normalization in common bean during biotic and abiotic stresses

Selection of reference genes is an essential consideration to increase the precision and quality of relative expression analysis by the quantitative RT-PCR method. The stability of eight expressed sequence tags was evaluated to define potential reference genes to study the differential expression of common bean target genes under biotic (incompatible interaction between common bean and fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) and abiotic (drought; salinity; cold temperature) stresses. The efficiency of amplification curves and quantification cycle (C (q)) were determined using LinRegPCR software. The stability of the candidate reference genes was obtained using geNorm and NormFinder software, whereas the normalization of differential expression of target genes [beta-1,3-glucanase 1 (BG1) gene for biotic stress and dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) gene for abiotic stress] was defined by REST software. High stability was obtained for insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), actin-11 (Act11), unknown 1 (Ukn1) and unknown 2 (Ukn2) genes during biotic stress, and for SKP1/ASK-interacting protein 16 (Skip16), Act11, Tubulin beta-8 (beta-Tub8) and Unk1 genes under abiotic stresses. However, IDE and Act11 were indicated as the best combination of reference genes for biotic stress analysis, whereas the Skip16 and Act11 genes were the best combination to study abiotic stress. These genes should be useful in the normalization of gene expression by RT-PCR analysis in common bean, the most important edible legume.

Development of Novel Guava Puree Films Containing Chitosan Nanoparticles

One of the overall goals of industries is to use packages that do not cause environmental problems at disposal time, but that have the same properties as the conventional ones. The goal of this study is to synthesize edible films based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with guava puree and chitosan (CS) nanoparticles. This was divided into two stages, the first is the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles and the second is the production of the films. For the nanoparticles, average size and zeta potential measurements were performed. The characterizations of mechanical and thermal properties, solubility and water vapor permeability tests were conducted in the films. It was observed that when the nanoparticles were added to HPMC and guava puree films, they improved their mechanical and thermal properties, as well as decreased the films solubility and permeability. The potential application of the films prepared would be in edible films with flavor and odor to extend the shelf life of products.

Enrichment of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms with selenium in coffee husks

Pleurotus ostreatus fungus forms an edible mushroom that possesses important nutritional and medicinal properties. Selenium (Se) is essential to human diets and it is in low concentration in the soil, and consequently in food. P. ostreatus was grown in coffee husks enriched with various concentrations of sodium selenite. The biological efficiency of P. ostreatus was affected by the addition of high concentrations of Se. The highest level of Se absorption was obtained by adding 51 mg kg(1) of sodium selenite. The mushrooms from first flush contained more Se than the further flushes. These results demonstrate the great potential of coffee husks in the production of Se-enriched mushrooms and show the ability of this fungus to absorb and biomagnify Se. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative study and characterization of starches isolated from unconventional tuber sources

Some properties of canna (Canna indica L.) and bore (Alocasia macrorrhiza) starches were evaluated and compared using cassava starch (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as a reference. Proximate analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and viscosity measurements were performed. Canna and bore starches showed a similar degree of purity as that of the cassava starch. Canna starch exhibited higher thermal stability and viscosity of solution values than those of bore and cassava starches. XRD spectra showed that canna starch crystallizes as a B-type structure; however, bore and cassava starches crystallize as an A-type structure. Results proved that canna and bore starches are promising bio(materials), obtained from unconventional sources, to be used for industrial applications, as their physicochemical properties are similar to those of cassava starch, which it is known has potential applications in this area.

Development of cellulose-based bactericidal nanocomposites containing silver nanoparticles and their use as active food packaging

The use of nanomaterials, including metallic as active fillers in polymeric nanocomposites for food packaging has been extensively investigated. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in particular, have been exploited for technological applications as bactericidal agents. In this paper, AgNPs were incorporated into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrix for applications as food packaging materials. The average sizes of the silver nanoparticles were 41 nm and 100 nm, respectively. Mechanical analyses and water vapor barrier properties of the HPMC/AgNPs nanocomposites were analysed. The best results were observed for films containing smaller (41 nm) AgNPs. The antibacterial properties of HPMC/AgNPs thin films were evaluated based on the diameter of inhibition zone in a disk diffusion test against Escherichia coli (E. coil) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The disk diffusion studies revealed a greater bactericidal effectiveness for nanocomposites films containing 41 nm Ag nanoparticles. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cadmium determination in Lentinus edodes mushroom species

Many studies have drawn attention to the occurrence and concentration of toxic elements found in the fruiting body of mushrooms. Some edible mushroom species are known to accumulate high levels of inorganic contaminants, mainly cadmium, mercury, and lead. There are about 2,000 known edible mushroom species, but only 25 of them are cultivated and used as food. In Brazil, the most marketed and consumed mushroom species are Agaricus bisporus, known as Paris champignon, Lentinus edodes, or Shitake and Pleurotus sp, also called Shimeji or Hiratake. In this study, the concentration of cadmium was determined in Lentinus edodes mushrooms from different cities in São Paulo state and some samples imported from Japan and China. The analyses were performed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after HNO3-H2O2 digestion. The results showed a lower concentration of Cd in the mushrooms cultivated in São Paulo (0.0079 to 0.023 mg.kg-1 in natura) than that of the mushrooms cultivated abroad (0.125 to 0.212 mg.kg-1 in natura). Although there is no tolerance limit for Cd in mushrooms in Brazil, the results show that Lentinus edodes mushrooms can be safely consumed.

Biomonitoring of microcystin and aflatoxin co-occurrence in aquaculture using immunohistochemistry and genotoxicity assays

This work investigated the effects of co-occurring aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and microcystin (MC) in aquaculture, using immunohistochemistry and genotoxicity methods. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were exposed to AFB1 by intraperitoneal and MC (cell extract of Microcystis aeruginosa) by intraperitoneal and immersion routes. The interaction of MC-AFB1 was evaluated co-exposing the intraperitoneal doses. Blood samples were collected after 8, 24, and 48h to analyze the micronucleus frequency and comet score. The interaction of MC-AFB1 showed a synergic mutagenic response by higher micronucleus frequency of co-exposed group. A slight genotoxic synergism was also observed in the comet score. Immunohistochemistry detected MC in al lthe fish liver tissues exposed to MC by intraperitoneal route, and only the immersed group with the highest dose of MC showed a positive response. Although MC was non-detectable in the edible muscle, the combination of immunohistochemistry with genotoxicity assay was an attractive biomonitoring tool in aquaculture, where the animals were frequently exposed to co-occurring synergic hazards.

Efeito de revestimentos comestíveis na conservação de mamões minimamente processados

Avaliou-se o efeito de revestimentos à base de carboidratos nas características microbiológicas, físicas, físico-químicas e sensoriais de mamão Formosa minimamente processado (MP), armazenado sob refrigeração. Após tratamento com cloreto de cálcio, os frutos descascados e cortados foram imersos em soluções de amido de arroz (AA) 3%; alginato de sódio (AS) 0,5%; carboximetilcelulose (CMC) 0,25%, e armazenados a 5 ºC e 90% de UR. Os produtos foram avaliados nos dias 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 e 15. O uso de revestimentos à base de AA, AS e CMC em mamões MP resultou em menor contagem de coliformes totais que o controle. Mamões revestidos com AA e CMC apresentaram redução e aumento do processo respiratório, respectivamente. Os frutos revestidos apresentaram menores teores de sólidos solúveis e seus valores de pH se tornaram menores após o 9º dia de armazenamento. O uso da CMC como revestimento proporcionou, no 15º dia, maior firmeza da polpa. As variações nos parâmetros de cor (Luminosidade, Hue e Croma) não comprometeram a qualidade sensorial do mamão MP. Os atributos sensoriais dos mamões com revestimentos não diferiram do controle durante os 15 dias de estudo. Como a maioria dos efeitos positivos das coberturas ocorreu aos 12º e 15º dias e, considerando-se o custo da tecnologia e o preço dos revestimentos, a melhor opção, até 9 dias de armazenamento, consiste em apenas sanitizar os frutos, como feito no controle. Se o interesse for preservar a vida útil por um período maior, até 15 dias, os revestimentos utilizados podem ter resultados satisfatórios, desde que respeitadas as condições de estocagem utilizadas no estudo.