Controle em pós-colheita de Penicillium digitatum EM laranja-pera com microrganismos e tratamento térmico

O mercado consumidor está exigindo alimentos sem a presença de resíduos de agrotóxicos. Assim, o trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o controle do bolor verde, em laranjas-Pera, com agentes de biocontrole (Bacillus subtilis e Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis (QST 713)), associados ou não ao tratamento térmico. Para tanto, os frutos foram adquiridos em "packinghouse" antes do processamento, sendo lavados e desinfestados com hipoclorito de sódio. Os frutos submetidos a esses tratamentos foram armazenados, por 11 a 28 dias, em temperatura de 10 ºC e UR 90%±5 ou por oito dias a 20 ºC e UR 90%±5. De modo geral, o tratamento térmico reduziu a severidade da doença determinada pela área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença nos frutos e a incidência natural de doenças em pós-colheita de laranja-Pera. Por outro lado, os agentes de biocontrole não controlaram a doença, mostrando que os organismos testados não apresentaram atividade curativa contra o bolor verde.

Avaliação de microrganismos antagônicos, Saccharomyces cerevisiae e Bacillus subtilis para o controle de Penicillium digitatum

Os frutos cítricos são afetados por diversas doenças, especialmente as fúngicas, as quais afetam a produtividade e a qualidade, principalmente quando se visa ao mercado de frutas frescas, seja para o mercado interno, seja para a exportação. Dentre as doenças fúngicas que ocorrem na fase de pós-colheita, destaca-se o bolor verde, causado por Penicillium digitatum. As medidas de controle baseiam-se, principalmente, no tratamento de frutos com diferentes combinações de fungicidas no packing-house. Devido às restrições quanto à presença de resíduos de fungicidas em frutos de citros e ao crescente desenvolvimento de linhagens resistentes dos patógenos a tais fungicidas, torna-se necessária a busca de alternativas de controle, como o controle biológico. Portanto, este trabalho teve por objetivos: (i) verificar o efeito antagônico de agentes de controle biológico (ACBs), sendo 06 isolados de Saccharomyces cerevisiae e 13 isolados de Bacillus subtilis contra P. digitatum; (ii) estudar as interações in vitro entre ACBs e o fitopatógeno; (iii) verificar o efeito da integração dos antagonistas com bicarbonato de sódio e cera de carnaúba no controle do bolor verde. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria dos isolados bacterianos e todos os isolados de levedura inibiram o crescimento micelial do fitopatógeno. Somente um isolado de Bacillus subtilis (ACB-84) foi capaz de inibir a germinação de P. digitatum com 72% de inibição, enquanto ACB-K1 e ACB-CR1 (S. cerevisiae) foram os mais eficientes com inibições de 78 e 85,7%, respectivamente; a adição de sacarose (a 0,5%) favoreceu ainda mais a inibição da germinação dos conídios pelos isolados da levedura. Os resultados de controle in vivo mostraram a viabilidade de S. cerevisiae ACB-K1 e ACB-CR1 para o controle de P. digitatum, em frutos de lima-ácida 'Tahiti' e laranja 'Hamlin', respectivamente; a associação de bicarbonato de sódio com agentes de biocontrole não resultou em melhorias no controle curativo do bolor verde; cera de carnaúba (18% de SST) favoreceu a atividade antagonística de S. cerevisiae, e tal efeito dependeu da variedade dos frutos cítricos em estudo e do isolado da levedura utilizado para o biocontrole.

DESENVOLVIMENTO, FISIOLOGIA DA MATURAÇÃO E INDICADORES DO PONTO DE COLHEITA DE FRUTOS DA UMBUGUELEIRA (Spondias sp.)

RESUMO A umbugueleira produz frutos com amplas possibilidades de utilização que, embora subexplorados, têm grande potencial socioeconômico. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a fisiologia da maturação em frutos da umbugueleira. As inflorescências foram marcadas em seis plantas, no período da antese, e o fruto (umbuguela) foi avaliado em intervalos regulares até a abscisão da planta. O ciclo de desenvolvimento da umbuguela, da antese até o início da abscisão, abrange 157 dias; a massa, o volume, o comprimento e o diâmetro apresentam aumentos rápidos até 117 dias após a antese (DAA), estabilizando-se até o final da maturação. O padrão respiratório do fruto foi climatérico, com pico aos 147 DAA. A coloração evoluiu do verde para o amarelo e, no pós-climatério, para o vermelho-púrpura. A relação SS/AT e pH aumentaram, e a AT diminuiu durante a maturação. O ponto ideal de colheita para o armazenamento ocorreu dos 127 aos 137 DAA, com início da coloração amarela a amarelo predominante. Para consumo fresco, o ponto de colheita foi a partir de 147 DAA (amarelo com traços avermelhados).

Lipídios como Indicadores de Mudanças Climáticas no Passado 1: Biomarcadores Marinhos

The distribution and abundance of specific lipid biomarkers in marine sediments can play an important rule for the reconstruction of past climatic changes. Here, it is shown the use of a widely known paleo Sea Surface Temperature (SST) proxy based on the unsaturation ratio of a suite of long-chain C37 alkenones: the alkenone unsaturation index, U K37'. These compounds are biosynthesised by only a restricted group of prymnesiophyte algae, mostly notably the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi. To ilustrate the importance of the U K37' index as a molecular tool, the correlation between the SST signal derived from the U K37' and other paleoclimatic records examined in a core from the North Atlantic is discussed.

Indicadores naturais de pH: usar papel ou solução?

In this work, the fruit extracts of Morus nigra - mulberry, Syzygium cuminii - jambolão, Vitis vinifera ¾ grape, Myrciaria cauliflora - jabuticaba are suggested as pH indicators in the form of either solutions or paper. The pH indicator solutions were prepared by soaking the fruits or their peels in ethanol 1:3 (m/V) for 24 h, followed by simple filtration. The pH indicator papers were prepared by imersion of the qualitative filter paper strips in the pH indicator solutions. The different pH leads to color changes in the indicator solutions or papers and it can be used for teaching elementary chemistry concepts.

Proposição de um reator fotocatalítico para destruição de microrganismos em ambientes interiores

The TiO2/UV photocatalytic reactor was investigated as an alternative system to inactivate airborne microorganisms. The experiments performed in the absence of the catalyst showed that direct photolysis was not efficient to destruct microorganisms, with only 30% of inactivation. Similar inactivation percentage was obtained using TiO2 in absence of UV radiation. The destruction of microorganisms present in a contaminated indoor atmosphere, using the combination of TiO2/UV was very efficient, reaching more than 98% of destruction.

Avaliação de indicadores de uso diverso como inibidores de corrosão

Very often hydrochloric acid is employed in acidification operations aiming to dissolve the mineral matrix in petroleum wheel operations, which always require intense use of corrosion inhibitors. This work presents an evaluation of common indicators, phenolfthaleine, fluorescein, methylene blue, alizarine S and methyl orange, as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in HCl 15% w/v at temperatures of 26, 40 and 60 ºC. Fluorescein and methyl orange show excelent corrosion inhibition efficiencies at 26 ºC; however at 60 ºC only fluorescein shows good corrosion inhibition when employed with alcohol and/or formaldehyde. For the fluorescein 1% w/v + formaldehyde 0.6% w/v mixture we present polarization and impedance curves and adsorption isotherms.

O pKa de indicadores ácido-base e os efeitos coloidais

An experiment is proposed that can be included in undergraduate courses of chemistry. The subject is the acidity of organic compounds, which are employed as pH indicators, particularly in acid-base titrations. The indicators used are methyl orange, bromophenol blue and bromocresol green in aqueous medium. The influence of colloidal systems on the equilibrium is evaluated by the pKa. The colloids employed are surfactants like sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide and a polymeric non-ionic F127 (pluronics). The effect of stabilization promoted by the system on the acidic or basic structureof the indicator establishes the action mechanism of the colloid on the pKa values.

Inativação fotodinâmica de microrganismos

Photodynamic Therapy uses photosensitive dyes and visible light that, combined in the presence of oxygen, produce cytotoxic species that cause tumor death. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts and viruses (including HIV) can also be inactivated by visible light after treatment with an appropriate photosensitizer as an alternative low cost treatment for localized infections, viral lesions such as acnes, and fungical skin lesions for example. Besides, Photodynamic Inactivation can be used for sterilization of blood and its subproducts for clinical use, in the treatment of drinking water as well as in antimicrobial detoxification of foods.

Quantificação simultânea de indicadores biológicos de exposição a solventes orgânicos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

Biological monitoring is very important to guarantee health to workers. This method was developed for simultaneous determination of xylene, toluene, styrene and ethylbenzene metabolites. It involves only dilution and centrifugation of urine samples and improved chromatographic conditions. Analyses show recovery > 95%; r² > 0.99; intermediate precision CV% < 6% and % bias < ±10. Exposed subjects presented at least three metabolites in urine. The method proved to be feasible, reliable and important in biological monitoring, especially in exposure to organic solvent mixtures.

Indicadores químicos de qualidade da matéria orgânica de solo da sub-bacia do Rio das Mortes sob manejos diferenciais de cafeeiro

This work evaluated the chemical quality of organic matter (OM) of a Brazilian Oxisol cultivated with coffee plants, under organic and conventional managements. Total organic C (TOC), light fraction C (LF-C) and C in humic (HA-C) and fulvic (FA-C) acids fractions was measured. Amongst the evaluated indexes, TOC and LF-C discriminated better OM attributes as a function of management. The stratification ratio (TOC5-10cm/TOC10-20cm) did not show differences between the systems studied. The organic system can contribute to the sustainability of coffee plantations in Brazil, because it maintains the chemical attributes of OM closer to the indexes verified under forest conditions.

Determinação simultânea de creatinina e indicadores biológicos de exposição ao tolueno, estireno e xilenos em urina por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

A simple liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of creatinine, hippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid and o, m and p-methylhippuric acids was developed and validated. Sample preparation was only dilution with water (1:10), followed by centrifugation. Analysis was performed in a reversed phase column (Lichrospher RP 8ec), 250 x 4.0 mm, with isocratic elution with phosphate buffer pH 2.3 and acetonitrile (90:10, v/v). The method presents adequate linearity, precision and accuracy and allows the simultaneous determination of the biomarkers of exposure to toluene, xylene and styrene together with creatinine, reducing cost and laboratory time.

Hidrocarbonetos e esterois como indicadores de fontes e destino de matéria orgânica em sedimentos da Baía de Sepetiba, Rio de Janeiro

The inputs of organic matter derived from natural and anthropogenic sources to Sepetiba Bay were investigated by using aliphatic hydrocarbons and sterols in superficial sediments. Concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 2.65 μg g-1, <0.01 to 17.41 μg g-1 and 0.77 and 9.24 μg g-1 for n-alkanes, UCM (unresolved complex mixture) and total sterols, respectively. The selected markers and ratios among individual compounds showed the major contribution of terrestrial sources to the total pool of sedimentary organic matter in the bay, but the accumulation of autochthonous organic matter increased with distance from the shoreline. The input of petroleum hydrocarbons and sewage (coprostanol in the range 0.01 to 0.43 μg g-1) were also detected, especially in the more urbanized regions of the bay, but at lower levels of contamination when compared to estuaries in other Brazilian coastal regions.

Lipídios como indicadores de fontes e distribuição de matéria orgânica particulada em um complexo estuarino-lagunar tropical (Mundaú-Manguaba, AL)

Fatty acids, alcohols and sterols were considered as markers of the source and distribution of particulate organic matter during the dry season in the Mundaú-Manguaba estuarine-lagoon system, NE Brazil. Lipid composition showed an overwhelming influence of autochthonous sources of organic matter in all system´s compartments, including the probable occurrence of algal blooms in specific areas. On the other hand, contamination by sewage was restricted to Mundaú lagoon. This scenario differed from known conditions observed in the wet season, illustrating the usefulness of the lipid biomarker approach for the characterization of other complex and dynamic systems in the Brazilian coastal zone.

Esterois como indicadores do acúmulo de esgotos domésticos em sedimentos de um sistema estuarino-lagunar tropical (Mundaú-Manguaba, AL)

The history of sewage contamination in the Mundaú-Manguaba estuarine lagoon system (NE Brazilian coastal zone) was evaluated through the concentration of sterols in sediment cores. The concentration of coprostanol increased towards the surface sediments, with the maximum of 5.65 µg g-1 at 0-2 cm sediment layer in Mundaú. Manguaba exhibited a lower level of contamination. The ratio cholestanol/cholesterol suggested degradation of coprostanol only before the burial of organic matter in the sediment. This feature, together with information of population growth in the watershed, allowed the estimation of a sedimentation rate of 0.90 cm year-1 to the Mundaú lagoon.