Performance of Cultivars for Production of Green Corn in Different Planting Dates in Passos Region, MG

The aim of this work was evaluating the performance of several cultivars of green corn for consumption 'in natura' in different planting dates. The first planting date was on May 26th, and the others, every 40 days. The hybrids (treatments) were: AG-1051, Agroeste 1567, BM-3061, Prezoto-32D10, PL-6880, BX-1382 and GNZ-2004. The following characteristics were evaluated: production, commercial ears weight without husk, commercial ears number, commercial ears diameter and length, male flowering, plant height and height of ear corn insertion. The cultivars AG1051, Agroeste 1567 and BM 3061 presented the best results compared to the others and they should be used in green corn production for ` in natura' consumption in Passos County, MG.

Cryopreservation at-80A degrees C of Agaricus blazei on rice grains

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Substrates and container types on rooting of peach cv. Okinawa hardwood cuttings of different diameters

Propagation by hardwood cuttings is an important technique for producing plant of many species. The technique is usually easy and inexpensive and makes it possible to high plants. But it is not commonly used for peach propagation in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different substrates, container types and cutting diameters on rooting of peach hardwood cuttings. The cuttings (two size groups, diameters of 2-6 mm and 6-10 mm) were inserted in six substrates (carbonized rice husk, vermiculite, washed sand, carbonized rice husk + vermiculite, carbonized rice husk + washed sand and vermiculite + washed sand, each 1:1 v/v), each in three types of containers (plastic bag, plastic tray and polystyrene tray). The best rooting occurred with smaller cuttings (47%) and larger cuttings (38%) in plastic bag with vermiculite, and with smaller cuttings in plastic bag with washed sand + vermiculite (33%). While these rooting percentages were unsatisfactory for commercial propagation, the results are encouraging and suggest need for more investigation to improve rooting.

Produtos naturais no comportamento defensivo de Apis mellifera L.

The goal was to investigate the influence of natural products such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), dried avocado leaves (Persea americana), coffee husk (Coffea arabica) and castor bean (Ricinus communis) in the defense of Apis mellifera, as well the effect of these products on the population development of the beehive. Defensive behavior was evaluated by time of first sting (TFS) and number of stingers (NS), and population development, by open brood area and operculated brood. It was observed that the treatment with smoke + seven castor beans presented significant increase in the TFS, for treatment without and with smoke. Regarding NS, it was verified that the treatments with smoke + seven castor bean and smoke + 20% coffee husk were different from the treatment without and with smoke. The other treatments did not differ significantly with respect to the use of smoke or its absence. The application of coffee husk and castor bean did not interfere in the development of the population, suggesting that these compounds were not toxic. It can be concluded that the use of castor bean and coffee husk in smoke may represent an important tool for the reduction of defensiveness, without promoting toxicity for A. mellifera.

Alterations in levels of NPK, electrical conductivity and pH of substrate, in cultivation of peppers

The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical alterations of the substrate in the cultivation of pepper in coconut husk fiber, in a protected environment. Initially, 160 pepper plants ('Eppo') were divided into four blocks, where two pots per block were analyzed every 21 days after transplanting. The cultivation of pepper was carried out in plastic pots of 13 L, containing coconut husk fiber, and placed in double rows with a spacing of 0.5×0.8 m between single rows and 1.10 m between double rows. After removal of the plants from the pots, individual samples of substrate (approximately 1 L) were collected from each pot and dried at ambient temperature. Electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and levels of NH4 +-N, NO3 -, P and K were determined for all periods of the cultivation. These analyses were performed using the method of extraction 1:1.5 v/v. For the conditions which the experiment was conducted, there was an increase in substrate EC, as well as in the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Chemical alterations of substrate in the cultivation of peppers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical alterations of the substrate in the cultivation of peppers grown in coconut husk fiber, in a protected environment. Initially, 160 pepper plants ('Eppo') were divided into four blocks, where two pots per block were analyzed every 21 days after transplanting. The cultivation of pepper was carried out in plastic pots of 13 L, containing coconut husk fiber, and placed in double rows with a spacing of 0.5×0.8 m between single rows and 1.10 m between double rows. After removal of the plants from the pots, individual samples of substrate (approximately 1 L) were collected from each pot and dried at ambient temperature. The levels of Ca, Mg, S, Cl, Na, B, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were determined for all periods of the cultivation. These analyses were performed using the method of extraction 1:1.5 v/v. There was an increase in the levels of all the nutrients evaluated. Further studies should be conducted to develop a better nutrient solution.

Structural changes in soybean seed coat due to harvest time and storage

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Xylo-oligosaccharides from lignocellulosic materials: Chemical structure, health benefits and production by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis

Currently, there is worldwide interest in the technological use of agro-industrial residues as a renewable source of food and biofuels. Lignocellulosic materials (LCMs) are a rich source of cellulose and hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is rich in xylan, a polysaccharide used to develop technology for producing alcohol, xylose, xylitol and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOSs). The XOSs are unusual oligosaccharides whose main constituent is xylose linked by β 1-4 bonds. The XOS applications described in this paper highlight that they are considered soluble dietary fibers that have prebiotic activity, favoring the improvement of bowel functions and immune function and having antimicrobial and other health benefits. These effects open a new perspective on potential applications for animal production and human consumption. The raw materials that are rich in hemicellulose include sugar cane bagasse, corncobs, rice husks, olive pits, barley straw, tobacco stalk, cotton stalk, sunflower stalk and wheat straw. The XOS-yielding treatments that have been studied include acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, auto-hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, but the breaking of bonds present in these compounds is relatively difficult and costly, thus limiting the production of XOS. To obviate this limitation, a thorough evaluation of the most convenient methods and the opportunities for innovation in this area is needed. Another challenge is the screening and taxonomy of microorganisms that produce the xylanolytic complex and enzymes and reaction mechanisms involved. Among the standing out microorganisms involved in lignocellulose degradation are Trichoderma harzianum, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, Penicillium janczewskii, Penicillium echinulatu, Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus awamori. The enzyme complex predominantly comprises endoxylanase and enzymes that remove hemicellulose side groups such as the acetyl group. The complex has low β-xylosidase activities because β-xylosidase stimulates the production of xylose instead of XOS; xylose, in turn, inhibits the enzymes that produce XOS. The enzymatic conversion of xylan in XOS is the preferred route for the food industries because of problems associated with chemical technologies (e.g., acid hydrolysis) due to the release of toxic and undesired products, such as furfural. The improvement of the bioprocess for XOS production and its benefits for several applications are discussed in this study. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Comparing submerged and solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues for the production and characterization of lipase by Trichoderma harzianum

Lipase production by Trichoderma harzianum was evaluated in submerged fermentation (SF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) using a variety of agro-industrial residues. Cultures in SF showed the highest activity (1.4 U/mL) in medium containing 0.5 % (w/v) yeast extract, 1 % (v/v) olive oil and 2.5 C:N ratio. This paper is the first to report lipase production by T. harzianum in SSF. A 1:2 mixture of castor oil cake and sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 1 % (v/w) olive oil showed the best results among the cultures in SSF (4 U/g ds). Lipolytic activity was stable in a slightly acidic to neutral pH, maintaining 50 % activity after 30 min at 50 C. Eighty percent of the activity remained after 1 h in 25 % (v/v) methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or acetone. Activity was observed with vegetable oils (olive, soybean, corn and sunflower) and long-chain triacylglycerols (triolein), confirming the presence of a true lipase. The results of this study are promising because they demonstrate an enzyme with interesting properties for application in catalysis produced by fermentation at low cost. © 2012 Springer-Verlag and the University of Milan.

Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extrato de Punica granatum L. sobre staphylococcus aureus isolado em leite bovino

Bovine mastitis is considered important disease causing major economic losses in dairy herds. Antimicrobial drug can promote resistance, chemical residues in food and environmental contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity in vitro of pomegranate extract on Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine milk, evaluate its antioxidant activity, and quantify levels of total phenols and fravonoides of the different extracts used. Aqueous extracts were used in nature and dry, from the peel of the fruit (EAC) and leaves (EAF). Additionally, it was evaluated the antioxidant activity (AA%), total phenols and flavonoids. Milk samples were inoculated, incubated, and the colonies were characterized as Staphylococcus aureus were adjusted to 1.0x106 UFC/mL in the 6 standard of the MacFarland scale. The sensitivity of the microbial isolates were determined in quintuplicate, in disk diffusion test. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by visible inhibition zone greater than 15mm. The results were evaluated by ANOVA, Tukey 5%, using the program SISVAR 5.3 - DEX/UFLA. Results implied that the aqueous extract from the bark of dried fruit was capable of inhibiting bacterial growth at concentrations of 3%. The other treatments only showed this activity, from the concentrations of 15%, 20% and 30% for dry EAF, in nature EAC and in nature EAF, respectively. Regarding the action antioxidant of dry EAC, was not correlated with total phenols and flavonoids. Probably other alkaloids substances present in the extract studied, may have been responsible for this activity. It is concluded that extracts of Punica granatum L., especially those obtained by the shell of the fruit, showed inhibitory activity against S. aureus, indicating your use potential for the control of bovine mastitis.

Cytotoxicity of Brazilian plant extracts against oral microorganisms of interest to dentistry

Background: With the emergence of strains resistant to conventional antibiotics, it is important to carry studies using alternative methods to control these microorganisms causing important infections, such as the use of products of plant origin that has demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity besides biocompatibility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts of Equisetum arvense L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Punica granatum L. and Stryphnodendron barbatimam Mart. against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata, and to analyze the cytotoxicity of these extracts in cultured murine macrophages (RAW 264.7).Methods: Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was evaluated by microdilution method based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), M7-A6 and M27-A2 standards. The cytotoxicity of concentrations that eliminated the microorganisms was evaluated by MTT colorimetric method and by quantification of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) using ELISA.Results: In determining the minimum microbicidal concentration, E. arvense L., P. granatum L., and S. barbatimam Mart. extracts at a concentration of 50 mg/mL and G. glabra L. extract at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, were effective against all microorganisms tested. Regarding cell viability, values were 48% for E. arvense L., 76% for P. granatum L, 86% for S. barbatimam Mart. and 79% for G. glabra L. at the same concentrations. About cytokine production after stimulation with the most effective concentrations of the extracts, there was a significant increase of IL-1β in macrophage cultures treated with S. barbatimam Mart. (3.98 pg/mL) and P. granatum L. (7.72 pg/mL) compared to control (2.20 pg/mL) and a significant decrease of TNF-α was observed in cultures treated with G. glabra L. (4.92 pg/mL), S. barbatimam Mart. (0.85 pg/mL), E. arvense L. (0.83 pg/mL), and P. granatum L. (0.00 pg/mL) when compared to control (41.96 pg/mL).Conclusions: All plant extracts were effective against the microorganisms tested. The G. glabra L. extract exhibited least cytotoxicity and the E. arvense L. extract was the most cytotoxic. © 2013 de Oliveira et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Avaliação da liberação de potássio por resíduos do benefício de café

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Liberação de nitrogênio e potássio da palha de café em função da adubação nitrogenada

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Efeito residual do calcário e da escória de siderurgia na primeira soqueira da cultura da cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise experimental da durabilidade de concretos de alto desempenho com adição de resíduo de borracha de pneu e cinza da casca de arroz

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)