Effect of potassium sources on the antioxidant activity of eggplant¹

Potassium participates in the essential processes in plant physiology, however, the effects of K sources on plant metabolism have been little studied. Also, in certain cases, K sources and concentrations may cause undesirable effects, e.g., soil salinization. The objective was to evaluate the effect of K sources and levels on the enzyme activity of the antioxidant system and protein content in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) leaves and to determine the most suitable K sources for these physiological characteristics. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, in a 2 × 4 factorial design, consisting of two K sources (KCl and K2SO4) and rates (250, 500, 750, and 1000 kg ha-1 K2O), with four replications. The following variables were evaluated: plant height, number of leaves per plant, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and leaf protein content. There was an increase in CAT activity with increasing K levels until 30 days after transplanting (DAT), when K2SO4 was applied and until 60 DAT, when KCl was used; after this period, the enzyme activity decreased under both sources. The activity of SOD increased in the presence of KCl, but was reduced with the application of K2SO4. For both K sources, increasing rates reduced the protein content and number of leaves per plant, and this reduction was greater under KCl application. Thus it was concluded that KCl tends more strongly to salinize the soil than K2SO4. Both for KCl and for K2SO4, the increasing rates adversely affected the activities of CAT and SOD and the levels of leaf protein in eggplant. The potential of KCl to reduce the enzyme activity of SOD and CAT, leaf protein content and plant growth of eggplant was stronger than that of K2SO4.

Oikeus ja asevoiman käyttö uudessa maailmassa

Vuoden 2002 oikeustieteilijäksi valitun Allan Serlachius-Särkilahti -palkinnon saajan puhe Oikeuskulttuurin päivässä 8.1..2002

Composição centesimal e conteúdo de aminoácidos, ácidos graxos e minerais de seis cultivares de soja destinadas à alimentação humana

Seis cultivares de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill): IAS-4, EMBRAPA-4, Davis, BR-16, Iguaçu e IAS-5, destinadas à alimentação humana, foram caracterizadas quanto à composição centesimal, conteúdo de aminoácidos, ácidos graxos e minerais. Os teores de fibra, proteína e óleo variaram significativamente nas amostras analisadas, enquanto que os teores de cinzas não apresentaram diferenças significativas. Com relação aos teores de minerais, o potássio foi o que obteve o maior valor, 1.824,02 mg/100 g para a cultivar Iguaçu, ficando a EMBRAPA-4 com o maior teor de cálcio, 313,93 mg/100 g. Para a composição em ácidos graxos, notou-se que a cultivar IAS-5 apresentou o maior teor de insaturados, 87,45%, enquanto que a Davis, o menor, 83,93%. A cultivar EMBRAPA-4 apresentou um teor de ácido oléico maior e de linoléico e linolênico bem menores que as demais cultivares estudadas, 39,93%, 42,46% e 4,64%, respectivamente. Os demais ácidos graxos estão de acordo com os valores encontrados na literatura no tocante a óleo de soja. Todas as cultivares estudadas apresentaram excelente balanço em aminoácidos essenciais (AAE). Os teores de cada AAE foram superiores aos da proteína padrão estabelecido pela FAO/WHO, com valor total de AAE variando de 39,5 a 45,0 g/100 g de proteína.