Extração e Caracterização de Uma Enzima Proteolítica do Curauá (Ananas erectifolius)

Ananas erectifolius (curaua) is a fibrous vegetable that can be found in North and Central West regions of Brazil. It is a bromeliaceae family plant which physico-chemical features provides great potential in the automobilistic industry as a source of fibers. As commonly described in other bromeliaceae species, it contains significant levels of bromelain, of high commercial value and wide range of aplications in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. In this paper, experimental tests were performed to evaluate the extraction of the proteolytic enzymes of the Ananas erectifolius under different pH and temperature conditions to determine in which ones the enzymatic activity would be the maximum for later purification of the bromelain. The two commercially available curaua varieties (white and purple) were used in the experiments and the results showed the same optimal pH of 8,5 for both varieties and different temperatures of 30ºC for the white one, and 10ºC, 20ºC and 35ºC for the purple one.

Genetic variation of the Ananas genus with ornamental potential

Brazil is one of the main centers of origin of pineapple species presenting the largest genetic variation of the Ananas genus. Embrapa Cassava and Fruits is a Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation and has an ex-situ collection of 678 accessions of the Ananas genus and some other Bromeliaceae. The use of ornamental pineapple has increased in the last years demanding new varieties, mainly for the external market, due to the originality and colors of its tiny fruits. The main aim of the present study was describing accessions from the pineapple gene bank in order to quantify their genetic variation and identify possible progenitors to be used in breeding programs of ornamental pineapples. Eighty-nine accessions of Ananas comosus var. comosus, A. comosus var. bracteatus (Lindl.) Coppens et Leal, A. comosus var. ananassoides (Baker) Coppens et Leal, A. comosus var. erectifolius (L. B. Smith) Coppens et Leal, A. comosus var. parguasensis (Camargo et L. B. Smith) Coppens et Leal and A. macrodontes Morren were evaluated with 25 morphological descriptors. According to the results, the evaluated accessions were separated into the following categories: landscape plants, cut flower, potted plants, minifruits, foliage and hedge. The genetic distance among accessions was determined using the combined qualitative and quantitative data by the Gower algorithm. The pre-selected accessions presented genetic variation and ornamental potential for different uses. The multicategory analysis formed seven clusters through a classification method based on the average Euclidean distance between all accessions using the cut-point of genetic dissimilarity (D dg = 0.35). The genotypes A. comosus var. erectifolius were selected to be used as landscape plants, cut flower, minifruits and potted plants. Accessions of A. comosus var. bracteatus and A. macrodontes were selected as landscape plants and hedge. The highest variation was observed in A. comosus var. ananassoides genotypes, which presented high potential for use as cut flowers.

Die Ananas-Treiberei

Von Emil Hannig

Silencing of the ACC synthase gene ACACS2 causes delayed flowering in pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.]

Flowering is a crucial developmental stage in the plant life cycle. A number of different factors, from environmental to chemical, can trigger flowering. In pineapple, and other bromeliads, it has been proposed that flowering is triggered by a small burst of ethylene production in the meristem in response to environmental cues. A 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACC synthase) gene has been cloned from pineapple (ACACS2), which is induced in the meristem under the same environmental conditions that induce flowering. Two transgenic pineapple lines have been produced containing co-suppression constructs designed to down-regulate the expression of the ACACS2 gene. Northern analysis revealed that the ACACS2 gene was silenced in a number of transgenic plants in both lines. Southern hybridization revealed clear differences in the methylation status of silenced versus non-silenced plants by the inability of a methylation-sensitive enzyme to digest within the ACACS2 DNA extracted from silenced plants, indicating that methylation is the cause of the observed co-suppression of the ACACS2 gene. Flowering characteristics of the transgenic plants were studied under field conditions in South East Queensland, Australia. Flowering dynamics studies revealed significant differences in flowering behaviour, with transgenic plants exhibiting silencing showing a marked delay in flowering when compared with non-silenced transgenic plants and control non-transformed plants. It is argued that the ACACS2 gene is one of the key contributors towards triggering 'natural flowering' in mature pineapples under commercial field conditions.

Delayed flowering in pineapples (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) caused by co-suppression of the ACACS2 gene

Natural flower induction is a major pineapple industry problem. It usually occurs when shortening days and low temperatures give raise to increased ethylene production in the leaf tissue and plant stem apex which in turn stimulates flowering. Natural flowering fruit matures 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the normal summer harvest resulting in the need for extra harvest passes and considerable yield losses. Ethylene is produced through the sequential action of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase. Our team has cloned an ACC synthase gene from pineapple (ACACS2), which is expressed in meristems and activated under the environmental conditions that induce flowering in nature. Genetic constructs have been produced containing ACACS2 in sense orienta¬tion to induce silencing of the host gene in the plant by co-suppression mechanisms. Two independent lines of transgenic plants have been produced and field trials have been conducted in Queensland for four years in order to study the characteristics of the transgenic lines. We have identified a group of transgenic plants demonstrating inherited flowering delay and confirmed co-suppression of the ACACS2 gene due to methylation.

Identificación y fluctuación poblacional de insectos asociados al cultivo de la piña (Ananas comosus L. Merril) Ticuantepe, Nicaragua.

Con el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento científico de insectos asociadas al cultivo de la piña (Ananas comosus L. Merril), se realizó este estudio en el período de marzo a septiembre del 2014 en la zona piñera del Municipio de Ticuantepe, teniendo como objetivos específicos la identificación, abundancia, riqueza, índice de biodiversidad, fluctuación poblacional y el hábito de las principales familias de insectos asociados al cultivo de la piña. El estudio se desarrolló en seis fincas piñeras donde se ubicaron tres trampas de caída libre (Pitfall traps) para la captura de insectos rastreros, tres trampas de galones de plástico con melaza para la captura de insectos voladores y en cada sitio se colectó manualmente insectos del follaje frutos y suelo. En esta investigación se encontró que las principales familias asociadas al cultivo son; Formicidae, Scarabaeidae, Pseudococcidae, Elateridae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae Cerambicidae y Lycaenidae. La diversidad insectil se estimó utilizando el índice de diversidad Shannon-Weaver, la familia con mayor índice de diversidad fue Formicidae, En cuanto a la riqueza de insectos se encontraron cincuenta y un familias y ochenta y cuatro géneros, siendo los más numerosos pertenecientes a las familias; Formicidae, Scarabaidae, Tenebrionidae y Pentatomidae. En lo que respecta a la fluctuación poblacional, las familias de insectos que presentaron mayor incidencia fueron: Formicidae, Scarabaidae y Pseudococcidae, las fluctuaciones más altas de insectos ocurrieron en los meses de abril, mayo y julio, entre los principales hábitos alimenticios de las especies insectiles asociados al cultivo de la piña se encontraron, defoliadores, plagas del suelo, succionadores de floemas, barrenadores de corteza vegetal, polinizadoras, depredadores, parasitoides y degradadores de materia orgánica.

Evaluación de la eficacia del carbón vegetal activado y la gelatina como agentes clarificantes, y sus efectos en la limpidez del vino de piña (Ananas comosus)

El estudio “Evaluación de la eficacia del carbón vegetal activado y la gelatina como agentes clarificantes, y sus efectos en la limpidez del vino de piña (Ananas comosus L)” se desarrolló en la Estación Experimental y de Prácticas (EEP) de la Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas de la Universidad de El Salvador, ubicada en el Municipio de San Luis Talpa del Departamento de La Paz, en donde se elaboraron 75 litros de mosto para la fermentación y obtención del vino como materia prima para realizar la investigación. Se evaluó la eficacia de carbón vegetal activado y la gelatina como agentes clarificantes en la limpidez del vino de piña (Ananas comosus L), a fin de estudiar los aspectos que permitan la obtención de una bebida límpida a un nivel de confianza del 5% (p≤0.05). Se determinó la densidad, contenido de extracto seco, cenizas, y transmitancia previo y posterior a la clarificación; lo cual permitió estimar la eficacia de los agentes clarificantes en estudio a fin de determinar el mejor agente clarificante para vino de piña. La investigación se realizó de agosto 2015 a febrero 2016, regida por el método hipotético deductivo; obteniendo como principales hallazgos que ambos agentes clarificantes produjeron similares efectos en la eficacia de la clarificación del vino, obteniendo un aumento de la transmitancia considerándose tres longitudes de onda (445 nm, 495 nm y 550 nm). No obstante, la dosis de gelatina 0.2 g/L y la dosis de carbón vegetal activado 0.1 g/L se comportaron diferentes entre sí y similar al resto. Independientemente del agente clarificante utilizado, se mejoró considerablemente la limpidez (transmitancia) del vino de piña y los demás parámetros físicos evaluados: densidad, extracto seco y cenizas. Palabras clave: vino, piña, carbón vegetal activado, gelatina, clarificante, eficacia, limpidez

Crecimiento del Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum cultivado en presencia de Ananas comosus var. erectifolius en Pará, Brasil.

El incremento en la perturbación ambiental y la presión mundial para preservar la selva amazónica han fomentado el cultivo de especies nativas. Con el objetivo de evaluar el crecimiento de Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) barneby cultivado en presencia de componentes agrícolas como Ananas comosus var. erectifolius, se desarrolló un estudio en la Estación Experimental de la empresa Tramontina Belem S.A., ubicada en la Ciudad de Aurora do Pará (PA), Brasil. El diseño experimental fue factorial de bloques completos al azar con parcelas subdivididas en el tiempo, para que los arreglos formaron los tratamientos de la parcela y las subparcelas fueron el tiempo de observación, con seis tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones: 1) S. parahyba var. amazonicum, Cordia goeldiana y Switenia macrophylla:GLC; 2) S. parahyba var. amazonicum, C. goeldiana, S. macrophylla y A. comosus var. erectifolius: GLCc; 3) S. parahyba var. amazonicum y C. goeldiana: GL; 4) S. parahyba var. amazonicum, C. goeldiana y A.comosus var. erectifolius; GLCc; 5) S. parahyba var. amazonicum: G; y 6) S.parahyba var. amazonicum y A. comosus var. Erectifolius: Gc. La distancia entre las especies forestales fue 4 x 3 m y para las plantas de A. comosus 0.80 m x 0.50 m. El tamaño de la parcela fue 18 x 24 m con cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento, el total de parcelas fue 24 y de área experimental 10 368 m2. Las variables analizadas para inferir el crecimiento del componente forestal fueron altura (H) y diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP), cada 6 meses durante 3 años. En los seis sistemas de cultivo la tasa semestral de crecimiento de la altura y DAP de S. parahyba var. amazonicum fue mayor en los dos primeros años, y siguió con una tendencia de crecimiento lento y continuo durante los 36 meses de estudio. El efecto positivo de la presencia de A. comosus var. erectifolius se observó en el crecimiento de las plantas de S. parahyba var.amazonicum.

The influence of different photosynthetically active radiation levels on Ananas comosus (var. erectifolius LB Smith) plant sunder multiple cropping systems in the upland region of the Guama River, eastern Amazonia.

2016

Endophytic bacteria in long-term in vitro cultivated axenic pineapple microplants revealed by PCR-DGGE

In vitro propagated plants are believed to be free of microbes. However, after 5 years of in vitro culture of pineapple plants, without evidence of microbial contamination, the use of culture-independent molecular approach [classifying heterogeneous nucleic acids amplified via universal and specific 16S rRNA gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)], and further analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed endophytic bacteria in roots, young and mature leaves of such plants. The amplification of 16S rRNA gene (Bacteria domain) with the exclusion of the plant chloroplast DNA interference, confirmed the presence of bacterial DNA, from endophytic microorganisms within microplant tissues. PCR-DGGE analysis revealed clear differences on bacterial communities depending on plant organ. Group-specific DGGE analyses also indicated differences in the structures of Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria communities in each part of plants. The results suggest the occurrence of a succession of bacterial communities colonizing actively the microplants organs. This study is the first report that brings together evidences that pineapple microplants, previously considered axenic, harbor an endophytic bacterial community encompassing members of Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria group which is responsive to differences in organs due to plant development.

Morphological alterations in leave of micropropagated pineapple plants cv. IAC Gomo-de-mel acclimatizated in different conditions of luminosity

(Morphological alterations in leave of micropropagated pineapple plants cv. IAC Gomo-de-mel acclimatizated in different conditions of luminosity). Microprapagated plants usually show difficulties to adapt to ex vitro conditions, and many times are submitted to the rustication process to aim the reduction of all the impacts resulting from the environmental changes. Once the leaf and its annexes are important indicators of adaptability strategies of the plants to adverse environmental conditions, the objective of this work was to compare the leaf anatomy of pineapple cv. IAC Gomo-de-mel in vitro cultivated plants with microplants acclimatized in different conditions of luminosity, under mesh, with 50% of shading and directly exposed to sunlight, to verify the needed of rustication process on this cultivar. Evaluations of the leaf epidermis using light and electronic scanning microscopy showed an increase on scale density in both leaves surfaces of the ex vitro microplants, mainly related to the ones directly exposed to sunlight. Subsequent observations showed an increase on cuticle thickness, on wavy contours of epidermal cells, and on the distribution and quantity of mesophyll fibers, evidencing the light conditions interference in morphological characteristics of these microplants. These alterations had not harmed microplant development, showing that are not need of rustication stages on the acclimatization process of this cultivar.

Morfofisiologia e anatomia foliar de mudas micropropagadas e aclimatizadas de abacaxizeiro cv. Smooth Cayenne em diferentes substratos

Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar o melhor substrato e o tempo ideal de aclimatização em plantas de abacaxizeiro cv. Smooth Cayenne e comparar anatomicamente plântulas in vitro e aclimatizadas. Gemas foram inoculadas em meio MS + 6,66 µM de BAP e, após três subcultivos, as brotações foram transferidas para meio MS, por 30 dias. Os meios foram solidificados com 0,7% de ágar e tiveram seu pH ajustado para 5,8 antes da autoclavagem (120 ºC por 20 minutos). A incubação foi em sala de crescimento (25 ± 1 ºC, irradiância de 35 μmol m-2 s-1 e fotoperíodo de 16 h). Os brotos obtidos in vitro foram transplantados para tubetes, em casa de vegetação, contendo os seguintes substratos: T1- Plantmax® + húmus, T2- Plantmax® + vermiculita e T3- Plantmax®. Cortes anatômicos foram efetuados em folhas de propágulos mantidos in vitro e em plantas com 20, 40 e 60 dias de aclimatização nos diferentes substratos. A utilização do substrato Plantmax® + húmus na aclimatização propiciou maior desenvolvimento das mudas micropropagadas. A partir de 40 dias da aclimatização, as plantas apresentaram características anatômicas que podem favorecer a sua adaptação às condições de campo.

Performance of pineapple slips inoculated with diazotrophic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and rock phosphate

Besides fixing N2, some diazotrophic bacteria or diazotrophs, also synthesize organic acids and are able to solubilize rock phosphates, increasing the availability of P for plants. The application of these bacteria to pineapple leaf axils in combination with rock phosphate could increase N and P availability for the crop, due to the bacterial activity of biological nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. The objectives of this study were: (i) to select and characterize diazotrophs able to solubilize phosphates in vitro and (ii) evaluate the initial performance of the pineapple cultivars Imperial and Pérola in response to inoculation with selected bacteria in combination with rock phosphate. The experiments were conducted at Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, in 2009. In the treatments with bacteria the leaf contents of N, P and K were higher than those of the controls, followed by an increase in plant growth. These results indicate that the combined application of diazotrophic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Burkholderia together with Araxá rock phosphate can be used to improve the initial performance of pineapple slips.

Deficiência de boro na cultura do abacaxi 'Pérola'

Vinte plantas de abacaxi "Pérola" foram cultivadas em vasos de plástico de 10 L, em casa de vegetação, com o objetivo de caracterizar os sintomas visuais de deficiência de B nas plantas e nos frutos. Os vasos continham areia de rio lavada cinco vezes com água comum e depois duas vezes com água desionizada. Dez plantas foram irrigadas com solução completa e, de outras dez, o B foi suprimido da solução cinco meses após o plantio. As plantas apresentaram crescimento vegetativo normal e formaram frutos normais. Após a colheita dos frutos, acompanhou-se a formação das mudas do tipo rebento e rebentão basal, onde se observou que as plantas cultivadas sem B formaram mais mudas do tipo rebento do que as plantas cultivadas com B. Na formação das mudas do tipo rebentão basal, não se observou o efeito da supressão do B. No cultivo da planta-soca e em rebentões basais, cultivados em solução nutritiva sem B, observaram-se sintomas de deficiência de B somente no período reprodutivo. Os sintomas de deficiência de B se caracterizaram por: frutos deformados e menores, com formação de excrescência cortiçosa ou secreção de goma entre os frutilhos, rachaduras entre estes preenchidas com excrescência cortiçosa. As mudas tipo filhote formadas nas plantas-soca apresentaram folhas com falhas na borda e pontas secas.

A maturação do abacaxi

In the present work it was sougth to correlate the coloration of the fruit of Ananas comosus variety Perola with the pulp quality, aiming at the orientation of the fruit grower to the correct time of harvest. Pineapple fruit was chosen in 5 stages of maturation recognized by its external characteristics, principally its color. The fruits of each stage of maturation were analysed, determining the. weight, the percentage of soluble solids, and relation of acid to soluble solids. At the same time a test was made classifying the fruits as acid, regular, good, excellent, and spoiled. A correlation was found between the external coloration of the fruit and the degree of maturation. Concluding from this that the best time to harvest the variety Perola is in the third stage in the regions closest to the market and in the second stage in the regions which are farther away. For the cannery industry the fruit should be harvest in the first stage.