Pectin lyase from Aspergillus giganteus: Comparative study of productivity of submerged fermentation on citrus pectin and orange waste

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

Nutrient digestibility of degermed, dehulled corn, citrus pulp, and soy protein concentrate by barrows

This study was carried out to determine apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, CP, GE, and their respective digestible content of degermed dehulled corn (Zea mays), citrus pulp, and soy (Glycine max) protein concentrate by pigs using the difference method. Thirty-two barrows (28.1 +/- 1.6 kg of BW) were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet or 1 of 3 diets formulated by replacing 30% of the basal diet with 30% of 1 of the test feedstuffs for 11 d. Chromic oxide (0.3%) was included in the diets. Feces were collected from days 7 to 11 by grab sampling and ileal digesta were collected after pigs were slaughtered on day 12. The AID of DM and AID and ATTD of GE of degermed corn (77.4, 88.7, and 77.7%) were greater (P < 0.05) than those observed in citrus pulp (50.3, 86.5, and 55.8%) and in soy protein concentrate (63.5, 85.1, and 59.4%), which did not differ (P > 0.05). The ATTD of CP, total digestible CP, and total DE of soy protein concentrate (87.5%, 500 g/kg, and 3739 kcal/kg) were higher (P < 0.05) than the values in degermed corn (81.7%, 57.5 g/kg, and 3330 kcal/kg), which were greater (P < 0.05) than those in citrus pulp (60.5%, 39.5 g/kg, and 3223 kcal/kg). Total and ileal digestible DM, AID of CP, and ileal DE of degermed corn (782 g/kg, 673 g/kg, 70.7%, and 2913 kcal/kg) and soy protein concentrate (778 g/kg, 570 g/kg, 78.7%, and 2878 kcal/kg) were similar (P > 0.05) and greater (P < 0.05) than those in citrus pulp (737 g/kg, 436 g/kg, 50.6%, and 2081 kcal/kg). Ileal digestible CP of degermed corn (49.8 g/kg) and citrus pulp (33.0 g/kg) did not differ (P > 0.05) but were smaller (P < 0.05) than the value found in soy protein concentrate (434 g/kg). The DM and energy from degermed corn are more efficiently digested by the pig than those from soy protein concentrate and citrus pulp. Soy protein concentrate was the best protein source evaluated in this study.

Aspects of IFP for citrus production in Brazil

Brazilian citriculture represents about 25% of the total world citrus production with an area of 851,518 ha and a total production of more than 17 million tons in 1996. Besides its importance to the brazilian economy, represented by more than 1 billion US $ by year from FCOJ exportation, the citriculture has problems related to low productivity, due to several cultural practices and management. The productivity would be improved by an IFP system. The main problems are related to soil, as poor conservation, use of poor drained soils and bad preparation for planting; diseases-canker, CVC, leprosis, Phytophtora gummosis and other fungus diseases; pests - mites, scales, nematodes and others; the use of disease free and improved scion and rootstocks propagative material is usual; cultural practices - as nutrition, irrigation, wind breaks, weed control, pruning, replant and others, as density planting could be improved. Some possible solutions will be discussed for improving the brazilian citrus productivity and quality by IFP, based on research made.

Adubação verde em Citrus: Influência na porosidade e retenção de água de um latossolo vermelho-escuro do noroeste do estado de São Paulo

The objective of this research was to study the porosity, bulk density and retention of water of an Oxisol, located in the Northwestern region of Sn̄o Paulo state, Brazil. The soil was cultivated with Citrus sp., to which green manure was applied between rows for three years. Each of six species of green manure crops (Crotalaria juncea L., Mucuna deeringiana Steph. & Bart., Canavalia ensiformis L. DC., Cajanus cajan L., Lablab purpureum L. and Ricinus communis L.) were seeded for three years (1995, 1996 and 1997) between Citrus rows, plus a treatment with a mix of all six species and a control (natural regrowth af vegetation). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, with four replications for each of the eight treatments. Water retention, microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity and bulk density were analyzed in the beginning (1995) and end (1997) of the experiment, at three depth ranges (0-0.10; 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.40m). We concluded that there were statistically significant differences for bulk density, macroporosity, total porosity and retention of water among the different soil depth ranges; there were no significant differences among treatments though.

Activity of benomyl for control of postbloom fruit drop of citrus caused by Colletotrichum acutatum

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus caused by Colletotrichum acutatum produces orange-brown lesions on petals and induces the abscission of young fruitlets and the retention of the calyces. Despite the fact that C. acutatum is not highly sensitive to benomyl in culture, this fungicide provides good control of the disease under field conditions. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of benomyl on various stages of disease development to understand the basis for its effectiveness in the field. We found that benomyl at 1.0 μg/ml reduced colony area of C. acutatum by about 75% and completely inhibited growth of C. gloeosporioides. Benomyl did not prevent conidial germination even at 100 μg/ml, but reduced germ tube elongation at 10 and 100 μg/ml. When benomyl was applied to flower clusters on screen-house-grown plants before inoculation, disease severity was greatly reduced. Applications at 24 and 48 h, but not at 72 h, after inoculation reduced PFD severity. Application of benomyl to symptomatic petals not bearing conidia did not prevent or reduce production of inoculum. Application to petals bearing conidia reduced viability of these fungal propagules by only about 50%. The viability of appressoria on mature leaves was not affected by benomyl application. Even when appressoria on mature leaves were stimulated to germinate by treatment with flower extracts, subsequent application of benomyl did not reduce propagule numbers below original levels. Benomyl appears to act by preventing infection and early development of the fungus in petals. However, once symptoms have developed, this fungicide has only minimal effects on further disease development and spread.

A review of antifertility folkloric plants tested in laboratory animals

The use of natural active principals is widespread among a great proportion of the rural population, or by people who do not have easy access to medical assistance. These active principles are used as food or medicines, and even for purposes of contraception. It becomes necessary to establish a relationship between the folklore habits and current information on the nature of anti-fertility substances, and knowledge of their mechanisms. Anti-fertility agents may exert their actions in a number of areas, (hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, oviduct, uterus, and vagina), inhibiting synthesis and/or liberation of hormones (follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, and steroid hormones), ovulation, ovum transportation, and implantation process. Therefore, a review of literature was carried out, including of several plants used by women as abortifacient and anti-fertility agents to compare their effects with those obtained among laboratory animals.

Benomyl sensitivity of isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides from citrus

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, produces orange-brown lesions on petals and results in premature fruit drop and the retention of calyces. C. gloeosporioides is common in groves and causes postharvest anthracnose on fruit. Both diseases are controlled effectively by the fungicide benomyl in research fields and commercial orchards. Highly sensitive and resistant isolates of C. gloeosporioides were found, whereas all isolates of C. acutatum tested were moderately resistant. In preliminary studies conducted in vitro with three isolates of each, mycelial growth of sensitive isolates of C. gloeosporioides was inhibited completely by benomyl (Benlate 50 WP) at 1.0 μg/ml, whereas resistant isolates grew well at 10 μg/ml. Growth of all isolates of C. acutatum was inhibited by about 55% at 0.1 μg/ml and by 80% at 1.0 μg/ml. Spore germination of C. acutatum was inhibited more at 0.1 μg/ml than at 1.0 μg/ml or higher concentrations. In all, 20 isolates of C. acutatum from 17 groves and 20 isolates of C. gloeosporioides from 7 groves were collected from locations with different histories of benomyl usage in São Paulo, Brazil, and Florida, United States. Benomyl at 1.0 μ.g/ml completely inhibited growth of 133 isolates of C. gloeosporioides, with the exception of 7 isolates that were highly resistant to the fungicide, whereas all isolates of C. acutatum were only partially inhibited at 0.1 and 1.0 μg/ml. Analysis of variance indicated that the sensitivity of the isolates of C. acutatum was not affected by benomyl usage or grove of origin, and country of origin had only minor effects. No highly resistant or sensitive isolate of C. acutatum was recovered. Partial sequencing of the β-tubulin gene did not reveal nucleotide substitutions in codons 198 or 200 in C. acutatum that usually are associated with benomyl resistance in other fungi.

Evaluation of systems for timing of fungicide sprays for control of postbloom fruit drop of citrus in Brazil

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, infects petals of citrus flowers and produces orange-brown lesions that induce the abscission of young fruitlets and the retention of calyces. Proper timing of fungicide applications is essential for good disease control. Different systems for timing of fungicide applications for control of PFD in a major citrus-growing region in southern São Paulo state in Brazil were evaluated from 1999 to 2002. The following programs were compared to an unsprayed control using counts of diseased flowers, persistent calyces, or fruit: (i) a phenology-based program currently recommended in Brazil with one application at early and another at peak bloom; (ii) the Florida PFD model; (iii) the postbloom fruit drop-fungicide application decision system (PFD-FAD), a new computer-assisted decision method; and (iv) grower's choice. In 1999, no disease developed, sprays applied with the phenology-based program had no effect, and the Florida PFD model saved two sprays compared with the phenology-based program. In 2000, PFD was moderate and the phenology-based and growers' choice treatments had a significantly lower number of persistent calyces and higher fruit numbers than the control, but no differences were found between those treatments and the PFD model. In 2001, PFD was severe with considerable yield loss. The PFD model, the phenology-based program, and the grower's choice reduced flower blight and the number of persistent calyces, and improved fruit yields with two to three applications, but the PFD-FAD achieved comparable yields with only one spray. In 2002, the disease was mild, with no yield loss, and the Florida PFD model and the PFD-FAD saved one spray compared with the other systems. The PFD model and the PFD-FAD were equally effective for timing fungicide applications to control PFD in Brazil. Scouting of trees is simpler with PFD-FAD; therefore, this system is recommended and should eliminate unnecessary sprays and reduce costs for growers.

Attractiveness of citrus pulp and orange albedo extracts to Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The present study aimed to compare the attractiveness of industrial citrus pulp with the handmade orange albedo to the workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa. For this, filter paper fragments were impregnated with organic extracts obtained through chemical extraction and sequential fractioning with hexane and dichloromethane and offered to different field nests. It was verified that the industrial citrus pulp extract is as good as the handmade orange albedo extract. This preference is discussed keeping in mind the chemical, behavioral and nutritional factors.

Oxidative stability and α-tocopherol retention in soybean oil with lemon seed extract (Citrus limon) under thermoxidation

The synergistic effect of lemon seed extract with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in soybean oil subjected to thermoxidation by Rancimat was investigated, and the influence of these antioxidants on α-tocopherol degradation in thermoxidized soybean oil. Control, LSE (2,400 mg/kg Lemon Seed Extract), TBHQ (50 mg/kg), Mixture 1 (LSE + 50 mg/kg TBHQ) and Mixture 2 (LSE + 25 mg/kg TBHQ) were subjected to 180°C for 20 h. Samples were taken at time 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 h intervals and analysed for oxidative stability and α-tocopherol content. LSE and Mixtures 1 and 2 showed the capacity of retarding lipid oxidation when added to soya oil and also contributed to α-tocopherol retention in oil heated at high temperatures. However, Mixtures 1 and 2 added to the oil presented a greater antioxidant power, consequently proving the antioxidants synergistic effect.

Concentrações de ácido giberélico e períodos de estratificação na emergência do porta-enxerto de marmeleiro 'Japonês' (Chaenomeles sinensis)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relationship between citrus productivity and indicators of uniformity in trickle irrigation system

In trickle irrigation systems, the design is based on the pre-established emission uniformity (EU) which is the combined result of the equipment characteristics and its hydraulic configuration. However, this desired value of the EU may not be confirmed by the final project (in field conditions) and neither by the yield uniformity. The hypotheses of this research were: a) the EU of a trickle irrigation system at field conditions is equal to the emission uniformity pre-established in the its design; b) EU has always the lowest value when compared with other indicators of uniformity; c) the discharge variation coefficient (VC) is not equal to production variation coefficient in the operational unit; d) the difference between the discharge variation coefficient and the productivity variation coefficient depends on the water depth applied. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between EU used in the irrigation system design and the final yield uniformity. The uniformity indicators evaluated were: EU, distribution uniformity (UD) and the index proposed by Barragan & Wu (2005). They were compared estimating the performance of a trickle irrigation system applied in a citrus orchard with dimensions of 400m x 600m. The design of the irrigation system was optimized by a Linear Programming model. The tree rows were leveled in the larger direction and the spacing adopted in the orchard was 7m x 4m. The manifold line was always operating on a slope condition. The sensitivity analysis involved different slopes, 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%, and different values of emission uniformity, 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 94%. The citrus yield uniformity was evaluated by the variation coefficient. The emission uniformity (EU) after design differed from the EU pre-established, more sharply in the initial values lower than 90%. Comparing the uniformity indexes, the EU always generated lower values when compared with the UD and with the index proposed by Barragan. The emitter variation coefficient was always lower than the productivity variation coefficient. To obtain uniformity of production, it is necessary to consider the irrigation system uniformity and mainly the water depth to be applied.

Citrus aurantium L. essential oil exhibits anxiolytic-like activity mediated by 5-HT1A-receptors and reduces cholesterol after repeated oral treatment

Background: The current treatments for anxiety disorders and depression have multiple adverse effects in addition to a delayed onset of action, which has prompted efforts to find new substances with potential activity in these disorders. Citrus aurantium was chosen based on ethnopharmacological data because traditional medicine refers to the Citrus genus as useful in diminishing the symptoms of anxiety or insomnia, and C. aurantium has more recently been proposed as an adjuvant for antidepressants. In the present work, we investigated the biological activity underlying the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of C. aurantium essential oil (EO), the putative mechanism of the anxiolytic-like effect, and the neurochemical changes in specific brain structures of mice after acute treatment. We also monitored the mice for possible signs of toxicity after a 14-day treatment.Methods: The anxiolytic-like activity of the EO was investigated in a light/dark box, and the antidepressant activity was investigated in a forced swim test. Flumazenil, a competitive antagonist of benzodiazepine binding, and the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 were used in the experimental procedures to determine the mechanism of action of the EO. To exclude false positive results due to motor impairment, the mice were submitted to the rotarod test.Results: The data suggest that the anxiolytic-like activity observed in the light/dark box procedure after acute (5 mg/kg) or 14-day repeated (1 mg/kg/day) dosing was mediated by the serotonergic system (5-HT1A receptors). Acute treatment with the EO showed no activity in the forced swim test, which is sensitive to antidepressants. A neurochemical evaluation showed no alterations in neurotransmitter levels in the cortex, the striatum, the pons, and the hypothalamus. Furthermore, no locomotor impairment or signs of toxicity or biochemical changes, except a reduction in cholesterol levels, were observed after treatment with the EO.Conclusion: This work contributes to a better understanding of the biological activity of C. aurantium EO by characterizing the mechanism of action underlying its anxiolytic-like activity. © 2013 Costa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Effect of pectin extracted from citrus pulp on digesta characteristics and nutrient digestibility in broilers chickens

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