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.

Lipase production by Botryosphaeria ribis EC-01 on soybean and castorbean meals: Optimization, immobilization, and application for biodiesel production

The effects of soybean and castorbean meals were evaluated separately, and in combinations at different ratios, as substrates for lipase production by Botryosphaeria ribis EC-01 in submerged fermentation using only distilled water. The addition of glycerol analytical grade (AG) and glycerol crude (CG) to soybean and castorbean meals separately and in combination, were also examined for lipase production. Glycerol-AG increased enzyme production, whereas glycerol-CG decreased it. A 24 factorial design was developed to determine the best concentrations of soybean meal, castorbean meal, glycerol-AG, and KH2PO4 to optimize lipase production by B. ribis EC-01. Soybean meal and glycerol-AG had a significant effect on lipase production, whereas castorbean meal did not. A second treatment (22 factorial design central composite) was developed, and optimal lipase production (4,820 U/g of dry solids content (ds)) was obtained when B. ribis EC-01 was grown on 0.5 % (w/v) soybean meal and 5.2 % (v/v) glycerol in distilled water, which was in agreement with the predicted value (4,892 U/g ds) calculated by the model. The unitary cost of lipase production determined under the optimized conditions developed ranged from US$0.42 to 0.44 based on nutrient costs. The fungal lipase was immobilized onto Celite and showed high thermal stability and was used for transesterification of soybean oil in methanol (1:3) resulting in 36 % of fatty acyl alkyl ester content. The apparent K m and V max were determined and were 1.86 mM and 14.29 μmol min -1 mg-1, respectively. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Spatial Distribution of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Soybean

Soybean bugs are major crop pests that cause significant reduction in harvest yield and influence grain quality. The aim of this study was to verify the spatial distribution of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in conventional and transgenic soybean cultivars. The experiment was conducted during the 2010-2011 crop season in UNESP/FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, in two fields of 10,000-m2 area that were subdivided into 100 plots (10 m × 10 m). The cultivars sown were M 7908 RR and its isoline M-SOY 8001. The number of the first to fifth instars and the number of adults were determined. To evaluate insect dispersion in the area, the following indices were used: variance/mean ratio, Morisita index, Green coefficient, and the k exponent of the negative binomial distribution. To study probabilistic models to describe the spatial distribution of the insects, the adjustments of the Poisson and negative binomial distributions were tested. The first to third instars showed aggregated spatial distribution, whereas the fourth and fifth instars, and adults, isolated or grouped, showed variation in the arrangement, ranging from moderately aggregated to randomly dispersed. During the adjustment of probability distributions, the negative binomial distribution model showed adjustment for the first to third instars, fourth and fifth instars, adults, and fourth and fifth instars plus adults. © 2013 Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.

Antioxidant activity of basil and oregano extracts added to soybean oil for accelerated storage test

The objective of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extract of basil and oregano, and its synergistic effect when added to soybean oil and subjected to accelerated storage test. Extracts of basil, oregano and mixtures of both were applied to soybean oil at a concentration of 2.000mg/kg, then the extracts were heated in an oven at 60C for a period of 10 days. Samples were taken every 2 days and analyzed for concentrations of peroxides and conjugated dienes. Synthetic antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) at a concentration of 50mg/kg and soybean oil free antioxidant (control) subject to the same conditions were used as benchmarks. The results showed that the antioxidant effect decreases according to oil heating for all treatments. However, the synthetic antioxidant showed superior protection to the soybean oil during the formation of primary oxidation compounds, followed by the natural extracts, which showed no synergism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Densidade e época de semeadura de duas espécies de Brachiaria sobre a cultura da soja

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of soybean cultivar M-8766 in consortium with Brachiaria brizantha. BRS Piata and Brachiaria ruziziensis at different densities and sowing dates. The experimental design was randomized blocks with treatments arranged in a factorial 2 × 2 × 3 with four replications. Used as factors grass species (Brachiaria brizantha Piata and Brachiaria ruziziensis BRS) intercropped with soybean M-8766, sowing dates (12 and 24 days after soybean emergence) and three seeding rates (0, 5, 10 kg ha-1 of seed). At 71 days after soybean emergence were evaluated plant height, stem diameter, dry mass of leaves, stems and shoots, and 4 months after sowing determined the weight of 100 grains and soybean yield. The results showed that when seeded at a density of 10 kg ha-1 at 12 and 24 DAE soy, Brachiaria brizantha. BRS Piata caused reduction in yield in the order of 6.71% and 3.03% respectively, while the Brachiaria ruziziensis was one that caused a greater reduction in productivity in the order of 13.42 and 16.23%, respectively, of these values expression when considering the price of soybean sack. B. ruziziensis expressed less competitive with soybean. However, the large biomass production of this grass provides deployment system till the next harvest.

Soil organic matter and physical attributes affected by crop rotation under no-till

Growing cover crops in systems under no tillage affects different pools of soil organic matter, and eventually soil physical attributes are modified. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil organic matter and their relationship with soil physical attributes as affected by plant species grown in rotation with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] under no-till for 3 yr. Crop rotations included grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], ruzigrass [Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ, and CM. Evard) Crins] and sorghum mixed with ruzigrass, all grown in fall/winter, followed by pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke], sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and sorghum-sudangrass [S. bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf] grown during the spring, plus a fallow check plot. Soybean was grown as the summer crop. Millet and sorghum-sudangrass cropped in spring showed higher root and shoot production as spring cropping. In fall/winter, sorghum mixed with ruzigrass yielded higher phytomass compared with sole cropping. Soil physical attributes and organic matter fractioning were positively affected by cropping millet and sorghum-sudangrass whereas intermediate effects were observed after sunn hemp. Maintaining fallow in spring had negative effects on soil organic matter and physical properties. Ruzigrass and sorghum mixed with ruzigrass cropped in fall/winter resulted in better soil quality. Spring cover crops were more efficient in changing soil bulk density, porosity, and aggregates down to 0 to 10 cm; on the other hand, fall/winter cropping showed significant effects on bulk density in the uppermost soil layer. Total C levels in soil were increased after a 3-yr rotation period due to poor initial physical conditions. Fractions of particulate organic C, microbial C, and C in macroaggregates were the most affected by crop rotations, and showed high relation with improved soil physical attributes (porosity, density, and aggregates larger than 2 mm). © Soil Science Society of America, All rights reserved.

Fatty acids profile and alteration of lemon seeds extract (Citrus limon) added to soybean oil under thermoxidation

This paper aimed at evaluating fatty acids profile and the total alteration of lemon seeds extract added to soybean oil under thermoxidation, verifying the isolated and synergistic effect of these antioxidants. Therefore, Control treatments, LSE (2,400 mg/kg Lemon Seeds Extract), TBHQ (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 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 h intervals and analyzed as for fatty acid profile and total polar compounds. Results were subjected to variance analyses and Tukey tests at a 5% significance level. An increase in the percentage of saturated fatty acids and mono-unsaturated, and decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed, regardless of the treatments studied. For total polar compounds, it was verified that Mixtures 1 and 2 presented values lower than 25% with 20 h of heating, not surpassing the limits established in many countries for disposal of oils and fats under high temperatures, thus proving the synergistic effect of antioxidants. © 2011 Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India).

Lodos de esgoto, escória de aciaria e lama cal na cultura da soja sob sistema plantio direto em latossolo vermelho

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Teor de clorofila, danos oxidativos e qualidade de sementes de soja

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desempenho de cultivares transgênicas de soja em sucessão a culturas de inverno em semeadura direta

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dano por embebição em sementes de soja em função do teor de água inicial, cultivar e local de produção

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação do sistema radicular da soja sob sistemas de manejo do solo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Absorção e acúmulo de manganês em soja RR sob efeito do glyphosate

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

Disponibilidade de fósforo para a soja cultivada sobre braquiária

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

Caracterização sistêmica de alterações em redes fisiológicas de plantas C3 e C4 submetidas à deficiência hídrica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)