Nutritional and chemical characterization of food products enriched with biological produced fruits of Vaccinum myrtillus L

Vaccinum myrtillus L. belongs to Ericaceae family, being commonly known for its sweet small fruits: the blueberries. Widely consumed in fresh, these fruits are also used in jams and marmalades due to their digestive and hypoglycemic properties and also due to the presence of several bioactive compounds [!]. Therefore, it has become a very appealing matrix in the development of functional products that, beyond their nutritional properties, will add a long-term beneficial physiological/health effect [2]. In the present work, three novel blueberry based products developed by RBR Foods Company (Portugal), were characterized in terms of their nutritional and chemical properties: carbohydrates, ash, proteins, fat and energetic value (following official methods of food analysis), fatty acids profile (by CG-FID), soluble sugars (by HPLCRI), organic acids (by HPLC-DAD) and tocopherols (by HPLC-fluorescence). The products result from a mixture of the fruits with rose petals (PI), marigold petals (P2) and apple and goji berries (P3). The blueberry fruits were used as control sample. The nutritional profile of the novel products was very similar to the control sample: the carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrient, followed by proteins and total fat. Regarding sugars, fructose, glucose and sucrose were identified in all the samples. P 1 and P2 didn't show significant differences in comparison to the control, however, P3 revealed a lower concentration of sugars. In terms of fatty acids composition, all the studied samples presented higher contents in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially due to the contribution of linoleic and alinolenic acids. The results of tocopherols revealed that the control sample only presented two isoforrns of tocopherols, a- and y-tocopherol, being the same observed in P3. However, P 1 revealed the presence of all the isoforrns of tocopherols, while P2 was lacking otocopherol; which is related with the contribution of rose and marigold petals, respectively. The a-tocopherol isoforrn was the most abundant in all the studied samples. Overall, this work contributed to the nutritional characterization of novel blueberry based products and is a part of a wider project that aims the detailed study of these products, namely their potential to be used as functional foods.

Effect of different methods of soil preparation on soil moisture loss, weed growth and soil resistance to penetration.

The effect of different methods of soil preparation on soil moisture loss, weed growth and soil resistance to penetration has been quantified for the Latosols of Bebedouro experiment station of CPATSA-EMBRAPA, Petrolina,PE, Brazil. The methods studied are manual preparation, preparation by animal drawn wheeled tool carrier and tractorized implements. The drying characteristics of three fields with different soil physical properties were studied prior to conducting the experiment. The different methods of soil preparation caused the soil moisture loss differently. The plot prepared by animal drawn tool carrier retained more moisture for longer time even at deeper layers. The soil resistance to penetration on the surface increased with time with little variation at deeper layers.

As coberturas florestais e a recuperação da fertilidade de solos ferralíticos de Angola

Effects of different forestry covers - “mata de panda” (MP), Pinus patula (PP) Eucalyptus grandis (EG) and Grevillea robusta (GR) - installed between 1965 and 1968 in the Estação Experimental Agrícola da Chianga (Huambo, Angola), on chemical properties of Ferrallitic Soils were assessed up to 30 cm depth, as compared to those observed in nearby conventional agricultural fields. Only the soils of the areas with EG and GR showed a clear improvement in their reaction, content of organic carbon and of extractable non-acid cations and effective cation exchange capacity, usually up to 10 cm depth. The improvement associated with “mata de panda” was less pronounced and that of PP plantations was negligible or nil. The recover capacity of soil fertility may depend on the nature of tree cover as well as on the soil characteristics itself. Results also indicate that the low soil capacity to retain cations exhibited by soils of the Planalto Central of Angola can be increased through both acidity correction and increasing the content of soil organic matter

Influence of Pseudomonas putida AF7 inoculation on soil enzymes.

There has been some concern about the environmental impact of microbial agents. Pseudomonas may be used as bioremediator and as biopesticide. In this study, we report the use of soil enzyme assays as biological indicator of possible negative effects in soil functioning after the P. putida AF7 inoculation. For that, P. putida AF7 was originally isolated from the rizosphere of rice and was inoculated on three soil types: Rhodic Hapludox (RH), Typic Hapludox (TH); and Arenic Hapludult (AH). The acid phosphatase, b-glucosidase and protease enzymes activities were measured for three period of evaluation (7, 14 and 21 days). In general, the enzymatic activities pre- sented variation among the tested soils. The highest activities of b-glucosidase and acid phosphatase were observed in the RH and AH soils, while the protease activity was higher in the TH soil. Also, the soil charac- teristics were measured for each plot. The activity of enzymes from the carbon cycle was positively correlated with the N and the P and the enzyme from the nitrogen cycle was negatively correlated with N and C.org. The presented data indicate that soil biochemical properties can be an useful tool for use as an indicator of soil perturba- tions by microbial inoculation in a risk assessment.

Effect of organic amendments on the afforestation performance of plant species on degraded semiarid conditions

Vegetation plays a fundamental role in soil conservation, so it is common to consider an increase in vegetation cover as one of the techniques to mitigate the effects of desertification in Mediterranean forest environments. There are two factors limiting the establishment and growth of seedlings in dry environments: (i) an excessive radiation and, (ii) the limited availability of water during the summer drought. During an afforestation plan, soil preparation is always necessary to reduce sapling mortality. The goal of this study was to analyze the effect of various organic amendments on soil according to chemical and hydrological properties, and to assess the effects of these parameters on an afforestal proposal under Mediterranean climate conditions. Five amendments were applied in an experimental set of plots: straw mulching (SM); mulch with chipped branches of Aleppo Pine (PM); TerraCotten hydroabsobent polymers (HP); sewage sludge (RU); sheep manure (SH) and control (C). Plots were afforested following the same spatial pattern, and amendments were mixed with the soil at the rate 10 Mg ha -1 . Under bare soil conditions (C), most of mortalities occurred during the summer period of the first year. A substantial positive effect of SM, PM and HP on the survival rates have been clearly observed. Conversely, when the soil was amended with SH, the survival rate quickly decreased or remained more or less constant regarding to C. In this study, the lack of differences on chemical properties indicates that there may exist other reasons to justify the differences that were found in the pattern of vegetation. However, regarding to the hydrological properties some differences have been found. In C, soils were registered below the wilting point during 4 months a year, and therefore, in the area of water unusable by plants. These months were coinciding with the summer Mediterranean drought and can justify the high mortality found on plants. Conversely, in SM, PM and HP, soil moisture remained below the wilting point less period than C and, the plant available water was also higher. In these treatments, the survival sapling rates measured were the highest. SH showed water holding capacity slightly more limited than C. For this treatment, the survival sapling rates measured were the lowest. In conclusion, from a land management standpoint, the PM, SM and HP have been proved as a significant method to reduce sapling mortality rates during the Mediterranean summer drought.

Distribuição e propriedade hidráulica dos solos da várzea de curuai, Pará

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Geociências, 2016.

Site Specifc Growth of Metal Catalyzed Silica Nanowires for Biological and Chemical Sensing

In this research the integration of nanostructures and micro-scale devices was investigated using silica nanowires to develop a simple yet robust nanomanufacturing technique for improving the detection parameters of chemical and biological sensors. This has been achieved with the use of a dielectric barrier layer, to restrict nanowire growth to site-specific locations which has removed the need for post growth processing, by making it possible to place nanostructures on pre-pattern substrates. Nanowires were synthesized using the Vapor-Liquid-Solid growth method. Process parameters (temperature and time) and manufacturing aspects (structural integrity and biocompatibility) were investigated. Silica nanowires were observed experimentally to determine how their physical and chemical properties could be tuned for integration into existing sensing structures. Growth kinetic experiments performed using gold and palladium catalysts at 1050 ˚C for 60 minutes in an open-tube furnace yielded dense and consistent silica nanowire growth. This consistent growth led to the development of growth model fitting, through use of the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the nanowires to be amorphous and X-ray diffraction confirmed the composition to be SiO2 . Silica nanowires were monitored in epithelial breast cancer media using Impedance spectroscopy, to test biocompatibility, due to potential in vivo use as a diagnostic aid. It was found that palladium catalyzed silica nanowires were toxic to breast cancer cells, however, nanowires were inert at 1µg/mL concentrations. Additionally a method for direct nanowire integration was developed that allowed for silica nanowires to be grown directly into interdigitated sensing structures. This technique eliminates the need for physical nanowire transfer thus preserving nanowire structure and performance integrity and further reduces fabrication cost. Successful nanowire integration was physically verified using Scanning electron microscopy and confirmed electrically using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of immobilized Prostate Specific Antigens (PSA). The experiments performed above serve as a guideline to addressing the metallurgic challenges in nanoscale integration of materials with varying composition and to understanding the effects of nanomaterials on biological structures that come in contact with the human body.

Nitrogen use efficiency and optimization of nitrogen fertilizer application for stable yields and high quality of cereals grown in conservation agriculture

In most agroecosystems, nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient limiting plant growth. One management strategy that affects N cycling and N use efficiency (NUE) is conservation agriculture (CA), an agricultural system based on a combination of minimum tillage, crop residue retention and crop rotation. Available results on the optimization of NUE in CA are inconsistent and studies that cover all three components of CA are scarce. Presently, CA is promoted in the Yaqui Valley in Northern Mexico, the country´s major wheat-producing area in which from 1968 to 1995, fertilizer application rates for the cultivation of irrigated durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) at 6 t ha-1 increased from 80 to 250 kg ha-1, demonstrating the high intensification potential in this region. Given major knowledge gaps on N availability in CA this thesis summarizes the current knowledge of N management in CA and provides insights in the effects of tillage practice, residue management and crop rotation on wheat grain quality and N cycling. Major aims of the study were to identify N fertilizer application strategies that improve N use efficiency and reduce N immobilization in CA with the ultimate goal to stabilize cereal yields, maintain grain quality, minimize N losses into the environment and reduce farmers’ input costs. Soil physical and chemical properties in CA were measured and compared with those in conventional systems and permanent beds with residue burning focusing on their relationship to plant N uptake and N cycling in the soil and how they are affected by tillage and N fertilizer timing, method and doses. For N fertilizer management, we analyzed how placement, time and amount of N fertilizer influenced yield and quality parameters of durum and bread wheat in CA systems. Overall, grain quality parameters, in particular grain protein concentration decreased with zero-tillage and increasing amount of residues left on the field compared with conventional systems. The second part of the dissertation provides an overview of applied methodologies to measure NUE and its components. We evaluated the methodology of ion exchange resin cartridges under irrigated, intensive agricultural cropping systems on Vertisols to measure nitrate leaching losses which through drainage channels ultimately end up in the Sea of Cortez where they lead to algae blooming. A throughout analysis of N inputs and outputs was conducted to calculate N balances in three different tillage-straw systems. As fertilizer inputs are high, N balances were positive in all treatments indicating the risk of N leaching or volatilization during or in subsequent cropping seasons and during heavy rain fall in summer. Contrary to common belief, we did not find negative effects of residue burning on soil nutrient status, yield or N uptake. A labeled fertilizer experiment with urea 15N was implemented in micro-plots to measure N fertilizer recovery and the effects of residual fertilizer N in the soil from summer maize on the following winter crop wheat. Obtained N fertilizer recovery rates for maize grain were with an average of 11% very low for all treatments.

Biotic and abiotic parameters that distinguish types of temporary ponds in a Portuguese Mediterranean ecosystem

Temporary ponds are seasonal wetland habitats subjected to extreme and unstable ecological conditions. Some are classified as priority habitats for conservation by the European Union Habitats Directive. Our study area was the coastal plain of southwest Portugal, which spans across 100km north to south and hosts a large number of temporary ponds as a consequence of climatic and edaphic characteristics. Field sampling of floristic and edaphic data was carried out in 24 temporary ponds every spring between 2005 and 2008. We recorded a total of 174 plant species identified within visually homogeneous plots. We included the data in a geographic information system and classified ponds according to their floristic composition, using a biotic regionalization analysis based on species presence/absence, which is a practical and unambiguous criterion. We found three significantly different groups of ponds which corresponded to an eco-physiognomic pond typology: Mediterranean temporary ponds, marshlands, and disturbed ponds. For the first two pond types we defined characteristic or indicator plant species. We searched also for relationships between pond type and a series of large-scale climatic, geographic, and geological variables, as well as local-scale physical and chemical properties of the soil. Pond type was distinguished by a complex combination of some of these variables, including environmental energy, soil texture, nitrogen content of the soil and pH. A practical way of discriminating between different

Estratégias de fitorremediação de duas minas abandonadas - Tinoca e Mostardeira

O presente trabalho teve como objectivo a implementação de estratégias de remediação de duas minas abandonadas na região do Alto Alentejo, a mina da Tinoca e a mina da Mostardeira. Neste trabalho foram realizados ensaios de fitoremediação com as espécies Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, Solanum nigrum L., Piptatherum miliaceum (L.)Coss. e Spergularia purpurea (Persoon)G. Don fil. As misturas utilizadas como suporte para desenvolvimento das plantas resultaram da mistura (1:1) de resíduos de escombreira e solo. Estas misturas foram realizadas para as duas minas independentemente. A estas misturas foram adicionados correctivos minerais e um correctivo orgânico. Dos estudos realizados observou-se que medidas de atenuação/diluição não se mostraram suficientemente eficazes para permitir uma estabilização da zona superficial em causa, pelas espécies de plantas estudadas. Por outro lado, a adição de um correctivo orgânico, juntamente com a subida do pH do solo, conduziu a um melhoramento das características físicas e químicas das misturas originais facilitando a sua revegetação. ABSTRACT: This study was designed to implement remediation strategies in two abandoned mines in the region of Alto Alentejo, the Tinoca mine and Mostradeira mine. Phytoremediation tests were carried out with the species Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, Solanum nigrum L., Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss. and Spergularia purpurea (Persoon) G. Don fil. The mixtures used to support plant growth resulted from the admixture (1:1) of waste tailings and soil and were performed independently for the two mines. Soil mineral correctives and organic fertilizers were added to these mixtures. The study showed that mitigation/dilution measures were not sufficiently effective to allow the stabilization of the area with the plant species studied. However, the addition of an organic corrective, along with the rise of soil pH, led to an improvement in the physical and chemical properties of the original amendment soil mixtures, hence facilitating its phytorestoration.

Mineralisation of the fungicide 14C-labelled metalaxyl fungicide in Brazilian soils.

Laboratory incubation experiments were carried out to estimate the mineralisation of metalaxyl 14C {N-(2-6 dimethyphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester} in four Brazilian soils with different physico-chemical properties, at 3 and 30 ?g a.i. g-1. In the Petrolina sandy soil the mineralisation presented higher 14CO2 production rates, at two essayed concentrations, after 70 days. Microbiological studies were done to determine the numbers of bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi (CFU g-1 soil). In relation with other microbial community, bacterial population demonstrated to be a major component of the cultivable heterotrophic community after the application.of the compound. No detectable metabolites were found in this study. The results suggest that soil properties and application history may have a strong influence on the fungicide behavior in these soil samples.

Mitigation of clayey soil compaction managed under no-tillage.

2015

Influence of Pseudomonas putida AF7 inoculation on soil enzymes.

Pseudomonas may use as bioremediator and as biopesticide. The use of soil enzymatic assays as biological indicator of possible negative effects in soil functioning was evaluated after P.putida AF7 inoculation. For that, AF7 was originally isolated from the rizosphere of rice and was inoculated on three soils: Rhodic Hapludox (RH), Typic Hapludox (TH); and Arenic Hapludult (AH). Soil characteristics were measured in each plot. Acid phosphatase, ?-glucosidase and protease activities were measured at 7, 14 and 21 days. The enzyme activity waved during the experimental period but there is a significant reduction of ?-glucosidase activity in RH soil on day 14. Corg was positively correlated to the activities of ?-glucosidase and protease. The presented data indicate that soil biochemical properties may be useful as indicator of soil perturbations.

Atrazine sorption in soil treated with biochar.

Biochar has been used worldwide as soil amendment. Due to the high sorption capacity of organic compounds by charcoal in general, the use of biochar can change the soil sorptive properties, that could result in a environmental protective strategy in one hand and/or in need of higher pesticides doses in another hand. However no data in the literature is available about the long term effect of biochar application in the sorptive properties of the soil, even studies about the sorptive properties of soil treated with biochar are scarce, the few available papers are with pure biochar. This unprecedented work, evaluating the sorption of atrazine in a clayed soil treated with biochar, under experimental field conditions, evaluated the sorption isotherms one and three years after the single biochar application (16 Mg ha-1 of biochar). One year after the biochar application the Kf was two times higher for the biochar amended soil than for the control one (without biochar). This effect decreases after three years from the application, but it is even significantly higher (50% higher) than the control treatment.

Genesis and classification of soils from subtropical mountain regions of Southern Brazil.

Soils formed in high mountainous regions in southern Brazil are characterized by great accumulation of organic matter (OM) in the surface horizons and variation in the degree of development. We hypothesized that soil properties and genesis are influenced by the interaction of parent materials and climate factors, which differ depending on the location along the altitudinal gradient. The goal of this study was to characterize and classify the soil, evaluate soil distribution, and determine the interactive effects of soil-forming factors in the subtropical mountain regions in Santa Catarina state. Soil samples were collected in areas known for wine production, for a total of 38 modal profiles. Based on morphological, physical, and chemical properties, soils were evaluated for pedogenesis and classified according to the Brazilian System of Soil Classification, with equivalent classes in the World Reference Basis (WRB). The results indicated that pedogenesis was strongly influenced by the parent material, weather, and relief. In the areas where basic effusive rocks (basalt) were observed, there was formation of extensive areas of clayey soils with reddish color and higher iron oxide contents. There was a predominance of Nitossolos Vermelhos and Háplicos (Nitisols), Latossolos Vermelhos (Ferralsols), and Cambissolos Háplicos (Cambisols), highlighting the pedogenetic processes of eluviation, illuviation of clay, and latosolization in conditions of year-long, large-volume, well-distributed rainfall and stability of land forms. In areas with acid effusive rocks (rhyodacites), medial or clayey soils were observed with lower iron oxide content, invariably acidic, and with low base content. For these soils, relief promoted substantial removal of material, resulting in intense rejuvenation, with a predominance of Cambissolos Háplicos (Cambisols) and lesser occurrence of Nitossolos Brunos (Nitisols) and Neossolos Litólicos (Leptosols). Soils formed from sedimentary rocks also tended to be more acidic, but with higher sand content, and the soils identified were Cambissolos Háplicos and Húmicos (Cambisols). Cluster analysis separated the soil profiles into three groups: the first and largest was formed by profiles originating from sedimentary rocks and rhyodacites; the second, smaller group was formed by four profiles in the Água Doce region (acidic rocks); and the third was formed by profiles derived from basalt. Discriminant analysis was effective in grouping soil classes. Thus, the study highlighted the importance of geology in the formation of soils in this landscape associated with climate and relief.