Caracterización, procesamiento e industrialización del grano de quinoa, cultivado en la provincia de Córdoba - Argentina. Characterization, processing and industrialization of quinoa seed harvested in the province of Córdoba - Argentina

La quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd), es un pseudocereal originario de la región Andina. Fue utilizada como alimento básico por los pueblos nativos. La quinoa, la papa y el maíz constituyeron el trinomio base de la alimentación indígena de este continente. La colonización española fue desplazando su cultivo a favor del trigo europeo y otros cereales, quedando reducida a las zonas altas de la región andina. La Quínoa ha adquirido una considerable atención en los últimos tiempos, principalmente por la calidad de sus proteínas y la ausencia de gluten en ella. Su empleo está ampliamente difundido en los países andinos, especialmente Bolivia y Perú, con un notable crecimiento de la superficie sembrada. En nuestro país la explotación de este cultivo se ubica principalmente en las provincias norteñas de Salta y Jujuy. En estos últimos años se ha reivindicado su cultivo y los granos privados de saponinas son considerados como un excelente alimento, reconocido por la OMS, la FAO y la NASA. Además de la calidad de sus lípidos y vitaminas, y al elevado contenido en almidón, la quinoa posee una proteína de excelente calidad nutricional y libre de gluten, lo que hace a este grano especialmente indicado para la alimentación de personas que sufren de la enfermedad celíaca o del síndrome de intestino irritado. El presente proyecto está orientado al aprovechamiento integral del grano de quinoa. Es nuestra intensión aquí, demostrar que dicho grano, cultivado en la provincia de Córdoba, permitirá elaborar productos alimenticios asi como también derivados de su industrialización. Para este objetivo se cuenta con las instalaciones de la Planta Piloto del Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (ICTA), de la UNC, así como de intrumental moderno y acorde, como HPLC, GC, Espectrofotómetro UV-Vis, rotavapores de laboratorio e industrial, cámara fría, balanzas analíticas y de precisión, muflas, estufas, molinos y tamices, así como también, contamos con profesionales, algunos de ellos realizando su tesis doctoral en este tema. En cuanto a los objetivos que se persiguen, se espera obtener productos tales como sopas, papillas, productos para panadería y galletería y salsas. En el plano industrial, se pretende elaborar concentrados proteicos, almidón y saponinas. Como se dijo más arriba, a nivel internacional la quinoa ha comenzado a extender sus fronteras, y es así que hoy el principal productor mundial de este grano, Bolivia, destina un porcentaje importante de su producción a la exportación. La creciente demanda mundial de quinoa a hecho que se constituya en un cultivo estratégico y de alto valor, con precios internacionales que rondan los U$S 1200 la tonelada. Si a esto unimos que la planta presenta una gran resistencia a la sequía, que se adapta bien a terrenos salitrosos, arenosos y pobres, podemos comprender la importancia que adquiere para nuestra provincia, toda vez que en la misma existen zonas geográficas potencialmente aptas para su cultivo. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a pseudocereal originating in the Andean region. It was used as a staple food by native peoples. Quinoa, potatoes and corn were the tree most important indigenous staple food to this part of South America. Spanish colonization was marginalized cultivation in favor of European wheat and other grains, displacing it to the highlands of the Andean region. Quinoa has recently gained considerable attention, mainly by its protein quality and lack of gluten. Its use is widespread in the Andean countries, especially Bolivia and Peru, with a notable increase in plantings. In our country, the exploitation of this crop is located mainly in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy. In recent years its cultivation has been promoted, and the grains once free of saponins are considered an excellent food, recognized by WHO, FAO and NASA. In addition to its lipid and vitamins, and high starch contain, quinoa protein has an excellent nutritional value and it is free of gluten, making it particularly suitable for this grain to feed people with celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome. This project aims at an integral development of quinoa grain. It is our intention here to demonstrate that this grain grown in the province of Córdoba, can produce food products resulting from local industrialization. This team has access to the facilities of the Pilot Plant of the Institute of Science and Food Technology (ICTA) of the UNC, and the modern equipments in it, as HPLC, GC, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, laboratory and industrial rotary evaporators, cold storage, analytical and precision balances, flasks, ovens, grinders and screens. Also, we have an important professional staff, some of them doing their thesis on this subject. With regard to the objectives pursued, we expect to obtain products such as soups, baby food, bakery products and biscuits and sauces. At the industrial level, it aims at producing protein concentrates, starch and saponins.

A comparative study of the physical, chemical and microbiological status of soils, as influenced by conventional and reduced tillage

Historically, shifts to reduced and no-tillage management for production of crops were fostered by needs to decrease soil erosion and loss of organic matter, reduce fuel and labour costs and conserve soil water, as compared with conventional fallow tillage management. Recent interest in maintaining soil quality has been stimulated by a renewed awareness of the importance of soil condition to both the sustainability of agricultural production systems and environmental quality (Doran and Parkin, 1996). The aim of this project was to determine the impact on the physical, chemical and microbiological status of the soil of conventional and reduced tillage. It has been suggested that the reduced soil disturbance associated with the tine cultivator improves soil structure, increases nutrient content in the top 10cm of soil, increases microbial activity and improves physical characteristics. From this study it was determined that the environmental benefits linked to reduced tillage in literature, did not develop in the first two years of this programmes implementation. The results of this study determined that soil nutrients did not increase in concentration in the top 10 cm of soil under reduced cultivation. The only exception was exchangeable potassium. As potassium is not a mobile nutrient its movement is dependent on soil disturbance, therefore under reduced cultivation its concentration was allowed to accumulate in the upper horizon of the soil profile. Microbial activity was greater in the conventionally tilled treatments, as determined by total aerobic bacterial numbers. This could be due to the increased rates of soil aeration in this treatment. Numbers of aerobic bacteria were greater in the conventional tillage treatments at both incubation temperatures of 22 and 32° C. The physical characteristics of the soil determined, indicate that below the depth of soil cultivation, cone penetration resistance increases. Therefore the reduced cultivation treatments would be more prone to soil compaction, higher in the soil profile.

Kultivation und Imagination in den neuen Medien

Imagination, cultivation, HCI, Human-Computer Interaction, development, website, case study, interaction, interface, identity

Efeitos do arsênico sôbre a cultura do algodoeiro em terra arenosa

The authors studied the action of arsenic, in the form of lead arsenate and sodium arsenite, on cotton in white sandy soil of Piracicaba, State of S. Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was carried out in Mitscherlich pots, applying increasing quantities of the above mentioned compounds. The following conclusions were reached: sodium arsenite is more toxic than lead arsenate. 48 pounds per acre of lead arsenate and 16 pounds per acre of sodium arsenite reduced the vegetative development and the production of cotton. The roots were more seriously affected than the aerial parts. Sandy soils were sensitive to arsenic toxicity. The arsenic mobilization in the soil seems to depend upon factors such as, the a- cidity, the concentration of Fe2O3, CaO, P2O5 and soil colloids, both clay and humus components. The authors suggest, based on their own experiment and after a detailed study of the literature, the use of organic insecticids which may not leave toxic residues, rotation of crops, application of lime and reduction of arsenical sprays to a mini mum. Arsenic compounds should not be used in soils destined to the cultivation of food plants. Rice should not be planted in soils contaminated by arsenic compounds during several years of cotton cultivation. Future experiments are planed, using other soils such as "terra roxa", in Mitscherlich pots and in field plots.

Estudos químico-agrícolas sôbre o enxofre

1. Analyses of soluble sulphates in 2 N ammonium chloride extracts of 24 samples of soils of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, S. A., showed a sulphur content varying from 0,0013 g per 100 g (found in the b layer of a genuine "terra roxa") to 0,007 g per 100 g of soil (b layer of a soil of depression without definite characteristics). (The results are expressed as elemental sulphur). Determinations of total sulphur in 56 samples of soils of the same state using the method of fusion with sodium carbonate and sodium nitrate revealed 0.007 g of elemental S per 100 g of soil as the lowest value (found in several soil types) and 0.096 g as the highest one (found in the b layer of an ar-quean soil). Apparently soluble sulphates accumulate in the upper layers and total sulphur does the opposite. It was found a strong correlation between total S and carbon content. 2. Under laboratory conditions, in a compost of fresh soil, powdered sulphur and apatite, it was verified after a three months period of incubation that the pH value lowered from 6.30 to 3.23; the citric acid solubility of apatite increased to 271.1 per cent of the original one. Lupinus sp. grown in soil manured with sulphur and apatite has showed fresh and dry weights higher than the plants in control pots; the results are significant at 5% level of probability; phosphorus content is also higher in the manured plants. It was observed a net influence of the apatite plus sulphur treatment on the weight of root nodosities that was four times greater than in the control plants. 3. Nearly five hundred determinations of S, N and P were carried out in 35 species of plants cultivated in the state of São Paulo. A great variation in the amounts of these elements was observed. As a general rule, the leaves contain more sulphur than the stems and roots show the lowest percentages. The conjunct roots and stem of guar (Cyamopsis psoraloides) revealed only 0.019 per cent sulphur; the leaves of kale showed the highest sulphur content, i. e., 2.114%. Apparently there is no correlation between the amounts of S, N and P. The ratio S/N increases from 0.006 (guar) to 0.485 (kale). The ratio S/P, always higher than the corresponding S/N, increases from 0.082 (guar) to 6.381 (older leaves of tomato plants). It is interesting to mention that several among the most important crops in the state of São Paulo namely, cotton, rice, coffee and sugar cane contain more sulphur than phosphorus. 4. Tomato plants cultivated in nutrient solution lacking sulphur showed the following visual symptons of deficiency : chlorosis first in the younger leaves and afterwards in all the leaves; anthocyanin pigments in the petioles and stems; absence of fruits; primary roots stunted and secondary ones longer than in the control plants; stems slender, hard, woody. The histological study of petioles suffering from sulphur deficiency revealed anthocyanin in the parenchyme layer instead of clo-rophyll pigments observed in normal petioles; in the chlorotic leaves the large chloroplasts present only the stroma but the small ones have a little amount of green pigments. Chemical analysis revealed in the abnormal plants : less sulphur and an increased proportion of phosphorus; older leaves contain more sulphur and less phosphorus than the younger ones probably due to physiological difficulties in translocation of sulphur bearing material; increased amount of total N attributed to accumulation of nitrates; marked decrease in ash, sugars and starch; increased proportion of crude fiber and dry material. In the plants suffering from sulphur deficiency photosyntetic rate decreased 34 per cent. 5. Tomato plants were succesfully cultivated in nutrient solution in absence of mineral sulphur but in presence of cysteine. The plants absorbed sulphur, under that form and were able to grow up quite well; the fruiting was normal. In this way rested cleary demonstrated the possibility of absorption of organic sulphur without previous mineralization and its utilization in the building up of protein molecules.

Estudos sôbre a distribuição do radiozinco no tomateiro (Lycopersicum esculentum)

The present paper relates a few experiments carried out to study the distribution of radiozinc in tomato seedlings as well its translocation in adult plants. 1 Tomato seedlings grown in nutrient solution were given during two weeks ca. 0.2 microcuries of Zn65C112; the seedlings were then harvested, and after careful washing of the roots with distiled water and diluted HC1, a radioautograph was taken (Fig. 1); this shows that the whole seedling, including the first cotyledon leaves are active; the Zn65 is preferentially concentrated, however, in the root system; this fact suggests that finding by ROSSITER (1953) that the roots of plants growing under natural conditions had a very high concentration of zinc is not due to soil contamination being ascribable to the physiology of such micronutrient. 2. The translocation of radiozinc was demonstrated by three different ways. In the first case, Zn65Cl2 was supplied to the nutrient solution during four weeks; three weeks after the addition of the radiozinc was discontinued, the newer leaves were detached and a radioautograph was taken (Fig. 2); the activity therein found shows that translocation occurred from the old leaves to the young ones. In the next experiment, identical procedure was followed but, instead of a radioautograph, different parts of the plant were ashed and counted; it was verified that 66.6 per cent of the activity supplied was absorbed; due to a great fixation within the roots only 5,6 per cent was translocated to the newer organs. In the third trial, Zn65C12 was directly applied to both upper and lower surfaces of medium aged leaves; counting the separated organs revealed that: 24.2 per cent of the activity applied hab been absorbed; however, 13.7 per cent translocated to the rest of the plant including to the roots. The author wishes to express his gratitude to Dr. P. R. Stout, Chairman, Dept. of Plant Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley and to Mr. A. B. Carlton for their help during part of this work. O autor agradece ao Laboratório de Isótopos da Universidade de São Paulo, na pessoa do Dr. T. Eston, o fornecimento do Zn65 usado neste trabalho.

Experimentos com os nematicidas D. D., E. D. B. e brometo de metilo no combate aos nematódeos causadores de galhas em raízes de plantas (Meloidogyne spp.)

Tomato roots heavily disfigured by root-knot nematodes were throughly mixed with soil. At various time intervals, samples were taken from the mixture and treated in closed containers by each of the folio wing nematicides: D.D., E.D.B. and M.B. The efficacy of the treatment was tested by setting indicator plants in the treated soil and by examining their roots for the presence of galls two months later. In other words, the ability of the three nematicides to penetrate nematode galls after various periods of rotting, which varied from 5 to 30 days was studied. The main conclusions drawn are as follows: a) no nematicide among the three listed above showed the ability for complete destruction of the nematodes protected inside the roots, for a number of small galls developed on the root system of the indicator plant in all treatments; b) smaller and less numerous galls were present on the roots of the indicator plants grown in soil treated after a rotting period of 30 days; c) however, the control obtained seems to be quite satisfactory economically, since the check plants grew poorly and have developed a very unhealthy root system. This is in accordance with STARK & LEAR (1947), LEAR (1951) and CICCARONE's (1951) statements. The results of the present experiments show again that awaiting for the rotting of galls of the root-knot nematodes is not indispensable for an economically convenient soil fumigation. Fields in which many fleshy infected roots from previous crops have been buried can be economically fumigated immediately, without any loss of time. Notwithstanding, when thick woody roots are present in the soil, the above statements may not hold true. This should constitute a new problem calling for further experiments. Another essay dealing with methyl bromide alone, consisted in treating cotton roots heavily disfigured by Meloidogyne incognita in a container (diameter = 28cm, height = 32 cm), which remained closed for five days. After the treatment, the roots were mixed with soil, in which tomato seedlings were planted. After a growing period of two months, the roots of the tomato plants were washed in running water and examined for the presence of galls. As an early infeccion was present in the root system of all plants, the inefficacy of the treatment has been proved.

Contribuição ao conhecimento dos nematóides que causam galhas em raízes de plantas em São Paulo e estados vizinhos

Eight root-knot nematode forms are known to occur in Brazil, namely Meloidogyne exigua, M. incognita, M. j. javanica, M. j. bauruensis, M. inornata, M. hapla, M. arenaria arenaria and M. coffeicola. After presenting a historical resume of the root-knot disease, as well as observations on symptoms, distribution and spread, and life history of the nematodes, a study of the morphological characters used in identification of species is made, a key for separating the forms referred to above being also prepared. As no information on host plants of the coffee root-knot nematode (M. exigua) was available, a few tests were performed, as an attempt to infect several plant species. Pepper (Capsicum annuun) was the only plant attacked by M. exigua, having failed all attempts to infect nine other plants, including tomato var. Rutgers. M. exigua incited formation of galls on roots of cucumber, but no adult female was found in the tissue. In a final chapter dealing with control, a review of all methods available is presented.

Development of an in vitro model for studying aneurysms

The aims of this project was to develop an arterial aneurysm using either enzymatic or laser degradation of the arterial wall without affecting the viability of the tissue and to cultivate the arteries under pulsatile flow conditions in a vascular bioreactor with a view to investigate the progress of the disease. Characteristics of aneurysms are the degradation of smooth muscle cells, collagen and elastin. Detached smooth muscle cells and degradation of the collagen matrix and elastin fibres were observed in arteries degraded with enzymes elastase and collagenase. Only remnants of the arterial wall were detected after cultivation. This might be a suitable model for late stage aneurysms. Arteries treated with the laser system showed no charring or heat damage of the not dissected area. Collagen matrix, smooth muscle cells and elastin fibres were intact. A clear defined cut was made in a depth of 200 μm and tissue was removed. Following cultivation of these arteries a dilation of the laser-eroded area was observed. This model can mimic atherosclerotic aneurysms, when plaques weaken the tunica media of the blood vessel wall and rupture. Limitations of this study were contamination of the bioreactor system and a low number of cultivations. The aim to generate a living arterial aneurysm in vitro was not achieved. Tissue viability decreased to the level of negative controls after cultivation.

Protozoários intestinais de vertebrados observados em Salobra

Protozoa were collected by means of dry smears and cultures in Cleveland's medium contained in 2cm3 ampules. The isolation and subsequent cultivation of trichomonad organisms in ampules were generally successfull; but the cultures went down, when transferred to test-tubes in the same medium, apparently because of the liberation of characteristic pigment by Bacillus pyocyaneus.

Toxoplasmose congênita

We had the opportunity to study 6 cases of the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, found in a series of 1200 necropsies of fetuses and newborn babies, realized at 3 different hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the 6 cases, 4 were premature babies liveborn at the 6th-8th gestational month and 2 were stillborn (1 premature and 1 at term). In all those cases, the diagnosis was based in the detection of the parasite in tissues and in one case it was even isolated the Toxoplasma from the necrotic material found in the cranial cavity. This strain of Toxoplasma, pathogenic to pigeons, to guinea pigs and to mice, is preserved by successive transfers in mice. Some facts observed in those cases present an interest not only strictly anatomic but also have certain value for the better acknowlegment of the disease. First, we want to call the attention to the presence of a sudden high fever, during or just before pregnancy in the 4 cases in which the maternal anamnesis was perfectly studied; this fever that was preceded by a normal beginning of pregnancy, had relatively rapid remission, but in 2 cases was immediately followed by uterine bleeding and premature delivery, although the puerperium had been apparently normal. It is known that are normal the subsequent children of the mothers that delivered a baby with toxoplasmosis and that several women have normal babies before the toxoplasmotic one. We believe that the fever observed in our cases could be indicative of the beginning of maternal infection and those are the reasons why we emphasize the need of careful anamnesis, specially in the cases actually diagnosed as inapparent infection. Another fact to notice is that in 5 of our cases the event premature delivery happened always between the 6th and the 8th months of pregnancy, and the only term fetus was delivered in advanced stage of maceration. The above mentioned facts could agree with the opinion of FRENKEL (1949), when he declared that "primary infection of the pregnant mother appears more likely to be the commoner mode of fetal toxoplasmic infection", but they would disagree with WEINMAN (1952) who believes that the transmission of Toxoplasma to the fetus is more frequent through a pregnant woman with chronic disease and who says "that infection contracted during pregnancy may and probably does happen from time to time"...Still in connection with the transmission of toxoplasmosis, we want to note the verification of inflammatory lesions in the placental villi and in the umbilical cord in 3 of the 4 cases in which such organs were examined at the microscope. In the case n. 1, we found several pseudocysts of Toxoplasma in the placenta, and the fibroblasts of Wharton's jelly were particularly rich in isolated forms and in colonies of Toxoplasma; the easy multiplication of the parasite in that tissue calls the attention and even suggests its utilisation for Toxoplasma's cultivation. The confirmation of Toxoplasma in human placenta was made only recently by CRISTEN et al. (1951) and by NEGHME et al. (1952), in Chile; it is not frequent in the literature, what gives some value to our present verification. Another observation was that provided by the case n. 6. This baby, a premature one of the 6th month, was 14 days old and-died with signs of respiratory disease, the causa mortis have been pneumonia. At the necropsy, we found no gross change that suggested toxoplasmosis, except the presence of some small necrotic focuses in the cerebral nervous substance around the ventricles. As a matter of fact, there was no enlargement of spleen or liver and neither leptomeningitis nor hydrocephalus. Such focuses were attributed to possible anoxia and in fact they are extremely similar to anoxial softenings, even when they are examined at the microscope; its structure composed of a central necrotic zone, surrounded by proliferated neuroglia and by a variable deposit of calcium salts, closely simulated the anoxial softenings, when the microscopical examination is based in the common histological preparations (hematoxilin-eosin, etc.). But when we examine preparations by the Giemsa or by the periodic acid-Schiff methods, we will note the presence of Toxoplasma, with its typical aspect or a little changed by degeneration. When we describe this observation, we wish to evidence the need of the search of Toxoplasma and closed parasites, in the cases of supposed pure anoxial softenings of nervous substance, in children. The frequency with which the congenital toxoplasmosis was anatomically verified should be emphasized, although the disease had not been clinically suspected, and it should be borne in mind that the second case of toxoplasmosis reported in the world was observed in Brazil by MAGARINOS TORRES; this case was the first to be described of the generalized congenital form of the infection, i. e. with myocardial lesions and parasites in skeletal muscles and skin.

Virological study of a dengue type 1 epidemic at Rio de Janeiro

A dengue outbreak started in March, 1986 in Rio de Janeiro and spread very rapidly to other parts of the country. The great majority of cases presented classical dengue fever but there was one fatal case, confirmed by virus isolation. Dengue type 1 strains were isolated from patients and vectors (Aedes aegypti) in the area by cultivation in A. albopictus C6/36 cell line. The cytopathic effect (CPE) was studied by electron microscopy. An IgM capture test (MAC-ELISA) was applied with clear and reproducible results for diagnosis and evaluation of virus circulation; IgM antibodies appeared soon after start of clinical disease, and persisted for about 90 days in most patients. The test was type-specific in about 50% of the patients but high levels of heterologous response for type 3 were observed. An overall isolation rate of 46,8% (813 virus strains out of 1734 specimens) was recorded. The IgM test increased the number of confirmed cases to 58,2% (1479 out of 2451 suspected cases). The importance of laboratory diagnosis in all regions where the vectors are present is emphasized.

Genome sequence of the metazoan plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are major agricultural pests worldwide and novel approaches to control them are sorely needed. We report the draft genome sequence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, a biotrophic parasite of many crops, including tomato, cotton and coffee. Most of the assembled sequence of this asexually reproducing nematode, totaling 86 Mb, exists in pairs of homologous but divergent segments. This suggests that ancient allelic regions in M. incognita are evolving toward effective haploidy, permitting new mechanisms of adaptation. The number and diversity of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in M. incognita is unprecedented in any animal for which a genome sequence is available, and may derive from multiple horizontal gene transfers from bacterial sources. Our results provide insights into the adaptations required by metazoans to successfully parasitize immunocompetent plants, and open the way for discovering new antiparasitic strategies.

The political ecology of Jatropha plantations for biodiesel in Tamil Nadu, India

Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal lands, economic returns for small farmers, and lack of competition with food crops. However, empirical results from a study in southern India revealed that Jatropha cultivation, even on agricultural lands, is neither profitable, nor pro-poor. We use a political ecology framework to analyze both the discourse promoting Jatropha cultivation and its empirical consequences. We deconstruct the shaky premises of the dominant discourse of Jatropha as a “pro-poor” and “pro-wasteland” development crop, a discourse that paints a win-win picture between poverty alleviation, natural resource regeneration, and energy security goals. We then draw from field-work on Jatropha plantations in the state of Tamil Nadu to show how Jatropha cultivation favors resource-rich farmers, while possibly reinforcing existing processes of marginalization of small and marginal farmers.

Capture of Caliptrate flies with different breeding substrates on beaches in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Muscidae flies belonging to four Familia and 13 species in a total number of 3.652 specimens were collected from beaches at Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil using different breeding substrates, and subsequently bred in the laboratory. Captures were done from April to November 1989, using in a first phase different substrates: fruits (banana and papaya), vegtable (tomato), animal viscera (bovine liver), marine animals (fish, crab, shrimp, squid), mouse carcass and feaces (human and canine). The species collected more often were: Fannia sp. (subgroup pusio), Chrysomya megacephala, Phaenicia eximia, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Peckya chrysostoma, Musca domestica and Atherigona orientalis. In a later phase, only fish was used, as bait and placed directly on the beach sand. From a total of 189 pupae, the following adult specimen were obtained: Peckia chrysostoma (58.06%), Chrysomya megacephala (30.64%) and in lesser numbers Synthesiomyia nudiseta and Phaenicia eximia.