Effects of substrate and mechanical scarification on the germination of Syagrus oleracea (Arecaceae) seeds

The slow and uneven germination of Syagrus oleracea seeds represents a problem for its propagation, especially for commercial production. This work aimed to study the effects of substrate and mechanical scarification on the germination of S. oleracea seeds. Germination (% G), emergence rate (ER), leaf area (cm(2)), root length (cm), leaf dry mass (g) and root dry mass (g) were also determined. Non-scarified seeds sown in vermiculite germinated faster and showed higher germination (65%), as well as greater root length (16.55 cm). leaf dry mass (5.07 g) and root dry mass (12.41 g), when compared to the scarified seeds.

Determination of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat in twenty-five genotypes of kale (B-oleracea var. acephala)

The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether extract) of 25 genotypes of kale from the Germplasm Bank of Instituto Agronomico de Campinas and of one genotype grown in the region of Jaboticabal-SP. The plants were cultivated in the field, and the leaves after collection were pre-dried in a convection oven at 65 degrees C for 72 h. Afterward, the leaves were analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether-soluble materials). Significant differences were detected among the different genotypes for all the characteristics examined. of the genotypes studied, six showed more than 30% crude protein: HS-20 (32.56%), Comum (31.70%), Couve de Arthur Nogueira 2 (31.16%), Pires 2 de Campinas (30.63%), Manteiga 1-916 (30.36%), and Manteiga de Ribeirao Pires I-2446 (30.03%). In relation to crude fiber, the highest percentage was seen in the genotype Manteiga de Mococa (10.92%), differing significantly from the other genotypes studied. With regard to crude fat, the highest percentage was found in the genotype HS-20 (3.72%), and Pires 1 de Campinas (3.34%). of the genotypes tested, HS-20 stood out among the others, showing both the highest percentage of protein and fat.

Proposta conceitual de colhedoras autopropelidas de açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) para a região amazônica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variation in the host preferences and responses of Ascia monuste orseis Godart (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) to cultivars of collard greens Brassica oleracea (L.) var. acephala

This work evaluated the preference of Ascia monuste orseis among 29 cultivars of collard greens through free- and no-choice assays using female adults (attractiveness and oviposition) and third-instar larvae (feeding preference), in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In free-choice tests with female adults, the L, V, Y, H, A, and Z cultivars produced oviposition non-preference in butterflies. Cultivars R, P, C, and D produced feeding non-preference in third-instar larvae of A. monuste orseis in free- and no-choice tests. Our findings may be useful for genetic improvement focusing on the development of B. oleracea var. acephala cultivars resistant to A. monuste orseis.

Comparação entre métodos para a avaliação do vigor de lotes de sementes de couve-brócolos (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenk)

Os testes de vigor e o teste de germinação são componentes essenciais no controle de qualidade das empresas de produção de sementes. Com o objetivo de verificar a eficiência de diferentes testes de vigor e de variações de suas metodologias na avaliação da qualidade de sementes de couve-brócolos visando diferenciação de lotes e previsão de emergência em bandeja, cinco lotes de sementes do híbrido Flórida foram submetidos aos seguintes testes: germinação; primeira contagem de germinação; emissão de raiz primária (após 48, 56, 72, 80 e 96 h após a instalação do teste de germinação); emergência de plântulas em substrato; envelhecimento acelerado com água (1g de sementes mantidas a 41ºC por 48 e 72 h a 100%UR); envelhecimento acelerado com solução saturada de sal (mesmo procedimento do item anterior, porém usando solução de NaCl, 40% e 76%UR); condutividade elétrica (50 sementes em 25 mL de água destilada a 25ºC e leituras após 2, 4, 6, 8 e 24 h). Todos os testes apresentaram correlação significativa com a porcentagem de emergência de plântulas em substrato, a 1% de probabilidade. Os testes de envelhecimento acelerado com solução saturada de sal por 48 h e de condutividade elétrica após 8 e 24 h de embebição foram eficientes e tiveram resultados semelhantes aos da emergência em substrato. Os testes da primeira contagem de germinação, emissão da raiz primária após 56 h e envelhecimento acelerado com solução saturada de sal por 72 h, apresentaram-se mais eficientes que a emergência de plântulas em substrato na diferenciação do vigor dos lotes.

Evaluation of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C. in different cells of mice

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

Acid phosphatase polymorphism within and among populations of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis)

Eighty-one lines of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) from 12 populations used to produce commercial hybrids in Brazil were screened for polymorphism in the acid phosphatase system, in order to evaluate the usefulness of this marker for the determination of the parental contamination level in hybrid seeds. Little polymorphism was detected in the examined lines, but the system appeared to be very useful for hybrid identification, since the only condition required was polymorphism between the two parental lines. If the analyzed lines were used for hybrid production, 8.4% and 12.3% of the possible crosses would result in hybrids which can be positively identified using the APS-1 and B1 loci, respectively. If only one plant of each homozygous type (SS or FF) was analyzed in each population, 41% and 50% of the possible crosses would result in hybrids which can be positively identified using the APS-1 and B1 loci, respectively.

Characterization of the Pulp and Kernel Oils from Syagrus oleracea, Syagrus romanzoffiana, and Acrocomia aculeata

Vegetable oils are important sources of essential fatty acids. It is, therefore, important to characterize plant species that can be used as new oil sources. This study aimed to characterize the oils from guariroba (Syagrus oleracea), jeriva (Syagrus romanzoffiana), and macauba (Acrocomia aculeata). The physicochemical characterization was performed using official analytical methods for oils and fats, free fatty acids, peroxide value, refractive index, iodine value, saponification number, and unsaponifiable matter. The oxidative stability was determined using the Rancimat at 110 degrees C. The fatty acid composition was performed by gas chromatography. The results were submitted to Tukey's test for the medium to 5% using the ESTAT program. The pulp oils were more unsaturated than kernel oils, as evidenced by the higher refractive index and iodine value, especially the macauba pulp oil which gave 1.4556 and 80 g I(2)/100 g, respectively, for these indices. The kernel oils were less altered by oxidative process and had high induction period, free fatty acids below 0.5%, and peroxide value around 0.19 meq/kg. The guariroba kernel oil showed the largest induction period, 91.82 h.

Adequação da metodologia do teste de deterioração controlada para sementes de brócolis (Brassica oleracea L. - var. itálica)

A eficiência dos testes de vigor na avaliação da qualidade de sementes, depende da sua padronização para as diferentes espécies. Neste contexto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram elaborar as curvas de absorção de água para determinar o período necessário ao ajuste do teor de água das sementes e aprimorar o teste de deterioração controlada para sementes de brócolis. Foram utilizadas sementes de três variedades: dois lotes de Piracicaba precoce, dois lotes de Flórida e quatro lotes de Ramoso. Os lotes foram caracterizados mediante a determinação do teor de água e germinação; o vigor foi determinado pelos testes de primeira contagem, comprimento de plântula, emergência e índice de velocidade de emergência. Foram determinadas as curvas de absorção de água por 84 horas. Para averiguar a eficiência do teste de deterioração controlada para sementes de brócolis, foi feito o ajuste do conteúdo de água das sementes para: 18, 20, 21, 23 e 24%, sendo estas expostas a 45ºC em banho-maria, por 24 horas. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. As curvas de absorção permitiram estimar os períodos de 15, 20, 22, 32 e 48 horas para elevação do teor de água a 18, 20, 21, 23 e 24% respectivamente. O teste de deterioração controlada, para sementes de brócolis, propiciou resultados promissores, tendo sido eficiente na separação de lotes, em todos os teores de água estudados, tanto quanto os testes de emergência de plântula e índice de velocidade de emergência.

Calcium bioavailability from the kale (Brassica-oleracea) consumed as a complement of a basal rice and bean diet

The bioavailability of calcium from the kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) consumed as a complement of a basal rice and bean diet was studied. Three groups of diets, two controls and one experimental were fed to Wistar female rats. The protein source of the first control was casein and of the second, a mixture of bean and rice. To both groups, graded levels of CaCO3 were added. The experimental diet was similar to the second control, except that CaCO3 was substituted for kale supplying the same amount of calcio. At 35 days of experimental period, they were killed and the calcium and phosphorus were determined in the right femur. The results indicated that the calcium from the kale is better utilized than that of the CaCO3. There was no significant difference in the concentration of calcium in the soft tissues studied among three dietary groups. Considering the high concentration and availability of calcium from the kale its consumption as a complement of the basal rice and bean diet may be recommended as a cheap and good source of this mineral.

Determination of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat in twenty-five genotypes of kale (B. oleracea var. acephala)

The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether extract) of 25 genotypes of kale from the Germplasm Bank of Instituto Agronômico de Campinas and of one genotype grown in the region of Jaboticabal-SP. The plants were cultivated in the field, and the leaves after collection were pre-dried in a convection oven at 65°C for 72 h. Afterward, the leaves were analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether-soluble materials). Significant differences were detected among the different genotypes for all the characteristics examined. Of the genotypes studied, six showed more than 30% crude protein: HS-20 (32.56%), Comum (31.70%), Couve de Arthur Nogueira 2 (31.16%), Pires 2 de Campinas (30.63%), Manteiga I-916 (30.36%), and Manteiga de Ribeirao Pires I-2446 (30.03%). In relation to crude fiber, the highest percentage was seen in the genotype Manteiga de Mococa (10.92%), differing significantly from the other genotypes studied. With regard to crude fat, the highest percentage was found in the genotype HS-20 (3.72%), and Pires 1 de Campinas (3.34%). Of the genotypes tested, HS-20 stood out among the others, showing both the highest percentage of protein and fat.

Proximate composition of guariroba (Syagrus oleracea), jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) palm fruits

This study aimed to characterize the pulp and kernel of guariroba (Syagrus oleracea), jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) palm fruits, through their proximate composition, carotenoids contents and tocopherol composition. The three kernels showed to be composed mainly of lipids and proteins, as the three pulps, of carbohydrate and fiber. In the kernels the levels of lipids ranged from 45.17 to 56.37% and proteins from 15.46 to 28.61%. In the pulps the total fiber content ranged from 20.26 to 26.98%. The pulps also presented a significant amount of ash, which represents a significant mineral content, especially in the guariroba (5.16%). Moreover, the pulp oils showed higher carotenoids and tocopherol contents. The jerivá pulp oil contained carotenoid and tocopherol on average 1219 μg/g and 323.50. mg/kg, respectively. The consumption of the whole fruit, pulp, and kernel supplies important quantities of many necessary nutrients for human diet, including vitamins A and E. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.