Fungal growth, patulin accumulation and volatile profile in 'Fuji Mishima' apples under controlled atmosphere and dynamic controlled atmosphere.

The objective of this study was to evaluate fungal and patulin contamination, together with its correlation with the volatile compounds (VCs), in 'Fuji Mishima' apples (up to 25% decayed) under controlled atmosphere (CA) and dynamic controlled atmosphere with respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ) of 1.3 combined with different partial pressures of carbon dioxide (0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 pCO2). Fruits were stored under the above conditions for 8 months at 0.5 °C plus 7 days shelf life at 20 °C. Toxigenic fungi and patulin accumulation were found in apples from all treatments. Penicillium expansum was the most prevalent species. For all storage conditions, patulin concentrations were above the maximum level allowed in Brazil (50  µg  kg-1) with an exception of DCA-RQ1.3 + 0.8 kPa CO2. This condition, with lower pCO2, showed the lowest patulin accumulation, below the legal limit. The CA provided the highest patulin concentration (166 µg  kg-1). It was observed that fungal growth could also contribute to changes in the volatile composition. Styrene and 3-methyl-1-butanol are considered P. expansum markers in some apple cultivars and were detected in the samples. However, it was not possible to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are biomarkers from P. expansum, because there were other fungi species present in all samples. In this study, styrene, n-decanoic acid, toluene, phenol and alpha-farnesene were the compounds that showed the most positive correlation with patulin accumulation. On the other hand, a negative correlation of patulin with acids has been shown, indicating that in treatments with a higher patulin concentration there were less acidic compounds.

Spirulina platensis in Japanese quail feeding alters fatty acid profiles and improves egg quality: Benefits to consumers.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether microalgae in Japanese quail feed alters performance, fatty acid profiles in the eggs and egg quality. One hundred quails were distributed in four groups and five replicates of five birds per experimental group. The treatments consisted of four levels of Spirulina platensis microalgae (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) in the diets. We evaluated the productive performance and chemical-physical characteristics of eggs, the oxidant/antioxidant status in egg yolks, and the fatty acid profile in the diet and egg yolks. Microalgae in the diet did not influence egg production; however, it increased the yolk index as well as the color intensity of the yolk. Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels decreased in egg yolks, and monounsaturated fatty acid levels increased in the yolks. Lipid peroxidation levels were lower and total antioxidant capacity was higher in egg yolks of quails receiving microalgae in the diet. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Microalgae in quail diets improves egg quality and provides benefits to consumer health, acting as an antioxidant and immune-stimulant. Microalgae in quail diets had positive effects on egg quality. This is because it reduced levels of saturated fatty acids that are undesirable, and increased monounsaturated fatty acid levels that are beneficial to the health of consumers. Finally, antioxidants increased in egg yolks, consequently reducing lipid peroxidation.

Effects of phytogenic feed additive based on thymol, carvacrol and cinnamic aldehyde on body weight, blood parameters and environmental bacteria in broilers chickens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) based on essential oils such as carvacrol, thymol and cinnamic aldehyde, could be considered a replacement for antimicrobials used as growth promoters in broiler chickens, as well as to investigate its effect on total bacterial count, biochemical profiles, meat quality and meat fatty acid profile. A total of 240 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 15 animals each, as follow: T1 (basal diet only; the control group), T2 (basal diet supplemented with zinc bacitracin), T3 (basal diet with 0.5% of the PFA), T4 (basal diet with 1.0% of the PFA). The addition of 0.5% of the PFA improved live body weight of supplemented birds compared to the control group at 35 and 42 days of age, while the total bacterial count in the environment was reduced when 1.0% of the PFA was used. In addition, intestinal villi height and crypt depth suffered variations during the entire experiment in birds treated with both concentrations of the PFA and zinc bacitracin. Total erythrocyte counts were higher on days 14, 28 and 42 in both treated groups (PFA) compared to the control group, as well as hemoglobin content on days 28 and 42. On the other hand, leukocyte counts were lower on days 14, 28 and 42 due to reduced lymphocyte counts in both PFA treated groups compared to the control group. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were lower in broilers fed with either concentration of PFA on day 14 of life, and the same was observed regarding aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in broiler treated with 0.5% of the PFA. Also, total protein and globulin levels were lower on days 14 and 28 in groups fed with phytogenic compared to the control group. Regarding meat quality, breast meat showed higher red intensity and shear force in groups fed with both concentrations of phytogenic compared to the control group, while weight loss by cooking was lower. Finally, 1.0% of phytogenic showed lower docosadienoic acid (C22:2) content in breast meat. In conclusion, results showed that the use of PFAs based on carvacrol and thymol may be considered an interesting alternative to increase broilers performance, replacing the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters, as well as an interesting alternative to reduce the total bacterial count in the environment of broiler chickens. Moreover, the diet containing phytogenic also showed hepaprotective effects but deserves attention regarding possible alterations on the immune response.

Patulin accumulation in apples under dynamic controlled atmosphere storage.

The goal of this study was to evaluate patulin contamination in 'Galaxy' and 'Fuji Kiku' apples subjected to controlled atmosphere (CA) and dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) conditions. Experiments were performed and fruit were stored for nine months under refrigeration plus 7 days shelf life at 20 °C. CA and DCA were not effective in preventing patulin production in either 'Galaxy' or 'Fuji Kiku' apples. Healthy fruit were not contaminated with patulin, even when stored together with decayed apples. For 'Galaxy' apples, application of 1-methylcyclopropene increased the percentage of fruit with decay and patulin contamination. Patulin concentrations were above the maximum limit (50 µg kg-1) established in the Brazilian legislation, meaning the use of CA and DCA conditions were not advantageous in preventing patulin accumulation. In 'Fuji Kiku' apples, there was no significant difference in patulin concentration among CA, DCA-CF and DCA-RQ 1.3 treatments, and all were below the maximum.

Occurrence of mycotoxins in wheat grains exposed to fungicides on fusarium head blight control in southern Brazil.

Mycotoxins occurrence in wheat grains impose risks to human and animal health. The southern Brazil has favorable weather conditions for Fusarium graminearum infections and consequently for mycotoxins accumulation on grains. The goal of this study was to evaluate the behavior of new wheat commercial genotypes to Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), to control performance of new fungicide formulations and their relationship with mycotoxins concentration in grains. The manly mycotoxin occurrence on wheat grains in southern Brazil was deoxynivalenol (DON). Two cultivars showed high DON concentration above the tolerance limits (>3000 µg kg-1). Many other mycotoxins monitored presented concentrations below method detection limit. Satisfactory levels of fungicide effectiveness were achieved against F. graminearum. Some fungicides promoted a satisfactory decrease on DON accumulation in grains. The best results were obtained when prothioconazole was present. SDHI (Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors) + QoI (Quinone outside inhibitors) fungicides showed benefic effects at FHB control at field, but it did not promote satisfactory reduction on DON contamination. Fungicides can be used satisfactory for FHB control and reduce DON contamination in grains in southern Brazil. The presence of prothioconazole should be recommended. Some genotypes showed high DON concentration and it was not directly related with FHB severity at field.