Microbiological evaluation of homemade mayonnaise and self-serve acai sold in Araguaína, Tocantins.

Foodborne diseases are common illnesses caused by the consumption of food contaminated with microorganisms, such as viruses, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa. Every year, 600 million people become ill and 420,000 people die as a result of consuming contaminated food. Therefore, food safety is an important issue. In this study, samples of homemade spiced mayonnaise and self-serve acai sold in the city of Araguaína, Tocantins, Brazil were analyzed for microbiological contaminants. Acai was collected from 10 stores, one sample from each store, and tested for mold, yeast, and coliforms, as well as coliform identification and total and thermotolerant coliform counts. Mayonnaise was collected from 20 snack bars, one sample from each. These samples were inoculated on MacConkey and Salmonella Shigella agar plates, and the plates were analyzed for growth. Salmonella spp. were detected in some Mayonnaise samples, and coliforms were detected in all acai samples; 60% of samples had thermotolerant coliforms, and only 40% were within the limits established by ANVISA. The collected samples of mayonnaise and acai were contaminated with molds and yeasts above the established limit of 103 CFU/g. Thus, the analyzed mayonnaise and acai samples were contaminated and unfit for consumption, demonstrating the importance of hygienic-sanitary measures in food handling.

Salt stress response and proline accumulation in Brachiaria humidicola plants with and without mycorrhizal inoculation.

The work was carried out to investigate the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on Brachiaria humidicola Rendle in the presence and absence of Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann, as well as to evaluate some growth parameters and the accumulation of free proline in the plant leaves. The soil used was a Neosoil Fluvic Eutrophic with pH of 6.5, organic matter, 12.8 g kg-1 and soil texture, sandy loam, in which Brachiaria humidicola Rendle cv. 409 was grown. Five NaCl concentrations were tested 0; 0.22; 1.09; 1.96 and 2.84 g. kg-1 of soil, whose electrical conductivity (EC) were 2.22; 4.00; 8.13; 12.53 and 16.50 dS m-1, respectively. Brachiaria humidicola showed salt tolerance when submitted to an EC of 4 dS m-1. There was a reduction of leaf area, dry matter of shoots and roots for the soil treatments beyond EC at 8 dS m-1. Free proline content in the leaves increased together with the increase in soil salinity (EC at 8 dS m-1) demonstrating that plants submitted to EC of 2 and 4 dS m-1 were less affected by salt stress, and consequently accumulated less proline in the leaves. Root colonization was not affected by the increase of NaCl dosage in the soil.

[Characterization of Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco]. / Caracterización de aislamientos de rizobios de suelos ácidos y alcalinos en la región semiárida de Pernambuco.

The genetic variety of the Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in the semiarid zone of Pernambuco state was evaluated through the use of 17 primers of arbitrary sequence. Amplified products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel at 1.4% and visualized by ethidium bromide coloration. The results obtained suggest a high genetic variety of the isolates in relation to the standard strain. Data were analyzed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average), based on Jaccard's coefficient and visualized through dendrograms. The strains isolated from the acid soils were included in one group whereas the strains from alkaline soils were located in other three groups. Meanwhile, one of the groups formed by strain Isol-14, isolated from acid soils is more related to the groups of strains isolated from acid soils than to the remaining groups from alkaline soils.

Salt stress response and proline accumulation in Brachiaria humidicola plants with and without mycorrhizal inoculation

The work was carried out to investigate the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on Brachiaria humidicola Rendle in the presence and absence of Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann, as well as to evaluate some growth parameters and the accumulation of free proline in the plant leaves. The soil used was a Neosoil Fluvic Eutrophic with pH of 6.5, organic matter, 12.8 g kg-1 and soil texture, sandy loam, in which Brachiaria humidicola Rendle cv. 409 was grown. Five NaCl concentrations were tested 0; 0.22; 1.09; 1.96 and 2.84 g. kg-1 of soil, whose electrical conductivity (EC) were 2.22; 4.00; 8.13; 12.53 and 16.50 dS m-1, respectively. Brachiaria humidicola showed salt tolerance when submitted to an EC of 4 dS m-1. There was a reduction of leaf area, dry matter of shoots and roots for the soil treatments beyond EC at 8 dS m-1. Free proline content in the leaves increased together with the increase in soil salinity (EC at 8 dS m-1) demonstrating that plants submitted to EC of 2 and 4 dS m-1 were less affected by salt stress, and consequently accumulated less proline in the leaves. Root colonization was not affected by the increase of NaCl dosage in the soil.

Caracterización de aislamientos de rizobios de suelos ácidos y alcalinos en la región semiárida de Pernambuco / [Characterization of Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco]

The genetic variety of the Rhizobium isolates from acid and alkaline soils in the semiarid zone of Pernambuco state was evaluated through the use of 17 primers of arbitrary sequence. Amplified products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel at 1.4

and visualized by ethidium bromide coloration. The results obtained suggest a high genetic variety of the isolates in relation to the standard strain. Data were analyzed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average), based on Jaccard’s coefficient and visualized through dendrograms. The strains isolated from the acid soils were included in one group whereas the strains from alkaline soils were located in other three groups. Meanwhile, one of the groups formed by strain Isol-14, isolated from acid soils is more related to the groups of strains isolated from acid soils than to the remaining groups from alkaline soils.