The effects of microwave application on the physicochemical properties of bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) oil.

BACKGROUND: Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) has a high yield of oil, with the potential to produce biologically active natural products and can be considered a new "superfruit" with high value added. METHODS: Acid value, peroxide value, refractive index, saponification value, p-anisidine value, relative density, iodine value, total oxidation value, specific extinction coefficients at 232 and 270 nm (K232 and K270), ΔK, and color were determined. RESULTS: The most significant changes in the quality values, such as peroxide (26.25 mEq·kg-1), p-anisidine (11.41), acidity (14.66 mg KOH·g-1 oil), and total oxidation (63.92) were determined for 15 min of microwave heating. CONCLUSIONS: The microwave heating promoted the acceleration of oxidative processes showing that, overall, much care should be taken when heating the bacaba oil by microwave to avoid oil degradation.

Gamma Radiation Sterilization Dose of Adult Males in Asian Tiger Mosquito Pupae.

The pathogen-carrying tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread from the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Caribbean. This species of mosquito transmits arboviral infections, such as yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, zika, and several encephalitides. The objective of this research was to provide a radiation dose inducing sterilization in adult male Ae. albopictus in the pupal stage. A cobalt-60 source of gamma radiation at a dose rate of 381 Gy/h was used. The pupae were irradiated with doses of 0 (control), 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 Gy. Each treatment had a total of five replications using 60 pupae. After irradiation, the different phases of Ae. albopictus development (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) in the F1 generation were observed daily. Parameters such as viability, fertility, longevity, and mortality were recorded. The results from these studies showed that a dose of 60 Gy was necessary to sterilize 100% of the male Ae. albopictus pupae.

Avaliação físico-química e sensorial de vinho de jabuticaba submetido a tratamento de radiação gama / Physical-chemical and sensorial evaluation of jaboticaba wine subjected to gamma radiation treatment

A jabuticaba é uma fruta tropical, tipicamente brasileira, sendo originária da região centro-sul. Popularmente apreciada por suas características sensoriais in natura, mas também pela utilização em produtos processados como geleias, licores e bebidas fermentadas (SASSO; CITADIN; DANNER, 2010). Apesar da designação vinho referir- -se segundo a Lei nº 7.678, de 08 de novembro de 1988 (BRASIL, 1988) como "bebida proveniente da fermentação alcoólica de mosto de uva sã, fresca e madura", é permitido pela Portaria Nº 64, de 23 de abril de 2008 a produção de vinhos de outras frutas (BRASIL, 2008), desde que se indique o nome da fruta no rótulo após a palavra vinho, como por exemplo vinho de jabuticaba.(AU)

A irradiação gama no tempo de cocção e na absorção de água em grãos de soja com e sem lipoxigenase / The gamma irradiation on the cooking time and absorption of water in soybean grains with and without lipoxygenase

O processamento térmico adequado contribui para aumentar a digestibilidade e eliminar fatores antinutricionais presentes em grãos. Porém, esse processo pode ser prejudicial, causando a perda de nutrientes. A irradiação de grãos pode facilitar sua cocção, reduzindo o tempo de amolecimento. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar possíveis alterações causadas pela irradiação no tempo de cocção e embebição de grãos de soja convencionais e sem lipoxigenase. As duas cultivares analisadas ('BRS 232' - com lipoxigenase e 'BRS 257' - sem lipoxigenase) diferiram entre si na quantidade de água absorvida, no tempo de embebição e no tempo de cocção dos grãos. A irradiação dos grãos, nas doses de 4kGy e 8kGy, diminuiu a absorção de água e o tempo de cocção.

The appropriate heat processing helps to improve the digestibility and eliminate antinutritional factors present in grain. However, this process can be harmful, causing nutrient losses. The irradiation on grain can facilitate their cooking, and reduces the time for its softening. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible changes caused by irradiation in the time of hydration and cooking in conventional soybean and soybeans without lipoxygenase. The two cultivars ('BRS 232' - with lipoxygenase and 'BRS 257' - without lipoxygenase) differ in the amount of water absorbed, in time of hydration and time of cooking. Irradiation caused lower water absorption, but less time for cooking.

Efeito da radiação gama e do armazenamento na qualidade de padúnculos de caju (Anacardium occidentale L. ) / Effect of gamma radiation and storage on cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L. ) quality

Devido a altas perdas de pedúnculos de caju, métodos de conservação são necessários para um maior aproveitamento dos mesmos. Com esse objetivo, pedúnculos de caju vermelho, maduros, obtidos de cajueiro anão precoce, foram irradiados com doses de 0, 0,5 e 1,0 kGy e armazenados por 9 dias, refrigerados 4 ºC para verificação da estabilidade da qualidade durante o período de armazenamento. Para isso foram realizadas análises químicas, verificando mudanças nos teores de açúcares redutores, Brix, vitamina C e pH. Alterações na firmeza e cor também foram observadas. Os teores de vitamina C diminuíram tanto em função do tempo de estocagem como em função das doses de radiação empregadas. A firmeza dos frutos foi influenciada tanto pelas diferentes doses de radiação quanto pelo armazenamento, aumentando durante o armazenamento e diminuindo quanto maiores as doses de irradiação. O método de conservação por irradiação mostrou-se eficiente para o prolongamento da vida de prateleira dos pedúnculos de caju e manutenção de sua qualidade pós-colheita.

The non-efficiency or absence of techniques for adequate handling, transport, and storage of cashew stalks associated with a high level of perishability, generates high economic loss in the commercialization of these fruits, hence the development of conservation methods becomes a necessity in order to enhance the profitability. Cashew apples from precocious dwarf cashew tree were irradiated with doses of 0, 0.5, and 1.0 kGy and stored during nine days under refrigeration at 4 ºC for evaluation of the quality stability during storage. Chemical analyses were performed to verify changes in reducing sugars, Brix, vitamin C, and pH. Alterations in the firmness and color were also observed. The levels of vitamin C decreased as a function of storage as well as a function of the radiation doses employed. The firmness of the fruits was influenced by both the radiation doses and storage time, increasing during storage and decreasing as the radiation doses increased. Irradiation was shown to be efficient in the prolongation of the shelf-life of cashew stalks.

Effects of radiation (Cobalt-60) on the elimination of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) Cardinium endosymbiont.

Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is a polyphagous mite with worldwide distribution and it is also a vector of several plant viruses. In citrus, B. phoenicis transmits Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV), the causal agent of leprosis, a disease that costs millions of dollars per year for its prevention and control. Brevipalpus phoenicis mites reproduce through thelytokous parthenogenesis, producing haploid females. This characteristic is attributable to the presence of an endosymbiont bacterium of the genus Cardinium; however, very little is known about the biological and ecological implications of the presence of this endosymbiont in Brevipalpus mites. In order to investigate the role of Cardinium in the transmission of CiLV to citrus plants, our goal was to eliminate the bacterium from the mite. We assessed the effectiveness of different doses of radiation from a Cobalt-60 source to cure B. phoenicis populations from Cardinium sp. The efficiency of irradiation on the elimination of the endosymbiont was determined by counting the number of females and males obtained in the F(1) generation after irradiation and confirming the presence of the endosymbiont by PCR. Both radiation treatments influenced the oviposition period and the number of eggs laid by irradiated females. Also, irradiation eliminated the Cardinium endosymbiont and increased the number of males in progeny of the exposed populations. Although macroscopic morphological abnormalities were not observed among the treated mites, the mortality was higher compared to the non-irradiated control group.

Diversidade de ácaros (Arachnida: Acari) em Coffea arabica L. cv. Mundo Novo, nos municípios de Jeriquara e Garça, Estado de São Paulo / Diversity of mites (Arachnida: Acari) on Coffea arabica L. cv. 'Mundo Novo' in Jeriquara and Garça counties, state of São Paulo

O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a diversidade de ácaros em cafeeiros da cultivar Mundo Novo em duas importantes regiões produtoras (Jeriquara e Garça) do Estado de São Paulo. Para tanto, foram coletadas amostras quinzenais de folhas, ramos e frutos, entre abril de 2001 e junho de 2003, do terço médio de 10 plantas tomadas ao acaso em cada campo. De cada planta foram tomadas 12 folhas (cada uma do terceiro ou quarto par a partir da extremidade distal de um ramo), 12 ramos (25 cm apicais) e 100 frutos. Foram coletados no total 13.052 ácaros nos dois locais estudados, sendo 7.155 em Jeriquara e 5.897 em Garça. De um total de 108 espécies de ácaros coletados de plantas de café neste estudo, 45 espécies foram observadas em ambos os locais estudados, que apresentaram similaridade de 56 por cento. O número de espécies encontradas exclusivamente em Jeriquara (47) foi aproximadamente três vezes superior ao número de espécies observadas somente em Garça (16). Em Jeriquara, a diversidade foi maior tanto na superfície das folhas, quanto nas domácias, ramos e frutos. Nos dois locais estudados, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) e Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor 1919) foram as espécies de fitófagos mais abundantes e freqüentes. Os estigmeídeos e fitoseídeos foram os ácaros predadores mais abundantes e freqüentes em ambos locais. As espécies mais abundantes e freqüentes de predadores foram Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira, 2002, Zetzellia malvinae Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira, 2002, Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970 e Euseius concordis (Chant 1959) em Jeriquara; e Z. malvinae, E. citrifolius e E. concordis em Garça.

The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity of mites on coffee plants of the Mundo Novo cultivar in two important coffee producing areas (Jeriquara and Garça) in the state of São Paulo. Samples of leaves, branches and fruits were fortnightly collected, from April 2001 to June 2003, from the middle third of 10 plants randomly taken from each field. Twelve leaves (each leaf from the third or forth pair from the distal part of each branch), 12 branches (apical 25 cm) and 100 fruits. A total of 13,052 specimens were collected in the two studied places, 7,155 in Jeriquara and 5,897 in Garça. From a total of 108 mite species collected from coffee plants in this study, forty five species were collected in both studied fields, which presented 56 percent of similarity. The number of species found exclusively in Jeriquara (47) was approximately three times higher than the number of species observed only in Garça (16). For Jeriquara, the diversity of mites on surface of leaves, as well as in domatia, and on branches and fruits was higher than for Garça. In both studied areas, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) and Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor 1919) were the most abundant and frequent phytophagous mite species. Stigmaeids and phytoseiids were the most abundant and frequent predaceous mites in both localities. The most abundant and frequent predaceous species were Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira, 2002, Zetzellia malvinae Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira, 2002, Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970, and Euseius concordis (Chant 1959) in Jeriquara; and Z. malvinae, E. citrifolius and E. concordis in Garça.