Functional and Nutraceutical Compounds of Tomatoes as Affected by Agronomic Practices, Postharvest Management, and Processing Methods: A Mini Review.

Tomatoes and their by-products are indisputable sources of substances with antioxidants properties. Several factors limit the production and influence the nutritional and antioxidant quality of tomato fruit. However, consumers can benefit from the effects of environmental factors, such as water and hydric stress, UV radiation, agronomic practices, among others, which lead to changes in the content of secondary metabolites in tomatoes. Molecules as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and biogenic amines are often formed in response to environmental adversities. In this way, the consumption of tomato fruits or their by-products with higher levels of antioxidants may be important adjuvants in the prevention or reduction of diseases. In this mini-review, we will present how pre- and postharvest conditions may influence the content of some bioactive compounds in tomatoes. Furthermore, we will present how some heat processing methods may change the antioxidant content, as well as, the functional and nutritional properties of the final product.

Change in the Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Tomato Caused by Infestation by Cryptic Species of Bemisia tabaci MED and MEAM1.

Infestation by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) causes damage to tomatoes with production losses of up to 100%, affecting the physiological and biochemical aspects of host plants. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of infestation of cryptic species of B. tabaci MED and MEAM1 on the physiological and biochemical aspects of tomato. Tomato plants 'Santa Adélia Super' infested with B. tabaci (MED and MEAM1), and non-infested plants were evaluated for differences in gas exchange, chlorophyll - a fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII), and biochemical factors (total phenols, total flavonoids, superoxide dismutase-SOD, peroxidase-POD, and polyphenol oxidase-PPO). Plants infested with B. tabaci MED showed low rates of CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance of 55% and 52%, respectively. The instantaneous carboxylation efficiency was reduced by 40% in MED and by 60% in MEAM1 compared to the control. Regarding biochemical aspects, plants infested by MED cryptic species showed high activity of POD and PPO enzymes and total phenol content during the second and third instars when compared to control plants. Our results indicate that B. tabaci MED infestation in tomato plants had a greater influence than B. tabaci MEAM1 infestation on physiological parameters (CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and apparent carboxylation efficiency (A/Ci)) and caused increased activity of POD and PPO enzymes, indicating plant resistance to attack. In contrast, B. tabaci MEAM1 caused a reduction in POD enzyme activity, favoring offspring performance.

Evaluation of biogenic amines and nitrate in raw and pickled jurubeba (Solanum paniculatum L.) fruit.

The presence of biogenic amines, such as histamine and tyramine, in pickled food can cause health problems, such as allergies. However, other bioactive amines may be present and can induce some diseases. Some biogenic amines can react with nitrate and form nitrosamines, compounds harmful to human health. In this research, we qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated some biogenic amines and nitrate content in jurubeba preserved in oil or vinegar. The fruits were obtained from cultivated plants, or wild plants, or they were purchased from market. Jurubeba fruit was analyzed raw and after cooking. After thermal processing, the fruits were preserved in soybean oil or vinegar and were evaluated after 1 h and at 30, 60 and 90 days of storage. Variations in the contents of biogenic amine were found depending on the place from which the fruits were obtained, as well as depending on the type of preservative and time of storage. The nitrate levels did not exceed the established limits, mainly when preserved in vinegar, which also showed the lowest levels of biogenic amines.

Níveis de sombreamento na produção de mudas de pau-de-balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) / Levels of shading on seedling production (Ochroma pyramidale)

Com o objetivo de avaliar a produção de mudas de pau-de-balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) em diferentes tipos de telados e campo aberto foi conduzido um experimento na área experimental pertencente à UNEMAT, localizada no Município de Cáceres-MT de agosto a novembro de 2011. Os níveis de sombreamento foram obtidos com telados de malhas negras (sombrite 30% e 50%) e malhas refletoras (termo refletora 30% e 50%) e a pleno sol. O delineamento empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado, sendo cinco ambientes e quatro repetições, com 12 plantas para cada repetição. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 30, 45 e 60 dias apos o plantio. Em cada avaliação foram coletadas às seguintes medidas, diâmetro de colo, altura da planta, , comprimento do sistema radicular, numero de folhas, peso fresco da parte aérea, peso fresco da raiz, peso seco da parte aérea e peso seco da raiz. Com os resultados pode comprovar que o sombreamento influência a produção de mudas de pau-de-balsa e que os telados de malhas refletoras 30% e 50% são os recomendados para produção de mudas de qualidade na região de Cáceres-MT.

With the objective of evaluating the growing of the Balsa Tree seedlings in different types of greenhouses and open fields it was conducted an experiment belonging to UNEMAT based on Caceres-MT from August to November 2011. The levels of shading were obtained using greenhouses with black shade cloth (30% and 50%), made with reflective shade cloth (30% and 50%), and completely exposed to the sun. The outline used was the totally random one being 5 different environments and 4 repetitions with 12 seedlings for each repetition. Evaluations were recorded on the 30th, 45th, and 60th days after planting. In each evaluation the following measurements were collected: diameter of the stem, height of the plant, length of the root system, number of leaves, weight of fresh shoot, weight of fresh root, weight of dry shoot, and weight of dry root. Based on the final results, it was confirmed that the shading influences the growing of the Balsa Tree seedlings and that the greenhouses with 30% and 50% reflective shade cloth are the ones recommended for growing of these seedlings in Caceres-MT region.