Agronomic and sensory evaluation of lettuce in hydroponic system

Lettuce is the most important leafy vegetable in Brazil. Hydroponic lettuce cultivation has grown due to the viability of harvesting throughout the year. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics, color, and preference of curly lettuce in the NFT hydroponic system. Six lineages (6601-1A, 6601-2L, 7016-6A, 7119-1B, 7223-1A, and 7224-4A) and two commercial cultivars (Brida and Vanda) of lettuce were used, in a completely randomized blocks design with four replications. Shoot length, root length, stem length, number of leaves, stem diameter, plant diameter, shoot fresh mass, root fresh mass, chlorophyll content, instrumental color, and sensory characteristics were evaluated. As for agronomic evaluation, the bolting of 6601-2L lettuce was relevant in different attributes. The Vanda lettuce and the lineage 7016-6A presented best performances for shoot fresh mass (399.44 and 378.63 g, respectively), while the lineages 7119-1B and 6601-2L present the worst performance (279.50 and 273.13 g, respectively). There was variation in chlorophyll content and luminosity, however, the evaluators did not notice differences between lettuces for brightness or green color, as well as for crunchy texture. Lettuces 6601-2L, 7224-4A, 6601-1A, Brida, 7223-1A, and 7119-1B were preferred. The variation among plants may be due to different situations, such as harvesting times and bolting, and a direct relationship between agronomic properties and preference among lettuces has not been established yet.

Análise comparativa da rotulagem das embalagens de melados de cana-de-açúcar com a legislação vigente / Comparative analysis of the sugarcane syrup package labeling with the current legislation

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as informações contidas no rótulo de embalagem de melados de cana-de-açúcar disponíveis no mercado, seguindo-se as regulamentações vigentes no Brasil. As marcas dos melados indicaram nos respectivos rótulos, a denominação, os dados, a origem e a validade dos produtos. Contudo não houve a apresentação do padrão de rotulagem quanto à tabela nutricional de melado de cana-de-açúcar, e seis (40%) das marcas avaliadas não indicaram todas as informações requisitadas. Dada a importância da rotulagem para o entendimento e o conhecimento do produto e na sua compra consciente pelo consumidor, bem como na relevância destas informações para a valorização do produto, fica evidente a necessidade de efetuar estudos abrangentes sobre o assunto, a fim de regularizar a rotulagem de forma fiável, considerando-se que esta seja uma fonte segura de informação ao consumidor.

This study aimed at evaluating the information contained in the label of the commercial sugarcane syrup, in accordance with the prevailing regulations in Brazil. All of the samples presented the denomination, the origin data, and the validity, in their respective labels. However a no labeling standard for the nutritional table of sugarcane syrup was shown, and six (40%) of the evaluated brands did not indicated all of the required information. Given the importance of labeling for the customer understanding and for the conscious buying, and also the relevance of this information for the product appreciation, it becomes evident the need for performing the comprehensive studies on the product, in order to regulate the labeling to become reliable, and being a safe source for consumer information.