Orchidists' profile, management and perception of the main pests in orchid cultivation

This study investigated the profile of orchidists, their cultivation practices, and their knowledge about pests in orchid cultivation in the state of Bahia. There were applied 74 questionnaires to producers (amateurs and commercials) in 23 municipalities. The data were submitted to univariate statistics using the chi-square test, the Mann­Whitney U-test and the Kruskal­Wallis H-test. The survey shows that orchid cultivation is mostly practiced by women (67.6%) and those with higher education (48.7%). Most respondents were amateurs (87.8%). Insects (39.9%) and diseases (32.5%) were the main organisms associated with phytosanitary problems. The presence of insects was reported to occur mainly in the leaves (47%), mainly mealybugs (46.3%). Correspondence was significant between commercial and amateur groups according to the pairwise Mann­Whitney U-test(1) = 370.04 and p < 0.01. The Kruskal­Wallis H-test(27) = 924.78 and p < 0.01 discriminated categories between the groups. Despite the growing interest in orchid cultivation in the state of Bahia, most orchidists are amateurs. The study warns about the risk of pest dispersion between crops since exchanging plants and purchasing specimens in open markets are common practices.

Application of propolis in agriculture

This work carried out a literary review of the different aspects related to the use of propolis in the management of plant crops and their advances in agriculture. Propolis is a product widely known for its therapeutic capacity. Due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, among other biological activities, its use has been studied in agriculture. Studies they show that the use of propolis via ethanolic propolis extract (EEP) provides beneficial effects on crops. These benefits are associated with the control of phytopathogens, postharvest preservation and conservation of fruits and vegetables and promotion of plant growth. There is evidence that benefits are the result of the propolis chemical composition that is especially rich in phenolic compounds and nutrients. In addition, the typical waxy property of propolis results in an efficient biofilm in plant tissues. There are still scarce reports showing that the use of EEP in crop management controls the presence of insects and reduces water stress in plants. Generally, studies are mainly focused on in vivo and greenhouse evaluations, requiring further research to elucidate the full potential of the use of propolis in crop management.

Leaf geometric morphometrics among populations of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L. ) Taub / Morfometria geométrica foliar entre populações de Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. do Brasil

Leaves are plant structures that express important traits of the environment where they live. Leaf description has allowed identification of plant species as well as investigation of abiotic factors effects on their development, such as gases, light, temperature, and herbivory. This study described populations of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum through leaf geometric morphometrics in Brazil. We evaluated 200 leaves from four populations. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first four principal components were responsible for 97.81% of variation. The non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (NPMANOVA) indicated significant difference between samples (p = 0.0001). The Mentel test showed no correlation between geographical distances and shape. The canonical variate analysis (CVA) indicated that the first two variables were responsible for 96.77 % of total variation, while the cross-validation test showed an average of 83.33%. D. ecastaphyllum leaves are elliptical and ovate.

As folhas são estruturas presentes nas plantas que expressam importantes características de acordo com o ambiente no qual estão inseridas. Ao longo dos anos, a sua caracterização tem permitido identificar espécies vegetais e correlacionar o efeito de fatores abióticos como gases, luz, temperatura e herbivoria sob o seu desenvolvimento. O presente estudo teve como descrever populações de Dalbergia ecastaphyllum do Brasil utilizando a morfometria geométrica foliar. Foram avaliadas 200 folhas de quatro populações desta espécie. Análise de componentes principais (ACP) mostrou que os quatro primeiros componentes principais explicaram 97,81% da variação. A Análise de variância multivariada com teste não-paramétrico (NPMANOVA) indicou não haver diferença entres as amostras (p= 0,0001). Os resultados do teste de Mentel mostraram que não houve correlação das distâncias geográficas com a forma. Na análise de variação canônica, as duas primeiras variáveis responderam por 96,77 % da variação total, enquanto uma média de 83,33% foi encontrada pelo teste de validação cruzada. As folhas de D. ecastaphullym são elípticas e ovadas.

Microbiological Assessment, Nutritional Characterization and Phenolic Compounds of Bee Pollen from Mellipona mandacaia Smith, 1983.

This study aims to assess the microbiological parameters and the chemical composition of 21 samples of stingless bee pollen (Melipona mandacaia) from two regions of Bahia, Brazil (João Dourado and Uibaí), with particular emphasis on the nutritional value, total phenols and flavonoids and fatty acids composition. Regarding the microbiological quality, the studied microorganisms (moulds and yeasts, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., psychrotrophic and sulfite-reducing Clostridia) were absent in all samples. On the other hand, the values obtained for the aerobic mesophilic microorganism ranged from 11.0 ± 1.0 to 1.32 ± 1.2 cfu∙g-1 (JD samples) and from 282 ± 3.82 to 688 ± 10.1 cfu∙g-1 (U samples). The nutritional parameters (moisture, ash, water activity, pH, total acidity, protein, fiber, total phenolic, flavonoids and reducing sugars) were within the stipulated by law, except for pH and moisture content, which presented superior and inferior values, respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (54.1%) were significantly higher than saturated (42.18%) and monounsaturated (3.71%). It was found that the bee pollen is safe from the microbiological point of view and has a good nutritional quality. The influence of the geographical origin on the assessed parameters was evident, especially concerning the fatty acid profile.

Características físico-químicas de amostras de méis de Apis mellifera L. do estado do Ceará, Brasil / Physicochemical characteristics of Apis mellifera L. honey samples from the state of Ceará, Brazil

Objetivou-se, na presente pesquisa, desenvolvida com amostras de méis de Apis mellifera coletadas diretamente dos produtores de diversos municípios do estado de Ceará, Brasil, verificar, com base em características físico-químicas, como se agrupam as amostras de méis. Dentre as 52 amostras de méis analisadas as que continham pólen de Serjania sp. como dominante ou acessório, formam um subgrupo distinto quanto aos caracteres físico-químicos, o que confirma que a origem floral interfere decisivamente nas características dos méis. Pela análise dos componentes principais, pôde-se verificar que os caracteres que mais influenciaram no agrupamento das amostras de méis foram acidez e índice de formol no eixo X e pH e cinzas no eixo Y.

This paper was carried out to determine how the honey samples of the State of Ceará, Brazil may be grouped, based on the physicochemical composition of the honey. The samples were collected in different municipalities. Among the 52 honey samples analyzed it was observed that the samples which have Sejania sp. as dominant or accessory pollen form a different sub-group based on the physicochemical parameters. The results confirm that the honey bee composition is influenced by the plant nectar. The grouping of the honey samples was mostly influenced by acidity and formol index on the X axis, and pH and ashes, on the Y axis.

Tipos polínicos encontrados em amostras de méis de Apis mellifera em Picos, Estado do Piauí / Pollinic types found in honey samples of Apis mellifera from Picos, State of Piaui

Com o objetivo de determinar os tipos polínicos de méis produzidos por Apis mellifera L., 1758, no município de Picos, Estado do Piauí, foram realizadas análises polínicas de 35 amostras de méis coletadas entre novembro e dezembro de 2001 no Laboratório de Apicultura do Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo. A identificação dos tipos polínicos foi realizada por meio de descrições obtidas em literatura especializada. Os resultados demonstraram que foram encontrados 36 tipos polínicos, distribuídos em 18 famílias botânicas, sendo consideradas como pólen dominante Piptadenia sp. (Mimosaceae), Mimosa caesalpiniiaefolia Benth. (Mimosaceae), M. verrucosa Benth. (Mimosaceae) e Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae).

This research deals with the pollinic types of honeys produced by Apis mellifera L., 1758 in the municipality of Picos, State of Piaui were determined in the Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Agricultural Zoology, College of Agriculture ‘Luiz de Queiroz', University of São Paulo, in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, pollinic analysis of 36 honey samples collected in November and December of 2001. The identification of e pthollinic made by types was specialized literature. The results showed that 36 types of pollen were found, distributed in 18 botanical families, and the following plant species were considered as dominant Piptadenia sp. (Mimosaceae), Mimosa caesalpiniiaefolia Benth. (Mimosaceae), M. verrucosa Benth. (Mimosaceae) and Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae).

Caracterização físico-química de amostras de méis de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) do Estado do Ceará / Physical-chemical characterization of honey samples of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Ceará State

Com o objetivo de verificar as características físico-químicas de amostras de méis coletadas em cidades do Estado do Ceará (Araripe, Santana do Cariri, Assaré, Iguatu, Crato, Missão Velha e Pacajús), foram determinados no Laboratório de Apicultura do Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", USP: açúcares totais, açúcares redutores, sacarose aparente, umidade, atividade diastásica, hidroximetilfurfural, proteína, cinzas, pH, acidez, índice de formol, condutividade elétrica, viscosidade e cor de 20 amostras de méis Apis mellifera L., 1758, coletadas entre março de 2002 e agosto de 2002. A maioria das amostras de méis analisadas (65 por cento) encontra-se dentro das especificações brasileiras para as características físico-químicas, com exceção das características sacarose aparente (10 por cento das amostras), umidade (10 por cento das amostras), atividade diastásica (35 por cento das amostras) e HMF (20 por cento das amostras). Os resultados indicaram condutividade elétrica e a sacarose aparente como as características que mais influenciaram no agrupamento das amostras.

This research was aimed at to determining physico-chemical characteristics honey samples collected in cities of Ceara States (Araripe; Santana do Cariri 1 sample; Assaré 1 sample; Iguatu 8 samples; Crato 4 samples; Missão Velha 2 samples and Pacajús 3 samples), they were determined at the laboratory of Apiculture in the "Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ) University of São Paulo, in Piracicaba, São Paulo State: total sugar, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, humidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), protein, ash, pH, acidity, formol index, electrical conductivity, viscosity and color of 20 samples of Apis mellifera L., 1758 honey collected between March of 2002 and August of 2002. Most of the samples of honey analyzed (65 percent) are inside of the Brazilian specifications for the characteristics physical-chemistries except for the characteristics apparent sucrose (10 percent of the samples), humidity (10 percent of the samples), diastase activity (35 percent of the samples) and HMF (20 percent of the samples). The results showed electrical conductivity and apparent sucrose as characteristics that most influenced grouping samples.

Características físico-químicas de amostras de mel de Melipona asilvai (Hymenoptera: Apidae) / Physico-chemical characteristics of samples of stingless bee Melipona asilvai (Hymenoptera: Apidae) honey

Análises de amostras de mel da abelha Melipona asilvai provenientes dos municípios de Itaberaba e Tucano, região semi-árida do Estado da Bahia, foram realizadas com o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento das características físico-químicas desse produto. A maioria dos parâmetros físico-químicos apresentou valores adequados para o consumo humano, o que possibilita a exploração desse produto pelas comunidades rurais da região semi-árida da Bahia. Contudo, o teor de umidade elevado é um aspecto que merece uma maior atenção por parte do produtor, que deverá ter cuidado com a higiene na manipulação do mel durante a coleta e no processo de armazenamento.