Agenor Maccari Júnior

Factors affecting mushroom Pleurotus spp.

Pleurotus genus is one of most extensively studied white-rot fungi due to its exceptional ligninolytic properties. It is an edible mushroom and it also has several biological effects, as it contains important bioactive molecules. In basidiomycete fungi, lignocellulolytic enzymes are affected by many typical fermentation factors, such as medium composition, ratio of carbon to nitrogen, pH, temperature, air composition, etc. The survival and multiplication of mushrooms is related to a number of factors, which may act separately or have interactive effects among them. Out that understanding challenges in handling Pleurotus species mushroom requires a fundamental understanding of their physical, chemical, biological and enzymatic properties. This review presents a practical checklist of available intrinsic and extrinsic factors, providing useful synthetic information that may help different users. An in-depth understanding of the technical features is needed for an appropriate and efficient production of Pleurotus spp.

Efeito da luminosidade e da adição de nitrogênio no crescimento de plantas de Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.

This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of luminosity and nitrogen addition on the height of mate plants in the first year of growth. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks, with three replicates, in four treatments and two sub-treatments, in a total of 16 plots per block, in a factorial design, with the luminosity in four different intensities (100%, 70%, 50% and 30%) and the nitrogen application as the intervening variable on the plots. Data were collected every 45 days, in three daily schedules during three consecutive days, over one year. It was found that the best conditions to plant growth were 50% and 30% luminosity. The nitrogen addition have no relevant influence in plant growth, particularly at 100% and 70% luminosity, while the increase in luminosity contributed to the reduction in plant growth. However, the fertilized plants (1N) increased regrowth. Nitrogen addition at high doses damaged the mate plants and caused death of mate plants in the plots with higher luminosity.

Antioxidant Activity of Maté Tea and Effects of Processing

Abstract Mate tea is a popular beverage made from the leaves and stems of the yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis Auguste Saint Hillaire), a plant native to the southern part of South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay). The commercial products derived from the processing of yerba-mate are used in the preparation of several types of beverages appreciated for their peculiar bitter taste and functional properties (antioxidant, stimulant, diuretic, hypocholesterolemic, and hepatoprotective). The bulk of harvested yerba-mate leaves are used in the preparation of teas (known as mate tea), a partial infusion drink with hot water (chimarrao), and a total infusion cold drink (terere). Important compounds found in mate products are caffeoyl derivatives, methylxanthines, and flavonoids. The conditions for the processing of yerba-mate vary widely, depending on the manufacturer and the desired style and flavor of mate tea, which is reflected in somewhat diverging results on processing effects on bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, processing tends to reduce methylxanthines, such as caffeine, but increases the content of polyphenols, such as the caffeoyl derivatives, resulting in higher antioxidant activity.

Produtividade de canaviais no município de Morretes (PR) Sugarcane plantations yield at municipality of Morretes (PR)

O Brasil e o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-acucar ( Saccharum spp.), com mais de sete milhoes de hectares cultivados, 480 milhoes de toneladas colhidas e uma produtividade media de 77,03 ton/ha. O Parana e o segundo estado no ranking nacional de producao de cana-de-acucar, colaborando com quantidade superior a 31 milhoes de toneladas por safra e com media de produtividade superior a nacional, chegando a 77,49 ton/ha. Entretanto, a regiao de Paranagua, litoral do estado, possui media de produtividade equivalente a 42 ton/ha, bem abaixo da media nacional. O presente trabalho procurou avaliar a produtividade em canaviais do municipio de Morretes, que esta inserido na regiao de Paranagua. Para avaliar a produtividade foram selecionadas dez propriedades e, em cada uma delas, foram avaliadas quatro parcelas, nas quais foram retiradas tres amostras para analise da massa media de um colmo (M1C) e contado o numero de colmos por metro (NCM-1) para resultar na produtividade em ton/ha (TCH). Como a produtividade pode ser influenciada pela fertilidade do solo, idade do canavial, adubacao e controle de plantas daninhas, estas variaveis tambem foram analisadas. A media de produtividade de cana-de-acucar nas propriedades avaliadas no municipio foi de 40,47 ton/ha, com variacoes de 6,73 a 77,24 ton/ha, devendo-se principalmente ao manejo de adubacao (fertilidade do solo) e controle de plantas daninhas. Abstract Brazil is the largest world producer of sugarcane ( Saccharum spp.), with more than 7 million of ha grown, it has been harvested 480 million tones and an average of 77,03 ton/ha. Parana is the second state been in the national ranking of sugar-cane production, it is also collaborating with superior amount to 31 million ton by crop and average of superior productivity to the national average. In fact, it is arriving to the 77,49 ton/ha. However, Paranagua´s area in the coast of the state of Parana, holds an average of 42 ton/ha productivity which is the lower national average. The present work tried to evaluate the productivity in sugar-cane areas in Morretes municipal district, which is into the area of Paranagua. In order to evaluate the productivity, ten rural properties were selected. Then in each one of them were appraised four portions and in each portion three samples were removed for analysis of the medium mass of 1 cane (M1C) and counted the number of sugar-cane for meter (NCM-1) to result in the productivity in ton/ha (TCH). As a result, likely the productivity can also be influenced by the soil fertility, sugar-cane ageing, fertilization and control of weeds, such variables were also analyzed. The average of sugar-cane productivity in the evaluated properties in the municipal district was of 40,47 ton/ha with values varying from 6,73 ton/ha to 77,24 ton/ha, these great variation is due mainly to the management of fertilization (fertility of the soil) and control of weeds.