Carlos Farley Herbster Moura

The Impact of Organic Farming on Quality of Tomatoes Is Associated to Increased Oxidative Stress during Fruit Development

This study was conducted with the objective of testing the hypothesis that tomato fruits from organic farming accumulate more nutritional compounds, such as phenolics and vitamin C as a consequence of the stressing conditions associated with farming system. Growth was reduced in fruits from organic farming while titratable acidity, the soluble solids content and the concentrations in vitamin C were respectively +29%, +57% and +55% higher at the stage of commercial maturity. At that time, the total phenolic content was +139% higher than in the fruits from conventional farming which seems consistent with the more than two times higher activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) we observed throughout fruit development in fruits from organic farming. Cell membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) degree was 60% higher in organic tomatoes. SOD activity was also dramatically higher in the fruits from organic farming. Taken together, our observations suggest that tomato fruits from organic farming experienced stressing conditions that resulted in oxidative stress and the accumulation of higher concentrations of soluble solids as sugars and other compounds contributing to fruit nutritional quality such as vitamin C and phenolic compounds.

Compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante total de pedúnculos de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) durante o amadurecimento de clones de cajueiro anão-precoce

Lately, tropical fruit consumption has increased due to a higher knowledge of its nutritional and therapeutic value. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of cashew apples from different early dwarf clones during their ripening. The clones analyzed included: CCP 76, CCP 09, BRS 189 and BRS 265 in seven ripening stages. They were analyzed for vitamin C, total carotenoid, total anthocyanin, yellow flavonoids and polyphenol content and total antioxidant capacity. Clone BRS 265 ripe cashew apple presented the highest vitamin C content (279.37 mg x 100 g-1). The ripe BRS 189 cashew apple is colored bright red, and its total anthocyanin content was the highest (21.16 mg x 100 g-1). The yellow flavonoids content was higher for ripe CCP 76 and BRS 189 cashew apples with 56.32 and 50.75 mg x 100 g-1, respectively. The highest levels of extrable polyphenols and antioxidant capacity were observed in CCP 09 in the first five ripening stages. The antioxidant activity of cashew apples (Anacardium occidentale L.) is mainly attributed to polyphenol content (r = 0.90; p < 0.01), and, therefore, they may be considered relevant sources of antioxidant compounds, which are necessary for human health. Cashew apples are consumed fresh which confers direct benefits for human health and present high potential for the development of new products with functional properties.

Antioxidant metabolism during fruit development of different acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C) clones.

The present research work describes the major changes in the antioxidant properties during development of acerola from five different clones. Ripening improved fruit physicochemical quality parameters; however, total vitamin C and total soluble phenols (TSP) contents declined during development, which resulted in a lower total antioxidant activity (TAA). Despite the decline in TSP, at ripening, the anthocyanin and yellow flavonoid content increased and was mainly constituted of cyanidin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin 3-rhamnoside, respectively. The activities of oxygen-scavenging enzymes also decreased with ripening; furthermore, the reduction in vitamin C was inversely correlated to membrane lipid peroxidation, indicating that acerola ripening is characterized by a progressive oxidative stress. Among the studied clones, II47/1, BRS 237, and BRS 236 presented outstanding results for vitamin C, phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activity. If antioxidants were to be used in the food supplement industry, immature green would be the most suitable harvest stage; for the consumers market, fruit should be eaten ripe.

CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICAS DE PEDÚNCULOS DE CAJUEIRO PARA COMERCIALIZAÇÃO IN NATURA

Nine clones of early dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L. var. nanum) were evaluated within an experiment of clone competition under irrigation in Mossoro-RN, Brazil, with the objective of selecting cashew apples for fresh fruit market. Clone CCP 76 was used as a control. Cashews were harvested in august 1997 and evaluated for: firmness, size (upper and lower diameter and length), shape, color (color chart and pigment content) and weight (whole and apple). Only clone CCP 09 among those evaluated produced poorer coloring than control CCP 76, while in apples from clones CAP 6 (500), END 157, END 189 and END 329 the color was more intense than in control. Only clones END 157, END 183 and END 189 besides the control produced apples that can be classified as type 4 (highest commercial value), whilst only clones CAP 6 (500), END 157 and END 183 produced pear shaped apples. Clone END 157 presented the best characteristics for fresh fruit market even when compared to control. Results for clones END 183 and END 189 were similar to control, except for color in END 183 and shape in END 189.

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential of cashew apple juice (Anacardium occidentale L.) in mice

Cashew apple is a tropical pseudofruit consumed as juice due to its excellent nutritional and sensory properties. In spite of being well known for its important antioxidant properties, the cashew apple has not been thoroughly investigated for its therapeutic potential. Thereby, this study evaluated the antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities of cashew apple juice. Juices from ripe and immature cashew apples were analyzed for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Those were evaluated in murine models of xylene-induced ear edema and wound excision. Swiss mice were treated with cashew juice by gavage. Edema thickness was measured and skin lesions were analyzed by planimetry and histology. Both antioxidant content and total antioxidant activity were higher in ripe cashew apple juice (RCAJ) than in unripe cashew apple juice (UNCAJ). The UNCAJ presented the main anti-inflammatory activity by a significant inhibition of ear edema (66.5%) when compared to RCAJ (10%). Moreover, UNCAJ also showed the best result for wound contraction (86.31%) compared to RCAJ (67.54%). Despite of higher antioxidant capacity, RCAJ did not promote better anti-inflammatory, and healing responses, which may be explained by the fact that treatment increased antioxidants level leading to a redox “imbalance” turning down the inflammatory response modulation exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results suggest that UNCAJ presents a greater therapeutic activity due to a synergistic effect of its phytochemical components, which improve the immunological mechanisms as well as an optimal balance between ROS and antioxidants leading to a better wound healing process.

The influence of processing and long-term storage on the antioxidant metabolism of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) purée

Este trabalho avaliou o efeito do processamento e do tempo de armazenamento sobre o potencial antioxidante e atividade de enzimas antioxidantes de polpa congelada de frutos de seis clones de aceroleira. Foram colhidas acerolas maduras dos clones BRS 235, BRS 236, BRS 237, BRS 238, II47/1 e BRS 152; a polpa foi processada, acondicionada em sacos plasticos de polietileno selados a vacuo e armazenada em freezer domestico a -18 °C por 11 meses. Amostras de cada clone foram analisadas no dia colheita/processamento e a cada 30 dias quanto aos compostos bioativos antioxidantes, a atividade de enzimas antioxidantes e a atividade antioxidante total. As polpas de acerola apresentaram uma diminuicao dos antioxidantes nao enzimaticos e um aumento da atividade das enzimas antioxidantes, indicativo de um mecanismo compensatorio entre antioxidantes enzimatico e nao enzimatico. Na polpa de acerola, antocianinas e polifenois estao fortemente correlacionados com o conteudo de solidos soluveis e de vitamina C, destacando os polifenois como o principal contribuinte para a atividade antioxidante total. A polpa do clone II47/1 teve um excelente desempenho em relacao ao potencial antioxidante e o melhor periodo de armazenamento a -18 °C seria de 150 dias, para todos os clones estudados.

Aumento da vida útil pós colheita de pedúnculos de cajueiro anão precoce pela redução da temperatura de armazenamento

Conduziu-se este estudo, realizado no Laboratorio de Fisiologia e Tecnologia Pos-Colheita da Embrapa Agroindustria Tropical em Fortaleza (CE), com o objetivo de aumentar o tempo de conservacao pos-colheita de pedunculos dos clones CCP 76 e END 183 de cajueiro anao precoce por meio da reducao da temperatura de armazenamento. Foi adotado um fatorial em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, cujos fatores foram os clones e o tempo de armazenamento (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30 dias), avaliados em tres repeticoes. Os frutos, colhidos manualmente, no inicio da manha, no Municipio de Beberibe, Ceara, foram acondicionados em caixas plasticas ainda no campo e transportados para o laboratorio onde, acondicionados em bandejas de isopor, foram armazenados a 3,4 ± 0,6oC e umidade relativa de 85 ± 11%, sob atmosfera modificada. Os parâmetros avaliados foram perda de massa, aparencia, cor da pelicula, firmeza da polpa, solidos soluveis totais, pH, acidez total titulavel, SST/ATT, acido ascorbico, acucares soluveis totais, antocianinas totais e fenolicos. Os resultados mostraram que os pedunculos do clone CCP 76 tem vida util pos-colheita de 18 dias, enquanto o END 183, de 28 dias, ambos com reduzida perda de massa, firmeza e antocianinas totais.

UPLC–qTOF-MS/MS-based phenolic profile and their biosynthetic enzyme activity used to discriminate between cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) maturation stages

Cashew immature and ripe peduncles (Anacardium occidentale L.) from orange- and red-colored clones CCP 76 and BRS 189, respectively, were prepared as juice or fibrous fraction and submitted to UPLC-MS analyses, while the soluble fraction was also submitted to enzymatic evaluation. Cinnamoyl glucoside was present in ripe juice samples from both cashew clones, while monogalloyl diglucoside and digalloyl glucoside were present in immature juice samples from both cashew clones. Four compounds were found at immature fiber of both clones, anacardic acids (1, 2, 3) and GA19. The phenolic biosynthetic pathway was evaluated in juice samples and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity decreased significantly during the development, although it was much higher in ripe CCP 76. UDP-glycosyltransferases activity differed between clones, however its product cinnamoyl glucoside was a possible chemical marker of ripe juice samples from both clones. Flavonol synthase showed the highest specific activity in both cashew clones and its product, flavonols were identified in cashew apple at immature and ripe stages.

Caracterização de frutos de genótipos de muricizeiros cultivados no litoral cearense

Of the species of fruits native to the northeast of Brazil, the nance tree (Byrsonima dealbata Griseb) stands out for offering the potential for both fresh consumption and industrialization. The local populations live by harvesting fruits, and find a source of income in the nance fruit, selling it in street markets. Despite the social importance of those fruit species which are native to certain regions, there is little information about these species. In view of the above, the objective here was to evaluate the fruits of different nance genotypes, using biometric characterization and the genetic relationships between those genotypes. Eighteen genotypes of the nance were analysed, taken from the municipalities of Pacajus, Fortaleza and Paraipaba in the state of Ceara. Thirty measurements were taken, each corresponding to a single fruit, in which the following were analysed: weight, diameter, length, color (L, a*, b*) firmness and yield, this last being based on 100g of pulp. From the results, oblong fruit were predominant, especially the EM 4 genotype which presented the greatest weight. The residual variance, genetic variance, repeatability and phenotypic correlations between variables were all estimated. The multivariate techniques used (genotype clustering using Tocher optimisation, principal-component analysis, and analysis of the dissimilarity of the genotypes expressed as a dendrogram based on nearest-neighbor methodology) had similar results, showing that the three genotypes EM 3, EM 4 and PAC 6 presented different results from each other and the rest of the group, having a genetic variability which would potentially allow for usage in breeding programs.

Fruit size and quality of pineapples cv. Vitória in response to micronutrient doses and way of application and to soil covers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foundation and leaf fertilization with micronutrients on fruit size and quality of pineapple cv. Vitoria under the environmental conditions of the Baixo Acarau irrigated perimeter in Northern Ceara State, Brazil, under two covers (bagana and black plastic) of the sandy soil of low fertility. The experimental design was a randomized split blocks one with four levels of soil dressing and four levels of foliar fertilization, with five replications. Micronutrient soil dressing was studied as FTE-12 at doses of 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1. The four levels of foliar fertilization were: LF0 (without fertilizer), LF 1 (15 leaf fertilization, using the amount of 1158.75 g Fe ha-1, 844.65 g Mn ha-1, 391.5 g ha-1 Zn, 322.65 g ha-1 Cu and 216 g ha-1 B), LF2 (15 leaf fertilization, using twice the quantities of level LF1) and LF3 (15 leaf fertilization, using three times the amount of level LF1). At 13 months after planting the micropropagated plantlets was carried out the floral induction treatment and five months later the fruit harvest determining the following variables: fruit weight and median diameter, soluble solids content (SS) and titratable acidity (TA). Both fruit weight and diameter increased with increasing doses of micronutrients applied to the soil and to the leaves, of plants grown both on bagana soil cover and plastic mulch. On the other hand fruit pulp quality was little affected by the treatments studied. There were a small increase of SS contents for plants grown on bagana soil cover and a small decrease of titratable acidity for those grown on plastic mulch, in both cases just in response to micronutrient foliar application.