Cláudia Silva da Costa Ribeiro

Genetic resources: the basis for sustainable and competitive plant breeding

Plant genetic resources are the fuel for breeding, which in the search for higher yield and adapted genotypes, manipulates genes in order to meet the needs of farmers, and especially, of the current market. However, the use of accessions available in germplasm banks is low. Topics discussed in this paper emphasize the importance of plant genetic resources, and warn about problems related to genetic vulnerability; also, they discuss about aspects of costs involved in conservation and suggest recommendations for strengthening the area in Brazil.

Cultivo de embriões de tomate in vitro visando a introgressão de genes de Lycopersicon peruvianum em L. esculentum

Three culture media in combination with distinct accessions, crossing generations and periods of time after artificial pollination were evaluated in order to identify more efficient protocols to recover interspecific hybrids between Lycopersicon esculentum and L. peruvianum. Both type of media for seed plating and the interval time for fruit harvest after artificial pollination had significant influence on the recovery of interspecific hybrids. The HLH medium gave the best results. The interval between 25 and 35 days after the artificial pollination was found to be the ideal for recovering interspecific hybrids. For acclimation, the L. esculentum and L. peruvianum plants were evaluated as well as plants of the interspecific hybrids (F1) and those from the RC1 and RC2 generations. This process was affected by the size of the buds used in the seedling transfer before acclimation as well as by the accesses and the time period over which the plantlet was in the test tube. The hybrids presented a better acclimation ability. The ideal period ranged between 26 and 35 days after transferring the seedling to the test tube. The acclimation accomplished under mild environmental conditions improved the plantlet survival.

Novel approaches to extraction methods in recovery of capsaicin from habanero pepper (CNPH 15.192)

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare three capsaicin extraction methods: Shoxlet, Ultrasound-assisted Extraction (UAE), and Shaker-assisted Extraction (SAE) from Habanero pepper, CNPH 15.192. Materials and Methods: The different parameters evaluated were alcohol degree, time extraction, and solid–solvent ratio using response surface methodology (RSM). Results: The three parameters found significant (p < 0.05) were for UAE and solvent concentration and extraction time for SAE. The optimum conditions for the capsaicin UAE and SAE were similar 95% alcohol degree, 30 minutes and solid–liquid ratio 2 mg/mL. The Soxhlet increased the extraction in 10–25%; however, long extraction times (45 minutes) degraded 2% capsaicin. Conclusion: The extraction of capsaicin was influenced by extraction method and by the operating conditions chosen. The optimized conditions provided savings of time, solvent, and herbal material. Prudent choice of the extraction method is essential to ensure optimal yield of extract, thereby making the study relevant and the knowledge gained useful for further exploitation and application of this resource. Abbreviations used: Nomenclature UAE: Ultrasound-assisted Extraction; SAE: Shaker-assisted Extraction.

Obtenção e Caracterização Morfoagronômica de Linhagens de Pimenta do Tipo Jalapeño Amarelo

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido na Embrapa Hortalicas, com objetivo de caracterizar morfoagronomicamente linhagens de pimenta do tipo Jalapeno Amarelo, atividade essencial para o desenvolvimento de cultivares. Primeiramente foram identificadas tres plantas segregantes da cultivar comercial do tipo Jalapeno Vermelho, que apresentaram frutos de coloracao amarela.