Luis Felipe Lima e Silva

Nutritional Evaluation of Non-Conventional Vegetables in Brazil

The objective of this study was to characterize the nutritional compounds of interest present in vegetables known as non-conventional, in Brazil. The following evaluations were carried out: antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, vitamin C, calories, carbohydrates, humidity, lipids, proteins, fiber, acidity and quantification of minerals (P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and B). The species studied were Amaranthus hybridus L., Amaranthus viridis L., Basella alba L., Eryngium campestre L., Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Lactuca canadensis L., Rumex acetosa L., Stachys byzantina K. Koch, Tropaeolum majus L. and Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Representative samples of plant structures of interest were harvested from each species suitable for human consumption such as leaves, flowers and flower buds. The results were submitted to multivariate analysis - principal components analysis (PCA). All the species present nutritional compounds of interest in different levels among the evaluated structures.

Assessment of resistances to multiple pathogens in experimental sweet pepper hybrids

The aim of this study was to assess resistance to major sweet pepper pathogens ( Phytophthora capsici, Pepper yellow mosaic virus – PepYMV and Meloidogyne incognita ) in a group of experimental hybrids and their respective parental lines, and to identity hybrids possibly resistant to all three pathogens. Ten parental breeding lines, thirty experimental hybrids and seven commercial controls (Konan-R, Magali-R, Martha-R, Stephany, Mallorca, Magnata Super and Criollo de Morelos-334) were used. Each experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications. For assessment of resistance to P. capsici and PepYMV, the percent of asymptomatic plants was considered. In evaluating reactions to M. incognita, both the nematode reproduction index and the nematode reproduction factor were calculated. Five hybrids were found with resistant to all three pathogens. For all three pathogens, there was evidence that hybrids with two resistant parental lines showed slightly higher levels of pathogen resistance than those with only one resistant parental line.

Número cromossômico e conteúdo de DNA nuclear em espécies do gênero Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae)

The objective of this work was to determine the chromosome number and nuclear DNA content of five species of the genus Amaranthus , which commonly occur in Brazil. Metaphase chromosomes were obtained through the flame drying technique and stained with 5% Giemsa, and DNA content was determined by flow cytometry. 2n=32 chromosomes were observed in A. hybridus and 2n=34 in the other studied species, indicating the occurrence of descendant dysploidy. The nuclear DNA content ranged from 1.28 to 1.79 pg, and A. deflexus had the highest value.

Variação estacional da oferta e preços de couve-flor em Minas Gerais

Em virtude da variedade de cultivares atualmente disponiveis, de suas diferentes exigencias climaticas e das diferencas climaticas entre as varias regioes produtoras, a couve-flor pode apresentar variacoes estacionais de oferta e de precos ao longo do ano. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a variacao estacional da oferta e dos precos da couve-flor praticados no Estado de Minas Gerais, representados pelas unidades da CEASAMINAS, bem como as componentes dessa oferta para cada principal regiao abastecedora do Estado, no periodo de 2005 a 2009. A unidade CEASAMINAS (Grande BH) foi responsavel por 68% da comercializacao anual de couve-flor em Minas Gerais por meio das unidades da CEASAMINAS, que oscilou entre 9.420 e 10.937 toneladas anuais. A quase totalidade de producao proveio de municipios mineiros, localizados em quatro grandes mesorregioes: Regiao Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Campo das Vertentes, Triângulo Mineiro e Vale do Rio Doce, que representaram, respectivamente, 49%, 28%, 9% e 6% da oferta anual. As variacoes estacionais de oferta refletiram claramente as limitacoes dos cultivares atualmente disponiveis e a necessidade de novos cultivares que possam tolerar as grandes oscilacoes de temperatura nos meses de meia estacao. Tambem ficou evidente que, a despeito da disponibilidade de cultivares de verao, a producao de couve-flor ainda e mais baixa nessa epoca do ano, um reflexo provavel da alta precipitacao que ocasiona maiores perdas por doencas na lavoura e em pos-colheita.