N. R. Madeira

Contribuição portuguesa à produção e ao consumo de hortaliças no Brasil: uma revisão histórica

After the discovery of Brazil in 1500 and the beginning of its systematic colonization in 1530, the Portuguese have gradually settled along the Brazilian coast. An extensive exchange of plants, including vegetables, took place among Portugal, Brazil and other possessions in Africa and Asia by the Portuguese colonizers, sailors and Jesuits. In addition to diversifying the food, these introductions served as basic materials for breeding, often carried out empirically, searching the adaptation of these species to Brazilian soils and climate. After the eighteenth century, with the discovery of gold in Minas Gerais, Portuguese immigration to Brazil was intensified, with a strong urban development. Also, in the middle of the eighteenth century, there was a strong and systematized immigration from Acores to the South of Brazil. With it, many varieties of vegetables, specially onion and carrot, were brought to Brazil. Most of the Brazilian varieties originated from this material. Cultivar Baia-Periforme, the predominant onion variety in the Brazilian Southeast until the advent of hybrids, originated from selection within the portuguese cultivar Garrafal. The Creole onions, still today the most planted in Southern Brazil, were originated from germplasm brought by the Azoreans. In carrots, the so-called tropical germplasm, formed by selection of materials brought by the Azoreans, was the basis for the genetic improvement of tropical carrot, culminating with the release of cultivar Brasilia, in 1981, the most planted cultivar in summer. The Portuguese have left a profound legacy for Brazilian culture, present in some of our habits, including food habits. In the year we are completing 200 years of the arrival of the Portuguese royal family to Brazil, it is our opportunity to mention the Portuguese contributions to the production and consumption of vegetables in Brazil.

Effect of management systems and cover crops on organic matter dynamics of soil under vegetables

Vegetable production in conservation tillage has increased in Brazil, with positive effects on the soil quality. Since management systems alter the quantity and quality of organic matter, this study evaluated the influence of different management systems and cover crops on the organic matter dynamics of a dystrophic Red Latosol under vegetables. The treatments consisted of the combination of three soil tillage systems: no-tillage (NT), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) and of two cover crops: maize monoculture and maize-mucuna intercrop. Vegetables were grown in the winter and the cover crops in the summer for straw production. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. Soil samples were collected between the crop rows in three layers (0.0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.30 m) twice: in October, before planting cover crops for straw, and in July, during vegetable cultivation. The total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), oxidizable fractions, and the carbon fractions fulvic acid (CFA), humic acid (CHA) and humin (CHUM) were determined. The main changes in these properties occurred in the upper layers (0.0-0.05 and 0.05-0.10 m) where, in general, TOC levels were highest in NT with maize straw. The MBC levels were lowest in CT systems, indicating sensitivity to soil disturbance. Under mucuna, the levels of CHA were lower in RT than NT systems, while the CFA levels were lower in RT than CT. For vegetable production, the CHUM values were lowest in the 0.05-0.10 m layer under CT. With regard to the oxidizable fractions, the tillage systems differed only in the most labile C fractions, with higher levels in NT than CT in the 0.0-0.05 m layer in both summer and winter, with no differences between these systems in the other layers. The cabbage yield was not influenced by the soil management system, but benefited from the mulch production of the preceding maize-mucuna intercrop as cover plant.

Eficiência de uso da água e produção de repolho sobre diferentes quantidades de palhada em plantio direto

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of no-tillage production system (PD) using different rates of crop residues on cabbage water use efficiency and yield. Four rates of corn crop residues (0.0, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5 Mg ha-1 of dry matter) were tested in a clayed Latossolo Vermelho (Rhodic Haplustox), using the conventional tillage system (PC) as control. A completely randomized block design, with three replications was used. Cabbage stand, yield, fresh matter mass, diameter, height, and head compactness were not significantly affected by treatments. The total water depth applied along the entire crop cycle in PD treatments was up to 13% smaller than the treatments without residues. Water savings during the 30 days following transplanting reached 28%. The water productivity index increased linearly with crop residue rates under PD conditions, and was up to 21% higher than in the PC treatment.

Influência da concentração de BAP e AG3 no desenvolvimento in vitro de mandioquinha-salsa

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of BAP and GA3 concentrations on the in vitro arracacha development. The concentrations tested were 0.0; 0.2 and 0.4 mg L-1 of BAP and 0.0; 0.125 and 0.250 mg L-1 of GA3 in the shoot tips with about 2 mm of arracacha, cultivars Amarela de Senador Amaral and Amarela Comum. The interaction of cultivars x BAP concentration was not significant for any one of the evaluated variables (P>0,0617). The increase in the BAP concentration reduced the callus formation; however, promoted larger reduction in the shoot development. The best BAP concentration was around 0.3 mg L-1, with relatively reduced callus diameter and good development of shoot, with a mean of 4.5 shoots and a height of 43 mm. The interaction of cultivars x GA3 concentration was not significant for any one of the studied variables (P>0,4310). The increase in the GA3 concentration promoted the improvement in the mean and maximum height of the shoots and in callus size. More shoots were observed for Amarela Comum cultivar in both trials.

Water use and onion crop production in no-tillage and conventional cropping systems

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of crop residue covers (0.0; 4.5; 9.0; 13.5 t ha-1 millet dry matter) on water use and production of onion cultivated in no-tillage planting system (NT) as compared to conventional tillage system (CT). The study was carried out at Embrapa Hortalicas, Brazil, under the typical Savanna biome. Irrigations were performed using a sprinkle irrigation system when soil-water tension reached between 25 and 30 kPa. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. Total net water depth applied to NT treatment was 19% smaller than the CT treatment, however, water savings increased to 30% for the first 30 days following seedlings transplant. Crop biomass, bulb size and yield, and rate of rotten bulbs were not significantly affected by treatments. The water productivity index increased linearly with increasing crop residue in NT conditions. Water productivity index of NT treatments with crop residue was on average 30% higher than that in the CT system (8.13 kg m-3).

High-throughput sequencing reveals a novel closterovirus in arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza)

High-throughput sequencing analysis detected a clostero-like virus from arracacha plants (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) in Brazil. The complete genome sequence, confirmed by RACE and Sanger sequencing, consists of 15,763 nucleotides with nine predicted open reading frames (ORFs) in a typical closterovirus genome organisation. The putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), heat shock protein 70 homologue (Hsp70h), and coat protein showed 55-65, 38-44, and 20-36% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, to the homologous proteins of known closteroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of Hsp70h showed that this putative novel arracacha plant virus was related to members of the genus Closterovirus in the family Closteroviridae. These results suggest that this virus, tentatively named “arracacha virus 1” (AV-1), is a novel member of the genus Closterovirus. This is the first closterovirus identified in arracacha plants.

AB1364 Adaptation and validation of the rheumatoid arthritis quality of life (RAQOL) scale for portugal

Background Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that has a major impact on patients’ quality of life. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RAQoL) is a patient-centric outcome measure, specific to RA. The measure has not previously been available for use with Portuguese RA patients. Objectives To produce a Portuguese version of the RAQoL that is acceptable to Portuguese patients and demonstrates sound psychometric properties. Methods The dual panel methodology was used to translate the UK RAQoL into Portuguese. This involved conducting a bilingual panel (providing the initial translation into Portuguese) followed by a lay panel (where items are assessed for comprehension and acceptability). Cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with Portuguese RA patients to determine the face and content validity of the translated scale. A large-scale postal validation survey was carried out to establish the psychometric properties of the Portuguese RAQoL. The measure was administered on two occasions to RA patients, alongside a comparator instrument – the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient was employed to assess test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was tested by correlating RAQoL scores with those on the NHP sections. Known group validity was assessed using non-parametric tests for independent samples. This involved determining the ability of the RAQoL to distinguish between patients that differed according to their self-perceived severity of RA and general health. Results The translation panels produced a Portuguese version of the RAQoL that was easily understood and considered natural by native speakers. Interviewees considered the new language version to be relevant and appropriate. One hundred and seventy-eight RA patients (82% female) took part in the postal validation survey with a mean age of 56.6 (range 25 to 79) years. The Portuguese RAQoL demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.95) and test-retest reliability (r=0.92), indicating that the measure produces low levels of random measurement error. RAQoL scores correlated most strongly with scores on the NHP Physical mobility scale (r=0.77) and showed moderately strong correlations with the Emotional reactions, Pain and Energy level section scores. Non-parametric tests for independent samples demonstrated significant differences in RAQoL scores between patients who differed according to their self-perceived RA severity (p<0.001) and general health (p<0.001). Conclusions The Portuguese version of the RAQoL was found to be a comprehensive, reliable and valid questionnaire. The new language version is recommended for use in routine clinical practice and for research purposes, to assess quality of life in Portuguese RA patients. Disclosure of Interest None declared