Patrícia Lígia Dantas de Morais

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential fruit of Ximenia americana L.

The caatinga ecoregion in northeast Brazil presents a wide variety in plant species. However, the potential of these species as a source of energy, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and bioactive properties beneficial to health is still unknown. Among these species we can find the wild plum (Ximenia americana). Due to its various phytotherapeutic properties and absence of studies on the chemical composition of the fruit this article aimed to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of the X. americana in different stages of maturation. The fruits of X. americana showed considerable amounts of bioactive compounds, as well as antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes. The fruits at green maturity stage showed higher content of yellow flavonoids (22.07 mg/100g), anthocyanins (1.92 mg/100 g), polyphenols (3051.62 mg/100 g), starch (4.22%), antioxidant activity (489.40 g fruit/g DPPH and 198.77 μmol Trolox/g) and activity of antioxidant enzymes; the antioxidant activity allocated to the fruit was shown to be related to the contents of extractable polyphenols, yellow flavonoids, total anthocyanins and antioxidant enzymes.

Wild plum fruit characterization (Ximenia americana L.)

The Brazilian Caatinga vegetation presents a large variety of vegetal species. However, the potentiality of these species as an important source of nutrients for the human diet is still not so known. Among these species, there is the wild plum (Ximenia americana L.). The present work aimed to characterize the fruits of the wild plum in two ripening stages. The fruits were harvested in the Brazilian Caatinga vegetation next to the Mossoro-RN city, in two ripening stages, green (green rind) and ripe (yellow rind), being 90 fruits for each stage. For the fruit characterization, the following analyses were done: fresh mass, longitudinal and transversal lengths, pulp yield, vitamin C, soluble solids (SS), titritable acidity (TA), pH and ratio SS/TA. The completely randomized design was used with two treatments and six replications of 15 fruits for each part. The wild plum fruit has a round shape, succulent and presents only seed of almond type. Considering the pulp, coloration change occurs, changing from green to yellow color, as the fruit becomes ripe. This fruit is considered rich vitamin C source that can naturally be found in the Brazilian northeastern region, as well as a fruit with high contents of soluble solid and acidity.

Cell wall biochemistry of sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) submitted to 1-methylcyclopropene

Sapoti (Manilkara zapota) e um fruto climaterico que amadurece rapidamente apos a colheita e os estudos acerca da extensao de sua vida util pos-colheita sao principalmente restritos ao uso de baixa temperatura e atmosfera modificada. Este trabalho avaliou a influencia do 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) sobre o amolecimento e bioquimica da parede celular durante o amadurecimento de sapoti, assim como o seu potencial de conservacao pos-colheita. Sapotis foram tratados com 1-MCP, um antagonista do etileno, a 300 nL L-1 por 12 h e, em seguida, armazenados sob atmosfera modificada a 25oC por 23 d. O 1-MCP retardou significativamente o amadurecimento de sapoti por 11 d, via diminuicao da atividade das enzimas hidroliticas da parede celular e, portanto, os frutos tratados com 1-MCP exibiram menor solubilizacao dos poliuronideos, hemicelulose e acucares neutros livres quando comparados com os frutos-controle. O 1-MCP retardou o amaciamento do sapoti, indicando que esse processo e dependente da producao e percepcao de etileno.

Atividade de enzimas e degradação de pectinas de sapoti submetido ao 1-metilciclopropeno

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 300 nL L-1 on activities of cell wall hidrolytic enzymes and pectin breakdown changes which Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota cv. Itapirema 31) cell wall undergoes during ripening. Sapodilla were treated with ethylene antagonist 1-MCP at 300 nL L-1 for 12 hours and then, stored under a modified atmosphere at 25o C for 23 days. Firmness, total and soluble pectin and cell wall enzymes were monitored during storage. 1-MCP at 300 nL L-1 for 12 hours delayed significantly softening of sapodilla for 11 days at 25o C. 1-MCP postharvest treatment affected the activities of cell wall degrading enzymes pectinmethylesterase and polygalacturonase and completely suppressed increases in beta-galactosidase for 8 days, resulting in less pectin solubilization. Beta-galactosidase seems relevant to softening of sapodilla and is probably responsible for modification of both pectin and xyloglucan-cellulose microfibril network.

Qualidade pós-colheita da alface hidropônica em ambiente protegido sob malhas termorefletoras e negra

Considerando que a duracao da exposicao, a qualidade e intensidade de luz afetam as caracteristicas de qualidade das hortalicas folhosas, conduziu-se um experimento, em ambiente protegido, com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade pos-colheita da alface hidroponica, sob os efeitos das malhas de sombreamento, com diferentes percentagens de atenuacao da radiacao solar. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 2 x 5, com tres repeticoes, sendo os tratamentos constituidos por quatro malhas termorefletoras (40; 50; 60 e 70% de sombreamento) e uma testemunha, com malha negra 50%. Em cada parcela, representada por um sistema hidroponico individual, foi cultivada a alface (cv. Olinda, Crespa), sendo avaliada sua qualidade por ocasiao da colheita e apos quatro dias de armazenamento refrigerado (7,6 ± 1 oC e 27 ± 5 % UR). Observou-se que o excesso de sombreamento, ocasionado pelas malhas termorefletoras 60 e 70% e malha negra 50%, comprometeram a aparencia da alface. As plantas submetidas ao sombreamento com a malha termorefletora 40% apresentaram menor perda de massa, ao final de quatro dias de armazenamento. Os graus de sombreamento ocasionados pelas malhas termorefletoras e pela malha negra nao influenciaram nos teores de acido citrico, solidos soluveis, vitamina C e clorofila total da alface. Palavras-chave: Lactuca sativa L., sombreamento, cultivo hidroponico, armazenamento.

Amadurecimento de sapoti (Manilkara zapota L.) submetido ao 1-metilciclopropeno

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of 1-MCP on the ripening process of sapodilla. Fruits were harvested at the physiologically mature stage and treated with 0, 300 and 600 nL.L-1 dosages of 1-MCP for 12 hours in hermetically closed chambers at 25 ± 2oC and 70 ± 5% R.H.. After the 12 h 1-MCP treatment, the fruits were stored for 23 days under the same conditions of temperature and humidity. The parameters analyzed for postharvest quality were: weight loss, external appearance, firmness, pulp color, total titrable acidity, total soluble solids and total soluble sugar content. In sapodilla, 1-MCP delays ripening and prolongs the postharvest shelf life and the 300 nL.L-1 of 1-MCP dosage showed the best results extending the postharvest life of sapodilla in 6 days.

Postharvest shelf-life of bilimbi fruits (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) under cold storage

Aiming to evaluate the postharvest shelf-life of bilimbi fruits (Averrhoa bilimbi l.) stored under cold storage, bilimbi fruits were harvested in two maturation stages (determined by the peel color) at ten plants in Arez -RN, Brazil, in November 2006 and transported in polystyrene box containing ice´s bag to the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-arido, Mossoro - RN. The fruits were placed in polystyrene trays, packed with PVC film and maintained at 10 ± 1 oC and 95% RH. It was used a completely randomized design in 2 x 6 factorial scheme, which consisted of stadiums (green or yellow) and the period of 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 days, respectively. It was evaluated external appearance, soluble solids, flesh firmness, weight loss, pH, titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid and ratio. There was an increase of the weight loss, pH and the ratio and reduction of the content of ascorbic acid, TA and flesh firmness. The postharvest shelf-life of bilimbi fruits was 9 days.

ANÁLISE QUALITATIVA DE CULTIVARES DE ALHO SEMI-NOBRE VERNALIZADO NA MESORREGIÃO OESTE POTIGUAR

Garlic is a vegetable that has economic and social relevance in Brazil. Rio Grande do Norte is among the consumer states, however, despite having regions with favorable conditions for growing garlic, it depends on imports of this product to meet its demand. The introduction of cultivars that have high yield and quality, and the adjustments in vernalization technology, which is a key issue for adaptation of new cultivars, are mechanisms that can contribute to garlic revitalization in areas previously producing this vegetable. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the quality characteristics of semi-noble garlic cultivars subjected to different bulb-seed pre-planting vernalization periods in two counties of the Western Mesoregion of Rio Grande do Norte State (RN), Brazil. Two experiments were simultaneously conducted in Barauna RN and Governador Dix-sept Rosado RN, from April to November, 2012. A complete randomized block experimental design was used with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split-plot design, with the plots consisted of cultivars (Gigante-do-Nucleo and BRS-Hozan) and subplots consisted of bulb-seed preplanting vernalization (4±1°C) periods (0, 10, 20 and 30 days). The evaluations consisted of bulb diameter, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, pungency, total solids and industrial index. The use of 10-day bulb-seed pre-planting vernalization increased the semi-noble garlic quality produced in Barauna and Governador Dix-sept Rosado. The cultivars Gigante-do-Nucleo and BRS-Hozan presented good prospects for industrialization, with good characteristics of flavor and aroma.