The use of biodegradable coatings to conserve fruits and vegetables stands out in the food industry. This study aims to evaluate the postharvest quality of papaya Formosa 'Tainung 01' submitted to different coating formulations, to establish the one that best maintains the postharvest quality. The fruits, distributed in a completely randomized design, received the coatings composed of aqueous solution of agar and pomegranate seed oil in the following compositions (with 6 treatments and 5 replicates): T1: 0.5% agar and 0.1 mL/L oil; T2: 1.0% agar and 0.2 mL/L oil; T3: 1.5% agar and 0.3 mL/L oil; T4: 2.0% agar and 0.4 mL/L of oil; T5: 2.5% of agar and 0.5 mL/L of oil; and T6: Control, uncoated. The experiment lasted ten days packing at 17.5 ± 0.6 °C and 55 ± 3, 2% RH. T4 provided better conservation of the quality attributes in papaya. Fruits in this treatment showed higher vitamin C content, higher soluble solids and total sugars, and lower titratable acidity, important characteristics for product acceptance. Besides, T4 better conserved the green (external) color of the fruits, while fruits submitted to the other treatments acquired a yellowish coloration.Practical Application: Edible coating based on agar and pomegranate seed oil for postharvest conservation.

This study developed and evaluated the efficiency of methods to produce hydroalcoholic extract of Bishop’s Crown pepper. Analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of independent variables (ethanol concentration of the extracting solution and resting time) over the dependent variables (percent yield, acidity, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanin content and vitamin C). The interactions between the variables were studied through seven factorial experiments. Percent yield (Y%), carotenoids, phenolic compounds and vitamin C were the most satisfactory responses found in this research. The ethanol concentration of the extracting solution (ES) presented significant effect in the Y%, showing better results for extracts produced with a 55%-ethanol ES, while carotenoids, phenolic compounds and vitamin C displayed significant differences according to the ethanol concentration, being these substances found in higher concentrations in extracts produced with the use of an 85%-ethanol ES. Therefore, the higher the ES ethanol concentration, higher is the retention of the bioactive compounds.

Pitaya and acerola are fruits rich in nutrients and can be used in blends formulation in order to improve the sensory characteristics of both pulps in isolation and complement each other in terms of nutritional aspects. Thus, the aim of this research was to develop different blends of pitaya pulp with acerola and choose the best formulation based on physical-chemical and colorimetric characteristics. Three blends formulations were prepared: F1-90% pitaya and 10% acerola; F2-70% pitaya and 30% acerola; and F3-50% pitaya and 50% acerola. The formulations were evaluated for physical-chemical parameters of water activity, water content, ash, total soluble solids (SST), pH, total titratable acidity (ATT), SST/ATT ratio, ascorbic acid, proteins, lipids, sugars totals, reducers and non-reducers and colorimetric analysis. The obtained data were subjected to variance analysis (ANOVA) and to comparison between means by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The formulation F1 stood out when compared to the others. The parameters pH, soluble solids, ratio SS/ATT, ash, water content, water activity, proteins, sugars, luminosity and hue angle were the ones that gave the formulation F1 the best results. However, it is noteworthy that the formulation F3 presented a greater amount of ascorbic acid and higher values of a, b and chroma in the colorimetric analysis. The use of these fruits allows to obtain an innovative product with excellent nutritional and functional characteristics. The blend is a viable alternative for the use of perishable and seasonal fruits, adding greater economic value to the very promising product to the market.

O creme de leite fresco é obtido a partir da separação da gordura do leite integral por meio de processos mecânicos. Possui elevado teor de gordura em sua composição, além de proteínas, carboidratos e água, sendo assim, é um produto propício a desenvolvimento de microrganismos deteriorantes. O presente trabalho que teve como objetivo em analisar a qualidade microbiológica do creme de fresco artesanal produzido na cidade de Pombal, Paraíba. As amostras foram adquiridas em três unidades de processamento de leite da cidade de Pombal. Após a coleta, amostras foram analisadas no Laboratório de Microbiologia de Alimentos e Qualidade de Alimentos, da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus Pombal, Paraíba, sendo realizadas as seguintes análises microbiológicas: Coliformes a 45ºC, Estafilococos coagulase positiva, bolores e leveduras e Salmonelas sp. De acordo com as análises microbiológicas, para o parâmetro Coliformes termotolerantes (45 °C), apresentaram valores acima do que é permito pela a legislação vigente, nas unidades 1 e 2, esse resultado pode ser explicado por possíveis falhas no processo de higienização nas unidades produtores, porém ao analisar os resultados obtidos para   estafilococos coagulase positiva, Bolores e leveduras e Salmonelas sp, nota-se que os valores estão dentro e/ou abaixo do que é estabelecido pela a legislação.

A qualidade do solo está relacionada à sua capacidade em desempenhar funções que interferem na produtividade vegetal, animal e ambiental. As regiões áridas e semiáridas são caracterizadas por possuírem solos com baixa fertilidade, mal estruturados, com pouca capacidade de retenção de água. Conhecer a qualidade do solo e de fundamental relevância para o planejamento adequado de seu uso e manejo. Estudos sobre indicadores químicos de qualidade do solo em áreas nativas e cultivadas na Chapada do Araripe, no semiárido do nordeste brasileiro são escassos, o que pode ocasionar um manejo indevido das áreas agricultáveis, onde o objetivo desta revisão foi reunir e sumarizar informações sobre qualidade do solo dessa região. A falta de maiores informações sobre os indicadores químicos de qualidade, expõe a região ao risco de degradação das áreas cultiváveis pela utilização de um manejo inadequado, e deixa aberta a necessidade de realização de mais pesquisas sobre os atributos químicos e a qualidade dos solos da chapada.