This study aimed at selecting determinant morphoagronomic descriptors to characterize and evaluate Physalis angulata L. germplasm. Twelve quantitative and twenty-two qualitative descriptors were analyzed in six accessions of P. angulata coming from the physalis germplasm collection belonging to the State University of Feira de Santana-BA. The selection and discharge of quantitative descriptors was based on the direct selection and on the Singh method, while qualitative descriptors were analyzed through entropy. The statistic analyses were carried out using the GENES and R programs. Ten quantitative descriptors were excluded through direct selection and five through the Singh method. However, only four descriptors were considered redundant by both methods: east-west fruit, weight of five ripe fruits, width of leaf blade and total soluble solids. Although the total soluble solids descriptor was appointed for discharge, it was included in the group of descriptors selected due to its importance in the characterization of physalis fruit. The list of minimum descriptors to describe physalis accessions comprised 15 descriptors: plant height, stem diameter, north-south fruits, number of fruits per plant, leaf blade length, internode length, fruit longitudinal length, fruit transversal length, total soluble solids, growth habit, stem color, leaf margin shape, unripe calyx color, unripe fruit shape and color. These were nine quantitive and six qualitative descriptors, respectively. The discharge of 55.88% of the descriptors did not cause significant loss of information and might allow the reduction of time and resources spent to characterize and evaluate physalis germplasm.

An experiment was conducted to determine the selection of morphological descriptors in

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of red propolis extract, as a natural additive, in yogurt. For this, yogurt was produced with red propolis extract (YRP), to replace the additive chemical potassium sorbate, used in the commercial yogurt (CY). Analysis for apparent viscosity, texture and sensorial acceptance were performed. Apparent viscosity and texture measurements of the samples were similar to the control. Sensory evaluation showed that the samples of YRP reached a mean score of 9 on the hedonic scale, the same score found for CY. Regarding the purchase intention, the samples of YRP showed a positive intention by 64.45% of the consumers, and for CY, 68.89%. For the taste, texture, aroma and consistency, the scores were in the range from 8 to 10, for both samples. It can be concluded that the yogurt incorporated with red propolis presents potential for its commercialization in the Brazilian market.

Tetragonisca angustula honey was fractioned in a SiO 2 column to furnish three fractions (A-C) in which four hydroxycinnamic acid-Spermidine amides (HCAAs), known as N′, N″, N‴-tris-p-coumaroyl spermidine, N′, N″-dicaffeoyl, N‴-coumaroyl spermidine, N′, N″, N‴-tris-caffeoyl spermidine and N′, N″dicaffeoyl and N‴-feruloyl spermidine were identified in the fractions B and C by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A primary culture model previously infected with Neospora caninum (72 h) was used to evaluate the honey fractions (A-C) for two-time intervals: 24 and 72 h. Parasitic reduction ranged from 38% on fraction C (12.5 µg/ml), after 24 h, to 54% and 41% with fractions B and C (25 µg/ml) after 72 h of treatment, respectively. Additionally, HCAAs did not show any cell toxicity for 24 and 72 h. For infected cultures (72 h), the active fractions B (12.5 µg/ml) and C (25 µg/ml) decreased their NO content. In silico studies suggest that HCAAs may affect the parasite's redox pathway and improve the oxidative effect of NO released from infected cells. Here, we presented for the first time, that HCAAs from T. angustula honey have the potential to inhibit the growth of N. caninum protozoa. K E Y W O R D S hydroxycinnamic acid-spermidine amides, immune response, Neospora caninum, nitric oxide, nitrogenous compounds, Tetragonisca angustula honey | 1105 LIMA et al.

The objective of this work was to determine the optimal size of experimental plots for the evaluation of agronomic characteristics and fruit quality of papaya, by the linear model of plateau response, under soil and climatic conditions of the Recôncavo Baiano region, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The experiment consisted of a uniformity test, with the papaya lineage L78, at 3×2 m spacing, in 16 rows with 22 plants, totaling 352 plants and 2,112 m2 useful area. Each plant was considered as a basic unit, and 11 forms of pre-established plots, with rectangular and row formats, were obtained. The agronomic characteristics and fruit quality were evaluated in the plots. Optimal plot size varied greatly among the variables related to agronomic characteristics, with a greater participation of the variable number of marketable fruit per plant at 14 months (16 basic units). The optimal plot size for the evaluation of the agronomic characteristics and fruit quality in papaya is eight experimental units, with 48 m2 area, at a spacing of 3 m between rows and 2 m between papaya plants.

This study evaluates the efficiency of acid extraction and total digestion to determine the presence of metals in geopropolis produced by the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. Geopropolis samples were collected at five meliponaries in the city and in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. The sample treatment methods comprised acid extraction and total digestion. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) technique was used to quantify Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn. Geopropolis samples submitted to both digestion methods showed statistical differences. For both methods, Cr and Zn showed the highest concentrations, while those of Cd were the lowest. The Cr concentration for determination by total digestion was 37.53 mg/kg, while for acid extraction it was 32.90 mg/kg. For Zn, the concentration was 17.65 mg/kg and 8.85 mg/kg for total digestion and acid extraction, respectively. The total digestion method showed the highest concentrations of the metals evaluated; however, acid extraction (USEPA 3050b) is a more straightforward procedure for metal evaluation in geopropolis samples and presented values that support the use of geopropolis as a bioindicator. The acid extraction method USEPA 3050b, in combination with detection using ICP OES, showed efficiency in analyses carried out to determine metals in geopropolis.

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The genus Schizolobium has a species divided into two varieties: Paricá belonging to the Amazon forest and Guapuruvu belonging to the Atlantic Forest, both of importance for ecology and forestry due to the quality of the wood. As they are values-adding varieties, information on the physiological mechanisms that regulate the metabolism of plants in a particular environment becomes important to establish their level of adaptation. Thus, the aim was to analyze the possible physiological and biometric differences between the two varieties regarding the tolerance to drought when submitted to the water deficit. The work was developed in nursery, in the experimental field of the State University of Bahia. The design was completely randomized -CRD with 2 treatments and 200 replicates. Statistical analyzes were performed by software R (R CORE TEAM, 2017). The results showed that the growth analysis through the physiological indexes was efficient to identify differences in the initial growth of Schizolobium plants and the physiological characteristics of gas exchanges were negatively affected by water stress in both varieties during the days of stress.