The green banana biomass is a new product which has easy applicability in recipes, adding benefits to people's health because it is an ingredient high in resistant starch, recommended for prevention and support in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, cancer, intestinal disorders, celiac disease etc. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of green banana biomass in the preparation of chocolate cake and salty pie. The biomass replaced part of the wheat flour used in the recipes at a ratio of 30% and 50% for the cake and pie, respectively. The green banana biomass, with and without skin, were analyzed for proximate composition. Tests were conducted ranking preference for the cakes and salty pies. The recipe for chocolate cake containing biomass with the peel was the most preferred (60%), and the traditional recipe was the least preferred (54%). In reference to the salty pies, among the most preferred samples, those containing biomass from the pulp of unripe banana came in first place (44%) and, among the least favorite, the traditional recipe prevailed (54%). In an analysis of purchase intention all the preparations had a good intention of purchase. Using the biomass of green bananas for the purpose of using it´s prebiotic property promotes the intake of a functional agent in food in a simple manner, giving rise to a new product.

Yield and culinary quality of tuber cassava roots can be influenced by several factors such as genotype, soil fertility, cultural management, climatic conditions, harvest, handling and storage after harvest as well as cooking ways. For consumers, the most important characteristics for sweet cassava roots are how fast they are cooked and its taste. Thus, the objective of this research was to the study the evolution of different methods to evaluate tuber cassava roots cooking time that can be used by breeders. It is essential that statistical analyses are realized, in order to arrive to confident results. Other important observations are the cost and ease of application of the methodology and whether more sophisticated equipment is available. Certainly, it is desirable an increase in carotenes, proteins, as well as yield, once for millions, sweet cassava is the main source of energy.

Agricultural year and harvesting season may interfere with yield and post-harvest performance of table cassava cultivars, with consequences for their commercialization and net profit. The objective of this work was to quantify the effects of harvesting season and agricultural year on yield performance of table cassava cultivars and their correlations. Planting was carried out in September in two consecutive years near Londrina city, PR, in a Clay-textured Oxisols red eutrophric. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, consisting of seven harvesting times (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 months after planting) for each agricultural year. The table cassava cultivars used were: Catarina Amarela, Catarina Branca, Mato Grosso, Pretona, IAPAR 19-Pioneira and IAC 576-70. The following agronomic characteristics were evaluated: number of roots per plant, length, diameter and yield of tuberous roots, as well as the following post-harvest characteristics: net yield and peeling time per kg of each cassava genotype. The cultivars, harvesting time and agricultural year affected the yield and post-harvest characteristics. ‘IAPAR 19-Pioneira’ presented a larger number of roots per plant (9.9) and peeling time (224.8 seconds.kg-1), but lower yield % (66.2%) and diameter of tuberous roots (4.0 cm), regardless of harvest time and year of planting. 'Catarina Amarela', 'Catarina Branca', 'IAC 576-70' and 'Pretona' provided higher yields, diameters and reduced peeling times. The root mean diameter is one of the characteristics that can be used as a selection criterion in a table cassava genetic breeding program: the larger the root mean diameter the larger are tuber root yield and percentage of weight of the tradable part of the roots, and the lower is the time of peeling.

The common bean is a legume capable of performing biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the application of rock powder associated with inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. in isolation or associated on the relative chlorophyll index in common bean leaves. Two experiments were conducted at the Federal Institute of Paraná Campus (IF-PR) in Ivaiporã- PR with four treatments and four completely randomized replicates. The treatments were: Inoculation of seeds with Bradyrhizobium spp; Inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. with basalt application; basalt application and control. The chemical analysis of the soil was performed. The seeds were inoculated with MasterFix based on Bradyrhizobium spp. following the manufacturer's recommendations. The relative chlorophyll index (IRC) was evaluated after the opening of the second trifoliate leaf. The IRC in experiment 1 was evaluated at 23, 38 and 53 days after sowing. In experiment 2, the IRC of the plants was evaluated at 25 and 41 days after sowing. The significant effect of treatments at 38 and 53 DAP was verified in relation to IRC, when the plants were cultivated with application of rock powder associated or not with Bradyrhizobium spp. There were treatment effects in relation to IRC in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp associated with rock powder, when compared with basalt powder and control.  There was benefit of increased IRC in both treatments inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp.

Anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. and Magnus) Briosi and Cavara, is a major disease affecting the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), potentially causing yield losses of up to 100%. Utilizing resistant cultivars is the most effective approach for disease control. This study aimed to characterize the genetic resistance of two cultivars, TU and Michigan Dark Red Kidney (MDRK), to anthracnose. Inheritance tests were performed on F2:3 families from the TU (R) × AND 277 (S) cross using C. lindemuthianum race 3, and on F2:3 families from the crosses TU (R) × Kaboon (S) and TU (R) × Perry Marrow (S) inoculated with race 39. Inoculation with three races of C. lindemuthianum showed that MDRK carried the allele of the Co-1 locus. However, inoculation of F2:3 families from the MDRK × TU cross with race 1545 revealed that MDRK's resistance to this race is conditioned by two dominant genes (Co-1 allele on Pv01 and another allele on Pv04). Segregation results from inheritance tests using F2:3 families with the TU resistant cultivar fitted to a 1RR:2RS:1SS ratio, indicating the presence of a single dominant gene in the TU cultivar. Both the Mesoamerican TU and the Andean MDRK cultivars represent valuable sources of resistance to C. lindemuthianum and can be incorporated into common bean breeding programs to enhance disease resistance.

The Orchidaceae family stands out when it comes to the commercialization of pot flowers, this is due to their flowers being widely attractive and have variability of colors, size and shapes according to the species; this results in plants with high relevance to the economy in the floriculture sector. The goal of this study was to elucidate questions about the effect of micronutrients on initial growth, the influence of electrical conductivity and frequency of fertilizer application, and the efficiency of organic fertilization with castor bean cake, on the growth and nutrition of Brassia verrucosa Lindley orchid.  Studies with mineral fertilization involving nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in Cattleya and Phalaenopsis seedlings allowed to obserevar that the N increment increased the number of flowers in Cattleya, while P and K did not affect this variable. The salinity of irrigation water also has an effect on growth and flowering.  The electrical conductivity, the sources of fertilizers, their interaction with the substrate, the balance between the nutrients, the quantities and frequencies to be used, in addition to the different phenological requirements and characteristics intrinsic to the species, are important aspects to be considered in fertirigation.