Small succulent halophytic shrubs of the genera Salicornia and Sarcocornia (Salicornioideae, Amaranthaceae) are commonly named sea asparagus and consumed worldwide as green salad in gourmet food, as conserves, and beverages. Their shoots are rich in bioactive compounds and plants show high yields in a wide range of salinities, but little is known about how salt cultivation conditions affect their chemical composition. Two genotypes (BTH1 and BTH2) of the Brazilian sea asparagus Salicornia neei Lag. were evaluated for salt tolerance and changes in shoot concentrations of organic metabolites and antioxidant activity under different salt exposure in both greenhouse and field conditions. All greenhouse plants received full strength modified Hoagland solution in deionized water with a basic electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.7 dS m−1, and with NaCl concentrations (in mM) of ~0.1 (control), 34, 86, 171, 513, and 769. After fifty days of cultivation, both S. neei genotypes showed high salt tolerance and grew better under low salinities (34–86 mM NaCl) than under control salinity. Shoots of BTH1 genotype appeared to be undergoing lignification and used their high carotenoid content to dissipate the oxidative power, and the zeaxanthin content and de-epoxidation state of xanthophylls (DES) were positively affected by salinity. Under increasing salinity, BTH2 genotype had higher relative content of chlorophyll b, which may have lowered the plant photo-oxidation rate, and increased shoot concentration of the flavonoid quercetin (up to 11.6 μg g−1 dw at 769 mM NaCl), leading to higher antioxidant capacity. In the field experiment, after 154 days of irrigation with saline (213 mM NaCl) shrimp farm effluent, BTH2 plants grew taller, produced more metabolites (e.g., total phenolics, total free flavonoids, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid) and had a greater antioxidant capacity of shoots than that of BTH1 plants and that of traditional crops irrigated with fresh water. Yield and bioactive compound composition of S. neei genotypes’ shoots can be enhanced by cultivation under moderate saline conditions.

No abstract

SUMMARYThe sea asparagus Sarcocornia ambigua is a widespread coastal halophyte of South America that has a recent history of successful cultivation with saline shrimp farm effluent and nutritional quality for human and animal diets, as well as chemical characteristics for biofuel production. Two morphologically distinct lineages (BTH1 and BTH2) of S. ambigua were obtained by crossing pure lineages of natural biotypes. The growth and biomass production of f3 and f4 progenies of S. ambigua lineages were evaluated, as well as their macro- and micro-mineral components were investigated by spectrophotometry. The BTH2 lineage showed a 43% higher shoot growth rate, a two times faster branch production and a higher biomass allocation to shoots than in BTH1. BTH1 shoots showed higher concentrations of N, K and Cu than did the BTH2 progenies. The average levels of N, K, P and Ca in BTH1-f4 shoots were higher than those in wild plants of S. ambigua and ranked in the mid-upper range of these mineral contents in other species of the subfamily Salicorniodeae and gourmet vegetables. The mineral profile of the two selected lineages of S. ambigua confirms high nutritional quality of these plants for humans and animals. They can be presented as alternatives to food production with saline effluent from aquaculture on the temperate and tropical coast and/or inland salt-affected soils of South America.

No abstract

Resumo Análises da água do rio Uruguai constataram a presença de compostos em concentrações acima dos limites

ResumoPotencial nutricional de uma nova variedade de aspargo marinho, Salicornia neei Lag., para dietas humana e animal. O perfil mineral e o valor nutricional para a alimentação humana e animal de uma nova variedade de aspargo marinho brasileiro, Salicornia neei Lag., foram caracterizados por espectrofotometria. As plantas da progênie F4 da variedade pura denominada BTH1, cultivada com eluente salino da carcinicultura, possuem alto conteúdo mineral, particularmente N, K, P, Ca, Fe e Mn. A ingestão diária de 20, 200 e 5 g de caules secos de BTH1-F4 pode ser inserida e suplementada nas dietas, respectivamente, do homem, ovelhas e peixes cultivados comercialmente. AbstractThe mineral profile and nutritional value of a novel variety of the Brazilian sea asparagus, Salicornia neei Lag., was characterized for feeding humans and animals using spectrophotometry. Plants of the F4 progeny of the purebred variety named BTH1 cultivated with saline shrimp farm efluent have high mineral content, particularly N, K, P, Ca, Fe and Mn. Daily intakes of 20, 200 and 5 g of dried shoots of BTH1-F4 could be added to and supplement human, sheep and commercial fish diets, respectively.

Atividades antrópicas podem causar alterações nas características físicas, químicas e biológicas de ecossistemas aquáticos. Sendo assim, este trabalho apresenta avaliação da qualidade da água de um córrego que recebe efluentes de uma piscicultura, utilizando insetos como bioindicadores. Foram amostrados insetos no verão e no inverno de 2012 em três pontos (à montante-P01; e no local de lançamento do efluente-P02; à jusante-P03) do córrego Felizardo, Uruguaiana, Brasil. Foram utilizadas redes de bloqueio, redes de deriva e puçás e também analisados parâmetros físico-químicos da água (temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido, nitrogênio amoniacal, condutividade elétrica, pH). No verão ocorreram diferenças quanto à riqueza de famílias, abundância e densidade de espécimes, tendo o ponto P02 valor abaixo de P01 e P03 e grau de dominância mais elevado que P01 e P03. Os parâmetros físico-químicos estiveram com valores dentro do permitido pela legislação, porém os índices bióticos sugerem que ocorre a influência direta de efluentes de piscicultura sobre a entomofauna aquática em P02, existindo evidências de efeitos moderados de poluição da água, ou com alguma poluição orgânica provável. Segundo os resultados obtidos, o Arroio Felizardo ainda permanece com suas águas identificadas na classe II, mesmo sofrendo influência de efluentes da piscicultura.

Germination and fungal infection of wild celery (Apium graveolens L.) seeds, from southern Brazil, under different temperature and disinfection conditions Seeds of wild celery (Apium graveolens L.) from southern Brazil were surface disinfected with different solutions of sodium hypochlorite (5 and 10%) and acetic acid (0.5, 1, 2, 4%), and germination success and fungal infection were evaluated after 28 days of incubation at a constant temperature of 30 ºC and 20/30 ºC thermoperiod (12h:12h). Germination of wild celery was inhibited at the constant temperature (30 ºC). Vigorous total germination (90-100%), a faster germination velocity (1.8-2.5 germinated seeds per day) and moderate fungal infection (53.3-81.7%) of wild celery seeds were obtained with the sodium hypochlorite treatments (5-10% concentration) under the 20/30 ºC thermoperiod. The 4% treatment of acetic acid was very effective at preventing seed fungal infection (only 5% of the seeds) but it reduced the average total germination to 60%. Lower concentrations of acetic acid (0.5-2%) resulted in 100% fungal infection. In conclusion, seedlings of wild celery from southern Brazil can be effectively produced by disinfecting the seeds with 5-10% sodium hypochlorite and incubation under a 20/30 ºC thermoperiod (12h:12h).