No abstract

Aims: The objective of this study was to identify the structural characteristics of the shoots of Mentha x villosa Huds and also, identify the main structures responsible for the production of active principles. Methodology: The analyzes were performed with stems and leaves from adult and healthy plants, which presented a uniform morphological pattern. The materials selected for the anatomical analyzes were fixed in FAA for 24 hours and after this period conditioned in 70% alcohol. Cross-sections and paradermic sections were manually made with a cutting blade. For sections analysis, 1% sodium hypochlorite was used for discoloration and safranine 10% dye for tissue staining. Results: The leaf of Mentha x villosa Huds presents asymmetric mesophyll, formed by palisade and lacunar parenchyma, and uniseriate epidermis. The diacytic stomata are located on the abaxial surface of the leaves with different sizes, all having a substomatal chamber. On both sides of leaves, glandular trichomes were observed in great quantity. The leaf midrib is formed by a large vascular bundle, with xylem facing the adaxial surface and phloem facing the abaxial surface. The stem presents uniseriate epidermis and below it can be found one or two layers of colenchyma. The vascular bundle consists of four main xylem points, and externally to it is found the phloem, which gives the quadrangular shape to the stem. Mentha x villosa Huds has characteristics that are common to aromatic species of the Lamiaceae family, which makes its characterization and differentiation difficult, as for example, its secretory structures which do not have taxonomic importance for differentiation on this species, since they are similar in other species of the same family. Conclusion: However, Mentha x villosa has a larger number of cell layers in the lacunar parenchyma, which is an important characteristic for the differentiation of species.

Contaminated water consumption is one of the greatest risks to human health, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Water is a universal right, but millions of people worldwide consume untreated surface water. The objective in this study is to evaluate water purification with Nopalea cochenillifera var. Miúda biomass. Fragments (1, 2, and 3 g) of N. cochenillifera were added to the aqueous solution containing red-yellow Chromic and Podzolic Luvisol simulating turbid water sources in Northeastern Brazil. The total, non-structural (i.e., reducing and non-reducing sugars, alcohol insoluble solids), and structural (i.e., pectin) carbohydrates, adsorption kinetics, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, zeta potential, and total coliforms presence were evaluated. Findings show that the Nopalea cochenillifera biomass adsorbed the suspended particles in the aqueous solution, making it more translucent due to the complex and heterogeneous adsorbents’ ion exchange matrix, but the biomass addition did not eliminate total coliforms from the aqueous solution. We concluded that the Nopalea cochenillifera biomass water treatment reduces suspended dissolved particles and turbidity, but it needs to be associated with other treatments to eliminate total coliforms and ensure water safety for human consumption.

Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. é uma espécie promissora para implantação de florestas no Nordeste brasileiro. Contudo, água é o fator que exerce influência sobre o processo germinativo, afetando diversos processos fisiológicos, como fotossíntese e respiração, bem como a sua produção. Diante do exposto, objetivou-se avaliar a germinação e o vigor de sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. submetidas a diferentes condições de estresse hídrico. As sementes de M. caesalpiniifolia foram coletadas na cidade de São Sebastião de Lagoa de Roça/PB onde foram beneficiadas e homogeneizadas para a retirada de uma amostragem representativa e posteriormente foram submetidas à superação de dormência por meio de desponte na região oposta à micrópila. Logo após, as mesmas foram desinfestadas com hipoclorito de sódio a 0,6%, durante 5 minutos e lavadas em água corrente por 10 minutos. Para a avaliação das diferentes condições de estresse hídrico, as sementes foram semeadas em bandejas plásticas individuais para cada repetição, contendo areia umedecida com cinco diferentes níveis de capacidade de retenção (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 e 60).  As variáveis, germinação (%) e IVG se ajustaram ao modelo quadrático com maiores resultados nas capacidades de retenção de 40 e 50%.  O comprimento da parte aérea e o comprimento da raiz também sofreram influência das diferentes capacidades de retenção, onde os maiores resultados foram obtidos aos 40 e 20% de capacidade de retenção, respectivamente. Já com relação à massa seca e verde, o valor máximo foi observado na capacidade de retenção de 40%. As sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth apresenta alta qualidade fisiológica quando submetidas a capacidades de retenção de 40 e 50%, contudo, são capazes de se adaptar ao estresse hídrico severo, apresentando resultados satisfatórios também aos 20%, podendo assim, ser utilizada com sucesso em algumas fases da recuperação de áreas degradadas.

A área da bacia hidrográfica do córrego Baixa Funda, município de Araguaína, estado do Tocantins abrange uma população de 14.193 habitantes, diversificado comércio, é uma ocupação desordenada. Para a elaboração do diagnóstico a metodologia utilizada fundamentou-se no levantamento bibliográfico e análise de campo observacional com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa de 10 pontos. As etapas de campo foram realizadas nos meses de março e setembro de 2017, compreendendo o período chuvoso e de estiagem, com a coleta de amostras em três pontos (P1, P7 e P10), respectivamente extremidade montante, ponto intermediário do canal e extremidade jusante do córrego. Nos resultados obtidos constatou-se a presença de depósitos tecnogênicos, processos erosivos e ocupação irregular como os principais fatores relacionados com os impactos ambientais, destacando-se a disposição irregular de resíduos, como plásticos, resíduos da construção civil, metais, lixo doméstico, esgoto, dentre outros. A análise da água indica qualidade irregular, percentual elevado de parâmetros de contaminação, com presença de coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes. Os resultados obtidos também indicam que a ação antrópica é o principal fator relacionado com os impactos ambientais identificados e que estes podem ser utilizados na elaboração de projetos voltados para a recuperação da bacia hidrográfica do córrego Baixa Funda.

Aims: Pomegranate has been used since ancient times as a universal therapeutic agent due to the presence of biologically active ingredients in different parts of the plant. Pomegranate seed oil is considered a nutraceutical because of its rich composition. Therefore, this work aimed to study the main changes in the composition of fatty acids and antioxidant activity of pomegranate seed oil (cv. Molar) in different stages of fruit development. Study design: Completely randomized design. The treatments were the ages (60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 days), counted from the beginning of the anthesis. For each harvest a random sampling of five fruits was used for each repetition, and four replications per stage of fruit development were performed totaling 20 fruits per treatment. Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out in partnership with the farm Águas de Tamanduá, located in Várzeas de Sousa, PB, (longitude 38°13'41" and latitude 06°45'33"). Methodology: The characterization of the phenological phases of pomegranate (Molar cv.) development was carried out at the beginning of the orchard. Vigorous and healthy adult plants were selected. Hermaphrodite flowers were marked, evenly distributed in the area, with colored tape resistant to high temperature, sunshine, winds and rains. The marking of the flowers occurred in the early hours of the morning, and at the time of the marking, thinning of flowers was carried out on branches that had two or more flowers at the apex, leaving only a single flower on the branch. Seed oil was extracted from a sample of 20 fruits at different stages of development: 60, 70, 80, 90 and, 100 days counted from the start of the anthesis. Results: The general composition of the oil of pomegranate seeds cv. Molar, regardless of the stage of fruit development, takes the order of PUFA> SFA> MUFA, with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and 6), and after saturated and monounsaturated, and low concentrations of total Trans Isomers. Conclusion: The best periods for the consumption of pomegranate seed oil are between 80 and 90 days due to the higher amount of unsaturated acids and punicic acid, and lower concentrations of palmitic acid, as well as a higher concentration of phenolic compounds. The method of DPPH, with methanol extractor identifies the antioxidant activity of pomegranate seed oil, however not efficiently.

O conteúdo dos artigos e seus dados em sua forma, correção e confiabilidade são de responsabilidade exclusiva dos seus respectivos autores.

The use of new technologies is important for the preservation of guava, especially in reaching long-distance markets, being indispensable to associate storage techniques to increase the durability of fresh fruit. We evaluated the efficiency of edible coatings based on agar and Scenedemus sp. on the quality and post-harvest conservation of 'Paluma' guava. The experiment consisted of a randomized design with four replicates. The treatments (T) were composed of mixing concentrations between agar and Scenedesmus sp.: A: (0% + 0%); B: (0% + 0.5%); C: (0% + 1%); D: (0% + 2%); E: (3% + 0%); F: (3% + 0.5%); G: (4% + 0%) and H: (4% + 0.5%) applied by immersion. At the end of 11 days of storage at 10 °C ± 2ºC and 65% ± 5% RH, the fruit was analyzed. There was a significant effect (P < 0.05) of the coating based on Scenedesmus sp. on the brightness (L*) of the peel and pulp of guava, hue (°h) and chromaticity (C*) of the peel, loss of fresh mass, firmness of the pulp, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, pH, SS/AT ratio, and total sugars. We observed a lower maturation and maintenance of the post-harvest quality of 'Paluma' guava with the active packages corresponding to treatments F and H. This included the maintenance of the indexes L*, C* and h of peel color, retention in the loss of fresh mass, in the firmness and maintenance of organic acids