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Araucaria araucana (Araucaria) is a long-lived conifer growing along a sharp west-east biophysical gradient in the Patagonian Andes. The patterns and climate drivers of Araucaria growth have typically been documented on the driest part of the gradient relying on correlations with meteorological records, but the lack of in situ soil moisture observations has precluded an assessment of the growth responses to soil moisture variability. Here, we use a network of 21 tree-ring width chronologies to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of tree growth through the entire gradient and evaluate their linkages with regional climate and satellite-observed surface soil moisture variability.We found that temporal variations in tree growth are remarkably similar throughout the gradient and largely driven by soil moisture variability. The regional spatiotemporal pattern of tree growth was positively correlated with precipitation (r = 0.35 for January 1920-1974; P < 0.01) and predominantly negatively correlated with temperature (r = -0.38 for January-March 1920-1974; P < 0.01) during the previous growing season. These correlations suggest a temporally lagged growth response to summer moisture that could be associated with known physiological carry-over processes in conifers and to a response to moisture variability at deeper layers of the rooting zone. Notably, satellite observations revealed a previously unobserved response of Araucaria growth to summer surface soil moisture during the current rather than the previous growing season (r = 0.65 for 1979-2000; P < 0.05). This new response has a large spatial footprint across the mid-latitudes of the South American continent (35°-45°S) and highlights the potential of Araucaria tree rings for palaeoclimatic applications.The strong moisture constraint on tree growth revealed by satellite observations suggests that projected summer drying during the coming decades may result in regional growth declines in Araucaria forests and other water-limited ecosystems in the Patagonian Andes.

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The incorporation of hydrocolloids (starch and xanthan gum) as thickening agents modifies the release of free fatty acids during in vitro digestion.

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Oleoresin of Capsicum sp. is considered a food additive due to its color and pungency, and its active compound, capsaicin, is characterized by antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, Chilean variety of Capsicum sp. has not been characterized yet. The purpose of this study was to characterize the oleoresin of Capsicum annuum var. Cacho de cabra (OCc). Solvent extraction of OCc was carried out with hexane and physical properties of the OCc obtained were determined. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of OCc were compared with its active compound, capsaicin. Results showed that OCc has good optical properties compared with other commercial oleoresins and better antimicrobial properties than pure capsaicin. Due to the good optical properties obtained for OCc, this oleoresin could have a higher commercial value to be used as a coloring and flavor of various products, giving an added value to this variety of pepper. Caracterización y evaluación de algunas propiedades de oleorresina de Capsicum annuum var. cacho de cabra RESUMEN La oleorresina de Capsicum sp. es considerada un aditivo alimentario debido a su color y pungencia, y su compuesto activo capsaicina se caracteriza por poseer propiedades antimicrobianas y antioxidantes. Sin embargo, la oleorresina de la variedad chilena de Capsicum sp. no ha sido caracterizada. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la oleorresina de Capsicum annuum var. Cacho de cabra (OCc). Se realizó la extracción por solvente de OCc con hexano y se determinaron las propiedades físicas de la OCc obtenida. Las propiedades antimicrobianas y antioxidantes de la OCc fueron comparadas con su compuesto activo capsaicina. Los resultados mostraron que la OCc presenta buenas propiedades ópticas en comparación con otras oleorresinas comerciales y mejores propiedades antimicrobianas que la capsaicina pura. Debido a las buenas propiedades ópticas obtenidas para la OCc, esta podría ser de interés comercial para ser usada como colorante y saborizante de diversos productos, otorgándole un valor a esta variedad de ají.

Gray and summer bunch rot are important diseases of table grapes due to the high economic and environmental cost of their control with synthetic fungicides. The ability to produce antifungal compounds against the causal agents Botrytis, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus of two microorganisms isolated from table grapes and identified as Hanseniaspora osmophila and Gluconobacter cerinus was evaluated. In dual cultures, both biocontrol agents (together and separately) inhibited in vitro mycelial growth of these pathogens. To identify the compounds responsible for the inhibitory effect, extractions were carried out with organic solvents from biocontrol agents separately. Through dual cultures with pathogens and pure extracts, only the hexane extract from H. osmophila showed an inhibitory effect against Botrytis cinerea. To further identify these compounds, the direct bioautography technique was used. This technique made it possible to determine the band displaying antifungal activity at Rf = 0.05–0.2. The compounds present in this band were identified by GC-MS and compared to the NIST library. The most abundant compounds, not previously reported, corresponded to alkanes, ketones, alcohols, and terpenoids. H. osmophila and G. cerinus have the potential to control the causal agents of gray and summer bunch rot of table grapes.