The plant hormone ethylene plays a major role in the ripening of climacteric fruit. We have generated transgenic cantaloupe Charentais melons expressing an antisense ACC oxidase gene; ACC oxidase catalyzes the last step of ethylene biosynthesis. Ethylene production of transgenic fruit was < 1% of control untransformed fruit, and the ripening process was blocked both on and off the vine. The antisense phenotype could be reversed by exogenous ethylene treatment. Analysis of antisense ACC oxidase melons indicated that the ripening process includes ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent pathways. Because the transgenic line we generated displays extended storage life and improved quality, it has a promising potential for commercial development.

The molecular mechanisms of plant recognition, colonization, and nutrient exchange between diazotrophic endophytes and plants are scarcely known. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an endophytic bacterium capable of colonizing intercellular spaces of grasses such as rice and sugar cane. The genome of H. seropedicae strain SmR1 was sequenced and annotated by The Paraná State Genome Programme—GENOPAR. The genome is composed of a circular chromosome of 5,513,887 bp and contains a total of 4,804 genes. The genome sequence revealed that H. seropedicae is a highly versatile microorganism with capacity to metabolize a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources and with possession of four distinct terminal oxidases. The genome contains a multitude of protein secretion systems, including type I, type II, type III, type V, and type VI secretion systems, and type IV pili, suggesting a high potential to interact with host plants. H. seropedicae is able to synthesize indole acetic acid as reflected by the four IAA biosynthetic pathways present. A gene coding for ACC deaminase, which may be involved in modulating the associated plant ethylene-signaling pathway, is also present. Genes for hemagglutinins/hemolysins/adhesins were found and may play a role in plant cell surface adhesion. These features may endow H. seropedicae with the ability to establish an endophytic life-style in a large number of plant species.

RESUMO -O maracujá (Passiflora edulis) é originário da América Tropical, muito cultivado no Brasil, rico em vitamina C, cálcio e fósforo. Cascas e sementes de maracujá, provenientes do processo de corte e extração da fruta para obtenção do suco, são ainda, atualmente, em grande parte descartadas. Como este descarte representa inúmeras toneladas, agregar valor a estes subprodutos é de interesse econômico, científico e tecnológico. Neste trabalho, realizou-se um estudo para caracterizar e verificar um melhor aproveitamento das sementes excedentes do processamento do suco do maracujá na alimentação humana. Procedeu-se, para tanto, à separação das partes da fruta, com posterior quantificação gravimétrica. As sementes obtidas foram secas em estufa, e posteriormente moídas para a obtenção de um farelo. O óleo do farelo obtido foi extraído em soxhlet e caracterizado através da metodologia oficial da AOCS (1995). O farelo desengordurado obtido foi também caracterizado por métodos físico-químicos, através da determinação do teor de umidade, proteínas, lipídeos, fibras, cinzas e carboidratos por metodologia oficial AOAC (1984). O óleo extraído das sementes apresentou elevado teor de ácidos graxos insaturados (87,54%), com predominância do ácido linoléico, com índice de iodo de 136,5g I 2 /100g. O farelo desengordurado obtido apresentou teor da 10,53% de umidade; 15,62% de proteínas; 0,68% de lipídeos; 1,8% de cinzas, um elevado teor de fibras de 58,98 e 12,39% de carboidratos. Termos para indexação: Óleo de semente, descarte, subprodutos. CHARACTERIZATION OF BY-PRODUCTS OF PASSION FRUIT INDUSTRIALIZATION UTILIZATION OF SEEDSABSTRACT -The passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is originary from Tropical America and has been growing largely in Brazil, being a crop very rich in vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus. Peels and seeds of Passion fruit that come from the cut and extraction process of fruit in order to extract juice are still throw out in large amounts. As such amounts depict lots tons, ascribing values to the by-products is of great economical, scientific and technological interest. The aim of the current manuscript is to characterize a better utilization of seeds deriving from the processing of passion fruit juice for human nutrition. For that, a separation procedure for different parts of the fruit with gravimetric quantification has been adopted. The obtained seeds were dried in stove and afterwards grounded for obtaining the bran. The oil of the obtained bran was extracted with hexane and characterized by means of an official methodology proposed by AOCS (1995). The non greased bran has also been characterized by physical-chemical methods, through determination of the moisture, protein, lipid, fiber, ashes and carbohydrates contents based on the official methodology recommended by the AOAC (1984). The oil extracted from the seeds showed high levels of unsaturated fatty acid (87.54%), with a predominance of the linoleic acid, whose iodine index was of 136.5g I 2 /100g. The non greased bran showed contents of moisture,...

Transgenic Cantaloupe Charentais melons (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Naud. `Védrantais') exhibiting strong inhibition of ethylene production were used as a model to discriminate between ethylene-regulated and ethylene-independent ripening pathways. Compared to wild-type fruit, transgenic fruit did not undergo significant yellowing of the rind and softening of the flesh. However, these effects were completely reversed by treating transgenic fruit with 50 μL·L-1 exogenous ethylene. Pigmentation of the flesh occurred early before the onset of the climacteric and was thus unaffected by ethylene inhibition in transgenic fruit. Total soluble solids accumulated at the same rate in both types of fruit until 38 days after pollination when wild-type fruit abscissed. However, as ethylene-inhibited fruit failed to develop a peduncular abscission zone, they remained attached to the plant and accumulated higher amounts of sugars, mainly sucrose. Harvesting transgenic fruit resulted in a small but significant increase of internal ethylene associated with softening of the flesh.

RESUMO-Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência da cera de carnaúba na conservação pós-colheita do caqui cv. Giombo. Os tratamentos consistiram do tratamento-controle e rápida imersão nas soluções contendo 12,5; 25 e 50 % do produto comercial Meghwax ECF 100 ® , que é uma emulsão de cera de carnaúba não-iônica a 30 %. Após a secagem, os frutos foram armazenados a 4ºC ± 1ºC e 80 % de umidade relativa. As avaliações foram realizadas em intervalos de 15 dias de conservação em câmara fria, seguidos de 4 dias à temperatura de 20 ± 1ºC, simulando o período de comercialização. As variáveis analisadas foram: firmeza de polpa; sólidos solúveis; acidez titulável; pH; teor de ácido ascórbico, fenóis e perda de massa fresca. O uso de cera de carnaúba, independentemente da concentração utilizada, diminuiu a perda de massa dos frutos em até 7,8 % em armazenagem por 60 dias em câmara fria, seguido de quatro dias em temperatura ambiente. A imersão dos frutos em solução com 12,5% de cera foi eficiente na manutenção do teor de ácido ascórbico e da firmeza, prolongando o tempo de armazenamento por 6 dias. Com o decorrer do armazenamento, houve decréscimo da acidez e aumento do pH. Termos para indexação: Diospyrus kaki, pós-colheita, perda de massa. USE OF WAX IN 'GIOMBO' PERSIMMON COLD STOREDABSTRACT-This research had the objective of evaluating the efficiency of the "carnaúba" wax in post-harvest of persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki), cv. Giombo. The treatments were the rapid immersion of fruits into solutions containing 12.5, 25 and 50 % of the commercial product Meghwax ECF 100®, being a 30 % non ionic emulsion of carnaúba wax. After drying, fruits were stored at 4 ºC and 80 % RH. Chemical and physical characteristics of the fruits were measured throughout sixty days, at fifteen day intervals, followed by a 4-day period at 20 ºC simulating commercialization periods. The pulp firmness, pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, water loss, tannins and ascorbic acid contents were evaluated. The use of carnaúba wax, regardless of the concentration, diminished the loss of fresh mass of the fruits at up to 7.8 % during storage periods of 60 days under cold chamber conditions, followed by a 4-day period at 20 ºC. The immersion of the fruits into 12.5 % of wax solutions was efficient to reduce losses of ascorbic acid and pulp firmness, extending therefore the storage period in 6 days. Throughout the time and ripening of the fruits, reductions of the acidity and increases of pH were also observed in the current study.

In this work, glucoamylase was produced by

RESUMO -O raleio promove aumento no tamanho dos frutos, equilíbrio entre o crescimento vegetativo e produtivo e evita alternância da produção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de ethephon no raleio químico da ameixeira cv. Irati, com 4 anos de idade, sobre o porta-enxerto A-9, em espaçamento 5,0 x 2,5 m, no município de Arapoti -PR. Os tratamentos foram cinco concentrações de ethephon, 0,1; 0,125; 0,15; 0,2 mg Lˉ1, aplicados 30 dias após a plena florada. As seguintes caracterís-ticas foram avaliadas: número médio de frutos por ramo, número total de frutos na colheita, produção por planta, peso médio de frutos, diâmetro dos frutos, teor de sólidos solúveis, firmeza, acidez titulável, pH e coloração. O aumento na concentração de ethephon reduziu linearmente o número de frutos calibre I, calibre II e calibre III, aumentando o número de frutos de calibre IV, frutos maiores, obtidos com a concentração de 0,093 mg Lˉ1 de ethephon . A seca ocorrida entre os meses de agosto e setembro pode ter afetado o bom desenvolvimento dos frutos. Termos para Indexação: Prunus salicina, ácido 2-cloroetilfosfônico, frutificação. APPLICATION OF ETHEPHON THINNING IN CHEMICAL PLUM AND ITS EFFECT ON PRODUCTIVITYABSTRACT -Thinning promotes an increase in fruit size, balance between vegetative growth and productive and prevents switching of production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ethephon on chemical thinning of plum cv. Irati, at 4 years old on rootstock A-9 spaced 5.0 x 2.5 m, in the municipality of Arapoti -PR. Five treatments were tested at ethephon concentrations of 0.1; 0.125; 0.15; 0.2 mg Lˉ1, applied 30 days after full bloom. The following characteristics were evaluated: average number of fruits per branch, number of fruits form whole plant at harvest point, yield per plant, fruit weight, fruit diameter, soluble solids, fruit stiffness, acidity, pH and color. Increased in the concentration of ethephon linearly reduced the number of fruit, I, II and III diameter, increasing the number of fruit of IV diameter, larger fruit, obtained with the concentration of 0.093 mg Lˉ1 of ethephon. The drought in August and September may have affected the smooth fruit development.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this work was to ascertain the post-harvest preservation of Crimson Giant radishes with the following conditions: 1) stored at room temperature (20 ± 2°C and 75% relative humidity; RH) with or without leaves; or 2) stored at a refrigeration temperature of 5ºC and 90% RH with leaves, without leaves or minimally processed. For radishes stored at room temperature, evaluations were made at 0, 1 and 3 days. For radishes stored at a refrigeration temperature, evaluations were made at 0, 1, 3 and 6 days. The parameters evaluated included weight loss, pulp firmness, soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity. At room temperature (20 ± 2°C and 75% RH), the radish bulbs with and without leaves had weight losses exceeding 5% after one day of storage, which rendered these radishes unmarketable. Minimally processed radish bulbs can be stored for more than six days at a temperature of 5ºC, and non-processed radishes stored with and without leaves at the same temperature should not be stored for more than one day.Keywords: Raphanus sativus L., refrigeration, minimum processing.Armazenamento e processamento mínimo de rabanete RESUMO. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a conservação pós-colheita de rabanetes cv. Crimson giant em duas condições. Armazenados com e sem folhas à temperatura ambiente (20 ± 2°C) e de 75% UR, experimento 1. E com e sem folhas e minimamente processados, armazenados em temperatura de refrigeração de 5ºC e 90% de UR, experimento 2. Avaliações foram feitas em 0, 1 e 3 dias de armazenamento em temperatura ambiente devido a rápida deterioração do produto, e em 0, 1, 3 e 6 dias de armazenamento refrigerado. As variáveis avaliadas foram a perda de peso, firmeza da polpa, sólidos solúveis, pH, e acidez titulável. Em temperatura ambiente (20 ± 2°C; 75%), bulbos de rabanete com e sem folhas apresentaram perdas de peso superiores a 5% após um dia de armazenamento, o que os torna não-comercializáveis. Bulbos de rabanete minimamente processados podem ser armazenados por mais de seis dias a uma temperatura de 5ºC, enquanto os rabanetes não processados, armazenados com e sem folhas na mesma temperatura, não devem exceder um dia de armazenamento. Palavras-chave:Raphanus sativus L., refrigeração, processamento mínimo.