Mejora de las propiedades químicas del aceite de Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) por interesterificación enzimática

Although Amazonian oils present great potential for various applications, they have not been extensively explored for commercial use. In this study, the effects of enzymatic interesterification of buriti oil in relation to its triacylglycerol composition, regiospecific distribution of fatty acids, and minority compounds were evaluated. The results indicated that the lipase used in the reaction showed higher specificity for oleic acid and the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of triacylglycerol, generating more unsaturated structured lipids. There were increases of 11% and 12.5% in unsaturated-unsaturated-unsaturated triacylglycerol types and reductions of 12.1% and 16.2% in saturated-unsaturated-unsaturated triacylglycerol types after 6 and 24 hours of reaction, respectively. At 24 h of reaction, the structured lipid formed was totally unsaturated at the three triacylglycerol positions. In addition, as the reaction conditions were mild, the carotenoids and phenolic compounds were maintained in the structured lipids. The results indicate that the enzymatic interesterification can be an alternative to produce structured lipids with new functionalities, and diversify the application of this oil from the Amazon.Aunque los aceites amazónicos presentan un gran potencial de aplicación, están poco explorados comercialmente. En este estudio, se evaluaron los efectos de la interesterificación enzimática del aceite de Buriti en relación con la composición en triacilglicerol, la distribución regioespecífica de ácidos grasos y compuestos minoritarios. Los resultados indicaron que la lipasa usada en la reacción mostró una mayor especificidad para el ácido oleico y las posiciones sn-1 y sn-3 del triacilglicerol, generando más lípidos estructurados insaturados. Hubo un aumento entre 11,0% - 12,5% en el tipo de triacilgliceroles insaturados-insaturados-insaturados y una reducción de 12,1% - 16,2% en los triacilgliceroles saturados-insaturados-insaturados después de 6 y 24 horas de reacción, respectivamente. A las 24 h de reacción, el lípido estructurado formado estaba totalmente insaturado en las tres posiciones del triacilglicerol. Además, como las condiciones de reacción fueron suaves, los compuestos carotenoides y fenólicos se conservaron en los lípidos estructurados. Los resultados indicaron que la interesterificación enzimática puede ser una alternativa para producir lípidos estructurados con nuevas funcionalidades, diversificando la aplicación de este aceite del Amazonas

State of the world’s plants and fungi 2020

Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them. Produced in conjunction with an international scientific symposium, Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi sets an important international standard from which we can annually track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity

Lodo de esgoto e sistema radicular da pupunheira Sewage sludge doses and the root system of peach palm

Os efeitos do lodo de esgoto sobre o sistema radicular da pupunheira foram estudados em experimento em campo, em blocos casualizados, instalado em Ubatuba (SP), em julho 2001, na densidade de 5.000 plantas ha-1. As doses de lodo de esgoto fresco (79,7 % de umidade) utilizadas foram de 0, 38, 76 e 152 t ha-1, equivalentes a 0, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 de N. Os tratamentos foram aplicados no sulco de plantio, adicionando-se 15 g por planta de KCl como fonte de K. A análise do sistema radicular foi efetuada doze meses após, por meio de trado e de trincheiras e com o auxílio de fotos digitais. Detectou-se que o sistema radicular de pupunheiras com um ano de campo estava concentrado nas camadas superficiais (acima de 75 % nos primeiros 20 cm), assim como em distâncias de até 0,5 m da base da planta. O lodo de esgoto modificou positivamente a densidade do solo, alterando também favoravelmente a densidade das raízes. Houve aumento na biomassa radicular proporcional às doses de lodo de esgoto, existindo uma relação direta daquela com a fitomassa aérea. Doses de lodo equivalentes a 200 e 400 kg de N contribuíram para aprofundar o sistema radicular e proporcionaram maior quantidade relativa de raízes finas.<br>The effects of sewage sludge doses on the root system of peach palm were studied in a field experiment, in randomized complete blocks, carried out in Ubatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The trial was set up in July 2001, with a density of 5,000 plants ha-1. The sewage sludge doses (79.7 % water content) were 0, 38, 76, and 152 t ha-1, which were equivalent to doses of 0, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1 of N. The treatments were applied in the planting furrow, and every plant was provided with K by a dose of 15 g potassium chloride. The root system was analyzed one year after planting using soil auger and digging of trenches and with the help of digital images. It was concluded that the root system of one-year old peach palm was concentrated in the upper soil layer (over 75 % in the 0-20 cm surface layer), and within a horizontal distance of 0.50 m from the palm trunk. The sewage sludge positively modified the soil density as well as the root density. There was an increment in root biomass proportional to the sludge doses, and there was a positive linear relationship between the root and shoot biomass. Sludge doses equivalent to 200 and 400 kg ha-1 of N allowed the root system to explore deeper soil layers, as well as the development of more fine roots compared to the other treatments

Peixes recifais da costa da Paraíba, Brasil Reef fishes from Paraíba, Brazil

<abstract language="eng">The coral reef is an ecossystem which evokes great interest, for its beaury, species diversity and fisheries potential. The coast of Paraíba State, northeast Brazil, possesses several natural reefs and shipwrecks which are inhabited by a rich fish fauna. In order to survey the reef fish fauna of Paraíba State, a total of 118 dives, utilizing SCUBA diving techniques, were carriedoutin 27samplingpoints (depths: 0,5-66m), from February/1995 to May/1996. Specimens were collected whenever underwater identification was precluded. A total of 157 known species belonging to 59 families were found. Four unidentified species, one dasyatid, one haemulid, one scarid, and one labrid were recorded. Haemulidae was the most representative family in number of individuais, whereas Carangidae was the most speciose family. This paper is part of a broader study of the northeast Brazilian reef fishes

Respostas de crescimento da pupunheira à adubação NPK Peach palm growth responses to NPK fertilization

As palmeiras apresentam grande demanda por nutrientes. Por este motivo, o efeito da adubação NPK no crescimento de pupunheiras (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) foi estudado durante 30 meses (11/90 a 04/93) em experimento conduzido a campo em solo Aluvial álico (corrigido por meio de calagem) em Ubatuba, SP (clima "Cfa"). Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com uma repetição, em esquema fatorial fracionado (½ de 4³), com tratamentos dispostos em dois blocos, parcelas úteis de 24 plantas e bordaduras duplas ao redor. Foram testadas quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N), fósforo (0, 50, 100 e 200 kg ha-1 ano-1 de P2O5) e potássio (0, 50, 100 e 200 kg ha-1 ano-1 de K2O), aplicadas em faixa e divididas em cinco aplicações anuais, utilizando como fontes nitrocálcio, superfosfato triplo e cloreto de potássio. As plantas foram cultivadas no espaçamento de 2 × 1 m, e avaliadas periodicamente quanto ao diâmetro da haste principal, número de perfilhos e porcentagem de plantas perfilhadas. Em solo arenoso e de baixa fertilidade, a pupunheira apresenta resposta linear, positiva e significativa de crescimento às adubações com nitrogênio (N) e potássio (K) e ausência de resposta ao fósforo (P). As primeiras respostas significativas ocorreram três meses depois de iniciadas as adubações diferenciadas. Não houve interações significativas entre N, P e K. O crescimento máximo foi obtido com doses anuais de 400 kg de N, 0 kg de P2O5 e 200 kg de K2O por hectare.<br>Palms have high nutrient demand. For this reason, the effects of NPK fertilization on the initial growth of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) were studied in a field experiment, from November 1990 to April 1993. The trial was set up on an allic, previously limed soil, in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil (23º27'S, 45º04'W, 6 m asl; "Cfa" climate). A fractional factorial experimental design (½ of 4³) was utilized, with two blocks, one replication, 24 inner plants per plot and double border rows. Treatments were composed of four rates of nitrogen (0 to 400 kg N ha-1 year-1), phosphorus (0 to 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 year-1) and potassium (0 to 200 kg K2O ha-1 year-1), applied in stripes and divided in five annual applications. The fertilizers used were: calcium nitrate, triple super phosphate and potassium chloride. Plants were cultivated in a 2 × 1 m array, and periodically evaluated in relation to diameter of main stem, number of offshoots and percentage of plants with offshoots. In this sandy and low fertility soil, peach palm growth responses in relation to N and K amendments were linear and positive. Initial responses were observed three months after fertilizer application. No isolated effects of P fertilization, nor significant interactions among fertilizers were observed. Maximum growth responses were reached with 400 kg N ha-1 year-1, 0 kg P2O5 ha-1 year-1 and 200 kg K2O ha-1 year-1

State of the World’s Plants and Fungi

International audienc