Produção e qualidade de frutos de tomateiro cultivado em substrato com zeólita Yield and fruit quality of tomato grown in substrate with zeolite

Avaliou-se a produção e a qualidade dos frutos de tomateiro cv. Finestra, cultivado em substrato com zeólita enriquecida com N, P e K. Os tratamentos utilizados foram quatro doses (20; 40; 80 e 160 g por vaso) de zeólitas enriquecidas com H3PO4/apatita, KNO3 e KH2PO4, além de uma testemunha cultivada em solução nutritiva. Foram avaliados a produção de frutos por vaso, firmeza, sólidos totais, pH, acidez titulável e ácido ascórbico dos frutos, dos 80 aos 90 dias de cultivo. O fornecimento de nutrientes através do mineral zeólita enriquecido com N, P e K comprovou ser uma alternativa para o aumento da produção. As maiores produções foram obtidas nos tratamentos com adição de P e K e nas maiores doses de zeólita (160 e 80 g por vaso). A produção de frutos foi 11 a 17% maior em relação à testemunha cultivada com solução nutritiva. Houve efeitos positivos das zeólitas enriquecidas com fontes de fósforo sobre a firmeza e efeito negativo sobre o pH. A firmeza dos frutos variou 104% entre tratamentos, de 7,06 N (ZNK 160) a 14,38 (ZPK 40). O aumento da disponibilidade de potássio contribuiu para o aumento do teor de ácido ascórbico dos frutos.<br>We evaluated yield and quality of tomato fruits, cv. Finestra, grown in a zeolite substrate enriched with N, P and K. Treatments comprised four levels (20; 40; 80 and 160 g per pot) of zeolite enriched with H3PO4/apatite, KNO3 and KH2PO4, and a control grown in a nutrient solution. Fruit production, firmness, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid were evaluated from 80 to 90 days of plant cultivation. Nutrients supplied through the mineral zeolite enriched with N, P and K was an adequate alternative to increase the production. Higher fruit production was obtained with addition of P and K and higher zeolite dosis (160 and 80 g per pot). Fruit production was 11% and 17% higher when compared to the plants grown in nutritive solution (check treatment). Positive effects were observed in P-enriched zeolites in relation to fruit firmness, and negative effects over fruit pH. Fruit firmness varied 104% among treatments, from 7.06N (ZNK 160) to 14.38N (ZPK 40). The increase of potassium availablity increased the ascorbic acid levels of the fruits

Assessment of successful experiments and limitations of phytotechnologies : contaminant uptake, detoxification and sequestration, and consequences for food safety

PURPOSE: The term "phytotechnologies" refers to the application of science and engineering to provide solutions involving plants, including phytoremediation options using plants and associated microbes to remediate environmental compartments contaminated by trace elements (TE) and organic xenobiotics (OX). An extended knowledge of the uptake, translocation, storage, and detoxification mechanisms in plants, of the interactions with microorganisms, and of the use of "omic" technologies (functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), combined with genetic analysis and plant improvement, is essential to understand the fate of contaminants in plants and food, nonfood and technical crops. The integration of physicochemical and biological understanding allows the optimization of these properties of plants, making phytotechnologies more economically and socially attractive, decreasing the level and transfer of contaminants along the food chain and augmenting the content of essential minerals in food crops. This review will disseminate experience gained between 2004 and 2009 by three working groups of COST Action 859 on the uptake, detoxification, and sequestration of pollutants by plants and consequences for food safety. Gaps between scientific approaches and lack of understanding are examined to suggest further research and to clarify the current state-of-the-art for potential end-users of such green options. CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES: Phytotechnologies potentially offer efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for cleanup of contaminated soil and water, improvement of food safety, carbon sequestration, and development of renewable energy sources, all of which contribute to sustainable land use management. Information has been gained at more realistic exposure levels mainly on Cd, Zn, Ni, As, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and herbicides with less on other contaminants. A main goal is a better understanding, at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels, of mechanisms and their regulation related to uptake-exclusion, apoplastic barriers, xylem loading, efflux-influx of contaminants, root-to-shoot transfer, concentration and chemical speciation in xylem/phloem, storage, detoxification, and stress tolerance for plants and associated microbes exposed to contaminants (TE and OX). All remain insufficiently understood especially in the case of multiple-element and mixed-mode pollution. Research must extend from model species to plants of economic importance and include interactions between plants and microorganisms. It remains a major challenge to create, develop, and scale up phytotechnologies to market level and to successfully deploy these to ameliorate the environment and human healt