Silvia de Carvalho Campos Botelho

Background/Objectives: The high temperatures associated with climate change represent an important constraint for tomato production in tropical regions, affecting plant growth, reproductive development, and fruit metabolic composition. In this context, protected cultivation systems capable of modifying greenhouse microclimates may help reduce thermal stress and maintain crop productivity. Methods: This study evaluated the effects of two protective environments, diffuse agricultural film (AF) and twin-walled polycarbonate panels with laminar water flow (P), on the agronomic performance and fruit metabolic traits of five grape–tomato hybrids grown under tropical conditions. Microclimatic variables, vegetative growth, yield components, postharvest behavior, and fruit quality attributes were evaluated, with emphasis on carotenoid accumulation. Results: Compared with the agricultural film environment, the polycarbonate system reduced global radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and was associated with an increase in yield of approximately 25%, an increase in fruit number of approximately 13%, and an 8% increase in fruit diameter. In addition, some hybrids cultivated under the polycarbonate system showed greater lycopene and β-carotene accumulation, indicating that microclimate moderation may favor carotenoid-related fruit quality depending on genotype. Principal component analysis revealed a clear separation between cultivation environments, with the polycarbonate system more closely associated with yield-related and canopy development traits, whereas the agricultural film environment was linked to biomass accumulation and selected physicochemical attributes. Among the evaluated hybrids, BS IGR0104, Jacy, and GI7545 showed the most favorable combination of agronomic performance and fruit quality traits. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the importance of climate-adaptive protected cultivation systems and hybrid selection for improving tomato productivity under tropical heat conditions.

The roasting time–temperature binomial, together with mass loss, represents one of the main variables associated with the roast degree and the final quality of roasted coffee. Thus, his study evaluated the roasting process of coffee beans (C. canephora), seeking to identify the relationship between the roasting point, mass loss, time and temperature which results in a higher quality product. Therefore, selected grains of C. canephora were submitted to the roasting process in different temperatures in a rotating roaster with a direct fire until different roasting points. The roaster and the grains mass temperatures, as well as the loss of mass in the samples were taken during the whole process. After roasting, the samples were evaluated for quality through the cupping test. Bean temperature, roasting temperature, loss of bean mass and time presented a linear dependence relationship with one another and with the roasting point. Through the cup test, the coffee beans were evaluated as highest quality when roasted at temperatures of 247, 274 and 296 °C up to the medium light roast point, and 247 °C for the average roast.

Roasting is considered the most important stage of coffee production, as it furthers the generation of flavor and aroma. During this process, significant physical and chemical changes occur in coffee beans, which are necessary to achieve a specific degree of roasting. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the changes in the bulk density, color and bulk volume of Conilon coffee beans (Coffea canephora) during roasting process. For this, crude coffee beans samples were roasted in 247, 274, 296 and 308 °C until the dark roasting degree. The physical properties were analyzed to loss mass, roasting time and grain temperature. Moisture content decreased continuously until medium light roast. In general, the bulk density and L*, a* e b* color coordinates decreased and the bulk volume increased, mainly at the final of the roasting process for every roasting temperature used.

A caracterização física de produtos agrícolas é indispensável para estabelecer critérios de avaliação de qualidade, de peculiaridades entre as diferentes espécies e cultivares, além de levantar dados necessários para o dimensionamento e aperfeiçoamento de equipamentos usados no seu beneficiamento. Neste sentido, com o presente trabalho buscou-se avaliar as variações na forma e tamanho de grãos de feijão guandu em função da umidade. Foram utilizados grãos de feijão guandu colhidos e debulhados manualmente, com umidade inicial de 1,34 (b.s.) que foram submetidos à secagem em estufa com circulação forçada de ar à 40 °C. A redução da umidade durante a secagem foi acompanhada indiretamente por meio da perda de massa, até a umidade final médio de 0,14 (b.s.). Ao longo da secagem foram determinadas: as dimensões características principais, o diâmetro geométrico, a massa específica unitária, a área superficial, a relação superfície-volume, a esfericidade e as circularidades. A redução da umidade influenciou o tamanho e forma dos grãos de feijão guandu, resultando na redução das dimensões características principais, da área superficial e do diâmetro geométrico e aumento da relação superfície-volume, da esfericidade e das circularidades para as projeções sobre a maior e a dimensão característica intermediária.

The production of 'Tahiti' acid lime in Brazil is currently limited to the northeastern and southeastern regions and research is required to identify compatible rootstocks in order to potentiate other producing areas and to meet the needs of the consumer and industrial markets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical characteristics during vegetative growth and the physicochemical attributes and quality of fruit produced by 'Tahiti CNPMF-02' acid lime grafted onto the twelve rootstocks ‘Cravo LCRSC’ and ‘LCR-03’ lime, citrandarins ‘CTRI’ and ‘CTRSD’, citrumelo ‘CTSW’, ‘Pear HTR-069’ orange, ‘Volkamer LVK×LCR- 038’ lemon, and ‘Sunki TSKC×CTSW-028', ‘TSKC×CTSW-041', ‘TSKC×(LCR×TR)-059', ‘TSKC×TRFD-003' and ‘TSKT’ tangerine. The randomized experimental design included 12 treatments with four repetitions and five plants per plot. The characteristics of the grafted plants were evaluated during vegetative growth at 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 years of age, while fruit quality was assessed at maturity. All tested rootstocks were compatible with the scion 'Tahiti CNPMF 02' acid lime cultivated under the climate and soil conditions in the north of Mato Grosso state. The rootstocks ‘LCR-003', ‘CTRI’, ‘CTRSD’, ‘CTSW’ and ‘TSKC×CTSW-028' induced the greatest vertical growth, trunk diameter, crown volume and vigor in the grafted plants. The physicochemical characteristics and quality of the fruit produced by grafted plants of 'Tahiti CNPMF 02' acid lime met market expectations, except for the parameter total titratable acidity. The fruits produced by 'Tahiti CNPMF 02' acid lime grafted onto ‘CTRSD’, ‘TSKC×(LCR×TR)-059’, ‘LCR-003’, ‘TSKC×CTSW-041’, ‘TSKC×TRFD-003’, ‘LVK×LCR-038’ and ‘CTRI’ were the largest in terms of length and mass.

Integrated crop-livestock-forest (ICLF) systems involve intercropping of various crops to achieve beneficial and synergistic outcomes, enhancing both economic viability and environmental sustainability. Considering the complexity of integrated agrosystems and the economic importance of soybean production in Brazil, we aimed to investigate the effects of two ICLF systems on the physical characteristics and quality of soybeans produced. The treatments comprised plots (two ha) with either single-row (ICLFS) or triple-row (ICLFT), tree configurations intercropped with soybean (maize and forage grass), and control plots (one ha), whose crops were cultivated under full sunlight (CFS). Soybeans were harvested from plants located at 3, 6, 10 and 15 m from tree bands in the north and south faces of the ICLF systems and at random positions in the CFS plots. The moisture content, electrical conductivity of the exudate solution, hue angle and chroma index of grains harvested from ICLFS and ICLFT were similar to those of CFS-grown soybeans. However, the mass of 1000 grains and the bulk density values of ICLF-grown soybeans were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those of grains harvested from CFS plots. We conclude that the quality of soybean seeds was not negatively affected by the conditions prevailing in the ICLF systems. Moreover, it appears that the forest component contributed positively to the ecosystem by providing a favorable microclimate for the development of soybean grains. Integrated crop-livestock-forest (ICLF) systems involve intercropping of various crops to achieve beneficial and synergistic outcomes, enhancing both economic viability and environmental sustainability. Considering the complexity of integrated agrosystems and the economic importance of soybean production in Brazil, we aimed to investigate the effects of two ICLF systems on the physical characteristics and quality of soybeans produced. The treatments comprised plots (two ha) with either single-row (ICLFS) or triple-row (ICLFT), tree configurations intercropped with soybean (maize and forage grass), and control plots (one ha), whose crops were cultivated under full sunlight (CFS). Soybeans were harvested from plants located at 3, 6, 10 and 15 m from tree bands in the north and south faces of the ICLF systems and at random positions in the CFS plots. The moisture content, electrical conductivity of the exudate solution, hue angle and chroma index of grains harvested from ICLFS and ICLFT were similar to those of CFS-grown soybeans. However, the mass of 1000 grains and the bulk density values of ICLF-grown soybeans were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those of grains harvested from CFS plots. We conclude that the quality of soybean seeds was not negatively affected by the conditions prevailing in the ICLF systems. Moreover, it appears that the forest component contributed positively to the ecosystem by providing a favorable microclimate for the development of soybean grains.

Visando aumentar a janela de plantio da segunda safra, a aplicação de herbicida dessecante na lavoura de soja antes da maturação fisiológica dos grãos tem sido prática comum no médio norte de Mato Grosso, por parte dos produtores. Assim, objetivou-se, por meio deste trabalho, avaliar o efeito da aplicação de dessecante em diferentes estádios fenológicos da lavoura de soja nos aspectos físicos e químicos dos grãos, em Sinop-MT, durante a safra da soja 2018/19. As cultivares BRS 7980 e M 8372 IPRO foram dessecadas em cinco estádios fenológicos distintos (R5.5, R6, R7.1, R7.3, R8.1). Após a colheita, os grãos foram secos, limpos e classificados. Em seguida, determinou-se a massa específica aparente, a massa de mil grãos e os componentes de composição centesimal (fibra bruta, extrato etéreo, proteína, cinzas, carboidrato e água). A antecipação da dessecação reduziu a massa de mil grãos, aumentou a massa específica aparente e diminuiu a quantidade de óleo nos grãos. A aplicação do herbicida dessecante no estádio recomendado reduziu as injúrias causadas por patógenos nos grãos de soja das duas cultivares.

Tomato production has been enhanced significantly by management using intervention of temperature and radiation control in a protected environment. The use of plastic and/or polycarbonate covers changes the dynamics of production in tropical climate regions. The present study aimed to compare the following covered cultivation conditions: 1) polycarbonate plate (10 mm) box-shaped polycarbonate with a twin wall with anti UV-A and B (P), 2) agricultural film (AF) anti UV-A and UV-B, and 3) open field (OF) on the productivity and quality of Italian hybrid tomatoes. The study was carried out at Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril located in Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Four tomato hybrids and 03 distinct environments were used in a randomized block design in a subplot setup with five replications. The main factor was hybrid traits, and the subplots were environments with different covers. The highest productivity occurred in the P environment, with the hybrids Fascinio and Vedette with 66.64 and 55.84 t ha-1, respectively. The highest plant yield obtained was in the P environment, with an average of 3.15 kg per plant. Among the evaluated hybrids, the highest antioxidant potential was observed in Shanty, and for the content of carotenoids, lycopene, and vitamin C, no significant difference was observed between the evaluated hybrids. We can conclude that the use of polycarbonate plates box shaped with a twinwall or agricultural film in a protected tomato cultivation system under high temperature conditions increases the yield and qualitative potential of the Fascinio and Vedette hybrids.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade dos frutos de plátano, cultivar D’Angola, produzidos em consórcio com espécies arbóreas e em diferentes densidades de plantio. Para isso, o experimento foi delineado em faixas com quatro arranjos silvibananeiros, sendo: plátano (Musa spp. L.) com eucalipto Urocam VM01 (Eucalyptus urophyla S.T. Blake x E. camaldulensis Dehnh.); plátano com casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia L.); plátano com taxi-branco (Tachigali vulgaris L.F. Gomes da Silva & H.C. Lima) e plátano com acácia (Acacia mangium Willd.). Em cada faixa foram distribuídas ao acaso três densidades de plantio de plátano, sendo: 1.250, 833 e 650 plantas/ha, constituído o tratamento secundário. O plantio solteiro (monocultura) de plátano cv. D’Angola, foi utilizado como testemunha no espaçamento 4,5 m x 2,0 m x 1,6 m (1.923 plantas/ha). Avaliaram-se os seguintes aspectos físicos e físico-químicos dos frutos: massa do buquê, massa do fruto, massa da polpa, comprimento do fruto, diâmetro do fruto, diâmetro da polpa, relação polpa/casca, rendimento da polpa, firmeza da polpa, espessura da casca, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez total titulável (ATT) e relação SST/ATT (ratio). Concluiu-se que o plátano produzido no sistema silvibananeiro apresenta menor massa e comprimento do fruto, quando comparado com o cultivo solteiro. Por outro lado, os frutos atenderam o padrão de qualidade para comercialização, independente da espécie arbórea utilizada no sistema. A densidade de plantio não surtiu efeito na qualidade dos frutos de plátano cv. D’Angola.

Climatic conditions in the mid-northern region of Mato Grosso State in Brazil are favorable for beekeeping. However, since 2011, the honey production chain has suffered losses because the production of off-odor honey has made it impossible to market the honey. Reports from beekeepers indicated a relationship between the off-odor in the honey and the nectar of Borreria verticillata (L.) G. Mey (Rubiaceae). In this study, the botanical origins and volatile profiles of ten off-odor honeys (H1-H10) and flowers of B. verticillata were evaluated. Palynological and sensorial analyses of the honeys were performed; a scale from 1 to 4 was applied for the sensorial analysis, in which 1 indicates no off-odor and 4 indicates extreme off-odor. Analysis of volatile was performed by using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy methods. The honeys investigated were classified with very high to intense off-odors, except H4 and H5, which did not differ from the control honey (no off-odor). Palynological analyses showed that honeys H1-H4, H7, and H9 were monofloral from B. verticillata, whereas in H5, H6, H8, and H10 this pollen were accessory. However, there was no quantitative correlation between the B. verticillata pollen content and the off-odor attributes of the honeys. Skatole was identified in all of the honeys except H4, H5, and the control honeys, suggesting that skatole contributed to the off-odor attributes of the products. However, further studies are required to investigate the origin of the skatole because it is not transferred directly from B. verticillata flowers to the honey.