Ana Cecília Ribeiro de Castro

The objective of this work was to characterize the physicochemical variability of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nut kernels across 50 accessions of the Brazilian cashew germplasm bank, evaluate the potential of portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to predict quality parameters and identify accessions with superior lipid content. Proximate analyses of moisture, ash, protein, and lipid contents, in addition to fatty acid profiling, revealed a wide genetic variability among the accessions. Lipid content ranged from 38.17 to 47.90%, and protein content from 13.66 to 22.41%, indicating a significant negative correlation between these constituents. Accessions with a high lipid content presented a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (~78%), especially oleic acid (52-56%), evidencing their potential for nutritional and industrial applications. The multivariate regression models based on interval partial least squares applied to NIR spectra of whole kernels showed a satisfactory performance in predicting lipid content. Therefore, portable spectroscopy has potential for rapid phenotyping and high-throughput screening, and accessions with desirable lipid profiles can be used as genetic resources for breeding programs and industrial exploitation.

Grasses are widely used in extensive green roofs due to their ecological performance, yet fire-risk assessments for these systems remain scarce. Understanding species specific flammability is essential because vegetation drying, especially under low irrigation, may increase ignition potential in urban infrastructures. This study evaluated the flammability of native and commercial grass genotypes to identify safer options for green roof applications. The experiment was conducted simulating the conditions of an extensive green roof. Genotypes of Paspalum notatum (BRA006513, BRA019178, BRA023558, and the cultivars Aruaí, Tiriba, and Tuim), Axonopus parodii (cv. Curica), and Zoysia japonica as a reference species were cultivated from seedlings for 365 days. Morphological characteristics, biomass moisture, fire behavior parameters, surface temperatures, and grass plate weight were measured under controlled burning. Species differed significantly in fire behavior. Z. japonica exhibited the highest flame height (65 cm), rate of spread (0.03 m s-1), and fire intensity (24.56 kcal m-1 s-1), whereas BRA023558 showed the lowest susceptibility to fire. Moisture content varied among genotypes but was not correlated with fire parameters. Grass species vary widely in fire behavior parameters. These results support evidence-based plant selection for safer and more resilient urban green infrastructure. Thus, the BRA023558 genotype showed lower susceptibility to fire under burning conditions.

Species of the Anthurium genus are renowned for their ornamental and landscaping potential. Among native Brazilian species, Anthurium affine and Anthurium maricense are particularly suited for indoor cultivation due to their shaded-condition tolerance and slow growth. However, accelerating the production cycle presents a significant challenge for producers. Organic carbon nanoparticle-based biostimulants, such as Carbon Dots, have shown promise by enhancing nutrient uptake, water use efficiency, and plant growth. This study evaluated the effects of a biostimulant nanocomposite (Arbolina®) based on organic carbon nanoparticles on seedlings of A. affine and A. maricense. Seedlings (85 days old) were transplanted and treated with the biostimulant at 60 mg L^-1 concentration via foliar and soil applications, alongside a control group. Biostimulant treatments were applied biweekly for a total of four applications. Plant height and leaf count were measured every 30 days, while fresh weight, leaf area, root volume, and dry weights of leaves and roots were assessed after 96 days of cultivation. Results showed no significant variations in aerial growth parameters; however, soil application significantly increased root volume in both species. In A. affine, differences in root volume were also detected under foliar application. It is concluded that the biostimulant, at the applied concentration, did not accelerate the shoot growth of juvenile seedlings within the experimental period. Nonetheless, soil application was identified as the most effective method for promoting root system development. These findings demonstrate the potential for targeted use of biostimulants to optimize specific growth traits in Anthurium cultivation.

Heliconia cultivation faces challenges due to diseases that lead to depreciation in flower quality, decrease in yield, and increase in management costs. Quality standards require heliconias to be visually attractive and healthy. The primary causes of these diseases include fungi, nematodes, bacteria, and viruses. Fungal diseases are the most prevalent, causing damage to leaves, bracts, and rhizomes. Nematode-induced diseases affect both underground and above-ground plant organs. Among bacterial diseases, wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most damaging to the crop, while viral diseases are relatively rare. Integrated disease management is the best strategy to control diseases in heliconias. This strategy combines preventive, curative, and eradication measures. This study describes the main diseases affecting heliconias, highlighting their primary occurrence sites, host range, as well as the description of disease symptoms and pathogens. Additionally, information on the cycle, epidemiology, and management of the major diseases is provided. The aim is to contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of heliconia cultivation.

Lawns play a key role in enhancing public spaces, preventing soil erosion, and acting as barriers against dust and sludge. In Brazil, Paspalum notatum is widely cultivated for its adaptability to the country’s ecosystems and the availability of native ecotypes. However, soil salinization, a growing ecological concern, can limit lawn growth due to sodium and chloride ion toxicity. This study aimed to identify the most tolerant among five genotypes (Aruaí and Tiriba cultivars, BRA 010006 and BRA 019178 accessions and the commercial species Axonopus fissifolius) subjected to salinity levels (0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m^-1). Analyzed variables included Na and Cl contents in plants, growth parameters (leaf and root dry mass and soil coverage), and morphological symptoms. No significant changes in leaf color or damage compromising aesthetics or functionality at salinity levels from 0.5 to 1.5 dS m^-1, with only occasional yellowing or minor scorch. Higher salinity led to leaf burn and yellowing, particularly in accession BRA 010006 and the control. Sodium and chloride contents, especially sodium, was higher in roots than leaves. Accession BRA 019178, followed by cultivars Aruaí and Tiriba, demonstrated moderate tolerance, maintaining satisfactory soil coverage and dry mass across the tested salinity levels. These findings highlight the importance of selecting native turfgrasses with enhanced salt tolerance for landscaping applications in saline-prone areas.

Sectoral and Thematic Chambers are forums for dialogue created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), through which greater interaction with productive chains is sought, as well as the identification of opportunities and the definition of priority actions for developing Brazilian agriculture. The Thematic Chambers can contribute to the development of agriculture by identifying demands from the productive sector and linking them to proposals for research, development, and innovation by creating innovation agendas. For that, the analysis of productive chains and their practices allows a better understanding of agribusiness, which consequently enables the development of effective strategies to promote the growth and development of a sector. The objective of the agenda in Flower, Turfgrass, and Ornamental Plant is to present an analysis of the main problems and opportunities for innovation in the productive chains. A diagnosis of the current situation focusing on a vision for the future was required to prepare this Innovation Agenda. The methodological approach was divided and conducted through different analyses: a) Analysis of the evolution of the Flower and Ornamental Plant Market; b) Analysis of contributions, impact, and expectations of the links in the production chain; c) Mapping of human capital in Brazilian science with the potential to contribute to technological innovations for the market of flowers, grasses, and ornamental plants. The Innovation Agenda prioritizes the most relevant obstacles, establishes their level of importance, and identifies ten significant Innovation Challenges to be addressed by the public and private sectors of the country. Through the agenda, strategic actions are suggested for research, technology transfer, and public policies, which are essential for the technological development of the sector, without neglecting its socioeconomic and environmental sustainability. For each Innovation Challenge, Strategic Actions were suggested to be pursued, and Brazil has the technical competence distributed across the country, in nationally recognized universities and research institutes and enterprises.

Ensuring the quality attributes of cashew kernels is essential for selecting superior genotypes with agro-industrial potential. Therefore, this study characterized cashew nut accessions from the Cashew Germplasm Bank regarding kernel quality standards and identified genotypes with optimal characteristics for the industry. The characterization included key industrial indicators such as peeling efficiency, average kernel mass, class, type, and industrial yield, evaluated in 47 different accessions. Through multivariate cluster analysis and principal component analysis, the accessions revealed four distinct groups, exposing correlations among various industrial indicators. The analysis revealed a diverse genetic profile within the Cashew Germplasm Bank. A notable finding is that 80.85% of the accessions group together, displaying predominant features—easy peeling, an average mass exceeding 2.5 g, categorized as super large (SLW) and large (LW), and uniformly white-colored kernels. Correlations found include a negative relationship between kernel mass and class and positive associations between class and industrial yield, as well as between industrial yield and peeling efficiency. The study reveals substantial variability in cashew nut germplasm with respect to quality traits, highlighting its invaluable potential for identifying and selecting superior genotypes adapted for agro-industrial purposes. Particularly promising are Group 4 accessions, such as BGC632, BGC589 and BGC127, presenting attributes indicative of high-quality kernels.

Among the species of the Zingiberaceae family, ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is the best known and studied species, with several reported ornamental, medicinal, and culinary properties. Many ornamental species of the genus Zingiber are commonly treated as gingers by analogy. This study provides a list of species of the genus Zingiber, information on synonyms and comments on ornamental aspects.

Brazilian floriculture is driven by novelties, requiring the constant entry of new products into the market. This situation favors Brazil, which has, in its native flora, unique species in the world and with high potential for rational use for commercial purposes. The Brazilian flora with ornamental potential is little explored, and the use of species is restricted and, often, extractive with consequent genetic erosion. The use of native species from different ecosystems may constitute a future alternative of products for Brazilian floriculture. Despite the large amount of plant genetic resources, there are few initiatives for the conservation and domestication of species and improvement for sustainable use. For this reason, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) conserves collections of ornamental plants, and the research initiatives of these collections form the Genetic Resources of Ornamental Plants Project. In addition to conservation, it sought, in partnership with other institutions, the characterization and evaluation of the potential use of these species aiming at the completion of products for floriculture. In this way, the materials already characterized and documented make it possible to add value to genetic resources, already maintained. Currently, Embrapa has six ex situ collections of ornamental plants (Tropical species, Bromeliads, Cactaceae and species from the Pampa Biome, Amazonian Orchids and species from Cerrado) and also counts on the genetic variability of banks of other products (Passion fruit, Pineapple, Paspalum, Pepper, Pumpkin germplasm banks) that have been evaluating accessions, selecting and registering cultivars for ornamental use.

Ana o 3 is an immuno-dominant cashew nut allergen. Four monoclonal antibodies to Ana o 3 (2H5, 6B9C1, 19C9A2, and 5B7F8) were characterized by ELISA and in silico modeling. The 2H5 antibody was the only antibody specific for cashew nut extract. In addition to cashew nut extract, the 6B9C1 and 19C9A2 antibodies recognized pistachio extract, and the 5B7F8 recognized pecan extract. All four antibodies recognized both recombinant Ana o 3.0101 and native Ana o 3. ELISA assays following treatment of purified Ana o 3 with a reducing agent indicated that the 6B9C1 and 19C9A2 antibodies likely recognize conformational epitopes, while the 2H5 and 5B7F8 antibodies likely recognize linear epitopes. In silico modeling predicted distinct epitopes for each of the anti-Ana o 3 antibodies. Screening extracts from 11 Brazilian cashew nut cultivars using all four antibodies showed slight differences in Ana o 3 bindings, demonstrating that these antibodies could identify cultivars with varying allergen content.