Braian Saimon Frota da Silva

Partial cocoa pulp removal may modify substrate availability and affect microbial and metabolic dynamics during fermentation. This study evaluated the effects of beans with pulp and depulped beans on microbial dynamics and metabolite profiles during on-farm cocoa fermentation. Three treatments were evaluated for 144 h: CT, 100% beans with pulp; TA, 75% beans with pulp and 25% depulped beans; and TB, 50% beans with pulp and 50% depulped beans. Physicochemical parameters, culturable microbial populations, selected microbial isolates, sugars, and organic acids were analyzed throughout fermentation. Partial pulp removal was associated with differences in sugar and organic acid profiles, while temperature, pH, and titratable acidity showed the characteristic temporal progression of cocoa fermentation, with significant differences among treatments and fermentation times. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was frequently identified among selected yeast isolates, whereas Acetobacter sp. and Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus were among the bacterial taxa identified. Exploratory principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses indicated that fermentation time was the main factor associated with sample differentiation, while partial pulp removal showed secondary associations with physicochemical and microbiological profiles. Overall, partial pulp removal was associated with differences in microbial and metabolic profiles, indicating its potential for further investigation as a strategy to modulate cocoa fermentation.

This study assessed the feasibility of incorporating cupuassu pulp and the commercial protease Aspergillus niger prolyl endopeptidase (AN‐PEP) in the production of fruit beer. To preliminarily evaluate the impact of the protease on the beer protein profile, one‐dimensional SDS‐PAGE was employed. The volatile compounds were analyzed using headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME)–GC–MS, whereas physicochemical parameters were evaluated following the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) methods. The band profiles from electrophoresis indicated the degradation of high‐molecular‐weight proteins, such as gluten, in the formulations treated with protease (A1 and A2). In two out of the three formulations, elevated levels of 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, linalool, and 2‐phenylethanol were detected, suggesting that the protease may have played a role in the release of volatile flavor compounds. The beers produced exhibited low alcohol content, ranging from 2.80% to 3.44% (v/v). On the basis of these findings, we conclude that the combination of AN‐PEP and cupuassu pulp is a viable approach to producing fruit beer with a predominantly floral, sweet, and whiskey‐like aroma profile, showing preliminary evidence of degradation of high‐molecular‐weight proteins (including potential gluten fractions) by the action of the protease. Practical Applications: The results obtained in this study serve as a foundation for the development of new approaches in the artisanal and sustainable production of fruit beer, providing information for the creation of innovative beers with added value, as well as promoting and valorizing local ingredients for the craft beer sector.

Os Sistemas Agroflorestais com Cacau (SFACs) e vegetações secundárias (VS) amazônicas desempenham papel crucial na recuperação de solos degradados por meio da biomassa microbiana do solo (BMS), que regula a ciclagem de nutrientes e a qualidade biológica. O objetivo foi avaliar a BMS, por via carbono microbiano (MBC), nitrogênio microbiano (MBN) e razão C:Nmic, como indicador da qualidade biológica em SAFCs de diferentes idades e VS em estágios sucessionais distintos, no estado do Pará. Amostras de solo coletadas em quatro profundidades foram analisadas quanto a textura, pH e BMS (por irradiação- extração), com testes univariadas, correlação de Spearman e Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA). O uso do solo influenciou significativamente MBC e MBN (ρ ≤ 0,05), com valores máximos de 1.885,24 ±393,49 mg C kg⁻¹ para MBC e 48,46 ± 1,96 mg N kg⁻¹ para MBN. SAFCs mais antigos e VS na fase de estabilização apresentaram maiores teores, especialmente em solos mais argilosos com pH elevado. A razão C:Nmic variou de 5,52 ±0,14 a 104,22 ±22,90, refletindo diferenças na qualidade da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) e eficiência microbiana. A PCA revelou separações edáficas claras entre regiões, associando maiores MBC e MBN a texturas argilosas. Conclui-se que SAFCs orgânicos bem manejados e maduros podem igualar ou superar a qualidade biológica de VS avançadas, sendo MBC, MBN e C:Nmic indicadores sensíveis e eficazes para monitorar trajetórias sucessionais e orientar estratégias de manejo e restauração dos solos amazônicos.

This study evaluated the impact of different fermentation boxes on the nutritional and antioxidant composition of dried lowland cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.), a characteristic product of some producers in the Amazon region. The analysis included ash content, moisture content, pH, titratable acidity, proteins, lipids, flavonoids, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP), and mineral composition. Four types of fermentation boxes were assessed: a projected hexagonal box (PHB), square box (SB), basket (HP), and local square box (LSB). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Tukey’s test, and Fisher’s LSD test to compare mean differences, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified key contributors, including potassium and magnesium. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between soil and almond nutrient profiles. The HP bed exhibited superior phenolic concentration, antioxidant activity, centesimal composition, and potassium and magnesium content. Despite its shorter fermentation period, the LSB bed met quality standards, while the PHB and SB showed intermediate results. Mineral analysis confirmed no toxicological risks, suggesting the beans are safe and enriched with floodplain minerals. These findings emphasize the importance of fermentation methods in determining cocoa bean quality and provide a framework for optimizing processes to enhance their nutritional and functional properties.

Macrofungi are key decomposers of organic matter and play an active role in biogeochemical cycles, thereby contributing to carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. Floodplain forests (várzeas) are characterized by the dynamics of rising and receding waters, which are rich in suspended material and influence species variation and adaptation. The knowledge about the distribution of macrofungi in várzea environments in the Brazilian Amazon is limited. This study aims to evaluate the diversity and composition of macrofungi on three várzea forest islands, while also examining differences in species richness and abundance between seasonal periods. A total of 88 macrofungal species that belong to the phylum Basidiomycota were identified. The findings revealed significant variations in species composition, yet no notable differences in species richness or abundance were observed between the seasonal periods. The environmental conditions and resources available to macrofungi appear to be consistent among the islands, which leads to a balanced diversity. However, additional research is essential to uncover the true distribution patterns of macrofungi in the várzeas of the Brazilian Amazon, an area under significant threat to its biodiversity.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of chemometric tools associated with mid-infrared waves (ATR-MIR-FTIR) to determine the acidity index (AI) of Mauritia flexuosa oil extracted from plants from different locations. Thirty oil samples were collected in five municipalities of the state of Pará, Brazil. The principal component analysis, combined with Hotelling’s T² multivariate control test, was used to identify anomalous samples from the spectra. The ATR-MIR-FTIR analysis showed that the oil contains mainly monounsaturated acids, including oleic acid, which is directly correlated with AI. The first two principal components explained 99.93% of the cumulative variance. The statistical methods identified patterns of similarities between the samples with a close AI and tested an outlier from the sample with the highest AI. The application of ATR-MIR-FTIR, associated with chemometric methods, is appropriate to evaluate the acidity of buriti palm oil samples.

Brazil nut oil is highly valued in the food, cosmetic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as other sectors of the economy. This work aims to use the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique associated with partial least squares regression (PLSR) and principal component analysis (PCA) to demonstrate that these methods can be used in a prior and rapid analysis in quality control. Natural oils were extracted and stored for chemical analysis. PCA presented two groups regarding the state of degradation, subdivided into super-degraded and partially degraded groups in 99.88% of the explained variance. The applied PLS reported an acidity index (AI) prediction model with root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) = 1.8564, root mean square error of cross-validation (REMSECV) = 4.2641, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 2.1491, R²_cal (calibration correlation coefficient) equal to 0.9679, R²_val (validation correlation coefficient) equal to 0.8474, and R²_pred (prediction correlation coefficient) equal to 0, 8468. The peroxide index (PI) prediction model showed RMSEC = 0.0005, REMSECV = 0.0016, RMSEP = 0.00079, calibration R² equal to 0.9670, cross-validation R² equal to 0.7149, and R² of prediction equal to 0.9099. The physical–chemical analyses identified that five samples fit in the food sector and the others fit in other sectors of the economy. In this way, the preliminary monitoring of the state of degradation was reported, and the prediction models of the peroxide and acidity indexes in Brazil nut oil for quality control were determined.

O objetivo deste artigo é relatar as experiências vivenciadas durante as atividades de educação sanitária e ambiental, desenvolvidas na comunidade de Campompema, região insular do município de Abaetetuba, no estado do Pará, em virtude das instalações do sistema de abastecimento com água da chuva. Como método de intervenção, foram utilizadas técnicas de dinâmicas em grupo. Posteriormente, ocorreram os registros das ações de educação sanitária e ambiental, as quais nortearam, principalmente, os cuidados com o manejo sustentável da água para o consumo humano. É possível constatar que a intervenção realizada possibilitou um espaço de acolhimento e de troca de vivências sobre os cuidados com a água. Também se refletiu acerca do modo de vida dos moradores da comunidade de Campompema. Após a realização de devidas técnicas em educação sanitária e ambiental a partir de metodologias ativas foi percebida a necessidade da continuidade do trabalho junto as famílias que receberam os sistemas de captação e armazenamento de água de chuva. Desta maneira, são necessários mais encontros para obter as mudanças esperadas em detrimento ao manejo da tecnologia social, a fim de promover conscientização e sensibilização da gestão socioambiental dos usos múltiplos da água.