scholarly journals Oilseeds from a Brazilian Semi-Arid Region: Edible Potential Regarding the Mineral Composition

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivone M. C. Almeida ◽  
M. Teresa Oliva-Teles ◽  
Rita C. Alves ◽  
Joana Santos ◽  
Roberta S. Pinho ◽  
...  

Oilseeds from five native plant species with edible potential from the Brazilian Caatinga semi-arid region (Diplopterys pubipetala, Barnebya harleyi, Croton adamantinus, Hippocratea volubilis, and Couroupita guianensis) were investigated regarding their mineral contents. The minerals, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Cr, Al, were analyzed by high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR–CS AAS) and P by the vanadomolybdophosphoric acid colorimetric method. K, Mg, and P were the main elements found (1.62–3.7 mg/g, 362–586 µg/g, and 224–499 µg/g dry weight (dw), respectively). B. harley seeds contained the highest amounts of K and P, while C. guianensis seeds were the richest in Mg. Fe was the most abundant oligoelement (2.3–25.6 µg/g dw). Cr contents were below the limit of quantification for all samples and Al amounts were low: 0.04–1.80 µg/g dw. A linear discriminant analysis clearly differentiated B. harleyi and C. guianensis samples from the remaining ones. In sum, these oilseeds from the Brazilian Caatinga semi-arid region seem to have the potential to be used as natural sources of minerals, mainly K.

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-407
Author(s):  
Lady Daiane Costa de Sousa ◽  
Kelem Silva Fonseca ◽  
Luzia Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Thieres George Freire da Silva ◽  
Lucas Vinicius Pierre de Andrada ◽  
...  

Abstract Cultivation conditions are determining factors that affect the quality of cut flowers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vegetative growth, flowering and vase life of commercial gladiolus cultivars under different shading conditions in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Two cultivars of gladiolus (Jester and Rose Friendship) were grown under two conditions: full sun and 70% shade. Biometrics were evaluated 60 days after planting and the growth rate of the crop was evaluated at 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 days for the variables: number of tillers, stem diameter, number of leaves and plant height. After 45 days, the fresh weight, dry weight and total relative water content of the area and root parts of the plants were evaluated. After the harvest, the stems were kept at a temperature of 22±3 °C and relative humidity (RH) of 60%. Visual assessment, pH of the solution, variation in the volume of water and loss of fresh mass were measured every two days. Cultivation with 70% shading resulted in greater accumulation of biomass in the aerial part of gladiolus plants, greater neck diameter and height. The Rose Friendship cultivar underwent a greater translocation of dry matter to the aerial part of the plants, resulting in greater height. On the other hand, the gladiolus stems from cultivation under full sun conditions resulted in longer vase life, 10 days under conservation conditions at 22±3 °C and RH 60%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (17) ◽  
pp. 1127-1138
Author(s):  
Eduardo Uchôa Guerra Barbosa ◽  
José Ribamar Farias Lima ◽  
Camilla Marques de Lucena Lucena ◽  
Thamires Kelly Nunes Carvalho ◽  
João Alberto Lins Filho ◽  
...  

The climate change expected for the coming decades it is expected an increase in the number of semi-arid regions worldwide and the frequency of climatic extremes. When climatic changes such as those expected for semi-arid regions occur in a conflict environment with no resilience structure, they can influence how factors that affect the environmental structure may also affect the social structure. To identify how the traditional use of native plant species can be influenced by a change in their availability in a certain area, 26 residents in the semi-arid region, were interviewed. Then, a Use Preference Pressure Index (UPPI) was applied to identify the most used species in the rural community of Santa Rita, located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil. Sixteen species, classified into nine categories of use, were identified. The species with the highest use preference were sampling through damage analysis, identifying the types of extraction related to the categories used to determine the most worrying issues. The used species also had high potential for other medicinal purposes. The current uses recorded in Santa Rita showed a high potential for adaptation to landscape changes toward the reduction of vegetation loss impacts, as a response to climatic variability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson Freitas De Menezes Fortes ◽  
Hozano De Souza Lemos Neto ◽  
Marcelo De Almeida Guimarães ◽  
Italo Marlone Gomes Sampaio ◽  
Francisco Gilcivan Moreira Silva

Lettuce is the most-produced leafy vegetable in Brazil; however, to achieve satisfactory production in the different regions, it is necessary to choose the correct cultivar. The aim of this work was to evaluate the productive and physiological performance of lettuce cultivars in a hydroponic system located in Caucaia, in the state of Ceará. A completely randomised design was used, with four cultivars (Isabela, Vanda, Elba and Summer Crisp) and four replications. The following were evaluated: plant height and diameter (PH and PD), total fresh and dry weight (TFW and TDW), commercial fresh weight (CFW), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis (A), ratio between internal and external CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca), and transpiration (E). Differences were seen between cultivars in the production and physiological characteristics, except for Ci and Ci/Ca. The ‘Elba’ and ‘Summer Crisp’ cultivars were the first to show signs of bolting (32 and 36 days) and greater height, 38.7 and 31.8 cm respectively. The ‘Isabela’ and ‘Vanda’ cultivars obtained the greatest values for CFW (43.5 and 41.13 g) and TFW (49.38 and 46.46 g). In relation to physiological performance, the ‘Isabela’ and ‘Summer Crisp’ cultivars presented the most photosynthesis. The ‘Isabela’ cultivar had the best productive and physiological performance, in addition to being the only cultivar that presented no signs of bolting, and is therefore strongly suggested for hydroponic production under the conditions of this study.


Author(s):  
Takoua Ben Hlel ◽  
Feten Belhadj ◽  
Fatih Gül ◽  
Muhammed Altun ◽  
Ayşe Şahin Yağlıoğlu ◽  
...  

Background:: Luffa cylindrica is a plant that is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and it can be grown in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Few patents dealt with Loofah biological properties, including some functional foods formulated from its leaves. Objective:: This study aimed to structurally and functionally characterize the bioactive compounds of L. cylindrica leaves grown in two different environments. Methods:: The extracts of L. cylindrica leaves collected from two Tunisian locations: Essouasi (LE), a semi-arid region and Medenine (LM) an arid region, were investigated for their phenolic compounds and fatty acids using HPLC/TOF-MS and GCMS techniques respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated with DPPH, Chelating effect, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging activities while the anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines was assessed using xCELLigence real time cell analyzer and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Results:: The antiproliferative capacity of both extracts was time and dose-dependent with LE presenting the lowest HeLa cell index (CI = 0.035 ± 0.018, 250 μg/ml). LE also showed the best cytotoxic capacity (56.49 ± 0.8%) and antioxidant potential (IC50 = 54.41 ± 1.12 μg/ml for DPPH and 12.12 ± 0.07 μg/ml for chelating effet). 14 phenolic compounds were detected in LE with ferulic acid being the major compound (5128.5 ± 4.09 μg Phenols/g) while LM had only 6 phenolics. GCMS analysis showed the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in LE. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that L. cylindrica leaves, especially when collected from semi-arid regions, are promising for formulating nutraceuticals of interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. e00367
Author(s):  
Patrick Filippi ◽  
Stephen R. Cattle ◽  
Matthew J. Pringle ◽  
Thomas F.A. Bishop

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 927
Author(s):  
Jamshad Hussain ◽  
Tasneem Khaliq ◽  
Muhammad Habib ur Rahman ◽  
Asmat Ullah ◽  
Ishfaq Ahmed ◽  
...  

Rising temperature from climate change is the most threatening factor worldwide for crop production. Sustainable wheat production is a challenge due to climate change and variability, which is ultimately a serious threat to food security in Pakistan. A series of field experiments were conducted during seasons 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 in the semi-arid (Faisalabad) and arid (Layyah) regions of Punjab-Pakistan. Three spring wheat genotypes were evaluated under eleven sowing dates from 16 October to 16 March, with an interval of 14–16 days in the two regions. Data for the model calibration and evaluation were collected from field experiments following the standard procedures and protocols. The grain yield under future climate scenarios was simulated by using a well-calibrated CERES-wheat model included in DSSAT v4.7. Future (2051–2100) and baseline (1980–2015) climatic data were simulated using 29 global circulation models (GCMs) under representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5. These GCMs were distributed among five quadrants of climatic conditions (Hot/Wet, Hot/Dry, Cool/Dry, Cool/Wet, and Middle) by a stretched distribution approach based on temperature and rainfall change. A maximum of ten GCMs predicted the chances of Middle climatic conditions during the second half of the century (2051–2100). The average temperature during the wheat season in a semi-arid region and arid region would increase by 3.52 °C and 3.84 °C, respectively, under Middle climatic conditions using the RCP 8.5 scenario during the second half-century. The simulated grain yield was reduced by 23.5% in the semi-arid region and 35.45% in the arid region under Middle climatic conditions (scenario). Mean seasonal temperature (MST) of sowing dates ranged from 16 to 27.3 °C, while the mean temperature from the heading to maturity (MTHM) stage was varying between 12.9 to 30.4 °C. Coefficients of determination (R2) between wheat morphology parameters and temperature were highly significant, with a range of 0.84–0.96. Impacts of temperature on wheat sown on 15 March were found to be as severe as to exterminate the crop before heading. The spikes and spikelets were not formed under a mean seasonal temperature higher than 25.5 °C. In a nutshell, elevated temperature (3–4 °C) till the end-century can reduce grain yield by about 30% in semi-arid and arid regions of Pakistan. These findings are crucial for growers and especially for policymakers to decide on sustainable wheat production for food security in the region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 780 ◽  
pp. 146500
Author(s):  
Ajit T. Singh ◽  
C.M. Laluraj ◽  
Parmanand Sharma ◽  
B.L. Redkar ◽  
Lavkush Kumar Patel ◽  
...  

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