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Aim:To isolate and identify the bacteria and fungi associated with the deterioration of Cocoyam with their respective percentage occurrences. Method:CocoyamColocasia esculenta(Taro) corms were obtained from a local barn in Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria and transported aseptically to the laboratory for further microbiological analysis. Sterile knife and forceps were used to obtain spoilt tissues from the cocoyam corms. A portion of the spoilt part of the cocoyam was cut out using the sterile knife and was inoculated into Nutrient agar and MacConkey agar plate for growth of bacteria. Another piece of the cocoyam was placed on potato dextrose agar for growth of fungi. Results:Bacterial isolates such as toEscherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus,Serratia marcescenandBacillus subtiliswere isolated from the samples. While fungi such asAspergillus niger,Aspergillus flavus,Rhizopus stoloniferandRhodotorula sppwere equally isolated.Staphylococcus aureushad highest number of microbial isolate with total number of 8 (19.0%), follow byKlebsiella pneumoniawith microbial isolate of 7 (16.7%),Escherichia coliandAspergillus nigerhad 6 microbial isolate with frequency of (14.3%) each respectively, whileSerratia marcescens,Rhodotorula sppwhileAspergillusflavushad the least microbial isolate of 1 (2.4%). The presence of these organisms are responsible for the deterioration of cocoyam. Conclusion:Microbiological changes takes place during the storage of CocoyamColocasia esculenta(Taro). Therefore, there is need for better processing, handling techniques, good hygiene practices, safety and storage of the finished product. Findings obtained may be useful in the handling and storage of Cocoyam flour.

The development of biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly biomaterials derived from renewable resources is crucial for reducing environmental damage. Agro-industrial waste and rejected food can be polymerized into bioplastics, offering a sustainable solution. Bioplastics find use in various industries, including for food, cosmetics, and the biomedical sector. This research investigated the fabrication and characterization of bioplastics using three types of Honduran agro-wastes: taro, yucca, and banana. The agro-wastes were stabilized and characterized (physicochemically and thermically). Taro flour presented the highest protein content (around 4.7%) and banana flour showed the highest moisture content (around 2%). Furthermore, bioplastics were produced and characterized (mechanically and functionally). Banana bioplastics had the best mechanical properties, with a Young’s modulus around 300 MPa, while taro bioplastics had the highest water-uptake capacity (200%). In general, the results showed the potential of these Honduran agro-wastes for producing bioplastics with different characteristics that could add value to these wastes, promoting the circular economy.

The output of taro in Ethiopia’s main growing regions has recently suffered significantly from Alternaria species infection, both in terms of quantity and quality. In the present study, Alternaria species that cause taro leaf blight were isolated, characterized, and their susceptibility to Trichoderma biocontrol agents and chemical fungicides were assessed under in vitro condition. Using food poisoning procedures and the dual culture method, the isolates’ susceptibility to fungicides and biocontrol agents was examined. The conidial length and breadth of the Alternaria isolates were 26.10–42.50 μm and 10.20–18.50 μm, respectively. The maximum mycelial growth of the isolates was supported by the host leaf extract medium. The pathogenic isolates grew best in optimum growth conditions with an incubation temperature of 25°C and a pH level of 6.5. Even at low doses, sancozeb was more effective than curzate against Alternaria isolates. Additionally, compared to T. harzianum, the biocontrol agent T. viride showed a greater mycelial growth inhibition of the test pathogen. This suggests that Alternaria isolates that cause taro leaf blight are susceptible to biocontrol agents. Therefore, it was advised that Trichoderma species be tested for effectiveness against the test pathogens in both greenhouse and field conditions.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCN) has become the technique of choice for the treatment of large stones larger than 2 cm or after failure of other techniques. Thus, its unilateral performance has become a routine technique, but bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy in one stage is not common practice. This therapeutic option appears attractive in patients at high risk of recurrence and unable to tolerate a two-stage PCN, however it must be performed in expert reference centers. The objective of our study is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and morbidity of concomitant bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy and to compare the results of our series with those of an extensive and recent review of the literature. This is a retrospective study including 20 cases of concomitant bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy performed between January 2011 and January 2023. The mean age was 47.4 years. These were 14 men and 6 women, all had bilateral kidney stones. The mean stone size was 28.8 cm, of which 11 were coralliform. We obtained a good result (Stone-free) in 17 patients with an average duration of 130 min, the residual stones required additional treatment in 3 cases by extracorporeal lithotripsy (ECL).the main complications encountered were hemorrhagic (1 case) and infectious (2 cases), the renal function is unchanged in the end. The results of our series are consistent with those of the literature with a success rate of 85% without residual fragments greater than 4 mm.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott, Araceae), an ancient root and tuber crop, is highly polygenic, polyphyletic, and polygeographic in nature, which leads to its rapid genetic erosion. To prevent the perceived loss of taro diversity, species discrimination and genetic conservation of promising taro genotypes need special attention. Reports on genetic discrimination of taro at its center of origin are still untapped. We performed DNA barcoding of twenty promising genotypes of taro indigenous to the northeastern hill region of India, deploying two chloroplast-plastid genes, matK and rbcL, and the ribosomal nuclear gene ITS2. The secondary structure of ITS2 was determined and molecular phylogeny was performed to assess genetic discrimination among the taro genotypes. The matK and rbcL genes were highly efficient (>90%) in amplification and sequencing. However, the ITS2 barcode region achieved significant discrimination among the tested taro genotypes. All the taro genotypes displayed most similar sequences at the conserved matK and rbcL loci. However, distinct sequence lengths were observed in the ITS2 barcode region, revealing accurate discriminations among the genotypes. Multiple barcode markers are unrelated to one another and change independently, providing different estimations of heritable traits and genetic lineages; thus, they are advantageous over a single locus in genetic discrimination studies. A dynamic programming algorithm that used base-pairing interactions within a single nucleic acid polymer or between two polymers transformed the secondary structures into the symbol code data to predict seven different minimum free energy secondary structures. Our analysis strengthens the potential of the ITS2 gene as a potent DNA barcode candidate in the prediction of a valuable secondary structure that would help in genetic discrimination between the genotypes while augmenting future breeding strategies in taro.

A three – year field study was carried out in 2015, 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Eastern Research Station, Okwuta in Umuahia South Local Government of Abia State to evaluate the responses of growth, yield and disease assessment indices of taro (NCe 003) leaf blight to various combinations of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer. The experiment was factorial laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Factor A was poultry manure which consisted of three levels of 0, 5 and 10 t ha-1 while factor B was NPK 20: 10: 10 fertilizer and comprised also three levels of 0, 300 and 600 kg ha-1 to get nine treatment combinations. Data were taken on the following crop attributes: Leaf area/plant, leaf area index/plant, dry matter yield, harvest index/plot and assessment of cocoyam disease/plot. Results obtained showed that response to integrated nutrient management was statistically the same for most of the measured attributes. However, the interaction between 600 kg ha-1 fertilizer x 5 t ha-1 PM gave the highest significant difference (p≤0.05) on the leaf area (261.80 m2) at 16th week after planting (WAP) in 2017 cropping season. In 2016, the residual effect of poultry manure significantly (p≤0.05) increased the corm dry matter production (26.89 g) and harvest index (77 %) from the plots that received 10 t ha-1 poultry manure in 2015.Conclusively, this study shows that application of 10 t ha-1 poultry manure which significantly affected leaf area index (LAI), increased dry matter yield (DMY) and harvest index (HI) of taro which are good descriptors for assessing crop yield.

The progress in next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed the discovery and development of microsatellite markers, particularly for understudied species. In this study, one of the NGS platforms adopted was restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to identify and develop microsatellite markers for taro. A total of 8,490,604 clean reads were generated and assembled into 222,445 contigs with only 3,280 contigs found to contain a total of 3454 repeats. From this total, only 1,790 repeats were successfully designed as a flanking primer, and 14 microsatellites were selected at random for cultivar identification of Malaysian taro. The analysis of 14 novel simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers only showed that twelve SSR markers were polymorphic with the remaining two SSR markers, CesSSR9 and CesSSR11, monomorphic. The analysis of polymorphic SSR markers revealed the presence of 50 alleles ranging between two (CesSSR5) and seven (CesSSR13) having an average of 4.17 alleles per locus. The values of the polymorphic information content ranged from 0.05 (CesSSR5) to 0.59 (CesSSR7) with an average of 0.33 per locus. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram showed that cultivar MINYAK was unable to be differentiated from cultivar PUTIH. As such, these newly developed microsatellite markers will provide a tool for molecular identification in taro and provide necessary information for future biodiversity conservation and gene bank management of taro.

Taro and new cocoyam are root and leaf crops commonly grown in tropical to warm temperate regions. In Togo, they are neglected and underutilised. Here we report the genetic diversity of 26 accessions of taro and 101 accessions of new cocoyam. Analysis of simple sequence repeats revealed low polymorphic information content of 0.43 and 0.25 in taro and new cocoyam, respectively. PCA scatterplots and Neighbour Joining dendrograms based on the SSR data clustered accessions into groups that more-or-less correspond to morphological diversity in both species. AMOVA within and between morphological groups revealed greater variances within groups than between. This indicates weak genetic differentiation between morphological groups, particularly for taro. Genetic diversity was greater among taro cultivars. Taro has a longer history of introduction and dispersal in Africa, and has had more opportunity for multiple introduction and local cultivar development. Different strategies are suggested for future development of these crops in Togo and Africa. For taro, further studies of existing diversity and recent experimental introduction, has spread widely in Africa with little genetic diversity. For this crop, international collaboration is needed to clarify taxonomy, and to introduced further cultivars for evaluation under local conditions in Africa.

Background Many plant species worldwide cultivated for food have been neglected and are being underutilized despite their crucial contributions to food security, nutrition and income generation to rural citizens, leading to a nearly permanent diet deficiency. Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), an important food crop in the family Araceae, is one of the neglected species. This study therefore focused on identifying potential challenges mitigating taro production and utilization in taro-producing areas of Ghana and to formulate recommendations for overall increased production and utilization of the crop. The study was conducted in Ahanta West Municipal, Dormaa Municipal, Kumasi Metropolitan and East Akim Municipal in the Western, Bono, Ashanti and Eastern Regions of Ghana, respectively. These districts were ever known for taro production in Ghana. Well-structured questionnaires were used to collect information on ethnobotany of taro, possible causes of taro endangerment and remedies to combat them from farmers, traders and consumers. Results The survey revealed different vernacular names for taro, and the corm was the main part used as food. The corms were usually boiled before eaten. Major recipes of taro identified were “Puree and Ampesi.” The study revealed that taro was mainly cultivated on marginal soils as well as near water bodies. Taro was largely cultivated on subsistence scale. The study also revealed that utilization as food and tool of trade has reduced drastically. Major causes of taro extinction reported included: lack of healthy planting materials, unavailability of consumable corms and disease [Taro leaf blight disease(TLBD)] of the crop. Conclusion It was suggested that the release of cultivars which are resistant to the TLBD and publication of the nutritional benefits of the crop could revive the cultivation and utilization of the crop.

Societal Impact Statement Using Taro (Colocasia esculenta) as a case study, we examine how perception gaps contribute to negative feedback loops that create or maintain the orphan status of certain crops. For students and researchers seeking uncrowded areas for study, orphan crops and crop‐wild‐relatives offer large open spaces, figuratively and literally. Learning how to see what has not been seen may in turn help us to reduce our global dependence on very few crops, and the risks that follow from this. The combination of climate change and variability and increasing population has painted a dark picture of future food security for many regions in the world where resources are scarce. The key to future food and nutrition security may very well lie in unlocking the untapped potential of orphan and overlooked crops. Summary The present distribution of taro (Colocasia esculenta), as a cultivated food plant, extends from southern to northern Africa, western Asia to eastern Asia, throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, and through the Americas, from the USA to Brazil. Despite its vast geographical range, high nutritional value, and considerable trade as a fresh and processed crop, there has been relatively little interest in taro and its wild relatives among research funding agencies, and little effective or large‐scale assessment of production, trade and usage. Given the proven ability of this crop to grow under diverse climatic regimes, from the equatorial tropics to northern and southern temperate zones it may be useful to consider perception gaps that contribute to disregard of the crop. Here we suggest and discuss a range of perception gaps that together may explain the status of taro as an orphan crop. Perception gaps exist because of many factors: dogma, linguistic diversity, social biases, under‐research, limited physical visibility of living wild populations, poor archaeological visibility, missing production numbers and inaccurate distribution maps. These contributing factors are shared, to lesser or greater extent, by many other orphan crops, but the disjunction between actual utilization (significant) and research effort (minimal) may be greater for taro than for most other “orphans”.

Taro is a plant widely produced in tropical areas for its underground corms and it is used mainly as a vegetable. Its physicochemical, sensory properties and health benefits led to its use in value-added products. The cake is a high value-added bakery product and it needs a lower amount of gluten protein, therefore, taro flour (TF) was supplemented in wheat flour (WF) at different levels (10, 20, 30 and 40%). In connection with this, the incorporation of taro flour into wheat-based products has been reported to increase their nutritional and textural quality. The taro-supplemented cake showed higher mineral and fiber content, however, reduced caloric value. It was observed that taro supplementation reduced gluten and protein content and had higher oil and water binding capacity, therefore suitable for cake preparation. Taro cake had improved texture and sensory characteristics in comparison to wheat cake. It can be concluded that addition of taro for cake preparation improves nutrition and quality characteristics, therefore, it can be recommended to use taro for cake preparation.

This work aims to analyze the discourse of tarot readers and consultants, about the use of Tarot as an Integrative and Complementary Practice and the extrasensory presence in the game as a possible intuitive factor. In dialogue with authors in the field, we present the contradictory history of the origin of the Tarot and its symbology. The trajectory of the cards, as a simple entertainment game to the path of divination, as well as the history of the Tarot de Marseille. We carried out a bibliographic survey of the relationship between Jung's concepts: Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious with the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot and their relationship with the Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICS). We contextualize the Integrative and Complementary Practices, with points about their historical trajectory and the arrival of Tarot in Brazil. We used discourse analysis as a methodology, for a better understanding of the speeches of three tarot readers and six consultants, in places of service, in the city of João Pessoa, who use or not, the Tarot as an Integrative and Complementary Practice. Nenhuma Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o discurso de tarólogos e consulentes, acerca da utilização do Tarô como Prática Integrativa e Complementar e a presença extrassensorial no jogo como possível fator intuitivo. Dialogando com autores da área, apresentamos a contraditória história da origem do Tarô e simbologia. A trajetória das cartas, como simples jogo de entretenimento até o caminho da adivinhação, como ainda, a história do Tarô de Marselha. Realizamos um levantamento bibliográfico da relação dos conceitos de Jung: Arquétipos e Inconsciente Coletivo com os 22 Arcanos Maiores do Tarô e a sua relação com as Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PICS). Contextualizamos as Práticas Integrativas e Complementares, com pontos acerca de sua trajetória histórica e a chegada do Tarô no Brasil. Utilizamos como metodologia a análise do discurso, para uma melhor compreensão das falas de três tarólogos e seis consulentes, em locais de atendimento, na cidade de João Pessoa, que utilizam ou não, o Tarô como Prática Integrativa e Complementar.

One of the processed milk products is Ultra Taro UHT milk. The aim of this research was to analyze Ultra Taro UHT milk’s importance level of attributes and combinations of the attributes which are preferred based on consumer preferences. This study was quantitative correlational using a questionnaire with a full profile presentation method. The study was conducted for one month, with 60 respondents determined by the purposive sampling method. Data was processed using the conjoint method. In this research, 4 product attributes were used, there are flavor with 3 levels, volume with 3 levels, fat content with 2 levels, and type of packaging with 2 levels. The results showed the level of importance value, attribute flavor with a relative value of 34.44%, volume and packaging types have similar relative value of 27.79%, and fat content with a relative value of 9.97%. The combination of attributes favored by consumers was the fifth stimuli with a total use value of 3.8283 consisting of taro balanced milk flavor attributes, 200 ml volume contents, low fat, and tetra pack packaging types. The results of the conjoint have significant correlation with the opinion of respondents with a positive Kendall Tau correlation value of 0.889.

Estimation of leaf area by using leaf length and leaf width variables could be done without destruction of the leaves from plants and more practical than using the leaf areameter. Surface area is a function of the variable length and width, so the leaf area can be measured based on leaf length and leaf width variables. The purpose of this research is to get the leaf area estimator model with nondestructive method. Taro plants were observed by using 12 accessions/varieties taken from the germplasm collection in Gene Bank Collection of ICABIOGRAD, IAARD. Observations of the length, width, and area of leaf were carried out on 1012 leaf samples for each accession/variety from taro cultivation which was about 4 months old. The length (P), width (L), and area (Y) of each taro leaf were measured. The estimation of taro leaves area by regression equation was analyzed by using one (P or L) and two (P and L) independent variables. Estimation using two variables, leaf length and width, is better than only use one variable. Taro leaf area (Y) of each leaf can be determined by the equation Y = 0.9462 P x L for ratio of P/L less than 1.10, Y = 0.9109 P x L for ratio of P/L between 1.101.19, and Y = 0.8860 P x L for ratio of P/L equal or greater than 1.20.

福井県における `上庄産' のサトイモいわゆる『福井県大野市上庄地区在来種』と呼ばれブランド化されているも のと、上庄地区以外の大野市内で生産されたサトイモを調理することによってどのような違いが出てくるか比較 した。煮っころがしは、官能評価や動的粘弾性測定で `大野産' が硬かった。炊き込みご飯では、`大野産' と `上 庄産' の硬さに差がなかった。ポタージュでは、`大野産' は、とろみが強く、それによって口当たりが低い評価と なった。加熱方法の違いや、成分の違いによって、料理の見た目や食感やおいしさに差が出た。

福井県における `上庄産' のサトイモいわゆる『福井県大野市上庄地区在来種』と呼ばれブランド化されているも のと、上庄地区以外の大野市内で生産されたサトイモを調理することによってどのような違いが出てくるか比較 した。煮っころがしは、官能評価や動的粘弾性測定で `大野産' が硬かった。炊き込みご飯では、`大野産' と `上 庄産' の硬さに差がなかった。ポタージュでは、`大野産' は、とろみが強く、それによって口当たりが低い評価と なった。加熱方法の違いや、成分の違いによって、料理の見た目や食感やおいしさに差が出た。

福井県における `上庄産' のサトイモいわゆる『福井県大野市上庄地区在来種』と呼ばれブランド化されているも のと、上庄地区以外の大野市内で生産されたサトイモを調理することによってどのような違いが出てくるか比較 した。煮っころがしは、官能評価や動的粘弾性測定で `大野産' が硬かった。炊き込みご飯では、`大野産' と `上 庄産' の硬さに差がなかった。ポタージュでは、`大野産' は、とろみが強く、それによって口当たりが低い評価と なった。加熱方法の違いや、成分の違いによって、料理の見た目や食感やおいしさに差が出た。

Taro flour is one of dried products of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.). The characteristics of taro flour that low water content has an important role in determining the storage time. The presence of water in materials is influenced by internal factors of material, processing, moisture of storage and packaging materials. The water level reduction technique commonly used is by drying process, one of them is by using a tray dryer machine. The aim of the study was to analyze the physical properties, and nutritional content of taro flour produced from drying taro chips using a tray dryer machine at a drying temperature of 50°C, 60°C and 70°C with drying times 5, 6, and 7 hours. The physical parameters observed were water content, density and color, the nutritional parameters observed were protein, fat, ash, carbohydrates and crude fiber. The results of study showed that the water content ranged from 6.14 - 8.34%, density ranged from 0.45 - 0.57 kg/m3 and the lightness parameter values ranged from 69.9 - 72.0, with redness values between 12.2 - 12.8 and yellowness values between 11.5 - 13.1. The highest values of protein, fat and carbohydrate were 8.34%, 0.38% and 86.94%. The highest ash and crude fiber values were 3.84% and 2.99%.

The speed of starch-digestion defines peak blood-glucose concentrations. Slow digestion is beneficial for diabetic individuals. To investigate the effects on blood-glucose it is important to be able to predict the amount of digestible starch. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the digestibility of different starches in a validatedin-vitromodel of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Digestion was performed in theTNO dynamic, computer-controlledin-vitromodel of the upper GI-tract (TIM-1). Release of glucose was measured over time. Products tested were taro-flour, native-, and modified taro-starch. The latter two were also tested with beet-juice adsorbed. These were compared to wheat-flour and a glucose-solution. Modified taro-starch showed a similar glucose-bioaccessibility as wheat-flour (81-83%), while the other products tested had a lower bioaccessibility (60-75%). Adsorption of beet-juice affected digestibility of the modified taro-starch, but not the native-starch. Taro-based products can be used to lower plasma glucose concentrations in diabetic individuals.

Neste artigo, o Artista Visual e Psicanalista Henrique Vieira Filho conta a origem antropof��gica e modernista do Dia Do Circo, homenageando Piolin e tecendo a trajet��ria da figura arquet��pica do Louco, no Tar�� e nas tradi����es de variadas culturas. Publicado resumido no Jornal O Serrano, N�� 6295, de 11/03/2022 e na ��ntegra em https://henriquevieirafilho.com.br/2022/03/12/ride-piolin, Publicado resumido no Jornal O Serrano, N�� 6295, de 11/03/2022 e na ��ntegra em https://henriquevieirafilho.com.br/2022/03/12/ride-piolin

The rational use of a large amount of straw produced from grain fields is an important issue in major grain-producing areas. On the other hand, due to the long-term preferential applications of chemical fertilizers, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil fertility and organic matter levels have decreased, and the soil physical-chemical properties have deteriorated in protected agricultural facilities. In this study, a wet crop, taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) and the straw of two main crops [wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)] were selected to investigate the effect of row-surface straw mulching on taro yields and soil chemical properties. The results showed that nearly all wheat straw and 74% of rice straw decomposed in one season under wet conditions. Straw mulching significantly increased the taro yield, increased the levels of SOC, soil rapid available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and improved the activities of sucrase and phosphatase in the soil. We conclude that row-surface straw mulching t of wet crops could not only improve the soil properties and crop yields in the protected facility but could also consume considerable straw (wheat: 14,250 kg/ha, rice: 111,00 kg/ha), and the method applied in other areas with similar conditions.

The gut microbiota has been shown in recent years to be involved in the development and severity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the present study was to test the effect of a 2-week functional food intervention on the gut microbiota composition in prediabetic individuals. A randomized double-blind, cross-over trial was conducted on prediabetic subjects. Fifteen volunteers were provided products made of: (i) 50% taro flour + 50% wheat flour; (ii) these products and the probiotic L. plantarum IS-10506; or (iii) these products with beetroot adsorbed for a period of 2 weeks with 2 weeks wash-out in between. Stool and blood samples were taken at each baseline and after each of the interventions. The gut microbiota composition was evaluated by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and anthropometric measures were recorded. The total weight loss over the entire period ranged from 0.5 to 11 kg. The next-generation sequencing showed a highly personalized microbiota composition. In the principal coordinate analyses, the samples of each individual clustered closer together than the samples of each treatment. For six individuals, the samples clustered closely together, indicating a stable microbiota. For nine individuals, the microbiota was less resilient and, depending on the intervention, the beta-diversity transiently differed greatly only to return to the composition close to the baseline during the wash-out. The statistical analyses showed that 202 of the total 304 taxa were significantly different between the participants. Only Butyricimonas could be correlated with taro ingestion. The results of the study show that the highly variable interindividual variation observed in the gut microbiota of the participants clouded any gut microbiota modulation that might be present due to the functional food interventions.

Taro is the world's fourth most important root crop in terms of production by weight, behind cassava, potato, and sweet potato, and the second most significant staple root crop in terms of consumption, after sweet potato. However, a shortage of well-adapted cultivars is one of the production problems that contribute to low yields and small planted areas across the country. As a result, genotypes with high production potential and adaptability for local environmental circumstances must be evaluated. During the 2018 and 2019 main cropping seasons, field experiments were done in the North-Bench woreda in the Bench-Sheko zone, south-western Ethiopia, to improve taro production and productivity by evaluating and selecting high yielding taro cultivars. Three improved and one local taro variety were used in the trial, which was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the North bench location. The data were collected and analyzed by using SAS 9.2 Version statistical software. The study's findings revealed that variety had a significant (P < 0.01) impact on all of the variables considered. Accordingly, combined analysis over years indicated that the highest leaf number per plant (7.76), plant diameter (40.82cm), corm diameter (8.28cm), cormel number per plant (6.10), and total yield (22.34 t/ha) were observed for Boloso-1 variety. The highest value of the number of suckers per plant was also observed for the Boloso-1 variety in both years (8.2 in 2018 and 6.2 in the 2019 growing season). However, combined analysis over years indicated the highest corm length in local variety (12.15cm) followed by Boloso-1 variety (10.34cm). Therefore, based on the overall results of this study, the Boloso-1 variety performed best and was more adapted to the area as compared to other varieties. This variety should be popularized and disseminated to users to boost the production and productivity of taro in the testing location and similar agro-ecologies of the region.

International audience; In the hinterland of the Rai Coast, technical gardening practice is also ritually and spiritually charged daily activity to ensure the movement of foods and deities from the garden to the village. To approach this 'art of gardening' we attend to process and transformation and to how garden produce becomes the matter of beautiful forms. With reference to new pencil drawings of gardens we explore the aesthetic of the garden's embodiment of myth and history. The drawings and text provide a detailed documentation of lowland taro cultivation. The processes illustrated are at one and the same time attending to plant and human wellbeing. The notion of 'grace' from Gregory Bateson's writings is introduced. Highlighting the connections drawn between spirits and people and plants, we consider an immanence of life in mythic, human, and vegetable reproduction.

Analizom rezultata uzgoja biljke kolokazije od pedeset gomolja biljaka, te deset različitih sorti, utvrđeno je kako je uzgoj kolokazije isplativ i profitabilan. Za uzgoj su izabrane profitabilne sorte koje postižu visoke cijene na tržištu. Sadnja gomolja obavljena je početkom mjeseca ožujka u zasebne kaljeve. Prostor za sadnju imao je konstantnu temperaturu od 25 stupnjeva celzijusa te visok stupanj osvijetljenosti. Kada su se temperature ustalile sredinom mjeseca lipnja, uzgoj se nastavio na otvorenom prostoru. Uz temperature koje se nisu spuštale ispod 20 stupnjeva celzijusa, pravilno gnojenje, dovoljno indirektne sunčeve svjetlosti i redovno zalijevanje, biljke su postigle željenu veličinu. U mjesecu kolovozu kolokazije su bile spremne za tržište. Uzgoj biljki iz gomolja pokazao se kao rentabilan. Rentabilnost iznosi 62,26 % što znači da na svakih sto novčanih jedinica uloga, ostvaruje 62,26 novčane jedinice dobiti. Taj podatak dovodi do zaključka kako je ova proizvodnja isplativa., By analysing the results of the cultivation of the taro plant in the amount of fifty tubers of plants, ten different varieties, it was determined that the cultivation of taro is profitable. Profitable varieties that achieve high prices on the market have been selected for cultivation. Tubers were planted in early March in separate pots. The planting space had a constant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a high degree of illumination. When temperatures stabilized, in mid-June, cultivation continued in the open. With temperatures that did not fall below 20 degrees Celsius, properly fertilized, with enough indirect sunlight and regular watering of the plants, they reached the desired size. In August, the taro plants were ready for the market. Growing plants from tubers has proven to be profitable. Profitability is 62.26%, which means that for every hundred monetary units of the deposit, it realizes 62.26 monetary units of profit. This data leads to the conclusion that this production is profitable.

Taro is the world's fourth most important root crop in terms of production by weight, behind cassava, potato, and sweet potato, and the second most significant staple root crop in terms of consumption, after sweet potato. However, a shortage of well-adapted cultivars is one of the production problems that contribute to low yields and small planted areas across the country. As a result, genotypes with high production potential and adaptability for local environmental circumstances must be evaluated. During the 2018 and 2019 main cropping seasons, field experiments were done in the North-Bench woreda in the Bench-Sheko zone, south-western Ethiopia, to improve taro production and productivity by evaluating and selecting high yielding taro cultivars. Three improved and one local taro variety were used in the trial, which was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the North bench location. The data were collected and analyzed by using SAS 9.2 Version statistical software. The study's findings revealed that variety had a significant (P < 0.01) impact on all of the variables considered. Accordingly, combined analysis over years indicated that the highest leaf number per plant (7.76), plant diameter (40.82cm), corm diameter (8.28cm), cormel number per plant (6.10), and total yield (22.34 t/ha) were observed for Boloso-1 variety. The highest value of the number of suckers per plant was also observed for the Boloso-1 variety in both years (8.2 in 2018 and 6.2 in the 2019 growing season). However, combined analysis over years indicated the highest corm length in local variety (12.15cm) followed by Boloso-1 variety (10.34cm). Therefore, based on the overall results of this study, the Boloso-1 variety performed best and was more adapted to the area as compared to other varieties. This variety should be popularized and disseminated to users to boost the production and productivity of taro in the testing location and similar agro-ecologies of the region., Cropping seasons, Varieties, Taro, Yield, Yield components.

Taro and maize are agricultural products that have nutrients, especially fiber, so it is very good to be developed and its presence in the location of the activity is relatively abundant, so that further management is needed. The main objective of the community service activity is to provide guidance for the farmer group in the enau river village in downstreaming the locally owned raw materials in the form of taro and corn into processed products that have high sales value. The achievement is carried out with the theoretical and practical method of transferring appropriate technology accompanied by experts in their fields in the hope of ease of absorption and targeted plans. For convenience in implementing partners, it is divided into several small groups and is responsible for the products proclaimed. The results obtained in the form of 6 products consisting of flour, chips, taro cookies are preferred by all respondents, while cake is only 75%, while products made from corn which include nuggets and 100% corn donuts are preferred. The product is equipped with packaging that is labeled on each product

The in vitro propagation of Colocasia esculenta is limited by the presence of microbial contaminants, especially bacteria. The objective of this work was to demonstrate that the inclusion of actions for the bacterial contamination management in the in vitro propagation of C. esculenta cv. ‘INIVIT MC-2012’, from field explants, can reduce losses. Two in vitro propagation protocols were used and the incidence of bacterial contaminants in the establishment and multiplication stages was compared. One protocol modified the other with actions for the management of bacterial contamination. In each one, 20 primary rhizomes were taken from which at least two axillary buds were extracted and from each one a line was established. The number of explants contaminated with bacteria per subculture was quantified. Bacterial contamination was observed in the culture medium below or around the explants, indicating the initial explant as the primary source of contamination. With the application of the modified protocol, the percentage of losses due to bacterial contamination in all subcultures evaluated was reduced. In the in vitro establishment it did not exceed 5%. The combination of actions for the management of bacterial contamination among which are the reduction of the size of the explant, the work by lines and the visual detection of contaminants prior to the subculture of the plant material reduces the presence of bacterial contaminants in the in vitro propagation of C. esculenta cv. ‘INIVIT MC-2012’.

Sektor pertanian merupakan salah satu sektor usaha di Indonesia yang banyak menghasilkan produk makanan untuk kebutuhan pangan masyarakat Indonesia. Salah satu bagian organ tanaman yang dapat dimanfaatkan adalah umbi. Kategori tanaman untuk jenis umbi-umbian ini sangat beragam. Salah satunya adalah umbi talas. Talas merupakan tanaman yang mengandung kadar pati tinggi yaitu 80%. Pati yang ada pada umbi talas ini sangat potensial untuk dijadikan bahan pembuatan bioplastik. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menguji kadar pati pada bubuk talas yang memiliki variasi suhu dan waktu pada pengeringannya. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK), yang terdiri dari dua faktor, yaitu: Faktor I : Waktu pengeringan (T) yang terdiri dari 4 taraf, yaitu T1 = 3 jam, T2 = 4 jam, T3 = 5 jam, dan T4 = 6 jam. Faktor II : Suhu Pengeringan (P) yang terdiri dari 3 taraf, yaitu P1 = 40°C, P2 = 50°C, dan P3 = 60°C. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian waktu dan suhu pengeringan memberikan pengaruh yang nyata terhadap kadar pati yang diperoleh. Semakin tinggi suhu dan waktu pengeringan maka kadar pati bubuk umbi talas akan semakin rendah. Perlakuan yang paling optimal dan terbaik dalam penelitian adalah perlakuan suhu 40oC waktu 4 jam. Pada perlakuan tersebut diperoleh kadar pati yang tinggi yaitu 76,89%, selain itu pada perlakuan tersebut dapat memperoleh rendemen bubuk umbi talas yang tinggi dalam waktu yang singkat. The Effect of Time and Temperature of Drying on Starch Content in The Making of Taro Tuber Powder (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) for Bioplastics Abstract. The agricultural sector is one of the business sectors in Indonesia that produces a lot of food products for the food needs of the Indonesian people. One part of the plant organ that can be used is tuber. The plant categories for these types of tubers are very diverse. One of them is taro tuber. Taro is a plant that contains a high starch content of 80%. Starch in taro tubers is very potential to be used as a material for making bioplastics. This research was conducted to test the starch content of taro powder which has variations in temperature and time on drying. This research method uses a randomized block design (RBD), which consists of two factors, namely: Factor I: Drying time (T) consisting of 4 levels, namely T1 = 3 hours, T2 = 4 hours, T3 = 5 hours, and T4 = 6 hours. Factor II: Drying Temperature (P) which consists of 3 levels, namely P1 = 40 ° C, P2 = 50 ° C, and P3 = 60 ° C. Based on the results of the research the drying time and temperature gave a significant effect on the starch content obtained. The higher the temperature and time of drying, the lower the starch content of powdered taro tuber. The most optimal and best treatment in the study was a treatment temperature of 40oC for 4 hours. In the treatment obtained a high starch content that is 76.89%, in addition to that the treatment can obtain a high yield of taro tuber powder in a short time.

Orientador: Elisabeth Bauch Zimmermann Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campionas, Instituto de Artes Resumo: Este trabalho relaciona as imagens dos Arcanos Maiores do Tarô com o contexto imagético das Artes Visuais, em especial, evidencia a correlação entre a pintura da escola Simbolista e o Tarô. Também procura desvelar alguns aspectos arquetípicos encontrados através do diálogo simbólico entre essas duas manifestações criativas e artísticas, o que propicia um olhar subjetivo das transformações históricas do final do Século XIX Abstract: This study relates the images of the Major Arcana of the Tarot imagery with the context of the Visual Arts, in particular, shows the correlation between the Symbolist school of painting and the Tarot. It also seeks to reveal some archetypal aspects found through symbolic dialogue between these two creative and artistic expressions, which provides a subjective look of the historic transformations of the late nineteenth century Mestrado Artes Visuais Mestre em Artes

Este trabalho traz reflexões acerca da construção de sentido que envolve o conjunto de cartas da corte de Espadas do baralho de Tarô Waite-Smith, criado em 1909, pontuando aspectos deste objeto que tangenciam o campo das artes visuais e discorrendo de maneira ensaística sobre a trama tecida através de suas imagens ao longo da história da cultura. Para isso, a dissertação respalda-se em autores que propõem analogias entre imagens de diferentes proveniências, em busca de sobrevivências e transformações, como propôs o historiador da arte alemão Aby Warburg e seguidores seus, como Carlo Ginzburg, Erwin Panofsky, Georges Didi-Huberman e outros que auxiliarão no processo de situar o tarô como objeto de estudo pertinente à área das artes visuais. This work brings forth studies regarding the meanings surrounding the cards on the Court of Spades, present in the Waite-Smith tarot deck created in 1909. The research aims into the aspects of this deck that are synchronized with the years-long discussions present into the art field, such as iconography, the nature of illustration, the afterlife of the pagan imagery. For that, the work leans into the area of research coined by the German art historian Aby Warburg and his followers, such as Carlo Ginzburg, Erwin Panofsky and Georges Didi-Huberman, seeking to place the tarot as an object that benefits from the studies carried by the Art History field.

This research is a part of research on the study of the glycemic index value of biscuit products from mangrove fruit flour with flour from various of tubers. The tubers used in this study were taro and white uwi. The types of mangrove fruit used were pedada and lindur. The starch content in taro tubers and white uwican be used to make biscuits. It is known that both pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris) and lindur (Bruguiera ghymnorhiza) flour have anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterol properties. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of the biscuits from the formulation of a mixture of mangrove fruit flour with taro and white uwitubers. This study used a one-factor completely randomized designwith 10 levels of treatment, namely the proportion of mangrove fruit flour types of pedada and lindur and taro and white uwi tuber flour with the formula 0: 100, 10:90, and 20: 80. Biscuit product analysis parameters include proximate, organoleptic analysis, and glycemic index. Measurement of the glycemic index value was carried out in vivo using 22 respondents normalhuman, healthy, with a blood glucoseof 80-100 mg / dL. Blood draws were carried out for 120 minutes at 30-minute intervals. The best biscuits were obtained in the formulation of pedada fruit : taro flour (20: 80), with criteria 84.07%, of yield, 3.72% of moisture content, 3.45% of ash, 4.33% of protein, 7.16% of fat, carbohydratesof 81.34%, 64.39% of starch, the dietaryfiber content of 7.69%. Organoleptic test results showed 5.69ofcolor, the taste of 6.68, texture of 6.54, aroma of 7.13. In vivo test results obtained glycemic index values of 51.46, and glycemic load of 12.90

The taro plant, Colocasia esculenta, contains bioactive proteins with potential as cancer therapeutics. Several groups have reported anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo of taro-derived extracts (TEs). We reported that TE inhibits metastasis in a syngeneic murine model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Purpose: We sought to confirm our earlier studies in additional models and to identify novel mechanisms by which efficacy is achieved. Methods: We employed a panel of murine and human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines to determine the effect of TE on tumor cell viability, migration, and the ability to support cancer stem cells. Two syngeneic models of TNBC were employed to confirm our earlier report that TE potently inhibits metastasis. Cancer stem cell assays were employed to determine the ability of TE to inhibit tumorsphere-forming ability and to inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. To determine if host immunity contributes to the mechanism of metastasis inhibition, efficacy was assessed in immune-compromised mice. Results: We demonstrate that viability of some, but not all cell lines is inhibited by TE. Likewise, tumor cell migration is inhibited by TE. Using 2 immune competent, syngeneic models of TNBC, we confirm our earlier findings that tumor metastasis is potently inhibited by TE. We also demonstrate, for the first time, that TE directly inhibits breast cancer stem cells. Administration of TE to mice elicits expansion of several spleen cell populations but it was not known if host immune cells contribute to the mechanism by which TE inhibits tumor cell dissemination. In novel findings, we now show that the ability of TE to inhibit metastasis relies on immune T-cell-dependent, but not B cell or Natural Killer (NK)-cell-dependent mechanisms. Thus, both tumor cell-autonomous and host immune factors contribute to the mechanisms underlying TE efficacy. Our long-term goal is to evaluate TE efficacy in clinical trials. Most of our past studies as well as many of the results reported in this report were carried out using an isolation protocol described earlier (TE). In preparation for a near future clinical trial, we have now developed a strategy to isolate an enriched taro fraction, TE-method 2, (TE-M2) as well as a more purified subfraction (TE-M2F1) which can be scaled up under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions for evaluation in human subjects. We demonstrate that TE-M2 and TE-M2F1 retain the anti-metastatic properties of TE. Conclusions: These studies provide further support for the continued examination of biologically active components of Colocasia esculenta as potential new therapeutic entities and identify a method to isolate sufficient quantities under GMP conditions to conduct early phase clinical studies.

Submitted by Simone Maisonave (simonemaisonave@hotmail.com) on 2020-09-30T01:03:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Mirna_Xavier_Goncalves.pdf: 2918158 bytes, checksum: be34dfd74b62234b1ea89d04eaf7690e (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2020-10-06T01:26:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_Mirna_Xavier_Goncalves.pdf: 2918158 bytes, checksum: be34dfd74b62234b1ea89d04eaf7690e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2020-10-06T02:00:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_Mirna_Xavier_Goncalves.pdf: 2918158 bytes, checksum: be34dfd74b62234b1ea89d04eaf7690e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020-08-12 Sem bolsa O tarô com suas cartas envoltas em mitos, narrativas e símbolos são parte do mistério que anima esta pesquisa. A motivação busca desvendar processos criativos e envolve questões que permearam meu cotidiano como pesquisadora imersa no campo da arte – e como taróloga. Utilizando as cartas como conceitos, este trabalho se volta à memória e ao trabalho de outros artistas e pesquisadores – passando por Aby Warburg, Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica e outros – para elaborar uma parceria entre estas cartas seculares e a contemporaneidade. O estudo combina dispositivos autorais para entabular as relações; cartas, mapas, desenhos e obras formam um texto visual, conforme o Atlas Mnemosyne de Warburg, que funda a tríade mito-tarô-arte. The tarot, its cards wrapped in myth, stories and symbols, are the background of this research, that reaches for the questions that permeated my daily life as a student, researcher and as well as a tarologist. Using the cards as concepts, this work turns itself towards memory and to the works of other artists and art researchers (such as Aby Warburg, Lygia Clark, Helio Oiticica and others) in order to elaborate a fellowship between these ancient cards and contemporaneity. This study also proposes a visual collection in order to externalize these visual relationships, aiming to grasp the concept of Atlas, brought to life by Warburg, to complete the triad myth-tarot-art in a way that correlates the image and the content introduced by this dissertation.

A obra da artista Marlene Godoy intitulada O Tarô de Brasília (1990) demonstra sua sensibilidade artística perante problemáticas inerentes à história e atualidades da capital federal. Muitos grupos espiritualistas se atraíram para a região com o objetivo de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de uma nova civilização e oferecer suporte espiritual ao centro das decisões políticas do país. A Legião da Boa Vontade faz parte deste contexto e recebeu a obra de Marlene Godoy em seu acervo. Para realizarmos a análise da obra, nos debruçamos sobre o Tarô em seu aspecto esotérico e sobre fontes disponíveis na LBV.

Indonesia is one country that has a tropical climate. The country of Indonesia has abundant natural resources, especially the type of plant tubers that can be consumed as a staple food replacement of rice. However, their utilization is not optimal to meet the adequacy of the current food. One effort that can be done is to increase the productivity of the cultivation of food derived from the tubers by harnessing technology. Plant the tubers are commonly consumed as a staple food, the main substitute for rice, especially in the area of Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Province is taro as one of the local plants.Keywords: Cultivation; Taro; ProductivityAbstrakIndonesia merupakan salah satu negara yang beriklim tropis. Negara Indonesia mempunyai kekayaan alam melimpah, terutama jenis tanaman umbi-umbian yang dapat dikonsumsi sebagai makanan pokok pengganti beras. Namun pemanfaatannya belum optimal untuk memenuhi kecukupan pangan saat ini. Salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan adalah meningkatkan produktivitas budidaya pangan yang berasal dari umbi-umbian dengan memanfaat teknologi. Tanaman umbi-umbian yang umum dikonsumsi sebagai makanan pokok utama penganti beras, terutama di daerah Kabupaten Lanny Jaya Propinsi Papua adalah talas sebagai salah satu tanaman lokal. Jenis-jenis tanaman talas di daerah ini cukup banyak varietasnya yang dapat digunakan sebagai makanan pokok.Kata kunci: Budidaya; Talas; Produktifitas

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a substantial staple food in most of the tropical regions. Prolonged exposure to drought impairs crop production worldwide. Tolerant crops have the best capability to cope and avoid drought, through phenotypic flexibility mechanisms. The water use efficiency (WUE) is well known in taro crops, but very scarce information is available relating to their nutrient efficiency (NER) in drought conditions. Our work provided pertinent information about the physiological variation of seven taro accessions subjected to seven months of drought, by recording the differences for nutrient allocation, chlorophyll canopy, biomass loss, and stress intensity. Significant relationships between control and drought treatments on WUE (+85%), total plant biomass (TPB, -26.8%), chlorophyll content index (CCI, +1.8%), and nutrient harvest index (NHI, +0.2%) were detected. Drought led to a generalized loss of TPB as drought avoidance strategy, although distinct phenotypic flexibility was observed through the root:shoot ratio (R:S) and stress index (SI) from the corm and shoot organs. The nutrient allocation from the corms to shoots, with NER increase registered in drought conditions, can be a valuable tool to complement the TPB and WUE productivity traits, to be used in taro breeding programs.

Thai Journal of Science and Technology, 9, 4, 539-553

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) are important food crops worldwide, whose productivity is threatened by climatic constraints, namely drought. Data calibration, validation, and model development of high-precision near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) involving multivariate analyses are needed for the fast prediction of the quality of tubers and shoots impacted by drought stress. The main objective of this study was to generate accurate NIRS models for quality assessment of taro and sweet potato accessions (acc.) subjected to water scarcity conditions. Seven taro and eight sweet potato acc. from diverse geographical origins were evaluated for nitrogen (N), protein (Pt), starch (St), total mineral (M), calcium oxalate (CaOx), carbon isotope discrimination (∆13C), and nitrogen isotopic composition (&delta, 15N). Models were developed separately for both crops underground and aboveground organs. N, Pt, St, and M models could be used as quality control constituents, with a determination coefficient of prediction (r2pred) between 0.856 and 0.995. &delta, 13C, &delta, 15N, and CaOx, with r2pred between 0.178 and 0.788, could be used as an informative germplasm screening tool. The approach used in the present study demonstrates NIRS&rsquo, s potential for further research on crop quality under drought.

Pitoyo A, Prameta AA, Marsusi, Suratman, Suranto. 2018. Morphological, anatomical and isozyme variability among taro (Colocasia esculenta) accessions from southeastern part of Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 1811-1819. The objective of this study was to evaluate morphological, anatomical and isozyme variability among taro accessions from southeastern part of Central Java (Indonesia). A total of 20 taro accessions were collected from a wide range of sites during field surveys. Morphological characters measurements were taken on vegetative structures such as roots, stems, leaves, and corms. Anatomical characters were observed from both paradermal and transverse sections of leaf. Identification of biochemical markers was done by using peroxidase and esterase isozyme system. A UPGMA dendrogram among accessions was constructed based on the genetic similarity matrix by applying a cluster analysis using a computer programme, NTSYS Version 2.00. The analysis of variance for morphological and anatomical characters revealed that there was significant difference for majority of the tested traits indicating that there was a variability among the taro accessions. Polymorphism was observed using isozymes of esterase (12 banding pattern) and peroxidase (8 banding pattern). Based on the dendrogram at a level of 62 % similarity, taro accessions were segregated into two major clusters. In Cluster I, the closest relationship was shown between SKH and SKA accessions that had 96 % coefficient of similarity. The ten accessions from Klaten, Sragen, and Karanganyar were then clustered separately as Cluster II with coefficient of similarity 73.52 %.

In taro, pollen availability or variability, and the number of clones that produce inflorescences, are not worldwide problems today. However, in Cuba, the appearance of inflorescence is critical, since the high-yielding accessions are not the ones that produce the inflorescences; it rarely or never happens, but when it does, pollen is not viable in most cases. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate fertility and viability of pollen in taro accessions (Colocasia esculenta). The germplasm accessions of the species, preserved at the Center for Tropical Crops Research (INIVIT) were evaluated during the 2015-2016 period. Staining by aceto-carmine glycerol jelly or pollen viability test was performed to 19 accessions selected for their inflorescences in field conditions. The result was expressed as the percentage with respect to the total number of pollen grains, using a descriptor of variations of pollen viability to determine if the accessions could be used as male parents in crop breeding programs. Five of the nineteen accessions evaluated were observed to produce viable pollen, which may be used as potential male and female progenitors in the genetic breeding program by species hybridation.

Penelitian ini mengkaji maskulinitas tokoh Tarō dalam mukashi banashi, cerita rakyat Jepang. Mukashi banashi yang menjadi objek kajian ini adalah Momotarō, Kintarō, Kotarō to Haharyū, Sannen Netarō, dan Urashima Tarō. Pada kelima mukashi banashi ini terdapat tokoh yang bernama Tarō dengan peranannya masing-masing. Fokus penelitian ini adalah analisis gambaran tokoh Tarō, fungsi, dan nilai budaya Jepang yang terdapat dalam mukashi banashi. Penelitian ini menggunakan teori sosiologi sastra dan teori maskulinitas dengan metode deskriptif analisis. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan lima tokoh Tarō, yaitu Momotarō, Kintarō, Kotarō, Sannen Netarō, dan Urashima Tarō yang memiliki ciri fisik maskulin dan sifat bushido ‘kesatria’. Namun, terdapat juga beberapa sifat yang sedikit bertentangan dengan konsep maskulin. Selain itu, melalui kelima mukashi banashi ini diketahui pula fungsi dan unsur-unsur budaya yang terdapat dalam cerita rakyat Jepang.

Assessment ofproduction, post-harvest handling and consumption behavior of Cocoyam in Kenya.&nbsp

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott], a member of the family Araceae, is a vegetatively propagated crop with edible tubers (corms and cormels), petioles and leaf blades. Available evidence suggests that taro originated in South Central Asia, probably in the tropical region from India to Indonesia. The crop is considered to have reached Japan by the 10th century B. C.. In Japan, taro was a regional staple crop before the beginning of rice cultivation, but it is nowadays grown as a root vegetable. The corms and cormels of taro are an excellent source of carbohydrates and rich in essential minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber. Additionally, Japanese people have formed socio-cultural connections to the crop since olden times; taro has been served in traditional feasting and seasonal events. Despite having so much value, taro cultivation has shown declining trends in the past several decades. It should also be noted that little attention has been devoted to the genetic improvement of taro. In this review, an attempt is made to collect information about the commercial production and uses of Japanese taros as well as agronomic characteristics of leading cultivars, with the expectation that the synthesized information will aid in understanding the problems and prospects of taro cultivation in Japan.

Submitted by Boris Flegr (boris@uerj.br) on 2021-01-05T16:49:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Jose Carlos Guerra Damasceno_Tese_pt 1.pdf: 11582533 bytes, checksum: cc72c0c5b5e6c364eff4cc846e37032b (MD5) Jose Carlos Guerra Damasceno_Tese_pt 2.pdf: 7007340 bytes, checksum: 714b5d6ac3c871594fbd71cb2ba0fac2 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2021-01-05T16:49:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Jose Carlos Guerra Damasceno_Tese_pt 1.pdf: 11582533 bytes, checksum: cc72c0c5b5e6c364eff4cc846e37032b (MD5) Jose Carlos Guerra Damasceno_Tese_pt 2.pdf: 7007340 bytes, checksum: 714b5d6ac3c871594fbd71cb2ba0fac2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019-11-12 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior How to become a wizard artist? What is the relationship and the points of contact between Art and Magic? What is common to the artist and the shaman? The genealogy of the concept of magic and art are confronted by various points of view from anthropology and psychology to esoterism to investigate the possibility of magical art today and to what extent all art can be understood as a kind of magic. Coming from his own artistic practice and personal experience, Nadam Guerra creates a parallel between the artistic and the mystical understandings of the world. To bring concreteness and applicability to the study three fields are analyzed: 1) action / performance / ritual, 2) the dream as an artistic and spiritual instrument; 3) the image for aesthetic, magical and oracular purposes. The Alto do Moura Virgin, the Dream Materializer end the Experimental Oracle projects are the basis of a research that can be applied to the work of many artists, here called magus artists Como tornar-se um artista mago? Qual a relação e os pontos de contato entre Arte e Magia? O que há de comum entre o artista e o xamã? A genealogia do conceito de Magia e de Arte são confrontados por diversos pontos de vista da antropologia e psicologia ao exoterismo para investigar a possibilidade de uma arte mágica hoje e em até que ponto toda arte pode ser entendida como uma espécie de magia. Partindo da própria prática artística e experiência pessoal, Nadam Guerra cria um paralelo entre o entendimento artístico e místico do mundo. Para trazer concretude a aplicabilidade ao estudo são analisados três campos: 1) ação / performance / ritual, 2) o sonho como instrumento artístico e espiritual; 3) a imagem com finalidades estéticas, mágicas e oraculares. Os projetos Virgem do Alto do Moura, Materializador de Sonhos e Oráculo Experimental são a base de uma pesquisa que pode ser aplicada à obra de muitos artistas, aqui chamados de artistas magus

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue estudiar la cinética de secado en capa delgada del taro en condiciones controladas en un secador de laboratorio. Para cada experimento se pesó 0.5 kg de taro cortados en rodajas de 0.8 cm de espesor. Los experimentos de secado se realizaron a temperaturas del aire de secado de 40, 50 y 60 °C y velocidad constante de 0.2 m s-1 . La razón de humedad se graficó contra el tiempo de secado y se ajustó a cinco modelos de secado en capa delgada. La calidad del ajuste se evaluó utilizando el coeficiente de determinación (R2 ) y la raíz del error cuadrado medio (RMSE). Se encontró que el secado ocurrió en el periodo de velocidad decreciente. El modelo Wang y Singh describió mejor el comportamiento de secado en capa delgada del taro a 40 y 50 °C y el modelo de Newton a 60 °C.

A Colocasia Esculenta possui elevados teores de amido, proteínas, carboidratos e mucilagem. A mucilagem apresenta alto teor de carboidratos e proteínas que combinados formam a macromolécula AGP- glicoproteína arabinogalactana, podendo ser aplicada em diversas áreas, como a alimentícia, farmacêutica, química, cosmética, entre outras. Diante disso, a pesquisa teve por objetivo extrair e caracterizar por diversas técnicas analíticas a mucilagem da Colocasia Esculenta variedade rosa, também conhecida como inhame rosa, ou inhame de porco. Estudar o potencial espessante, estabilizante e emulsificante, da mucilagem e aplicá-lo em uma formulação cosmética a fim de compará-lo ao biopolímero comercial Goma Xantana, realizando o estudo de estabilidade e análise sensorial das amostras. As análises de caracterização por DRX mostraram que a mucilagem da Colocassia Esculenta possui características semicristalinas padrão característico para polímeros naturais. Estrutura de finas lâminas, e boa estabilidade térmica, permanecendo estável até temperaturas de 225°C. Em sua composição possui agrupamentos de proteínas e carboidratos, que podem estar ligados a presença da AGP, características interessantes para diversas aplicações como potencial espessante, emulsificante e estabilizante de emulsões, confirmada pela boa capacidade e atividade emulsificante e estabilidade da emulsão. Quando a mucilagem (MC) foi aplicada em formulações cosméticas, o estudo de estabilidade mostrou que o pH e a densidade das amostras mantiveram-se estáveis com valores próximos da amostra padrão preparada com Goma Xantana. Para a viscosidade as amostras preparadas com a mucilagem permaneceram estáveis ao longo do tempo enquanto com a Goma Xantana apresentou instabilidade. Todas as amostras apresentaram característica reológica de pseudoplasticidade com índices de comportamento de fluxo menores que 1, característica desejável para cosméticos, pois melhora a sua aplicabilidade. Em altas concentrações a MC favoreceu a desestabilização das amostras, quando são submetidas a estresse mecânico, e que em conjunto com outros emulsificantes e estabilizantes comerciais, pode interferir na estabilidade das emulsões. Por análise sensorial as amostras que continham baixas concentrações de mucilagem foram descritas pelos avaliadores como cremes de uso tópico fáceis de espalhar, concentrações intermediárias deixam resíduos na pele, e altas concentrações são mais viscosas e pegajosas, além de serem bem absorvidas e deixarem a pele fresca. Sendo que as amostras que mais continham MC foram as preferidas pelos avaliadores. Em relação ao uso de ingredientes e cosméticos naturais por avaliadores, quanto maior a frequência de uso de cremes cosméticos, mais conhecimento e informação relacionadas aos produtos o consumidor procura, e mais preocupado com as reações que podem provocar na pele, favorecendo assim os estudos para a substituição e aplicação de ingredientes naturais ou derivados para diversas aplicações cosméticas. Colocasia Esculenta has high levels of starch, protein, carbohydrates and mucilage. Mucilage has a high content of carbohydrates and proteins that combine to form the macromolecule AGP-glycoprotein arabinogalactan, and can be applied in several areas, such as food, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic, among others. Therefore, the research aimed to extract and characterized by various analytical techniques mucilage of Colocasia Esculenta rose variety, also known as rose yam, or yam of pig. To study the potential thickener, stabilizing and emulsifying the mucilage and applying it in a cosmetic formulation in order to compare it to the commercial biopolymer Gum Xanthan, carrying out the stability study and sensorial analysis of the samples. The characterization analyzes by XRD showed that the mucilage of Colocassia Esculenta has standard characteristics characteristic of natural semicrystalline polymers. Slim structure, and good thermal stability, remaining stable up to temperatures of 225 ° C. In its composition, it has groupings of proteins and carbohydrates, which may be linked to the presence of AGP, interesting characteristics for several applications as potential thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer emulsions, confirmed by good capacity and emulsifying activity and emulsion stability. When mucilage (MC) was applied in cosmetic formulations, the stability study showed that the pH and density of the samples remained stable with values close to the standard sample prepared with Xanthan gum. For the viscosity, the samples prepared with the mucilage remained stable over time while with Xanthan gum showed instability. All samples presented a rheological characteristic of pseudoplasticity with flow behavior indexes lower than 1, a desirable characteristic for cosmetics, as it improves their applicability. At high concentrations, the MC favored the destabilization of the samples, when subjected to mechanical stress, and that together with other emulsifiers and commercial stabilizers, can interfere in the stability of the emulsions. By sensory analysis, samples containing low concentrations of mucilage have been described by evaluators as topical creams easy to spread, intermediate concentrations leave residues on the skin, and high concentrations are more viscous and stickier, as well as being well absorbed and leaving the skin fresh. Since the samples containing more MC were preferred by the evaluators. Regarding the use of natural ingredients and cosmetics by evaluators, the greater the frequency of use of cosmetic creams, the more knowledge and information related to the products the consumer is looking for, and the more worried about the reactions they can cause on the skin, thus favoring studies to the replacement and application of natural ingredients or derivatives for various cosmetic applications.

Insônia: O Ator e o Castelo de Cartas caracteriza-se como memorial descritivo da pesquisa empírica que se enquadra no campo de estudo dos processos de criação cênica. A pesquisa investigou possibilidades de criação tendo como ponto de partida o corpo do ator atravessado pelo imaginário do Tarô de Marselha. Explora o uso das imagens do baralho como dispositivos de composição em um espetáculo teatral, buscando a potência arquetípica das figuras em cenas que mesclam fisicalidade e tecnologia, fazendo uso das cartas como veículo para uma reflexão de autoconhecimento para propor uma dramaturgia. Investigou-se princípios criativos inspirados nessas imagens, assim como os temas relacionados a essa articulação, suas origens e desdobramentos. Desenvolveu-se a criação de um espetáculo chamado Insônia, realizado em parceria com outro colega do mesmo programa de mestrado que estabelece a função de diretor. O eixo dramatúrgico propõe um solo, onde um sujeito, a partir de uma experiência de insônia, se problematiza no mundo e vive uma espécie de limbo entre a lucidez e a loucura. Esse sujeito se autorretrata virtualmente e explora os limites da linguagem cênica tradicional, compondo uma teia a partir da imagem física e virtual, atravessando realidade e ficção em uma experimentação onírica. Insomnio: El Actor y el Castillo de Cartas se caracteriza como memorial descriptivo de la investigación empírica que se encuadra en el campo de estudios de los procesos de creación escénica. La investigación explora el uso de cartas del Tarot de Marsella como dispositivos de composición en un espectáculo teatral, en búsqueda de la potencia arquetípica traída por las cartas en una escena atravesada por la fisicalidad y la tecnología. Se investigan principios creativos inspirados en las imágenes simbólicas de la baraja, así como los temas relacionados a esa articulación, sus orígenes y desdoblamientos. Se desarrolla la cración de un espectáculo llamado Insomio, realizado en asociación con otro compañero del mismo programa de maestría que establece la función de director. El eje dramatúrgico propone un monólogo, donde un sujeto, a partir de una experiencia de insomnio, se problematiza en el mundo y vive una especie de limbo entre la lucidez y la locura. Este sujeto se autorretrata virtualmente y explora los límites del lenguaje escénico tradicional, componiendo una tela a partir de la imagen física y virtual, atravesando realidad y ficción en una experimentación onírica.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) is an important staple food crop in tropical and developing countries, having high water requirements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition (δ13C and δ15N) as a physiological indicator of taro response to drought, and elucidation of the relationship between the water use efficiency (WUE) under drought conditions and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C). As an alternative to WUE determination, obtained by measuring plant growth and water loss during an entire vegetative cycle, we have used Δ13C to determine the tolerance of C3 taro plants to drought. Seven taro accessions from Madeira, Canary Islands and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Fiji) collections were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to different watering regimes during a one-year cycle. Total plant biomass (TPB), WUE and δ15N were determined at the whole-plant level (WP). Corms and shoots were evaluated separately for nitrogen content (N), δ13C, Δ13C and δ15N. WUE showed positive correlation with TPB (r = 0.4) and negative with Δ13C (r = −0.3); Corm δ15N showed positive correlations with WP δ15N (r = 0.6) and corm N (r = 0.3). Accordingly, the taro plants with enhanced WUE exhibited low Δ13C and δ15N values as a physiological response to drought stress. The approach used in the present study has developed new tools that could be used in further research on taro response to environmental stresses.

The Pacific Island ecosystems of Remote Oceania were dramatically transformed following the arrival of humans within the last ∼3000 years, as the new settlers required technological innovations and environmental modifications to maintain their populations. These modifications included the introduction of numerous exotic species, including the important crop Colocasia esculenta Schott (taro) and the development of infrastructure suitable for its cultivation. Archaeological reconstruction of C. esculenta use in the Pacific has been challenging because of the low-specificity of fossil starch granules and its limited pollen production during periods of intense cultivation. Here, we assess a lipid biomarker approach to trace C. esculenta cultivation in the past. We characterized the neutral lipid compositions of leaf samples from common cultivars and widespread indigenous species from the archipelago of Vanuatu by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The compound palmitone (hentriacontan-16-one) was a major leaf wax constituent in C. esculenta cultivar samples (mean concentration of 402 ± 63 µg g–1 dry wt) and was only detected in one other species, the ornamental tree Cananga odorata (175 µg g–1 dry wt). The structure of palmitone is favorable for its long-term stability and we demonstrate its preservation potential in a 55 cm sedimentary record from Lake Vesalea on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, where C. esculenta is grown today. Palmitone concentrations in this core fluctuated up to 4.1 µg g–1 dry wt. Our results indicate that in appropriate environmental contexts, sedimentary palmitone concentrations could be used to reconstruct C. esculenta cultivation and to provide insights about past horticultural innovations in Remote Oceania., Organic Geochemistry, 132, ISSN:0146-6380