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The sugar and ethanol industry generates large quantities of waste liquids. If untreated effluents are used in fertigation, they might contaminate groundwater and, if they are released into water bodies, they might also jeopardize the survival of the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, the proposal of this study was to isolate microorganisms from the treatment station of a sugar and ethanol industry, assessing their enzymatic behavior and effects in laboratory, as well as the physicochemical improvement of the effluent. Following a bioaugmentation of the effluent, a physicochemical monitoring was performed with the purpose of reusing it in drip irrigation.

Durante o processamento da matéria-prima da indústria sucroalcooleira, gera-se grande quantidade de efluentes com qualidades que impossibilitam seu lançamento em corpos de água sem o tratamento prévio. A biorremediação é usada para decompor resíduos orgânicos até um estado inócuo ou abaixo da concentração limite da legislação, tendo os fungos papel muito importante nessa estratégia por secretarem enzimas hidrolíticas. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o comportamento de fungos isolados de resíduos da estação de tratamento de efluentes de uma indústria sucroalcooleira frente à degradação de fenóis como o ácido tânico e de outros compostos de efluentes agroindustriais suplementados com nutrientes específicos. Dentre diferentes isolados, aqueles identificados como Aspergillus sp. e Cladosporium sp. apresentaram as melhores taxas de produção de enzimas degradadoras de ácido tânico, como a lacase, por exemplo, enquanto Mucor sp. foi o que melhor removeu a Demanda Química de Oxigênio (DQO) e o conteúdo de fenóis totais, seguido por Cladosporium sp., Phanerochaeta chrysosporium e Geotrichum candidum.

Durante o processamento da matéria-prima da indústria sucroalcooleira, gerase grande quantidade de efluentes com qualidades que impossibilitam seu lançamento em corpos de água sem o tratamento prévio. A biorremediação é usada para decompor resíduos orgânicos até um estado inócuo ou abaixo da concentração limite da legislação, tendo os fungos papel muito importante nessa estratégia por secretarem enzimas hidrolíticas. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o comportamento de fungos isolados de resíduos da estação de tratamento de efluentes de uma indústria sucroalcooleira frente à degradação de fenóis como o ácido tânico e de outros compostos de efluentes agroindustriais suplementados com nutrientes específicos. Dentre diferentes isolados, aqueles identificados como Aspergillus sp.e Cladosporium sp. apresentaram as melhores taxas de produção de enzimas degradadoras de ácido tânico, como a lacase, por exemplo, enquanto Mucor sp. foi o que melhor removeu a Demanda Química de Oxigênio (DQO) e o conteúdo de fenóis totais, seguido por Cladosporium sp., Phanerochaeta chrysosporium e Geotrichum candidum.During the processing of raw materials from the sugar-alcohol industry, large quantities of wastewater is produced, which is inappropriate to release into water bodies without previous suitable treatment. The bioremediation is used to decompose organic waste until an innocuous condition or to a concentration below the limit under legislation; moreover fungi have very important role in this strategy due to the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. In the present study, we evaluated the behavior of fungi isolated from residuals of the waste treatment station from a sugar-alcohol industry in faceto the phenols degradation, as tannic acid and other compounds of agri-industrial wastewater supplemented with specific nutrients. Among different fungi, those identified as Aspergillus sp. and Cladosporium sp. presented the best rates of production of enzymes that degrade tannic acid, such as laccase, while Mucor sp. was better to remove the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and the total phenol content, followed by Cladosporium sp., Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Geotrichum candidum.

The cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) crop is an important source of income for the population of the Brazilian Northeast, and anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides leads to significant production loss. However, there is little information on either the host resistance or the variation in the aggressiveness of the pathogen under controlled environment. The reaction of commercial (CCP-06, CCP-09, CCP-76 and CCP-1001) and one non-commercial (CAP-14) dwarf cashew clones was assessed against 36 isolates of this fungus controlled environmental conditions. All the isolates, including those from hosts other than cashew, were able to cause lesions on leaves and stems of most clones, albeit to different degrees. Clone CCP-06 was the most susceptible, while clone CCP-1001 showed a level of resistance to a number of the isolates, including isolate 905, while isolates 910 and 912 were aggressive to all clones. Injury increased the susceptibility of the clones to all isolates, indicating that resistance also might be associated with structural barriers that hinder penetration. Ripened cashew apples (8-week-old), of commercial clones were susceptible to isolates 905 and 910. Immature pseudo-fruits (2-week-old), with exception of clone CCP-76 which was susceptible to both isolates showed resistance against these isolates, suggesting the presence of structural and chemical barriers. Developed nuts (8-week-old), however, were more resistant than immature nuts (2-week-old) to both isolates, probably due to their thicker exocarp cuticle and reduced number of stomatal pores.A cultura de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) é uma fonte de renda importante para a população do Nordeste brasileiro, sendo a antracnose causada por Colletotrichum gloeosporioides a doença que mais conduz a perdas de sua produção. Entretanto, há pouca informação para a resistência desse hospedeiro ou para a variação na agressividade do patógeno em ambiente controlado. A reação de clones comerciais (CCP-06, CCP-09, CCP-76 e CCP-1001) e um não comercial (CAP-14) de cajueiros anão-precoce, contra 36 isolados desse fungo, foi avaliada sob condições controladas. Todos os isolados, incluindo os provenientes de diferentes hospedeiros, foram capazes de causar lesões sobre folhas e hastes da maioria dos clones, ainda que em graus diferenciados. O clone CCP-06 foi o mais suscetível, enquanto o clone CCP-1001 foi resistente a mais isolados, incluindo o 905, enquanto os isolados 910 e 912 foram agressivos a todos os clones testados. A injúria mecânica das folhas aumentou a suscetibilidade dos clones a todos os isolados, indicando que a resistência pode também estar associada a barreiras estruturais que impedem a penetração. Os pseudofrutos amadurecidos (8 semanas) dos clones comerciais avaliados, foram suscetíveis a ambos os isolados testados (905 e 910), mas os jovens (2 semanas), com exceção daqueles do clone CCP-76, suscetíveis aos dois isolados, apresentaram resistência a ambos, sugerindo a ação de obstáculos estruturais e químicos diferenciados. As castanhas desenvolvidas (8 semanas), no entanto, foram mais resistentes a ambos os isolados do que as jovens (2 semanas), talvez devido à espessa cutícula do exocarpo e baixo número de estômatos.

The intention of this work was to evaluate the growth of Pseudomonasaeruginosa (C1 LBPVMA-UFAL) on lubricant oil and verify the production of rhamnolipid biosurfactant. Tests in solid medium containing lubricant oil supplemented with different sources of nitrogen were used to evaluate the growth of P. aeruginosa. The growth medium used for production of rhamnolipid was (g L-1): yeast extract, 0.1; NaCl, 1.0; MgSO4, 0.2; MnSO4.H2O, 0.02; 0.5% lubricant oil (w v-1). The biosurfactant concentration was detected 24h after the inoculation, during the exponential phase, with the maximum value obtained up to 120h, although no drastic alteration of pH had been verified. The emulsifier activity was also first detected after 24h of incubation, with maximum production after 120h. The characterization of the produced biosurfactant was performed through thin layer chromatography, which showed the presence of two spots with Rf values equal to 0.71 and 0.5, revealed by reagents specific to rhamnolipids. These results suggested that two types of rhamnolipidic biosurfactant are produced by the strain of P. aeruginosa in limited conditions of nutrients, able to use lubricant oil as main carbon source. This bacterium, isolated from agro-industrial effluent, showed potential to bioremediation assays of contamination with petrol and his derivates.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa (C1 LBPVMAUFAL) sobre óleo lubrificante e verificar a produção de biosurfactante ramnolipídico. Testes em meio sólido com óleo lubrificante suplementado com diferentes fontes de nitrogênio foram usados para avaliar o crescimento de P. aeruginosa. O meio de crescimento utilizado para a produção de ramnolipídeo foi (g L-1): extrato de levedura, 0,1; NaCl, 1,0; MgSO4, 0,2; MnSO4.H2O, 0,02; 0,5% de óleo lubrificante (p v-1). A concentração de biosurfactante foi detectada 24 h após a inoculação, durante a fase exponencial, com valor máximo obtido a 120h, sem verificar alteração drástica de pH. A atividade emulsificante foi também detectada após 24h de incubação, com máxima produção após 120h. A caracterização do biosurfactante produzido foi avaliada por cromatografia de camada delgada, revelando a presença de duas bandas com valores de Rf iguais a 0,71 e 0,5, revelada por reagentes específicos para ramnolipídeos. Estes resultados sugerem que dois tipos de biosurfactantes ramnolipídicos são produzidos pela linhagem de P. aeruginosa em condições limitadas de nutrientes, sendo capaz de utilizar óleo lubrificante como única fonte de carbono. Esta bactéria, isolada de efluente agroindustrial, revelou potencial para ensaios de biorremediação de contaminação com petróleo e seus derivados.

The intention of this work was to evaluate the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (C1 LBPVMA-UFAL) on lubricant oil and verify the production of rhamnolipid biosurfactant. Tests in solid medium containing lubricant oil supplemented with different sources of nitrogen were used to evaluate the growth of P. aeruginosa. The growth medium used for production of rhamnolipid was (g L-1): yeast extract, 0.1; NaCl, 1.0; MgSO4, 0.2; MnSO4.H2O, 0.02; 0.5% lubricant oil (w v-1). The biosurfactant concentration was detected 24h after the inoculation, during the exponential phase, with the maximum value obtained up to 120h, although no drastic alteration of pH had been verified. The emulsifier activity was also first detected after 24h of incubation, with maximum production after 120h. The characterization of the produced biosurfactant was performed through thin layer chromatography, which showed the presence of two spots with Rf values equal to 0.71 and 0.5, revealed by reagents specific to rhamnolipids. These results suggested that two types of rhamnolipidic biosurfactant are produced by the strain of P. aeruginosa in limited conditions of nutrients, able to use lubricant oil as main carbon source. This bacterium, isolated from agro-industrial effluent, showed potential to bioremediation assays of contamination with petrol and his derivates.

Lignin is present in plant cell secondary wall, associated to carbohydrates preventing their efficient hydrolysis, and cellulose pulp manufacture basically consists in breaking down the middle lamella of plant cells, individualizing fibers such as cellulose from the other biopolymers. Different levels of lignocellulose are found in plant residues and they can be decomposed by extracellular fungal lignin modifying enzymes, used as a tool to reduce waste materials in contaminated soils and effluents. In the paper mill industries, for instance, they are a suitable or complementary alternative to the traditional methods of pulping/bleaching, contributing to improve paper strength as well as to reduce the pitch content, the quantity of chemicals and the consume of electrical energy. The aim of this review was to describe the fungal degradation of lignocellulosic like-material, the non-specific enzymatic aspects of the attack of wood and agricultural wastes, the fungal ability for biosorption and bioconversion, and its applications in the pulp/paper industry and bioremediation.

ABSTRACT Bee pollen results from the mixture of pollen and floral nectar with the salivary substances of bees and has increasingly been used as a food with therapeutic properties. In this study, 30 samples of bee pollen from Apis mellifera apiaries in three mesoregions of Alagoas (Brazil) - Mata Atlântica, South Coast and Caatinga, were collected during the dry season of 2008/09 and analysed. Mata Atlântica and Caatinga had good production of bee pollen. In the same season, Mata Atlântica contained a higher diversity of pollen types for feeding bees with a predominance of herbaceous pollen (63%), whereas the Caatinga samples contained monofloral pollen. Physicochemical data were analysed with the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis statistical test. The Caatinga samples were analysed to determine their contents of total phenolic compounds (25.85 ± 10.80 mg gallic acid eq/g) and flavonoids (45.62 ± 32.19 mg quercetin eq/g) and their antioxidant activity (for instance, 70.62 ± 4.50% in the DPPH test), which were possibly affected by the environmental conditions of this biome.

Abstract A strategy in the control anthracnose of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is the management of crop phenology and defense mechanisms of this host. In previous studies, under controlled conditions, the seedling reactions of 5 cashew clones (CAP-14, CCP-06, CCP-09, CCP-76 and CCP-1001) to 36 isolates of Colletorichum gloeosporioides Penz. complex (LARS- 905 to 940) was evaluated. However, good field management requires information about the infection process. This research aimed to clarify cytophysiological aspects of three compatible interactions of this pathosystem (isolates LARS-905 and 910 × CCP-76; LARS-910 × CCP-1001) and an incompatible one (LARS-905 × CCP-1001), using infected leaves/stems and microscopy (light, scanning and transmission electron). No significant differences were found prior to penetration. In the susceptible combinations, 36-66 h after inoculation, a thin primary hypha (TPH) formed in the invaded epidermal cell, widening as a large primary hypha (LPH), which filled the cell lumen simultaneously with accumulation of of yellow-brown lignopolysaccharides. Then, a thin secondary hypha (TSH) developed from the LPH, penetrating adjacent cells before the first became necrotic. In the incompatible interaction, the response of the first invaded cell was faster and more intense, with formation of papilla and lignopolysaccharide-protein-silicon complex usually blocking the pathogen.

ABSTRACT Shrimps are sources of carotenoids, astaxanthin is the predominant, responsible for their special and desirable properties, as well as for their instability under heat treatment during the domestic preparation, industrial processing or storage under freezing. These can cause discoloration and reduce the beneficial health properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of heat treatment and storage under freezing (0, 45 and 90 days) on the levels of total carotenoids and stability of the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of fillets and shells, raw and cooked, of the white shrimp (“Vila Franca”) Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1938). The antioxidant ability of the extracts was evaluated using the radicals DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) and ABTS+• (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid), as well as by the iron reducing power (FRAP) test. The extracts of cooked or in natura shrimps (fillets and shells) represent dietary sources of carotenoids, displaying antioxidant activity through all the tested methods, after heat treatment and storage under freezing. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was superior to the one of ascorbic acid, mainly in the cooked fillet and shells. The samples of shrimp shells seemed a valuable source of carotenoids, whose antioxidant activity was verified even 90 days after freezing, and can be used in food products as functional natural supplement, adding value to this waste.