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Pesticide use is a widespread practice in agricultural production for pest control. The use of these products must adopt Good Agricultural Practices; therefore, the food is expected to be according to the current parameters. For this, the National Program for the Control of Residues and Contaminants of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock created a diagnosis of the products' quality. In this way, the program carried out pesticide analyses to evaluate the conformity of products of plant origin. From the analyzed products, fruits with broad commercialization and production in a state with more analyses were segregated. Based on these data, the banana, potato, apple, tomato, and grape results in the Rio Grande do Sul state (Southern Brazil) were analyzed and interpreted. This survey was conducted from 2016 to 2020, and data were compiled to assess the conformity of fresh vegetables. Samples with residual levels of pesticides above the maximum reference limit for the crop or with residual not allowed for the crop no-tolerance were considered non-conformance. The overall compliance rate for the highlighted vegetables was greater than 95%. The data were similar to countries with rigorous monitoring and application standards for this chemical hazard. Most of the non-conformities occurred due to the presence of residues above the maximum reference limit for the crop, especially due to the presence of insecticides from the chemical groups organophosphates and pyrethroids. These results show that food produced and consumed in Brazil has quality characteristics similar to those in developed countries. Illustrating that the food consumed by the population is safe. To obtain better results, technical assistance to farmers is essential, aiming to reduce the incidence of residues above the Maximum Limit for the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The glossophagine Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) fares well in urban environments across its range. In addition to roost sites, there are nectar and fruit sources available in diverse situations across the urban gradient. Phyllostomid bats that thrive in urbanized situations are behaviorally plastic generalists and rely on patches of ornamental or feral plants as food sources. Herein we report on G. soricina and its food sources at an urbanized site in Southeastern Brazil. This small phyllostomid bat consumes nectar from landscaping ornamental plants, besides consuming the soft pulp along with the tiny seeds of pioneer trees and shrubs. In addition to these natural sources, the bat exploits hummingbird feeders to consume the sugared water. Ingested small seeds are defecated in flight, the bat acting as a disperser of pioneer plants that favor cleared areas. Glossophaga soricina role as flower-pollinator and seed-disperser at Neotropical urban areas merits further attention due both to the maintenance of urban biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana is the most consumed fruit in Brazil. It is widely consumed due to its organoleptic characteristics, which is highly appreciated by consumers. Dehydration is a technological alternative to reduce post-harvest fruit losses. The objective of this work was to obtain dried banana (as a substitute for sugar in cake formulation) through dehydration of banana of the Prata variety, with subsequent convective drying in an oven and to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of: water content, total soluble solids, ash, pH and acidity. Dehydration was carried out in an oven at 70°C for 16 hours. Five cake formulations were produced with different concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of dehydrated banana. Based on the results presented, the use of bananas as a sugar substitute is an alternative for people who want to reduce the sugar level in their food without compromising sensory quality and increasing nutritional quality. Therefore, elaborate cakes could be made available on the market in order to increase the range of sugar-free products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyes are defined as substances that give color to foods and beverages, and can be of natural or synthetic origin. The use of natural dyes is growing due to greater consumer demand, as they attribute several health benefits. Native fruits, in addition to being beneficial, are considered excellent sources of natural pigments and can be included in the diet, resulting in a diverse and colorful diet. Carotenoids are phenolic compounds, which belong to the natural pigment class, and are found in fruits, in yellow, orange and red tones. The present study is a review of the scientific literature on the importance of carotenoids, considered sources of natural pigments and from fruits native to Brazil, specifically acerola (Malpighia emarginata), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) as well as the beneficial effects that these fruits bring to health. Several studies show that the consumption of native fruits, sources of pigments have functional properties. Thus, it is concluded that the native fruits source of carotenoids, in addition to being used as natural dyes, also confer several nutraceutical effects, with a daily dose ranging from 9,000 to 18,000 µg / day, which can be used for prevention and treatments of several pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Introduction: the simultaneous increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases and in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) suggests a possible relationship between UPF and cardiometabolic risk (CMR). Objective: to evaluate the association between food consumption, according to the degree of processing, and CMR in young adults. Methods: this is a comparative cross-sectional study in 120 Brazilian young adults aged 18-25 years, categorized by the presence of CMR. Food consumption was investigated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and classified according to the extent of food processing. Food groups and tertiles in grams of unprocessed, minimally processed (MPF), processed and ultra-processed foods (UPF) were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The associations of food consumption, according to level of processing (MPF and UPF), with CMR components were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results: a high caloric contribution of UPF was observed in the diet of this study population. The total energy intake from lipids in all foods (p = 0.04) and in UPF (p = 0.03) was greater in the group with CMR. A greater consumption of UPF was a risk factor for abdominal obesity (OR = 1.09; 95 % CI = 1.00-1.18) while a greater consumption of MPF was protective for LDL-c alterations independently of sex, physical activity, and alcohol intake (OR = 0.70; 95 % CI = 0.50-0.98). Conclusions: UPF contributed to a greater caloric intake from fat in the CMR, and was a risk factor for abdominal obesity. MPF was an independent protective factor for LDL-c alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With a huge variety of edible plants, native or exotic, Brazil's biodiversity is underexploited as far as food is concerned. Objective: To develop a Seasonality Calendar to promote further knowledge, use and preservation of these species that make up Brazil's biodiversity. Methods: Systematization of information about the harvest period of unconventional or neglected horticultural products, through a review of the scientific literature, by classifying them according to the parts used in human nutrition, such as fruits, fruit-vegetables, herbaceous vegetables and seeds. Results: The calendar includes 71 species, classified into 60 native and 11 exotic ones, subdivided into 59 fruits, 3 fruit-vegetables, 13 herbaceous vegetables and 6 seeds. Conclusions: There need to be more studies focused on this topic owing to its relevance and scarcity of works that present easily applicable tools to encourage the use of unconventional or neglected horticultural crops in cuisine and gastronomy. Therefore, the population and, especially, culinary professionals (when planning menus) are expected to use this knowledge with a view to valuing food culture and the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer, and two-fifths of cases could be avoided by changing lifestyle and eating habits. Methods: This multicenter case-control study was conducted under the International Consortium on Head and Neck Cancer and Genetic Epidemiology, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This consortium evaluated associations between minimally processed food consumption and the risk of HNC in three Brazilian states. Results: We evaluated 1740 subjects (847 cases and 893 controls). In multiple analyses including recognized risk factors for HNC, the consumption of apples and pears was associated with reduced risks of oral cavity and laryngeal cancers; the consumption of citrus fruits and fresh tomatoes was associated with a reduced risk of oral cavity cancer; the consumption of bananas was associated with a reduced risk of oropharynx cancer; the consumption of broccoli, cabbage, and collard greens was associated with reduced risks of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers; and the consumption of carrots and fresh fruits was associated with a reduced risk of hypopharyngeal cancer. Conclusions: The consumption of a heathy diet rich in fruits and vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of HNC. Public policies, including government subsidies, are essential to facilitate logistical and financial access to minimally processed foods, thereby strengthening environments that promote healthy behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruellieae is a highly diverse tribe of Acanthaceae in Brazil, and morphological studies of its seeds have revealed important information about the systematics of the tribe. We analyzed the seed morphology of Brazilian species of Ruellieae, using stereoscopic, light, and scanning electron microscopy. The best-sampled genus was Ruellia (53 species), followed by Dyschoriste (seven), and Hygrophila (three); including external groups, a total of 65 species of Ruellieae (68 of Acanthaceae) were sampled. We observed capsular fruits with explosive dehiscence, important for autochory, and discoid seeds covered by hygroscopic and mucilaginous trichomes. The characters most relevant to the taxonomy of the groups were fruit shape, number of ovules, and the distribution, shape, and number of rings on the seed trichomes, the latter two addressed here for the first time. Those characters proved useful for discriminating and characterizing the sampled genera within Ruellieae, and especially the infrageneric clades of Ruellia. Based on the morphological patterns observed, we provide a key for those taxa, and suggest the infrageneric placement of unclassified Ruellia species: R. hypericoides and Ruellia sp. 4 for the clade "Ebracteolati" s. l., Ruellia spp. 2 and 3 for "R. inflata," Ruellia sp. 1 for "Euruellia" s. s., and R. anamariae for the clade "Blechum." In a broader context, we corroborate the finding that partial loss of seed trichomes is exclusive to one of the two large lineages of Neotropical Ruellia (lineage II). The hygroscopic and mucilaginous trichomes of Ruellieae seeds play important roles in water retention, germination, protection, and secondary dispersal, and we discuss some aspects of secondary hydrochory and epizoochory on medium- and long-range dispersal of Ruellieae, including transatlantic distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee farms have been adopting the microterraces system, a technique that reduces the effect of the slope by moving the soil between the crop lines. In this way, all the mechanized operations can be carried out normally, except for harvesting, due to the work limitation of the harvesters, who work in areas with a maximum slope of 20%. One option is to use unilateral harvesters, which crop one side at a time; however, there has been no research on these microterrace machines to evaluate their performance and to compare it with those of the other harvesting methods in those regions. This study aimed to compare the mechanized harvest performance in the microterraces with the manual and semimechanized harvesting methods. The study was carried out in an agricultural area of the municipality of Ouro Fino / MG, Brazil, in a crop production site where the microterraces were built six years before the experiment. The treatments were assigned to a split-block design with seven repetitions and consisted of mechanized harvest—unilateral harvester with bag storage; manual harvest—regionally experienced workers; and semimechanized harvest—with portable breakers. Through an analysis of the times and movements, the operational efficiency and operational and effective field capabilities were measured. The adoption of microterraces allows the efficient mechanization of areas previously impossible to mechanize. The unilateral harvester is a potential tool for the partial replacement of manual labor in the harvest, performing a service equivalent to that of 23.68 manual workers and 10.55 manual workers in the semimechanized system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoid bioaccessibility is an important predictor of absorption and provitamin A intake. Humans do not synthesize carotenoids which need to be acquired from the diet, mainly from green leafy vegetables and fruits with colors from yellow to red. The carotenoid composition of five industrialized fruit-based baby food (Assorted fruits (AF); Tropical fruits (TF); Apple, mango, and carrot (AMC); Papaya and orange (PO); and Grape and banana (GB)) acquired in Brazil was determined, and the carotenoid bioaccessibility was calculated after in vitro digestion by the Infogest 2.0 protocol. The provitamin A carotenoids were converted to RAE (retinol activity equivalent) to estimate the vitamin A value. (All- E)-β-carotene bioaccessibility ranged from 5% for AF to 24% for AMC baby foods and from 1% for GB to 15.5% for TF baby foods for total carotenoid bioaccessibility. Regarding vitamin A intake, AMC baby food had the highest RAE value, 15 per portion of 120 g, corresponding to 3% of the dietary reference intake (DRI). Lipids and minerals positively affected the bioaccessibility of carotenoids, except for (all- E)-α-carotene. Interestingly, fiber content positively affected the bioaccessibility of (all- E)-α-carotene, while no effect was observed on the other carotenoids' micellarization. [Display omitted] • Fruit-based baby food nutrient content differs from label information. • Minerals affect carotenoid bioaccessibility from fruit-based baby food. • Fruit-based baby foods do not contribute significantly to children's vitamin A intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal pollination can impact food security since many crops depend on pollinators to produce fruits and seeds. However, the effects of projected climate change on crop pollinators and therefore on crop production are still unclear, especially for wild pollinators and aggregate community responses. Using species distributional modeling, we assessed the effects of climate change on the geographic distribution of 95 pollinator species of 13 Brazilian crops, and we estimated their relative impacts on crop production. We described these effects at the municipality level, and we assessed the crops that were grown, the gross production volume of these crops, the total crop production value, and the number of inhabitants. Overall, considering all crop species, we found that the projected climate change will reduce the probability of pollinator occurrence by almost 0.13 by 2050. Our models predict that almost 90% of the municipalities analyzed will face species loss. Decreases in the pollinator occurrence probability varied from 0.08 (persimmon) to 0.25 (tomato) and will potentially affect 9% (mandarin) to 100% (sunflower) of the municipalities that produce each crop. Municipalities in central and southern Brazil will potentially face relatively large impacts on crop production due to pollinator loss. In contrast, some municipalities in northern Brazil, particularly in the northwestern Amazon, could potentially benefit from climate change because pollinators of some crops may increase. The decline in the probability of pollinator occurrence is found in a large number of municipalities with the lowest GDP and will also likely affect some places where crop production is high (20% to 90% of the GDP) and where the number of inhabitants is also high (more than 6 million people). Our study highlights key municipalities where crops are economically important and where pollinators will potentially face the worst conditions due to climate change. However, pollinators may be able to find new suitable areas that have the potential to improve crop production. The results shown here could guide policy decisions for adapting to climate change and for preventing the loss of pollinator species and crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal and the third most diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. More than 75% of CRC cases are sporadic and lifestyle-related. Risk factors include diet, physical inactivity, genetics, smoking, alcohol, changes in the intestinal microbiota, and inflammation-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The limits of conventional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), as demonstrated by the side effects and resistance of many CRC patients, are making professionals search for new chemopreventive alternatives. In this context, diets rich in fruits and vegetables or plant-based products, which contain high levels of phytochemicals, have been postulated as complementary therapeutic options. Anthocyanins, phenolic pigments responsible for the vivid colors of most red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables, have been shown protective effects on CRC. Berries, grapes, Brazilian fruits, and vegetables such as black rice and purple sweet potato are examples of products rich in anthocyanins, which have been able to reduce cancer development by modulating signaling pathways associated with CRC. Therefore, this review has as main objective to present and discuss the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of anthocyanins present in fruits and vegetables, in plant extracts, or in their pure form on CRC, taking into account up-to-date experimental studies (2017-2023). Additionally, a highlight is given towards the mechanisms of action of anthocyanins on CRC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Animal pollinators contribute to human food production and security thereby ensuring an important component of human well-being. The recent decline of these agents in Europe and North America has aroused the concern of a potential global pollinator crisis. In order to prioritize efforts for pollinator conservation, we evaluated the extent to which food production depends on animal pollinators in Brazil—one of the world’s agriculture leaders—by comparing cultivated area, produced volume and yield value of major food crops that are pollinator dependent with those that are pollinator non-dependent. In addition, we valued the ecosystem service of pollination based on the degree of pollinator dependence of each crop and the consequence of a decline in food production to the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product and Brazilian food security. A total of 68% of the 53 major food crops in Brazil depend to some degree on animals for pollination. Pollinator non-dependent crops produce a greater volume of food, mainly because of the high production of sugarcane, but the cultivated area and monetary value of pollinator dependent crops are higher (59% of total cultivated area and 68% of monetary value). The loss of pollination services for 29 of the major food crops would reduce production by 16.55–51 million tons, which would amount to 4.86–14.56 billion dollars/year, and reduce the agricultural contribution to the Brazilian GDP by 6.46%– 19.36%. These impacts would be largely absorbed by family farmers, which represent 74.4% of the agricultural labor force in Brazil. The main effects of a pollinator crisis in Brazil would be felt by the poorer and more rural classes due to their lower income and direct or exclusive dependence on this ecosystem service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carambola fruit fly, Bactrocera carambolae, is a tephritid native to Asia that has invaded South America through small-scale trade of fruits from Indonesia. The economic losses associated with biological invasions of other fruit flies around the world and the polyphagous behaviour of B. carambolae have prompted much concern among government agencies and farmers with the potential spread of this pest. Here, ecological niche models were employed to identify suitable environments available to B. carambolae in a global scale and assess the extent of the fruit acreage that may be at risk of attack in Brazil. Overall, 30 MaxEnt models built with different combinations of environmental predictors and settings were evaluated for predicting the potential distribution of the carambola fruit fly. The best model was selected based on threshold-independent and threshold-dependent metrics. Climatically suitable areas were identified in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, west and east coast of India and northern Australia. The suitability map of B. carambola was intersected against maps of fruit acreage in Brazil. The acreage under potential risk of attack varied widely among fruit species, which is expected because the production areas are concentrated in different regions of the country. The production of cashew is the one that is at higher risk, with almost 90% of its acreage within the suitable range of B. carambolae, followed by papaya (78%), tangerine (51%), guava (38%), lemon (30%), orange (29%), mango (24%) and avocado (20%). This study provides an important contribution to the knowledge of the ecology of B. carambolae, and the information generated here can be used by government agencies as a decision-making tool to prevent the carambola fruit fly spread across the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain food groups are often rejected during chemotherapy (CT) due to the side effects of treatment, which may interfere with adequate diet and nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment impact on the diet and nutritional status of women with breast cancer (BC). In this prospective longitudinal study, conducted in 2014–2015, 55 women diagnosed with BC, with a mean age 51.5±10.1 years, were followed and data were collected at three different times. Anthropometric and dietary assessments were performed, the latter by applying nine 24h dietary recalls, by using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (BHEI-R), and calculating the prevalence of inadequacy by the EAR cut-off point method. Regarding the BHEI-R analysis, the majority of women had a “diet requires modification’, both at the beginning (T0, 58.2%, n = 32) and during treatment (T1, 54.5%, n = 30). However, after the end of the CT, the greater percentage of patients (T2, 49.1%, n = 27) were classified as having an "inadequate diet", since the Total Fruit consumption as well as the Dark Green and Orange Vegetable and Legume consumption decreased significantly during treatment (p = 0.043 and p = 0.026, respectively). There was a significant reduction in the intake of macro and micronutrients, with a high prevalence of inadequacy, of up to 100%, for calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C and zinc. Assessment of the nutritional status indicated that 56% (n = 31) of patients were overweight at these three different times. Weight, BMI and Waist Circumference increased significantly, indicating a worse nutritional status, and there was a correlation between poor diet quality and higher values for BMI, Waist-Hip Ratio and Waist-to-Height Ratio. Chemotherapy interferes in the patients’ diet generating a negative impact on the quality and intake of micro and macronutrients, as well as an impact on their nutritional status, with an increase in anthropometric measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the relationship between the local retail food environment and consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in São Paulo, Brazil, as well as the moderation effects of income in the studied relationships.Design: Cross-sectional study design that drew upon neighbourhood- and individual-level data. For each participant, community (density and proximity) and community food environment (availability, variety, quality and price) measures of FV and SSB were assessed in retail food stores and specialized fresh produce markets within 1·6 km of their homes. Poisson generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model the associations of food consumption with food environment measures, adjusted by individual-level characteristics.Setting: São Paulo, Brazil.Subjects: Adults (n 1842) residing in the same census tracts (n 52) in São Paulo, Brazil as those where the neighbourhood-level measures were taken.Results: FV availability in neighbourhoods was associated with regular FV consumption (≥5 times/week; prevalence ratio=1·41; 95 % CI 1·19, 1·67). Regular FV consumption prevalence was significantly lower among lower-income individuals living in neighbourhoods with fewer supermarkets and fresh produce markets (P-interaction <0·05). A greater variety of SSB was associated with a 15 % increase in regular SSB consumption (≥5 times/week) prevalence, after adjustment for confounding variables.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the local retail food environment is associated with FV and SSB consumption in a Brazilian urban sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian native fruits are unmatched in their variety, but a poorly explored resource for the development of food and pharmaceutical products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic composition as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruits (Eugenia leitonii, Eugenia involucrata, Eugenia brasiliensis, and Eugenia myrcianthes). GC—MS analyses of the ethanolic extracts showed the presence of epicatechin and gallic acid as the major compounds in these fruits. Antioxidant activity was measured using synthetic DPPH free-radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROO·, O2·−, and HOCl). The fruit extracts also exhibited antioxidant effect against biologically relevant radicals such as peroxyl, superoxide, and hypochlorous acid. In general, the pulps were the fruit fractions that exhibited the lowest antioxidant activities, whereas the leaves showed the highest ones. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in an in vivo model using the carrageenan-induced neutrophil migration assay, which evaluates the inflammatory response in the acute phase. The pulp, seeds, and leaves of these fruits reduced the neutrophil influx by 40% to 64%. Based on these results, we suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of these native fruits is related to the modulation of neutrophil migration, through the inhibition of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, as well as to the antioxidant action of their ethanolic extracts in scavenging the free-radicals released by neutrophils. Therefore, these native fruits can be useful to produce food additives and functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple volatile aroma depends of complex interaction among organic compounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application on volatile profile and quality on 'Royal Gala' apples produced in Southern Brazil and stored under controlled atmosphere condition (CA; 1.0kPa O2+1.2kPa CO2; 0.5±0.1°C; 94±1% relative humidity). Volatile profile was determined after eight month of CA storage plus 7 days of shelf life via solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer. In the volatile profile were identified 8 esters, 11 alcohols, 6 aldehydes, 6acids, 2ketones, 1 ether and 1 terpene. 1-MCP application reduced significantly the main volatile compounds production by 'Royal Gala' apples produced in Southern Brazil. Its application decreases significantly the esters production, especially 2-methyl-butyl acetate and hexyl acetate, compared to 'Royal Gala' apples storage under CA. 1-methylcyclopropene application decrease ethyleneproduction and respiration rate. Apples treated with 1-MCP exhibit higher hexanal and 2(E)-hexenal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new root-knot nematode parasitising vegetables, flowers and fruits in Brazil, Iran and Chile, is described as Meloidogyne luci n. sp. The female has an oval to squarish perineal pattern with a low to moderately high dorsal arc and without shoulders, similar to M. ethiopica. The female stylet is robust and 15-16 pm long; the distance from the dorsal pharyngeal gland orifice to the stylet base (DGO) is 3-4 p.m. Males have a high, rounded head cap continuous with the body contour. The labial disc is fused with the medial lips to form an elongated lip structure. The head region is not marked by incomplete annulations. Male stylet robust, 20.8-23.0 p.m long with rounded knobs; the DGO is 2.5-4.5 p.m. The stylet of second-stage juveniles (J2) is 12.0-13.5 pm long and the DGO to the stylet base is 2.3-3.3 /xm. The J2 tail is conoid with finely rounded terminus and is 40.0-48.5 //m long. Biochemically, the esterase phenotype L3 (R nv 1.05, 1.10, 1.25) is unique and is the most useful character to differentiate M. luci n. sp. from all other Meloidogyne species. Reproduction is by mitotic parthenogenesis (2rc = 42-46 chromosomes). In a differential host test, the population from Lavandula spica, Caxias do Sul, RS State, Brazil, reproduced on tomato cv. Rutgers, tobacco cv. NC95 and pepper cv. California Wonder. No reproduction occurred on watermelon cv. Charleston Gray, cotton cv. Deltapine 61 or peanut cv. Florunner. In Neighbour-Joining analyses of ITS and D2-D3 rRNA sequences, populations of M. luci n. sp. from Brazil, Chile and Iran clustered together and were clearly separated from other Meloidogyne spp., thus confirming that all three populations are very similar and conspecific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolics including flavonoids are suggested to be the major bioactive compounds contributing to the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. The objective of the study was to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC), cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and antiproliferative properties of selected cerrado fruits named gabiroba (Campomanesia cambessedeana Berg), murici (Byrsonoma verbascifolia Rich) and guapeva (Pouteria guardneriana Radlk). Gabiroba fruit showed the highest amount of total phenolics (851.0±40.7mg/100g fruit) and the highest antioxidant activity for both the performed assays (ORAC 8027.5±378.6μmol TE/100g fruit and PSC 2342.5±48.1μmol AAE/100g fruit). Gabiroba fruit and the pulp of guapeva had the highest antiproliferative capacity with the lowest EC50 40.7±4.8mg/mL and 37.9±2.2mg/mL, respectively. The results for the analyzed fruits for CAA were not significantly different from each other (p<0.05) (murici 41.3±17.8; gabiroba 33.9±18.8 and the pulp of guapeva 23.3±4.2μmol quercetin/100g fruit). More than 30 phenolic compounds in the pulp of guapeva, gabiroba and murici extracts were identified in the present study using ESI–TOF-MS. These results characterized for the first time the functional activity of selected Brazilian fruits and demonstrated the importance of these fruits from cerrado biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Folate, a B vitamin, has been associated with a reduced concentration of plasma homocysteine (phcy), a marker of cardiovascular disease. The contribution of fruits and vegetables (FV) and other natural folate-rich foods to folate intake and folate status in Brazilian adolescents has hardly been determined. Objectives: To investigate the intake of FV and beans and its association with the concentration of phcy in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional population-based study with a complex sample survey, with 198 adolescents who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls, a food frequency questionnaire, and a fasting blood draw. Usual dietary intake estimates were derived applying the Multiple Source Method. Three different generalized linear models with a gamma distribution were developed for each sex to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV intake as well as to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV and bean intake. Results: No association was found between phcy concentration and FV intake or between phcy and FV and beans. Serum folate and female sex were inversely related to phcy. Conclusion: Phcy was not related to FV or FV and beans; this may be attributable to a low intake of these food groups. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the potential relationships between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and some oxidative stress markers in young adults, with particular emphasis on fibre and vitamin C intake. The study enrolled 246 healthy subjects (eighty-eight men and 158 women), with a mean age of 22 (sd 3) years and a mean BMI of 21·9 (sd 2·8) kg/m2. Dietary intake, anthropometry, blood pressure, lifestyle features and blood biochemical data were assessed with validated procedures. Those subjects in the highest tertile (T) of FV consumption ( ≥ 705 g/d) had statistically lower oxidised LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations as well as higher plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P for trend < 0·05), after adjusting for sex, age, energy intake, physical activity, smoking, BMI, vitamin supplement use and other confounding factors. Moreover, plasma ox-LDL concentrations showed a decreasing trend and TAC an increasing trend across tertiles of fibre (T3: ≥ 14 g/d) and vitamin C (T3: ≥ 150 mg/d) from FV intake, while GPx activity was positively associated with vitamin C intake (P for trend < 0·05). In conclusion, greater FV consumption was independently associated with reduced ox-LDL as well as increased TAC and GPx activity in healthy young adults, with dietary fibre and vitamin C from FV clearly being implicated in this beneficial relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Increased body weight has been associated with an unhealthy diet, low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Our objective was to investigate whether adolescents had low intake of fruits and vegetables, and whether gender, age and education could affect the feeding patterns. Methods: A population-based sample of adolescents, aged 12-19 years, were randomly selected in southern Brazil and included in this cross-sectional study. The total daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, rice and beans were investigated in standardized household interviews, using a food frequency questionnaire and questions, being categorized as five or more servings per day as the five-a-day diet. ANOVA, ANCOVA, and modified Poisson regression were used in the analysis. Results: Adolescents (n = 568) were included, 49.5% boys, 14.3% had overweight and 8.8% obesity. Approximately 23% of participants consumed five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. It was observed that 36.7% of boys and 31.0% of girls consumed less than one serving of fruit per day, and 58.4% and 44.6%, respectively, consumed less than one serving of vegetables. The consumption of vegetables, fruits, and rice and beans were not independently associated with gender. Overweight was associated with higher intake of five-a-day, independently of confounding factors. Conclusions: Adolescents from southern Brazil have lower frequency of consumption of five servings a day of fruits and vegetables combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Agro@mbiente On-line is the property of Revista Agro@mbiente On-line and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The profile and levels of 10 bioactive amines were determined in five tropical fruits, among them, pineapple, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit. The amines were extracted from the Brazilian fruits with 1 N HCl and analyzed by ion-pair HPLC, post-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and fluorimetric detection. Five amines were found in the fruits (spermidine, spermine, putrescine, serotonin and agmatine). Total amines levels varied from 0.77mg/100g in mango up to 7.53mg/100g in passion fruit. Spermidine was detected in every fruit whereas putrescine and spermine were found in most of them. Agmatine was detected in some samples of pineapple, papaya and passion fruit and serotonin was present in pineapple and passion fruit. Passion fruit is a good source of the polyamines spermidine and spermine (3.05 and 2.43mg/100g, respectively) and, therefore, could play an important role in growth, health, antioxidant activity and membrane permeability. Papaya is a good source of serotonin (0.99mg/100g), which has been associated with enabling the gut to mediate reflex activity and also with decreasing the risk of thrombosis. Histamine, a peripheral vasodilator, and the vasoconstrictors tyramine, tryptamine and phenylethylamine, as well as cadaverine were not detected in any of the fruits analyzed. Due to the diversity of amines in these fruits, they can provide different functional properties and, therefore, can be used for different nutritional needs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cape-gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is a small fruit with great potentialities that whether associated to its short cycle and nutraceutical properties it shows high economical return. The work aimed to evaluate the best training system and replant period to plant growth, production and fruit quality of P. peruviana under edaphoclimatic at conditions of southern Rio Grande do Sul. The trial was carried out in Pelotas, RS, in 2007/2008 crop. Transplanting seedlings capegooseberry was conducted in two seasons Plant replanting was done in two periods (period 1, 21/11/2007 and period 2, 15/ 01/2008). Plants were trained under four systems (inverted "V" system, triangular system, vertical system using bamboo or vertical system using polypropylene cord), similarly to the tomato culture. Experimental design adopted was a complete randomized block in a 2x4 factorial (replant period x training system) with three replications of ten plants each. The variables analyzed were: increment of length and section area of the main branch, section area of the main branch, yield and yield efficiency. It was evidenced that the first period of replant associated to the training systems inverted "V" and triangular improved the agronomical performance of cape-gooseberry plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a widely held notion that the increasing trend of urbanization accelerates loss of biodiversity and displaces native species. This study assessed the validity of this notion in the city of São Luís the capital of the state of Maranhão in the northeastern Brazil. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) assess plant and animal diversity of urban homegardens, (2) compare the diversity of homegardens in terms of origin of these species (exotic or indigenous to Brazil). We conducted a biodiversity survey in 40 randomly selected 'quintais' (hereafter called homegardens) from ten locations in the city of São Luis. We evaluated the species richness and diversity of various use categories of plant and animal species indigenous to Brazil as well as exotic species. A total of 186 species of plants in 68 families were recorded in the sampled homegradens. A total of 63 fruit tree species representing 34% of all tree species were found. Of these species, those indigenous to Brazil accounted for 58% of the cases, and this was significantly higher than the exotic species. Most of the species (60%) were indigenous to Brazil (wild and semi-wild domesticates), while the rest (40%) were exotic. A total of 42 species of vertebrates (mainly reptiles, birds and mammals) were also found in the homegardens, of which 47% were indigenous to Brazil. Some of the plant and animal species found in the homegardens are endangered species in their native habitats, suggesting that homegardens could provide a unique opportunity for their conservation and sustainable use. These species continue to play a vital role in the socioeconomic and ecological landscape of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid and phenolic content were studied in 10 exotic fruits from Brazil: abiu, acerola, wax jambu, cashew, mamey sapote, carambola or star fruit, Surinam cherry, longan, sapodilla and jaboticaba. The ascorbic acid was determined by 2,6-dichloroindophenol titrimetic methods and total phenols were measured colorimetrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity was investigated with three different methods: hypochlorous acid scavenging activity, 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation decolorization assay, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. The highest content of vitamin C (1,525.00 mg/100 g pulp) occurred in acerola. The total phenol content was higher in abiu, acerola, Surinam cherry and sapodilla. In relation to antioxidant activity, acerola has showed the great values in all three different methods tested. It was found that the fruits have a significant antioxidant effect when tested by each method, respectively, and these antioxidant capacities are promising. The sample concentration also influenced its antioxidant power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Certification has become increasingly relevant as a marketing signal for agribusiness especially in the fruit sector over the past few years. Substantial parts of many value chains are by now certified by standards as GlobalGAP, Fair Trade, Integrated Fruit Production and Organic. At the same time, in developed countries, particularly in the European Union and the United States, demand for higher levels of food safety has led to the implementation of certification programs that address more types of safety-related attributes and impose stricter standards. Certification systems play an important role in any market that is burdened with a high degree of information asymmetry and quality uncertainty. Thus, producers and exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables from developing countries like Brazil are increasingly required to demonstrate the safety and traceability of their produce up to the consumption stage. The comparative analysis of the four certification schemes which exist in the fruit sector in Brazil has shown that GlobalGAP and the Integrated Fruit Production (PIF) are similar certification schemes. However, they differ with respect to the number of requirements and their distribution over various stages (e.g. production, post-harvesting). Contrary to PIF and GlobalGAP, Fairtrade certification concentrates on producers' organizations and cooperatives where small-scale farmers belong to and not on individual farmers. In addition, a lot of attention is paid to the labour and environmental conditions, besides the guarantee of a minimum price for farmers. With respect to organic certification, the requirements are not directed to a particular product or crop and their level of compliance is not indicated. Major emphasis is put on the production system. Organic and Fairtrade certification do not have an own book keeping for records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying research in Brazil started to be significant from the early 1970s. At the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, a few authors started to publish their works in indexed journals in English. Even so, many works were published in Portuguese. This compilation has the objective of showcasing the academic research done in Brazil from 1970 to 2003. This search was carried out using existing databases on Brazilian academic research. We located 705 works consisting of 82% M.Sc. and 18% Ph.D. theses. Tables listing the dried products and dryers studied are presented along with a discussion of the historical development of the Brazilian drying research and the new trends as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana has been widely used in Brazilian popular medicine for the treatment of several diseases. Aerial parts are used as an infusion to treat arthrosis and arthritis, to relieve rheumatic and stomach pains, and intestinal disorders due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic anti-nociceptive, digestive and hepatoprotective properties. This study aimed to characterize the of M. albicans (Sw.) Triana fruits extract (MAFRE) chemical profile and to evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, as well as its toxicity. Maceration with methanol as liquid extractor was used to prepare MAFRE. M. albicans (Sw.) Triana fruits chemical composition was characterized by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-FID (fatty acid methyl esters composition from lyophilized fruits). MAFRE antioxidant potential was evaluated in vitro using a combination of assays: Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity, DPPH• and ABTS radical scavenging ability and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In vitro antiproliferative activity was investigated in four human tumor cell lines (U251, 786-0, HT29 and MDA-MB-231) while the effect on the non-tumor cell viability was assessed in the VERO cell line using the on-step MTT assay. In addition, in vivo anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by Croton oil-induced ear edema in mice followed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity evaluation. Thirty-five compounds were identified by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Among it flavonoids derived from quercetin (8), myricetin (1), kaempferol (2), terpenoids (6) and other compounds (18). GC-FID analysis identified and quantified nine fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, elaidic, oleic, eicosenoic, and linoleic acids. The most abundant fatty acids were polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.33 ± 0.17 mg g-1), followed by saturated fatty acids (2.38 ± 0.07 mg g-1) and monounsaturated fatty acids (1.74 ± 0.09 mg g-1). The extract revealed high content of phenolic compounds (43.68 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g of extract), potent antioxidant, and ferrous chelating capacities. Morever, it proved to be non-toxic to the VERO cells, not affecting cells viability (95% of viable cells). No antiproliferative effect against human tumor cell lines were found. Furthermore , MAFRE significantly (p<0.05) reduced ear edema (≈35%) and MPO activity (84.5%) having a statistical effect similar to traditional steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Taken together, the results evidenced that M. albicans fruit extract has antioxidant properties, a higher concentration of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, fatty acids, and also topical anti-inflammatory activity with low toxicity of extract on VERO cells. Through the ethnomedicinal study, these findings supporting the popular use of M. albicans , but also highlight that not only aerial parts and leaves deserve attention, but the fruits also have anti-inflammatory proprieties and can be a source of phenolic compounds and other substances with potential health benefices. [Display omitted] • M. albicans fruits extract provided several biologically active compounds, especially flavonoids and terpenoids. • M. albicans fruits have an antioxidant potential superior to other common fruits. • M. albicans fruits proved to be non-toxic to Vero cell line, also has an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo in mice tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the relationship between availability of different types of retail food stores and consumption of fruit and leafy vegetables., Study Design: This study is a cross-sectional study., Methods: Data were derived from 2032 adults living in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, participating in the longitudinal Pro-Saude Study. Exposure to street markets, fruit and vegetable stores, groceries and markets, unhealthy food outlets, restaurants, and supermarkets within 1600 m buffers was obtained by georeferencing residential addresses. Consumption of fruit and leafy vegetables was assessed via two single questions, categorized as 'yes' (≥4 days/week) and 'no' (<3 days/week). Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess relationships of interest adjusted for surrounding average monthly income, sex, age, education, and family income per capita., Results: Except for supermarkets, the presence of a greater number of retail food stores - irrespective of the type - was associated with higher odds of consumption of fruit and leafy vegetables than with areas with a lower number (e.g. odds ratio = 1.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.13-1.91)., Conclusions: The greater availability of several types of retail food stores close to participants' residences was associated with higher consumption of fruit and leafy vegetables in Rio de Janeiro., (Copyright © 2020 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Overweight and obesity are important risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, and their prevalence is on the rise worldwide. This study seeks to describe the prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity in Brazilian immigrants living in Massachusetts, United States of America (USA)., Methods: Modeled after a survey on behavioral risk factors for chronic disease conducted annually in Brazil (Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico: Vigitel), Brazilian immigrants aged 18+ (n = 361) were surveyed between December 2013 and March 2014. Information was obtained from consenting participants regarding their demographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary and lifestyle habits, and other behavioral risk factors. Weight status was estimated from body mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported height and weight data. Participants were categorized as overweight/obese if their BMI was ≥25; overweight and obese categories were combined to ensure appropriate sample size. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was estimated using STATA, and significant predictors were identified via multi-variable logistic regression. Odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values were determined., Results: The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity in the sample was 47.6%. Significant predictors of overweight and obesity were gender (men OR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.78; women are comparison group), working in the 3 months prior to the survey (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.01, 8.30), and longer duration living in the USA (OR per additional year 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11). Significant dietary predictors of overweight/obesity included 5 or more days per week of consumption of red meat (OR red meat 3.70, 95% CI: 1.47, 9.26) or of sweetened beverages, like soft drinks also known as soda (OR soda 2.40, 95% CI: 1.00, 5.78) compared with less frequent consumption of these foods., Conclusions: This study suggests that long duration of time lived in the USA increases odds of overweight and obesity for Brazilian immigrants living in Massachusetts. Efforts to curb increases in overweight and obesity in this population should focus not only on the men and those who work but also the women. Possible intervention measures should target soda (soft drink) and red meat consumption in Brazilian immigrants.

• A novel method for patulin determination in apple and apple juice is presented. • The method showed to be accurate and precise for both matrices. • A survey of patulin was carried out in samples collected in Southern Brazilian supermarkets. • Apple samples showed less contamination than apple juices samples. In this work, a novel single method for patulin determination in apple and apple juice employing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) is presented. Samples were extracted employing ethyl acetate acidified with acetic acid followed by sodium sulfate addition. The extracts were submitted to dispersive solid phase clean-up employing sodium sulfate and silica gel. The method was validated assessing linearity and linearity range, limits of detection and quantification, matrix effect, precision (RSD%) and accuracy (recovery from samples spiked at 25, 50 and 100 μg kg−1). The method showed to be suitable for patulin determination as the recovery ranged from 76 to 84% for apple and from 102 to 108% for apple juice, in both cases with RSD lower than 15%. Matrix effect was also evaluated and showed to be less intense for apple juice (−22%) than for apples (−42%). The validated method was applied to 62 samples (apple and apple juice) collected in supermarkets of southern Brazil, during the years 2016 and 2017. Apple samples showed contamination ranging from < LOQ to 757 μg kg−1 and apple juice from < LOQ to 1298 μg L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]