Mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate fertilization in the production of Euterpe edulis seedlings

The present study evaluated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on growth and nutrition of Euterpe edulis seedlings, supplemented or not with phosphate fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The randomized block design, consisted of a 3x2 factorial arrangement and 4 replicates, with two phosphorus doses (0 and 50 mg dm-3 of soil), two microbiological treatments (Rhizophagus clarus; laroideoglomus etunicatum; R. clarus + C. etunicatum) and control (without fungus). Sowing and inoculation occurred concurrently in 2 kg plastic bags. Height, collar diameter, leaf area, dry shoot mass, macronutrient content and mycorrhizal colonization percentage were determined after 226 days. Regarding mycorrhizal colonization percentage, R. clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings. In the absence of phosphate fertilization, R. clarus and mixed inoculum increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. Therefore, it is concluded that AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. Highlights: Rhizophagus clarus resulted significantly beneficial for the production of E. edulis seedlings and in the absence of phosphate fertilization, and mixed inoculum ( clarus + Claroideoglomus etunicatum) increased all biometric variables and macronutrient contents in seedlings. The AMF inoculations provide beneficial effects for growth and nutrition of E. edulis seedlings, resulting in more vigorous plants at a low-cost strategy. The AMF, a biological agent of mutualistic associations with plants, constitutes an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture, contributing to increase plant survival rate, a key-factor for the successful reintroduction and conservation of E. edulis, as well as for its commercial exploitation.

Aprovechamiento múltiple de los frutos de Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae): La conservación del poder germinativo como aspecto clave en el manejo de la especie.

Introducción y objetivos: Euterpe edulis es una palmera endémica del Bosque Atlántico cuyo poder germinativo de las semillas disminuye ante la deshidratación por ser recalcitrantes. En el pasado, los ejemplares se cortaban -lo que implicaba la muerte- para cosechar el brote foliar con destino alimenticio, en el presente, se comercializan la pulpa de los frutos como alimento y las semillas para el mercado ornamental. Para evaluar si este doble aprovechamiento de los frutos es posible con las prácticas locales de manejo, se realizaron ensayos sobre el poder germinativo y la supervivencia de plantines. M&M: En frutos almacenados con pulpa y despulpados, se comparó el porcentaje de germinación, el índice de velocidad de germinación en semillas y el porcentaje de supervivencia de plántulas. Además, se calculó el aumento relativo del número de frutos despulpados en 1 kg, para estimar el valor comercial de esta nueva presentación. Resultados: No se hallaron diferencias significativas en el poder germinativo y supervivencia de plántulas provenientes de frutos almacenados enteros o despulpados. Sin embargo, las semillas de frutos almacenados despulpados germinaron con mayor velocidad. Se estimó un aumento de un 33% de frutos despulpados en 1 kg. Conclusiones: El almacenamiento de los frutos enteros o despulpados no afecta a la germinación de las semillas de E. edulis, ni la sobrevida de las plántulas, por lo que es posible el doble aprovechamiento de los frutos. Se recomienda incrementar en un 50% el valor del kg de frutos despulpados, respecto al valor comercial de los frutos enteros.

Euterpe edulis pulp products and your effect on liver and kidney of in vivo model of colorectal cancer: Histopathological analysis / Produtos da polpa de Euterpe edulis e seus efeitos no fígado e nos rins em modelo in vivo de câncer colorretal: Análise histopatológica

The objective was to report the injuries on liver and kidney promoted by experimental colorectal carcinogenesis induction in rats and evaluate the effect of supplementation with Euterpe edulis M. pulp products on resolution of this injuries. Colorectal carcinogenesis with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine was induced in young male rats, allocated into: C - induced to carcinogenesis; CJ - induced to carcinogenesis and supplemented with juçara fruit pulp; and CE - induced to carcinogenesis and supplemented with juçara fruit lyophilized extract. Nine animals were a negative control. Supplementation occurred three times a week, totaling 54 days of administration with 1 mg of cyanidin-3-glycoside per kilogram live weight. The hepatic and renal histopathological injuries were assessed at 10 and 23 weeks. In liver, at 10-week biliary hyperplasia was more evident in colorectal cancer induced groups compared to N group (p = 0.0230), as well as megalocytosis (p = 0.0269), and juçara fruit-based product do not promote cytoprotection. At 23-week biliary hyperplasia continued present, and liver necrosis was evident in C group and CJ group. Hepatic degeneration was greater in C group, and megalocytosis was evident in the cancer-induced groups, without cytoprotection by juçara fruit-based product. In kidney, at 23-week, renal congestion was more evident in CJ group, and tubular degeneration in C and CE groups. Important hepatic and renal injuries were observed in rats induced to colorectal cancer and the supplementation with juçara fruit-based product, in the dose used, did not interfere in the prevention and resolution of these injuries, mainly with the chronic use.

Occurrence of Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) in Atlantic Forest fragments in southern Brazil

We report new occurrence records of Euterpe edulis Mart. and compare them to a database of known occurrences data available in online repositories. The new records are from an Atlantic Forest fragment in São José do Capinzal village, municipality of Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. We found 1,393 occurrence records in the online database, of which 491 are unique records primarily from within the Atlantic Forest remnants. We also present photographs, distribution maps, and ecological characterizations that may be useful for future studies.

Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing on the Anthocyanins Content, Antioxidant Activity, Sensorial Acceptance and Stability of Jussara (Euterpe edulis) Juice

Jussara (Euterpe edulis) fruit is a strong candidate for exportation due to its high content of anthocyanins. However, its rapid perishability impairs its potential for further economic exploration, highlighting the relevance of producing ready-to-drink juices by applying innovative processing, such as high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). The effect of HHP (200, 350, and 500 MPa for 5, 7.5, and 10 min) on anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity (AA) by FRAP and TEAC assays, and the most effective HHP condition on overall sensory acceptance and stability of jussara juice, were investigated. While mild pressurization (200 MPa for 5 min) retained anthocyanins and AA, 82% of anthocyanins content and 46% of TEAC values were lost at the most extreme pressurization condition (500 MPa for 10 min). The addition of 12.5% sucrose was the ideal for jussara juice consumer acceptance. No significant difference was observed for overall sensory acceptance scores of unprocessed (6.7) and HHP-processed juices (6.8), both juices being well-accepted. However, pressurization was ineffective in promoting the retention of anthocyanins and AA in jussara juice stored at refrigeration temperature for 60 days, probably due to enzymatic browning.