a b s t r a c tA headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) procedure based on five commercialised fibres (85 m polyacrylate -PA, 100 m polydimethylsiloxane -PDMS, 65 m polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene -PDMS/DVB, 70 m carbowax/divinylbenzene -CW/DVB and 85 m carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane -CAR/PDMS) is presented for the characterization of the volatile metabolite profile of four selected Madeira island fruit species, lemon (Citrus limon), kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), papaya (Carica papaya L.) and Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia). The isolation of metabolites was followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) methodology. The performance of the target fibres was evaluated and compared. The SPME fibre coated with CW/DVB afforded the highest extraction efficiency in kiwi and papaya pulps, while in lemon and plum the same was achieved with PMDS/DVB fibre. This procedure allowed for the identification of 80 compounds, 41 in kiwi, 24 in plums, 23 in papaya and 20 in lemon. Considering the best extraction conditions, the most abundant volatiles identified in kiwi were the intense aldehydes and ethyl esters such as (E)-2-hexenal and ethyl butyrate, while in Chicasaw plum predominate 2-hexenal, 2-methyl-4-pentenal, hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenol and cyclohexylene oxide. The major compounds identified in the papaya pulp were benzyl isothiocyanate, linalool oxide, furfural, hydroxypropanone, linalool and acetic acid. Finally, lemon was shown to be the most divergent of the four fruits, being its aroma profile composed almost exclusively by terpens, namely limonene, ␥-terpinene, o-cymene and ␣-terpinolene. Thirty two volatiles were identified for the first time in the fruit or close related species analysed and 14 volatiles are reported as novel volatile metabolites in fruits. This includes 5 new compounds in kiwi (2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione, furyl hydroxymethyl ketone, 4-hydroxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, 5-acetoxymethyl-2-furaldehyde and ethanedioic acid), 4 in plum (4-hydroxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, 5-methyl-2-pyrazinylmethanol, cyclohexylene oxide and 1-methylcyclohexene), 4 in papaya (octaethyleneglycol, 1,2-cyclopentanedione, 3-methyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione and 2-furyl methyl ketone) and 2 in lemon (geranyl farnesate and safranal). It is noteworthy that among the 15 volatile metabolites identified in papaya, 3-methyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione was previously described as a novel PPAR␥ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥) agonist, having a potential to minimize inflammation.

RESUMO.O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a evapotranspiração real (ETc), os coeficientes de cultivo (kc) e a eficiência do uso da água (EUA) da cultura do pimentão cultivado em plantio direto (PD) e plantio convencional (PC), na condição da baixada fluminense, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O manejo da irrigação e a quantificação da demanda evapotranspirométrica foram realizados mediante o cálculo diário do balanço de água no solo, utilizando-se a técnica da TDR e dados coletados em estação meteorológica automática. Verificou-se que a ETc acumulada aos 181 dias após transplantio (DAT) foi de 363 e de 335 mm, para PC e PD, respectivamente. Os kc's encontrados foram de 0,32; 1,18 e 0,77 e de 0,34; 1,05 e 0,86, para os sistemas PC e PD, nas fases de crescimento inicial (0-40 DAT), média (81-120 DAT) e final (181 DAT), respectivamente. Os valores encontrados de kc para a cultura do pimentão para o sistema PC foram semelhantes aos valores preconizados pela FAO, sendo, no entanto, não-recomendados para PD. Considerando-se a lâmina total aplicada (chuva e irrigação), os valores médios de EUA foram de 3,9 e 4,5 kg m -3 para PC e PD, respectivamente.Palavras-chave: manejo de irrigação, plantio direto, Capsicum annum L.ABSTRACT. Evapotranspiration, crop coefficients and water use efficiency of the bell pepper crop in different cropping systems. The objective of this study was to determine the crop evapotranspiration (ETc), crop coefficients (kc) and water-use efficiency (EUA) of the bell pepper crop in the no till system (PD) and conventional tillage system (PC), in the Fluminense Valley, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The irrigation was managed and the evapotranspiration demand quantified by calculating the daily soil water balance using the TDR technique and data collected in an automatic meteorological station. It was verified that the accumulated ETc at 181 days after planting (DAT) was 363 and 335 mm for PD and PC, respectively. The kcs obtained were 0.32, 1.18 and 0.77 and 0.34, 1.05 and 0.86, for the PD and PC systems, respectively, in the initial (0-40 DAP), middle (81-120 DAP) and final (181 DAP) growth phases, respectively. The kc values for the bell pepper crop presented by FAO were similar to the values found for the PC, but are not recommended for PD. Considering the total depth applied (rain and irrigation), the average values of water use efficiency were 3.9 and 4.5 kg m -3 for PD and PC, respectively.Keywords: irrigation management, no tillage, Capsicum annum L. IntroduçãoA agricultura irrigada é considerada a atividade de maior consumo de água dentre os seus vários usos múltiplos existentes sendo, por isso, fundamental a adoção de mecanismos que favoreçam o aumento da eficiência do uso da água, sem que a produtividade das culturas seja afetada. Associada ao uso racional deste recurso, a busca por manejos que viabilizem a produção ecologicamente correta e sustentável de alimentos tem sido constante preocupação dos vários segmentos da sociedade envolvidos no processo de produção.Nos sistemas convencionais ...

The determination of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Pb, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), and Se by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS), has been carried out in dry matter and teas from 11 samples of the cat's claw plant. The accuracy and precision values were verified against GBW 07604 (Poplar leaves) certified reference material and by the recovery test. Results showed a high content of Ca in the medicinal plant studied, followed by Mg and P. The values obtained showed that the elements studied have different concentrations depending on the method of tea preparation. The highest levels were observed in Ca and Mg, and the lowest for Se and Pb, by both infusion and decoction. Teas prepared from this plant were found to be at safe levels for human consumption, and may be suitable as sources of these elements in the human diet.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccessibility of Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn in cat's claw plant teas through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion with gastric and intestinal juice solutions. The total concentrations and bioaccessible fractions of Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results obtained showed that Zn was the most bioaccessible element in the teas, contributing a mean of 57.9% by infusion and 62.5% by decoction. Among macroelements, the Ca was less bioaccessible with 17.4% recovery. The bioavailability assessment revealed that daily intake of 200 ml of cat's claw teas cover about 1.0% of manganese RDA.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb and Zn in 15 samples of five fish species (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, Cynoscion leiarchus, Brachyplatystoma vaillanti e Colossoma macropomum) obtained in municipal market of Belém (Pará State, Brazil). These samples were digested in a cavity microwave oven using a 3.5 mol L-1 nitric acid solution and concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Total concentrations of the studied elements were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). The contents of the elements in fish samples ranged from 90.