ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation and different nitrogen (N) rates applied as topdressing on the productivity of a maize crop and the nutritional value of maize silage. Two experiments were conducted in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 harvests. Treatments were distributed in a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement, which consisted of two maize hybrids (AS 1572 and Defender) coupled with nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg ha-1), inoculated or uninoculated with A. brasilense. Inoculated seeds were treated with the A. brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6. Inoculation with A. brasilense showed interaction with the hybrids, agricultural years, and nitrogen rates for the maize plant yield. In the 2012/2013 agricultural year, inoculation increased the AS 1572 hybrid silage yield by 6.16% and, in the 2013/2014 harvest, A. brasilense inoculation produced an increase of 16.15% for the Defender hybrid. Nitrogen fertilization applied at 0, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 N benefited the plants inoculated with A. brasilense. The statistical equations revealed that N rates between 0 and 184 kg ha-1 in A. brasilense inoculated plants raised the plant productivity for silage when compared with the control plants. Regarding the nutritional value of the silage, inoculation with A. brasilense increased the ether extract levels and total digestible nutrients and reduced the amount of acid detergent fiber. For all this, positive results with inoculation for silage yield are dependent on nitrogen fertilization rate. Inoculation with A. brasilense can promote changes in the maize silage quality, but with obtained results it is not possible to definitely conclude upon nutritive value of maize silage.

RESUMO. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar alternativas de armazenagem de milho viáveis a pequenas propriedades rurais em dois experimentos anuais de armazenagem. Um esquema fatorial 4x5 foi utilizado, com quatro tipos de acondicionamentos de armazenagem (sacarias convencionais, bolsas herméticas, silo metálico e espigas) e cinco períodos de tempo (0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses). Utilizou-se híbridos de milho (2B688RR, 30K73Hx) cultivados nas safras de inverno 2012 e verão 2012/2013 em Dois Vizinhos, Paraná. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: teor de água, contagem de Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. e ocorrência de aflatoxinas (B1, B2, G1 e G2). Os grãos das bolsas herméticas apresentaram o menor teor de água. Verificou-se Aspergillus sp. e Fusarium sp. respectivamente em 20,4 e 86,1% e em 83,3 e 91,6% das amostras do armazenamento safra de inverno e de verão. Não houve influência do acondicionamento e do tempo de armazenagem na ocorrência de Aspergillus sp. e de aflatoxinas no armazenamento safra de inverno. O milho em espigas, do armazenamento safra de verão, apresentou a menor contagem de Aspergillus sp. e não apresentou aflatoxinas. Detectou-se aflatoxinas em níveis de 2,8-14,5 e de 3-197,5 µg kg-1 nos armazenamentos safra de inverno e de verão, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to assess alternatives for viable corn storage for small rural properties in two annual storage experiments. A 4×5 factorial design was used with four types of storage (conventional bags, hermetic bags, metal silos and corncobs) and five periods of storage (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months). We used corn hybrids 2B688RR and 30K73Hx cultivated in winter 2012 and summer 2012/2013 in the city of Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil. The moisture contents, counts of Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp., and the occurrence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) were assessed. The kernels stored in hermetic bags had lower moisture contents. Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. were observed in 20.37 and 86.11% of winter storage samples, respectively, and in 83.3 and 91.6% of summer storage samples, respectively. The storage system and time of storage had no influence on the occurrence of Aspergillus sp. and aflatoxins in the winter crop samples. The corncobs from the summer crop samples had the lowest counts of Aspergillus sp. and did not have aflatoxins. We detected aflatoxins at concentrations of 2.8-14.5 and 3-197.5 µg kg-1 in the winter and summer crop samples, respectively.

Cultivos da cianobactéria Spirulina platensis vêm sendo conduzidos utilizando-se ureia como fonte de nitrogênio, em processo descontínuo alimentado, para obtenção de biomassa desidratada para ser incorporada em alimentos visando enriquecimento nutricional e conferir caráter funcional em virtude da composição rica em proteínas, vitaminas e diversos componentes bioativos. Neste trabalho, foi estudada a substituição da farinha de trigo pela mandioca, além da adição de biomassa de Spirulina platensis e açúcar invertido, para desenvolver um 'sonho' com elevada taxa da Reação de Maillard para mascarar a coloração verde da biomassa, por meio da metodologia de superfície de resposta. As formulações foram avaliadas em relação aos aspectos de composição centesimal, sensoriais e tecnológicos que, quando comparados com o padrão, sem adição de biomassa de S. platensis e açúcar invertido, demonstraram a viabilidade da adição da biomassa para conferir enriquecimento nutricional sem afetar, de forma significativa, a aceitação sensorial e as características típicas do produto obtido.

The cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis has been cultivated in a fed batch process with urea as the nitrogen source, in order to obtain dehydrated biomass for incorporation into food, aiming at nutritional enrichment and the production of a functional character, due to the amount of proteins, vitamins and several bioactive compounds found in this cyanobacterium. In this study, response surface methodology was used to analyze the substitution of wheat flour by cassava in the development of doughnuts with added Spirulina platensis biomass and inverted sugar, in order to increase the rate of the Maillard's reaction and mask the green colour of the biomass. The formulations were evaluated in relation to their proximate, sensory and technological compositions, which, when compared to the standard formulation, without the addition of S. platensis biomass and inverted sugar, showed the feasibility of adding the biomass to bestow nutritional enrichment without significantly affecting the sensory acceptance of the product or its typical characteristics.