RESUMO: A desidratação osmótica (DO) é uma técnica utilizada para remover parcialmente a água dos alimentos, incluindo frutas e vegetais, com vistas a produção de alimentos secos. O processo consiste em colocar o material em uma solução hipertônica por várias horas e deixar a água passar do compartimento celular para a solução por osmose. A DO é influenciada por vários fatores como a concentração e composição da solução osmótica, a temperatura da solução, o tipo de agitação e o tempo de exposição, assim como o tamanho, forma e compactação do material alimentar. As principais vantagens da DO em relação aos processos de secagem convencionais são que ela dá origem a produtos secos de qualidade superior e minimiza o encolhimento. Nos últimos anos, tem-se investigado a combinação da DO com outras tecnologias, tais como ultrassom, congelamento criogênico com nitrogênio líquido, campo elétrico pulsado, radiação gama e alta pressão hidrostática. A aplicação desses métodos antes ou simultaneamente com a DO acelera a transferência de massa e reduz a taxa de secagem de frutas e vegetais através do aumento da permeabilidade das membranas celulares. Assim, os processos combinados tendem a ser mais eficientes e econômicos do que a DO convencional, pois reduzem o tempo de operação e, consequentemente, o consumo de energia. Adicionalmente, os produtos desidratados gerados através de processos associados geralmente apresentam melhores características nutricionais e físico-químicas. Esta revisão sumariza os princípios básicos e aplicações da DO em combinação com outros métodos, com ênfase especial dada à produção de frutas secas.

ABSTRACT: Osmotic dehydration (OD) is a technique used for the partial removal of water from foodstuff, including fruit and vegetables, with the aim of producing a desiccated product. The process involves placing the material in a hypertonic solution for several hours and allowing water to move from the cell compartment into the solution by osmosis. OD is influenced by various factors such as the concentration and composition of the osmotic solution, the solution temperature, the type of agitation and the time of exposure, as well as the size, shape and compactness of the food material. The main advantages of OD over conventional drying processes are the superior quality of the dried products and the minimization of shrinkage. In recent years, research effort has focused on the combination of OD with other technologies, such as ultrasound, cryogenic freezing with liquid nitrogen, pulsed electric field, gamma radiation and high hydrostatic pressure. The application of these methods prior to or concomitant with OD accelerates mass transfer and reduces the drying rate of fruit and vegetables by increasing the permeability of cell membranes. In this manner, combined processes tend to be more efficient and economical in comparison with conventional OD because they reduce operating times and; consequently, energy consumption. In addition, the dried products generated by such coupled processes typically exhibit improved nutritional and physicochemical characteristics. This review summarizes the basic principles and applications of OD in combination with other methods, with particular emphasis on the production of dried fruits.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se estimar o desempenho fisiológico e produtivo de genótipos de batata em dois ambientes de cultivo em sistema orgânico. Foram conduzidos dois ensaios, sendo um em condições de ambiente protegido e outro em campo aberto. Empregou-se o delineamento em blocos completos casualizados com quatro repetições e cinco tratamentos referentes aos genótipos ‘Agata’, ‘Atlantic’, ‘BRS Ana’, ‘BRSIPR Bel’ e ‘BRS Clara’. Avaliaram-se atributos fisiológicos, produtivos e defeitos associados aos tubérculos. O ambiente protegido é o mais adequado para a produção de batata orgânica nas condições avaliadas. Os genótipos ‘BRSIPR Bel’ e ‘BRS Ana’ possuem alto potencial produtivo em condições de sistema orgânico.

ABSTRACT: The objective was to estimate the physiological and productive performance of potato genotypes in two organic cultivation systems. Two trials were conducted, being one in a protected and on in an open-field environment. A randomized complete block design with four replicates and five treatments (genotypes ‘Agata’, ‘Atlantic’, ‘BRS Ana’, ‘BRSIPR Bel’ and ‘BRS Clara’) was used. Physiological, productive characteristics and defects associated with tubers were obtained. The protected environment is the most appropriate to produce organic potatoes under the evaluated conditions. Genotypes ‘BRSIPR Bel’ and ‘BRS Ana’ exhibit a high productive potential in organic conditions.

RESUMEN El objetivo fue determinar el efecto de los sustratos comerciales y las fuentes orgánicas en la producción de plántulas de uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.). El diseño fue completamente aleatorizado, en un esquema factorial de 2×3, con dos sustratos comerciales la producción de plántulas (Carolina®, Bioplant®) y tres fuentes orgánicas (control, vermicompost enriquecido con termofosfato yoorin y estiércol de aves de corral). Agregar estiércol de aves de corral a sustratos comerciales causa efectos negativos sobre la precocidad y la emergencia. Carolina® es un sustrato adecuado para producir plántulas de uchuva sin necesidad de suplementos con fuentes orgánicas. Bioplant® se comporta más como un acondicionador de emergencia, que requiere suplementos con fuentes orgánicas (preferiblemente vermicompost). Las plántulas adecuadas para el trasplante se pueden obtener a los 47 días después de la siembra.

ABSTRACT The objective was to determine the effect of commercial substrates and organic sources on the production of cape gooseberry seedlings (Physalis peruviana L.). The design was completely randomized with a 2×3 factorial scheme using two commercial substrates (Carolina®, Bioplant®) and three organic sources (control, vermicompost enriched with yoorin thermophosphate and poultry manure) for seedling production. Adding poultry manure to commercial substrates negatively affects precocity and emergence. Carolina® is a suitable substrate for cape gooseberry seedling production without supplements using organic sources. Bioplant® behaves more like an emergence conditioner, requiring supplementation with organic sources (preferably vermicompost). Seedlings that are suitable for transplant can be obtained at 47 days after sowing.

This study aimed to identify 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) in Amblyomma cajennense and to evaluate its role in A. cajennense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus courtship. Hexanic extract from attractive females was purified by solid phase extraction and the phenol was identified by the single ion monitoring method using GC/MS. In an olfactometer, the responses of A. cajennense and R. sanguineus males to females, control rubber septa or rubber septa impregnated with 2,6-DCP at 50, 500, and 5000 ng, respectively, were studied. 2,6-DCP was identified in A. cajennense extract and the males oriented themselves toward the concentration of 500 ng. These septa and the females were recognized as copula partners. The septa treated with 2,6-DCP did not attract and were not even recognized by the R. sanguineus males, whereas the females were recognized. Due to the presence of 2,6-DCP in A. cajennense and the results of biological bioassays, it was concluded that this compound acts as an attractant and mounting sex pheromone in this tick, but it does not play any role in R. sanguineus courtship.