Abstract We evaluated the conditions to produce lipase in solid-state cultivation using a recently isolated strain of Aspergillus brasiliensis 157f in bioreactors of different configurations: static flat-bed, plugged-flow bed with forced water-saturated aeration, and pilot-scale rotating drum bioreactor, using malt bagasse as substrate. Lipase production was optimized applying experimental design analysis, which showed optima parameters defined as pH 7.7, addition of 11.3 % of soybean oil to the medium, and culture temperature of 32.7 oC, in static flat-bed. The highest enzyme activity (9.8 U.g-1 substrate) was obtained in the plugged-flow bed with forced water-saturated aeration. The fermented culture medium was lyophilized to create a solid enzymatic preparation (SEP), which was used to test the possibility of using this cheap biocatalyst in bioreactors to mediate esterification and transesterification reactions. SEP presented lipase activities of 7.35 U.g-1 substrate, indicating the possibility of further enhancing aspects of the use of such biocatalyst.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este estudo determinar o coeficiente de cultura (kc) e respectivo consumo de água da cultura do pimentão, híbrido Magali R., cultivado em ambiente protegido no período de maio a setembro de 2015. A evapotranspiração de referência foi estimada pelo método de Penman-Monteith Modificado com dados coletados em estação meteorológica automática instalada no interior da casa de vegetação localizada na Universidade Estadual de Maringá, no município de Maringá, PR, (23º 25’ 57’’ S e 51º 57’ 8’’ O, e altitude de 542 m). A evapotranspiração da cultura foi mensurada por meio de lisímetros de lençol freático constante. O consumo total de água da cultura do pimentão foi de 282 mm, com consumo médio de 2,35 mm d-1, atingindo a evapotranspiração máxima da cultura de 5,37 mm d-1. Os valores do coeficiente de cultivo encontrados para o pimentão foram de 0,86; 1,55 e 1,4 para o estádio inicial, intermediário e final, respectivamente, sendo mais elevados do que os recomendados pela FAO.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the crop coefficient (kc) and respective water consumption of the Magali R. bell pepper hybrid cultivated in a protected environment from May to September 2015. Reference evapotranspiration was estimated using the Modified Penman-Monteith method and data were collected from an automatic weather station installed inside the greenhouse at the Universidade Estadual de Maringá, in the municipality of Maringá, PR, Brazil (23° 25’ 57’’ S, 51° 57’ 8’’ W, and altitude of 542 m). Evapotranspiration was measured using constant water table lysimeters. The total water consumption of the bell pepper crop was 282 mm and the average consumption was 2.35 mm d-1. The maximum evapotranspiration was 5.37 mm d-1. Crop coefficient values for the bell pepper were 0.86, 1.55, and 1.4 for the initial, intermediate, and final stages, respectively, which were higher than those recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em avaliar o potencial alelopático de Poincianella pyramidalis e Mimosa tenuiflora sobre a qualidade fisiológica de sementes e plântulas de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia. A sementeira foi realizada em solo esterilizado, umedecido com extrato foliar aquoso 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 g L-1 e acondicionados em germinador a 25 ºC e fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Foram avaliadas a germinação, primeira contagem e velocidade de germinação, comprimento e massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz. Com o aumento da concentração dos extratos de P. pyramidalis, observou-se efeito alelopático negativo para primeira contagem, IVG, comprimento da parte aérea. A germinação e comprimento da parte aérea apresentaram redução a partir de 75 g L-1 do extrato de M. tenuiflora. Observou-se declínio da massa seca da parte aérea com o aumento da concentração do extrato. O extrato de P. pyramidalis não afeta a porcentagem de germinação das sementes de M. caesalpiniifolia, mas exerce efeito negativo sobre a qualidade fisiológica das plântulas desta espécie. O extrato de M. tenuiflora afeta negativamente a germinação e o crescimento inicial de plântulas de M. caesalpiniifolia a partir de 75 g L-1.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the allelopathic potential of Poincianella pyramidalis and Mimosa tenuiflora on the physiological quality of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia seeds and seedlings. The sowing was carried out in sterilized soil and moistened with the aqueous leaf extract 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g L-1 and conditioned in germinator at 25 ºC and photoperiod of 12 hours. Germination, first count and germination speed, length and dry mass of shoots and roots were evaluated. When the concentration of the extracts of P. pyramidalis was increased, it was observed a negative allelopathic effect for first counting, GSI, shoot length. The germination and length of the aerial part showed reduction from 75 g L-1 extract of M. tenuiflora. The dry mass of the shoot was observed to decline as the concentrations were elevated. The extract of P. pyramidalis does not affect the germination of M. caesalpiniifolia seeds, however it exerts a negative effect on the physiological quality of the seedlings of this species. The extract of M. tenuiflora negatively affects germination and initial seedling growth of M. caesalpiniifolia from 75 g L-1.

RESUMO Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, determinar o consumo de água e o coeficiente de cultura do melão rendilhado em ambiente protegido. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no Centro Técnico de Irrigação da Universidade Estadual de Maringá, em Maringá, PR. O híbrido de melão utilizado foi Sunrise e as irrigações foram realizadas diariamente via gotejamento. A necessidade de água da cultura foi quantificada por meio da evapotranspiração da cultura medida diretamente através de lisímetros de lençol freático constante. As informações climatológicas foram coletadas em estação meteorológica automática, instalada no interior do ambiente protegido, que deram subsídio ao cálculo da evapotranspiração de referência pelo método de Penman-Monteith. O consumo total de água da cultura do melão foi de 295 mm, atingindo a evapotranspiração da cultura máxima de 5,16 mm d-1. As durações dos estádios fenológicos foram menores na fase inicial, de desenvolvimento e intermediária, quando comparados a FAO. Os coeficientes da cultura determinados foram 0,87; 1,15 e 0,64 para o estádio inicial, intermediário e final, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to determine the water consumption and the crop coefficient of melon in a protected environment. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Technical Center of Irrigation of the State University of Maringá, in Maringá, PR. The melon hybrid used was Sunrise and the irrigations were performed daily by drip irrigation. Crop water requirement was quantified based on its evapotranspiration directly measured through constant water table lysimeters. Weather information was collected in an automatic weather station, installed inside the protected environment, which allowed to calculate the reference evapotranspiration by the Penman-Monteith method. The total water consumption of the melon crop was 295 mm, reaching maximum crop evapotranspiration of 5.16 mm d-1. The phenological stages were shorter in the initial, growth and intermediate phases, compared with the data from FAO. The determined crop coefficients were 0.87, 1.15 and 0.64 for the initial, intermediate and final stages, respectively

The sugarcane industry has huge potential for biorefinery concept application, given its development in recent years. In this context, cane sugar straw has become an attractive raw material for biofuel production. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition of cane sugar straw from different regions of Brazil, and to optimize a hydrothermal pretreatment stage for cellulosic ethanol production. Results of chemical characterization of the cane sugar straw for the regions assessed indicated little influence of place on straw chemical composition. Hydrothermal pretreatment showed high efficiency in hemicellulose removal. Hydrothermal pretreatments operating with temperatures of 190 and 210 ºC presented satisfactory results, reaching values close to 100% hydrolysis.

Sugarcane straw biomass accounts for 1/3 of the energy potential of sugarcane and represents a rich source of sugars. Studies have been intensified for the use of this biomass along with bagasse for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Development of this technological path will allow for taking full advantage of sugarcane, increasing ethanol production without expanding the area cultivated. However, in order for this technology to be viable certain challenges must be overcome, including establishment of appropriate conditions of pretreatment and hydrolysis of these materials for release of fermentable sugars.

Utilizando-se ferramentas de análise espacial, com o presente trabalho objetivou-se investigar a evolução da lavoura de café no espaço geográfico, em importante região do estado de Minas Gerais, verificando-se a sustentabilidade da produção em diferentes zonas climáticas. Neste sentido, buscou-se uma regionalização do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) para a região do Triângulo Mineiro/Alto Paranaíba, MG, comparando-a com os resultados de um modelo econômico de decomposição da variação da área nos efeitos escala e substituição, considerando-se o período 1985 a 1995/96. Observou-se que a tendência crescente da expansão cafeícola do noroeste para o nordeste acompanha a disposição das classes aptas apresentadas pela regionalização e, também, que a fraca expressão do café em Ituiutaba e Frutal tem forte componente climático na justificativa, enquanto em Araxá prevaleceu o fator pedológico. Uberaba é a única região que mesmo apta, apresenta baixo desempenho cafeícola.

Using tools of spatial analysis, the present work was carried out to investigate the geographical evolution of the coffee (Coffea arabic L.) plantation in an important region of the State of Minas Gerais, to verify the sustainability of the coffee production in different climatic and soil zones. In this context, a soil zoning for coffee plantation for the region of the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba, MG was elaborated. The geographical spatial analysis results were compared to an economic model of decomposition of the variation of the area and its scale substitution effects, for the period of 1985 through 1995/96. The expansion of coffee plantations was observed from the Northwest to the Northeast and accompanied the zoning criteria adopted in the present work. In other words, it was observed that a small expansion verified at Ituiutaba and Frutal have a strong climatic component, while at Araxá the soil factor prevailed. Only Uberaba appears to be an area that meets the climatic conditions for coffee plantation, but, in reality, presented little coffee plantation activity.