RESUMO Cacau (Theobroma cacao L.) é uma árvore tropical, bastante atacada por doenças fúngicas. Para o controle de doenças, métodos biológicos são prescritos uma vez que são amigáveis ao meio ambiente e fácil de usar. O principal objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito de biocontrole das estirpes nativas, Trichoderma viride e Botryosphaeria quercum, em fitopatgenos: tais como Phytophthora palmivora e Moniliophtora roreri, agentes causais de doenças podridão parda e monilíase, respectivamente. Além disso, os agentes de biocontroles foram avaliados no controle de fungos micotoxigênico: como Aspergills flavus e Fusarium solani, que são muito comuns em cacau. O Índice de Bio-Controle (BCI) foi calculada para determinar o efeito in vitro de biocontrole contra quatro fitopatógenos. Os resultados indicaram que o melhor agente de controle biológico de fitopatogenos era B. quercum, que mostra 82,3% de BCI e 80,7%, 63,3% e 59,7% para cada um dos fitopatógenos testados, respectivamente. A competição por substrato foi a estratégia utilizada no controle biológico. As estirpes, provenientes do Departamento de Santander e Santander Norte apresentaram a maior inibição percentual média. Este estudo é um inicial para sobre o potencial endófito e antagonística de fungos, capazes de colonizar as especificamente bagas de cacau e solo. Assim, estas estirpes podem ser indicadas uma alternativa eficiente contra fitopatógenos de cacau importantes.

ABSTRACT Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a tropical tree, seriously affected by fungal diseases. To control several pathogens, biological methods are prescribed since they are friendly to the environment and easy to use. The main objective of this study was to assess the biocontrol effect of two native strains, Trichoderma viride and Botryosphaeria quercum, on phytopathogens such as Phytophthora palmivora and Moniliophtora roreri, causal agents of black pod and frosty pod rot diseases, respectively. In addition, biocontrolers were faced on potential mycotoxigenic fungi such as Aspergills flavus and Fusarium solani, which are very common on cocoa. The Bio-Control Index (BCI) was calculated to determine the in vitro biocontrol effect against the four phytopathogens. Results indicated that the best biocontrol agent of phytopathogens was B. quercum, showing BCI of 82.3%, 80.7%, 63.3% and 59.7% for each tested phytopathogen, respectively. Competition for substrate was the dominant biocontrol strategy. As to the origin of strains, those coming from the Department Norte de Santander and Santander showed the highest average inhibition percentage. This study provides an initial screening to the endophytic and antagonistic potential of fungi, specifically those capable of colonizing cocoa pods and soils. Thus, these strains can be used as an efficient biological control alternative against several known phytopathogens of cocoa in the field.

Resumo Atualmente, existe uma grande preocupação com os processos que direta ou indiretamente contribuem para as alterações climáticas, destruição da camada de ozônio ou acidificação, entre outros impactos ambientais. Neste contexto, e desde que a água tratada constitui um serviço público básico em centros urbanos de todo o mundo e em algumas áreas rurais, o impacto de suas emissões no meio ambiente tem sido considerado de grande interesse. Assim, na pesquisa atual foi aplicada a metodologia ambiental de avaliação do ciclo da vida (LCA) para avaliar os impactos ambientais de quatro estações de tratamento de água potável (PWTPs), localizadas no nordeste da Colômbia seguindo diretrizes internacionais da ISO 14040. As diferentes etapas do processo de purificação a partir do ponto de captação por meio de bombeamento para a rede de distribuição foram completamente avaliadas. A unidade funcional foi definida como 1 m3 de água potável produzida na fábrica. Os dados foram analisados com base no banco de dados Ecoinvent v.3.01 e processados no software LCA-Data Manager. Os resultados possibilitaram determinar que em plantas PLA-CA e PLA -POR, o processo de floculação tem a maior carga ambiental, o que é principalmente atribuível ao agente coagulante, com uma percentagem entre 47 e 73% do impacto total. Em plantas PLA-TON e PLA-BOS, o consumo de energia eléctrica foi identificado como sendo a maior fonte de impacto, com percentagens que variam de 67 a 85%. Os processos e técnicas de tratamento, condições bioclimáticas e comportamento de consumo culturalmente impulsionado variam de região para região. Além disso, mudanças nos processos e técnicas de tratamento podem afetar o meio ambiente durante todos os estágios do ciclo de operação de uma planta.

Abstract There is currently great concern about the processes that directly or indirectly contribute to the potential for global warming, such as stratospheric ozone depletion or acidification. In this context, and provided that treated water is a basic public utility in urban centers around the world as well as in some rural areas, its impact on the environment is of great interest. Therefore, this study applied the environmental methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental loads of four potable water treatment plants (PWTPs) located in northeastern Colombia following the international guidelines delineated in ISO 14040. The different stages of the drinking water process were thoroughly assessed, from the catchment point through pumping to the distribution network. The functional unit was defined as 1 m3 of drinking water produced at the plant. The data were analyzed through the database Ecoinvent v.3.01, and modeled and processed in the software LCA-Data Manager. The results showed that in plants PLA-CA and PLA-PO, the flocculation process has the highest environmental load, which is mostly attributable to the coagulant agent, with a range between 47-73% of the total impact. In plants PLA-TON and PLA-BOS, electricity consumption was identified as the greatest impact source, with percentages ranging from 67 to 85%. Treatment processes and techniques, bioclimatic conditions and culturally driven consumption behavior varied from region to region. Furthermore, changes in treatment processes and techniques are likely to affect the environment during all stages of a plant's operational cycle.

The present research aims to evaluate the usefulness of the application of Life Cycle Management in the agricultural sector focusing on the environmental and socio-economic aspects of decision making in the Colombian cocoa production. Such appraisal is based on the application of two methodological tools: Life Cycle Assessment, which considers environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the cocoa production system, and Taguchi Loss Function, which measures the economic impact of a process' deviation from production targets. Results show that appropriate improvements in farming practices and supply consumption can enhance decision-making in the agricultural cocoa sector towards sustainability. In terms of agri-business purposes, such qualitative shift allows not only meeting consumer demands for environmentally friendly products, but also increasing the productivity and competitiveness of cocoa production, all of which has helped Life Cycle Management gain global acceptance. Since farmers have an important role in improving social and economic indicators at the national level, more attention should be paid to the upgrading of their cropping practices. Finally, one fundamental aspect of national cocoa production is the institutional and governmental support available for farmers in face of socio-economic or technological needs.