Se realizó un estudio para determinar el comportamiento poscosecha durante su almacenamiento en raíces de 12 híbridos comerciales de zanahoria y su respectiva casa productora: Bangor F1, Nandrin F1, Napoli F1 y Norwich F1 de Bejo; Big Sur y Sirkana de Nunhems; Bolero F1 y Concerto F1 (VAC 03 F1) de Vilmorin; XCR3688 y S-505 de Sakata; Esperanza y Dulce de Seminis, cultivados en Cot de Oreamuno, Cartago. Se aplicó un tratamiento poscosecha estándar a todas las raíces de los diferentes híbridos provenientes del campo, que consistió en lavar mecánicamente mediante cepillado con agua y extracto de semillas de cítricos (Kilol L DF-100), seleccionar las raíces comerciales y pasarlas por un hidroenfriador a una temperatura de 2°C durante 15 min; luego, empacar las raíces en bolsas plásticas comerciales, para ser llevadas al laboratorio poscosecha, donde se almacenaron en una cámara fría a 2°C durante 8 semanas (56 días). Se establecieron 2 grupos de raíces pertenecientes a cada híbrido; en el primer grupo se evaluó semanalmente en diferentes raíces las variables color externo, firmeza, relación xilema/floema y contenido de sólidos solubles totales (°brix); en el segundo grupo se evaluó semanalmente en las mismas raíces las variables color externo, pérdida de peso (cambio en la masa de la raíz) e incidencia de factores de deterioro poscosecha. Se encontraron 3 tipos de daños en las raíces evaluadas: daño fisiológico, agentes patogénicos y sin agente causal conocido. El comportamiento de los materiales evaluados fue el siguiente: no hubo diferencia entre híbridos para la pérdida de peso; el color externo solo difirió en Big Sur, con respecto a los demás híbridos; XCR3688 y Bolero F1 mostraron una mayor firmeza; Bolero F1 presentó el mayor valor para grados brix. Los híbridos con el mejor comportamiento poscosecha fueron Dulce, S-505, XCR3688 y Big Sur.

A study was conducted to determine the postharvest behavior during root storage of 12 commercial carrot hybrids: Bangor F1, Nandrin F1, Napoli F1 and Norwich F1 (from Bejo), Big Sur and Sirkana (from Nunhems), Bolero F1, Concerto F1 (VAC-03 F1) (from Vilmorin); XCR3688 and S-505 (from Sakata), Esperanza and Dulce (from Seminis), all grown in Cot, Oreamuno, Cartago. A standard postharvest treatment was applied to all roots, which consisted of washing mechanically by brushing with water and citrus seed extract (Kilol L DF-100), selecting the commercial roots and passing them through an hydro cooler at 2°C for 15 min, then packing the roots in commercial plastic bags, and finally taking them to the postharvest, laboratory, where they were stored in a cold room at 2°C for 8 weeks (56 days). Two groups of roots belonging to each hybrid were established; in the first group the following external variables were assessed weekly on different roots: external color, firmness, xylem/phloem ratio and total soluble solids (ºbrix). In the second group the following external variables were also evaluated weekly: external color, weight loss (change in root mass) and incidence of postharvest deterioration factors, but on the same roots every week. Three types of root damage were found: physiological damage, pathogens and unknown causal agent. There was no difference among hybrids for weight loss; only Big Sur showed a different external color with respect to the other hybrids; XCR3688 and Bolero F1 showed greater firmness, and Bolero F1 had the highest brix value. Hybrids with the best postharvest behavior were Dulce, S-505, XCR3688 and Big Sur.

Rendimiento de 12 híbridos comerciales de zanahoria (Daucus carota L.) en el campo y en la planta de empaque. Se evaluaron 12 híbridos comerciales de zanahoria (Daucus carota L.) en Cot de Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica, con el objetivo de evaluar el rendimiento en el campo y la planta de empaque, de junio a octubre del 2007. Los híbridos evaluados fueron: Bangor F1, Big Sur, Bolero F1, Concerto F1 (VAC 03 F1), XCR3688, Esperanza, Nandrin F1, Napoli F1, S-505, Spearhead, Trinity y Sirkana. Se obtuvo el número y peso de las raíces de los híbridos comerciales clasificadas en raíces totales, comerciales y diferentes variables de rechazo; en el campo y en la planta de empaque. Los híbridos con el mayor rendimiento comercial en campo y en planta empacadora, en orden decreciente, fueron: Bangor F1, Esperanza, Concerto F1, Nandrin F1 y Sirkana. Los materiales con menor rechazo en campo fueron Nandrin F1, Sirkana y Bangor F1, y en planta empacadora fueron: Big Sur, Sirkana, Napoli F1, Bolero F1 y XCR3688. Las principales causas de rechazo de la zanahoria en el campo y en la planta empacadora fueron: raíces bifurcadas, con rajadura, raíz pequeña y tamaño jumbo.

Yield of 12 commercial hybrid carrot (Daucus carota L.) in the field and the packing facilities. Twelve commercial hybrids of carrot (Daucus carota L.) were evaluated in Cot, Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica, with the goal of evaluating yield in the field and in the packing facilities, from June to October 2007. The hybrids evaluated were Bangor F1, Big Sur, Bolero F1, Concerto F1 (VAC 03 F1), XCR3688, Esperanza, Nandrin F1, Napoli F1, S-505, Spearhead, Trinity and Sirkana. Evaluations of the number and weight of total, commercial, first and second quality grade and rejected roots were conducted in the field and in the packing facilities. The materials with higher yield both in the field and in the packaging plant were Bangor F1, Esperanza, Concerto F1, Nandrin F1 and Sirkana. The materials with lowest rejection in the field were Nandrin F1, Sirkana and Bangor F1, and Big Sur, Sirkana, Napoli F1, Bolero F1 y XCR3688, in the packing facility. The most important causes of carrot in the field and in the packaging facilities were forked, cracked, jumbo and small roots.

Se evaluaron mezclas de materias primas naturales en diferentes proporciones y en el siguiente orden: fibra de coco (Cocos nucifera), aserrín de melina (Gmelina arborea) y abono orgánico Coope Victoria, para utilizarlos como sustrato en la etapa de almácigo de tomate híbrido FBM-17. Se hicieron mezclas entre sí de fibra de coco y aserrín de melina en diferentes proporciones (30%, 40% y 50% de cada material), para un total de 9 tratamientos; el abono orgánico se agregó para completar el 100%. Se evaluó la variable porcentaje de germinación 7 días después de la siembra (dds) y porcentaje de plantas trasplantables a 27 dds en cada parcela útil. Además, en 10 plántulas escogidas al azar dentro de cada parcela útil (a 27 dds) se evaluó: altura de plántula, grosor del tallo, peso seco de raíz y parte aérea, relación raíz/parte aérea y calidad de adobe. Del total de tratamientos, los mayores valores para las variables evaluadas se obtuvieron en los 3 tratamientos donde la proporción de aserrín de melina fue 30%, junto con el tratamiento de 40% de fibra de coco + 40% de aserrín de melina + 20% de abono orgánico Coope Victoria; entre ellos el sustrato con tendencia a dar mejores resultados en todas las variables fue la mezcla 30-30-40. Los valores inferiores para las variables evaluadas se obtuvieron en el tratamiento donde no se incluyó en la mezcla abono orgánico (50-50-0), excepto para las variables porcentaje de germinación y relación raíz/parte aérea. La inclusión de abono orgánico en la mezcla del sustrato favoreció la obtención de valores satisfactorios.

Substrate types and combinations for tomato seedling production. Mixtures were evaluated from natural raw materials in different proportions and in the following order: coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera), melina sawdust (Gmelina arborea) and Coope Victoria compost, for use as substrate for tomato seedlings hybrid FBM-17. Mixtures were made of coconut fiber and Melina sawdust in different proportions (30%, 40% and 50% of each material), for a total of 9 treatments; the compost was added to complete 100%. Variables assessed were germination percentage at 7 days after sowing (das) and transplantable plants percentage at the 27 das in each useful plot. Also, in ten randomly selected seedlings within each useful plot (the 27 das) were evaluated: seedling height, stem thickness, root dry weight, aerial part dry weight, rate root/aerial part and adobe quality. Of all the treatments, the highest values for the variables evaluated were obtained in the three treatments where melina sawdust proportion was 30%, along with treatment of 40% coconut fiber + 40% Melina sawdust + 20% compost Coope Victoria; among them, the substrate which tended to give better results in all variables was the 30-30-40 mix. The lowest values for the variables evaluated were obtained in the treatment where was not included compost in the mix (50-50-0), except for the variables germination percentage and ratehip root/aerial part. The inclusion of compost in the mixture of the substrate favored obtaining satisfactory values.

Para a maior parte dos estados brasileiros, inexistem indicadores confiáveis sobre a saúde das crianças - tais como estado nutricional, aleitamento, cobertura vacinal, freqüência e manejo de doenças infecciosas e cobertura de serviço de atenção pré e perinatal. Para obter tais informações, desenvolveu-se uma metodologia para diagnósticos a nível estadual, aplicada recentemente em amostras representativas nos Estados do Ceará, Sergipe e Rio Grande do Norte. O presente artigo descreve os principais aspectos desta metodologia e alguns de seus achados mais relevantes. Os resultados obtidos apontam para a necessidade de incentivar o aleitamento materno, aumentar a cobertura vacinal, incrementar o uso da terapia de reidratação oral durante a diarréia, melhorar a atenção pré e perinatal e a monitorização do crescimento. Mostra-se ainda que, paradoxalmente, as ações de sobrevivência infantil concentram-se primariamente em crianças de alta renda e portanto de baixo risco. Além de propiciar o planejamento e avaliação das ações de saúde, os diagnósticos fornecem dados basais com os quais os resultados de futuros inquéritos poderão ser comparados.

No reliable data are available from most Brazilian states for a number of child health indicators, such as nutritional status, breast feeding, vaccine coverage, incidence and management of infectious diseases, and coverage of antenatal and perinatal services. How ever a methodology has been developed for state-wide, community-based health surveys for the obtaining of such information, which was recently applied in studies of representative samples of children from the states of Ceará, Sergipe and Rio Grande do Norte in Northeastern Brazil. The present report describes the key aspects of this methodology and some of the main findings. These results point out to the need for promoting breast feeding, increasing vaccine coverage, improving diarrhoea management with oral rehydration therapy and investing in antenatal and perinatal care, as well as in growth monitoring. They also show that child survival activities are paradoxically concentrated on higher-income, lower risk children. Besides contributing to the planning and evaluation of health programs, community-based child health surveys provide baseline data against which future progress may be ascertained.

Para a maior parte dos estados brasileiros, inexistem indicadores confiáveis sobre a saúde das crianças - tais como estado nutricional, aleitamento, cobertura vacinal, freqüência e manejo de doenças infecciosas e cobertura de serviço de atenção pré e perinatal. Para obter tais informações, desenvolveu-se uma metodologia para diagnósticos a nível estadual, aplicada recentemente em amostras representativas nos Estados do Ceará, Sergipe e Rio Grande do Norte. O presente artigo descreve os principais aspectos desta metodologia e alguns de seus achados mais relevantes. Os resultados obtidos apontam para a necessidade de incentivar o aleitamento materno, aumentar a cobertura vacinal, incrementar o uso da terapia de reidratação oral durante a diarréia, melhorar a atenção pré e perinatal e a monitorização do crescimento. Mostra-se ainda que, paradoxalmente, as ações de sobrevivência infantil concentram-se primariamente em crianças de alta renda e portanto de baixo risco. Além de propiciar o planejamento e avaliação das ações de saúde, os diagnósticos fornecem dados basais com os quais os resultados de futuros inquéritos poderão ser comparados.

No reliable data are available from most Brazilian states for a number of child health indicators, such as nutritional status, breast feeding, vaccine coverage, incidence and management of infectious diseases, and coverage of antenatal and perinatal services. How ever a methodology has been developed for state-wide, community-based health surveys for the obtaining of such information, which was recently applied in studies of representative samples of children from the states of Ceará, Sergipe and Rio Grande do Norte in Northeastern Brazil. The present report describes the key aspects of this methodology and some of the main findings. These results point out to the need for promoting breast feeding, increasing vaccine coverage, improving diarrhoea management with oral rehydration therapy and investing in antenatal and perinatal care, as well as in growth monitoring. They also show that child survival activities are paradoxically concentrated on higher-income, lower risk children. Besides contributing to the planning and evaluation of health programs, community-based child health surveys provide baseline data against which future progress may be ascertained.