https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/7318 2026-07-15T15:02:21Z https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/25414 Título: O escurecimento e a cicatrização em inhame (Dioscorea spp.) minimamente processado é modulado pela região do tubérculo, aplicação de ácido ascórbico e temperatura de conservação Autor(es): Corrêa, Cristina Bani Abstract: Mechanical damage caused by peeling and cutting affects the biochemical and physiological processes of yam, triggering enzymatic oxidation and inducing rapid defense responses, such as the formation of structural barriers at the wound site. This study aims to investigate, in an integrated manner, the physiological, biochemical, and structural responses of minimally processed yam (Dioscorea cayenensis), evaluating the effects of tuber region, storage temperature, and ascorbic acid application on enzymatic browning and wound healing. Slices from the apical (AP), medial (ME), and distal (DI) regions were subjected to minimal processing, treated or not with ascorbic acid (1% w/v), and stored at 5 °C (browning) and at 5 and 20 °C (lignification). Quality and physicochemical parameters, phenolic metabolism, enzymatic activities (PPO, SOD, CAT, POD, and PAL), and lignin deposition were evaluated. Visual quality progressively declined during storage, with more pronounced losses in the apical region. ascorbic acid delayed browning and extended the acceptability of the medial and distal regions. Browning dynamics were modulated by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and phenolic content, indicating that when enzymatic protection becomes insufficient, phenolic compounds act as non-enzymatic antioxidants. Chromatographic analysis revealed selective accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids, indicating activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway in response to post-processing stress. The wound healing process was strongly influenced by temperature. At 5 °C, an antioxidant response predominated, with no detectable lignin deposition. In contrast, at 20 °C, increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) were observed, along with lignin deposition, characterizing a structural response. Overall, the results demonstrate that the quality of minimally processed yam is determined by the interaction between tuber region, storage temperature, and ascorbic acid application, highlighting the multifactorial nature of oxidative stress regulation in minimally processed yam. 2026-02-26T00:00:00Z https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/25370 Título: Prospecção, conservação, caracterização genética, química, morfoagronômica e sazonalidade em germoplasma de Croton blanchetianus Baill Autor(es): Costa, Rosemeire Santos Abstract: Croton blanchetianus Baill. is a medicinal and aromatic species native to the Caatinga biome, widely distributed in the Brazilian Northeast. It is notable for its high bioactive and apicultural potential, and it is listed by the Ministry of Environment as a priority species for the region due to its potential economic importance. Nevertheless, its natural occurrence area is frequently reduced, primarily due to anthropogenic interventions. In view of the imminent threats to the species’ genetic variability, the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) studied natural populations and subsequently established a collection of C. blanchetianus in its Active Germplasm Bank (AGB) for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants at UFS. This initiative allows the development of strategies for conservation and sustainable use of the species. The present research aims to evaluate the genetic and chemical diversity of natural populations of C. blanchetianus from municipalities in the state of Sergipe, as well as to establish a collection, characterize the accessions morpho-agronomically, chemically, and seasonally, and assess the antioxidant activity of the accessions conserved in the AGB. In the first article, the genetic diversity and structure of six natural populations of C. blanchetianus from different municipalities in the state were evaluated, using ISSR markers. Low genetic variability among populations (6%) was observed, and it was not possible to differentiate genotypes according to their geographic origin. In the second article, the chemical diversity of the essential oil from 70 genotypes of C. blanchetianus, collected from six natural populations in Sergipe, was evaluated. The major compounds found were α-pinene (1.60–13.37%), limonene (0.30–17.54%), β-phellandrene (4.38–16.04%), 1,8-cineole (0.16–13.56%), (E)-caryophyllene (0.31–13.14%), germacrene D (0.33–10.60%), bicyclogermacrene (5.06–27.47%), and spathulenol (4.34–29.83%), highlighting the broad chemical diversity of the species. In the third article, the morphoagronomic and chemical diversity of 26 C. blanchetianus accessions was characterized and analyzed. High variability among accessions was observed for all evaluated morpho-agronomic descriptors, particularly plant height (87.00–236.50 cm), crown diameter (48.75–131.00 cm), leaf area (74.50–176.37 cm²), dry mass (83.17–333.00 g/plant), and essential oil content (0.60– 1.60%). Chemically, the accessions were mostly comprised of α-pinene (3.90–12.02%), limonene (0.88–10.72%), β-phellandrene (1.30–17.51%), 1,8-cineole (0.36–11.57%), (E)- caryophyllene (1.82–12.48%), germacrene D (0.38–10.12%), bicyclogermacrene (8.37– 29.13%), and spathulenol (5.57–28.04%). In the fourth article, the chemical profile of the essential oil from leaves and fruits of five accessions of C. blanchetianus was analyzed, revealing quantitative and qualitative differences between plant organs. Leaves had a predominance of sesquiterpenes (37.34–62.03%), whereas fruits had higher levels of monoterpenes (23.97–61.03%). The exclusive presence of myrtenyl acetate in fruit essential oil indicates its potential as a chemical marker. In the fifth article, the seasonal influence (three harvest periods) on agronomic variables, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of essential oil from 26 accessions of C. blanchetianus was evaluated. Accessions CBL-403 and CBL-503 showed the highest oil content (1.93%), while CBL-503 (17.41 g/plant) and CBL507 (17.38 g/plant) exhibited the highest essential oil yields. Sesquiterpenes predominated in harvests 1 and 2 (59.02% and 62.01%, respectively), while monoterpenes increased in harvest 3 (40.01%). A high antioxidant potential was observed in accession CBL-301 (DPPH: 66.24%; ABTS: 92.51%). These results indicate that C. blanchetianus exhibits exploitable genetic, morpho-agronomic, and chemical variability, and that its essential oils show seasonal plasticity and antioxidant activity. 2026-02-24T00:00:00Z https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/25328 Título: Extensão da vida útil de morangos inteiros e minimamente processados tratados com infusão a vácuo de pectinametillesterase e lactato de cálcio Autor(es): Soares, Alysson Caetano Abstract: The demand for healthy foods has led to an increase in the consumption of fresh fruits, such as strawberries. However, strawberries are a highly perishable fruit with a limited shelf-life due to rapid softening and deterioration, which are intensified in minimally processed (MP) products. Softening and loss of firmness are crucial parameters for consumer acceptance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined use of vacuum infusion (IV), calcium lactate (LCa), and pectin methylesterase (PME) in maintaining firmness, cell integrity, and post-harvest quality of whole (I) and minimally processed (MP) strawberries. The strawberries (I and MP) were subjected to vacuum infusion with water (W), PME (10 IU), LCa (1%), and LCa+PME, with a control group (C) without infusion. Firmness, fresh mass loss, anthocyanin, color, soluble solids content (SSC), total acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, pH, visible deterioration and damage, visual quality, galacturonic acid content, degree of methylation, electrolyte efflux, PME activity, and respiration were measured initially and every 3 days for 9 days of storage at 5°C for MP fruits and every 3 days for 12 days for whole fruits (I). The results demonstrate that the treatment with LCa+PME was effective in both presentation forms. In minimally processed strawberries (MP),vacuum infiltration of PME with calcium lactate increased firmness by 90.7% for LCa+PME and 119.8% for LCa on the third day, delayed weight loss to less than 0.8% in all treatments except the PME treatment, maintained freshness and anthocyanin content, reduced electrolyte efflux by 38% compared to the control, and decreased respiration rates to 134.92 and 135.62 mg.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹ CO₂ for LCa+PME and LCa, respectively, while the control reached 163.36 mg.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹ CO₂. Furthermore, it minimized fruit damage. For whole fruits (I), LCa + PME increased fruit firmness by 48% after 3 days of storage compared to fruits from the control treatment (W), maintaining it for up to 12 days of storage. This stability was attributed to the synergy of the treatment between LCa and exogenous PME, which increases free carboxylic groups, optimizing the formation of Ca-pectate cross-links, resulting in the stabilization of CSP (sodium carbonate soluble pectin). Additionally, treatments using calcium reduced electrolyte leakage by 22% and limited mass loss by approximately 2.7% for LCa + PME, resulting in better freshness and lower incidence of damage and contamination. LCa + PME significantly preserved color parameters (L*, C*) and extended shelf-life by at least 3 days. Thus, vacuum infusion of calcium lactate and PME is a promising technology capable of significantly extending the post-harvest quality and shelf-life of whole, minimally processed strawberries. 2026-02-10T00:00:00Z https://ri.ufs.br/jspui/handle/riufs/25300 Título: Avaliação de características de desempenho e morfológicas do camarão Penaeus vannamei por meio de análise de componentes principais Autor(es): Barbosa, Rosylaine de Jesus Abstract: The cultivation of the marine shrimp Penaeus vannamei represents a sector of great economic and social relevance, requiring constant optimization of production systems. The evaluation of zootechnical performance is a complex process that involves the measurement of multiple correlated biometric characteristics, hindering the identification of practical indicators and efficient decision-making. This doctoral thesis aimed to evaluate the performance and morphometric variables of Penaeus vannamei at different ages and strains, cultivated in excavated ponds, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as a statistical tool to synthesize information and identify the main factors of variation. The research was structured in two articles, in which PCA proved to be a robust and effective methodology. In both studies, the technique was able to reduce the dimensionality of the data, concentrating most of the total variance in a single overall performance index, the First Principal Component (PC1), which consistently explained more than 82% of the observed variation. This result shows that shrimp performance is a predominantly one-dimensional phenomenon, simplifying the approach to management and genetic improvement. Article 1 focused on evaluating performance at different cultivation ages. The results indicated that Total Length (TL) is the biometric indicator with the greatest contribution to PC1, and is, therefore, the most efficient for routine monitoring on farms. Furthermore, Fillet Weight (FW) was identified as the most relevant performance characteristic, reflecting its importance as a quality attribute of the final product and a comprehensive indicator of growth. The analysis also revealed that the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) accounted for 95.91% of the total variance. Article 2 addressed the evaluation of performance in different strains and harvest ages. PCA synthesized the nine biometric variables, with Live Weight (LW) being the most representative variable of the overall performance index (PC1, explaining 84.15% of the variance). The most impactful finding in practical terms was the observation that zootechnical performance at 45 days of cultivation is comparable to performance at 60 days. This discovery suggests the possibility of anticipating the harvest, which constitutes a more economical and efficient management strategy, capable of reducing operational costs, decreasing the time of exposure to sanitary risks, and increasing the annual productivity of shrimp farming. In conclusion, this thesis validates PCA as a powerful tool for performance discrimination and decision-making in aquaculture. More significantly, the thesis offers a scientific basis for the anticipation of harvest to 45 days, promoting greater sustainability and profitability for the sector. The information generated is fundamental for the development of more efficient genetic improvement programs and for the consolidation of more agile and scientifically based management. 2025-08-27T00:00:00Z