Longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense inflorescences influenced by the storage temperature and ethylene inhibitor

This work had the goal to evaluate the influence of temperature and dry storage on the postharvest longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense flowers previously treated with silver thiosulfate (STS). The flowers were harvested and pulsed for 30 minutes with 2 mM STS. Then both, the STS treated and untreated flowers were packed in perforated low density polyethylene bags, packed in cardboard boxes and stored at 5 and 10°C, where they remained for four and eight days. After this period, the flowers were kept in vase with distilled water at 25ºC, and analyzed at every 24 h. The experiment was arranged in a complete random design 2 x 2 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replicates, containing four inflorescences each, except for the determination of transpiration and water rates uptake, composed by sixteen replicates of one stem. The vase life of the flowers of the E. ibaguense was increased to 6.5 days when pulsed with 2 mM STS for 30 minutes, followed by storage at 10ºC for a maximum period of four days. The STS applied before the cold storage reduced the rate of flower abscission and improved the ratio between the transpiration and water uptake.

Mães adolescentes: adaptação aos múltiplos papéis e a importância da vinculação / Adolescent mothers: adjustment to multiple roles and the importance of attachment

Tornar-se mãe na adolescência obriga a profundos realinhamentos na trajetória desenvolvimental individual. Partindo de uma amostra de trinta e oito mães adolescentes do Norte de Portugal, pretendeu-se com este estudo explorar o impacto da qualidade da organização de vinculação das adolescentes, avaliada durante a gravidez, na adaptação às mudanças de papéis decorrentes da maternidade. Seguindo uma perspetiva ecológica, foram igualmente contempladas medidas sociodemográficas e de suporte social. Os resultados revelam que a maioria das adolescentes evidencia um nível inferior de adaptação à nova configuração de papéis, verificando-se uma associação significativa entre o nível de adaptação conseguido e a qualidade da organização de vinculação da adolescente.

Becoming a mother during adolescence implies huge rearrangements in terms of individual developmental pathway. Using a sample of 38 adolescent mothers from the north region of Portugal, this study aims at examining the importance of adolescent mothers' attachment organizations, assessed during pregnancy, in the adjustment to role changes imposed by motherhood. Following an ecological perspective on adolescent motherhood, sociodemographic and social support measures were also considered. Our results show that most adolescent mothers exhibit a lower level of adjustment towards the new configuration of roles. A statistically significant association between adolescent mothers' attachment and quality of adjustment was found.

Soluções conservantes prolongam a vida de vaso de inflorescências cortadas de boca-de-leão / Preservative solution prolong the vase life of cut snapdragon inflorescences

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de soluções de vaso na longevidade pós-colheita de inflorescências de boca-de-leão. Hastes de boca-de-leão ('Potomac White'), colhidas com seis a sete flores abertas na inflorescência, foram condicionadas em: (1) água desionizada a 20°C (controle); (2) água quente a 43°C, por uma hora, seguida de água desionizada (20°C) como solução de vaso; (3) solução de Flower® a 20°C; (4) solução de vaso preparada com 200mg L-1 de 8-HQC+20g L-1 sacarose+150mg L-1 ácido cítrico a 20°C; (5) água quente (43°C) por uma hora e Flower® em solução de vaso (20°C); e (6) água quente (43°C) por uma hora e solução contendo 200mg L-1 de 8-HQC+20g L-1 sacarose+150mg L-1 ácido cítrico como solução de vaso (20°C). A vida de vaso das inflorescências de boca-de-leão variou de três a sete dias de acordo com o tratamento utilizado. A maior longevidade foi obtida com a solução contendo 8-HQC, sacarose e ácido cítrico, tratamento que não comprometeu a abertura floral. Além disso, as inflorescências condicionadas nessa solução apresentaram ganho de massa fresca superior à massa daquelas mantidas em água desionizada ou Flower®, a partir de 24 horas, atingindo 24 por cento de aumento no quinto dia da reidratação. Assim, o uso de soluções de vaso adequadas mantém a qualidade e prolonga a longevidade das hastes cortadas de boca-de-leão.

The goal of this research was to evaluate the influence of vase solutions on the postharvest longevity of snapdragon inflorescences. Stems of snapdragon 'Potomac White' harvested with six to seven open flowers were treated as follow: (1) distilled water at 20oC (control); (2) warm water at 43oC for one hour, followed by distilled water (20°C) as vase solution; (3) solution of Flower at 20°C; (4) vase solution of 200mg L-1 8-HQC+20g L-1 sucrose+150mg L-1 citric acid at 20°C; (5) warm water (43°C) for 1 hour followed by Flower as vase solution (20°C); (6) warm water (43°C) for one hour and 200mg L-1 8-HQC+20g L-1 sucrose+150mg L-1 citric acid as vase solution (20°C). The vase life of snapdragon inflorescences varied from 3 to 7 days according to the treatment used. The longest longevity was obtained for the flowers treated with 8-HQC, sucrose and citric acid, which did not compromise the flower opening. Furthermore, the inflorescences kept in this solution had higher the fresh weight gain when compared to distilled water or Flower after 24 hours, reaching 24 percent increase on the fifth day of rehydration. Thus, the appropriate vase solution maintains the quality and extends the longevity of cut stems of snapdragon.