Effect of organic compost and inorganic nitrogen fertigation on spinach growth, phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant activity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of organic compost in combination with the inorganic nitrogen fertigation on growth, phytochemical accumulation, and antioxidant activity of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Manatee). Soil blocked spinach seedlings (six seedlings per block), three blocks per pot (316 plants m-2) were transplanted after 18 days after emergence into to 12 L pots. The treatments were: unfertilized soil, organic compost, organic compost +75 kg of N ha-1, applied as ammonium sulfate; and organic compost +75 kg N ha-1, applied as ammonium nitrate. The addition of organic compost to unfertilized soil increased the fresh yield. The application of inorganic N from the two sources in relation to organic compost treatment increased spinach fresh yield from 2.3 to 4.81 kg m-2 and shoot dry weight from 0.60 to 1,31 g plant-1. Levels of carotenoids also increased with inorganic N addition, producing higher values in plants grown with organic compost + ammonium nitrate (31.14 mg/100 g fresh weight). However, the addition of N led to a decrease in leaf-blade total phenols from 75 to 56 mg gallic acid equivalents/100mg fresh weight. The addition of inorganic N led to a dramatic decrease in leaf-blade ferric reducing antioxidant activity. This effect was higher with ammonium sulfate application. The application of organic compost and inorganic nitrogen had no influence on the petiole's phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant activity.

Plant growth, phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant activity of substrate-grown spinach.

Spinach production in soilless cultivation systems, mainly in substrate, transplanted with soil blocks and drip-irrigation is increasing worldwide. However, spinach establishment with soil blocks, with several seedlings per block compared with traditional planting methods, may affect light interception by plant canopy, wetting and salt patterns in root medium and therefore the plant growth and functional value of spinach. The effects of soil block number (plant density) and emitters spacing on plant growth, nitrate, proline and total phenols content and antioxidant activity were evaluated in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L). Five seedlings per soil block were transplanted to Styrofoam boxes filled with the substrate and grown during winter in an unheated greenhouse. Four treatments were carried out with two soil block numbers [8 (160 plants/m2) and 14 (280 plants/m2) soil blocks per Styrofoam box] and two emitter spacing [emitters spaced every 25 and 12.5 cm, respectively, with 4 and 8 emitters per Styrofoam box]. Neither plant density nor emitter spacing had any effect on shoot dry weight. Fresh yield increased as planting density and the number of emitters per Styrofoam box increased. The yield in Styrofoam boxes with 160 plants/m2 and 8 emitters (3.85 kg m-2) was ≈31 % lower than that obtained in treatment with 280 plants/m2 and 8 emitters (5.09 kg m-2). However, the leaf blade of the latter treatment presented a higher content of phenols and proline and greater antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH) as well as lower content of nitrate and lesser PDH activity. Decrease of space between emitters reduced the leaf blade nitrate concentration of spinach grown in a greenhouse during the winter. Leaf blade antioxidant activity (FRAP) decreased as planting density increased.

Tamanho de primeira maturaçäo sexual do Schizodon knerii e do Leporinus piau (Teleostei, Anostomidae) na represa de Três Marias, MG / First sexual maturation of Schizodon knerii and of Leporinus piau (Teleostei, Anostomidae) from Três Marias reservoir, MG - Brazil

Determinaram-se os tamanhos de primeira maturaçäo sexual (L50) para S. knerii, piau-branco e para L. piau, piau-gordura. Diferenciaram-se peixes juvenis de peixes adultos por critérios microscópicos. O comprimento padräo correspondente à primeira maturaçäo sexual (L50) foi estimado em: S. knerii 14,5 cm para fêmeas e 2,3 cm para machos; L. piau 10,2 cm para fêmeas e 9,6 cm para machos. Todos os peixes estavam aptos a reproduzirem-se (L100) a partir de: S. knerii 17,5cm para fêmeas e 14,7cm para machos; L. piau 12,0cm para fêmeas e 10,8cm para machos. O coeficiente de correlaçäo (r) entre frequência de adultos e classes de comprimento padräo foi superior a 0,97 em cada caso indicando eficiência do método

Aspectos reprodutivos da piranha, Pygocentrus piraya (Teleostei, Characiformes), espécie nativa da bacia do Rio Säo Francisco / Reproductive aspects of piranha Pygocentrus piraya (Teleostei, Characiformes), a native species from the Rio Sao Francisco basin, Brazil

Analisaram-se histologicamente gônadas de 305 exemplares de Pygocentrus piraya, capturados no reservatório de Três Marias, MG, no período de julho/85 a junho/86. Determinaram-se os estádios de desenvolvimento dos ovócitos e das gônadas. De desova parcelada, aparentemente essa espécie de piranha reproduz-se no próprio reservatório, durante os meses de janeiro a abril, quando o nível de água está em elevaçäo. Existem indicaçöes que os machos acham-se aptos a reproduzirem-se durante todo o ano. Näo foram observados machos esgotados

Aspectos da biologia reprodutiva da corvina Pachyurus squamipinnis Agassiz, 1829 (Teleostei, Sciaenidae) na Represa de Três Marias, MG / Reproductive biological aspects of the corvina Pachyurus squamipinnis Agassiz, 1829 (Teleostei, Sciaenidae) in the Tres Marias reservoir, MG, Brazil

Gônadas de 599 exemplares de P. squamipinnis, capturados na represa de Três Marias no período de julho/85 a junho/86, foram analisadas por métodos histológicos. A maioria dos peixes encontravam-se em repouso. Machos em maturaçäo foram observados durante todo o ano. Somente nove fêmeas em maturaçäo avançada foram registradas e fêmeas desovadas näo foram capturadas. Entretanto, há indicaçöes de que a espécie completa seu ciclo reprodutivo na represa. O tamanho de primeira maturaçäo sexual (L50) de fêmeas foi estimado em 21,4cm de comprimento padräo (CP). Todas as fêmeas estäo aptas a reproduzirem-se (L100) a partir de 26,5cm CP

Ciclo reprodutivo do tucunaré Cichla ocellaris (Schneider, 1801) na represa de Três Marias, MG / Reproductive cycle of tucunare Cichla ocellaris (Schneider, 1801) in the Tres Marias reservoir, MG, Brazil

Pela análise microscópica de gônadas constatou-se que a desova de C. ocellaris é do tipo parcelada e que peixe em estádio de maturaçäo ocorrem durante todo o ano. Registrou-se maior frequência de fêmeas desovadas no mêes de janeiro, quando a precipitaçäo pluviométrica na regiäo de Três Marias é alta e o nível de água da represa começa a subir