Carbohydrate metabolism dynamic in chlorpropham- and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene-treated potatoes and its effect on the browning of French fries.

The use of a sprout suppressor is crucial for the use of potatoes beyond their natural dormancy period. The main sprout inhibitor used on a commercial scale, chlorpropham (CIPC), is becoming increasingly limited owing to its toxicity. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) compared to CIPC in controlling sprouting and maintaining the quality of potato, Solanum tuberosum 'Asterix', during cold storage. Treatment with 1,4-DMN reduced fresh weight loss and controlled the number and length of sprouts comparable to CIPC. Compared to the control, both sprouting inhibitors led to higher starch and lower reducing sugar contents, and the tubers retained the recommended quality for industrial processing. After frying, less browning was observed in French fries obtained from 1,4-DMN- or CIPC-treated tubers. We ascertain that 1,4-DMN besides being an efficient sprouting inhibitor and alternative to CIPC, it contributes to maintaining the quality of French fries after cold storage.

Handmade solar dryer: an environmentally and economically viable alternative for small and medium producers.

The solar dryer can reduce production costs, energy consumption, waste (use fruits outside the quality standard for fresh consumption) and is an alternative for small and medium producers. The solar dryer can reduce costs and is an alternative for small and medium producers worldwide. The consumption of fresh and processed tomatoes is high in the world, but post-harvest losses is also and drying is an alternative to reduce these losses. The temperature maintenance and drying time corresponds 30% of the costs. The objective was evaluated the tomato physicochemical characteristics after drying in handmade solar dryer. 'Carmen' tomato fruits were bleached in water, 2.5% NaCl solution, 2.5% NaCl + 0.5% CaCl2 solution and unbleached. Tomato slices were placed in a handmade solar dryer from 7:00 to 17:00. The solar dryer prototype was wood made, comprising a collector and a drying chamber. The average cost of the camera was US$ 13.08 (1 Brazilian Real = 0.26 United States Dollar). Water loss, drying kinetics, mathematical models and physicochemical characteristics of fresh and dried tomatoes were evaluated. The average length of solar drying for the four treatments was 30 h and the Midilli and Kucuk mathematical model was the most adjusted. The acidity, reducing sugars and soluble solids were concentrated by drying, while ascorbic acid was reduced. The pH did not change. Tomatoes 'Carmen' can be dried in a handmade solar dryer for 30 h while maintaining product quality.

Chlorophyll level evaluation in tomatoes leaves of Santa Clara cultivar, of firme mutant and hybrid F1 - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v25i1.2110 / Avaliação dos níveis de clorofila em folhas de tomateiro da cultivar Santa Clara, do mutante firme e do híbrido F1 - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v25i1.2110

Recently, in Viçosa (MG), a region of vegetable crop producing, tomatoes of Santa Clara cultivar, Lycopersicum esculentum (Solanaceae), that showed potential use for breeding programs, aiming to increase the shelf life of the fruit were identified. However, plants from the mutant firme have precocious fealf senescence and reduction of the average fruit size when in homozygous background. The objective of the present study was the evaluation of the pigment levels in the leaves on different development positions and stage, utilizing the method described by Lichtenthaler (1987) and the SPAD (Soil Plant Analytical Division Value) in heterozygous mutant related to the progenitor Santa Clara cultivar and the homozygous mutant firme. Thus, two experiments containing two plants per vase grown in greenhouse and arranged at complete randomized way were set up. The data obtained through the Lichtenthaler (1987) method showed that the chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were degraded earlier in the homozygous mutant firme in comparison to Santa Clara cultivar. While using the SPAD the heterozygous plants had similar rates of chlorophyll degradation to the Santa Clara cultivar. Based on data, it was possible to conclude that the mutation in heterozygous stage containing Santa Clara in its background had its effects on biochemical characteristics restored

Recentemente, na região produtora de hortaliças de Viçosa, Estado de Minas Gerais, foram identificadas plantas de tomate da cultivar Santa Clara, Lycopersicum esculentum (Solanaceae), que se mostraram potencialmente úteis em programas de melhoramento que visem aumentar a vida de prateleira de frutos. No entanto, essas plantas promissoras, denominadas de mutante firme, apresentam senescência foliar precoce e redução do tamanho médio dos frutos, quando o gene se encontra no estado homozigótico recessivo, sendo visualmente normal quando no estado heterozigótico. Assim o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os níveis de pigmentos foliares em diferentes posições da planta e em diferentes tempos de cultivo, pelos métodos descritos por Lichtenthaler (1987) e pelo índice SPAD (Soil Plant Analylitical Division Value), para verificar a ocorrência ou não de comportamento diferencial de indivíduos heterozigotos em relação aos progenitores Santa Clara e ao mutante firme. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos, empregando-se plantas cultivadas em vasos, submetidas a condições de casa-de-vegetação e arranjadas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os resultados das análises, pelo método de Lichtenthaler (1987) mostraram que a clorofila e os pigmentos carotenóides são degradados mais precocemente no mutante firme em relação à cultivar Santa Clara. Além do que, pelo índice