Influence of Climate on Soil and Wine Bacterial Diversity on a Vineyard in a Non-traditional Wine Region in Argentina.

Argentina is the fifth world-wide wine producer, with an area of emerging importance in the Southwest of Buenos Aires Province, where climatic conditions are rather challenging. We studied the variations in soil and wine bacterial diversity through three consecutive vintages, and how climatic conditions affected said diversity. During the years of our study there were two harsh climatic events, a prolonged drought that extended over two vegetative periods, and an unseasonable spring frost in 2017. We found that the bacterial diversity reacted to these climatic events, given that there was a shift in the taxa exclusive to soil and wine, and shared by both, through time. Our results show a core of microorganisms in soil as well as in wine, belonging to different phyla that are conserved across the vintage years. A trend to an enrichment in Actinobacteria was detected in soil samples, whereas a high relative abundance of the Acetobacteraceae family and a scarcity of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were detected in the wine samples. We believe our results contribute to a better understanding of the impact of climatic conditions on the soil and wine microbiota, and can provide vintners with valuable knowledge for improving their wine production.

COVID-19 in the environment.

In recent months, the presence of an emerging disease of infectious etiology has paralyzed everyone, already being a public health problem due to its high rate of infection, a life-threatening disease. The WHO has named it COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2). New studies provide information of the role of the environment in COVID-19 transmission process, mortality related to this infectious disease and the impact on human health. The following review aims to analyze information on the implications of COVID-19 infection on human health and the impact of its presence on the environment, from its transmission capacity and the role of air pollutants and climatological factors to reducing the air pollution during confinement. Likewise, it provides a vision of the impact on the environment and human health of exposure to disinfectants and the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater, among other actions.

Effects of successive harvesting in the same year on quality and bioactive compounds of grapes and juices in semi-arid tropical viticulture.

The technological and polyphenolic parameters of grapes for juice processing obtained from successive harvests were studied in semi-arid tropical viticulture. Red grapes "BRS Violeta" and "Isabel Precoce" were harvested during the same year and analyzed based on a multivariate approach that included climatic variations. The grapes were marked by variations in flavonoid compounds, particularly anthocyanins. Temperature, global radiation, air velocity and evapotranspiration rates were associated with higher accumulation of bioactive polyphenols in grape berries and juices. The temperatures in February were associated with higher antioxidant activity in grape peels, while the highest thermal amplitude in August and November favored the accumulation of anthocyanins up to 564 mg kg-1. Flavanols and procyanidin compounds were more abundant in seeds when the maximum thermal amplitude was 13.8 °C. The climatic data together with the polyphenolic results point out useful information about appropriate periods for harvesting grapes with high phenolic content in tropical areas.

Protein and carbohydrate fractionation of Jiggs Bermudagrass in different seasons and under intermittent grazing by Holstein cows

Jiggs bermudagrass has presented competitive production potential over other forages. However, there is a lack of information about the nutritional value of this forage with important relevance in ruminant nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the protein and carbohydrate fractionation of Jiggs bermudagrass in different seasons of the year under intermittent grazing by Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted during one year in a completely randomized design with nine replications and treatments consisted of the effect of four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. The results showed that there were seasonal variations in the fractions of proteins and carbohydrate, with the exception of the protein fraction B3. The better climatic conditions in spring and summer contributed to an increase in the protein fraction A and carbohydrate A+B1. The winter had a greater fraction C of protein and carbohydrate, reflecting the nutritive value of the forage. The use of irrigation during fall and winter had a positive effect on nitrogen fractions B1 and B2 and on non-fiber carbohydrates.(AU)

Protein and carbohydrate fractionation of Jiggs Bermudagrass in different seasons and under intermittent grazing by Holstein cows

Jiggs bermudagrass has presented competitive production potential over other forages. However, there is a lack of information about the nutritional value of this forage with important relevance in ruminant nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the protein and carbohydrate fractionation of Jiggs bermudagrass in different seasons of the year under intermittent grazing by Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted during one year in a completely randomized design with nine replications and treatments consisted of the effect of four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. The results showed that there were seasonal variations in the fractions of proteins and carbohydrate, with the exception of the protein fraction B3. The better climatic conditions in spring and summer contributed to an increase in the protein fraction A and carbohydrate A+B1. The winter had a greater fraction C of protein and carbohydrate, reflecting the nutritive value of the forage. The use of irrigation during fall and winter had a positive effect on nitrogen fractions B1 and B2 and on non-fiber carbohydrates.

Desaguamento do lodo de estações de tratamento de água por leito de drenagem/secagem / Dewatering of sludge from water treatment plants using drainage/drying bed

Vários estudos têm mostrado a eficiência das técnicas naturais de desaguamento do lodo das estações de tratamento de água no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o sistema de desaguamento por leito de drenagem/secagem, com manta geotêxtil dos lodos de decantadores de duas diferentes estações de tratamento de água, em ensaios de laboratório e escala reduzida. Foram considerados os parâmetros técnicos de projeto: densidade da manta; taxa de aplicação dos sólidos; taxa de aplicação volumétrica e secagem em diferentes condições climáticas. Na fase de drenagem, entre 78 a 91% do volume total dos líquidos percolados apresentaram qualidade compatível com o padrão de enquadramento dos corpos de água doce classes I e II, segundo a Resolução 357/05 do Conama. Na fase de secagem, foi possível obter teores de sólidos totais entre 15,9 e 20,3%, cujos valores são da mesma ordem de grandeza que aqueles obtidos por desaguamentos mecânicos, mesmo em condições críticas de secagem.

Several studies have showed the efficiency of natural techniques to dewater the sludge from water treatment plants in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dewatering system through drainage/drying with a geotextile blanket using the sludge of decanters from two types of water treatment plants, in laboratory experiments and reduced scale. The following technical parameters of project were considered: density of blanket, application rate of solids, volumetric application rate, and drying in different climate conditions. In the drainage phase, 78 to 91% of the total volume of percolated liquid presented a compatible quality to the standardized limits for freshwater bodies from classes I and II, according to Resolution 357/05 from the National Council of Environment. In the drying phase, it was possible to obtain total solid rates between 15.9 and 20.3%, values of the same magnitude order as those obtained by mechanical drainages, even in critical drying conditions.

Efeito do déficit hídrico em características químicas e bioquímicas da soja e na degradação da clorofila, com ênfase na formação de metabólitos incolores / Influence of drought stress on chemical and biochemical characteristics of soybean and on chlorophyll degradation, with focus on the formation of non-coloured chlorophyll catabolites

O Brasil é o segundo maior produtor e exportador de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) no mundo. A produção é altamente dependente de fatores climáticos, incluindo a temperatura e quantidade de chuva. A soja cultivada no sul do país em 2005 sofreu déficit hídrico causado por temperaturas altas acompanhado por umidade baixa durante o estádio reprodutivo. Pouco se sabe sobre a influência do déficit hídrico na degradação da clorofila e na qualidade dos grãos em geral. Nesse trabalho foram analisadas, numa primeira etapa, as características químicas e bioquímicas de cinco amostras de soja, provenientes de três cultivares que cresceram sob déficit hídrico e que não atendiam aos padrões para comercialização por conter altas quantidades de sementes verdes. Os grãos foram analisados quanto a diversos parâmetros físico-químicos e bioquímicos incluindo a análise dos pigmentos verdes imediatamente após a colheita e após 20 meses de armazenamento. A acidez foi medida adicionalmente após 30 meses de armazenamento. A atividade de água e umidade foram 0,6-0,7 e 8,7 %-11,9 %, respectivamente, e não mudaram durante a estocagem, mas houve um aumento em acidez o que indica atividade de lipases. A atividade da lipoxigenase 1 foi significativamente prejudicada. Imediatamente após a colheita os pigmentos verdes correspondiam a feofitina a, feofitina b e pequenas quantidades de clorofila a e b, e traços de outros derivados da clorofila, em ordem decrescente. Após 20 meses de estocagem quase todos os pigmentos haviam desaparecido. O déficit hídrico provavelmente aumentou a permeabilidade das membranas, o que levou a um aumento do pH e promoveu a transformação das clorofilas para feofitinas. Na segunda etapa do trabalho foi estudado o estágio avançado da degradação natural da clorofila na qual desaparece a coloração esverdeada dos grãos. Esta etapa corresponde à formação de catabólitos incolores (NCC), mas existem controvérsias se essas substâncias são os produtos finais da degradação...

Brazil is the second largest soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) producer and exporter in the world. The production depends on climatic factors, like temperature and rain volume. Soybeans cultivated in the south of the country in 2005 suffered drought stress imposed by adverse high ambient temperature, accompanied by low humidity during the reproductive stage. Little information is available regarding drought stress on quality of grains. In this study, firstly, chemical and biochemical characteristics of five soybean samples belonging to three cultivars grown under drought stress and did not meet standards for marketing due to high amounts of green seeds, were evaluated. Grains were analyzed for several physicochemical ad biochemical parameters, including analysis of pigment contents, immediately after harvest and after 20 months of storage at room temperature. Acidity was measured additionally after 30 month of storage. Water activity and humidity were 0.6 - 0.7 and 8.7 % - 11.9 %, respectively, and did not change during storage time, but there was an increase in acidity, which alludes to lipase activity. The activity of lipoxygenase 1 was significantly prejudiced. Immediately after harvest, green pigments corresponded mainly to pheophytin a, followed by pheophytin b, small quantities of chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a and traces of other chlorophyll derivatives. After 20 months of storage almost all green pigments had disappeared. Drought stress probably enhanced membrane permeability, which led to a lower pH and promoted transformation of chlorophylls to pheophytins. In the second part of the study, the advanced stage of natural chlorophyll degradation was investigated, in which the green colour of the seeds disappears. This stage corresponds to the formation of non-coloured chlorophyll catabolites (NCC), but there are controversies if those are the final products. Thus, the formation and degradation of NCC during soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)...