The effects of home cooking methods (e.g., boiling, steaming, oven, and microwave) on the contents phenolic compounds, biogenic amines, and precursor amino acids in colored-fleshed sweet potatoes were investigated in this study. Sixteen genotypes of colored sweet potatoes (cream/white, yellow, orange, and purple pulp) were analyzed using spectrophotometry for their total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity (DPPH and MDA) and pigments. Of these, five genotypes with orange and purple pulps were investigated using HPLC-DAD for their polyphenols, biogenic amines and precursor amino acids. The results revealed that orange-fleshed sweet potatoes contain higher amounts of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, amino acids, and beneficial amines, especially when cooked in a microwave or in an oven, wrapped in aluminum foil. For the purple sweet potatoes, superior quantities of bioactive were found after cooking with steam, microwave, and in the oven with aluminum foil protection. In general, the colored genotypes showed a superior phytochemical profile than the traditionally commercialized ones before and after heat treatments, characterizing them as richer sources of the bioactive compounds of interest for producers, consumers, and industry.

Brazil has emerged as a significant producer of seedless grapes due to high consumer demand. This has led to increased production of seedless grapes in non-traditional cultivation regions, such as subtropical areas. To meet this demand, the search for new grape varieties suitable for these conditions, such as the ‘BRS Isis’ variety, has become an option for growers. The interaction between grape cultivars and rootstocks is specific, and their adaptability to climatic conditions can result in uneven performance. Therefore, the choice of rootstock should be considered before making any recommendations. The purpose of this study was to assess the productive performance, physical-chemical, and biochemical properties of the ‘BRS Isis’ vine grafted onto rootstocks (‘IAC 572’, ‘IAC 766’, and ‘Paulsen 1103’) in two production cycles. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with seven blocks and three plants per plot, for a total of 63 vines. Thus, the vine’s income components, physical qualities of bunches and berries, chemical profile, bioactive substances, and antioxidant activity were assessed. The Tukey test (5% probability) was used to compare means between rootstocks. The data on scion cultivar and rootstock pairings were further evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA). There were substantial variations in the rootstocks, with ‘IAC 572’ and ‘IAC 766’ producing more bunches, generating more fresh mass, and having a longer bunch length than ‘Paulsen 1103’. However, phenolic compounds and flavonoids were greater in ‘BRS Isis’ grapes than in ‘Paulsen 1103’. ‘BRS Isis’ shows good adaptation to subtropical environments when employing the IAC 572 and IAC 766 rootstocks due to their higher yield and bioactive component accumulation compared to grapes grafted onto ‘Paulsen 1103’. However, regardless of the rootstock utilized, ‘BRS Isis’ grapes perform well commercially in subtropical environments.

Vines are highly responsive to agricultural management techniques, such as training systems. Three training systems, i.e., conventional, high, and double training, for the ‘Niagara Rosada’ vine were studied considering aspects related to the yield, physicochemical, and antioxidant characteristics of the grapes. The experiment was carried out during two seasons (2017 and 2018), and the vines grafted on IAC 572 Jales. The training systems did not influence the fruit production per vine and yield of the ‘Niagara Rosada’ table grape, but some improvements were observed, such as a greater number of berries per bunch in vines managed in the conventional training systems and a higher fresh mass of berries when cultivated in the high and double training systems. Grapes from the double training system had higher soluble solids contents, an important sensorial characteristic in table grapes. The high training system, in turn, provided ‘Niagara Rosada’ table grapes with a greater content of bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins) and antioxidant activity.

Seven strawberry genotypes were analyzed in order to differentiate fruit production and quality. The discarded leaves (by-product) were also used to characterize their phytochemical profile with a view to potential use in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The multivariate analysis gave rise to heterogeneous groups among the seven genotypes. ‘Fronteras’ and ‘Monterey’ were the most productive. ‘Camino Real’ produced fruits with the highest polyphenols concentrations. ‘Fronteras’ produced leaves with the best phytochemical profile and, together with ‘Camino Real’, the highest antioxidant activity. The genotypes differ in terms of the yield and fruit, and leaf phytochemical profiles. ‘Camino Real’ can be used to optimize and market all the organs produced (fruits and leaves) and ‘Fronteras’ to increase the fruit yield and the use of leaves as a cultivation by-product.

Adding phosphorus in the composition of the substrate for the seedlings production contributes to a faster growth of seedlings, increases the resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, also improves the efficiency in the use of nutrients and water in many vegetal species. The objective of this research was to evaluate the vegetative growth and quality of Annona squamosa L. seedlings, propagated by seeds, regarding the application of single superphosphate in enriched sugarcane bagasse substrate. The completely randomized design consisted of six treatments arranged according to the following application doses (0; 0.75; 1.5; 2.25; 3.0 and 3.75 kg), using the single superphosphate in substrate, with four replicates per treatment. At 120 days after sowing, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot height, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, ratio between shoot dry mass and root dry mass, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and Dickson’s Quality Index were evaluated. The maximum growth of the pine cone plants were noted when added single superphosphate to the substrate in doses ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 kg.m^-3. The phosphate fertilizer favored the growth especially of the roots and leaf area and improved the quality of pine cone seedlings.

Este artigo investiga o impacto da digitalização, por meio da implementação de formulários digitais, na otimização dos serviços de extensão rural, utilizando como estudo de caso o III Concurso Regional de Queijo Artesanal Mantiqueira de Minas. Tradicionalmente, o processo de avaliação e feedback em concursos agropecuários é moroso e, por vezes, carece de detalhamento. A adoção de formulários digital, acessados via QR Code em dispositivos móveis pelos jurados, permitiu uma coleta de dados ágil e precisa. Essa abordagem revolucionou o retorno de informações aos produtores, possibilitando a entrega de feedback individualizado e detalhado, incluindo a inovadora "roda de sabor e aroma" do queijo. Essa metodologia não apenas aprimorou a comunicação e o aprendizado dos produtores dos municípios característicos da região da Mantiqueira de Minas, mas também forneceu dados estratégicos para a EMATER-MG, instituição central em todo o processo.