Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is a crucial ingredient in beer, valued for its bitter acids and essential oils. Traditionally cultivated in temperate regions, hop production faces challenges from climate change, necessitating the exploration of new growing areas. This study evaluated the chemical quality of hop varieties grown in Brazil’s subtropical conditions to assess their suitability for brewing. Seven hop varieties (Cascade, Centennial, Columbus, Chinook, Comet, Fuggle, and Nugget) were analyzed for total α- and β-acids and essential oil composition. Bitter acids were quantified by spectrophotometric analysis, and volatile compounds were identified using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Comet exhibited the highest a-acid level (10.54%), indicating strong bittering potential. Essential oil analysis revealed β-myrcene, (E)-caryophyllene, and α-humulene as predominant compounds. Centennial showed a distinct (E)-β-farnesene profile, a characteristic of noble hops. All varieties contained α- and β-selinene, suggesting a common metabolic pattern. The results indicate that Brazil has the potential to produce high-quality hops with suitable chemical profiles for brewing. As traditional hop-growing regions face climate-related challenges, hops cultivated in Brazil may offer a viable alternative for achieving the desired chemical composition required by the brewing industry.

This study evaluated the agronomic performance and phytochemical stability of the ‘Comet’ hop (Humulus lupulus L.) under contrasting photoperiod management regimes (with and without supplemental lighting) in subtropical conditions over two consecutive crop cycles (2024–2025). The experiment, conducted at the School of Agricultural Sciences (FCA/UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil), followed a split-plot factorial design with ten replications. Supplemental lighting (50 W, 6500 K LED floodlights) extended the photoperiod to 17 h during the vegetative stage. Morphometric, phenological, and phytochemical parameters were analyzed, including α- and β-acid contents and essential oil composition by GC–MS and GC-FID. Supplemental lighting significantly increased plant height (590.9 cm), number of lateral branches (70.1), cone length (3.49 cm), and dry cone mass (374.6 g plant⁻¹) while reducing the insertion height of the first cone (99.0 cm). α-Acid content increased from 9.35% to 11.92%, and essential oil content from 1.34% to 1.90%, while β-acid levels showed no significant variation. Chemical analysis identified 31 compounds, predominantly β-myrcene (65–74%) and sesquiterpenes such as (E)-caryophyllene, α-selinene, and β-selinene, exhibiting remarkable compositional stability across years and treatments. Photoperiod extension delayed floral induction, promoted biomass accumulation, and increased cone yield without altering the characteristic herbaceous–resinous aromatic profile. These findings validate supplemental lighting as a decisive strategy to optimize hop production in subtropical regions, ensuring phenological regularity, higher yield, and consistent chemical quality, thereby strengthening the viability of domestic hop cultivation in Brazil.

In agroforestry systems, the interaction between different species recreates the activity of natural ecosystems, therefore, the herbaceous stratum tends to be diverse with occurrence of several spontaneous plants. This study aimed to survey leafy plant species with spontaneous occurrence of herbaceous extract present in an agroforestry system, identify the unconventional food plants (UFP), analyze biochemical characteristics and determine the total content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the species. A total of 33 species were collected across four seasonal collections, 14 of which were identified as UFP. Data analysis using ANOVA and the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance revealed significant differences among species for all variables evaluated. The average water content was 84%, while nitrogen content varied significantly, with a mean of 30.34%. The reducing sugar content was consistent across species, averaging 6.6%. The total phenolic content results were expressed on a dry weight basis ranged from 0.007 g GAE 100 g⁻¹ for Alternanthera tenella to 0.144 g GAE 100 g⁻¹ for Emilia fosbergii. The total flavonoid content ranged from 0.121 g QE 100 g⁻¹ in Sonchus oleraceus to 1.071 g QE 100 g⁻¹ in Raphanus raphanistrum, which, along with Emilia fosbergii (1.048 g QE 100 g⁻¹), exhibited the highest values of total flavonoid content. These findings suggest that the spontaneous herbaceous plants found in the agroforestry system are rich in bioactive compounds, offering potential for food diversification and contributing to local biodiversity conservation.

A Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi é uma espécie nativa brasileira, conhecida popularmente como aroeira pimenteira. Seus frutos contam com a presença de compostos bioativos, destacando-se os óleos essenciais e os polifenóis totais, que vem sendo amplamente utilizado na indústria de medicamentos e cosméticos. Os estudos sobre a fenologia possibilita entender o comportamento da espécie, verificando sua sincronia e estabelecendo a melhor época de colheita, para diferentes fenofases como exemplo a frutificação, que foi o foco desta pesquisa. Procedimentos pós-colheita como temperatura de secagem é de suma importância, pois é do material vegetal logo após ser colhido, precisa estabilizar os metabólitos especializados, conferindo melhor qualidade da droga vegetal. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a fenologia da espécie e a temperatura de secagem no rendimentos do óleo essencial da pimenta rosa, bem como sua atividade antioxidante e teor de polifenóis totais. A pesquisa foi realizada no Laboratório de Plantas Medicinais, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, Campus Botucatu. O delineamento experimental adotado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos, sendo: frutos secos à sombra (30ºC) e três temperaturas de secagem em estufa de circulação de ar forçado (45°C, 60°C e 85°C), contendo seis repetições cada, totalizando 24 parcelas experimentais. Foi realizada análise de variância (p<0,05) e posterior teste de Tukey (5%). Para o estudo fenológico, 20 indivíduos foram acompanhados quinzenalmente durante doze meses, posteriormente aplicadas metodologias proposta por Fournier (1974) e Bencke & Morellato (2002). Foi observado que o tratamento de secagem à sombra (30°C) obteve o maior rendimento de óleos essenciais. Para atividade antioxidante, os tratamentos com secagem em estufa a 45ºC e 60ºC foram os mais eficientes. A temperatura de secagem não prejudicou o conteúdo de compostos fenólicos totais dos frutos. Os resultados também destacam o estágio de desenvolvimento dos frutos (frutificação), sendo essa fenofase categorizada como síncrona, com intensidade nos meses de outubro a janeiro e de moderada correlação com a umidade relativa do ar.