Plant responses to abiotic stress are neither singular nor linear. The research represented within this dissertation was intended to evaluate selected biochemical and physiological responses in two Arugulas (Images 1-5), to agronomic interventions designed to mitigate extreme environmental abiotic factors, characteristic of arid agricultural production regions. Plant stress responses were investigated under field conditions and within controlled environments (CE), during the course of a preliminary trial and three independent studies, all four directly related. The preliminary trial evaluated harvest and postharvest nutritional content (i.e., antioxidants) of two Arugulas, Eruca sativa (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (P. Mill.) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC cv. Sylvetta; grown under field conditions in the semi-arid upper Sonoran Desert. In this trial, we defined baseline harvest and postharvest antioxidant values for the Arugulas, cultivated in a semi-arid environment. The initial study, conducted within a CE utilizing a water recycling system, evaluated changes in the nutritional value of three specialty leafy cruciferous vegetables: D. tenuifolia, E. sativa and Lepidium sativum; when subjected to increasing salinity levels in the nutrient solution. It was concluded that, when specific Crucifers are irrigated with moderately high levels of salinity, neither harvest nor postharvest nutritional values are compromised. The second study, investigated the response of a suite of plant physiological parameters (e.g., yield and photosynthetic rate) in the three Crucifers to salinity, within the CE. This research provided guideline salinity values where yields did not decline, and encourages growers to consider water resources compromised by salinity and nutrient solution recycling. During the third study, the influence of environmental conditions on the nutritional content in leafy vegetables, prevalent immediately before harvest, was investigated; by subjecting plants to reduced sunlight treatments and early irrigation termination. We observed that, modulating light intensity late in the season, and early irrigation termination strategies, modify the nutritional content of leafy vegetables; and potentially the subsequent postharvest shelf life. Collectively evaluated, this research suggests that simple agronomic interventions are valuable, yet practicable, tools that can enhance the nutritional content of specialty vegetables, in arid regions: be that intervention an imposed controlled-stress, utilizing nutrient recycling systems within a CE, or basic light-reduction and irrigation termination strategies within conventional fields systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:15:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MartaJAOM_DISSERT.pdf: 1037215 bytes, checksum: 8c7c77504bef455bb92cc33eb3b92e11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The study aimed to determine the best harvesting period of organic arugula in the environmental conditions of potiguar semi-arid, from the qualitative aspects through analytical determinations of some physical and physico-chemical parameters. The experiment was conducted in a rural property Hortvida, which has the seal of certification by the International Organization Agriculture - OIA. After harvest the sauces were stored under refrigeration (12 ± 1 ° C and 75 ± 5% RH) in the laboratory of physiology and post-harvest technology UFERSA. We used a completely randomized design factorial (5x4), corresponding to five harvest periods (20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 days after transplantation) and four storage times (0, 4, 8 and 12 days) 04 repetitions, totaling 80 plots. Physical analyzes were performed, length and diameter of the business unit, number of leaves, weight loss; chemical and physicochemical: hydrogenic potential (pH), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio of ST / AT, vitamin C and chlorophyll. The results showed that refrigeration is an effective method to prolong the quality of organic arugula, with longer shelf life of about eight days; presenting better postharvest characteristics when harvested at 28 days after transplanting / O estudo teve como objetivo determinar o melhor período de colheita de rúcula orgânica nas condições ambientais do semiárido potiguar, a partir dos aspectos qualitativos, mediante determinações analíticas de alguns parâmetros físicos, químicos e físico-químicos. O experimento foi conduzido na propriedade rural Hortvida, a qual possui o selo de certificação pelo Organismo Internacional Agropecuária OIA. Depois de colhidos os molhos foram armazenados sob refrigeração (12±1ºC e 75±5% de UR) no laboratório de fisiologia e tecnologia pós-colheita da UFERSA. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (5x4), correspondentes a cinco períodos de colheita (20, 24, 28, 32 e 36 dias após o transplante) e quatro tempos de armazenamento (0, 4, 8 e 12 dias), em 04 repetições, totalizando 80 parcelas. Foram feitas as análises físicas: comprimento e diâmetro da unidade comercial, número de folhas, perda de massa; químicas e físico-químicas: potencial hidrogeniônico (pH), sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), relação de ST/AT, vitamina C e clorofila total. Os resultados mostraram que a refrigeração é um método eficaz para prolongar a qualidade da rúcula orgânica, com maior vida de prateleira em torno de oito dias; apresentando melhores características de pós-colheita quando colhida aos 28 dias após o transplantio

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MartaJAOM_DISSERT.pdf: 1037215 bytes, checksum: 8c7c77504bef455bb92cc33eb3b92e11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The study aimed to determine the best harvesting period of organic arugula in the environmental conditions of potiguar semi-arid, from the qualitative aspects through analytical determinations of some physical and physico-chemical parameters. The experiment was conducted in a rural property Hortvida, which has the seal of certification by the International Organization Agriculture - OIA. After harvest the sauces were stored under refrigeration (12 ± 1 ° C and 75 ± 5% RH) in the laboratory of physiology and post-harvest technology UFERSA. We used a completely randomized design factorial (5x4), corresponding to five harvest periods (20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 days after transplantation) and four storage times (0, 4, 8 and 12 days) 04 repetitions, totaling 80 plots. Physical analyzes were performed, length and diameter of the business unit, number of leaves, weight loss; chemical and physicochemical: hydrogenic potential (pH), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio of ST / AT, vitamin C and chlorophyll. The results showed that refrigeration is an effective method to prolong the quality of organic arugula, with longer shelf life of about eight days; presenting better postharvest characteristics when harvested at 28 days after transplanting / O estudo teve como objetivo determinar o melhor período de colheita de rúcula orgânica nas condições ambientais do semiárido potiguar, a partir dos aspectos qualitativos, mediante determinações analíticas de alguns parâmetros físicos, químicos e físico-químicos. O experimento foi conduzido na propriedade rural Hortvida, a qual possui o selo de certificação pelo Organismo Internacional Agropecuária OIA. Depois de colhidos os molhos foram armazenados sob refrigeração (12±1ºC e 75±5% de UR) no laboratório de fisiologia e tecnologia pós-colheita da UFERSA. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (5x4), correspondentes a cinco períodos de colheita (20, 24, 28, 32 e 36 dias após o transplante) e quatro tempos de armazenamento (0, 4, 8 e 12 dias), em 04 repetições, totalizando 80 parcelas. Foram feitas as análises físicas: comprimento e diâmetro da unidade comercial, número de folhas, perda de massa; químicas e físico-químicas: potencial hidrogeniônico (pH), sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), relação de ST/AT, vitamina C e clorofila total. Os resultados mostraram que a refrigeração é um método eficaz para prolongar a qualidade da rúcula orgânica, com maior vida de prateleira em torno de oito dias; apresentando melhores características de pós-colheita quando colhida aos 28 dias após o transplantio

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:15:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JosimarNS_DISSERT.pdf: 893612 bytes, checksum: c84d5b70984db4b8d05b5792681f8bd1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The intercropping system has constituted one of the main alternative techniques that contribute to improve the sustainability and crops yields, especially when it associates crops, that to use environmental resources, promotes greater ecological balance of the ecosystem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate combinations of coriander and salad rocket cultivars in bicropping intercropped with carrot cultivars in strips under the conditions of Mossoró- RN. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm Rafael Fernandes, in the period from July to December 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, and the treatments arranged in a 2x2x2 factorial. The treatments consisted of the combination of two coriander cultivars (Verdão and Português), two cultivars of rocket (Cultivada and FolhaLarga) and two carrot cultivars (Brasília and Esplanada). The characteristics evaluated in the coriander and rockets were: plant height, number of stems or leaves per plant, green mass yield and shoot dry mass. In the carrot was evaluated: plant height, number of stems per plant, shoot fresh and dry mass, root dry mass, commercial productivity of roots, total productivity of roots and classified productivity of roots. In the intercropping systems were evaluated: land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, score of the canonical variable, besides the indicators of economic efficiency: gross income, net income, rate of return, profit margin and modified monetary advantage. The best agroeconomic efficiency of the polyculture was achieved in the combination of the coriander cultivar 'Verdão', rocket cultivar 'FolhaLarga' and carrot cultivar 'Esplanada'. Regardless of the combinations tested cultivars, the production agrosystem of coriander and salad rocket in bicropping intercropped with carrot was the most efficient of fhatfrom the single crops of these vegetables / A consorciação de culturas tem se constituído em uma das principais técnicas alternativas que contribuem para melhorar a sustentabilidade e rendimento das culturas, principalmente quando se consorcia culturas que ao utilizar os recursos ambientais, promove um maior equilíbrio ecológico do ecossistema. Diante disto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar combinações de cultivares de coentro e rúcula em bicultivo consorciadas com cultivares de cenoura em faixas nas condições de Mossoró- RN. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, no período de julho a dezembro de 2014. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados com 4 repetições, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 2x2x2. Os tratamentos consistiram na combinação de duas cultivares de coentro (Verdão e Português), com duas cultivares de rúcula (Cultivada e Folha Larga) e duas cultivares de cenoura (Brasília e Esplanada). As características avaliadas no coentro e rúcula foram: altura de plantas, número de hastes ou folhas por planta, rendimento de massa verde e massa seca da parte aérea. Na cenoura foram avaliadas: altura de plantas, número de hastes por planta, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, massa seca de raiz, produtividade comercial, produtividade total e produtividade classificada de raízes. No consórcio avaliou-se: os índices agronômicos de eficiência do uso da terra, índice de eficiência produtiva e escore da variável canônica, além dos indicadores de eficiência econômica: renda bruta, renda líquida, taxa de retorno, índice de lucratividade e vantagem monetária corrigida. A melhor eficiência agroeconômica do policultivo foi alcançada na combinação de cultivares de coentro Verdão , rúcula Folha Larga e cenoura Esplanada . Independentemente das combinações de cultivares testadas, os agrossistemas de produção de coentro e rúcula em bicultivo consorciado com cenoura foram mais eficientedo que aqueles provenientes dos cultivos solteiros dessas hortaliças

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JosimarNS_DISSERT.pdf: 893612 bytes, checksum: c84d5b70984db4b8d05b5792681f8bd1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The intercropping system has constituted one of the main alternative techniques that contribute to improve the sustainability and crops yields, especially when it associates crops, that to use environmental resources, promotes greater ecological balance of the ecosystem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate combinations of coriander and salad rocket cultivars in bicropping intercropped with carrot cultivars in strips under the conditions of Mossoró- RN. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm Rafael Fernandes, in the period from July to December 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, and the treatments arranged in a 2x2x2 factorial. The treatments consisted of the combination of two coriander cultivars (Verdão and Português), two cultivars of rocket (Cultivada and FolhaLarga) and two carrot cultivars (Brasília and Esplanada). The characteristics evaluated in the coriander and rockets were: plant height, number of stems or leaves per plant, green mass yield and shoot dry mass. In the carrot was evaluated: plant height, number of stems per plant, shoot fresh and dry mass, root dry mass, commercial productivity of roots, total productivity of roots and classified productivity of roots. In the intercropping systems were evaluated: land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, score of the canonical variable, besides the indicators of economic efficiency: gross income, net income, rate of return, profit margin and modified monetary advantage. The best agroeconomic efficiency of the polyculture was achieved in the combination of the coriander cultivar 'Verdão', rocket cultivar 'FolhaLarga' and carrot cultivar 'Esplanada'. Regardless of the combinations tested cultivars, the production agrosystem of coriander and salad rocket in bicropping intercropped with carrot was the most efficient of fhatfrom the single crops of these vegetables / A consorciação de culturas tem se constituído em uma das principais técnicas alternativas que contribuem para melhorar a sustentabilidade e rendimento das culturas, principalmente quando se consorcia culturas que ao utilizar os recursos ambientais, promove um maior equilíbrio ecológico do ecossistema. Diante disto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar combinações de cultivares de coentro e rúcula em bicultivo consorciadas com cultivares de cenoura em faixas nas condições de Mossoró- RN. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, no período de julho a dezembro de 2014. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados com 4 repetições, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 2x2x2. Os tratamentos consistiram na combinação de duas cultivares de coentro (Verdão e Português), com duas cultivares de rúcula (Cultivada e Folha Larga) e duas cultivares de cenoura (Brasília e Esplanada). As características avaliadas no coentro e rúcula foram: altura de plantas, número de hastes ou folhas por planta, rendimento de massa verde e massa seca da parte aérea. Na cenoura foram avaliadas: altura de plantas, número de hastes por planta, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, massa seca de raiz, produtividade comercial, produtividade total e produtividade classificada de raízes. No consórcio avaliou-se: os índices agronômicos de eficiência do uso da terra, índice de eficiência produtiva e escore da variável canônica, além dos indicadores de eficiência econômica: renda bruta, renda líquida, taxa de retorno, índice de lucratividade e vantagem monetária corrigida. A melhor eficiência agroeconômica do policultivo foi alcançada na combinação de cultivares de coentro Verdão , rúcula Folha Larga e cenoura Esplanada . Independentemente das combinações de cultivares testadas, os agrossistemas de produção de coentro e rúcula em bicultivo consorciado com cenoura foram mais eficientedo que aqueles provenientes dos cultivos solteiros dessas hortaliças

Tungmetallsförorenade marker är ett växande problem över hela världen. En del av lösningenär att sanera de kontaminerade områden. Konventionella saneringsmetoder har visat sig varaohållbara för miljön då de leder till en omfattande förstöring av den befintligamarkstrukturen, ett mer hållbart saneringsalternativ är fytoextraktion. Den här studienundersöker hur effektivt senapskål (Eruca sativa) renar förorenad jord från kadmium, arsenikoch bly. Dessutom undersöks hur biomassatillväxten av senapskål påverkas avtungmetallerna. Att studera växtartens toleransnivå gentemot kadmium, arsenik och bly ikombination med växtartens förmåga att ackumulera tungmetallerna är av intresse för attavgöra ifall växtarten lämpar sig för fytoextraktion eller ej. Undersökningen byggde på ettodlingsperiment där senapskål planterades i jord förorenad med 1318 mg/kg kadmium-, 1103mg/kg arsenik- och 2307 mg/kg bly som härstammade från Alsterfors glasbruk i sydöstraSverige. För att genomföra studiens analys och statistiska test planterades senapskål ireferensjord som jämförelsegrupp. Resultatet visade en signifikant skillnad mellansenapskålens biomassatillväxt i de olika jordarna, medelvärdet av plantornas biomassa i denförorenade jorden var 0,33 g och 1,28 g i referensjorden. Dessutom visade resultatet attsenapskål ackumulerade låga halter av alla tre metaller. Utifrån resultatet kan slutsatsen drasatt senapskål inte lämpar sig för fytoextraktion med avseende på biomassatillväxt och upptagav kadmium, arsenik och bly. / Heavy metal contaminated soils are a growing problem worldwide. Part of the solution is todecontaminate the contaminated areas. Conventional decontamination methods have provedto be unsustainable for the environment because of extensive disruption of existing soilstructures. A suitable decontamination alternative is phytoextraction. This study examines theextraction of cadmium, arsenic and lead from contaminated soil using arugula (Eruca sativa).In addition, it is investigated how the biomass growth of arugula is affected by the heavymetals. Studying arugulas’ tolerance level towards cadmium, arsenic and lead in combinationwith its ability to accumulate the heavy metals is of interest in determining whether arugula issuitable for phytoextraction or not. This study was based on a cultivation experiment wherearugulas were planted in soil contaminated with 1318 mg/kg cadmium, 1103 mg/kg arsenicand 2307 mg/kg lead that originated from Alsterfors glassworks in southeastern Sweden. Toperform statistical analysis tests arugulas were planted in reference soil as a comparisongroup. The result showed a significant difference between the biomass growth of the arugulain the different soils, the average biomass value of arugulas in the contaminated soil was0.33g and 1.28g in the reference soil. In addition, the results showed that arugulaaccumulated low levels of all three metals. Based on the results, it can be concluded thatarugulas are not suitable for phytoextraction regarding biomass growth and uptake ofcadmium, arsenic and lead.

Downy mildew has been a potentially devastating constraint to crop production within the Brassicaceae family worldwide (CABI, 2022) and on the Central Coast of California (Smukler, et al, 2008; Koike, et al. 2007). Downy mildew is a foliar disease, caused by the pathogens in the Hyaloperonospora genus on plants within the Brassicaceae family (Goker, et al, 2009). Downy mildew is a disease that is common in region of the world with Coastal climates that provide humidity and moderate temperatures (Sarahan, et al, 2017). Crops within the Brassicaceae family maintain a predominant role in agricultural systems worldwide (Cartea, et al, 2011) and on the Central Coast of California, in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Ventura Counties (Hidalgo, et al, 2022; Settevendemie, et al, 2022; Sanford, et al, 2022; Griffin, et al, 2022; Chang, et al, 2022; Williams, et al, 2022). The crop production within the Brassicaceae family includes broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, and the spring mix production of wild arugula, cultivated arugula, and baby kale. In the first study, an in-lab screening of wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) for downy mildew resistance was conducted to identify accessions that contain potential resources of resistance to Hyaloperonospora diplotaxidis. The germplasm of 199 wild arugula accessions was grown out under greenhouse conditions and inoculated with a v single isolate of H. diplotaxidis. A subset of 40 accessions of wild arugula were further inoculated with an additional three isolates of H. diplotaxidis and the ten most resistant accessions were selected for further inoculations. The inoculations of the final subset of ten accessions with the same three isolates were replicated an additional two times. When a factorial ANOVA was conducted to test the interaction between the isolate and accession used, it was found that the impact of the accession on disease incidence was independent from the isolate (P=0.993). Three accessions, 185, 79, and 17 were identified as a potential source of resistance to the isolates utilized in this study, for maintaining a disease incidence below 1%. To compare the results found in the in-lab resistance screening, a field trial was conducted with a subset of wild arugula accessions with diverse reactions to downy mildew. When a regression was conducted comparing the disease incidence under field and lab conditions, the R2 value was found to be 0.37. A second study was conducted to characterize the genetic, morphological, and host range diversity of downy mildew causing pathogens in the Hyaloperonospora genus of hosts in the Brassicaceae family. An isolate collection of approximately 40 isolates of Hyaloperonospora spp. was established and the phylogenetic relationships of these isolates were analyzed by creating two phylogenetic trees using their cox2 mtDNA and ITS rDNA sequences. The H. brassicae and H. diplotaxidis isolates from this study formed separate monophyletic groups in both the cox2 mtDNA and ITS rDNA phylogenetic analyses. When the host range of H. brassicae and H. diplotaxidis were characterized by inoculating a genetically and morphologically diverse set of four host plant species, the H. brassicae and H. diplotaxidis were found to have distinct host ranges. The H. brassicae isolate was found to be parasitic of all B. oleracea morphotypes including broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and ornamental cabbage. The H. diplotaxidis isolate was found to only be parasitic on wild arugula, not cultivated arugula, wild mustard, or any of the B. oleracea morphotypes. The difference between sporangia of H. brassicae and H. diplotaxidis were found to be statistically significant, where the sporangia of H. brassicae were nearly circular and the sporangia of H. diplotaxidis were closer to an oval.

As mudanças nos hábitos de consumo e a presença de compostos com propriedades antioxidantes, capazes de reduzir o risco de doenças degenerativas, aumentaram a procura por vegetais minimamente processados. Uma vez que as doenças transmitidas por esses vegetais são um problema crescente no cenário internacional, este estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade da utilização do processo de irradiação associado à embalagem sob atmosfera modificada (15% O2, 5% e O2 e 80% N2 ) em rúcula (Eruca sativa Mill.) minimamente processada para garantir a inocuidade do alimento. Nesta pesquisa constatou-se que a sanificação com ozônio (0,08 ppm/5 minutos) reduziu as populações de psicrotróficos e mesófilos aeróbios, bactérias láticas, Pseudomonas e coliformes termotolerantes em até 1 ciclo logarítimico. Não foi verificada a presença de Listeria monocytogenes ou Salmonella nas amostras analisadas, tanto antes quanto após o processamento mínimo. Os valores de D10 determinados neste estudo, para Salmonella e L. monocytogenes inoculadas em amostras de rúcula variaram de 0,16 a 0,22 kGy e de 0,33 a 0,48 kGy, respectivamente, não diferindo estatisticamente (P>0,05) em relação ao tipo de embalagem utilizada (ar atmosférico e atmosfera modificada). A combinação da aplicação de 2 kGy associada à atmosfera modificada foi o tratamento mais eficiente para reduzir a população de L. monocytogenes a níveis não detectáveis ao longo de todo o período de armazenamento (5°C por 16 dias). Tanto as amostras irradiadas quanto as controle apresentaram redução no teor de vitamina e ao longo dos 16 dias de armazenamento. Por outro lado, verificou-se aumento do teor de f1avonóides para as amostras irradiadas. Não se observou alteração no teor de carotenóides com atividade prá-vitamina A após irradiação ou período de estocagem. A análise sensorial demonstrou que a aplicação de 2 kGy não afetou a aceitação da rúcula. Além disso, a percepção da população sobre o risco da irradiação de alimentos é significativamente influenciada (P≤0,05) em função do tipo de informação adquirida. O processo de irradiação associado às Boas Práticas de Fabricação garantem a segurança microbiológica desse produto, entretanto é necessário maior divulgação sobre esta tecnologia para que ela possa ser aceita comercialmente no Brasil. / Changes in consumption habits and the presence of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity, which have the property to protect against degenerative disease, has increased the demand for minimally processed vegetables. Since foodbome diseases associated with these vegetables are increasing problems on the intemational scene, this study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of associating irradiation with modified atmosphere packaging (15% O2, 5% CO2 and 80 % N2) in minimally processed arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.), to ensure the food safety. Sanitization in ozone-treated water (0.08 ppm/5 minites) reduced psychrotrophic, mesophilic, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas and fecal coliform by 1 log. Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella were not isolated in samples. D10 values for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes inoculated in arugula samples ranged frem 0.16 to 0.22 kGy and from 0.33 to 0.48 kGy, respectively, not statistically different (P> 0.05) with the type of packaging used (air and modified atmosphere). The 2 kGy dose with modified atmosphere packaging was the most efficient treatment reducing the population of L monocytogenes at non detectable levels during the storage period up to 16 days at 5°C. The vitamin C content decreased in irradiated (1 and 2 kGy) and non-irradiated samples during the storage period, on the other hand, irradiation caused a very significant increase in flavonoid content. No significant change in carotenoids with pro-vitaminic A activity content was observed after irradiation or storage period. The sensory evaluation showed that the exposition to 2 kGy did not affect the acceptance of arugula. What is more, the population risk perception of food irradiation is significantly influenced (P&#8804:0.05) by the type of the given information. The combination of irradiation and Good Manufacture Practices improve the microbiological safety of these products, however it is necessary to provide more information about this technology so it can be commercially acceptable in Brazil.

As mudanças nos hábitos de consumo e a presença de compostos com propriedades antioxidantes, capazes de reduzir o risco de doenças degenerativas, aumentaram a procura por vegetais minimamente processados. Uma vez que as doenças transmitidas por esses vegetais são um problema crescente no cenário internacional, este estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade da utilização do processo de irradiação associado à embalagem sob atmosfera modificada (15% O2, 5% e O2 e 80% N2 ) em rúcula (Eruca sativa Mill.) minimamente processada para garantir a inocuidade do alimento. Nesta pesquisa constatou-se que a sanificação com ozônio (0,08 ppm/5 minutos) reduziu as populações de psicrotróficos e mesófilos aeróbios, bactérias láticas, Pseudomonas e coliformes termotolerantes em até 1 ciclo logarítimico. Não foi verificada a presença de Listeria monocytogenes ou Salmonella nas amostras analisadas, tanto antes quanto após o processamento mínimo. Os valores de D10 determinados neste estudo, para Salmonella e L. monocytogenes inoculadas em amostras de rúcula variaram de 0,16 a 0,22 kGy e de 0,33 a 0,48 kGy, respectivamente, não diferindo estatisticamente (P>0,05) em relação ao tipo de embalagem utilizada (ar atmosférico e atmosfera modificada). A combinação da aplicação de 2 kGy associada à atmosfera modificada foi o tratamento mais eficiente para reduzir a população de L. monocytogenes a níveis não detectáveis ao longo de todo o período de armazenamento (5°C por 16 dias). Tanto as amostras irradiadas quanto as controle apresentaram redução no teor de vitamina e ao longo dos 16 dias de armazenamento. Por outro lado, verificou-se aumento do teor de f1avonóides para as amostras irradiadas. Não se observou alteração no teor de carotenóides com atividade prá-vitamina A após irradiação ou período de estocagem. A análise sensorial demonstrou que a aplicação de 2 kGy não afetou a aceitação da rúcula. Além disso, a percepção da população sobre o risco da irradiação de alimentos é significativamente influenciada (P≤0,05) em função do tipo de informação adquirida. O processo de irradiação associado às Boas Práticas de Fabricação garantem a segurança microbiológica desse produto, entretanto é necessário maior divulgação sobre esta tecnologia para que ela possa ser aceita comercialmente no Brasil. / Changes in consumption habits and the presence of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity, which have the property to protect against degenerative disease, has increased the demand for minimally processed vegetables. Since foodbome diseases associated with these vegetables are increasing problems on the intemational scene, this study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of associating irradiation with modified atmosphere packaging (15% O2, 5% CO2 and 80 % N2) in minimally processed arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.), to ensure the food safety. Sanitization in ozone-treated water (0.08 ppm/5 minites) reduced psychrotrophic, mesophilic, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas and fecal coliform by 1 log. Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella were not isolated in samples. D10 values for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes inoculated in arugula samples ranged frem 0.16 to 0.22 kGy and from 0.33 to 0.48 kGy, respectively, not statistically different (P> 0.05) with the type of packaging used (air and modified atmosphere). The 2 kGy dose with modified atmosphere packaging was the most efficient treatment reducing the population of L monocytogenes at non detectable levels during the storage period up to 16 days at 5°C. The vitamin C content decreased in irradiated (1 and 2 kGy) and non-irradiated samples during the storage period, on the other hand, irradiation caused a very significant increase in flavonoid content. No significant change in carotenoids with pro-vitaminic A activity content was observed after irradiation or storage period. The sensory evaluation showed that the exposition to 2 kGy did not affect the acceptance of arugula. What is more, the population risk perception of food irradiation is significantly influenced (P&#8804:0.05) by the type of the given information. The combination of irradiation and Good Manufacture Practices improve the microbiological safety of these products, however it is necessary to provide more information about this technology so it can be commercially acceptable in Brazil.