A mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft.) é uma raiz tuberosa que apresenta um curto período de conservação pós-colheita, de 3 a 5 dias, devido a uma fitopatologia conhecida como apodrecimento-mole ou mela, causada por bactérias do gênero Erwinia. Essas bactérias liberam enzimas que degradam a pectina da parede celular, fazendo com que o tecido perca a sua rigidez característica. Atualmente, vários métodos de conservação têm sido estudados na tentativa de prolongar a conservação pós-colheita, porém, a combinação de processos parece ser a melhor alternativa. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a interação entre processos de conservação (refrigeração, embalagem a vácuo e irradiação) para estender o período pós-colheita das raízes. Foram estudadas a combinação de duas temperaturas (25°C e 4°C), duas embalagens (caixas e vácuo) e três doses de irradiação gama obtendo um total de 16 grupos. Estes foram analisados diariamente, por um período de 30 dias, utilizando parâmetros de textura (energia de penetração), microbiologia e atividade de enzimas pectinolíticas (pectato liase, poligalacturonase e pectinesterase). A exposição às doses de 2 e 3kGy, com as amostras conservadas a 4°C a vácuo, prolongaram o período de conservação de 5 para 28 dias, ocorrendo uma diminuição da população microbiana, porém havendo uma diminuição da rigidez das raízes (p<0,05). Os tratamentos afetaram o perfil de atividade das enzimas pectinolíticas, porém a grande dispersão dos resultados e o pequeno número de raízes analisadas por dia, além da complexidade dos fatores que afetam a atividade das enzimas e as múltiplas origens possíveis - endógenas, bacterianas ou fungicidas - limitam a discussão mais aprofundada dos resultados. / Peruvian carrot (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft.) is a tuber root that presents a short post-harvest period of conservation, 3 to 5 days, due to a phytopathology known as soft rot or \"mela\", caused by bacteria of the genus Erwinia. This bacteria release enzymes that decay the cellular wall, causing the lost of the characteristic rigidity. At present, many conservation methods have been studied in the attempt of prolonging the post harvest conservation, but the combination of processes seems to be the best alternative. The aim of this work was to study the interaction between the conservation processes (refrigeration, vacuum packaging and irradiation) to extend the post-harvest period of the roots. It was studied the combination of two temperatures (25°C e 4°C), with two packages (boxes and vacuum) and three gamma irradiation doses (1, 2 e 3kGy), obtaining a total of 16 sample groups. The samples were daily analized, for a 30 day period, using texture parameters (penetration energy), microbiology and pectinolitic enzymes activities (pectate lyase, polygalactunoronase and pectin methyl esterase). The samples irradiated in doses of 2 and 3kGy, vacuum packed and conserved at 4°C extend the post-harvest period of 5 to 28 days, with a decrease of the microbiologic population, but with decreased in the rigidity of the roots (p<0.05). The treatments affected the pectinolitic enzymes profile, however the amplitude of the results and the low number of analysed samples per day, besides the complexity of factors affecting the enzyme activity and the multiple possible sources(endogenous, bacterial or fungous), limits the carefully discussion of the results.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thèse (Ph. D.)--Université Laval, 2005. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 9 février 2006). Bibliogr.

A mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft.) é uma raiz tuberosa que apresenta um curto período de conservação pós-colheita, de 3 a 5 dias, devido a uma fitopatologia conhecida como apodrecimento-mole ou mela, causada por bactérias do gênero Erwinia. Essas bactérias liberam enzimas que degradam a pectina da parede celular, fazendo com que o tecido perca a sua rigidez característica. Atualmente, vários métodos de conservação têm sido estudados na tentativa de prolongar a conservação pós-colheita, porém, a combinação de processos parece ser a melhor alternativa. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a interação entre processos de conservação (refrigeração, embalagem a vácuo e irradiação) para estender o período pós-colheita das raízes. Foram estudadas a combinação de duas temperaturas (25°C e 4°C), duas embalagens (caixas e vácuo) e três doses de irradiação gama obtendo um total de 16 grupos. Estes foram analisados diariamente, por um período de 30 dias, utilizando parâmetros de textura (energia de penetração), microbiologia e atividade de enzimas pectinolíticas (pectato liase, poligalacturonase e pectinesterase). A exposição às doses de 2 e 3kGy, com as amostras conservadas a 4°C a vácuo, prolongaram o período de conservação de 5 para 28 dias, ocorrendo uma diminuição da população microbiana, porém havendo uma diminuição da rigidez das raízes (p<0,05). Os tratamentos afetaram o perfil de atividade das enzimas pectinolíticas, porém a grande dispersão dos resultados e o pequeno número de raízes analisadas por dia, além da complexidade dos fatores que afetam a atividade das enzimas e as múltiplas origens possíveis - endógenas, bacterianas ou fungicidas - limitam a discussão mais aprofundada dos resultados. / Peruvian carrot (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft.) is a tuber root that presents a short post-harvest period of conservation, 3 to 5 days, due to a phytopathology known as soft rot or \"mela\", caused by bacteria of the genus Erwinia. This bacteria release enzymes that decay the cellular wall, causing the lost of the characteristic rigidity. At present, many conservation methods have been studied in the attempt of prolonging the post harvest conservation, but the combination of processes seems to be the best alternative. The aim of this work was to study the interaction between the conservation processes (refrigeration, vacuum packaging and irradiation) to extend the post-harvest period of the roots. It was studied the combination of two temperatures (25°C e 4°C), with two packages (boxes and vacuum) and three gamma irradiation doses (1, 2 e 3kGy), obtaining a total of 16 sample groups. The samples were daily analized, for a 30 day period, using texture parameters (penetration energy), microbiology and pectinolitic enzymes activities (pectate lyase, polygalactunoronase and pectin methyl esterase). The samples irradiated in doses of 2 and 3kGy, vacuum packed and conserved at 4°C extend the post-harvest period of 5 to 28 days, with a decrease of the microbiologic population, but with decreased in the rigidity of the roots (p<0.05). The treatments affected the pectinolitic enzymes profile, however the amplitude of the results and the low number of analysed samples per day, besides the complexity of factors affecting the enzyme activity and the multiple possible sources(endogenous, bacterial or fungous), limits the carefully discussion of the results.

The ability of a genetically-engineered <i>Erwirzia carotovora</i> subsp. <i>carotovora</I> (Ecc) strain to transfer recombinant chromosomal DNA or plasmids to wildtype Ecc or <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> was tested on filters, within soil microcosms, and <i>in planta</i>. Ecc was engineered by chromosomal insertion of a disarmed <i>endo</i>-pectate lyase gene marked with a 1.4kb DNA fragment conferring kanamycin resistance. Plasmids RPI and pBR322 were introduced separately into engineered Ecc clones. These strains served as donors in genetic transfer experiments. No transfer of the inserted kan marker or of pBR322 was observed under any experimental condition. In filter matings, RPI was transferred to wildtype Ecc at a frequency of 3.6 X 10⁻² transconjugants per donor (TPD) and to P. <i>fluorescens</i> at a frequency of 2.4 X 10⁻⁵ TPD. In matings conducted in potato tubers inoculated using sewing needles, the respective frequencies were 4.0 X 10⁻³ and 2.0 X 10⁻³, while matings on potato slices yielded frequencies of 4.7 X 10⁻² and 2.3 X 10⁻². In soil microcosms, the maximum transfer frequencies observed were 2.3 X 10³ and 8.4 X 10⁻⁵ TPD. / Master of Science

Le but de cette thèse était d’évaluer le potentiel antimicrobien de 21 sels organiques et inorganiques pour contrôler la pourriture molle de la pomme de terre, causée par les bactéries Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora et Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que 11 sels ont complètement inhibé la croissance bactérienne in vitro, parmi lesquels le carbonate de sodium, le métabisulfite de sodium, le phosphate de sodium tribasique, le lactate d’aluminium, le chlorure d’aluminium, le bicarbonate de sodium, l’acétate d’ammonium, le di-hydroxy acétate d’aluminium, le sorbate de potassium et le benzoate de sodium se sont avérés bactéricides. Appliqués sur les tubercules de pomme de terre, seuls le chlorure d’aluminium, le métabisulfite de sodium et dans une moindre mesure le benzoate de sodium ont permis de réduire la sévérité de la maladie, et ce de façon curative et préventive. Il semble à la lumière des résultats obtenus, que l’effet inhibiteur des sels observé in vitro résulte de la capacité d’ionisation de l’eau (faible pKa ou pKb) de leurs constituants, ainsi que de leur lipophilicité (dans le cas du benzoate de sodium et du sorbate de potassium). Cette capacité d’ioniser l’eau des ions serait cependant altérée par le pouvoir tampon du tubercule. Pour leur part, les sels efficaces contre la maladie disposeraient de caractéristiques spécifiques leur permettant de demeurer actifs dans le tissu. Des études ultrastructurales ont montré que le chlorure d’aluminium provoque le bris de l’enveloppe bactérienne, une disparition des vésicules extracellulaires et une agrégation du cytoplasme, phénomènes non observés chez les bactéries traitées avec le métabisulfite de sodium. Enfin, l’évaluation de l’effet de certains sels sur la qualité des tubercules a montré d’une part que la perte de poids a été généralement plus importante chez les tubercules traités au chlorure d’aluminium ou au métabisulfite de sodium, et d’autre part que l’application des sels organiques, particulièrement de benzoate de sodium, a favorisé une augmentation du contenu en sucres solubles chez les tubercules. Cette étude démontre que le chlorure d’aluminium et le métabisulfite de sodium pourraient être mis à profit pour la conservation de la pomme de terre. / The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of 21 organic and inorganic salts to control Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc) and Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica (Eca), two bacteria responsible for soft rot development in stored potato tubers. The results have shown that eleven salts (at 0.2 M) have completely inhibited the bacterial growth in vitro, among which sodium carbonate, sodium metabisulfite, trisodium phosphate, aluminum lactate, aluminum chloride, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium acetate, aluminum di-hydroxy-acetate, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate were bactericidal. On potato tubers, only aluminum chloride, sodium metabisulfite and to a lesser extent sodium benzoate have markedly controlled the disease severity, during both curative and preventive applications. Based on the obtained results, it appears that the inhibitory effect of salts in vitro relates to the water ionization capacity (low pKa or low pKb) of their constituent ions, as well as their lipophilicity. However, the effect was dampened in vivo, presumably due to the buffering capacity of tuber tissue and Donnan effect which could lead to generation of less effective ionic species. It is likely that those salts effective in vivo exhibit other properties contributing to their effectiveness. Ultrastructural studies on Eca showed that aluminum chloride caused rupture of bacterial envelope, and cytoplasmic aggregation, which were not observed in the bacteria treated with sodium metabisulfite. These observations suggest that a part of the toxic effect of aluminum chloride originates from alterations of the bacterial envelope, whereas rapid bacterial death caused by sodium metabisulfite occurs intracellularly through interaction with biomolecules, facilitated by the diffusion of SO2. Finally, evaluation of the effect of salts on tuber quality revealed that tuber weight loss was generally higher with aluminum chloride and sodium metabisulfite treatments, while the organic salts, particularly sodium benzoate, increased sugar content of the tubers. It was concluded that aluminum chloride and sodium metabisulfite can be profitably used to fight potato storage soft rot.