Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) cultivars with genetic reduction in seed phytate concentration will be a valuable resource to livestock producers both nutritionally and economically, as well as in the preservation of the environment. However, due to association with reduced seed germination and field emergence potential, low phytate (LP) soybean cultivars are not being advanced to commercialization. Soybean breeders of LP lines must adjust their techniques and resources in order to efficiently select LP germplasm. Reduced seed germination and field emergence potential associated with LP germplasm eliminates many individuals with the desired LP trait during early generation population development, making improvement of agronomic performance among LP lines difficult. Thus, development of resources for improved phenotyping, genotyping, and early generation population development will facilitate the commercialization of LP cultivars. Discovery of variation for field emergence potential among F2-derived LP families suggests the potential for using a pedigree method for early generation population development in LP germplasm, as it preserves diversity and allows selection for improved field emergence. Integration of markers into a pedigree method will be useful to breeder. An example is BARCSOYSSR_11_1495 with 90-93% selection efficiency in various V99-5089-derived populations. Another resource for improved LP selection is a time-efficient, high-throughput modified iron (Fe) colorimetric phytate assay that does not suffer from inorganic phosphorus (P) concentration interference. Together these tools will provide breeders more accurate selection of LP lines. / Master of Science

Measurement of soil phytase activity (PA) and delineation of the impact of this important phosphomonoesterase on the P-cycling process in soil and sediments suffer from the lack of a reliable assay. A method for measuring PA in soil that promises to be accurate and reliable has been recently published. The method involves the use of a novel chromophoric analog of phytic acid, referred to as T(tethered)InsP5 (5-O-[6-(benzoylamino)hexyl]-D-myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate). This study was conducted to measure PA in a Clymer forest soil, which contained over twice the amount of soil organic C as previously tested soils, using the TInsP5 PA assay. This investigation specifically addresses: (1) the development of a soil dilution technique for determining maximal PA, (2) identification of previously unsubstantiated soil-produced dephosphorylated intermediate probe species, (3) the impact of increasing assay buffer pH on soil PA and (4) testing stability of the probe's amide bond in a highly (bio)active forest soil. PA assays were conducted by measuring dephosphorylation of TInsP5 in citrate-acetate buffered (pH 4.2) active and autoclaved (Control) soil suspensions. Phosphorylated probe intermediates (i.e., TInsP4, TInsP3, TInsP2 and TInsP1) and T-myo-inositol were extracted from samples of soil suspension following incubation. Probe species were quantified using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) with UV detection. PA was calculated based on a mass balance approach. A soil dilution technique was developed to address the challenge of determining maximal PA in soils containing higher organic matter content. In the initial report on use of the TInsP5 method for measuring PA in soil, two "soil-generated" UV-adsorbing compounds (designated Y and Z) were observed, but never confirmed as probe species. The experimental evidence presented in this report supports inclusion of compound Y as a phosphorylated probe intermediate species (i.e. TInsPy), based primarily on its UV adsorption spectra (diode-array detection analysis). Compound Z could not be substantiated as a probe species based on the evidence presented in this study. PA of Claymer forest soil decreased with an increase in assay buffer pH. Further, the probe's amide bond linkage was stable in a forest soil exhibiting high PA. / Master of Science

Soybeans are economically and agriculturally the most important legume in the world, providing protein and oil to the food and animal feed industries and base ingredients for hundreds of chemical products. Their value could be enhanced, however, if the oil and protein content remained high and the oligosaccharide and phytate contents were lowered to make soybeans more acceptable for human and animal consumption. A soybean population of 55 families segregating for genes controlling quality traits was chosen for this study. Both parental lines have high sucrose and low stachyose. The former contains a high level of phytate while the latter is low phytate. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether or not both parents had the same gene(s) for low stachyose. An additional objective was to determine quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling quality traits: sucrose, stachyose and phytate. An acetonitrile precipitation method and a modified colorimetric method were used to determine amounts of sugars and phytate, respectively. The phenotypic data for stachyose was analyzed and it was determined that two recessive genes control low stachyose content in this population. A map was constructed using 141 SSR markers and 15 molecular linkage groups (MLGs) were identified. After analyzing trait and marker data in QTL Cartographer, potential QTL were found on MLGs: B1, C2, D1b, F, M and N. Sucrose and stachyose QTL were identified on B1, C2, M and N. Phytate QTL were observed on B1, D1b, F and N. The markers identified for quality traits in this population may be useful in marker-assisted selection and the germplasm should be useful for the development of a cultivar. / Master of Science

In dieser Arbeit wurde die Funktionsweise der sauren Histidin-Phosphatasen (HAPs) an zwei Vertretern, der PhyK (Phytase) aus Klebsiella sp. ASR1 und der AgpE (Glukose-1-Phosphatase) aus Enterobacter cloacae, untersucht. Neben den biochemischen Charakterisierungen der beiden Enzyme und deren Substitutionsmutanten konnten die Proteinstrukturen aufgeklärt werden. Die Kokristallisationen mit Phytat bzw. myo-Inositolhexasulfat ermöglichten die Modellierungen der Substratbindungen in den aktiven Zentren. Es konnten für die Glukose-1-Phosphatase AgpE zum ersten Mal zwei Konformationszustände, eine offene und eine geschlossene Form, ähnlich der E. coli Phytase (AppA) gezeigt werden. Ungeachtet deutlicher funktioneller Unterschiede wiesen die AgpE und AppA starke strukturelle Ähnlichkeiten auf. Deshalb wurden gezielte Aminosäuren-Substitutionen im aktiven Zentrum der AgpE durchgeführt, um deren Eigenschaften zu modifizieren. Bereits der Austausch von nur zwei Aminosäuren führte zu einem deutlich veränderten Substratspektrum der AgpE und bewirkte einen weiteren, hier zum ersten Mal gezeigten, Phytatabbau durch eine Glukose-1-Phosphatase. Die PhyK aus Klebsiella sp. ASR1 wurde ebenfalls verschiedenen Substitutionsmutagenesen unterzogen. Hierbei wurden Phytasevarianten erzeugt, die bis zu 20 % höhere spezifische Aktivitäten und damit einen effizienteren Phytatabbau aufwiesen sowie eine deutlich verringerte Substrathemmung zeigten. Aus den “High Performance Ion Chromatography” Analysen (HPIC) des Phytatabbaus der nativen Klebsiella-Phytase und der Mutanten konnten Rückschlüsse auf die Bedeutung einzelner Aminosäuren für die Substratbindung und daher auch auf den Hydrolysemechanismus gezogen werden. Ausserdem konnte auch gezeigt werden, dass der kombinierte Einsatz der effizienteren Phytasemutante mit der nativen AppA aus E. coli eine deutlich schnellere, vollständige Phytathydrolyse bewirkte und somit einen interessanten Aspekt für die Anwendung in der Tierernährung darstellt. / This work presents the analysis of the enzymatic function of histidine acid phosphatases (HAPs) exemplary studied on two enzymes: the phytase of Klebsiella sp. ASR1 (PhyK) and the glucose-1-phosphatse (AgpE) of Enterobacter cloacae. The AgpE belongs to the HAPs and shows lower catalytic activity for phytate. Besides biochemical analysis the structure of these two enzymes were solved. Binding of phytate and the inhibitor myo-inositolhexa sulfate at the active site of these enzymes were fitted according to the date obtained by co-crystallisations experiments. For the first time two district conformational states could be observed for a glucose-1-phosphatase (AgpE). The open and closed conformations as well as the structures were very similar to the well characterized AppA phytase of E. coli however bothe enzymes showed differences in catalytic efficiency. For this reason substitutions of amino acid within the active site were performed to change substrate spectra and specific activities. The substitutions of only two amino acids strongly changed the substrate spectrum and affected the further phytate hydrolysis by the AgpE. Extensive amino acid substitutions were performed for the phytase of Klebsiella sp. ASR1 as well. In this case phytase mutants with 20% higher specific phytase activities were generated. Besides that, the observed strong substrate-induced inhibitory effect on the phytase activity was lower in these mutants. The biochemical characterizations and high performance ion chromatography analysis (HIPC) of these phytase mutants allowed drawing conclusions of the importance of particular amino acid residues for substrate binding and substrate hydrolysis. Furthermore the combination of Klebsiella phytase mutant and AppA resulted in a more efficient phytate hydrolysis. This aspect offers an interesting possibility for usage of the Klebsiella phytase in livestock breading and animal feeding.

Aquaculture production is increasing annualy and wild fisheries for fishmeal production remain stagnant. As a consequence, extensive research has been deployed to reduce dietary fishmeal inclusion in feeds of farmed species. Usage of alternative protein sources derived from plants continues to increase with the most popular sources being oilseeds, legumes and cereal grains. The downside of these sources is that most of them could directly be used for human consumption arising legitimate criticism from voices referring to countries where protein shortages lead to malnutrition among the population. Jatropha curcas is a tropical oilseed with upcoming popularity for sustainable fuel sourcing. The plant is thought to thrive in semi-arid and arid areas, not just producing oil, but at the same time reclaiming previously eroded land for the local population. For these reasons, annual cultivation of Jatropha curcas is thought to rise over the next decades. After oil is extracted from the seed, the remaining press cake, is currently used as a fertilizer or energy source. This is mostly due to toxic phorbol esters that until recent- ly limited any nutritional applications. In 2011, a method to detoxify Jatropha press cake was developed and paved the way for nutritional research on the resulting detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal (JKM) to be launched. JKM offers very high protein content with a balanced amino acid composition suggesting opportunities for usage as a feedstuff in aquaculture diets. JKM further has higher mineral content than comparable oilseeds. However, potential anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) present in the meal could lead to impairment of nutrient availability or other adverse effects. Previous research has already started to evaluate JKM as a protein source for a variety of aquaculture species. This thesis attempts to further identify the potential of JKM as a protein source and assess the effects of JKM on the development of two model cultured teleost species, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), as they represent two of the most farmed species, particularly in the tropics. The work comprises growth trials on both species using fishmeal as a subject of replacement in solely fishmeal protein-based diets and on more practical fishmeal/plant protein-based diets. It engages with the effects of phytate, a prominent component of JKM with potential anti-nutritional attributes and commercially available phytase feed supplements to diminish these attributes, as well as oxalate, another plant-specific component with high concentrations in JKM and with limited attention in aquaculture nutrition research. Carp and tilapia showed varying results with different inclusion levels of JKM. For carp 50% fishmeal replacement was possible without losses in growth in diets where fishmeal was the only bulk protein source (Chapter 3.1), Tilapia showed slightly worse growth at a 30% replacement level (Chapter 3.2). A steep decline in growth could be observed when replacing 100% fishmeal with JKM in carp (Chapter 3.1), while tilapia showed no difference at that level compared to 30% replacement (Chapter 3.2). In practical diets, 100% of fishmeal could be replaced by JKM without any adverse effects on growth of carp (Chapter 3.3), while tilapia showed a slight, but significant linear negative correlation with higher inclusion levels of JKM (Chapter 3.4). Phytase addition in tilapia feeds was identified as having no obvious impact on growth in JKM based diets where enough available phosphorus was provided through mineral supplementation (Chapter 4.1). In JKM based diets where available phosphate was not added, phytase addition showed a tendency to increase growth and significantly increased mineral retention and decreased phosphorus effluent contamination (Chapter 4.2). Phytase application through pre-incubating JKM along with citric acid exerted a positive effect of growth on carp when fishmeal protein was replaced by 50% (Chapter 3.1). Phytase was further shown to completely hydrolyze phytate in vitro; however, incomplete hydrolysis was observed in vivo in tilapia (Chapter 4.3). Dietary soluble oxalate added to fishmeal based diets for carp showed better growth parameters, nutrient and mineral retention at inclusion levels 1.5% and higher (Chapter 5.1). For tilapia, a trial could demonstrate adverse effects of oxalate on potassium, calcium, manganese and zinc digestibilities, in this case without negative effects on growth (Chapter 5.2). For both, carp and tilapia, an impact of oxalate on lipid metabolism was evident, lowering body lipid content and blood cholesterol in inclusion levels from 1.5% or higher. JKM can become a valuable alternative to present dietary protein sources in aquaculture feeds. The nutritional attributes of JKM need further research, especially longer-term testing in a commercial scenario and application in commercially produced feeds. Results of this thesis pose a useful addition to previous research and can be referred to for realizing these next steps.

The topic of my Master degree thesis is the development of a conceptually new class of contrast agents for the 31P magnetic resonance imaging (31P MRI). These agents are based on nanoparticles of calcium(II) phytate. Phytate (myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate) is largely present in plants, seeds and grains. It is non-biodegradable but nontoxic for animals and human beings and most importantly around 22% of its mass is phosphorus, so it is easily detectable by 31P NMR/MRI. These nanoparticles of Ca(II) phytate were doped with paramagnetic Fe3+ ions which broaden the 31P signal, making the nanoparticles invisible in healthy tissues. In the presence of bacteria producing siderophores (for example in Helicobacter pylori in gastric ulcers), Fe3+ is released from the gel and 31P MRI signal becomes detectable. In vitro simulation of this release was performed with deferroxamine, a compound possessing high affinity to Fe3+ ions forming coloured complex with it exploitable for the UV-VIS evaluation. The Ca(II) phytate can be synthesized in two possible ways. The first way is by direct precipitation of the Ca2+ salt with sodium phytate. The second way is ion exchange of phosphate in the nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite which creates electrostatically stabilized calcium phytate nanoparticles. Both...

Foram realizados dois experimentos distintos com juvenis de bijupirá (Rachycentron canadum) alimentados com dietas com substituição parcial da farinha de peixe e suplementadas com enzimas exógenas na (1) fase de berçário em sistema recirculante com duração de sete semanas e na (2) fase de engorda em tanques-rede no mar, com duração de dez semanas, para avaliação de desempenho, retenção copororal e digestibilidade de nutrientes. Foram formuladas e testadas dietas com substituições parciais de farinha de peixe (FM) por farelo de soja (FS), concentrado proteico de soja (CPS) e farinha de vísceras de frango (FV), e suplementadas com duas enzimas exógenas, fitase e protease. No experimento de engorda no mar (peso inicial 240 g; final 500 g), foram testadas cinco dietas, sendo um controle (49% FM) e quatro com substituições de 50 e 60% FM por diferentes níveis de inclusão FS e FV, sendo duas suplementadas com fitase (750 FTU) e protease (600 ppm) e duas somente com fitase (750 FTU). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no crescimento, sobrevivência, índice hepatossomático e na digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína e fósforo para as cinco dietas (p>0.05). O fator de conversão alimentar (FCA) foi melhor com a dieta controle (1,7) do que com suplementação de fitase e protease (2,12) (p<0,05). No experimento com juvenis em fase de berçário cultivado em sistema de tanques recirculante (peso inicial 14 g; final 100 g), foram testadas oito dietas. Em duas dietas-base com substituições de FM por CPS e FV foram adicionados fitase e/ou protease ou fosfato bicálcico, resultando em 7 diferentes combinações, além da uma dieta controle com 49% FM. Ganho de peso, sobrevivência e índice hepatossomático não apresentaram diferenças significativas, enquanto FCA e taxa de aproveitamento de proteína foram significativamente melhores para as dietas com inclusão de CPS do que o controle e as dietas com FV. A adição de fitase, mas não de protease, nas dietas aumentou a digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína bruta, energia e fósforo nas dietas com ingredientes vegetais. Fitase e protease adicionadas simultaneamente nas dietas aumentaram a digestibilidade dos nutrientes analisados, comparado com a dieta sem suplementação. A adição de enzimas também influenciou na composição corporal dos peixes, principalmente, aumentando a retenção de fósforo e matéria mineral (p<0,05). Os resultados obtidos sugerem a possibilidade de substituições parciais de farinha de peixe nas rações de juvenis de bijupirá por ingredientes vegetais, como o concentrado proteico de soja, ou por ingredientes animais, como a farinha de vísceras, sem implicar em detrimento no desempenho zootécnico dos peixes. Além disso, a adição de enzimas exógenas em dietas com ingredientes vegetais pode trazer ganhos relevantes na digestibilidade e retenção de nutrientes para juvenis de bijupirá, em fase de berçário. / In the present study, growth, body composition, and nutriente digestibility were assessed in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fed diets with partial fish meal replacement and exogenous enzymes supplementation. One trial was carried out in recirculated nursery phase for seven weeks and another in the growout phase in net pens in the sea for ten weeks. Test diets were formulated with partial replacement of fish meal (FM) for soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC), and poultry by-product meal (PBM), and supplemented with phytase and protease. In the growout trial (mean inital weight 240 g; mean final weight 500 g), five diets were tested, one control (49% FM) and four with 50 and 60% FM replacement with different inclusion levels of SBM and PBM, and two supplemented with both phytase (750 FTU) and protease (600 ppm) and two only with phytase (750 FTU). No significant difference was observed in growth, survival, hepatosomatic index and digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and phosphorus (p>0.05). Better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in the control diet (1.7) than with the phytase and protease supplementation (2.12) (p<0.05). Eight test diets were tested in the nursery phase trial (mean initial weight 14 g; mean final weight 100 g). Phytase and/or protease or dicalcium phosphate were added in two base diets with FM replacement with SPC and PBM, resulting in seven different combinations plus a control diet (49% FM). No significant difference was observed in weight gain, survival and hepatosomatic index, whereas FCR and protein retention were enhanced with SPC diet than control or PBM diets. Supplementation with phytase, but not protease, enhanced digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, energy and phosphorus of diets with plant ingredients. Simultaneous supplementation of phytase and protease enhanced nutrient digestibility compared to unsupplemented diets. Furthermore, enzyme supplementation influenced fish body composition, increasing phosphorus and mineral retention (p<0.05). Results suggest the possible partial replacement of FM in the diets for juvenile cobia for plant ingredients, such as SPC, or other animal ingredient, as PBM, with no reduction in fish growth. Also, the addition of exogenous enzymes in diets with plant ingredients may enhance nutrient digestibility and body retention in juvenile cobia in the nursery phase.

Foram realizados dois experimentos distintos com juvenis de bijupirá (Rachycentron canadum) alimentados com dietas com substituição parcial da farinha de peixe e suplementadas com enzimas exógenas na (1) fase de berçário em sistema recirculante com duração de sete semanas e na (2) fase de engorda em tanques-rede no mar, com duração de dez semanas, para avaliação de desempenho, retenção copororal e digestibilidade de nutrientes. Foram formuladas e testadas dietas com substituições parciais de farinha de peixe (FM) por farelo de soja (FS), concentrado proteico de soja (CPS) e farinha de vísceras de frango (FV), e suplementadas com duas enzimas exógenas, fitase e protease. No experimento de engorda no mar (peso inicial 240 g; final 500 g), foram testadas cinco dietas, sendo um controle (49% FM) e quatro com substituições de 50 e 60% FM por diferentes níveis de inclusão FS e FV, sendo duas suplementadas com fitase (750 FTU) e protease (600 ppm) e duas somente com fitase (750 FTU). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no crescimento, sobrevivência, índice hepatossomático e na digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína e fósforo para as cinco dietas (p>0.05). O fator de conversão alimentar (FCA) foi melhor com a dieta controle (1,7) do que com suplementação de fitase e protease (2,12) (p<0,05). No experimento com juvenis em fase de berçário cultivado em sistema de tanques recirculante (peso inicial 14 g; final 100 g), foram testadas oito dietas. Em duas dietas-base com substituições de FM por CPS e FV foram adicionados fitase e/ou protease ou fosfato bicálcico, resultando em 7 diferentes combinações, além da uma dieta controle com 49% FM. Ganho de peso, sobrevivência e índice hepatossomático não apresentaram diferenças significativas, enquanto FCA e taxa de aproveitamento de proteína foram significativamente melhores para as dietas com inclusão de CPS do que o controle e as dietas com FV. A adição de fitase, mas não de protease, nas dietas aumentou a digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína bruta, energia e fósforo nas dietas com ingredientes vegetais. Fitase e protease adicionadas simultaneamente nas dietas aumentaram a digestibilidade dos nutrientes analisados, comparado com a dieta sem suplementação. A adição de enzimas também influenciou na composição corporal dos peixes, principalmente, aumentando a retenção de fósforo e matéria mineral (p<0,05). Os resultados obtidos sugerem a possibilidade de substituições parciais de farinha de peixe nas rações de juvenis de bijupirá por ingredientes vegetais, como o concentrado proteico de soja, ou por ingredientes animais, como a farinha de vísceras, sem implicar em detrimento no desempenho zootécnico dos peixes. Além disso, a adição de enzimas exógenas em dietas com ingredientes vegetais pode trazer ganhos relevantes na digestibilidade e retenção de nutrientes para juvenis de bijupirá, em fase de berçário. / In the present study, growth, body composition, and nutriente digestibility were assessed in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fed diets with partial fish meal replacement and exogenous enzymes supplementation. One trial was carried out in recirculated nursery phase for seven weeks and another in the growout phase in net pens in the sea for ten weeks. Test diets were formulated with partial replacement of fish meal (FM) for soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC), and poultry by-product meal (PBM), and supplemented with phytase and protease. In the growout trial (mean inital weight 240 g; mean final weight 500 g), five diets were tested, one control (49% FM) and four with 50 and 60% FM replacement with different inclusion levels of SBM and PBM, and two supplemented with both phytase (750 FTU) and protease (600 ppm) and two only with phytase (750 FTU). No significant difference was observed in growth, survival, hepatosomatic index and digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and phosphorus (p>0.05). Better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in the control diet (1.7) than with the phytase and protease supplementation (2.12) (p<0.05). Eight test diets were tested in the nursery phase trial (mean initial weight 14 g; mean final weight 100 g). Phytase and/or protease or dicalcium phosphate were added in two base diets with FM replacement with SPC and PBM, resulting in seven different combinations plus a control diet (49% FM). No significant difference was observed in weight gain, survival and hepatosomatic index, whereas FCR and protein retention were enhanced with SPC diet than control or PBM diets. Supplementation with phytase, but not protease, enhanced digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, energy and phosphorus of diets with plant ingredients. Simultaneous supplementation of phytase and protease enhanced nutrient digestibility compared to unsupplemented diets. Furthermore, enzyme supplementation influenced fish body composition, increasing phosphorus and mineral retention (p<0.05). Results suggest the possible partial replacement of FM in the diets for juvenile cobia for plant ingredients, such as SPC, or other animal ingredient, as PBM, with no reduction in fish growth. Also, the addition of exogenous enzymes in diets with plant ingredients may enhance nutrient digestibility and body retention in juvenile cobia in the nursery phase.

Orientador: Silvia Helena Venturoli Perri / Resumo: Atualmente o Brasil é o segundo maior produtor e líder em exportação de carne de frangos, testemunhando a importância da avicultura para a economia brasileira. Sabe-se que a alimentação representa a maior parte dos custos na produção desses animais, visto isso, há necessidade de estudos para aperfeiçoar a eficiência da nutrição visando melhores desempenhos, com redução dos impactos ambientais e menor custo. O objetivo do experimento foi avaliar a eficiência da suplementação com a matriz nutricional da enzima fitase associada ao equilíbrio eletrolítico na dieta para frangos de corte. Para isso, utilizou-se 360 aves (Cobb 500) e os tratamentos foram constituídos por dietas formuladas com balanço eletrolítico fixo em 250 mEq/kg para todas as dietas e variando as combinações de níveis da relação eletrolítica (2,5/3,0/3,5) e fitase (0/1.000/2.000 FTU/kg). Avaliaram-se os dados de desempenho (ganho de peso (kg), consumo de ração (kg), conversão alimentar e mortalidade), rendimento (rendimento de carcaça (%), percentual de gordura abdominal (%)), análises das excretas (umidade (%), teores de fósforo (g/kg), sódio (g/kg), cloro (g/kg) e potássio (g/kg)) e ósseas (densitometria óssea e flexão em três pontos), bem como a análise econômica com o índice BEC (Índice de Conversão Bioeconômico Energético). Não houve interação entre a suplementação na dieta para frangos de corte com fitase e relação eletrolítica em nenhuma das variáveis estudadas. Verificou-se uma redução linear de mais de 5... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Brazil is currently the second largest producer and leader in poultry meat exports, testifying to the importance of poultry farming to the brazilian economy. It is known that food represents the major part of the cost in the production of these animals, therefore, there is a need for studies to improve the efficiency of nutrition in order to obtain better performances with lower costs and with impact environmental reduced. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the efficiency of supplementation with the phytase enzyme associated to electrolyte balance in the diet for broilers. A total of 360 birds (Cobb 500) were used and the treatments consisted of diets formulated with electrolyte balance of 250 mEq/kg, combinations of electrolyte ratio (2.5/3.0/3.5) and phytase (0/1,000/2,000 FTU/kg). Ware evaluated data of performance (weight gain (kg), feed intake (kg), feed conversion and mortality), yield (carcass yield (%) and percentage of abdominal fat (%)), excreta analyzes (humidity (%); levels in the excretas of phosphorus (g/kg), sodium (g/kg), chlorine (g/kg) and potassium (g/kg) and bone (bone densitometry and threepoint flexion), as well as the economic analysis with the BEC Index (Bioeconomic Energy Conversion Index). There was not interaction between dietary supplementation for broilers with phytase and electrolyte ratio for any of the studied variables. There was a linear reduction of more than 50% in phosphorus content in the excreta of birds receive feed with ph... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor