Landolphia kirkii is scrambling shrub forming an integral part of the flora along the coastal areas of north-eastern South Africa. The non-sustainable harvesting of fruit as food source, by monkeys and rural communities and the highly recalcitrant nature of their seeds threatens the continuation of the species. In addition, the ability of the plants to produce high quality rubber makes its long-term conservation highly desirable. Previously, attempts have been made to cryopreserve germplasm of L. kirkii, but no survival had been recorded at cryogenic temperatures of below -140ºC. The present study reports on the effects of rapid dehydration, chemical cryoprotectants and various cooling rates, thawing and imbibition treatments on survival of embryonic axes excised with cotyledons completely removed, as well as with 3 mm portion of each cotyledon attached, from fresh, mature, recalcitrant seeds of L. kirkii. Survival was assessed by the ability for both root and shoot development in in vitro culture, the tetrazolium test and electrolyte leakage readings. At seed shedding, embryonic axes were at the high mean water content of 2.24 g gˉ¹ (dry mass basis). All axes (with and without attached cotyledonary segments) withstood rapid (flash) drying to a water content of c. 0.28 g gˉ¹; however, the use of chemical cryoprotectants, singly or in combination, before flash-drying was lethal. Rapid cooling rates were detrimental to axes flash-dried to 0.28 g gˉ¹, with no explants showing shoot production after exposure to -196ºC and -210ºC. Ultrastructural examination revealed that decompartmentation and loss of cellular integrity were associated with viability loss after rapid cooling to cryogenic temperatures, although lipid bodies retained their morphology regardless of the thawing temperature employed. Furthermore, analysis of the lipid composition within embryos of L. kirkii revealed negligible amounts of capric and lauric acids, suggested to be the medium-chained saturated fatty acids responsible for triacylglycerol crystallisation when lipid-rich seeds are subjected to cryogenic temperatures. Hence, lipid crystallisation was not implicated in cell death following dehydration, exposure to cryogenic temperatures and subsequent thawing and rehydration. Rapid rehydration of embryonic axes of L. kirkii by direct immersion in a calcium-magnesium solution at 25ºC for 30 min (as apposed to slow rehydration on moistened filter paper or with rehydration in water) was associated with highest survival post-dehydration. Cooling at 1ºC minˉ¹ and 2ºC minˉ¹ facilitated survival of 70 and 75% respectively of axes with attached cotyledonary segments at 0.28 g gˉ¹ after exposure to - 70ºC. Viability retention of 40 and 45% were recorded when embryonic axes with attached cotyledonary segments were cooled at 14 and 15ºC minˉ¹ to temperatures below -180ºC. However, no axes excised without attached cotyledonary segments produced shoots after cryogenic exposure. The use of slow cooling rates is promising for cryopreservation of mature axes of L. kirkii, but only when excised with a portion of each cotyledon left attached. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Popcorn is the most popular snack food in the world. Genetic diversity is of major concern in popcorn breeding. High genetic diversity allows manipulation of different genotypes to breed new varieties. There is very little published work on popcorn production in Sub-Saharan Africa primarily in South Africa. Popcorn production in South Africa could be hampered by the lack of superior and adapted varieties with large genetic base, good popping ability and high yield. Studies relating popping expansion volume and grain yield are of fundamental importance for popcorn improvement, but they are limited. Furthermore, there is limited number of studies regarding popcorn genetic diversity among locally developed popcorn varieties. The objectives of the study were; (i) to investigate genetic variability among the popcorn inbred lines, (ii) to study the magnitude of genetic diversity among the popcorn inbred lines, (iii) to establish the relationship between popping ability and seed yield, and with secondary traits, and (iv) to evaluate the effect of popping methods on popping ability of different popcorn inbred lines. Two populations designated as Population 1 and Population 2 with 83 and 81 inbred lines, respectively, were used in the study.On the study of the appraisal of popping methods, the highest popping expansion volume (cm³) and less number of unpopped kernels were obtained from hot air popping than in the microwave popping method. The study revealed that hot air popping method is more effective and efficient in discriminating popping ability of the inbred lines. The study further revealed that the two methods rank genotypes differently. The presence of genotype × popping method interaction resulted in three different groups. (i) Genotype adaptation across methods, (ii) specific adaptation to microwave popping, and (iii) specific adaptation to hot air popping method. Hence, when breeders evaluate popping ability of different genotypes, they should consider the method, depending on the way consumers will do the popping. The study of relationship between traits showed that popping expansion volume and seed yield was positively and significantly correlated. Nevertheless, the relationship between seed yield and popping expansion volume was weak. Popping expansion volume was negatively and weakly correlated with most secondary traits except kernel aspect and number of unpopped kernels. The direct effects of kernel aspect score on popping expansion volume were large and negative. Other traits showed small direct and indirect effects on popping expansion volume. Traits including days to anthesis, ear prolificacy and ear aspect exhibited large direct effects on seed yield. Indirect and direct effects of other traits on seed yield were small. Relationship among several secondary traits was small. The results obtained showed that selection for high seed yield will not negatively impact popping expansion volume and vice versa, therefore, popping expansion volume and seed yield can be improved concurrently. Overall, indirect effects of secondary traits on seed yield and popping expansion volume were small; this supported the focus on direct selection of these traits to improve seed yield and popping ability. Based on the study of genetic diversity and variability, inbred lines showed large genetic variation and high heritability for 18 traits. Phenotypic and genetic coefficient of variation was high in seven and six traits, respectively. A large percentage of genetic advance was recorded in 11 traits. Dendogram derived from phenotypic data grouped the inbred lines into four to seven clusters depending on heritability. Dendogram produced from 22 SSR markers grouped inbred lines into five clusters. Overall, the study showed that, maximum popping ability of inbred lines is dependent on the method used. Simultaneous improvement of seed yield and popping expansion volume is possible through selection of inbred lines combining both high popping expansion volume and seed yield. Improvement of the two traits should be based on selection for traits with large direct effects. The magnitude of genetic diversity among the inbred lines was large; therefore, distant inbred lines can be selected as parents and crossed to develop new varieties that are locally adapted. Above all, the results have implications for the methods which would be used to process popcorn by consumers especially in developing rural communities. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 S726 / Master of Science / Agronomy

Master of Science / Food Science Institute / Kadri Koppel / Pomegranate fruits have grown in popularity due to their known beneficial health properties. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine if flavor differences existed among and within fruits, 2) understand appropriate numbers of replications needed for products that are naturally variable, and 3) compare individual and consensus scores for descriptive sensory analysis over 10 replications of the same product to determine whether differences are found between the methods. Three different sections of the pomegranate fruit were individually evaluated (top, middle and bottom) to determine if flavor differences existed among the fruit sections. Furthermore, the number of repetitions needed in order to obtain small differences in a descriptive panel was calculated. Results showed that pomegranate fruits have natural variation of flavor in the different sections, as well as differences among fruits of the same cultivar. The number of repetitions increased as the differences that wanted to be detected became smaller, and they decreased, as these differences increased. After each sections of fruit were individually evaluated, the panel discussed results and set consensus scores for each attribute. Analysis on mean individual scores and consensus data, along with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that both, individual and consensus methods, provided the same reliable and reproducible information. However, this was evaluated using highly trained panelists. Besides pomegranate juice (PJ), green tea (GT) is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, and has the highest polyphenol content of all teas. Six PJ and GT blends were prepared at different ratios: 90-10, 80-20, 70-30, 60-40, 50-50, 40-60 vol/vol. Lipton GT and Wonderful pomegranates were used to prepare the samples. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine sensory differences in the samples, 2) consumer acceptance before and after antioxidant information of the samples was provided, and 3) determine their total phenolic content (TPC). Results showed that samples with lower PJ were higher in attributes intensities for Green, and Tea like flavor, while attributes like Berry, Cranberry, Cherry and Sweetness were lower. Consumers liked samples higher in PJ, and sample 40-60 was the least liked. However, overall liking of all samples increased when antioxidant information was given. TPC results showed that pure PJ had the highest content, and as it was mixed with GT, TPC was the sum of the individual percentages of each component. Addition of claims in beverage labels might be a good strategy for consumers to purchase these type of products high in antioxidant content.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 F73 / Master of Science / Agronomy

A biotecnologia tem como uma de suas principais aplicações a área agrícola, especialmente no contexto da geração de sementes geneticamente modificadas (GM). Apesar da importância econômica dos produtos dessa natureza, poucas fontes trazem informações a fundo sobre a gestão de projetos, desenvolvimento de produtos, e geração de inovações a partir de cooperação tecnológica entre empresas. Esse estudo visa mitigar esta lacuna apresentando, informações relativas aos temas citados, com um mapeamento dos stakeholders de empresas de sementes GM pela ótica das mesmas, além de estudar a cooperação tecnológica dessas empresas com base em dados de patentes. Entre as ferramentas metodológicas utilizadas nesse estudo, se optou por entrevistas semi-estruturadas para a parte de projetos e stakeholders, e análise de redes sociais na parte de stakeholders e de cooperação tecnológica. Os resultados obtidos, além de enriquecer o arcabouço teórico do tema ligado a essa indústria, indicam que, em relação ao gerenciamento dos projetos, a definição de objetivos em um projeto é tanto um recurso crítico como um dos principais problemas encontrados pelos entrevistados, sendo que má comunicação e falta de recursos também entraram na lista de problemas encontrados neste tipo de projeto. A análise de stakeholders mapeou os relacionamentos quanto aos critérios de urgência, legitimidade, poder, e as demandas dos stakeholders entre os critérios de simplicidade e compatibilidade, sendo que ao final em um modelo de redes indicou que possíveis alterações nos relacionamentos poderiam ser positivas para o relacionamento das empresas com os clientes. Por fim, a análise de inovações e cooperações indicou que a rede de cooperações tem ficado progressivamente mais centralizada, com novas iniciativas partindo de empresas menores, institutos e universidades, de países de origem asiática / Genetically modified (GM) seeds are among of the main applications related to agricultural biotechnology. Despite the economic importance of products of this nature, few sources provide in-depth information on project management, product development, and the generation of innovations through technological cooperation between companies. This study aims to mitigate this gap by presenting, in addition to information related to the themes mentioned, a multi-approach mapping of the stakeholders of GM seed companies. Among the tools used in this study, for the projects and stakeholders were chosen semi-structured interviews, and also for the stakeholders analysis and for study of innovation in the form of joint patenting network analysis were chosen. The results obtained, besides enriching the theoretical framework of this industry, indicate that the definition of objectives is both a critical resource and one of the main problems encountered by the interviewees, as well as poor communication and lack of resources, which also entered the list of problems encountered in this type of project. Stakeholder analysis mapped relationships relating to the criteria of urgency, legitimacy, power, to the stakeholder demands which were classified through their simplicity and compatibility to the company´s. Then, a stakeholder network indicated which possible change in the relationships could be positive for the relationship with customers. Finally, through the analysis of innovations and cooperation, it was indicated that the cooperation network became progressively more centralized, with new initiatives from smaller companies, institutes and universities, from countries of Asian origin

A restauração ecológica tem como principal objetivo o restabelecimento de um ambiente florestal com a retomada das funções ecológicas entre as comunidades que o compõem e o meio abiótico, possibilitando que essa floresta se mantenha autosustentável no tempo. Entretanto, muitos desses fragmentos restaurados estão se desestruturando devido a erros cometidos na implantação inicial dos projetos e também devido à pequena chegada de propágulos vindos de fragmentos do entorno que, em geral, estão cada vez mais degradados. O que se observa são florestas com pouca regeneração no sub-bosque impedindo que o processo de substituição de espécies do dossel ocorra naturalmente, além da invasão por espécies arbustivo-arbóreas e gramíneas exóticas, baixa diversidade, dominância de poucas espécies plantadas, baixa oferta de recursos para a fauna etc. Nesse contexto torna-se necessário o monitoramento e avaliação do estado atual dessas áreas assim como o emprego de técnicas de restauração ecológica que visem aumentar a diversidade florística e de formas de vida presentes na área, além da variabilidade genética, que por sua vez irão contribuir com as interações ecológicas e perpetuação da comunidade. O objetivo desse estudo foi caracterizar a comunidade arbustivo-arbórea presente através de um estudo florístico e fitossociológico e analisar o potencial da transferência de bancos de sementes superficiais para enriquecer uma área restaurada de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual há 13 anos no entorno da represa São Luiz em Santa Bárbara DOeste, SP. O bancos de sementes superficiais foram coletados de uma área restaurada há 50 anos e de uma floresta de Pinus sp abandonada de modo a avaliar se estes locais podem se constituir importantes fontes de sementes para o enriquecimento, tanto de áreas que obtiveram insucesso na restauração como em áreas naturais secundárias. O estudo florístico e fitossociológico demonstrou que, assim como a maioria dos fragmentos restaurados no Estado de São Paulo, sua sustentabilidade pode estar comprometida por não desencadear o processo de sucessão ecológica. O banco de sementes da floresta da Pinus apresentou um maior número de espécies e indivíduos regenerantes, apesar da maioria deles ser de espécies herbáceas e arbustivas. Contudo o pouco número de espécies arbóreas que ocorreu apresentou uma densidade absoluta elevada quando considerada em um hectare. Além disso, foram registradas formas de vida interessantes do ponto de vista ecológico, como Piper sp e uma espécie de pteridófita. Desta forma, esses resultados demonstram o potencial da técnica de enriquecimento através da transferência de bancos de sementes superficiais, sendo necessários estudos mais bem detalhados que visem uma maior diversidade de espécies introduzidas e a mensuração dos custos e rendimentos operacionais da técnica. / The main objective of ecological restoration is the reestablishment of a forest environment in a way to bring back the ecological functions between communities and the abiotic components, making it possible for the forest to be self-sustainable through time. However, many of these restored fragments are unsuccessful because of mistakes made in the initial stages of restoration projects and also due to small inputs of propagules coming from neighboring fragments which, in general, are in a continuous degradation process. Forests showing low regeneration potential in the understory are commonly observed, which hinders the natural process of canopy species substitution and favors the invasion by shrub-tree species, exotic grasses, low diversity, dominance of a few planted species, low offer of resources for the fauna etc. In this frame, it is necessary to monitor and to evaluate the current state of such areas as well as the use of restoration techniques to increase floristic and life forms diversity besides genetic variability which, in turn, will augment ecological interactions and community selfperpetuation. This study aimed to characterize the shrub-tree community by a floristic and phytosociological study, and to analyze the potential of superficial seed banks transfer to enrich a 13-year old restored Seasonal Semidecidual Forest fragment located around the São Luiz water reservoir in Santa Bárbara DOeste, SP, Brazil. Superficial seed banks were collected from a 50-year old restored forest and from an abandoned Pinus sp. plantation to test if these areas can serve as sources of seeds for the enrichment of both unsuccessful restored areas and natural secondary forests. The floristic and phytosociological studies showed that, as for the majority of the restored forest fragments in São Paulo State, the maintenance of the studied fragment may be compromised for not having triggered ecological succession yet. The abandoned Pine plantation seed bank showed a higher number of species and regenerating individuals, despite the fact that most of them were herbs and shrubs. However, the small number of tree species found had high absolute density when extrapolating to one hectare. Moreover, we found interesting life forms, from the ecological perspective, such as Piper sp. and a fern species. This way, our results demonstrate the potential the technique of enrichment by superficial seed bank transfer has. More detailed studies are necessary aiming higher diversity of introduced species and the measures of costs and operational yield of this technique.

Sementes de tomate do híbrido Gladiador foram expostas a radiações gama do Co-60 nas doses 0; 2,5; 5; 7,5; 10; 12,5; 15 e 20 Gy. Foram analisados vários parâmetros como germinação, altura da plântula até o cotilédone, altura total da plântula, peso fresco e seco da plântula, altura da planta, diâmetro do caule da planta, peso fresco e seco e área da 5º folha, número de frutos verdes com diâmetro maior que 3 cm, número de frutos esverdeados, de vez e maduros, número total de frutos, Brix e pH dos frutos, peso médio dos frutos e produção total de frutos. Diferentes efeitos estimulantes foram observados nos diversos estádios de desenvolvimento das plantas. O maior estímulo, para produção ocorreu para a dose de 10 Gy. As maiores alturas médias da plântula e da planta ocorreram para a dose de 7,5 Gy. O maior número de frutos verdes com 3 cm de diâmetro ocorreu para o tratamento de 12,5 e 15 Gy. A irradiação também estimulou a produção de maior número total de frutos, em todas as doses aplicadas, com vantagem para a dose de 10 Gy que produziu 88% mais frutos que a testemunha e também uma produção em peso 86% maior. O pH dos frutos acidificou significativamente a partir da dose de 12,5 Gy. Houve aumento na produção em todos os tratamentos em relação à testemunha sendo que o maior estímulo para produção ocorreu para as doses de 10, 12,5 e 15 Gy. O uso de baixas doses de radiação gama do Co- 60 aplicado no tratamento pré-semeadura, nas sementes, mostrou-se eficiente em estimular o desenvolvimento das plantas e aumentar a produção do tomate. / Tomato seeds of the Gladiador hybrid were exposed to gamma radiation of Co-60 with the following doses: 0; 2,5; 5; 7,5; 10; 12,5; 15 e 20 Gy. Analysis were performed on germination, seedlings height to cotyledon, seedling total height, seedling fresh and dry weight, plant height, stalk diameter at the root beginning, fresh and dry weight of the 5th leaf, number of green fruits with diameter higher than 3 cm, number of green, half ripen and ripen fruits, total number of fruits, Brix and pH of fruits, average fruit weight and fruit total production. A variety of stimulation effects were observed on the different plant developing stages. The greatest stimulus for production was observed in the 10 Gy dose. The highest seedling average height and plant average height were observed for the 7,5 Gy dose. The biggest number of green fruits with diameter higher than 3 cm occurred for the 12,5 and 15 Gy treatments. Irradiation also stimulated a higher total number of fruits in all doses, having advantage the 10 Gy dose which produced 88% more fruits than control as well as 86% more weight production. The fruits pH acidified significantly in a dose of 12,5 Gy and higher. Production increased in all treatments comparing to control and the highest stimulus for production observed was for the 10, 12,5 and 15 Gy. The use of low gamma radiation doses of Co-60 applied as pre-sowing treatment in the seeds, efficiently stimulated the development of plants and the tomato production.

Espécies com ampla distribuição geográfica e ecológica podem possuir adaptações locais como consequência de pressões de seleção diferenciadas e específicas para cada habitat ocupado, originando ecótipos. Além de contribuir para a identificação e quantificação de adaptações em estudos evolutivos, o estudo de ecótipos pode ser fundamental para a conservação e a restauração ecológica de florestas tropicais. Dessa forma, esse trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a contribuição de adaptações locais e da plasticidade em sementes e plântulas para a ocorrência das espécies de palmeira Euterpe edulis e Syagrus romanzoffiana em parcelas permanentes inseridas em diferentes formações florestais do Estado de São Paulo. Foram estudadas populações de E. edulis presentes na Floresta Estacional Semidecidual da Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, na Floresta Ombrófila Densa do Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho e na Floresta de Restinga do Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, e populações de S. romanzoffiana presentes nas áreas de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e de Floresta de Restinga já citadas e no Cerradão da Estação Ecológica de Assis. Foram avaliados o tamanho, a produção, a maturação e a germinação de sementes produzidas pelas populações de ambas as espécies, a predação de sementes de S. romanzoffiana na fase pré-dispersão por larvas do coleóptero Revena rubiginosa, e a contribuição de adaptações locais e da plasticidade, em experimentos de transplante recíproco e de jardim comum, no estabelecimento de plântulas de E. edulis e no crescimento de juvenis de populações de ambas as espécies. Houve significativa variação no tamanho e no número de sementes produzido entre as populações dessas espécies e entre os anos de 2008 e 2009 para E. edulis, além de diferenças acentuadas na maturação e na germinação dessas sementes. A predação de sementes de S. romanzoffiana na fase pré-dispersão atingiu cerca de 70% em todas as formações florestais, e roedores não discriminaram entre endocarpos íntegros e infestados por larvas durante a predação de sementes na fase pós-dispersão. A ocorrência de E. edulis na Floresta Ombrófila Densa e na Floresta Estacional Semidecidual é favorecida pela presença de adaptações locais no estabelecimento de plântulas, ao passo que a ocorrência dessa espécie na Floresta de Restinga é favorecida por adaptações locais no crescimento de juvenis. Embora não tenham sido observadas adaptações locais para o crescimento de juvenis de S. romanzoffiana no transplante recíproco, os indivíduos do experimento de jardim comum produzidos com sementes do Cerradão apresentaram maior crescimento que os juvenis das demais procedências, indicando a existência de divergência genética adaptativa. Dessa forma, tanto E. edulis como S. romanzoffiana necessitam superar limitações específicas para a reprodução nas diferentes formações florestais estudadas, sendo tais limitações resultado direto da pressão de seleção diferenciada entre esses habitats e que podem ter resultado na origem de ecótipos e de diferenças de crescimento. Assim, esses resultados apontam que sementes e plântulas de espécies arbóreas nativas devem ser coletadas e utilizadas na mesma formação florestal a ser 10 submetida às ações de conservação e restauração ecológica, dada as evidências de adaptações locais para essas duas espécies de palmeira. / Species with wide geographical and ecological distribution may have local adaptations as consequence of the differentiated and specific selective pressures in each occupied habitat, originating ecotypes. Although contributing for adaptations identification and quantification in evolutionary studies, researches about ecotypes formation may be fundamental for the success of tropical forest conservation and restoration ecology. Therefore, this work was conducted with the objective of evaluating the contributions of local adaptation and plasticity in seeds and seedlings for the occurrence of the palm species Euterpe edulis and Syagrus romanzoffiana in permanent parcels inserted in different forest types of the São Paulo State. It were studied E. edulis populations growing in the Seasonally Dry Forest of the Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, in the Atlantic Rainforest of the Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho and in the Restinga Forest of the Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso, and S. romanzoffiana populations growing in the Seasonally Dry Forest and Restinga Forest areas and in the Cerradão of the Estação Ecológica de Assis. It were evaluated seed size, seed crop, seed development and seed germination for populations of both species, S. romanzoffiana pre-dispersal seed predation by the weevil Revena rubiginosa and contributions of local adaptation and plasticity, in experiments of common garden and reciprocal transplants, in E. edulis seedling establishment and in juveniles growth of both species. There were significant variation in seed size and crop among populations of both species and between the years 2008 and 2009 for E. edulis, despite remarkable differences in seed development and germination of those seeds. S. romanzoffiana seed predation reached around 70% in all forest types, and rodents did not discriminate between sound and weevil infested endocarps while predating seeds in the post-dispersal phase. The occurrence of E. edulis in the Atlantic Rainforest and in the Seasonally Dry Forest is enhanced by the presence of local adaptations for seedling establishment, but its occurrence in the Restinga Forest is enhanced by local adaptation for juveniles growth. Although local adaptations for S. romanzoffiana juveniles growth had not been observed in the reciprocal transplant, the individuals produced in the common garden with seeds from Cerradão showed higher shoot, leaf blade and entire juvenile dry mass values than juveniles of the other provenances, indicating the existence of adaptive genetic divergence. Hence, both E. edulis and S. romanzoffiana need to overcome specific limitations for the reproduction in the studied forest types. These limitations are probably a result of the main selective pressures present in these different habitats, which may have resulted in the origin of ecotypes and growth differences. Hence, such results indicate that tree species seeds and seedlings should be collected and used in the same forest type subjected to conservation and restoration ecology efforts, given the evidences of local adaptations for both species.

A RMN em baixo campo (RMN-BC) é uma importante ferramenta analítica que vem sendo usada para substituir os métodos clássicos de análise. As principais características da RMN-BC sobre esses métodos são: rapidez da análise, pouca ou nenhuma preparação da amostra, análise não-invasiva e não-destrutiva e não tem descarte de produtos químicos. O presente trabalho avaliou o uso da RMN-BC com sensor (ímã e sonda) unilateral (RMNU). Neste equipamento de baixo custo, a região de análise é projetada para frente do imã, o que permite analisar amostras com grande volume, diferente dos espectrômetros convencionais onde o tamanho da amostra é limitado pelo gap ou bore do ímã. Como o sensor RMNU possui um intenso gradiente de campo magnético é possível investigar o comportamento da amostra em diferentes alturas. Essa propriedade foi explorada para medir a temperatura e a difusividade térmica de sementes de macadâmia em três profundidades. Para isso fez-se uma curva de calibração com o tempo de relaxação transversal (T2) do óleo da semente versus a temperatura. Os resultados obtidos com a RMNU foram coerentes com encontrados na literatura usando sensores invasivos como termopares. Também foram realizadas análises de viscosidade de óleos lubrificantes automotivos dentro das embalagens utilizando a sequência de CPMG. Com o método foi possível discriminar se o óleo base é mineral ou sintético. O sensor RMNU não foi sensível para identificar amostras de diesel com diferentes composição e origem. Para isso usou-se espectrômetro de RMN convencional onde analisou 118 blendas de diesel/biodiesel/óleo vegetal, em que se variou a refinaria, teor de enxofre do diesel (S500 e S10), a origem do biodiesel e do óleo. Os modelos de classificação de análise multivariada apresentaram alta capacidade de distinguir as respectivas blendas. Investigou-se também o uso do acoplamento indutivo para ampliar a região de detecção do sensor a partir da sua superfície. O acoplamento permitiu aumentar da região sensível de 2 mm para 20 mm. Esse sistema foi usado para monitorar a cura de uma amostra de gesso utilizando a sequência de CPMG. / The Low-Field NMR (LF-NMR) is an important analytical tool that has been used to replace the classical methods of analysis. The main features of LF-NMR about these methods are: speed of analysis, little or no sample preparation, non-invasive and non-destructive analysis and no disposal of chemicals. This study evaluated the use of LF-NMR with sensor (magnet and probe) unilateral (UNMR). In this low cost equipment, the region of analysis is projected forward of the magnet, which allows analyzing samples in large volumes, unlike conventional spectrometers where the sample size is limited by the gap or bore of the magnet. As UNMR sensor has an intense magnetic field gradient is possible to investigate the behavior of the sample at different heights. This property has been exploited to measure the temperature and the thermal diffusivity Macadamia seed at three depths. For this became a calibration curve with the transverse relaxation time (T2) of the seed\'s oil versus temperature. The results obtained with the UNMR were consistent with the one found in literature, using invasive sensors such as thermocouples. They were also held viscosity analysis of automotive lubricants in the packaging using the CPMG sequence. With the method it was possible to discriminate whether the base oil is mineral or synthetic. The UNMR sensor was not sensitive enough to diesel samples with different composition and origin. To it was used conventional LF-NMR spectrometer, where 118 blends diesel / biodiesel / vegetable oil, as it the refinery varied, sulfur diesel (S500 and S10), the source of biodiesel and oil were analyzed. The multivariate classification models showed high ability to distinguish their blends. It was also investigated using inductive coupling to expand the sensor detection region from its surface. Coupling allowed to increase the sensitive region of 2 mm to 20 mm. This system was used to monitor the cure of plaster sample using the CPMG sequence.