A caseína e os ácidos graxos livres (AGL) são importantes componentes do leite relacionados às suas características industriais e sensoriais. Alguns fatores são responsáveis por alterações em suas concentrações, dentre eles, pode-se destacar as condições de armazenamento, além da agitação e, principalmente, a contagem de células somáticas (CCS). Para estudar tais alterações, avaliou-se através do presente estudo o efeito da temperatura de armazenamento (- 20oC e 7oC) e da idade das amostras (3, 6, 9 e 12 dias), assim como da CCS (CCS1: 400 mil, CCS2:400-750 mil e CCS3: 750 mil células somáticas/mL de leite). O efeito das condições de armazenamento sobre a caseína e os AGL foi avaliado no primeiro estudo. O efeito da CCS sobre a caseína e os AGL, por outro lado, foi avaliado no segundo estudo. No primeiro estudo, observou-se aumento nos teores de AGL ao longo do tempo, ou seja, acompanhando o aumento do período de armazenamento, com médias superiores em amostras resfriadas (7oC), em relação às congeladas (-20oC). Desta forma, sugere-se que análises laboratoriais devem ser realizadas em até três dias para este componente, devido ao seu aumento progressivo em amostras resfriadas. Para a caseína, entretanto, não foi identificada interação entre os fatores idade e temperatura. As médias deste componente não diferiram considerando-se as condições de armazenamento avaliadas, indicando que as análises para este componente podem ser realizadas até doze dias após a coleta, independente da temperatura de armazenamento. No segundo estudo, identificou-se interação entre classes de CCS e época de coleta, para caseína. A partir dos resultados de AGL, pode-se concluir que o leite encontra-se com altas concentrações deste componente, quando coletado na propriedade rural, sendo também observada influência da CCS sobre as concentrações de caseína e AGL no leite cru. Os AGL apresentaram incrementos significativos comparando-se amostras coletadas em diferentes locais, no trajeto da fazenda à indústria. Por outro lado, comparando-se os mesmos locais: tanque, rota e silo, as médias de caseína não diferiram. Observou-se correlação entre as variáveis CCS e caseína e CCS e AGL. / The casein and the free fatty acids (FFA) are important milk components related to its industrial and sensory characteristics. Some factors are responsible for changes in their concentration among them can highlight the storage conditions, as well as agitation and, especially, the somatic cell count (SCC). To study such changes, we assessed through the present study the effect of storage temperature (-20oC and 7oC) and the age of samples (3, 6, 9 e 12 days), as well as the CCS (CCS1: 400 mil; CCS2: 400-750 mil; CCS3: 750 mil somatic cells/mL of milk). The effect of CCS storage conditions on casein and FFA was evaluated in the first study. The effect of CCS on casein and FFA moreover, was evaluated in the second study. In the first study, it was observed increased levels the AGL over time, ie, accompanying the increase of the storage period, with means higher in refrigerated samples (7oC), in relation to frozen samples (- 20oC). Thus, it is suggested that laboratory examinations shall be performed up to three days to this component, due to their progressive increase in refrigerated samples. For casein, however, was not identified interaction between the factors age and temperature. The mean of this component did not differ considering the storage conditions, indicating that the analyzes for this component can be made until twelve days after collection, regardless of storage temperature. In the second study, we identified interactions between CCS classes and seasons, for casein. From the FFA results, we can conclude that milk meets with high concentrations of this component, when collected in the rural property, being also observed influence of CCS on concentrations of casein and FFA in raw milk. The FFA showed significant increases compared to samples collected at different locations on the path from farm to industry. On the other hand, comparing the same locations, tank, route and silo, the casein average did not differ. Correlation was observed between the variables casein and CCS and FFA and CCS.

A caseína e os ácidos graxos livres (AGL) são importantes componentes do leite relacionados às suas características industriais e sensoriais. Alguns fatores são responsáveis por alterações em suas concentrações, dentre eles, pode-se destacar as condições de armazenamento, além da agitação e, principalmente, a contagem de células somáticas (CCS). Para estudar tais alterações, avaliou-se através do presente estudo o efeito da temperatura de armazenamento (- 20oC e 7oC) e da idade das amostras (3, 6, 9 e 12 dias), assim como da CCS (CCS1: 400 mil, CCS2:400-750 mil e CCS3: 750 mil células somáticas/mL de leite). O efeito das condições de armazenamento sobre a caseína e os AGL foi avaliado no primeiro estudo. O efeito da CCS sobre a caseína e os AGL, por outro lado, foi avaliado no segundo estudo. No primeiro estudo, observou-se aumento nos teores de AGL ao longo do tempo, ou seja, acompanhando o aumento do período de armazenamento, com médias superiores em amostras resfriadas (7oC), em relação às congeladas (-20oC). Desta forma, sugere-se que análises laboratoriais devem ser realizadas em até três dias para este componente, devido ao seu aumento progressivo em amostras resfriadas. Para a caseína, entretanto, não foi identificada interação entre os fatores idade e temperatura. As médias deste componente não diferiram considerando-se as condições de armazenamento avaliadas, indicando que as análises para este componente podem ser realizadas até doze dias após a coleta, independente da temperatura de armazenamento. No segundo estudo, identificou-se interação entre classes de CCS e época de coleta, para caseína. A partir dos resultados de AGL, pode-se concluir que o leite encontra-se com altas concentrações deste componente, quando coletado na propriedade rural, sendo também observada influência da CCS sobre as concentrações de caseína e AGL no leite cru. Os AGL apresentaram incrementos significativos comparando-se amostras coletadas em diferentes locais, no trajeto da fazenda à indústria. Por outro lado, comparando-se os mesmos locais: tanque, rota e silo, as médias de caseína não diferiram. Observou-se correlação entre as variáveis CCS e caseína e CCS e AGL. / The casein and the free fatty acids (FFA) are important milk components related to its industrial and sensory characteristics. Some factors are responsible for changes in their concentration among them can highlight the storage conditions, as well as agitation and, especially, the somatic cell count (SCC). To study such changes, we assessed through the present study the effect of storage temperature (-20oC and 7oC) and the age of samples (3, 6, 9 e 12 days), as well as the CCS (CCS1: 400 mil; CCS2: 400-750 mil; CCS3: 750 mil somatic cells/mL of milk). The effect of CCS storage conditions on casein and FFA was evaluated in the first study. The effect of CCS on casein and FFA moreover, was evaluated in the second study. In the first study, it was observed increased levels the AGL over time, ie, accompanying the increase of the storage period, with means higher in refrigerated samples (7oC), in relation to frozen samples (- 20oC). Thus, it is suggested that laboratory examinations shall be performed up to three days to this component, due to their progressive increase in refrigerated samples. For casein, however, was not identified interaction between the factors age and temperature. The mean of this component did not differ considering the storage conditions, indicating that the analyzes for this component can be made until twelve days after collection, regardless of storage temperature. In the second study, we identified interactions between CCS classes and seasons, for casein. From the FFA results, we can conclude that milk meets with high concentrations of this component, when collected in the rural property, being also observed influence of CCS on concentrations of casein and FFA in raw milk. The FFA showed significant increases compared to samples collected at different locations on the path from farm to industry. On the other hand, comparing the same locations, tank, route and silo, the casein average did not differ. Correlation was observed between the variables casein and CCS and FFA and CCS.

Potato cultivars exhibit a wide variation in skin and flesh colour due to the presence of pigments. This study established that potato cultivars differ greatly with respect to types and concentrations of carotenoids in tubers. A total of 46 cultivars were evaluated for quantitative and qualitative carotenoid composition in different growing seasons, locations, storage conditions and disease symptoms. Factors controlling carotenoid accumulation were also tested by developing an in vitro minituber system as a new high-throughput model system for carotenogenesis in potato tubers. Tuber flesh colour was found to correlate with total carotenoid content in potato cultivars grown in both New Zealand and Netherlands. The main carotenoids identified in 32 potato cultivars in New Zealand were lutein, neoxanthin, violaxanthin and β-carotene. The ratio of these carotenoids varies between cultivars. Neoxanthin was detected in only 13 cultivars (10.59 to 69.21µg/g DW); violaxanthin was found only in 1 cultivar (32.76 µg/g DW). Whereas lutein and β-carotene were found in most of the cultivars but the concentration varied from (0.00 to 160.63 µg/g DW) and (0.00 to 13.62 µg/g DW) respectively. The main carotenoids identified in 12 cultivars grown in the Netherlands were neoxanthin, violaxanthin and lutein, whereas zeaxanthin was not found in any of the cultivars analysed. Marked differences were observed between the same potato cultivars grown in New Zealand and the Netherlands. Therefore cultivars were analysed over a second growing season to assess stability in carotenoids composition. The carotenoid profiles of the potato tubers grown for two different seasons showed highly significant differences between the cultivars, the seasons, the carotenoid pigments, and all combinations of interactions, indicating the complex nature of factors influencing carotenoid composition. Reflectance colorimeter measurement of yellow hue component in this study confirmed that the higher the total carotenoid content, the greater the yellow intensity colour. Eight cultivars were grown at three locations in New Zealand and Agria and Desiree were grown at eight locations in the Netherlands to further investigate the stability of carotenoid composition. Highly significant differences were observed between the cultivars, the locations, the carotenoid pigments, and all combinations of interactions, which emphasises that changes in carotenoid composition are complex and the responses are not consistent across cultivars. Reflectance colorimeter measurement of yellow hue component confirmed the relationship between the yellow colour intensity of tuber flesh, as well as confirming the interaction between colour and locations. Disease and post harvest storage conditions markedly influenced the levels of total carotenoid, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein and β-carotene in potatoes. The magnitude of these effects depends on the cultivar, time of storage, and the intensity of powdery scab symptoms. Results showed that long term storage resulted in the accumulation of neoxanthin, violaxanthin and zeaxanthin with a concomitant decreased of lutein, β-carotene and total carotenoid content. Genotypes infected with disease (lower and higher scab score) resulted in accumulation of violaxanthin, β-carotene and total carotenoid with a concomitant decreased in neoxanthin and lutein. A high-throughput model system for investigating carotenoid biogenesis in potato tubers was developed. This involved in vitro potato minitubers and was validated by assessing the effects of environmental variables, such as drought stress, light intensity and nutrient availability on carotenoid accumulation. Light influenced the presence of zeaxanthin, whereas water stress and nutrient strength influenced the accumulation of neoxanthin and violaxanthin. Although these factors had an effect on the carotenoid content and profile, the most influential factor appeared to be cultivar selection.