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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 145 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-104).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 115 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-80).

Depois que a agricultura brasileira passou a ser destacada no cenário de das pesquisas científicas, o grande desafio passou a ser a padronização de produtividade em todo território nacional. Um dos principais focos vem sendo a região semi-árida pela sua escassez de água, tanto quantitativa quanto qualitativa, por ser uma região com baixo índice de precipitação e por suas águas subterrâneas normalmente serem águas salobras. Com este desafio nacional, vem se destacando a hidroponia em alguns Estados, pelo uso da água racionalmente. Com este aumento do uso da hidroponia vem aparecendo algumas dificuldades devido à falta de informações sobre este sistema. Contudo, estudos a ser realizados visando aumentar informações sobre uso de águas salobras em hidroponia, e também buscando informação sobre os níveis de resposta das culturas à salinidade, são de fundamental importância para aperfeiçoar os investimentos em produções hidropônicas, principalmente na região Nordeste do Brasil. Tendo em vista a falta de informação para a cultura do agrião hidropônico, o objetivo deste trabalho foi: averiguar a resposta à salinidade da cultura do agrião, em hidroponia e em solo; propor um manejo para a melhor utilização do sistema, com águas salinas. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Departamento de Engenharia Rural da Escola Superior Luiz de Queiroz ESALQ-USP, em uma casa de vegetação do tipo arco simples. Utilizou-se um sistema de hidroponia composta por 32 unidades experimentais, que já se encontravam instaladas. Cada sistema hidropônico representou uma parcela independente. Para averiguar a resposta aos sais pelo agrião em sistema hidropônico NFT e no solo, foram avaliados oito níveis de salinidade da solução nutritiva produzidos com NaCl, sendo a solução nutritiva e mais sete níveis de salinidade da água. Foi observado, que o níveis menores de sais, o agrião se desenvolveu melhor em relação aos níveis maiores. Foi observado também que a resposta da cultura à salinidade foi melhor nos sistemas hidropônicos. Notou-se também que os principais sintomas da salinidade foram o nanismo, coloração escura das folhas e suas folhas ficaram coriáceas. Após o experimento, conclui-se que os tratamentos salinos influenciaram significativamente todos os parâmetros de rendimento da cultura, tanto na hidroponia quanto no solo; houve melhor desenvolvimento das plantas sob salinidade na hidroponia, quando confrontado ao solo; o consumo de água palas plantas na hidroponia foi influenciado pela salinidade. / After the Brazilian agriculture started to be outstanding in the scenery of the scientific researches, the great challenge started to be the productivity standardization in whole national territory. One of the main focus is being the semi-arid area for its water scarcity, so much quantitative as qualitative, for being an area with low annual precipitation and for their underground waters be usually salty waters. With this national challenge, it been spreading the soilless in some States, to improve the water use. With this increase soilless use it is appearing some difficulties due the lack of the information on this system. However, studies to be accomplished seeking to increase information on use of salty waters in soilless, and also looking for information on the answer salinity levels crop, are of fundamental importance to improve the investments in productions hydroponics, mainly in the Northeast of Brazil. Tends in view of the information lack for the hydroponic watercress crop, the objective of this work was: determine the threshold salinity of the crop watercress, in soilless and in soil; to propose a handling for the best system use, with saline waters. The experiment was developed in the Department of Rural Engineering of the Superior School \'Luiz of Queiroz\' ESALQ-USP, in a greenhouse of the type simple arch. A soilless system was used composed by 32 experimental units, that already installed previously. Each system hydroponics represented an independent portion. To discover the answer to the salts for the watercress in system hydroponics NFT and in the soil, they were evaluated eight salinity levels of the nutritious solution produced with NaCl, being the solution nutritious and more seven salinity levels of the water. It was observed, that in smaller levels of salts, the watercress grew better in relation to the larger levels. It was also observed that the answer crop to the salinity was better in the systems hydroponics. It was also noticed that the main symptoms of the salinity were the nanism, dark coloration leaves and their leaves were coriaceous. After the experiment, it is concluded that the saline treatments influenced significantly all income parameters crop, both in soilless and in soil; there was better development of the plants under salinity in the soilless, compared to the soil; the water consumption peaks plants in the soilless was influenced by the salinity.

Depois que a agricultura brasileira passou a ser destacada no cenário de das pesquisas científicas, o grande desafio passou a ser a padronização de produtividade em todo território nacional. Um dos principais focos vem sendo a região semi-árida pela sua escassez de água, tanto quantitativa quanto qualitativa, por ser uma região com baixo índice de precipitação e por suas águas subterrâneas normalmente serem águas salobras. Com este desafio nacional, vem se destacando a hidroponia em alguns Estados, pelo uso da água racionalmente. Com este aumento do uso da hidroponia vem aparecendo algumas dificuldades devido à falta de informações sobre este sistema. Contudo, estudos a ser realizados visando aumentar informações sobre uso de águas salobras em hidroponia, e também buscando informação sobre os níveis de resposta das culturas à salinidade, são de fundamental importância para aperfeiçoar os investimentos em produções hidropônicas, principalmente na região Nordeste do Brasil. Tendo em vista a falta de informação para a cultura do agrião hidropônico, o objetivo deste trabalho foi: averiguar a resposta à salinidade da cultura do agrião, em hidroponia e em solo; propor um manejo para a melhor utilização do sistema, com águas salinas. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Departamento de Engenharia Rural da Escola Superior Luiz de Queiroz ESALQ-USP, em uma casa de vegetação do tipo arco simples. Utilizou-se um sistema de hidroponia composta por 32 unidades experimentais, que já se encontravam instaladas. Cada sistema hidropônico representou uma parcela independente. Para averiguar a resposta aos sais pelo agrião em sistema hidropônico NFT e no solo, foram avaliados oito níveis de salinidade da solução nutritiva produzidos com NaCl, sendo a solução nutritiva e mais sete níveis de salinidade da água. Foi observado, que o níveis menores de sais, o agrião se desenvolveu melhor em relação aos níveis maiores. Foi observado também que a resposta da cultura à salinidade foi melhor nos sistemas hidropônicos. Notou-se também que os principais sintomas da salinidade foram o nanismo, coloração escura das folhas e suas folhas ficaram coriáceas. Após o experimento, conclui-se que os tratamentos salinos influenciaram significativamente todos os parâmetros de rendimento da cultura, tanto na hidroponia quanto no solo; houve melhor desenvolvimento das plantas sob salinidade na hidroponia, quando confrontado ao solo; o consumo de água palas plantas na hidroponia foi influenciado pela salinidade. / After the Brazilian agriculture started to be outstanding in the scenery of the scientific researches, the great challenge started to be the productivity standardization in whole national territory. One of the main focus is being the semi-arid area for its water scarcity, so much quantitative as qualitative, for being an area with low annual precipitation and for their underground waters be usually salty waters. With this national challenge, it been spreading the soilless in some States, to improve the water use. With this increase soilless use it is appearing some difficulties due the lack of the information on this system. However, studies to be accomplished seeking to increase information on use of salty waters in soilless, and also looking for information on the answer salinity levels crop, are of fundamental importance to improve the investments in productions hydroponics, mainly in the Northeast of Brazil. Tends in view of the information lack for the hydroponic watercress crop, the objective of this work was: determine the threshold salinity of the crop watercress, in soilless and in soil; to propose a handling for the best system use, with saline waters. The experiment was developed in the Department of Rural Engineering of the Superior School \'Luiz of Queiroz\' ESALQ-USP, in a greenhouse of the type simple arch. A soilless system was used composed by 32 experimental units, that already installed previously. Each system hydroponics represented an independent portion. To discover the answer to the salts for the watercress in system hydroponics NFT and in the soil, they were evaluated eight salinity levels of the nutritious solution produced with NaCl, being the solution nutritious and more seven salinity levels of the water. It was observed, that in smaller levels of salts, the watercress grew better in relation to the larger levels. It was also observed that the answer crop to the salinity was better in the systems hydroponics. It was also noticed that the main symptoms of the salinity were the nanism, dark coloration leaves and their leaves were coriaceous. After the experiment, it is concluded that the saline treatments influenced significantly all income parameters crop, both in soilless and in soil; there was better development of the plants under salinity in the soilless, compared to the soil; the water consumption peaks plants in the soilless was influenced by the salinity.

La rivière Essonne est influencée quantitativement et qualitativement par la nappe de Beauce. L'eau de cette nappe possède des concentrations en nitrates élevées et qui continuent d'augmenter, représentant ainsi une menace croissante pour la qualité du cours d'eau. Des cressonnières (zones humides artificielles où le cresson de fontaine [Nasturtium officinale R. Br.] est cultivé) étaient autrefois très nombreuses entre ces deux masses d'eau, mais sont aujourd'hui massivement abandonnées. Or, ces zones humides jouent potentiellement un rôle épurateur vis-à-vis des nitrates, et pourraient contribuer au bon état du cours d'eau en limitant les transferts de ces nutriments (zones tampons) de la nappe vers la rivière. Ce travail a donc pour objectif d'étudier l'élimination des nitrates dans les cressonnières, mais également l'évolution de ces zones humides après l'abandon de la culture du cresson, et ses conséquences sur l'épuration. Pour cela, nous nous sommes basés sur l'étude d'un site expérimental (Maisse, 91, France) comprenant plusieurs stades d'abandon et sur des expérimentations en laboratoire (bioréacteurs). Les successions de macrophytes après l'abandon de la culture ont été étudiées sur le site expérimental et dans 14 autres sites de la vallée de l'Essonne. Après l'abandon de la culture, le cresson ne se maintient pas dans les fosses. On observe alors une évolution progressive vers un milieu terrestre, avec la colonisation successive par des hydrophytes pionnières ou invasives (Lemna minuta Kunth.), puis par des hélophytes pionnières (Epilobium hirsutum L., Typha latifolia L., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud.). Enfin, il s'établit une roselière avec l'apparition d'espèces arbustives et ligneuses (Salix sp), qui s'accompagne d'un comblement des fosses et qui semble constituer une transition vers une forêt alluviale. Au cours du passage de l'eau dans les fosses du site expérimental, une partie des nitrates a été éliminée. Les fosses cultivées ont été les plus efficaces avec un taux moyen de 1770 mg NO3-/m²/jour au cours des trois années de suivi. En comparaison, les fosses abandonnées ont montré des taux d'élimination largement inférieurs allant de 550 à 750 mg NO3-/m²/jour. Toutefois, ces taux n'ont permis qu'une faible diminution des concentrations (approximativement 44 mg/L en entrée à 42 mg/L en sortie) à cause de temps de séjour trop courts de l'eau dans les fosses. Les taux d'élimination des nitrates ont varié de façon saisonnière, avec un maximum en été et un minimum en hiver. L'ampleur des variations saisonnières a cependant été beaucoup plus forte dans les fosses cultivées que dans les fosses abandonnées. L'estimation des prélèvements par les macrophytes a montré que la dénitrification est la voie majoritaire de l'élimination des nitrates (70 à 85% de l'élimination totale). Des mesures de dénitrification potentielle en bioréacteurs ont montré que ce processus était limité par la disponibilité du carbone organique. Or, le cresson des fosses cultivées représente une source de carbone très disponible, par rapport aux hélophytes (Phragmites australis) qui dominent les cressonnières abandonnées. L'effet des cressonnières sur les concentrations en nitrates de la rivière Essonne est actuellement limité, mais peut être amélioré par la gestion des sources de carbone et des temps de séjour de l'eau dans ces zones humides. / River Essonne is quantitatively and qualitatively influenced by groundwater. Nitrate concentrations of this groundwater are high and are still increasing, threatening the quality of the watercourse. In the past, watercress farms (artificial wetlands where watercress [Nasturtium officinale R. Br.] is cultivated) were numerous between this groundwater and the river, but they are nowadays massively abandoned. These wetlands potentially play the role of buffer zones, and could contribute to maintain the quality of surface water with respect to nitrate. This study aims to assess nitrate mitigation in watercress farms, but also the changes occurring in these wetlands after watercress cropping has been abandoned and their consequences on nitrate removal. This work is based upon the study of an experimental site (Maisse, France) including several stages of abandon, and on laboratory experiments (bioreactors). Macrophytes succession after the abandonment of watercress farms has been assessed at the experimental site and in 14 other abandoned sites of the Essonne valley. After the abandonment of the crop, watercress do not maintain in the beds. The wetlands progressively evolve towards a terrestrial ecosystem, being successively colonized by pioneer or invasives hydrophytes (Lemna minuta Kunth.) and by pioneer helophytes (Epilobium hirsutum L., Typha latifolia L., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud.). To finish with, the vegetation consists in reed beds, with the appearance of shrubby and woody species (Salix sp) which seems to indicate an evolution towards an alluvial forest. Nitrates were partially removed from the water between the inflow and the outflow of our experimental site. Cultivated beds were the most efficient with a mean removal rate of 1770 mg NO3-/m²/day during this 3-years survey. In comparison, abandoned beds exhibited lower removal rates ranging from 550 to 750 mg/m²/day. In spite of these rates, the effects on nitrate concentrations in water were limited (approximately 44 mg/L at the inflow and 42 mg/L at the outflow), because the residence times were short. Nitrate removal rates varied seasonally, and were highest in summer and lowest in winter. The amplitude of these variations was higher in cultivated beds than in abandoned beds. The estimate of nitrate uptake by macrophytes revealed that denitrification could account for 70 to 85% of nitrate removal. Measurement of potential denitrification in bioreactors showed that organic carbon availability limited denitrification in watercress farm sediments. Watercress is a readily available source of carbon, in contrast with helophytes which dominate abandoned beds such as Phragmites australis.The effects of nitrate mitigation in watercress farms on nitrate concentrations in the river Essonne are very limited, but can be improved with the management of carbon sources and hydraulic residence time in these wetlands.

A study was undertaken to determine the food safety of the fermented Māori delicacy, Toroi. Ten batches of Toroi were prepared by a commonly used traditional method that consisted of boiling the vegetable component, either watercress or puha, and combining it with chopped mussel flesh. The mixture was cooled and then stored in a refrigerator for up to eight months to allow natural fermentation to take place. All ingredients were sourced from retail outlets. The Toroi was examined at intervals over eight months for a range of pathogens (seven in all) that have been related to incidents of food poisoning in ready-to-eat foods in New Zealand. The survival of a faecal contamination indicator, the laboratory grown strain Escherichia coli NZRM 916, was mapped over eight months. Two strategies to prevent the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Toroi were also investigated. Only one of the seven pathogens sought was recovered from any sample. This pathogen was Bacillus cereus, a spore-former known to be associated with vegetables. All batches contained B. cereus on the day of preparation but after two weeks refrigerated storage there was no further recovery from any sample. There was a very low incidence of natural E. coli in the Toroi, consistent with levels permitted in mussels sold in retail outlets. The laboratory grown strain, E. coli declined substantially over two months and was not recovered from any samples at eight months. A laboratory grown strain of Listeria monocytogenes, (L70) was added to Toroi and grew well with an increase in concentration of about seven-fold, over 19 days storage in a refrigerator. A bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus sake Lb706, was added in combined culture with L. monocytogenes to Toroi. It was found that at least 5 x108 L. sake cells were required as an inoculum to ensure elimination of L. monocytogenes from the Toroi. When a purified bacteriocin; nisin, was added, a concentration of 10 mg g-1 in the Toroi was required to eliminate L. monocytogenes. The inhibition study results suggest that unacceptably high inocula or purified bacteriocin would be required to prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes in Toroi. The results of this suggest that Toroi be prepared from mussels either purchased from a retail outlet or harvested from sites known to be free from contamination. Toroi should be safe to eat if prepared carefully, chilled promptly and thoroughly and allowed to ferment for at least two weeks. In addition, care should be taken to maintain Toroi at refrigerated temperatures until it is eaten.

A demanda por frutas e hortaliças frescas, associada à necessidade de maior praticidade da vida atual, está incentivando o interesse dos consumidores por produtos minimamente processados. Entre os microrganismos patogênicos que podem ser transmitidos por estes vegetais encontram-se principalmente Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 e Samonella spp. Alguns métodos são utilizados para prevenir e controlar estes microrganismos, entre eles, a irradiação. Amostras de agrião (Nasturtium oficinallis) minimamente processado foram inoculadas com uma mistura de três cepas de Salmonella (Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076, Salmonella Tiphymurium ATCC 14028) e expostos às doses de 0; 0,2; 0,5; 0,7; 1,0; 1,2 e 1,5 kGy. O valor D10 para Salmonella spp inoculada em agrião minimamente processado submetido à radiação gama variou de 0,29 a 0,43 kGy. Amostras de agrião expostas a doses de 1, 3 e 4 kGy e amostra testemunha, mantidas sob refrigeração, foram utilizadas para avaliação sensorial e vida-de-prateleira. Todas as amostras expostas à radiação foram aceitas pelos julgadores. A vida-de-prateleira da amostra de agrião exposta à 1 kGy foi de 16 dias, um dia e meio a mais que a testemunha. A vida-de-prateleira das amostras expostas à 3 e 4 kGy foi de 9 e 6 dias, respectivamente. / Consumer attitudes towards foods have changed in the last two decades increasing requirements for freshlike products. Consequently less extreme treatments or additives are being required. Minimally processed foods have freshlike characteristics and satisfy this new consumer demand. Besides freshness, the minimally processing also provide convenience required by the market. Salad vegetables can be source of pathogen such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7and Listeria monocytogenes. The minimally processing does not reduce the levels of pathogenic microorganisms to safe levels. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to improve the microbiological safety and the shelf-life of minimally processed vegetables using gamma radiation. Minimally processed watercress inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella spp was exposed to 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5 kGy. D10 values for Salmonella spp inoculated in watercress varied from 0.29 to 0.43 kGy. Samples of watercress exposed of 1, 3 e 4 kGy and non-irradiated sample, stored at 7°C, were submitted to sensory evaluation and their shelf-life was determined. All samples were accepted by members of sensory panel. The shelf-life of sample irradiated with 1 kGy was 16 days (one and half day more than shelf-life of non-irradiated sample) and samples exposed to 3 and 4 kGy presented shelf-life of 9 and o days, respectively.

Selenium is a trace and essential element for good health but required only in very narrow range. Hence, determination of selenium in trace level in any matrix related with human health is important. A preconcentration method is performed to obtain a low detection limit for analyte. In this study, the methodology of cloud point extraction (CPE) was used as the preconcentration method for speciation of selenium in vitamin tablets. Non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 and a fluorimetric ligand, 2,3- diaminonaphtalene (DAN) were used for the extraction of trace levels of organic and inorganic selenium species as a prior step to their determination by spectrofluorimetry. The aqueous solutions of nonionic and zwitterionic surfactant materials become cloudy when temperature reaches the cloud point temperature and analyte collapses with surface active material. The volume of surfactant rich phase is smaller than the solution volume and by this way high preconcentration factor was obtained. Optimization of the CPE parameters affecting complexation and phase separation was performed. Standard addition method was used in the quantitative measurements. Spectrofluorimetric determination of selenium was done using excitation and emission wavelegths of 380 nm end 570 nm respectively. The detection limit, established as 3s /slope where s is the standard deviation of 12 measurements of 0.02 mg/L Se-DAN complex after 10 fold preconcentration was 2.3 &micro / g/L. Accuracy of the method was checked using EnviroMat Waste Water, EU-L-2 as SRM and the result was in good agreement with certified value.Besides, selenium rich vegetables (dill, watercress herb and garlic) were grown in a pot at a controlled atmosphere.Selenium in plants (dill, watercress gerb and garlic), both control and enriched groups was determined by ICP-MS.

Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a troublesome weed that outcompetes crops and contributes to poor yields. In the past, agriculturalists controlled purple nutsedge by fumigating soil with methyl bromide but the fumigant has since been classified as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol. This study evaluated the effectiveness of several alternative purple nutsedge control techniques and compared them with results obtained from the application of Roundup. Concentration treatment effects for the allelopathic seed powders of watercress and turnip were tested in a field trial while seed powders of yellow mustard and sunflower were tested in a potted trial. The allelopathic amendments significantly delayed weed emergence but several factors interfered with long-term effectiveness. Roundup was determined to be the most effective season-long weed control among the treatments consistently leaving the least amount of surviving weeds and underground organs.