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Percorrer CIMO por Domínios Científicos e Tecnológicos (FOS) "Ciências Agrárias::Agricultura, Silvicultura e Pescas"
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- Adaptação da pastorícia às alterações climáticas. Guia de boas práticasPublication . Aleixo-Pais, Isa G.; Castro, José; Frazão-Moreira, Amélia; Castro, João Paulo; Castro, MarinaA pastorícia, um conjunto de práticas que implicam mobilidade e flexibilidade, é uma relação dinâmica entre os pastores e o território, adaptada no tempo e no modo. Ao contrário da pecuária intensiva, que confina os animais a locais fixos e controla a sua alimentação, esta mobilidade permite aos animais uma livre escolha do que consomem, enquanto conservam a fertilidade e a biodiversidade do solo. A criação de cabras e ovelhas no Parque Natural de Montesinho (PNM) é mais que uma atividade agrícola; é um modo de vida que se confunde com a cultura e a paisagem desta área protegida. Ao longo dos tempos, a pastorícia tornou-se num eixo cultural e ecológico essencial. Com os seus cerca de 74 000 hectares, a paisagem do PNM combina 22 500 hectares de mosaico agrícola, com 26 000 hectares de matos e 24 500 hectares de florestas, todo um conjunto de habitats naturais e seminaturais que sustentam tanto a fauna selvagem como as práticas de pastoreio. Em 2019, o Recenseamento Agrícola registava 20 001 ovelhas nas freguesias do PNM, das quais 4 000 pertenciam ao livro genealógico da raça Churra Galega Bragançana, tanto na variante preta como branca. Além disso, pastoreavam no parque 687 caprinos, dos quais 250 registados no livro genealógico da raça Preta de Montesinho. Os pastores mantêm as raças autóctones de ovinos e caprinos, adaptadas ao clima e orografia do PNM, pois são raças robustas e resilientes mas pouco exigentes em recursos forrageiros, característica essencial para um pastoreio sustentável e de reduzido impacto. Estes animais não são apenas gado, são o capital da exploração, e constituem um acervo genético vivo que contribui significativamente para a biodiversidade da área protegida.
- Advice on how to start beekeeping, memories with bees and the uses of honey: results of an online questionnaire with European beekeepersPublication . Perichon, Samuel; Adamchuk, Leonora; Biber, Lejla; Božič, Janko; Chlebo, Róbert; Filipi, Janja; Leidenberger, Sonja; Mavrofridis, Georgios; Özgör, Erkay; Pocol, Cristina Bianca; Porporato, Marco; Rodríguez-Flores, María Shantal; Vilas-Boas, Miguel; Zacepins, AleksejsBeekeeping is a demanding activity that requires both particular human qualities from those who practise it and an environment that is favourable to bees. This is why the interviewed beekeepers advise to take time to think before starting to keep the bees, to find a mentor, and to always have the desire to get to know the bees even if this is not enough for success. In Northern and Western Europe, beekeepers consider patience and calmness as essential qualities to be a “good beekeeper”, while in Southern Europe, passion for bees is the main driver of success. The reasons for abandonment or failure also include human and environmental factors. To better understand the relationship between beekeepers and their bees, interviewees were encouraged to share their best memories. With years of experience, contemplative memories fade into memorable situations in which bee practices are described, and then in turn, they fade into moments of sociability. Honey harvesting plays an important role. Productive considerations are more expressed in Southern Europe, where it is an exceptional harvest that marks on people’s minds, more than the first honey harvest. The strong connection to their bees and the territory they live in is also expressed in the choice of their favourite honey. Many beekeepers mentioned the local honey production, which they are proud to produce with their own bees, even though they sometimes became criticized for a too high price for this local product. © 2024 International Bee Research Association.
- Alginate Edible Films Containing Essential Oils: Characterization and Bioactive PotentialPublication . Lopes, Ana I.; Melo, Adma; Afonso, Tiago B.; Silva, Sara; Barros, Lillian; Tavaria, Freni K.; Pintado, ManuelaEssential oils (EOs) are natural substances rich in phenolic compounds with notable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, they present some limitations, such as low stability and bioavailability. Incorporating EOs into polymeric films offers a novel approach to overcome these challenges while enhancing their efficacy. In this study, we produced and thoroughly characterized alginate-based edible films incorporated with five different EOs—rosemary, eucalyptus, oregano, sage, and thyme. This is the first comprehensive investigation to include this diverse range of EOs in alginate films. Their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that alginate films containing EOs exhibited significant bioactive properties. Notably, the film incorporated with oregano EO completely inhibited the growth of all tested bacteria and fungi and showed the highest antioxidant activity. Based on these findings, alginate films containing EOs present promising bioactive potential and could serve as biodegradable alternatives to conventional packaging materials, reducing environmental impact. However, further studies are necessary to assess their safety profile and confirm their viability as replacements for traditional food packaging. Future research should focus on evaluating cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and the practical application of these films in food matrices.
- Almond By-Products: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Bioactivities, and Influencing FactorsPublication . Silva, Vânia; Oliveira, Ivo; Pereira, José Alberto; Gonçalves, BertaOne of today’s major environmental and economic challenges is the fight against both agro- and industrial-waste. Almond production and industrial processing exemplifies this issue, as it generates tons of waste and by-products, with hulls and shells accounting for about 70% of the total fruit’s weight while skins represent about 6% of the shelled kernel. Since the edible kernel, about 23% of the total fruit weight, holds the highest commercial value, there has been growing interest within the scientific community in exploring the potential of these by-products. However, almond by-products contain a wide range of phytochemicals, mainly phenolic compounds (flavonoids and non-flavonoids), and triterpenoids, with great potential as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties. Although these by-products are being explored as alternative sources in the textile, pharmaceutical/cosmetic, and food industries, their primary use remains in livestock feed or bedding, or as biofuel. This review compiles recent scientific data on almond by-products’ phytochemical composition and bioactivities aiming to support sustainable and holistic agricultural practices.
- Antimicrobial and wound healing effects associated to cytocompatibility and the relationship with phytochemical profile of selected Portuguese monofloral honeysPublication . Machado, Alexandra M.; Marto, Joana; Gonçalves, Lídia Maria; Ribeiro, Helena Margarida; Duarte, Aida; Tomás, Andreia; Falcão, Soraia; Vilas-Boas, Miguel; Miguel, Maria Graça; Figueiredo, Ana CristinaOwing to its applications in both food and pharmaceutical industries honey is regarded as a functional product. This study evaluated 32 Portuguese monofloral honeys and their activity was compared with manuka honey 850 + . The antimicrobial activity was determined against Gram-positive and negative bacteria, and yeast. Antioxidant activity, wound healing ability, and cell viability were studied in the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Phytochemical profile analysis was performed by UPLC/DAD/ESI-MSn. Chestnut, bell heather, eucalyptus, manuka, and strawberry tree honeys demonstrated higher antioxidant activity and were effective against S. aureus. Incense and orange honeys showed wound healing rates of 89 % and 86 %, respectively. All the honeys had cell viability above 76 %. Bell heather and strawberry tree honeys showed the highest total phenolic content, while incense and orange honeys, showed the lower ones. Phytochemical profile analysis evidenced two main clusters, one dominated by isoprenoids and norisoprenoids, as well as phenolic acids and derivatives, while the other included flavonoids as main compounds. Blending different Portuguese monofloral honeys may be an alternative to faster wound healing, by combining their diverse bioactive components. The gathered knowledge can be further explored in formulations that consider the biological activity capacity and composition of each honey.
- Assessing the Impact of Deficit Irrigation and Kaolin Application on Almond Orchards: Statistical Relationships with Crop Yields and Spectral Vegetation IndicesPublication . Silveira, Carlos; Barreales, David; Castro, João Paulo; Miranda, Fabiani; Ribeiro, António C.Given the current climate change scenario, it is essential to find strategies to reduce environmental risks and obtain economically sustainable agricultural productions. This study investigated the impact of various agronomic treatments on an almond orchard in northeastern Portugal, focusing on their relationships with crop growth/vigour and yield. The experiment was conducted using a factorial design that combined three variables: almond cultivar (Constantí and Vairo), irrigation regime (full and regulated deficit irrigation), and kaolin application (with or without application). These combinations resulted in eight distinct treatments, each replicated across two experimental plots. To monitor the crop physiological status, two drone flights equipped with a multispectral camera were flown during the kernel-filling stage (3 and 30 August 2021). Vegetation indices (VI) derived from the multispectral images were used to assess the crop vigour. In relation to the production data, including kernel and in-shell almond weights, these were collected in 14 representative trees of each treatment. Lastly, parametric and nonparametric regression analyses were performed to better understand relationships between VI and crop yields and derive predictive models. The main results can be summarised as follows: (a) cv. Vairo was more vulnerable to the regulated deficit irrigation strategy with striking repercussions on almond production, translating into an average reduction per tree of 22% and 16% in almond kernel and in-shell almonds compared to full irrigation, respectively; (b) kaolin application did not reflect statistically significant differences in the mean crop yield, as Tukey’s pairwise comparisons involving kaolin as a differentiating factor (e.g., C100+k—C100, V100+K—V100) showed confidence intervals with central value close to zero; and (c) regression analysis using the nonparametric random forest model and individualised treatments demonstrated a better agreement with the observed data (R2 > 0.7). This research provided valuable insights into how cultivar selection, irrigation strategy, and kaolin application can influence the almond crop performance. When integrating multispectral aerial monitoring and advanced statistical modelling, it enables an effective assessment of both crop vigour and expected yield, supporting the development of more informed and adaptive management practices to face emerging environmental challenges.
- Assessing the Role of Phosphorus, Starter Nitrogen and Boron in Subterranean Clover and Annual Ryegrass Grown in Acidic Soils Under Mediterranean Conditions in PortugalPublication . Sawimbo, Almeida; Aguiar, Peltier; Arrobas, Margarida; Aguiar, Carlos; Rodrigues, Nuno; Jongen, Marjan; Teixeira, Ricardo F. M.; Domingos, Tiago; Rodrigues, Manuel ÂngeloIn Mediterranean pasture systems, maintaining legume persistence and productivity is often constrained by phosphorus (P) deficiency in acidic soils. Although small doses of starter nitrogen (N) are commonly used in pulse crops to support early growth before N fixation begins, this practice has not been widely tested in legume-grass mixtures. In addition, boron (B), a micronutrient particularly important for dicot species, may also influence legume performance under these conditions. Thus, this study investigated the effects of P application on dry matter yield (DMY) and nutrient uptake in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L., cv. Denmark), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., cv. Falladino) and their mixture, using a pot experiment with acidic soils from two distinct locations in Portugal. The study also evaluated the impact of a small N starter dose and B application. Although Soil 2 had higher acidity (pH 5.0) than Soil 1 (pH 5.4), it supported greater biomass production, likely due to its higher organic carbon (C) content (50.8 g kg-1), which may have buffered soil acidity. P application significantly increased P uptake, DMY and N accumulation in legumes, suggesting a critical role in nodulation and/or nodule function. The N starter had no significant effect, likely because sufficient N was released from soil organic matter prior to the onset of biological N fixation. While the B application increased tissue B concentrations, it did not affect DMY, possibly because B was adequately available from organic matter. These findings highlight the importance of P in legume management in pasture systems and suggest that, in soils with sufficient organic matter, the application of starter N and B may not be necessary.
- Assessing the Shelf-Life of Olive Oil Under Different Storage Conditions: A Review of Predictive ModelsPublication . Ferreiro, Nuno Manuel; Veloso, Ana C.A.; Pereira, José Alberto; Rodrigues, Nuno; Peres, António M.Olive oil holds a significant position in the global vegetable oil market, often reaching high prices compared to other vegetable oils. However, like other oils, it is vulnerable to oxidation, which can degrade its quality during storage, making it essential to determine its shelf-life. So, kinetic or empirical models have been developed to estimate how long olive oil can maintain the legal quality standards necessary for its commercial classification or to be marketed with nutritional or health claim. This study reviews recent advancements in modelling approaches to predict the shelf-life of olive oil under different storage conditions, namely storage duration (from 2 months to 2 years), temperature (20–50 ºC), and light exposure (light versus dark storage). Most models estimate the timeframe in which olive oil remains compliant with regulatory requirements for specific commercial grades, namely extra virgin olive oil, with fewer models addressing health-related claims. Developed models include pseudo zero-, pseudo first-, and pseudo second-order kinetic models and empirical models, derived from experimental data on the oil’s chemical stability over time. While empirical models can be highly accurate, they often require extensive chemical data, including for compounds for which no legal thresholds exist, and complex statistical techniques, limiting their use by non-specialists. In contrast, kinetic models offer simpler and user-friendly mathematical equations. Nonetheless, olive oil’s shelf-life predictions remain influenced by factors such as initial oil composition, packaging materials, and storage conditions, underscoring the ongoing need to refine the predictive models.
- Bacterial cellulose biosynthesis in the presence of raw moist olive pomace: A green sustainable approach that enhances biopolymer production and propertiesPublication . Crugeira, Pedro; Khelifa, Halima; Barreira, Luísa; Halla, Noureddine; Barreiro, Filomena; Rodrigues, Paula; Peres, António M.; Schreiner, Tatiana B.; Schreiner, Tatiana B.In this study, the biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC) by Komagataeibacter intermedius strain isolated from Kombucha tea in the presence of raw moist olive pomace (MOP) (concentration up to 40 % in the fermentation media) was studied. The BC membranes were characterized by their antioxidant activity, structural character- istics, crystallinity, thermal stability, and mechanical behavior. Using raw MOP activated the inherent activity of the phenolic compounds, leading to cellular adaptation under unfavorable conditions and increased BC pro- duction for all tested MOP concentrations (p < 0.0001). This led to a 166.61 % increase for the 20 % MOP group compared to the control (HS medium). For this sample, enhanced antioxidant activity (~40-fold higher than the control) was found, which might be associated with the molecular interactions established between hydroxyls of BC and phenolic compounds. Moreover, an increase of 603.03 % in strain capacity, and a 376.01 % improvement in stress at break compared to the control was observed. The study confirmed that BC can be synthesized using MOP in its natural state, supporting a sustainable circular economy while enhancing the biosynthesis of a value- added product. By reducing synthetic media and utilizing MOP, a greener bioprocess can be achieved, and BC’s applicability can be expanded.
- Bee Pollen as a Dietary Mineral Source: In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Health Risk EvaluationPublication . Mutlu, Ceren; Aylanc, Volkan; Vilas-Boas, MiguelPollen, the male gametophyte of flowering plants, is collected by honeybees as a primary source of protein and converted into bee pollen through the enzymatic activity of digestive secretions. The nutrients in bee pollen are available in amounts well beyond those of proteins, comprising macronutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids and dietary fiber, as well as micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins, organic acids, and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to determine the macro and trace mineral content of bee pollen from different botanical and geographical origins, and to assess their bioaccessibility through simulated in vitro digestion, their dietary contribution, and potential health risks. Seven bee pollen samples were investigated, three with a monofloral origin of above 80%, from Nigella spp., Helianthus annuus and Castanea sativa, and four with a multifloral origin. Mineral composition revealed potassium as the most abundant element, while iron, manganese, and copper were found at trace levels. Castanea sativa pollen had the highest overall mineral content, whereas Nigella spp. showed the lowest values for calcium, magnesium, and copper. The bioaccessibility of bee pollen was highest during the gastric phase for most minerals except copper, where most of the samples peaked in the intestinal phase. Overall, mineral bioaccessibility after simulated digestion followed the order K > Mg > Cu > Ca > Mn > Fe > Zn. While for manganese, the consumption of bee pollen showed the highest contribution to recommended dietary intake (16% for women and 12% for men), calcium had the lowest, with less than 1% of the RDA at a consumption level of 40 g/day. Health risk assessment confirmed that consuming 40 g/day of bee pollen poses no risk because the target hazard quotient and hazard index are below the risk threshold of 1.0.