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- Nutritional composition of commercially sourced meat from two anatomical locations under regenerative and intensive production systemsPublication . Antunes, I.C.; Roseiro, L.C.; Gonçalves, H.; Gonçalves, E.; Soares, A.; Alegria, C.; Alvarenga, N.; Reis, J.; Oliveira, Margarida; Dias, IgorRegenerative agriculture approaches in livestock production may help produce animal protein that aligns with increasingly demanding sustainability criteria. This study compared commercially sourced beef from regenerative farming systems (RFS; n = 10; Longissimus lumborum, n = 5; Splenius capitis, n = 5) and intensive systems (IS; n = 6; Longissimus lumborum, n = 3; Splenius capitis, n = 3), evaluating the effects of production system (PS), muscle type (MT), and their interaction (MT × PS) on nutritional traits. IS chuck had higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n-6 PUFA family (n-6 PUFA) contents (p < 0.05; 10.24 and 9.15 g fatty acids (FA)/100 g total FA, respectively), driven by C18:2 cis-9, trans-11, C20:4 n-6, and C18:2 n-6 contents. Consequently, IS chuck had a higher polyunsaturated FA and saturated FA ratio (P/S), peroxidability index (PI), n-6 PUFA family and n-3 PUFA family ratio (n-6/n-3), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (h/H) values (p < 0.05; 0.13, 23.87, 9.33 and 0.32, respectively). By comparison, RFS chuck had the highest n-3 PUFA content (p < 0.05; 1.28 g FA/100 g total FA), primarily due to its higher C18:3 n-3 content, resulting in a lower n-6/n-3 ratio (3.95). RFS meat showed higher vitamin E and α-tocopherol (0.58 and 0.56 mg/100 g of meat, respectively), exceeding the ≥0.30 mg/100 g threshold proposed to limit lipid oxidation, unlike IS meat.
- Graphene oxide and its viability as a constituent in nanofertilizersPublication . Saraiva, Raquel; Ferreira, Q.; Rodrigues, G.C.; Oliveira, MargaridaThe use of chemical fertilizers and phytochemicals is a common practice in major crop production, promoting increased production per hectare but also representing a growing environmental concern. In response to this problem, this work carried out an ecotoxicity study and characterized the changes in soil properties resulting from the use of graphene oxide (GO), a component used in the formulation of new nanofertilizer and nanobiostimulant pellets for agriculture due to its effective carrier properties and previously reported non-toxicity in other areas. Lepidium sativum L. petri dish and pot trials were performed according to the EN 16086-2 European Standard and OECD guidelines to evaluate germination, vitality, and root development. Soil parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), and water holding capacity (WHC) were also monitored. Although no significant phytotoxic effects were observed at most concentrations, higher doses (2.00 mg mL-1) exhibited deviations in plant behavior and TOC levels. These findings help define the preliminary safe-use thresholds for GO in agricultural applications.
- Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among primary school children in the Tagus Lezíria region, Portugal: a study on eating habitsPublication . Andrade, Vanda; Ferrão, I.; Figueiredo, M.; Dias, Igor; Pinto, Paula; Ruivo, PaulaPoor dietary habits remain a significant public health concern, highlighting the need to promote healthy and sustainable eating patterns, especially in childhood and adolescence. This study assessed the eating habits of primary school children in the Tagus Lezíria region, focusing on adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), recognized for its health and environmental benefits. Methods: The KIDMED index (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents) was applied to 435 children, the vast majority (97.7%) aged 6–10 years. Results: The data showed that 64.6% of participants exhibited high adherence to the MD, 32.0% medium, and 3.5% low adherence. Despite these encouraging levels, several gaps were identified: 80% of the children did not meet the recommendation for regular nut consumption (≥2–3 times/week), 44% consumed legumes less than once a week, and 43% failed to eat vegetables more than once a day. Regarding demographic factors, no significant differences were observed in overall adherence categories; however, differences emerged in specific eating behaviours. For example, girls consumed more vegetables and cereals than boys, and children in rural areas consumed less dairy than those living in urban settings. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of reinforcing targeted school-based educational interventions to promote healthier dietary behaviours, particularly increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, pulses, and nuts. Strengthening children’s adherence to the MD from an early age may contribute to improving their health and fostering sustainable eating practices.
- Molecular and hydraulic responses of grapevine to water status and phenology under long-term differential irrigation treatmentsPublication . Damásio, M.; Pinto, C.; Salguero, J.; Alarcón, M. V.; Deus, J.; David, T. S.; Silvestre, J.; Carvalho, L. C.; Zarrouk, OlfaUnderstanding seasonal interactions among hydraulic, chemical and molecular signalling under water deficit is crucial for improving vineyard irrigation strategies under climate change and increasing water scarcity. We aimed to test how irrigation strategies and phenology affect the hydraulic adjustment mechanisms of eight fieldgrown grapevine varieties under different long-term irrigation regimes: Full-irrigated (100 % ETc), deficitirrigation (50 % Full-irrigated), and non-irrigated. Leaf pre-dawn water potential, leaf hydraulic conductivity (Kleaf), stomatal conductance, aquaporin gene expression and hormone content, were assessed at four key phenological stages, from pea-size to post-harvest. Stomatal closure was the earliest water-stress response across genotypes, while hormonal balance differentiated responsive from non-responsive genotypes regarding chemical signalling. Kleaf was primarily driven by phenology, peaking at early stages and declining thereafter. Aquaporin gene expression was both genotype- and phenology-dependent, with high activity during early stages followed by progressive down-regulation, aligned with changes in stomatal conductance and Kleaf and reflecting each variety iso-/anisohydric behaviour. This pattern confirms the role of aquaporins in grapevine hydraulic adjustments and stomatal regulation under decreasing water potentials. Aquaporins and Kleaf showed positive responses to water availability at post-harvest, indicating differential watering benefits among genotypes. Our results emphasize the need for field-phenotyping studies to fine-tune water management strategies in viticulture.
- Current context of Cannabis sativa cultivation and parameters influencing its developmentPublication . Saragoça, Andreia; Silva, Ana; Varanda, Carla; Materatski, Patrick; Ortega, Alfonso; Cordeiro, Ana; Gama, JoséCannabis sativa L. is a versatile plant with significant medicinal, industrial, and recreational applications. Its therapeutic potential is attributed to cannabinoids like THC and CBD, whose production is influenced by environmental factors, such as radiation, temperature, and humidity. Radiation, for instance, is essential for photosynthetic processes, acting as both a primary energy source and a regulator of plant growth and development. This review covers key factors affecting C. sativa cultivation, including photoperiod, light spectrum, cultivation methods, environmental controls, and plant growth regulators. It highlights how these elements influence flowering, biomass, and cannabinoid production across different growing systems, offering insights for optimizing both medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation. Studies indicate that photoperiod sensitivity varies among cultivars, with some achieving optimal flowering and cannabinoid production under extended light periods rather than the traditional 12/12 h cycle. Light spectrum adjustments, especially red, far-red, and blue wavelengths, significantly impact photosynthesis, plant morphology, and secondary metabolite accumulation. Advances in LED technology allow precise spectral control, enhancing energy efficiency and cannabinoid profiles compared to conventional lighting. The photoperiod plays a vital role in the cultivation of C. sativa spp., directly impacting the plant’s developmental cycle, biomass production, and the concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes. The response to photoperiod varies among different cannabis cultivars, as demonstrated in studies comparing cultivars of diverse genetic origins. On the other hand, indoor or in vitro cultivation may serve as an excellent alternative for plant breeding programs in C. sativa, given the substantial inter-cultivar variability that hinders the fixation of desirable traits.
- Plant diseases and sustainable agriculturePublication . Materatski, Patrick; Vicente, Cláudia; Varanda, Carla; Espada, Margarida
- Reproductive traits of the European catfish, Silurus glanis, during the early stages of invasionPublication . Gkenas, C.; Sequeira, V.; Ribeiro, D.; Gago, João; Dias, D.; Verma, C.R.; Kumkar, P.; Ribeiro, F.In recent decades, the European catfish Silurus glanis has spread across Europe and elsewhere, significantly impacting the native fauna of the recipient ecosystems. Studies on its reproductive traits from its non-native range are limited, although this is a critical step in developing effective management plans. Here, we explore the reproductive characteristics of invasive European catfish populations in the Lower River Tagus in Portugal, focusing on its sex ratio, size at maturity, spawning period, fecundity and oocyte diameter. European catfish were collected monthly by electrofishing, gill nets, baited hooks, and professional fishermen from January 2022 to November 2023. A total of 217 females, 156 males and 301 immature fish were analysed. The female-to-male sex ratio was 1.4 : 1, with females and males reaching size at first maturity (TL50) at 72.9 and 68.8 cm total length, respectively. The spawning season was protracted, from February to June, showing asynchronous oocyte development patterns. The absolute fecundity was positively correlated with total length and total weight and ranged from 8,364 to 319,000 oocytes. Relative fecundity varied from 4.39 to 23.53 oocytes, with the mean diameter of the matured oocytes ranging from 1.50 to 3.21 mm. The results obtained in this study enhance our understanding of the reproductive biology of invasive species and can contribute to the development of effective management strategies, such as population control and density- dependent fecundity strategies.
- Nutritional and microbial quality of edible insect powder from plant-based industrial by-product and fish biowaste dietsPublication . Andrade, R.; Martins, L.L.; Mourato, M.P.; Lourenço, H.; Ramos, A.C.; Roseiro, C.; Pereira, N.; Costa, G.J.; Lucas, R.; Alvarenga, N.; Reis, J.; Neves, Ana; Oliveira, Margarida; Dias, Igor; Abreu, M.Edible insect powder, particularly from the cricket Acheta domesticus L., is a promising sustainable alternative to traditional livestock-derived protein. Insects provide high protein content, fibre, and essential minerals, making them suitable for food applications. This study investigates the viability of alternative diets for rearing A. domesticus. Two experimental diets were tested: RI [50% horticultural by-products (HP) + 50% commercial diet (CD)] and RII (33% HP + 33% CD + 33% fish by-products). The results demonstrated that both diets were suitable for cricket rearing. Crickets reared on diets RI and RII produced, respectively, insect powders FI and FII, which were evaluated for their nutritional, bioactive, and microbiological attributes. Both powders exhibited high protein content (≈60%), all essential amino acids, higher mineral content than traditional protein sources, and met European Union food safety standards. Diet composition influenced powder characteristics: FI showed higher antioxidant activity and saturated fat content, while FII contained more protein, ash, minerals, and monounsaturated fatty acids. These findings underscore the potential of using industrial by-products to promote a circulareconomy in insect farming and suggest pathways for further research. However, since insects can bioaccumulate toxic elements, such as Hg, from diets, caution should be taken when considering fish by-products
- Methods of protein extraction from house crickets (Acheta domesticus) for food purposesPublication . Cunha, Nair; Falcão Espada Lopes de Andrade, Vanda Maria; Macedo, Antónia; Lúcia da Mata Silvério Ruivo, Paula; Basto de Lima, Maria GabrielaGlobal population is projected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, emphasizing the need for increased food production. Edible insects, such as house crickets (Acheta domesticus), emerged as promising due to higher nutritional value and efficient feed conversion rates compared to conventional protein sources. Incorporating insect powders into new food products can improve consumer acceptance but often leads to poor technological food processing functionality and/or undesirable organoleptic characteristics. Protein isolates have proven to be effective in enhancing this functionality and consumer acceptance, but existent protein extraction methods still lack improvements concerning the optimization of protein extraction rates. This study aimed to address this gap by developing and comparing the yield of three different protein extraction methods using sodium hydroxide, ascorbic acid or alcalase from house crickets (Acheta domesticus) for food applications. Protein extraction was performed on cricket powder with a mean protein content of 46.35 g/100 g, and the results were evaluated. The enzymatic method shows the highest protein extraction rate at 69.91% with a mean protein content of 60.19 g/100 g, while extraction with NaOH or ascorbic acid resulted in rates of 60.44 and 46.34%, respectively. Further studies on technological food processing functionality and sensorial evaluation of products developed with this protein extract are recommended.
- A Fish-Based Tool for the Quality Assessment of Portuguese Large RiversPublication . Faro, António Tovar; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Oliveira, João ManuelMultimetric indices play a pivotal role in assessing river ecological quality, aligning with the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) requirements. However, indices developed specifically for large rivers are uncommon. Our objective was to develop a fish-based tool specifically tailored to assess the ecological quality in Portuguese large rivers. Data were collected from seven sites in each of three Portuguese large rivers (Minho, Guadiana, and Tagus). Each site was classified using an environmental disturbance score, combining different pressure types, such as water chemistry, land use, and hydromorphological alterations. The Fish-based Multimetric Index for Portuguese Large Rivers (F-MMIP-LR) comprises four metrics: % native lithophilic individuals; % alien individuals; % migrant individuals; and % freshwater native individuals, representing compositional, reproductive, and migratory guilds. The index showed good performance in separating least- and most-disturbed sites. Least-disturbed sites were rated ‘high’ or ‘good’ by F-MMIP-LR, contrasting with no such classification for most-disturbed sites, highlighting index robustness. The three rivers presented a wide range of F-MMIP-LR values across the gradient of ‘bad’ to ‘high’, indicating that, on a large spatial extent, the biological condition was substantially altered. The F-MMIP-LR provides vital information for managers and decision-makers, guiding restoration efforts and strengthening conservation initiatives in line with the WFD