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- Lycopene content and antioxidant capacity of portuguese watermelon fruitsPublication . Pinto, Paula; Santos, C.; Henriques, Carla; Basto de Lima, Maria Gabriela; Quedas, Maria de FátimaRed flesh watermelon is one of the main food sources with lycopene as the most abundant carotenoid and has been associated with a lowered risk of prostate cancer. In order to assess health benefits of Portuguese watermelon, five acessions from the Portuguese Bank of Germplasm were were chosen for antioxidant quantification and total solids content. Two of the acessions were further characterized for lycopene content. Due to its lycopene and antioxidant contents, accession 6185 may be considered a valuable germplasm for breeding programmes. The intake of one to three wedges of 6185 watermelon accession would provide between 6 to 18 mg of lycopene and 0.18 to 0.54 mmol TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity), which might protect from prostate cancer and other oxidative stress related diseases.
- Portuguese Cucurbita spp. and Citrullus lanatus: conservation, evaluation and breedingPublication . Rocha, F.A.; Barata, A.M.; Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Lopes, Maria de Fátima; Marreiros, A.; Leitão, J.Cucurbitaceae is one of the most important families of vascular plants. This family includes 118 genera and 825 species. The five major cucurbit crops are Citrullus lanatus Thumb Mansf. (watermelon), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne (pumpkin), Cucurbita pepo L. (squash), Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber) and Cucumis melo L. (melon). Citrullus lanatus and Cucurbita spp. are very important in the Portuguese agro-ecosystems, associated with maize, beans and cabbage. Due to the importance of Citrullus and Cucurbita spp., the Portuguese National Genebank (BPGV) has done systematic collecting missions in Portugal (Mainland and Madeira Island). Since 2001, BPGV in partnership with other National Institutions, Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém, Direcção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Algarve and Universidade do Algarve, has been carrying out activities related to preservation, characterization, evaluation and pre-breeding. In Portugal, in BPGV, the Curcubitaceae collection preserved in ex situ conditions (medium and long term) totals 573 accessions. The collection of Citrullus lanatus and Cucurbita spp. has a total of 355 accessions, representing 62% of the whole collection: (37 of Citrullus lanatus, 19 of Cucurbita ficifolia, 74 of Cucurbita maxima and 224 of Cucurbita pepo). Based upon the diagnosis of the preserved collection, further germplasm collecting missions were recommended in Algarve Region. AFLP and RAPDs markers were used to check the assignment of accessions to Cucurbita species: C. pepo, C. maxima and C. moshata. The morphological characterization followed the Curcubita spp. and Citrullus descriptors, elaborated by Bioversity International, integrated in the European Cooperative Program for Genetic Resources, Cucurbits Working Group. Characterization data are reported herein. Departing from the most homogeneous accessions of Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata, three cultivars, one of each species, have already been selected and registered in the National Catalogue of Varieties.
- A question of segregation: ‘ GM - free’ maize bread in PortugalPublication . Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Ponte, João; Trindade, Carlos; Punt, Maarten; Wesseler, JustusWe describe the maize supply chain in Portugal for maize bread, a traditional bread type. As this bread is not labelled as ‘contains genetically modified organisms’ it should not contain more than 0.9 per cent genetically modified ingredients. On the basis of interviews we identify a general lack of documentation of the presence or absence of genetically modified ingredients along the complete supply chain (farmers, traders, mills and bakeries). Part of this deficiency is probably driven by a lack of awareness of the labelling rules at the end of the supply chain.
- A quinquennium of coexistence in portugalPublication . Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Carvalho, P. C.Portugal is one of the few European Union countries that experience the “coexistence” of a coexistence legal framework with a regular coexistence practice. Since 2005, Bt maize crops have been grown in different regions—either in small or large farms—in compliance with a law that envisages coexistence procedures for either individual farmers or groups of farmers that agree to establish the so called “production zones.” The monitoring of Bt maize crops is annually run and reported by the Ministry of Agriculture. Here we report on the first quinquennium of coexistence in Portugal, bearing down on regional distribution and evolution, farm sizes, coexistence measures, GM farmers’ profile and their assessment of Bt crops and coexistence rules, and Bt maize destination. Opportunities and constraints are also pointed out.
- Estudo exploratório da estimativa indireta de licopeno via análise colorimétrica de genótipos de tomateiro de acessos tradicionais frescos e refrigeradosPublication . Lucas, H.; Torgal, Isabel; Faro, Conceição; Santana, Antonieta; Pinto, Paula; Laranjeira, Cristina; Lopes, Fátima; Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Basto de Lima, Maria GabrielaThe collection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Portuguese Bank of Plant Germplasm of INRB, brings together dozens of hits in characterization. This paper presents results of color versus lycopene content of tomato accessions of some Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (2011-2012), in order to indirectly estimate the levels of lycopene in tomato fresh/chilled accesses via colorimetric analysis. The study took place in 10 tomato accessions, fresh and chilled to 5 ° C. The changes in color /pigment during the ripening of tomato are characterized by reduced chlorophyll and a rapid accumulation of carotenoids, particularly lycopene. Sometimes, due to the convenience and ease of use of color measuring the content of lycopene in the tomato pulp can be determined without the need to conduct a chemical analysis, in that there is a good correlation between the color of the fruit and lycopene content (adapted D'Souza, et al., 1992, Arias, et al., 2000 cited by Carvalho, et al., 2005). For all this justifies the existence of quality control tools across the row, starting at the selection of genotypes in breeding programs of tomato. The homogenized pulp is considered one of the best alternatives correlation associated with the chromaticity coordinate a.------The collection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Portuguese Bank of Plant Germplasm of INRB, brings together dozens of hits in characterization. This paper presents results of color versus lycopene content of tomato accessions of some Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (2011-2012), in order to indirectly estimate the levels of lycopene in tomato fresh/chilled accesses via colorimetric analysis. The study took place in 10 tomato accessions, fresh and chilled to 5 ° C. The changes in color /pigment during the ripening of tomato are characterized by reduced chlorophyll and a rapid accumulation of carotenoids, particularly lycopene. Sometimes, due to the convenience and ease of use of color measuring the content of lycopene in the tomato pulp can be determined without the need to conduct a chemical analysis, in that there is a good correlation between the color of the fruit and lycopene content (adapted D'Souza, et al., 1992, Arias, et al., 2000 cited by Carvalho, et al., 2005). For all this justifies the existence of quality control tools across the row, starting at the selection of genotypes in breeding programs of tomato. The homogenized pulp is considered one of the best alternatives correlation associated with the chromaticity coordinate a *.
- Caracterização química de acessos de tomateiro do BPGVPublication . Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Lopes, Maria; Pinto, Paula; Diogo, Maria; Santana, Antonieta; Matos, Anabela; Reis, Ana; Torgal, Isabel
- Exploring the constraints to further expansion of GM maize production in PortugalPublication . Jones, P. J.; Quedas, Maria de Fátima; Tranter, R. B.; Trindade, CarlosAfter 10 years of GM maize cultivation in Portugal, the area produced remains modest, at 6.3% of total maize production in 2015. This fact suggests that significant constraints to further expansion continue to exist. Through a survey of the structural and attitudinal characteristics of GM and conventional maize producers, this article explores constraints to adoption of GM crops in Portugal. The survey revealed a complex mix of barriers based around structural and attitudinal factors. For example, GM adopters managed larger farms than conventional, with double the area of maize grown. GM maize growers felt more constrained (in terms of factors depressing yields) by pests, especially corn borers and weeds than their non-GM counterparts. A number of non-structural barriers to GM uptake were also identified, such as perceived public opposition to GM cultivation and increased management burden associated with coexistence measures, through the requirement to make decisions in conjunction with neighbors.