This research was done to determine the effect of increasing Humic acid application on some nutrient element contents of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) plant. For this purpose according to randomize block experimental design, an experiment was done with three replications in greenhouse conditions. Cress plant seed was sowed 1.5 g/ m2. Four humic acid doses (I. dose: 0 mL /m2, II. dose: 8 mL /m2, III. dose: 16 mL /m2 and IV. dose: 24 mL /m2) were applied to cress plant. Then cress plants were harvested 30 days after planting. Dry matter yield and some nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) contents of plants were determined. According to the results, important increases some nutrient element contents of plants were determined with increasing humic acid applications. These increases were found 1. dose 5.52%, and 4. dose 6.04%, for N element, respectively. Other macro elements P (0.70%, and 0. 82%); K (6.85%, and 7.67%); Ca (1.72%, and 2.01%); Mg (0.13% and 0.15%) and S (1.04%, and 1.17%), respectively. Some micro element (Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) contents of cress plant, 1. dose: 89.86, 9.59, 59.50 and 56.20; 4. dose: 102.17, 11.03, 67.67 and 76.63 mgkg-1, respectively. These increases were found statistically significant at the level of 5% for each nutrient element, except Mg.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the physical and physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant potential of sapodilla at different stages of development. The experiment was installed at the Norfruit farm, located in the rural community of Pau Branco, Mossoró/RN, Brazil. A randomized block with two factorial schemes experimental design, was adopted. The first 5 x 6 with lost parcels, consisting of five doses of nitrogen (N) (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 g of N.plant-1) and six stages of fruit development; and the second 2 x 3 consisting of two levels of nitrogen (N) (0; 600 g of N plant-1) and three stages of development, both with five replications. The fruits were labeled with a 10 to 15 mm long mark in the plant. In fact, were harvested and analyzed after 90, 120, 150, 180 and 200 days of its marking and 208 days (fully mature, after 8 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C and RH 58 ± 5%), respectively. The results showed a nitrogen fertilization at the dose of 600 g of N.plant-1, produced fruit with higher sugar content and fresh weight, reaching greater mass and sugar content, at 200 and 180 days of fruit development, respectively. An increase in nitrogen fertilization, promoted a reduction in the levels of yellow flavonoids and anthocyanins. Bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, vitamin C, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and sapodilla antioxidant activity decreased with the further development of fruit. The antioxidant activity of the sapodilla is more related to the high content of total polyphenols. The knowledge obtained in this study is extremely important for the sapodilla production chain due to information of the nutritional and antioxidant composition of the fruits. This also proves beneficial for the fruit marketing, because nowadays the public seeks foods rich in antioxidants, and the sapodilla is marketed both in natura and processed, in addition to its use in the cosmetics manufacture. | This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the physical and physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant potential of sapodilla at different stages of development. The experiment was installed at the Norfruit farm, located in the rural community of Pau Branco, Mossoró/RN, Brazil. A randomized block with two factorial schemes experimental design, was adopted. The first 5 x 6 with lost parcels, consisting of five doses of nitrogen (N) (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 g of N.plant-1) and six stages of fruit development; and the second 2 x 3 consisting of two levels of nitrogen (N) (0; 600 g of N plant-1) and three stages of development, both with five replications. The fruits were labeled with a 10 to 15 mm long mark in the plant. In fact, were harvested and analyzed after 90, 120, 150, 180 and 200 days of its marking and 208 days (fully mature, after 8 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C and RH 58 ± 5%), respectively. The results showed a nitrogen fertilization at the dose of 600 g of N.plant-1, produced fruit with higher sugar content and fresh weight, reaching greater mass and sugar content, at 200 and 180 days of fruit development, respectively. An increase in nitrogen fertilization, promoted a reduction in the levels of yellow flavonoids and anthocyanins. Bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, vitamin C, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and sapodilla antioxidant activity decreased with the further development of fruit. The antioxidant activity of the sapodilla is more related to the high content of total polyphenols. The knowledge obtained in this study is extremely important for the sapodilla production chain due to information of the nutritional and antioxidant composition of the fruits. This also proves beneficial for the fruit marketing, because nowadays the public seeks foods rich in antioxidants, and the sapodilla is marketed both in natura and processed, in addition to its use in the cosmetics manufacture. | This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the physical and physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant potential of sapodilla at different stages of development. The experiment was installed at the Norfruit farm, located in the rural community of Pau Branco, Mossoró/RN, Brazil. A randomized block with two factorial schemes experimental design, was adopted. The first 5 x 6 with lost parcels, consisting of five doses of nitrogen (N) (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 g of N.plant-1) and six stages of fruit development; and the second 2 x 3 consisting of two levels of nitrogen (N) (0; 600 g of N plant-1) and three stages of development, both with five replications. The fruits were labeled with a 10 to 15 mm long mark in the plant. In fact, were harvested and analyzed after 90, 120, 150, 180 and 200 days of its marking and 208 days (fully mature, after 8 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C and RH 58 ± 5%), respectively. The results showed a nitrogen fertilization at the dose of 600 g of N.plant-1, produced fruit with higher sugar content and fresh weight, reaching greater mass and sugar content, at 200 and 180 days of fruit development, respectively.  An increase in nitrogen fertilization, promoted a reduction in the levels of yellow flavonoids and anthocyanins. Bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, vitamin C, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and sapodilla antioxidant activity decreased with the further development of fruit. The antioxidant activity of the sapodilla is more related to the high content of total polyphenols. The knowledge obtained in this study is extremely important for the sapodilla production chain due to information of the nutritional and antioxidant composition of the fruits. This also proves beneficial for the fruit marketing, because nowadays the public seeks foods rich in antioxidants, and the sapodilla is marketed both in natura and processed, in addition to its use in the cosmetics manufacture.

Phenolic compounds which have many bioactivities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and also inhibition of quorum sensing-regulated violacein pigment production properties are one of the plant secondary metabolites. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial activity and the inhibition of quorum sensing (QSI) activity by the phenolic extract obtained from strawberry fruits (Fragaria×ananassa cv. ‘Rubygem’). The phenolic content of extract was determined as 3089 μg GAE g fw-1. The antioxidant activity determined through the ABTS+ and FRAP method was 28.4 and 26.2 mmol TE L-1 respectively. The phenolic extract was able to inhibit all the evaluated bacteria by the disc diffusion assay in the range of 3.12–18.36 mm and could inhibit the quorum sensing phenomena in bacteria. The strawberry phenolic extract exhibited high antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the quorum sensing inhibition activity of strawberry fruit extract. The discovery of non-toxic novel compounds within antibacterial and QSI activity could lead to the development of antimicrobial therapeutic agents that can be alternative and complementary treatments against antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens

O tamanho, estrutura e diversidade vegetal dos fragmentos têm influência direta na taxa de decomposição da serrapilheira, por induzir uma comunidade específica da biota do solo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização da fauna edáfica em áreas de floresta atlântica em diferentes estádios sucessionais em duas estações distintas do ano (verão e inverno) no município de Santa Maria de Jetibá, ES. Utilizaram-se duas áreas com formações vegetais distintas em relação ao estádio sucessional, definidas como: floresta secundária ‘antiga’ (FSA) e floresta secundária (FS). Para a coleta da fauna edáfica foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo ‘pitfall’, onde em cada uma das áreas foi delimitado um talhão de aproximadamente 1 ha, e nestes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente 10 armadilhas. No total foram coletados 5009 indivíduos, separados em 29 grupos taxonômicos. O grupo taxonômico Díptera e o grupo funcional Holometábolos foram os mais representativos para a FSA no inverno e verão, e FS no inverno, diferindo deste comportamento, na FS no verão houve predomínio do grupo Formicidae e Sociais: Formicidae. Na área de FS, verifi cou-se maior número de indivíduos coletados, riqueza total e riqueza média em comparação com a FSA. Os melhores índices de diversidade e uniformidade foram verificados na estação inverno em ambas as áreas.

O tamanho, estrutura e diversidade vegetal dos fragmentos têm influência direta na taxa de decomposição da serrapilheira, por induzir uma comunidade específica da biota do solo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização da fauna edáfica em áreas de floresta atlântica em diferentes estádios sucessionais em duas estações distintas do ano (verão e inverno) no município de Santa Maria de Jetibá, ES. Utilizaram-se duas áreas com formações vegetais distintas em relação ao estádio sucessional, definidas como: floresta secundária antiga (FSA) e floresta secundária (FS). Para a coleta da fauna edáfica foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo pitfall, onde em cada uma das áreas foi delimitado um talhão de aproximadamente 1 ha, e nestes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente 10 armadilhas. No total foram coletados 5009 indivíduos, separados em 29 grupos taxonômicos. O grupo taxonômico Díptera e o grupo funcional Holometábolos foram os mais representativos para a FSA no inverno e verão, e FS no inverno, diferindo deste comportamento, na FS no verão houve predomínio do grupo Formicidae e Sociais: Formicidae. Na área de FS, verifi cou-se maior número de indivíduos coletados, riqueza total e riqueza média em comparação com a FSA. Os melhores índices de diversidade e uniformidade foram verificados na estação inverno em ambas as áreas. | The vegetal fragments size, structure and diversity have direct influence on the litter decomposition rate of decomposition, by inducing a soil biota specific community. This study was carried out to characterize the soil fauna in forest Atlantic areas with different successional stages in two different seasons (summer and winter) in Santa Maria de Jetibá, ES, Brazil. Were used two areas with different vegetation types in relation to successional stage, defi ned as: Secondary Forest "Old" (SFO) and Secondary Forest (FS). To edaphic fauna collect, were used "pit fall" traps where in each area was defi ned a plot of about 1 ha, and these were distributed randomly 10 traps. Were collected 5.009 individuals, separated into 29 taxonomic groups. The taxonomic group Díptera and functional group Holometábolos were the most representative for the SFO in the winter and summer, and FS in the winter, this behavior differs in FS in the summer there was a predominance of the Social and Formicidae groups. In the SF area was observed a greater number of individuals, total wealth and average wealth compared with the SFO. The best diversity and uniformity indexes were observed in the winter season in both areas.