Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation

This study aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties, protein quality, and metabolic and intestinal parameters associated with the consumption of cowpea protein isolate (CPI). CPI was obtained by alkaline extraction, followed by isoelectric precipitation and freeze-drying. Its proximate composition, bioactive compounds content, and thermal, morphological, optical, and color properties were evaluated, along with amino acid profile, chemical score, and true digestibility. Male Wistar rats were fed with experimental diets containing 9% protein for 30days. CPI showed high protein content (86.46%), total phenolics (1.79mg GAE·g-1), and 0.36IU·mg-1 of trypsin inhibition. Electrophoresis revealed predominant bands between 50 and 75kDa and an endothermic peak at 83°C. Tryptophan, methionine, and cysteine were identified as limiting amino acids, supplying approximately 70% of nutritional requirements. In vivo analyses showed that CPI presented protein efficiency ratio higher than 2.75, net protein ratio of 3.55, True Digestibility of 89%, decreased LDL-c, triglycerides, and Castelli Index II. Regarding intestinal health, CPI preserved acetic and propionic acid production and reduced butyric acid, aminopeptidase, sodium-glucose cotransporter 1, and sucrase-isomaltase gene expression while maintaining Peptide transporter 1 levels. Further, CPI decreased superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content, increased claudin and zonulin gene expression, and decreased occludin gene expression. Overall, CPI demonstrated good nutritional properties, supported efficient protein utilization, and improved lipid and oxidative parameters. However, some intestinal effects suggest potential limitations related to bioavailability and epithelial function under the conditions tested.

The proximity of wildlife reserve areas to anthropized regions facilitates the spread and exchange of infectious agents, including pathogens with zoonotic potential, thereby increasing health-related risks for species already threatened with extinction. This study investigated the presence of Rickettsia in wild carnivores of the Brazilian Cerrado. Blood and ectoparasite samples were collected from specimens of the families Canidae (Cerdocyon thous, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Lycalopex vetulus, Speothos venaticus), Mephitidae (Conepatus semistriatus), Procyonidae (Nasua nasua), and Felidae (Leopardus pardalis, Panthera onca, Puma concolor). These samples were screened for Rickettsia using serological analysis (IFA) and molecular techniques (PCR). A total of 68 blood samples were obtained from carnivore specimens, along with 210 ticks collected from 18 individuals. DNA extracted from whole blood samples and from 189 ticks were subjected to PCR targeting the rickettsial genes gltA and ompA. Tick species were identified as Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma auricularium, and Rhipicephalus linnaei. None of the whole-blood DNA samples amplified the gltA gene, but 31 out of 189 tick DNA samples amplified fragments of the gltA and ompA genes, which were identified by DNA sequencing to correspond to four different rickettsial agents: 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae', Rickettsia amblyommatis, and the human pathogens Rickettsia parkeri sensu stricto (s.s.) and Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest. Serological analysis by IFA was performed on 50 serum samples. Among those collected in situ, 69% (20/29) of C. brachyurus and 77% (7/9) of C. thous showed seroreactivity to Rickettsia spp. In addition, a probable antigen involved in a homologous reaction (PAIHR) was identified as R. parkeri in 20% (6/29) of C. brachyurus samples and 44% (4/9) of C. thous samples. This is the first report providing both serological and molecular evidence of Rickettsia infection in different wild carnivore species and their ticks in the Cerrado biome. The detection of R. parkeri in wild canids highlights the importance of monitoring infectious agents to inform conservation strategies and zoonosis prevention efforts.

The production of granular organic fertilizers from dairy farming waste (cattle manure and dairy cattle wastewater) was evaluated. The wastewater was pretreated using ultrafiltration (UF) integrated to reverse osmosis (RO) to concentrate nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and to recover water, improving the sustainability of the process. The concentrated streams were incorporated into solid residues during the granulation process to produce granular fertilizers. The organic fertilizers were evaluated according to their nutrient release potential via soil column leaching tests, soil fertilization potential, as well as environmental (avoidance tests and greenhouse gas emission) and economic perspectives related to their uses. The increase in nutrient content in fertilizers enhances the feasibility of using these materials, as it decreases the required quantity for application and transport. The use of fertilizers formulated from UF concentrate contributes to a greater increase in organic matter in the soil, making them particularly suitable as soil conditioners. On the other hand, fertilizers produced from RO concentrate act primarily as nutrient sources, meeting the immediate needs of plants. Column leaching tests indicated that granular organic fertilizers enhanced nutrient retention in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm), limiting nutrient losses to deeper layers. Compared with incineration, soil application resulted in 32-fold lower GHG emissions (CO₂ and N₂O), corresponding to an approximate 97% reduction. Granular fertilizers also exhibited lower fertilization costs (US$0.26–0.45/ha), with ROc-based formulations being the most economical. Overall, the results demonstrate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of producing granular fertilizers from dairy cattle residues, supporting circular economy principles. • RO concentrates nutrients (N, K ); UF reduces Na + and enriches organic matter overall. • Granular fertilizers cut leaching and lower CO₂/N₂O versus liquid or raw wastes used. • RO-granules need smaller doses, lowering transport/application costs per hectare net. • Economic radius rises with RO-granules; competitiveness holds until ~130 km away. • RO permeate enables water reuse in-process, reducing freshwater demand by ~20%.

Novos substratos comerciais estão sendo comercializados na região metropolitana de Fortaleza-CE, e os viveiristas locais estão demandando informações sobre a possibilidade de uso deles para a produção de mudas de cajueiro-anão. Assim, foram testados os substratos mais comumente encontrados no comércio da região metropolitana, inicialmente eles foram avaliados para a produção do porta-enxerto ‘CCP 06’ e posteriormente para a produção de mudas enxertadas de cajueiro-anão ‘BRS 226’, sendo que em ambas as fases não houve a adição ou aplicação de fertilizantes. Os resultados mostraram que quatro substratos propiciaram a obtenção de porta-enxertos e mudas clonais de cajueiro-anão com maior massa de matéria seca total, característica que indica a qualidade das mudas. Contudo, na fase pós-enxertia, as plantas cultivadas em todos os substratos apresentavam folhas mais claras que o padrão, sendo aplicado na fase final um adubo foliar. Aos 45 dias após a aplicação do fertilizante, os teores de todos os macronutrientes e de alguns micronutrientes se encontravam dentro da faixa de suficiência, enquanto que os teores foliares de Fe e Mn se mantiverem bem abaixo da faixa adequada. Portanto, ao usar os substratos comerciais recomendados, será necessária a complementação nutricional principalmente com os nutrientes Fe e Mn.

Grape pomace is an agri-industrial by-product rich in fatty acids with the potential to be used in diets for goats and increase the nutraceutical properties of milk. This study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating dehydrated grape pomace (DGP) into the diets of Saanen goats on the composition, fatty acid profile, nutritional indices of fatty acids, and antioxidant capacity of their milk. Eight multiparous Saanen goats, averaging approximately four years of age and weighing 41.2 ± 15.7 kg, were used in a double Latin square (4 × 4) design. Diets were formulated with increasing levels of grape pomace (0, 90, 150, and 210 g/kg Dry Matter—DM), replacing cactus. The data underwent analysis of variance using GLM procedure and regression analysis (both linear and quadratic) using REG procedure at a significant level of 5%. The concentration of C18:2 n-6 cis and C18:3 n-3 increased (+20.1 and +15.5%, respectively) with the grape pomace inclusion. There was a reduction in the atherogenic (−24.0%) and thrombogenic (−9.9%) indices of goat milk with the increase in DGP levels. There was a reduction in de novo fatty acids (−10.5%), Δ−9 desaturase of C14 (−21.8%) and C18 (−9.5%) indexes with the highest level of DGP. There was a quadratic effect for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and a linear effect for phenolic compounds (PC), where the highest values were observed at the estimated levels of 160 g/kg and 210 g/kg DM, respectively. Supplementing dairy goats’ diets with dehydrated grape pomace up to 210 g/kg dry matter enhances the fatty acid profile and nutritional indices of fatty acids of Saanen goat milk without altering its basic composition. As grape production is prevalent in low rainfall regions, pomace may provide an alternative feed in areas with forage production constraints. Additionally, grape residue could establish a link between the wine and dairy sectors for cheese production, expanding markets for farmers.

The Regional Frequency Analysis (RFA) method is widely used to improve probabilistic assessments of extreme hydrometeorological events. However, its classical formulation assumes stationarity - an assumption often violated under climate change. To overcome this limitation, we propose the Non-Stationary Additive Regional Frequency Analysis (NS-Add-RFA), an extension of the additive RFA that integrates nonstationary probabilistic models to represent temporal changes in air temperature frequency distributions at the regional scale. Application of the NS-Add-RFA in controlled simulation experiments and to daily extreme maximum air temperature data from São Paulo State, Brazil (1991–2024), showed that it outperforms nonstationary at-site approaches in capturing the probabilistic structure of extremes under diverse climate and climate change scenarios. The new regionalization method revealed widespread increases in extreme air temperatures across 93% of the state, capturing changes in both the central tendency and dispersion of the series. Furthermore, it provides a more detailed and reliable trend assessment than traditional approaches such as the regional Mann–Kendall trend test. To facilitate broader adoption, we developed the R package NSTempRFA ( https://github.com/gabrielblain/NSTempRFA ), which computes all NS-Add-RFA statistics. In conclusion, the NS-Add-RFA offers a scientifically grounded framework for nonstationary regional frequency analysis, enhancing the capacity to assess and interpret extreme air temperature events under changing climate conditions.

The Caatinga biome is part of the seasonally tropical dry forest system and represents a unique Brazilian biome due to its distinctive functional adaptations to extreme climatic conditions. In this semi-arid environment, rainfall is a primary driven to control plant functioning, influencing phenology and biomass production. Reflectance spectroscopy provides continuous measurements across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum and captures integrated signals related to leaf structural, biochemical, and physiological properties, as well as environmental conditions, making it a powerful tool for vegetation characterization and ecosystem monitoring. Within a hyperspectral framework, this study aims to develop a spectral library of native Caatinga species to support applications in ecology, remote sensing, conservation, restoration, and climate change research. The study was conducted in a 600 ha area of well-preserved native Caatinga in Petrolina, northeastern Brazil (09°52′32″ S, 40°05′10″ W), characterized by a BSWh’ semi-arid climate with a mean annual temperature of approximately 26 °C and an average annual precipitation of 498.5 mm. Leaf-level spectral reflectance (350–2500 nm) was measured for 13 dominant native shrub and tree species using a portable ASD FieldSpec®3 spectroradiometer. Measurements were performed on healthy, fully developed leaves using a leaf clip with an internal halogen light source. Field campaigns conducted over three years captured both rainy and dry-season conditions under maintained foliation. Distinct spectral responses were observed in specific wavelength regions, although overall patterns were broadly similar across most species, reflecting measurements on the healthiest leaves. Notable interspecific differences were detected in the visible region (450–650 nm), particularly for Croton conduplicatus, Handroanthus spongiosus, Sapium glandulosum, Schinopsis brasiliensis, Senegalia piauhiensis, and Spondias tuberosa, with reflectance peaks shifting from green toward red, indicative of leaf senescence. Seasonal contrasts were also evident, with changes in reflectance peaks across the visible spectrum between rainy and dry conditions. This study establishes a comprehensive spectral dataset of dominant native Caatinga species across seasonal and hydrological gradients, providing a robust foundation for linking leaf-level spectral variability to environmental conditions. The resulting spectral library represents a critical contribution for improving species discrimination, ecological monitoring, and hyperspectral remote sensing applications in tropical dry forests, particularly within one of the most climatically vulnerable and understudied biomes in the world.Keywords: Caatinga, Hyperspectral reflectance, Leaf traits, Species discriminationAcknowlegments: The authors thanks to the financial support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) Grant #2022/07735-5, the Pernambuco State Research Support Foundation (FACEPE) (Grant # BFP-0103-5.01/23), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Grant #403692/2024-5), and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) (Grants #10.23.00.111.00.00 and 10.25.00.144.00.00).