ITQB: GPS - MA Dissertations
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- Genetic bases of almond qualityPublication . Paulo de Almeida, Gonçalo; Marum, Liliana; Jerónimo, Eliana; Oliveira, Margarida"Almond is one of the most important tree nut crops, due to its high nutritive value, namely in lipids and tocopherol. Its production in Portugal has been increasing during the last years, with implementation of new orchards with commercial cultivars. Tocopherol is an antioxidant that prevents unsaturated fatty acids from peroxidation, increasing almond storage-life and it is highly effective preventing cardiovascular diseases. Genes involved in its biosynthesis have been characterized in other species, but no studies have been made in almond trees. The almond cultivar ‘Soleta’ was used for kernel developmental study and the cultivars ‘Gama’, ‘Rogel’, ‘João Dias’, ‘Fura Sacos’, ‘Bonita de S.Brás’ and ‘Verdeal’ were used for the ripe fruit analysis. Fruit was morphologically characterized throughout the development (‘Soleta’) and in the ripe fruit. The tocopherol profile was analyzed and quantified by HPLC and the differential expression level of candidate genes involved in tocopherol synthesis (VTE1, VTE2 and VTE4) was characterized using RT-qPCR.(...)"
- Deciphering putative biostimulant effects of a seaweed extract, from Gracilaria gracilis, in tomato plantsPublication . Santos, Ana Sofia; Santos, Ana Paula; Vilchez, Juan Ignacio"Chemical fertilizers have become frequent in agriculture to meet the escalating demand of an evergrowing world population, projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. However, these conventional agricultural practices have led to severe problems in human's health, animals, plants, and the entire environment, including plant-related microbiota. In Portugal and many other seaside countries worldwide, seaweeds were traditionally used in agricultural fields, providing crops with organic matter, minerals, trace elements, plant-growth regulators, vitamins and other bioactive compounds. More recently, with the high need for sustainable alternatives in the agricultural sector, seaweed extracts have been explored as a potential alternative to ensure food quality and safety for present and future generations. However, the use of these extracts poses several concerns regarding characterization, mode of application, optimal plant stage to apply, effective concentration, effects on microbiota, and on environment over time. In this context, this project aimed to develop a pipeline to assess the effects of a red seaweed extract, Gracilaria gracilis, on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum).(...)"
- Effects of a commercial seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum on rice tolerance to salinity: hydroponics and seed priming approachesPublication . Ribeiro, Luisa Maria Mugueiro; Santos, Ana Paula"Biostimulants are emerging as a sustainable tool to decrease the use of fertilizers, increase crop production, boost plant stress tolerance and restore the natural equilibrium in agro-ecosystems. From all the varieties of biostimulants, seaweed extracts, and in specific Ascophyllum nodosum extracts, have been previously documented to induce plant stress-related responses in Arabidopsis thaliana as well as in crop species. Today, new agronomic tools are being explored and seed priming with biostimulants may represent a real solution to deal with stress. Inspired by the empirical knowledge of the Portuguese farmers regarding the value of algae for agriculture and the importance of rice for worldwide food security, the main goal of this thesis was to evaluate the effects of a commercial Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract on rice development and performance under salinity stress. An initial assessment of different concentrations of the extract was made and phenotypic traits were evaluated e.g. shoot and root lengths.(...)"