ABSTRACT. Since the composition of honey varies with the species of bee as well as flowering and geographical aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bioactive properties of Apisand stingless bees’honey from the Brazilian Caatinga. Samples of different species of Apis mellifera L.Meliponini (Melipona subnitida, Frieseomellita varia, Melipona mandacaia, Plebeia sp.) and Apis mellifera L.werecollected from honey producersin the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Honey from A. mellifera and stingless bees showed physicochemical differences in some parameters, especially in moisture, free acidity, HMF, water activity, sugars and electric conductivity. There were no differences in color between honeys from A. mellifera and stingless bees. Honeys fromPlebeia sp., F. varia and A. mellifera showed higher antioxidant capacity followed by honeys fromM. mandacaia and M. subnitida. Flavonoids had little influence on the differentiation of antioxidant activities of stingless bees, while the opposite occurred with the phenolic content, where honeys with the highest levels of phenolic also showed higher antioxidant capacity. ABSTRACT aspects beeshoney Caatinga LMeliponini L Meliponini subnitida sp. sp Lwerecollected werecollected Norte A parameters moisture acidity HMF activity conductivity F fromM M content

Com o objetivo de avaliar a conservação pós-colheita de berinjelas revestidas com filmes de PVC ou películas de fécula de mandiocaa 3%, foram colhidos frutos de berinjela, cultivar Embú, aos 147 dias após a semeadura em campo da UFERSA em Mossoró-RN. Os frutos foram transportados ao Laboratório de Pós-Colheita e armazenados por 15 dias em condições ambientais (26 a 29ºC; UR de 50-75%). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 6, com três repetições e três frutos por parcela. Os tratamentos constaram da combinação de 3 tipos de revestimento (controle, fécula de mandioca a 3% ou filme plástico) e 6 tempos de armazenamento (0; 3; 6; 9; 12 ou 15 dias). Avaliou-se a aparência externa (escala 1-5), perda de massa (%), firmeza da polpa (N) e teores de sólidos solúveis (º Brix), acidez total (% de ácido cítrico) e ácido ascórbico (mg/100 g polpa). O uso do filme plástico foi eficiente em manter a aparência externa e reduzir a perda de massa. O uso de fécula de mandioca não foi eficiente em prolongar a vida útil póscolheita da berinjela quando comparado com o uso de filme plástico. Baseado na aparência externa, o período de conservação da berinjela foi de 15, 12 e 9 dias para os tratamento com filme plástico, fécula de mandioca e controle, respectivamente.

The postharvest conservation of eggplant fruits covered with cassava starch at 3% or covered with PVC film was compared. Fruits of the cultivar Embú were taken 147 days after sowing date in the field, in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. Afterwards, the fruits were taken to the Postharvest Laboratory and stored during 15 days in environmental conditions (26-29oC and 50-75% RH). A 3 x 6 factorial scheme with three replications of three fruits per plot in a completely randomized design was used. The treatments consisted of the combination of three coating types (control, cassava starch and polyethylene film) with six storage times (0; 3; 6; 9; 12 or 15 days). The external appearance (1-5 scale), mass loss (%), flesh firmness (N) and soluble solids (ºBrix), titratable acidity (% of citric acid), and ascorbic acid (mg/100 g of pulp) content of fruits were evaluated. Polyethylene film was the most efficient coat to keep the external appearance and to reduce the mass loss of the eggplant fruits. The cassava starch coat was not so efficient in extending the shelf life of eggplant fruits as the PVC film was. Based on external appearance, the conservation period for eggplant fruits was of 15 and 12 days for PVC film and cassava starch, compared to 9 days of the control treatment.