Abstract The mangrove mussel Mytella falcata (d'Orbigny, 1846), synonym of M. charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842), has a good nutritional, functional and low cost value. The effect of refined or herb salts in the preparation of sururu burger was evaluated through the determination of proximate composition, cholesterol content, fatty acid profile and acceptability index. In herbs, phenols were evaluated. In both formulations, the protein content was above the minimum limit (15%) required by the Food Brazilian law, while the fat percentage was lower than the stablished (5%). Due to oxidation reactions, the total cholesterol content in the preparations supplemented with refined salt was significant lower (p ≤ 0.05) than that in the burgers without salt supplementation or with the herb salt. The fatty acids were more preserved in the preparation with herb salt, once the herbs are rich in phenols with high antioxidant capacity. Oregano had a significant higher content of total phenols (p ≤ 0.05), compared to rosemary and parsley. In relation to the flavor, as the Brazilian public is more adapted to more salty formulations, the acceptability index of the formulation with refined salt was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05).

Abstract The effect of copper toxicity on the photosynthetic activities and bioaccumulation in different tissues of Prosopis juliflora was investigated using three CuSO4 concentrations (10, 50 and 100 mM) added under hydroponic conditions. Copper concentration and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured after 48 h of copper stress. The results obtained in this study show that increasing levels of 50 and 100 mM Cu2+ resulted in a significant accumulation of this metal mainly in roots compared with control roots. On the other hand, our result showed a significant reduction of maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and the activity of photosystem II (F v /F 0 ) ratios in P. juliflora leaf treated with 100 mM Cu2+ with respect to control after 4h of exposure. These changes suggested that the photosynthetic apparatus of P. juliflora was the primary target of the Cu2+ action. Therefore the information provided by this short-term (48 h) experiment in P. juliflora showed that several physiological processes are activated, in which the copper uptake by roots and their accumulation in tissues play a central role. In conclusion, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters can be used as a useful physiological tool to assess early changes in photosynthetic performance of P. juliflora in response to copper pollution in short-term. Finally, the present study showed that P. juliflora is a promising prospect for heavy metals phytoremediation purposes occurring in arid and semi-arid climates in the northwest Mexico.

Resumen Los efectos de la toxicidad de cobre en la actividad fotosintética y bioacumulación en diferentes tejidos de Prosopis juliflora fue evaluada usando tres concentraciones de CuSO4 (10, 50 y 100 mM) en condiciones hidropónicas por 48 h. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que los niveles crecientes del metal generaron una acumulación significativa de Cu2+, principalmente en las raíces en comparación con las raíces del control. Por otro lado, nuestro resultados indicaron una reducción significativa de la máxima eficiencia fotoquímica del fotosistema II (Fv / Fm) y la actividad de los coeficientes de fotosistema II (F v / F 0 ) en hojas P. juliflora tratada con 100 mM de Cu+2 con respecto al control después de 4 h de la exposición. Estos cambios sugieren que el aparato fotosintético de P. juliflora es fuertemente afectado por el Cu+2. Por lo tanto, la información proporcionada por este experimento a corto plazo (48 h) en P. juliflora mostró que varios procesos fisiológicos se activan, en el que la absorción por las raíces del metal y su acumulación en los tejidos juegan un papel central. En conclusión, los parámetros de fluorescencia de clorofila pueden ser utilizados como una herramienta fisiológica útil para evaluar los cambios tempranos en la eficiencia fotosintética de P. juliflora en respuesta a la contaminación de cobre en periodos cortos de tiempo. Finalmente, el presente estudio muestra que P. juliflora es un prospecto promisorio para propósitos de fitoremediación en climas áridos y semiáridos en el noroeste de México.