Agronomy and Crop Science, Soil Science, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Plant Science
9
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Fungal Diversity in Coffee Fruits and Beans and its Impact on Beverage Sensory Quality Vanessa Maria de Souza Barros, Natasha de Azevedo Lira, David Gabriel Campos Pereira, Silvana Ramlow Otto Teixeira da Luz, Vinícius Teixeira Andrade, Sara Maria Chalfoun, Gladyston Rodrigues Carvalho Coffee Science, 2026 Coffee quality is determined by physical, chemical, and sensory attributes, which can be influenced by filamentous fungi present throughout the production cycle. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify fungi associated with two coffee cultivars (Catiguá MG2 and Paraíso MG H419-1), grown in organic and conventional systems, with or without cover crops, at two stages of harvest (cherry and dry). The predominant genera identified were Cladosporium, Geotrichum, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Fusarium. It is important to note that no ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected in any isolate, and only one (Aspergillus parasiticus) produced aflatoxins B1 and B2. The dried fruits presented good beverage quality. The main nuances observed were fruity, caramel, chocolate, and floral. The production system influenced fungal diversity and sensory attributes, with the organic system presenting greater fungal richness and more complex sensory profiles. The harvest stage also affected fungal composition, but did not compromise beverage quality, indicating that harvesting at advanced maturity (dry fruits) may be a viable strategy without quality losses. These findings highlight that the production system and harvest stage influence fungal diversity and sensory characteristics without increasing the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Key words: Fungal diversity; sensory analysis; content analysis.
Sandy soils compatibility and least limiting water range under organic, irrigated and perennials management David Gabriel Campos Pereira, Rafaela Watanabe, Jhuliendri Bortoluzzi Genova, Vanessa Maria de Souza Barros, Sâmia Paiva de Oliveira, Maria Eugenia Ortiz Escobar, Júlio César Lima Neves, Getulio Coutinho Figueiredo, Álvaro Pires da Silva, Teogenes Senna de Oliveira Scientific Reports, 2025 Agricultural systems have advanced, but challenges remain in improving efficiency while maintaining soil quality in irrigated areas. This study evaluated compaction, compressibility, and the least limiting water range (LLWR) in sandy soils cultivated with West Indian cherry (Malpighia punicifolia L.) in Northeastern Brazil. Soil quality was assessed in three organic management areas: one (A1) and six (A6) years under center pivot irrigation, and ten (A10) years under microsprinklers. Samples were collected at depths of 0.0-0.10 m and 0.20-0.30 m in rows (R) and interrows (I) to analyze compaction degree (DC), maximum density (Bdmax), critical moisture (WCcrit), preconsolidation pressure (σp), compression index (Cc), LLWR, and total organic carbon (TOC). Higher DC was observed in A1R (99%), A1I (92%), and A6I (97%) at 0.0-0.10 m, and A10I (92%) at 0.20-0.30 m. LLWR was smaller in the interrows of A1 and A6, and in the rows of A10 at both depths. Increased surface organic matter reduced penetration resistance and improved water availability. LLWR proved more sensitive than DC and σp in detecting soil degradation. The study highlighted differences in soil properties between center pivot and microsprinkler irrigation systems and their combined impacts on soil structure.
Effect of Organic Farming on Soil Carbon Reserves and Quality in Citrus Groves in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region David Gabriel Campos Pereira, Guilherme Viana de Alencar, Maria Eugenia Ortiz Escobar, Eduardo de Sá Mendonça, Teogenes Senna de Oliveira Soil Use and Management, 2025 Organic fertilisation of orchard soils can influence soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions and the overall sustainability of the farming systems. This study investigated the long‐term effects of organic citrus farming on soil properties in a semi‐arid region of Ceará, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from a 30‐year‐old organic citrus orchard and a natural vegetation site was used as a reference. Management practices at the organic orchard include annual pruning, with residues left in the inter‐row area and an annual application of 20 kg of on‐site produced compost per plant in the planting rows. The organic compost is composed of cattle manure, sugarcane bagasse, rock phosphate, MB‐4, EM‐4 and molasses. We evaluated the SOM, oxidizable fractions of organic carbon and microbial activity in the orchard rows, inter‐rows and the reference site. The highest carbon stocks (64.30 Mg ha −1 ± 5.29; 0.0–1.00 m depth) were recorded in the inter‐row soils. Microbial activity, however, was greatest in the soil at the natural vegetation site (52.34 ± 2.19 mg CO 2 kg −1 ) compared to the row soil (29.86 ± 2.57 mg CO 2 kg −1 ), with the inter‐row showing intermediate values (41.21 ± 7.04 mg CO 2 kg −1 ). Overall, the results indicate that long‐term organic management enhances carbon stocks and organic matter in sandy soil, supporting its potential for climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture in semi‐arid regions.
Microbial activity and carbon rates the soil in response to the application of potassium sources David Gabriel Campos Pereira, Mickaelly Jordanya Guimarães Silva, Maickon Wilhian Pereira Meira, Helena Souza Nascimento Santos, José Augusto dos Santos Neto, Marcio Mahmoud Megda, Michele Xavier Vieira Megda Acta Scientiarum Biological Sciences, 2022 The continuous use of KCl may not be sustainable in the long term in agricultural systems. High doses used in crops accumulate in the soil and plants, hindering the metabolic processes of soil organisms. This study assessed the soil microbial activity in response to the application of K sources in banana crop and effects on microbial C. The experimental design was completely randomized with four K sources: potassium nitrate (KNO3), potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K2SO4), and monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) at 200 mg kg-1 of K2O, besides the control (without K) and combinations KCl:K2SO4. KCl application increased microbial activity 7 days after incubation, with gradual reduction over time. The isolated application of K2SO4 and the combination KCl: K2SO4 at the ratio 60: 40% increased total CO2 released by the microbiota. K2SO4 source had the highest microbial biomass C (MBC), as well as the 60: 40 combinations. Isolated application of K sources, especially with high chloride concentration, reduces the soil microbial activity and MBC.
Potassium chloride: Impacts on soil microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization David Gabriel Campos Pereira, Isadora Alves Santana, Marcio Mahmoud Megda, Michele Xavier Vieira Megda Ciencia Rural, 2019 Potassium chloride is the most widely used potassium source worldwide, and due to its continuous use, the accumulation of its salts in the soil and in plants is becoming more common. Excess available ions can cause a series of physiological disturbances in organisms and can become a biocide in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of KCl and banana crop residues on soil chloride content, microbial activity, and soil ammonification. The experiment utilized a completely randomized 2 × 4 factorial design with four replicates. Treatments were as follows: two doses of vegetal residue (200 and 400 mg dm-3) × four doses of KCl (0, 167, 334, and 668 mg dm-3 of KCl) and a control (untreated soil). The CO2 emission, ammonium (N-NH4 +) and soil chloride (Cl-) content, and mineralization/immobilization rates of the soils in each treatment were measured 4, 45, and 130 days after incubation (dai). Higher KCl dosages reduced soil microbial activity at 4 dai, regardless of the residue dosage. Microbial activity was reduced at 130 dai in all treatments when compared to the initial period. Higher dosages of banana crop residues increased the Cl- content of the soil and promoted the immobilization of N-NH4 +. We concluded that dosages of KCl (above 400 mg dm-3), when applied to soils that already contain crop residues, reduce microbial activity and mineralization of N in the soil.
