Brazilian Rice Research Articles

Chilled paddy rice grains applied directly to industrial processing have a better head rice yield

Rice is important for food security around the world, and the search to minimize losses and obtain the highest rate of head yield grains during processing is a recurring demand. In this context, the aim of this study was to understand the impact of grain conditioning temperature, when subjected directly to husking and polishing, on head rice yield. For this purpose, commercial brown rice grains from two locations and red rice grains from one location in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were studied. The grains were stored at temperatures of 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C. The following comparisons were made: a) Unhusked grain: Rice in the husk stored at different temperatures for 7 days and husked; b) Polished: Rice in the husk stored at different temperatures for 7 days, husked and stored for a further 7 days at different temperatures and polished; and c) Complete polished: Rice in the husk stored at different temperatures for 7 days, husked and polished in immediate sequence. The head yield of whole and polished grains was quantified according to the above tests. The results show that for both brown and red rice, storage at 15 °C, when subjected directly to the husking and polishing stages, represents a higher yield head rice, about 1.7% in polished grains when comparing 15 and 30 °C, possibly due to the increased hardness of the grains, as verified by the texture, with a financial impact of approximately R$ 540 million on the Brazilian rice market.

Green supply chain management in the Southern Brazilian rice industry: A survey and structural analysis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) dimensions on the performance of an agrifood supply chain, with a specific focus on the rice industry in southern Brazil. The region's rice industry produces a substantial amount of biomass, fostering circular economy practices that align with both economic and environmental objectives. Using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS), this research analyzes data from a survey of 92 companies. The measurement model incorporates 21 input and 11 output indicators, organized into six constructs. The input constructs—green strategy, green innovation, and green operations—are instrumental in shaping industry competitiveness, the fourth construct. The output constructs measure results and reputation. The findings indicate that green innovation and green operations significantly enhance competitiveness, whereas green strategy exerts minimal influence. The scope is limited to the rice industry in southern Brazil. Practical implications include offering a strategic framework for agrifood industry practitioners to improve competitiveness by optimizing green practices within their supply chains. Theoretical implications suggest that while green strategy alone may not be sufficient to drive competitiveness, the integration of green innovation and operations can enhance it. The originality of this research lies in the development of a comprehensive measurement model for assessing competitiveness in agrifood businesses, which evaluates both operational outcomes and reputational impact.

Determination of Selected Metals and Metalloids in Different Types of Rice by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Pantanal is a unique biome located in Brazil, with diverse fauna and flora, being home to native species such as the rice types Oryza latifolia and Oryza rufipogon. Rice is a staple food for two-thirds of the population, with increasing consumption, especially in Asia, regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, countries in the Caribbean, and Latin America. The per capita rice consumption had an average consumption of 160g/day. However, rice consumption may lead to the intake of other harmful substances to health, such as toxic metals/metalloids. The determination of potential hazards in native species is crucial in maintaining the local population in good health. In this study, we determined the concentration of essential elements and potentially toxic elements in seven different types of Brazilian rice grains, including the two Pantanal native species O. latifolia and O. rufipogon, using ICP-OES to identify their nutritional richness or potential toxicity. The contaminant with the highest HQ levels was chromium, with an HQ above one only in the native species. All species (commercial and native) showed carcinogenic risk considering inorganic arsenic. Rice exhibits duality in its classification, providing nutritional content and leading people to potential risks of overexposure to toxic elements. While rice can be part of a healthy and nutritious diet, more studies should be conducted on avoiding or remedying contamination with toxic elements.

The Contribution of Each Brazilian State to the Competitiveness of the Country´S Rice Exports (1999-2021)

Objective: This study aims to identify the contribution of each Brazilian state to the competitiveness of the country´s rice exports, through the indices of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Relative Position (IPR), in addition to the construction of a performance matrix, according to the linear trend of the historical series of these indicators, following the model proposed by Farias and Farias (2018). Theoretical framework: The importance of international trade is related to its ability to expand consumer markets for the population of a country, to the mitigation of internal risks through the diversification of internal markets, and to the possibility of obtaining new raw materials, technologies and new alternatives for production. Considering its relevance, commercial relations have been the object of study of economic sciences since its inception. Methodology: Initially, the theoretical and methodological aspects necessary to obtain the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and the Relative Position (RPI) indices are detailed. Subsequently, the steps required for the construction of the performance matrix by Farias et al. (2018) for the rice sector are presented, as well as a description of the data used. Results and conclusion: The empirical data cover the period from 1999 to 2021 and were collected in the Comex Stat database. It is noteworthy that only the first two are efficient and with a growing trend, indicating that these states have strong potential to expand their participation in the sector. The state of Acre was classified as with stable external potential, while Amazonas and Mato Grosso were classified as with stable internal potential. The other units of the federation were classified as inefficient. Research implications: From the elaboration and analysis of this matrix, the present study contributes to deepen the discussions on the competitiveness of the Brazilian rice sector, and to elucidate the representativeness of each state for the international trade of this important commodity Originality/value: Brazil has favorable geographic characteristics and climatic conditions to expand rice cultivation, and the sector has shown constant increases in productivity. For these reasons and considering that rice is one of the most important cereals in the world, the country could make better use of its productive potential to increase the international competitiveness of its rice sector.

The role of local institutions in the technological trajectory of the Brazilian rice industry

PurposeDespite the growing interest regarding the Brazilian rice industry, there is not much literature focusing on the role of the institutions in the process of technological capability accumulation and in the formation of the technological trajectories within this industry. This paper aims to discover the role of local institutions in the generation and dissemination of knowledge for creating the technological capability that can define different technological trajectories, using the Brazilian rice industry as an empirical field.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve said objective, this paper uses secondary data (documental research) and a multiple case study design based on primary empirical evidence (content analysis and direct observation) about the Brazilian rice industry.FindingsThe paper’s main contribution is the empirical application of a framework that allows us to evaluate the institutions’ roles and activities and how these capabilities evolve as the firms’ technological levels progress and the technological trajectory is formed. Regarding aspects related to public policy, the authors found some implications that are mainly related to the need to consolidate this type of institution in developing countries with the goal of strengthening its technological capabilities, allowing these countries to operate on the technological boundary and to compete with developed countries.Originality/valueThere are few attempts to relate the technological capability, technological trajectories and institutions in the Brazilian rice industry. Therefore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the novelty of this study lies in the analysis of these theoretical approaches in this industrial sector, more specifically, in the Brazilian rice industry.

Effective Contribution of Brazilian Rice Husk Silica (RHS) as Eco-Friendly Silica in Concrete Plants

Effective Contribution of Brazilian Rice Husk Silica (RHS) as Eco-Friendly Silica in Concrete Plants

Total oxidation of benzene over cerium oxide-impregnated two-dimensional MWW zeolites obtained by environmental synthesis using Brazilian rice husk silica agro-industrial waste

This work aimed to obtain sustainable catalysts for environmental catalysis. The ITQ-2 and MCM-22 layered zeolites impregnated with cerium (5 and 10%) were synthesized from a sustainable approach employing silica (R) from low-cost and abundant Brazilian agro-industrial waste, rice husks. The results indicate the type of support, porosity, surface defects and concentration of Ce influenced the size and dispersion of cerium oxide-nanoparticles (NPs). At the same Ce loading (5%), the porosity and surface defects followed the order R (46 m² g−1) < MCM-22 (341 m² g−1) < ITQ-2 (475) m² g−1) and resulted the decrease of NPs size (7.3 > 6.5 > 5.7 nm). The ITQ-2 and MCM-22 containing 10% of Ce resulted in the decrease of porosity of 422 and 329 m² g−1 and the increase of NPs size (7.5 and 8.3 nm), respectively. The DRS UV-Vis and XPS results indicated that Ce4+ and Ce3+species were present in all synthesized materials. The materials were evaluated for the gas-phase total oxidation of volatile organic compound (benzene) as a model reaction to reduce atmospheric pollutants. The best oxidation results were achieved at 350 °C for the Ce-impregnated ITQ-2 (5 and 10% of Ce) reaching benzene conversions of 84 and 91%, respectively, and followed by Ce-impregnated MCM-22 (5 and 10% of Ce) with 70 and 79%, respectively. No loss of activity was observed after 16 h of reaction for both Ce-impregnated ITQ-2 and MCM-22 with 10% of Ce.

Technological trajectory based on micro level technological capability: Evidence from the Brazilian rice industry

This study examines technological capability accumulation and the Brazilian rice industry's technological trajectory. Multiple case design was chosen, with an analysis of seven firms involved in the Brazilian rice industry. The results indicate three factors: The first was the identification of technological landmarks for firms in this sector (peeling and polishing, electronic grain selection, electronic packaging, use of forklifts and palletizers, and Industry 4.0). The second is related to the fact that different firms implemented innovative activities and technologies at different speeds, originating from the sector's different technological trajectories. The third is associated with identifying activities within the Brazilian rice industry that can be generalized to other food industries. These results have implications for formulating public policies in the sector, such as creating producer support mechanisms (research and technology transfer institutions), qualification of professionals, and encouragement for economic efficiency and competition.

Water reuse in Brazilian rice farming: Application of semiquantitative microbiological risk assessment

The current paper presented the Semiquantitative model for microbiological risk assessment for human health, in rice crop production in Brazil. For this purpose, initially, Microbiological Risk Assessment (SqMRA) was divided into four stages: 1) Identification of hazards; 2) Identification of exposure routes for different receptors; 3) Exposure scenarization; 4) Risk characterization. After that, the SqMRA was applied to rice farming in two scenarios, in which the first considers the effluent to be disinfected (Hazard 7), and the second considers the reality of sewage treatment conditions in Brazil (Hazard 9). Thus, it was observed that the reuse of water reuse can be applied in rice farming, with an acceptable global risk, to the receptors involved (farmer, consumer, and neighborhood). Although, it is necessary the relevance of disinfection to minimize the risk in any water reuse application is highlighted.

Identificação de locos quantitativos estáveis quanto à produtividade de grãos em arroz

Abstract The objective of this work was to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grain yield in a rice segregant population (GYP). A population of 245 inbred recombinant rice lines from the 'Epagri 108' (Oryza sativa subsp. indica) x 'IRAT 122' (O. sativa subsp. japonica) cross was evaluated at different locations and years and genotyped by single nucletide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A map of 1,592.8 cM was obtained from 9,831 SNPs, identifying 25 QTLs. The following nine SNPs showed stability between the different environments: M1.37719614 and M6.9563117 for GYP; M4.29340056, M5.25588710, M7.29115624, and M12.4534450 for 100-grain weight (HGW); and M1.38398157, M4.28368337, and M7.25991230 for plant height (PH). Six SNPs were not present in the linkage blocks: M6.9563117 and M4.1077080 for GYP; M5.25588710 and M6.8886398 for HGW; and M2.34471005 and M8.5955948 for PH. The M6.9563117 and M5.25588710 SNPs were considered environmentally stable and were not present in the linkage blocks, showing their high potential for use in marker-assisted selection for grain yield in Brazilian rice breeding programs.

Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Concentration and Water Regime on Rice Yield, Water Use Efficiency, and Arsenic and Cadmium Accumulation in Grain

(1) Background: Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration affects the growth and development of the rice crop. In Southern Brazil, rice is traditionally produced with continuous irrigation, implying a significant amount of water used. Besides, continuous flooding favors the uptake of toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). In this work, one Brazilian rice cultivar (IRGA 424) was tested for the effects of elevated CO2 concentration and different water regimes on rice yield, and As and Cd accumulation in grain. (2) Methods: Rice was grown in two CO2 concentrations (400 and 700 µmol mol−1) and two irrigation regimes (continuous and intermittent). It was evaluated the number of tillers, plant height, aboveground dry weight (ADW), water use efficiency (WUE), rice yield components, and As and Cd concentration in rice grain. (3) Results: Rice plants were taller and had a higher WUE when cultivated at e[CO2]. The ADW and the rice yield component were not affected by CO2 levels nor water regimes. Intermittent flood regimes had a lower average As concentration. The Cd concentration in the samples in both growing seasons and all treatments was below the limit of quantitation (8.76 μg kg−1). (4) Conclusions: Enhanced CO2 concentration did not affect rice yield, increased the WUE, and reduced As concentration in grains. Regarding water management, the intermittent regime enhanced WUE and promoted a reduction in As concentration in grains.

Assessing factors related to yield gaps in flooded rice in southern Brazil

AbstractIdentifying the causes of the yield gap (Yg) is essential to understand and take proactive measures to improve crop management factors. Brazil is the country in the Americas with the highest area of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) and the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state accounts for 73% of the Brazilian rice production. The objective was to determine yield potential (Yp) and Yg in flooded rice and identify key factors associated with high yield (HY) and low yield (LY) farms across the rice production regions in RS, Brazil. Yield and management practices data from farmers were collected by a survey that included 324 site‐year observations fields covering the five major RS production regions during three growing seasons (2016–2018). The Yp was simulated by Oryza crop model. The Yg was calculated as the difference between Yp and the average yield from farmers. Factors related between tertiles were studied by identifying management practices that were associated with high‐ and low‐yielding fields. Rice Yp ranged from 14.2 to 15.9 Mg ha−1 and the Yg was 48% of the estimated average Yp (15.1 Mg ha–1). Our findings indicated that HY fields had 33% higher productivity, rotated more area with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (77%), controlled pre‐sowing weeds by only herbicides (56%), sowed 20 d early with lower seeding rate (6%) and had early onset irrigation (5 d) compared to LY fields. These findings are applicable to rice farmers worldwide, and can help to define priorities in research and extension programs at both local and regional levels.

Impact of physicochemical properties on the digestibility of Brazilian whole and polished rice genotypes

AbstractBackground and objectivesSome factors related to rice processing, composition, and grain microstructure may interfere with starch digestibility. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of physicochemical properties and rice processing on the starch digestibility of genotypes produced in Brazil. Five traditional white rice genotypes, one black rice, and one red rice genotype were studied. The traditional white rice genotypes were evaluated as brown rice as well as in the polished rice form, while both black and red rice were evaluated in the unpolished form.FindingsThe digestibility ranged from 41.40% to 99.81%, being positively correlated with starch content and peak viscosity and negatively correlated with pasting temperature. The unpolished rice group exhibited lower digestibility value than the polished rice group as a result of the presence of bran. Low amylose cultivars had higher starch hydrolysis percentage.ConclusionsThe type of processing influenced the starch digestibility profile, in which the presence of bran and pigments in whole rice reduce starch hydrolysis percentage. The extent of gelatinization of the starch, identified through the peak viscosity and the pasting temperature of RVA, also had a direct influence on digestibility.Significance and noveltyFor the first time, different types and processing of Brazilian rice genotypes have been studied about the starch viscosity and digestibility profiles and related to other quality traits, what can drive consumption of a greater diversity of rice according to different market demands and energy needs.

Molecular characterization and sequence analysis of four Brazilian rice stripe necrosis virus isolates.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food crop for humanity, being cultivated in tropical and temperate regions of the world. This study reports the nearly complete genome sequences of four Brazilian rice stripe necrosis virus (RSNV) isolates. The nucleotide sequences of the RNA1 and RNA2 genome segments of these Brazilian isolates were 96.5 to 99.9% identical, indicating their close phylogenetic relationship to each other. Phylogeny and recombination analysis indicated that the genome of one of the isolates consisted of RNA segments of different origins, suggesting that a reassortment event had occurred.

Method validation for As speciation in rice using LC-ICP-MS and the inorganic arsenic limit for Brazilian rice

A methodology for As speciation in rice using liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS) was optimised and validated. Chromatographic separation and elution of As(III), DMA(V) (dimethylarsenic acid), MMA(V) (monomethylarsenic acid) and As(V) were achieved in less than 8 min using 10 mmol L−1 (NH4)2HPO4 as the mobile phase, at pH 6 and a flow rate of 1.4 mL min−1. The limits of detection for As(III), DMA(V), MMA(V) and As(V) in rice were 1.87, 2.89, 0.54 and 3.00 ng g-1, respectively. The method’s accuracy was assessed through analyte recovery tests and analysis of certified reference materials, which included white and brown rice flours. The validated method was applied for As speciation in 640 rice samples, comprising polished (white) rice, parboiled rice and brown rice collected from different mesoregions in the Rio Grande do Sul State in Brazil. By comparing the total concentration of As (tAs) found in the acid digested samples with the As species sum, the average extraction efficiencies were 98 ± 13%, 93 ± 12% and 86 ± 6%, for white, parboiled, and brown rice, respectively. The average concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs, that is As(III) + As(V)), DMA and tAs in brown and parboiled rice were not different but differed from those in white rice; the average concentrations of tAs, iAs and DMA in brown and parboiled rice were higher than those found in white rice were. The iAs concentration in all rice samples was lower than 200 ng g−1, which could be recommended as the maximum iAs concentration for Brazilian rice.

Expression of OsFRDL1, a MATE gene family member, indicates its involvement in aluminum response in rice

In soils under acidic conditions, Aluminum (Al) is solubilized to its ionic form, which is toxic to plants. Al rapidly inhibits root elongation, water and nutrient uptake, resulting in crop yield reduction. Members of the MATE family are responsible for citrate transport and Al detoxification in different species. In rice, the OsFRDL1 gene (MATE family) is homologous to the HvAACT1 and SbMATE, which are involved in Al tolerance in barley and sorghum, respectively. Silencing OsFRDL1 showed that it is not involved in Al tolerance in rice. However, the OsFRDL1 expression was not accessed in rice genotypes contrasting for Al tolerance. Thus, in this study, four Brazilian rice genotypes were evaluated in response to Al treatment in different time of exposition and OsFRDL1 expression was analyzed. The analyzed cultivars displayed different responses to Al dose x time. Al affected root growth in all analyzed genotypes, however, a minor negative effect that only occurred after 72 and 48 hours of exposure was detected in Farroupilha and BRS Curinga cultivars, respectively. In contrast, BR-IRGA 410 and IAS 12-9 showed a negative effect in root growth from the first hours of exposure to Al. Two cultivars differing in Al tolerance were used for gene expression analysis. The expression of OsFRDL1 was highly increased in Al-tolerant cultivar Farroupilha than in the Al-sensitive cultivar BR IRGA 410. This results indicates that OsFRDL1 is regulated by Al. This finding suggests that OsFRDL1 is involved in Al stress response, however seems to be insufficient in controlling Al tolerance.

Divergência genética entre tipos especiais de arroz a partir de técnicas multivariadas

O mercado brasileiro de arroz prioriza o consumo de arroz branco polido. Entretanto, existem demandas por tipos especiais. A estimativa da divergência genética é importante para o melhoramento genético, pois permite a seleção de genitores em sistemas de cruzamentos controlados. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram indicar a contribuição relativa dos caracteres avaliados para a dissimilaridade genética e avaliar a divergência genética entre genótipos de tipos especiais de arroz por dois métodos diferentes de agrupamento. O experimento foi conduzido no ano de outubro de 2012 a março de 2013, na UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos constaram dos genótipos Caiapó, Vermelho Pequeno, IAC 300, IAC 400 e IAC 500. A medida de dissimilaridade adotada foi a distância euclidiana. Foram utilizados dois métodos diferentes de otimização: o método de otimização de Tocher e o método hierárquico UPGMA (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Avarages). Os genótipos Caiapó e Vermelho Pequeno estiveram em diferentes grupos heteróticos em relação aos genótipos IAC 300 e IAC 400, independentemente do método de agrupamento utilizado. Verificou-se que a característica produtividade foi a que mais influenciou na variação total.

Predicting Rice Stem Stink Bug Population Dynamics Based on GAMLSS Models.

The rice stem stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is one of the most harmful insects for Brazilian rice fields. Aiming to define the most appropriate time and place for pest management measures in commercial paddy fields, we adjusted regression models (Poisson, Zero Inflated Poisson, reparametrized Zero Inflated Poisson, Negative Binomial and Zero Inflated Negative Binomial) for modeling the population variation of T. limbativentris along the phenological cycle of the flooded rice cultivation. We hypothesize that the rice stem stink bug population's size is influenced by the rice cycle (time) and geographical positions within the crop. It was possible to predict the occurrence of the rice stem stink bug in the commercial flooded rice crop. The population of the rice stem stink bug increased significantly with the time or phenological evolution of rice. Our results indicated that the start of T. limbativentris monitoring should occur up to 45 d After Plant Emergence (DAE), from the regions along the edges of the rice paddies, which are the points of entry and higher concentration of the insect. In addition, 45 and 60 DAE were considered the crucial times for T. limbativentris control decision making in flooded rice paddies.

Fusarium fujikuroi species complex in Brazilian rice: Unveiling increased phylogenetic diversity and toxigenic potential

Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) species are commonly encountered infecting rice, but knowledge of the diversity and toxigenic potential of the species is lacking in Brazil, the largest rice-producing country outside Asia. One hundred FFSC isolates obtained from national rice were identified using morphology and phylogeny of TEF, CAL and TUB genes. Eight previously known and one novel Fusarium species were identified. Three species accounted for around 60% of the strains: F. fujikuroi (n = 23), F. proliferatum (n = 22) and F. verticillioides (n = 16). The less frequent species were F. volatile (n = 8), F. anthophilum (n = 6), F. pseudocircinatum (n = 4), F. sterilihyphosum (n = 2) and F. begoniae (n = 1). The novel Fusarium species was represented by 18 isolates. All species produced at least one of the analyzed mycotoxins [beauvericin (BEA), fumonisins (FBs), moniliformin (MON) and enniatins (ENNs)]. BEA was produced by all species but F. verticillioides. The FBs (mainly FB1) were produced mostly by F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. F. begoniae and F. verticillioides did not produce ENNs and F. sterilihyphosum and F. begoniae did not produce MON, while the other species produced MON and ENNs. Our results add new knowledge of the diversity, geographical distribution and host range of FFSC species.

Nationwide survey reveals high diversity of Fusarium species and related mycotoxins in Brazilian rice: 2014 and 2015 harvests

Ninety three samples of rice were obtained from both research and commercial plots at eight rice-growing regions of Brazil. These were assessed for the presence of Fusarium species complex and 14 mycotoxins. A total of 352 Fusarium-like isolates were obtained from 85% of the samples and assigned to four species complexes (SC) based on morphological identification. F. incarnatum-equiseti was the most frequent (FIESC, 32.4%) followed by F. fujikuroi (FFSC, 26.1%), F. graminearum (FGSC, 24.7%) and F. chlamydosporum (FCSC, 16.8%). FGSC was limited geographically and dominant in the southern subtropical Brazil while the others occurred in all regions, particularly FIESC. The samples were individually contaminated with at least three and a maximum of eight mycotoxins. The most common were zearalenone (ZEA), beauvericin, and acetylated forms of deoxynivalenol (AcDON). In addition, enniatins, T-2, HT-2, DON, neosolaniol and moniliformin at lower frequency. The concentration levels were all below the Brazilian limits currently promugalted for DON (<750 ppb), and ZEA (<100 ppb). There was on sample with ZEA above the limit. Most mycotoxins toxins were found in both the husk and flour fractions, but AcDON tended to show higher concentration in the husk. Results of this survey extends the knowledge of the Fusarium complexes infecting rice and provides an update on the status of rice mycotoxin contamination at the country level, which can be considered generally safe. However, attention should be paid to the widespread contamination of beauvericin.