Physicochemical characteristics of experimental net melon hybrids developed in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Quality of Louis melons stored under four storage temperatures

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Potencial de resíduos agroindustriais como fontes de compostos bioativos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Crecimiento, acumulación de macronutrientes y producción de melón cantaloupo y amarillo

Fueron conducidos dos experimentos individuales en el municipio de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Se empleó dos cultivares de melón, ‘Olimpic express’ (del tipo Cantaloupo) e ‘Iracema’ (del tipo Amarillo), para evaluar el crecimiento y la acumulación de macronutrientes, bajo el diseño de bloques al azar con siete tratamientos (épocas de muestreo) y tres repeticiones. Los muestreos de plantas fueron realizados a los 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 y 56 días después del trasplante (DDT). El crecimiento fue lento hasta 28 DDT en ambos cultivares evaluados, intensificándose en el periodo siguiente, alcanzando a los 56 DDT, 246.4g planta-1 , en ‘Olimpic express’,y 266.9 g planta-1, en ‘Iracema’, siendo la materia seca (MS) de los frutos correspondientes a 60% y 64% de la MS total, respectivamente. Mayores acumulaciones de N, P y K fueron obtenidos en los frutos, mientras de Ca, Mg y S en las hojas. Al final del ciclo, en ‘Olimpic express’, cuya productividad fue de 32 t ha-1, fueron acumulados 173.4, 110.1, 101.1, 26.9, 15.6 y 13.5 kg ha-1 de K, Ca, N, Mg, S y P, respectivamente, y en ‘Iracema’, cuya productividad fue de 38 t ha-1, fueron acumulados 136.0, 93.9, 84.1, 22.6, 15.4 y 9.5 kg ha-1 de K, N, Ca, Mg, S y P, respectivamente. En relación al total acumulado, las exportaciones de N, P, K, Ca, Mg y S en los frutos fueron de 61, 73, 66, 9, 35 y 39% (‘Olimpic express’)y 58, 70, 55, 6, 33 y 41% (‘Iracema’). Con una menor producción de frutos y una mayor acumulación de nutrientes, ‘Olimpic express’ ha demostrado ser menos eficiente en el uso de nutrientes que ‘Iracema’.

Potential use of bioagents in the control of postharvest rot in melon

Rot caused by Fusarium pallidoroseum has had a severely negative impact on the export of melons from Brazil. Uncertainty regarding the health of the fruit due to the quiescent infection of the pathogen has led producers to use fungicides in the postharvest treatment of the fruit, thereby causing contamination and risking the health of consumers. Consequently, there is a demand for clean and safe natural technologies for the postharvest treatment of melons, including biological control. The present study aimed at evaluating bioagents for use in controlling Fusarium rot in 'Galia'melon. The following bioagents were evaluated: two isolates of Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis and a mixture of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis, as well as the yeasts Sporidiobolus pararoseus, Pichia spp., Pichia membranifaciens, P. guilliermondii, Sporobolomyces roseus, Debaryomyces hansenii and Rhodotorula mucilagenosa. Treatment with imazalil and water were used as controls. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomised design with 10 replicates per treatment with four fruit per replicate; the disease incidence was evaluated in the first experiment, and the disease severity was evaluated in the second. Similarity analysis of the temporal evolution profiles of rot incidence caused by F. pallidoroseum allowed the evaluated treatments to be clustered into four groups. In the first experiment, the yeasts P. membranifaciens and D. hansenii produced results similar to that of the fungicide imazalil. The second experiment highlighted the yeasts P. guilliermondii and R. mucilaginosa. Electron microscopy studies confirmed that once applied to the fruit, the yeasts colonised the skin and damaged the pathogen mycelium; the action of the yeasts affected the mycelium of F. pallidoroseum, which had infected wounds on the fruit's surface. Bacillus spp. did not provide good disease control. These results demonstrated that yeasts have the potential to control postharvest rot caused by F. pallidoroseum in 'Galia'melon.

Uso do programa stella no manejo da irrigação do meloeiro

A crescente conscientização da água como bem de alto valor econômico, social, cultural e ecológico exige cada vez mais o uso racional desse recurso baseados em parâmetros técnicos que levem a um aumento da eficiência do manejo de irrigação. Utilizou-se o programa STELLA 10.0.3 para simular o balanço hídrico de um solo cultivado com meloeiro (Cucumis melo L.) no município de Iguatu/Ceará. Os parâmetros meteorológicos corresponderam aos valores diários de temperatura máxima, temperatura mínima, temperatura média e radiação solar no topo da atmosfera. Utilizou-se o método de Hargreaves-Samani para determinar a Evapotranspiração de Referência. A capacidade de campo, ponto de murcha permanente, densidade aparente, profundidade efetiva do sistema radicular e o déficit hídrico tolerável foram os parâmetros físicos do solo para determinar sua capacidade de água disponível e o nível mínimo de água disponível. As irrigações são realizadas sempre que o nível de umidade do solo fica muito próximo ou abaixo do nível mínimo de água disponível. Os resultados mostraram que o modelo desenvolvido utilizando dinâmica de sistemas, analisa todos os parâmetros envolvidos de forma sistêmica e dinâmica fornecendo como resultado valores de lâminas de irrigação a serem aplicadas e os momentos em que sua aplicação é necessária.

Efeito do Ácido Ascórbico em melões 'Orange Flesh' minimamente processados

The aim of this work was to evaluate the application of different concentrations of ascorbic acid on Orange Flesh melon. Whole Melons were sanifi ed with 500 mg L-1 of sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes and the cuts into cubes with 100 mg L-1 for 1 minute before being tested under different concentrations of ascorbic acid (0, 1, 2 and 3%) in immersion at room temperature for 10 minutes. After drainage, the cuts were packed in PET packages lined with polyethylene fi lm of 18 µm and stored at 5 ± 1°C and 85 ± 5% of RH for 8 days, being evaluated every 2 days. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial analyses were performed. The experimental design utilized for the experiment was the completely randomized in factorial scheme. Ten replicates were used for non-destructive analyses and 3 replicates were used for destructive ones. The application of ascorbic acid reduced the loss of mass; the fruits presented a low population of psychrotrophic bacterias, fi lamentous, fungi and yeasts, reduction of soluble solids, pH and fi rmness and, consequently, extended postharvest life of the fruits by 2 days. The appearance, fl avor and taste were also affected. The application of 1% of ascorbic acid was the best treatment for the fresh cuts “Orange Flesh” melons.

Avaliação da qualidade de óleos compostos obtidos de fontes alternativas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da qualidade de óleos compostos obtidos de fontes alternativas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of potassium silicate on epidemic components of powdery mildew on melon

The effects of silicon (Si) supplied in the form of potassium silicate (PS) were evaluated on epidemic components of powdery mildew of melon under greenhouse conditions. The PS was applied to the roots or to leaves. In the first experiment, epidemic components were evaluated after inoculation with Podosphaera xanthii. In the second experiment, the disease progress rate was evaluated on plants subjected to natural infection. The area under the disease progress curve was reduced by 65% and 73% in the foliar and root treatments, respectively, compared to control plants, as a consequence of reductions in infection efficiency, colony expansion rate, colony area, conidial production and disease progress rate. However, root application of PS was more effective than foliar application in reducing most of the epidemic components, except for infection efficiency. This can be explained by the high Si concentration in leaf tissues with root application, in contrast to the foliar treatment where Si was only deposited on the external leaf surfaces. The effects of PS reported in this study demonstrated that powdery mildew of melon can be controlled, and that the best results can be achieved when PS is supplied to the roots.

Biostratigraphical investigations of Lago d'Averno, near Naples

Remains of diatoms, molluscs, ostracods, foraminifera and pollen exines preserved in the sediments of Lago d'Averno, a volcanic lake in the Phlegrean Fields west of Naples, allowed us to reconstruct the changes in the ecological conditions of the lake and of the vegetation around it for the period from 800 BC to 800 AD. Lago d'Averno was at first a freshwater lake, temporarily influenced by volcanic springs. Salinity increased slowly during Greek times as a result of subsidence of the surrounding land. Saline conditions developed only after the lake was connected with the sea by a canal, when Portus Julius was built in 37 BC. The first post-Roman period of uplift ended with a short freshwater phase during the 7th century after Christ. Deciduous oakwoods around the lake was transformed into a forest of evergreen oaks in Greek times and thrived there - apparently almost uninfluenced by man - until it was felled, when the Avernus was incorporated into the new Roman harbour in 37 BC, to construct a shipyard and other military buildings there. Land-use was never more intense than during Roman times and weakest in Greek and Early Roman times, when the Avernus was considered a holy place, the entrance to the underworld.

Fungal microbiota from rain water and pathogenicity of Fusarium species isolated from atmospheric dust and rainfall dust

In order to determine the presence of Fusarium spp. in atmospheric dust and rainfall dust, samples were collected during September 2007, and July, August, and October 2008. The results reveal the prevalence of airborne Fusarium species coming from the atmosphere of the South East coast of Spain. Five different Fusarium species were isolated from the settling dust: Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. dimerum, and F. proliferatum. Moreover, rainwater samples were obtained during significant rainfall events in January and February 2009. Using the dilution-plate method, 12 fungal genera were identified from these rainwater samples. Specific analyses of the rainwater revealed the presence of three species of Fusarium: F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. equiseti. A total of 57 isolates of Fusarium spp. obtained from both rainwater and atmospheric rainfall dust sampling were inoculated onto melon (Cucumis melo L.) cv. Piñonet and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. San Pedro. These species were chosen because they are the main herbaceous crops in Almeria province. The results presented in this work indicate strongly that spores or propagules of Fusarium are able to cross the continental barrier carried by winds from the Sahara (Africa) to crop or coastal lands in Europe. Results show differences in the pathogenicity of the isolates tested. Both hosts showed root rot when inoculated with different species of Fusarium, although fresh weight measurements did not bring any information about the pathogenicity. The findings presented above are strong indications that long-distance transmission of Fusarium propagules may occur. Diseases caused by species of Fusarium are common in these areas. They were in the past, and are still today, a problem for greenhouses crops in Almería, and many species have been listed as pathogens on agricultural crops in this region. Saharan air masses dominate the Mediterranean regions. The evidence of long distance dispersal of Fusarium spp. by atmospheric dust and rainwater together with their proved pathogenicity must be taken into account in epidemiological studies.