Net melon cultivars productivity under different cultivation systems, during summer and winter

In order to access the effects of cultivation in soil, sand or a commercial substrate on the productivity of Bonus #2 cultivars, 'Don Carlos' and 'Hy Mark', two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal- SP, Brazil, 21° 15' 22 S, 48° 18'58 W, and altitude of 595 m, from November 1999 to April 2000 (summer), and from July to November 2000 (Winter). For cultivation in soil, chemical nutrients were added, and plants were irrigated with drip irrigation. Fertigation with recirculation of the nutrient solution was used on sand; slabs were used on commercial substrate with the fertigation with non circulating nutrient solution. Bonus #2 cultivar yielded the highest production of marketable fruit, but were later in production, while Hy Mark cultivar had early production but a lower number of fruit per plant. The winter planting yielded higher production of marketable fruit while summer plantings yielded lower number of fruit per plant, but with higher average weigh. The combination between cultivation systems and cultivars yielded higher fruit production in winter.

Minimally processed guava Fruits (Psidium guaiava L.)

'Paluma' guavas, after internal quality evaluation using magnetic resonance tomography, were used to produce fresh-cut product. Fruits were peeled or not, cut in halves and seed removed, and they were packaged in polystyrene trays covered with PVC film or in a PET container with a lid. These packages were stored for 12 days at 5°C, 10°C and ambient temperature (22.6°C). Tomography evaluation verified that impacts produced internal bruising with loss of cellular integrity and liquefication of the placenta tissues. Compression was more evident on the pericarp and cutting promoted superficial deformation. Storage temperature affected the weight loss, with fruit packaged in the polystyrene tray having a greater weight loss. The peeling did not influence weight loss. Product stored at 5°C and 10°C for 8 days had low microbial growth (<103 UFC.g-1) and no coliforms. Rapid spoilage and a short shelf life (3-4 days) occurred when the product was stored at ambient temperature. Peeling reduced ascorbic acid concentration and total soluble solids. Use of calcium to protect fresh-cut products was not efficient. Calcium absorption capacity of 'Pedro Sato' guava was tested using 45Ca. Fruits treated with 2% CaCl2, with or without the radioisotope, were divided in four layers (epicarp, mesocarp, endocarp and seed) and analyzed for the total and 45Ca calcium. It was observed that the applied calcium remained in superficial layers of45fruits, which was confirmed by autoradiography. Internal layers did not contain 45Ca, indicating that calcium was not distributed into different parts of the fruit.

Sorption isotherm, glass transitions and state diagram for freeze-dried plum skin and pulp

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine phase transitions of freeze-dried plums. Samples at low and intermediate moisture contents, were conditioned by adsorption at various water activities (0.11≤a w≤0.90) at 25°C, whereas in the high moisture content region (a w>0.90) samples were obtained by direct water addition, with the resulting sorption isotherm being well described by the Guggenheim-Anderson-deBoer (GAB) model. Freeze-dried samples of separated plum skin and pulp were also analysed. At a w≤0.75, two glass transitions were visible, with the glass transition temperature (T g) decreasing with increasing a w due to the water plasticising effect. The first T g was attributed to the matrix formed by sugars and water. The second one, less visible and less plasticised by water, was probably due to macromolecules of the fruit pulp. The Gordon-Taylor model represented satisfactorily the matrix glass transition curve for a w≤0.90. In the higher moisture content range T g remained practically constant around T g′ (-57.5°C). Analysis of the glass transition curve and the sorption isotherm indicated that stability at a temperature of 25°C, would be attained by freeze dried plum at a water activity of 0.04, corresponding to a moisture content of 12.9% (dry basis). © 2006 SAGE Publications.

Meio de cultura e tipo de explante no estabelecimento in vitro de espécies de maracujazeiro

Brazil is one of the main centers of genetic variability dispersion of the Passiflora genera. Its self incompatibility as well as disease incidence in its leaves and root system and, deforestation and monocultivation, promote loss of genetic material. Considering the risk of genetic erosion, the conservation of the variability in germplasm banks, which is of great interest in plant breeding, is necessary. Studies regarding the type of expiant and concentration of the culture media are necessary in order to determine protocols of establishment and in vitro conservation of passion-fruit germplasm. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the influence of the salt and nutrient concentration in the MS culture medium and types of expiants in the establishment and growth of the Passion fruit species: Passiflora giberti N. E.Brown, P. edulis Sims and P. laurifolia L. Each Passiflora species presented its own characteristics regarding in vitro development. The complete MS medium and nodal segments the second axilliary bud promoted better development of the genotypes studied.

Aspectos biológicos de Dione juno juno (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) em genótipos de maracujazeiro

It was studied the effect of passion fruit genotypes on Dione juno juno (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) development. The experiment was carried out in a laboratory, under controlled conditions (temperature: 26 ± 1° C, RH = 60 ± 10% and photophase of 14 hours). Newly-hatched larvae were fed with leaves from different passion fruit genotypes: Passiflora edulis Sims., P. alata Dryand., P. serrato-digitata L., P. edulis f. flavicarpa Deg. ('Sul Brasil'), P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. edulis f. flavicarpa ('Maguary FB-100') and P. foetida L. Fifty larvae from eggs collected in the field were used per genotype. Larvae were kept on passion fruits branches inside PVC tubes until pupation. Daily observations were performed and branches were replaced whenever necessary. The following parameters were evaluated: duration and viability of larval and pupal phases, larval and pupal weight and adult longevity. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks design with seven treatments and ten replications. Data were subjected to an ANOVA and means were compared by Tukey test at 5% of probability. The least adequate genotypes for D. juno juno development were P. alata, P. serrato-digitata and P. foetida, showing a high level of antibiosis, while P. edulis, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, 'Maguary FB-100' and 'Sul Brasil' were the most suitable.

Tamanho da amostra foliar para avaliação do estado nutricional de goiabeiras com e sem irrigação

The ideal size precision of the foliar sample determines manual work optimization, and also diminishes inherent errors in diagnosis reports of nutritional state. This work aimed to determine the size of the foliar samples and the sample error variation in guava plantations submitted to two hydric cultivations for the nutritional state diagnosis of this fruit. The work included two studies, both under an entirely randomized experimental design. Study 1 was carried out in an orchard under unirrigated cultivation with four treatments and six repetitions that consisted of leaf collection in 5, 10, 20 and 40 plants. Study 2 was carried out in an orchard under irrigated cultivation with five treatments and 10 repetitions that consisted of leaf collection in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 guava plants. It was concluded that in unirrigated orchards it is necessary to sample leaves in 40 plants in order to keep the macronutrients sample error between 5 to 10%. For the micronutrients, on the other hand, at least 40 plants were necessary and, if Fe and Zn were considered, the sample must be even larger. In irrigated orchards, leaves deriving from 10 plants were enough to keep the sample error between 5 to 10%. However, considering the micronutrients, it was necessary to sample 20 guava plants.

Morfologia de frutos e sementes e morfofunção de plântulas de Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

The objective of this work was to characterize external and internal morphologic aspects of the fruit, seed, and plant of Moringa oleifera Lam. The fruits were collected in the forest garden of Falculty of Agrarian and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil. It was observed that the Moringa fruits are brown simple darkness, dry of the type capsule, tends on average: 28.50 cm of length, 2.21 cm of width, 9.91 g of mass and with 12 seeds by fruit, it considerated fruits of medium and small size. The seeds are brown dark and they present three lines clear chestnut tree. The embryo is oleaginous, has a pair of cotyledons and the germination is hypogeal-cryptocotyledonary. The seed has1.037 cm of length and 1.0 cm of thickness of average and have a considerate medium and light weight (197g/1000 seeds). The germination began eight days after the planting and in the 25th day they left the primary leaves.

Utilização de componentes principais para analisar o comportamento do cafeeiro a pleno sol e sombreado

The aim of this work is to describe the behavior of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) grown for nine years under organic management systems in full sun and shaded by banana trees (Musa sp.) and Erythrina verna Vell., in Valença, RJ. We performed a joint evaluation of vegetative characteristics, nutritional content and yield, with the aid of a principal component analysis. Twelve treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with four replications in a split plot. The plots evaluated farming systems in full sun and shade, and the subplots consisted of the following varieties of coffee: Tupi IAC 1669-33, MG 6851, IAC 3282 Icatu, Catucaí 2SL, Obatã IAC 1669-20; lineage IAC IAC 144. After five years we assessed the following variables, height, stem and canopy diameter, leaf area, number of branches, number of nodes per branch, number of leaves present, the distance between nodes, the percentage of green,ripe and dried fruit, number of dead plants, number of plants with death of the apical bud, coffee yield, and foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. A multivariate analysis efficiently discriminates the variables in full sun and shaded cropping systems. Shading increases the percentage of green fruit, leaf area, height, diameter, distance between nodes, number of leaves on the branches, number of branches and leaf N content, but does not reduce the level of productivity when the shade is adequate.

Mango flower induction in the brazilian northeast Semi-arid with gibberellin synthesis inhibitors

Mangoes in the Brazilian semi-arid stands out in the national scenario due to high yields and fruit quality, and also to the possibility of all-year production taking advantage of the climatic conditions as well as management technique (irrigation, pruning and growth regulators application) for plant growth and blossom control. Paclobutrazol soil drench applied is normally used for production management of mangoes. This research deals with the evaluation of the effect of foliar applied growth regulators to mango, cultivar 'Kent', as regard to their efficiency for blossom management, in order to allow off season mango production. Three growth regulators (prohexadione-Ca, trinexapac-ethyl and chlormequat chloride) were foliar applied, at two dosages and compared to paclobutrazol applied as soil-drench. In order to compare the effects of the treatment, data were recorded related to panicle emission (percentage and length), period of time until blossom and production, yield (number and plant weight) and post-harvest quality of the fruit (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, firmness, flesh and skin color and appearance). The results showed that prohexadione-Ca and chlormequat chloride induced a 15-day early harvest, while paclobutrazol, alone or combined with prohexadione-Ca, allow to harvest 25 days in advance, when compared to trinexapac-ethyl and control trees. Growth regulators foliar applied and paclobutrazol applied as soil-drench delayed mangoes fruit ripening in post-harvest.

Avaliação do potencial antagônico de leveduras, visando biocontrole de deterioração por penicillium expansum

Considerable losses during apple fruit storage occur due to microbiological diseases, mainly caused by Penicillium expansum, which in addition to fruit pulp deterioration produces patulin, a mycotoxin with carcinogenic and teratogenic activity. Biological control of post-harvest disease by antagonist yeasts focused on killer toxins is an appreciable alternative to the chemical fungicides, due to the low possibility of toxic residues demonstrated during fermentative processes. Twenty out of 44 yeasts (16 isolated from fruits, 10 from corn silage and 18 from laboratory anthill), showed antagonism against spores of P. expansum. The assay in solid medium pointed the strongest nutrient competition antagonism by D. hansenii strain C1 (31 mm inhibition diameter), while D. hansenii strain C7 (15 mm) showed higher antibiosis and parasitism pattern. In the following step the extracellular activity was tested performing the assay with culture supernatant in Yeast Medium agar, where C. guilliermondii P3 was more effective against conidia germination (inhibition rate of 58.15%) while P. ohmeri showed better inhibition on micelial growth (66.17%). The antibiosis showed by both yeasts could suggest probable mechanism associated with killer phenomenon, once both strains were killer positive against sensitive reference strains (S. cerevisiae NCYC 1006 and P. kluyveri CAY-15). In order to enhance the production of antifungal substance, these yeasts were cultivated with P. expansum, but the difference between culture supernatant obtained from yeasts cultivated alone and with mould was not significant (P > 0.05). The results demonstrated that the yeasts application constitute a promising tool, enhancing the biological control of P. expansum in post-harvest diseases of apple fruit.

Efeitos de diferentes tipos de poda nos teores de nutrients emflores e frutos de goiabeira

A better understanding of the differences between the levels of nutrients, depending on the type of pruning used in the cultivation of the guava tree, may allow a more adequate understanding of the physiological processes of this fruit. The analysis of flowers is a tool that can be used to assist in assessing the nutritional status of crops, especially perennials. We evaluated the effects of different types of pruning on nutrient concentrations in flowers and fruit, at different developmental stages and in different parts of the fruit. The study was carried out in Vista Alegre do Alto, in orchards of guava variety Paluma. Flowers and fruit were collected in orchards, one under heavy pruning and the other with continuous pruning. The fruit were collected in two stages (two millimeters length and mature) and divided into basal part and apex, with the top toward the stalk. Flowers were collected in the same orchards as the fruits, sampling the basal part and apex of the flowers. F tests were performed and, when necessary, the Scott-Knott test at α= 5%. Overall, there were nutritional differences among flowers and fruits in relation to the type of pruning employed; drastic pruning provided higher levels of nutrients compared with continuous pruning. In relation to the portion of the samples, especially for fruit, there were differences between the apex and base, as well as between different stages of fruit collection.

Seleção de isolados de beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. para o controle de sitophilus zeamais (Mots.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Sitophilus zeamais (Mots.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is considered a major pest of maize, responsible for reducing grain quality and making the corn inappropriate for industrial use and human consumption. S. zeamais has been controlled exclusively with chemical products. The objective of this research was to select isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. to control S. zeamais. Beetles were immersed in conidia suspensions of each isolate for five seconds and placed in a gerbox container with maize grains. In pathogenicity tests, the isolates that caused the highest mortality to the maize weevil were ESALQ-447 (68.0%), CCA-UFES/ Bb-36 (57.3%) and CCA-UFES/Bb-31 (51.3%). ESALQ-447 was the most virulent, with an LC50 of 1.7 × 107 conidia/ml and shows promise for controlling maize weevils. These isolates of B. bassiana can be used as effective substitutes for conventional chemical control, normally carried out with phosphine. Further tests should be performed under field and semi-field conditions to develop an appropriate strategy for the use of this entomopathogen to manage S. zeamais.

Produção e Qualidade Física dos Frutos do Abacaxi sob Diferentes Lâminas e Frequências de Irrigação

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of pineapple cultivar Smooth Cayenne as the physical production and the quality of the fruit when subjected to different frequencies of water dpeth and soil water in Triângulo Mineiro - Uberaba-MG. The experimental area soil is Oxisol, clay loam sandy and soft undulating local relief. A randomized block design in a factorial 4 x 2 with four levels of soil water depth (50%, 75%, 100% and 125%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and two irrigation frequencies (1 day and 3 days = F1 = F2) and four replications was utilized. The crop productivity, number of seedlings, mean weight, diameter, and hardness of the fruit, plus water use efficiency were evaluated. Productivity was not significantly affected by the water depth and by the frequency of water applied; however the fruit shell resistance, the efficiency of water use, and ratoon seedlings were significantly influenced by irrigation, the water depth of 50% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETC) provided greater efficiency of water use for the production of pineapple fruit.

Sequential Sampling Plan for Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on Rubber Tree

The objective of the present study was to develop a sequential sampling plan for the decision-making process to control Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), an important pest of the rubber tree crop. The experimental area was represented by 1,000 plants of the RRIM 600 clone divided in 100 plots with 10 plants each. Leaves were collected and the number of mites determined under laboratory conditions. The sequential sampling plan was developed in accordance with the Sequential Test Likelihood Ratio. The value 0.10 was pre-established for α and β representing type I and type II errors, respectively. The level of control adopted was six mites per 12 cm2. The operating characteristic curve and the curve of maximum expected sample were determined. Two lines were generated: the upper one, when the condition for chemical control is recommended (S1 = 23.3080 + 2.1972); and the lower, when chemical control is not recommended (S0 = -23.3080 + 2.1972). Sample size for the decision-making process to control T. heveae requires 6 to 18 plants. © 2013 Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.

Esenbeckia cowanii (Rutaceae), epitypification and emendation

A complete description of Esenbeckia cowanii Kaastra (Rutaceae) is presented, including new details for floral morphology. The original type of this taxon included only fruiting material, thus we designate an epitype with flowers. In addition, we provide taxonomic emendation to E. cowanii, including its leaf morphology variation, details of the fruit and seed, and an update of its geographic distribution.