Contribuição da pesquisa científica brasileira no desenvolvimento de algumas frutíferas de clima subtropical

Quando se considera aptidão climática, as plantas frutíferas são classificadas em: tropicais, subtropicais e temperadas. Esta tradicional classificação, por muito tempo, mostrou-se bastante efetiva. Os mais atuais conhecimentos dos centros de origens de diferentes espécies, os avanços tecnológicos na condução dos pomares e na conservação dos frutos e especialmente o melhoramento genético criaram condições excepcionais para o cultivo de espécies tropicais e temperadas em clima subtropical. No presente trabalho foram selecionadas as culturas da atemoieira, do caquizeiro, da figueira e da goiabeira com base não apenas na importância nacional e regional, mas também pelas diferentes contribuições que a pesquisa científica ofereceu a estas frutíferas. Atemoieira - dentre as espécies frutíferas exploradas em larga escala, talvez seja a de mais recente introdução de cultivo no Brasil, iniciado em meados da década de 1980. Diversas técnicas de cultivo foram desenvolvidas, como porta-enxertos mais adequados para cada região, podas de formação e produção, polinização artificial, manejo de pragas e doenças, e diversas outras tecnologias que permitiram rápida expansão da cultura em diversas regiões do País. Embora o importante papel das Universidades, Institutos de Pesquisas e Extensão seja inquestionável, foi fundamental a contribuição dos produtores pioneiros que iniciaram a busca de soluções para os problemas surgidos, indicando as necessidades para intervenções da pesquisa. Caquizeiro - a produção brasileira de caqui (IBGE - 2009), de 171.555 t, é obtida em uma área de 8.770 ha e representa um valor de 146,67 milhões de reais. São Estados maiores produtores São Paulo (111.646 t), Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná e Rio de Janeiro). As principais cultivares em produção são: Rama Forte, Giombo e Fuyu, que são comercializados prioritariamente no mercado interno. Figueira - a produção brasileira de figos vem mantendo-se com pequenas variações nos anos de 2000, atingindo 24.146 t em 2009 (IBGE - IBRAF), sendo os Estados do Rio Grande do Sul e São Paulo, os maiores produtores . No Estado de São Paulo, o cultivo concentra-se quase que exclusivamente na região de Campinas, sendo a produção de 9.469 t em 2010 (IEA). Os frutos colhidos graças à tecnologia desenvolvida é, em parte, exportada como figo de mesa (1.645 t em 2008). Fonte DECEX (MICT) IBRAF - 2010. Goiabeira - o cultivo da goiabeira no Brasil permite considerá-la atualmente como uma espécie plenamente adaptada ao clima subtropical. O desenvolvimento de variedades adaptadas e técnicas especiais de cultivo propiciaram grande expansão desta cultura no Brasil. Segundo o IBGE - IBRAF, em 2009, o Brasil produziu 297.377 t em uma área de 15.048 ha. Pernambuco, São Paulo, Brasília, Rio de Janeiro e Bahia são os principais produtores. No Estado de São Paulo, é importante destacar a produção de goiabas para mesa (50.000 t) que graças à alta qualidade dos frutos é exportado com sucesso.

Florescimento e frutificação do maracujazeiro silvestre Passiflora setacea D. C. cultivado em Jaboticabal, SP

Muitas espécies de Passiflora apresentam comportamento florífero diferente durante o ano e, consequentemente, com variações nas produções e períodos de colheitas, como observado para o maracujazeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis sims). Estudo com espécies silvestre constitui-se numa importante alternativa para usos de novos genótipos no melhoramento das espécies cultivadas comercialmente, em especial, a Passiflora setacea, devido ao grande potencial de mercado; contudo, essa espécie é pouco estudada, principalmente em relação à propagação, germinação, floração e condições de armazenamento. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o florescimento e a frutificação do maracujazeiro silvestre Passiflora setacea cultivado em Jaboticabal-SP. A floração e a frutificação foram avaliadas pelo percentual de frutificação através da polinização natural e artificial das flores, realizado no período de agosto a outubro. As características físicas dos frutos foram avaliadas através dos seguintes parâmetros: a) massa do fruto (g); b) diâmetro longitudinal do fruto (cm); c) diâmetro transversal do fruto (cm); d) espessura da casca (cm); e) rendimento de polpa (%). A característica química foi determinada por meio do teor de sólidos solúveis (SS). Verificou-se que a Passiflora setacea apresentou precocidade de floração em relação ao maracujazeiro-amarelo, com florescimento durante o ano todo, nas condições de Jaboticabal-SP. Observou-se que essa espécie possui bom nível de tolerância às doenças foliares, resistência à morte precoce e apresenta diferentes níveis de compatibilidade entre as plantas, possibilitando a essas características serem utilizadas em programas de melhoramento genético. Constatou-se ainda que as características físicas encontradas nos frutos atendem às exigências da indústria.

Normas preliminares dris e faixas de suficiência para goiabeira 'Paluma'

O diagnóstico nutricional a partir da análise do tecido foliar é um instrumento eficiente para detectar desequilíbrios e auxiliar no processo de recomendação de adubação. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar a relação entre os índices DRIS e os teores foliares de nutrientes, estabelecer teores foliares adequados de nutrientes com o DRIS e validar normas DRIS para a goiabeira 'Paluma'. Avaliou-se um pomar comercial nas condições de cultivo do Estado de São Paulo, durante seis safras de produção de frutos, provenientes de ensaios de adubação orgânica e mineral, totalizando 168 amostras. A ordem dos nutrientes limitantes por falta em ordem decrescente foram: Fe>K>Mn>Ca>B>N>P>Cu>S>Mg>Zn, e limitantes por excesso em ordem decrescente foram: Cu>Fe>P>Mn=Mg>Zn>Ca>B>K>S>N. As faixas adequadas, provenientes dos índices DRIS, são: 18-21; 1,5-1,7; 15-17; 8-11; 1,8-2,5 e 2,5-2,9 (g kg-1) para os macronutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S, respectivamente, e 26-38; 5-57; 54-112; 53-101 e 13-126 (mg kg-1) para os micronutrientes B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn, respectivamente. A produtividade das goiabeiras esteve associada ao estado nutricional.

Produção e qualidade de frutos da goiabeira 'Paluma', submetida à diferentes épocas de poda em clima subtropical

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção e a qualidade dos frutos da goiabeira 'Paluma' com cinco anos de idade, submetida a podas drásticas, em diferentes meses, na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel FCA/UNESP, Campus de Botucatu-SP. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e dez repetições, com uma planta útil por parcela experimental, completamente rodeada por quatro plantas na bordadura. Os tratamentos corresponderam aos seguintes meses de poda: T1: sem poda (testemunha), T2: poda em agosto, T3: poda em setembro e T4: poda em outubro. As características avaliadas foram: número, peso médio, diâmetros longitudinal e transversal dos frutos, produção por planta, produtividade, teores de sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), relação SS/AT e pH. Com relação ao número de dias entre o início e o final das colheitas (período produtivo), observou-se que a poda, independentemente da época, favoreceu o aumento do intervalo de produção. As goiabeiras submetidas à poda em agosto apresentaram maiores valores de número médio de frutos (385) e de produção por planta (58,82 kg planta-1), diferindo das outras épocas. Os teores de sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, pH e relação SS/AT dos frutos não foram influenciados pelas épocas de realização da poda.

Predição de frações digestíveis e valor energético de subprodutos agrícolas e agroindustriais para bovinos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum spp. affecting fruit after harvest in Brazil

Colletotrichum spp. cause anthracnose in various fruits post-harvest and are a particularly important problem in tropical and subtropical fruits. The disease in fruits of avocado, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit has been reported to be caused by C. gloeosporioides, and in banana by C. musae. In subtropical and temperate crops such apple, grape, peach and kiwi, the disease is caused by C. acutatum. The variation in pathogenic, morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics of Brazilian isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds and isolates from post-harvest decays of avocado, banana, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit was evaluated. The fruits were inoculated with mycelium of C. acutatum, Colletotrichum spp. and C. musae on a disc of potato dextrose agar. The morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics studied were conidia morphology, colony growth at different temperatures, colony coloration and PCR with primers CaInt2 and ITS4 for C. acutatum and CgInt and ITS4 for C. gloeosporioides. C. acutatum was pathogenic to avocado, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit, but it was not pathogenic to banana. The morphological, cultural and molecular studies indicated that the avocado, papaya, mango and passion fruit isolates were C. gloeosporioides. The natural guava isolate was identified as C. acutatum, which had not been found previously to produce anthracnose symptoms on guava in Brazil.

Novos Registros sobre Meloidogyne mayaguensis no Brasil e Estudo Morfológico Comparativo com M. incognita

Almeida, E.J., P.L.M. Soares, A.R. Silva & J.M. Santos. 2008. New records on Meloidogyne mayaguensis in Brazil and comparative study with M. incognita. Meloidogyne mayaguensis is the plant-parasitic nematode responsible for a great impact on guava production in Brazil, since it has been the cause for eradication of thousand of hectares of guava plantations in the Northeastern region. In the present study, this species was detected in soybean fields of Ituverava municipality, São Paulo state, and in different vegetable crops (lettuce, cucumber, pepper and cherry tomato) in Chapada dos Guimaraes municipality, Mato Grosso state, causing root galls and other symptoms. The species was identified on the basis of the perineal pattern of females, and on the morphology and morphometry of anterior region of males. Isozyme phenotype for esterase was used for confirmation. This constitutes the first report on the occurrence of M. mayaguensis on lettuce, cucumber, pepper and cherry tomato cultures in Mato Grosso state and the first one in soybean in São Paulo state. It was found that morphological features of male anterior region and female perineal pattern are enough for the safe distinction between M. mayaguensis and M. incognita.

Flutuação populacional de Meloidogyne enterolobii em pomar de goiabeira (Psidium guajava)

The objective of this work was to study the population fluctuation of Meloidogyne enterolobii in a commercial orchard of 'Paluma' guava with five years of age, under micro sprinkler irrigation system and usual practices for this crop. In the orchard, located in the municipality of Vista Alegre do Alto (SP) Brazil and infested by M. enterolobii, five plants exhibiting nematode symptoms were selected for monthly sampling from July 2007 to June 2008. Two single samples of rhizosphere soil and guava roots were collected from each plant, with the aid of hoe to a depth of 20 cm on the projection of the trees, forming a composite sample per plant. In nematology laboratory of Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias Universidade Estadual Paulista, eggs and second stage juveniles (J2) of M. enterolobii were extracted from the samples and quantified. There was not a marked seasonal variation in the nematode population in soil or roots, possibly as a result of the guava vegetation stimulated by irrigation or the presence of invasive plants during the experimental period. However, the soil density reached a peak in January, corresponding to the month of elevated rainfall and temperatures. In roots, there were two significant peaks, in February and a major peak in August. There was a negative correlation between nematode populations in soil and roots.

Incidence of patulin in fruits and fruit juices marketed in Campinas, Brazil

One hundred and eleven samples of processed fruit juices (apple, grape, pineapple, papaya, guava, banana and mango) and 38 samples of sound fruits (apple, papaya, mango, pear and peach) produced and marketed in Brazil, were analysed for patulin by HPLC. Only one out of 30 samples of apple juice was found positive at 17 μg/l. Patulin was not detected in the other foodstuffs. It was found in 14 samples of spoiled fruit samples of apple (150-267 μg/kg), pear (134-245 μg/kg) and peach (92-174 μg/kg). Confirmation of the identity of patulin was based on the UV spectrum obtained by the HPLC diode array detector, compared with that of standard patulin, TLC developed by several solvent systems and sprayed with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone, and by acetylation with acetic anhydride.

Potential of Brazilian eugenia myrtaceae - As ornamental and as a fruit crop

Brazilian Myrtaceae comprises several genera of trees and shrubs used for ornamental and fruit production. In addition to the well known Guava, Pitanga and Jaboticaba, other species could be used for fruitculture, due the value and quality of their fruits and adaptation to some climate conditions mainly the subtropical one. Nine species of Eugenia were evaluated at Jaboticabal, located at 48° W and 21° S in São Paulo state in a germplasm bank. The average rain by year is 1431 mm and the temperature 22,2° C at an altitude of 575 m. The species are Eugenia klozschiana Berg. (Pero-do-campo), E. stipitata Mc Vaugh (Araça-boi), E. tomentosa Camb. (Cabeludinha), E. dysentherica DC. (Cagaita), E. brasiliensis Berg. (Grumixama), E.pitanga (Pitanga-anã), E. luchsnathiana Berg. (Pitomba), E. uvalha Camb. (Uvaia) and E. involucrata DC. (Cereja-do-rio-grande). The evaluations comprised tree development, fruit quality and leaf and flower morphological studies. The main results are: the trees of Pera-do-campo and Pitanga-anã are small shrubs of 1 to 2 m height, Araça-boi and Cabeludinha are small trees, 3 to 5 m high, and the other species are tall trees, with 5 to 10 m height. The species adapted well to the subtropical conditions, except for Araça-boi, which is native to the Amazonian region and exhibited a severe fungus disease infection. In relation to fruit quality, all the species had edible fruit, some were sweet and juicy, Cabeludinha, Grumixama, Pitomba, Cereja-do-rio grande and Pitanga-anã, while others had high acidity (Araça-boi, Pera-do-campo, Cagaita and Uvaia and were more suitable for processing. Simple, single leaves were characteristic of all species, but with different sizes and shapes., With the addition of color, smell and other characteristics, leaf size and shape were useful for comparative classification. Flower components and structure are described also.

Farming technology, biochemistry characterization, and protective effects of culinary-medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. and Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer: Five years of research in Brazil

The biotechnology, biochemical characterization, and protective effects of the himematsutake and shiitake mushrooms were studied for the Thematic Project, from 1998 to 2003. A new species, Agaricus Brasiliens is Wasser et al. (= A. blazei Murrill ss. Heinem.), was proposed for the cultivated lineages in Brazil. Interactions among lineages, substrates, casing layers, and fructification inductions (temperature alternations) significantly increased the productivity of A. brasiliensis in Brazil (from 40 g to 200 g of fresh mushroom kg -1 moist compost). However, pests and diseases (mainly Sciaridae flies and false truffle), drastically reduced the productivity of A. brasiliensis (below 50 g kg -1). Biochemically for each mushroom species, the polar extracts, no polars, and medium polarity presented the same organic substances; however, their concentrations differed as a result of the lineages, maturation of the fruit bodies, and cultivation conditions. In this aspect, concentration of linoleic acid in A. brasiliensis (added to animal food) was related directly to the chemical protection against carcinogenic drugs in mice. Aqueous extracts of Lentinus edodes (= Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) and A. brasiliensis may be preventive chemical protectors against mutagenic and carcinogenic drugs, depending on the lineage and extraction method (tea or juice). However, immunomodulator effects and tumor reduction were only observed with concentrated fractions (hexanic, methanolic, and ATF extracts). Aqueous extracts of A. brasiliensis and L. edodes have antibiotic-like substances and substances able to act as elicitors of resistance responses in some plants (local and systemic) and show a potential to be used in the alternative control of plant pathogens. © 2005 by Begell House, Inc.

Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal effects of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) aqueous leaf extract in mice

A crude aqueous extract of the leaves of the guava tree, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), were studied for antidiarrhoeal effects, to place one of its traditional medical uses. The extract induced a decrease in the propulsive movements of the intestinal contents in mice. These findings suggested that an aqueous extract of guava leaves may be used as an effective treatment for non-specific diarrhoea in folk medicine.

Produção de frutos de pimentão em diferentes concentrações salinas

An experiment with an Elisa hybrid sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L) crop using fertirrigation system was carried out in greenhouse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative effects of an increasing soil saline concentration on the production. The saline concentration was changed by the variation of the KC1 and Ca 2NO 3 concentration in order to obtain high soil electrical conductivity (EC) values. Standard fertigation system (1.5 dS m -1) values were used as control parameters. Besides that, the possibility of saline stress attenuation by applying organic material into the soil was studied. It was observed that the EC levels used in the crop were inversely correlated to the fructification index and the fruit mean weight. Under the most severe treatment (6.0 dS m -1) the fruit mean weight was reduced up to 58% and the mean produced fiuit number per plant was also reduced up to 55%, when compared to the obtained results under controlled conditions. These results demonstrated that the EC variation in the soil solution had strong interference on th production parameters selected for the studies.

Enxertia e água de irrigação carbonatada no transporte de 15N e na produção do tomateiro

The effects of CO2 application through irrigation water, and of grafting in transport of 15N and in the tomato production, were studied. These treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (with and without CO2 in irrigation water and grafted and non-grafted tomato), in a completely randomized design, with four replications. The injection of CO2 into the water began at 34 days after transplant of seedlings (DAT) and continued for all irrigations. The application of the sulfate of ammonium with abundance in atoms of 15N of 3.13% in plants destined to analysis was done at 45 DAT when the plants were in the middle of fructification. After 14 days of fertilizer (15N) application the plants were harvested, washed, dried and sent for analysis of 15N in plant tissue. The results demonstrated that CO2 and the grafting did not alter the transport of 15N in the plant. The production of commercial fruits was larger when CO2 was applied in water.

Carotenoid composition of Brazilian fruits and vegetables

Brazil has a wide diversity of food sources of carotenoids. The updated Brazilian database consists of more than 270 items of fruits, vegetables and their prepared and processed products. The database demonstrates variations due to variety, maturity, production technique, climate and processing. Many of these foods are not found in the US and European databases. Good to rich sources (>20 μg/g) of β-carotene are: acerola, bocaiúva, mango 'Extreme' and tucumã. Sources of both α-carotene and β-carotene are buriti, carrot, Cucurbita moschata 'Menina Brasileira', 'Baianinha' and 'Goianinha', and red palm oil. Commercially produced and uncultivated or semi-cultivated leafy vegetables, C. maxima 'Jerimum Caboclo' and the hybrid Tetsukabuto, cooked broccoli are sources of lutein and β-carotene. The edible Tropaeolum majus flower is especially rich in lutein. Although many fruits have β-cryptoxanthin as principal carotenoid (e.g. caja, nectarine, peach, orange-fleshed papaya, tree tomato), the levels are below 20 μg/g. Good to rich sources of lycopene are guava and guava products, papaya, pitanga and pitanga juice, tomato and tomato products, and watermelon. Sources of zeaxanthin are rare; although the principal carotenoid of piqui, the amount is low, lower than that found in buriti.