nda de Melo Silva

Efficacy of the application of a coating composed of chitosan and Origanum vulgare L. essential oil to control Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger in grapes (Vitis labrusca L.).

This study evaluated the efficacy of the combined application of chitosan (CHI) and Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OV) in the inhibition of Rhizopus stolonifer URM 3728 and Aspergillus niger URM 5842 on laboratory media and on grapes (Vitis labrusca L.) and its influence on the physical, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the fruits during storage (25 °C, 12 days and 12 °C, 24 days). The application of mixtures of different CHI and OV concentrations (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration - MIC, 1/2 MIC and 1/4 MIC) inhibited the mycelial growth of the test fungi. The application of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations (CHI 1/2 MIC + OV 1/4 MIC; CHI 1/2 MIC + OV 1/2 MIC) inhibited spore germination and caused morphological changes in fungal spores and mycelia, in addition to inhibiting the growth of the assayed fungi strains in artificially infected grapes as well as the autochthonous mycoflora of grapes stored at both room and cold temperature. In general, the application of a coating composed of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations preserved the quality of grapes as measured by their physical and physicochemical attributes, while some of their sensory attributes improved throughout the assessed storage time. These results demonstrate the potential of the combination of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations to control post-harvest pathogenic fungi in fruits, in particular, R. stolonifer and A. niger in grapes.

Desenvolvimento de frutos de cirigueleira (Spondias purpurea L.)

The aim of this research was to evaluate the development profile of red mombin fruits. For the evaluation of growth and maturation, open flowers were marked after anthesis and fruits were sampled at regular intervals, and length, diameter, volume, and, fresh and dry weights were measured throughout the development following the growth of the fruits. Red mombin fruit developmental cycle, from anthesis to full ripening, lasted 124 days, characterized by the increase in fresh and dry weights, volume, length, and diameter. The growth period, mainly characterized by the increase in fruit length, had the highest growth rate until approximately 55 days, followed by a lower growth rate period from 55 to 105 days post-anthesis. Fruit maturation, which started when fruit growth rates slowed down, was set around 100 days and fruit ripening was initiated around 119 days post-anthesis.

Armazenamento de pitanga sob atmosfera modificada e refrigeração: I-transformações químicas em pós-colheita

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate postharvest changes in Suriname Cherry harvested in the maturity stages red-orangish (RO) and predominant red (PR), kept under modified atmosphere (MA) by polyvinyl chloride film (PVC), at 10± 0.5 oC, 14± 0.5 oC, 90 ± 1% RH and room temperature (23 ± 2°C). The use of MA associated with refrigeration allowed the maintenance of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, soluble sugars, and vitamin C, and also resulted in lower increase rate in total carotenoids for fruits in the RO maturity stages kept at 10 e 14oC. All together, Suriname Cherries harvested in red-orangish skin color were those that presented better maintenance of the intrinsic characteristics during 8 days storage under modified atmosphere at 10oC.

Impact of Biofertilizers on Mineral Status and Fruit Quality of Yellow Passion Fruit in Brazil

Biofertilizers, liquid cattle manure obtained from anaerobic processes, have emerged as an important component of the integrated nutrient supply system. Thus, an experiment was carried out from May 2002 to February 2004 to evaluate the fruit quality and macronutrient foliar contents of biofertilized yellow passion plants in Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (2 × 5) referring to two biofertilizers [one simple and another enriched with macro- and micronutrients] and five doses of each biofertilizer (0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 L plant−1). Fruit quality and nutritional status of yellow passion fruit are affected by biofertilizer doses applied. Fruit length, width, pulp percentage, skin diameter, mass, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were improved with biofertilizer application. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of potassium, calcium, and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Postharvest respiratory activity and changes in some chemical constituents during maturation of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin) fruit

Mature fruit from the yellow mombin (Spondias mombin) was monitored for its respiration activity. Mature green fruit from the yellow mombin was stored in closed glass chambers and the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the end of a six hour respiration period was determined. At the same interval of time, the lid of the chamber was opened for air renewal. The increase in carbon dioxide and decrease in oxygen concentration demonstrated that the fruit was climacteric. The maximum liberation of CO2 54.2 mL Kg -1 h-1 and maximum absorption of O2 49.0 mL Kg -1 h-1 occurred 186 hours after the harvest which, obviously, represented the optimum fruit quality after the senescence process started. The respiratory quotient of fruit at a climacteric maximum was 1.11 representing the oxidation of carbohydrates. Total soluble solids increased from 9.1 °Brix (initial) to 13.7 °Brix (climacteric maximum) during maturation, while the total number of acids in the fruit decreased during maturation i.e. from 1.55% initially to 1.40% at pre-climacteric, 1.0% at climacteric maximum and 0.8% in the post-climacteric stage. A similar behaviour was observed in the case of ascorbic acid. There was a continuous decrease in chlorophyll and a continuous increase in the carotenoid content of fruit during maturation.

Fisiologia do dano pelo frio em ciriguela (Spondias purpurea L.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of maturation stage, temperature and exposure time on the incidence of chilling injury (CI) in red mombin fruit. For the evaluation of the less susceptible maturation stage to CI, fruits were harvested at breaker (B), pigment initiation (PI), and yellow predominant (YP) stages and exposed to temperature of 9.5 oC, 10.5 oC, and 14.5 oC, during 1, 3, and 5 days. For the evaluation of CI development in fruits at YP stage, ten temperatures ranging from 5 oC to 14.5 oC, were tested. For fruits at B stage, irreversible CI symptoms were present at 14.5 oC, after 3 days, while for PI stage these symptoms were severe after 5 days. For the YP stage, no CI symptom was detected between 9.5 oC and 14.5 oC. The YP stage presented a light CI index at 9 oC, after 5 days. The low temperature sensitivity and CI occurrence in red mombin fruit were dependent on maturation stage. The YP stage presented the best adaptation to low temperatures and 9.5 oC was the limit temperature at which red mombin fruit could be stored without CI risk.

Compostos bioativos e capacidade antioxidante de frutos de genótipos clones e pés-franco de cajazeira

Yellow mombin is a fruit tree that grows spontaneously in the Semi-Arid Northeastern Brazil. Its fruits are still extractively exploited. The pulp of yellow mombin fruit stands out regarding the commercial aspect due to the characteristic flavor and aroma felt when consumed in diverse ways. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of bioactive compounds, total extractable polyphenols, and antioxidant activity of yellow mombin fruits (Spondias mombin, L.), from clone and ungrafted genotypes. The fruits were harvested at commercial maturity from twelve yellow mombin tree genotypes from an experimental orchard located at the municipality of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil, and evaluated for chlorophyll, carotenoids, yellow flavonoids, total extractable polyphenols, and antioxidant activity, which was measured by the β-carotene/linoleic acid method. The antioxidant activity showed a percentage of inhibition of oxidation higher than 75% for all genotypes evaluated at the time of 120 minutes. The fruits from clone genotypes showed a higher percentage of antioxidant activity.

Grafting of yellow mombin tree

A necessidade de tecnicas de propagacao assexuada recomendadas para a producao comercial de mudas limita a expansao comercial da cajazeira. Portanto, foi instalado um experimento na Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria da Paraiba - EMEPA, com o objetivo de avaliar o melhor metodo de enxertia para a cajazeira. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeticoes, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, estando nas parcelas os metodos de enxertia (garfagem em fenda cheia, ingles simples e fenda lateral) e nas subparcelas os periodos de avaliacao (8 periodos). Cada unidade experimental foi constituida por 12 plantas. As avaliacoes de crescimento, comprimento da brotacao dos enxertos (cm), diâmetro da brotacao do enxerto (mm) e numero de brotacoes por enxerto foram realizadas quinzenalmente, a partir da instalacao do ensaio. O percentual de pegamento dos enxertos foi determinado aos 120 dias apos a realizacao da enxertia. Os dados foram submetidos e interpretados atraves de analise de variância. Os maiores percentuais de pegamento de enxertia na cajazeira foram verificados nos metodos de garfagem a ingles simples e fenda lateral. O crescimento dos enxertos foi mais vigoroso na garfagem ingles simples.

DESENVOLVIMENTO, FISIOLOGIA DA MATURAÇÃO E INDICADORES DO PONTO DE COLHEITA DE FRUTOS DA UMBUGUELEIRA (Spondias sp.)

The umbuguela tree produces fruits with wide possibilities of utilization and, although underexploited presents a great socioeconomic potential. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the development and the physiology of maturation of fruits of the umbuguela tree. The inflorescences were tagged in six plants at the anthesis period and the umbuguela fruit evaluated at regular intervals until the onset of fruit abscission. The cycle of development of the umbuguela fruit, from anthesis until abscission, covers 157 days; fruit mass, volume, length, and diameter showed rapid growth up to 117 days after anthesis (DAA), stabilizing until the end of maturation. The respiratory pattern of the fruit was climacteric, with peak at 147 DAA. The coloration advanced from green to yellow and, at the post-climacteric, to purple red. The SS/TA ratio and pH increased, and the TA decreased during maturation. The ideal harvest point for storage was from 127 to 137 DAA, at the beginning of the yellow to predominant yellow coloration. For fresh consumption, the ideal harvest point was from 147 DAA (yellow with reddish tones).

Conservação pós-colheita de mangaba em função da maturação, atmosfera e temperatura de armazenamento

It was evaluated the influence of modified atmosphere (MA) by PVC film and refrigeration on postharvest conservation of mangaba fruits harvested at the maturity stages green (G), yellow pigment initiation (PI), and yellow fruit with light reddish spots (YR) was evaluated. They were stored under refrigeration (10 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 2 % RH) and room conditions (23 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 2% RH). The use of MA associated with refrigeration resulted in lower losses of fresh mass allowing the quality maintenance of postharvest fruits during 15 days of storage. The overall visual appearance of the fruits was kept above the acceptance limit in all maturity stages evaluated. Mangaba fruit harvested at the maturity stage green did not develop the characteristic color and presented visible incidence of freezing and chill damage when kept under refrigeration. Fruits harvested at the maturity stage PI, kept under MA and refrigeration, ripened normally and presented better appearance after 15 days of storage when compared with mangaba fruits harvested at the YR maturity stage and kept under similar storage conditions.