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The yellow (Passiflora edulis) and sweet (Passiflora alata) passion fruit plants hold significant economic importance in tropical fruit cultivation, valued not only for the quality of their fruit but also for their medicinal properties. Conventional propagation through seeds faces challenges due to irregular and slow germination, affecting the time required for seedling formation and the viability and uniformity of plantations. The use of plant growth regulators has been explored as a strategy to overcome these barriers, improving both the rate and uniformity of seed germination. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of seed imbibition with plant growth regulators on the germination and subsequent growth of yellow and sweet passion fruit seedlings. Gibberellic acid (GA3) and GA4+7 combined with 6-benzyladenine (GA4+7+6BA) were applied in five different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L−1 a.i.). The experiments were conducted in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions, following a completely randomized design with a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The varieties tested were ‘BRS Mel do Cerrado’ for sweet passion fruit and ‘IAC-275’ for yellow passion fruit. Quantitative parameters, such as germination percentage, germination speed index, fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots, and enzymatic activity, were assessed. The results indicated that GA3, at higher concentrations, significantly enhanced both germination percentage and speed index in both Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis when compared to the control. Additionally, seedlings treated with GA3 showed a marked increase in shoot and root biomass, particularly at concentrations of 500 and 750 mg L−1. Enzymatic assays revealed heightened catalase and peroxidase activities in treated seedlings, indicating improved stress tolerance. In contrast, the GA4+7+6BA treatment showed less pronounced effects on seedling growth. Overall, GA3 was more effective in enhancing germination and seedling growth in both species, suggesting its potential application in improving the propagation of passion fruit.

Sustainable agricultural practices need to be continuously sought after so that a greater number of producers can adopt them, taking into account, above all, the food security scenario, land use efficiency, and climate change. Intercropping—a cultivation system in which two or more species are grown in close proximity in the same field—is one strategy to increase diversity in the agroecosystem. However, for intercropping systems to be adopted, their productive and economic advantages over monoculture must be clearly demonstrated. Banana (Musa sp.) growers are interested in crop diversification as a potential strategy to increase production yields and, consequently, economic income. The management of banana crops can be facilitated by intercropping, as this system plays an important role in increasing biodiversity and reducing the need for weed control in the crop rows, promoting better land use efficiency. However, this system should be evaluated alongside other indicators. Banana intercropping has significant potential and many benefits, but success depends on the interaction between the component species, appropriate management practices, and favorable environmental conditions. This review aims to provide an overview of recent studies on banana intercropping systems, focusing on the contextualization of land use, monoculture and intercropping, and evaluating intercropping indicators, as well as the benefits, risks, and disadvantages discussed in the literature, and the main outcomes of banana-based intercropping systems. The main findings relate to the possibility of using intercrops with aromatic species and the preliminary reports on the contributions of intercrops to the suppression of Fusarium wilt disease.

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the world and are essential for food security and in the agricultural economy. Their sustainable production is vital for many communities. Herein, the effects of banana cultivars, cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping with lemongrass), and the interaction between these factors on the physicochemical characteristics of ripe and unripe fruit were evaluated. The intercropping of bananas with lemongrass did not alter the main quality indicators of the fruit. The ripe fruits of the SCS451 Catarina cultivar stood out for their higher fruit mass, pulp/peel ratio, and firmness, while the fruits of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars had the highest SS, SS/TA ratio, pH, and reducing and total sugars. The cultivar SCS451 Catarina had the highest mineral content in the unripe fruit, and for all cultivars, the order of mineral levels was K > N > Mg > P > Ca > Fe > Zn. The higher content of total and resistant starch in the unripe fruit of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars, combined with the characteristics of the ripe fruit, make them suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial use. Diversifying cultivars improves the quality of banana fruit, and intercropping with lemongrass can be a sustainable method of managing banana fields.

Fried foods occupy a large portion of the fast-food market. However, growing consumer health awareness is driving research to minimize the oil content of products. The use of specific barriers such as hydrocolloid coatings can avoid high oil absorption. Herein, the physicochemical characteristics of banana fruit cultivars and the effects of hydrocolloid coatings on the quality attributes of banana chips were evaluated. The unripe fruits were analyzed for length, diameter, mass, pulp/peel ratio, firmness, and color. The pulps were analyzed for moisture, total and reducing sugars, crude fat, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and maturation index. Pulp slices were coated before frying with four hydrocolloid solutions: guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium alginate, and maltodextrin. The fruits of the cultivar BRS Platina were larger, with a more yellowish pulp and those of FHIA 18 had smaller lengths and diameters. After frying, higher moisture losses were observed in the control and in the treatment with maltodextrin. Hydrocolloids promoted reductions in oil absorption from 26.54 to 9.14%, in addition to changes in the color and hardness of the chips. A coating pretreatment can be used to produce low-fat banana chips, with better results using guar gum. Our results are useful in expanding the commercialization of fruits that fall easily and the chip coating technology can be applied in snack industries.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impacts of pruning methods (short and mixed pruning) on the duration of phenological phases and thermal requirements of juice grape cultivars (‘Bordô’, ‘BRS Cora’, and ‘BRS Violeta’), as well as to confirm the development of chemistry throughout berry ripening. The duration of the following phenological phases was measured in days after pruning over two production cycles: budburst, full-bloom, setting, veraison, and ripening. Degree days were used to compute the thermal requirements. Soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and maturation index were all measured as the berries ripened. There was no impact on the length of the phenological cycle or the thermal necessities of the vines due to the various types of pruning. In terms of cultivars, ‘BRS Violeta’ was found to be earlier than ‘Bordô’ and ‘BRS Cora’. In terms of chemical evolution, the berries achieved 16 °Brix at 21 and 28 days following the veraison, and the greatest values obtained were 17.0 (‘BRS Violeta’) and 18.4 °Brix (‘BRS Cora’). Furthermore, ‘BRS Cora’ produced more acidic berries. However, regardless of cultivar, the grapes were of high quality, making them a viable option for Brazilian subtropical viticulture.

Citrus scion/rootstock combinations alter the concentration of bioactive compounds in orange juice. The shelf life of freshly squeezed juice can be maximized through packaging and storage. The profiles of ascorbic (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), and phenolic compounds were analyzed in juices of four sweet orange scions, Sanguínea de Mombuca (SM), Rubi (R), Lue Gin Gong (LGG), and Valência Delta Seedless (VDS), grafted onto ‘Rangpur’ lime (RL) and ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (SC) rootstocks. The juices obtained from the combination of the ‘Rubi’ orange in both rootstocks stood out by their higher concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA). Overall, all SC-grafted scions showed higher AA and DHAA and some phenolic compound concentrations. In all combinations, phenolic compounds showed the highest concentrations in the juices at the time of fruit extraction and decreased during storage. Dark packaging provided higher bioactive compounds in juices stored for longer periods. These findings can contribute to the diversification of scion/rootstock cultivars in order to increase the variety of orchards by choosing the best combinations for pasteurized orange juice with higher nutritional value.

Starch is widely used in the food and non-food industries, and this is related to its physicochemical characteristics. In the coming years, climate changes will become unpredictable, and these conditions may affect the process of starch biosynthesis and polymer properties. The sweet potato starch market has grown substantially in recent years and understanding the environmental impacts on starch characteristics will contribute to advances for the sector. Herein, the effects of the growing season on the structural, morphological, and physicochemical properties of sweet potato starches were evaluated. Sweet potato trials with two Brazilian cultivars (Canadense and Uruguaiana) were installed in the dry season (planting in March and harvesting in July) and rainy season (planting in October and harvesting in March). Regardless of the cultivar, starches isolated from plants grown in the rainy season have a more ordered structure, with higher gelatinization temperatures, thermal stability, and resistant starch content. Starches from plants grown in the dry season have a higher percentage of small granules with lower crystallinity and lower gelatinization temperatures. These findings can be useful as early knowledge of these changes can help the supply chain to better plan and target suitable markets for naturally modified sweet potato starches.

Fruit production has increased, which has led to an increase in fruit wastage, opening up new opportunities for the use of non-standard fruits as starch sources. Herein, the physicochemical properties of mango starches isolated from the pulp and kernel of four cultivars were investigated. The pulp starches showed higher purity with total starch ranging from 97.84 to 98.09% (dry basis). The kernel starches had a higher percentage of other components (ash, fiber, lipids, protein, sugars). The main mineral in the starches was potassium (0.37 to 1.32 g/kg). Pulp starches were circular and smaller (15–79 to 16.70 µm) and kernel starches were oval and larger (19.75 to 25.33 µm). Differential scanning calorimetry and rapid viscosity studies showed that the kernel starches had higher gelatinization properties. The mango starches were A-type with varying crystallinity levels (28.37–32.35%). PCA analysis showed the greater impact of gelatinization properties on the grouping of cultivars. These findings would be useful for adding commercial value to mango agricultural and industrial waste and for industries in terms of using the starch as an ingredient in food products and other industrial applications.

Due to the high perishability of figs, calcium stands out as an important nutrient for orchard management. This study aims to study the pre-harvest applications of calcium chloride in fig orchards. The fig trees were sprayed with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% CaCl2, and fruits were thereafter stored for 0, 7, 14 and 21 d. The variables analysed were the concentration of calcium in leaves and fruits, weight loss, fruit decay, pectinolytic enzyme activity, and physical and chemical attributes of the fruits; CaCl2 sprays enhanced fruit Ca2+ concentration in leaves (14.03%) and fruits (29.3%) and were effective in reducing polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase activity, weight loss and fruit decay. Pre-treatment with 1% CaCl2 provided fruits with larger diameters, greater firmness, and higher levels of total phenolic compounds in both fruit peel and pulp. The pre-harvest application at 1% CaCl2 showed to be a promising technique in producing high quality fruits and extended storage by approximately 7 to 10 days. These findings may be useful in planning new cultural practices for fig orchards that produce high-quality fruit with desirable characteristics for growers and consumers.