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Cucumis melo is one of the most appreciated and consumed vegetables in the world, however, producing areas have been suffering from increased salinity in irrigation water. Therefore, accesses of melon, from the germplasm bank of the Federal Rural Semi-Arid University (UFERSA), were tested for salinity and the physiological responses of the seedlings were evaluated. For the 24 accesses of C. melo, salinity of 0.06 and 3.45 dS m^-1 was applied. For this, four subsamples of 25 seeds per access were used, which were seeded in polystyrene trays having as a substrate washed and sterilized sand, initially moistened at 50% field capacity. The design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme (two salinity levels and 24 accesses). Salinity affected the physiological quality (germination and mean germination time) of melon seeds, germinating on average 62%, with an average germination time of 4 days, mean height of 10.5 cm and reduction of dry matter accumulation. The saline treatment increased the electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil saturation extract, indicating the presence of stress. The accesses that presented intolerance to salinity were: A35, A24, A41, A31, A09, A28 and A43. The moderately tolerant accesses were: A16, A19, A15, A17, A34, A25, A27, A18, A42. The salinity tolerant accesses were: A45, A08, A37, A50, A14, A36, A07, A39 which may serve as a basis for genetic improvement.

Brackish waters represent great potential for profitable agricultural production; however, productive usage depends on the adoption of proper cultural practices as well as a culture tolerant of salinity, which can require some restrictions related to soil and crop production. Given the lack of information pertaining to hydroponic melon culture, the objective of this study was to investigate physiological changes promoted by the use of brackish water in the preparation of the nutrient solution for melon (Cucumis melo L., cv. AF 015) growth in coconut fiber substrate under greenhouse conditions in Mossoró-RN, a semiarid region of Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 12 treatments arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial scheme, with 4 salt concentration levels (1.1 - control, 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5 dS m-1) and 3 exposition times (vegetative growth: 10-30 days after transplanting, DAT; flowering: 31 to 50 DAT; and fruiting and ripening: 51-70 DAT, which are the assessment phases of physiological maturation). Increasing salt concentrations in the nutrient solution reduced photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance and transpiration, but increased the intercellular CO2 concentration in melon plants. A salt concentration in the low to intermediate range (2.5 dS m-1) resulted in the best water use efficiency by melon crops.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the physical and physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant potential of sapodilla at different stages of development. The experiment was installed at the Norfruit farm, located in the rural community of Pau Branco, Mossoró/RN, Brazil. A randomized block with two factorial schemes experimental design, was adopted. The first 5 x 6 with lost parcels, consisting of five doses of nitrogen (N) (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 g of N.plant-1) and six stages of fruit development; and the second 2 x 3 consisting of two levels of nitrogen (N) (0; 600 g of N plant-1) and three stages of development, both with five replications. The fruits were labeled with a 10 to 15 mm long mark in the plant. In fact, were harvested and analyzed after 90, 120, 150, 180 and 200 days of its marking and 208 days (fully mature, after 8 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C and RH 58 ± 5%), respectively. The results showed a nitrogen fertilization at the dose of 600 g of N.plant-1, produced fruit with higher sugar content and fresh weight, reaching greater mass and sugar content, at 200 and 180 days of fruit development, respectively. An increase in nitrogen fertilization, promoted a reduction in the levels of yellow flavonoids and anthocyanins. Bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, vitamin C, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and sapodilla antioxidant activity decreased with the further development of fruit. The antioxidant activity of the sapodilla is more related to the high content of total polyphenols. The knowledge obtained in this study is extremely important for the sapodilla production chain due to information of the nutritional and antioxidant composition of the fruits. This also proves beneficial for the fruit marketing, because nowadays the public seeks foods rich in antioxidants, and the sapodilla is marketed both in natura and processed, in addition to its use in the cosmetics manufacture.

Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen) is a climacteric fruit, very perishable, with high metabolic activity, rapid ripening and reduced storage time at room temperature, thus making difficult its commercialization. However, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) on the quality and post-harvest conservation of sapodilla fruit under modified atmosphere at room temperature. The sapodilla fruits were harvested when they reached physiological maturity and then accommodated in Styrofoam trays with PVC film coating. Within each package, KMnO4 were placed at different concentrations (0, 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 g of KMnO4 per kg of fruit, respectively), impregnated in vermiculite. In addition, were kept in storage at room temperature (25 ± 1 °C and 54 ± 5% RU) for fifteen days, with fruit quality analysis every five days. The potassium permanganate doses influenced the sapodilla fruit quality, wherein the concentration of 0.375 g of KMnO4 per kg of fruit was the most efficient, retarding the loss of firmness and vitamin C degradation of sapodilla fruits throughout five days storage under modified atmosphere at room temperature. The sapodilla fruit postharvest life stored under modified atmosphere with potassium permanganate 25 ± 1 °C and 54 ± 5% RU, is ten days.

Garlic is a vegetable that has economic and social relevance in Brazil. Rio Grande do Norte is among the consumer states, however, despite having regions with favorable conditions for growing garlic, it depends on imports of this product to meet its demand. The introduction of cultivars that have high yield and quality, and the adjustments in vernalization technology, which is a key issue for adaptation of new cultivars, are mechanisms that can contribute to garlic revitalization in areas previously producing this vegetable. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the quality characteristics of semi-noble garlic cultivars subjected to different bulb-seed pre-planting vernalization periods in two counties of the Western Mesoregion of Rio Grande do Norte State (RN), Brazil. Two experiments were simultaneously conducted in Barauna RN and Governador Dix-sept Rosado RN, from April to November, 2012. A complete randomized block experimental design was used with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split-plot design, with the plots consisted of cultivars (Gigante-do-Nucleo and BRS-Hozan) and subplots consisted of bulb-seed pre-planting vernalization (4±1°C) periods (0, 10, 20 and 30 days). The evaluations consisted of bulb diameter, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, pungency, total solids and industrial index. The use of 10-day bulb-seed pre-planting vernalization increased the semi-noble garlic quality produced in Barauna and Governador Dix-sept Rosado. The cultivars Gigante-do-Nucleo and BRS-Hozan presented good prospects for industrialization, with good characteristics of flavor and aroma.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos danos mecânicos provocados por impacto, corte e abrasão sobre a qualidade de banana 'Prata Catarina', submetida ao armazenamento refrigerado (14°C ±1ºC e 84% ±5% de UR durante 21 dias). Os frutos foram provenientes de um pomar comercial, localizado no município de Limoeiro do Norte-CE. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, tendo-se, nas parcelas, as amostragens ao longo do tempo e, nas subparcelas, os quatro tratamentos: testemunha ou ausência de dano mecânico (T1), impacto (T2), abrasão (T3) e corte (T4), com quatro repetições de dois frutos cada. Os danos por impacto e abrasão foram os que proporcionaram maior velocidade de amadurecimento, sendo que o dano por impacto proporcionou maior atividade da enzima polifenoloxidase. As bananas 'Prata Catarina' que não sofreram danos podem ser comercializadas por até 21 dias de armazenamento (14°C ± 1ºC e 84% ±5% UR), sem perda da qualidade

The umbu-cajá (Spondias sp.) is a fruit specie native of the brazilian semiarid region with high potential for cultivation. The juicy pulp is used in the production of juices and nectars. The aim of this study was to characterize 18 individuals of umbu-cajá tree at three sites located in the Brazilian northeast municipalities of Mossoró/RN and Apodi/RN to identify individuals with superior attributes for fruit processing and/or in natura consumption The morphological, physical and physicochemical characterization of 20 fruits of each individuals were performed. Leaves of trees were used for molecular analyses with Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. It was possible to verify that there are phenotypic variability among the fruits of umbu-cajá trees. The individuals of the same region were grouped in the same group. JZ5, JZ6 and MA6 individuals can be used for pulp processing, while JZ1, JZ2, JZ3 and JZ6 are adequate for in natura consumption. The molecular analyses showed polymorphism for the two molecular markers used. The ISSR marker generated the greatest polymorphism among the individuals. However, the RAPD marker made it possible to achieve a more consistent cluster, which is in agreement with the geographical distribution of these individuals. The use of morphological markers together with molecular markers constitutes an important tool for characterizing umbu-cajá individuals. Keywords: genetic resources, ISSR, RAPD, Spondias sp.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of desalination wastewater on the post harvest quality and conservation of lettuce, cultivars Verônica and Quatro Estações, produced in hydroponic system with coconut fiber. The test was developed in an protected environment from the Department of Environmental Sciences of Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, located in Mossoró/RN, installed in an experimental design of randomized blocks, in factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 5, with three replicates, the treatments consisted of two lettuce cultivars (Verônica and Quatro Estações), two times of evaluation (at the time of harvest and after three days of conservation) and five levels of salinity of the nutrient solution with or without a further dilution of the tailing desalination of brackish water (1.1; 2.4; 3.6; 4.7 and 5.7 dS m-1). Quatro Estações cultivar showed lower weight loss during the conservation period and higher total value of chlorophyll and pH. The matter of vitamin C and soluble solids were influenced by the reuse of tailing from desalination in nutrient solution, presenting higher level in the highest salt content studied. The cultivated lettuce on coconut fiber irrigated with reuse of the tailing nutrient solution in desalination presented, in general, good appearance both at harvest and after three days of conservation.

At present, the preference of the internal and external markets is for small fruits. Therefore the size, other aspects equally are important and considered to determining harvest point how soluble solids, coloration and format. The objective of the present work was determined the physical-chemical changes during the development of watermelon 'Quetzali' with support for the harvest in the size demanded by the extern market. Six harvests were made, the first occasion of marks made on fruits with fresh weight of 2 g and the other at 10, 15, 20, 15 and 30 days of development. Next, the fruits were transported for the laboratory of Irrigated Agriculture of the UFERSA, in Mossoró-RN-Brazil. The experiment was installed in design entirely at random composed by five treatments (days of development), five replications and a fruit for replication. Fresh mass was analysed (g), growth rate of the fruit (g.day-1), length and diameter of fruit (cm), firmness of the pulp (N), vitamin C (mg.100 mL-1 ascorbic acid), soluble solids (SS, %) and titratable acidity (AT, g.100 mL-1 acid malic). The watermelon variety Quetzali obtained the very growth rate of 178.64 g to 20 days and the very diameter of 19.57 cm to 25 days, when size adapted for harvest. To 25 days of development the fruits had firmness of pulp 15 N, soluble solids 8.9%, titratable acidity 0.1289 mg.100 mL-1 acid malic and vitamin C 7.3 mg.100 mL-1 ascorbic acid.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the postharvest quality of the Tommy Atkins mango commercialized in the city of Mossoró-RN. The fruits had been collected, randomized, in three commercial establishments (Market of great port, free Fair and market of small port). In each establishment 6 collections had been carried through, distributed during the months of August, September and October. The experimental design was blocks randomized with three treatments and six repetitions, two fruits for experimental unit for physicist-chemistries analyses and five fruits for phytopathology analyses. The days of collection had been considered as blocks and the markets as treatments. The variables analyzed were: mass, longitudinal and ventral lengths, price, internal appearance, external appearance, firmness, solubles solids, titratable acidity, solubles solids and titratable acidity relation, pH, incidence and frequency of fungus isolation. The fruits commercialized in the three establishments had presented physical and chemical characteristics that fit in the standard considered reasonable for consumption in natura of 'Tommy Atkins' fruits. It was found high incidence of spots and/or podrition, mainly in market C. The fungus found in the isolation frequency had been of the Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Lasiodiplodia and Rhizopus.

This work was carried out at Mossoró-RN, Brazil, to evaluate the effect of the increase of water irrigation salinity level on melon fruit quality. During two production cycles four irrigation water salinity levels were applied to the plots (S1 = 0.6, S2 = 1.9, S3 = 3.2 and S4 = 4.5 dS m-1), both continuously or being increased at different stages of development. This scheme resulted in 15 treatments arranged in an entirely randomized blocks design with four replications. Effects studied were the salinity levels, the stage of development in which they were applied, and storage time of fruits. Variables pulp fruit firmness, total soluble solids, fruit juice electrical conductivity (CEf), pH, and fruit weight loss were not affected by salinity levels, neither when used continuously nor when it was increased at different development stages. Water salinity levels did not affect fruit quality variables neither when analyzed on harvest day nor 35 days after harvest, except for CEf that, on harvest day, increased linearly with the increase in water salinity level.

Because of the food and industrial importance of tomato, it holds great significance, and is one of the most produced species using the hydroponic cultivation systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of nutrient solution on the production and quality of cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Samambaia’) grown in a hydroponic system in protected conditions. The experiment was conducted in pots filled with coconut fiber substrate using a randomized complete block design with four replications and six plants per plot. Five concentrations of nutrients were evaluated (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150% of the standard nutrient solution); the solutions produced the following electrical conductivities: 1.8, 2.0, 2.6, 3.4, and 3.9 dS m-1, respectively. At 90 days after transplanting, the tomato fruits were harvested, at which time the production variables and post-harvest quality of mature fruits were determined. The best production and post-harvest quality indexes of cherry tomatoes (‘Samambaia’) were found when using 111% of the standard nutrient solution, corresponding to the concentrations of 9.44, 2.44, 2.22, 6.44, 4.11, 2.44, and 2.78 mmolc L-1, of NO3-, NH4+, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, respectively; and 66.6, 55.5, 14.4, 1.89, 0.56, and 0.44 mmolc L-1, of Fe, B, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Mo, respectively. Nutrient solutions with electrical conductivity above 2.89 dS m-1 severely reduced the fruit yield of cherry tomatoes.