Search

Highlights • Mandarin peel extracts inhibited the growth of A. flavus by up to 52% over 7 days. • The MIC of mandarin extracts was 300-400 mg mL−1 depending on the extraction solvent. • Phenolic-rich SPE fractions showed 40% higher antifungal activity than crude extracts. • Narirutin and hesperidin were most abundant phenolic compounds in mandarin extracts., Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus associated with food safety issues worldwide. This study investigated the antifungal activity of citrus peel extracts prepared using food-grade solvents (hot water or ethanol). Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) peel ethanol extracts inhibited the mycelial growth of A. flavus (39.60%) more effectively than those of orange (32.31%) and lemon (13.51%) after 7 days of incubation. The growth of A. flavus could be completely inhibited by mandarin extracts at 300–400 mg mL−1, depending on the extraction solvent. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) separated the polyphenol-rich fractions, which showed up to 40% higher antifungal activity than crude extracts. Twelve polyphenols (2 phenolic acids and 10 flavonoids) were identified by HPLC-DAD, narirutin and hesperidin were the most abundant. In conclusion, citrus peels are promising bioresources of antifungal agents with potential applications in food and other industries.

Inhibitory activity of thirty-one ethanol extracts obtained from albedo, flavedo, seed and leaf parts of 17 cultivars of Citrus species from Turkey, the bark and leaves of Olea europaea L. from two locations (Turkey and Cyprus) as well as caffeic acid and hesperidin was tested against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, using ELISA microtiter assays at 500 mu g/mL. Metal-chelating capacity of the extracts was also determined. BChE inhibitory effect of the Citrus sp. extracts was from (7.7 +/- 0.7) to (70.3 +/- 1.1) %, whereas they did not show any inhibition against AChE. Cholinesterase inhibitory activity of the leaf and bark ethanol extracts of 0. europaea was very weak ((10.2 +/- 3.1) to (15.0 +/- 2.3) %). The extracts had either no or low metal-chelating capacity at 500 mu g/mL. HPTLC fingerprinting of the extracts, which indicated a similar phytochemical pattern, was also done using the standards of caffeic acid and hesperidin with weak cholinesterase inhibition. Among the screened extracts, the albedo extract of C. limon 'Interdonato', the flavedo extracts of 'Kara Limon' and 'Cyprus' cultivars and the seed extract of C. maxima appear to be promising as natural BChE inhibitors.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do biorregulador MBTA [cloridrato de N,N-dietil-2-(4-metilbenziloxi) etilamina] aplicado em diferentes épocas e concentrações na produtividade e qualidade dos frutos da laranjeira 'Pêra'. Em duas safras consecutivas, o MBTA foi aplicado em três diferentes concentrações (8; 16 e 32 mg L-1) e em duas diferentes fases fenológicas (25% e 100% de flores abertas), em árvores cítricas adultas, utilizando um volume de 7 litros de solução por planta, acompanhado do adjuvante Silwett L-77 0,05%. Foram amostrados 20 frutos por planta, em quatro diferentes épocas estudadas, para determinar o teor de sólidos solúveis (SS); acidez titulável (AT); quantidade de sólidos solúveis por caixa de 40,8 kg; pH; rendimento de suco; "ratio" (relação SS/AT), e a massa média dos frutos. Os efeitos do MBTA variaram de acordo com a concentração aplicada e com a fase fenológica de aplicação. O MBTA, na concentração de 8 mg L-1, aplicado com 25% das flores abertas, incrementou o teor de sólidos solúveis, a acidez, a quantidade de sólidos solúveis por caixa de 40,8 kg e a produtividade. Esse mesmo tratamento também reduziu a massa média dos frutos e não alterou o rendimento de suco e o "ratio" do suco dos frutos. O incremento médio foi de 0,49 a 0,65% na concentração de sólidos solúveis, de 0,11 a 0,13 kg na quantidade de sólidos solúveis por caixa de 40,8 kg e de 20,4 kg/planta na produtividade.

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar o crescimento vegetativo de porta-enxertos de citros produzidos em diferentes substratos comerciais, mantidos em recipientes de quatro litros. O experimento foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação, na Estação Experimental Agronômica da UFRGS, em Eldorado do Sul, RS, no período de junho/2003 a março/2004, e seguiu o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, testando-se três substratos comerciais: Turfa preta (Comercial 1); cascas processadas e enriquecidas, vermiculita expandida, perlita expandida e turfa (Comercial 2); e casca de pínus compostada e vermiculita (Comercial 3) e três porta-enxertos: ("Trifoliata"; citrangeiro "C13" e limoeiro "Cravo"). A irrigação foi feita por gotejamento. Avaliaram-se as seguintes variáveis: diâmetro do colo; altura da parte aérea; número de folhas e área foliar; matéria seca das raízes, da parte aérea e total; conteúdo de nutrientes nas folhas e percentual de porta-enxertos aptos à enxertia. A interpretação dos resultados revelou que o substrato com cascas processadas e enriquecidas, vermiculita expandida, perlita expandida e turfa possibilitou maior desenvolvimento vegetativo aos porta-enxertos utilizados, devido ao maior aporte de nutrientes. Os porta-enxertos mostraram desenvolvimento diferenciado, sendo que o citrangeiro "C13" tem potencial de uso para a diversificação de porta-enxertos na citricultura, devido ao seu desenvolvimento vegetativo. This research was aimed at evaluating the vegetative growth of citrus rootstocks produced in different commercial substrates and cultivated in four liters containers. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions at the Estação Experimental Agronômica of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, from June 2003 to July 2004. Three commercial substrates [black peat (Commercial 1); processed and enriched husks, expanded vermiculite, expanded perlite and peat (Commercial 2); and (pinus husks and expanded vermiculite (Commercial 3)] and three rootstocks (Trifoliate orange - Poncirus trifoliata [ L. ] Raf.; "C13" citrange - Citrus sinensis [ L. ] Osbeck x P. trifoliata, and Rangpur lime - C. limonia Osbeck) were tested in randomized blocks under dripping irrigation. The following variables were evaluated: stem height and diameter; leaf number and area; root, aerial and total dry mass; leaf nutrient content and relative number of available rootstocks for grafting. The substrate with processed and enriched husks, expanded vermiculite, expanded perlite and peat provided greater vegetative development of rootstocks due to higher nutrient availability. The rootstocks showed diverse development. The "C13" citrange may be offered to the citrus industry as a choice for diversification of rootstocks, due its vegetative growth.

Foram aplicados tratamentos térmicos em laranja "Valência", tangor "Murcott" e lima ácida "Tahiti" armazenadas em baixa temperatura e avaliados os efeitos na redução de injúrias pelo frio e sobre outras características bioquímicas. Os seguintes tratamentos foram aplicados: T1: frutas armazenadas a 1°C (Controle); T2: aquecimento rápido das frutas em água quente a 53°C, durante 3 minutos, sendo, em seguida, armazenadas a 1°C; T3: aquecimento lento das frutas em câmara regulada para 37°C, por 2 dias, com posterior armazenamento a 1°C; e T4: aquecimento intermitente em ciclos de 6 dias a 1°C + 1 dia a 25°C. As frutas foram armazenadas durante 90 dias a 1°C e 90-95% de Umidade Relativa (UR), sendo avaliadas a cada 15 dias. Além da incidência dos danos, foram avaliadas também as atividades das enzimas antioxidativas (catalase, glutationa redutase e ascorbato peroxidase). A lima ácida "Tahiti" e o tangor "Murcott" suportaram até 90 dias de armazenamento a 1°C com aquecimento intermitente, não apresentando danos pelo frio. No tratamento controle (armazenamento contínuo a 1°C), os danos pelo frio surgiram aos 30 dias de armazenamento para a lima "Tahiti" e aos 45 dias para o tangor "Murcott". Em laranjas "Valência", as injúrias pelo frio surgiram aos 45 dias de armazenamento, sendo significativamente menores no condicionamento térmico. Os efeitos dos tratamentos térmicos no aumento da resistência das frutas ao frio podem estar relacionados com a atividade das enzimas antioxidativas. Para a laranja "Valência", os tratamentos térmicos, aplicados na forma de condicionamento térmico ou aquecimento intermitente, reduzem as injúrias pelo frio e podem prolongar a conservação das frutas a 1°C e 90-95% UR. Para tangor "Murcott" e lima "Tahiti", o aquecimento intermitente é o tratamento mais eficiente para a redução de injúrias pelo frio e para o aumento na capacidade de armazenamento. In the present study thermal treatments on,'Valência' orange, 'Murcott' tangor and 'Tahiti' (temperature conditioning and intermittent warming) were applied lime. The following treatments were applied: T1: Fruits stored at 1°C (Controls); T2: Fast heating of the fruits in hot water at 53°C for 3 minutes and stored at 1°C; T3: Slow heating of the fruits in camera regulated at 37°C for 2 days, with subsequent storage at 1°C; and T4: Intermittent heating in cycles of 6 days at 1°C + 1 day at 25°C. Fruits were stored under low temperature (1°C) and 90-95% relative humidity (RH) during 90 days. Chilling injury incidence and changes in physical-chemical characteristics were evaluated every 15 days. Activity of catalase, glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase was also determined. Intermittent warming was more efficient than temperature conditioning to reduce chilling injury. 'Tahiti' lime and 'Murcott' tangor supported up to 90 days of intermittent warming stored at 1°C, while control fruits showed chilling injury after 30 days ('Tahiti' lime) and 45 days ('Murcott' tangor). 'Valência' orange was affected by chilling injury after 45 days of cold storage, and temperature conditioning has caused lower incidence of this disorder. The effect of thermal treatments can be related to the activity of antioxidant enzymes. For ´Valência" orange, thermal treatments, applied as thermal conditioning or intermittent heating, reduce injuries caused by cold and can lengthen the conservation of fruits at 1°C and 90-95% RH. The intermittent heating is the most efficient treatment to reduce injuries caused by cold and increase at storage capacity of the 'Murcott' tangor and 'Tahiti' lime.

En el presente estudio se evaluó el desarrollo vegetativo de patrones cítricos cultivados en invernadero bajo dos sistemas de riego. El experimento se realizó en la Estação Experimental Agronômica de la Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, ubicada en Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre los meses de septiembre de 2003 y abril de 2004, totalizando 225 días de experimentación. El diseño experimental fue de parcelas subdivididas, en factorial 2 x 3, con 4 repeticiones de 22 contenedores cada. En las parcelas principales se evaluaron los sistemas de riego (microaspersión y capilaridad) y en las subparcelas los patrones cítricos Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., citrangero 'C37' [P. trifoliata x Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. cv. Pêra] y lima 'Rangpur' (C. limonia Osb.). En condiciones de invernadero los patrones cítricos presentan un desarrollo vegetativo más rápido bajo riego por capilaridad respecto a la microaspersión. Los patrones cítricos evaluados presentan desarrollos vegetativos distintos, donde el citrangero 'C37' supera a los demás. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the vegetative development of citrus rootstock seedlings cultivated under greenhouse conditions with two irrigation systems. The experiment was conducted at the Estação Experimental Agronômica , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, located in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from September 2003 to April 2004, totalizing 225 days of experimentation. The experimental design was a split-plot, in a 2x3 factorial, with 4 replications of 22 pots each. In the main plot the irrigation systems was evaluated (micro sprinkler and capillarity) and in the split-plot the citrus rootstocks [Trifoliate orange - Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., 'C37' citrange - P. trifoliata x Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. cv. Pêra and 'Rangpur' lime - C. limonia Osb.] were evaluated. The main result showed in conditions of greenhouse citrus rootstock seedlings presented a great vegetative development under irrigation by capillarity in relation to the micro sprinkler. The evaluated citrus rootstock seedling display different vegetative developments, where the 'C37' citrange was more vigorous.

Plants present different degrees of adaptation to aluminium (Al) concentrations in the soil, and the understanding of this characteristic can lead to a viable option for the utilization of acid soils. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of five Al concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mumol L-1) on the growth of 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) and 'Volkamer' lemon (Citrus volkameriana Hort. ex Tan.), and tangerine rootstocks 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan) and 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tan.), in hydroponic culture. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications. For all rootstocks, the relative growth rate in terms of plant total fresh matter increased under low and, decreased under large Al concentrations. Growth of the shoot, leaf area ratio and leaf weight ratio decreased for all rootstocks in the presence of Al. The 'Rangpur' lime had a decrease of the root system growth, starting from 23 mumol L-1 of Al. For the remaining rootstocks, this growth reached maximum values at 91 to 117 mumol L-1 of Al, respectively. Considering all the evaluated characteristics of plant growth, the 'Rangpur' lime was the most susceptible to Al.

Com objetivo de avaliar o efeito do ácido giberélico sobre a germinação de sementes de porta-enxertos cítricos, um experimento foi instalado no Laboratório de Cultura de Tecidos da UFLA. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos a partir do fatorial 5 x 4 (porta-enxertos: Limoeiro-'Cravo', Tangerineira-'Sunki', Tangerineira-'Cleópatra', 'UFLAD-4' e 'UFLAD-5'; ácido giberélico: 0; 60; 120 e 180 mg L-1 ). A parcela experimental foi constituída por 25 tubos de ensaio com uma semente/tubo, empregando-se a água + ágar a 7 mg L-1 como meio de cultura, sendo usadas sementes intactas. Após a inoculação, os tubos foram armazenados em sala sob temperatura de 25 ºC e 80 % de umidade relativa, com fotoperíodo de 16 horas. O experimento foi avaliado a partir da determinação da percentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG ) e número de plântulas por semente (NPS). O limoeiro-'Cravo' apresentou maior taxa de germinação e IVG, enquanto o híbrido 'UFLAD-5' apresentou maior NPS, não havendo efeito da aplicação do ácido giberélico sobre as características avaliadas. With the aim to evaluate the effect of the giberellic acid on germination of seeds of citrus rootstocks an experiment was carried out at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of Universidade Federal de Lavras. A randomized block design was used with factorial scheme 5 x 4, with four replications adopting: lemon tree 'Cravo', mandarin tree 'Sunki', mandarin tree 'Cleópatra', hybrids 'UFLAD- 4' and 'UFLAD-5' as rootstocks; 0, 60, 120 and 180 mg L-1 as the giberellic acid concentrations. The experimental plot was made up of 25 test tubes with one intact seed per tube inoculated at culture medium employing water + agar at 7 mg L-1. After inoculation, the tubes were stored in growth room at 25ºC and 80% of relative humidity, with a photoperiod of 16 hours. The following variables were evaluated: determination of the germination percentage, speed germination index (IVG) and seedling number per seed (NPS). The analyses showed that lemon tree 'Cravo' presented the better germination rate and speed germination index; the hybrid 'UFLAD-5' presented the highest seedling number per seed, there being no effect of giberellic acid on characteristics evaluated.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido para estimar a fertilidade do pólen e determinar o nível de ploidia em progênies dos cruzamentos da tangerineira ‘Montenegrina’ (C. deliciosa Ten.) com a tangerineira ‘King’ (C. nobilis Lour.) e com a laranjeira ‘Caipira’ (C. sinensis (L.) Osb.). As plantas, de pés-francos e com idade entre 11 e 12 anos, são mantidas na Estação Experimental Agronômica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, em Eldorado do Sul. Avaliaram-se o nível de ploidia, através da contagem dos cromossomos em células em meiose, e a fertilidade do pólen, por coloração do pólen com carmim propiônico, em 2005 e 2006. Todos os híbridos avaliados são diplóides e a fertilidade de pólen variou de zero a 98%. C27 - híbrido de ‘Montenegrina’ x ‘Caipira’ - revelou-se praticamente estéril, e a fertilidade de C21, do mesmo cruzamento, é de 10%. A menor fertilidade observada no cruzamento da ‘Montenegrina’ x ‘King’ foi de 42%. This work was performed to estimate pollen fertility and determinate the ploidy level of 11 to 12 years old progenies of crosses of ‘Montenegrina’ mandarin (Citrus deliciosa Ten.) with ‘King’ mandarin (C. nobilis Lour.) and with ‘Caipira’ sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osb.) maintained at Estação Experimental Agronômica of UFRGS, in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil. The ploidy level was determined by chromosome countings in meiosis cells and pollen fertility evaluated by staining pollen grains with propionic carmine. All evaluated hybrids are diploid and pollen fertility varied from zero to 98%. C27, a hybrid ‘Montenegrina’ x ‘Caipira’, was found is sterile, and C21, from the same cross, showed 10 % fertility. The lowest observed fertility in the progeny ‘Montenegrina’ x ‘King’ was 42 %.

No presente trabalho, foram aplicados tratamentos térmicos (condicionamento térmico e aquecimento intermitente) em laranja ´Valência´, tangor ´Murcott´ e lima ácida ´Tahiti´ armazenadas em baixa temperatura e avaliaram-se a incidência dos danos pelo frio e seus efeitos nas características físico-químicas das frutas. As frutas foram armazenadas durante 90 dias, a 1ºC, sendo avaliadas a cada 15 dias. A lima ácida ´Tahiti´ e o tangor ´Murcott´ suportaram até 90 dias de armazenamento, a 1ºC, com aquecimento intermitente, não apresentando danos pelo frio. No tratamento-controle (armazenamento contínuo a 1ºC), os danos pelo frio surgiram aos 30 dias de armazenamento para a lima ´Tahiti´ e aos 45 dias para o tangor ´Murcott´. Em laranjas ´Valência´, as injúrias pelo frio surgiram aos 45 dias de armazenamento, sendo significativamente menores no condicionamento térmico. O aquecimento intermitente é um tratamento que poder ser utilizado na conservação de frutas sem afetar suas características internas. In this study, thermal treatments (temperature conditioning and intermittent warming) were applied in ´Valencia´ orange, ´Murcott´ tangor and ´Tahiti´ lime stored in low temperature. Fruits were stored at 1ºC during 90 days and evaluate after every 15 days according with the incidence of chilling injury and changes in physical-chemical characteristics. 'Tahiti' lime and ´Murcott' tangor intermittently warmed could be stored up to 90 days at 1ºC, without the occurrence of chilling injury while control fruits showed chilling injury after 30 days (´Tahiti' lime) and after 45 days (´Murcott' tangor). ´Valencia' orange was affected by chilling injury after 45 days of cold storage. In this cultivar, temperature conditioning has caused lower incidence of chilling injury. The intermittent warming is a treatment that can be used in these citrus cultivars without affecting the physical and chemical characteristics of fruits.

We studied the effects of Fe deficiency on physiological parameters of citrus rootstocks grown in nutrient solution. Three 4-week old rootstocks ('Troyer' citrange - Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., Citrus taiwanica Tan. and Shim., and 'Swingle' citrumelo - Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. x Citrus paradisi Macf.) were grown in nutrient solutions with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μmol Fe dm-3. Calcium carbonate (1 g dm -3) was added to all solutions to mimic the natural conditions in calcareous soils. For each rootstock, shoot length, number of leaves, and root and shoot dry weights were measured at the end of experiment. Chlorophyll concentration was estimated using a portable SPAD-502 meter calibrated for each rootstock. The amount of nutrients (P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) was determined in shoots. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F0: basal fluorescence; Fm: maximum fluorescence; Fv = Fm - F0: variable fluorescence) were measured with a portable fluorimeter. 'Troyer' citrange rootstock was the most tolerant to Fe deficiency. These plants grew more and accumulated more chlorophyll and nutrients than the others in the presence of low levels of Fe (10 μmol Fe dm-3). 'Swingle' citrumelo plants needed 20 μmol Fe dm-3 in the nutrient solution to secure adequate growth. 'Taiwanica' orange rootstock had an intermediate behaviour, but could be distinguished from 'Troyer' citrange based on fluorescence parameters, since there was a variation in the basal fluorescence in the former, whereas in 'Troyer' citrange the basal fluorescence was not affected by the supply of Fe., This work was supported by the POCTIA projects 528/2003 and by the CDCTPV (I&D Unity no. 1584).

Procedures for high efficiency production of transgenic citrus plants using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens system with plasmolysis treatment were developed. Longitudinally cut epicotyl segments of eight different citrus species [’Milam’ Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush), ‘Volkamer’ lemon (Citrus volkameriana L), Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia L), ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L Osbeck), ‘Duncan’ grapefruit (’Citrus paradisi’ Macf), Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L), ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis L Osbeck x Poncirus trifoliata L Raf) ] were plasmolyzed in different concentrations of sucrose and maltose [0, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 % (w/v) ] prior to Agrobacterium inoculation. Plasmolyzed epicotyl explants were cocultivated with either the hypervirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain, the EHA-101 (harboring a binary vector pGA482GG) or Agl-1 (carrying pCAMBIA1303 vector). Both binary vectors contained neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) genes. The binary vector, pCAMBIA1303 also contained a fused mGFP5 gene at the 3’ end of GUS gene as a reporter. Epicotyl explants of Rangpur lime, Rough and ‘Volkamer’ lemons plasmolyzed in 9–12 % maltose showed transient GUS gene expression comprising up to 95 % of the cut surface of explants, while Carrizo citrange showed 80 % expression when they were plasmolyzed in 6–10 % sucrose. On the other hand, epicotyl explants of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange, Grapefruit, Sour orange and ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin showed transient GUS expession in 80–90 % of explants with 6–10 % sucrose. Basal portions of the regenerated putative transgenic shoots harvested from the cut surface of epicotyl explants within 2–3 months, were assayed for GUS, and apical portions were shoot-tip grafted in vivo for the production of whole plants. The transformation efficiencies in different species obtained are the highest so far reported for citrus.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial de desenvolvimento e reprodução de Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) em algumas espécies de fruteiras tropicais economicamente importantes. Os ácaros foram coletados em folhas de mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.), no campus da UFRPE e criados no laboratório, em arenas constituídas por discos de folha dessa fruteira. O experimento foi instalado com quatro tratamentos, representados pelos cultivares 011-BPA e 014-CPA de acerola (Malpighia emarginata A.DC.), mamão "Sunrise Solo" e laranja lima (Citrus sp.). Fêmeas adultas da criação foram confinadas durante 12h em arenas para oviposição. Avaliou-se a duração e a sobrevivência dos estágios imaturos em intervalos de 12h. Após a emergência, os adultos foram acasalados, sendo cada casal confinado em uma arena constituída por discos de folha. A longevidade e a fecundidade foram avaliadas a cada 24h. Com os resultados obtidos foi construída uma tabela de vida de fertilidade. O tempo de desenvolvimento de E. banksi foi menor no mamoeiro. Não houve diferença na longevidade de fêmeas nas diferentes fruteiras estudadas. A fecundidade de E. banksi foi maior no mamoeiro, diferindo das duas cultivares de acerola e laranja lima. A taxa líquida de reprodução, capacidade de aumento e razão finita de aumento foram maiores no mamoeiro. O menor tempo de desenvolvimento e maior fecundidade de E. banksi nessa fruteira podem ter ocorrido pelo fato de a população de ácaros ter sido coletada originalmente na mesma espécie vegetal. The objective of this research was to determine the potential development and reproduction of Eutetranchus banski (McGregor) in some economically important species of tropical fruit tree. The mites were collected from papaya tree (Carica papaya L.), in the UFRPE Campus and reared in the laboratory, in arenas consisted of leaf discs of papaya tree. Four host species were tryied: cultivars 011-BPA and 014-CPA of Barbado's cherry (Malpighia emarginata A.DC.), papaya tree "Sunrise Solo" and orange lime (Citrus sp.). Adult females were confined during 12h in arenas for oviposition and the duration and survival of the immature stages were evaluated at 12h intervals. After the emergence, the adults were mated and each couple was confined in one leaf disc's arena. Longevity and fecundity were evaluated at each 24h. The results originated a fertility life table. The development time of E. banski was shorter in papaya tree. There was no difference in the females longevity in the different fruit trees studied. The fecundity of E. banski was higher in papaya tree, different from Barbado's cherry and lime orange. The net reproduction rates (Ro), the finite ratio of increase (l) and the increase capacity were higher in papaya tree. The lowest development period and higher fecundity of E. banski in papaya tree were possibly due to the fact that the mite population was originated from the same plant species.

A muda cítrica é o insumo mais importante na formação de um pomar. As características mais importantes da muda cítrica são a origem do enxerto e do porta-enxerto, a qualidade do sistema radicular e a sua sanidade. Os porta-enxertos são capazes de influenciar várias características horticulturais e sanitárias nas árvores e nos frutos cítricos, como: sólidos solúveis totais, tamanho da copa e do fruto, resistência a moléstias e ao frio, distribuição da raízes, etc. O principal porta-enxerto utilizado no Brasil (cerca de 80%) é o limoeiro ‘Cravo’ (Citrus limonia Osbeck cv. Cravo). No Rio Grande do Sul, mais especificamente, destaca-se o Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf em mais de 90% dos pomares. Isso torna a citricultura vulnerável ao surgimento de moléstias que afetem estes porta-enxertos, como ocorreu na década de 40 em todo o Brasil com a 'Tristeza' dos citros em plantas enxertadas sobre laranjeira azeda, e, mais recentemente, com o 'declínio'. Assim, o conhecimento das características dos diversos porta-enxertos e de algumas particularidades do uso destes é de grande importância para a diversificação e escolha do porta-enxerto a ser utilizado pelo citricultor. Citric scion is the most important factor in orchard formation. The citric scion most important characteristics are the graft and rootstock origin, the root system quality and health. The rootstock affects several horticultural and sanitary characteristic in the citric trees and fruits, as total soluble solids, canopy and fruit size, diseases and cold resistance, roots distribution, etc. Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck cv. 'Cravo') is the most used rootstock in Brazil (about 80%), however in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) is found in more than 90% of the orchards. This makes citriculture vulnerable to rootstock diseases appearance, as it happened in the 40's in the whole country, when citrus 'Tristeza' virus, killed almost all plants grafted on Sour Orange, and more recently, the problem is with the citrus 'decline'. So the knowledge of the several rootstock characteristics and some of their use particularities can help the citrus growers in the decision process.