Search

Mango production has been having a great economical expression in the Brazilian agriculture. However, the economic crisis and increased competitiveness of the international market required improvements in the crop efficiency for its sustainability. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation system on the physiology and fruit yield and quality of Palmer mango trees in the semiarid conditions of the Lower Middle São Francisco Valley, Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the Agranvil Farm, in Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, with harvests in July 2013 and October 2014. A randomized block statistical design was used, with four treatments replicated in 5 blocks, during two production cycles. The treatments consisted of four irrigation systems: one micro sprinkler under the plant canopy (MSPC); drip system with two lateral lines per plant row (DSLL); one micro sprinkler between plants (MSBP); and ring-shaped drip system around the plants (RSDS). All treatments provided a flow rate of 56 L h-1 plant-1. The physiological characteristics evaluated were: photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, and leaf temperature. Fruit yield, quantity, mean weight, volume, soluble solid content, titratable acidity (TA), density, and pulp firmness were evaluated after the harvest. The evaluated treatments presented significant differences for the physiological variables. The treatment DSLL provided higher number of fruits and fruit yield, and the treatment MSBP provided the lowest results for these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Physalis peruviana (Solanaceae), originating from the Andean region of South America, is an exotic plant cultivated in Brazil that produces edible fruit. Five viruses have been reported to naturally infect the Physalis plants in Brazil, of which, two have been drawing attention for the severity of their infections: sobemovirus, physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV) and orthotospovirus, groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of single and double infections of PhyRMV and GRSV on the development, yield and postharvest fruit characteristics of P. peruviana plants. We found that both viruses caused severe systemic symptoms in infected plants, and double infection even led to plant death. Plant height and aerial dry weight were significantly affected by PhyRMV and GRSV infections. Double‐infected plants were the most affected, exhibiting average height and aerial dry weight reductions of 70.9% and 89.7%, respectively. Moreover, PhyRMV‐ and GRSV‐infected plants showed average fruit yield reductions of 66.4% and 85.2%, respectively, compared to healthy plants. Notably, double‐infected plants did not produce any fruit. The fruits produced by infected plants were smaller than those produced by healthy plants. Viral infections also affected postharvest characteristics, such as titratable acidity, total soluble solids (°Brix), phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activity. Both viruses affected the pulp firmness and palatability, but not the colour of the fruits. Therefore, effective disease management strategies against these viruses are necessary to prevent economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted in Campos dos Goytacazes in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in order to evaluate the applying effect of nitrogen and cattle manure doses on sweet passion fruit yield and quality. The experimental outline used was complete block, in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement, five nitrogen doses (0, 50, 150, 250 and 350g plant-1 year-1) and two types of organic fertilization (with and without cattle manure), with 4 replications. Sweet passion fruit yield presented an increase of 44.4% due to the application of the best nitrogen doses in comparison with the treatment which did not receive nitrogen fertilization. The treatments that did not receive cattle manure presented higher average weight, diameter and thickness of the fruit skin, while the addition of cattle manure presented greater juice concentration and higher percentage of seeds in sweet passion fruit fruits. The increase in nitrogen doses allowed an increase in concentration and total titratable acidity of the fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple is a tropical fruit with high demand by the fruit market in Brazil. Fruits of the cultivar ´Turiaçu` stans out in local consumer markets due to its excellent quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate ecophysiological responses of ´Turiaçu` pineapple plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages to soil fertilization and crop location, and their effects in fruit yield. The study was conducted in the cities of São Luís and Turiaçu, MA, Brazil. Plants under mineral and organic fertilization in two locations, São Luís and Turiaçu, and in two seasons, dry and rainy season, were evaluated during dry and rainy seasons. Chlorophyll index, photochemical efficiency, gas exchange, and fruit yield were evaluated. The pineapple plants presented decrease in the photosynthetic activity, at both developmental stages and in both seasons, when grown in São Luís. The CO2 photosynthetic assimilation decreased. The PSI and PSII activity, according with photosynthetic index, was more sensitive at the reproductive than at the vegetative stage. The organic fertilization was not appropriate for the ´Turiaçu` pineapple crops, regardless of the crop location. The fruit yields were 54.4% and 57.9% lower in São Luís, under mineral and organic fertilization, respectively. Thus, the ecophysiology of ´Turiaçu` pineapple was more affected by water availability than by soil fertility in the municipality of Turiaçu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global fruit and nut yields are affected by shortfalls in pollinator populations, and pollen limitation is most prevalent among tropical, bee-pollinated and self-incompatible plants. Macadamia is a subtropical, bee-pollinated crop in which some cultivars have been found to be highly outcrossing. We aimed to determine the extent of outcrossing and its effects on nut quality across a wide range of international macadamia cultivars in three countries. We sampled fruit from 19 macadamia cultivars across 23 sites in Australia, Brazil and South Africa. We used genotype-by-sequencing and MassARRAY methods to assign paternity to individual fruit and we assessed pollen-parent effects on nut quality. Macadamia was highly outcrossing, producing 80–100% of fruit by cross-pollination, at 17 of the 23 sites. Mixed mating (41–72% outcrossing) was identified at five sites, and low outcrossing (10%) was identified in one cultivar at one site where it was isolated from other flowering macadamia trees. Outcrossed fruit often had significantly better quality than selfed fruit, with 1.61–3.39 g higher nut-in-shell mass, 0.53–1.55 g higher kernel mass, 3.3–6.4% higher kernel recovery, and 3.0–3.5% higher oil concentration. The differences in kernel recovery equated to differences in value of USD 433–841 per ton of nut-in-shell at prices of USD 3000 per ton. In summary, macadamia cultivars were mostly highly outcrossing, and outcrossed nuts often had higher quality than selfed nuts. Growers should consider interplanting different cultivars more closely and distributing bee hives more widely to maximise cross-pollination, produce high yields, and optimise nut quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deficit irrigation (DI) improved yield in three out of five seasons. • Yield increments due to irrigation ranged from 15 to 64 %. • Full irrigation and DI yielded 30.8 % more than rainfed after five seasons. • DI resulted in lower acidity and higher maturation index compared to rainfed. • DI of 50 % ETc was interesting to increase yield, quality and saving water. Brazil stands out in world citrus production, as it is responsible for the largest cultivated area and production amounts. In the last decade, Sao Paulo State fruit yield improved due to adoption of technologies such as irrigation and fertilization. Considering the need for improving yield, quality and water resources sustainable use in agriculture, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation on Pêra-IAC orange fruit yield, juice quality and water use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in a Pera sweet orange grafted onto Sunki mandarin orchard. Water was applied by drip irrigation system and there were five treatments testing different irrigation depths: T100 - 100 % of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), T75 - 75 % ETc, T50 - 50 % ETc, T25 - 25 % ETc and T0 - rainfed. Six replications per treatment were randomized in blocks for statistical analysis. Fruit yield was evaluated by weighing all fruits per tree and quality characteristics were monitored by samplings during maturation period until harvest. Five harvesting years were evaluated, from 2013/14–2017/18. Results were tested by analysis of variance, Tukey's means test and Scott-Knott grouping test (α = 0,05). Irrigation improved fruit yield in three out of five seasons, even when applying only 25 % of ETc. Irrigation yield increments ranged from 15 to 64 % when compared to rainfed treatment. Deficit irrigation improved fruit quality compared to the full-irrigated trees (T100), as it resulted in lower acidity and higher maturation index. After five seasons, fruit yield in irrigated treatments was increased by 30.8 % compared to the rainfed. Water use efficiency showed that deficit irrigation applying 50 % ETc is an interesting strategy for increasing yield, quality and saving water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pineapple (Ananas comosus L.), originally from South America, is the third most produced fruit in Brazil. The potassium nutrient plays a fundamental role on the fruit quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of potassium doses applied to the soil on fruit yield and on the physical and chemical characteristics of the Pérola pineapple cultivar. The design used randomized block design with four repetitions; the treatments consisted of five doses of K2O: 0; 222; 444; 666 and 888 kg ha−1 applied in the form of potassium chloride, divided into two applications, after floral induction. The evaluated variables were: fruit yield per hectare and pulp, fruit and crown fresh mass, fruit diameter, fruit and crown lengths, titratable acidity, soluble solids, vitamin C, juice pH and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio. Potassic fertilization increased the yield of both fruit and pulp per hectare, the fruit and crown fresh mass, the diameter of the fruit, the lengths of the fruit and crown, titratable acidity, soluble solids, vitamin C and decreased the ratio of soluble solids to titratable acidity in the juice. The rise in potassium nutrition improves the quality and yield aspects of the pineapple 'Pérola' fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecast of tree fruit yield requires prediction of harvest time fruit size as well as fruit number. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit mass can be estimated from correlation to measurements of fruit length (L), width (W) and thickness (T). On-tree measurements of individually tagged fruit were undertaken using callipers at weekly intervals until the fruit were past commercial maturity, as judged using growing degree days (GDD), for mango cultivars 'Honey Gold', 'Calypso' and 'Keitt' at four locations in Australia and Brazil during the 2020/21 and 21/22 production seasons. Across all cultivars, the linear correlation of fruit mass to LWT was characterized by a R2 of 0.99, RMSE of 29.9 g and slope of 0.5472 g/cm3, while the linear correlation of fruit mass to L ( (W + T) 2 )2, mimicking what can be measured by machine vision of fruit on tree, was characterized by a R2 of 0.97, RMSE of 25.0 g and slope of 0.5439 g/cm3. A procedure was established for the prediction of fruit size at harvest based on measurements made five and four or four and three weeks prior to harvest (approx. 514 and 422 GDD, before harvest, respectively). Linear regression models on weekly increase in fruit mass estimated from lineal measurements were characterized by an R2 > 0.88 for all populations, with an average slope (rate of increase) of 19.6 ± 7.1 g/week, depending on cultivar, season and site. The mean absolute percentage error for predicted mass compared to harvested fruit weight for estimates based on measurements of the earlier and later intervals was 16.3 ± 1.3% and 4.5 ± 2.4%, respectively. Measurement at the later interval allowed better accuracy on prediction of fruit tray size distribution. A recommendation was made for forecast of fruit mass at harvest based on in-field measurements at approximately 400 to 450 GDD units before harvest GDD and one week later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correct nutrition of orchards from fertilizer management directly influences fruit yield. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of orchards of the ‘Montenegrina’ mandarin (Citrus deliciosa Tenore) grafted on Poncirus trifoliata Raf. in southern Brazil. The study included analyzes of soil and leaf tissue from 58 commercial orchards. More than 60% of the orchards were diagnosed with K and Mg insufficiency and more than 30% had an excess of N. There was an insufficiency in Mn and Zn of 60 and 96%, respectively, despite the levels of these micronutrients in the soil being high in both depths studied. In addition, no significant correlations were observed between the contents of a given nutrient in the soil and in the leaves, except for the Ca/Mg ratio. Insufficiency was observed in the leaf contents of K, Mg, Mn and Zn and excesses of N and Cu in the orchards. The use of phosphate and potassium fertilizers requires adjustments due to the excessive content of these nutrients in the soil. Pre-planting acidity correction and soil acidity management in ‘Montenegrina’ mandarin orchards already implanted needs to be optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Self-incompatible 'Lee' and 'Nova' tangelos benefited from honeybee pollination. • Bees positively influenced fruit set and seed number compared to hand crosses. • Tangelo flowers received an estimated mean of 24 bee visits during their lifespan. • Seeds positively impacted fruit weight at least in 'Lee' cultivar. • 'Nova' produces larger and heavier fruits than 'Lee'. Insect pollination services substantially enhance global major crops in terms of fruit quantity and potentially quality. Even Citrus crops, which have been supported by broad breeding programs and well-established agrotechniques, depend on pollinators to achieve high yields. In this study, the effects of pollination services on the production of 'Lee' and 'Nova' tangelos were experimentally assessed in north-eastern Brazil. The associated flower visitors were surveyed and the visitation pattern on tangelo flowers was described and quantified in the experimental orchard. Both cultivars were self-incompatible and mainly benefited from pollination services provided by honeybees, which was responsible for more than 90% of floral visits. Under this scenario of local pollination, fruit production was enhanced by 12% compared to that obtained from hand cross-pollination (intra-cultivar crosses), probably due to the several visits a flower received during anthesis involving multiple pollen parents. However, fruit size and weight achieved similar values in open pollination and hand cross-pollination. A high number of seeds per fruit was also attributed to bee pollination, which indirectly impacted fruit weight positively at least in 'Lee' tangelos. 'Nova' produced larger and heavier fruits than 'Lee'. These differences in fruit traits between cultivars may not occur due to divergence of floral characteristics because 'Nova' and 'Lee' had similar floral traits. Nevertheless, the presence of other cultivars, avoidance of high number of clone plants and adequate pollination management in planted areas are required for plenty production of 'Lee' and 'Nova' tangelo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberry production is increasing in Brazil, and growers are turning to bio-inputs or biostimulants to be used on their growth. This has been due to the growing concern about sustainability in the food production chain and the necessity to increase the yield. The current experiment aimed at evaluating the effects of Samurai King, EM-1 and Brutal Plus (Minhofértil) biostimulants on the cultivation of Southern Highbush blueberries (V. corymbosum L.), cultivar 'Biloxi'. The parameters evaluated were plant height (cm), diameter of the main stem (mm), number of shoots, chlorophyll content, total number of leaves, leaf length and width. The total mass, number of fruits, average mass per fruit, the transversal and longitudinal diameters, and the total sugars (°Brix) were also measured. In 2020, the treatment of Samurai King + EM-1 showed the highest efficiency for the studied parameters related to fruits and yield but with no significant difference as compared to the other treatments. Regarding the plant growth, treatments 1 (Brutal Plus) and 5 (Brutal Plus + EM-1) were the most efficient. In 2021, treatment 7 (Brutal Plus + Samurai King + EM-1) had the highest yields, except for average mass per fruit and total sugars. In the two years of evaluation, although treatments obtained lower averages than the control, the effect observed was generally positive, revealing the efficiency of products containing microorganisms for the growth of blueberry plants. In conclusion, these bioproducts could remarkably affect plant biomass, production and fruit quality, resulting in better yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The peach is a traditional crop in the south of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, where 35 million to 50 million cans of peaches in syrup are produced annually. All the raw materials for the peach canneries come from cultivars originated from the peach breeding program of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Temperate Agriculture), which started before the establishment of Embrapa at the Experimental Station of Pelotas, then managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic progress in phenological and production traits of canning peach resulting from the peach breeding program of Embrapa Temperate Agriculture over 53 years. We divided the data records considered in the estimation of genetic progress into two periods, 1964–1984 and 1985–2017. The following traits were evaluated: days to maturity, fruit development period, number of fruits, fruit weight, fruit yield, and soluble solids content. Genetic gain was observed for early maturation, shorter fruit development period, and increased fruit yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil there is a limitation in the choice of commercial papaya hybrids for cropping. This factor is responsible for the crop vulnerability to the pests and diseases attack, being of great importance the investigations that aim at the availability of new genotypes. In papaya breeding programs to developed new hybrids, the lines should be evaluated by their combining ability. This step is important to select the superior parents for superior hybrid production. The objective of this research was to evaluate the combining ability of recombinant inbred lines by using elite testers in order to select papaya hybrid combinations with productive capacity and fruit quality, to supply the new cultivars demand, mainly from the Solo group. 34 genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with six replicates and three plants per plot. The specific combining ability (SCA) was estimated based on 12 traits related to fruit quality and yield. The hybrid combinations SS-72/12 × UCLCF01-01, SS-72/12 × UCLCF01-02, SS-72/12 × UCLCF01-09, Sekati × UCLCF01-04, Sekati × UCLCF01-10 and JS-12 × UCLCF01-17 were superior for presenting positive estimates of the SCA effects for the number of commercial fruits, fruit weight, pulp and fruit firmness and soluble solids that are the most important traits for the crop. These Solo and Formosa hybrid combinations have great potential to supply the consumer market demand, especially the small fruit hybrids, constituting national and international novelty as the first Solo hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Esmeralda' is an orange fleshed peach cultivar primarily used for juice extraction and secondarily used for the fresh fruit market. Fruit yield and quality depend on several local environmental and managerial factors, mainly on nitrogen, which must be balanced with other nutrients. Similar to other perennial crops, peach trees show carryover effects of carbohydrates and nutrients and of nutrients stored in their tissues. The aims of the present study are (i) to identify the major sources of seasonal variability in fruit yield and qu Fruit Tree Department of Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas 96010610ality; and (ii) to establish the N dose and the internal nutrient balance to reach high fruit yield and quality. The experiment was conducted from 2014 to 2017 in Southern Brazil and it followed five N treatments (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha−1 year−1). Foliar compositions were centered log-ratio (clr) transformed in order to account for multiple nutrient interactions and allow computing distances between compositions. Based on the feature ranking, chilling hours, degree-days and rainfall were the most influential features. Machine learning models k-nearest neighbors (KNN) and stochastic gradient decent (SGD) performed well on yield and quality indices, and reached accuracy from 0.75 to 1.00. In 2014, fruit production did not respond to added N, and it indicated the carryover effects of previously stored carbohydrates and nutrients. The plant had a quadratic response (p < 0.05) to N addition in 2015 and 2016, which reached maximum yield of 80 kg N ha−1. In 2017, harvest was a failure due to the chilling hours (198 h) and the relatively small number of fruits per tree. Fruit yield and antioxidant content increased abruptly when foliar clrCu was >−5.410. The higher foliar P linearly decreased total titratable acidity and increased pulp firmness when clrP > 0.556. Foliar N concentration range was narrow at high fruit yield and quality. The present results have emphasized the need of accounting for carryover effects, nutrient interactions and local factors in order to predict peach yield and nutrient dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greening provides several environment functions and services in cities. Although scarce, temporal evaluations of afforestation in cities are essential for the plants management and the proposition of municipal public policies. We analysed the woody dynamics of the urban greening in Jataí, Goiás, Brazil, over 13-years (2007–2020), considering variations in tree composition, diversity, and structure. We also evaluate ecosystem services (pollination, dispersal and fruit supply) and planting management (native and non-native species, tree planted under electricity lines and sidewalk). Both species richness, diversity and equability increased in 2020. The density of anemophilous species increased in 2020, while the other pollination mechanisms remained constant. Zoochory prevailed with higher species richness and density in both years, while the fruit and non-fruit species richness and density increased. Although the richness of native species increased, the density pf non-native was higher than native species in 2020. The density of large species density has increased under electricity lines, suggesting inadequacy of tree planting over the years. Species density in the furniture and frontage zones increased in 2020, while there was no difference in the pedestrian zone between years. Increasing tree density improves the connection between urban forests and parks, which contributes to the well-being of the population in cities with a tropical climate, such as Jataí. Our study shows that long-term urban greening assessments provide input for public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pecan scab caused by Venturia effusa is the main crop disease affecting leaves and fruits, resulting in defoliation and yield and fruit quality losses. Recently, pecan groves expanded into Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina, where the temperate-humid climate is conducive for scab development. Chemical control is difficult given the height of adult trees which exceeds 20 m. Therefore, the strategy consists on selecting tolerant cultivars accompanied by cultural management aimed at providing a good ventilation and light interception. The objective of this work was to assess the susceptibility of pecan cultivars to Venturia effusa in the Uruguayan agroclimatic conditions. Disease severity index (DSI) in fruits and leaves were determined in 18 cultivars throughout four consecutive seasons. Most of the cultivars evaluated were classified as resistant with fruit disease severity index (DSIF) below 2.0, being Elliott and Sumner the most resistant ones (DSIF < 1.5) while Mahan was susceptible (DSIF > 3.0) and Apache and Wichita were very susceptible (DSIF > 4.5) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rootstocks modulate several characteristics of citrus trees, including vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality, and resistance or tolerance to pests, diseases, soil drought, and salinity, among other factors. There is a shortage of scion and rootstock cultivars among the combinations planted in Brazil. "Ponkan" mandarin and "Murcott" tangor grafted on "Rangpur" lime comprise the majority of the commercial mandarin orchards in Brazil. This low genetic diversity of citrus orchards can favor pest and disease outbreaks. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance, Huanglongbing (HLB) tolerance, and fruit quality of "Emperor" mandarin on five different rootstocks for nine cropping seasons under the subtropical soil-climate conditions of the North region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block, with six replications, two trees per block, and five rootstocks, including "Rangpur" lime, "Cleopatra," and "Sunki" mandarins, "Swingle" citrumelo, and "Fepagro C-13" citrange. The evaluations included tree growth, yield performance, fruit quality, and HLB disease incidence. "Emperor" mandarin trees grafted on "Rangpur" lime and "Swingle" citrumelo had early fruiting and high yield efficiency. "Rangpur" lime also induced the lowest tree growth, but low fruit quality. Trees on "Swingle" citrumelo and "Fepagro C-13" citrange showed low scion and rootstock affinity and produced fruits with high total soluble solids (TSS), with a lower number of seeds for those from trees on "Fepagro C-13" citrange. "Cleopatra" and "Sunki" mandarins induced higher juice content, while fruits from trees on "Cleopatra" also had higher TSS/titratable acidity (TA) ratio. "Emperor" mandarin trees were susceptible to HLB regardless of the rootstocks. Overall, "Cleopatra" and "Sunki" mandarins, "Swingle" citrumelo, and "Fepagro C-13" are more suitable rootstocks for "Emperor" mandarin under Brazilian subtropical conditions than "Rangpur" lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peach scion seeds as rootstocks provide PTSL and low yield in Southern Brazil. • 21 genotypes as clonal rootstocks for 'Maciel' peach and own-rooted trees were tested. • 'Flordaguard' was the best rootstock over six consecutive harvest seasons. • Own-rooted 'Maciel' trees are vigorous, highly productive and efficient in yield. Peach Tree Short Life (PTSL) is a syndrome that causes significant damage or death to peach trees in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The field performance of 21 genotypes as clonal rootstocks for the 'Maciel' peach cultivar was evaluated in a non-irrigated area with a history of PTSL syndrome, established in 2014 with potted nursery trees that included own-rooted 'Maciel' trees (without a rootstock). The results indicate that own-rooted 'Maciel' trees and those budded on 'Capdeboscq', México Fila 1, 'Flordaguard', and 'De Guia' exhibited the highest vigor. Own-rooted trees and those budded on 'De Guia' and 'Flordaguard' rootstocks demonstrated productivity comparable to those budded on 'Aldrighi' or 'Capdeboscq', both used as a reference. Own-rooted 'Maciel' trees can be recommended for areas with a history of PTSL due to their vigorous growth, high productivity, and yield efficiency. Regarding rootstock function, 'Flordaguard' can be recommended as it provides high tree vigor, satisfactory fruit weight, and high fruit yield. None of the five interspecific hybrids tested (G × N.9, 'Ishtara®', 'Barrier®', 'Cadaman®', and 'GF 677′) nor two genotypes of P. salicina and P. mandshurica showed potential for use as a rootstocks for 'Maciel' peach due to the negative effects on fruit weight, fruit yield and/or tree health in the present trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-scale cultivation of okra in Brazil is related to the lack of technical-scientific information about its nutritional requirements and planting density. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of K2O doses and the number of plants/hole on the yield and quality of okra cv. Santa Cruz. A complete randomized block design was used, with four replications, in a 6 x 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to six K2O doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha-1) and two planting densities (one and two plants/hole). The fruit mass, number of fruits/plant, fruit yield, total and commercial yield, and leaf potassium content were evaluated. The mean fruit mass and total yield did not adjust to any linear model but had higher values when two plants/hole were planted. The number of fruits/plant, fruit and commercial yield increased according to the K2O doses increase and planting with two plants/hole. The potassium leaf content did not differ according to the different planting densities but increased significantly with the potassium doses. Plating with two plants/hole increased the K2O requirement and provided a positive response in all analyzed traits. The application of K2O doses between 115 and 185.5 t ha-1 using two plants/hole is recommended and promotes better yield and quality of okra cv Santa Cruz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rodriguésia is the property of Revista Rodriguesia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Thinning is a cultural practice that leads to balance between fruit yield and quality. It is carried out in a short period of time and requires qualified workforce, whose shortage ends up increasing costs. This study aimed at evaluating the thinning effect of metamitron on peach trees at different periods of time after bloom. The experiment was carried out in a commercial orchard of 'Sensação' peach trees located in Morro Redondo, Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, in 2015- 2016 crops. Treatments were the application of 200 mg L-1 metamitron, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after full bloom (DAFB), and manual thinning 40 DAFB. Fruit abscission, effective fructification, period of manual and chemical thinning, number of fruits and yield per plant, mean fruit mass and fruit caliber were evaluated. When metamitron was applied 40 DAFB, percentages of fruit abscission and fruit set, besides the number of fruits, were similar to the ones found when manual thinning was carried out. The intensity of the thinning effect of metamitron in peach trees depends on the application period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passion fruit woodiness disease induced by Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is currently the most harmful viral disease affecting passion fruit crops. Given the economic importance of this fruit crop in Brazil, it is essential that passion fruit breeding programs invest in developing resistant and productive cultivars. The goals of this study were to estimate genetic parameters of agronomic and resistance traits via restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and select individuals found to be resistant to CABMV and agronomically superior, in order to provide the basis for further studies on passion fruit breeding, with the aim to develop cultivars resistant to CABMV. The study was conducted in randomized block design, with four replicates. Three full-sib families from the recombination of RC1 parents were evaluated. Based on the severity data, the area below the mean disease progress curve (AUDPCM) was estimated. Five traits relating to fruit yield and quality were also assessed. The components of variance and genetic values were estimated by the REML/best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) mixed model methodology. A difference in the severity of CABMV symptoms was recorded among the 119 genotypes evaluated. AUDPCM values varied from 750 to 1252.5 for individuals 202 and 161, respectively. Family 1 distinguished itself with the largest number of individuals selected for resistance; for agronomic traits, families 1 and 2 contributed most of the selected genotypes. Genotypes 167, 24, 34, 23 and 202 achieved the lowest AUDPCM values, being selected for most of the agronomic traits; these results indicate the potential of these genotypes to be chosen and recombined for the advancement of generations in breeding programs aimed at developing resistance to CABMV. The strategy of recombining resistant genotypes from RC1 populations appears to be promising for breeding for resistance to CABMV, of which the heritability is complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to estimate the phyllochron, to associate the leaf area to the leaf number and to determine fruit yield of eggplants grown with one and two stems inside a plastic greenhouse. An experiment was carried at the experimental area of the Plant Science Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Three eggplant genotypes were used: Nápoli, Comprida roxa, and Ciça. Five-leaf seedlings were transplanted on 10/29/2007. The experimental design was a complete randomized blocks with four replications composed by two rows with eight plants. The number of leaves on the main stem and secondary branches was counted in four plants of each replication. Leaf width was measured on two plants per replication. The phyllochron was estimated as the inverse of the slope of the linear regression between the leaf number and the accumulated thermal time after transplanting. Eggplant fruit yield was greater in plants grown with two stems than and Ciça had the higher fruit yield among genotypes. The time for leaves emergence in eggplant was reduced in plants with two stems than in plants with only the main stem. Leaf area of eggplant can be estimated as function of the accumulated number of leaves. Eggplant fruit yield was greater in plants conducted with two stems than with only the main stem, and Ciça presented the greatest yield among genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Colloquium Agrariae is the property of Asociacao Prudentina de Educacao e Cultura (APEC) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The citriculture in Brazil, as well as in other important regions in the world, is based on very few mandarin cultivars. This fact leads to a short harvest period and higher prices for off-season fruit. The ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) is among the earliest ripening mandarin cultivars, and it is considered to be tolerant to citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri Schaad et al.) and to citrus variegated chlorosis (Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al.). Despite having regular fruit quality under hot climate conditions, the early fruit maturation and absence of seeds of ‘Okitsu’ fruits are well suited for the local market in the summer (December through March), when the availability of citrus fruits for fresh consumption is limited. Yet, only a few studies have been conducted in Brazil on rootstocks for ‘Okitsu’. Consequently, a field trial was carried out in Bebedouro, São Paulo State, to evaluate the horticultural performance of ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma mandarin budded onto 12 rootstocks: the citrandarin ‘Changsha’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)× Poncirus trifoliata ‘English Small’; the hybrid Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck)בSwingle’ citrumelo (P. trifoliata (L.) Raf.× Citrus paradisi Macfad.); the trifoliates (P. trifoliata (L.) Raf.) ‘Rubidoux’, ‘FCAV’ and ‘Flying Dragon’ (P. trifoliata var. monstrosa); the mandarins ‘Sun Chu Sha Kat’ (C. reticulata Blanco) and ‘Sunki’ (Citrus sunki (Hayata) Hort. ex. Tanaka); the Rangpur limes (C. limonia Osbeck) ‘Cravo Limeira’ and ‘Cravo FCAV’; ‘Carrizo’ citrange (Citrus sinensis × P. trifoliata), ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (P. trifoliata × C. paradisi), and ‘Orlando’ tangelo (C. paradisi × Citrus tangerina cv. ‘Dancy’). The experimental grove was planted in 2001, using a 6m×3m spacing, in a randomized block design. No supplementary irrigation was applied. Fruit yield, canopy volume, and fruit quality were assessed for each rootstock. A cluster multivariate analysis identified three different rootstock pairs with similar effects on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of ‘Okitsu’ mandarin. The ‘Flying Dragon’ trifoliate had a unique effect over the ‘Okitsu’ trees performance, inducing lower canopy volume and higher yield efficiency and fruit quality, and might be suitable for high-density plantings. The ‘Cravo Limeira’ and ‘Cravo FCAV’ Rangpur limes induced early-ripening of fruits, with low fruit quality. ‘Sun Chu Sha Kat’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarins and the ‘Orlando’ tangelo conferred lower yield efficiency and less content of soluble solids for the latter rootstock. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) is a disease caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. The most productive areas for citrus in Brazil are the northwestern and the northern regions of the São Paulo state, where CVC incidence is more severe. Additionally, these areas have the highest temperatures as well as significant vapor pressure deficits (VPD) and seasonal droughts. Environmental stresses are known to affect CVC-infected plants under semi-controlled conditions, but it is unclear whether similar effects occur in the field. The objective of this work was to evaluate the CVC leaf symptoms and environmental influences on fruit yield and size, and physiological parameters of healthy and CVC-affected plants (including both non-symptomatic and symptomatic leaves) in the morning and afternoon during the wet and dry seasons of 2003 in the southern, central and northern regions of the São Paulo state, Brazil. Increased VPD caused the stomatal conductance (gs) and CO2 assimilation rates (A) to drop in healthy plants, but diseased plants had low VPD influences on gs, especially closer to the northern region and in leaves that were more symptomatic, confirming that diseased plants do not respond to changes in environmental VPD, corroborating several results reported in the literature. Although symptomatic northern leaves exhibited low stomatal apertures, the northern region had the highest air temperatures and VPDs, increasing the water loss in these plants, suggesting that towards the northern region plants face greater atmospheric and soil water stress. The fruit size of diseased plants diminished towards the north, while the fruit size of healthy plants must have been influenced by the tree fruit load. We suggest that CVC-affected plants suffer greater physiological damage if grown under environmental constraint, such as that found in the northern region of the São Paulo state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Source of important vitamins, fibers, and minerals, the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) stands out in the world agricultural scenario for its economic and social relevance and versatility. The Brazilian market is dominated by multinationals companies, and this market segment obtains cultivars from other countries, with genetics accurate to climatic conditions and cultivation method very different from those used in Brazil. As a result, the local cultivation of tomatoes plants becomes dependent on market variations and has required a material that has limited production efficiency. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters from agronomic traits and to select industrial tomato lines using the selection index. A randomized block experimental design with three replications was used. Eightyfive industrial tomato lines from the germplasm bank of the Vivati Plant Breeding Ltda were evaluated. Each plot had 12 plants. The two central plants of each plot were evaluated. The evaluations were carried out using adapted morphological descriptors described in the guidelines for carrying out the distinguishability, homogeneity, and stability (DHE) tests of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply of Brazil (MAPA). The genotypic determination coefficient (H2) of the traits related to fruit pericarp thickness, fruit firmness, fruit yield, average cycle, average number of fruits per plant, and soluble solids was high. The base index and the classic index presented the largest gain from selection for the fruit yield trait. Rank summation index and genotypeideotype distance index had the highest total selection gain values. The tomato lines PXT601 and PXT610 stood out as superior genotypes by the methods of direct selection and by selection indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ceres is the property of Revista Ceres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Colloquium Agrariae is the property of Asociacao Prudentina de Educacao e Cultura (APEC) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada - RBAI is the property of Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada - RBAI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Shading and N fertilization affect fruit distribution in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), but there is no detailed information on earliness of crop maturity according to phenological development. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of shading at early flowering and N top‐dressing rates on relative cotton earliness using plant mapping. Field experiments were conducted in Itapeva (16 d of shading; and 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha−1) and Chapadão do Sul (17 d of shading; 0, 80, and 160 kg N ha−1; and early‐ and full‐season cultivars), Brazil. Seed cotton yield was grouped by phenological position (PP) according to the standard phenological scale, for interpolation calculation at each 10% increment in accumulated harvestable yield (Ac), weighted average PP (PPwa) determination, and logistic‐regression analysis. Crop maturity earliness was predicted based on the reduction in PPwa and in PP. Shading increased PP up to 10 and 30% of Ac due to a decrease of 33 and 40% in the number of bolls on early fruiting sites in Itapeva and Chapadão do Sul, respectively, but did not affect PPwa. Increases in PP up to high Ac percentages and in PPwa values were observed at the two higher N rates in both experiments, mainly due to lower and higher boll number at earlier and later fruiting sites, respectively. Short‐term shading during early flowering of cotton changed yield distribution by decreasing boll number on early fruiting sites, but did not affect the earliness of crop maturity. Earliness was decreased by high N rates due to higher cumulative seed cotton yield at later fruiting sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertigation management of banana plantations at a plot scale is expanding rapidly in Brazil. To guide nutrient management at such a small scale, genetic, environmental and managerial features should be well understood. Machine learning and compositional data analysis (CoDa) methods can measure the effects of feature combinations on banana yield and rank nutrients in the order of their limitation. Our objectives are to review ML and CoDa models for application at regional and local scales, and to customize nutrient diagnoses of fertigated banana at the plot scale. We documented 940 "Prata" and "Cavendish" plot units for tissue and soil tests, environmental and managerial features, and fruit yield. A Neural Network informed by soil tests, tissue tests and other features was the most proficient learner (AUC up to 0.827). Tissue nutrients were shown to have the greatest impact on model accuracy. Regional nutrient standards were elaborated as centered log ratio means and standard deviations of high-yield and nutritionally balanced specimens. Plot-scale diagnosis was customized using the closest successful factor-specific tissue compositions identified by the smallest Euclidean distance from the diagnosed composition using centered or isometric log ratios. Nutrient imbalance differed between regional and plot-scale diagnoses, indicating the profound influence of local factors on plant nutrition. However, plot-scale diagnoses require large, reliable datasets to customize nutrient management using ML and CoDa models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cumulative fruit yield was decisive for identify promising rootstocks to 'Pera';. • Rangpur, Volkamer x Rangpur, Maravilha Sunki and Indio induced higher yield to 'Pera';. • Florida Sunki x citrange 13–012 and Sunki x Swingle-041 perform similar to Rangpur. • The citrus rootstocks induced no significant change on the fruit's quality. In tropical cohesive soils of Brazil, 'Rangpur' lime provide high fruit yield to 'Pera' sweet oranges. However, the predominance of a single rootstock puts the citrus industry in this region at risk. To identify promising rootstocks for diversification of 'Pera' sweet orange orchard's in the tropical cohesive soils of Brazil, a trial was established with 37 citrus rootstocks on the northeast coast of Brazil. The horticultural performance, fruit yield up to the tenth year, and physic-chemical fruit quality attributes were evaluated. The rootstocks induced changes in the tree size, cumulative fruit yield fresh mass and size of fruit, but had not significant influence on chemical fruit quality. The Hierarchical Cluster Analysis allowed group rootstocks into three classes, in which the accumulated fruit yield was the attribute that most contributed. A group with 15 rootstocks was chosen due to the best productive performance and fruits with 193.75–218.5 g, 57.36–62.65% of juice with 9.85–13.08° brix, which meets the requirement of the Brazilian market. Among these 15, the hybrid of 'Volkamer' lemon (VKL) with 'Rangpur' lime (RL), 'Maravilha Sunki' mandarin, 'Indio' citrandarin and the local selection of RL stood out by inducing the highest yield. VKL × RL – 030 produced fruits later, but favored the highest fruit yield at the tenth year. Trees grafted on these four rootstocks and also onto RLCNPMF, TSKC × CTQT1434 – 001, MXWL × LHA – 004, 'Santa Cruz' Rangpur, 'San Diego' citrandarin,– 004 and trifoliate TRH-208 had greater production regularity across the harvests, although the last three showed lower cumulative yield. The earliest fruit bearing was induced by TSKFL × CTC13 – 012, followed by the 'Sunki' mandarin hybrids TSKC × CTQT1434 – 001, RL, TSKC x TRFD -007 and TSKC x CTSW-041. It is concluded that the most promising rootstocks for diversification of citrus orchards under rainfed condition on the northeast coast of Brazil are VKL x RL-030, 'Maravilha Sunki' , 'Indio', TSKFL × CTC13 – 012 and TSKC × CTQT1434 – 001, RLCNPMF – 004, TSKC x TRFD -007, TSKC x CTSW-041 and MXWL × LHA – 004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fertigated area of the Brazilian citrus industry has grown rapidly during recent years, and an efficient management of nitrogen (N) application at these sites is required for sustainable citrus production. Therefore, a field trial with Valencia orange trees [ Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] on Swingle citrumelo rootstock ( Citrus paradise Macfad. x Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) was conducted for 8 years to evaluate the effects of N rates (80, 160, 240 and 320 kg ha-1 y-1) applied by fertigation, either as ammonium nitrate (AN) or calcium nitrate (CN), on soil solution dynamics, fruit yield, nutritional status, and N-use efficiency (NUE) of trees. The maximum fruit yield was reached with 240 kg N ha-1 for AN, whereas a linear response and greater fruit yield was observed for N supplied as CN. The NUE was reduced for both N forms with increasing N rates. However, the NUE for CN was 14 to 38% greater than the NUE for AN. The lower fruit yield and NUE for AN compared to CN-treated trees was associated with the increased acidification of the soil solution with increased AN rates (pH ≤ 4.0). This limited nitrification resulted in a high ammonium (NH $ _4^+ $) concentration in the soil solution and a reduction in the net absorption of cations by the trees, particularly calcium (Ca). Due to the improved ion balance as well as the higher pH of the soil solution (pH ≥ 6.3) and diminished NH $ _4^+ $ availability, gains in both fruit yield and NUE in fertigated citrus groves in tropical soils can be obtained with the use of CN as a source of N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a scarce, strategic resource and the most important input for economic development, especially in agricultural countries such as Brazil. Cocoa production is directly related to water availability, and, as climate changes, selecting drought-tolerant genotypes is vital to keep cacao crops sustainable. Here, we evaluated cacao genotypes under irrigated and water-stressed conditions and selected drought-tolerant ones based on nutritional and physiological traits. Thirty-nine genotypes were monitored for three years for agronomic traits and higher fruit yield. After this evaluation, the 18 most promising genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design, under a 2 (with and without irrigation) × 18 (genotypes) factorial arrangement, with three replicates and five plants per plot. We evaluated seven physiological and 11 nutritional traits, selecting genotypes based on the Genotype-by-Trait Biplot approach. Significant effects (p < 0.05) were observed for the nutritional traits N, P, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Mn and for the physiological traits CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), intercellular and atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ci/Ca), intrinsic water use efficiency (A/gs), instantaneous water use efficiency (A/E), and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (A/Ci), as determined by analysis of variance. The genotype × irrigation treatment interaction was significant (p < 0.05) for the traits A, gs, and E. Genotypes CP 41, CP 43, and CCN 51 exhibited superior performance for both nutritional and physiological traits (A, gs, and E). In the irrigated environment, CP 41 showed superiority in traits such as P, A/E, A/gs, Mn, S, and Zn. Conversely, under non-irrigated conditions, CP 43 exhibited better performance in nutritional properties, specifically Mn, Mg, and Zn. Notably, in both irrigated and non-irrigated environments, CCN 51 excelled in key physiological traits, including A/Ci, A/E, and A/gs. This robust performance across diverse conditions suggests that these three genotypes possess physiological mechanisms to endure water-stressed conditions. Our research can generate valuable insights into these genotypes informing suitable choices for cocoa cultivation, especially in the context of global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low fruit set is one of the main factors leading to poor yield of pear orchards in Brazil. Early spring exogenous application of aminoethoxyvinilglycine (AVG) has shown promising results to increase fruit set and yield in some pear cultivars. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate fruit set, yield and fruit quality of ‘Rocha’ pear trees in response to different rates of AVG (0, 60, 80 and 100 mg L −1 ) sprayed seven days after full bloom (DAFB). The study was performed during the 2016/2017 growing season, in an eight-year-old ‘Rocha’ pear orchard grafted onto quince rootstock ‘BA29′. Flowers were collected in the field two days after AVG application and assessed for ethylene production rate. Fruit set, number of fruits per tree, average fruit weight, yield, projected yield, number of thinned fruits, fruit quality, seed number and return bloom were also assessed. AVG significantly reduced ethylene production rate while fruit set and yield were increased in a rate-dependent manner. Fruit weight was reduced but as a direct effect of higher crop load induced by AVG. Return bloom was negatively affected only in response to AVG 100 mg L −1 . These results implicate AVG as a potential tool to increase fruit set and yield of ‘Rocha’ pear trees in the climatic conditions of Southern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 'Swingle' citrumelo and 'C-13' citrange enhanced 'Salustiana' sweet orange yield. • Fruit from all rootstocks exhibited acceptable physicochemical traits. • 'Rangpur' lime did not promote substantial growth of 'Salustiana' sweet orange trees. • 'Salustiana' sweet orange may be a profitable option for diversifying citrus production in Southern Brazil. Rootstocks play an important role in the agronomic performance of the citrus tree. Due to intense disease pressure in most citrus growing regions, particularly the humid subtropics, grove diversification by increasing rootstock genetic diversity can promote resilience. We evaluated the performance of 'Salustiana' sweet orange grafted on five different rootstocks over ten cropping seasons (2008–2017) under the subtropical edaphoclimatic conditions of State of Paraná, Southern Brazil. The experiment was a randomized block design with six replicates of the rootstocks 'Rangpur' lime, 'Cleopatra' mandarin, 'Sunki' mandarin, 'Swingle' citrumelo, and 'C-13' citrange. 'Salustiana' scions were assessed for vegetative growth, fruit quality, and yield. Further, rootstock stability was also analyzed, and new grove planting density and yield estimated. 'Rangpur' lime is the most frequently planted rootstock in Brazil, however it significantly reduced overall tree size of 'Salustiana' compared to all other rootstocks. Trees on all five rootstocks produced fruits with physicochemical properties that meet the requirements for both the fresh market and the juice processing industry. 'Salustiana' scions on 'C-13' and 'Swingle' produced the highest cumulative yields and they were twice as productive as the ones on 'Rangpur'. Rootstock clearly impacts yield estimation indices for 'Salustiana' trees. Tree performance is enhanced when grafted on 'C-13' citrange and 'Swingle' citrumelo, reaching good stability across ten years of fruit yield. Both of these rootstocks have great potential for application in new citrus plantings in Southern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional nutrient ranges are commonly used to diagnose plant nutrient status. In contrast, local diagnosis confronts unhealthy to healthy compositional entities in comparable surroundings. Robust local diagnosis requires well-documented data sets processed by machine learning and compositional methods. Our objective was to customize nutrient diagnosis of peach (Prunus persica) trees at local scale. We collected 472 observations from commercial orchards and fertilizer trials across eleven cultivars of Prunus persica and six rootstocks in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The random forest classification model returned an area under curve exceeding 0.80 and classification accuracy of 80% about yield cutoff of 16 Mg ha−1. Centered log ratios (clr) of foliar defective compositions have appropriate geometry to compute Euclidean distances from closest successful compositions in "enchanting islands". Successful specimens closest to defective specimens as shown by Euclidean distance allow reaching trustful fruit yields using site-specific corrective measures. Comparing tissue composition of low-yielding orchards to that of the closest successful neighbors in two major Brazilian peach-producing regions, regional diagnosis differed from local diagnosis, indicating that regional standards may fail to fit local conditions. Local diagnosis requires well-documented Humboldtian data sets that can be acquired through ethical collaboration between researchers and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and the high demand for food production has caused environmental degradation losses in biodiversity. The conservation of genetic resources is the most appropriate strategy for maintaining the variability of species of great importance, such as Capsicum. In this study, we describe the characterization of 69 pepper accessions of four Capsicum species from different regions of Brazil on the basis of qualitative and quantitative descriptors and ISSR markers. The 11 quantitative descriptors grouped the 69 populations into five clades. The fruit traits had the greater discrimination power. A strong correlation was detected between some pairs of quantitative descriptors: petiole and fruit length, fruit diameter and fresh fruit mass, leaf length and leaf width, canopy and plant height, stem diameter and plant height, stem diameter and canopy diameter. A negative correlation was also observed between plant height and pericarp thickness. Moreover, the molecular analysis grouped accessions into five clades. The morpho-agronomic and molecular characterization were efficient to estimate the genetic diversity between accessions, being important tools for the knowledge and use of accessions. This study is of great importance to preserve pepper germplasm and to provide data to facilitate the process of the selection in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazil is one of top 10 countries with the highest number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM), affecting 16.8 million peoples. It is estimated that 7.7 million people (20–79 years) in the country have not yet been diagnosed, representing an under-diagnosis rate of 46.0%. Herein we aimed to screen people for high blood glucose or risk for developing type 2 DM (T2DM) through community pharmacies in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in November 2018, involving 977 pharmacists from 345 municipalities in Brazil. The study evaluated people between 20 and 79 years old without a previous diagnosis of DM. Glycemia was considered high when its value was ≥ 100 mg/dL fasting and ≥ 140 mg/dL in a casual feeding state. The FINDRISC (Finnish Diabetes Risk Score) was used to estimate the risk for developing T2DM. The prevalence of high blood glucose was estimated and the associated factors were obtained using Poisson's multivariate analysis with robust variance. Results: During the national screening campaign, 17,580 people were tested with the majority of the consultations (78.2%) being carried out in private pharmacies. The population was composed mainly of women (59.5%) and people aged between 20 and 45 years (47.9%). The frequency of participants with high blood glucose was 18.4% (95% CI 17.9–19.0). Considering the FINDRISC, 22.7% of people had a high or very high risk for T2DM. The risk factors associated with high blood glucose were: Body Mass Index > 25 kg/m2, abdominal circumference > 94 cm for men and > 80 cm for women; education level below 15 years of study, no daily intake of vegetables and fruits; previous diagnosis of arterial hypertension; history of high blood glucose and family history of DM. Conclusions: This is the largest screening study that evaluated the frequency of high blood glucose and its associated factors in a population without a previous diagnosis ever performed in community pharmacies in Brazil. These results may help to improve public health policies and reinforce the role of pharmacists in screening and education actions aimed at this undiagnosed population in a continent-size country such as Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the adaptability and yield stability of different peach rootstock genotypes in subtropical climate in an experiment in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Twenty-one rootstocks under the scion cultivar 'BRS Libra' and one genotype from self-rooted nursery trees were evaluated. The 22 genotypes were evaluated as fruit set and fruit yield in the growing seasons 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18. Adaptability and stability were measured by the GGE biplot method. In the four years of evaluation, plants from self-rooted nursery trees had higher fruit set, yield as well as greater stability. On the other hand, the instability of plants grown on rootstocks from species other than the scion cultivar was greater. It can be concluded that under the tested conditions, the self-rooted genotype of 'BRS Libra' is a potential alternative for peach growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The boundary line (BL) method allowed defining critical levels. • Soil fertility classes and leaf sufficiency ranges were obtained for 'Prata' banana. • Diagnostic standards should be regional. Reliable standards for interpreting chemical analysis of soil and leaves are indispensable for the rational use of fertilizers and optimization of yield in banana orchards. The objective of this study was to establish critical levels, soil fertility classes and leaf nutrient sufficiency ranges for the banana cultivar 'Prata', using the Boundary Line (BL) approach. Data on fruit yield and chemical analysis of soil and leaves, collected from 2010 to 2017 in commercial plots, were used. Scatter plots relating yield to soil fertility attributes/leaf nutrient contents were created. Subsequently, BLs and equations were established to estimate fertility classes and sufficiency ranges. The fertility classes obtained were 6.8–7.2 for pH, 15.4–24.0 g dm−3 for OM, 72.5–145.5 mg dm−3 for P, 109.2–192.3 mg dm−3 for K, 3.3–6.1 cmol c dm−3 for Ca, 0.5–1.2 cmol c dm−3 for Mg, 4.7–8.2 cmol c dm−3 for SB, 6.0–9.6 cmol c dm−3 for CEC and 76.5–83.8 % for V. The appropriate ranges of leaf contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S for banana were 19.8-21.9 g kg−1, 1.4–2.0 g kg−1, 26.5–35.6 g kg−1, 5.4–7.3 g kg−1, 2.0–2.6 g kg−1 and 1.3–1.6 g kg−1, respectively. The ranges of B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Na contents were 5.8–11.8 mg kg−1, 5.0–8.1 mg kg−1, 56.3–72.6 mg kg−1, 102.1–199.5 mg kg−1, 13.5–18.2 mg kg−1 and 29.8–55.4 mg kg−1, respectively. Leaf analysis is an important tool for evaluating the nutritional status of banana plants. Establishing these diagnostic standards for the current growing conditions allows the rational use of correctives and fertilizers, besides the obtaining of higher yields of 'Prata' banana in the Ceará state, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the citriculture in Brazil is located in the state of São Paulo, with a total production area of 700,000 ha. Trees are grafted mostly on ‘Rangpur’ lime (RL; Citrus limonia Osbeck) rootstock. Despite its good horticultural performance, use of other rootstocks has increased with the search for disease-tolerant varieties to improve grove productivity and longevity. Furthermore, there is a lack of information on young tree response to fertilization, and optimal nutrient requirements of different scion/rootstock combinations for maximum fruit yield. A network of field experiments was conducted to study the differential response of young sweet orange trees on selected rootstocks to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization. The application of soil and leaf analyses to develop optimal fertilizer recommendations was evaluated. Experiments were conducted in three locations using fractional factorial design of one-half (4 × 4 × 4) type with four rates of N, P, or K calculated to be applied for five years after tree planting. Fruit yield response was evaluated during the last two years and correlated with soil and leaf analyses data. The trees on RL rootstock demonstrated increased efficiency of nutrient use and fruit production compared with those on ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin (CL; C. reshni hort. ex Tanaka) or ‘Swingle’ citrumelo [SW; Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. × C. × paradisi Macfad.] rootstocks. The trees on SW rootstock appeared to require greater N and K rates than those on RL rootstock. Phosphorus requirement was greater for ‘Natal’ or ‘Valencia’ trees on CL than on RL rootstock. These results will become the basis for revising current fertilizer recommendation guidelines for young trees in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]