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The objective this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of ascorbic acid – AsA on the production and postharvest quality of sour passion fruit under deficit irrigation strategies. The experimental design was randomised blocks, in a split-plot scheme, with plots consisting of six strategies of irrigation with water deficit, based on crop evapotranspiration – ETc (irrigation with 100% ETc during the entire cycle – S1; irrigation with 50% ETc in the different stages: vegetative – S2; flowering – S3; fruiting – S4; and successively in the vegetative/flowering stages – S5; and vegetative/fruiting stages – S6) and three concentrations of AsA (0, 88.06 and 176.12 mg/L), with three replicates and three plants per plot. Water deficit reduces the production of sour passion fruit, regardless of the phenological stage of the plants without AsA application. Irrigation with water deficit in the flowering stage (50% of crop evapotranspiration) reduces the physical and chemical quality of sour passion fruits. Ascorbic acid in applied levels was effective in alleviating the effects of water deficit on production, with emphasis on the concentration of 176.12 mg/L on the quality of sour passion fruits, in the period from 160 to 220 days after transplanting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are a fruit vegetable with great culinary versatility and present important nutritional properties for human health. Water deficit negatively affects the nutritional quality of green peppers' fruits. This study aimed to investigate the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), associated with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), on the post-harvest nutritional quality of green peppers subjected to water deficit. In an open-field experiment, two irrigation levels (50 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (Etc)), four treatments composed of a combination of ZnONPs, zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and PGPB (T1 = ZnSO4 via leaves, T2 = ZnONPs via leaves, T3 = ZnONPs via leaves + PGPB via soil, T4 = ZnSO4 via soil + PGPB via soil), and a control treatment (Control) were tested. Water deficit or water deficit mitigation treatments did not interfere with the physical–chemical parameters (except vitamin C content) and physical color parameters (except the lightness) of green peppers. On average, the water deficit reduced the levels of Ca (−13.2%), Mg (−8.5%), P (−8.5%), K (−8.6%), Mn (−10.5%), Fe (−12.2%), B (−12.0%), and Zn (−11.5%) in the fruits. Under the water deficit condition, ZnONPs or ZnSO4 via foliar, associated or not with PGPB, increased the levels of Ca (+57% in the T2 and +69.0% in the T2), P, Mg, and Fe in the fruits. At 50% Etc, the foliar application of ZnONPs in association with PGPB increases vitamin C and mineral nutrients' contents and nutritional quality index (+12.0%) of green peppers. Applying Zn via foliar as ZnONPs or ZnSO4 mitigated the negative effects of water deficit on the quality of pepper fruits that were enhanced by the Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens inoculation. The ZnONPs source was more efficient than the ZnSO4 source. The water deficit alleviating effect of both zinc sources was enhanced by the PGPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to assess the yield and postharvest characteristics of 'BRS Sol do Cerrado' sour passion fruits based on irrigation with varying levels of saline water and potassium fertilization. The study was conducted under field conditions at an experimental farm in São Domingos, Paraíba, Brazil. A randomized block design was implemented in a 5 × 4 factorial arrangement, with five levels of electrical conductivity of water (ECw): 0.3, 1.1, 1.9, 2.7, and 3.5 dS m−1, and four potassium doses (KD): 60, 80,100, and 120% of the recommended amount, with 3 replications. The potassium dose equivalent to 120% of the recommended dose in combination with low-salinity water resulted in the highest fresh mass accumulation in the sour passion fruit. Water electrical conductivity up to 2.7 dS m−1, along with the lowest recommended KD, led to increased levels of soluble solids and ascorbic acid in the sour passion fruit. Irrigation with water of 3.5 dS m−1 and using 80 to 100% of the recommended KD enhanced the total sugar content in the sour passion fruit. On the other hand, irrigation with water of 3.5 dS m−1 combined with 60% of the recommended KD resulted in a higher pulp yield in the 'BRS Sol do Cerrado' sour passion fruit 160 days post-transplantation. Adjustments in potassium fertilization management at different irrigation water salinity levels played a crucial role in maintaining both the production and quality of the sour passion fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Indian cherry stands out in the Brazilian fruit scenario due to the nutritional quality of its fruits, making it a promising crop in the generation of employment and income. However, the occurrence of water sources with high concentrations of salts is a limiting factor for the expansion of crop area. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the production and post-harvest quality of West Indian cherry cv. BRS 366 Jaburu under prolonged saline stress and potassium-phosphorus fertilization combinations in the second year of cultivation. The experiment was carried out in 250 L lysimeters in a greenhouse in the municipality of Campina Grande-PB, Brazil. Treatments were distributed in randomized blocks in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, with five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.6, 1.4, 2.2, 3.0, and 3.8 dS m-1) and four combinations of potassium- phosphorus fertilization (100/100, 85/85, 60/60, and 45/45% of K2O/P2O5 recommendation for the second year of cultivation) with three replicates. Irrigation water salinity of up to 3.8 dS m-1 does not compromise the post-harvest quality of West Indian cherry. The increase in water salinity reduces mean fruit weight and water consumption of plants, while waters with electrical conductivities of 3.0 and 2.0 dS m-1 promote the maximum values of total soluble solids and ascorbic acid in the fruits, respectively. The supply of 45/45% K2O/P2O5 of the fertilization recommendation provides the higher content of ascorbic acid in West Indian cherry fruits and, when associated with ECw of 1.4 dS m-1, promotes the higher production of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to analyze the application of a seaweed biofertilizer as an attenuator of salt stress on the morphophysiology of scarlet eggplants. The experiment was carried out under protected conditions in Areia, PB, Brazil, using an incomplete factorial arrangement in a randomized block design with four replications and two plants per plot by adopting the Box Central Composite Design with five electrical conductivities of irrigation water – ECiw (0.50 – control, 1.15, 2.75, 4.35 and 5.00 dS m−1) and five concentrations of seaweed biofertilizer (0 – control, 1.45, 5.00, 8.55 and 10 mL L−1). The electrical conductivity of irrigation water at values starting at 0.5 dS m−1 negatively affected the growth of scarlet eggplants. Therefore, the crop is considered sensitive to salt accumulation. The increase in electrical conductivity of irrigation water negatively affected the morphophysiology of scarlet eggplants, with reductions higher than 10% at electrical conductivity values higher than 1.37 dS m−1. Biofertilization at 6.67 mL L−1 mitigates the effects of salt stress on the gas exchange variables and the phytomass accumulation of scarlet eggplants 60 days after sowing. The seaweed biofertilizer can be used to improve the physiological and morphological performance of scarlet eggplants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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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 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 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 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 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 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.)