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

The propagation of citrus seedlings is accomplished through grafting, utilizing seeds for the production of rootstocks. The germination of certain seeds may be low and uneven, complicating the production of high-quality seedlings. The use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is a viable alternative to improve the quality of seedling production, as these compounds can break dormancy, control the hydrolysis of reserves, induce cell division, and regulate permeability and protein functions. This study aimed to evaluate the germination of seeds and the growth of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia L. Osbeck) seedlings under the influence of imbibition in solutions of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and a combination of GA₄₊₇ + 6Benzyladenine. The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory and greenhouse conditions, using a completely randomized design in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with two types of plant regulators (GA₃ and GA₄₊₇ + 6BA) at five concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L⁻¹ a.i.). Quantitative and qualitative variables were evaluated, ranging from seed germination to seedling development and formation, including germination percentage and speed index, fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots, enzymatic activity, and gas exchange. The results indicate that GA₃ significantly accelerates the germination process of Rangpur lime cv. Santa Cruz seeds and promotes better seedling growth and development, resulting in vigorous seedlings. These findings demonstrate that the application of PGRs, particularly GA₃, can substantially enhance the propagation efficiency of citrus rootstocks, offering a practical solution for improving the uniformity and quality of seedling production in commercial settings.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the phenological patterns, vegetative growth, and yield characteristics of fig (Ficus carica)varieties in Southeastern Brazil. The 'Roxo de Valinhos', White Genova, PI-189, and Troyano varieties were distributed in a randomized complete block design and evaluated in the field. The following characteristics were assessed: number of days between pruning and the beginning of sprouting; leaf chlorophyll content; number of shoots on each branch; length, diameter, and number of internodes on each branch; number of leaves per plant; leaf area; number of fruit per plant; mass, length, and diameter of fruit; production and yield; and duration (days) of each phenological stage, such as thermal requirement models. 'Roxo de Valinhos' and White Genova sprouted the fastest and showed the largest number of shoots. Troyano obtained the greatest branch length and diameter, as well as the greatest number of fruit per plant, which had the shortest diameter and length and the lowest mass of fruit. Furthermore, Troyano showed the latest harvest, besides the thermal requirement of 4,577.31 degree-days. 'Roxo de Valinhos' and White Genova produced fruit with the greatest average mass and diameter and the longest length. Troyano shows better vegetative growth and produces more fruit per plant than 'Roxo de Valinhos', but both genotypes show similar yields.

Com o intuito de avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de composto orgânico nas propriedades químicas do solo cultivado com bananeira 'Prata-anã' (Musa AAB), foi desenvolvido o presente trabalho na Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP, Botucatu-SP. O plantio foi realizado no mês de novembro de 2002, com mudas convencionais, adotando-se o espaçamento de 2,5 x 2,5 m. O composto orgânico foi produzido com serragem de madeira e esterco de bovino, sendo os tratamentos empregados constituídos das seguintes doses de composto: T1 = 0 g planta-1 de K2O (dose zero do composto - Testemunha); T2 = 98,5 g planta-1 de K2O (43 kg planta-1 de composto); T3 = 197,0 g planta-1 de K2O (86 kg planta-1 de composto); T4 = 290,5 g planta-1 de K2O (129 kg planta-1 de composto); T5 = 394,0 g planta-1 de K2O (172 kg planta-1 de composto), sendo essas doses calculadas de acordo com o teor de potássio presente no mesmo. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados, com 5 tratamentos, 5 repetições e 2 plantas por parcela. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e à análise de regressão. Aos quatro meses após a aplicação da última parcela da adubação com composto orgânico, realizou-se amostragem de solo da camada de 0 a 20 cm e foram avaliadas as propriedades químicas do solo. A adubação orgânica promoveu incrementos no pH, matéria orgânica, fósforo, cálcio, soma de bases, CTC e saturação por bases do solo.

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

Bananas fruits are widely consumed in the world. In Brazil, the role of agriculture activities in the economy and society is huge, especially for banana farmers. The most popular variety of bananas in Brazil are Prata, Grand Naine, Williams and Nanicão; however, all of them have at least one undesirable trait such as height, yield, vegetative cycle, pests and diseases tolerances, drought or cold resistance and fruit quality. This literature review aims to evaluate agronomic performance and fruit quality of new genotypes of the Prata and Cavendish subgroups, and to make further recommendations on high quality genotypes to Brazilian banana producers. Therefore, a literature review of previously acquired data was conducted and the outcomes indicated genotypes’ adaptability to specific region that assessed vegetative and productive attributes of new cultivars, in comparison to most commercially exploited ones, which have already shown high vulnerability to pests and diseases. These outcomes will then facilitate banana producers the opportunity to select the most stable and adaptable genotypes according to environmental conditions. Bananas fruits are widely consumed in the world. In Brazil, the role of agriculture activities in the economy and society is huge, especially for banana farmers. The most popular variety of bananas in Brazil are Prata, Grand Naine, Williams and Nanicão; however, all of them have at least one undesirable trait such as height, yield, vegetative cycle, pests and diseases tolerances, drought or cold resistance and fruit quality. This literature review aims to evaluate agronomic performance and fruit quality of new genotypes of the Prata and Cavendish subgroups, and to make further recommendations on high quality genotypes to Brazilian banana producers. Therefore, a literature review of previously acquired data was conducted and the outcomes indicated genotypes’ adaptability to specific region that assessed vegetative and productive attributes of new cultivars, in comparison to most commercially exploited ones, which have already shown high vulnerability to pests and diseases. These outcomes will then facilitate banana producers the opportunity to select the most stable and adaptable genotypes according to environmental conditions.