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.

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.

Some plants do not demand a lot of chilling hours, but methods to overcome dormancy promote more vigorous and productive plant. This study aimed to assess hydrogen cyanamide and nitrogen fertilizer with different concentration to growth and production in ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ fig tree. Two crop cycles (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) was performed in São Manuel city, São Paulo State, Brazil. Phenological and productive data was evaluated in a 2 x 5 factorial (Product x Concentration), organized in randomized complete block design, with three trees by plot. The factor products had as level hydrogen cyanamide and nitrogen fertilizer and the factor concentrations was constituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%. Furthermore, the following data was evaluated: number of days for budbreak, number of buds per plant, harvest period, branch length and diameter, leaf number, leaf area, number of fruits per plant, fruit mass, production and yield. Results indicated that both products anticipated the sprouting and promoted a higher number of buds overcome the dormancy. Plant production was higher in both cycles when the products were used (2.1 and 2.7, respectively). At last, hydrogen cyanamide showed better outcomes due to the higher number of fruits and production.

Calcium chloride application on fruits maintains the firmness of fruits, decreases storage breakdown and rot, extends shelf-life, and increases vitamin C and calcium content. Blackberries have low post-harvest durability due to the intrinsic characteristics of their fruits, mainly the high respiratory rate and low firmness, which causes problems in the production chain of fresh fruits. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest application of calcium chloride on the fruits of ‘Tupy’ blackberry (Rubus spp.). A randomized block design for a factorial scheme was used, i.e. calcium chloride concentrations (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5%) and number of applications (1, 2, and 3). Multiple applications occurred between 5-day intervals. The results showed that the calcium content in the fruits increased with a single application of 2.2%, but a decrease in mass loss was observed with a 4.5% application. The results also indicated great firmness and ascorbic acid content of fruits of ‘Tupy’ blackberry, in addition to the significant increase in fruit size and mass. However, in general, the content of soluble solids, sugars, antioxidant activity and total polyphenols decreased.

The yellow (Passiflora edulis) and sweet (Passiflora alata) passion fruit plants hold significant economic importance in tropical fruit cultivation, valued not only for the quality of their fruit but also for their medicinal properties. Conventional propagation through seeds faces challenges due to irregular and slow germination, affecting the time required for seedling formation and the viability and uniformity of plantations. The use of plant growth regulators has been explored as a strategy to overcome these barriers, improving both the rate and uniformity of seed germination. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of seed imbibition with plant growth regulators on the germination and subsequent growth of yellow and sweet passion fruit seedlings. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and GA₄₊₇ combined with 6-benzyladenine (GA₄₊₇+6BA) were applied in five different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L⁻¹ a.i.). The experiments were conducted in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions, following a completely randomized design with a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The varieties tested were ‘BRS Mel do Cerrado’ for sweet passion fruit and ‘IAC-275’ for yellow passion fruit. Quantitative parameters, such as germination percentage, germination speed index, fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots, and enzymatic activity, were assessed. The results indicated that GA₃, at higher concentrations, significantly enhanced both germination percentage and speed index in both Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis when compared to the control. Additionally, seedlings treated with GA₃ showed a marked increase in shoot and root biomass, particularly at concentrations of 500 and 750 mg L⁻¹. Enzymatic assays revealed heightened catalase and peroxidase activities in treated seedlings, indicating improved stress tolerance. In contrast, the GA₄₊₇+6BA treatment showed less pronounced effects on seedling growth. Overall, GA₃ was more effective in enhancing germination and seedling growth in both species, suggesting its potential application in improving the propagation of passion fruit.