Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is widely cultivated. It shows moderate tolerance to water deficit, but suffers yield losses in the arid and semi-arid regions where it is grown. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPZnO), in association with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), on the post-harvest quality of eggplant subjected to water deficit. Two irrigation percentages relative to potential evapotranspiration-ETo (50 and 100% ETo) and five combinations involving NPZnO or PGPB were studied. Number of commercial fruits per plant and weight of commercial fruits per plant, diameter, length, skin color, firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids, SS/TA, vitamin C and total soluble sugars were evaluated. There was strong positive correlation between weight of commercial fruits per plant, SS/TA, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, lightness and vitamin C in the treatments containing ZnSO₄, NPZnO and PGPB. Water deficit and nanoparticles containing zinc, associated or not with bacteria that promote plant growth, did not influence the weight and average size of the fruits and the post-harvest quality of the eggplant crop. Water deficit reduced the chromaticity and lightness of the skin color and the vitamin C content of eggplant.

This study aimed to develop and characterize biodegradable films made from pectin, pomegranate seed oil, and different microalgae (Spirulina platensis, Chlorella sp., and Scenedesmus obliquus) and to evaluate their applicability as packaging by verifying their effect on the conservation and postharvest quality of cajarana (Spondias dulcis). The films proposed in this study were assessed for their physical, optical, and mechanical attributes, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits coated with the films after 14 days of storage at 10 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 60 ± 5%. Incorporating microalgae improved the homogeneity and mechanical properties, decreasing breaking stress, elastic modulus, and maximum tensile strength, contributing to a lower solubility and improving the barrier properties of the films compared to the control (T1). The film formulated with 6% citric pectin, 40% glycerin, 0.5 mL·L⁻¹ pomegranate seed oil (PSO), and 0.05% Scenedesmus obliquus showed better performance in solubility, water vapor permeability (WVP), and mechanical properties, maintaining gloss and transparency, approaching the performance of the commercial PVC film. The film was formulated with 6% pectin + 40% glycerin + 0.5 mL·L⁻¹ PSO + 0.05% Chlorella sp. maintained the postharvest quality of cajarana fruits, allowing the conservation of the physicochemical quality of the fruits after 14 days of storage at 10 ± 1 °C and 60 ± 5% RH.

Water scarcity has intensified the use of saline water in irrigated agriculture, compromising the physiological performance and production of crops, particularly okra. Among management strategies, potassium fertilization has stood out as a promising alternative in mitigating the effects of salt stress on plants. The objective was to evaluate the influence of potassium fertilization on gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and production components of okra under irrigation with saline water. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a 5 × 5 factorial arrangement, with five irrigation water salinity levels (ECw = 0.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, and 4.3 dS m-1) and five potassium doses (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150% of the recommended K2O dose), with 100% corresponding to 150 mg K2O kg-1 of soil, with three replications. Gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and production components of okra were evaluated. Salinity levels above 0.3 dS m-1 reduced the quantum efficiency of photosystem II, fruit length, and fresh fruit weight of okra cv. Santa Cruz. Fertilization with 150% of the recommended K2O dose decreased stomatal conductance, transpiration, and the CO2 assimilation rate of okra irrigated with water of 4.3 dS m-1. Under semi-arid edaphoclimatic conditions, fertilization with 150% K2O mitigated the effects of salt stress on the fruit diameter of okra irrigated under an ECw of 4.3 dS m-1.

A soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) é uma das principais commodities agrícolas globais, com destaque para o Brasil, maior produtor e exportador mundial. No estado de Mato Grosso, a microrregião do Norte Araguaia vem se consolidando como nova fronteira agrícola, tendo o município de Confresa como um dos principais polos dessa expansão. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a dinâmica produtiva da soja em Confresa entre 2010 e 2023. Os dados foram obtidos junto à Pesquisa Agrícola Municipal (PAM), do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), abrangendo seis variáveis agrícolas. Para compreender as relações entre essas variáveis e a evolução da produção, foram utilizadas Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) e Análise de Agrupamento Hierárquico (HCA), esta última acompanhada por mapas de calor. Os resultados evidenciaram uma expressiva expansão da sojicultura no município, com aumento da área plantada de 810 ha (2010) para 55.370 ha (2023) e da produção de 2.430 toneladas para mais de 200 mil toneladas, representando um crescimento superior a 8.130%. O valor da produção passou de R$ 1,38 milhão em 2010 para R$ 649 milhões em 2022. A ACP apontou que esse crescimento esteve fortemente associado à expansão da área cultivada, enquanto a produtividade teve influência secundária. A HCA identificou quatro grupos temporais distintos, com os anos mais recentes apresentando os melhores indicadores produtivos. Diante do protagonismo da soja na economia local, destaca-se a importância do planejamento e da adoção de estratégias voltadas à sustentabilidade da atividade agrícola no município.

In Northeastern Brazil, agricultural cultivation can be limited by excess soil salinity, which poses a challenge to crop production. To mitigate the impacts of salt stress on plants, it is necessary to develop appropriate technologies; the use of organomineral fertilizers based on biological inputs—such as mycorrhizal fungi—stands out among these. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigment contents, and production components of colored-fiber cotton grown in salinized soil under concentrations of an organomineral fertilizer based on mycorrhizal fungi. The experiment was carried out under field conditions at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal campus, PB, Brazil, using a randomized block design, in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, referring to five electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECse) levels (3.7, 4.9, 6.1, 7.3 and 8.5 dS m⁻¹) and four concentrations of an organomineral fertilizer based on mycorrhizal fungi (FMF = 0—Control; 1.5, 2.5 and 4.5 g L⁻¹). Soil salinity of 5.0 dS m⁻¹ inhibited growth and gas exchange of colored-fiber cotton. The 2.7 g L⁻¹ concentration improved water use efficiency in cotton plants up to 4.9 dS m⁻¹. The application of up to 1.9 g L⁻¹ increased photosynthetic pigment synthesis under ECse levels of up to 5.8 dS m⁻¹. Application of FMF at 2.5 g L⁻¹ increased cotton production at ECse levels up to 5.5 dS m⁻¹. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the use of an organomineral fertilizer based on mycorrhizal fungi proves to be an efficient strategy for producers in arid and semi-arid regions, which are frequently affected by excess soil salinity.

Banana is a nutritious food of great global economic importance. However, water deficit negatively impacts banana plant development. Therefore, it is essential to study efficient water use and develop technologies capable of maintaining fruit quality after harvest, extending the shelf life, and reducing losses. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of post-harvest applications of salicylic acid, gibberellic acid, and Trichoderma harzianum on ‘Nanicão’ banana fruits produced under controlled water deficit during different phenological stages, aiming to extend the shelf life and maintain nutritional quality. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, comprising four irrigation management strategies based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc)—100% ETc throughout the cultivation cycle (E1) and 50% ETc during the juvenile stage (E2), fruiting stage (E3), and both juvenile/fruiting stages (E4)—and four post-harvest fruit conservation strategies: WC, control (distilled water); GA3, 200 mg L⁻¹ of gibberellic acid; SA, 4.5 mM of salicylic acid; and TRIC, 1.5 mL L⁻¹ of Trichoderma harzianum. There were four replications. The use of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹ is the most effective strategy to extend the shelf life and maintain the post-harvest quality of ‘Nanicão’ banana fruits produced under water restrictions during the juvenile stage.