The goal was to monitor the production and soil erosion in the “MATOPIBA” region in the last 20 years. The study monitored agricultural production in the Brazilian Savanna, situated in the States of Tocantins (TO), Maranhão (MA), Bahia (BA), and Piauí (PI). The results showed that soybean occupies the largest area, corn and cotton show oscillations and coffee and sugar cane remain with values without major changes. In the production routes, the production areas present a positive correlation with k-apexes higher than 0.60 (p<0.05), indicating there is an increase in areas and no negative influence between the crops. The highest average erosivity rates were found respectively in the states of Tocantins and Maranhão. Conclude that the region MATOPIBA presents great potential for Brazilian agriculture requiring private and public actions to make sustainable use of the region through advanced technologies with conservation systems to avoid soil and water losses.

Brazil, as one of the world’s leading fruit producers, faces increasing challenges arising from climate change, particularly in avocado cultivation, where excessive solar radiation and high temperatures impair plant metabolism, yield, and fruit quality. This study evaluated the use of a calcium and magnesium hydroxide-based sunscreen in mitigating heat stress in eight-year-old ‘Hass’ avocado trees. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a 4 × 8 factorial arrangement, with five replicates. Sunscreen applications were performed at full bloom and at the initial fruit development stage (18 mm). Leaf temperature, fruit drop rate, yield-related traits, fruit classification, and the percentage of fruit lesions were evaluated. Applications of the calcium and magnesium hydroxide-based sunscreen at concentrations of 3.0% and 4.5% (w/v) reduced leaf temperature and improved fruit biometric attributes compared to the control, although the maximum fruit diameter was achieved at the 2.6% concentration. The 4.5% sunscreen concentration reduced leaf temperature and fruit drop in ‘Hass’ avocado trees by 1.5 °C and 24.5%, respectively, compared with the control and decreased the percentage of small and damaged fruits. The application of sunscreen improved fruit weight and the percentage of fruits with higher market value, while the fruit diameter presented higher values at intermediate concentrations.

O abacateiro (Persea americana Mill.) apresenta elevada variabilidade genética, sendo classificado nas raças Mexicana, Guatemalense e Antilhana, além de seus híbridos. No cenário global, a cultivar ‘Hass’ domina cerca de 90% do mercado, enquanto no Brasil destacam-se variedades como Breda, Fortuna, Geada, Margarida e Quintal. A propagação da cultura ocorre por via sexuada (sementes) ou clonal (assexuada). O método por sementes é amplamente utilizado para a obtenção de porta-enxertos devido ao baixo custo e facilidade operacional, contudo, gera alta variabilidade genética, resultando em pomares heterogêneos e colheitas pouco previsíveis. Em contrapartida, a clonagem garante plantas geneticamente idênticas à matriz, facilitando o manejo e a colheita. Embora seja um processo mais oneroso e demorado, a via clonal é indispensável em cenários de estresse ambiental, sendo estrategicamente vantajosa para superar limitações como a salinidade, condições climáticas desfavoráveis ou solos contaminados pelo patógeno Phytophthora cinnamomi. Para o sucesso da implantação, é crucial diagnosticar os fatores limitantes da área. Porta-enxertos como Dusa, Duke 7 e R0.06 são indicados para enfrentar patógenos de solo, enquanto o ‘VC 152’ oferece maior tolerância a adversidades de clima e solo. Portanto, a escolha do método de multiplicação e do porta-enxerto deve basear-se em critérios técnicos e ambientais. Este capítulo detalha as variedades comerciais, os métodos de propagação, os benefícios da clonagem e as especificidades dos principais porta-enxertos disponíveis.