Umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda, Anacardiaceae) is a fruit species native to the semi-arid region of Brazil and economically important for several regions. The objective of this study was to determine equations to estimate the leaflet area of S. tuberosa genotypes. A total of 1,000 leaflets was collected from four genotypes (250 leaflets of each genotype) of S. tuberosa. In each leaflet collected, the length, width, and leaflet area were measured, and the product between length and width was calculated. Linear, linear with intercept, power, and exponential regression models were used to fit the equations. The criteria for choosing the best equation were based on Pearson’s correlation coefficients, Akaike’s information criteria, Willmott’s concordance indices, and root mean square error. The product-adjusted equations between length and width can be used to estimate the leaflet area of all S. tuberosa genotypes. The leaflet area of the species (pooled data) can be estimated accurately and quickly from equations obtained with the linear models without intercept (ŷ = 0.6911*LW) and power (ŷ = 0.7127*LW^0.9888).

Proper salinity concentration can positively impact the growth of sunflower plants. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the sunflower BRS 323 with regard to the effects of salinity and the use of pyroligneous solution as a salt stress mitigator. The experiment was conducted in a plant nursery. The experimental design was completely randomized, in 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with four replications, with one plant per plot. The treatments corresponded to five electrical conductivity levels of irrigation water: 0.75 dS m^-1 (control); 1.65; 1.95; 2.65 and 2.85 dS m^-1, obtained by dissolving sodium chloride, and two conditions of pyroligneous solution application , with and without. Weekly, the plants were evaluated for growth in height, diameter, and leaf area. Also, the values of the indices of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, shoot and root fresh and dry mass, and flower bud fresh and dry mass were evaluated 50 days after sowing, corresponding to the end of the experimental phase. The results suggest that the pyroligneous solution, at the concentration tested, can be recommended to increase the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll. Moderate salt stress of 1.65 dS m^-1 promoted an increase in the growth parameters of sunflower plants.

Fig tree growth and development are highly susceptible to variations influenced by abiotic factors and management practices, including fertilization and training systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilization on the photosynthetic, nutritional, and productive efficiency of fig trees subjected to different training systems in semi-arid regions. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, with three blocks and three plants per plot. The treatments consisted of five fertilizer sources (mineral fertilizer (NPK) applied at a dose of 126 g N, 90 g P, and 90 g K per plant (M); and four organic sources—cattle manure (CM), organic compost (OC), chicken litter (CL), and sheep manure (SM), all applied at a dose of 10 kg per plant); and four types of training systems (plants with two branches (2B), three branches (3B), four branches (4B), and espalier). Our results demonstrated that the mineral fertilizer (M) and chicken litter (CL) treatments yielded the highest results, particularly in photosynthetic performance. Fig trees fertilized with mineral fertilizer and subjected to the 3B system showed enhanced net photosynthesis (36.96 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and, consequently, higher productivity of 21.28 t ha⁻¹. Similarly, plants fertilized with chicken litter (CL) under the 4B system produced comparable results. These findings demonstrate that the use of mineral and organic fertilizers, combined with an appropriate training system, is a viable strategy for optimizing fig productivity and profitability in semi-arid conditions.

Water scarcity in the Brazilian semiarid region impairs the production of fruit crop rootstocks. Thus, the use of new technologies, such as superabsorbent polymers, becomes essential to improve water management and crop performance. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate different applications of a superabsorbent polymer and irrigation frequencies on the production of guava rootstocks. The experiment was conducted in a rootstock nursery, following a randomized block design in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to four doses of the superabsorbent polymer (0.0, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 g L-1) and three irrigation frequencies (F1 - daily irrigation, F2 - irrigation on alternate days, and F3 - irrigation every two days), with four replications. Plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves, root length (RL), rootstock dry mass, PH/SD ratio, PH/SDM ratio, SDM/RDM ratio, and total chlorophyll index (CI) were evaluated. The application of the superabsorbent polymer had a negative effect on rootstock growth under F1, regardless of the dose. However, RL decreased with increasing hydrogel doses under all irrigation frequencies. The application of superabsorbent polymer, combined with reduced irrigation frequencies, resulted in higher total dry mass accumulation in the rootstocks. A superabsorbent polymer dose of 1.9 g L-1 increased CI when rootstocks were irrigated on alternate days and every two days. The dose of 1 g L-1 of the superabsorbent polymer combined with irrigation on alternate days provided the best performance in guava rootstock production.

Red pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) has gained prominence in the Brazilian semi-arid region due to its nutritional value and market potential. However, its post-harvest conservation is challenging, mainly due to rapid water loss and bract wilting, which limit its shelf life. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different coatings on the physicochemical quality of pitaya during post-harvest storage. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, evaluating four coatings (control, PVC film, potassium silicate, and potassium silicate + PVC combination) and four storage periods (0, 15, 18, and 21 days after harvest). The results indicated that PVC reduced mass loss, maintained titratable acidity, and increased the soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio by 56.4% with PVC and 48.7% with the potassium silicate + PVC combination, compared to the control treatment. In addition, the use of PVC and potassium silicate favored the preservation of vitamin C content, with an increase of 40% and 26.6%, respectively, compared to the control. Thus, the use of coatings such as potassium silicate and PVC is a promising strategy for preserving the quality attributes of pitaya fruit, favoring its insertion into more demanding markets.

Pitaya is a high-value tropical fruit with a postharvest life constrained by rapid physiological deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan-based (CH) biopolymeric coatings, enriched with ascorbic acid (AA), on the postharvest quality and preservation of pitaya fruits stored under refrigeration (12 °C). The fruits were subjected to different treatments and evaluated for biometric and physicochemical parameters, including weight loss, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and the SS/TA ratio throughout storage. The results demonstrated that the coatings significantly reduced weight loss (e.g., 4.15% for the CH4AA treatment) and contributed to the maintenance of quality attributes, delaying senescence-associated processes. Among the treatments, the combination of chitosan with ascorbic acid was the most effective in preserving fruit quality, extending the marketable shelf life from 10 to 20 days. These findings indicate that the use of biopolymeric coatings is a promising strategy to prolong the shelf life and maintain the postharvest quality of pitaya, with potential applications in commercial supply chains.