The effect of coatings with different concentrations of tamarind seed starch associated with pomegranate seed oil in ‘Paluma’ guava was investigated in the present work. The fruits were harvested from an orchard in the morning, packed in containers previously lined with paper, and transported to a laboratory, where they were selected, washed, sanitized, and separated at random for the application of each treatment. The experiment design used was completely randomized, in the 6 × 6 factorial scheme, six coatings and six evaluation periods, with 3 replicates made up of 2 fruits. The treatments were: T1 (control or reference sample), without coating; T2 (0.24 mL of pomegranate seed oil/mL of coating); T3 (2% tamarind starch); T4 (1% tamarind starch); T5 (2% of tamarind starch); T6 (3% tamarind starch), T4, T5 and T6 were associated with 0.24 mL/mL of the pomegranate seed oil. The treatments were applied under immersion of the fruits in the solutions and then stored in a refrigerated chamber at 10±2 °C and 80±5% RH, and the evaluations were performed at intervals of 3 days to 12 days of storage. Due to the maintenance of the quality of the fruits, and without sufficient material, it was decided to extend storage time until the 21 days. Thus, the analyses were performed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 21 days with evaluations at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 21 days. The T6 treatment (3% tamarind starch + 0.24 mL/mL pomegranate seed oil) was more efficient regarding luminosity (L*) of the fruits and delaying color development , expressed by the values of C*, also showing the higher retention in the loss of firmness, lower mass loss and lower soluble solids content, suggesting that this treatment possibly inhibited the degradation of polysaccharides, delaying the ripening process of the fruits.

It is very challenging to the quality of the papaya culture’s fruits (Carica papaya L.) after the crop, especially due to their significance to the international market, that is, their elevated exportation demands. The purpose of this work was the application of biodegradable coatings composed of Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. associated or not with pomegranate seed oil in ‘Golden’ papaya and to evaluate their effect in the conservation powder-crop. The installation of the experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with a 6 x 6 factorial outline, that is, six concentrations (C: control; SO: 0.5% of Scenedesmus sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil; S: 0.5% of Scenedesmus sp.; CO: 0.5% of Chlorella sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil; CH: 0.5% of Chlorella sp.; O: 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil) and six evaluation periods (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days), stored at a temperature of 18±2 °C with 60±5% RH with three repetitions of two fruits per portion. The use of coverings composed of Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. in association or not with pomegranate seed oil was proven efficient in the reduction of the breathing tax of ‘Golden’ papaya, delaying the ripening process, and therefore representing a promising alternative for these fruits’ powder-crop conservation. The coating composed of 0.5% of Chlorella sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil (CO) provided a better powder-crop conservation of ‘Golden’ papaya during 15 days of storage.

Several studies have been conducted evaluating the management of fertilizers as strategies to mitigate the deleterious effects of salt stress, so the objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of ‘Crioula’ guava seedlings under irrigation with water of different salinity levels and fertilized with combinations of nitrogen and potassium. The experiment was performed in a protected (screened) environment using a randomized block design and analyzed in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, with four replicates, with the plot formed by two plants. The treatments were formed from the combination of the factor electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw 0.3, 1.1, 1.9, 2.7 and 3.5 dS m^-1), with the factor combinations (C) of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K₂O) doses, being C1 = 70% N + 50% K₂O, C2 = 100% N + 75% K₂O, C3= 130% N + 100% K₂O and C4= 160% N + 125% K₂O. The recommended dose of 100% N and K, respectively, was 541.1 mg N dm^-3 soil and 798.6 mg K dm^-3 soil. The combinations of N and K fertilization corresponding to 70% N + 50% K₂O and 100% N + 75% K₂O of the recommended doses promoted greater growth of ‘Crioula’ guava seedlings. Water with ECw of 2.1 dS m^-1 promotes the formation of quality ‘Crioula’ guava seedlings.

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the most ancient fruits there is, characterized by its great variability of genotypes that differ between themselves in their physical and biochemical properties. Studying these characteristics allows us to evaluate these genotypes’ variability, as to identify those with features that are fit for use in commercial orchards. In this sense, the purpose hereof was to evaluate the variability in terms of physical-chemical properties of three pomegranate tree genotypes (CV8, CV12, and CVW) grown in the semiarid region to gather more knowledge about these fruits’ potential. The fruits employed were collected from an experimental orchard, located at Tabuleiro de Russas–CE, and transported to the lab, where they were selected, washed, and sanitized. An 18-fruit sampling of each genotype was employed for the characterization thereof as their quality physical-chemical features. The genotypes CV8 and CVW presented greater potential of peel and aril color in comparison with CV12; as for the external and internal appearance, the genotypes met the in natura pomegranate commercialization quality. The juice yield was greater in the genotypes CVW (28.3%) and CV8 (26.9%), which also presented the greatest levels of soluble solids—CVW, 13.2%, and CV8, 12.9%. As for the titratable acidity, all three genotypes presented levels under 1% of citric acid. The ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds were greater in the CV8 and CV12 genotypes. The pomegranate tree genotypes CV8 and CV12, produced in Tabuleiro de Russas–CE, presented the best physical-chemical features that meet the quality standard for the commercialization of in natura fruits.  

Water scarcity caused by irregular rainfall and high evapotranspiration rates in the Brazilian semi-arid region is one of the main factors limiting watermelon cultivation, underscoring the need for irrigation strategies capable of mitigating the adverse effects of water deficit. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar salicylic acid application on the induction of water-deficit tolerance in watermelon plants subjected to water restriction at different phenological stages under semi-arid conditions. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement, with five irrigation management strategies based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four salicylic acid (SA) concentrations, with three replications and three plants per plot. Water deficit adversely affected the morphophysiological traits of the plants and the physical and chemical attributes of ‘Crimson Sweet’ watermelon fruits, with water restriction during the vegetative and flowering stages causing the most severe effects. Foliar application of salicylic acid at concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 2.6 mM increased relative water content by 9.4%, reduced electrolyte leakage by 11.60%, and enhanced CO₂ assimilation by 18.82%, instantaneous water-use efficiency in 128.10%, and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency by 46.92%. Salicylic acid concentrations within this range also improved plant water status, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigment content, growth, and the physical and chemical attributes of the fruits. In contrast, concentrations above 2.6 mM reduced gas exchange, photosynthetic pigment accumulation, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and the physical and chemical quality of ‘Crimson Sweet’ watermelon fruits. Thus, salicylic acid may be an alternative to modulate the tolerance of watermelon plants under water deficit during phenological phases.

Water scarcity is a significant challenge faced in semi -arid regions, especially concerning agriculture. Therefore, alternatives for utilizing available water resources of inferior quality and adding organic matter to the soil are fundamental strategies to address this challenge. Considering this, the objective was to investigate the use of fish farming effluent and cattle manure in the production of melon seedlings of the Cantaloupe variety, specifically the Hales Best Jumbo cultivar. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized design with a 5 x 5 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of five proportions of cattle manure (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) combined with five dilutions of fish farming effluent (FFE) in public-supply water (PSW): D1 - 0% FFE; D2 - 15% FFE and 85% PSW; D3 - 30% FFE and 70% PSW; D4 - 45% FFE and 55% PSW; D5 - 60% FFE and 40% PSW, with six repetitions, totaling 150 experimental units. The results indicate that using substrate containing 20% cattle manure, irrigated with the D3 dilution (30% fish farming effluent and 70% public-supply water), promoted benefits for morphological variables of melon. The reuse of fish farming effluent, with electrical conductivity up to 1.75 dS m-1, is an alternative for reutilization and favors the growth and biomass production of Cantaloupe melon, Hales Best Jumbo cultivar.