Precision irrigation is essential to improve water use efficiency (WUE), defined as the amount of biomass produced per unit of water used by plants. Our objective is to evaluate the effect of different soil volumetric water content (VWC) in plant growth, fruit yield, quality, and WUE of cherry tomatoes grown in a greenhouse. We tested four VWC thresholds (0.23, 0.30, 0.37, and 0.44 m³ m⁻³) to trigger a drip irrigation system in two tomato cultivars (‘Sweet Heaven’ and ‘Mascot F1’). The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with four replications. We used capacitance sensors connected to an open-source, low-cost platform to monitor and control the irrigation in real-time based on demand. Plants were watered every time the soil VWC dropped below the set thresholds. The treatment with VWC 0.44 m³ m⁻³ resulted in the highest fruit yield, with 102.10% higher WUE when compared to the VWC 0.23 m³ m⁻³ in both cultivars. Fruit quality traits such as longitudinal and equatorial diameter increased asymptotically with soil water content. In contrast, treatments with deficit irrigation increased the fruit soluble solids by 15.73% in both cultivars. These results strongly suggest that accurate control of the soil VWC is essential to modulate the fruit yield and quality attributes in tomatoes produced in the greenhouse.

Background and aims: Juçara is a fruit of ecological and nutritional importance. Its fruits represent an option for the sustainable use of the plant due to its vulnerability to extinction. Thus, the aim of this review was to analyze clinical and experimental studies and highlight the literature gaps regarding the effects of supplementation with Juçara on health. Methods: For this scoping review, we consulted the Medline (PubMed), Science Direct, and Scopus databases in March, April, and May 2022. Experimental studies and clinical trials published in the last ten years (2012–2022) were analyzed. Data were synthesized and reported. Results: A total of 27 studies were included, 18 of which were experimental studies. Of these, 33% evaluated inflammatory markers associated with fat accumulation. Most of these studies (83%) used pulp in lyophilized form, and the others (17%) involved juçara extract mixed in water. In addition, 78% of the studies showed positive results with respect to the lipid profile, reduction of oncological lesions, inflammation, microbiota modulation, and improvement in obesity and glycemia-related metabolic complications. Nine clinical trials with results similar to those of experimental trials were found. The majority (56%) were chronic (four to six weeks into the intervention), and 44% were acute. Three offered juçara supplementation in the form of juice, four used freeze-dried pulp, two used fresh pulp, and one used a 9% dilution. The dose was fixed at 5 g, but the dilution ranged from 200 to 450 mL. These trials assessed mainly healthy, physically active, and obese individual adults (19–56 years old), and cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as improvement in the lipid profile and prebiotic potential, were observed. Conclusion: Juçara supplementation showed promising results with respect to its effect on health. However, further studies are needed to clarify these possible effects on health and their mechanisms of action.

Being a climacteric fruit, the caja harvested still green has uneven ripening. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ripening techniques aiming to promote a uniform ripening and reduction of quality loss in caja-manga fruits. The treatments resulted from the application of four ripening techniques (control, muffled, ethrel, and calcium carbide) and they were evaluated in 5 times, with 3 days intervals, for 12 days (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days). The fruits were evaluated physico-chemically with respect to soluble solids, titratable acidity, ratio, firmness, and color. Although, all treatments promoted the fruit ripening, ethrel showed homogenous and consistent fruit characteristics with ripening reactions in 6 days, being considered the best treatment. It showed intense yellow color (85 Hue), weight loss of about 5% compared to other treatments and tissue softening (29 N firmness) and increase in soluble solids (Brix 11°). Key words: Spondias mombin L., exotic fruits, Ethrel, carbide.

The cajá-manga (Spondias dulcis Parkinson) is an exotic fruit originally from the Polynesian Islands. It is a climacteric fruit, and the postharvest life of its fruits is very short, due to its fast ripening. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of auxin concentrations on delaying the ripening process of cajá-manga fruits. One hundred twenty cajá-manga fruits obtained from, Hidrolândia-GO, Brazil, at 16°55'32.35" S and 49°21'39.76" W). A completely randomized design in a 5×2+2 factorial scheme was used. Five indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L-1), two moments of evaluations (at 5 and 10 days after IAA applications), and two additional treatments (ripe and unripe fruits) were evaluated. Evaluations were carried out every 5 days, in triplicates. The physicochemical variables, pulp firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS), ascorbic acid content, and color of pulp and peel were evaluated. The concentrations of 50 and 100 mg L-1 of IAA presented the best results, causing a delay in ripening and the lowest sensory losses in the fruits of cajá-manga.

Introdução: Dada a importância ambiental, social e econômica do Cerrado, é crucial integrá-lo nas discussões sobre alimentação adequada e saudável, especialmente em regiões onde esse bioma desempenha um papel significativo. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar as práticas e conhecimentos relacionados à alimentação e ao Cerrado por parte de nutricionistas e agricultores familiares vinculados ao Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar na Região da Estrada de Ferro, no estado de Goiás. Métodos: Este estudo assume a forma de uma pesquisa observacional, analítica e transversal, baseado na metodologia do Arco da Problematização de Charles Maguerez, utilizando questionários on-line como ferramenta de coleta de dados. Resultados: Os nutricionistas participantes do estudo tendem a ter uma visão predominantemente reducionista do Cerrado, enquanto os agricultores apresentam uma visão mais utilitarista do bioma. Essas perspectivas impactam no reconhecimento, cultivo e utilização dos recursos naturais disponíveis no âmbito do PNAE. Conclusão: Apesar do reconhecimento dos frutos nativos do Cerrado, esses não são efetivamente incorporados na prática, seja na realidade da merenda escolar ou no cultivo dos agricultores familiares da região.

Juçara is an important element for biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest, not only providing a rich source of nutritional and bioactive compounds, but also holding promising potential for sustainability. However, despite its virtues, there remains a dearth of studies fully exploring its potential. In our pioneering study, conducted using a panel of eight trained specialists, we delved into a sensory analysis of dehydrated juçara pulp, employing both descriptive analysis and the temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) technique. The findings revealed striking differences between juçara and açaí, not only in terms of flavor and aroma, but also in their potential to drive more mindful eating habits. By promoting the consumption of juçara, we are supporting the sustainability of the Atlantic Forest, where it is cultivated in an environmentally responsible manner. Thus, we are contributing to the preservation of this unique ecosystem and the well-being of local communities.