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The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in fruit of commercial cultivars of mango, acerola, guava, atemoya and custard apple produced in the lower-middle São Francisco Valley, with a view to adding value to the product because of their functional properties. Fruits harvested in commercial areas of the region were evaluated for levels of ascorbic acid, total anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, total carotenoids and total extractable polyphenols, and for total antioxidant activity, using the ABTS and ORAC methods. The data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. All the fruits under evaluation presented levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, especially the acerola, and in particular the Sertaneja and Okinawa cultivars, which may be considered excellent sources of natural antioxidants, with their consumption encouraged as part of a healthy diet. The significant positive correlation found between antioxidant activity and the levels of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, carotenoids and total extractable polyphenols with the two methods employed, shows that for the fruits under evaluation, this activity was influenced by the determined set of bioactive compounds.

ABSTRACT The ‘BRS Magna’ grapevine has the advantage of adapting to different regions of Brazil and producing juice of good quality. However, it is necessary to define the components of the cropping system, such as the rootstock, for each region. The aim of this study was to characterise the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of grape juice collected from ‘BRS Magna’ grapevines grown on different rootstock under the tropical conditions of the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley. The grapes were harvested in the Experimental Area of Bebedouro/Embrapa Semiárido, in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. The treatments corresponded to the ‘IAC 766’, ‘IAC 572’, ‘IAC 313’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Paulsen 1103’, ‘Harmony’ and ‘SO4’ rootstock. The grape juice was prepared from two harvests for evaluation after storage. For each harvest, a randomised block design was used, with four replications. The quality of the juice varied with the treatment in each storage period. At nine months, the juice from the first harvest showed a loss of pigment and phenolic compounds, while the juice made with grapes from plants grafted onto ‘Harmony’ stood out for soluble solids content (SS), colour intensity (CI), anthocyanins, total polyphenol index (TPI) and antioxidant capacity. Juice from the second harvest was characterised at four months by higher levels of various compounds, especially the ‘SO4’ treatment for SS, CI, total extractable polyphenols, TPI and antioxidant capacity. Considering storage potential and the preparation process, the less-vigorous rootstock resulted in better quality juice.

Environmental and production factors might affect grapevine physiology. Estimating these effects is essential for planning the harvest and predicting the quality of grapes. The aim of this study was to characterize the quality and antioxidant potential of ‘BRS Cora’ grapes with different training systems and rootstocks in production cycles of the second half of the year under tropical conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks with sub-subdivided plots over time. Three training systems and two rootstocks were studied in production cycles referring to the second halves of 2017 and 2018. In 2017, the grapes of plants trained with lyre and vertical shoot positioning (VSP) had the highest soluble solids and sugars contents, and in 2018, this response occurred with the overhead trellis system. There was lower variation in titratable acidity between cycles of grapevines trained with VSP and lyre, as well as in those grafted onto ‘IAC 572’. In 2018, lyre with ‘IAC 572’ promoted higher pigment accumulation. Climatic conditions in 2017 provided a higher accumulation of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in grapes of plants trained with lyre with ‘IAC 766’. The efficiency of the training system within each cycle, associated with the effect of the rootstock, resulted in differentiated responses according to climatic conditions.

The new table grape cultivar BRS Tainá produces white firm seedless grapes, agreeable flavor, balanced sugar-acid ratio, good berry adherence to the pedicel and yield of 50 ton ha-1 year-1. It is recommended for the tropical conditions of the Submédio do Vale do São Francisco. Propagative material is acquired from nurseries licensed by Embrapa.

ABSTRACT Information is needed on the characteristics of potential accessions of Spondias tuberosa Arruda Câmara (umbu) and Spondias sp.(umbu-caja) for commercial planting and preservation. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the leaf contents and cycling of nutrients of 15 accessions of umbu and one of umbu -caja. The treatments consisted of 16 accessions: BGU-44, BGU-45, BGU-47, BGU-48, BGU-50, BGU-75, EPAMIG-01, EPAMIG-03, EPAMIG-04, EPAMIG-05, EPAMIG-06, EPAMIG-07, EPAMIG-09, EPAMIG-13, umbu of unknown origin and the umbu-caja Princesa. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted, with three replicates, consisting of one plant each. Nutrient contents in the leaves were measured in the leaf flushing and leaf senescence phases in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons, and the N, P, K and Mg retranslocation rates were determined. The accessions showed average leaf nutrient contents of 28.6, 27.6, 9.5, 4.20, 2.5 and 2.0 g kg-1 with the descending order N>Ca>K>Mg>S>P, respectively, and 103.61, 86.22, 82.12, 60.2, 16.0 and 3.52 mg kg-1 of Fe>B>Na>Mn>Zn>Cu, respectively. The accession BGU-48 had higher N and P retranslocation efficiency in the leaves and BGU-50 showed recycling efficiency for K and Mg. The order of retranslocation rates is K>P>N>Mg, being higher in the 2015/2016 season. RESUMO O umbuzeiro e umbu-cajazeira demandam informações sobre as características de acessos potenciais para implantação comercial e preservação. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o teor foliar e ciclagem dos nutrientes de 15 acessos de umbuzeiro e um de umbucajazeira. Os tratamentos constaram de 16 acessos: BGU -44, BGU-45, BGU-47, BGU-48, BGU-50, BGU-75, EPAMIG-01, EPAMIG-03, EPAMIG-04, EPAMIG-05, EPAMIG-06, EPAMIG-07, EPAMIG-09, EPAMIG-13, umbuzeiro de origem desconhecida e umbu-cajazeira Princesa. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, constituídas de uma planta cada. Foram mensurados os teores de nutrientes nas folhas, nas fases de emissão de fluxo foliar e senescência das folhas, nas safras de 2015/2016 e 2016/2017, e determinou-se a taxa de retranslocação de N, P, K e Mg. Verificou-se que os acessos denotaram teores médios de nutrientes na folha de 28,6; 27,6; 9,5; 4,20; 2,5 e 2,0 g kg-1 com ordem decrescente N>Ca>K>Mg>S>P, respectivamente, e 103,61; 86,22; 82,12; 60,2; 16,0 e 3,52 mg kg-1 de Fe>B>Na>Mn>Zn>Cu, respectivamente. O acesso BGU-48 revelou maior eficiência de retranslocação de N e P nas folhas e o BGU-50 expressou eficiência de reciclagem para K e Mg. A ordem das taxas de retranslocação é K>P>N>Mg sendo maior na safra 2015/2016.

In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of mini tomato cultivars of determinate growth habit, in two crop seasons in the conditions of the Sub-Mid São Francisco Valley, Brazil.

The aim of pumpkin breeding programs is to develop cultivars that meet the production, commercial quality, and nutritional value, considering several attributes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to select pumpkin genotypes with high fruit quality for future use in genetic breeding programs. Two production cycles were carried out. The evaluations included the determination of genetic parameters (the additive genetic variance, environmental variance between residual variances and individual phenotypic variance, accuracy of progeny selection, restricted heritability, coefficient of individual additive genetic variation, coefficient of genotypic variation between progenies, coefficient of residual variation, coefficient of relative variation, variance of the prediction error of the genotypic values of the progeny), the prediction of genetic gains, and the selection of genotypes with fruits of better physical and chemical quality attributes. The carotenoid and β-carotene contents of the pulp were distinguished by high values of additive genetic variance, residual variance and individual variance. Additionally, genetic gains were achieved for the main carotenoid compounds, as xanthophyll (68%), lycopene (58%) and β-carotene (49%). In the second production cycle, using the technique of Mulamba and Mock, a new ranking method was used to select the best genotypes. These genetic parameters, especially restricted heritability, indicate the potential for advancing new selection stages to develop pumpkin cultivars with superior qualities, including fruit length (0.976), skin thickness (0.951) and orange pigments, particularly β-carotene (0.894). Additionally, firmer fruits with high ascorbic acid content and a pulp hue angle representing an orange color were ranked among the best genotypes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate mango hybrids obtained by open pollination based on the physical and chemical traits of the fruit, and to analyze the genetic diversity among these hybrids to find plants that produce quality fruit both for direct consumption and for industrial processing. The hybrids under study were generated from seeds produced from crosses with unknown genotypes as a result of open pollination. The unknown genotypes were randomly scattered in areas dedicated to growing a Tommy Atkins variety, and plants were obtained from mango seeds generated through sexual propagation. To assess genetic diversity, cluster analysis was carried out, as well as principal component analysis. Two hybrids were most prominent in terms of fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, pulp weight, and pulp yield, with mean values greater than 245 g for pulp weight and 70% for pulp yield. Regarding fiber content in the pulp, six hybrids had a score of \"2\", that is, moderately fibrous fruit. For acidity and soluble solids content, the hybrids exhibited variations from 0.19 to 1.06% of citric acid and from 13.1 to 20.6 ºBrix, respectively. For peel color, tones ranging from reddish orange to yellow and green were observed. As for pulp color, there was variation from orange to light yellow tones. There was variability among the mango hybrids regarding the fruit traits analyzed, and hybrids that produce fruit that combine traits of economic interest were identified.

The objective of this work was to evaluate bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of the fruit of strawberry-guava genotypes during maturation, and identify the characteristics that influenced the genetic variability. The fruits were harvested from 15 naturally-occurring genotypes in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil, at the following stages of maturation: Completely Green; Start of Yellow Coloration; Mainly Yellow Coloration and Completely Yellow. During maturation, the ascorbic acid content increased as the chlorophyll and yellow flavonoids were reduced. Antioxidant activity increased with advancing maturity, being greater for the P1, P4, P6, P7, P14 and P15 genotypes. Principal component analysis showed that during maturation, variability among fruits of the strawberry guava was related to the ascorbic acid and carotenoid contents.

Mango is a tropical fruit of significant economic, social, and nutritional importance. However, the low diversity of commercial mango orchards in Brazil highlights the need to broaden the genetic base of this crop. From this perspective, this study aimed to select mango genotypes for cultivation under semi-arid conditions using the mixed model methodology: restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP). Two hundred and ninty-two genotypes originated from the crossing of seven cultivars used as female parent ('Coquinho', 'Espada', 'Haden', 'Keitt', 'Winter', 'Palmer', and 'Van Dyke') and 'Tommy Atkins' as male parent were evaluated over two crop seasons using fifteen traits related to fruit quality. The statistical analyses were performed with the software Selegen. The repeatability coefficient estimates (r) ranged from 0.06 to 0.97, and were considered high for most variables. The selective accuracy predicted by REML for the evaluated parameters ranged from 0.25 to 0.98, revealing a good degree of confidence in the inferences. With the application of a selection intensity of 30% it was possible to obtain genetic gain (%) for all evaluated traits. Twelve genotypes were selected as the most promising using the minimum selection indices proposed in this study, showing higher mean values for all evaluated traits. These genotypes can be selected for new stages of the mango breeding program in the Brazilian semi-arid region.