Saline waters and nitrogen/potassium fertilization combinations on physiological aspects and production of West Indian cherry

This study evaluated the influence of combinations of nitrogen and potassium doses on the physiology and fruit production of West Indian cherry irrigated with waters of different salinities in the second year of cultivation. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Pombal-PB, Brazil, in plastic containers adapted as lysimeters installed in the field, in a randomized block design, 5 x 4 factorial scheme corresponding to five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw): 0.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3 and 4.3 dS m-1, and four combinations of nitrogen and potassium fertilization: 70% N + 50% K2O; 100% N + 75% K2O; 130% N + 100% K2O and 160% N + 125% K2O of the dose recommended for West Indian cherry, with three replicates and one plant per plot. The cv. ‘Flor Branca’ was grafted on the cv. ‘Junco’, between 420 and 550 days after transplanting. Nitrogen and potassium combinations did not mitigate the deleterious effects of water salinity on the physiology and fruit formation of West Indian cherry. An increase in ECw intensifies the intercellular electrolyte leakage and reduces the water potential in the branch, chlorophyll content in the leaves, CO2 assimilation rate, equatorial and polar diameters as well as the mass of fruits. Fertilization of plants with 70% N + 50% of K2O, compared to the other fertilization combinations, causes less intercellular electrolyte leakage and promotes higher CO2 assimilation rates, higher chlorophyll content in leaves, and fruits of larger size and mass. Keywords: Malpighia emarginata D. C, mineral fertilization, salt stress.

Variability of Fruit Quality among 103 Acerola (Malpighia emarginata D. C.) Phenotypes from the Subtropical Region of Brazil

Acerola fruit is one of the richest natural sources of ascorbic acid. As a consequence, acerola fruit and its products are in demand worldwide for the production of health supplements and for the development of functional products. Acerola phenotypes (103) were screened in Western Paraná State, in the Southern region of Brazil, and evaluated to obtain information on fruit quality characteristics with the aim of using them in future breeding programs. Principal Component and Hierarchical Cluster analysis were performed on all datasets to explore the variability among samples and to identify the main clusters. A great variability among phenotypes was observed, with potential for use in breeding programs. Seven phenotypes were selected as candidates in the next breeding program, characterized by high vitamin C content and yield, or higher values of fruit size and color parameters. Four belong to cluster 1 and three to cluster 2. Specifically, two phenotypes, belonging to cluster 2, showed the best performance in terms of vitamin C (2150 mg 100 g−1 pulp and 2625 mg 100 g−1 pulp respectively) and pulp yield (74.8% and 82.3% respectively), and one phenotype, belonging to cluster 1, for high pulp yield, fruit size and vitamin C content (80.3% 6.43 g and 2490 mg 100 g−1 pulp).

Propiedades bioactivas de frutas tropicales exóticas y sus beneficios a la salud

Las frutas exóticas se encuentran dentro del grupo de las frutas tropicales y su carácter perecedero limita su exportación a mercados distantes. En general, su consumo es local, son subutilizadas o poco valoradas tanto en el hogar como industrialmente; sin embargo, debido su alto valor nutricional, su consumo se ha incrementado significativamente en los últimos años. Estas frutas son fuente de compuestos bioactivos como fibra, vitamina C, carotenoides, ácidos fenólicos y polifenoles, los cuales han sido asociados a la reducción de los riesgos de enfermedades crónicas causadas por el estrés oxidativo. Estos compuestos bioactivos han demostrado que poseen varias actividades biológicas in vitro e in vivo incluyendo actividad antioxidante, antimicrobiana, antiinflamatoria, antiedad, neuroprotectora y antiviral entre otras. Por lo tanto, la obtención de ingredientes funcionales a partir de las frutas tropicales consideradas exóticas resulta viable; así como su utilización para el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales y nutracéuticos, para elaboración de productos de la industria farmacéutica y la conservación de alimentos. En la presente revisión se discute la información más relevante publicada en el período 2010-2020 de las principales bases de datos científicas, incluyendo Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Medline y Scielo, sobre los compuestos fenólicos y las bioactividades reportadas de las frutas tropicales exóticas como acai (Euterpe oleraceae), acerola (Malpighia emarginata), buruti (Mauritia flexuosa) caqui (Diospyros kaki), chicozapote (Manilkara zapota), litchi (Litchi chinensis), maracuyá (Passiflora edulis), noni (Morinda citrifolia) rambután (Nephelium lappaceum), pitaya blanca (Hylocereus undatus), pitaya roja (Hylocereus polyrhizus) y su relación con sus potenciales efectos benéficos en la salud. Exotic fruits are found in the group of tropical fruits and their perishable nature limits their export to distant markets. In general, their consumption is local; they are underutilized or little valued both at home and industrially; however, its consumption has increased significantly in recent years due to its high nutritional value. These fruits are a source of bioactive compounds such as fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic acids and polyphenols, which have been associated with reducing the risks of chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress. These bioactive compounds have been shown to possess various in vitro and in vivo biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and among others. Therefore, obtaining functional ingredients from tropical fruits considered exotic is viable and used to develop functional and nutraceutical foods, prepare products for the pharmaceutical industry and food preservation. This review discusses the most relevant information published in the 2010-2020 period from the main scientific databases, including Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Medline and Scielo, on phenolic compounds and reported bioactivities of exotic tropical fruits such as acai (Euterpe oleraceae), acerola (Malpighia emarginata), persimmon (Diospyros kaki), chicozapote (Manilkara zapota), litchi (Litchi chinensis), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) noni (Morinda citrifolia), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), white pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) and red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and their relationship with their potential beneficial effects on health.