ABSTRACT The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of the time of summer pruning on the quality of Fuji apples, on the red color and functional properties, at harvest and after 3.5 months of cold storage. The treatments evaluated consisted of the control (without summer pruning) and summer pruning in December, January, and February. The percentage of fruit with more than 50% red color on the skin was 20.5% higher when summer pruning was performed later than when performed early. In general, summer pruning in January and February provided fruit with a relatively high content of anthocyanins (19 and 25.1 mg cyaniding 3-glycoside·100 g-1 FW, respectively), relatively high values of total phenolic compounds (370.1 and 438.7 mg EAG·100 g-1 FW, respectively) and total antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method (8,097.5 and 8,089.2 µMol Trolox·100 g-1 FW, respectively) in the 2017/18 season. Summer pruning did not affect fruit quality after cold storage. Summer pruning performed in January or February increased functional compounds content and improved red color, while in February it increased flesh firmness.

Resumen El consumo de frutas con beneficios potenciales para la salud ha aumentado en los últimos años, siendo la mora (Rubus sp.) una de estas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el desempeño de los cultivares de mora y la influencia del manejo de los tallos principales en el cultivar BRS-Tupy. En el primer experimento se evaluaron los cultivares: BRS-Tupy, Cherokee, Xavante y Guaraní; en el segundo experimento las podas evaluadas fueron: 0 tallos (poda drástica de invierno), 2, 3 y 4 tallos principales. Las variables analizadas fueron: masa foliar verde y seca, área foliar, número y promedio de masa frutal, producción por planta, tamaño y porcentaje de humedad de la fruta, y sólidos solubles. Con respecto al peso promedio, al tamaño del fruto y la producción a cultivar, BRS-Tupy fue mayor en los dos ciclos evaluados. En cuanto a los sólidos solubles, la variedad Cherokee fue superior en el ciclo 2016/17. En el segundo experimento, en términos de número de frutas y producción, la poda de 4 tallos en el ciclo 2016/17 fue superior; en el siguiente ciclo, la poda de 3 tallos fue igual. La poda drástica en estas variables se muestra inferior en los dos ciclos evaluados. En la variable de tamaño de fruta, se encontró una diferencia significativa solo en el ciclo 2017/18, donde la poda drástica mostró frutas más pequeñas. Con esto se puede concluir que existen diferencias entre los ciclos productivos evaluados, pero que, en general, el cultivar BRS-Tupy presenta los mejores resultados productivos y que la poda con 4 tallos se destaca inicialmente.

Abstract There was increased fruit consumption with potential health benefits in the last years, being blackberry one of these fruits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Blackberry cultivars and the influence of main stem management on BRS-Tupy cultivar. The first experiment assessed the cultivars: BRS-Tupy, Cherokee, Xavante, and Guarani; in the second experiment the evaluated prunings were: drastic winter pruning, 2, 3, and 4 main primocanes. The variables analyzed were: green and dry leaf mass, leaf area, number and average fruit mass, production per plant, average size and percentage of fruit moisture, and soluble solids. In relation to average weight, fruit size and yield, BRS-Tupy cultivar was superior in both cycles evaluated. As for soluble solids the Cherokee cultivar was superior, but only in the 2016/17 cycle. In the second experiment, in terms of number of fruits and production, pruning of 4 primocanes in the 2016/17 cycle was superior, but in the next cycle the pruning of 3 primocanes equaled it in the production variable. The drastic pruning in these variables is shown to be lower in the two cycles evaluated. Concerning the variable size of fruit, a significant difference was found only in the 2017/18 cycle, where drastic pruning presented smaller fruits. Thus, it can be concluded that, in general, BRS-Tupy cultivar presents the best productive results and that pruning with 4 primocanes initially stands out alone.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pre-storage fruit treatment with nitric oxide (NO) on the quality maintenance of cold stored ‘Cripps Pink’ apples. The following treatments were evaluated: 0 μL·L–1 of NO (control); 10 μL·L–1 of NO for 2 h; 10 μL·L–1 of NO for 4 h; 10 μL·L–1 of NO for 8 h; and 20 μL·L–1 of NO for 2 h. Fruit treated with NO, regardless of concentration and application time, had a greener skin background color than the control, especially those treated with 10 μL·L–1 for 8 h. After 7 days of shelf life (23 ± 3 °C/relative humidity, RH, of 65 ± 5%), fruit treated with 10 μL·L–1 for 8 h and 20 μL·L–1 for 2 h had lower respiration rate and a greener skin background color than the control. Fruit treated with NO, regardless of concentration and application time, had a lower incidence of flesh browning after storage. The use of NO (10 μL·L–1 applied for 8 h and 20 μL·L–1 applied for 2 h) pre-storage maintains the quality of ‘Cripps Pink’ apples, because it delays skin yellowing and reduces flesh browning. Nitric oxide has no effect on the maintenance of flesh firmness in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples.

Abstract The goal of this work was to evaluate blackberry cultivars in terms of productivity and bioactive compounds. Two experiments were conducted: in the first experiment four cultivars were evaluated (Cherokee, Guarani, BRS-Tupy and Xavante). In the second experiment, the effects of pruning management in the BRS-Tupy cultivar were evaluated with the following treatments: drastic winter pruning (zero primocane), and maintenance of two, three or four primocanes in the winter pruning. Vegetative, productive and fruit quality characteristics were determined, including measurement of bioactive compounds. Among the cultivars, the cultivar BRS-Tupy was superior in terms of productive characteristics, but for content of anthocyanins and flavonoids, the cultivar Xavante stood out (191.97 and 68.44 mg 100 g-1, respectively). Drastic winter pruning produced lower fruit quality. The number of primocanes has a directly proportional influence on the soluble solids content and productivity component. For farmers who want fruits with greater levels of bioactive compounds, the use of cultivar Xavante is recommended; however, for those who aim for productive aspects, we suggest the use of cultivar BRS-Tupy with four primocanes per plant.