ABSTRACT Increased planting density, different types of thinning management, and the use of beneficial microorganisms have been adopted as strategic tools in the effort to increase crop yields in a sustainable manner. This investigation evaluated the growth and production of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana ( Musa spp., AAB) under different plant densities during two production cycles in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Micropropagated plantlets were also inoculated with endophytic bacteria and cultivated as part of two mat management strategies. Planting density varied between 1,680 and 3,920 plant ha–1. During the experiment, water was less than optimal because of rationing due to drought in the region. Under field conditions, there was no difference between bacterially inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The dense planting system increased the crop cycle. The highest-density planting treatment (3,920 plant ha–1) resulted in the highest yield in the first cycle, but no net income was observed. However, the high-density planting treatments resulted in the highest yields and gross incomes in the second production cycle. Management with thinning of plants up to 10-months-old and thinning up to harvest associated with high planting density increased the length of the production cycles. Although the water restriction experienced in the first and second crop cycles, the vegetative and productive traits of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana did not compromise the objectives of this study.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da aplicação de ácido giberélico (GA3) associado com e sem polinização artificial, no pegamento e na qualidade de frutos das pinheiras ‘Red’ e ‘Lessard Thai’ e da atemoieira‘Gefner’. O experimento foi realizado em pomar localizado em Homestead, EUA. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com oito tratamentos, quatro repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. Os tratamentos utilizados neste experimento foram: 1) Polinização Artificial (PA); 2) PA + 10 mg L-1 GA3; 3) PA + 100 mg L-1 GA3; 4) PA + 1000 mg L-1 GA3; 5) Polinização natural (PN); 6) PN + 10 mg L-1 GA3; 7) PN + 100 mg L-1 GA3; e 8) PN + 1000 mg L-1 GA3. A PA combinada com a concentração de 1000 mg L-1 de GA3 promoveu o estabelecimento de frutos acima de 90% durante as 14 semanas de avaliação para todos os genótipos avaliados. Incrementos significativos para o comprimento e peso dos frutos também foram observados a variedade de pinha “Red” e a atemoia, em que apresentaram redução no número total de sementes.A PN em associação com GA3 (1000 mg L-1) foi eficaz na produção de frutos sem sementes de alta qualidade em atemóia ‘Gefner. Estes dados mostram que o GA3, combinado com a polinização manual, produziu frutos com semente de alta qualidade e, em associação com a polinização natural, promoveu frutos sem sementes em atemóia ‘Gefner’.

ABSTRACT: The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of applying gibberellic acid (GA3) with hand (HP) or natural pollination (NP) on fruit set and the fruit quality of ‘Red’ and ‘Lessard Thai’ sugar apple and ‘Gefner’ atemoya fruits.This study was performed in an experimental orchard located in Homestead, Florida, USA. The experimental design included randomized blocks, with eight treatments, four replicates and four plants per plot. Treatments included: (1) HP; (2) HP + 10 mg L-1 GA3; (3) HP + 100 mg L-1 GA3; (4) HP + 1,000 mg L-1 GA3; (5) NP; (6) NP + 10 mg L-1 GA3; (7) NP + 100 mg L-1 GA3 and (8) NP + 1,000 mg L-1 GA3. The HP plus 1,000 mg L-1 GA3 promoted fruit setting above 90% over the 14 weeks for all genotypes evaluated. Significant increments for length and total fruit weight were observed. ‘Red’ sugar apple and atemoya had a reduced number of seeds per fruit. The NP plus GA3 (1,000 mg L-1) was effective in producing high quality seedless ‘Gefner’ atemoya fruits. This investigationdemonstratedthat GA3 plus hand pollination produced high quality sugar apple and atemoya seeded fruits and in association with natural pollination promoted seedless ‘Gefner’atemoya fruits.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as características químicas, físicas e sensoriais dos frutos de banana (Musa spp.) cultivar Caipira e Pacovan Ken, resistentes à Sigatoka Negra (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), com e sem embalagem de polietileno de baixa densidade, associada à refrigeração durante o período de armazenamento pós-colheita. O experimento foi instalado em 2012, no delineamento de blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, tendo nas parcelas um fatorial 3 x 2 referente aos frutos sem embalagem e com embalagem de polietileno de 10 e 16 µm e duas cultivares Caipira e Pakovan Ken, e nas subparcelas as avaliações em intervalos de seis dias (0; 6; 12; 18 e 24) e dois dias (0; 2; 4; 6 e 8), para frutos armazenados nas temperaturas de 12; 15 e 25 ºC, respectivamente. As variáveis avaliadas foram: sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, relação sólidos solúveis/ acidez titulável, potencial hidrogeniônico, açúcares solúveis totais, coloração do fruto e análise sensorial. A embalagem de polietileno associada à refrigeração manteve os frutos armazenados por 24 dias, mantendo as características pós-colheita adequadas ao consumo. A cultivar Pakovan Ken destacou-se quando comparada à Caipira, apresentando valores superiores nos atributos dos frutos avaliados.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate the chemical, physical and sensory characteristics of the Caipira and Pakovan Ken cultivars of the banana (Musa spp.), resistant to black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), both with and without low-density polyethylene wrapping and together with refrigeration during the period of post-harvest storage. The experiment was carried out in 2012, in a randomised block design and an arrangement of lots split over time. A 3 x 2 factorial scheme was used for the lots, consisting of fruit with no wrapping and fruit wrapped in 10 and 16 µm polyethylene film, and two cultivars, Caipira and Pakovan Ken. The sub-lots consisted of evaluations made at intervals of six days (0, 6, 12, 18 and 24) and of two days (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8), for fruit stored at temperatures of 12, 15 and 25 ºC respectively. The following variables were evaluated: soluble solids, titratable acidity, ratio of soluble solids to titratable acidity, hydrogen potential, total soluble sugars, fruit colouration and sensory analysis. The polyethylene film together with the refrigeration enabled the fruit to be stored for 24 days, maintaining post-harvest characteristics suitable for consumption. The Pakovan Ken cultivar stood out when compared to the Caipira, with higher values for the fruit attributes under evaluation.

O cultivar Prata Anã é o mais plantada no Norte de Minas Gerais, o que demonstra estar a bananicultura regional baseada numa variedade suscetível à sigatoca-negra. Apesar de existirem cultivares resistentes em fase de recomendação para o cultivo na região, ainda são escassos os trabalhos relacionados a metodologias de conservação pós-colheita. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o período de armazenamento e as características físico-químicas e sensoriais dos cultivares de bananeira Fhia - 02 e Precioso, ambos resistentes à sigatoca-negra, e o efeito da atmosfera modificada associada à refrigeração. Foram realizados três experimentos, o primeiro em temperatura ambiente, o segundo a 12 ºC e o terceiro a 15 ºC. Esses experimentos foram instalados no delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, tendo nas parcelas um fatorial 2 (com e sem embalagem) x 2 (Fhia - 02 e Precioso) e nas subparcelas as avaliações em intervalo de seis e dois dias para frutos armazenados nas temperaturas de 12, 15 e 25 ºC, com quatro repetições e três frutos por unidade experimental. Após o tratamento, os frutos foram dispostos em bandejas de poliestireno expandido (sem embalagem) e embalagens de 10 e 16 µm e umidade relativa de 90%. As características avaliadas foram: tamanho, diâmetro, cor, firmeza, perda de matéria fresca, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez total titulável (ATT), SST/ATT, pH e análise sensorial. O uso da embalagem associada à refrigeração permitiu armazenar os frutos por 28 dias, mantendo as características físico-químicas.

The cultivar Prata Anã is widely grown in the North of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, hence, the banana business in the region is based on a variety susceptible to Black Sigatoka. Although there are resistant cultivars being recommended to cultivation in the region, studies related to post-harvest conservation are still scarce. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the storage period and physiochemical and sensorial characteristics of cultivars, Fhia - 02 and Preciosa, both resistant to Black Sigatoka, and the effect of the modified atmosphere associated with cooling. Three experiments were carried out, the first under ambient temperature, the second at 12ºC and the third at 15ºC, The experiments were arranged in randomized block design with split-plots in the time, having in the plots a 2x2 factorial (with and without packing) x (Fhia - 02 and Preciosa), and in the subplots the evaluations at six and two days, at 12, 15 and 25º C, with four repetitions and three fruits per experimental unit. After the treatment, the fruits were placed in expanded polystyrene trays (without packaging) and 10µm and 16µm packagings and relative humidity of 90 %. The evaluated characteristics were size, diameter, color, firmness, loss of fresh matter, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), TSS/TTA, pH and sensorial analysis. The use of packaging associated with cooling allowed fruit storage for 28 days keeping its physical-chemical characteristics.