ABSTRACT The best sensorial Brown Turkey figs for the fresh market are the ones harvested soft. However, at this maturity stage, they have a very short shelf life, from two to seven days, depending on environmental conditions, which make their marketing very difficult. This research’s goal was to increase the shelf life of soft 'Roxo de Valinhos' figs, a 'Brown Turkey' plant material grown in Brazil, stored under refrigeration, by applying 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene inhibitor. Soft 'Roxo de Valinhos' figs were submitted to 1-MCP at 0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 µg. L-1 for 24 h in airtight, under refrigeration at 4 ± 1 ºC. Subsequently, fruits were stored for up to 17 days at 4 ± 1 ºC. After removing from refrigerated conditions, fruits were kept for one day at room temperature (22 ºC), and then they were evaluated to determine their physical and chemical features. 1-MCP at 1.5 µg. L-1 was able to increase the soft figs shelf life to 12 days.

Abstract Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) production by using the semi-hydroponic fertigation system, is an increasingly adopted technology. One of the main challenges of this system is the nutritional management of nitrate (NO3 -) and ammonium (NH4 +), which can affect fruits development and quality. This work aims to determine the NO3 -:NH4 + ratio of the nutrient solution for better quality of strawberry fruits grown in a semi-hydroponic system. ‘San Andreas’ strawberry runners were planted in an organic substrate composed by charred rice husk and pine bark. The NO3 -:NH4 + proportions evaluated in fertigation were 100:0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75 and 0:100. Leaf nitrogen contents and aerial dry mass loss showed a proportional increase concomitantly NH4+ increase on the solution. Leaf area and chlorophyll content increased up to 29% NH4 + in the nutrient solution, while higher concentrations negatively affected these characteristics. Chemical fruits’ features were not affected by the NO3 -:NH4 + ratio, but the pulp firmness decreased as the NH4 + increased in the nutrient solution. Results obtained showed the best strawberry fruits development and quality were obtained by applying NO3 -:NH4 + in fertigation solution at the ratio of 71:29.

Resumen La producción de fresa (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) mediante el uso del sistema de fertirrigación semihidropónico es una tecnología cada vez más adoptada. Uno de los principales desafíos de este sistema es el manejo nutricional del nitrato (NO3 -) y el amonio (NH4 +), que pueden afectar el desarrollo y la calidad de los frutos. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la mejor relación NO3 -:NH4 + para una mejor calidad de frutos de fresa cultivados en un sistema semihidropónico. Los corredores de fresa ‘San Andreas’ se plantaron en sustrato orgánico compuesto por cáscara de arroz carbonizada y corteza de pino. Las proporciones de NO3 -:NH4 + evaluadas en fertirrigación fueron 100: 0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75 y 0:100. El contenido de nitrógeno de las hojas y la pérdida de masa seca aérea mostraron un aumento proporcional concomitantemente con un aumento de NH4 + en la solución. El área foliar y el contenido de clorofila aumentaron hasta 29% de NH4 + en la solución nutritiva, mientras que concentraciones más altas afectaron negativamente estas características. Las características químicas de las frutas no se vieron afectadas por la relación NO3 -:NH4 +, pero la firmeza de la pulpa disminuyó a medida que aumentaba el NH4 + en la solución nutritiva. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que los frutos de fresa con mejor desarrollo y calidad se obtuvieron aplicando NO3 -:NH4 + en solución de fertirrigación en la proporción de 71:29.