RESUMO A produção de mangaba (Hancornia speciosa Gomes), no Brasil, tem aumentado consideravelmente nos últimos anos e, paralelamente a esse grande volume produzido, há elevado percentual de perdas, o que torna necessário o conhecimento de novas técnicas que contribuam para estender o tempo de vida útil dos frutos sem alterar suas características físicas, sensoriais e nutricionais. Objetivou-se aplicar coberturas biodegradáveis de quitosana, proteína do soro de leite, ácido lático e fécula de mandioca em mangaba, bem como avaliar a sua eficiência na preservação do tempo de vida útil dos frutos. Para isso, foram realizadas análises físico-químicas de pH, acidez, ºBrix, compostos fenólicos, vitamina C e umidade. As coberturas com 1 % de quitosana, 4 % de proteína do soro de leite, 3 % de fécula de mandioca e 1,5 % de ácido lático apresentaram resultados satisfatórios em temperatura ambiente (25 ºC), retardando o amadurecimento, em relação aos controles.

ABSTRACT The production of Hancornia speciosa Gomes, in Brazil, has increased significantly in recent years, with a concomitant increase in post-harvest losses, making it important to find out new techniques that contribute to extend the shelf life of this fruit without altering its physical, sensory and nutritional characteristics. The present study aimed to apply biodegradable coatings made from chitosan, whey protein, lactic acid and cassava starch to H. speciosa, as well as to assess their efficiency on the shelf life of the fruits. For that, physico-chemical analyses were performed to determine the pH, acidity, ºBrix, phenolic compounds, vitamin C and moisture content. The coatings with 1 % of chitosan, 4 % of whey protein, 3 % of cassava starch and 1.5 % of lactic acid presented satisfactory results at ambient temperature (25 ºC), delaying the ripening process, when compared to the controls.

ABSTRACT New strategies for sugarcane production have been very important since the incorporation of ethanol in the Brazilian energy mix in the early 1970s. Prior to planting sugarcane, the soil is prepared, and this process can affect root development and, consequently, sugarcane production. This study was conducted in an area of sugarcane crop renewal in the Cerrado biome (Brazilian tropical savanna), with the objective of identifying which tillage system generates the better root development and improved yield in sugarcane. The treatments were: 1) weed desiccation + moldboard plowing (0.4 m) + mild spike tooth harrowing (0.15 m); 2) subsoiler (0.3 m) + mild spike tooth harrowing (0.15 m); 3) weed desiccation + no-tillage (furrow opening and fertilizer); 4) weed desiccation + subsoiler (0.4 m); 5) ratoon destruction + subsoiler (0.4 m); 6) ratoon destruction + spike tooth harrowing (0.2 m) + moldboard plowing (0.4 m) + mild spike tooth harrowing (0.15 m). Characteristics of the sugarcane root system, such as the root length density, average distance between roots, and root soil exploration, after the first harvest (1.5 years) were studied. Root length density was greater for the treatments that included plowing (0.4 m) and harrowing (0.15 m) operations. The average distance between roots was low in the no-tillage system. The highest sugarcane yield in the plant crop was achieved by management practices with more extensive soil profile disturbances, like plowing followed by harrowing.

Abstract The objective of this study was to characterize and select genotypes which displayed aptitude for genetic improvement for tomatoes consumed in natura as well as for those used in industrial processing. There were ten genotypes evaluated, being those from seven lines (CVR 1, CVR 3, CVR 4, CVR 5, CVR 8, CVR 21 and CVR 22) and three commercial hybrids (AP-533, SVR-0453 and Kátia) and analyzing the physicochemical characteristics of the produced fruits as: soluble solids rates, acidity in citric acid, total titratable acidity, soluble solids and total titratable acidity relation, pH, vitamin C, mass, transversal and longitudinal diameter and fruit firmness. In face of the analyzed characteristics, it was concluded that all genotypes produce fruits with aptitude to be consumed in natura. The fruits present soluble solids content above 3 °Brix, oblong shape and “moderately soft” texture. Line CVR 22 showed the highest values for soluble solid and total titratable acidity relation, producing fruit with more pleasant and mild flavor, while lines CVR 3 and CVR 8 produced fruits with higher acidity and lower pH, with red coloration accentuated, characteristics indicated for genetic improvement of industrial tomato.