Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização morfológica de frutos de morango de diferentes genótipos, assim como verificar sua conservação pós-colheita. Seis cultivares comerciais (Albion, Aromas, Dover, Festival, Pircinque e San Andreas) e nove clones experimentais (MDA01, MDA19, MDA22, MDA23, MCA89, MCA94, MFA443, MOGSC468 e MFA443PR) foram avaliados. Os frutos foram produzidos em bancadas semi-hidropônicas, em cultivo protegido, e classificados quanto a tamanho, formato, coloração, brilho, posição do aquênio, coloração da polpa, coloração do “coração”, cavidade do fruto e posição das sépalas. Para a análise de póscolheita dos frutos, foram determinadas a perda de massa e a aparência dos frutos durante dez dias de armazenamento. Os genótipos avaliados apresentam alta similaridade entre si quanto à caracterização morfológica. MCA89 e 'Pircinque' são os genótipos mais divergentes em relação aos demais. Há uma associação entre as características cavidade grande, formato reniforme e cavidade média, o que contribui para a seleção indireta dos caracteres desejáveis. No décimo dia de armazenamento, os genótipos MDA01, MDA19, MCA89, MFA443 e 'Dover' ainda apresentam condições aceitáveis para comercialização.

Abstract The objective of this work was to carry out the morphological characterization of strawberry fruit of different genotypes, as well as to verify their postharvest conservation. Six commercial cultivars (Albion, Aromas, Dover, Festival, Pircinque, and San Andreas) and nine experimental clones (MDA01, MDA19, MDA22, MDA23, MCA89, MCA94, MFA443, MOGSC468, and MFA443PR) were evaluated. Fruit were produced on semi-hydroponic gutters in protected cultivation and classified according to size, shape, color, brightness, achene position, pulp color, “heart” color, fruit cavity, and sepal position. For the postharvest analysis of fruit, the loss of mass and the appearance of fruit during ten days of storage were determined. The evaluated genotypes show a high similarity to each other regarding morphological characterization. MCA89 and 'Pircinque' are the most divergent genotypes in relation to the others. There is an association between the characteristics large cavity, reniform shape, and medium cavity, which contributes to the indirect selection of desirable characters. On the tenth day of storage, the MDA01, MDA19, MCA89, MFA443, and 'Dover' genotypes still show acceptable conditions for commercialization.

ABSTRACT Considering that the beneficial effects of silicon on human health and it´s accumulation in plants are little explored, studies of mineral nutrition in non-conventional vegetables are extremely relevant. Thus, the objective of this work was to identify non-conventional vegetables responsive to silica fertilization and evaluate the effect of fertilization on the content and accumulation of Si and macronutrients in these plants. The experiment followed a 4 x 5 factorial design, with four species of non-conventional vegetables (Rumex acetosa L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Sonchus oleraceus L. and Stachys byzantina) and five doses of Si (0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg dm-3). The relative chlorophyll index, the fresh and dry matter masses, the content and accumulation of Si and macronutrients were evaluated. The species A. retroflexus, S. oleraceus. and S. byzantina showed the highest contents and accumulation of Si. The application of doses above 100 mg dm-3 promoted the highest silicon content estimated for the species. The species A. retroflexus, R. acetosa and S. byzantina are non-silicon accumulators, whereas S. oleraceus is intermediate.

ABSTRACT Arrowroot is a plant originated in Latin America that has aroused interest in the food industry due to its high starch content, with differentiated characteristics and high commercial value. However, information on the management of arrowroot are scarce, precluding its commercial competition with other similar species, being necessary further studies with the crop. Thus, the objective of the present study was to characterize extracted starch from arrowroot grown under different agronomic management. Three agronomic factors were studied: planting systems (PS), forms of water management (WM) and planting density (PD). The experimental analyses were performed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates, being evaluated the extraction yield, percent composition, quantity of starch, pH, titratable acidity, swelling power, solubility and electron microscopy analysis. In general, the analyzed extracted starches deriving from different agronomic treatments have low crude fiber, besides typical characteristics of arrowroot extracted starch such as texture, color, shape and size of granules, without any other apparent particle than the starch itself, indicating extraction efficiency. However, the planting density may have contributed to influence some parameters of the chemical composition of the extracted starch, such as the content of starch, ash, ether extract, protein and carbohydrate fraction.