Abstract Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a super-fruit with high ascorbic acid content and its quality can be highly affected by the genetic and environmental conditions. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the influence of genetic variability on acerola quality traits. It was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) recommendations. PubMed, Scopus and SciELO electronic databases were searched using terms acerola, selection, and genotypes. 29 studies were selected after assessing articles for eligibility criteria, which reported data on 22 quality parameters. A high genetic diversity was observed for all quality traits. Soluble solids and ascorbic acid contents are the main parameters determined in studies with acerola. Titratable acidity, SS/TA ratio and pH are also evaluated in most studies. Different studies have already identified possible genotypes for use in acerola breeding programs based on fruit quality, both for launching new cultivars and for use as parents in crosses. Our review is a useful basis for acerola breeding programs and germplasm conservation. Future studies are required to further identify and quantify bioactive compounds in acerolas of different genotypes.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a handheld NIR spectrometer for non-destructive quality analysis of apples and pears produced in the Brazilian Semi-arid region. NIR spectra were acquired with a portable spectrometer in the wavelength range of 750–1065 nm and reference analyses of dry matter content (DMC) and soluble solids content (SSC) were measured weekly during 10 weeks of storage at 0.5 °C. Spectra were pre-processed with standard normal variate and used to develop DMC and SSC models using partial least squares regression with full cross-validation. The models were validated using data not included in the calibration. Satisfactory prediction results were obtained for SSC in apples (R² = 0.58) and pears (R² = 0.55), and for DMC in apples (R² = 0.55) and pears (R² = 0.65). All prediction models showed a relative root mean square error of prediction lower than 8%. These findings indicate that the NIR spectrometer is a promising tool to be used for a rapid and non-destructive determination of internal quality traits in apples and pears.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho de um espectrômetro portátil NIR na análise não destrutiva da qualidade de maçãs e peras produzidas na região semiárida brasileira. Os espectros NIR foram coletados com um espectrômetro portátil na faixa de comprimentos de onda de 750–1.065 nm, e as análises de referência de conteúdo de matéria seca (CMS) e conteúdo de sólidos solúveis (CSS) foram mensurados semanalmente durante 10 semanas de armazenamento a 0,5 °C. Os espectros foram pré-processados com a variação normal padrão e utilizados para desenvolver modelos de CMS e CSS usando a regressão dos quadrados mínimos parciais com validação cruzada completa. Os modelos foram validados externamente usando dados não incluídos na calibração. Resultados de predição satisfatórios foram obtidos para CSS em maçãs (R² = 0.58) e peras (R² = 0.55), e para CMS em maçãs (R² = 0.55) e peras (R² = 0.65). Todos os modelos de predição apresentaram raiz quadrada do erro médio quadrático de predição relativo menor que 8%. Estes resultados indicam que o espectrômetro NIR é uma ferramenta promissora para uma determinação rápida e não destrutiva dos atributos de qualidade interna de maçãs e peras.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical quality and bioactive compounds of Apis mellifera honey as well as the alterations in the quality of A. mellifera honey after being used in the feeding of Melipona subnitida colonies. A. mellifera honeys were collected in apiaries, homogenised and used as feed for M. subnitida bees for 30 days. Every five days, honey samples were collected and evaluated for physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds. The treatments consisted of natural honeys of A. mellifera and M. subnitida and honey of M. subnitida bee after being fed with A. mellifera honey (modified honey). M. subnitida bees, when fed with honey from A. mellifera, modified some of its characteristics, such as moisture, reducing sugars, diastase activity, colour and flavonoid content. Natural and modified honeys of A. mellifera were similar to each other and different from M. subnitida honey in terms of minerals, free acidity, electrical conductivity, phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Treatments were similar in terms of sucrose, insoluble matter, hydroxymethylfurfural and water activity. In general, the quality attributes of the modified honey were closer to the honey of A. mellifera than to the natural M. subnitida honey.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o tamanho da amostra mais eficiente necessário para estimar a média dos caracteres de qualidade pós-colheita de mangas ‘Palmer’ colhidas em duas estações. Cinquenta mangas foram coletadas no estágio de maturação 2, no inverno (junho de 2020) e na primavera (outubro de 2020), e avaliadas quanto à massa, comprimento, diâmetros ventral e transversal, L*, C* e hº de casca e de polpa, matéria seca, firmeza, sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT) e relação SS/AT. De acordo com os resultados, o coeficiente de variação (CV) dos caracteres de qualidade dos frutos variou de 2,1 a 18,1%. O maior CV, em ambas as safras, foi observado para a relação SS/AT, enquanto o menor foi reportado para hº da polpa. Para estimar a média dos caracteres físico-químicos de mangas ‘Palmer’, são necessários 12 frutos na colheita de inverno e 14 da primavera, considerando um erro de estimativa de 10% e um intervalo de confiança de 95%. A AT e a relação SS/AT exigiram o maior tamanho de amostra, enquanto L* e hº exigiram o menor tamanho de amostra. Conclui-se que a variabilidade foi diferente entre os caracteres físico-químicas e as estações, implicando que diferentes tamanhos de amostra são necessários para estimar a média de diferentes caracteres de qualidade em diferentes estações.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the most efficient sample size required to estimate the mean of postharvest quality traits of ‘Palmer’ mangoes harvested in two growing seasons. A total of 50 mangoes were harvested at maturity stage 2, in winter (June 2020) and spring (October 2020), and evaluated for weight, length, ventral and transverse diameter, skin and pulp L*, C* and hº, dry matter, firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and the SS/TA ratio. According to the results, the coefficient of variation (CV) of fruit quality traits ranged from 2.1% to 18.1%. The highest CV in both harvests was observed for the SS/TA ratio, while the lowest was reported for pulp hº. In order to estimate the mean of physicochemical traits of ‘Palmer’ mangoes, 12 fruits are needed in the winter and 14 in the spring, considering an estimation error of 10% and a confidence interval of 95%. TA and the SS/TA ratio required the highest sample size, while L* and hº required the lowest sample size. In conclusion, the variability was different among physicochemical traits and seasons, implying that different sample sizes are required to estimate the mean of different quality traits in different growing seasons.