No abstract

In subtropical or tropical conditions, the insufficient winter chill accumulation is often a limiting factor to break the dormancy of temperate-climate species such as the blackberry, which requires using products to help break dormancy. This study evaluates the efficacy of compounds in breaking dormancy of blackberry and its consequent influence on phenology and crop yields. The experiment was conducted in São Manuel, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in the 2011/2012 production cycle. The plants used were two-year-old "Tupy" blackberry (Rubus spp.), with 0.6 × 4.0 m spacing (4.166 plants·ha −1 ). Pruning was performed in August, followed by the application of these treatments: control (water); hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex ® ); nitrogen fertilizer (Erger ® ) and mineral oil (Assist ® ). The concentrations of each compound used were: 2.0%, 4.0%, 6.0% and 8.0%. The compounds used influenced the budding, flowering and fruit harvest stages, in addition to providing increased yields depending on the concentration used. For hydrogen cyanamide the recommended concentration is of 4.2% and 5.4% for nitrogen fertilizer; doses above these concentrations may cause phytotoxic effects. For mineral oil the dose recommended is of 8.0%.

Blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) are grown worldwide for commercial fresh markets. Physiochemical and sensory attributes were evaluated on fresh fruit of five blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Osage, Ouachita, Prime-Ark® 45, and Prime-Ark® Traveler) and six advanced breeding selections from the University of Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program. The physiochemical attributes of blackberries were within a commercially acceptable range (soluble solids = 8% to 11%, pH = 3.0–3.6, titratable acidity = 0.7% to 1.4%, berry weight = 6 to 14 g, drupelets/berry = 50 to 150, and pyrenes/berry = 51 to 115). ‘Natchez’ had the highest berry weight, berry length, drupelets/berry, and pyrenes/berry, whereas A-2453 was the lowest for these attributes. The highest nutraceutical levels were found in ‘Osage’ (total flavonols and total anthocyanins), A-2434 (total ellagitannins) and A-2453 (total phenolics). A trained descriptive sensory panel (n = 9) evaluated fresh blackberry attributes for appearance, basic tastes, feeling factors, aromatics, and texture using a 15-point scale (0 = less of the attribute; 15 = more of the attribute in terms of intensity). The descriptive panel identified ‘Natchez’ as having the largest descriptive size of berry with the highest overall aromatics and A-2453 as the smallest, glossiest, and firmest. Although A-2491 had the highest soluble solids, the descriptive panelists could not differentiate sweetness among the genotypes, but found A-2491 the least sour. A consumer sensory panel (n = 74) evaluated appearance, flavor, and texture attributes of blackberries on a 9-point verbal hedonic liking scale (1 = extremely dislike; 9 = like extremely) and 5-point just about right (JAR) scale (1 = not nearly enough; 3 = JAR; 5 = much too much). In terms of overall impression and overall flavor, A-2491 and ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ had the highest liking; average attributes for these blackberries were a berry weight of 9.1 g, soluble solids of 10.0%, titratable acidity of 0.95%, and a soluble solids/titratable acid ratio of 11.9. ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ also had the highest liking for appearance and berry size. A-2453, the glossiest berry, had the highest liking for berry color. Consumer panelists liked the firmness of the blackberries including those that were very firm, such as A-2453, but did not indicate differences in liking among genotypes. Consumers found the size of ‘Ouachita’, ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’, and ‘Prime-Ark® 45’ (berry weight ≈8.3 g) JAR, but ‘Natchez’ (14.3 g) too large. Consumers found the sweetness and sourness of A-2491 JAR. Consumer overall impression and flavor of blackberries were positively correlated to consumer liking of berry shape and color and negatively correlated to the descriptive attributes for sourness, bitterness, green/unripe aromatic, and amount of seeds. Consumer liking of appearance was positively correlated with consumer liking of berry size, shape, color, and descriptive uniformity of color and glossiness. To produce a commercially marketed fresh-market blackberry, there are many characteristics that are important, but our data for these genotypes suggest that a desired blackberry should have a berry weight of 8–10 g, soluble solids of 9% to 11%, titratable acidity of 0.9% to 1%, and a soluble solids/titratable acid ratio of 10 to 13. However, optimum sugar and acidity levels require more investigation including other factors in flavor and aromatics. Evaluating the physiochemical and sensory attributes of fresh fruit is an important tool that can be used to determine commercial potential for selections and cultivars.

No abstract

Fresh-market blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) have a growing global market, with continued release of cultivars to meet demand for consumer-quality fruit. The release of primocane-fruiting blackberry plants that produce crops on both floricanes and primocanes has expanded blackberry production. This study investigated the physiochemical attributes of fresh-market blackberries harvested from two cane types (floricane and primocane) from four primocane genotypes (APF-238, APF-268, ‘Prime-Ark® 45’, and ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’) grown at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarksville in 2015 and 2016. Year-to-year differences were evident as blackberries harvested in 2016 were smaller (6 g) and less acidic (0.7% titratable acidity) than berries harvested in 2015 (8 g berries with 0.9% titratable acidity); however, soluble solids in each year were similar (≈10.2%). Differences in genotypes were also a factor. ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ (2015) and APF-268 (2016) had the highest berry firmness (7.8–8.3 N). In both years, APF-238 had the lowest firmness (5.7–6.0 N), highest isocitric acid (0.8–1.1 g/100 g), and highest total anthocyanins (239–353 mg/100 g). Floricane fruit harvested from ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ had the highest berry weights (8.3–10.4 g) in both years. Blackberries harvested from primocanes were wider (21.3–22.9 mm), had higher soluble solids (11.6% to 12.6%), and had lower titratable acidity (0.6%) when compared with floricane fruit in both years. Major year-to-year differences were found for several variables in this study, indicating that environmental effects can be substantial and growers should be aware of this influence on berries harvested from the different cane types. Evaluation of quality properties of floricane and primocane fruit of primocane plants in other locations would be valuable, particularly from areas where commercial blackberry production is established.

RESUMO -O período de colheita de amora-preta ocorre de novembro a fevereiro nos estados do Sul do Brasil, onde se concentra a maior área de cultivo do País. Sabendo-se que frutas ofertadas fora do pico da safra possuem preços mais vantajosos, objetivou-se escalonar a colheita da amoreira-preta através da realização da poda hibernal em diferentes épocas, levando-se em conta o número de horas de frio e os grausdia acumulados. O presente trabalho foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, no município de São Manuel-SP. Foram utilizadas plantas de amoreira-preta "Tupy", de 3 anos de idade, conduzidas em 4 hastes principais, em espaldeira em T, com 1,2 metro de altura. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o esquema fatorial 2x5, constando de 2 sistemas de cultivo (não irrigado e irrigado) e de 5 tratamentos (épocas de poda: 20-05, 26-06, 24-07, 23-08 e 26-09), com repetições em blocos. A irrigação não alterou a duração do ciclo da amoreira-preta, mas proporcionou aumento na produtividade, independentemente das épocas de poda. Quanto maior o número de horas de frio acumulado, menor o ciclo e menor a necessidade em graus-dia da amoreira-preta 'Tupy'. A poda hibernal realizada em 20-05 proporcionou um pico de colheita de amora-preta em meados de setembro, em São Manuel -SP. Termos para indexação: Rubus sp, produção, graus-dia, ciclo, qualidade. THERMAL REQUIREMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN BLACKBERRY-FUNCTION TIMES OF PRUNINGABSTRACT -November and February are the harvest season for blackberry at the southern states of Brazil, where is the largest cultivation area in the country. It is Known that the fruit offered outside the harvest season has higher prices, so the present study aimed to stagger the harvest season for blackberry, by performing the winter pruning at different time, taking into account the number of hours exposed to cold temperatures and accumulated degree-days. This study was conducted at the Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, at São Manuel-SP. It was used blackberry plants cv. Tupy, 3 years old, conducted in 4 main stems in espalier in T, with 1.2 meters high. The experimental design was a 2x5 factorial arrangement, with two cropping systems (irrigated and non-irrigated) and 5 treatments (pruning times: 05/20, 06/26, 07/24, 08/23 and 09/26) with blocks repetitions. Irrigation did not alter the cycle of blackberry, but resulted in higher productivity independent of pruning time. The higher the number of chilling hours accumulated, the lower the cycle and the need for day-degrees of the blackberry 'Tupy'. The winter pruning held on 05/20 provided the highest blackberry harvest in mid-September, at São Manuel -SP.

A figueira-da-índia é uma cactácea de origem mexicana, com grande potencial produtivo para as condições edafoclimáticas do Brasil, porém a falta de conhecimento faz com que a cultura seja pouco cultivada. Com o objetivo de avaliar a fenologia da figueira-da-índia, o presente trabalho foi realizado em plantas com 4 anos de idade, no espaçamento de 1,0 x 2,5 m, na área experimental da Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão da Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP, localizada no município de Selvíria - MS, de agosto de 2006 a janeiro de 2007. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com dez repetições, com uma planta por parcela experimental, ocasião em que foram avaliados a fenologia e o crescimento dos frutos. O período de emissão das gemas concentrou-se nos meses de setembro e outubro. O florescimento, ocorreu 30 dias após a emissão da gema florífera. Os frutos atingiram a maturidade fisiológica (ponto de colheita) aos 66 dias após o florescimento e aos 72 dias apresentavam-se maduros, aptos para o consumo. O período de desenvolvimento dos frutos, desde a emissão da gema florífera até a maturidade fisiológica, foi de 96 dias. A curva de crescimento dos frutos foi do tipo quadrática. A cultura da figueira-da-índia pode tornar-se uma alternativa principalmente para pequenos produtores, visto que não exige grandes investimentos para sua implantação e condução, além de se adaptar bem às condições ambientais de nosso País. Seus frutos possuem excelentes preços tanto no mercado nacional como no internacional, e o aproveitamento na forma de doces e geleias pode incrementar a renda dos produtores.

O presente trabalho foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, localizada no município de São Manuel-SP. Foram avaliadas amoreiras-pretas da cultivar Tupy com 1 ano de idade, conduzidas em quatro hastes, no sistema de espaldeira em T, com 1,2 metro de altura. O espaçamento utilizado foi de 0,6 m entre plantas x 4,0 metros entre linhas e a densidade de plantio de 4.166 plantas.ha-1. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com 4 repetições, 15 tratamentos, e a parcela experimental composta por duas plantas, rodeadas por bordadura. Em 27 de julho de 2010, efetuaram-se a poda de produção e a quebra de dormência das plantas. Para tanto, foram testadas as seguintes doses de Dormex® (49% de cianamida hidrogenada): T1=0,0%; T2=1,5%,; T3=3,0%; T4=4,5%, e T5=6,0%, de Bioalho® (70% de extrato de alho): T6=0,0%; T7=2,0%; T8=4,0%; T9=6,0%, e T10=8,0% e de Stimulate® (0,005% de auxina, 0,005% de giberelina e 0,009% de citocinina): T11=0,0%; T12=2,0%; T13=4,0%; T14=6,0%, e T15=8,0% . Avaliaram-se a fenologia e a produtividade da amoreira-preta 'Tupy' em função dos reguladores e das doses utilizadas. A quebra de dormência efetuada com cianamida hidrogenada, nas doses de 3,0, 4,5% e 6,0%, antecipou e uniformizou a brotação e florescimento, além proporcionar os maiores valores de porcentagem de brotação e produtividade, sendo estas as melhores doses do regulador vegetal para cultura cultivada na região. Os tratamentos em que se utilizaram extrato de alho e Stimulate® apresentaram dados de brotação e produtividade muito inferiores, quando comparados aos apresentados pelos tratamentos em que se aplicou cianamida hidrogenada. Assim, fazem-se necessários novos estudos em busca de reguladores vegetais alternativos que sejam tão eficazes quanto à cianamida hidrogenada.