Chemical fertilizing is one of the main inputs that increase watermelon production costs. Watermelon grafting with compatible rootstocks and a vigorous root system may increase the efficiency of nutrients absorption. This study aimed at determining the accumulation of dry matter and nutrients, as well as the agronomic performance of grafted watermelon. The triploid 'Precious Petite' watermelon was used as graft and the Line BGCIA941 (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) as rootstock. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, in a split-plot, with six replicates. The 'Precious Petite' grafted onto Line BGCIA941, ungrafted 'Precious Petite' and ungrafted Line BGCIA941 were evaluated in the plot, while the subplot corresponded to the sampling time (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days after transplanting). 'Precious Petite' grafted onto Line BGCIA 941 accumulated more macro and micronutrients than the ungrafted plants, increasing fruit yield, flesh firmness and rind thickness, but it did not affect the soluble solids contents. The decreasing order for nutrient accumulation in the grafted plants was N > K > Ca > Mg > P > S > Fe > Mn > Zn > B > Cu, whereas for ungrafted 'Precious Petite' it corresponded to N > K > Ca > Mg > P > S > Mn > Fe > B > Zn > Cu.

Currently there is a great need for reuse of water in agricultural activity, aiming at reducing environmental impacts and production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fruit production of hybrid Satrapo bell pepper, under fertilization with yellow water and cassava wastewater. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located at Campina Grande city, PB. The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight treatments and five replications, totaling 40 experimental plots. The treatments were characterized by fertilization with cattle manure (EB); NPK; human urine (HU); cassava wastewater (M); cassava wastewater and human urine (UH+M); the double volume of human urine (2xUH); the double volume of cassava wastewater (2xM); and the double volume of human urine and cassava wastewater (2xUH+M). At 60 day after transplanting (DAT) were evaluated the diameter, thickness of mesocarp, fresh and dry phytomass and number of lobes of yellow bell pepper fruits.According to the results, there were significant differences in the variables analyzed due to the treatments applied. The treatment corresponding to 2xM provided the highest results for length, diameter, thickness of the mesocarp, fresh and dry phytomass of the bell pepper fruits. On the contrary, 2xUH was the treatment that provided the lowest values for these variables and provided the highest number of lobes.

Yield and quality of melon in two irrigation systemsAt São Francisco River Valley, melon is cultivated mainly by small farmers that use the furrow irrigation system, which is characterizes by low water application efficiency. The aim of this work was to evaluate yield and physiological quality of melon fruits subjected to different irrigation systems, furrow and drip, as well as to evaluate the efficiency and economy of water in both systems. The experiment was carried out from September to November of 2005, at the Universidade da Bahia, Juazeiro, Brazil. The experimental design was casualized blocks, with ten replications. The experimental plots were 20 m 2 , with 2.0 m between lines and 0.5 m between plants. The melon cultivar studied was AF-682. The treatments were the 2 irrigation systems: drip and furrow. For the drip irrigation system, the dripping lines had 8 mm and drippers at each 0.30 m with 0.6 Lh -1 water flow. The furrows were constructed with 16 m length and 30 cm depth and width. The water flow was according to the regional agricultural practices, and were monitored with WSC Flume-A gutters. The harvest was performed 62 days after transplanting. The evaluations were fresh and dry weights of shoots, total commercial and refused production, fruits average weight, total soluble solids, pulp firmness, pulp width, transversal and longitudinal, internal cavity and fruits length and width. In general, there was no statistical difference for production and fruit quality for both irrigation systems evaluated. On the other hand the drip system was more efficient than furrow system.

ABSTRACT Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae (Fsc) is a soil pathogen and the adoption of resistant rootstocks is an effective method of control. Hybrids of Cucurbita spp. are the main rootstock used for watermelon. This study aimed to evaluate the virulence of Fsc race 1 (Fsc1) in three cucurbits and check the reaction of Cucurbita spp. genotypes to the fungus for its use as rootstock. Four experiments were performed. The virulence of Fsc1 in melon, watermelon and Cucurbita spp. was evaluated in experiment I. In experiment two and three the severity of the pathogen in 19 cucurbits was analyzed. And experiment four evaluated the compatibility of these genotypes as a rootstock for watermelon. Cucurbita spp. proved to be more resistant to Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1 than the melon. The high frequency of plants resistant to Fsc1 was found in the genotypes BGC622, BGC620, BGC567, BGC530, BGC186, BGC381, BGC692, BGC082, ES0061 and ES0062. In addition, the evaluated genotypes may be used as watermelon rootstocks, except for the ES530 strain, which was incompatible with the cultivar BRS Opara, but could be used in pumpkin breeding programs, as well as other resistant genotypes.

ResumoOs objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar a sensibilidade e as respostas da rosa cultivar Osiana (Rosa × hybrida) à presença de etileno ao longo da vida pós-colheita. Para determinar a sensibilidade da flor ao etileno, hastes foram cortadas e colocadas em câmaras herméticas e em seguida tratadas por 24 horas com diferentes concentrações de etileno variando de 0,0; 0,1; 1,0; 10; 100 e 1000 µL L -¹ do ar no interior da câmara. A rosa teve a vida pós-colheita reduzida pelo etileno, quando exposta a concentração igual ou superior a 10 µL L -1 de etileno. As flores tratadas com no mínimo de 10 µL L -¹ de etileno desenvolveram necrose, murcha e abscisão prematura das pétalas ainda túrgidas. As concentrações de 0,1 e 1,0 µL L -¹ de etileno estimularam a abertura do botão floral durante o período de 24 horas de exposição ao etileno, sem no entanto, reduzir a vida pós-colheita. A rosa 'Osiana' pode ser classificada como uma cultivar sensível ao etileno e a concentração influência os processos estimulados.Palavras-chave: pós-colheita, flores de corte, vida de vaso. Sensitivity of 'Osiana' rose to ethylene