‘Italia’ grape is one of the most important table grape cultivars grown worldwide. Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. Fr., is one of the most important causes of postharvest decay of table grapes, and the control of this disease is very difficult because postharvest treatments with synthetic fungicides are not allowed in many countries. The objective of this study was to compare different types of pads releasing different doses of SO2 during cold storage to control gray mold in ‘Italia’ table grapes grown under subtropical conditions. Grape bunches were harvested from a commercial field trained on an overhead trellis located at Cambira, state of Parana (PR), South Brazil. The grapes were packed into carton boxes (capacity, 4.5 kg) and subjected to the following SO2 pad treatments (Uvasys®, Cape Town, South Africa) under cold storage (1.0 ± 1 °C) for 50 days: (i) Control; (ii) SO2 slow release pad; (iii) SO2 dual release pad; (iv) SO2 dual release–fast reduced pad; (v) SO2 slow release pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea suspension; (vi) SO2 dual release pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea suspension; and (vii) SO2 dual release-fast reduced pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea suspension. After cold storage, the grape boxes were maintained for 7 days at room temperature (25 °C). The incidence of gray mold on the grapes, firmness, shattered berries, stem browning, as well as other physicochemical variables, such as bunch mass, bunch mass loss, skin color, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and SS/TA were evaluated. Both SO2 dual release pads were highly efficient in preventing the incidence of gray mold in ‘Italia’ grapes packed in clamshells during the 50-day period of cold storage and at room temperature, even with Botrytis-inoculated berries. The SO2 slow release pad showed lower efficiency, but was higher than the control. The SO2 dual release pad treatments provided the best results with respect to stem browning scores (fresh and green stems) during cold storage, and no differences were observed among the treatments with respect to the other physicochemical evaluations.

Grapes grown under warm climate conditions tend to show less color development, and this phenomenon is attributed to low anthocyanin accumulation in berry skin in response to high temperature during ripening. 'Benitaka' (Vitis vinifera L.) is a table grape that shows poor color development when grown under a subtropical condition, and the exogenous application of (S)-cis-abscisic acid (S-ABA) is a recently developed technique used to overcome this difficulty. Trials were conducted during two crop seasons in a commercial vineyard containing 11-year-old 'Benitaka' vines grafted onto 'IAC 766 Campinas' rootstocks in Marialva, State of Parana (PR), Brazil. The vines were trained on an overhead trellis system, covered with a black plastic mash, and spaced 3.0 × 6.0 m apart. A randomized block design was used and treatments included the application of 400 mg L −1 of S-ABA at different stages of ripening, as follows: Control (no application); At pre-veraison (PRV) (7 days before veraison); At veraison (V); and At post-veraison (POV) (7 days after V). A second application was performed for all treatments, 10 days after the first application, except for the control. The analysis of berries included, total and daily anthocyanins accumulation, the color index of red grapes (CIRG), daily CIRG development, lightness (L*), chroma (C*), hue angle (h°), mass, length, width, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidy (TA), the index of maturation (TSS/TA), and total polyphenols of berries. The exogenous application of S-ABA from PRV to POV significantly enhanced the contents and rates of total anthocyanins accumulation and the CIRG of 'Benitaka' table grape; however, the application at PRV and V provided a higher response. A stronger correlation exists between anthocyanin concentration and the color index of berry skin, however, the main physicochemical characteristics of berries are not significantly affected by the use of S-ABA. Berry firmness varies in response to S-ABA application, but not to an extent at which it compromises berry quality for commercial use.

Sugarcane straw mulch left in the field after its mechanical harvest has become very valuable raw material for second generation ethanol and bioelectricity production. However, little information is available on how much straw mulch is needed to be left in the field so that agricultural productivity is not affected and high sustainability is provided for the bioenergy production system. The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and industrial quality of sugarcane after five years of cultivation when different amount of straw mulch is removed from the field. The experiment was installed in clay texture Eutroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol). Six treatments were evaluated: 0%, 25% (5 t ha −1), 50% (10 t ha −1), 75% (15 t ha −1), 100% (20 t ha −1) of straw mulch and burnt cane harvesting (where 100% of the straw mulch was burned). Evaluated parameters included sugarcane productivity (tons/hectare) and its industrial quality (Pol, soluble solids (°Brix), apparent purity and total sugars (TS)). Productivity was calculated at the end of the cycle whereas industrial quality parameters were evaluated during three phases i.e. 180, 240 and 350 days after cutting (DAC). Straw mulch of 50 and 75% were statistically at par with each other but resulted in higher sugarcane production with 47% more productivity as compared to 0 and 25% of straw mulch as well as burned cane harvesting. Straw mulch didn't affect the industrial quality; however, higher sugar production was supported by higher agricultural productivity, under low moisture condition. It is possible to remove 50% of straw mulch from the field for the production of second generation ethanol or bioelectricity, without any damage to the crop.

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BRS Vitoria' (Vitis spp.) is a novel hybrid seedless table grape recommended for cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas, especially for overseas export. The main postharvest disease of this cultivar is botrytis or gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), which occurs even under low temperatures in cold chambers. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) release pads have been used to control this disease under cold storage, but some grape cultivars are sensitive to certain levels of this compound. The objective of this work was to evaluate different types of SO 2 generator pads in order to prevent the incidence of gray mold of 'BRS Vitoria' seedless grape, as well to avoid other grape injuries during cold storage. Grape bunches were harvested when fully ripened (16 • Brix) from a commercial field trained on overhead trellis and located at Marialva, state of Parana (PR) (South Brazil). Grapes were packed into carton boxes and subjected to the following SO 2 pad treatments (Uvasys ® , Cape Town, South Africa) in a cold chamber (2 • C): (a) control; (b) SO 2 slow release pad; (c) SO 2 dual release pad; (d) SO 2 dual release-fast reduced pad; (e) SO 2 slow release pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea; (f) SO 2 dual release pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea; and (g) SO 2 dual release-fast reduced pad with grapes inoculated with B. cinerea. After a 50-day cold chamber period, the grape boxes were kept for 7 days at room temperature at 25 • C. A randomized design was used with seven treatments and four replications, with five bunches per plot. The incidence of gray mold on grapes was evaluated after the 50-day cold storage and after the 7-days-at-room-temperature periods, as well other grape physicochemical variables, such as shattered berries, stem browning, bunch mass, bunch mass loss, skin color, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and SS/TA. The dual release pads were more efficient in preventing the incidence of gray mold and mass loss in 'BRS Vitoria' seedless grapes than the slow release pads in both storage periods. The incidence of shattered berries was lower when any type SO 2 pad was used during cold storage, and no effects were observed on stem browning, firmness, or berry skin color of 'BRS Vitoria' grapes.Horticulturae 2018, 4, 17 2 of 11 excellent flavor and firmness, this cultivar is a good option not only for the internal market, but also for export [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to develop techniques that allow postharvest conservation of this grape in cold storage for long periods.The fungus Botrytis cinerea, which causes gray mold, is considered one of the most damaging postharvest pathogens to the quality of table grapes during storage and transport over long distances. The control of this fungus is particularly important during refrigerated storage, as it also develops at low temperatures (−0.5 • C) and spreads rapidly through the berry clusters [2][3][4].Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) is the main fungicide treatment used to retard the growth of this fungus in refrigerated chambers, and the purpose of i...

Due to mechanical harvesting large amount of straw is left in the field which implicates modification throughout the agriculture environment. This straw is beneficial for both soil and plant. However, there is no information about the sufficient quantity which can be used to achieve such effects and also whether it can be used in other sectors like electricity and ethanol production. Therefore, a research was designed with the objective to evaluate the effect of different amounts of straw on the development and productivity of sugarcane during the first and second ratoons. Treatments used in the experiment included: burned cane, 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (20 t ha −1) of sugarcane straw left on the soil surface. The tested variables included leaf area index (LAI), number, diameter, length and production of stems. Plants were evaluated at 60, 120, 180, 240 and 370 days after harvest (DAH) for the first ratoon and at 60, 120, 180, 240 and 270 DAH for the second ratoon. Replacing burned cane harvest system for soil management with straw promotes the development and productivity of sugarcane ratoons. Field managements with burned cane, total removal of the straw, or keeping 25% of straw result in low number of tillers, leaf area index, stem diameter and productivity of sugarcane ratoons, under water stress conditions. Whereas keeping 50% of straw mulch is enough to improve the growth and yield of sugarcane with drought occurrences, while the remaining 50% can be used for second generation of ethanol production or electricity without damaging the crop yield.

In colored table grapes, the anthocyanin contents are inhibited by the high temperature during ripening and berries suffer a lack of skin color, thus affecting their market value. In order to overcome this issue, a research study was planned to evaluate the influence of (S)-cis-abscisic acid (S-ABA) on rates of anthocyanin accumulation in table grapes when applied at different timings of ripening, and to quantify the gradual increase of berry color. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard of ‘Benitaka’ table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.), grown under double annual cropping system in a subtropical area. The trials were carried out during two consecutive seasons (i.e., summer season of 2015 and off-season of 2016). The treatments used for the experiments contained 400 mg L−1 S-ABA applied at different timings of veraison (the onset of ripening), as follows: control (with no application); at pre-veraison (PRV); at veraison (V); and at post-veraison (POV). For all S-ABA treatments, a second application was performed 10 days after the first application. Berries were analyzed for weekly and daily anthocyanin accumulations, weekly and daily color index development (CIRG), total soluble solids (TSS) content, titratable acidity (TA), and maturation index (TSS/TA). Grapes subjected to exogenous application of S-ABA at any time of veraison, especially at PRV or at V, significantly increased the anthocyanin accumulation as well as berry color index development. Other chemical properties of grapes (i.e., TSS, TA, and TSS/TA evolution) were not affected by the use of S-ABA and followed a predictable pattern in relation to days of berries ripening.

The application of S-ABA enantiomer to clusters of poor pigmentation cultivars can improve grape color. The aim of this study was to assess whether S-ABA applied to clusters of the new hybrid ‘BRS Melodia’ seedless grape can improve its color characteristics and to evaluate the consumer acceptance. The following treatments were evaluated: Control; S-ABA at 200 mg·L−1 7 days after veraison (DAV); S-ABA at 400 mg·L−1 7 DAV; S-ABA at 200 mg·L−1 7 DAV + 200 mg·L−1 21 DAV; and S-ABA at 400 mg·L−1 7 DAV + 400 mg·L−1 21 DAV. To apply the treatments, clusters were sprayed using a backpack sprayer until runoff. The exogenous application of S-ABA significantly improves the color of berries of ‘BRS Melodia’ seedless grape, particularly at a concentration of 400 mg·L−1 in two applications, at 7 DAV and 21 DAV, resulting in clusters with greater consumer acceptance through visual-sensory analysis. Regardless of concentration or application timing, there was no change in the physicochemical characteristics of the berries or clusters, nor in the number of shoots per cane or clusters per shoot in the season after its application.