Influence of the main stem pruning and fruit thinning on quality of melon

Abstract

RESUMO Influence of the main stem pruning and fruit thinning on quality of melon 1Among many management practices used in melon crops, those that change source: sink relationship, such as pruning and fruit thinning, directly influence production, affect fruit size and its composition, including sugar and vitamin contents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of pruning of the main stem and time of fruit thinning in melon postharvest quality. Thus, two experiments were set up in Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte, each with a melon hybrid (Amaregal and Banzai). Each experiment was conducted in a randomized block, in a (2 x 4) + 1 factorial design, 2 pruning management (with and without pruning), 4 levels of fruit thinning (3, 6, 9 and 12 DARB -days after removal agro textile blanket) and a control (without pruning and thinning), and four replications. Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity and transported to the Laboratory of Food Technology of UFERSA, where they were evaluated for the following characteristics: weight, diameter, length, flesh thickness, flesh firmness, soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity, soluble solids: titratable acidity ratio and vitamin C. No interaction between factors in any of the experiments was found. Titratable acidity (0.077%) and vitamin C content (3.4 mg/100 g) in Amaregal melon and soluble solids (10.2%) in Banzai melon were lower in the treatments with stem pruning. In Amaregal melon, fruits showed longer length (134 mm) and greater flesh firmness (40 N) when thinning was carried out on 6 DARB, and as thinning was delayed, it found a decrease in the values of soluble solids, SS: TA ratio and pH. In Banzai melon, fruits showed greater flesh thickness (33.5 mm) and SS: TA (247.5) ratio when thinning was carried out on 6 DARB. However, delay in thinning promoted an increase in pH and vitamin C content of the fruits. Pruning of the main stem and thinning season had effect on the quality of Amaregal and Banzai melons in different ways.Dentre as diversas práticas culturais utilizadas no meloeiro, aquelas que alteram a relação fonte: dreno, como poda de hastes e raleio de frutos, influenciam diretamente na produção, afetam o tamanho dos frutos e sua composição, incluindo os teores de açúcares e vitaminas. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a influência da poda da haste principal e da época de realização do raleio de frutos na qualidade pós-colheita de melão. Para isto, dois experimentos foram implantados no município de Mossoró-RN, cada um com um híbrido (Amaregal e Banzai). Cada experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, com esquema fatorial (2 x 4) + 1, sendo 2 níveis do fator poda (sem poda e com poda), 4 níveis do fator raleio (3, 6, 9 e 12 DARM -dias após a retirada da manta agrotêxtil) e uma testemunha (sem poda e sem raleio), e quatro blocos. Os frutos foram colhidos na maturidade comercial e transportados para o Laboratório de 790 Rafaella Martins de Araújo Ferreira et al.

Watermelon Rootstock/Scion Relationships and the Effects of Fruit-Thinning and Stem-Pruning on Yield and Postharvest Fruit Quality

“…As shown by our results, the average number of marketable fruits (per m 2 ) was not affected by the pruning or thinning of grafted plants. Similar results were reported from a study of melon (C. melo L.), in which main-stem pruning and fruit-thinning did not affect production characteristics (i.e., number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and yield), but did affect some physical-chemical parameters during storage [7]. From the fruit-quality perspective, thinning young fruits can affect the balance between the source (canopy) and sink (fruit) by removing extra fruits (sinks), which allows the remaining fruit to ripen and mature in a more optimal way and exhibit better internal and sensorial qualities after the marketing simulation.…”

“…In addition, limiting the number of fruits per plant often improves fruit size and quality by enhancing the partitioning of assimilates to the remaining fruit [6]. Therefore, stem pruning and fruit thinning offer the opportunity to adjust the fruit load of each individual plant according to its vegetative vigor [7].…”

Extended shelf life of melons using chitosan and graphene oxide‐based biodegradable bags

“…Traditionally, melons of Cantaloupensis group have been commercialized in microperforated polyethylene packages, which create an internal modified atmosphere and prolong its shelf life (Ferreira, Aroucha, Medeiros, Nascimento, & Paiva, 2018;Véras et al, 2019).…”

“…Traditionally, melons of Cantaloupensis group have been commercialized in microperforated polyethylene packages, which create an internal modified atmosphere and prolong its shelf life (Ferreira, Aroucha, Medeiros, Nascimento, & Paiva, 2018; Véras et al., 2019). Despite being a widespread technology and with satisfactory results in maintaining fruit quality (Morais, Silva, Maia, & Menezes, 2009; Souza et al., 2008), these packages are made from petroleum‐based polymers, which are non‐biodegradable and slow to decompose, taking until 450 years in a landfill, causing several environmental impacts on ecosystems and consequently on human health (Kreiger, Mulder, Glover, & Pearce, 2014).…”

Effects of Fruit Thinning and Main Stem Pruning in Melon Crops

“…On the other hand, in plants pruned later, the photoassimilates that would be destined to fruits (preferential sinks) were redirected to new branches (source), reducing the accumulation of sugars in the fruit pulp [9]. A study evaluating the influence of main stem pruning and fruit thinning on quality and postharvest conservation of Charentais 'Banzai' melon showed that the treatment without pruning increased the titratable acidity of the fruits, while the thinning at 51 days after sowing reduced soluble solids, pulp firmness, titratable acidity, and reducing sugars [22].…”