Fertigation with fish farming effluent at the adequate phenological stages improves physiological responses, production and quality of cherry tomato fruit.

The use of effluent from fish farming in the greenhouse increases the availability of water and reduces the risk of environmental contamination due to improper disposal. Therefore, a study in a greenhouse was carried out to evaluate the effects of fertigation utilizing fish farming effluent at different phenological stages of cherry tomato. Plants of cherry tomato were fertigated with fish farming effluent (E) alternated with tap water (W) at the four phenological stages of the crop (growth, flowering, fruit formation and ripening). The growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, chloroplast pigments, electrolyte leakage, production and postharvest quality were evaluated. The fertigation with fish farming effluents did not reduce the growth of tomato plants. The fertirrigated plants with fish farming effluents obtained photosynthetic rates and photochemical efficiency similar or superior to the control. There was no interference on photochemical quenching when the plants were fertigated with fish farming effluents. When applied at the flowering stage, fish farming effluent reduces the average fruit weight and increases acidity. For greenhouse cultivation, each application of fish farming effluents, two successive applications of tap water are required.Novelty statement: Use of fish farming effluent did not compromise the growth and photosynthetic activity of cherry tomato plants. Cherry tomato production was compromised when the effluent was applied during growth, flowering and, beginning of fruit set. The fish farming effluent can be used in irrigation without yield losses if alternating with tap water.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Ximenia americana coming from different collection sites

The study aimed to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of edible fraction (pulp and peel) in green and ripe ripening stages of the fruit and the seed of wild plum (Ximenia americana L.) from different production sites of occurrence in the semiarid region of Brazil. To characterize the edible fraction, the experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a factorial 3 x 2, where the first factor was the collection sites and the second factor the maturation stages, with 4 repetitions with 25 fruits each. As for seeds the experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 repetitions, totaling 25 seeds per experimental plot. The fruits were collected in the communities of Mulunguzinho, Pau Branco and Mata do Meio in the county of Mossoró, RN, Brazil. The edible fraction of the fruit Ximenia americana contains high levels of vitamin C (160,26 mg/100 g), yellow flavonoids (43,12 mg/100 g), total extractable polyphenols (3066,48 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (365,55 g fruit/g DPPH e 251,70 μmol Trolox/g) and the seeds contain content of polyphenols (2067,56 mg/100 g) and antioxidant (373,80 g fruit/g DPPH e 279,96 251,70 μmol Trolox/g). The edible part of the green fruit contains higher content of total extractable polyphenols, total carotenoids, yellow flavonoids and total anthocyanins. The edible portion of the fruits and the seeds from the community of Pau Branco contains the lowest content of total extractable polyphenols and antioxidant activity(AU)

Compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante de Ximenia americana oriunda de diferentes locais de coleta. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os compostos bioativos e a atividade antioxidante da fração comestível (polpa e casca) nos estádios de maturação verde e maduro do fruto e da semente da ameixa silvestre (Ximenia americana L.) proveniente de diferentes locais de ocorrência de produção na região semiárida do Brasil. Para caracterização da fração comestível o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, sendo o primeiro fator os locais de coleta e o segundo fator os estádios de maturação, com 4 repetições com 25 frutos cada. Já para as sementes o experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 4 repetições, totalizando 25 sementes por parcela experimental. Os frutos foram coletados nas comunidades de Mulunguzinho, Pau Branco e Mata do Meio, no município de Mossoró, RN, Brasil. A fração comestível do fruto da Ximenia americana contém elevados teores de vitamina C (160,26 mg/100 g), flavonoides amarelos (43,12 mg/100 g), polifenóis extraíveis totais (3066,48 mg/100 g) e atividade antioxidante (365,55 g fruit/g DPPH e 251,70 μmol Trolox/g) e as sementes elevados teores de polifenóis (2067,56 mg/100 g) e atividade antioxidante (373,80 g fruit/g DPPH e 279,96 251,70 μmol Trolox/g). A fração comestível do fruto verde contém maior conteúdo de polifenóis extraíveis totais, carotenoides totais, flavonoides amarelos e antocianina totais. A fração comestível e as sementes dos frutos provenientes da comunidade de Pau Branco contém menor conteúdo de polifenóis extraíveis totais e atividade antioxidante(AU)