Application of chitosan on physalis

Débora Thaís Muhlbeier,Robson Fernando Missio,Alexandre Claus,Adenise Bottcher Claus,Alessandra Algeri,Taila Letícia Antunes Oliveira,Eloísa Lorenzetti Tartaro,Alessandro Jefferson Sato

doi:10.33448/rsd-v11i2.25825

Débora Thaís Muhlbeier, Robson Fernando Missio + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i2.25825

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Abstract

Cultivation of small fruits such as blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, and physalis is rapidly growing in Brazil, mainly due to small producers who seek income diversification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different doses of chitosan on the physicochemical properties of Physalis peruviana L. Two experiments were conducted: i) field (FE); and ii) greenhouse (GE). Four doses of chitosan (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 L 100L-1) and a control were used as treatments. We evaluated fruit diameter (FD), fruit length (FL), calyx length (CL), and calyx diameter (CD) - mm; fruit mass - g; soluble solids content (SS) - °Brix; titratable acidity (TA) - % of citric acid; SS/TA ratio; and fruit firmness - N. Foliar application of chitosan to field-grown physalis plants significantly increased fruit mass, length, and diameter, as well as fruit SS and TA content. However, in a protected environment, the application of chitosan had less effect on the properties evaluated. Fruit firmness was not affected by chitosan application. Negative correlations (P<0.001) between fruit mass and firmness (r=-0.57) and SS/TA ratio (r=-0.61) were observed. SS/TA ratio was also negatively correlated with TA (r=-0.82), FL(r=-0.61), and FD (r=-0.68). High and significant correlations were observed between fruit mass and TA, FL, and FD. Foliar application of chitosan has a positive effect on both agronomic and chemical properties and can be an excellent alternative natural fertilizer for physalis plants when applied in doses up to 0.2 L 100 L-1.

Highlights

Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.) is cultivated in several regions of the world (Scher et al, 2014) and is propagated and dispersed (Njoroge et al, 2004)
Little is known about the efficiency of chitosan as a source of fertilization and protection for physalis plants
We chose to evaluate the effects of different doses of chitosan on physalis plants in two experimental conditions because chitosan is a natural biofertilizer, environmentally sustainable, and has a high potential for use in plants (Sathiyabama and Akila, 2021)

Summary

Introduction

Physalis (Physalis peruviana L.) is cultivated in several regions of the world (Scher et al, 2014) and is propagated and dispersed (Njoroge et al, 2004). Its fruits contain phenolic compounds, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, steroids, physalins, vitamins, and minerals (Puente et al 2011; Machado et al, 2019; Mier-Giraldo et al, 2017; Marchioretto et al, 2020). These compounds have antioxidant activities that can be beneficial for health (Puente et al, 2011). Because of consumers’ demand, growing physalis with agroecological practices can facilitate its commercialization. In this context, using products such as chitosan, a natural heteropolymer, can be an alternative to aid fruit development (Kurtz et al, 2010, Amerany et al 2020). Chitosan is extracted from crustaceans’ exoskeleton and the cell wall of some fungi of the Zygomycete class (Kumar, 2000)

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