Abstract
West Indian cherry stands out among the fruits cultivated for the pharmacological and alimentary importance, but its quality can be affected by irrigation water salinity and fertilization management. In this context, this research aimed to study the effect of irrigation water of different salinities and combinations of nitrogen and potassium fertilization on the physical and physico-chemical quality of bioactive compounds in West Indian cherry fruits. The experiment was carried out in the field, using lysimeters of 60 L, in the Experimental Area of the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar (CCTA) of Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Pombal, PB, in a randomized block design, with treatments arranged in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, referring to five irrigation water salinities (ECw): 0.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3 and 4.3 dS m-1 and four combinations (C) of doses of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K2O): C1 = 70% N + 50% K2O; C2 = 100% N + 75% K2O; C3 = 130% N + 100% K2O and C4 = 160% N + 125% K2O, of the recommended dose for West Indian cherry, with three replicates and one plant per plot consisting of a lysimeter. The cv. Flor Branca grafted on cv. Junco was used in the study. The increase in salinity of irrigation water reduced the size, weight and vitamin C content of the fruits, but, the combinations of N and K fertilization did not affect fruit shape and the content of anthocyanin, carotenoids, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and fruit flavor. Fertilization combinations consisting of C1 and C2 treatments promoted the largest fruit size under irrigation with ECw of up to 1.3 dS m-1 and greater mass accumulation. Fertilization doses above C2 combinations negatively affected fruit quality.
Highlights
It is worth noting that the quality parameters of the West Indian cherry, such as the vitamin C content, color, weight, size, total soluble solids and pulp pH are affected by the genetic variability of the orchard and may be influenced by several other factors, such as pluvial precipitation, temperature elevation, fertilization management, irrigation and salinity (FACHI et al, 2016)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the irrigation water salinity and different combinations of nitrogen and potassium fertilization on the physical, physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds in fruits of West Indian cherry
The tested salt levels were based on a previous study conducted by Sá et al (2018), who verified that the irrigation with water salinity up to 2.2 dS m-1 did not compromise the growth and physiology of the West Indian cherry cv
Summary
C.) is considered as one of the most interesting fruits in the Brazilian Northeast region, due to its physico-chemical characteristics and its bioactive compounds for pharmacological and alimentary use (FACHI et al, 2016), standing out for its elevated contents of vitamin C and other compounds with antioxidant properties, such as carotenoids, anthocyanin and phenolics, placing this species in a prominent position among the fruit species cultivated in the region (ARAÚJO et al, 2009). It is worth noting that the quality parameters of the West Indian cherry, such as the vitamin C content, color, weight, size, total soluble solids and pulp pH are affected by the genetic variability of the orchard and may be influenced by several other factors, such as pluvial precipitation, temperature elevation, fertilization management, irrigation and salinity (FACHI et al, 2016).
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