Fresh Fig Fruits Research Articles

Produção da figueira em ambiente protegido submetida a diferentes épocas de poda e número de ramos

A produção de figos para consumo in natura, no sul do Brasil, é limitada pelas chuvas, que causam elevadas perdas por podridão. O uso da poda drástica, por sua vez, retarda o início da colheita e as baixas temperaturas impedem o crescimento e a maturação dos frutos a partir do início do outono. O cultivo da figueira está sendo estudado em ambiente protegido como tecnologia para ampliar o período de colheita, elevar a produtividade e minimizar perdas de frutos. Figueiras cv. Roxo de Valinhos foram cultivadas em ambiente protegido dotado de sistema de irrigação por gotejamento e submetidas a três épocas de podas, no segundo e terceiro ciclos vegetativos (15 de maio, 10 de agosto e 5 de outubro). As plantas foram conduzidas, no segundo ciclo, com 4 e 8 ramos por planta, espaçadas de 0,75 m x 1,90 m e de 1,50 m x 1,90 m, respectivamente, e, no terceiro ciclo, com 6 e 12 ramos por planta, nos respectivos espaçamentos. O delineamento experimental foi com quatro blocos casualizados, os tratamentos dispostos em faixa e duas plantas úteis por parcela. O cultivo do figo em ambiente protegido e com fertirrigação é tecnicamente viável na região de Passo Fundo - RS. A produção obtida é equivalente a 41 t.ha-1 e 43 t.ha-1 no segundo e terceiro ciclos de cultivo, respectivamente. A poda realizada no início de agosto e as plantas conduzidas com 8 a 12 ramos, no espaçamento de 1,50 m x 1,90 m, favoreceram a taxa de frutificação, a produção por planta e por área, além de maior período de colheita. O sistema de cultivo de figo em ambiente protegido foi eficiente em prevenir perdas por rachaduras e podridões de frutos.

THE EFFECT OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON FRESH FIG FRUIT YIELD, QUALITY AND TYPE OF CROP

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different climatic conditions on fresh fig fruit yield, quality, and type of crop of three fig cultivars : Kadota, Kennedy and Larga de Burdeos established in three fields in central-north Chile. Four trials were established in September 1997: two trials at Las Cardas Experimental Station belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Chile (30°18'S; 7130°15'E), one at Cerrillos de Tamaya (3030°43'S; 7030°58'E) and one in El Palqui, Ovalle (3030°33'S; 7130°21'E). Climatic parameters for each locality were registered during 1999 and 2000. Five replications of each cultivar of 3 year old plants were evaluated for each of the following parameters: trunk cross sectional area increment (cm2) at the beginning and at the end of the growing season, shoot growth (cm) from oct. 99 to april. 00, total fig production (Kg/plant and n°/plant)), final fruit size (mm) and weight (g), and soluble solids content (B). Fruit parameters were evaluated in all fruits present in 4 previously marked shoots in each replication. Almost all the vegetative and productive parameters evaluated showed significant differences between the trial at El Palqui (with higher temperatures and higher solar radiation), and the other two sites. In cvs. Kadota and Kennedy, the difference in fruit weight per plant was more than 10 times higher, while cv.Larga de Burdeos, though also more productive at El Palqui, showed somewhat less climatic effect. For fruit weight, cv. Kadota had an increase of 71,3% and 85,4% when compared to the fruit of the same cv. collected at Cerrillos de Tamaya and Las Cardas, respectively. Also, for the three cultivars, harvest time began in the 4th week of january at El Palqui and one month later in the other two localities.

SHORT-TERM NITROGEN ATMOSPHERE EXPOSURE EXTENDS SHELF-LIFE OF FRESH ‘NIEDDA LONGA’ FIG FRUITS

Niedda longa fresh fig fruits ( Ficus carica L.) were placed in 15-liter desicators at 20°C in which a 99% N 2 + 1% O 2 atmosphere was inserted 1 hour prior to hermetically sealing the containers. After 12 hours, fruits were transferred to shelf-life conditions at 20°C and 70% relative humidity (RH) for 3 days, then checked daily for weight loss, overall appearance, taste, chemical parameters of the juice and respiration rate. Anaerobic treatment mainly influenced loss of weight and appearance, the former being significantly reduced throughout the whole shelf-life period, thus resulting in a better overall appearance of N 2 treated fruits, with no detrimental effects on taste. Nitrogen exposure drastically reduced decay by moulds as well as sugary exudate from the eye, leading to a cumulative product loss of 20 % with respect to 48 % of the control fruit.