Effects of Growth Regulators on Fruit Set and Growth of the Acerola (Malpighia glabra L.)

The low natural fruit set of acerola in Hawaii, attributed to absence of pollen transferring agents, indicated the feasibility of growth regulator application to induce fruit set. Among the several growth regulators tried initially, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (PCA) and indolebutyric acid ( IBA) were found to be effective in promoting fruit set, the f rmer being more efficient over a wider range of concentration. PCA exhibited some phytotoxic effects in the nature of leaf curling, yellowing, and even death of young vegetative tips. Phytotoxic effects were reduced in severity with decrease in concentration. lBA at 100 ppm effected approximately 60 percent fruit set without any apparent phytotoxic effects. Under field conditions the satisfactory fruit set and lack of phytotoxic effects with IBA at 100 ppm make this a highly desirable compound, but the wide use of it may be prohibited by its high cost. On the other hand, PCA at 50 ppm can induce as much fruit set as lBA at 100 ppm, and phytotoxic effects are mild with early recovery. Furthermore, the very low cost of this material makes its use economically feasible

Evaluation and Improvement of Anthurium Clones

The culture of anthuriums, Anthurium andraeanum, in Hawaii has gradually evolved from a hobby status to an important cut-flower industry. With the realization of the need for a systematic evaluation of available varieties and further improvement in flower color, size, shape, texture, and productivity, a breeding project on anthuriums was initiated in the spring of 1950 at the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Hawaii. Surveys of commercial establishments and private collections were immediately conducted to select and assemble the apparently outstanding commercial types as well as those possessing some characteristics of value in a breeding program. The selected plants were placed under surveillance for the purpose of evaluation, and, concurrently, a hybridization program was carried out with the major objective of producing improved commercial varieties. This paper summarizes the evaluation of the accessions and the results obtained to date in the breeding program

Características de frutos de genótipos de aceroleira cultivados sob elevada altitude Fruit characteristics of acerola genotypes grown at highaltitude

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características físicas, físico-químicas e químicas de frutos de nove genótipos de acerola (Malpighia sp.) cultivados no Município de Anápolis, GO, localizado a 1.000 m de altitude. Os resultados mostraram que nessa região se consegue produção de frutos com elevados teores de vitamina C (acima de 1.000 mg/100 mL de suco). Há, entretanto, uma considerável variabilidade entre os genótipos estudados. Os genótiposde número2, 6, 3, 1 e 7 destacaram-se, atendendo àsprincipais exigências da indústria de suco.<br>The purpose of this work was to evaluate the physical, physical-chemical and chemical characteristics of fruits from nine genotypes of acerola (Malpighia sp.)growing in Anápolis, GO, Brazil, located at 1,000 m above sea level. Data showed that the production of fruits with high content of vitamin C (above 1,000 mg/100 mL of juice) is viable in that region. However, it was found a considerable variability among the genotypes studied, in which genotypesnumbered2, 6, 3, 1and 7 stood out, fulfilling the main industrial requirements

Variabilidade fenotípica em genótipos de acerola Phenotypic variability in West Indian cherry genotypes

As medidas de variabilidade fenotípica, correlações, efeitos diretos e indiretos na aceroleira (Malpighia emarginata DC.) da região de Itápolis, SP, objetivaram direcionar o processo seletivo de genótipos. Os parâmetros comprimento e largura média de folhas, altura de planta, diâmetro de copa, peso médio de fruto, peso médio de polpa/fruto, peso médio de 20 frutos e peso médio de polpa por 20 frutos mostraram diferenças quanto a genótipos e épocas. Em acidez, tamanho e largura média de fruto, as diferenças são exclusivas em relação a épocas, sugerindo ações de condições climáticas. A altura é um bom parâmetro tipificador na diferenciação e seleção de genótipos. As condições meteorológicas podem influenciar marcadamente em caracteres tecnológicos (acidez) e em medidas dos frutos. Destacaram-se as associações positivas entre comprimento de folhas com tamanho e peso de frutos e as correlações negativas destes com vitamina C; seguida de correlações positivas e significativas de tamanho com largura de frutos. Dos efeitos diretos sobre vitamina C, relacionam-se os efeitos de Brix e diâmetro de copa como positivos. Contudo, nas condições estudadas, as medidas das folhas estão associadas positivamente com tamanho e peso dos frutos e negativamente com vitamina C. Além disso, observa-se que as medidas dos frutos associam-se positivamente com os caracteres de peso e rendimento, que estão negativamente associados com vitamina C. A seleção sobreBrix pode direcionar ganhos em polpa e em vitamina C.<br>The measures in the phenotypic variability, correlation, direct and indirect effects in the West Indian cherry (Malpighia emarginata DC.), from Itápolis, São Paulo State, Brazil, aimed to subsidize the management of the selective process in the genotypes. The parameters length and width of leaves, height of plant, diameter of canopy, weight medium of fruit, weight of pulp/fruit, weight medium of 20 fruits and weight medium of pulp of 20 fruits, showed differences for genotypes and date of evaluation. The differences of acidity, size and width medium of fruit are exclusive for dates, suggesting actions of climatic conditions. The height is a good parameter leading to the differentiation for selection of genotypes. The meteorological conditions can influence remarkably the acidity and dimensions of the fruit. Positive associations among leaf length and the parameters that define size and weight of fruits and negative correlation of these parameters with vitamin C were observed; so as positive correlation of size and width of fruits. Brix and canopy diameter were positively correlated with vitamin C. Measures of the leaves are associated positively with size and weight of the fruits and negatively with vitamin C in the studied conditions. The measures of the fruits are directly associated with the characters of weight and yield, that are inversely associated with vitamin C. The selection on Brix can manage the gain in pulp and vitamin C

Características físicas dos frutos de quatro cultivares e duas seleções de goiabeira no 5º ano de produção em Porto Lucena - RS Physical caracteristics of früits of four guava cultivars and two selections at 5th production year in Porto Lucena - RS

O trabalho foi conduzido em Porto Lucena, RS, na safra de 1992, com o objetivo de avaliar as características físicas dos frutos de 4 cultivares (IAC-4, Brune Vermelha, Riverside Vermelha e Pirassununga Vermelha) e duas seleções (RBS-1 e RBS-2) de goiabeira (Psidium guajava L.). As seleções RBS-1 e RBS-2 destacaram-se como as de maior peso médio de fruto e a seleção RBS-2 como a de maior diâmetro longitudinal (DL), diâmetro transversal (DT), relação DL/DT e peso da polpa (PP). A cv. Riverside Vermelha destacou-se pela maior espessura do endocarpo (EE) e peso do endocarpo (PE). A cv. IAC-4 e a seleção RBS-1 apresentaram a melhor relação PP/PE. A firmeza, espessura da polpa (EP) e relação EP/EE foram semelhantes entre as cultivares e seleções.<br>This research was carried out in Porto Lucena, RS, Brazil, at 1992 harvest, aimed to evaluate some physical characteristics of fruits of four guava (Psidium guajava L.) cultivars (IAC-4, Brune Vermelha, Riverside Vermelha and Pirassununga Vermelha) and two selections (RBS-1 and RBS-2). RBS-1 and RBS-2 selections showed the highest fruit average weight and the RBS-2 selection showed the highest longitudinal diameter (LD), transversal diameter (TD), LD/LT relation and flesh weight (FW). Riverside Vermelha cultivar presented the highest endocarp thickness (ET) and endocarp weight (EW). IAC-4 cultivar and RBS-1 selection had the best FW/EW relation. On the other hand, firmness, flesh thickness (FT) and FT/ET relation did not show differences among cultivars and selections