The objective of this work was to evaluate physiological and biochemical responses of Pele de sapo melon to different irrigation depths (ID) and bioestimulant rates (BTM) to improve its production efficiency. The experiment was conducted in an experimental field in Juazeiro, BA, Brazil. A randomized block design in split split-plot arrangement was used, with four ID (60, 80, 100, and 120% of crop evapotranspiration – ETc) in the plots; five (BTM) (Stimulate® at 0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 L ha-1 applied via irrigation system during the flowering stage and after the fruiting stage) in the subplots; and two crop seasons (hot season, 23 to 39 °C; and cold season, 15 to 30 °C) in the sub-subplots. The plants were under daily drip irrigation and spacing of 2.0 × 0.3 m. The variables evaluated were: gas exchange, water use efficiency, chlorophyll a and b, relative water, sugar, and amino acid contents, and fruit yield. The results showed that the ID of 60% ETc resulted in water deficit, denoted by increases in solute concentrations, whereas the ID of 80% and 100% resulted in plants with good performance for biochemical, physiological, and production parameters in both crop seasons. The hot season, ID of 120% ETc, and BTM of 2.4 L ha-1 are recommended for Pele de sapo melon crops, since they result in the best physiological responses and fruit yields.

SAZONALIDADE DA PRODUTIVIDADE E PÓS-COLHEITA DE MELÃO 'PELE DE SAPO' SUBMETIDO À LÂMINAS DE IRRIGAÇÃO E DOSES DE BIOESTIMULANTE    DAÍSE SOUZA REIS LIMA1; WELSON LIMA SIMÕES2*; JOSÉ ALIÇANDRO BEZERRA DA SILVA3; MAGNO DO NASCIMENTO AMORIM4 E JUCICLÉIA SOARES DA SILVA5   * Autor for correspondence 1 Docente, Faculdade de Tecnologia e Ciências-UniFTC. Av. Clementino Coelho, 714 - Centro, CEP:56308-210, Petrolina – PE, Brasil. E-mail: dayse29@hotmail.com 2 Pesquisador – Embrapa Semiárido. BR 428, Km 152, CEP: 56302-970, Petrolina-PE, Brasil. E-mail:  welson.simoes@embrapa.br 3 Docente, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Av. Antônio C. Magalhães, 510 - Santo Antônio, Juazeiro - BA, CEP:48902-300, Juazeiro, BA, Brasil. E-mail: alissandrojbs@gmail.com; 4 Mestrando, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Av. Antônio C. Magalhães, 510 - Santo Antônio, Juazeiro - BA, CEP:48902-300, Juazeiro, BA, Brasil. E-mail: magno_amorim27@hotmail.com 5 Pós-doutoranda – Embrapa Semiárido. BR 428, Km 152, CEP: 56302-970, Petrolina-PE, Brasil. E-mail: jucicleiass@gmail.com     1 RESUMO   Buscando minimizar os efeitos sazonais nas plantas cultivadas em diferentes épocas, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar as respostas de produtividade e pós-colheita do melão ‘pele de sapo’ submetido à lâminas de irrigação e doses de bioestimulante em diferentes períodos no Semiárido brasileiro. As parcelas foram as lâminas de irrigação:  60; 80; 100; e 120% da evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc), as subparcelas foram cinco doses do bioestimulante Stimulate®: 0; 0,6; 1,2; 2,4 e 4,8 L ha-1, e as subsubparcelas foram dois períodos de cultivo: quente e frio. Foram avaliadas as variáveis produtividade total e comercial, peso médio do fruto comercial, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), pH, acidez total titulável (ATT) e firmeza de polpa (FP). A dose de 4,8 L ha-1 com a lâmina de 120% da ETc, no período quente, promoveram melhores condições de desenvolvimento e, consequentemente, um maior incremento na produtividade quando comparado com o período frio do semiárido brasileiro. A qualidade dos frutos foi influenciada pelo maior teor de SST no período quente e ATT no período frio, submetida à dose de 4,8 L ha-1 do Stimulate® e às lâminas abaixo de 100% da evapotranspiração da cultura.   Palavras-chave: períodos, irrigação, Cucumis melo L., produtividade, qualidade do fruto.     LIMA, D. S. R.; SIMÕES, W. L.; SILVA, J. A. B. da; AMORIM, M. DO N.; SILVA, J. S. da SEASONALITY OF PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST OF 'TOAD SKIN MELON' UNDER IRRIGATION DEPTHS AND DOSES OF BIOESTIMULANT         2 ABSTRACT   Seeking to minimize seasonal effects on plants grown at different times, this study aimed to evaluate the productivity and post-harvest responses of melon ‘'toad skin' melon submitted to irrigation depths and doses of biostimulant in different periods in the Brazilian Semiarid. The plots were the irrigation depths: 60; 80; 100; and 120% of the culture evapotranspiration (ETc), the subplots were five doses of the Stimulate® biostimulant: 0; 0.6; 1.2; 2.4 and 4.8 L ha-1, and the sub-plots were two growing periods: hot and cold. The variables total and commercial productivity, the average weight of the commercial fruit, total soluble solids (SST), pH, total titratable acidity (ATT) and pulp firmness (FP) were evaluated. The dose of 4.8 L ha-1 with a depth of 120% of ETc, in the hot period, promoted better conditions of development and, consequently, a greater increase in productivity compared to the cold period of the Brazilian semiarid region. The quality of the fruits was influenced by the higher SST content in the hot period and ATT in the cold period, submitted to a dose of 4.8 L ha-1 of Stimulate® and to the depths below 100% of the crop evapotranspiration.   Keywords: periods; irrigation, Cucumis melo L., productivity, fruit quality