Fusarium rot of melon, caused by species of the genus Fusarium, has become an important postharvest disease for many Brazilian producers. Due to the delayed onset of symptoms, this disease is often only detected when fruits arrive at the importing country, thus generating economic loss for the exportation of the fruit. This study was developed with the aim of investigating which Fusarium species cause fruit rot in melon and to evaluate any differences in aggressiveness and development of symptoms. Species were identified through phylogenetic analysis of two loci and morphological markers. The 28 isolates obtained from diseased melon fruits of different commercial cultivars were identified as Fusarium falciforme (FSSC), F. sulawesiense, F. pernambucanum (FIESC), and F. kalimantanense (FOSC). Three isolates belong to a new phylogenetic lineage within the F. fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). All isolates were tested for pathogenicity, and first symptoms of rot in Canary melon were observed 2 days after inoculation. Isolates of F. falciforme and F. sulawesiense were shown to be more aggressive. Our results extend information on Fusarium species that cause fruit rot in melon and support the development of management strategies, as there is currently no efficient control for this disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of species of the FSSC, FOSC, and FFSC from muskmelon fruits in Brazil.

Effects of doses and phosphorus application forms were studied on the postharvest quality in seedless watermelon hybrid 'Style'. For this, an experiment was conducted in Upanema/RN, Brazil, during the period of September to December 2013, in a randomized block at factorial scheme 5×2 constituting of five phosphorus doses applied in foundation (0, 76, 168, 275 and 397 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) and foundation + fertigation (0+50, 26+50, 118+50, 225+50, 347+50 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) with four replications. Fruit harvested at commercial maturity (78 days after sowing) were evaluated by average fruit weight (AFW), pulp firmness (PF), chroma index, hue angle, soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), maturation index (MI), total phenols content (TP), vitamin C (VC), total sugars content (TS), reducing sugars content (RS) and pH. Among the quality parameters evaluated phosphorus application forms did not affect physical characteristics of fruit, but combination of application via foundation + fertigation increased VC, TS and MI. There was interactive effect of dose and phosphorus application form for the SS, TA, pH and TP. The dose of 50 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 applied only in fertigation significantly increased values of SS, TA and TP. It is concluded that low doses of P in cultivation and its application via foundation and fertigation improved the main quality characteristics of 'Style' watermelon.

Gherkin presents short shelf life. Its quality is influenced by cultivation's conditions which has scarce information in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of salinity on quality and post-harvest conservation of gherkin. For this, an experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with treatments arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme (two cultivars, 'Do Norte' and 'Liso Gibão' and four salinity levels; 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0 dSm -1 ), with three replicates, with the experimental unit being represented by six plastic vessels with capacity of 10 liters, each one with one plant. Harvest was carried out 60 days after planting of seedlings and the following analyzes were proceeded: length, fruit diameter; soluble solids content (SS); titratable acidity (TA); SS/TA ratio; total sugar content; chlorophyll and total phenolic content. The highest yield ('Liso Gibão') allowed the storage of fruits, stored in trays covered with PVC, at 15±2 °C and 85±2% RH for 0, 3, and 6 days. Increase in saline solution reduced fruit length and diameter and increased pH, soluble solids and SS/TA ratio. The cultivar 'Liso Gibão' was superior to 'Do Norte' cultivar for the variables length, diameter, pH, total sugars and SS/TA ratio. The fruits of the 'Liso Gibão' mixer can be stored for six days without loss of quality. Fruits cultivated with saline solution of 2.0 dS m -1 presented higher acidity and chlorophyll content during storage, but reduced total sugars and pH in fruits of gherkin.

Resumo:As espécies florestais Crataeva tapia L. e Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., conhecidas como trapiá e juazeiro, respectivamente, são indicadas na recuperação de áreas degradadas. São escassos os trabalhos que abordam a sanidade das sementes destas espécies, portanto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a sanidade das sementes de C. tapia e Z. joazeiro coletadas na matriz e no solo. Foram utilizadas 400 sementes de trapiá e 400 sementes de juazeiro, sendo 200 sementes coletadas na matriz e 200 sementes no solo. Estas foram plaqueadas em meio de cultura BDA (batata-dextrose ágar) + tetraciclina (0,05 g/L) e mantidas em estufa incubadora por cinco dias para quantificação e identificação dos fungos. Nas sementes de C. tapia foram observados os fungos do gênero Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Rhizoctonia e Trichoderma, sendo Aspergillus e Fusarium os mais frequentes. Nas sementes de Z. joazeiro verificou-se contaminação por Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani e Rhizopus sp., sendo Aspergillus sp. o que ocorreu com maior frequência. Em ambas as espécies florestais estudadas, as sementes coletadas no solo apresentaram maior diversidade de fungos. Palavras-chave: Caatinga; Fungos; Espécie florestal.Abstract: Native species Crataeva tapia L. and Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., known as trapiá and juazeiro, respectively, are indicated for recovery of degraded areas. There are few studies about the health of seeds of these species, therefore, the present work had the objective to evaluate the health of the seeds of C. tapia and Z. joazeiro collected from plants and in the soil. There were 400 trapiá seeds and 400 juazeiro seeds, of which 200 were collected from the plant and 200 seeds on the soil. These seeds were placed in plates with BDA (potato-dextrose agar) + tetracycline (0.05 g / L) culture medium and kept in incubator for five days for quantification and identification of fungi. Fungi from genus Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Rhizoctonia and Trichoderma were observed in the seeds of C. tapia, with Aspergillus and Fusarium being the most frequent. In seeds of Z. joazeiro, contamination by Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani and Rhizopus sp., being Aspergillus sp. which occurred more frequently. In both studied species, seeds collected in the soil presented the greatest diversity of fungi.

The north‐east of Brazil is one of the most important melon‐producing regions in the world. Crop yield is often reduced by the occurrence of a root rot disease, caused by Fusarium species. The present study aimed to characterize a collection of 31 isolates with morphological markers of F. solani obtained from melon plants with symptoms of root rot by phylogenetic analysis of the barcode regions EF‐1α and RPB2, and to verify their pathogenicity to melon plantlets. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 29 isolates grouped with reference material of Fusarium falciforme (FSSC 3 + 4) and two with F. suttonianum (FSSC 20). The pathogenicity test showed that isolates of both species cause root rot in melon plants, with no significant difference of virulence between isolates and species with both methodologies used (infested toothpick and infested rice). Melon plants expressed first symptoms 15 days after inoculation, showing yellowing and wilting, with later tipping and rot. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of these species causing root rot in muskmelon in Brazil. Our results support monitoring of causal agents of melon fusarioses and will be useful for breeding programmes in the search for plant material with resistance to Fusarium rot.