In subtropical or tropical conditions, the insufficient winter chill accumulation is often a limiting factor to break the dormancy of temperate-climate species such as the blackberry, which requires using products to help break dormancy. This study evaluates the efficacy of compounds in breaking dormancy of blackberry and its consequent influence on phenology and crop yields. The experiment was conducted in São Manuel, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in the 2011/2012 production cycle. The plants used were two-year-old "Tupy" blackberry (Rubus spp.), with 0.6 × 4.0 m spacing (4.166 plants·ha −1 ). Pruning was performed in August, followed by the application of these treatments: control (water); hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex ® ); nitrogen fertilizer (Erger ® ) and mineral oil (Assist ® ). The concentrations of each compound used were: 2.0%, 4.0%, 6.0% and 8.0%. The compounds used influenced the budding, flowering and fruit harvest stages, in addition to providing increased yields depending on the concentration used. For hydrogen cyanamide the recommended concentration is of 4.2% and 5.4% for nitrogen fertilizer; doses above these concentrations may cause phytotoxic effects. For mineral oil the dose recommended is of 8.0%.

-This work evaluated the quality of the fruit in peach and nectarine cultivars with and without the application of hydrogenated cyanamide and mineral oil, for two production cycles (2009 and 2010). The experiment was carried out at the School of Agricultural Science of the São Paulo State University (UNESP), at Botucatu in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, located at latitude 22°51'55'' S and longitude 48°26'22" E, at an altitude of 810 m. The predominant climate type is warm temperate (mesothermal) with rains in the summer and dry in the winter. The following were evaluated: soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, ratio, firmness, vitamin C and pulp yield. The use of hydrogenated cyanamide and mineral oil had no effect on the quality attributes of the fruit, except for pH, where those fruits under application of the products showed higher values. The cultivars all had a pulp yield greater than 90%, with 'Tourmaline' showing the highest yield (96 %). The levels of vitamin C varied according to the cultivars, where 'Marli' (16.9 mg 100 g -1 ) and 'Dourado-2' (16.5 mg 100 g -1 ), stood out for having the highest levels.

The sprouting induction is a fundamental cultural practice in peach orchards grown in subtropical regions around the world. The evaluation of alternatives compounds to induce sprouting is necessary mainly considering its effects on fruit quality. Two alternative compounds such as 2.5% nitrogen fertilizer (NF) + 4% calcium nitrate (CN) and 4% calcium nitrate (CN), besides the control were compared with 0.6% hydrogen cyanamide (HC), the most effectiveness chemical to induce budburst in peach crops grown in subtropical regions of Brazil. The field experiment was undertaken in São Paulo state, southeast Brazil, in two crop seasons. The hydrogen cyanamide increased crop performance of the 'Douradão' peach. Regardless, nitrogen fertilizer + calcium nitrate promoted an intermediate yield performance. Both treatments enhanced total phenolic compounds in fruits and their antioxidant activity. The efficacy of hydrogen cyanamide in a region with low chill accumulation was confirmed. Furthermore, nitrogen fertilizer + calcium nitrate are promising sprouting inducing and may be an alternative to replace hydrogen cyanamide, because of improved crop performance and peaches quality and considering the need for new products with less toxicity and characteristics of reducing environmental risk profiles and for the consumer market.