Growing Princesa apples under semiarid conditions in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Phenological observations are some of the most sensitive data for the identification of plant species growth in regional climate conditions. Thus, an experiment was conducted from October 2008 to December 2009 to characterize the phenological stages, fruit set and fruit yield of Princesa apples grown under a semiarid climate in northeastern Brazil. Phenological data (stages) were determined in the orchard by daily observations from bud breaking until fruit ripening. The following variables were evaluated: i) fruit set, which is the relation between the number of flowers and the number of fruits (%); ii) the number of fruit per plant; iii) the fruit production per plant (kg); and iv) the fruit yield (t ha -1). Under semiarid conditions, the phenological cycle of Princesa apples is completed in 123 days and that it is possible to obtain apple yield under semiarid conditions with the pollinator cultivar. Furthermore, additional studies and more evaluation years are necessary to generate an apple production system that is reliable under semiarid conditions. Keywords: Malus domestica, climatic conditions, phenology, cold hours requirement.Cultivo da macieira "Princesa" sob condições semiáridas no Nordeste do Brasil RESUMO. Observações fenológicas são os mais sensíveis dados para determinação de como as espécies de plantas respondem às condições climáticas regionais visando a produção de frutas em diferentes locais. Assim, o presente experimento foi conduzido de outubro de 2008 a dezembro de 2009 com o objetivo de caracterizar os estádios fenológicos, frutificação efetiva e produção de macieira Princesa, cultivada em clima semiárido do Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados fenológicos (fases) foram determinados no pomar de observações diárias desde a quebra de dormência até o amadurecimento de frutas, tendo as variáveis analisadas i) a frutificação: relação entre número de flores e número de frutos (%); ii) o número de frutos por planta; iii) produção de frutos por planta (Kg); e iv) produção de frutos (t ha -1 ). Sob condições semiáridas, o ciclo fenológico da macieira Princesa é concluído em 123 dias e é possível obter produção de maçãs sob condições semi-áridas. Além dissom, mais estudos e em mais anos de avaliação são necessários para obtenção de um sistema de produção de maçã sob condições semi-áridas. Palavras-chave:Malus domestica, condições climáticas, fenologia, requerimento de frio.

Advances on apple production under semiarid climate: N fertigation

“…The average fruit productions contained in Table 3 Following the same tendency of the fruit production (kg plant -1 ), fruit yield was also significantly higher (18%) for 'Princesa' cv. Both apple cultivars studied presented fruit yield, in average, higher than those quoted in the scientific literature by Lopes et al (2012) and Lopes et al (2013) who reported 10.3 t ha -1 and 12.73 t ha -1…”

“…The Princesa apples plants of the present study produced more fruits than those evaluated by Lopes et al (2013) and Chagas et al (2012), while Eva apples promoted a number of fruits higher than Lopes et al (2012) but lower than Chagas et al (2012).…”

“…In Brazil, apple crop has been studied in São Paulo State Northeast (Chagas et al, 2012) and in Brazilian Semiarid (Lopes et al, 2012;Lopes et al, 2013;Oliveira et al, 2013). Such publications concluded that it is possible to obtain apple yield under semiarid conditions for the pollinator cultivar, although, additional studies especially for technical and fertilizing management are necessary to generate an apple production system that is reliable under semiarid conditions.…”

PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PEAR TREES (Pyrus communis L.) ‘PRINCESINHA’ UNDER SEMIARID CONDITIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

“…The phenological behavior of the pear tree variety 'Princesinha' was evaluated through visual observations made daily from the pruning and application of Dormex ® until the harvest as recommended by Lopes et al (2013b). For phenological analysis, 5 plants were randomly selected in which 4 branches were selected, each one being distributed, totaling 20 branches.…”

“…All 128 orchard plants were used for the quantification of the production, which was based on the methodology by Lopes et al (2013b) that evaluated the following production variables: I) plant germination (%): relationship between number of flowers (of all corymb present in the selected branches) and number of fruits (%); ii) number of fruits per plant; iii) fruit production per plant (kg) measured using a precision scale (Filizola ® brand, model CF15, with 0.5 g precision); and iv) productivity obtained by multiplying the production of fruits per plant and total number of plants in one hectare.…”