Poda, tamanho e inserção de cladódios na produção de pitaia (Hylocereus sp.)

Abstract

Fruticulture is a very important economic activity for Brazil, being present in all regions, and considered as one of the main generators of income and development of agribusiness. In this context the red pitaia (Hyloceurus sp.) Is an exotic species in Brazil, it presents a good acceptance for consumption "in natura", not only due to the exotic nature of its appearance, but due to its sensorial characteristics. Considering the great potential of Panaia cultivation and the search for scientific and technological information aiming at the improvement of its cultivation, the objective was: i) to evaluate, during three consecutive productive cycles, different pruning intensities in red white-pulp pitaia (Hylocereus undatus) considering aspects of fruit production and quality; and (ii) to evaluate the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of red squash of red squash (Hylocereus polyrhizus), considering the position of insertion and classes of cladodes, considering the morphological, productive and fruit quality aspects. In the first experiment, it was conducted from October 2015 to April 2018, characterizing three production periods in this interval (productive cycles of 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, 4 treatments, referring to the pruning intensity (5, 10, 15 and 20 productive cladodes kept in the plant, those originating from the main stem) with 4 replicates and 4 plants per plot, totaling 64 plants. During and at the end of the experiment, characteristics related to the development of plant production and fruit quality were evaluated. Less intense pruning (15 and 20 cladodes) may be a management adopted for renewal of the vegetative mass without significant losses of productivity and fruit quality. It was verified that in the first productive cycle the prunings performed with more intensity, moderately interferes in the vegetative development, minimizing the productivity of the plants of white pulp. Fruit quality was affected by different pruning intensities. In the treatment where pruning was more intense (5 cladodium) fruits with lower fruit mass and pulp, higher acidity and lower soluble solids and SS / AT ratios were developed. In the second experiment, it was conducted from September 2016 to May 2018. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC), in a factorial scheme of 3 x 4, referring to three cladode insertions in the plant (primary, secondary and tertiary ) and different size of cladodes (≤ 20 cm, 21 - 40 cm, 41 - 60 cm and 61 - 80 cm), with 5 replicates, 6 cladodes per plot, in a total of 360 evaluated. The vegetative and reproductive characteristics of red pitahaya of red pulp are influenced by the insertion and size of cladodes. The fruits that develop in cladodes with primary insertion and size between 21 and 40 cm, in general, present better aspects of fruit quality. All physical and physicochemical characteristics except AT and SS / AT are influenced by the insertion and size of cladodes. The fruits of red pitaia of red pulp that develop in cladodes with size smaller than 20 cm, present their development and increase of quality minimized.