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Due to the high perishability of figs, calcium stands out as an important nutrient for orchard management. This study aims to study the pre-harvest applications of calcium chloride in fig orchards. The fig trees were sprayed with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% CaCl2, and fruits were thereafter stored for 0, 7, 14 and 21 d. The variables analysed were the concentration of calcium in leaves and fruits, weight loss, fruit decay, pectinolytic enzyme activity, and physical and chemical attributes of the fruits; CaCl2 sprays enhanced fruit Ca2+ concentration in leaves (14.03%) and fruits (29.3%) and were effective in reducing polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase activity, weight loss and fruit decay. Pre-treatment with 1% CaCl2 provided fruits with larger diameters, greater firmness, and higher levels of total phenolic compounds in both fruit peel and pulp. The pre-harvest application at 1% CaCl2 showed to be a promising technique in producing high quality fruits and extended storage by approximately 7 to 10 days. These findings may be useful in planning new cultural practices for fig orchards that produce high-quality fruit with desirable characteristics for growers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chill hours availability influence break dormancy, sprouting and production of temperate fruits trees in different regions. However, there are few reports on the subject for fig tree. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the accumulated chilling hours on the physiology and dormancy release of fig cultivars. Stem cuttings of five fig cultivars were collected at the end of winter over two crop cycles and exposed to 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 accumulated chilling hours (CH) in a cold chamber (8±0.5 ºC). Physiology of fig buds was then evaluated with regards to antioxidant enzymes activity, carbohydrate and nitrogen contents. The exposure of fig stem cuttings with two buds to different accumulated CH presented physiological changes for antioxidant enzymes activity, carbohydrates and nitrogen contents and confirming that the cultivars responded differently to the climatic conditions of each crop cycle. Results detected that the lowest accumulated CH in field in 2018 (2.7 CH) enabled a greater effect of the artificial CH when compared to 2017 (19.5 CH). Each fig cultivar had a critical accumulation point. The cultivars Roxo de Valinhos and Pingo de Mel require less CH to break dormancy, while Troyano requires more CH to finish this vegetative rest period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some plants do not demand a lot of chilling hours, but methods to overcome dormancy promote more vigorous and productive plant. This study aimed to assess hydrogen cyanamide and nitrogen fertilizer with different concentration to growth and production in 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree. Two crop cycles (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) was performed in São Manuel city, São Paulo State, Brazil. Phenological and productive data was evaluated in a 2 x 5 factorial (Product x Concentration), organized in randomized complete block design, with three trees by plot. The factor products had as level hydrogen cyanamide and nitrogen fertilizer and the factor concentrations was constituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%. Furthermore, the following data was evaluated: number of days for budbreak, number of buds per plant, harvest period, branch length and diameter, leaf number, leaf area, number of fruits per plant, fruit mass, production and yield. Results indicated that both products anticipated the sprouting and promoted a higher number of buds overcome the dormancy. Plant production was higher in both cycles when the products were used (2.1 and 2.7, respectively). At last, hydrogen cyanamide showed better outcomes due to the higher number of fruits and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the best season collection of cuttings is essential to have success with propagation, due mainly to carbohydrate content, since is a source of energy for roots and shoots development. In literature, there are no papers that associate the collection season of cuttings with carbohydrate contents in figs. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate carbohydrate contents and season collection of cuttings to propagate ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ fig tree. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse; cuttings were collected in the first week of the following months: June, July, August and September. The design was in completely randomized blocks, with four replicates of 30 cuttings collected per season. The following traits were evaluated: carbohydrate content; percentage of root cuttings, bud cuttings, cuttings without bud and root; number of buds, leaves and roots per cutting; length of the largest root and bud; bud diameter; bud and root dry mass; and root volume. Results indicated high carbohydrate content in cuttings that were collected in August; therefore, the best month to collect cuttings of ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ fig tree in the city of São Manuel, state of São Paulo. This result is due to high percentage of rooted cuttings and better development. Furthermore, carbohydrate content mainly affects root growth; besides that, reducing sugars are the most important feature in the development of cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work evaluated the translocation and allocation period of the photosynthates, using the carbon-13 stable marker, in Ficus carica L. cv. Roxo de Valinhos plants in the reproductive stage. A fig tree leaf considered adult was enriched with 113CO2 for 30 minutes in a controlled atmosphere and the respective plants were collected after 6, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168 and 360 hours of enrichment. After the specified times, the plants parts (apical meristem, leaves, shoots, stem and root system) were evaluated to characterize the natural and enrichment isotopes in a mass spectrometer of isotopic reason. Naturally, the plant presented values of relative enrichment of δ13C -27.92‰ (isotopic reference). The plant presented concomitant vegetative growth and reproductive stage, showing predominance in the 13C allocation in the meristems areas, followed by the reproductive organs, having the root system as the main reserve organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aimed at evaluating the photosynthates allocation using the stable carbon 13 isotope as marker, as well as evaluating the source-sink dynamics in the different organs in Ficus carica L. plants in the reproductive stage. A fig tree leaf considered adult by the photosynthetic characterization with a portable photosynthesis meter IRGA-6400 was put inside an acrylic chamber, built specifically for this experiment, and submitted to an environment with 13CO2 enrichment for 30 minutes. After 24 hours, the studied plant parts (apical meristem, leaves, branches, stem and root system) were collected and immediately immersed in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). The samples were oven-dried (65°C, 72 hours), crushed in cryogenic mill, and further analyzed in the mass spectrometer of isotopic reason, to determine the 13C relative enrichment. Naturally, the plant presented values of relative enrichment of δ13C -27.92‰ The plant presented concomitant vegetative growth and reproductive stage, showing preference in the 13C allocation in the meristem areas, followed by the reproductive organs, having the fibrous roots as reserve drain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]