Phenological and productive characteristics of blackberry genotypes grown in an organic production system.

Blackberry is a species which has high potential to grow in an organic production system. However, there is scarce information on the behavior of cultivars and selections of this species conducted in an ecologically based system, a fact that makes it difficult to recommend cultivars for this production system. This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the phenology and productive aspects of six blackberry genotypes grown in an organic system, in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. Evaluation of the following variables was carried out in the three first production cycles (2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018): phenology, number of fruits.pl-¹, mean fruit yield.pl-¹, yield (kg.ha-¹), mean fruit mass (g) and soluble solid content (° Brix). Regarding phenology, genotype Black 112 was later than the others whereas Black 178 was the most precocious one. In the last year under evaluation, genotypes yielded around 10 ton.ha-¹, except Black 128 selection, which yielded approximately 6,767 ton.ha-¹. Genotypes Black 178, Black 112 and Black 145 and both cultivars BRS Xingu and Tupy exhibited potential to grow in an organic production system.

The irrigation effect on nuts' growth and yield of Carya illinoinensis.

Pecan trees require adequate soil moisture conditions to produce nuts with good yield and quality. Irrigation should be an important considered practice in orchards management plan, mainly in regions with water deficit periods. The objective of this research was to evaluate irrigation on pecan nuts growth and yield. This study was conducted in Uruguay, during the fast development phase until the pecan nuts harvest. Three irrigation treatments were used: 0 L (control), 70 L and 140 L plant-1 of water every two days, applied via drip irrigation in seven-year-old pecan trees of the cultivar Success. The number of nuts per cluster and nuts' diameter and length were evaluated during nut growth. After harvesting, peeled nuts' width and length were measured, and after peeling, the kernel length, width, height and filling and the kernel and peel percentage were evaluated. According to the results, it was possible to identify that periods of water deficit during pecan nuts development affected the kernel filling stageand size. Irrigation in pecan plants provides greater dimensions and nuts mass. With the use of 140 L plant-1, there was an increase in the nut mass of more than 100% in relation to the nuts from plants without irrigation.