Banca de DEFESA: ROSÁRIA DA COSTA FARIA MARTINS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ROSÁRIA DA COSTA FARIA MARTINS
DATE: 30/07/2020
TIME: 13:30
LOCAL: Webconferência
TITLE:

Production and postharvest evaluation of Zinnia elegans Jacq. in response to irrigation levels and growing seasons

KEY WORDS:

Water deficit; cut flower; floral stem quality.

PAGES: 60
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Floricultura, Parques e Jardins
SPECIALTY: Floricultura
SUMMARY:

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It grows fast, it is easy to cultivate and it has great potential to be introduced in Brazil due to the varied colors and shapes of its flowers and the possibility of them being used in gardens or sold as cut flowers and potted plants. However, there are few management techniques established for the species, and their influences on the postharvest longevity of its stems. In addition, there is neither classification standard nor senescence scale determined for its evaluation after the harvest, making it difficult to introduce its commercial cultivation in the country. In this context, the objectives were to evaluate the production, quality and postharvest durability of floral stems obtained from zinnia plants, grown under different irrigation levels and growing seasons; and to establish a quality classification standard for its commercialization as cut flower and a senescence scale for the postharvest evaluation of its stems. For this purpose, zinnia (cv. Red California Giant) cultivations, in greenhouse, were carried out in pots during the periods of Autumn-Winter and Winter-Spring of 2019, with four levels of irrigation, corresponding to 46, 64, 75 and 100% of the species water requirement. The work was developed in the Horticulture Sector at UFRRJ, in Seropédica-RJ, using a randomized block design, with a double factorial scheme 4x2 (irrigation levels x cultivation cycles), with 6 replications, totalizing 24 plots per cycle. The irrigation management was carried out by an automatic controller (AAI), with the sensor installed in the treatment that corresponded to the application of 100% of the water needed by the culture (control). For production, all plants and floral stems produced were evaluated and, for the post-harvest evaluation, 8 stems per plot were used. The analysis of the zinnia cultivations allowed the establishment of the classification standard, which facilitated the observation of the quality variation of the floral stems produced under the evaluated conditions. The meteorological conditions of the Autumn-Winter cycle favored the growth and development of the crop, as they promoted better results of production and quality of floral stems in comparison to the Winter-Spring cycle, even though the second one also allowed the achievement of satisfactory results. In post-harvest, the determination of the senescence scale favored the evaluation of the quality loss of floral stems, indicating facilities in the process of commercialization of these by the producers. Both cultivation cycles allowed satisfactory post-harvest results, mainly on the commercial longevity of floral stems, despite the difference observed in their quality. In general, it can be concluded that the irrigation level of 64% is the most adequate for zinnia cultivation, as it promoted results of plant growth, production, quality and post-harvest longevity of floral stems similar to those observed in the 75% and 100% levels, besides the possibility of reducing water and energy costs for irrigation by florists.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1224578 - DANIEL FONSECA DE CARVALHO
Externa ao Programa - 2353141 - LEONARDO DUARTE BATISTA DA SILVA
Externa à Instituição - MICHELE VALQUÍRIA DOS REIS - UFLA