Natural Ecosystem Surrounding a Conventional Banana Crop Improves Plant Health and Fruit Quality

Autor(es)

Castelan, Florence P. ^{[1, 2]} ; Castro-Alves, Victor C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Saraiva, Lorenzo A. ^[1] ; Nascimento, Talita P. ^[1] ; Calhau, Maria F. N. S. ^[1] ; Dias, Carlos T. S. ^[3] ; Cordenunsi-Lysenko, Beatriz R. ^{[4, 1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Food Sci & Expt Nutr, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo Res Fdn, Res Innovat & Disseminat Ctr, Food Res Ctr, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Exact Sci, Piracicaba - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Food & Nutr Res Ctr NAPAN, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE; v. 9, JUN 7 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Natural ecosystems near agricultural landscapes may provide rich environments for growing crops. However, the effect of a natural ecosystem on crop health and fruit quality is poorly understood. In the present study, it was investigated whether the presence of a natural ecosystem surrounding a crop area influences banana plant health and fruit postharvest behavior. Plants from two conventional banana crop areas with identical planting time and cultural practices were used; the only difference between banana crop areas is that one area was surrounded by a natural forest (Atlantic forest) fragment (Near-NF), while the other area was inserted at the center of a conventional banana crop (Distant-NF). Results showed that bananas harvested from Near-NF showed higher greenlife and a more homogeneous profile during ripening compared to fruits harvested from Distant-NF. Differences in quality parameters including greenlife, carbohydrate profile, and pulp firmness between fruits harvested from Near-NF and Distant-NF are explained, at least partly, by differences in the balance of plant growth regulators (indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid) in bananas during ripening. Furthermore, plants from Near-NF showed a lower severity index of black leaf streak disease (BLSD) and higher levels of phenolic compounds in leaves compared to plants from Distant-NF. Together, the results provide additional evidence on how the maintenance of natural ecosystems near conventional crop areas could be a promising tool to improve plant health and fruit quality. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/07220-3 - Definição do ponto de colheita comercial e concentração de etileno exógeno visando o melhor aproveitamento do potencial comercial e nutricional de bananas da cultivar Thap Maeo
• Beneficiário: Beatriz Rosana Cordenunsi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Centro de Pesquisa em Alimentos
• Beneficiário: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs