Produção e qualidades físico-químicas do mamão do grupo ‘solo’ conduzido em diferentes ambientes de proteção em sistema orgânico

Current research monitors the influence of different types of protected cultivation environment on the production and quality of papaya. Three types of contiguous protection structures were constructed, or treatments: (i) greenhouse, (ii) shaded greenhouse and (iii) screened environment, close to (iv) a natural environment in the open air. Fruits were harvested in each environment every month, during one year. Evaluated features comprises the severity of the physiological spot of the papaya tree (FSP), smallpox and soluble solid rates. Length, caliber and thickness of the pulp were measured at each season of the year. Variance analysis comprised four blocks per treatment (cultivation environment), coupled to joint analysis of experiments. Results showed that in protected environments, especially in those covered with plastic, more fruits, less affected by disease (smallpox and FSP), were produced. When protected environments were compared to those within the natural environment, there was a decrease in smallpox at 60.4%, 57.4% and 37.9%, respectively, for greenhouse, shaded greenhouse and screen environment. Levels of luminosities and average temperatures at the reported ranges, respectively, between 622 and 1857 mmoles.cm-2.s-1 and limits between 19.2 and 34.8oC have a strong positive correlation with the severity of FSP and smallpox. Larger shading affects length, caliber and thickness of pulp, whilst fruits with thicker pulps are produced in winter and spring. Fruits produced in greenhouses and during the summer are more rounded and fruits produced in greenhouse have higher levels of total soluble solids.