West Coast fruit cooperatives working together in joint-venture trading companies may well lower the prices of their fruit for export through economies of scale. However, present and future foreign demand for American fruit may constrain any economies of scale that are realized in joint-venture agreements. The major objective of this thesis is to analyze the import demand for fresh American oranges, apples, and grapes of one important buying area, Hong Kong. Two theoretical constructs are used to model the import demand for American oranges, apples, and grapes in Hong Kong. One relies on more traditional assumptions of product homogeneity. The other utilizes the Strotzian utility tree. The resulting models are estimated using Ordinary Least Squares. Four conclusions may be drawn from the estimated models. First, Hong Kong consumers have very elastic responses to changes in the prices of American oranges, apples, and grapes relative to the prices of oranges, apples, and grapes from other sources. Second, this result is especially true when below average demand conditions prevail. Hence, lower prices realized through joint-venture trading companies increase the competitiveness of American fruit at these weaker times. Third, the per capita quantity demanded of American oranges, apples, and grapes will increase as the incomes of Hong Kong's inhabitants rise. Fourth, the statistical problems encountered in the larger models preclude any definite conclusions regarding the price effects of other fruit on the demand for American oranges, apples, and grapes or the price effects which the American fruit may have on each other. / Graduation date: 1986

Orientador: Ben-Hur Mattiuz / Coorientador: Franciscleudo Bezerra da Costa / Banca: Juliana Sanches de Laurentiz / Banca: Teresinha de Jesus Deléeo Rodrigues / Resumo: As goiabas são frutas tropicais e climatéricas, de curto período de conservação pós-colheita à temperatura ambiente. Com o objetivo de prolongar a vida útil de goiabas 'Pedro Sato', avaliou-se o efeito de recobrimentos comestíveis a base de hidroxipropil metil celulose (HPMC) e de cera de abelha (CA) nas concentrações de 10%, 20% e 40%, e com concentrações de 8% (cap. 2) e 6% (cap. 3) de sólidos totais, em goiabas armazenadas por oito dias a 21-22 °C. No 1° experimento (cap. 2), o HPMC+CA formaram uma atmosfera modificada ao redor dos frutos provocando um retardamento do processo de amadurecimento das goiabas. Os frutos com recobrimento apresentaram redução na perda de massa, manutenção da coloração verde e maior firmeza. O tratamento com HPMC+20% CA foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados na manutenção da qualidade dos frutos, apresentando aos oito dias características físico-químicas comparáveis aos frutos controle no segundo dia de armazenamento, representando um ganho de seis dias, na vida de prateleira das goiabas 'Pedro Sato'. No 2° experimento (cap. 3), o HPMC+CA reduziu a taxa respiratória, inibiu a síntese de etileno e retardou o processo de amadurecimento dos frutos. O tratamento com HPMC+20% CA também foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados na manutenção da qualidade dos frutos, reduzindo a atividade da enzima Poligalacturonase e atrasando o amadurecimento das goiabas 'Pedro Sato' sem promover a atividade da enzima Álcool desidrogenase e consequentemente a ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Guavas are tropical climacteric fruits with a short post-harvest shelf life at room temperature. This study aims to extend the shelf life of red guavas 'Pedro Sato' using edible coatings of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and beeswax (BW) at concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 40%, and with concentrations of 8% (chapter 2) and 6% (chapter 3) of total solids, in guavas stored for eight days at 21-22 °C. In the 1st experiment (chapter 2), the HPMC+CA produced a modified atmosphere around the fruit, delaying ripening process. The coatings reduced the loss of mass, maintained the green color, and increased the firmness. The treatment with HPMC+20% BW also provided the best maintenance of fruit quality. On the eighth day, fruit with this coating showed the same physicochemical characteristics of control fruit in the second day of storage, which represents a gain of six days in the shelf life of guavas 'Pedro Sato'. In the 2nd experiment (chapter 3), the HPMC+CA reduced the respiratory rate, inhibited ethylene synthesis and delayed the fruit ripening process. The treatment with HPMC+20% CA presented the best results in maintaining fruit quality, reducing the activity of the Polygalacturonase enzyme and delaying the maturation of 'Pedro Sato' guavas without promoting the activity of the Alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme and consequently the fermentation of fruits ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Princeton university, 1916. / Published also without thesis note. Digitization funded by NEH digital to microfilm conversion project. Title selected from the series Literature of the agricultural sciences for the Core historical literature of agriculture, Agricultural economics and rural sociology. Also available in print and in microfilm.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by coursework and research report. Johannesburg, 13 May 2014. / The African baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a multi-purpose tree that is important among African villages as it provides food and a range of raw materials. Its fruits provide essential nutrients and are sold to generate income. As baobab fruits are important to the livelihoods of many people, it is important to understand the causes of differences in fruit production in order to maximise use and for conservation purposes. Many studies have examined fruit production to understand the causes of variation in fruit yields. In Venda, a region northern South Africa, differences in baobab fruit yield has been recorded for 8 years, thus classifying individual trees as either poor producers or producers (Venter and Witkowski, 2011). Poor producers are adult trees producing less than five fruits each year and some not producing at all. On the other hand, adult trees producing more than five fruits each year are referred as producers. Causes of this difference in fruit production have not been identified. Among other factors, the observed difference in fruit production could be related to differences in ploidy-level among baobab trees. Importantly, few or no studies to our knowledge have been carried out to confirm whether differences in fruit production among baobab trees are related to a difference in ploidy-level. The well-known and widespread mainland African baobab, Adansonia digitata, is known to be a tetraploid (four sets of chromosomes). Recently, a difference in ploidy-level has been revealed. A new diploid species, Adansonia kilima, has been identified in Africa (Pettigrew et al., 2012). Morphological characteristics (floral, pollen, and stomatal size and density), ploidy, and molecular phylogenetics suggest the presence of a new species. This new species has been reported to overlap the well-known and widespread tetraploid A. digitata’s distribution in Venda. Consequently, the presence of a diploid species that reproduces with a tetraploid species could result in triploid progeny and contribute to the observed differences in fruit production in these baobab trees. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess if there is any difference in ploidy-level between the poor producer and producer baobab trees in Venda using flow cytometry, (ii) to assess if stomatal density and size correlate to differences in ploidy-level, and (iii) to use microsatellites to estimate levels of gene flow between these baobab trees. Morphological results showed that stomatal size and density were not significantly different between poor producer and producer trees and these features may not be true indicators of difference in ploidy-level for baobabs. Gene flow results showed that there was high mean genetic heterozygosity and low population differentiation expressed in all populations. This suggests that inbreeding was not responsible for the differences in fruit production between poor producer and producer trees. Low population differentiation observed among the populations indicated that a large number of common alleles were shared among the populations. Therefore, the high gene flow observed among the populations suggests that poor producer and producer trees were sharing alleles, and what is causing the differences in fruit production remains unclear.

Thesis (MComm)—Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to undertake an inquiry on the competitive performance of the South African stone fruit industry since the early 1960s, with an emphasis on the more recent years since the mid-1990s, when the industry was deregulated. A comprehensive approach was applied in reaching conclusion in this study by employing a five-step analytical framework, built on well-established approaches by Balassa (revealed comparative advantage, RCA), Vollrath (relative trade advantage, RTA) and the Porter Diamond Model, adapted to accommodate innovative statistical methods to reflect differences in opinions and views more accurately. Competitiveness in this study is defined to give effect to the global trade orientation of the industry as the sustained ability of the South African stone fruit industry to attract investment by trading its produce competitively within the global marketplace, whilst continuously striving to earn returns greater that the opportunity cost of scarce resources engaged. Five phases were identified in the competitive performance of the South African stone fruit industry since 1961, showing the fluctuating nature of the performance of this industry:  Phase I (1961-1982): Increasingly regulated competitiveness  Phase II (1983-1990): Politically constrained competitiveness  Phase III (1991-1999): Economic deregulation and internal rivalry  Phase IV (1999-2007): Towards international competitiveness  Phase V (2007 – present): Increasingly sustained competitiveness The RTA calculations, including both exports and imports, showed that the industry is highly competitive, both internationally – in the Southern Hemisphere where this industry is only out-performed by Chile and locally – compared to other South African (SA) horticultural crops, with plums consistently claiming the top position when individual stone fruit types in the SA deciduous fruit category are analysed. Through the Stone Fruit Executive Survey (SFES), views and opinions of prominent industry role-players were critically employed to interrogate the topic under discussion. A total of 84 factors affecting the competitiveness of the industry were identified, and these were rated on a five-point Likert scale (where 5 were most enhancing and 1 was most constraining). This study expanded the analytical framework used in recent agri-competitiveness studies to verify and cross-check the results and findings through statistical procedures, such as cluster analyses, principle component analyses and Cronbach’s alpha. This broadened the scope of analysis by accommodating the variance in opinion statements from the respondents. As different cluster groupings based on functional value chain positions were analysed, it became clear that there were significant differences between the respondents involved in the primary production and packing/processing of stone fruit and the respondents involved in activities lower down the value chain, such as in pack houses/processors and exporters/marketers. Further down the value chain the respondents expressed more optimistic views and positive statements on competitiveness than those exposed to primary production risks and uncertainties. This confirms the importance to expand competitive analysis to different points in the value chain The rated factors were grouped into Porter’s six determinants and the general scored ratings yielded the two most enhancing determinants, being business strategy, structure and rivalry (3.55 out of 5) and related and supporting industries (3.14 out of 5). Production factor conditions (2.81 out of 5) and demand/market factors (2.76 out of 5) were identified as being less enhancing determinants. Chance factors (2.66 out of 5) and government support and policy (2.35 out of 5) were identified as the two most constraining determinants. The current approach is that the framework of Esterhuizen (2006) is applied to agriculture-related competitiveness studies. This study, however, investigated the extension of the conventional model by adapting the Porter diamond model within the frameworks of the Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR), which generally focus on the macro-economic situation. It was confirmed that the stone fruit industry is integrated into and forms part of the ‘broader economic picture’. The results and findings of this study were discussed in a number of focus sessions with industry role players. A strategic planning framework was drafted, which consisted out of eleven industry level strategic proposals. Some of the most important strategic improvements to enhance competitive performance argued for in this study are improved industry-based lobby discussions, i.e. to build and strengthen the necessary communication between industry role players and government agencies through an improved strategic intelligence database, by focusing on aspects such as trade agreements, international market development and policy development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om ’n ondersoek van die mededingende prestasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse steenvrugbedryf sedert die vroeë 1960’s te onderneem, met die klem op die meer onlangse tydperk sedert die middel-1990’s, toe die bedryf gedereguleer is. ’n Omvattende benadering is ingespan deur gebruik te maak van ’n vyfstap- analitiese raamwerk wat geskoei is op die goed gevestigde benaderings van Balassa (onthulde vergelykende voordeel – revealed comparative advantage - RCA), Vollrath (relatiewe handelsvoordeel – relative trade advantage - RTA) en die Porter-diamantmodel, wat aangepas is om innoverende statistiese metodes te akkommodeer om verskille in gesigspunte beter te weergee. Mededingendheid in hierdie studie word gedefinieer om effek te gee aan die globale handelsoriëntasie van die bedryf as die volhoubare vermoë van die Suid-Afrikaanse steenvrugbedryf om belegging te lok deur sy produkte mededingend in die globale mark te verhandel, terwyl daar voortdurend gestreef word om opbrengste te verdien wat groter is as die geleentheidskoste van die skaars hulpbronne gebruik. Vyf fases in die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse steenvrugbedryf is sedert 1961 geïdentifiseer en toon die wisselende aard van die prestasie in hierdie bedryf:  Fase I (1961-1982): Toenemend gereguleerde mededingendheid  Fase II (1983-1990): Polities beperkte mededingendheid  Fase III (1991-1999): Ekonomiese deregulering en interne mededinging  Fase IV (1999-2007): Op weg na internasionale mededingendheid  Fase V (2007 – vandag): Toenemend volhoubare mededingendheid Die RTA-berekenings, wat uitvoere en invoere insluit, het aangetoon dat die bedryf hoogs mededingend is, beide internasionaal – waar die industrie slegs die Chili oortref word en plaaslik – in vergelyking met ander Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) hortologiese gewasse, met pruime wat voorop staan wanneer individuele steenvrugsoorte in die SA sagtevrugtebedryf geanaliseer is. Deur die Steenvrug Uitvoerende Opname (Stone Fruit Executive Survey (SFES)) is die sienings en opinies van vooraanstaande rolspelers krities gebruik om die onderwerp te ondervra. ’n Totaal van 84 faktore wat die mededingendheid van die bedryf beïnvloed, is geïdentifiseer, en hierdie is op ’n vyfpunt-Likertskaal geëvalueer (met 5 as die mees versterkend en 1 as die mees stremmend). Hierdie studie het die analitiese raamwerk wat in onlangse agri-mededingendheidstudies gebruik is, uitgebrei om die resultate deur middel van statistiese prosedures te verifieer en te kruiskontroleer, naamlik deur bondelanalises, hoofkomponent-ontledings (principle component analyses) en Cronbach se alfa. Dít het die strekking van die analise verbreed deur die verskillende opinies van die respondente te akkommodeer. Soos verskillende bondels op grond van funksionele posisies in die waardeketting geanaliseer is, het dit duidelik geword dat daar noemenswaardige verskille was tussen die respondente in die primêre produksie en verpakking/verwerking van steenvrugte en die respondente betrokke in aktiwiteite laer af in die waardeketting, soos in pakhuise/verwerkers en uitvoerders/bemarkers. Verder af in die waardeketting het die respondente meer optimistiese opinies en positiewe stellings oor mededingendheid uitgespreek as dié wat aan primêre produksierisiko’s en onsekerhede blootgestel was. Dit bevestig die belangrikheid daarvan om mededingende analise na verskillende punte in die waardeketting uit te brei. Die gemete faktore is in Porter se ses determinante verdeel en die algemeen aangetekende skattings het die twee mees versterkende determinante opgelewer, naamlik sakestrategie, struktuur en mededinging (3.55 uit 5) en verwante en ondersteunende bedrywe (3.14 uit 5). Produksiefaktortoestande (2.81 uit 5) en vraag/markfaktore (2.76 uit 5) is geïdentifiseer as minder versterkende determinante. Toevallige faktore (2.66 uit 5) en regeringsondersteuning en -beleid (2.35 uit 5) is geïdentifiseer as die twee mees stremmende determinante. Die huidige benadering is dat Esterhuizen (2006) se raamwerk op landbou-verwante mededingendheidstudies toegepas word. Hierdie studie het egter die uitbreiding van die konvensionele model ondersoek deur die Porter-diamantmodel binne die raamwerke van die Institute for Management Development se World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) en die World Economic Forum se Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) aan te pas. Hierdie dokumente fokus oor die algemeen op die makro-ekonomiese situasie. Daar is bevestig dat die steenvrugbedryf in die ‘breër ekonomiese situasie’ geïntegreer is en daarvan deel is. Die resultate en bevindings van hierdie studie is in ’n aantal fokussessies met bedryfsrolspelers bespreek. ʼn Strategiese beplanningsraamwerk was opgestel wat bestaan uit elf industrie-vlak strategiese voorstelle. Van die belangrikste strategiese verbeterings om mededingende prestasie te verhoog, waarvoor daar in hierdie studie geargumenteer is, is verbeterde “drukgroepgesprekke”, m.a.w. om die nodige kommunikasie tussen bedryfsrolspelers en die regering te bou en te verstrek deur ’n verbeterde strategiese intelligensie- databasis wat o.a. fokus op aspekte soos handelsooreenkomste, internasionale markontwikkeling en beleidsontwikkeling.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The importance of improving the net farm income of production units are an economical reality. One of the most important factors determining the profitability of deciduous fruit like apples and pears is the difference between the market price and the production of different cultivars. The profitability of production units is therefore determined by the cultivar composition. A decision support system is proposed for production units in the deciduous fruit industry to reach the optimal cultivar composition and an implementation plan of how to reach this optimal composition. The purpose of this study will include the optimising and adjustment of different cultivars to reach the highest possible profitability within the ranges of the available resources. The study will also contain all the relevant facts and information which are needed to make a choice between the different cultivars. The decision making process of deciduous fruit producers could be assisted with a decision support system or model. The use of such a decision support system or model to reach the optimal cultivar composition could lead to economic advantages for deciduous fruit producers. A wide range of choices regarding certain procedures and methods are found in the decision making process. Modelling and simulation are some of these methods that are used in the agricultural industry to assist the industry on a micro and macro level. Linear programming is one of these modelling methods which can be used to determine the optimal cultivar choice. Linear programming involves the creating and solving of optimisation problems with linear objective functions and linear constraints. linear programming is a very powerful tool that can be applied in many business situations. The optimal cultivar choice is only theoretical if this composition could not be simulated in a model over a certain period of time to detennine the economical feasibility of the proposed cultivar composition. The end results of such an optimisation problem provide to the user of this linear programming model a powerful tool to assist producers in its decisions regarding cultivar choices. The average result of a 90% increase in profitability over the group for whom the study was conducted emphasized the support that this model can give to deciduous fruit producers in making the correct cultivar choice decisions / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is 'n ekonomiese realiteit vir enige produksie-eenheid om sy netta boerdery inkomste so haag as moontlik per hektaar te kry. Die grootste faktor wat die winsgewendheid van sagtevrugte soos byvoorbeeld appels en pere beinvloed, is die verskil in markpryse en produksie tussen die verskillende kultivars. Die kultivarsamestelling van produksieeenhede bepaal die winsgewendheid van so 'n eenheid. Om oplossings vir optimale kultivarwysigingstrategiee te bekom word 'n besluitnemingsondersteuningstelsel vir die sagte vrugte produksie-eenhede voorgestel. Die doel van die studie is vir die optimalisering van verskillende kultivars, of kultivarwysigings, om wins te maksimeer binne die grense van beskikbare infrastruktuur. Die studie sal alle relevante inligting en feite bevat wat in ag geneem moet word wanneer die keuse tussen kultivars gemaak word. Die besluitnemingsproses van sagtevrugte produsente kan ondersteun word met 'n besluitnemingsondersteuningstelsel of -model. Die gebruik van 'n besluitnemingsondersteuningstelsel of -model, en keuses tussen kultivars vir toekomstige aanplantings te maak, kan tot ekonomiese voordele vir die produsente lei. 'n Wye reeks van keuses in terme van benaderings, prosedures en metodes word in die besluitnemingsproses gevind. Modellering en simulasie vorm deel van hierdie metodes wat help am verskillende landbou industriee of sisteme op 'n mikro sowel as makro vlak te verstaan. Lineere programmering is een van hierdie modellering metodes wat gebruik kan word om 'n optimale samesteliing van kultivars te verkry. Uneare programmering is 'n optimaliseringstegniek waarin beide die doelwit en aile beperking5 as 'n reeks van lineere vergelykings uitgedruk word. Uneare programmering spreek dus die optimaliseringsprobleem binne sekere beperkinge direk aan en word daarom universeel as waarskynlik die algemeenste en wydste optimaliseringstegniek gebruik. Die optima Ie kultivarsamestelling is slegs teoreties van aard indien hierdie kultivarsamestelling nie in 'n model gesimuleer kan word oor 'n sekere tydperk, sodat die ekonomiese haalbaarheid van so 'n verandering geregverdig kan word nie. Die eindresultaat van hierdie optmaliseringsprobleem bied aan die gebruiker van hierdie lineere programmeringsmodel 'n kragtige instrument wat die produsent kan ondersteun met sy besluitneming rakende die optimale kultivarsamestelling . Die navorsingstudie se groepsgemiddelde resultaat van 90% winsverbetering, binne die raamwerk van beperkinge wat gebruik is, bied voldoende ondersteuning vir die effektiwiteit van die optimaliseringsmodel wat ontwikkel is.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pierre du Plooy co-founded Prophyta (Pty) Ltd, a company that provided technical consultation services in the fields of horticulture and soil science to the South African deciduous fruit industry. Initially, the founders employed goods-dominant logic, viewing their services as intangible products that needed to be sold to clients. Between the founding of Prophyta in September 2012 and November 2014, Pierre du Plooy’s value proposition, service offering and revenue model diverged from those of other consultants in Prophyta, to the extent that he resigned from Prophyta and became an independent horticultural consultant. The study focussed on Pierre du Plooy’s existing clients. The clients were surveyed to determine their satisfaction with the current service offering, their interest in additional services, their openness toward alternative revenue models and key success factors according to them. A questionnaire was designed and 29 clients were invited to participate in the survey. Six responded, resulting in a response rate of 21 percent. Client satisfaction with the current service was measured using SERVQUAL. Fifteen statements applicable to the horticulture advisory service were made and respondents’ expectations and perceptions measured on a five point Likert scale. The values obtained for the expectation and corresponding perception per statement were used to calculate a difference score. A negative value for the difference score meant the perception of the current service exceeds client expectations regarding the statement in question. In general, the clients were satisfied with the current service offering. Two main aspects needed focus. A horticulturist needs to stay up-to-date with new research and technologies, requiring him to stay abreast of relevant literature, as well as attending symposia and production areas abroad. A horticulturist also has to be very attentive to keep classified information shared by clients confidential. The first aspect relates to the creation of new knowledge, the second to strengthening and building of relationships based on trust. According to the literature, both these aspects form the bases of competition and are very important in obtaining and maintaining a competitive advantage. It is recommended that Pierre du Plooy focus on above-mentioned aspects in order to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage over competitors. It is also recommended to repeat the client survey every two years in order to monitor changing client expectations and make sure client needs are being met.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-07-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:34:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 modesto_jh_me_botfca.pdf: 975329 bytes, checksum: b48a14bae1b9fc18c428faeb179aaa0d (MD5) / A fruticultura permite ao produtor maiores rendimentos por unidade de área e assim destaca-se no cenário agrícola, sendo de suma importância o estudo da adaptação de diferentes cultivares de frutíferas aos locais de cultivo. Com o intuito de auxiliar e fortalecer a mangicultura paulista, através da avaliação da adaptação de cultivares, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade, sazonalidade e análises tecnológicas dos frutos das cultivares Palmer, Parwin, Tommy Atkins e Haden, enxertados sobre o porta-enxerto ‘Espada’ e conduzidas no espaçamento 5,0 m entre linhas e 4,5 m entre plantas (417 plantas.ha-1). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, constando de 4 tratamentos (cultivares), 8 repetições e uma planta útil por repetição, com duas plantas bordadura. O presente trabalho foi realizado avaliando-se dois ciclos de produção: 2011/2012 e 2012/2013, na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu, localizada no município de São Manuel - SP. De acordo com os resultados obtidos é possível concluir que, a cultivar Parwin apresentou maior número médio de produtividade e produção, portanto pode ser indicada como opção de diversificação varietal para a região. As cultivares Haden e Tommy Atkins foram mais precoces e Palmer e Parwin mais tardias. Todas as cultivares avaliadas obtiveram elevado rendimento de polpa (>70%). Os frutos da cultivar Palmer apresentaram valores superiores de massa média e relação diâmetro longitudinal/diâmetro equatorial. Os frutos das cultivares Palmer (486,80N) e Parwin (337,08N) apresentaram valores superiores de firmeza. A cultivar Palmer apresentou, nos dois ciclos de avaliação... / The fruit allows the producer to higher yields per unit area and thus stands in agricultural scenario, which is extremely important to study the adaptation of different cultivars to fruit cultivation sites. In order to support and strengthen mango São Paulo, through the evaluation of the adaptation of cultivars, the aim of this study was to evaluate yield, seasonality and technological advances of fruit cultivars Palmer, Parwin, Tommy Atkins and Haden, grafted on rootstock 'Sword' and conducted at 5,0 m spacing between rows and 4,5 m between plants (417 plants.ha-1). The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 4 treatments (cultivars), 8 replicates and one plant per replicate, with two plants surround. This study was conducted evaluating two cycles of production: 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 in São Manuel Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu Campus, located in the municipality of San Manuel - SP. According to the results, we conclude that, to cultivate Parwin showed higher average productivity and output, so it can be displayed as varietal diversification option for the region. The cultivars Haden and Tommy Atkins and Palmer were earlier and the later Parwin. All cultivars had higher pulp yield (>70%). The fruits of cultivar Palmer showed higher values of average mass and relative longitudinal diameter / equatorial diameter. The fruits of cultivars Palmer (486,80 N) and Parwin (337,08 N) showed higher values of firmness. Cultivar Palmer presented in two evaluation cycles, higher content of vitamin C... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Sarita Leonel / Banca: Aloísio Costa Sampaio / Banca: Simone Rodrigues da Silva / Resumo: A fruticultura permite ao produtor maiores rendimentos por unidade de área e assim destaca-se no cenário agrícola, sendo de suma importância o estudo da adaptação de diferentes cultivares de frutíferas aos locais de cultivo. Com o intuito de auxiliar e fortalecer a mangicultura paulista, através da avaliação da adaptação de cultivares, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade, sazonalidade e análises tecnológicas dos frutos das cultivares Palmer, Parwin, Tommy Atkins e Haden, enxertados sobre o porta-enxerto 'Espada' e conduzidas no espaçamento 5,0 m entre linhas e 4,5 m entre plantas (417 plantas.ha-1). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, constando de 4 tratamentos (cultivares), 8 repetições e uma planta útil por repetição, com duas plantas bordadura. O presente trabalho foi realizado avaliando-se dois ciclos de produção: 2011/2012 e 2012/2013, na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu, localizada no município de São Manuel - SP. De acordo com os resultados obtidos é possível concluir que, a cultivar Parwin apresentou maior número médio de produtividade e produção, portanto pode ser indicada como opção de diversificação varietal para a região. As cultivares Haden e Tommy Atkins foram mais precoces e Palmer e Parwin mais tardias. Todas as cultivares avaliadas obtiveram elevado rendimento de polpa (>70%). Os frutos da cultivar Palmer apresentaram valores superiores de massa média e relação diâmetro longitudinal/diâmetro equatorial. Os frutos das cultivares Palmer (486,80N) e Parwin (337,08N) apresentaram valores superiores de firmeza. A cultivar Palmer apresentou, nos dois ciclos de avaliação... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The fruit allows the producer to higher yields per unit area and thus stands in agricultural scenario, which is extremely important to study the adaptation of different cultivars to fruit cultivation sites. In order to support and strengthen mango São Paulo, through the evaluation of the adaptation of cultivars, the aim of this study was to evaluate yield, seasonality and technological advances of fruit cultivars Palmer, Parwin, Tommy Atkins and Haden, grafted on rootstock 'Sword' and conducted at 5,0 m spacing between rows and 4,5 m between plants (417 plants.ha-1). The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 4 treatments (cultivars), 8 replicates and one plant per replicate, with two plants surround. This study was conducted evaluating two cycles of production: 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 in São Manuel Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu Campus, located in the municipality of San Manuel - SP. According to the results, we conclude that, to cultivate Parwin showed higher average productivity and output, so it can be displayed as varietal diversification option for the region. The cultivars Haden and Tommy Atkins and Palmer were earlier and the later Parwin. All cultivars had higher pulp yield (>70%). The fruits of cultivar Palmer showed higher values of average mass and relative longitudinal diameter / equatorial diameter. The fruits of cultivars Palmer (486,80 N) and Parwin (337,08 N) showed higher values of firmness. Cultivar Palmer presented in two evaluation cycles, higher content of vitamin C... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Environmental Sciences by Coursework and Research Report. Johannesburg 24 March 2016 / In southern Africa, the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is an economically important trees because it contributes significantly to the livelihoods of local people, particularly in northern Limpopo in South Africa (the southern-most edge of the baobab distribution). All parts of the baobab are useful and considered important for subsistence and commercial uses. Understanding factors that affect fruit and seed production is important to better characterize the long-term success of tree populations. Some adult baobab trees have high fruit production (50 −299 fruits per tree, per year) and are subsequently called ‘producers’ or ‘female’ trees, while there are other trees that produce fewer fruits (< 5 fruits per tree, per year) that are called ‘poor-producers’ or ‘male’ trees. For this study, baobab fruit dimensions (mass, length, volume and ratio) were, measured and compared between artificially- and naturally-pollinated producer and poor-producer trees. Fruit dimensions were also correlated to the number of seeds per fruit. Using 2D geometric morphometric analysis, baobab fruit shapes were analyzed and compared to determine if fruit shape differs between fruits formed on producer and poor-producer baobab trees. I found no significant difference in fruit shape between producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Although, artificially-pollinated trees produced bigger and more uniform shaped fruits and contained more seeds in comparison to the smaller unevenly shaped fruits produced by naturally-pollinated trees. Furthermore, I compared fruit and seed production between naturally-pollinated producer/poor-producer and between artificially-pollinated producer/poor-producer trees that occur on different land use types (i.e. nature reserves, rocky outcrops, plains, fields (land use for agricultural purposes) and villages) in Northern Venda, South Africa. There was a significant difference in fruit and seed production between naturally and artificially-pollinated producer and poor producer trees that occur on different land use types. On average, producer trees yielded more seeds than poor-producer trees. The highest fruit and seed production was recorded in fields and villages. Seed mass variation also differed significantly between producer and poor-producer trees and between the different land use types. A very weak negative relationship between baobab seed number and mass was found in both producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Baobab seed viability was estimated using a 0.1% tetrazolium solution, 100% viability was found in all tested seeds from both producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Result of this study may aid with the identification of land use types where baobabs have the lowest seed production and therefore require additional conservation effort to ensure that fruits are harvested sustainably. The estimation of seed production may improve the ability to estimate the total seed oil that is available in each land use type. / M T 2016