Fruit Growing Honor

Agricultural Activities

Requirements

1. What is the difference between a nursery and a greenhouse?

   Answer: A nursery is the place intended for the production of seedlings in a partially shaded environment. A greenhouse is a closed installation that controls temperature, humidity, and light for cultivating sensitive plants. — EMBRAPA classifies nurseries into three types: screened, suspended, and lath. Greenhouses use polyethylene plastic with UV additives and climate control. The nursery is the initial stage; the greenhouse can be used at any phase. In commercial fruit growing, seedlings begin in a nursery and may be acclimatized in a greenhouse.

2. Cite at least 5 characteristics that should be considered for producing seedlings, as well as the main needs to take into account when choosing a particular variety of fruit plant.

   Answer: Uniformity of the lot, health (free of pests), vigor (roots and foliage), proper age (3-9 months), and a variety compatible with the regional climate and soil. Certified seedlings guarantee quality. — MAPA registers nurseries through Renasem. Certified seedlings reduce the risk of future plant diseases by 60%. Ideal age: citrus 8-12 months, mango 6-9, avocado 4-6. The variety must be suited to the agroecological zone (Agricultural Zoning of Climate Risk).

3. Present a report demonstrating the care needed for the planting and cultivation of at least 2 fruit trees of your choice, pointing out the basic techniques of soil preparation, spacing, the most favorable time of year for planting, and the fertilization schedule.

   Answer: Describe the soil (texture, pH), spacing by species (citrus 6×4 m, mango 8×8 m), the planting time (the rainy season), and fertilization (organic + mineral according to analysis). Document with photos. — Soil analysis is the basis of management (the state laboratory provides it). The ideal pH is 5.5-6.5 for fruit plants. Organic fertilization provides structure to the soil; mineral provides specific nutrients. The field journal is a requirement of the Honor and a standard tool of rural agronomy.

4. By means of a written report (the report must contain photos of the adult plants and of the fruits), point out the conditions of location, soil, and time of year most suitable for cultivating at least 3 of the following varieties:
   • Avocado tree
   • Plum tree
   • Banana tree
   • Hog plum tree (cajazeira)
   • Coconut tree
   • Guava tree
   • Orange tree
   • Lemon tree
   • Apple tree
   • Papaya tree
   • Mango tree
   • Pear tree
   • Another fruit variety of your choice

   Answer: Conditions of location, soil, and planting time (choose at least 3 varieties): 1) Avocado tree: subtropical to tropical climate, full sun, deep, fertile, and well-drained soil; planting in autumn or at the start of the rains. 2) Plum tree: a mild/temperate climate, with cold in winter (chilling hours), deep and well-drained soil; planting in winter (the plant dormant). 3) Banana plant: a hot, humid tropical climate, clayey, fertile, and well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rainy season. 4) Hog plum tree: a hot tropical climate, sandy to sandy-clay well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rains. 5) Coconut palm: a coastal tropical climate, heat and humidity, sandy and well-drained soil; planting in the rainy season. 6) Guava tree: a tropical to subtropical climate, full sun, deep and well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rains. 7) Orange tree: a subtropical to tropical climate, deep, fertile, and well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rainy season. 8) Lemon/lime tree: a tropical to subtropical climate, full sun, well-drained and slightly acidic soil; planting in the rainy season. 9) Apple tree: a temperate/cold climate, with many chilling hours in winter, deep and well-drained soil; planting in winter. 10) Papaya tree: a hot tropical climate, no frost, fertile and well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rains. 11) Mango tree: a tropical climate, full sun, sandy and deep well-drained soil; planting before the start of the rains. 12) Pear tree: a temperate/subtropical climate with cold in winter, deep and well-drained soil; planting in winter. 13) Another fruit variety of choice (e.g., acerola tree): a hot tropical climate, full sun, well-drained soil; planting at the start of the rains. — Avocado (Persea americana) prefers altitudes of 600-1,200 m. Banana (Musa spp.) needs 1,200-1,800 mm of rain annually. Mango (Mangifera indica) tolerates short droughts and requires a dry spell for flowering. The Agricultural Zoning of MAPA guides planting by Brazilian municipality.

5. Build a small nursery for the production of seedlings.

   Answer: A shaded, flat place with water drainage. Raised benches with substrate (soil+manure+sand). 30-50% shade cloth. Sprinkler irrigation. Separate the seedlings by age and fence against animals. — 50% shade cloth is standard for tropical seedlings. Benches 60-80 cm off the ground avoid soil pests and make handling easier. A light substrate (sieved soil + 30% cured manure + 20% sand) ensures good drainage. Irrigation 2x a day, in plastic bags or cell trays.

6. Present, by means of a report, the name of at least 3 types of fertilizers, demonstrating the importance and need, and suggesting the best way to use each one.

   Answer: Organic (cured manure, compost): apply in the planting hole or as a cover, releases nutrients slowly. Mineral (NPK 10-10-10): quick-dissolving, in a furrow 20 cm from the plant after rain. Foliar (urea, micronutrients): sprayed on the leaves on cool days without strong sun, for absorption through the stomata. — Organic fertilizer improves soil structure (CEC, water retention) in addition to nourishing; it needs to be cured so it does not burn the roots. Mineral NPK acts in days but leaches quickly in heavy rain. Foliar enters in 2-6 hours directly through the leaves — useful for acute deficiencies (iron, zinc). EMBRAPA recommends combining all 3 according to an annual soil analysis.

7. What is a dwarf fruit tree? How did it reach this size?

   Answer: It is a tree that, even when adult, stays between 1.5 and 3 m tall, against the 8-15 m of normal trees. It reaches this size through grafting onto a dwarfing rootstock (roots that limit growth) or through genetic selection of dwarf cultivars. Advantage: it fits in a small yard, makes harvesting and pruning by hand easier. — Rootstocks such as M9 and M27 (apple) reduce the canopy by up to 70%. Naturally dwarf cultivars exist in peach (Bonanza), banana (Nanica), and papaya (Solo). EMBRAPA Clima Temperado released dwarf apples for southern Brazil. Advantages: they produce earlier (2-3 years vs 5-7), occupy 4 m² vs 50 m², and make urban fruit growing viable.

8. What is grafting? Why is grafting done on fruit trees?

   Answer: Grafting is joining the living tissues of two plants (the stock/rootstock + the scion/canopy) so they grow as one. It is done to combine a resistant root with a productive canopy, to bring production forward (fruits in 2-3 years vs 6-8), to ensure uniformity of the variety, and to propagate plants that do not produce fertile seeds. — Common types: cleft grafting, T-budding, approach grafting. The union takes place through the cambium (the meristematic layer) — aligning the cambiums is the golden rule. Rootstocks such as Trifoliata and Cleopatra resist citrus gummosis. Without grafting, seedling (own-root) orange trees take 8-10 years to bear fruit; grafted ones bear fruit in 24-36 months.

9. What is resistance? What does it mean? Cite at least 3 plants that are considered resistant in your region.

   Answer: Resistance is the plant's ability to tolerate pests, diseases, drought, or cold without suffering significant losses, due to genetic characteristics or grafting. Examples in Brazil: umbu tree (the northeastern semi-arid), dwarf cashew (water stress), guava tree (tolerant of poor soils), yellow passion fruit (resistant to fusariosis). — Genetic resistance is the result of breeding — Embrapa releases resistant cultivars (BRS Tropical, BRS Pétala). Tolerance differs from immunity: a tolerant plant gets sick but produces; an immune one does not get sick. The umbu tree (Spondias tuberosa) survives 10 months without rain in the backlands. The Paluma guava is resistant to nematodes and bears fruit throughout Brazil.

10. In the presence of the evaluator, demonstrate the ability to plant, prune, and care for at least 2 fruit trees, over a period of at least 2 seasons, or care for an existing tree for the same period.

    Answer: Planting: a 60x60x60 cm hole, a mixture of soil with manure and lime, the species' own spacing, initial irrigation. Pruning: formation in the 1st year (3-4 scaffold branches), production/cleaning in the following seasons. Care: pest monitoring, top-dressing fertilization, irrigation. Document with photos and a field journal. — A 60x60x60 cm hole is standard for medium-sized fruit trees (citrus, mango, avocado). Formation pruning removes the apical branch and selects 3-4 limbs at an open angle (60-75°). Top-dressing fertilization: 2-3 times a year with NPK + boron + zinc. The field journal records dates, quantities, and observations — essential for the evaluator to validate the continuous care.

11. Answer the following questions:
    • What is pollination? How does this process happen?
    • What is a pollinator? Cite, by means of a report, presenting photos or live, at least one agent responsible for pollination.
    • Cite at least 3 fruit plants that require a pollinating agent.

    Answer: 1) What pollination is and how it happens: pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anthers (the male part of the flower) to the stigma (the female part). It happens when an agent carries the pollen grains from one flower to another (or to the same flower); upon reaching the stigma, the pollen germinates and fertilizes the ovule, giving rise to the fruit and the seeds. 2) What a pollinator is (with an example): a pollinator is the agent that carries out the transport of pollen. It can be the wind, water, or animals. An example of an agent is the honeybee, which, while seeking nectar, carries pollen from flower to flower (present a photo or a live observation of the bee). 3) Three fruit plants that need a pollinating agent: apple tree (pollinated by bees), passion fruit vine (pollinated by the carpenter bee), and avocado tree (also dependent on bees). Without the pollinating agent, these plants do not form fruit. — 75% of the world's food crops depend on pollinators, according to the FAO. Apis mellifera (the European bee) is the main one for apple and citrus. The carpenter bee of the genus Xylocopa is the only one able to land on and open the large flowers of the passion fruit. Cross-pollination requires 2 compatible varieties in the orchard — on its own, the fruit plant produces nothing.

12. Present a report identifying, through photographs or images, the main pests, diseases, and weeds common to orchards in your region. Specify which plants they generally attack, reporting the best way to prevent and/or eliminate their occurrence.

    Answer: Pests: aphid (sucks sap — control with ladybugs), trunk borer (dig in and inject insecticide), fruit fly (traps with protein). Diseases: rust (Bordeaux mixture), anthracnose (copper + pruning). Weeds: nutsedge, guinea grass — control with mulch or manual weeding. Always prevent with integrated management. — IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is the strategy recommended by EMBRAPA: monitor before spraying, use natural enemies (ladybugs, Trichogramma wasps), rotate crops. Bordeaux mixture (lime + copper sulfate) is an organic fungicide from the 19th century, still in use. The fruit fly (Anastrepha) uses hydrolyzed protein as an attractant.

13. Demonstrate how to harvest the fruits for the family's use or for sale. Present to the examiners a sample of the harvested fruits and compare the qualities of flavor, texture, and appearance of 2 different varieties of the same fruit.

    Answer: Harvest in the morning (the fruits are firmer and fresher), with scissors or a manual twist depending on the species. Do not pull — it can damage the branch. Select by size, color, and proper ripeness. Compare 2 varieties, observing flavor (sweet/sour), texture (firm/soft), and appearance (color, shine, defects); note it on a technical sheet. — A morning harvest keeps turgor and prolongs post-harvest life. Apple, pear, and avocado are harvested with a slight twist of the wrist (the stalk comes free). Banana, the bunch is cut with a machete. Mango and citrus use scissors. Sensory comparison calls for the Brix degree (soluble solids) with a refractometer — the Pera orange has 11-13°Brix, the Bahia 9-11°Brix, showing distinct profiles.

14. Present a written report of at least 300 words or an oral one of 5 minutes about the importance of fruit production (the production of the fruits required in the requirements of this Honor) and describe its main characteristics.

    Answer: Fruit growing is the commercial production of fruits, with nutritional importance (vitamins, fiber), economic importance (Brazil is the world's 3rd-largest fruit producer), and social importance (it generates 5 million jobs). Characteristics: a long productive life (10-50 years), it requires well-drained soil, a skilled workforce, and a stable consumer market. — Brazil produces 45 million tons/year (IBGE), behind only China and India. The world's largest exporter of orange juice (90% of the market). Fruit growing employs 5.6 million people (CONAB). Each productive hectare generates 3-5 direct jobs. The São Francisco Valley produces irrigated mango and grapes all year round, with 2 annual grape harvests.

15. Visit a rural property where fruit growing is practiced and write a report of at least 300 words highlighting the main activities carried out there, as well as your lived experience in fulfilling the requirements of this Honor.

    Answer: Schedule a visit with a grower (a small farm, farm, or cooperative), observe the varieties planted, the irrigation system, pest management, harvesting, and post-harvesting. Note down conversations, take photos with permission. In the report, describe the place, the activities observed, the techniques learned, and reflect on the personal experience and its application to your project. — The local EMATER can recommend growers receptive to educational visits. Cooperatives such as COTRIMAIO (RS) and COOPERCITRUS (SP) receive groups. Noting quantitative data (area, production, spacing) enriches the account. Personal reflection links theory and practice: relate what you saw to the requirements fulfilled earlier in the Honor.