Cucurbitaceae family fruits, especially melons, offers significant quantities of minerals carotenoids and phenolic compounds, contributing to their antioxidant activity. However, seeds of these fruits are usually discarded as waste by products. In current study, seeds of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) were separated, dried, grounded and extracted, with 70% ethanol, to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), carotenoid content (TC) content, and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Further, antimicrobial activities of these extracts were tested against selected bacterial and fungus strains. Results showed that extracts of both cucurbits presented significant amounts of phytochemicals, with higher quantities presented by watermelon seeds. In watermelon seeds, TPC were found 156.50 mg/GAE 100 g, TFC 56.78 mg CE/100 g, TC 36.65 mg/100 g, and TAA 71%, and these amounts were significantly higher than those found in muskmelon seeds. Antimicrobial study results showed that extracts of both seeds exhibited significant zone of inhibitions against three bacterial and three fungal species, and these values were very comparable to the reference antimicrobial drug used, Ciprofloxacin. Findings of current research work provided significant grounds for presence of phytochemical bioactives in two melon fruits seeds, providing the basis for extraction and utilization of these bioactives, through processing and fortification different pharma foods.

En el noroccidente de Popayán, Colombia, se evaluó la presencia de plagas causadas por patógenos en 42 clones de lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.). Los clones fueron plantados en bolsas plásticas, donde se desarrollaron por 3 semanas antes de ser trasplantados al campo. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones, la parcela útil estuvo conformada por 6 plantas, las cuales se sembraron a tresbolillo a 2.5 m entre surcos y 2 m entre plantas. Para determinar el efecto de las plagas en el cultivo, se calculó el porcentaje de incidencia y severidad del ataque. La incidencia se evaluó como porcentaje de plantas afectadas, y la severidad como porcentaje de tejido afectado por el patógeno. Las enfermedades más limitantes para los 42 clones fueron: gota (Phytophthora infestans) que provocó una mortalidad de plantas superior a 40%; fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) que se presentó en 12 de los clones evaluados; antracnosis (Colletotrichum sp.) que afectó 21 clones, los cuales se clasificaron entre tolerantes y medianamente tolerantes; y mancha clorótica (Cladosporium sp.) que afectó 21 clones, clasificados como susceptibles. Los clones PL19, PL24, PL11, PL35 fueron medianamente tolerantes. Se seleccionaron por supervivencia los clones: JY E1 (52.2%), PH E 1 (45.8%), VM E2 (45.8%); por supervivencia y por tolerancia a Fusarium oxysporum los clones PL35, PL11, PL24, PL8, PL19, 120052, 120043, ORE1, AGE1. Los clones SER 7, SER 15, SER 9, SEC 31, SEC 27 presentaron alta mortalidad pero se seleccionaron por ser medianamente tolerantes a gota, tolerantes a antracnosis y medianamente resistentes a nematodos, con buen vigor y producción. | Presence of plant disease caused by pathogens on 42 clones of Solanum quitoense Lam. were evaluated in the north-western region of Popayán, Colombia. The seed of the clons were planted in plastic bags during three weeks and afterwards transplanted to the field. The statistical design consisted of a complete randomized block design with 4 repetitions, the working sampling plot consisted on 6 plants arranged in triangles at distances of 2 m within rows, the inter row distance was 2,5 m. The incidence and severity percentages of damage were evaluated to determine the disease effects. The first incidence was evaluated as the affected plants percentage and severity, as percentage of plant tissue affected by the pathogen. The most limiting diseases for the 42 clones were Phytophthora infestans, which produced mortality more than 40%; Fusarium oxysporum affected 12 of the evaluated clons; Colletotrichum sp. affecting 21 clones which were classified as tolerant and fairly tolerant; and Cladosporium sp., affecting 21 clones and were classified as susceptible, while the clons PL19, PL24, PL11, PL35 were considered fairly tolerant. The clones JY E1 (52.2%), PH E 1 (45.8%), VM E2 (45.8%) were selected by survival; by tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum the clones PL35, PL11, PL24, PL8, PL19, 120052, 120043, ORE1, AGE1; and the clones SER 7, SER 15, SER 9, SEC 31, and SEC 27, were selected due to their fair tolerance to Phytophthora infestans, and Colletotrichum sp and their fair resistance against nematodes, proving to be vigorous and productive.

O estudo dos componentes do balanço de água no solo é essencial para se compreender sua dinâmica, fornecendo subsídios para o manejo agrícola e otimização do uso de água. O presente trabalho objetivou determinar os componentes do balanço de água em solo cultivado com mamona sob condições de sequeiro. Para tal foram instalados, numa área de 4 ha da Fazenda Experimental Chã do Jardim, do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da UFPB, Areia, PB (6o 58' S, 35o 41' W e 620 m) três sítios tensio-neutrônicos cada um contendo um tubo de acesso para a sonda de nêutrons até a profundidade de 1,60 m e oito tensiômetros nas profundidades de 0,10; 0,20; 0,30; 0,40; 0,60; 0,80; 1,20 e 1,60 m, além de um pluviógrafo para medir a precipitação. Com vista à determinação da condutividade hidráulica saturada do solo, foram realizados ensaios de infiltração na superfície e nas profundidades de 0,20; 0,40; 0,60 e 0,80 m. A evapotranspiração da mamona seguiu as variações da precipitação e teve valor médio de 2,43 mm d-1, perfazendo o total de 342,52 mm. As variações do armazenamento de água no solo seguiram as variações da precipitação pluvial e o fluxo de água na base do solo (ascensão capilar ou drenagem) tiveram valores muito pequenos.<br>The study of water balance components is essential to understand the dynamics of soil water, providing subsidies to agricultural management and optimization of water use. The objective of this study was to determine the water balance components in a soil cultivated with castor bean under rainfed conditions. An experiment was installed in a 4 ha area in the Centro de Ciências Agrárias, UFPB, in the municipality of Areia, Paraiba state (6o 58' S, 35o 41' W e 620 m), a rain gauge and three plots contained an access tube for neutron probe measurements, up to the depth of 1.60 m, and a set of eight tensiometers at depths of 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.20 and 1.60 m. Infiltration tests were performed on soil surface and 0.20, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.80 m depth for the determination of the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil. It was verified that the evapotranspiration of castor bean followed the variations of rainfall with the mean and total values of 2.43 mm d-1 and 342.5 mm, respectively. The variation of soil moisture storage change followed the variations in rainfall and the flux of water crossing the last soil layer (capillarity rise or drainage) had very small values.