Effect of herbicide use in conventional ‘caxi’ cultivation on the formation of fruits, seeds and production of metabolites, compared to organic cultivation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/2025_jul_17340

Abstract

The species Lagenaria siceraria is originally from Africa and dispersed in several tropical regions, popularly known as ‘caxi’ or ‘cabaça’. The objective of this work was to evaluate fruits, seeds and production of secondary metabolites in fruits obtained in conventional cultivation using herbicide and, organic cultivation. The fruits were collected between 45 and 75 days of cultivation and evaluated for their size, weight, seeds and phytochemistry. The main classes of metabolites were determined and total phenols, flavonoids and carotenoids were quantified. The results indicated that the organic cultivation, in relation to the size of the fruits, seeds and seedlings, presented the best response in all the evaluated parameters. In the conventional system, the fruits presented a greater diversity of metabolites, contents of phenolic compounds and carotenoids. The use of the herbicide affected the production of fruits, seeds and metabolites.

Author Biographies

José Carlos Pina, Universidade Anhanguera-Uniderp

Dr. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Regional

Ademir Kleber Morbeck de Oliveira, Universidade Anhanguera-Uniderp

Prof. Dr. `Programa de P´ós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Regional

Rosemary Matias, Universidade Anhanguera-Uniderp

Profa. Dra. Programa de ´Pós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Regional

Published

2025-07-17

How to Cite

Pina, J. C., Morbeck de Oliveira, A. K., & Matias, R. (2025). Effect of herbicide use in conventional ‘caxi’ cultivation on the formation of fruits, seeds and production of metabolites, compared to organic cultivation. DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 12(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.20873/2025_jul_17340