Fertiláqua highlights the importance of the grain filling phase

Fertiláqua has been carrying out broadcasts with representatives of its technical staff, and one of the topics covered was the filling of grains and fruits. According to Fertiláqua's development coordinator in the São Francisco Valley region, Conrado Dias, this stage of the process is fundamental, it is the producer's final product. “Everything the farmer did on the property, from preparing the soil, setting up the irrigation system and all crop management, was with the intention of selling high-quality fruit, he explains.

A quality fruit – thinking about fruit trees – is related to shelf life; Standardization and size are defined by the market. For cereals, quality is measured in the weight of the grain and the protein content that will make it more nutritious.

The filling and quality of the fruit are linked to the reserve accumulation. Management must be carried out to accumulate the reserve and then direct it to the fruits: care with fertilization, the use of nutrients at the right time and tools that help the plant do what it already does naturally.

“To achieve this quality, you have to pay attention to the entire process. First in fertilization, then in the development of the seed and then the fruit filling begins. Seed development is divided into two parts, embryo development and reserve accumulation. These reserves will be used to build a new healthy and viable plant,” he explains.

Elton Hizuka, development coordinator at Fertiláqua in the southeast region, highlighted that there are some main nutrients necessary for successful filling, such as calcium, which is closely linked to the quality of the fruit as it grows; potassium, to transport photoassimilates to the stomatal reserve and regulation organs; boron, which also assists in sugar transport and structural function. When we talk about seed production, this phase will result in a greater nutritional content that will provide a seed with greater vigor.

However, he warns that for the process to work correctly it is essential to maintain an ideal amount of water in the soil. “The main problem is when there is a water deficit at the time of grain filling, where the dry grain forms, that is, it does not fill correctly. It’s a weightless grain, which is precisely what we don’t want, as it directly affects productivity,” he comments.

Another ally in grain filling are the promoting hormones (Auxin, Cytokinin and Gibberellin). They work to improve cell division and elongation and enzyme production during grain formation. “Hormones work together to promote growth development, each with its own function,” says Hizuka.

The topic was discussed during the Live “DM em Campo”.