Articles
Effect of pre-harvest foliar calcium application on fruit quality in Gold3 kiwifruit
Article number
1253_43
Pages
327 – 334
Language
English
Abstract
The current nutrient management practices for gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis Zesy002, commonly known as Gold3) need to be optimized to improve fruit quality.
The fruit quality of kiwifruit is mainly affected by low fruit calcium (Ca) content.
There are many pre-harvest reasons for low fruit Ca content, including, but not limited to, low Ca uptake by the roots and translocation to the fruit (at late fruit developmental stage) even in Ca enriched soils.
This study was aimed to optimize fruit nutritional and other quality characteristics.
The study was based on the hypothesis that pre-harvest foliar Ca application may increase fruit Ca content and improve fruit quality.
Different formulations of Ca such as CaCl2 and a commercial product Calbit, at the application rate of 1% Ca w/v, were used.
All the treatments were buffered to adjust pH 5.5 and applied five times at weekly interval at late fruit developmental stage.
After 3day storage at 0°C, the results indicated that CaCl2 and Calbit highly significantly (P<0.0001) increased fruit Ca content by 55 and 39% respectively, compared to control.
The firmness was highly significantly (P<0.0001) increased by 22% and the total soluble solids were significantly (P<0.001) reduced by 4% due to CaCl2 compared to control.
While fruit dry matter content was non-significantly increased by 3 and 7% due to CaCl2 and Calbit compared to control.
It was concluded that foliar Ca application was beneficial to increase fruit Ca content and other fruit quality characteristics.
The fruit quality of kiwifruit is mainly affected by low fruit calcium (Ca) content.
There are many pre-harvest reasons for low fruit Ca content, including, but not limited to, low Ca uptake by the roots and translocation to the fruit (at late fruit developmental stage) even in Ca enriched soils.
This study was aimed to optimize fruit nutritional and other quality characteristics.
The study was based on the hypothesis that pre-harvest foliar Ca application may increase fruit Ca content and improve fruit quality.
Different formulations of Ca such as CaCl2 and a commercial product Calbit, at the application rate of 1% Ca w/v, were used.
All the treatments were buffered to adjust pH 5.5 and applied five times at weekly interval at late fruit developmental stage.
After 3day storage at 0°C, the results indicated that CaCl2 and Calbit highly significantly (P<0.0001) increased fruit Ca content by 55 and 39% respectively, compared to control.
The firmness was highly significantly (P<0.0001) increased by 22% and the total soluble solids were significantly (P<0.001) reduced by 4% due to CaCl2 compared to control.
While fruit dry matter content was non-significantly increased by 3 and 7% due to CaCl2 and Calbit compared to control.
It was concluded that foliar Ca application was beneficial to increase fruit Ca content and other fruit quality characteristics.
Authors
M. Hashmatt, A.R. Morton, J.A. Heyes, D. Armour, T. Lowe, M. Black, L.H.J. Kerckhoffs
Keywords
SunGold, nutrient management, fruit Ca content, limited Ca uptake, at harvest, storage
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