Articles
Control of bitter pit in apple achieved with reduced calcium inputs
Article number
1396_58
Pages
441 – 448
Language
English
Abstract
Bitter pit is a disorder of apple (Malus domestica) due to calcium deficiency in the fruit during development and maturation.
The disorder results in fruit loss and reduced fruit quality.
Calcium is xylem mobile so the majority of it is transported to the leaves rather than the fruit, where it is needed for maturation.
Absorption of calcium by the fruit is linked to auxin levels, which are only high during development rather than maturation of the fruit.
This work evaluated the use of the novel LoCal technology in the Albina (Levity Crop Science, UK) fertiliser that enables maturing apples to access greater amounts of calcium.
The trial was conducted in the Hawkes Bay region, New Zealand during the 2020-21 growing season on Braeburn apples.
The treated plots were managed commercially by the grower.
The calcium applications were two industry standard products containing 1750 and 1600 g active ingredient ha‑1 application‑1 for 14 applications compared to two different application timings of the new product containing 120 g active ingredient ha‑1 application‑1 at 14 and 4 applications and no calcium application.
Throughout the growing season the crop was assessed for phytotoxicity.
At harvest the apple cores and flesh had mineral analysis conducted.
The fruit finish was assessed at harvest.
Bitter pit and flesh firmness were assessed 21 and 42 days after harvest.
There were no signs of phytotoxicity from any treatment.
There were no significant differences between the levels of calcium in the apple cores or the fruit finish at harvest.
All the treatments gave significantly less bitter pit than the untreated.
These results show that the new products are the equal of the two industry standard products, but they achieve this with much lower levels of inputs and costs, especially for the Albina with only four applications over the season.
The disorder results in fruit loss and reduced fruit quality.
Calcium is xylem mobile so the majority of it is transported to the leaves rather than the fruit, where it is needed for maturation.
Absorption of calcium by the fruit is linked to auxin levels, which are only high during development rather than maturation of the fruit.
This work evaluated the use of the novel LoCal technology in the Albina (Levity Crop Science, UK) fertiliser that enables maturing apples to access greater amounts of calcium.
The trial was conducted in the Hawkes Bay region, New Zealand during the 2020-21 growing season on Braeburn apples.
The treated plots were managed commercially by the grower.
The calcium applications were two industry standard products containing 1750 and 1600 g active ingredient ha‑1 application‑1 for 14 applications compared to two different application timings of the new product containing 120 g active ingredient ha‑1 application‑1 at 14 and 4 applications and no calcium application.
Throughout the growing season the crop was assessed for phytotoxicity.
At harvest the apple cores and flesh had mineral analysis conducted.
The fruit finish was assessed at harvest.
Bitter pit and flesh firmness were assessed 21 and 42 days after harvest.
There were no signs of phytotoxicity from any treatment.
There were no significant differences between the levels of calcium in the apple cores or the fruit finish at harvest.
All the treatments gave significantly less bitter pit than the untreated.
These results show that the new products are the equal of the two industry standard products, but they achieve this with much lower levels of inputs and costs, especially for the Albina with only four applications over the season.
Authors
J. Dodgson, A.K. Weston, D.J. Marks
Keywords
Malus domestica, Braeburn, postharvest, Albina, flesh firmness, calcium transport stimulants (MCAS)
Online Articles (82)