POST-HARVEST CALCIUM FORMULATIONS INDUCE SKIN INJURY IN FRUITS OF ‘ROYAL GALA’ APPLE

Fruits of ‘Royal Gala’, from five orchards, were dipped in three calcium formulations at a range of concentrations, typical of commercial treatments, before postharvest storage.
Development of fruit injury (percentage) from highest to lowest was: calcium chloride at 4.0 and 2.0 %, “Wuxal” at 3.0 and 1.5 %, and “Stopit” at 3.0 and 1.5 %.

Fruit injury began at the lenticels, including an oxidation of the tissue around the lenticel, followed by a sunken appearance of the oxidized regions, with the eventual development of black-colored necrotic spots on the surface of the fruit.
At higher concentrations of any product, the calyx end was more severely damaged.
Injury to the calyx end was characterized by the development of black spot and small cracks.
Some development of corky tissue beneath the lenticels was also noted in control fruits.
Although this disorder resembled typical bitter pit symptoms, other physiological disorders such as Jonathan-spot may however have been involved.

International Postharvest Science Conference Postharvest 96

J.P. Zoffoli, E. Araya, D. Castro, D. Vieira

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.464.106