EFFECT OF SPRAYING SELENIUM ON THE PEAR FRUIT QUALITY

Selenium (Se) is an essential element in the human diet.
Spraying with Se could yield Se-enriched fruits.
The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of spraying Se on fruit quality of pear (Pyrus bretschneider Rehd. ‘Dangshan Suli’). Pear plants grown in field culture were sprayed with sodium selenite (0, 1, 3, 5 mg/L) two times at the period of fruit enlargement.
Fruit weight and size on average of Se-treated pear plants were improved and fruit shape index were highest at 5 mg/L sodium selenite.
The lower Se concentration could increase the fruit firmness, TSS (total soluble solid), reducing sugar, TSS/TA (the content of titratable acidity), Se treatment resulted in higher sucrose, total soluble sugars, pectin and lower titratable acidity, vitamin C. The content of sclereid bigger than 0.05 mm were decreased by spraying selenium, but the content of sclereid smaller than 0.05 mm were increased besides 3 mg/L Se treatment.
According to these data, spraying 3 mg/L sodium selenite is the suitable concentration for improving the fruit quality of ‘Dangshansu’ pear cultivar.
As a Se source in human diet, the quality of Se-enriched fruit in other fruiters was discussed.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on the Challenge for a Sustainable Production, Protection and Consumption of Mediterranean Fruits and Nuts

Qunlong Liu, Chanjuan Ning, Duo Wang, Wenjiang Wu, Guoliang Wu

selenium, pear, fruit quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.940.78