ISHS Acta Horticulturae 274: International Symposium on Diagnosis of Nutritional Status of Deciduous Fruit Orchards
LACK OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOTAL CALCIUM OF APPLE FRUIT AND A CALCIUM DEFICIENCY RELATED DISORDER (BITTER PIT): A FOUR YEAR REPORT |
| Authors: | G. Gallerani, G.C. Pratella, P. Bertolini, A. Marchi |
| Abstract:
During a four year trial, "Cooper 4" apples were treated at different times after full bloom with 0.15%, 0.21% or 0.30% CaCl2. Bitter pit severity was evaluated at harvest time and at the end of storage. Ca, Mg and K content of the whole fruit or of the calyx end, was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No relationship between bitter pit incidence and Ca or Mg or K or K/Ca or (K+Mg)/Ca was found to be statistically significant. Ca treatments effectively reduced bitter pit, but they couldn't increase the total Ca amount or reduce the total Mg or K concentration of the fruits. The Ca threshold value of 5 mg/100 g fresh weight was found to be ineffective in predicting bitter pit at harvest. | |
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