ISHS Acta Horticulturae 458: International Symposium on Water Quality & Quantity-Greenhouse
RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING MUSKMELON QUALITY |
| Author: | N.J.J. Combrink |
| Keywords: | Boron, Calcium, Chilling injury, Cucumis melo, Solar radiation |
| Abstract:
Due to costs involved, exporters should consider sea freighting as alternative to air freighting. The only additional quality requirement is that fruit should be able to withstand a cold storage period, without development of chilling injury (CI). Pre-harvest conditions that may affect the export quality of 'Galia' type melons were investigated. Low boron (B) levels may cause leaves to yellow prematurely, lowering the soluble solids content (SSC) of fruit. At sub optimum Ca and B levels, poor net development was found and the fruit developed CI during cold storage. The incidence of fruit cracks increased when high Ca and low B levels were combined. At high ambient temperatures, exposure of developing fruit to solar radiation reduced the fruit development period (FDP), lowered fruit mass and SSC and the incidence of fruit cracking increased. At lower air temperatures, solar radiation had no detrimental effect. The optimum nutrient solution concentration, for a long FDP and a high fruit SSC, was between 3.8 and 4.4 mS.cm-1. A high relative humidity during fruit development suppressed transpiration and translocation of Ca and P to the fruit-peel and prevented lenticel development. Extensive losses in mass and development of CI symptoms occurred on these fruit during a four weeks cold storage period at 5°C. | |
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