ISHS Acta Horticulturae 464: International Postharvest Science Conference Postharvest 96
CALCIUM AND COPPER EFFECTS ON FRUIT QUALITY OF ‘GOLDEN DELICIOUS’ APPLES |
| Authors: | G.S. Brown, A.E. Kitchener, S. Barnes, S. Wilson |
| Abstract:
To study the effects of early season sprays of calcium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide mixed with copper hydroxide, three experiments were established on ‘Golden Delicious’ apples in Tasmania, Australia. Calcium plus copper sprays, but not calcium alone sprays, caused an increase in fruit skin strength and flesh firmness after storage. These changes were associated with an increase in the quantity of cell wall material in the fruit. Attempts were made to detect the mode of action of the copper plus calcium spray mixture; however, the mode of action could not be determined from these trials. Fruit russeting from the copper plus calcium spray mixture was high in the first season and this response limited the treatments applicability to industry. The copper plus calcium sprays were applied later in the second season, and no treatment effects on fruit russeting were detected; however, russet levels in control fruit were high in this season and may have hidden treatment effects. | |
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