ISHS Acta Horticulturae 564: IV International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Deciduous Fruit Crops
EARLY SEASON FRUITLET ANALYSIS AS A PREDICTIVE TOOL |
| Author: | J. Brooks |
| Keywords: | Apple, Fruit, Analysis, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Nitrogen, Boron, Zinc, Megalab |
| Abstract:
The importance of fruit mineral composition at harvest with respect to fruit quality and storage potential is well established. Analysis of fruit 2 to 3 weeks before picking is widely used to gather information to help with marketing decisions relating to storage, etc. Unfortunately the information, whilst useful, arrives too late to allow the grower time to significantly affect mineral levels before harvest should this be required. A more proactive system based on the results obtained from early season fruitlet analysis (typically early July in the Northern Hemisphere) offers far more practical benefits to growers and advisors. Phosyn plc has established large analytical databases, built up over many years in most of the major fruit producing regions of the world. These show the trends in mineral concentrations as fruits develop throughout the season. Databases can be made variety or region specific once sufficient data has been collected. Biometric analysis of the correlation between mineral level and fruit weight makes it possible to transform the results of an early season fruitlet analysis into an index, linked to the percentage probability of a sub-optimal nutrient concentration arising at harvest. Advice relating to nutritional inputs is given if required. This system is now operating successfully in Europe and Australasia. Custom computer software (the Megalab program) stores and interprets data and allows continuous access to results and interpretation via the Internet. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
