M. Malakouti, S. J. Tabatabaei, Asghar Shahabil
Sep 1, 1999
Citations
1
Influential Citations
30
Citations
Journal
Journal of Plant Nutrition
Abstract
Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of application rate and timing of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on fruit quality and control of physiological disorders in ‘Red Delicious’ apple (Malus spp.) grown at five locations in Iran. In first year, the experiment was conducted with three application rates (0, 1%, and 2% CaCl2, w/v) at two application times for each rate. In second year, four rates of CaCl2 (0, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%, w/v) were applied, and each rate was applied four times. Fruits were kept in regular atmosphere storage at 2°C for 4.5 months. All CaCl2 treatments, except 0.5% treatment in second year, enhanced fruit firmness at harvest and after storage and resulted in fewer physiological fruit disorders because of higher fruit Ca. Other fruit quality traits and mineral nutrients were not affected by CaCl2 applications. Calcium chloride at 1 % application was optimum for improving fruit quality.