An Early Calcium Loading during Cherry Tree Dormancy Improves Fruit Quality Features at Harvest

Michail Michailidis,Athanassios Molassiotis,Dafni Petraki-Katsoulaki,Georgia Tanou,Evangelos Karagiannis,Maria-Anastasia Kosmidou,Chrysanthi Polychroniadou

doi:10.3390/horticulturae7060135

Michail Michailidis, Athanassios Molassiotis + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7060135

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Journal: Horticulturae	Publication Date: Jun 6, 2021
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Abstract

The possible role of an early calcium application via sprays (0.25, 0.5 and 1M CaCl2) on dormant buds to improve sweet cherry (cv. Ferrovia) fruit quality at harvest was investigated. Fruit quality characteristics were also investigated in response to the age of spurs, the ripening stage, and their interactions. Results indicate that calcium enters the dormant flower buds and the phloem but not to the dormant vegetative buds. At harvest, the levels of Zn, Mn, and Cu were declined in fruits by increasing CaCl2 doses of sprays. Fruit respiratory activity was higher and on–tree fruit cracking was lower in red-colour (unripe) cherries as well as in fruit that was produced by 2-year-old short spurs or by Ca-treated buds. Differences in the sweet cherry skin metabolic profiles were identified. Fruit produced from Ca-exposed spurs exhibited lower levels of ribose and other cell-wall-related sugars and higher sucrose, maltose, and quininic acid levels. Nutrient shift was increased in red cherries, while anthocyanins were boosted in the black ones. PCA analysis was performed between the high dose of calcium spray and a control for mineral element content and cherry quality traits. This study illustrates that the high dose of calcium application during bud dormancy can effectively improve sweet cherry fruit characteristics, in terms of calcium content, cracking incidence, and fruit set. Overall, the present study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of calcium nutrition in fruit crops, which will provide references for alternative nutrient management and quality control in sweet cherry production.

Highlights

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly demanded fruit, as it is the earliest stone fruit to ripen and because of its great consumer acceptance [1]
The quality of the sweet cherry fruit is highly affected by the environmental conditions, since excessive rainfall before and during the harvest can lead to the fruit cracking [3]
In order to examine the internal calcium level in sweet cherry tissues following the external application of calcium (0.25, 0.5, or 1M CaCl2 *2H2 O) during dormancy, phloem, flower, and vegetative buds tissue were analysed for nutrient content one week after the various calcium treatments

Summary

Introduction

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly demanded fruit, as it is the earliest stone fruit to ripen and because of its great consumer acceptance [1]. Its nutritional and commercial value gives the sweet cherry a great economic importance in more than forty temperate climate countries worldwide where environmental factors are favourable for its growth [2]. The quality of the sweet cherry fruit is highly affected by the environmental conditions, since excessive rainfall before and during the harvest can lead to the fruit cracking [3]. In fruit, including sweet cherries, high calcium has been reported to increase fruit firmness, reduce rain cracking susceptibility, Horticulturae 2021, 7, 135.

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