EFFECT OF KAOLIN FOLIAR ON FRUIT SUNBURN, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF PERSIMMON TREES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2016 and 2017 seasons at a private orchard situated in Abu El-Matamir destrict, El-Behaira governorate, Egypt, to study the effect foliar spray 0, 2, 3 and 4% kaolin, twice or three times in June, July and August on vegetative growth, nutritional status, sunburn percentage, yield and fruit quality of Costata persimmon trees. The obtained results showed that, kaolin foliar application at 4% twice or three times (T6 and T7) considered the best treatments for enhance improvement nutritional status trees. Moreover, kaolin foliar applications were effective to control fruit sunburn % as well as reducing severity percentage sunburned fruits as compared to untreated trees. Also, Kaolin foliar application at three times was decreased leaf and fruit surface temperature especially under 3 and 4%. concentrations. In addition, kaolin treatments increased yield and improved fruit quality in terms fruit weight, size, height, and diameter as well as fruit firmness. Kaolin foliar spray was raising fruit values SSC%, and SSC/acid ratio compared to the control, whereas there is no significant variation among kaolin concentrations on this variables. Therefore, it could be recommended that, spraying kaolin at 4% three times in summer months, improving increasing gave the best result for improving trees nutritional status, and also it had a positive effect on preventing fruit sunburn damage and increasment yield and fruit quality Costata persimmon trees.