Effect of pre-harvest calcium chloride application time on quality and shelf-life of apple

Abstract

Influence of pre-harvest foliar application of calcium chloride (0.50, 0.75 and 1%) after 60 and 90 days from full bloom (DFFB) was investigated on the quality attributes of apple cv. ‘Vance Delicious’ fruits at different storage intervals. Fruits from the experimental plants were harvested during 1st week of September at commercial maturity, packed in corrugated fibre board cartons with newspaper lining and kept in air cool chamber. The fruits were evaluated for different quality attributes after 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of storage. Physiological loss in weight (PLW) and total soluble solids (TSS) increased and firmness of fruits decreased continuously during storage. PLW was observed to be less in fruits sprayed with different concentrations of calcium chloride after 60 DFFB than after 90 DFFB. Fruits sprayed with 1% calcium chloride after 60 DFFB had significantly high fruit firmness and low PLW up to 21st day of storage period. TSS increased with increase in storage period up to 35 days of storage period in fruits sprayed with 0.75 and 1% of calcium chloride irrespective of its application time