FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CALCIUM AND BORON INFLUENCES PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS, FRUIT YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY (F. × ANANASSA DUCH.)

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the influence of pre-harvest foliar application of Ca, B and their combination on physiological disorders, fruit yield and quality of strawberry. The treatments consisted of (i) five sprays of calcium as CaCl 2 (first spray was performed at the petal fall stage and later at 7 days interval), (ii) three sprays of boron as boric acid (first spray at the beginning of flowering and later at 15 day interval), (iii) combination of (i) and (ii), and (iv) plants sprayed with water served as the control. Results indicated that fruit harvested from plants, which were sprayed either with Ca or Ca+B had lesser incidence of albinism and grey mould significantly than those harvested from plants sprayed either B alone or not treated. Although, B alone could not influence the incidence of albinism and grey mould, it reduced fruit malformation significantly. Further, pre-harvest application either of Ca or B or Ca+B could not influence the average berry weight and total fruit yield but marketable fruit yield differed significantly among the treatments. The lowest marketable fruit yield was recorded in plants under control, and the highest in plants sprayed with Ca+B (20% higher compared to control). Similarly, fruit receiving Ca or Ca+B were firmer had lower TSS, higher acidity and ascorbic acid content at the time of harvest and storage for 5 days (10°C and 90% RH) than those harvested from plants under control. Our studies clearly indicated that sequential foliar application of Ca+B can be recommended for reducing the incidence of albinism, malformation and grey mould in strawberry, and to get higher marketable yield.