Foliar Calcium Fertilizers Impact on Several Fruit Quality Characteristics and Leaf and Fruit Nutritional Status of the ‘Hayward’ Kiwifruit Cultivar

Thomas Sotiropoulos,Ioannis Manthos,Theocharis Chatzistathis,Areti Mpountla,Olga Dichala,Antonios Voulgarakis,Dionisios Karaiskos

doi:10.3390/agronomy11020235

Thomas Sotiropoulos, Ioannis Manthos + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020235

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Journal: Agronomy	Publication Date: Jan 27, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Federation of Greek Mariculture

Abstract

Calcium preharvest application influences fruit quality. The impact of preharvest foliar sprays using several commercial fertilizers with Ca content on the fruit quality and nutritional status of the kiwi cv. ‘Hayward’ was investigated for a 2-year period. Fruit flesh firmness increased under all Ca sprays compared to the control. Total soluble solids and acidity were not altered significantly by any of the studied Ca products. Treatment differences with regard to fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration and acids at harvest were maintained during cold storage for 2 and 4 months. Foliar sprays did not affect the N, P, K, Mg, B, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations of leaves and fruits. However, all treatments increased the concentration of Ca in leaves and fruits compared to the control.

Highlights

Accepted: 20 January 2021Kiwifruit is a climacteric fruit with a long postharvest life in cool storage
Firmness was significantly increased by 22% and the total soluble solids were significantly reduced by 4% due to CaCl2 compared to the control [32]
Regarding the results of various treatments on fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration and acids at harvest were maintained during cold storage for 2 and 4 months

Summary

Introduction

Kiwifruit is a climacteric fruit with a long postharvest life in cool storage. Calcium has been referred to as both (i) an essential element and (ii) a nutrient significantly contributing to the maintenance of high postharvest fruit quality. It has significant roles in plant physiology, such as a structural function in the cell wall and membranes; a counter ion for inorganic and organic anions in the vacuole; and a cytoplasmic secondary messenger associated with environmental or developmental stimuli and their physiological responses [1]. The stability of the cell wall relates to the cooperative binding of polygalacturonate chains with Ca ions, forming the cell wall of the fruit interior accessible to enzymes that generate softening or to cell wall denigrative enzymes caused by fungi. Fruit softening is frequently ascribed to modifications in cell wall structure

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