Fruit Quality at Harvest of “Jonathan” Apple Treated with Foliarly-Applied Calcium Chloride

Abstract

The response of “Jonathan” apple trees (Malus domestica, Borkh.) grafted on EMLA 111 to frequent application of calcium chloride (CaCl2) was studied at Topeka, Emporia, and Conway Springs, Kansas, orchards in 2002. Trees were sprayed one to eight times with foliar applications of calcium chloride at the rate of 8.971 kg ha−1. First spray was made when fruits were 1.4, 0.9, and 1.6 cm diameter at Topeka, Emporia, and Conway Springs, respectively. More than six applications of CaCl2 improved fruit quality at harvest. Improvement included an increase in fruit weight, size, appearance, skin redness, and reduction of scald incidents. Although CaCl2 applications had no effect on percent of soluble solids, the ratio of soluble solid content to titratable acidity was increased by frequent CaCl2 application. Fruit skin redness was the most improved quality of “Jonathan” apple as the result of CaCl2 applications. No symptoms of fruit russetting or leaf scalding resulting from frequent CaCl2 application were observed. Increase in fruit quality was attributed to a linear increase in Ca concentrations in fruit and leaf tissues. Increase in Ca concentrations in fruit and leaf tissues of treated trees coincided with increases in potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) concentrations compared with untreated control trees. Potassium, Mg, P, and N were correlated with fruit quality as much as, or in some cases more than, Ca. This information suggests that changes in mineral balance with CaCl2 applications contributed to improvement of fruit quality and is evidence that frequent Ca application improved “Jonathan” apple quality in Kansas.