Levels of Pectic Substances and Calcium in Gibberellic Acid-treated Sweet Cherry Fruit1

Abstract

Abstract Foliar applications of gibberellic acid (GA3) to mature ‘Lambert’ sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) about 21 days before harvest increased fruit weight (fresh and dry), soluble solids (SS), alcohol-insoluble substances (AIS) (both concentration and per fruit), ash weight, and fruit firmness at harvest. Application of GA3 did not affect concentrations of ethylene diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or pectinase-soluble pectins and fruit Ca. GA3-treated fruit had lower concentrations of water-soluble pectins and reduced surface pitting. Fruits sampled at 3–7 day intervals (starting about 21 days before harvest) from control and GA3-treated trees showed that as an average response over a 29-day sampling period GA3 increased fruit weight, firmness, AIS concentration, AIS per fruit, pectinase-soluble pectins, and decreased water-soluble pectins. Neither total, residual, or soluble fruit Ca were affected by treatment with GA3. Fruit Ca levels remained constant, on a per fruit basis, during the last 3 weeks of fruit maturation but Ca concentration, expressed as fresh or dry weight, decreased as a result of increased fresh and dry weight. Higher Ca levels were not associated with firmer fruit (comparing GA3 and nontreated fruit), but were correlated positively with firmness in nontreated fruit.