Yield Increased and Fruit Disorders Decreased with Repeated Annual Calcium Sprays on 'Anjou' Pears

Abstract

Yield of 'Anjou' pears, Pyrus communis L, was increased with repeated annual (9-13 years) calcium chloride (CaCl2) sprays. The incidence of fruit disorders (alfalfa greening and cork spot ) was decreased by CaCl2 sprays with or without Regulaid but some minor calcium spray phytoxicity occurred on fruit and leaves. Fruit calcium concentrations in peel and cortex were increased with calcium chloride sprays; however, these sprays had little or no effect on leaf weight, fruit size, leaf Ca concentrations, tree vigor, shoot growth, fruit firmness, soluble solids, titratable acids, fruit color, fruit rots, or storage scald. This study suggested that long-term calcium chloride sprays of 60.5 g Ca per 100 liters of water or 33 to 44 kg CaCl2 per ha should provide the pear grower with a means of not only controlling fruit disorders but also for increasing 'Anjou' pear yield.