Calcium Infiltration Research Articles

Integrating Biological Control and Calcium Treatment for Controlling Postharvest Decay of Apples

Two nonfungicidal postharvest treatments and N fertility were evaluated for their effectiveness, singly and in combination, in controlling decay (“blue mold”) of apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) by Penicillium expansum Link. The antifungal treatments were biological control using the antagonist Pseudomonas syringae van Hall (isolate ESC-11 used in BioSave-11 and BioSave-110 products), and pressure infiltration of fruit with 0.27 M CaCl2. Fruit susceptibility to decay was evaluated using fruit after 3 and 6 months of storage over 2 years. Calcium infiltration resulted in a 3-fold increase in Ca content of apple mesocarp. Both antagonist and Ca treatments reduced the severity and incidence of blue mold decay on `Delicious' apples. Combining these treatments resulted in greater control than the individual treatments alone. The effects were most apparent on fruit stored 6 months at 1 °C. High N fertilization increased decay in only 1 of 2 years of the study. Antagonist recovery data suggest that the antagonist could be applied immediately after Ca treatment. Combining a biocontrol agent with Ca infiltration may allow reduced rates of both products to be used without compromising the control of blue mold. This practice will increase the performance margin for biocontrol with the added benefit of increased Ca to alleviate physiological storage maladies.

Effect of partial pressure infiltration of calcium into ‘Kensington’ mango fruit

Summary.‘Kensington’ mango fruit harvested at the mature green stage were partial pressure (vacuum) infiltrated with calcium (4 g Ca 2+/L as CaCl2) at 3 reduced pressure levels (–33, –66 and –99 kPa). Concentrations of Ca2+ in unripened calcium-treated fruit were about 1-, 2- and 3-fold higher, respectively, than Ca2+ concentrations in the skin and flesh of control (untreated; i.e. not vacuum infiltrated) fruit. For example, skin tissue Ca2+ concentrations of control fruit and of those treated at –33, –66 and –99 kPa were 1.51, 1.93, 3.42 and 5.01 mg Ca2+/g dry weight, respectively. Concentrations of Ca2+ in the skin of both control fruit and of Ca2+ -treated fruit were consistently higher, by about 2-fold, than those in the fruit flesh. Compared with the –33 kPa infiltration treatment, Ca2+ levels in the fruit flesh were increased by only about 2-fold by further reductions in the partial pressure infiltration levels to –66 or –99 kPa. Infiltration of Ca2+ into mango fruit was apparently via lenticels and along xylem conduits open at the cut pedicel. These infiltration pathways were revealed by inclusion of Brilliant Blue dye in the Ca2+ solution. Undyed and dyed lenticels were separately excised for Ca2+ analysis. Dark (dyed) lenticels had higher Ca2+ concentrations (1.86 ± 0.11 mg Ca2+/g dry weight) than light (undyed) lenticels (0.83 ± 0.19 mg Ca2+/g dry weight). Partial pressure infiltration of Ca2+ at any of the 3 subatmospheric pressure levels did not result in shelf life extension. Fruit infiltrated at –66 and –99 kPa exhibited injuries, which included exacerbated lenticel blackening and anaerobic off-odour and taste evident at the end of shelf life. In comparison, both control (untreated) mango fruit and those infiltrated with Ca2+ at –33 kPa ripened normally.

Regional intravenous calcium--an effective method of treating hydrofluoric acid burns to limb peripheries.

An effective method of providing pain relief in hydrofluoric acid burns is reported, using a Bier's block type technique and regional intravenous calcium gluconate. This method allows satisfactory analgesia and...

FIRMNESS AND COLOR RETENTION IN BLANCHED GREEN BEANS AND GREEN BELL PEPPER

ABSTRACTA comparative study of the effects of single‐stage conventional high temperature – short time (HTST) blanching, two‐stage low temperature – long time followed by high temperature – short time (LTLT/HTST) blanching, and vacuum infiltration of calcium followed by HTST‐blanching on the firmness and color of green beans and green bell pepper was carried out. The two‐stage blanching procedure significantly improved the firmness of the blanched vegetables, but resulted in the development of an olive green/brown color in sharp contrast to the dark green color of vegetables subjected to HTST‐blanching alone. On the other hand, vacuum infiltration of calcium into the vegetable tissues resulted in blanched materials which were nearly or equally as firm as those subjected to LTLT/HTST‐blanching and which were equally as green as, if not greener than, the corresponding single‐stage HTST‐ blanched samples.

Effect of calcium treatment prior toBotrytis cinereainfection on the changes in pectic composition of grape berry

The influence of calcium on the process of infection byBotrytis cinereawas studied following calcium infiltration of grape berries, using Sauvignon, a cultivar ofVitis viniferaknown to be susceptible toB. cinerea.Calcium pretreatment had no significant effect on infection rate. Analysis of pectic fractions of rotten berries showed that total amount of pectins decreased during infection. The proportion of water and chelator soluble pectins increased over the same time period. These changes in pectic fractions were less pronounced when grape berries were calcium infiltrated prior to infection. Demethylated pectins produced by the fungal pathogen are probably protected by a rapid calcium chelation.

The effect of calcium infiltration on structural changes in cell walls of stored apples

SummaryApples of cv. Golden Delicious were vacuum infiltrated with 300 mM mannitol, with or without 50 and 150 mM CaCl2. The fruits were stored under low temperature of 2–4°C for 100 d and sampled every 25 d for flesh firmness and transmission electron microscopy. The infiltration of the fruits with 150 mM CaCl2 resulted in higher retention of flesh firmness throughout the storage period, but with 50 mM CaCl2 this could be retained only up to 25 d. The content of insoluble calcium in the flesh increased with increase in the storage period. A large amount of the infiltrated calcium accumulated in walls. However, no relation could be observed between flesh firmness and the amounts of calcium associated with free, ionically bound and covalently bound pectin fractions of the walls. The transmission electron micrographs revealed that most of the changes appeared to involve the middle lamella, and flesh firmness can be judged from the visual inspection of the micrographs. It appears that the effect of calcium in maintaining an intact middle lamella may not be its direct ionic effect.

Cell Membrane Stability and the Role of Calcium Infiltration in Postharvest Quality of Apples

Postharvest CaCl2 pressure infiltration improves firmness and storage quality of apples but is still in the experimental stages. Its effectiveness could be increased if we had a better understanding of how Ca affects the tissue at the cellular level. `Golden Delicious' fruit were harvested from a commercial orchard and were pressure-infiltrated with CaCl2 (0%, 2%, or 4% w/v), stored for 6 months at 0C, and then for 7 days at 20C. Between harvest and the end of storage at 20C, the net breakdown of galactolipids and phospholipids decreased with increasing CaCl2 in infiltration solutions. During 0C storage, CaCl2-infiltrated fruit maintained greater concentrations of conjugated sterol lipids, and these lipid classes are thought to be closely associated with the plasma membrane. As membrane lipid alterations are viewed as a central factor in the senescence of fruits, Ca (from postharvest infiltration) may serve a major role in regulating fruit quality losses through its interactions with cell membranes.

Cell Membrane Stability and the Role of Calcium Infiltration in Postharvest Quality of Apples

Postharvest CaCl2 pressure infiltration improves firmness and storage quality of apples but is still in the experimental stages. Its effectiveness could be increased if we had a better understanding of how Ca affects the tissue at the cellular level. `Golden Delicious' fruit were harvested from a commercial orchard and were pressure-infiltrated with CaCl2 (0%, 2%, or 4% w/v), stored for 6 months at 0C, and then for 7 days at 20C. Between harvest and the end of storage at 20C, the net breakdown of galactolipids and phospholipids decreased with increasing CaCl2 in infiltration solutions. During 0C storage, CaCl2-infiltrated fruit maintained greater concentrations of conjugated sterol lipids, and these lipid classes are thought to be closely associated with the plasma membrane. As membrane lipid alterations are viewed as a central factor in the senescence of fruits, Ca (from postharvest infiltration) may serve a major role in regulating fruit quality losses through its interactions with cell membranes.

ROLE OF CALCIUM IN REDUCING POSTHARVEST CELL WALL DEGRADATION IN `GOLDEN DELICIOUS' APPLE FRUIT

Calcium is an important constituent of the cell wall and plays roles in maintaining firmness of fruit and reducing postharvest decay. The modification of the cell wall is believed to be influenced by calcium that interacts with acidic pectic polymers to form cross-bridges. Infiltrating apples with CaCl2 has been suggested as an effective postharvest treatment for increasing the calcium content. Three different methodologies were used to analyze the effects of calcium on the cell walls: 1) nickel staining of polygalacturonate on free-hand sections, 2) cationic gold labeling of anionic binding sites in the cell walls, and 3) analytical detection of calcium ions (40Ca, 44Ca) using a secondary ion mass spectrometry. The combination of these methods allowed us to directly visualize the cellular features associated with the infiltration of calcium. Treatment resulted in significant enrichment in the cell wall of the pericarp, transformed the acidic pectins in calcium pectates, and resulted in new calcium cross-bridges. Evidence now suggests that exogenously applied calcium affects the cell wall by enhancing its strength and reinforcing adhesion between neighbor cells; therefore, calcium infiltration delays fruit degradation.

Pilot Test for the Commercial Use of Postharvest Pressure Infiltration of Calcium into Apples to Maintain Fruit Quality in Storage

A pilot test was conducted over a 3-year period to determine the feasibility of using postharvest pressure infiltration of calcium into apples to maintain and/or improve the quality of fruit under commercial storage conditions. Fruits obtained from three different orchards were treated each year. `Golden Delicious' fruits were treated the first year, while `Delicious' fruits were treated the 2nd and 3rd years. In all treatments and years, there was a significant increase in calcium concentration of apples from all calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatments. In general, calcium concentration of treated fruit varied significantly among the three orchards. Firmness also varied among orchards, and was related to fruit calcium concentration. `Golden Delicious' apples were more susceptible to skin injury caused by CaCl2 treatment than were `Delicious' fruits. There was also an increase in infection as a result of some of the treatments, possibly due to injury caused to lenticels by the pressure applied or as a result of calcium injury.

Effect of calcium infiltration on ripening of avocados of different maturities

Mature but unripe Fuerte and Hass avocados harvested at 3 stages of maturity were vacuum-infiltrated with 4 and 8% calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions and stored at 20�C. The fruit were assessed for ripening and injury development and analysed for Ca content. Postharvest application of Ca to fruit harvested 2 weeks before prime harvest elicited a greater delay in ripening and caused less fruit injury than application at prime harvest or 2 weeks after prime harvest. Fruit maturity did not have a significant effect on the amount of Ca taken up by fruit when infiltrated with each CaCl2 solution. Vacuum infiltration with 8% CaCl2 solution greatly enhanced the uptake of Ca by both Hass and Fuerte fruit but did not delay ripening further than 4% CaCl2 treatment.

Firmness and Decay of Apples following Postharvest Pressure Infiltration of Calcium and Heat Treatment

Heating `Golden Delicious' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) for 4 days at 38C or pressure-infiltrating them with a 4% CaCl2 solution reduced decay and maintained fruit firmness during 6 months of storage at 0C. Heating reduced decay caused by Penicillium expansum Link ex Thorn by ≈30%, while pressure infiltration with CaCl2 reduced decay by >60%. Pressure infiltration with CaCl2 after heating reduced decay by ≈40%. Pressure infiltration maintained firmness best (>84 N), as measured with a manually driven electronic fruit-firmness probe, followed by heat and CaCl2 (76 N), heat alone (71 N), and no treatment (control) (60 N). Force vs. deformation (FD) curves from a puncture test with a fruit-firmness probe mounted in a universal testing machine showed that fruit heated before storage were firmer than all nonheated fruit, except those pressure-infiltrated with 4% CaCl2. However, FD curves also showed that apples pressure-infiltrated with 4% CaCl2 differed quantitatively from apples in all other treatments, including those heated.

Bitter Pit Control by Sprays and Vacuum Infiltration of Calcium in `Cox's Orange Pippin' Apples

The incidence of external and internal bitter pit in `Cox's Orange Pippin' apple (Malus domestics Borkh.) fruit sprayed with normal therapeutic sprays either with or without Ca salts at 2-week intervals during the growing season was determined after 6 weeks of storage over 7 consecutive years. Following harvest, fruit was either vacuum-infiltrated with CaCI2 or received no further treatment. Although there was a tendency for fruit that had been sprayed and vacuum-infiltrated with Ca to exhibit the greatest degree of bitter pit control, this treatment was not significantly superior to Ca sprays alone. Vacuum infiltration alone reduced the disorder to a lesser extent than Ca sprays and was more effective in reducing external than internal bitter bit. The results suggest that Ca applications over the growing season are superior to postharvest vacuum-infiltration with Ca in the prevention of bitter pit.

Evaluation of postharvest infiltration of calcium to delay the ripening of avocados

Postharvest vacuum infiltration of calcium into mature but unripe Hass and Fuerte avocados obtained from 80 growers in the 3 major growing districts in Australia over 2 seasons delayed the time to ripen compared with untreated fruit; but the magnitude of the response varied. Hass fruit from 66% of growers in the Murray Valley showed a significant delay in ripening and the average increase in fruit from all growers was 45% over that of untreated fruit. The response of Fuerte fruit was similar between districts, with an average delay in ripening time of about 30% and with fruit from 60% of growers having a significant increase. Hass fruit from North Queensland and northern New South Wales gave the lowest average delay in ripening of about 10% and an increased delay was significant for fruit from 25% of growers. The quality of ripe Hass fruit was not affected by calcium infiltration, whereas a slight decrease in the quality of Fuerte fruit was observed.

The Effects of Postharvest Infiltration of Calcium, Magnesium, or Strontium on Decay, Firmness, Respiration, and Ethylene Production in Apples

Abstract ‘Delicious’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) were pressure-infiltrated (68.95 kPa) above atmospheric at harvest with CaCl2, MgCl2, or SrCl2. After 5 months in storage at 0°C, the fruit were removed, wound-inoculated with a conidial suspension of Penicillium expansum, and kept for 7 days at 20°. Fruit then were rated for decay severity, ethylene production, respiration, firmness, and injury, and analyzed for the concentration of the appropriate cation. Calcium was the optimum cation for reducing decay, maintaining fruit firmness, and suppressing ethylene production. Cation treatments had little effect on respiration, and Mg was the only cation that caused distinctive injury to the fruit surface.

Ultrastructural studies of the limitation of lesions caused by Leptosphaeria maculans in stems of Brassica napus var. oleifera

Reactions of Brassica napus var. oleifera stems to two isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans , differing in aggression, were studied by TEM, SEM X-ray microanalysis and flame spectrophotometry. The common reactions associated with resistance were lignification of walls and, rapid, specific accumulation of calcium. Injection—infiltration of calcium accelerated delimitation of lesions, Calcium accumulated mainly at the surface of secondary cell walls within and around the perimeter of lesions in association with previously induced lignin co-polymers. It is suggested that this event is involved in resistance and its likely general significance is discussed.

Calcium Infiltration of Golden Delicious Apples and Its Effect on Decay

Effets des traitements au calcium apres recolte sur la pourriture des pommes Golden Delicious par Penicillium expansum; effet du traitement sur la teneur en polyuronide soluble dans l'eau; recherche de la meilleure methode de traitement

“Egg Shell” Calcifications In Silicosis

CHARACTERISTIC calcium densities of apparently unique morphology occur in chest roentgenograms of men having silicosis. These shadows are seen as more or less regular rings in the hilar or mediastinal regions of the chest. They have been designated as egg-shell, Eierschalen, or mulberry calcifications. They are circular or ovoid in character and consist of an irregular peripheral shell with a faint stippling throughout the enclosed tissue. Considerable divergence of opinion exists as to the cause and significance of this particular formation. There has, unfortunately, been a paucity of autopsy studies to clarify the problem. Lommel (2) was of the opinion that calcium is deposited in inflamed and dilated sinuses within the lymph node capsule and other similarly dilated lymphatic spaces. He states that similar calcifications are seen in the extreme periphery of the lung. He also mentions fine, delicate ring forms which may be early or transitional stages of the same process. Mild cases with “snow-storm” lung changes sometimes show the calcifications very clearly. Lommel reports a 20 per cent incidence of calcifications in cases of silicosis without clinically proved tuberculosis. Sweany et al. (10) show that the annular densities are calcareous and express the opinion that, "in cases of silicosis, such a formation represents collateral infection, chiefly by the tubercle bacillus." Sweany (9) does state that the lymph node changes are characteristic and identifies the subcapsular location of the calcium infiltration. Schulte and Husten (7) were of the opinion that the shadows represent dense silicotic connective tissue around bronchi, extending into the lung fields. Davies (1) presents twenty-three cases and discusses the probabilities. (a) Calcification exists, in which case it is due to silico-tuberculosis and must be associated with tuberculous infection. It may be due to a degenerative process following a silicotic infiltration of the lung root glands attracting lime salts, which become deposited in them. (b) Calcification is not present, the shadows representing silicotic nodules in the lung itself. Riemer (4) is of the opinion that the densities may represent the results of inhaled calcium along with the silica dust. He presents four cases having no clinical evidence of tuberculosis. In one the tuberculin reaction was negative. Rigler (5) refers to the calcification of the lymph nodes in silicosis as “classic.” The present study is a correlation of history, clinical and roentgenographic findings, and histopathology, in an attempt to produce a clearer picture of this phase of silicosis and to determine the significance of the unique morphology of the calcium deposits. Preliminary Remarks Preliminary remarks will aid in a more critical evaluation of the material and data, which were obtained at the San Francisco City and County Hospital.

CEREBRAL CALCIFICATION IN A CASE OF CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE CHOREA

Pathologic infiltration of calcium in the central nervous system is not easily recognized symptomatically. The clinical picture ranges from absence of signs during life, with infiltration as an observation at autopsy, to milder symptoms of headache, dizziness and vomiting and to grand and petit mal attacks, which Geyelin and Penfield1called calcification epilepsy, related to endarteritis calcificans cerebri. Symptoms in which psychiatrists are particularly interested are the organic psychoses associated with such a pathologic process. The problem of diagnosis in these cases is well demonstrated in the reports of Holschewnekoff,2Mallory,3Hansemann,4Bassoe and Hassin,5Lisa and Hirschhorn,6Pick,7Simon8and Jervis.9 The case of cerebral calcification reported here has both clinical and pathologic importance. Clinically, the case was repeatedly diagnosed as one of Huntington's chorea with psychosis. Pathologically, the changes were those fundamental in chronic progressive chorea, with additional