The Influence of Pre and Post Harvest Calcium Applications on Storage Capability and Quality of 'Hayward' Kiwifruit

摘要

The benefits of calcium applications pre and postharvest on fruit storage ability are well know. It was objective of this work to study the effects of calcium preharvest application in two different forms and calcium chloride application postharvest on 'Hayward' kiwifruit storage ability. The present paper reports of experimental results, corresponding to the experimental period from 2005 to 2006. Three application of 0.1% calcium chloride or calcium chelate were made by spraying on the tree at fruit set (beginning of June), July and September. After harvest (beginning of November) half fruits were dipped for 2 min in a solution of 3% CaCl_2. The other fruit were untreated. All fruit were then stored at 0°Cand relative humidity of about 90-95%. Only fruit of the size range 85- 105g were analysed and discussed. Measurements of firmness, soluble solids content (SSC) and ascorbic acid were done after 1, 4 and 6 months storage. Kiwifruit sprayed with calcium and dipped in 3% CaCl_2 softened slower and the degradation of ascorbic acid content was lower. Ca-quelate performed better than calcium chloride as preharvest spraying, so it should be considered instead of CaCl_2 to avoid the negative effects of chloride, although our concentrations were very low.