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PARTIAL CONTROL OF BITTER PIT IN NORTHERN SPY APPLES WITH A POST-HARVEST DIP IN CALCIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION

1979; Canadian Science Publishing; Volume: 59; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.4141/cjps79-112

1918-1833

D. H. WEBSTER, F. R. Forsyth,

Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management

Bitter pit of Northern Spy apples that were stored in air and in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage was decreased by a post-harvest dip in 4% CaCl 2 solution containing 0.35% Keltrol. The calcium treatment also decreased breakdown, loss of fruit firmness, and loss of fruit acidity, and increased Ca content of apple cortex tissue. There was no fruit injury. The dip treatment increased rots in one instance, presumably from dispersal of fungal spores during the dipping process and not due to an effect of calcium. Absorption of Ca was slightly greater in CA storage than in air storage. Percent of apples with bitter pit (all treatments combined) was positively correlated with K content of leaf tissue, with Mg and K content of undipped fruit cortex tissue and with (K + Mg)/Ca ratios (eq/eq) of leaf and of undipped fruit cortex tissue. Leaf Ca was significantly related to pit when combined with leaf (K + Mg)/Ca in multiple regressions.