EFFECT OF POST-BLOSSOM ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS ON FRUIT COMPOSITION AND QUALITY OF APPLE

Relatively small differences in environments have been found to have large and lasting effects on fruit growth, mineral composition and storage quality of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. In 2 studies described here, the first indicated that temperature during the first 5 weeks of fruitlet growth, affecting vegetative growth and fruit size during that period, can influence the final concentration of Ca in fruits and the storage quality. The second study, to test the necessity for Ca sprays to contract fruits directly in order to aid control of storage disorders, involved temporary bagging of individual fruits during the once-or twice-weekly sprays. Although each period of bagging did not exceed 1 hour, the final Ca concentration in the bagged fruit from Ca-sprayed trees was lower than in fruits not bagged from unsprayed trees. A greater degree of bitter pit was associated with the lower Ca levels in fruit. © 1979, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.