Effect of Calcium Foliar Application on the Characteristics of Blueberry Fruit during Storage

ABSTRACT

Effect of calcium (Ca) foliar application on blueberry fruit characteristics during storage was investigated. Calcium applications began 28 d after flowering, two levels (3.9 g Ca^{2 +} and 39 g Ca^{2 +}) and a control without calcium were used (0.0; 3.0, and 30 mL L⁻¹). The fruits were harvested on day 103 and were stored for 56 d at 2 ± 1°C. At harvest time the fruits had a significant statistical different concentration, which were maintained until the last day of storage. The fruit from the 30 mL L⁻¹ treatment was the highest. The lowest texture levels are found with the treatment without calcium, which shows a statistically significant change from storage day 29. The LMP percentage did not varied in the fruit from the treatment with 30 mL L⁻¹, but did in the fruit without calcium. Hunter L, b, and the index chromes were influenced by the applied calcium levels, significantly greater at 30 mL L⁻¹; and by the time of storage in the fruits with treatment of 30 mL L⁻¹.

Keywords:

• blueberry
• calcium
• low-methoxyl pectin
• storage characteristic

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is part of Research Project 2002 in the Department of Research, Universidad de Los Lagos. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Julio Giddings and Mr. Roberto Giddings at Empresa Agrícola Giddings.