Boron in combination with calcium reduces sunburn in apple fruit

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 3, 123 - 127, 30.12.2017

Elmi Lötze , Stephan H. Daiber Stephanie J. E. Midgley

Abstract

Sunburn damage on apple fruit has been reported widely [1]. Sunburn
incidence is expected to increase in future, specifically in the Western Cape
in South Africa, with very clear climate change predictions [2]. Sunburn thus has
significant financial implications on profitability for the South African
export dominated apple industry, as sunburnt fruit is not accepted in the main
export markets. In the United Kingdom, no visible sunburn on apples is allowed,
whereas only fruit with class 1 sunburn (Sunburn classification guide [3]) is accepted
in Europe. To reduce sunburn, which can be 40% for some cultivars, an
affordable and sustainable alternative is needed. Researchers [4] reported that
Manni-Plex® calcium (Ca) and boron (B), applied in combination as pre-harvest
foliar applications, reduced sunburn significantly for ‘Golden Delicious’ (GD)
apples. This research was continued to investigate the efficacy of the Ca/B
combination as alternative formulations on GD. The biggest reduction in sunburn
incidence was found in sunburn class 1. Results indicated that more
formulations will be suitable to reduce sunburn on GD significantly compared to
the control than the initial sorbitol formulation. The Spraybor (5 g)/Calsol combination
applied as six weekly foliar applications from 28 days after full bloom (DAFB) was
the most efficient combination to reduce sunburn on GD in 2015/16.

Keywords

Golden Delicious, peel mineral analyses, Sunburn browning

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