Effect of preharvest foliar sprays of calcium nitrate on melon fruit quality

The aim of this work was to study the effect of pre-harvest foliar spraying with calcium nitrate solutions on the fruit melon quality. Treatments included a combination of five solutions with Ca(NO3)(2) (0.0; 1.3; 2.6; 5.2 and 10.5 g/L) and two postharvest storage environments [(24.0 +/- 1.5 degrees C and 6.4 +/- 0,8 mbar of vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and 10.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C and 3.0 +/- 0.5 mbar (VPD)]. Fruits stored at 24 degrees C for 11 days had the lowest water loss with treatments 1.3 and 2.6 g/L Ca(NO3)(2). It was observed that at both 24 degrees C and 10 degrees C, fruits that had a greater firmness at the 2.6 and 5.2 g/L of Ca(NO3)(2) treatments, respectively. No differences (P>0.05) were observed in total soluble solids (TSS) between treatments and storage environments. However, spotting of the epidermis of the fruits increased as the Ca(NO3)(2) concentration also increased.