EFFECT OF PREHARVEST SPRAYS OF CALCIUM ON CRACKING AND 'SCHATTENMORELLE' SOUR CHERRY FRUIT QUALITY HARVESTED MECHANICALLY

The aim of the study was to examine effect of preharvest sprays of calcium (Ca) in the form of Ca-chloride (CaCl2), Ca-nitrate [Ca(NO3)(2)], or a mixture of Ca-formate, Ca-acetate, CaCl2, and Ca(NO3)(2) on cracking and quality of Schattenmorelle' sour cherry fruit harvested mechanically. The experiment was conducted in 2008-2009 at a commercial orchard in central Poland. Mature trees grew on a coarse-textured soil poor in organic matter, at a spacing of 4.0 x 1.5m. The spray treatments of Ca were performed at 7-day intervals, starting 28days before harvest, at the rates of 5.0-5.6kg Ca ha(-1) per season. The trees sprayed with water were treated as the control. Fruit were harvested mechanically when peduncle-fruit detachment force dropped below 3N. The results showed that preharvest Ca sprays caused no leaf damage. This measure did not affect yield, mean fruit weight, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruit, and weight loss of fruit during 24h after harvest. Fruit sprayed with Ca had improved status of this nutrient, and were less liable to juicy leakage from the stem scar, rain-induced cracking, and preharvest decay caused by Glomerella cingulata. The above effects of Ca sprays did not depend on the tested material. It was concluded that preharvest sprays of Ca as CaCl2 and/or Ca(NO3)(2) should be recommended in Schattenmorelle' sour cherry orchards to reduce fruit losses resulting from rain-induced cracking, leakage of juice, and the incidence of cherry bitter rot.