Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Background and objectives
Kiwifruit is a good source of natural antioxidant substances, in particular vitamin C. The studies on kiwifruit post harvest handling and storability would be helpful in marketability of high quality fruits and indeed it would be beneficial to our country’s economy. In order to examine the effects of summer pruning combined with calcium chloride spray and duration of storage on some quality features of kiwifruit, the present research was undertaken as a complete block design in factorial arrangement with four replications.
Materials and methods
The project was conducted during 2008-9 in a commercial orchard in Chalos, Iran. The CaCl2 was applied in four concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %) and pruning was carried out in four levels including no pruning, leaving 2, 4, 8 leaves after the last fruit. Storage period included four levels between two to six months.
Result
It was found that, summer pruning could increase calcium content of pulp. The total soluble solids decreased by pruning treatments but no significant changes were recorded for other quantitative traits. Calcium chloride applications significantly enhanced calcium content of pulp section (p<0.001). Furthermore, the interaction of calcium chloride and time may significantly influence firmness, vitamin C content, pH, total acidity and total soluble solids. Maximum total acidity (1.118 g/100 ml), vitamin C content (60.111 mg/100 ml) was observed following spraying 1% CaCl2. Also, the lowest pH (3.445) and total soluble solids (12.7%) and maximum firmness (1.475) were recorded following application of 1.5% CaCl2, six months after storage.
Discussions
The results showed that the treatments had a significant effect on some traits and summer pruning improves fruit calcium's. Absolute increasing on fruit calcium density means sprayed calcium can penetrate in fruit epiderm and it can be because of weakness in cell membrane during development that can simplify calcium penetration. Also, summer pruning can increase fruit quality and improving antioxidant system and vitamin C by effect on light and air circulate in tree canopy and can increase calcium density in fruit texture by enhancing transpiration in fruits, because cutting the end part of developing shoots make reduction in competition between element absorption especially calcium element and make it flowed to set fruit.
 
 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Biasi, R., Costa, G., and Manson, P.G. 1993. Light Influence on kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) quality. Acta Hortic, 379: 245-251.

2.        Chen, J., Zeng, R., and Li, P. 2003. Physio-Biochemical changes and metabolism of activeoxygen during cold storage in Actinidia deliciosa. Acta Horticulturae, 610 p.

  1. Cicco, N., Dichio, B., Xiloyannis, C., Sofa, A., and Lattanzio, V. 2007. Influence of calcium on the activity of enzymes involved in kiwifruit ripening. Acta Horticulturae,
  2. Cooper, T., Gargiullo, S., and Retamales, J. 2007. Effect of calcium content and calcium application on softening of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit. Acta Horticulturae,
  3. Crisosto, C.H. and Crisosto, G. 2001. Understanding consumer acceptance of early harvest ‘Hayward’kiwifruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 22: 205-213.
  4. Gerasopoulos, D., Chouliaras, V., and Lionakis, S. 1996. Effects of preharvest calcium chlorid sprays on maturity and storability of Hayward Kiwifruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 7: 65-72.
  5. Gerasopoulos, D. and Drogoudi, P.D. 2005. Summer-pruning and preharvest calcium chloride sprays affect storability and low temperature breakdown incidence in kiwifruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 36: 303-308.
  6. Gorbanly Pour, R., Ghasemi-Nejad, M., Aqajanzadh, S., and Fatah Moghaddam, J. 2009. The effect of harvesting time on antioxidant capacity and storage life of kiwifruit Azad University of Karaj 89-page senior thesis. [in Farsi]
  7. Guerra, M. and Casquero, P.A. 2010. Summer pruning: An ecological alternative to postharvest calcium treatment to improve storability of high quality apple cv. ‘Reinette du Canada’. Food Science and Technology International, 16(4): 343-350.
  8. Hafez, O.M. and Haggag, K.H.E. 2007. Quality improvement and storability of apple cv. Anna by pre-harvest applications of Boric acid and calcium chlorid. Journal Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 3(3): 176-183.
  9. Kaur, C. & Kapoore, H. 2001. Actioxidant in fruit and vegetable the millennium health. International Journal of food Science and Technology, 36(1): 703-725.
  10. Khazaeipool, y.gh. 2005. Floral biology and pollination in kiwifruit. Publications Sen. 183 p. [in Farsi]
  11. Lai, R., Wooly, D.J., and Lawes, G.S. 1989. Effect of leaf to fruit ratio on fruit
    growth of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Scientia Horticulturae, 39: 247-255.
  12. Manganaris, A., Vasilakakis, M., Mignani, I., Diamantidis, G., and Klonari, T. 2005. The effect of preharvest calcium sprays on quality attributes, physic chemical aspects of cell wall components and susceptibility to brown rot of peach fruits (Prunus persica L.cv.Andross). Scientia Horticulturae, 107: 43-50.
  13. Mydany, C. and Hashemi Dezful, Q.A. 1997. Post harvest physiology. Press the Educational Publishing, 403 p. [in Farsi]
  14. Myrzayy Moghaddam, H., Tavakoli Hashjin, P., Minaie, S., and Faghih Nasiri, M. 2007. The effect size, cultivar and storage time on the qualitative properties of kiwifruit. Journal of Food Science and Industry, 4(4): 25- 19. [in Farsi]
  15. Ramezanian, , Rahemi, M., and Vazifehshenas, M.R. 2009. Effect of foliar application of calcium chloride and urea on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pomegranate fruit. Scientia Horticulturae, 121: 171-175.
  16. Ranjbar, H., Hassanpour, M., Askari,Sarcheshmeh, M.A., Samizadeh Lahiji, H.A., and Bani Asadi, A. 2007. The effect of calcium chloride, water and polyethylene coating on affect storability and quality of fruit (cv: Malas Saveh). Journal of Food Science and Industry, 2: 4. [in Farsi]
  17. Robert, B.J., Eric, F.W., and Richard, J.S. 2000. Postharvest fruit density as an indicator of dry matter and ripened soluble solids of kiwifruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 20: 163-173.
  18. Rozbeh Nsyrany, L., Dokhanni, Sh., Shahedi, M., and Shokrani, R. 2005. The effect of physicochemical properties of two cultivars of kiwifruit packing and storage. Science. Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4(9): 236- 223. [in Farsi]
  19. Singh, R., Sharma, R.R., and Tyagi, S.K. 2007. Pre-harvest foliar application of calcium and boron influences physiological disorder, fruit yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ) Scientia Horticulturae, 112: 215-220.
  20. Tavarini, S., Dgl’Innocenti, E., Remorini, D., Massai, R., and Guidi, L. 2008. Antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid, total phenols and cartenoidids changes during harvest and after storage of Hayward Kiwifruit. Food Chemistry, 107: 282-288.
  21. Tombesi, A., Antognozzi, E., and palliotti, A. 1993. Influence of light exposure on charavteristics and strage life of kiwi fruit New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 21: 85-90.
  22. Waling, I., Van, W., Houba, V.J.G., and Vanderlee, J.J. 1989. Soil and plant analysis, aseries of syllabi. part 7, plant analysis procedure. Wageningen Agriculture University.
  23. Xio, M.G., Jiang, H., and Zhang, H.Q. Effect of preharvest ca-chelate treatment on storage quality of kiwifruit. Acta Horticulturae, 610.
  24. Zolfaghari, M., Sahari, M. A., Barzegar, M., and Samadloiy, H.R. 2008. Physio chemical and enzymatic properties of five kiwifruit cultivars during cold storage. Food Bioprocess Technology, 3(2): 239-2.