Abstract

Consumers demand for high quality fruit is leading to a greater awareness of the need to apply management techniques that enhances the quality of fruits by the fruit growing industry. In order to study the effect of calcium chloride on some characters of apple Sheikh Amir variety fruits, an experiment was conducted during 2010 and 2011 cropping season in apple orchard at Shirvan region. The experimental design in this research was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The treatment were comprised of two levels of pre-harvest foliar application of nutrients T₁= Control, T₂=calcium chloride 0.5% foliar application. Results showed that use of calcium chloride had significant effect on fruits yield, fruit firmness, Brix index, acidity and fruit concentration of B and Ca after harvest. Among all measured characters, high amount of fruits yield, fruit firmness, total soluble solids and fruit concentration of B and Ca was recorded in calcium chloride.

Key words: Apple, Brix, calcium chloride, fruit quality, yield.