Quality and nutrient level of mango cv. 'Tommy Atkins' as affected by calcium application before harvest.
Silva D. J., Choudhury M. M., Mendes A. M. S., Dantas B. F.
Author Affiliation: Embrapa Semi-Árido, BR 428, km 152, CEP 56302-970, Petrolina-PE, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 30 : 74-78
Abstract : The effect of Ca on the quality and nutrient content of mango cv. 'Tommy Atkins' was studied when applied prior to harvest on a 10-year-old orchard, in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Three levels of 2 commercial Ca sources (5.8, 11.6 and 17.3 mmol l-1 of Ca as chelate Ca and 45.0, 90.0 and 135.0 mmol l-1 of Ca as soluble salt CaCl2.2H2O), and a control treatment were evaluated. Ca was applied every 2 weeks, starting from the fruit set stage (fruits=5-10 mm long) up to 2 weeks before harvest. Six sprayings of solutions containing the Ca treatments were applied providing 12.5 l of the solution per plant in each application. The fruits were harvested at ripening stage 2. Forty fruits were grouped in 4 lots of 10, placed into cardboard boxes with capacity of 6 kg and stored for 0, 20, 30 and 40 days under refrigeration (10.5±1.0°C and 90±5% RH). After removing from the cold chamber, the fruits were kept for 5 days in a ripening room at 21±1°C and 60±5% RH. N, K, Ca and Mg contents in the flesh and skin were determined in the lot equivalent to the shortest time of storage and the incidence of internal breakdown was evaluated in all 4 lots. Ca application in both chelate and soluble salt forms increased the nutrient contents in the skin. Applications of chelate Ca were shown to be efficient in increasing the Ca contents in the fruit flesh, contributing to the prevention of occurrence of internal breakdown in short storage periods.