What is the role of calcium in apple production?
As a result, fruits with high levels of calcium are firmer and the skin and flesh is less liable to breakdown disorders with reduced leakage through cell wall membranes. Thus, good calcium supply delays ripening and increases storability of fruits.
Stage | Calcium effect |
Bud Burst – Start of Flowering | Boost root and leaf growth and high yields |
Fruit Set to Fruitlet at 30mm | Maintain good fruit quality and minimize fruit disorders |
Fruit Fill – Maturity | Maintain good fruit firmness and storage quality |
Post Harvest | Maintain high levels in the tree |
Calcium deficiencies in apples
Calcium is immobile in the phloem and can’t be remobilized from older tree tissues, so youngest leaves are the first to show symptoms, becoming chlorotic. New growth becomes stunted and fruit yield may be reduced.
Crop quality also deteriorates with reduced firmness and increased incidence of physiological disorders such as cork spot, sunscald and bitter pit.
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