Foliar applied potassium: effects on cantaloupe quality, sugar content and related compounds.
Lester G.E.
5th International Postharvest Symposium . Volume of Abstract . Verona, Italy 6-11 June 2004, p.86
2004
บทคัดย่อ
Foliar applied potassium: effects on cantaloupe quality, sugar content and related compounds.
Cantaloupe fruit sugar content is directly related to potassium (K)-mediated phloem loading and unloading of sucrose into the fruit.Improving K content in melons, during fruit growth and maturation through soil applied fertilization, is a problem, as root uptake of K is poor at this stage of growth and K competes with the uptake of Ca and Mg, two essential minerals needed for melon fruit membrane structure, function and postharvest shelf-life.Netted, orange-flesh muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. (Reticulatus Group) ‘Cruiser’) fruit were grown in the greenhouse during the spring of 2003 and 2004 and received regular N-P-K soil fertilization throughout the study.Three to 5 days after anthesis (fruit set) and up to 3 to 5 days priou to abscission (full-slip), amino acid complexed potassium (Potassium Metalosate 24% K) at 4.0 mL L-1 was sprayed on the entire plant until run-off.Plants were sprayed either weekly, biweekly or not sprayed (control).Fruit from plants receiving weekly applications of foliar K matured two days earlier, and had significantly higher fruit K content, soluble solids concentration, total sugars, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and beta-carotene content than fruit from plants not receiving foliar K applications.