The effect of calcium chloride postharvest application on fruit storage ability and quality of Beliana and Lindo apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars
M.D.C. Antunes, M.P. Correia, M.G. Miguel, M.A. Martins, M.A. Neves
ISHS Acta Horticulturae 604:721-726.
2003
บทคัดย่อ
After harvest, apricots were dipped in 0, 1, 3 or 5% CaCl2 solutions for 2 minutes. Fruits were left to dry for 1 hour at ambient temperature and then stored at 3ºC and in single layer alveolar boxes. Fruits were analysed at harvest and after 6, 14, 21 and 28 days storage. Measurements of weight loss, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titrable acidity and skin colour were performed.
Fruits treated with 3 and 5% CaCl2 lost more weight than the other treatments in both cultivars. The cultivar ‘Lindo’ lost generally more weight than ‘Beliana’. Firmness decreased through storage without differences between treatments in ‘Beliana’, but ‘Lindo’ fruits treated with 3 and 5% CaCl2 lost less firmness than the other treatments. Fruits of cultivar ‘Beliana’ did not show differences in SSC among treatments. However, ‘Lindo’ fruits had lower SSC when treated with 1% CaCl2. There were no differences in titrable acidity among treatments for both cultivars. For each variety panellists preferred fruits of control or 1% treatment.
It seems that CaCl2 treatments with concentrations > 3% are prejudicial for apricots. Dipping apricot fruits in concentrations up to 1% CaCl2 can improve storage ability.