Effect of pre-harvest calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment on fruit quality attributes of three apple cultivars (‘Golden Delicious Reinders®’, ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Red Chief’) at harvest and after two and ...

Healthy plant material that is uniform and genetically pure is essential for the successful raspberries production since it guarantees quality and consistent yields. A 4-year study (2018–2021) focused on raspberry cultivars “Meeker” and “Willamette”, which were propagated by tissue culture (MpP) and root suckering (RsP) methods in three irrigation regimes (IR1-100% ETc, IR2-50% ETc, and IR3-25% ETc). “Meeker” had longer primocanes, higher productivity, sweetness, soluble solids, and sugar content in IR1. Micropropagated plants demonstrated initially longer primocanes (177.9 cm in 2018 and 203.5 cm in 2019) and slightly better productivity compared to root-suckered plants. Over time, the growth rates of plants obtained by two vegetative propagation methods became similar. The IR1 irrigation regime maximized yields per floricane and meter of trellis in 2019 and 2021 (619.8 and 501.9 g and 2.5 and 2.0 kg, respectively), providing sufficient water for raspberry plants. IR1 improved primocane height in 2018 and 2021 (181.3 and 238.3 cm), fruiting lateral length (31 cm), and number of flowers per fruiting lateral (10.7) in 2021. In all experimental years, “Meeker” showed a high sweetness index (8.53, 11.28, and 9.36) due to high sugar and low acid content, but it was sensitive to water deficit. “Willamette” maintained high total anthocyanins and stable sugar content, which emphasizes its adaptability to different conditions. Both cultivars showed high antioxidant activity with variability across study years. Antioxidant activity peaked in 2019 under all irrigation regimes and remained stable in 2021. The cultivar “Meeker” excelled in vegetative growth, productivity, and fruit taste, making it suitable for obtaining high yields in a 100% ETc irrigation level. In contrast, “Willamette” is better suited for obtaining high-quality fruit under water-limited conditions.

This study aims to evaluate the post-harvest characteristics of two commercial apple cultivars (ʻGloster’ and ‘Morren’s Jonagored®’), examining their quality at harvest and after storage for different period (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 months). Physical (fruit weight, weight loss, and firmness) and chemical traits (total sugars content (TSC), titrable acidity (TA), and TSC/TA ratio) were determined using standard laboratory methods. A comparison of the apple cultivars showed that ‘Morren’s Jonagored®’ had a higher fruit weight (217.87 g), while ‘Gloster’ exhibited higher fruit firmness (10.18 kg cm-2). The TA content was higher in ‘Gloster’ (0.45%), while TSC/TA ratio was higher in ‘Morren’s Jonagored®’ (32.96). No significant differences were observed in weight loss and TS content. At harvest, fruits of the apple cultivars exhibited the highest values for weight and firmness. During cold storage, a decrease was observed, and after 8 months, the investigated quality parameters showed the lowest values, along with the highest fruit weight loss (10.10%). The highest TSC content in apple fruit was recorded after 2 months of storage (10.33%), TA after 4 months (0.43%), while the highest TSC/TA ratio was observed at the end of the cold storage (35.03). A throughout analysis indicates that both cultivars are well-suited for long-term cold storage, as no significant changes were observed in the physical and chemical properties of the apple fruits throughout the storage period. This stability suggests their potential for extended shelf life and consumer acceptance.

To identify and compare the differences in productivity and fruit quality of strawberry cultivar ‘Senga Sengana’ grown in open field and protected area fruits were harvested in 2021 in the region of Western Serbia. The yield, physical (fruit weight, dimensions, firmness), chemical (total soluble solids (TSS), total (TS) and invert sugars (IS), sucrose (SUC), titrable acids (TA), pH, sweetness index (TS/TA)) and nutritive traits (vitamin C, total phenols, total anthocyanins and antioxidative activity) of the fruits were analyzed. Significantly higher yield per area unit, fruit weight and length, TSS, sugars, organic acids, sweetness index and nutritive qulity were recorded in the fruits from protected area. Growing strawberries in a protected area, in addition to ensuring a safe yield, also has a positive effect on both the sensory and nutritional composition of the fruit.

This paper presents the results of a two-year study investigating the effects of foliar application of calcium chloride on the physical characteristics and basic fruit quality parameters of the apple cultivar ʻGolden Delicious Reinders®ʼ. Changes were assessed at harvest and after 60 and 120 days of storage in a regular cold chamber. The fruits treated with calcium chloride had higher firmness, soluble solids content and ratio between total sugars and organic acids. The storage period had a significant effect on all studied fruit parameters. Foliar application of CaCl₂ during the vegetation can be an effective measure to preserve apple fruit quality during storage in a regular cold chamber.