Calcium (Ca²⁺) is a macronutrient essential for the growth, development, yield, and quality of vegetables and fruits. It performs structural, enzymatic, and signaling functions in plants. This review examines Ca²⁺ translocation from soil to the fruit via the plant xylem network, emphasizing the importance of Ca²⁺ compartmentalization within fruit cell organelles in the development of calcium deficiency disorders such as blossom-end rot (BER). The underlying causes of BER and potential control measures are also discussed. Soil-available Ca²⁺, transported by water flow, enters the root apoplast through membrane channels and moves toward the xylem via apoplastic or symplastic routes. The transpiration force and the growth of organs determine the movement of Ca²⁺-containing xylem sap to aerial plant parts, including fruits. At the fruit level, the final step of Ca²⁺ regulation is intracellular partitioning among organelles and cellular compartments. This distribution ultimately determines the fruit’s susceptibility to Ca²⁺-deficiency disorders such as BER. Excessive sequestration of Ca²⁺ into organelles such as vacuoles may deplete cytosolic and apoplastic Ca²⁺ pools, compromising membrane integrity and leading to BER, even when overall Ca²⁺ levels are adequate at the blossom end. Effective BER management requires cultural and physiological practices that promote Ca²⁺ uptake, translocation to the fruit, and appropriate intracellular distribution. Additionally, the use of BER-resistant and Ca²⁺-efficient cultivars can help mitigate this disorder. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of Ca²⁺ dynamics in plants is critical for managing BER, minimizing production loss and environmental impacts, and maximizing overall crop productivity.

Though papaya is a lucrative fruit regarding nutritional, medicinal, and commercial attributes, its susceptibility to postharvest loss may account for ≥ 40%. An experiment was carried out at Khulna University, Bangladesh from April to May 2013 to investigate the effects of botanical extracts on the postharvest physicochemical attributes, intensity, and severity of diseases and shelf life of papaya cv. Shahi. The experiment comprised botanical extracts from onion bulb, neem leaf, garlic bulb, oriental pepper leaf, datura leaf, and control as six treatments and replicated thrice following a completely randomised design (CRD). Among the physicochemical parameters, total soluble solids (TSS), weight loss, and dry matter of papaya fruit increase, and pulp to peel ratio, moisture content decrease gradually during the storage period disregarding treatments. Garlic bulb extract decreases the incidence and severity of postharvest diseases and extends the shelf life by more than 7 days compared to control. Thus, garlic bulb extract can be used for postharvest papaya storage. However, further experiments should be conducted before the final recommendation.

Banana is a popular fruit that has been extensively cultivated in Bangladesh. However, high perishability along with very short shelf life of banana leads to immense fruit losses every year. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) on the quality attributes and shelf life of bananas cv. Jin. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with four treatments (3%, 5%, and 9% CaCl₂ concentrations and an untreated control) and three replications. The fingers of bananas were separated; randomly divided into four groups (10 fruits per group), and wetted with the CaCl₂ solution through spraying. The 5% CaCl2 treatment resulted in decreased cumulative fruit weight loss (17.85%), disease severity (50%), disease incidence (70%), and extended shelf life (5.33 days) compared to the untreated control. Banana fruit treated with 5% CaCl2 also delayed color development and maintained fruit quality (TSS, vitamin C). Therefore, a 5% CaCl2 application could be recommended for extending fruit shelf life and decreasing the decay and water loss of bananas. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(4): 530-538, 2024

Sciendo provides publishing services and solutions to academic and professional organizations and individual authors. We publish journals, books, conference proceedings and a variety of other publications.