INVESTIGADORES
VICENTE Ariel Roberto
artículos
Título:
Effect of preharvest calcium applications on postharvest quality, softening and cell wall degradation of 2 blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) varieties
Autor/es:
ANGELETTI, PABLO; CASTAGNASSO HILDA, TERMINIELLO LAURA, MICELI ELISA, CONCELLON ANALIA, CHAVES ALICIA VICENTE ARIEL
Revista:
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 58 p. 98 - 103
ISSN:
0925-5214
Resumen:
Excessive softening is the main factors limiting blueberry storage. We evaluated the effect of
preharvest calcium applications on blueberry cv. O´Neal and Bluecrop quality during refrigerated
storage. Blueberry plants were fertilized with CaSO4 (0.06 kg m-2). On the following season, fruit was
harvested at commercial maturity (100% blue) and stored at 2 ºC for 23 d. During storage, we
analyzed firmness, weight loss, surface color, anthocyanins, respiration rate, decay, acidity, pH and
total sugars. In addition, changes in loosely and tightly bound pectins, hemicelluloses and calcium
content were evaluated. Calcium-treated fruit for both varieties showed lower softening and weight
loss than control fruit. Respiration rate increased during storage, but this increment was lower in
calcium-treated blueberries. The fertilization treatment did not affect other quality attributes such as
color, anthocyanins, acidity or sugars. Calcium treatments did not alter hemicellulose content but in
some cases reduced solubilization of pectic polymers. At harvest a 10 % increase in calcium content
within the cell wall was found in both varieties. At the end of the storage period the differences were
more marked, suggesting that the modest but significant increase in calcium in treated blueberries at
harvest might have affected wall disassembly. Results showed that calcium sulphate fertilization was
useful to delay postharvest softening and decrease weight loss of blueberry fruit harvested on the
following season. The treatments might be useful in fruits intended for long distance shipping. Further
work is needed to determine the residuality of the treatments with a low soluble calcium source such
as CaSO4 as well as the effects of repeated applications to the soil.