Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage
Nutritional unbalances, such as calcium deficiency at the fruit level, are generally the causative agent of post-harvest disorders in apples. Foliar application of Ca as calcium chloride is the current solution to increase Ca concentration in apples, even though the effectiveness of this approach is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1214 |
| _version_ | 1797557323117363200 |
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| author | Sebastian Soppelsa Markus Kelderer Raffaele Testolin Damiano Zanotelli Carlo Andreotti |
| author_facet | Sebastian Soppelsa Markus Kelderer Raffaele Testolin Damiano Zanotelli Carlo Andreotti |
| author_sort | Sebastian Soppelsa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nutritional unbalances, such as calcium deficiency at the fruit level, are generally the causative agent of post-harvest disorders in apples. Foliar application of Ca as calcium chloride is the current solution to increase Ca concentration in apples, even though the effectiveness of this approach is often not satisfactory. In this research, we tested the efficacy of a combined application of Ca with selected biostimulants to improve apple quality and to reduce the incidence of storage disorders. The experiment was conducted in two “Jonathan” apple orchards that differed in management systems and characteristics. Tree canopies were sprayed with calcium chloride alone and in combination with a commercial product containing zinc and silicon or a seaweed extract. The seaweed extract increased apple quality by boosting the reddish coloration (+32% of color index) and by enhancing final anthocyanin concentration of fruit skin. Both biostimulants significantly reduced (by 20%) the incidence of the physiological disorder, known as “Jonathan spot”, after 160 days of storage. Increased concentration of nutrients (Ca, Zn, and Mn) in the skin of apples after biostimulant applications, together with changes of the phenolic profile during the storage, are discussed as the possible causes of the reduced fruit susceptibility to post-harvest disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab2584f27fdc4ed0a42ce47a0337d2ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab2584f27fdc4ed0a42ce47a0337d2ca2023-11-20T10:32:10ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-08-01108121410.3390/agronomy10081214Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After StorageSebastian Soppelsa0Markus Kelderer1Raffaele Testolin2Damiano Zanotelli3Carlo Andreotti4Laimburg Research Centre, 39051 Pfatten-Vadena, ItalyLaimburg Research Centre, 39051 Pfatten-Vadena, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food, Animal and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyNutritional unbalances, such as calcium deficiency at the fruit level, are generally the causative agent of post-harvest disorders in apples. Foliar application of Ca as calcium chloride is the current solution to increase Ca concentration in apples, even though the effectiveness of this approach is often not satisfactory. In this research, we tested the efficacy of a combined application of Ca with selected biostimulants to improve apple quality and to reduce the incidence of storage disorders. The experiment was conducted in two “Jonathan” apple orchards that differed in management systems and characteristics. Tree canopies were sprayed with calcium chloride alone and in combination with a commercial product containing zinc and silicon or a seaweed extract. The seaweed extract increased apple quality by boosting the reddish coloration (+32% of color index) and by enhancing final anthocyanin concentration of fruit skin. Both biostimulants significantly reduced (by 20%) the incidence of the physiological disorder, known as “Jonathan spot”, after 160 days of storage. Increased concentration of nutrients (Ca, Zn, and Mn) in the skin of apples after biostimulant applications, together with changes of the phenolic profile during the storage, are discussed as the possible causes of the reduced fruit susceptibility to post-harvest disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1214seaweed extractpost-harvest disordersiliconcalciumphenolic compoundsJonathan spot |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Soppelsa Markus Kelderer Raffaele Testolin Damiano Zanotelli Carlo Andreotti Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage Agronomy seaweed extract post-harvest disorder silicon calcium phenolic compounds Jonathan spot |
| title | Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage |
| title_full | Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage |
| title_short | Effect of Biostimulants on Apple Quality at Harvest and After Storage |
| title_sort | effect of biostimulants on apple quality at harvest and after storage |
| topic | seaweed extract post-harvest disorder silicon calcium phenolic compounds Jonathan spot |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1214 |
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