Abstract:
Worldwide, the nutritional
value and health benefit of apricot fruit
(Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) has been
known. The present study was therefore
undertaken to assess the effects of CaCl2 pre
harvest treatment on some of the
biochemical properties and fruit quality of
"Jahangiri" (Prunus armeniaca L.) apricot
at harvest time and during four weeks cold
storage at 0°C. The combined analysis of
variances indicated that year had a
significant influence on all studied
parameters of "Jahangiri" cultivar. CaCl2 pre
harvest treatments also affected significantly
the most of studied parameters. The
interaction between year and Ca treatment
was also significant. Results of these tests
showed that pre-harvest application of Ca
foliar spray increased some of biochemical
properties (protein, free amino acid and non
protein) and fruit quality (fruit density) of
apricot cultivar "Jahangiri". In addition, the
contents of fruit-Ca, -Mg, -N, and vitamin C
were higher than those in the control at
harvest time and after four weeks storage at
0°C. The characteristics that correlated best
with the fruit Ca content included fruit pH,
fruit density, vitamin C of fruit and fruit
Mg. The results also showed that the most
effective pre-harvest CaCl2 application for
apricot "Jahangiri " was found to be 0.5 %
Ca Cl2 in 46 days after full bloom.
