Biochemical properties and fruit quality of “Jahangiri” (Prunus armeniaca L.) apricot fruit under calcium chloride treatment

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.