Effect of Calcium Chloride Foliar Feed on Fruit Quality of Tomato (Lycospersicumesculentum)
Abstract
Calcium content in the fruit is related to the sugar content (brix) which is the mineral/sugar ratio
of the plant cell protoplasm. Fruit firmness is an important post-harvest quality in fruit production
and helps decide which fruit will be harvested, transported, stored, or marketed. An experiment
was set up in Tsukuba International Training Center screen house 4 from 8th March to July 2013
with the objective to determine the effect of calcium chloride on firmness, yield and total soluble
solids (TSS) andto examine the response of determinate and indeterminate tomato varieties to
foliar application of calcium. A split plot experimental layout was used with varietyAnimo and
Shuho) as main factor and calcium rates (0,1.5,3and 4.5 g /liter water) as sub plot replicated 3
times. Data collection started when the fruits were at maturity grade 7-8 (JA Bihoku tomato
color chart). Determination of firmnesswas done at 4.5mm and 9mm (kg force) using a hand
heldpenetrometer and total soluble solidsusing a refractometer. No significance difference was
observed between the varieties for firmness (p= 12.7%). An increase in rate of calcium chloride
had a positive impact on the firmness of fruits at 4.5mm. A positive correlation between calcium
content and fruit firmness was observed as the force increased for the different tomato varieties.
There was no consistent relationship between CaCl2 treatment and the TSS content of fruits.
The yield was not consistent with the amount of calcium chloride rates applied. Demand for
calcium is high in determinate tomato varieties than indeterminate varieties because they set their
fruit within a short time.
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