Effect of preharvest calcium sprays on harvest maturity, quality and storage of pear (Pyrus communis L.) cv. Bartlett

Investigations on “Effect of pre-harvest calcium sprays on harvest maturity, quality and storage of pear (Pyrus communis L.) cv. Bartlett” were carried out in the Experimental Field of Division of Pomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar during 2004 and 2005. About 25 year old trees of Bartlett pear showing uniform vigour and health under uniform cultural practices were selected for experimentation. The selected trees were sprayed with desired concentrations of calcium chloride (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75%) at 45 and 60 days before harvest. Harvest maturity was determined by the days after full bloom (DAFB) and fruits were harvested at 105, 110 and 115 DAFB and kept at ambient storage temperatures which ranged between 25 to 28.3 oC. Fruit samples were studied for size, weight, volume, colour change, firmness, loss in weight, spoilage, organoleptic rating, acid content, total soluble solids, sugars (non-reducing, reducing and total sugars), starch rating and calcium content (peel and flesh) at regular intervals of 5 days (last sample drawn 15 days after storage). Results revealed that the fruits harvested at 110 and 115 days after full bloom pre-treated with higher concentrations of calcium chloride (0.5 and 0.75%) retained all the good characteristics of fruit even after their storage for 15 days at ambient temperatures