Effect of Calcium and Boron Foliar Application on Fruit Quality in Asian Pear Cultivar ‘KS10’

Calcium and boron as plant nutritional elements play major roles in plant physiological processes including regulating various cell and plant functions. Considering the importance of both elements, this study was conducted during 2010-2011 in the Experimental Asian Pear Orchard at Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University. Different concentrations of calcium chloride (0, 0.5 and 0.7 percent) and acid boric (0 and 0.5 percent) were used as foliar spray of Asian pear cultivar "KS10" during growing season. The results showed that foliar application of calcium and boron led to the improvement in physicochemical characteristics of pear fruits. Under treatment conditions, fruit tissue hardness increased, while total soluble solids decreased. Various concentrations of calcium resulted in decreasing fruit softening, although after 3-months' storage all treatments showed low fruit firmness. Total phenolic compounds decreased more significantly in control fruits compared to in fruits sprayed with calcium and/or boron during the storage. The highest and lowest levels of polyphenol oxidase activity were found in elements-sprayed fruits and non-sprayed ones respectively. In brief, calcium and boron application resulted in improving postharvest characteristics of Asian pear fruits and reducing internal browning symptoms