13. Effect of three Ca- sources applications on fruit quality attributes of three peach cultivars in Pakistan
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Abstract
research to investigate the “effect of three ca- sources applications on fruit quality attributes of three peach cultivars in Pakistan” was carried out at Peach orchard, Horticulture section research farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan during the spring, 2013. Three Ca-sources (calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calcium oxide) at 1.5% were sprayed on Peach cultivars (Early Grand, Florida King, Tex.A.69) and control were untreated plants. The experiment was presented in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangements having three replications. The Ca-sources kept in main plot and cultivars were kept in sub plot. In the experiment all the studied parameters were significantly affected by Calcium Sources and peach cultivars. Among Ca-sources, the highest Vitamin C Content (7.03 mg 100 ml-1), TSS (6.31 0Brix), fruit pH (3.70) and fruit firmness (7.65 Kg.cm-2) with lowest Number of fruits drop (15.33) and percent acidity (0.60%) was recorded in fruits that were sprayed with calcium chloride. Among cultivars highest TSS (6.26 0Brix), fruit pH (3.67) and fruit firmness (6.88 Kg.cm-2) with the lowest number of fruits drop (17.75) was observed in fruits of peach Tex.A.69 cultivar. It is therefore concluded that peach grower should grow peach cultivar Tex.A.69 and calcium chloride should be used as foliar application to improve the quality attributes of peach cultivars.
Keywords: Ca-Sources; Peach quality; Peach cultivars