The aim of this study was to determine the effects of preharvest calcium treatments on preharvest and postharvest quality of kiwifruit.
The results indicate that preharvest treatments of Biomin™ Calcium have aided in increasing fruit calcium levels as well as possibly improving the postharvest shelf life of fruit. In kiwifruit, as in most fruits, storage quality is related to calcium concentration and many disorders are associated with low fruit calcium status.
This study has shown, like many other studies done previously, that after an early rise, fruit calcium content decreases because calcium influx ceases by the mid-growth stage whereas volume growth continues until harvest. Calcium transport to the fruit is exclusive via the xylem and is not phloem mobile when using standard forms of Calcium.
The xylem mobility of calcium best explains the decline in calcium accumulation in kiwifruit throughout the season. In a study done in New Zealand and Italy, researchers found that the xylem functionality declines after the fruit has grown to half its harvest size. As the xylem functionality deteriorates, the translocation of calcium through the xylem also deteriorates.
The patterns observed in this trial have shown however that the chelation technology existing in the formulation of Biomin™ Calcium. Biomin™ Calcium is a Glycine chelated product. This means that every Calcium ion is bonded with two Glycine molecules creating a fully chelated Calcium product.
The plant recognizes this molecule as a proteinaceous molecule allowing it to travel in the phloem instead of forcing it to use the xylem where Calcium is normally transported. This allows the Calcium to be a mobile element in the Glycine chelated form. This is the edge Biomin™ Calcium has over all other products existing in the marketplace.
The trial has shown that applications of Biomin™ Calcium will positively increase the calcium content of fruit versus standard practices. The final fruit calcium levels are very important for overall fruit quality as well as the post-harvest shelf life of fruit. An overall average increase of 15% calcium content in fruit was observed where Biomin™ Calcium was applied. This is quite significant given that fruit calcium content was the measured parameter, not leaf levels. This increase shows that Biomin™ Calcium is highly systemic as well as mobile through the fruit cuticle, a characteristic not present in any other calcium product/formulation in the marketplace.
Read full study paper here.
