Induction of fruit calcium assimilation and its influence on the quality of table grapes

Abstract

Sprays containing soluble Ca, polypeptidic N and Ti ascorbate in several combinations were applied to cv. Crimson table grape vines (Vitis vinifera L.). Foliar spraying resulted in the accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Ti in the leaves, but not of Na, Cl or Mn. In the berries, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations increased in the skin and flesh. These berries were also larger than controls, firmer, had a deeper external red colour, and their weight loss during postharvest storage was reduced. The increase in the Ca and micronutrient content of the fruit is explained as a consequence of the beneficial effect of Ti on absorption, translocation and assimilation processes. In turn, improved Ca assimilation by the fruit was responsible for the beneficial effects seen on firmness and storage life.Additional key words: colour, firmness, organic acids, plant nutrition, polypeptidic N, sugars, titanium ResumenInducción de la asimilación de calcio en el fruto y su influencia sobre la calidad de la uva de mesa Plantas de uva de mesa de la variedad Crimson (Vitis vinifera L.) se rociaron durante el ciclo de cultivo con disoluciones que contenían Ca soluble, N polipeptídico y ascorbato de Ti, en todas las combinaciones posibles. Las aplicaciones foliares indujeron un aumento de la concentración foliar de todos los elementos, salvo para Cl, Na y Mn. Sin embargo, la composición mineral de la piel y pulpa de los granos de uva sólo se vio afectada en lo que respecta a Ca, Fe, Zn y Cu, que aumentaron significativamente sus niveles. Asimismo, aumentó el tamaño del grano, su consistencia y color rojo, al tiempo que disminuyó la pérdida de peso durante el almacenamiento. La inducción de la concentración de Ca y de los tres oligoelementos en los tejidos del grano de uva se explica por el conocido efecto inductor de los bioactivadores, en especial del Ti, sobre los procesos de absorción, transporte y asimilación en el fruto. A su vez, el aumento de la cantidad de Ca metabolizado en piel y pulpa es responsable de los beneficios obtenidos en consistencia y vida útil del fruto.

Fruit nutritional quality under deficit irrigation: the case of table grapes in California

“…Consumers' perception of berry quality and preference is most likely defined by TSS, which correlates to ripeness of the berry. Concentration of TSS and pH in ‘Crimson seedless’ and ‘Sugraone’ are comparable to that reported by various authors …”

“…The concentrations of mineral elements analyzed for both ‘Crimson seedless’ and ‘Sugraone’ were within the range reported by Esteban et al ., Alcaraz‐Lopez et al ., and Grembecka and Szefer (Tables and ). The concentration of sodium was similar to that reported by Esteban et al ., Alcaraz‐Lopez et al ., and Grembecka and Szefer for ‘Crimson seedless’ but sodium concentration was almost one order of magnitude higher in ‘Sugraone’ (Table ), irrespective of treatment. Concentrations of iron, zinc, and manganese in this study were about ten times higher than those reported by Grembecka and Szefer for red and white table grapes in Poland.…”

Titanium as a Beneficial Element for Crop Production

“…The growth of bush bean plants was not significantly different when leaf Ti contents varied from 1.2 to 11.7 mg kg −1 (Wallace et al, 1977 ). Table grape ( Vitis vinifera L.) plants were healthy with a mean Ti content of 17.8 mg kg −1 in leaves (Alcaraz-Lopez et al, 2005 ). Oilseed rape plants grew healthily with Ti content in shoots ranging from 16.8 to 66.7 mg kg −1 during their flowering period (Kovacik et al, 2016 ).…”

Grapevine quality: A multiple choice issue

“…Pre-veraison calcium applications significantly affected fruit mechanical characteristics as shown by higher values of flesh firmness and berry breaking force and lower B. cinerea rots during storage thus maintaining postharvest fruit quality (Ciccarese et al, 2013). Calcium applications during the first stages of fruit development induce an increase of the final berry size (Alcaraz-Lopez et al, 2005).…”