Prediction of bitter pit in apples through Mg2+ infiltration and ethephon application on fruits

The effect of magnesium and calcium infiltration on bitter pit symptoms development in Gala apples was studied. It was also examined the efficiency of magnesium infiltration and the ripening hastening of Royal Gala apples as a predictive methods of bitter pit occurrence after storage. In the first experiment, Gala apples were infiltrated with MgCl2; CaCl2; or MgCl2 plus CaCl2. In the second experiment Royal Gala apples were infiltrated with MgCl2; or immersed into solution containing ethephon during five minutes. As a control a sample of each cultivar was stored in controlled atmosphere during 6 months plus eighteen days at 20°C. Fruits infiltrated with MgCl2 showed increased incidence and severity of bitter pit proportional to the MgCl2 concentration in the solution. Infiltration with CaCl2 prevents bitter pit-like symptoms. The ripening hastening of Royal Gala apples at harvest was effective on the bitter pit prediction after storage.

physiological disorders; calcium; prediction systems; fruit quality