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PrePre--Harvest Factors that Harvest Factors that Affect Quality of Melons:Affect Quality of Melons:
Calcium
UV Reflective Mulch
Jorge M. FonsecaDecember 3, 2003
Western Vegetable QualityWestern Vegetable Quality
SUMMARY
Overview General Information
Fall 2003 Experience: YumaCalcium
UV Reflective Mulch
MUSKMELON QUALITYFirms, well netted, well formed
USDA grade 1: 8% Sugar (10 Brix best)
~15 days shelf life at 36-41 oF.
4.4-2.6 lbs
Strong orange for most muskmelon cv.
High levels of Vit. C and B carotene
QUALITY AT HARVEST
QUALITY AT HARVEST
Last two weeks are critical
Good leaf condition (no disease)
Good supply of Mg
No excessive irrigation or rainfall
Harvested at one-half to full slip
CALCIUM: BACKGROUNDWork of Gene Lester
Four applications AA-Ca chelate or Mannitol-Ca complex
Honeydew: Fruit firmness increased, same Brix
Cantaloupes: Same firmness and Brix. Firmness was higher during storage
CALCIUM FACTOR
Essential in cell division and elongation
Fruit Growth!
Primary building block for cell wall
Exchange balance of other nutrients
Decrease permeability to Sodium
1st Study: Yuma-Fall 03
Four applications after flowering
Quality: At harvest, fresh cuts
Gold Express
Impac
Effect of Calcium on Quality
Treatments
CaCl2: 0, 30, 60 mM
(CaNo3)2: 0, 30,60 mM
NaCl: 0, 50, 100 mM (solution)
Nutri-Cal
CAN-17
Effect of Calcium Application on Effect of Calcium Application on Soluble Solids Soluble Solids ------Gold ExpressGold Express
9
10
11
12
13
14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
oB
rix
Effect of Calcium Application on Effect of Calcium Application on Diameter and Resistance to Diameter and Resistance to Penetration Penetration ------cvcv. Gold Express. Gold Express
No differences*
8090
100110120
130140
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Yie
ld (
lbs)
Effect of Calcium Application on Effect of Calcium Application on YieldYield------Gold ExpressGold Express
Effect of Calcium Application on Effect of Calcium Application on Juice Leakage of Fresh Cuts, 5 d Juice Leakage of Fresh Cuts, 5 d after processingafter processing------Gold ExpressGold Express
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Juic
e le
akag
e (m
l/kg
) 0% NaCl
Nutrical
CAN 17
CaCl 30 CaCl 60 CaNO3 30 CaNO3 60
FUTURE WORK
Environment Effect
Other Interactions:Titanium
Humic Acid
More on Fresh Cuts and other melons
UV REFLECTIVE MULCHUV REFLECTIVE MULCH
UV REFLECTIVE MULCH:
Effect on No. of Fruits
Reflective Control
No. Fruits / 10 plants
1 6
1 8
2 0
2 2
2 4
LSD = 0.998
Effect of UV Reflective Mulch on Number of Fruits
in Muskmelon Plants
OTHER WORKS
Hymenopteran insects were found more in reflective mulch (Pereira et al., 2000).
Higher CO2 fixation (Ito et al., 1996)
100% increase in cantaloupe yield (Stapleton and Summer, 2000).
UV REFLECTIVE MULCHUV REFLECTIVE MULCHThe effect of Reflective Mulching on yieldThe effect of Reflective Mulching on yield
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Weight (Lbs/10 plants)
Mulch Control
LSD= 3.32
UV REFLECTIVE MULCHUV REFLECTIVE MULCHThe effect of Reflective Mulching on fruit The effect of Reflective Mulching on fruit weightweight
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
Weight (Lbs/fruit)
Mulch Control
LSD= 0.15
UV REFLECTIVE MULCHUV REFLECTIVE MULCHThe effect of The effect of JasmonicJasmonic acid applied before acid applied before transplanting on early floweringtransplanting on early flowering
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Mulch No-Mulch
No. Flowers after 9 d transpl. (in 10
plants)
JasmonicNo-Jasmonic
FUTURE WORK
Confirm 1st year results
Evaluate effect on shelf life
Evaluate water usage
Western Vegetable QualityWestern Vegetable Qualityhttp://cals.arizona.edu/crops/vegetables/
WestVegWestVeg NewsNews: Electronic Newsletter
jfonsecajfonseca@ @ ag.arizona.eduag.arizona.edu
