Yield and fruit quality of Ziziphus jujuba L. trees as affected by preharvest foliar application of calcium and ascorbic acid

Adel Mohamed Al-Saif

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz Ahmed

Department of Horticultural Crops Technology, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622-Cairo, Egypt.

Rashid Al-Obeed

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Said El-Sabagh

Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture Damanhur University, Damanhur, Egypt


Abstract

The present study was carried out during the seasons of 2014 and 2015 at the Research and Agricultural Experimental Station, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, to investigate the effects of foliar application of CaCl2 at 1 or 2%, Ca(NO3)2 at 0.5 or 1% and ascorbic acid at 50 or 100 ppm on yield and fruit quality of Ziziphus jujuba trees. All treatments were repeated twice (December 15 and January 15) before harvest date in both seasons. Treatments significantly improved yield and fruit physical characteristics (fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit volume, fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit firmness) in comparison to untreated control in both seasons. Fruit chemical characteristics (TSS, Acidity, total sugar contents, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll) were mostly improved by most tested treatments in both seasons over the control (water only). It can be concluded that foliar application with Ca(NO3)2 at 1% would be the best treatment to obtain highest yield, fruit physical and chemical composition of Z. jujuba.

Keywords:

Ziziphus jujuba, CaCl2, Ca(NO3)2, ascorbic acid, yield, fruit quality

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Published
2020-10-29



Adel Mohamed Al-Saif 
Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz Ahmed 
Department of Horticultural Crops Technology, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622-Cairo, Egypt.
Rashid Al-Obeed 
Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Said El-Sabagh 
Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture Damanhur University, Damanhur, Egypt



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