Skip to main content
Log in

Cherry tomato qualities affected by foliar spraying with boron and calcium

  • Research Report
  • Postharvest Technology
  • Published:
Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar spraying with boron and calcium on the qualities of light red maturity-stage ‘Unicorn’ cherry tomato. Increased cell -wall compactness was observed after boron (B) + calcium (Ca) treatment. The respiration rate was lowest in B + Ca-treated tomato fruits at harvest time and after storage. Firmness increased and was retained during the storage period in B + Ca treated tomato fruits. The least fresh weight loss and best shelf life were observed in B + Ca-treated tomato fruits. The vitamin C content was higher in B + Ca-treated tomato fruits than in the control. These results indicate that B + Ca treatment increases cell -wall compactness, reduces the respiration rate, reduces fresh weight loss, increases shelf life, maintains flesh firmness, and increases vitamin C content in cherry tomato.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Agusti, M., M. Juan, A. Martinez-Fuentes, C. Mesejo, and V. Almela. 2004. Calcium nitrate delays climacteric of persimmon fruit. Ann. Appl. Biol. 144;65–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asad, A., F.P.C. Blamey, and D.G. Edwards. 2003. Effects of boron foliar application on vegetative and reproductive growth of sunflower. Ann. Bot. 92;565–570.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Casells, A.L. and M. Barlass. 1976. Environmentally induced changes in the cell walls of the tomato leaves in relation to protoplast release. Physiol. Plant. 37;239–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J.M., D.C. Sanders, P.V. Nelson, L. Lengnick, and W.J. Sperry. 2003. Boron improves growth, yield, quality, and nutrient content of tomato. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 128;441–446.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorais, M., A.P. Papadopoulos, and A. Gosselin. 2001. Greenhouse tomato fruit quality. Hortic. Rev. 26;239–319.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, I.B. 1984. Calcium in plant senescence and fruit ripening. Plant Cell Environ. 7;477–489.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haard, N.F. 1984. Postharvest physiology and biochemistry of fruits and vegetables. J. Chem. Educ. 61;277–284.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Munoz, P., E. Almenar, M.J. Ocio, and R. Gavara. 2006. Effect of calcium dips and chitosan coating on postharvest life of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). Postharvest Biol. Technol. 39;247–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hochmuth, G. 1991. Florida greenhouse vegetable production hand book, vol. 3. Fla. Coop. Ext. Serv., Circular SP48. p. 98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J.S. and S.S. Snapp. 2004. The effect of boron, calcium, and surface moisture on shoulder check, a quality defect in fresh-market tomato. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 129;599–607.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M.Z., J.P. Baek, Y.S. Kim, and H.M. Kang. 2013. Characteristics of chilling symptoms of cherry tomato compared to beefsteak tomato harvested at different ripening stages. J. Pure Appl. Microbio. 7;703–709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M.Z., M. A. Mele, H.J. Lee, K.S. Lee, S.M. Hong, M.J. Jeong, I.S. Kim, S.K. Hong, I.L. Choi, J.P. Baek, and H.M. Kang. 2014. Selection of non-perforated breathable film to enhance storability of cherry tomato for modified atmosphere storage at different temperatures. Protected Hortic. Plant Fac. 23;116–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kays, J.S. and E.R. Paull. 2004. Postharvest Biology. Exon Press, Athens, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H.R., K.W. Park, and H.M. Kang. 1999. Effects of postharvest heat treatment and calcium application on the storability of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). J. Korean Soc. Hortic. Sci. 40;183–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G.J. and T.J. Kim. 2010. Effects of the use of additional calcium sources on growth and fruit characteristics in tomato hydroponics. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 51;360–366.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H.B. and F. Chen. 2001. Simultaneous determination of nine watersoluble vitamins in pharmaceutical preparations by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. J. Sep. Sci. 24; 271–274.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebisch, F., J.F.J. Max, G. Heine, and W.J. Horst. 2009. Blossom-end root and fruit cracking of tomato grown in net-covered greenhouses in central Thailand can partly be corrected by calcium and boron sprays. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 172;140–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loomis, W.D. and R.W. Durst. 1992. Chemistry and biology of boron. Biofactors 3;229–239.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madani, B., M.T.M. Mohamed, C.B. Watkins, J. Kadir, Y. Awang, and T.R. Shojaei. 2014. Preharvest calcium chloride sprays affect ripening of Eksotika II’papaya fruits during cold storage. Sci. Hortic. 171;6–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattoo, A.K. and M. Lieberman. 1977. Localization of ethylenesynthesizing system in the apple tissue. Plant physiol. 60;794–799.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Park, K.W., H.M. Kang, and C.H. Kim. 2000. Comparison of storability on film sources and storage temperature for fresh Japanese mint in MA storage. J. Bio-Environ. Control 9;40–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peet, M.M. and D.H. Willits. 1995. Role of excess water in tomato fruit cracking. HortScience 30;65–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins-Veazie, P. 1995. Growth and ripening of strawberry fruit. Hortic. Rev. 17;267–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohani, M.Y., M. Z. Zaipun, and M. Norhayati. 1997. Effect of modified atmosphere on the storage life and quality of Eksotika papaya. J. Trop. Agric. Food Sci. 25;103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy, S., W.S. Conway, A.E. Watada, C.E. Sams, C.D. Pooley, and W.P. Wergin. 1994. Distribution of the anionic sites in the cell wall of apple fruit after calcium treatments. Protoplasma 178; 156–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sato, S., S. Sakaguchi, H. Furukawa, and H. Ikeda. 2006. Effects of NaCl application to hydroponic nutrient solution on fruit characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Sci. Hortic. 109;248–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuman, G.E., A.M. Stanley, and D. Knudsen. 1973. Automated total nitrogen analysis of soil and plant samples. Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 37;480–481.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek, A. and O. Aykut. 2007. Evaluation of the microelement profile of Turkish hazelnut (Corylus auellana L.) varieties for human nutrition and health. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 58;677–688.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B.P., D.K. Tandon, and S.K. Kalra. 1993. Changes in postharvest quality of mangoes affected by preharvest application of calcium salts. Sci. Hortic. 54;211–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R., R.R. Sharma, and S.K. Tyagi. 2007. Pre-harvest foliar application of calcium and boron influences physiological disorders, fruit yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Sci. Hortic. 112;215–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ho-Min Kang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Islam, M.Z., Mele, M.A., Baek, J.P. et al. Cherry tomato qualities affected by foliar spraying with boron and calcium. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 57, 46–52 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-016-0097-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-016-0097-6

Additional key words

Navigation