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2025 Vol.43, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Article

Pre-Harvest Foliar Applications of Calcium Chloride and Glycine Betaine Reduce Stem Bowl Cracking and Enhance the Cuticle in ‘Picnic’ Apples
Hong Kyoo Kim1†
,
Jung-Geun Kwon2†
,
Nay Myo Win2
,
Jingi Yoo3
,
Kyoungook Kim1
,
A Reum Han1
,
Dae Hyun Kim1
,
Seonae Kim2
,
In-Kyu Kang1*
1Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
2Apple Research Center, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Daegu 43100, Korea
3Department of Horticultural & Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38526, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
31 August 2025. pp. 435-447
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Abstract

Stem bowl cracking in apples can significantly reduce fruit quality and market value. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy of pre-harvest foliar applications of calcium chloride (CaCl2), glycine betaine (GB), and water (control) in reducing stem bowl cracking, enhancing fruit quality, and improving the cuticle of ‘Picnic’ apples at harvest and during 3 months of cold storage at 0°C. Both CaCl2 and GB treatments significantly reduced the incidence and severity of stem bowl cracking at harvest compared to the control, with GB exhibiting greater effectiveness. Foliar applications also enhanced the morphological characteristics (area, weight, and thickness) of the fruit cuticle. Furthermore, pre-harvest treatments did not affect fruit quality parameters, such as fruit weight, size, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), internal ethylene concentration (IEC), and starch pattern index (SPI) at harvest, apart from an increase in soluble solids content (SSC). During cold storage, CaCl2 and GB treatments did not affect IEC, firmness, or SPI but slowed the rate of TA loss and moderated changes in fruit color, including an increase in a* and a decrease in L*, particularly on the sun-exposed side of the fruit. Additionally, the GB-treated group exhibited higher SSC during storage compared to other groups. Overall, this study demonstrates that pre-harvest foliar applications of CaCl2 and GB effectively mitigate stem bowl cracking in ‘Picnic’ apples by enhancing the cuticle’s structure and composition. However, their influence on overall fruit quality at harvest and during postharvest storage is relatively limited.

Keywords
cold storage
firmness
peel color
soluble solids content
titratable acidity
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 43
  • No :4
  • Pages :435-447
  • Received Date : 2024-12-12
  • Revised Date : 2025-02-13
  • Accepted Date : 2025-02-17
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20250039
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