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Zinc sulfate, sugar alcohol zinc sprays improve apple quality

Date:
November 19, 2013
Source:
American Society for Horticultural Science
Summary:
Researchers calculated the response of apple fruit quality to sprays of zinc sulfate and sugar alcohol zinc to determine whether continuing to supply zinc to trees could increase the fruit quality of "Fuji" and "Gala" apples. Results showed that, although the apple trees showed no zinc deficiency symptoms and the leaf zinc nutrition was at a low level, continuing zinc sprays throughout the growing cycle was necessary to increase fruit quality.
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Zinc is vital for the healthy growth and reproduction of all organisms. In plants, zinc plays a key role in essential functions such as carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis, and sugar and starch synthesis. Apple, one of the world's most popular fruits, tends to be highly susceptible to zinc deficiency. A new study in HortTechnology recommends new protocols for using zinc sprays at critical stages on apple trees in order to enhance fruit quality.

Researchers sprayed 'Gala' and 'Fuji' apple trees in China with zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and sugar alcohol zinc separately during four different developmental stages: 2 weeks before budbreak, 3 weeks after bloom, the termination of spring shoot growth, and 4 weeks before harvest. They then harvested the apples at maturity and analyzed the fruit for quality and zinc concentration.

According to the report, zinc sprays during the four different developmental stages increased zinc concentration of peeled and washed fruit at harvest without phytotoxicity. The treatments 3 weeks after bloom and 4 weeks before harvest increased average fruit weight of both 'Gala' and 'Fuji' apples. Other combinations of treatments were determined to increase fruit firmness, soluble sugar, and vitamin C levels in the cultivars. The scientists said that the effects of sugar alcohol zinc applications were equal to and "more pronounced" than those of ZnSO4.

"Although the apple trees showed no zinc deficiency symptoms and the leaf zinc nutrition was at a low level, continuing zinc sprays on these trees was required to increase fruit quality," the researchers said. "We found that a single spray of sugar alcohol zinc was equal to or more effective than zinc sulfate at being absorbed by apple fruit tissue and improving fruit quality for trees grown under field conditions."

These experimental results offer new strategies for apple growers. Based on a cost analysis, the authors recommend that growers spray ZnSO4 or sugar alcohol zinc, with 0.1% zinc and 0.04% nitrogen in the spraying solution, on the abaxial/adaxial surfaces of apple leaves to runoff at 4 weeks before harvest.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Society for Horticultural Science. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Yong Zhang, Chunxia Fu, Yujing Yan, Yan’an Wang, Ming Li, Meixiang Chen, Jianping Qian, Xinting Yang, and Shuhan Cheng. Zinc Sulfate and Sugar Alcohol Zinc Sprays at Critical Stages to Improve Apple Fruit Quality. HortTechnology, November 2013

Cite This Page:

American Society for Horticultural Science. "Zinc sulfate, sugar alcohol zinc sprays improve apple quality." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 November 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119112822.htm>.
American Society for Horticultural Science. (2013, November 19). Zinc sulfate, sugar alcohol zinc sprays improve apple quality. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 7, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119112822.htm
American Society for Horticultural Science. "Zinc sulfate, sugar alcohol zinc sprays improve apple quality." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119112822.htm (accessed October 7, 2024).

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