Calcium research in avocados - early positive data
Phosyn have been involved with pre and post-harvest calcium nutrition of pome fruit worldwide for more than 25 years. Much of this experience is potentially useful in understanding the nutrition of the Avocado crop.
Research in collaboration with SAAGA (South African Avocado Growers Association) has so far given very positive results.
Calcium application (Phosyn Caltrac - see products section for more information) was made to Avocado cv. Pinkerton in the Levubu region of South Africa.
Fruit was then harvested at optimal maturity and placed in cold storage for 28 days. The photos show control (pic 1) and treated (pic 2) fruit after cold storage.
The untreated fruit exhibited very marked "black cold chilling injury" whilst the treated fruit exhibited very little or no damage.
Calcium related disorders are complex and influenced by many factors and this research is ongoing making progress in linking fruit quality to plant nutrition. Our work on other fruits suggests that there is much that can be done to improve post-harvest quality and therefore enhance the marketability and profitability of the South African Avocado crop.
Author: Allan Blake, UK
Published: August 2000