POST-HARVEST CALCIUM AND BORON TREATMENTS ON RETRANSLOCATION OF CA FROM SENESCENT APPLE LEAVES

The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of foliar Ca and B application in autumn on re-translocation level of Ca from senescent apple leaves. In this context, it was hypothesized that foliar B application together with Ca would enhance the translocation of Ca via synergistic relation between Ca and B. To study the hypothesis, an experiment was conducted for two years in two 'Starking Delicious' apple (Malus domastica Borkh.) orchards established on seedling rootstocks in Banaz-Usak/Turkey. Treatments were composed of postharvest foliar sprays of Ca (CaCl2, 1 %), B (H3BO3, 0.5 %), and their combination (Ca+B) compared with control trees sprayed with water. Falling leaves (in November) and summer leaves (in July) were sampled and analyzed for their Ca, B, K and Mg contents. Post-harvest Ca+B treatments resulted in lower Ca concentration in the fallen leaves compared to single Ca treatments. Treatments decreased K content and did not affect Mg content of fallen leaves. Results revealed that Ca and B application increased re-translocation of Ca and B.