Foliar nutrition induced changes in quality and storability of southern highbush blueberry cv. Sharpblue

In the present study, preharvest foliar sprays of boric acid, ZnSO4 and CaCl2, applied individually or in combinations tended to increase the growth, fruit set, yield and quality in southern highbush blueberry cv. Sharpblue. Boric acid sprayed either individually or in combination with other two nutrient elements showed the highest productivity (3.73 Mt/ha). However, ZnSO4 increased the number of fruiting shoots and return bloom in the subsequent cropping year. Further, preharvest sprays of these nutrients increased the storage life of the fruits, while stored at 7°C. During storage, the rate of physiological weight loss and fruit decay was slower in fruits treated with CaCl2 (0.25 and 0.5%) and combined application of these nutrients than control. The TSS content of fruits increased upto second week of storage and decreased thereafter. From this study it can be inferred that preharvest foliar sprays of boric acid, ZnSO4 and CaCl2 not only improve the yield and fruit quality in southern highbush blueberry cv. Sharpblue but also the storage life upto a month under refrigerated conditions.