Time of Application of Calcium Sprays to Increase Fruit Calcium and Reduce Fruit Pitting of Apples Sprayed with TIBA

Calcium concentration of ‘Golden Delicious’ ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) apples was reduced with a single, early application of 50 ppm TIBA. Early, midseason, and late sequences of 3 sprays of CaCl 2 (3.6 g/1) were applied to evaluate timing effectiveness for increasing fruit Ca concentration and decreasing fruit pitting. Mid-June, July, and August sprays increased fruit Ca concentration less than later sprays, but more effectively reduced fruit pitting. Chemical name used: 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA).