PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF PEACH FRUIT CV. FLORIDA KING AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT TREATMENTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE, PUTRESCINE AND SALICYLIC ACID

Despite the ample increase in peach growing area, improvement in quality and average yield is still negligible. The influence of foliar application of calcium chloride (CaCl2), putrescine (PUT) and salicylic acid (SA) on fruit yield and physicochemical characteristics of ‘Florida King’ peach cultivar was evaluated for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). Results indicated that, application of CaCl2 (1%), PUT (1, 2 and 3 mM) and SA (2 and 3 mM) increased fruit weight, fruit diameter, pulp: stone ratio and yield compared to control. In addition, fruit harvested from these growth elicitors treated trees did not show significant difference in total soluble solids and total sugar contents. All treatments resulted in higher fruit firmness, acidity and ascorbic acid contents than control. Higher calcium treatments proved toxic and significantly increased the calcium level in leaves and fruit. From present work it can be referred that spraying of CaCl2, PUT and SA, significantly affected yield, and physico-chemical characteristics of peach cv. ‘Florida King’. These growth elicitors are considered safe chemicals and can be applied to enhance production and improve fruit quality of peach without compromising the food safety standards.