Quantifying changes in tree physiology after amelioration to reduce sunburn on apples
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lotze, Elmi | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Midgley, S. J. E. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Daiber, Stephan Hermann | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Horticulture. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-02-06T13:58:52Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-03-29T11:40:46Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-02-06T13:58:52Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-03-29T11:40:46Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2017. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research was done in response to initial findings that combined calcium (Ca) and boron (B) reduced sunburn damage in apples. With the mode of action for this amelioration being unclear, current knowledge of this new sunburn-reducing strategy needed to be increased. With other strategies that are already able to eradicate or reduce sunburn incidence, like kaolin-film sprays or shade nets respectively, another alternative now exists in combined Ca and B. The motivation behind this sunburn-reducing strategy lies in its ease of use, economic viability due to low infrastructural expenses as well as its sustainability. Continued research endeavours into this field are especially motivated by the changing climate, which confronts the deciduous fruit industry with increased temperatures. This could further exacerbate sunburn incidence which has already been up to 50% in some orchards. Future water restrictions, with more severe droughts and sporadic rainfall can give rise to water stress in the orchard, which increases sunburn. In this study ‘Cripps’ Pink’ and ‘Granny Smith’ apples were studied in addition to ‘Golden Delicious’ apples and alternative combined Ca and B formulations were evaluated to compare the success of the initial study on ‘Golden Delicious’ with other formulations and cultivars. In the first season, ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples on Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch, South Africa, were sprayed with weekly foliar applications of Ca and B for six weeks from 40 days after full bloom. Mineral analysis was done on the peels two weeks after the final application, as well as at harvest. Treatments containing Calcinit™, a calcium nitrate product, gave the highest B concentrations in the peel and no significant differences were observed for Ca concentrations. The Spraybor® Calcinit™ treatment had a significantly higher amount of B in the peel than the Spraybor® Manni-Plex® Ca treatment as well as the control, at harvest. This, however, did not reflect in a significant reduction in sunburn incidence at harvest. In an attempt to exacerbate sunburn damage, the ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples were harvested relatively late, which gave rise to pink colour development of the bicolour cultivar. Masking of sunburn, especially of the milder sunburn classes like class 1 and class 2 sunburn occurred. In the second season, a separate trial was done on ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Granny Smith’ apples in Grabouw, Elgin Valley, South Africa. The ‘Cripps’ Pink’ trial was repeated with alternative Ca and B formulations. In light of the first season’s results, the ‘Cripps’ Pink apples were harvested earlier to prevent excessive masking of sunburn. Significant differences were observed between the control and all Ca B foliar treatments, which all brought about a significant reduction in class 1 sunburn incidence. Significant differences were also recorded between treatments in ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. The 0.5 g.L-1 Spraybor® Calsol® treatment was the only treatment that had significantly lower (5.7 %) Class 1 fruit than the control (16.4 %) and Manni-Plex Cal-Zn Manni-Plex B treatment (17.4 %). The same treatment also had a significantly lower Class 2 sunburn incidence than the control. The poor performance of the Manni-Plex® Cal-Zn Manni-Plex® B treatment was unexpected and was perhaps due to the alteration of the original (2011/13) Manni-Plex® Ca formulation during 2015. Another objective of this study was to elucidate the mode of action of Ca and/or B ameliorating sunburn incidence, by looking at cell wall thicknesses below the peel. It was hypothesised that thicker cell walls due to Ca B applications resulted in sunburn reduction. Initial observations showed a trend of increased cell wall thicknesses when Ca and B formulations were applied, specifically especially with the Spraybor® Calcinit™ treatment. Cell walls were also thicker in the peel of sunburnt fruit than fruit with no sunburn. Additionally, the final objective of this study was to determine how these foliar applications affected fruit physiology like chlorophyll fluorescence and fruit surface temperature. Even though there were significant differences between treatments with respect to all physiological parameters quantified in this study at some point, none of the effects could be related directly to a reduction in sunburn incidence; neither could the physiological changes as a result of the treatments explain the mode of action of the significant reduction of sunburn incidence observed. Even though the efficacy of Ca and B applications could be established on ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples, a clear mode of action could not be established for this sunburn ameliorating strategy on a physiological level. More research therefore needs to be done into a possible biochemical and/or metabolic reaction caused by the combination of Ca and B in reducing sunburn on apples. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing is uitgevoer ter opvolging van aanvanklike bevindings dat ‘n kombinasie van kalsium (Ca) en boor (B) die voorkoms van sonbrand in appels verminder. Die metode van werking vir hierdie vermindering van sonbrand voorkoms is onduidelik, dus moet daar meer navorsing gedoen word om duidelikheid te kry. Met ander strategieë wat reeds sonbrand effektief onderskeidelik uitwis of ten minste verminder, soos kaolien-film of skadunette, bestaan daar nou ‘n alternatief in die blaarbespuiting van ’n Ca B bespuiting. Die motivering agter hierdie sonbrand verminderingsstrategie is die gemak van toediening, ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid as gevolg van lae infrastruktuur uitgawes asook volhoubaarheid. Addisionele navorsing in hierdie gebied in die sagtevrugtebedryf word veral gemotiveer deur klimaatsverandering wat manifesteer as verhoogde. Dit kan verder sonbrand voorkoms vererger wat reeds so hoog as 50 % in sommige appelboorde voorkom. Toekomstige waterbeperkings, met meer intensiewe droogtes en sporadiese reënval, kan aanleiding gee tot waterstres in boorde wat sonbrand verder kan verhoog. 'Cripps' Pink‘ en 'Granny Smith' appels is in hierdie studie bestudeer en alternatiewe Ca en B formulasies geëvalueer om die sukses van die eerste studie oor 'Golden Delicious’ met ander formulerings en kultivars te vergelyk. In die eerste seisoen, is 'Cripps' Pink' appels op die Welgevallen-proefplaas, Stellenbosch, Suid-Afrika gespuit met weeklikse blaartoedienings van Ca en B vir ses weke, vanaf 40 dae na volblom. Mineraal-analises is gedoen op die skil twee weke na die finale toediening, asook tydens oes. Behandelings met Calcinit™, 'n kalsiumnitraat produk, het die hoogste B konsentrasie in die skil gehad. Geen beduidende verskille is waargeneem vir Ca nie. Die Spraybor Calcinit™ behandeling het betekenisvol hoër B konsentrasie in die skil as die Spraybor Manni-Plex Ca behandeling sowel as die kontrole getoon tydens oes. Dit is egter nie weerspieël in 'n aansienlike vermindering in sonbrand voorkoms tydens oes nie. In 'n poging om voorkoms van sonbrandskade te verhoog, is die 'Cripps' Pink' appels relatief laat geoes, wat na pienk kleurontwikkeling van die tweekleurige kultivar gelei het. Maskering van sonbrand, veral van ligter sonbrand klasse soos Klas 1 en Klas 2 sonbrand, het plaasgevind. In die tweede seisoen, het ons ‘n addisionele proef op 'Golden Delicious’ en 'Granny Smith' appels in Grabouw, Elgin Valley, Suid-Afrika uitgevoer. Die 'Cripps' Pink’ proef te Welgevallen proefplaas is herhaal met alternatiewe Ca en B formulasies. Om oormatige maskering van sonbrand te voorkom, het ons die 'Cripps' Pink’ appels vroeër geoes. Beduidende verskille is waargeneem tussen die kontrole en al die Ca B behandelings met 'n aansienlike vermindering in klas 1 sonbrand voorkoms. Beduidende verskille is ook waargeneem tussen behandelings in 'Golden Delicious’ appels. Die 0.5 g.L-1 Spraybor Calsol was die enigste behandeling wat beduidenisvolle laer (5.7 %) Klas 1 vrugte as die kontrole (16.4 %) en Manni-Plex Cal-Zn Manni-Plex B behandelings (17.4 %) gehad het. Dieselfde behandeling het ook 'n beduidenisvol laer Klas 2 sonbrand voorkoms as die kontrole gehad. Die onverwagte swak prestasie van die Manni-Plex Cal-Zn Manni-Plex B behandeling, na vroeër sukses op ‘Golden Delicious’, was moontlik gedeeltelik te wydte aan die aanpassing van die aanvanklike (2011/13) Manni-Plex Ca formulasie in 2015. Die effek van Ca en B op selwand verdikking van selle onder die skil as metode van werking vir die vermindering van sonbrand op appels is evalueer. Aanvanklike waarnemings wys 'n tendens van toenemende selwand diktes wanneer Ca en B toegedien word, spesifiek die Spraybor® Calcinit™ behandeling. Selwande onder die skille van vrugte met sonbrand is dikker as skille van vrugte sonder sonbrand. Daarbenewens was die laaste doelwit van die studie om vas te stel hoe hierdie blaartoedienings vrugfisiologie soos chlorofilfluoressensie en oppervlaktemperatuur beïnvloed. Al was daar beduidende verskille tussen behandelings met betrekking tot al die fisiologiese parameters wat gekwantifiseer is, kon nie een van die gevolge direk na 'n vermindering in sonbrand voorkoms lei nie. Die fisiologiese veranderinge wat waargeneem is na behandelings verduidelik ook nie die metode van werking wat aanleiding gegee het tot ’n aansienlike vermindering van sonbrand nie. Selfs al kon die effektiwiteit van Ca en B bevestig word op ‘Cripps’ Pink’, kon 'n duidelike metode van werking nie vasgestel word vir hierdie sonbrand-vermindering strategie op 'n fisiologiese vlak nie. Meer navorsing moet dus gedoen word op 'n moontlike biochemiese en/of metaboliese reaksie wat ‘n vermindering van sonbrand op appels veroorsaak na ‘n blaartoediening van Ca en B. | af_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 147 pages : illustrations | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/100871 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Sunburn damage in apples | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Calcium (Ca) and boron (B) applications | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Apples -- Sunburn-reducing strategy | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Apples -- Diseases and pests -- Control | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Apples -- Effect of temperature on | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Apples -- Effect of minerals on | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Quantifying changes in tree physiology after amelioration to reduce sunburn on apples | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |