EFFECT OF CACL2 BY SPRAYING ON SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF JUJUBE FRUITS CVS. ZAITONI AND BAMBAWI

Abstract

The present work was conducted tow in the growing seasons (2001-2002) in a private orchard at Abu-Al-Khaseeb-Basrah. to study effects of Cacl2 spraying on some chemical and physiologieal characters of Jujube fruit cvs. Bambawi (Ziziphus spine Christi L.). and Zaitoni (Ziziphus mauritiana, Lam). The work consisted the total soluble solids content was low during early stages of growth, then increased to a peak in ripe fruit. But Vitamin (C) content in creased generally throughout the growing season reaching a peak in ripe fruit, but declined as the fruit advanced toward over ripeness. The pattern of changes in protein content was typical of that characterizing climacteric fruits. The changes in respiration and ethylene production during fruit development were typical of climacteric fruits. The peak of ethylene production coinciding with the climacteric rise in respiration spraying with CaCl2 significantly reduced both respiration rate and ethylene production. Spraying with CaCl2 significantly reduced TSS content of the fruit in both cultivars but had no consistent effect on other chemical constituents like Vitamin (C) and protein content.