Effects of Different Foliar Fertilizer Treatments on Fruit Quality of the Korla Fragrant Pear

Abstract

Persistent calyx affects the fruit quality of the Korla fragrant pear including increasing fruit hardness. In order to reduce fruit hardness and improve fruit quality, in this study, we used the Korla fragrant pear which has persistent calyx. Korla fragrant pear fruit at different development stages were treated with foliar fertilizers of 101 and calcium–magnesium (Ca–Mg) solutions, and the hardness and pectase, cellulose, lipoxygenase, and amylase activities of persistent calyx fruit were determined and analyzed. We found that the fruit hardness of two foliar fertilizers increased compared with the control after treatment. The fruit hardness of calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer and 101 foliar fertilizer treatments were increased by 11.7% and 6.8% compared with the control, respectively. Furthermore, the activities of cellulase, pectinase, and lipoxygenase were increased by 30%, 12.7%, and 42% after treatment with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer, respectively. The 101 foliar fertilizer inhibited the contents of cellulose and starch. In summary, the internal quality of Korla fragrant pear fruit treated with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer was better than 101 foliar fertilizer. It was confirmed that calcium and magnesium foliar fertilizer had a good control effect on the hardness of Korla fragrant pear persistent calyx fruit, and its fruit quality was also improved. This study has great application value in production practice.