'Fuyu' (Diospyros kaki L.) is an important sweet persimmon cultivar, and the fruits are often stored in a modified atmosphere after harvesting in South Korea. However, blossom-end browning and darkening of fruit often occur after harvest or during storage, which decreases fruit quality in the fresh fruit market. High fruit calcium concentration would reduce oxidation of phenolic compounds in the cytoplasm such oxidation is responsible for fruit browning. This study investigated the effects of soluble calcium fertilization and foliar application, and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) fertilization on fruit quality and browning. Trees received one of the following five treatments: 1) control (no calcium or IBA); 2) calcium fertilization (Ca FG, 2 mL per tree); 3) calcium foliar application (Ca FA, 2 mL); 4) calcium and IBA fertilization (Ca+IBA) 5) IBA fertilization (IBA, 2 mL. Fruit calcium concentration was highest in trees treated by Ca FA, and lowest in control trees. Generally, fruit calcium concentration was high in the stem end but low in the blossom end, which usually first develops fruit-browning symptoms. There were no apparent differences in fruit qualities such as firmness, soluble solid content, and weight among treatments. Fruit browning occurred at frequencies of about 14%, 20%, and 50% on Ca FA, Ca FG, and control trees, respectively. Therefore, the improved fruit calcium level seen when trees received Ca or IBA application tended to prevent fruit browning, which increased fruit quality and storage properties.

• Young Kim | 김영
• Wol-Soo Kim | 김월수
• Hyun-Sug Choi | 최현석 Corresponding author
• Mengmeng Gu | 구멍멍