Effect of Mineral or Chelated Calcium and Magnesium on Growth and Bunch and Berry Characteristics of Flame Seedless Grapevines Grown in Sandy Soils Ii- Effect on Bunch and Berry Characteristics

Abstract

This study was conducted during 1997 and 1998 seasons on Flame seedless grapevines grown in a sandy soil to examine the effect of mineral or chelated calcium and magnesium on bunch and berry characteristics. The effect of spraying Ca-EDTA and Mg-EDTA each at 0.15 and 0.30% as well as calcium chloride and magnesium sulphate each at 0.5 and 1.0% was investigated.Results showed that foliar application of calcium and magnesium either chelated or mineral forms was very effective in increasing bunch and berry weight, dimensions of berry and bunch, number of berries/bunch, berry weight and firmness and skin anthocyanin content as compared to unspraying. Calcium and magnesium treatments had a slight effect on berry shape, total soluble solids and total acidity. In most cases, the application of chelated form of each macronutrient was preferable than application of mineral form in improving most of the studied characters. Foliar application of Mg-EDTA at 0.30% surpassed that of Ca-EDTA in increasing bunch weight, number of berries per bunch, berry weight and dimensions and skin anthocyanins content. However, spraying Ca-EDTA at 0.30% was the more effective in increasing bunch dimensions and berry firmness, than that of Mg-EDTA at the same concentration.The best results with regard to bunch and berry characteristics of Flame seedless grapevines were obtained due to spraying Mg-EDTA at 0.30% or Ca-EDTA at 0.30% three times on March 15 th , May 1 st and June 15 th .