EFFECT OF KAOLIN APPLICATIONS ON FRUIT SUNBURN, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF BALADY MANDARIN (Citrus reticulata, Blanco)

Document Type : original papers

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Citrus Research Department, Hort. Res. Instit. ARC. Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Sunburn is a major problem caused by high temperature and direct solar radiation, which leads to significant economic losses in Balady mandarin yield. So, a field experiment was conducted during 2014 and 2015 seasons at a private orchard situated in Motobus, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of foliar spray of 0, 2, 3 and 4% kaolin, twice or three times at May, June and July on sunburn percentage and fruit quality of Balady mandarin trees. The obtained results showed that, kaolin foliar applications were effective to control fruit sunburn as well as reducing severity percentage  of sunburned fruits as compared to untreated trees. Moreover, Kaolin foliar application at three times was decreased leaf and fruit surface temperature especially at the concentrations of 3 and 4%. In addition, kaolin treatments increased yield and improved fruit quality in terms of fruit size, diameter, weight, peel thickness and  vitamin C.  Kaolin foliar spray was raising fruit values of SSC%, acidity and SSC/acid ratio compared to control trees, whereas there is no significant variation among kaolin concentrations on this variables. Therefore, it could be recommended that, spraying kaolin at 3 or 4% three times in summer months, because it had a positive effect on preventing fruit sunburn damage and improvement yield and fruit quality of Balady mandarin trees.

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